Advances in engineering non-ribosomal peptide synthetase / 生物工程学报

Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases catalyze the biosynthesis of structurally and functionally diverse non-ribosomal peptide natural products, which have broad applications in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial sectors. Engineered non-ribosomal peptide synthetases can be used to produce novel non-ribosomal peptides through combinatorial biosynthesis. This conforms to the concept of green chemistry, thus attracts increasing attention across the world. Herein, three different engineering strategies were summarized, and recent advances in this field were reviewed.

Sex differences of cognitive load effects on object-location binding memory

In this study, we investigated where the sex differences of object-location binding memory performance were influenced by the cognitive load. We used the fractal objects version of the ‘What was where?’ task to measure object memory, location memory and objection-location binding memory. Cognitive load was controlled by task difficulty presented two sessions: one session randomly displayed three or four fractal objects (Session 34) and the other session four or five objects (Session 45). The results showed that females outperformed males on object-location binding memory. Interestingly, even when the four object trials were compared between Session 34 and Session 45, in which we believed that the level of difficulty was similar while cognitive load varied, the swap error of males was significantly increased in Session 45 compared to females. In conclusion, there may be sex differences in object-location binding memory and the males could be more sensitive about the cognitive load than females.

Discussion on Common Deviation in TCM Dispensing and Corresponding Measures / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To discuss the common deviation in TCM dispensing and corresponding measures. Methods Totally 103 cases of TCM deviation happened in the TCM dispensary of outpatient clinic in our hospital from September 2012 to September 2014 were selected. Retrospective analysis was conducted to analyze case related data collation and factors that affect the quality of TCM dispensing. Corresponding measures for each factor were designed.Results Age and gender of all the 103 cases showed no influence on the statistics of TCM deviation in the study. Among the 103 cases of TCM deviation, 41 cases were caused by factors about medicine. Among the 41 cases, 9 cases were about similar packaging; 12 cases were about similar medicine names; 2 cases were about quality problems; 18 cases were about lack of standardization in medicine placement. 33 cases were caused by factors about deployment, among which, 8 cases were about dosage error, 8 cases were about waste in the preparation process of TCM decoction pieces, 17 cases were about replacement of TCM decoction pieces. 29 cases were caused by factors about prescriptions, among which, 13 cases were about errors of prescription entering deviation, 11 cases were about prescription examining deviation, 5 cases were about ignorance of prescription footnotes. Conclusion Common deviation in TCM dispensing and the reasons are complicated. Timely and correct measures targeting them should be taken to improve the quality of TCM dispensing and guarantee safety.

O jogo da loja mágica. Uma leitura brasileira e ampliação para uso clínico com crianças / The magic shop. A brazilian reinterpretation and expansion for clinical use with children

Trata-se da leitura brasileira, feita por Rodrigues, de um jogo dramático para grupos: A Loja Mágica, criada por J. L. Moreno e adaptada por René Marineau. O jogo, que funciona basicamente por meio de negociações realizadas entre um participante/comprador e o condutor, é detalhado em suas etapas e suas aplicações, utilizando-se em sua adaptação brasileira da metodologia do Teatro de Reprise. As autoras ainda propõem uma ampliação do jogo, relatando um caso clínico do atendimento psicoterápico de uma criança e discutindo seus rápidos resultados. O jogo é especialmente indicado para grupos de adultos, em contextos intimistas, que propiciem uma atmosfera ritualística, e as autoras sugerem boa utilização com grupos de crianças em uma atmosfera lúdica e de descontração.

The article deals with the description of a Brazilian adaptation by Rodrigues of a dramatic play for groups: The Magic Shop, created by J. L. Moreno and adapted by René Marineau. The game, which works primarily through negotiations between a participant/buyer and conductor, is detailed in its steps and applications through the methodology of the Teatro de Reprise. The authors also propose an extension of the game, reporting a case of psychotherapeutic care of a child and discussing its fast results. The game is especially suitable for groups of adults in intimate contexts, which provide a ritualistic atmosphere and the authors suggest good application with groups of children in a playful and relaxed atmosphere.

Stratus OCT, SWAP, Matrix FDT in Preperimetric Glaucoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in normal subjects and preperimetric glaucoma patients, as well as compare the results of OCT, short wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP), frequency doubling technology perimetry (FDT) in preperimetric glaucoma patients. METHODS: Thirty-six eyes of 36 preperimetric glaucoma patients who have definitive localized RNFL defects in disc photograph and normal standard visual field, as well as 35 eyes of 35 normal subjects, were enrolled in this study. We compared the peripapillary RNFL thickness between the two groups using Stratus OCT. Stratus OCT, FDT, and SWAP results in preperimetric glaucoma group were also compared. RESULTS: Compared with normal controls, peripapillary RNFL thickness, including the average, superior, and inferior quadrant, was significantly low (P<0.05) in the preperimetric glaucoma group, 93.40+/-11.16 micrometer, 118.33+/-21.17 micrometer, and 108.72+/-16.76 micrometer respectively. In preperimetric glaucoma group, functional and structural abnormalities were found in 55.6% with Stratus OCT, 31.4% with SWAP, and 79.4% with Matrix FDT. CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant reduction of RNFL thickness was revealed in the preperimetric glaucoma group, and Matrix FDT was the most sensitive test for detecting early glaucomatous change, followed by Stratus OCT, and SWAP.

The Differences in Results of Short Wavelength Automated Perimetry According to Lens Opacities

PURPOSE: Perimetric examination plays an important role in the diagnosis of glaucoma, which is among the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Several examination methods have been developed for early detection of glaucoma. Among those, short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) is the most widely investigated. In this study, the effects of nuclear opacities on SWAP were examined. METHODS: Lens opacities were divided into cortical and nuclear opacity groups ; each group consisted of fifteen eyes. The eyes studied underwent standard white-on-white perimetry and SWAP exams before and after cataract operation. The differences in the results of the examinations were compared between the two opacity groups. The t test was used for comparing the data. RESULTS: In the cortical opacity group, the average difference between the mean deviation before and after the operation was 5.46dB in white-on-white perimetry and 5.02dB in SWAP. In the nuclear opacity group, the average difference between the mean deviation before and after the operation was 4.01dB in white-on-white perimetry and 10.82dB in SWAP. There was no statistically significant difference in the cortical opacity group (p=0.6575). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the nuclear opacity group (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In clinical situations, more caution should be taken when interpreting the SWAP results of nuclear cataract patients in order to make an accurate decision.

Donor Exchange (Swap) Program in Renal Transplantation / 대한이식학회지

PURPOSE: Currently, donor supply for transplantation is in serious shortage. In Korea, numbers of patients with end- stage renal failure have been increasing, while patients who could have a graft kidney are limited because of donor organ shortage. To alleviate this problem, donor exchange (Swap) program was launched in Korea. After the success of direct Swap program between two families, we have developed the Swap-around program to expand the donor pool by enrolling close relatives, spouses, friends of potential recipients and motivated voluntary donors. Herein, we report our results of Swap program. METHODS: Medical records of 918 renal recipients who have undertaken a transplantation surgery between January 1995 to December 2002 in our units, were retrospectively reviewed in terms of donor-recipient relationship and way of donor recruit, episode of acute rejection, and 5-year patient and graft survival. RESULTS: Transplantation was performed in 90 patients (9.8%) by way of Swap program. The percentage Swap patients among the number of unrelated donor renal transplant has been increasing: 4.2% in 1995, 10.4% in 1997, 40.0% in 2000, 44% in 2002. Five year patient/graft survival rates were 92.1%/90.6% in 90 Swap recipients, which were comparable to 94.3%/90.0% in other kinds of living unrelated recipients (n=240), and 94.5%/90.7% in HLA 1-haplotype mismatched related recipients (n=454). Among the groups, incidence of acute rejection was comparable. CONCLUSION: We could achieve some success in reducing the organ shortage with Swap program in addition to current unrelated living donor programs without jeopardizing the graft survival. Potentially exchangeable donors should undergo careful and strict medical and social evaluation as a pre-requisite to rule out the commercialism and conserve health of potential donor and recipients. Expanding Swap program to a regional or national pool could be an option to reduce donor organ shortage in the near future.

Visual Fields Measured with SWAP(Short Wavelength Automated Perimetry) in Normal Korean

PURPOSE: Previous results from many studies indicate that SWAP(short wavelength automated perimetry) is superior to standard white-on-white perimetry for assessing early glaucomatous visual field defects and progression in glaucomatous field loss. The standard normal data of SWAP in Humphrey field analyzer were gathered from normal North American. Therefore, it was necessary to evaluate the visual fields measured with SWAP in normal Korean. METHODS: Central 30-2 threshold tests with blue-on-yellow mode were performed in 96 eyes of 48 normal subjects with Humphrey Field Analyzer. RESULTS: The average value of foveal threshold, mean deviation(MD), pattern standard deviation(PSD), short-term fluctuation(SF), and corrected pattern standard deviation(CPSD) were 22.1+/-4.2 dB, -5.37+/-3.27dB, 3.29+/-0.94 dB, 1.90+/-0.67 dB, 2.48+/-1.15dB, respectively. The frequency of abnormal value on SWAP(p<0.5%) was 29.2% in foveal threshold and 11.5% in MD, which was higher than fundamental data of perimetry. As the age increased, foveal threshold decreased(r=-0.365), PSD and CPSD increased(r=0.321 and 0.283, respectively)(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study is limited due to the small study group and because the test was performed on single session. Further study is needed for understanding the relationship between SWAP and early structural change of optic nerve and retinal nerve fiber layer.