Activity

Production of an extracellular thermophilic and alkali stable laccase from Phoma herbarum isolate KU4 was reported for the first time, both in submerged fermentation (SmF, highest 1590 U/mL) and solid state fermentation (SSF, highest 2014.21 U/mL) using agro-industrial residues. The laccase was partially purified to 7.93 fold with the apparent molecular weight of 298 kDa. The enzyme had pH optimum at 5.0 and temperature optimum at 50 °C, with maximum stability at pH 8.0. It showed activity towards various phenolic and non-phenolic compounds. The kinetic parameters, Km, Vmax and Kcat of the laccase for DMP were 0.216 mM, 270.27 U/mg and 506.69 s-1, respectively. Laccase activity was inhibited by various metal ions and conventional inhibitors, however, it was slightly increased by Zn2+. The laccase showed good decolorization efficiency towards four industrial dyes, namely, methyl violet (75.66%), methyl green (65%), indigo carmine (58%) and neutral red (42%) within 24 h. FTIR analysis of the decolorized products confirmed the degradation of the dyes. The decolorization efficiency of the enzyme suggests that the partially purified laccase could be used to decolorize synthetic dyes present in industrial effluents and for waste water treatments. The thermophilic and alkali stable laccase may also have wider potential industrial applications.

Although there has been progress in improving endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), patients undergoing ESS are still at risk of postoperative bleeding. Little attention has been given to identifying specific risk factors for postoperative bleeding after ESS to treat chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

The aim of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors associated with postoperative bleeding in patients who underwent ESS to treat CRS.

Six hundred and five patients with CRS who underwent ESS between 2017 and 2020 were included in this retrospective analysis. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to assess the association between the incidence of postoperative bleeding and the background characteristics.

Out of 605 ESSs, 36 (6.0%) patients developed postoperative bleeding. Multiple logistic regression revealed that the use of antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant drugs, the presence of hypertension and the Lund-Mackay CT score were significantly correlated with the occurrence of postoperative bleeding.

Postoperative bleeding is a common complication following ESS. The risk factors for postoperative bleeding were as follows the use of antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant drugs, hypertension and the Lund-Mackay CT score.

Postoperative bleeding is a common complication following ESS. The risk factors for postoperative bleeding were as follows the use of antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant drugs, hypertension and the Lund-Mackay CT score.Intranasal drug delivery system has been proposed as an alternative delivery system to target agomelatine (AGO) to the brain and improving its bioavailability. Mucoadhesive egg lecithin nanoemulsions were optimized using D-optimal design and by investigating the effect of four independent variables oil concentration (A), chitosan concentration (B), type of oil (C) and egg lecithin oil (D). The responses of globule size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and drug content were evaluated. The optimized agomelatine mucoadhesive nanoemulsion (AGO MNE) with a desirability value of 0.856 was subjected to further investigations for mucoadhesion, in vitro diffusion, transmission electron microscopy and in vivo biodistribution. It showed significantly successful distribution to the brain, the optimized AGO MNE intranasal gave a brain targeting efficiency (BTE) of 278.71% indicating increased drug brain targeting by the nasal route compared with the intravenous route. Additionally, the optimized AGO MNE by intranasal had a direct transport percentage (DTP) of 64.109%, which indicates a significant contribution of the direct nose-to-brain pathway in the brain drug delivery. The study proposed egg lecithin mucoadhesive nanoemulsion as a successful and promising strategy to directly and efficiently deliver drug to the brain.EBV is the most prevalent cause of infection-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (IAHLH), non-EBV IAHLH is observed clinically but less documented. We conducted a retrospective research enrolled 36 cases from 1/1/2015 to 31/12/2019. Intriguingly, 92% cases were immunocompetent individuals prior to the onset of HLH. Clinically, the cardinal features were prolonged high fever, splenomegaly and hemophagocytosis. Bicytopenia occurred in most patients, besides, liver dysfunction was characterized by increased transaminase, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Immunomodulatory agents should be added to control the overwhelming inflammatory storm without delay. Once a certain pathogen was identified as the causative factor of HLH, cytotoxic agents were withdrawn, specific pathogen-directed treatment was initiated. Further, glucocorticoids were tapered off when a stable state of HLH was achieved. After treatment, about 70% patients were fully recovered without relapse. All in all, non-EBV IAHLH is a special group of HLH with admirable outcome.

Respiratory muscle weakness is common in patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMD). buy SR-4370 This puts them at risk for dysphagia and other pulmonary complications.

To investigate the relationship between pulmonary function and swallowing in NMD.

In this cross-sectional study, medical records of patients undergoing treatment at the Tertiary Referral Center for Neuromuscular Diseases of Hospital de Apoio de Brasília, Brazil, were reviewed. Respiratory function was assessed through spirometry (FVC and FEV1 measured) and swallowing assessed by the Dysphagia Risk Evaluation Protocol and the Functional Oral Intake Scale.

Two hundred and twenty-two patients were included. Dysphagia was present in 46.8% of patients and impairment of pulmonary function in 64.0%. The mean FVC observed was 66.9% and FEV1 was 66.0%, indicating restrictive lung disease. A correlation between the decline of pulmonary and swallowing functions was observed in patients with NMDs (FVC vs. DREP,

 = 0.46; FVC vs. FOIS,

 = 0.42; FEV1 vs. DREP,

 = 0.