Search

Exacerbations are crucial events during bronchiectasis progression.To explore the associations between bacterial, viral, and bacterial plus viral isolations and bronchiectasis exacerbations.In this prospective study, we enrolled 108 patients who were followed up every 3-6 months and at onset of exacerbations between March 2017 and November 2018. Spontaneous sputum was split for detection of bacteria (routine culture) and viruses (quantitative polymerase chain reaction). Symptoms and lung function were assessed during exacerbations.The median exacerbation rate was 2.0 (interquartile range: 1.0-2.5) per patient-year. At any visit, viral isolations (V+) occurred more frequently during onset of exacerbations [odds ratio (OR): 3.28, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.76-6.12], as did isolation of new bacteria (NB+) (OR: 2.52, 95%CI: 1.35-4.71) and bacterial plus viral isolations (OR: 2.24, 95%CI: 1.11-4.55). Whilst coryza appeared more common in exacerbations with V+ than in exacerbations with no pathogen isolations and those with NB+, lower airway symptoms were more severe in exacerbations with NB+ (Viral isolations, isolation of new bacteria and bacterial plus viral isolation are associated with bronchiectasis exacerbations. Symptoms at exacerbations might inform clinicians the possible culprit pathogens.Las exacerbaciones son eventos cruciales durante la progresión de la bronquiectasia.Analizar las asociaciones entre el aislamiento de bacterias, virus y virus y bacterias juntas y las exacerbaciones de las bronquiectasias.En este estudio prospectivo se incluyó a 108 pacientes a los que se siguió cada 3-6 meses y al comienzo de las exacerbaciones entre marzo de 2017 y noviembre de 2018. La muestra de esputo espontáneo se dividió para la detección de bacterias (cultivo de rutina) y virus (reacción en cadena de la polimerasa cuantitativa). Se evaluaron los síntomas y la función pulmonar durante las exacerbaciones.La mediana de la tasa de exacerbación fue de 2,0 (rango intercuartil: 1,0-2,5) por paciente/año. En cualquier visita, los aislamientos de virus (V+) tuvieron lugar con mayor frecuencia durante el inicio de las exacerbaciones (Los aislamientos de virus, el aislamiento de nuevas bacterias y el aislamiento de bacterias y virus juntos están asociados a las exacerbaciones de las bronquiectasias. Los síntomas de las exacerbaciones pueden proporcionar información a los médicos sobre los posibles patógenos responsables.

Objective. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding in the treatment of simple obesity through network meta-analysis. Methods. PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP database (VIP) were searched by using computer from 2011 to August 2021, and 35 RCT studies were retrieved. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the modified Jadad scoring table, and Stata 15.0 software was used for traditional meta-analysis and network meta-analysis. Results. Thirty-five RCTs (3040 cases in total) were included. Acupoint embedding, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, TCM, acupoint embedding + acupuncture, acupoint embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint embedding + TCM, exercise diet therapy, acupoint embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint embedding + cupping were investigated in the studies. The results of network meta-analysis were as follows: in terms of total effective rate, acupoint catgut embedding was superior to acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and exercise diet therapy ( P < 0.05 ); electroacupuncture, acupoint catgut embedding + acupuncture, acupoint catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut + TCM, acupoint catgut + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut + cupping were superior to acupuncture ( P < 0.05 ); acupoint catgut + moxibustion was superior to electroacupuncture ( P < 0.05 ); acupoint catgut + TCM, acupoint catgut + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut + cupping were superior to TCM treatment ( P < 0.05 ); and electroacupuncture, acupoint catgut, acupoint catgut + acupuncture, acupoint catgut + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut + TCM, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were superior to sports diet therapy ( P < 0.05 ). Regarding weight loss, acupuncture treatment was superior to acupoint catgut embedding therapy ( P < 0.05 ); acupoint catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut embedding + TCM, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were superior to acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatment ( P < 0.05 ); acupoint catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut embedding + TCM, and acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion were superior to TCM treatment ( P < 0.05 ); and acupoint catgut embedding, acupoint catgut embedding + acupuncture, catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut embedding + TCM, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were superior to exercise diet therapy ( P < 0.05 ). In terms of BMI reduction, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were more evident than acupuncture treatment ( P < 0.05 ); and acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion was more evident than electroacupuncture treatment ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. Acupoint catgut embedding and its combination with other therapies are the first choice for the treatment of simple obesity.

Low calf circumference is an important indicator of malnutrition and has been widely studied, especially among older adults. However, data on the association between low calf circumference and mortality have been inconsistent. This systematic review was aimed to quantify this association.The internet databases (PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect and Cochrane Library databases) were systematically searched from inception to November 01, 2021 for studies investigating the association between low calf circumference and mortality. A random effects model was adopted to pool the relevant data.Low calf circumference was associated with a higher risk of mortality than normal calf circumference, with a pooled HR of 2.42 (95% CI 1.97-2.97, ICalf circumference, which is simple and convenient to measure, could be used to stratify the high-risk group, as low calf circumference was significantly associated with mortality among patients. Interventions, including exercise and nutrition programs, could be conducted promptly once low calf circumference is detected.

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) colonization confers poor prognosis in bronchiectasis. However, the biomarkers and biological pathways underlying these associations are unclear. Objective To identify the roles of PA colonization in bronchiectasis by exploring for sputum exosomal microRNA profiles. Methods We enrolled 98 patients with clinically stable bronchiectasis and 17 healthy subjects. Sputum was split for bacterial culture and exosomal microRNA sequencing, followed by validation with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Bronchiectasis patients were stratified into PA and non-PA colonization groups based on sputum culture findings. We applied Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome pathway enrichment analysis to explore biological pathways corresponding to the differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) associated with PA colonization. Results Eighty-two bronchiectasis patients and 9 healthy subjects yielded sufficient sputum that passed quality control. We identified 10 overlap DEMs for the comparison between bronchiectasis patients and healthy subjects, and between PA and non-PA colonization group. Both miR-92b-5p and miR-223-3p could discriminate PA colonization (C-statistic >0.60) and independently correlated with PA colonization in multiple linear regression analysis. The differential expression of miR-92b-5p was validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (P

Background Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We aimed to determine whether EBV correlates with bronchiectasis severity, exacerbations, and progression. Methods We collected induced sputum in healthy controls and spontaneous sputum at 3–6-month intervals and onset of exacerbations in bronchiectasis patients between March 2017 and October 2018. EBV DNA was detected with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results We collected 442 sputum samples from 108 bronchiectasis patients and 50 induced sputum samples from 50 healthy controls. When stable, bronchiectasis patients yielded higher detection rates of EBV DNA (48.1% vs 20.0%; P = .001), but not viral loads (mean log10 load, 4.45 vs 4.76; P = .266), compared with controls; 64.9% of patients yielded consistent detection status between 2 consecutive stable visits. Neither detection rate (40.8% vs 48.1%; P = .393) nor load (mean log10 load, 4.34 vs 4.45; P = .580) differed between the onset of exacerbations and stable visits, nor between exacerbations and convalescence. Neither detection status nor viral loads correlated with bronchiectasis severity. EBV loads correlated negatively with sputum interleukin-1β (P = .002), CXC motif chemokine-8 (P = .008), and tumor necrosis factor–α levels (P = .005). Patients initially detected with, or repeatedly detected with, EBV DNA had significantly faster lung function decline and shorter time to next exacerbations (both P < .05) than those without. Detection of EBV DNA was unrelated to influenza virus and opportunistic bacteria (all P > .05). The EBV strains detected in bronchiectasis patients were phylogenetically homologous. Conclusions Patients with detection of EBV DNA have a shorter time to bronchiectasis exacerbations. EBV may contribute to bronchiectasis progression., The role of chronic viral infections in bronchiectasis is unclear. In this prospective study, we summarize the association between viral loads or detection rate and the clinical status as well as inflammatory response of bronchiectasis.

Background Proteobacteria contributes to airway inflammation and poor clinical outcomes in bronchiectasis. Objective To compare sputum Proteobacteria compositions according to bronchiectasis severity. Methods Sputum samples collected from 106 patients with stable bronchiectasis and 17 healthy subjects were split for 16srRNA sequencing and biomarker measurement. Pairwise changes in Proteobacteria compositions among 22 of 106 patients during stability, exacerbations and convalescence were compared. Patients were stratified based on the Bronchiectasis Severity Index (BSI). Results Respectively 44, 34 and 28 patients had mild, moderate and severe bronchiectasis. A higher BSI was associated with a greater relative abundance of Proteobacteria and lower Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson diversity index and bacterial richness. Similar findings applied at genera levels. Proteobacteria and Pseudomonas were the major phylum and genus, respectively, contributing to community similarity in moderate-to-severe bronchiectasis. These significant correlations were not observed in those in whom Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not isolated. Proteobacteria abundance correlated with lung function, but not sputum inflammatory biomarkers in severe bronchiectasis. Proteobacteria compositions in severe bronchiectasis were less likely to change significantly during exacerbations and convalescence. Conclusion Proteobacteria compositions (particularly culturable Pseudomonas abundance) were correlated with bronchiectasis severity. Proteobacteria and Pseudomonas contributed most to community similarity in patients with a higher BSI, indicating microbial targets for interventions in severe bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis is a debilitating chronic inflammatory airway disease which arises from multiple etiologies. The interplay among the etiology, altered microenvironment and defective host-defense may have predisposed to recurrent chest infections of pathogens (1,2) that correlate with bronchiectasis exacerbations and increased mortality.

Background: Defective airway host-defense (e.g., altered mucus properties, ciliary defects) contributes to the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis. This study aims to determine whether genetic mutations associated with defective airway host-defense are implicated in the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis. Methods: Based on the systematic screening of 32 frequently reported bronchiectasis-associated genes, we performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) on peripheral blood samples from 192 bronchiectasis patients and 100 healthy subjects. The variant distribution frequency and pathogenicity of mutations were analyzed. Results: We identified 162 rare variants in 192 bronchiectasis patients, and 85 rare variants among 100 healthy subjects. Among bronchiectasis patients, 25 (15.4%), 117 (72.2%) and 18 (11.1%) rare variants were associated with cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor ( CFTR ), epithelial sodium channel, and primary ciliary dyskinesia genes, respectively. Biallelic CFTR variants were detected in four bronchiectasis patients but none of the healthy subjects. Carriers of homozygous p.M470 plus at least one CFTR rare variant were detected in 6.3% of bronchiectasis patients (n=12) and in 1.0% of healthy subjects (n=1, P=0.039). Twenty-six patients (16 with idiopathic and 6 with post-infectious bronchiectasis) harbored biallelic variants. Bronchiectasis patients with biallelic DNAH5 variants, or biallelic CFTR variants plus an epithelial sodium channel variant, tended to have greater disease severity. Conclusions: Genetic mutations leading to impaired host-defense might have implicated in the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis. Genetic screening may be a useful tool for unraveling the underlying causes of bronchiectasis, and offers molecular information which is complementary to conventional etiologic assessment for bronchiectasis.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is prevalent and has been implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, the roles of EBV in adults with bronchiectasis are unclear. We aimed to delineate the association between EBV infection and bronchiectasis. Methods: We recruited 108 bronchiectasis patients and 18 healthy controls. We collected sputum for EBV detection during follow-up, with an interval of every 3 to 6 months, and at bronchiectasis exacerbation. Results: We collected 442 sputum specimens from 108 patients. The Bronchiectasis patients yielded significantly higher detection rate of EBV when remaining clinically stable (48.1% vs. 22.2%, P=0.040), but not the load (mean Log10load: 4.47 vs. 5.00, P=0.270), compared with controls. EBV was consistently detected in bronchiectasis, with 71.5% of patients having identical detection status in two consecutive stable visits. There was no substantial difference in detection rate (40.8% vs. 48.1%, P=0.393) and load (mean Log10load: 4.34 vs. 4.47, P=0.270) at exacerbation compared with stable visits. Both EBV detection rate and load varied slightly at different time points throughout the course of exacerbation. Neither the infection status nor the viral load correlated with bronchiectasis severity. EBV load correlated negatively with sputum inflammatory biomarker levels (all P Conclusion: EBV might have partially contributed to the progression of bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis is a chronic debilitating suppurative disease that significantly impacts quality of life. Clinical outcomes like exacerbations, are usually physician centered; however, the patients9 experience, health-related behaviors, and expectations have frequently been neglected. In addition, patients9 health perceptions may be influenced by their culture. OBJECTIVE: To determine the health perception and behavior in adults with bronchiectasis. METHODS: We performed semi-directive interviews, which were audiotaped, with 60 adults with bronchiectasis between April 2016 and December 2016. Our interview focused on issues related to symptom perception, access to health-care resources and patient-physician communication, medication adherence, outcomes and expectations, quality of life, and social relationships. RESULTS: The subjects with bronchiectasis developed varying patterns of symptom perception (ranging from highly distressing to barely disturbing) and had conflicting opinions on whether and when they should seek health-care services (ranging from active consultations to being totally passive or resistant to seek health care). We observed certain discrepancies between symptom perception and health-related behaviors. Overall, medication adherence was suboptimal, but the subjects were willing to participate in clinical trials and receive complementary alternative medications despite concerns regarding adverse effects of prolonged treatment. There were concerns about the adverse effects of bronchiectasis on fertility and infectiousness to others, although most subjects disregarded these issues. CONCLUSIONS: The diverse symptom perception and health-related behaviors highlighted the need for evaluation and intervention in bronchiectasis. These findings will provide rationales for refining future health care through comprehensive (particularly psychological) interventions worldwide.

Background: Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) is widely used in grading the severity of the airflow limitation observed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the characteristics of COPD classified by forced vital capacity (FVC) remain unknown. Hence, the characteristics of pulmonary function test (PFT) and clinical features of COPD patients classified by FVC were investigated. Methods: COPD patients were classified into three groups by FVC: (I) large consistent FVC (LC-FVC): before bronchodilator (BBD) and after bronchodilator (ABD) FVC ≥80%pred; (II) inconsistent FVC (I-FVC): BBD FVC

Soil aggregates play a vital role in regulating soil biological processes such as those involved in microbial nitrogen (N) reactions. Here, a microcosm experiment was conducted to evaluate the differences in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and their associated microbial communities among varying soil aggregates (4–8, 2–4, and

Background It is unknown whether aggressive medication strategies should be used for early COPD with or without lung hyperinflation. We aimed to explore the characteristics and bronchodilator responsiveness of early COPD patients (stages I and II) with/without lung hyperinflation. Methods Four hundred and six patients with COPD who performed both lung volume and bronchodilation tests were retrospectively analyzed. Residual volume to total lung capacity >120% of predicted values indicated lung hyperinflation. The characteristics and bronchodilator responsiveness were compared between the patients with and without lung hyperinflation across all stages of COPD. Results The percentages of patients with lung hyperinflation were 72.7% in the entire cohort, 19.4% in stage I, 68.5% in stage II, 95.3% in stage III, and 100.0% in stage IV. The patients with lung hyperinflation exhibited poorer lung function but better bronchodilator responsiveness of both forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity than those without lung hyperinflation during early COPD (t=2.21–5.70, P=0.000–0.029), especially in stage I, while age, body mass index, smoking status, smoking history, and disease duration were similar between the two subgroups in the same stages. From stages I to IV of subgroups with lung hyperinflation, stage I patients had the best bronchodilator responsiveness. Use of bronchodilator responsiveness of forced vital capacity to detect the presence of lung hyperinflation in COPD patients showed relatively high sensitivities (69.5%–75.3%) and specificities (70.3%–75.7%). Conclusion We demonstrated the novel finding that early COPD patients with lung hyperinflation are associated with poorer lung function but better bronchodilator responsiveness and established a simple method for detecting lung hyperinflation.

The emissions of greenhouse gas in winter are often neglected, and the latest research results showed that N

Background Exacerbations are crucial events in the progression of bronchiectasis. Previous studies have documented associations between viral or bacterial infection and bronchiectasis exacerbations, but assays for viral or bacterial infection were conducted separately. No study has yet revealed an association between bacteria and viruses in bronchiectasis exacerbations. Moreover, the clinical correlates of bacterial with or without viral detections are unclear. We sought to explore associations between bacterial infection, viral infection and co-infection, and exacerbation of bronchiectasis. Methods In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 108 patients from the outpatient clinics of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou, China). The participants were followed up every 3–6 months and at exacerbation episodes, between March, 2017, and November, 2018. Each sputum sample was split into two for detection of bacteria (routine culture) and viruses (quantitative PCR). Clinical characteristics were assessed during exacerbation episodes. Findings The median exacerbation rate was 2·0 (interquartile range 1·0–2·5) per patient per year. Viral infection was correlated with significantly higher risks of exacerbation (29% [22 of 76] of exacerbation episodes; OR 3·28, 95% CI 1·76–6·12) than non-viral infection. Similarly, new occurrence of bacterial infection was correlated with significantly higher risks of exacerbation (eg, Haemophilus influenza was associated with 11% [eight of 26] of exacerbation episodes; 2·52, 1·35–4·71) than no new occurrence of bacterial infection, and likewise co-infection (2·24, 1·11–4·55) than all of the other groups combined. A positive bacterial culture alone was not correlated with exacerbations (p>0·778). Although coryza seemed to be more common in viral exacerbation than in unexplained and new bacterial exacerbation (p=0·053), lower airway symptoms were more severe in new bacterial exacerbation (visual analogue scale for cough, p=0·030; sputum volume, p=0·006; sputum purulence, p=0·025). Airway interleukin-1β levels were consistently higher in new bacterial exacerbation than in unexplained and viral exacerbation (p=0·007). A significantly greater number of coryza was correlated with co-infection at exacerbation (p=0·019). However, co-infection did not differ from bacterial or viral infection alone in lower airway symptoms (p=0·063), lung function decline (forced expiratory volume in one second, p=0·278; forced vital capacity, p=0·230), and sputum cytokine levels (interleukin-1β, p=0·445; CXC motif chmokine-8, p=0·279; tumour necrosis factor-α, p=0·055; and interferon-γ, p=0·555). Interpretation Viral infection, new occurrence of bacterial infection and co-infection are associated with exacerbation of bronchiectasis. The clinical characteristics of bronchiectasis exacerbation might inform clinicians of the possible underlying pathogens. Funding This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (no. 81870003 ), Pearl River S&T Nova Program of Guangzhou (no. 201710010097 ) and Guangdong Province Universities and Colleges Pearl River Scholar Funded Scheme 2017 (to W-JG), and the Impact and Mechanisms of Physical, Chemical and Biological Interventions on the Development and Outcome of Acute Lung Injury (no. 81490534 , to N-SZ).

A metagenomic library containing ca. 3.06 x 10(8) bp insert DNA was constructed from a rice straw degrading enrichment culture. A xylanase gene, umxyn10A, was cloned by screening the library for xylanase activity. The encoded enzyme Umxyn10A showed 58% identity and 73% similarity with a xylanase from Thermobifida fusca YX. Sequence analyses showed that Umxyn10A contained a glycosyl hydrolase family 10 catalytic domain. The gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzyme was purified and characterized biochemically. Recombinant Umxyn10A was highly active toward xylan. However, the purified enzyme could slightly hydrolyze beta-1,3/4-glucan and beta-1,3/6-glucan. Umxyn10A displayed maximal activity toward oat spelt xylan at a high temperature (75 degrees C) and weak acidity (pH 6.5). The K( m ) and V (max) of Umxyn10A toward oat spelt xylan were 3.2 mg ml(-1) and 0.22 mmol min(-1) mg(-1) and were 2.7 mg ml(-1) and 1.0 mmol min(-1) mg(-1) against birchwood xylan, respectively. Metal ions did not appear to be required for the catalytic activity of this enzyme. The enzyme Umxyn10A could efficiently hydrolyze birchwood xylan to release xylobiose as the major product and a negligible amount of xylose. The xylanase identified in this work may have potential application in producing xylobiose from xylan.

Background Appetite, food intake and weight are frequently altered in psychiatric disorders such as major depression and schizophrenia. Leptin is an adipocyte hormone, as the product of the ob gene, regulating food intake and energy balance providing the hypothalamus with information on the amount of body fat. Leptin seems to be strongly associated with lipid metabolism. Moreover, leptin is involved in the control of other behaviors and in brain development. There are few studies about the amounts of plasma leptin in mood disorder and schizophrenia with inconsistent findings. The relationship between leptin and major depressive disorder is still unknown. We planned to investigate the relationship of the serum leptin concentration, cholesterol, and BMI between patients with major depressive disorder, schizophrenic patients and healthy control subjects. Methods In the present study, the BMI, plasma cholesterol and leptin levels, BDI, and BPRS were compared in 69 patients with major depressive disorder, 78 schizophrenic patients, and 51 healthy controls. Results The major findings of our study included (1) leptin and cholesterol levels were low in patients with major depressive disorder, but high in schizophrenic patients; (2) negative correlations between BDI scores and serum cholesterol or leptin levels in the patients with major depressive disorder; (3) an inconsistently positive correlation between mean leptin levels, cholesterol, and BMI among different groups; (4) positive correlations between serum cholesterol or leptin levels and the length of illness in the schizophrenic patients. Conclusions In this study, our results indicate that that leptin and cholesterol might play differently important pathophysiological roles in these psychiatric disorders.

Due to the low temperature in winter, the emissions of greenhouse gas are often neglected. And the latest research results showed that there is continuous N2O emission in winter, therefore, research on understanding the No2O flux regulation is important for evaluating agricultural soil N2O emission. By using static chamber techniques, the N2O emission from soils under different land use patterns including fallow paddy field, rape cropping, honey pomelo orchard and abandon land in Taoyuan agricultural ecological experimental station of Chinese Academy of Sciences was measured. The results showed that fallow paddy field and rape cropping N2O emissions were obviously higher than those of the honey pomelo orchard and abandon land, and the total N2O flux in winter decreased in the order of rape croppingfallow paddy fieldhoney pomelo orchardabandon land. Cumulative N2O emission was 0.502, 0.392, 0.162 and 0.075 kg x hm(-2), respectively. Fallow paddy field and rape cropping N2O emissions accounted for large proportions of the annual N2O emissions, while honey pomelo orchard and abandon land had small contribution to the annual N2O emissions. The correlation analysis results showed that for different land use patterns, when the soil temperature5 degrees C, N2O emissions in winter and soil temperature had significant positive exponential correlation, and had little to do with moisture. This research showed that: when the soil temperature5 degrees C, the soil temperature was the leading factor in N2O emissions in winter under different land patterns; When the soil temperature5 degrees C, other environmental factors had comprehensive influences on the N2O emissions.

Background Negative body image may reduce patients' ability to cope with breast cancer after surgery. Objectives The purposes of this study were to (1) assess breast cancer patients' perceived level of symptom distress, anxiety, depression, disease impact, and body image and (2) evaluate factors associated with body image in breast cancer patients during the postoperative period. Methods A cross-sectional and correlational design was used to collect data for this study, conducted in northern Taiwan. A set of questionnaires was used to measure body image, symptom distress, anxiety, depression, psychological impact of disease, and demographic and disease-related information. Stepwise regression was conducted to determine significant factors related to body image. Results Surgical procedure and age were found to be important factors related to body image concerns. Patient receipt of mastectomy and younger age were associated with greater body image concerns. Conclusion The average age of breast cancer patients is declining in Taiwan, and body image problems in these patients are growing. Several factors are significantly related to body image distress among these patients. Implications for practice By understanding variables associated with breast cancer patients' body image, health professionals can coordinate interventions to improve these women's body image. Among women with breast cancer, those who have received mastectomy and those who are younger are particularly vulnerable to body image concerns. Nursing assessment of body image indicators and implementation of strategies to increase self-confidence and self-acceptance are needed for high-risk women.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of long-term (16 years) application of nitrogen fertilizer on the diversity of nitrifying genes (amoA and hao) in paddy soil on the basis of long-term paddy field experimental station (started in 1990) located in Taoyuan, with the molecular approaches of PCR, constructing libraries and sequencing. The fertilizer was urea and no fertilizer was as control. The Shannon index showed that long-term application of nitrogen fertilizer made the diversity of amoA gene descend while no effect on the diversity of hao gene. The LIBSHUFF statistical analyses demonstrated that both amoA and hao libraries of CK and N treatments were significantly different from each other and the rarefaction curves of libraries failed to meet the plateaus indicating that there were lots kinds of genes haven't been detected. The results of blasting with GenBank and the phylogenetic tree showed that the amoA genes detected in our study had a similarity with the uncultured gene of amoA, which showed some similar to Nitrosospira. Otherwise, the hao genes cloned showed a relationship to the genes of cultured bacteria such as Silicibacteria, Nitrosospira and Methylococcus, and the hao genes found in the N treatment dominated in alpha-Proteobacteria. These results suggest that long-term fertilization of nitrogen had significant impacts on the diversity or community of amoA and hao genes.

The effects of long-term (16 years) fertilization on the diversity and community structure of soil ammonia-oxidizing gene (amoA) and hydroxylamine-oxidizing gene (hao) in paddy soil were evaluated using the methods of polymerase chain reaction, cloning and sequencing. The soil samples were collected from the treatments of NPK (CK) and NPK plus rice straw (SR) of the long-term field fertilization experiment in Taoyuan Agro-ecological Experimental Station. The Shannon Indices showed that the diversity of amoA and hao in SR treatment was lower than that in CK, and LUBSHUFF statistical analyses demonstrated that the sequence compositions of both amoA and huo libraries were significantly different between CK and SR. The phylogenetic trees indicated that some clusters appeared in SR treatment but were not detected in CK treatment. As to amoA, only Nitrosospira besides the uncultured amoA sequences were cloned from the two treatments, while no Nitrosomonas species were detected. As to hao, the strains from Silicibacter and Methylococcus were dominant in CK, while in SR the strains from Nitrosospira and Nitrosomonas were dominant. Sum up, the long-term rice straw application has caused a remarkable impact on the diversity and community structure on Nitrosobacteria.

Sugarcane molasses is rich in nutriments and vitamins. It may be used as the carbon source for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) by Mucor recurvus sp. Using sugarcane molasses, the effects of fermentation parameters and media components on polyunsaturated fatty acid production through both linear and orthogonal array experiments were investigated. The best fermentation conditions for PUFA production were found as follows: 15 % sugarcane molasses, pH=6.0, 28 °C, 5 days, 160 rpm. It was also found that molasses and urea enhanced PUFA production with the optimal carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio of 35. Under the most favourable conditions, the total lipid content at 7.13 g/L and PUFA up to 5.74 g/L including (0.82±0.05) g/L of linolenic acid (LA), (1.35±0.02) g/L of γ-linolenic acid (GLA), (0.17±0.06) g/L of α-linolenic acid (ALA), (0.57±0.06) g/L of arachidonic acid (ARA), (0.46±0.07) g/L of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and (0.34±0.08) g/L of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were obtained. Our study suggests that sugarcane molasses is a superior alternative carbon source for industrial PUFA production., Melasa šećerne trske je bogata hranjivim tvarima i vitaminima. Upotrebljava se kao izvor ugljika za proizvodnju polinezasićenih masnih kiselina s pomoću plijesni Mucor recurvus sp. Linearnom i ortogonalnom metodom istražen je utjecaj uvjeta fermentacije i sastojaka podloge, uz dodatak melase šećerne trske, na proizvodnju polinezasićenih masnih kiselina. Najbolji uvjeti fermentacije za proizvodnju polinezasićenih masnih kiselina bili su: 15 % melase šećerne trske; pH=6,0; 28 °C; 5 dana i 160 rpm. Također je utvrđeno da dodatak melase i uree povećava proizvodnju pri optimalnom omjeru ugljika i dušika C/N=35. Pri optimalnim uvjetima proizvedeno je ukupno 7,13 g/L lipida i 5,74 g/L polinezasićenih masnih kiselina, od toga (0,82±0,05) g/L linolenske kiseline, (1,35±0,02) g/L γ-linolenske kiseline, (0,17±0,06) g/L α-linolenske kiseline, (0,57±0,06) g/L arahidonske kiseline, (0,46±0,07) g/L eikosapentenoične kiseline i (0,34±0,08) g/L dokosaheksaenoične kiseline. Ovo je istraživanje pokazalo da je melasa šećerne trske najbolji alternativni izvor ugljika za industrijsku proizvodnju polinezasićenih masnih kiselina.