Lignin degradeation by white rot fungi

Abstract. The wood-degrading white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium , has been the subject of intensive research in recent years and, based upon isolation of the extracellular enzyme ligninase, major advances have now been made toward elucidating the mechanism by which this fungus degrades lignin. From these developments, a model emerges which could explain the process by which wood-degrading fungi in general, attack lignin.     

Observations on the reduction of non-activated carboxylates by Clostridium formicoaceticum with carbon monoxide or formate and the influence of various viologens

Crude extracts or supernatants of broken cells of Clostridium formicoaceticum reduce unbranched, branched, saturated and unsaturated carboxylates at the expense of carbon monoxide to the corresponding alcohols. The presence of viologens with redox potentials varying from E ₀=-295 to-650 mV decreased the rate of propionate reduction. The more the propionate reduction was diminished the more formate was formed from carbon monoxide. The lowest propionate reduction and highest formate formation was observed with methylviologen. The carbon-carbon double bond of E-2-methyl-butenoate was only hydrogenated when a viologen was present. Formate as electron donor led only in the presence of viologens to the formation of propanol from propionate. The reduction of propionate at the expense of a reduced viologen can be followed in cuvettes. With respect to propionate Michaelis Menten behavior was observed. Experiments are described which lead to the assumption that the carboxylates are reduced in a non-activated form. That would be new type of biological reduction.Non-standard abbreviations glc Gas liquid chromatography - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - RP reverse phase; Mediators (the figures in parenthesis of the mediators are redox potentials E ₀ in mV) - CAV²⁺ carbamoylmethylviologen, 1,1-carbamoyl-4,4-dipyridinium dication (E ₀=-296 mV) - BV²⁺ benzylviologen, 1,1-dibenzyl-4,4-dipyridinium dication (E ₀=-360 mV) - MV methylviologen, 1,1-dimethyl-4,4-dipyridinium-dication (E ₀=-444 mV) - DMDQ²⁺ dimethyldiquat, 4,4-dimethyl-2,2-dipyridino-1,1-ethylendication (E ₀=-514 mV) - TMV²⁺ tetramethylviologen, 1,1,4,4-tetramethyl-4,4-dipyridinium dication (E ₀=-550 mV) - PDQ²⁺ propyldiquat, 2,2-dipyridino-1,1-propenyl dication (E ₀=-550 mV) - DMPDQ²⁺ dimethylpropyldiquat, 4,4-dimethyl-2,2-dipyridino-1,1-propenyl dication (E ₀=-656 mV) - PN productivity number=mmol product (obtained by the uptake of one pair of electrons) x (biocatalyst (dry weight) kg)^-1×h^-1     

Cerebrospinal Fluid Nitrite/Nitrate Levels in Neurologic Diseases

Abstract: Nitric oxide has been proposed to mediate cytotoxic effects in inflammatory diseases. To investigate the possibility that overproduction of nitric oxide might play a role in the neuropathology of inflammatory and noninflammatory neurological diseases, we compared levels of the markers of nitric oxide, nitrite plus nitrate, in the CSF of controls with those in patients with various neurologic diseases, including Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and HIV infection. We found that there were no significant increases in the CSF levels of these nitric oxide metabolites, even in patients infected with HIV or in monkeys infected with poliovirus, both of which have significantly elevated levels of the neurotoxin quinolinic acid and the marker of macrophage activation, neopterin. However, CSF quinolinic acid, neopterin, and nitrite/nitrate levels were significantly increased in a small group of patients with bacterial and viral meningitis.     

Current status and prospects of basic research and clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common and clinically devastating disease that causes respiratory failure. Morbidity and mortality of patients in intensive care units are stubbornly high, and various complications severely affect the quality of life of survivors. The pathophysiology of ARDS includes increased alveolar–capillary membrane permeability, an influx of protein-rich pulmonary edema fluid, and surfactant dysfunction leading to severe hypoxemia. At present, the main treatment for ARDS is mechanical treatment combined with diuretics to reduce pulmonary edema, which primarily improves symptoms, but the prognosis of patients with ARDS is still very poor. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are stromal cells that possess the capacity to self-renew and also exhibit multilineage differentiation. MSCs can be isolated from a variety of tissues, such as the umbilical cord, endometrial polyps, menstrual blood, bone marrow, and adipose tissues. Studies have confirmed the critical healing and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Recently, the potential of stem cells in treating ARDS has been explored via basic research and clinical trials. The efficacy of MSCs has been shown in a variety of in vivo models of ARDS, reducing bacterial pneumonia and ischemia-reperfusion injury while promoting the repair of ventilator-induced lung injury. This article reviews the current basic research findings and clinical applications of MSCs in the treatment of ARDS in order to emphasize the clinical prospects of MSCs.     

Therapeutic Potential of Clove Essential Oil in Diabetes: Modulation of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators,Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Enzyme Activities

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by insulin deficiency due to the destruction of pancreatic β cells, leading to hyperglycemia, which in turn induces vascular complications. In the current study, we investigated the effect of intraperitoneal administration of clove essential oil (CEO: 20 mg/kg body weight) on certain oxidative stress and glucose metabolism enzymes, as well as the expression of proinflammatory mediators. Administration of CEO to diabetic rats showed a significant decline in blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, and xanthine oxidase, compared to the streptozotocin group. Furthermore, these treated rats elicited a notable attenuation in the levels of lipid peroxides, and thiols groups in both liver and brain tissues. The activities of antioxidant and metabolic enzymes were reverted to normality in diabetic upon CEO administration. In addition to its protective effects on red blood cell hemolysis, CEO is a potent α-amylase inhibitor with an IC₅₀=298.0±2.75 μg/mL. Also, treatment of diabetic rats with CEO significantly reduced the iNOS expression in the spleen. Our data showed that CEO has potential beneficial effects on diabetes, which can possibly prevent the pathogenesis of diabetic micro- and macrovascular complications.     

枸橼酸托法替布片联合仙灵骨葆胶囊对类风湿性关节炎合并骨质疏松患者血清炎症细胞因子、骨强度及骨代谢水平影响

摘要 目的：探讨枸橼酸托法替布片联合仙灵骨葆胶囊对类风湿性关节炎（RA）合并骨质疏松患者血清炎症细胞因子、骨强度及骨代谢水平影响。方法：纳入2021年8月至2022年8月期间徐州医科大学附属连云港医院诊治的80例RA合并骨质疏松患者。根据随机数字表法将患者分为对照组（雷公藤多苷片联合仙灵骨葆胶囊治疗）和实验组（枸橼酸托法替布片联合仙灵骨葆胶囊治疗）,各为40例。对比两组疗效、炎症细胞因子、骨强度及骨代谢指标,观察两组不良反应发生率。结果：实验组的临床总有效率高于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组治疗后巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（M-CSF）、白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）、环氧合酶-2（COX-2）低于对照组同期（P<0.05）。实验组治疗后横截面积（CSA）、横截面转动惯量（CSMI）、截面系数（Z）、皮质厚度（CT）高于对照组同期（P<0.05）。实验组治疗后骨钙素N端中分子（N-MID）、总Ⅰ型胶原氨基端延长肽（T-PINP）、骨钙素（BGP）、Ⅰ型胶原羧基端前肽（PICP）高于对照组同期,β-胶原降解产物（β-CTX）低于对照组同期（P<0.05）。两组治疗后腰椎骨密度和股骨颈骨密度较治疗前升高,且实验组高于对照组同期（P<0.05）。两组治疗后血沉（ESR）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、类风湿关节炎患者病情（DAS28）评分下降,且实验组低于对照组同期（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率组间对比无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：枸橼酸托法替布片联合仙灵骨葆胶囊应用于RA合并骨质疏松患者,可有效调节骨代谢水平,增强骨强度,降低血清炎症细胞因子水平。     

血清SIRT1水平与射血分数保留的心力衰竭患者炎性因子、氧化应激的相关性分析及对预后的影响研究

摘要 目的：探讨血清去乙酰化酶1（SIRT1） 水平与射血分数保留的心力衰竭（HFpEF）患者炎性因子、氧化应激的相关性,分析SIRT1预测HFpEF患者预后的价值。方法：选择2019年10月至2021年6月青岛阜外心血管病医院收治的190例HFpEF患者为HFpEF组,92例心功能正常的健康体检志愿者为对照组。HFpEF患者出院后随访12个月,统计随访期间不良心血管事件发生情况,多因素Logistic回归分析HFpEF患者预后不良的影响因素。结果：HFpEF组血清SIRT1水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）,白细胞介素（IL）-6、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、丙二醛（MDA）、晚期氧化蛋白产物（AOPP）水平高于对照组（P＜0.05）。HFpEF患者血清SIRT1水平与IL-6、TNF-α、CRP、MDA、AOPP呈负相关（r=-0.496、-0.502、-0.419、-0.533、-0.542,P＜0.05）。190例患者2例失访,余188例HFpEF患者中41例预后不良,147例预后良好。预后不良组美国纽约心脏病协会（NYHA）Ⅳ级比例、IL-6、TNF-α、CRP、MDA、AOPP、N末端B型利钠肽前体（NT-proBNP）水平、左室收缩末期内径（LVEDS）、左室舒张末期内径（LVEDD）、二尖瓣舒张早期血流峰值（E）与舒张晚期血流峰值（A）（E/A）高于预后良好组（P＜0.05）,血清SIRT1水平、左心室射血分数（LVEF）低于预后良好组（P＜0.05）。高IL-6、高MDA、高NT-proBNP是HFpEF患者预后不良的危险因素（P＜0.05）,SIRT1是HFpEF患者预后不良的保护因素（P＜0.05）。结论：HFpEF患者血清SIRT1水平降低,与HFpEF患者炎症反应、氧化应激以及预后不良的发生有关,可作为HFpEF患者预后评估的辅助指标。     

肺力咳合剂辅助布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵对支气管哮喘患儿肺功能、炎症介质和免疫功能的影响

摘要 目的：探讨肺力咳合剂辅助布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵对支气管哮喘患儿肺功能、炎症介质和免疫功能的影响。方法：选择2021年2月~2022年3月期间我院小儿内科接收的76例支气管哮喘患儿。根据信封抽签法将患儿分为对照组（n=38,布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵治疗）和研究组（n=38,肺力咳合剂辅助布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵治疗）。对比两组患儿疗效、肺功能、炎症介质和免疫功能,同时记录两组治疗期间的用药安全性状况。结果：研究组的临床总有效率较对照组明显升高（P<0.05）。治疗2周后,研究组第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV₁）、用力呼气流量（PEF）、用力肺活量（FVC）高于对照组同期（P<0.05）。治疗2周后,研究组白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、C反应蛋白（CRP）低于对照组,干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗2周后,研究组CD8⁺低于对照组,CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺较对照组高（P<0.05）。不良反应发生率组间对比无差异（P>0.05）。结论：肺力咳合剂辅助布地奈德和复方异丙托溴铵治疗支气管哮喘患儿,可有效改善患儿的肺功能和免疫功能,降低炎症介质水平,疗效可靠。     

吸烟对种植体周围炎患者龈下菌群、龈沟液炎症因子和RANKL/OPG比值的影响

摘要 目的：探讨吸烟对种植体周围炎患者龈下菌群分布、龈沟液炎症因子白细胞介素-4（IL-4）、白细胞介素-5（IL-5）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、白细胞介素-8（IL-8）、白细胞介素-17（IL-17）和核因子-κB受体活化因子配体/骨保护素（RANKL/OPG）比值的影响。方法：选择2019年3月至2022年3月首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院口腔科收治的种植体周围炎患者99例（共151颗种植体）,根据是否吸烟分为吸烟组（45例,68颗种植体）和非吸烟组（54例,83颗种植体）,比较两组患者种植体牙周改良菌斑指数（mPLI）、牙龈出血指数（GBI）、种植体周围探诊深度（PPD）,采集两组龈下菌斑进行细胞培养并进行菌种鉴定,分析两组龈下菌群分布情况,比较两组龈沟液中IL-4、IL-5、IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、RANKL/OPG比值。结果：吸烟组mPLI、GBI、PPD高于不吸烟组（P＜0.05）。吸烟组厌氧菌检出率高于非吸烟组（P＜0.05）,有益菌检出率低于非吸烟组（P＜0.05）,两组需氧菌检出率比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。吸烟组龈沟液IL-4、IL-5、IL-6、IL-8、IL-17水平均高于非吸烟组（P＜0.05）。吸烟组龈沟液RANKL水平、RANKL/OPG比值高于非吸烟组（P＜0.05）,OPG水平低于非吸烟组（P＜0.05）。结论：吸烟可导致种植体周围炎患者龈下厌氧菌增加,加重炎症反应,增加牙槽骨吸收风险。     

小儿豉翘清热颗粒联合奥司他韦对急性上呼吸道感染患儿血清炎性因子和外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的影响

摘要 目的：探讨小儿豉翘清热颗粒联合奥司他韦对急性上呼吸道感染患儿血清炎性因子和外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的影响。方法：选择2019年9月至2022年1月期间合肥市第二人民医院收治的急性上呼吸道感染患儿180例。按照双色球法将患儿分为对照组和研究组,在常规治疗的基础上,对照组（给予磷酸奥司他韦颗粒治疗）和研究组（给予小儿豉翘清热颗粒联合磷酸奥司他韦颗粒治疗）,两组各为90例。对比两组疗效、临床症状缓解情况、T淋巴细胞亚群指标、炎性因子水平和不良反应发生情况。结果：研究组的临床总有效率为95.56%,高于对照组的83.33%（P<0.05）。研究组的咳嗽、发热、咽痛、鼻塞流涕等症状缓解时间均短于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗5 d后,研究组CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺高于对照组,CD8⁺低于对照组（P<0.05）,研究组血清降钙素原（PCT）、白介素6（IL-6）、血清淀粉样蛋白A（SAA）、超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率组间对比无明显差异（P>0.05）。结论：奥司他韦联合小儿豉翘清热颗粒治疗急性上呼吸道感染,可提高患儿的免疫力,降低血清PCT、IL-6、SAA、hs-CRP水平,有助于临床症状改善。