ABSTRACT
A total of 60 patients with an acute attack of asthma were studied.On presentation,fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and the serum concentrations of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured.And sputum culture was also performed.The patients were re-evaluated while returning to their clinical remission states.They were classified into 2 groups:patients with bacterial infection (group A) and those with nonbacterial infection (group B).The levels of FeNO were significantly higher in patients with acute exacerbation than those in remission.No difference existed between groups A and B ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The levels of PCT and CRP of group A with acute exacerbation were significantly higher than those of group B( all P ＜0.05).While in remission,the levels of PCT and CRP decreased significantly in group A ( P ＜ 0.05 ) ; But compared with exacerbation,the levels of PCT and CRP showed no change in group B (P ＞0.05).And no differences existed between two groups while in remission (P ＞ 0.05 ).An elevation of FeNO indicates the acute exacerbation of asthma.And the increased serum levels of PCT and CRP are associated with bacterial infection.
ABSTRACT
Blakeslea trispora CarRA has both lycopene cyclase and phytoene synthase activity. In order to analyze the double functional activity of CarRA proteins and to detect the active sites of lycopene cyclase, we constructed two detection systems in Escherichia coli by color complementary. Through PCR-driven overlap extension we got carRA gene cDNA, then constructed prokaryotes expression vector pET28a-carRA. pET28a-carRA with plasmid pAC-LYC carrying crtl/crtB/crtE gene clusters were co-transformed to BL21(DE3) to validate lycopene cyclase activity. We constructed the plasmid pAC-LYC delta (crtB) carrying crtl/crtE gene clusters, then co-transtormed them with pET28a-carRA to BL21(DE3) to validate phytoene synthase activity. Based on color complementary, and HPLC analysis of metabolites, we confirmed that the CarRA protein activity detection system was reliable. Our study provides a screening model for specific mutation of lycopene cyclase without affecting phytoene synthase activity.