Ginsenoside Rg1 is an important bioactive substance, which can be extracted from Panax notoginseng roots, and the conversion of its analogue notoginsenoside R1 will improve the yield of ginsenoside ...Rg1 in the extraction. Herein, the β-xylosidase xln-DT derived from Dictyoglomus thermophilum was engineered to convert notoginsenoside R1 to ginsenoside Rg1 effectively. Five mutants of the β-xylosidase were constructed semi-rationally, then their biochemical characteristics and corresponding structural features were investigated in detail. These mutants all exhibited higher catalytic efficiency toward pNPX compared with the wild-type, which were combined with an endoxylanase to extract ginsenoside Rg1 from P. notoginseng coupled with ultrasonic-assisted technology. After the optimization of enzymes and conditions, the extraction yield of ginsenoside Rg1 obtained by mutants S160N-R333Q and S160N-R333H under the conditions of pH 5.0 and 65 °C for 30 min reached 135.2 mg g−1. This fast process, without harmful reagents, represents a promising alternative for ginsenoside Rg1 production.
Display omitted
•Semi-rational design was used to create excellent β-xylosidase mutants.•The relationship between enzymatic properties and structure was studied in detail.•β-Xylosidase conversion and double xylanases were used to extract ginsenoside Rg1.•The ultimate extraction yield of 135.2 mg g-1 was achieved after optimization.•The one-pot process is fast and sustainable without harmful reagents.
Flux synthesis is an effective method to discover large crystals of new compounds. In this paper, a solid-state reaction in Li flux produced a new nitridolithosilicate La
Ba
Li
Si
N
in the ...orthorhombic space group
(No. 63) with lattice parameters of
= 9.7263(1),
= 18.2746(2),
= 11.2929(1) Å, and
= 4. The La
Ba
Li
Si
N
exhibits a 3-D framework based on triangular clusters (3-rings) formed by vertex-sharing SiN
tetrahedra. The rare earth Pr
-doped La
Ba
Li
Si
N
emits a narrow-band red emission peaking at approximately 640 nm with a full width at half-maximum of 50 nm when excited under ultraviolet light.
To observe the correlation between analgesic effect and duration of analgesic effect of superficial needling for shoulder pain of shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) after stroke, so as to screen the best ...time period of analgesia.
A total of 120 patients with SHS after stroke (stage I) were recruited and superficial needling therapy was applied. Two obvious tenderness points on the affected shoulder of patients were found out. The site 80–100 mm down each tenderness point was selected for superficial needling. Bimanual needling technique was applied after inserting needles. The surrounding of tenderness points was pinched and grasped by left hand above the needling, and the technique of green dragon swaying tail was applied by right hand. The needles at each acupoint were manipulated for 3 min and retained for 30 min. The analgesic effect was evaluated dynamically by visual analogue scale (VAS) in 120 patients before treatment, immediately after treatment, 30 min after treatment, 1 h after treatment and 24 h after treatment. The analgesic effects at different time were statistically analyzed by generalized estimating equation.
The mean values of VAS were 7.483, 3.950, 4.767, 5.917 and 7.217, respectively, before treatment, immediately after treatment, 30 min after treatment, 1 h after treatment and 24 h after treatment. The difference of analgesic effect at different time was statistically significant (P<0.01); the difference of analgesic effect of superficial needling in treatment of SHS after stroke was significant between immediately after treatment and 30 min after treatment (both P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between 1 h after treatment and 24 h after treatment (both P>0.05).
Analgesic effect of superficial needling for shoulder pain of SHS after stroke was different at different time points and decreased over time; analgesic effect was the most significant immediately after treatment and the optimal duration of analgesic effect was from immediately to 30 min after superficial needling therapy.
Display omitted
•A 3D graphene aerogels–mesoporous silica materials were successfully fabricated.•The novel materials exhibited superior absorption capacity for four phenols even though at low or ...trace concentrations.•The low-cost and environmental friendly adsorbent with highly removal efficiency could be applied to the real wastewater.
Three-dimensional (3D) graphene aerogels–mesoporous silica (GAs–MS) frameworks were successfully fabricated. The interconnected macropores were obtained from hydrothermally assembled 3D GAs, while the mesopores were generated by the silica uniformly grown on the surface of graphene. The resulting GAs–MS exhibited narrow mesopore size distribution (1.87nm), high surface area (1000.80m2g−1), and hierarchical macro- and mesoporous structures. These wonderful features made GAs–MS as a promising adsorbent for the removal of hazardous phenols from wastewater. The adsorption study implied that the novel materials exhibited superior adsorption capacity of phenols to such as phenol, catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone, with removal efficiencies of 68.6%, 86.6%, 91.1% and 94.7%, respectively.
Neurological examination remains a fundamental step in the care of patients with neurological disorders. However, studies evaluating the feasibility and validity of neurological examination in ...rabbits are limited. In this study, postural reaction tests or methods commonly performed in dogs and cats were evaluated in clinically healthy rabbits, and we aimed to postulate a simplified examination list according to the results. The feasibility and validity of each test were determined and screened using a cut-off value of 90%. For the remaining tests/methods, the response rates of tests with similar neuroanatomical pathways were compared. Among the 34 healthy rabbits tested, one method of the hopping reaction (holding then lowering the rabbit quickly towards the floor with only the tested limb touching the ground), the hemi-walking test, the wheelbarrowing test, and the righting response yielded a feasibility and validity of over 90%. When comparing tests/methods with similar neuroanatomical pathways, the normal response rate of the hopping reaction was comparable to that of the hemi-walking test. We conclude that in healthy rabbits, hopping reaction tests using the method mentioned above, hemi-walking, wheelbarrowing, and righting responses are likely to be feasible postural reaction tests that yield consistent and normal responses.
The electromagnetic enhancement mechanism of deep ultraviolet surface-enhanced fluorescence (DUV-SEF) was systematically studied theoretically for a molecule placed at the center of the aluminum (Al) ...nanospheres dimer. The enhanced local excitation field, fluorescence quantum yield and corresponding fluorescence enhancement were calculated in detail with finite element method (FEM). The simulation results reveal that Al nanospheres dimer can provide the strong hotspot for SEF detection in the DUV region. The excitation filed enhancement, quantum yield and fluorescence enhancement are sensitive to the dimer distance at the nanogap of two nanospheres. It was found that the stronger excitation filed enhancement with a small Al to Al distance can significantly compensate the decrease to the quantum yield, and thus lead to the larger fluorescence enhancement at smaller distance. The maximum fluorescence enhancement factor can reach as high as 4 orders at the distance of 1 nm under the excitation wavelength of 200 nm. Our studies can improve the understanding of underlying enhancement mechanism in DUV-SEF effect and further expand its applications in the DUV region.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been the standard treatment for locally advanced breast cancer for the purpose of downstaging or for conversion from mastectomy to breast conservation surgery ...(BCS). Locoregional recurrence (LRR) rate is still high after NAC. The aim of this study was to determine predictive factors for LRR in breast cancer patients in association with the operation types after NAC.
Between 2005 and 2017, 1047 breast cancer patients underwent BCS or mastectomy after NAC in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou. We obtained data regarding patient and tumor characteristics, chemotherapy regimens, clinical tumor response, tumor subtypes and pathological complete response (pCR), type of surgery, and recurrence.
The median follow-up time was 59.2 months (range 3.13-186.75 months). The mean initial tumor size was 4.89 cm (SD ± 2.95 cm). Of the 1047 NAC patients, 232 (22.2%) achieved pCR. The BCS and mastectomy rates were 41.3% and 58.7%, respectively. One hundred four patients developed LRR (9.9%). Comparing between patients who underwent BCS and those who underwent mastectomy revealed no significant difference in the overall LRR rate of the two groups, 8.8% in BCS group vs 10.7% in mastectomy group (p = 0.303). Multivariate analysis indicated that independent factors for the prediction of LRR included clinical N2 status, negative estrogen receptor (ER), and failure to achieve pCR. In subgroups of multivariate analysis, only negative ER was the independent factor to predict LRR in mastectomy group (p = 0.025) and hormone receptor negative/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HR-/HER2 +) subtype (p = 0.006) was an independent factor to predict LRR in BCS patients. Further investigation according to the molecular subtype showed that following BCS, non-pCR group had significantly increased LRR compared with the pCR group, in HR-/HER2 + subtype (25.0% vs 8.3%, p = 0.037), and HR-/HER2- subtype (20.4% vs 0%, p = 0.002).
Clinical N2 status, negative ER, and failure to achieve pCR after NAC were independently related to the risk of developing LRR. Operation type did not impact on the LRR. In addition, the LRR rate was higher in non-pCR hormone receptor-negative patients undergoing BCS comparing with pCR patients.
Display omitted
•We have developed a photoluminescence maintenance strategy that GQDs are modified by scandium ions (Sc@GQDs).•The prepared Sc@GQDs own better fluorescent properties than pristine ...GQDs in aqueous solution containing heavy metal ions.•This strategy possesses the universality for other metal ions, such as Ga3+ and Al3+.•Sc@GQDs show great potential in the applications of fluorescent flexible device and fluorescent ink.
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have shown growing potential in the applications of ion detection, anti-counterfeiting ink and light-emitting devices. However, the photoluminescence (PL) properties of GQDs will be lost when they interact with some heavy metal ions. Effective strategies to improve PL stability are still limited. In this work, we prepared a new kind of GQDs modified by scandium ions (Sc3+) to improve the PL of GQDs in aqueous solution containing heavy metal ions. The Sc3+ modified GQDs (Sc@GQDs) show a slight fluorescence enhancement compared with pristine GQDs. In addition, the PL of pristine GQDs could be quenched by Fe3+/Cu2+/Cr3+, while the PL of Sc@GQDs was kept stable with these heavy metal ions. Meanwhile, GQDs modified by Al3+ and Ga3+ exhibit similar results, which further verifies the universality of this method that GQDs modified by specific metal ions to maintain the PL of GQDs with heavy metal ions. As applications, Sc@GQDs may have great potential in the fields of fluorescent flexible device and fluorescent ink.
Background
Environmental pollutants, which coexist with allergens, have been associated with the exacerbation of asthma. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. We sought to ...determine whether benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) co‐exposure with dermatophagoides group 1 allergen (Der f 1) can potentiate Der f 1‐induced asthma and its underlying mechanisms.
Methods
The effect of BaP was investigated in Der f 1‐induced mouse model of asthma, including airway hyper‐responsiveness, allergic inflammation, and epithelial‐derived cytokines. The impact of BaP on Der f 1‐induced airway epithelial cell oxidative stress (ROS) and cytokine release was further analyzed. The role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling in BaP‐promoted Der f 1‐induced ROS, cytokine production, and allergic inflammation was also investigated.
Results
Compared with Der f 1, BaP co‐exposure with Der f 1 led to airway hyper‐responsiveness and increased lung inflammation in mouse model of asthma. Increased expression of TSLP, IL‐33, and IL‐25 was also found in the airways of these mice. Moreover, BaP co‐exposure with Der f 1 activated AhR signaling with increased expression of AhR and CYP1A1 and promoted airway epithelial ROS generation and TSLP and IL‐33, but not IL‐25, expression. Interestingly, AhR antagonist CH223191 or cells with AhR knockdown abrogated the increased expression of ROS, TSLP, and IL‐33. Furthermore, ROS inhibitor N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC) also suppressed BaP co‐exposure‐induced expression of epithelial TSLP, IL‐33, and IL‐25. Finally, AhR antagonist CH223191 and NAC inhibited BaP co‐exposure with Der f 1‐induced lung inflammation.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that BaP facilitates Der f 1‐induced epithelial cytokine release through the AhR‐ROS axis.
Compared with Der f 1 alone, BaP and Der f 1 co‐exposure leads to airway hyperresponsiveness and increases Th2‐associated lung inflammation in mouse model of asthma. AhR signaling plays a critical role in BaP and Der f 1 co‐exposure‐induced oxidative stress and cytokine expression in airway epithelial cells. The AhR‐ROS axis regulates BaP and Der f 1 co‐exposure‐induced epithelial cytokine expression and allergic inflammation. AhR: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; BaP: benzo(a)pyrene; CLRs: C‐type lectin receptors; HDM: house dust mite; PAR2: protease‐activated receptor 2; ROS: reactive oxygen species.
PDF
