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In this study, the purification and characterization of a novel polysaccharide-based bioflocculant BM2 produced by a bacterium Bacillus megaterium strain PL8 with self-flocculating property were investigated. The results showed that BM2 was an acidic polysaccharide composed of Gal, GalUA, Glc, GlcUA and Man at a molar ratio of 45.1: 33.8:9.3:9.2:2.4, respectively. The molecular weight of BM2 was 4.55 × 106 Da. BM2 had high flocculation efficiencies across a wide pH ranged from 4 to 11 and a wide temperature ranged from 20 to 100 °C towards kaolin clay. BM2 was a cation-independent bioflocculant which could achieve high flocculation activity without the addition of other cations. Adsorption bridging was the main mechanism in the flocculation process of BM2 towards kaolin clay. The BM2 also displayed a high removal efficiency in terms of Congo red (88.14%) and Pb2+ ions (82.64%). These results suggested that BM2 had a great potential as an efficient bioflocculant candidate in wastewater treatment.

Human milk fat substitutes (HMFSs) are the structured lipids intended for infant formula. It provides energy and essential fatty acid for infant. HMFSs are mainly prepared by enzymatic method. In this study, we aim to explore the potential for producing HMFSs by fermentation using R. opacus. The results indicated that different compounds with chain length from 12 to 18, used as carbon source, could be incorporated into triacylglycerols directly. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in term of ARA, EPA, DHA could enter the kennedy pathway directly and involved in the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols. GC, UPLC-MS and 13C-NMR analysis demonstrated that typical structured lipids β-OPL (40.09%) was synthesized in R. opacus. Transcriptome analysis revealed that β-oxidation, fatty acid elongation and kennedy pathways existed in R. opacus. It was concluded that fatty acid supplied as carbon source could enter the kennedy pathways directly or via the de novo fatty acid biosynthesis pathway depending on the chain length, thus, affect the triacylglycerol species formed in the Rhodococcus opacus.

Objective Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of cross-shaped moxibustion on the conception vessel and belt vessel for dysmenorrhea due to qi and blood deficiency. Methods Taking Shenque (神阙CV8) as the center, up to Zhōngwǎn (中脘CV12), down to Zhōngji (中极CV3), and both sides to Daimai (带脉GB26),the above mentioned were treated area. The patient's umbilicus was filled with the herbal powder for moxibustion and the powder was also scattered in a straight line along the treated area. The two sheets of mulberry paper were put in a cross way on the herbal powder for moxibustion, and the cross-shaped moxibustion box was put on the paper. The ginger paste was put into the box to a height of 3 cm and pressed tightly with a tongue depressor, the margin of the ginger paste should be clinged to the moxibustion box. The moxa cones were put end to end in the groove on the median of the ginger paste and ignited orderly. When the cones were burnt completely, the new cones were used and ignited. Three cones were adopted in succession in each treatment. The treatment was given once a week, and three treatments as one course,the therapeutic effect was evaluated after two courses of treatment. Results There were 16 cases cured,5 cases effective and 2 cases non-effective in all. The total effective rate was 91.3%. Conclusion Coss-shaped moxibustion on the conception vessel and belt vessel has sound effect for dysmenorrhea due to qi and blood deficiency.

Based on the concept of endophytic fungus, if endophytic fungus can produce the same or similar product as the host plant, which will get rid of the restrictions of farmland, seasonal and pest, the active product could be sustainably obtained. In this study, an endophytic fungus polysaccharide FP showing the similar structure with the host Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) was sustainably and cost-effectively obtained under preferred reaction conditions with different C/N ratio. The FP with high yield up to 2.77 ± 0.51 g/L showed same monosaccharide composition with DOP as well as some host-plant-associated polysaccharides in published literatures. The main chain of FP was composed by →3,6)-β-L-Man-(1→, α-D-Glc-(1→, →4)-α-D-Glc-(1→, →3,6)-β-D-Gal-(1→, and →6)-β-D-Gal-(1→, while the side chain was α-D-Glc-(1→. Meanwhile, FP was confirmed as a safe polysaccharide with good antioxidant, antiglycation and immunomodulatory activities. Furthermore, TLR2 and TLR4 were confirmed as the membrane receptors of FP on RAW264.7 cells.

Two polysaccharides, DGS1 and DGS2, were obtained by solid-state fermentation (SSF) of Fusarium solani DO7, an endophytic fungus isolated from the orchid Dendrobium officinale. Structural characterizations revealed that DGS1 consisted of arabinose, glucose, mannose and galactose with a molar ratio of 2.9:13.4:3.0:1, respectively, and contained (1 → 5)-Araf, (1 → 4)-Glcp, (1 → 6)-Glcp, (1 → 3)-Manp, (1 → 2,6)-Manp and (1 → 6)-Galp glycosidic linkages, while DGS2 was composed of arabinose, glucose, mannose and galactose in a molar ratio of 3.5:8.1:2.1:1, respectively, and contained (1 → 5)-Araf, (1 → 4)-Glcp, (1 → 6)-Glcp, (1 → 3)-Manp and (1 → 6)-Galp glycosidic linkages. Neither polysaccharide was toxic to human embryonic kidney cells or mouse RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. An immunomodulatory activity assay indicated that both polysaccharides could significantly enhance the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and NO by activating TNF-α, IL-6 and iNOs gene expression, respectively, especially DGS2. Interestingly, DGS2 also possessed relatively high antioxidant activity. These results illustrate that, due to its cost-effectiveness and environmentally friendly features, SSF has significant potential as a commercially competitive source of natural products, including fungal polysaccharides, with immunomodulatory activity.

The combined treatment with umbilicus moxibustion and acupuncture achieves the significant effect on hormone-dependent high fever. The medical case was recorded so as to provide the approach to the clinical treatment or the reoccurrence control of this disease.

A 56-year-old female patient with interstitial cystitis was treated with umbilical moxibustion combined with acupuncture. The doctor prepared the wheat flour-made bowl and the herbal powder for umbilical moxibustion. The bowl was put on the patient's umbilicus with a small hole in the middle of the bowl directly facing the navel, in which, the herbal powder was filled. The moxa cone was put on the bowl and ignited. Totally, 3 cones were used. During umbilical moxibustion, acupuncture was adopted at Guānyuan (关元CV12), Zhōngji (中极CV3), Dahe (大赫KI12), etc. The above treatment was given twice a week and 2-week treatment was as one course. After 4 courses of treatment, the clinical symptoms basically disappeared. The cystoscopic examination results were recovered to be normal.

The combined treatment of cangguitanxue (green turtle probing its cave) needling technique and cupping method achieved the significant therapeutic effects on 1 case of traumatic soft tissue injury. Such therapeutic method provides the reference for the clinical treatment of soft tissue swelling due to injury.

Chiral alcohols and their derivatives are vital building blocks to synthesize pharmaceutical drugs and high-valued chemicals. Wild-type carbonyl reductase AcCR from Acetobacter sp. has ideal enantioselectivity toward 11 prochiral substrates (e.e.>99%) but poor activity. In this work, a semi-rational engineering was performed to enhance the activity of AcCR. Fortunately, three positive double-mutants (mut-E144A/G152 L, mut-G152 L/Y189 N, and mut-I147 V/G152 L) with specific activity 17–61 folds higher than that of enzyme without modified were achieved. Kinetic studies suggested that the catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) of these mutants were also well enhanced. Finally, these modified mut-AcCRs were successfully applied in asymmetric reductions of 11 structurally diverse prochiral substrates (200 mM) with excellent product yields (76.8%–99.1%) and enantiomeric excess (e.e.>99%), which provides an alternative strategy for efficient synthesis of chiral alcohols for pharmaceuticals industry with ideal yield and enantioselectivity.