Lastly, we showed that the effect of the MARs on transgenes was related to the gene copy number. In summary, this study found that MARs could both enhance the transgene expression and stability in HT-1080 cells.Microbial production of xylanase is gaining the commercial importance, due to its wide range of applications from paper and pulp to food and feed industries. Streptomyces geysiriensis was used for the production of extracellular xylanase from lignocellulosic substrates such as rice bran and saw dust, under solid-state fermentation. The influence of pH, temperature and incubation period for the maximum production of xylanase was investigated with 12 (w/v) of substrate to moisture ratio at 100 rpm shaking conditions. The maximum production was recorded after 5 days of fermentation with pH 8.0 at 40 °C. The scale-up was done based on the results of optimized parameters using 3 L Applikon autoclavable bioreactor with maximum yield of 186 U/ml after 4 days of fermentation. Extracellular xylanase was separated by partitioning in aqueous two-phase system consisting of 20% polyethylene glycol 6000 and 12% K2HPO4 with maximum yield of 93.97%. The investigation of the effect of pH and temperature and its incubation time showed that xylanase was retained its activity in a pH range of 6.5-8.5, with thermal stability from 20 °C to 60 °C up to 180 min. The presence of metal ions was found to inhibit the activity of xylanase especially Cu2+ and Zn2+. Xylanase was stable both at 4 °C and room temperature (35 °C) for 30 and 9 days respectively. The kinetic parameters Km (0.48 mg/ml) and Vmax (8.33 U/mg) were determined using birchwood xylan as substrate.
  Sexual activity can be broadly defined to include not only sexual intercourse but also physical intimacy. However, most studies of sexual activity in older adults have a limited focus on sexual intercourse only.
 
  The aim was to investigate sexual activities including sexual intercourse and physical intimacy in community-dwelling older Korean adults.
 
  This study was based on cross-sectional data to measure sexual activities (sexual intercourse and physical intimacy) in 209 participants (100 men and 109 women) aged 65years or older. Sexual intercourse and physical intimacy were defined as vaginal penetration and as any sexual behavior with sexual arousing (eg, kissing, caressing), respectively. Erectile dysfunction was evaluated by the use of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire, and female sexual dysfunction was evaluated by Female Sexual Function Index scores.
 
  Trained interviewers collected the survey information on sexual activities in the last 6months at the senior welfare centers part of sexual activity in the assessment of geriatric patients with sexual dysfunction. Chung HS, Kim GH, Shin M-H, etal. Physical Intimacy Is an Important Part of Sexual Activities Korean Older Adults Study. Sex Med 2020;8643-649.
 Although sexual intercourse is an important part of sexual activity, our study results suggest that physical intimacy is also a considerable component of sexual activity that should not be neglected in older adults, especially in women. Our findings imply that health-care professionals need to consider physical intimacy as part of sexual activity in the assessment of geriatric patients with sexual dysfunction. Chung HS, Kim GH, Shin M-H, et al. Physical Intimacy Is an Important Part of Sexual Activities Korean Older Adults Study. Sex Med 2020;8643-649.
  Persons with vulvodynia (a chronic vulvar pain condition) suffer many barriers to diagnosis and treatment, several of which may be exacerbated by the sociocultural and geographical context in which they live.
 
  We drew on the experiences of patients with vulvodynia who were living in small urban and rural communities to learn what they perceived as the major barriers to diagnosis and treatment as well as to probe for possible solutions.
 
  For this qualitative case study, we conducted 3 focus groups with a total of 10 participants, drawn from patients seen at our academic tertiary referral center, with a goal of understanding their lived experience with vulvodynia.
 
  The patient dialogue was coded into themes and temporally grouped to illustrate struggles and victories in diagnosis and treatment.
 
  Participants confirmed that healthcare provider knowledge and attitudes as well as system challenges (specialist and allied healthcare provider availability) are major barriers to timely diagnosis. Of novel interestudy suggests that to minimize patient distress and expedite diagnosis, resources must also be directed to promoting comprehensive sexual health education. Webber V, Miller ME, Gustafson DL, et al. Vulvodynia Viewed From a Disease Prevention Framework Insights From Patient Perspectives. Sex Med 2020;8757-766.
  Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a worldwide pandemic. We present the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 28 COVID-19 patients treated in our hospital in Taiwan.
 
  Patients with COVID-19, confirmed by positive real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral nucleic acids from oropharyngeal swab specimens between February 4, 2020 and July 6, 2020, were enrolled.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Erlotinib-Hydrochloride.html  Their clinical characteristics and outcomes were reviewed.
 
  Seventeen of the 28 patients (60.7%) had pneumonia. The most frequent symptoms were cough (n=23, 82.1%) and fever (n=17, 60.7%). The development of pneumonia was associated with age ≥40 years (p<0.024), body mass index (BMI) ≥25kg/m
  (p = 0.014), fever (p = 0.007), shortness of breath (p = 0.036), chills ((p = 0.047), and lower platelet counts (<200,000/μL) (p = 0.007). Increased quarantine duration was associated with age ≥40 years (p=0.026), Charlson index ≥1 (p=0.037), lower lymphocyte (<1500/uL; p = 0.028) or platelet counts (<200,000/μL) (p = 0.016), lower serum sodium (<140 mEq/L; p = 0.006), and higher C-reactive protein (CRP) level (≥1mg/dl; p = 0.04). Treatment with hydroxychloroquine or in combination with other medicines did not reduce the quarantine duration. All 28 patients recovered with a median quarantine duration of 27.2 days.
 
  COVID-19 patients with older age, higher BMI, fever, chills or shortness of breath, lower serum sodium level, lower platelet or lymphocyte count, and higher CRP level may be associated with developing pneumonia or longer quarantine duration.
 COVID-19 patients with older age, higher BMI, fever, chills or shortness of breath, lower serum sodium level, lower platelet or lymphocyte count, and higher CRP level may be associated with developing pneumonia or longer quarantine duration.