[A study on the distribution characteristics of peripheral retinal defocus in children and adolescents]

Objective: To explore the distribution characteristics of peripheral retinal defocus in children and adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 500 individuals aged 3 to 18 years, who visited the People's Hospital of Lincang, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University and Dali Ophthalmology Hospital between January and December 2021. Data of the right eye of each participant was analyzed. There were 226 males (45.20%) and 274 females (54.80%), with an average age of (10.79±3.79) years. All participants underwent post-cycloplegic refraction, optical biometry, and intraocular pressure measurement to obtain spherical equivalent, average corneal curvature, axial length, and intraocular pressure. Multispectral refraction topography was performed to obtain topographic maps and values at various field angles and orientations of peripheral retinal defocus. Based on multispectral refraction topography, peripheral retinal defocus values were categorized as crater type, hemilateral upturn type, saddle type, and relatively flat type. The distribution of different refractive states was analyzed. Results: The spherical equivalent of the 500 participants was(-1.51±2.61) D, axial length was (24.10±1.28) mm, and average corneal curvature was (43.20±1.22) D. Among the 500 eyes, 382 exhibited hyperopic peripheral retinal defocus values, with 316 eyes (82.72%) being myopic. Myopic peripheral retinal defocus values were observed in 118 eyes, with 15 eyes (12.72%) being myopic. Among different types of peripheral retinal defocus values, 112 eyes (22.4%) exhibited a crater type, 153 eyes (30.6%) exhibited a hemilateral upturn type, 107 eyes (21.4%) exhibited a saddle type, and 128 eyes (25.6%) exhibited a flat type. The proportion of myopia was 82.14% (92 eyes), 69.28% (106 eyes), 60.75% (65 eyes), and 3.90% (5 eyes), respectively. The peripheral retinal defocus values at 15°, 30°, and 45° were (0.01±0.08) D, (0.06±0.21) D, and (0.20±0.37) D, respectively. The peripheral retinal defocus values at temporal, inferior, nasal, and superior locations were (0.58±0.69) D, (0.52±0.63) D, (0.21±0.64) D, and (-0.26±0.67) D, respectively. Notably, the superior primarily manifested as myopic, while the others were predominantly hyperopic. Conclusions: Approximately three-fourths of children and adolescents exhibit hyperopic peripheral retinal defocus values, with a higher prevalence of myopia in this subgroup. The hyperopia peripheral retinal defocus value increases with the distance from the retina to the macula. The peripheral retinal defocus values between superior and inferior, nasal and temporal locations are asymmetrical, with the temporal hyperopic peripheral retinal defocus value being most prominent and the superior myopic peripheral retinal defocus value being most evident.

Unveiling the temperature-dependent thermoelectric properties of the undoped and Na-doped monolayer SnSe allotropes: a comparative study

Motivated by the excellent thermoelectric (TE) performance of bulk SnSe, extensive attention has been drawn to the TE properties of the monolayer SnSe. To uncover the fundamental mechanism of manipulating the TE performance of the SnSe monolayer, we perform a systematic study on the TE properties of five monolayer SnSe allotropes such asα-,β-,γ-,δ-, andε-SnSe based on the density functional theory and the non-equilibrium Green's functions. By comparing the TE properties of the Na-doped SnSe allotropes with the undoped ones, the influences of the Na doping and the temperature on the TE properties are deeply investigated. It is shown that the figure of meritZTwill increase as the temperature increases, which is the same for almost all the Na-doped and undoped cases. The Na doping can enhance or suppress theZTin different SnSe allotropes at different temperatures, implying the presence of the anomalous suppression of theZT. The Na doping inducedZTsuppression may be caused basically by the sharp decrease of the power factor and the weak decrease of the electronic thermal conductance, rather than by the decrease of the phononic thermal conductance. We hope this work will be able to enrich the understanding of the manipulation of TE properties by means of dimensions, structurization, doping, and temperature.

[Annual progress on bronchial asthma diagnosis and treatment in 2023]

Bronchial asthma (referred to as asthma) is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease mediated by various immune cells, cytokines, and inflammatory mediators. This disease exhibits considerable heterogeneity in clinical symptoms, severity, and treatment outcomes, posing significant challenges to the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. This article reviews the literature on both basic and clinical research in asthma, published from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. The review focuses on summarizing and elucidating four aspects of asthma: pathogenesis, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. The aim is to provide more evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment and offer new perspectives for future research.

[Bioinformatics analysis of primary biliary cholangitis key genes and molecular mechanisms]

Objective: To extract the differentially expressed key genes of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) using bioinformatics methods, so as to provide information for further study into the mechanism. Methods: The GSE119600 dataset was downloaded from the GEO database to obtain differentially expressed genes. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed for differentially expressed genes. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network reconstruction, Cytoscape software visualization, and core gene screening were performed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC) was used to assess the diagnostic effectiveness of genes and plot the pROC software package. The x-Cell software was used to calculate the enrichment score of 34 immune cells in each sample. Finally, four key genes (PSMA4, PSMA1, PSMB1, and PSMA3) were selected. Blood samples were analyzed using the qPCR method. Results:: A total of 373 immune-related differentially expressed genes were identified. Eight genes (PSMC6, PSMB2, PSMB1, PSMA3, PSMA4, PSMA1, PSMD7, and PSMB5) were screened from the 178 nodes and 596 edges as hub genes of the PPI network, which were significantly related to amino acid metabolism, hematopoietic stem cell differentiation, cell cycle, and immune processes. PSMA4, PSMA1, PSMB1, and PSMA3 were defined as immunological biomarkers for PBC with an AUC value of the ROC curve > 0.7. Immunoinfiltrating cell analysis showed that the proportion of eosinophils was significantly higher in PBC patients compared to the control group, whereas the proportion of CD4+ memory T cells, plasma cells, Th2 cells, and cDC cells was significantly lower in PBC patients than the control group. Plasma cells were associated with all four immunological biomarkers. Seven PBC patients and seven healthy subjects were selected for peripheral blood qPCR validation, which demonstrates that PSMB1, PSMA3, PSMA1, and PSMA4 levels were significantly lower in PBC patients than healthy subjects, with a statistically significant difference. Conclusion:: Bioinformatics screened eight key genes, of which four were key immunological markers and may serve as a basis for clinical diagnosis and mechanism exploration.

[Analysis of parainfluenza virus infection in acute respiratory tract infection adult cases in Shanghai, 2015-2021]

Objective: To study the infection status and epidemiological characteristics of parainfluenza virus (PIV) in acute respiratory tract infection adult cases in Shanghai from 2015 to 2021, and to provide a scientific basis for preventing and controlling PIV. Methods: Acute respiratory tract infections were collected from 13 hospitals in Shanghai from 2015 to 2021. Relevant information was registered, and respiratory specimens were sampled to detect respiratory pathogens by multiplex PCR. Results: A total of 5 104 adult acute respiratory tract infection cases were included; the overall positive rate of the respiratory pathogens was 29.37% (1 499/5 104). The positive rate of PIV was 2.61% (133/5 104), compared with 2.32% (55/2 369) and 2.85% (78/2 735) in influenza-like cases (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases, respectively. Among them, PIV3 accounted for the highest proportion (62.41%, 83/133), followed by PIV1 (18.80%, 25/133), PIV2 (9.77%, 13/133), and PIV4 (9.02%, 12/133). The incidence of PIV-positive cases was mainly distributed in the first and second quarters, accounting for 62.41% (83/133). The difference in the incidence in each quarter was significant (χ2=24.78, P<0.001). Mixed infection accounted for 18.80% (25/133) of 133 PIV-positive cases, the mixed infection rates of ILI and SARI were 18.18% (10/55) and 19.23% (15/78), respectively, and the main mixed pathogen of PIV was coronavirus 229E. Conclusions: There are a certain proportion of PIV-positive acute respiratory tract infection cases in Shanghai. It is necessary to strengthen the etiological surveillance in acute respiratory tract infection cases, especially the mixed infection of PIV and other pathogens.

Electronic structures, transport properties, and optical absorption of bilayer blue phosphorene nanoribbons

Based on first-principles density functional theory and nonequilibrium Green's function, we study the electronic band structures, the electronic transport properties, and the optical absorption of bilayer blue phosphorene nanoribbons (BPNRs). Both bilayer armchair BPNRs (a-BPNRs) and zigzag BPNRs (z-BPNRs) behave as semiconductors in the narrow nanoribbon case and metals in the wide nanoribbon case, sharply different from their monolayer counterparts where the monolayer a-BPNRs (z-BPNRs) are always semiconducting (metallic). This indicates that interlayer couplings or the increasing layer number may induce the switching of the conductivity of the monolayer BPNRs, which is absent in graphene and phosphorene nanoribbons. Furthermore, we explore the edge states of the energy bands near Fermi energy, and find that there are almost no pure edge-state band branches in the bilayer BPNRs, which can be attributed to the interlayer couplings between the edge-states in one layer and the bulk-states in the other. Consequently, the resulting complex band structures cannot be directly analyzed any more in the framework of the two-body coupling picture just according to the simple band structures of the monolayer BPNRs. Finally, we present the current-voltage characteristics and the optical absorption of the bilayer a-BPNRs and z-BPNRs. The influences of the nanoribbon width and the interlayer couplings on the current and the anisotropic optical absorption can be understood based on the complex energy band structures. This research should be an important reference of extending the field of BPNRs from the monolayer to the bilayer case, and deepen the understanding of the difference between the monolayer and bilayer nanoribbons in different materials.

[Quantitative analysis of lipid metabolism-related differential proteins in patients with alcoholic liver disease]

Objective: To screen and identify differential proteins, analyze lipid metabolism-related proteins and pathways, and explore their functions and biological processes in liver tissue of patients with alcoholic liver disease using tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling technology. Methods: Liver tissues that met the inclusion criteria were collected. Eight samples from patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and three samples from the normal control group were screened out. The TMT technique was used to screen differential proteins, perform signaling pathway enrichment analysis, and analyze protein interaction networks to explore the biological processes involved in them. Results: Proteomic analysis identified 2 741 kinds of differentially expressed proteins in the two groups of data with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The standard criteria of P < 0.05 and |log2(foldchange)| > 1 had screened out 106 kinds of differentially expressed proteins. Compared with the control group, the alcoholic liver disease group had 12 kinds of up-regulated proteins and 94 kinds of down-regulated proteins. Among them, there were 2 kinds of up-regulated differential proteins related to lipid metabolism and 14 kinds of down-regulated differential proteins. The results of bioinformatics analysis showed that these proteins were primarily involved in biological processes such as lipid transport, regulation of lipase activity, fatty acid binding, and cholesterol metabolism in lipid metabolism and also had a close link to signal pathways related to lipid metabolism such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathways, cholesterol metabolism, triglyceride metabolism, and regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes. Conclusion: The 16 kinds of lipid metabolism-related differential proteins may be the key proteins in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease.

[Analysis of physical growth of preterm infants with different intrauterine growth patterns in Haikou]

Objective: To analyze the physical growth of preterm infants with different intrauterine growth patterns. Methods: A total of 10 856 preterm infants who were born in various districts of Haikou City from October 1st, 2015 to June 1st, 2021 and received regular health care and management were retrospectively enrolled. The preterm infants were divided into appropriate for gestational age (AGA), small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) groups according to different intrauterine growth patterns. The general characteristics of preterm infants in different groups were compared by H test (Kruskal and Wallis) or Chi-squared test. And the developmental curves were plotted by local regression (LOESS) with their physical growth indexes. Results: Of the 10 856 preterm infants, 6 317 were boys and 4 539 were girls. The gestational age at birth was 35 (34, 36) weeks, and the birth weight was 2.5 (2.1, 2.8) kg. There were 754 (6.9%) SGA, 9 301 (85.7%) AGA, and 801 (7.4%) LGA preterm infants. All preterm infants were followed up until 18 months of corrected age. The birth weight of the SGA group was lower than that of the AGA and LGA groups (Z=2 274.93, P<0.001). The proportion of exclusive breastfeeding at the first health care interview was higher in the AGA group (68.6% (6 378/9 301)) than in the SGA group (62.9% (474/754)) (χ²=13.82, P=0.003). The LOESS curving fitting showed that the weight and height of the preterm infants in all the 3 groups increased rapidly during 0-6 months of corrected age. The regression prediction values of weight for age Z-score (WAZ), height for age Z-score (HAZ) and weight for height Z-score (WHZ) were around 0 s, while the regression prediction values of these three indicators in SGA were all below 0 s but greater than -1 s. The rates of low birth weight, growth retardation and wasting during 0-17 months of corrected age were 0.3% (16/4 838)-1.9% (47/2 506), 0.4% (18/4 838) -2.4% (51/2 124), and 2.1% (88/4 135) -4.4% (214/4 838) in AGA groups, and 0 (0/296) -1.0% (2/199), 0 (0/341) -1.6% (3/186) and 1.0% (2/199) -2.6% (9/341) in LGA group, whereas 7.6% (25/330) -16.8% (28/167), 5.2% (17/330)-10.6%(32/303) and 3.9% (3/77) -12.6% (21/167) in SGA group. In addition, the monthly growth of weight and height of preterm infants in all the 3 groups decreased with the increasing age, and the monthly weight gain. The length increment was 4.0 cm/month during corrected 0-2 month of age and 2.4 cm/month during corrected 2-5 month of age in the SGA preterm infants. Conclusions: Most of the preterm infants could have an appropriate catch-up growth, but the growth and development in the SGA preterm infants lags behind that of their AGA and LGA peers. The physical growth of SGA premature infants should be paid more attention to, to timely correct the growth deviations.

[Fracture images in temple murals for sacrificial activities in the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Shanxi]

A great number of 'fracture images' in murals remain in some temples in Shanxi province, describing Buddhist rituals for sacrificial activities in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Some 'fracture images', such as 'splint fixation method' and 'suspension fixation method', were found in Puguang Temple, Yunlin Temple and Yong'an Temple. These murals with 'fracture images' demonstrated characteristics of secularisation and realistic style, as vivid portrayals of surgical medicine in the Ming Dynasty. For instance, one of the pictures in Puguang Temple clearly described the shape of orthopedic splints at that time. The depictions in 'fracture images' in temple murals were basically consistent with the records in ancient literature based on the investigation on fracture treatment in the history of traditional Chinese medicine. They provided visual materials for further study of orthopedic history.

[Casticin inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells by inhibition of TM7SF4 expression]

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of Casticin (CAS) on the proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer T24 cells. Methods: T24 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group, 5, 10, 20 μmol/L CAS groups, si-NC group, si-TM7SF4 group, CAS+ pcDNA group and CAS+ pcDNA-TM7SF4 group. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell proliferation; Transwell was used to detect cell migration and invasion; western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of cyclin D1, p21, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TM7SF4, and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of TM7SF4 mRNA. Results: The inhibition rates of T24 cells in the 5, 10, 20 μmol/L CAS groups were (17.68±1.41)%, (33.54±3.16)% and (61.44±5.50)%, respectively, higher than (0.00±0.00)% of the control group (P<0.001), but the numbers of migration and invasion were 72.83±5.66, 59.13±4.27, 41.25±3.22 and 55.83±5.15, 42.19±3.06, 31.13±3.22, respectively, lower than 86.11±5.16 and 68.82±5.29 of the control group (P<0.001). The protein expression levels of cyclin D1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TM7SF4 and the expression levels of TM7SF4 mRNA in the 5, 10, and 20 μmol/L CAS groups were lower than the control group (P<0.001). However, the protein expression levels of p21 were 0.37±0.03, 0.51±0.04, and 0.66±0.06, respectively, higher than 0.25±0.03 in the control group (P<0.001). The inhibition rate of T24 cells in the si-TM7SF4 group was (50.35±4.67)%, higher than (6.31±0.58)% in the si-NC group (P<0.001), but the numbers of migration and invasion were 53.51±4.18 and 42.92±3.81, lower than 85.26±4.99 and 67.93±4.64 of the si-NC group (P<0.001). The protein expression levels of TM7SF4, CyclinD1, MMP-2, MMP-9 in the si-TM7SF4 group were lower than the si-NC group (P<0.001). However, the protein expression level of p21 in the si-TM7SF4 group was higher than the si-NC group (P<0.001). The inhibitory rate of T24 cells in the CAS+ pcDNA-TM7SF4 group was (21.45±2.46)%, lower than (64.06±4.49)% of the CAS+ pcDNA group (P<0.001), but the number of migration and invasion in the CAS+ pcDNA-TM7SF4 group were 75.66±6.57 and 59.35±5.40, higher than 40.43±3.85 and 30.25±3.32 in the CAS+ pcDNA group (P<0.001). The protein expression levels of TM7SF4, CyclinD1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the CAS+ pcDNA-TM7SF4 group were higher than the CAS+ pcDNA group (P<0.001), but the protein expression level of p21 was lower than the CAS+ pcDNA group (P<0.001). Conclusion: CAS may suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer T24 cells by inhibiting the expression of TM7SF4.

[Clinicopathological features of indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract: a report of five cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Methods: Five cases of indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract from the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from 2016 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical and pathological parameters were analyzed by combining clinical data and reviewing the available literature of 35 cases (34 cases abroad and 1 case in China). Results: There were 4 males and 1 female with a median age of 47 years (18-66 years). All patients had abdominal pain and constitutional symptoms including diarrhea, emaciation, intermittent mucous stool or oral and epiglottic ulcers. Endoscopic manifestations included multiple punctate congestion, erosion and ulcer at the terminal ileum and colorectum. Two cases had congestion and erosion of antrum and angle of stomach, and the lesions did not fuse and form tumors. Histologically, the lamina propria was expanded by a dense, medium to small lymphocyte infiltration, which was monomorphic, with slightly irregular nuclei without prominent nucleolus or lymphoepithelial lesions. There were admixed small amount of plasma cells and eosinophils. In 4 cases, immunohistochemistry showed the lesional cells were positive for CD3, CD8, TIA1, and negative for CD4, CD56, granzyme B and Ki-67 index was ≤10%. In situ hybridization showed that EBER was negative and clonal TCR gene rearrangement was detected. One consultation case was CD3(+), CD5(-) and Ki-67 index of 10%, although other indicators were not done. All five patients were treated with symptomatic support. In follow-up observation for 2 to 25 months, all patients were alive with the disease. Conclusions: Indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract is a newly classified monoclonal T-cell proliferative disease, with low incidence, clinical inertia and long-term survival. It has unique clinicopathological features but pathologically it is easily misdiagnosed as inflammatory bowel disease or T-cell lymphoma. Correct diagnosis is of great important clinical significance.

[Protective effect of glycogen synthase kinase 3β inhibition via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha activation in mice with acute liver failure]

Objective: To investigate the role of the glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) signaling pathway in acute liver failure and related mechanisms in a mouse model of acute liver failure induced by D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (D-GalN/LPS). Methods: C57BL/6 mice were given intraperitoneal injection of D-GalN/LPS to establish a mouse model of acute liver failure. SB216763 was used to inhibit the activity of GSK3β and PPARα siRNA was used to inhibit the expression of PPARα. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of PPARα protein. The changes in liver pathology were observed to evaluate liver injury, and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured to assess liver function. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40), and PPARα. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of means between multiple groups; the least significant difference test was used for data with homogeneity of variance, and the Games-Howell method was used for data with heterogeneity of variance. Results: In the mice with liver failure induced by D-GalN/LPS, GSK3β inhibition promoted the mRNA and protein expression of PPARα (F = 13.18 and 301.36, P = 0.00 and 0.00). In the mice with acute liver failure induced by D-GalN/LPS, GSK3β inhibition alleviated liver bleeding, inflammation, and necrosis and reduced the serum levels of ALT (F = 25.16, P = 0.000) and AST (F = 12.96, P = 0.001), as well as the mRNA expression of TNF-α (F = 32.17, P = 0.00), IL-1β (F = 11.57, P = 0.005), and IL-12p40 (F = 14.17, P = 0.015) in liver tissue. The inhibition of PPARα expression reversed the liver-protecting effect of GSK3β inhibition, which manifested as aggravation in liver bleeding, inflammation, and necrosis, increases in the serum levels of ALT (F = 25.16, P = 0.001) and AST (F = 12.96, P = 0.000), and an increase in the mRNA expression of TNF-α (F = 32.17, P = 0.00), IL-1β (F = 11.57, P = 0.024), and IL-12p40 (F = 14.17, P = 0.001) in liver tissue. Conclusion: In mice with acute liver failure induced by D-GalN/LPS, the GSK3β-PPARα-inflammatory factor signaling pathway may play an important role. GSK3β inhibition has a protective effect in mice with acute liver failure possibly by activating the inhibitory inflammatory factor of PPARα.

[Augmenter of liver regeneration promotes the proliferation of HL-7702 cells in carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury via increasing autophagy]

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) against acute liver injury and related mechanisms. Methods: HL-7702 cells were divided into normal control group, carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver injury group, ALR+CCl₄ intervention group, 3-methyladenine (3-MA)+CCl₄ intervention group, and ALR+3-MA+CCl₄ intervention group. The ALR+CCl₄ and ALR+3-MA+CCl₄ intervention groups were transfected with ALR plasmids at 8 hours before CCl₄ treatment. All groups except the normal control group were treated with CCl₄, and 30 minutes later, the 3-MA+CCl₄ and ALR+3-MA+CCl₄ intervention groups were treated with 3-MA. The cells were collected at 24 hours after CCl₄ treatment. The HL-7702 cells and supernatant were collected to measure the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (IU/L). Western blot was used to measure the levels of ALR, cyclin D, cyclin E, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7), and autophagy genes LC3, p62, and Beclin-1. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of ALR. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of means between any two groups. Results: The ALR+CCl₄ intervention group had significant increases in the protein and mRNA expression of ALR compared with the acute liver injury group (both P < 0.05). The CCl₄-induced acute liver injury group had significant increases in the protein and mRNA expression of ALR compared with the normal control group (both P < 0.05). Compared with the CCl₄-induced acute liver injury group, the ALR+CCl₄ intervention group had significant reductions in ALT (0.73±0.17 IU/L vs 1.43±0.38 IU/L, P < 0.05) and AST (19.85±1.83 IU/L vs 56.73±6.25 IU/L, P < 0.05) in supernatant, significantly increased expression of cyclin D, cyclin E, PCNA, LC3, Atg7, and Beclin-1 in hepatocytes, and significantly reduced expression of p62, which suggested that ALR protected the liver against acute liver injury, promoted the regeneration of hepatocytes, and enhanced the autophagy of hepatocytes. The ALR+3-MA+CCl₄ intervention group had a significant reduction in the expression of regeneration-associated proteins compared with the ALR+CCl₄ intervention group, while there was no significant difference between the ALR+3-MA+CCl₄ intervention group and 3-MA+CCl₄ intervention group, which suggested that after the inhibition of autophagy, there were significant reductions in the regeneration of hepatocytes and liver regeneration promoted by ALR. Conclusion: ALR can promote the regeneration of hepatocytes in liver parenchyma, which is achieved by the regulation of autophagy.

Reduced graphene oxides: the thinnest and most lightweight materials with highly efficient microwave attenuation performances of the carbon world

In this work, reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) and graphite nanosheet (GN) were obtained via the chemical approach. Furthermore, r-GO composites and GN composites were prepared with a paraffin wax host. r-GO composites show high dielectric properties and electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE). Compared with the GN composites, the loss tangent and EMI SE of the r-GO composites with the same mass ratio are enhanced ∼5 to 10 times and ∼3 to 10 times, respectively. The enhanced attenuation capacity arises from higher specific surface area, clustered defects and residual bonds of the r-GOs, which increase the polarization loss, scattering and conductivity of the composite. Moreover, the higher conductivity of r-GO composites leads to higher EMI SE compared with that of GN composites. These results suggest that r-GOs are highly promising fillers for microwave attenuation in the carbon family and that r-GO composites are high-performance EMI shielding materials with application anticipated to many fields.

Characteristics of nitrogen transformation and microbial community in an aerobic composting reactor under two typical temperatures

Batch experiments were conducted for feces composting using an aerobic composting reactor with sawdust as bulky matrix. In the 14-day composting processes at 35±2 and 55±2°C, compost samples were collected daily and chemical analyses and PCR-DGGE were carried out for investigating the influence of composting temperature on organic decomposition, nitrogen transformation, and microbial communities. At 55±2°C, in addition to a slightly higher COD removal, nitrogen loss was greatly restrained. As organic nitrogen took about 85% of the total nitrogen originated from human feces, the suppression of ammonification process under thermophilic environment might be the main reason for less nitrogen loss at 55±2°C. By PCR-DGGE analysis, the microbial community was found to undergo successions differently at 35±2 and 55±2°C. Certain sequences identified from the compost at 55±2°C represented the microbial species which could perform nitrogen-fixation or sustain a lower pH in the compost so that gaseous ammonia emission was suppressed.

Structural properties and superconductivity of SrFe(2)As(2 - x)P(x) (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) and CaFe(2)As(2 - y)P(y) (0.0 ≤ y ≤ 0.3)

The SrFe(2)As(2 - x)P(x) (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) and CaFe(2)As(2 - y)P(y) (0.0 ≤ y ≤ 0.3) materials were prepared by a solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction measurements indicate that the single-phase samples can be successfully obtained for SrFe(2)As(2 - x)P(x) (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) and CaFe(2)As(2 - y)P(y) (0.0 ≤ y ≤ 0.3). Visible contraction of the lattice parameters is determined due to the relatively smaller radius of P ions in comparison with that of As. The spin-density-wave (SDW) instability associated with the tetragonal to orthorhombic phase transition is suppressed noticeably in both systems following the increase in P content. The highest superconducting transitions are observed at about 27 K in SrFe(2)As(1.3)P(0.7) and at about 13 K in CaFe(2)As(1.925)P(0.075), respectively. Structural analysis suggests that lattice contraction could notably affect the superconductivity in these materials.

Palmatine, a protoberberine alkaloid, inhibits both Ca(2+)- and cAMP-activated Cl(-) secretion in isolated rat distal colon

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The protoberberine alkaloid berberine has been reported to inhibit colonic Cl(-) secretion. However, it is not known if other protoberberine alkaloids share these effects. We have therefore selected another protoberberine alkaloid, palmatine, to assess its effects on active ion transport across rat colonic epithelium.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Rat colonic mucosa was mounted in Ussing chambers and short circuit current (I (SC)), apical Cl(-) current and basolateral K(+) current were recorded. Intracellular cAMP content was determined by an enzyme immunoassay. Intracellular Ca(2+) concentration was measured with Fura-2 AM.

KEY RESULTS

Palmatine inhibited carbachol-induced Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) secretion and the carbachol-induced increase of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. Palmatine also inhibited cAMP-activated Cl(-) secretion induced by prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) or forskolin. Palmatine prevented the elevation of intracellular cAMP by forskolin. Determination of apical Cl(-) currents showed that palmatine suppressed the forskolin-stimulated, apical cAMP-activated Cl(-) current but not the carbachol-stimulated apical Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) current. Following permeabilization of apical membranes with nystatin, we found that palmatine inhibited a carbachol-stimulated basolateral K(+) current that was sensitive to charybdotoxin and resistant to chromanol 293B. However, the forskolin-stimulated basolateral K(+) current inhibited by palmatine was specifically blocked by chromanol 293B and not by charybdotoxin.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Palmatine attenuated Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) secretion through inhibiting basolateral charybdotoxin-sensitive, SK4 K(+) channels, whereas it inhibited cAMP-activated Cl(-) secretion by inhibiting apical CFTR Cl(-) channels and basolateral chromanol 293B-sensitive, KvLQT1 K(+) channels.

Dietary variables and glucose tolerance in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate relationships between dietary macronutrient intakes and glucose tolerance in pregnancy

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Nulliparous pregnant Chinese women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (n = 56) were compared to age-, gestational age-, height-, and parity-matched groups with normal glucose tolerance (n = 77) and glucose intolerance (IGT) (n = 38) based on the results of an oral glucose tolerance test (National Diabetes Data Group criteria), performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. A 24-h recall dietary assessment was also obtained at the time of screening.

RESULTS

Subjects with IGT and GDM were significantly heavier (66.1 +/- 1.4 and 68.6 +/- 1.2 kg, respectively, mean +/- SEM) (P < 0.0001) than the normal group (61.2 +/- 1.8 kg) and had a higher BMI. Overall energy intake was similar between groups, as were the intakes of each macronutrient (%kcal). However, there was a highly significant reduction in polyunsaturated fat intake in the IGT and GDM groups whether expressed as %kcal, % of total fat, or fat kcal. This effect was independent of body weight or BMI whether assessed by ordinal logistic regression or by analysis of a weight- and BMI-matched subgroup of the subjects (P = 0.002 for %kcal; n = 47 normal, 26 IGT, and 43 GDM subjects). In logistic regression analysis of the complete data set, increased body weight (P < 0.0001) and decreased polyunsaturated fat intake (P = 0.0014) were both independent predictors of glucose intolerance (IGT and GDM), as were increased body weight and a low dietary polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased polyunsaturated fat intake is associated with a reduced incidence of glucose intolerance during pregnancy. This finding may have major implications for dietary management of women with or at risk of developing GDM.

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and associated risk factors in an adult urban population in Shanghai

A cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban population 25 years of age and older to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and associated risk factors. A total of 13,940 subjects was surveyed (7,042 male, 6,898 female). The prevalence (DM 2.33%, IGT 1.30) was much higher than in a 1978 study. Age-standardised prevalence was not statistically different between males and females: respectively 2.54% and 2.14% for DM and 1.42% and 1.31% for IGT. Most diabetic patients were well-educated and performed mildly intensive labour. More patients showed a family history of diabetes during youth and risk factors associated with diabetes in old age, e.g. hypertension and an overweight condition. Microalbuminuria was found in 20.26% of newly diagnosed diabetic patients, i.e. a much higher proportion than in the normal population.

[Separation and identification of the llungianin A and B from the root of Pimpinella thellungiana Wolff]

Two compounds were isolated from the roots of Pimpinella thellungiana wolff. On the basis of spectral analysis (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR, 1H-1H COSY, 13CNMR, 1H-13C COSY, DEPT), they were identified as 2-(1-ethoxy-2-hydroxy) propyl-4-methoxyphenol(I); 2-(1-ethoxy-2-hydroxy) propyl-4-methoxyphenyl-2-methyl-butyrate (II). They are new compounds named the llungianin A and B. Pharmacological tests showed that they have some hypotensive effects.

Retinoids and carotenoids in bovine pineal gland

The retinoids and carotenoids in bovine pineal gland were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatographic methods. The major retinoid observed was all-trans retinol, with an average level of 579 pmol/g wet tissue. In agreement with a previous report, retinal was not detected; however, we could not detect any retinyl ester in bovine pineal gland. Methods similar to those used in studying metabolism of vitamin A in the bovine eye were used to study the esterification and isomerization reactions of retinoids in the pineal gland. Neither esterification nor isomerization reactions occurred. These results suggest that the key retinoids and enzymes involved in visual function are absent in the bovine pineal gland. The major carotenoid, which has not previously been reported in pineal gland, was beta-carotene at an average level of 1830 pmol/g wet tissue.

Site of conversion of endogenous all-trans-retinoids to 11-cis-retinoids in the bovine eye

By use of a new high-resolution high-pressure liquid chromatographic method for the separation of isomeric forms of retinol, retinal, retinyl ester and retinal oxime, various retinoids were analyzed in separated retinal pigment epithelial tissue or neural retinal tissue from fresh bleached bovine eyes after incubation in the dark at either 30 or 4 degrees C for 90 min. 11-cis-Retinoids significantly increased during incubation at 30 degrees C, relative to those at 4 degrees C, in the retinal pigment epithelium, but not in the retina. The major forms of vitamin A in incubated retinal pigment epithelium and neural retina were retinyl esters (70%) and all-trans-retinol (69%), respectively. Thus, in keeping with observations on the isomerization of radioactive retinol in homogenates of eye tissues, the retinal pigment epithelium seems to be the primary site of 11-cis-retinoid formation from endogenous all-trans-retinoids in the bovine eye.