Ethanol production from starch by immobilized Aspergillus awamori and Saccharomyces pastorianus using cellulose carriers

A simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process was investigated to produce ethanol using two kinds of cellulose carriers that were respectively suitable for immobilization of Aspergillus awamori and Saccharomyces pastorianus. The maximum ethanol concentration attained by the batch operation was 25.5 g l⁻¹. Under suitable conditions, both cellulose carriers with immobilized cells could be reused efficiently for three cycles. The total amount of ethanol production was 66.0 g (per 1 l working volume) after the repeated operation. Ethanol productivity mainly depends on a saccharification process. There is a limit in durability in the repeated batch operation, and it is important to maintain high activity of the fungus in order to produce ethanol efficiently. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 27, 52–57. Received 11 December 2000/ Accepted in revised form 02 June 2001     

The reverse operation of Na+/Cl−‐coupled neurotransmitter transporters – why amphetamines take two to tango

Sodium‐chloride coupled neurotransmitter transporters achieve reuptake of their physiological substrate by exploiting the pre‐existing sodium‐gradient across the cellular membrane. This terminates the action of previously released substrate in the synaptic cleft. However, a change of the transmembrane ionic gradients or specific binding of some psychostimulant drugs to these proteins, like amphetamine and its derivatives, induce reverse operation of neurotransmitter:sodium symporters. This effect eventually leads to an increase in the synaptic concentration of non‐exocytotically released neurotransmitters [and – in the case of the norepinephrine transporters, underlies the well‐known indirect sympathomimetic activity]. While this action has long been appreciated, the underlying mechanistic details have been surprisingly difficult to understand. Some aspects can be resolved by incorporating insights into the oligomeric nature of transporters, into the nature of the accompanying ion fluxes, and changes in protein kinase activities.     

Pathway of ammonia assimilation in illuminated Lemna minor

Plants of duckweed (Lemna minor) were grown under constant illumination and with a controlled supply of ammonium-N so as to maintain a constant low concentration. In two kinetic experiments (differing in illumination and N level) with ¹⁵N-ammonia, plants were periodically harvested and their free amino acids analysed for ¹⁵N abundance. Attempts were then made to fit the data by computer simulation models. Only models which had at least two or more intracellular compartments gave adequate fits. Two two-compartment models were tested fully. Both had in compartment 1 the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase cycle and in compartment 2 a second site of glutamine synthesis. In one model the glutamate for compartment 2 was derived by transport from compartment 1; in the second model it was synthesized from ammonia by glutamate dehydrogenase at a rate equivalent to 10% of the total N uptake. This second model was rejected after it was found that plants previously treated with methionine sulphoximine and aza-serine (inhibitors of the glutamate synthase cycle) were unable to incorporate ¹⁵N. In spite of wide differences in labelling pattern between the two experiments the first model gave acceptable fits to both when different pool sizes were allowed for. Operation of the glutamate synthase cycle was confirmed by the correspondence between model and data for labelling of glutamine amide, glutamine amino and glutamic acid. Consideration of enzyme distributions suggested that compartment 1 (the glutamate synthase system) is the chloroplasts and compartment 2 the cytosol. Analysis of asparagine and neutral amino acids made it possible to construct balance sheets for N uptake in the two experiments. They suggest that all glutamine synthesized in the chloroplast is used for glutamate and asparagine synthesis and that the cytosol enzyme meets the need of the cell for glutamine per se. The high turnover rates for asparagine indicate that this compound is an important intermediate even under steady state conditions, and carries between 20 and 50% of the products of N assimilation.     

Metformin attenuates post-epidural fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad3 and HMGB1/TLR4 signaling pathways

Excessive post-epidural fibrosis is a common cause of recurrent back pain after spinal surgery. Though various treatment methods have been conducted, the safe and effective drug for alleviating post-epidural fibrosis remains largely unknown. Metformin, a medicine used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been noted to relieve fibrosis in various organs. In the present study, we aimed to explore the roles and mechanisms of metformin in scar formation in a mouse model of laminectomy. Post-epidural fibrosis developed in a mouse model of laminectomy by spinous process and the T12-L2 vertebral plate with a rongeur. With the administration of metformin, post-epidural fibrosis was reduced, accompanied with decreased collagen and fibronectin in the scar tissues. Mechanistically, metformin decreased fibronectin and collagen deposition in fibroblast cells, and this effect was dependent on the HMGB1/TLR4 and TGF-β1/Smad3 signalling pathways. In addition, metformin influenced the metabolomics of the fibroblast cells. Taken together, our study suggests that metformin may be a potential option to mitigate epidural fibrosis after laminectomy.     

PhyloSuite: An integrated and scalable desktop platform for streamlined molecular sequence data management and evolutionary phylogenetics studies

Multigene and genomic data sets have become commonplace in the field of phylogenetics, but many existing tools are not designed for such data sets, which often makes the analysis time‐consuming and tedious. Here, we present PhyloSuite , a (cross‐platform, open‐source, stand‐alone Python graphical user interface) user‐friendly workflow desktop platform dedicated to streamlining molecular sequence data management and evolutionary phylogenetics studies. It uses a plugin‐based system that integrates several phylogenetic and bioinformatic tools, thereby streamlining the entire procedure, from data acquisition to phylogenetic tree annotation (in combination with iTOL). It has the following features: (a) point‐and‐click and drag‐and‐drop graphical user interface; (b) a workplace to manage and organize molecular sequence data and results of analyses; (c) GenBank entry extraction and comparative statistics; and (d) a phylogenetic workflow with batch processing capability, comprising sequence alignment (mafft and macse ), alignment optimization (trimAl, HmmCleaner and Gblocks), data set concatenation, best partitioning scheme and best evolutionary model selection (PartitionFinder and modelfinder ), and phylogenetic inference (MrBayes and iq‐tree ). PhyloSuite is designed for both beginners and experienced researchers, allowing the former to quick‐start their way into phylogenetic analysis, and the latter to conduct, store and manage their work in a streamlined way, and spend more time investigating scientific questions instead of wasting it on transferring files from one software program to another.     

罗哌卡因腰麻联合硬膜外麻醉在剖宫产手术中的应用效果

目的:探讨罗哌卡因腰麻联合硬膜外麻醉在剖宫产手术中的应用效果及安全性,为妇科手术麻醉提供可借鉴的方法。方法:对我院于2012年2月至2013年2月期间收治的100例行剖宫产术患者,均于腰硬联合麻醉方式下进行手术,按照随机数字表法,分为观察组50例与对照组50例,分别使用甲磺酸罗哌卡因与盐酸布比卡因进行麻醉,观察与对比两组患者的麻醉效果与不良反应。结果:观察组患者的运动阻滞起效时间、运动阻滞维持时间均显著低于对照组患者,差异存在统计学意义(P0.05);观察组患者与对照组患者在不良反应方面比较,差异不存在统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:罗哌卡因腰麻联合硬膜外麻醉在剖宫产手术中,产生的麻醉效果快速,且安全可靠性有保障,具备临床推广应用的价值。     

宫腔镜手术对剖宫产瘢痕缺陷所致月经异常患者的临床疗效观察

目的:研究宫腔镜手术(hysteroscope operation,HO)对剖宫产瘢痕缺陷(Cesarean scar defect,CSD)所致月经异常(abnormal menstruation,AM)病患的临床疗效。方法:选择我院2009年7月-2013年7月收治的200例CSD所致AM病患进行观察,以数字法随机分2组。观察组(100例)给予HO治疗,对照组(100例)实施保守疗法。比较两组病患月经持续时间,月经流血量以及疗效情况。结果:观察组月经持续时间为(6.65±1.18)d,月经流血量为(63.24±10.49)mL,较对照组的(8.63±1.08)d,(81.62±11.52)ml,明显更低;观察组显效率为72.00%(72/100),总有效率为90.00%(90/100);较对照组的51.00%(51/100),74.00%(74/100),明显更高;差异均具有统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论:HO治疗CSD所致AM病患疗效显著,值得临床推广。     

后腹腔镜下保留肾单位肾部分切除术后肾功能的影响因素分析

目的:分析后腹腔镜下保留肾单位肾部分切除术后患肾肾功能的影响因素。方法:回顾性分析2011年5月~2013年10月本院收治的45例行后腹腔镜下肾部分切除术肾癌患者的临床资料,采用99mTc-DTPA肾核素扫描评估术前及术后3月术侧肾的肾小球滤过率(GFR)。结果:手术时间100~240min,平均(135±33.21)min。肾动脉阻断时间(20.01±7.35)min,肿瘤大小(3.05±1.24)cm。术前及术后3月术肾GFR分别是(46.53±6.35)、(32.22±4.65)ml/min。术侧肾术后GFR下降(15.36±2.36)ml/min,与术前相比下降约34%。经随访1月-2年,无复发及转移病例,患者全部无瘤生存。影响手术前后血肌酐水平变化的相关因素主要为手术时间、阻断时间、气流量、术中失血量(P0.05);影响手术前后GFR水平变化的相关因素主要为阻断时间、气流量、手术时间(P0.01)。术前肾功能情况、缺血时间和肿瘤最大径是术侧肾功能下降程度的独立预测因子;术前肾功能情况和肿瘤最大径是总体肾功能下降程度的独立预测因子。结论:后腹腔镜下保留肾单位肾部分切除术后患肾肾功能的影响因素包括术前肾功能、手术时间、肾动脉阻断时间、气流量、术中失血量、肿瘤大小等。     

超声介入治疗常见妇科囊性炎症包块的疗效评价

目的：比较超声引导介入治疗盆腔脓肿、输卵管积脓、输卵管积液、包裹性积液及宫颈囊肿的,临床效果,了解超声引导介入治疗常见的妇科囊性炎症包块的临床价值。方法：选取我院妇科门诊2007年1月～2011年3月收治的常见妇科囊性炎症包块共108例,其中盆腔脓肿11例、输卵管积脓19例、输卵管积液43例、盆腔包裹性积液31例、宫颈囊肿4例,给予超声实时引导抽囊液、甲硝唑冲洗治疗,治疗后3个月内复查超声评价和比较疗效。结果：盆腔脓肿、输卵管积脓、盆腔包裹性积液包块均明显缩小（12／43）或消失（29／43）,治疗有效率100％;输卵管积液包块治疗有效率95％（41／43）,宫颈囊肿均痊愈。各组间比较无统计学差异（P〉O．05）。结论：超声引导介入治疗对输卵管积脓、盆腔脓肿、盆腔包裹性积液均有显著的疗效,且治疗效果无差异,值得推广应用,代替传统的非必要的手术治疗。