Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of statistically-based experimental designs for the optimization of eicosapentaenoic acid production by the diatom Nitzschia laevis.

Statistically based experimental designs were applied to the optimization of medium components and environmental factors for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) production by the diatom Nitzschia laevis in heterotrophic conditions. First, the Plackett-Burman design was used to evaluate the effects of variables including medium components and environmental factors on cell growth and EPA production. Among these variables, NaCl, CaCl(2), PI metal solution, pH, and temperature were identified to have the significant effects (with confidence level > 90 %). Subsequently, the concentrations of NaCl, CaCl(2), PI metal solution as well as the values of pH and temperature were optimized using central composite design. The cell growth and EPA production were found to respectively correlate to NaCl, CaCl(2), pH, and temperature that could be represented by second-order polynomial models. The optimal values of the four parameters were determined by response surface and numerical analyses as 8 g/L NaCl, 0.10 g/L CaCl(2), pH 8.5 and 19.8 degrees C for cell dry weight (DW), and 14 g/L NaCl, 0.10 g/L CaCl(2), pH 8.5 and 18 degrees C for EPA production, respectively. The subsequent verification experiments confirmed the validity of the models. This optimization strategy led to a DW of 9 g/L, an EPA yield of 280 mg/L and an EPA productivity of 28 mg/L/d, respectively, which were considerably higher than those obtained in the previous studies.
Das Kind im Schock – Pathophysiologie, Früherkennung und Therapie

Der Schock im Kindesalter ist ein gefahrliches, oftmals todlich verlaufendes Syndrom. Pathophysiologisch ist dieser Zustand durch ein ungenugendes Sauerstoffangebot im Verhaltnis zum Verbrauch gekennzeichnet. Meistens ist dies bedingt durch eine ungenugende Funktion des Herz-Kreislauf-Systems. Ursachen konnen hypovolamische Zustande, distributive oder kardiogene Storungen sein, seltener sind Obstruktionen des kardialen Ausflusstraktes oder Storungen der Sauerstoffbindung an das Hamoglobin. Durch die resultierende Hypoxie kommt es zu einer Laktazidose. Die klinischen Leitsymptome sind gekennzeichnet durch Tachykardie, Tachypnoe und Unruhe. Es handelt sich um einen instabilen Zustand, den es fruhzeitig zu erkennen und zu behandeln gilt. Es ist deshalb wichtig sich bewusst zu sein, dass es sich um ein fortschreitendes Geschehen handelt, in dessen Verlauf es vorerst durch Kompensationsmechanismen zu erhohtem Herzminutenvolumen, warmer Peripherie und trockener Haut (warmer Schock), und erst spater zur Dekompen.
Amphiphilic conetworks as activating carriers for the enhancement of enzymatic activity in supercritical CO2

Enzymatic reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) represent a way of combining the advantages of biocatalysis with the environmental benign nature of scCO2 as a solvent. Here we demonstrate that activities of enzymes in scCO2 can be greatly enhanced by incorporating them into amphiphilic conetworks (APCNs), a novel type of enzyme support. Two sets of hydrophilic/scCO2‐philic APCNs, poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate)‐linked by‐poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PHEA‐l‐PDMS) and poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate)‐linked by‐perfluoropolyether (PHEA‐l‐PFPE), were prepared and loaded with the synthetically relevant lipase from Rhizomucor miehei. The effect of the APCNs' composition on the amount of the absorbed lipase was studied. It is observed that both sets of lipase‐loaded APCNs enhance the catalytic activity of the enzyme in scCO2. The chemical nature of the scCO2‐philic phase as well as the conetworks composition greatly influences the activity of the lipase in the conetworks. Activities obtained with PFPE‐based APCNS were up to 10‐fold higher than those obtained with PDMS‐based conetworks. The highest specific activity measured corresponds to a 2,000‐fold activation compared to the lyophilized enzyme powder. This activity is 10 times higher than the specific activity of the lipase immobilized on an optimized commercial carrier. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 19–26. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nutritional Adequacy and Diet Quality in Colorectal Cancer Patients Postsurgery: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Recent evidence has shown that an unhealthy diet is associated with a higher risk of tumor recurrence, metastasis, and death among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The aims of this study were to assess nutritional adequacy and diet quality in a group of CRC patients postsurgery and to identify possible associations between dietary and nutritional aspects and environmental factors and weight status. This was an observational study conducted on a random sample of 74 patients, aged 50–69 years. Dietary intake was evaluated utilizing a validated frequency questionnaire, and diet quality was evaluated utilizing the Healthy Eating Index for Spanish Diet and the MedDietScore. Data regarding socioeconomic, demographic, lifestyles, dietary supplements use, and body mass index were collected. Subjects followed a diet characterized by a low carbohydrate intake (94% of the cases), excessive protein (48%), high fat intake (67%), and some micronutrient deficiencies. The inadequacy of some nutrients was associated with male gender, overweight/obesity, smoking, and low educational level; and low adherence to the MedDiet was identified in those with a low educational level (adjusted odds ratio = 4.16, P < 0.05). Therefore, such patients should be an important target group when applying educational programs and giving individualized nutritional advice to improve their quality of life.
The role of glia in retinal vascular disease

Retinal vascular diseases collectively represent a leading cause of blindness. Unsurprisingly, pathological characterisation and treatment of retinal ‘vascular’ diseases have primarily focused on the aetiology and consequences of vascular dysfunction. Far less research has addressed the contribution of neuronal and glial dysfunction to the disease process of retinal vascular disorders. Ample evidence now suggests that retinal vasculopathy only uncommonly occurs in isolation, usually existing in concert with neuropathy and gliopathy. Retinal glia (Müller cells, astrocytes and microglia) have been reported to exhibit morphological and functional changes in both early and advanced phases of almost every retinal vascular disease. It is anticipated that identifying the causes of glial activation and dysfunction, and their contribution to loss of vision in retinal vascular disease, will lead to a better understanding of retinal vascular diseases, which might ultimately be translated into novel clinical therapies.
A high‐throughput screen for hyaluronic acid accumulation in recombinant Escherichia coli transformed by libraries of engineered sigma factors

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important biomaterial with functional medical and cosmetic applications. As its synthesis has been recently reported in recombinant bacteria, it is of interest to develop a high throughput screening method for the rapid isolation of HA accumulating strains transformed by combinatorial libraries. Here we report a novel two‐step screening strategy to select for better HA‐producing recombinant Escherichia coli strains transformed by mutation libraries of rpoD and rpoS, coding for the σD and σS factors of the RNA polymerase, respectively. The first screen, based on translucent colony morphology identification, was used to qualitatively distinguish HA‐producing strains on agar plates from non‐HA producing strains that exhibit dense colony morphology. The second screen was based on the photometric measurement of an alcian blue staining solution that precipitates with HA, creating an inverse relationship between HA concentration and alcian blue absorbance. The color attenuation fitted a second‐order polynomial between HA concentration and OD540 absorbance. Using the alcian blue absorbance quantification, 74 translucent colonies from the HA‐rpoD library and 78 translucent colonies from the HA‐rpoS library were isolated and cultured for optimal strain selection. Three representative superior recombinants with high, medium and low increase of HA accumulation, respectively, were identified by the screen from the HA‐rpoD and HA‐rpoS mutant library. Further flask culture confirmed that results of the library screen were reliable and the superior recombinant D72 highly accumulated HA of 561.4 mg/L with a productivity of ∼265 mg HA/g dry cell. Sequencing results showed that the mutant rpoD gene in D72 is in a truncated protein that lacks the conserved regions 3 and 4 of the σD. Generally, this two‐step high throughput screen presents a promising strategy for selecting superior HA‐producing strains from large scale mutation libraries. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 788–796. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In silico genome‐scale reconstruction and validation of the Corynebacterium glutamicum metabolic network

A genome‐scale metabolic model of the Gram‐positive bacteria Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 was constructed comprising 446 reactions and 411 metabolites, based on the annotated genome and available biochemical information. The network was analyzed using constraint based methods. The model was extensively validated against published flux data, and flux distribution values were found to correlate well between simulations and experiments. The split pathway of the lysine synthesis pathway of C. glutamicum was investigated, and it was found that the direct dehydrogenase variant gave a higher lysine yield than the alternative succinyl pathway at high lysine production rates. The NADPH demand of the network was not found to be critical for lysine production until lysine yields exceeded 55% (mmol lysine (mmol glucose)−1). The model was validated during growth on the organic acids acetate and lactate. Comparable flux values between in silico model and experimental values were seen, although some differences in the phenotypic behavior between the model and the experimental data were observed. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 583–597. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Syntrophic interactions among anode respiring bacteria (ARB) and Non‐ARB in a biofilm anode: electron balances

We demonstrate that the coulombic efficiency (CE) of a microbial electrolytic cell (MEC) fueled with a fermentable substrate, ethanol, depended on the interactions among anode respiring bacteria (ARB) and other groups of micro‐organisms, particularly fermenters and methanogens. When we allowed methanogenesis, we obtained a CE of 60%, and 26% of the electrons were lost as methane. The only methanogenic genus detected by quantitative real‐time PCR was the hydrogenotrophic genus, Methanobacteriales, which presumably consumed all the hydrogen produced during ethanol fermentation (∼30% of total electrons). We did not detect acetoclastic methanogenic genera, indicating that acetate‐oxidizing ARB out‐competed acetoclastic methanogens. Current production and methane formation increased in parallel, suggesting a syntrophic interaction between methanogens and acetate‐consuming ARB. When we inhibited methanogenesis with 50 mM 2‐bromoethane sulfonic acid (BES), the CE increased to 84%, and methane was not produced. With no methanogenesis, the electrons from hydrogen were converted to electrical current, either directly by the ARB or channeled to acetate through homo‐acetogenesis. This illustrates the key role of competition among the various H2 scavengers and that, when the hydrogen‐consuming methanogens were present, they out‐competed the other groups. These findings also demonstrate the importance of a three‐way syntrophic relationship among fermenters, acetate‐consuming ARB, and a H2 consumer during the utilization of a fermentable substrate. To obtain high coulombic efficiencies with fermentable substrates in a mixed population, methanogens must be suppressed to promote new interactions at the anode that ultimately channel the electrons from hydrogen to current. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;103: 513–523. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Viral metagenomics as an emerging and powerful tool in veterinary medicine

New diseases continue to emerge in both human and animal populations, and the importance of animals, as reservoirs for viruses that can cause zoonoses are evident. Thus, an increased knowledge of the viral flora in animals, both in healthy and diseased individuals, is important both for animal and human health. Viral metagenomics is a culture-independent approach that is used to investigate the complete viral genetic populations of a sample. This review describes and discusses the different possible steps of a viral metagenomic study utilizing sequence-independent amplification, high-throughput sequencing, and bioinformatics to identify viruses. With this technology, multiple viruses can be detected simultaneously and novel and highly divergent viruses can be discovered and genetically characterized for the first time. This review also briefly discusses the applications of viral metagenomics in veterinary science and lists some of the viruses discovered within this field.
Diagnostic tools to monitor udder health in dairy goats

This article discusses the use of somatic cell count (SCC) and bacteriological culture (BC) as monitoring tools to assess the udder health situation of dairy goats. Both SCC and BC can be applied for milk samples from individual goats or at bulk milk samples. The causative agent of primary concern in the dairy goat industry is Staphylococcus aureus. This pathogen strongly increases goat milk SCC. The SCC is therefore a useful test to detect S. aureus-infected goats. However, several non-infectious factors, most importantly the stage of lactation, also influence SCC, complicating the interpretation of this test. BC has a low sensitivity for the detection of S. aureus-infected goats, but is a valuable tool to obtain information on which bacterial species are responsible for udder health problems in a herd.
The Incidence of Occult Dysplasia of the Contralateral Hip in Children With Unilateral Hip Dysplasia

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of contralateral hip dysplasia in children with unilateral hip dysplasia. Methods: We reviewed all patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) who were evaluated at our institution until skeletal maturity (at least age 13 years). In the contralateral ("normal") hip, radiographic measurements of the acetabular angle >46 degrees, center edge angle <20 degrees, and migration index >20% were considered abnormal. Results: Of the 43 patients in the study, 18 (42%) were diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia as an infant or toddler; 8 on the initial visit, and 10 after repeated evaluations. Twenty-five patients had no evidence of contralateral hip dysplasia, even on repeated examinations. Of this group, 10 of 25 (40%) had mild acetabular dysplasia at maturity (mean center edge angle, 31 degrees; acetabular angle, 43 degrees; and migration index, 14%). No child in this group was diagnosed with significant hip dysplasia at skeletal maturity that required treatment to date. Discussion: The results of this study indicated that mild acetabular dysplasia occurs at maturity in the contralateral hip in up to 40% of patients diagnosed with unilateral DDH, even when the contralateral hip was carefully evaluated as a child. The significance of mild acetabular dysplasia is not well defined, but intermittent evaluation of the contralateral hip in children with DDH would seem prudent. Level of Evidence: IV
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor and food allergy

The immune system is important for protection against pathogens and malignant cells. However, malfunction of the immune system can also result in detrimental auto-immune diseases, inflammatory diseases, cancers and allergies. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), present in numerous tissues and cell subsets, including cells of the immune system, plays an important role in the functioning of the immune system. Activation of the AhR is for example associated with various effects on dendritic cells (DCs), regulatory T cells and the Th1/Th2 cell balance. These cells play a major role in the development of food allergy. Food allergy is an increasing health problem in both humans and animals. Despite the knowledge in risk factors and cellular mechanisms for food allergy, no approved treatments are available yet. Recently, it has been shown that activation of the AhR by dioxin-like compounds suppresses allergic sensitization by suppressing the absolute number of precursor and effector T cells, by preserving CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells and by affecting DCs and their interaction with effector T cells. Future research should elucidate whether and how AhR activation can be used to interfere in food allergic responses in humans and in animals. This may lead to new prevention strategies and therapeutic possibilities for food allergy.
Three Lateral Divergent or Parallel Pin Fixations for the Treatment of Displaced Supracondylar Humerus Fractures in Children

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of lateral or parallel pin fixation using 3 smooth Kirschner wires (K-wires) or smooth Steinmann pins for the operative management of displaced supracondylar humeral fracture in a consecutive series of children. Methods: Sixty-one consecutive displaced or angled supracondylar humeral fractures (Gartland type II or III) in children (mean age, 5 years 6 months) treated by 2 orthopaedic surgeons between 2001 and 2004 according to the following protocol: close reduction under general anesthesia with fluoroscopic guidance and only lateral percutaneous pinning using 3 divergent or parallel Kirschner wires or Steinmann pins. Minimum 2 years' follow-up was done in all 61 patients (range, 2.0-3.3 years). Clinical assessment was obtained at final follow-up using Flynn criteria, and radiologic assessment was obtained using the Baumann and lateral humerocapitellar angles of both arms. Statistical analysis was performed by means of the Student t test (P < 0.05). Results: The study group consisted of 61 patients, of whom 24 (39%) presented with Gartland type II fractures, and the remaining 37 (61%) presented with a type III fracture. A comparison of perioperative and final radiographs shows no loss of reduction of any fracture. There was also no clinically evident cubitus varus, hyperextension, or loss of motion. Eight patients had preoperative nerve palsy. Five of these nerve injuries resolved immediately after surgery, and the other 3 resolved completely within 12 weeks of surgery. After an average of 28 months postoperation, 56 (91.8%) patients had achieved an excellent clinical result, and 5 (8.2%) achieved a good result. There were no iatrogenic nerve palsies, and no patient required additional surgery. One patient had a minor pin-track infection. Conclusions: Our series demonstrates that only 3 lateral divergent or parallel pin fixations are effective and safe for avoiding iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury and are appropriate treatment options for displaced or angled supracondylar humeral fractures in children. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, level III.
Epoprostenol in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease leading to right heart failure and death in a relatively young patient population. In recent years novel PAH specific therapies have become available. Objective: To determine the place of epoprostenol in current PAH treatment strategies. Methods: An extensive Medline search was performed to evaluate the use of epoprostenol in PAH. Data from both human and animal studies were reviewed. Results/conclusion: Epoprostenol is an effective and potent treatment in pulmonary arterial hypertension and has greatly improved survival, exercise capacity, PAH symptoms, pulmonary haemodynamics and disease progression. A main disadvantage is that it can only be delivered through a continuous intravenous pump infusion.
Involvement of ATP and autoinducer‐2 in aerobic granulation

Aerobic granulation represents an important bacterium‐to‐bacterium self‐immobilization process that has been exploited for the treatment of a wide spectrum of wastewaters, but the mechanism behind still remains unclear in a microbiological sense. This study investigated the possible involvement of ATP and autoinducer‐2 (AI‐2) in aerobic granulation. Results revealed that initiation of microbial aggregation is closely associated with the ATP content of biomass, whereas AI‐2 of biomass would be essential for maturation of aerobic granules. Furthermore, it was found that the AI‐2‐associated coordination of microorganisms in microbial aggregates would be biomass density dependent. This study clearly shows the involvement of ATP and autoinducer‐2 in aerobic granulation, and may be exploited further for enhancement or prevention of microbial aggregation in general, for example, rapid granulation for wastewater treatment or inhibition of biofouling in membrane bioreactor. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;105: 51–58. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients with Heart Failure in Relation to Severity of the Clinical Features

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is a common disease that requires frequent and long hospitalizations, the active participation of health workers and family members in the care of such patients, and it leads to reduction of physical activity and lifestyle changes with the patient, which significantly affects the quality of life of patients with heart failure. OBJECTIVE: To determine the quality of life of patients with heart failure in relation to severity of the clinical features. RESPONDENTS AND METHODOLOGY: Analysis of life quality was performed for 120 patients suffering from heart failure, both genders, all age groups in relation to severity of the clinical features. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to NYHA classification of heart failure. The control group consisted of 10 subjects who do not suffer from heart failure. Assessment of quality of life was performed using the SF-36 questionnaire which consists of 8 segments classified in the dimension of physical and mental health. RESULTS: Study group consisted of 130 participants with heart failure had 66 (51%) of male, and other were females, divided into 4 NYHA groups, where every group had 30 subjects (23.1%), and one control group of 10 subjects (7.7%). The analysis of gender and age distribution within the groups found no statistically significant difference (X2=1.70; df=4; p=0.79), (ANOVA; F=0.74; p=0.57). The values of SF-36 score expressed as the median in the control and 4 NYHA groups were decreasing as the functional class progressed. The Spearman Correlation Coefficient showed that there is a strong negative correlation between the scores of SF 36 (total, segments and dimensions) and heart failure expressed through the NYHA classes. CONCLUSION: Quality of life in patients with heart failure was exacerbated and associated with severity of the clinical features.