Alternative Heterologous Expression of l -Arabinose Isomerase from Enterococcus faecium DBFIQ E36 By Residual Whey Lactose Induction

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Alternative Heterologous Expression of l -Arabinose Isomerase from Enterococcus faecium DBFIQ E36 By Residual Whey Lactose Induction Via Latest Results for Molecular Biotechnology Abstract This study reports an alternative strategy for the expression of a recombinant l-AI from Enterococcus faecium DBFIQ E36 by auto-induction using glucose and glycerol as carbon sources and residual whey lactose as inducer agent. Commercial lactose and isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) were also evaluated as inducers for comparison of enzyme expression levels. The enzymatic extracts were purified by affinity chromatography, characterized, and applied in the bioconversion of d-galactose into d-tagatose. l-AI presented a catalytic activity of 1.67 ± 0.14, 1.52 ± 0.01, and 0.7 ± 0.04 U/mL, when expressed using commercial lactose, lactose from whey, and IPTG, respectively. Higher activities could be obtained by changing the protocol of enzyme extraction and, for instance, the enzymatic extract produced with whey presented a catalytic activity of 3.8 U/mL. The sp ecific activity of the enzyme extracts produced using lactose (commercial or residual whey) after enzyme purification was also higher when compared to the enzyme expressed with IPTG. Best results were achieved when enzyme expression was conducted using 4 g/L of residual whey lactose for 11 h. These results proved the efficacy of an alternative and economic protocol for the effective expression of a recombinant l-AI aiming its high-scale production. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Rare case of adult intestinal hypoganglionosis and review of the literature

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Rare case of adult intestinal hypoganglionosis and review of the literature Via Latest Results for Clinical Journal of Gastroenterology Abstract Intestinal hypoganglionosis is a rare condition in adults. We report a case of intestinal hypoganglionosis in the mid-distal transverse colon to splenic flexure in a 65-year-old female patient presenting with altered bowel habit and abdominal distension, and reviewed the current literature on this topic. Our patient had a medical history of neurofibromatosis type 1. A preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a grossly dilated transverse colon without obstruction. A laparotomy for subtotal colectomy was performed, with histopathology demonstrating intestinal hypoganglionosis. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The parameters of gait analysis related to ambulatory and balance functions in hemiplegic stroke patients: a gait analysis study

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader The parameters of gait analysis related to ambulatory and balance functions in hemiplegic stroke patients: a gait analysis study Via Latest Results for BMC Neurology Abstract Background Ambulatory and balance functions are important for maintaining general health in humans. Gait analysis allows clinicians and researchers to identify the parameters to be focused on when assessing balance and ambulatory functions. In this study, we performed gait analysis with pressure sensors to identify the gait-analysis parameters related to balance and ambulatory functions in hemiplegic stroke patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 102 patients with hemiplegic stroke who underwent gait analysis. Correlations between various temporospatial parameters in the gait analysis and the motor and balance functions assessed using functional ambulation category, modified Barthel index, and Berg balance scale were analyzed. Results Gait speed/height and the lower-limb stance-phase time/height were the only temporal and spatial parameters, respectively, that showed a statistical correlation with motor and balance functions. Conclusions Measurements of walking speed and stance-phase time of the unaffected lower limb can allow clinicians to easily assess the ambulatory and balance functions of hemiplegic stroke patients. Rehabilitative treatment focusing on increasing gait speed and shortening the stance-phase time of the unaffected side may improve the ambulatory and balance functions in these patients. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Self-efficacy beliefs mediate the association between pain intensity and pain interference in acute/subacute whiplash-associated disorders

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Self-efficacy beliefs mediate the association between pain intensity and pain interference in acute/subacute whiplash-associated disorders Via Latest Results for European Spine Journal Abstract Purpose To evaluate whether a set of pre-accident demographic, accident-related, post-accident treatment and psychosocial factors assessed in people with acute/subacute whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) mediate the association between pain intensity and: (1) pain interference and (2) expectations of recovery, using Bayesian networks (BNs) analyses. This study also explored the potential mediating pathways (if any) between different psychosocial factors. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 173 participants with acute/subacute WAD. Pain intensity, pain interference, pessimism, expectations of recovery, pain catastrophizing, and self-efficacy beliefs were assessed. BN analyses were conducted to analyse the mediating effects of psychological factors on the association between pain intensity and pain-related outcomes. Results The results revealed that self-efficacy beliefs partially mediated the association between pain intensity and pain interference. Kinesiophobia partially mediated the association between self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing. Psychological factors did not mediate the association between pain intensity and expectations of recovery. Conclusion These results indicate that individuals with acute/subacute WAD may present with lesser pain interference associated with a determined pain intensity value when they show greater self-efficacy beliefs. As the cross-sectional nature of this study limits firm conclusions on the causal impact, researchers are encouraged to investigate the role that patient's self-efficacy beliefs play in the transition to chronic WAD via longitudinal study designs. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Cancer cell-intrinsic STING is associated with CD8 + T-cell infiltration and might serve as a potential immunotherapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Cancer cell-intrinsic STING is associated with CD8 + T-cell infiltration and might serve as a potential immunotherapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma Via Latest Results for Clinical and Translational Oncology Abstract Purpose The activation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway triggers the antitumor immunity by CD8 + T cells. However, the differentiated antitumor effects of STING activation in different cell types is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the expression and potential prognostic value of cancer cell-intrinsic STING in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and whether STING could be a potential immunotherapeutic target of HCC was then evaluated. Methods We separately assessed the expression of STING in cancer cells and infiltrating immune cells in HCC tissues. The independent clinicopathological factors associated with survival outcomes were evaluated by the multivariable analysis. The HCC orthotopic mice model were used to confirm the immunotherapeutic effects of STING agonists, and CD8 + T-cell infiltration level was analyzed through immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Results The expression of cancer cell-intrinsic STING was significantly reduced in HCC compared with adjacent tissues. Patients with low levels of cancer cell-intrinsic STING expression was associated with increased tumor volume (P = 0.009), higher serum AFP levels (P = 0.028), and decreased CD8 + T-cell infiltration (P = 0.002). Low levels of cancer cell-intrinsic STING expression indicated a poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that low levels of cancer cell-intrinsic STING expression was an independent prognostic factor. Additionally, cancer cell-intrinsic STING expression was positively related with CD8 + T-cell infiltration levels in HCC patients (r = 0.308; P = 0.001). When mice with orthotopic HCC tumors treated with STING agonists, tumor growth was significantly reduced with enhanced levels of CD8 + T-cell infiltration. Conclusion Cancer cell-intrinsic STING might affect HCC tumor progression through enhancing CD8 + T-cell infiltration and can be an immunotherapeutic target for HCC. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Effects of a high-volume static stretching programme on plantar-flexor muscle strength and architecture

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Effects of a high-volume static stretching programme on plantar-flexor muscle strength and architecture Via Latest Results for European Journal of Applied Physiology Abstract Purpose Static stretching (SS) is performed in various settings, but there is no consensus about the effects of SS programmes on changes in muscle morphofunction. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a high-volume SS programme on muscle strength and architecture. Methods Sixteen healthy young male adults participated, and the dominant leg was defined as the intervention side, with the non-dominant leg as the control side. Stretching exercises were performed two times per week (6 sets of 5 min, totally 30 min per session,) for 5-week using a stretching board under the supervision of the research team. Before and after SS intervention programme, plantar-flexor strength (maximum voluntary isometric contraction, MVC-ISO; maximum voluntary concentric contraction, MVC-CON) and architecture (muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length) were measured via dynamometer and ultrasound, respectively. Results Following the SS-training programme, significant increases were observed for stretching side in MVIC-ISO at neutral ankle position (p = 0.02, d = 0.31, Δ = 6.4 ± 9.9%) and MVC-CON at 120°/s (p = 0.02, d = 0.30, Δ = 7.8 ± 9.1%), with no significant change on the control side. There was no significant change in any measure of muscle architecture for both intervention and control sides. Conclusion Five-week high-volume SS induced positive changes on some measures of muscle strength but not hypertrophy of plantar-flexor muscles. Even with a volume much greater than already tested, the low strain offered by the SS per set seems be insufficient to induce architectural changes on skeletal muscle. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Deep venous thrombosis and abortion: an unusual clinical manifestation of severe form of pectus excavatum

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Deep venous thrombosis and abortion: an unusual clinical manifestation of severe form of pectus excavatum Via Latest Results for General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Abstract Pectus excavatum is a chest wall malformation with a strong psychological and aesthetic impact. Rarely, pectus excavatum patients can show respiratory or cardiac symptoms occurring mainly during physical exertion. We report a case of a 34-year-old pregnant woman with a severe degree of pectus excavatum who developed serious cardiovascular disease resulting in spontaneous twin abortion at the twenty-first week of gestation. Cardiovascular disease was resolved after open surgical correction of pectus excavatum. This case shows how a tardive diagnosis and a delayed surgical approach for pectus excavatum can lead to severe consequences. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.