Advances in bacterial Rieske non-heme iron ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases that initiate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degradation / 生物工程学报

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants, which have received widespread attentions due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic toxicity. The microbial degradation of PAHs are usually started from the hydroxylation, followed by dehydrogenation, ring cleavage and step-by-step removal of branched chains, and finally mineralized by the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Rieske type non-heme iron aromatic ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHOs) or cytochrome P450 oxidases are responsible for the conversion of hydrophobic PAHs into hydrophilic derivatives by the ring hydroxylation. The ring hydroxylation is the first step of PAHs degradation and also one of the rate-limiting steps. Here, we review the distribution, substrate specificity, and substrate recognition mechanisms of RHOs, along with some techniques and methods used for the research of RHOs and PAHs.

Application of synthetic biology in environmental remediation / 生物工程学报

Environmental problems are the most serious challenges in the 21st century. With the rapid development of modern industry and agriculture, ecological and environmental deterioration have become the most important factors to restrict the sustainable development of social economy. Microbial cells have strong ability for environmental remediation, but their evolution speed is slower than the speed of emerging pollutants. Therefore, the treatment using the synthetic biology is in urgent need. Full understanding of the microbial degradation characteristics (pathways) of refractory organic pollutants with the help of abundant microbial and gene resources in China is important. Using synthetic biology to redesign and transform the existing degrading strain will be used to degrade particular organic pollutants or multiple organic pollutants. For the complex pollutants, such as wastewater, based on the establishment of metabolic or regulation or resistance related gene modules of typical organic pollutants, artificial flora could be designed to solve the complex pollutants. The rational design and construction of engineering bacteria for typical environmental organic pollutants can effectively promote microbial catabolism of emerging contaminants, providing technical support for environmental remediation in China.

Segurança no preparo e na administração de medicamentos, à luz da pesquisa restaurativa em saúde / Safety in medication preparation and administration, in light of restorative health care research / Seguridad en la preparación y administración de drogas a la luz de la investigación restaurativa en salud

O objetivo foi obter a visão dos profissionais de enfermagem de uma unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) do interior paulista, em relação aos aspectos existentes nos processos de preparo e de administração de medicamentos, o que, segundo os profissionais, contribui para a segurança do paciente ou, ao contrário, são vistos como barreiras para a administração segura dos medicamentos. O estudo foi dividido em quatro fases. Foram utilizadas técnicas diversificadas de coleta de dados: grupos focais, narração fotográfica, foto elicitation e observação em campo. A coleta e a análise dos dados ocorreram de maneira interativa, segundo a orientação teórica da pesquisa restaurativa em saúde. Seis temas foram obtidos da análise: identificando o ambiente assistencial como contribuinte para a segurança no preparo e na administração de medicamentos; identificando riscos no ambiente assistencial; percebendo o ambiente assistencial como fator de risco para os acidentes ocupacionais; tendo que conviver com o sentimento de "impotência" diante da cultura organizacional vigente; convivendo com os improvisos no dia-a-dia do trabalho; e vislumbrando possibilidades de mudanças no ambiente assistencial. A experiência de utilizar a abordagem restaurativa em saúde auxiliou na compreensão das barreiras e das medidas facilitadoras voltadas para a segurança no preparo e na administração de medicamentos. Os temas obtidos também demonstraram que os problemas existentes na UTI interferem na segurança tanto dos pacientes como dos profissionais. Logo, os líderes devem rever a forma de gerenciar a segurança na instituição.

The objective was to obtain the views of the nursing professionals from an intensive care unit (ICU) of São Paulo State, in relation to the aspects existing in the processes of medication preparation and administration that, according to professionals, may contribute to patient safety or, on the other hand, may be seen as barriers to safe medication administration. The study was divided into four phases. We used diverse data collection techniques: focus groups, photo narration, photo elicitation, and field observation. Data collection and analysis proceeded in an iterative fashion, according to the restorative approach to health systems research. Six themes were obtained from the analysis: identifying the healthcare environment as a contributor to safety in medication preparation and administration; identifying risks in the healthcare environment; realizing environmental care as a risk factor for occupational accidents; having to live with the feeling of “impotence” in the face of prevailing organizational culture; living with workaround on a day-to-day basis; and glimpsing possibilities of changes in the healthcare environment. The experience of using the restorative approach to health systems research helped the understanding of the barriers and the measures aimed at the safety of medication preparation and administration. The themes obtained also showed that the existing problems in the ICU affect the safety of both patients and professionals. Therefore, leaders should review how to manage safety within the institution.

El objeto del presente trabajo fue conocer la opinión de los profesionales de enfermería de una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) del Estado de San Pablo sobre los aspectos de los procesos de preparación y administración de medicamentos que contribuyen a la seguridad del paciente o que son considerados como obstáculos para la administración segura de medicamentos. El estudio se dividió en cuatro etapas. Se utilizaron varias técnicas de recogida de datos: grupos focales, fotografía narrativa, foto elicitation y observación de campo. La recogida y análisis de datos se llevaron a cabo de manera interactiva, según la orientación teórica de la investigación restaurativa en salud. Del análisis se obtuvieron seis temas: Identificación del entorno sanitario como factor que contribuye a la seguridad en la preparación y administración de medicamentos; Identificación de riesgos en el entorno sanitario; Consciencia de que el ambiente hospitalario puede ser un factor de riesgo para los accidentes de trabajo, Vivir con la sensación de "impotencia" ante la imperante cultura de la organización, Convivir con los imprevistos del día a día laboral, Vislumbrando las posibilidades de cambios en el entorno sanitario. La experiencia de emplear el enfoque restaurativo en salud ha ayudado a comprender los obstáculos y las medidas facilitadores destinadas a la seguridad en la preparación y administración de medicamentos. Los temas obtenidos también han demostrado que los problemas existentes en las UCI inciden tanto en la seguridad de los pacientes como de los profesionales. Por ese motivo los administradores deben rever la gestión de la seguridad en la institución.

The PTSD Symptom and Related Factors among the Residents after Samsung-Hebei Spirits Oil Spill / 대한산업의학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to estimate the mental health problems and other related factors in residents that experienced the Samsung-Hebei spirits oil spill by surveying PTSD symptoms. METHOD: Trained interviewers performed direct interviews of the residents approximately 70 days after the oil spill. We investigated PTSD symptoms through PTSD Symptom Scale Interview Version (PSS-I). To determine those factors related to PTSD symptoms, the following factors were determined as part of the survey: gender, age, occupation, duration of cleanup activity, monthly income and amount of debt. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze all factors. RESULTS: Of the 318 residents investigated, 56.6% of the subjects had PTSD symptoms related to the spirits oil spill (about 70 days post spill). With regard to occupation, those subjects answering fishery (POR:3.05) and commerce (POR:4.24) as their occupations experienced higher PTSD symptoms than residents answering farming as their occupation. Residents who answered that they had debt over 10 million KRW (POR:2.61) were more vulnerable to PTSD symptoms compared to residents without debt; residents with acute physical symptoms were vulnerable (POR:5.11) to PTSD symptom compared to residents without acute physical symptoms. The results of multiple logistic analysis, including the cleanup activity, age, gender, occupation, acute physical symptoms and amount of debt in the model suggest that only cleanup activity increased PTSD symptoms. The subjects who had engaged in cleanup activities for longer periods of time had more PTSD symptoms and an additional dose-response relationship. CONCLUSION: Many residents in Samsung-Hebei spirits oil spill area had PTSD symptoms. This suggests that there were serious mental health problems among the residents, who might require specific social supports and psychiatric interventions as a result of the oil spill.