Progress in metabolic engineering of β-carotene synthesis / 生物工程学报

β-carotene is an important natural plant pigment and has various physiological functions in organisms. With the proposition of systematic biology and progress in carotenoids biosynthesis since the 1960s, metabolic engineering has played a significant role in enhancing carotenoid production. In this review, we present β-carotene's traditional production methods and metabolic engineering strategies for constructing β-carotene-producing strains. Meanwhile, main problems and corresponding solutions to improve β-carotene yield of engineered strains were further analyzed, for further efficient microbial production of β-carotene.

Xylanase carbohydrate binding module: recent developments / 生物工程学报

Besides the catalytic domain, some xylanases contained a non-catalytic domain which is named as carbohydrate binding module (CBM). CBM can be used to improve their binding-ability to insoluble substrates. We illustrated the importance of CBM by reviewing the source of CBMs, type of families, features of binding to insoluble substrates, specific amino acids involved in substrate-binding, linker peptides connecting the catalytic domain, and the effect of CBMs on xylanase thermostability. CBM is important for xylanase to break down complicate carbohydrates. Perspectives on engineering xylanase activity according to the characteristics of CBMs were given.

Setting up and Running of Automatic Outpatient Pharmacy / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE: To provide references for the setting up and running of automatic management in pharmacy. METHODS: The application of ROWA automated storage system after the setting up of automatic outpatient pharmacy in our hospital and its impact on the outpatient pharmacy were analyzed. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: The ROWA automated storage system has helped improve the working environment and efficiency of service, reduce labor intensity, increase the connotation of services, and the competitiveness, promote hospital's service brand as well as creating better social and economi- cal benefits.

Application of meshed acellular dermis xenograft (pigskin) with scalp thin skin autograft in 15 patients / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To present the clinical application of the meshed acellular dermis xenograft with scalp thin split-thickness skin autograft.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The meshed acellular dermis xenograft (pigskin) was placed on the granulation or defects after scar resection. Four or five days afterwards, scalp thin split-thickness skin was transplanted. A total of 15 patients with 25 wounds were treated using this technique. The survival rates and quality of the grafts were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The survival rate of the meshed acellular dermis xenograft was (96.40 +/- 2.60)% and the scalp thin split-thickness skin autograft was (97.44 +/- 3.50)%. All grafts showed normal skin-alike color and elastic and smooth texture.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined use of meshed acellular dermis xenograft and scalp skin autograft demonstrated an ideal way for the repair of full-thickness skin burn or defects from scar resection. The scalp can provide thin skin graft repeatedly without influence of the hair.</p>