The feasibility of batch-wise polyester degradation and recycling using recombinant Escherichia coli expressing PHB depolymerase (PhaZ).

This study investigates the feasibility of PhaZ (PHB depolymerase derived from Caldimonas manganoxidans) in developing the PHB degradation and recycling process. PhaZ can be efficiently expressed and secreted at an OD of 0.5 and using 0.

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from an HLA-B27 positive ankylosing spondylitis patient with syndesmophyte formation.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 is the genetic marker for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a male AS patient carrying HLA-B27 with syndesmophyte formation by using the Sendai-virus delivery system. The resulting iPSCs had a normal karyotype, expressed pluripotent markers, and could differentiate into three germ layers.

The Effectiveness of an Upper Limb Rehabilitation Program on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients after Mastectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an upper limb rehabilitation program on the quality of life in patients who had been first diagnosed breast cancer and subsequently underwent mastectomy.

Data Sources: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 48 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy at a medical center in Taiwan. The patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 24) or control group (n = 24).

Mixed-linker strategy for suppressing structural flexibility of metal-organic framework membranes for gas separation.

Structural flexibility is a critical issue that limits the application of metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes for gas separation. Herein we propose a mixed-linker approach to suppress the structural flexibility of the CAU-10-based (CAU = Christian-Albrechts-University) membranes. Specifically, pure CAU-10-PDC membranes display high separation performance but at the same time are highly unstable for the separation of CO/CH.

Comparative Analysis of Uncoupled Mode Approximations for Molecular Thermochemistry and Kinetics.

The accurate prediction of thermochemistry and kinetic parameters is an important task for reaction modeling. Unfortunately, the commonly used harmonic oscillator model is often not accurate enough due to the absence of anharmonic effects. In this work, we improve the representation of an anharmonic potential energy surface (PES) using uncoupled mode (UM) approximations, which model the full-dimensional PES as a sum of one-dimensional potentials of each mode.

Risk of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Reactivation in HBsAg-Negative, Anti-HBc-Negative Patients Receiving Rituximab for Autoimmune Diseases in HBV Endemic Areas.

Background/aims: Rituximab is known to be associated with high hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation rate in patients with resolved HBV infection and hematologic malignancy. However, data regarding HBV reactivation (HBVr) in rheumatic patients receiving rituximab is limited. To assess the HBVr rate in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative patients receiving rituximab for autoimmune diseases in a large real-world cohort.

The relationship between safety climate and nurses' safe handling of chemotherapy: A partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis.

Purpose: Safety climate plays a critical role in nurses' safety behaviors. However, few are aware of the safety climate sub-dimensions associated with safety behavior. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between nurses' perception of the workplace safety climate and their safety behavior regarding the handling of chemotherapy upon intravenous administration.

The erythrocyte membrane properties of beta thalassaemia heterozygotes and their consequences for Plasmodium falciparum invasion.

Malaria parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum have exerted formidable selective pressures on the human genome. Of the human genetic variants associated with malaria protection, beta thalassaemia (a haemoglobinopathy) was the earliest to be associated with malaria prevalence. However, the malaria protective properties of beta thalassaemic erythrocytes remain unclear.

Biomarker of neutrophil extracellular traps is associated with deep-seated infections and predicts mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in commensal streptococcal bacteremia.

Background: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play important roles in sepsis and deep-seated infections, but whether NET formation correlates with clinical outcomes of patients with streptococcal bloodstream infections (BSIs) is unclear.

Methods: We analyzed serum levels of complexes of myeloperoxidase and DNA (MPO-DNA) in patients with streptococcal-BSIs. In vitro assay of NET induction by serum from BSI patients was performed.

Dinaciclib inhibits the stemness of two subtypes of human breast cancer cells by targeting the FoxM1 and Hedgehog signaling pathway.

Cyclin‑dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitors in combination with endocrine therapy are the current standard of care used in the first‑line treatment of hormone receptor‑positive/HER2‑negative metastatic breast cancer (BC). Although CDK4/6 inhibitors mainly target the cell cycle, emerging evidence has indicated further potential roles of CDKs other than regulating cell cycle progression. The G and G/M transition regulators, including cyclins D and E, as well as their catalytic partners, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6, have been reported to play crucial roles in pluripotency maintenance and cell fate decisions of human pluripotent stem cells by controlling transcription factors, signaling pathways and epigenetic regulators.

Development and psychometric testing of the safety climate instrument suitable for nurses handling chemotherapy drugs.

Aim: To develop and test the psychometric properties of the Taiwanese safety climate instrument suitable for nurses handling chemotherapy drugs.

Design: This is an instrument development study.

Method: All four stages, including questionnaire design, expert consultation, cognitive testing and psychometric validation, were used in this study.

Use of Autologous Serum Eye Drops with Contact Lenses in the Treatment of Chemical Burn-Induced Bilateral Corneal Persistent Epithelial Defects.

Objective: We aim to evaluate the clinical effect of combined topical 20% autologous serum eye drops (ASEs) along with silicone-hydrogel soft contact lenses (SCLs) in the treatment of chemical burn-induced bilateral corneal persistent epithelial defects (PEDs) and to review the literature of related studies.

Methods: From January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019, we conducted a retrospective chart review of 8 patients with chemical burn-induced bilateral corneal PEDs who were unsuccessfully treated with conventional medical therapy and were then treated with combined topical 20% (v/v) ASEs and silicone-hydrogel CLs. The clinical effects and effectiveness of the combined treatment were evaluated.

Differences between Gamblers and Non-Gamblers on Sports Betting Websites.

Online sports gambling is a popular recreational activity. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour as the theoretical foundation, the aim of this study was to examine for differences between gamblers and non-gamblers in terms of their attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control towards online sports gambling. 173 male students from a tertiary educational institution were recruited for this study of which 56 respondents (32%) were gamblers.

Red blood cell tension protects against severe malaria in the Dantu blood group.

Malaria has had a major effect on the human genome, with many protective polymorphisms-such as the sickle-cell trait-having been selected to high frequencies in malaria-endemic regions. The blood group variant Dantu provides 74% protection against all forms of severe malaria in homozygous individuals, a similar degree of protection to that afforded by the sickle-cell trait and considerably greater than that offered by the best malaria vaccine. Until now, however, the protective mechanism has been unknown.

Morphological and genetic characteristics of F hybrids introgressed from Brassica napus to B. rapa in Taiwan.

Background: Unintentional introgression from genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape (Brassica napus) to a relative is inevitable in the open field. A feasible and practical strategy for restricting the spread of GM offspring is to set a reasonable isolated distance between GM B. napus and the relatives.

Visual, sensitive and rapid event-specific detection of genetically modified potato EH92-527-1 by loop-mediated isothermal amplification method.

To date, studies on the application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are stably increasing and demonstrates LAMP is a potential and promising method for on spot identification of GMOs. However, little information is known for detection of GM potato events by LAMP. In this report, we developed an optimized and visual LAMP assay with high specificity and sensitivity to rapidly amplify genomic DNA of potato EH92-527-1 within 45 min.

Hydrogen Bonding-Induced Assembled Structures and Photoresponsive Behavior of Azobenzene Molecule/Polyethylene Glycol Complexes.

We investigated the self-assembled structures and photoresponsive and crystallization behaviors of supramolecules composed of 4-methoxy-4'-hydroxyazobenzene (Azo) molecules and polyethylene glycol (PEG) that were formed through hydrogen-bonding interactions. The Azo/PEG complexes exhibited the characteristics of photoresponse and crystallization, which originated from Azo and PEG, respectively. When Azo/PEG complexes were dissolved in solvents, hydrogen-bonding interaction hindered the rotation and inversion of mesogens, causing a reduction in the photoisomerization rate compared with the photoisomerization rate of the neat Azo.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a 27-year-old lady with systemic lupus erythematosus - rheumatoid arthritis overlap syndrome.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare viral demyelinating disease of central nervous system. Immunosuppression is a significant risk factor for the disease. Previously, PML developed more commonly in patients of hematological malignancy and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Factors Influencing Nurses' Use of Hazardous Drug Safe Handling Precautions.

Problem Identification: Nurses taking measures regarding the safe handling of hazardous drugs (HDs) can reduce their risk of exposure and environmental contamination. However, the findings of studies examining factors influencing the use of HD safe handling precautions by nurses have been inconsistent.

Literature Search: An integrative review of the Embase® and Scopus® electronic databases was performed.

Intralenticular foreign body: A case report and literature review.

The purpose of this manuscript was to provide a better understanding of patients with intralenticular foreign bodies (FBs) and also to review the reported cases, including clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and visual outcome. A 50-year-old male was referred to our clinic with suspected intraocular FB. Under slit-lamp examination, a full-thickness corneal wound with localized corneal edema at the temporal lower peri-limbal area was revealed.