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     

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.     

Bucking the current trend in bioelectrochemical systems: a case for bioelectroanalytics

Turning wastewater directly into electricity is alluring, widespread use of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to achieve this at industrial scale appears increasingly unlikely despite intense research efforts lasting over a decade. Such endeavors have not been futile, however, and game-changing discoveries have resulted from these well-intentioned, scientifically rigorous but ultimately frustrated attempts to resolve the Waste-Energy dichotomy. The appeal of MFCs is largely of conceptual elegance rather than financial competitiveness, based on the green ideal that bacteria can be turned into cost effective bio-batteries. This notion is founded on the solid principles of extracellular electron transfer (EET), where microbes use electrodes interchangeably with other electron acceptors to generate current as a direct proxy for microbial metabolism. We contend that a nuanced understanding of EET has been restricted by focusing on device performance when in fact this information could be more beneficially channeled into addressing analytical questions pertaining to the presence and activity of microorganisms across systems of environmental and medical import, i.e. bioelectroanalytics. We discuss here relevant literature detailing bioelectrochemical systems and contrast energy-centric conclusions with observations geared towards bioelectroanalytics. We explore the expanding possibilities of bioelectroanalytics enabled by advances in genetic techniques and rooted in the concept that microbial interactions with an electrode extend to more than just cells seeking alternative electron acceptors. Our intention is to highlight alternative directions in the field and encourage researchers to harness bioelectroanalytics to address wider societal problems, in addition to addressing climate change.     

罗格列酮对2型糖尿病合并急性冠脉综合征患者血清TGF—β1及IL-1β的影响

目的：观察罗格列酮对2型糖尿病合并急性冠脉综合征患者血清转化生长因子-β1（TGF—β1）及白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）的影响。方法：116例2型糖尿病合并急性冠脉综合征患者,随机分为罗格列酮治疗组（n=58）和常规治疗组（n=58）。检测两组患者治疗前后空腹血糖、血脂及血清TGF-β1、IL-1β的变化。结果：治疗前两组患者空腹血糖、血脂及血清TGF-β1、IL-1β的水平无显著差异（P〉0．05）;治疗4月后,两组患者空腹血糖、血脂无显著差异,血清IL-1β较治疗前下降（P〈0．01）,罗格列酮组较常规治疗组下降明显,两组间差异显著（P〈0．05）;治疗后血清TGF—β1较治疗前上升（P〈0．05）,罗格列酮组与常规治疗组比较,差异显著（P〈0．05）。结论：罗格列酮能调控糖尿病合并急性冠脉综合征患者炎症介质和抗炎因子的分泌,可能具有改善动脉粥样硬化的作用。     

普济痔疮栓联合化浊解毒方保留灌肠治疗肛窦炎的疗效及对疼痛介质、免疫功能和复发率的影响

摘要 目的：探讨普济痔疮栓联合化浊解毒方保留灌肠治疗肛窦炎的疗效及对疼痛介质、免疫功能和复发率的影响。方法：选取我院2020年1月至2021年7月确诊的100例肛窦炎患者。按随机数字表法分为对照组（普济痔疮栓治疗,50例）和实验组（普济痔疮栓联合化浊解毒方保留灌肠治疗,50例）。对比两组疗效、中医证候积分、疼痛介质、免疫功能和复发率的变化情况。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2个疗程后肛门坠胀及隐痛、排便不尽感、肛门潮湿评分低于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组治疗2个疗程后CD8⁺低于对照组;CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺高于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组治疗2个疗程后前列腺素E2（PGE2）、P物质（SP）、多巴胺（DA）、五羟色胺（5-HT）低于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组治疗后4个月、6个月的复发率低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：普济痔疮栓联合化浊解毒方保留灌肠治疗肛窦炎,可促进临床症状改善,降低复发率,可能与降低疼痛介质水平和调节机体免疫功能有关。     

超声引导下髂筋膜神经阻滞联合全麻对老年股骨近端骨折患者术后血清疼痛介质PGE2、SP和认知功能及睡眠质量的影响

摘要 目的：观察超声引导下髂筋膜神经阻滞联合全麻对老年股骨近端骨折患者术后血清疼痛介质前列腺素E₂（PGE₂）、P物质（SP）和认知功能及睡眠质量的影响。方法：选取2018年8月~2021年9月期间我院收治的择期行手术治疗的老年股骨近端骨折患者80例,根据随机数字表法分为对照组（40例,常规全麻方案）和观察组（40例,超声引导下髂筋膜神经阻滞联合全麻方案）,对比两组麻醉效果、血流动力学、疼痛情况、认知功能和睡眠质量,观察不同模式麻醉下的安全性。结果：观察组的苏醒及拔管时间均短于对照组,丙泊酚使用量少于对照组（P<0.05）。两组置入喉罩时（T1）~术毕时（T3）心率（HR）先升高后下降,平均动脉压（MAP）先下降后升高（P<0.05）;观察组T1~T3时点HR低于对照组,MAP高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组术后24 h血清PGE₂、SP水平和视觉疼痛模拟量表（VAS）评分均升高,但观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组术后1 d、2 d、3 d 蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）评分较术前先下降后升高（P<0.05）;观察组术后2 d、3 d MoCA评分高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组术后1 d、2 d、3 d匹兹堡睡眠质量评估量表（PSQI）评分较术前先升高后下降（P<0.05）;观察组术后1 d、2 d、3 d PSQI评分低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率对比无差异（P>0.05）。结论：老年股骨近端骨折患者术中选用超声引导下髂筋膜神经阻滞联合全麻,镇痛效果显著,可稳定机体血流动力学,减少对认知功能和睡眠质量的影响,且安全性良好。     

Geraniol Averts Methotrexate-Induced Acute Kidney Injury via Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 and MAPK/NF-κB Pathways

Objectives: Geraniol, a natural monoterpene, is an essential oil component of many plants. Methotrexate is an anti-metabolite drug, used for cancer and autoimmune conditions; however, clinical uses of methotrexate are limited by its concomitant renal injury. This study investigated the efficacy of geraniol to prevent methotrexate-induced acute kidney injury and via scrutinizing the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1, P38MAPK/NF-κB and Bax/Bcl2/caspase-3 and -9 pathways. Methods: Male Wister rats were allocated into five groups: control, geraniol (orally), methotrexate (IP), methotrexate and geraniol (100 and 200 mg/kg). Results: Geraniol effectively reduced the serum levels of creatinine, urea and Kim-1 with an increase in the serum level of albumin when compared to the methotrexate-treated group. Geraniol reduced Keap1, escalated Nrf2 and HO-1, enhanced the antioxidant parameters GSH, SOD, CAT and GSHPx and reduced MDA and NO. Geraniol decreased renal P38 MAPK and NF-κB and ameliorated the inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10. Geraniol negatively regulated the apoptotic mediators Bax and caspase-3 and -9 and increased Bcl2. All the biochemical findings were supported by the alleviation of histopathological changes in kidney tissues. Conclusion: The current findings support that co-administration of geraniol with methotrexate may attenuate methotrexate-induced acute kidney injury.     

DNA microarray analysis of human gingival fibroblasts from healthy and inflammatory gingival tissues

In the inflammatory gingival tissues of patients with periodontitis, cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha have been detected. Gingival fibroblasts are the major constituents of gingival tissue. We recently demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from periodontopathic bacteria induces inflammatory reactions in various tissues via CD14 and/or Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in gingival tissues [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 273 (2000) 1161]. To confirm this, we examined the expression of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, CD14, TLR2, and TLR4 in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) obtained from patients with healthy or inflammatory gingiva using DNA microarray analysis. We also studied the expression levels of these proteins by flow cytometric analysis (FACS). The expression levels of all eight genes in the HGFs of the Inflammatory group were significantly higher than those in the Healthy group on DNA microarray analysis. FACS revealed that the expression levels of all eight proteins on the HGFs of the Inflammatory group were higher than those on the Healthy group. Our data indicated that these eight proteins in HGFs are involved in inflammatory conditions in the gingiva, including periodontal disease. Our results suggested that these eight proteins, in turn, act directly or indirectly on the immune response by activating host cells involved in inflammatory processes.