Limosilactobacillus reuteri peptidoglycan alleviates aflatoxin B1-induced toxicity through adsorbing toxins and improving growth, antioxidant status, immunity and liver pathological changes in chicks

1. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of a peptidoglycan produced by Limosilactobacillus reuteri against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) induced toxicity in vitro and in vivo in broiler chicks.2. Toxin adsorption experiments were carried out firstly in vitro. These experiments indicated that the absorption efficiency of the peptidoglycan for AFB1 was 64.3-75.9%.3. In the in vivo experiments, Hy-Line Brown chicks were fed a diet containing AFB1 at 71.43 µg/kg with and without peptidoglycan supplementation at concentrations of 100, 200, or 300 g/kg feed from 0-42 d of age.4. The peptidoglycan supplementation in AFB1-contaminated diets resulted in significant improvements in terms of average daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, white blood cell count, haemoglobin content, glutathione peroxidase activity, immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG, IgM and Newcastle disease virus antibody titres (p < 0.05) and diminished liver steatosis.5. In conclusion, peptidoglycan supplementation alleviated AFB1-induced toxicity through adsorbing toxins and improving growth performance, antioxidant ability, immunity and liver pathological changes in chicks. The optimal supplemental dose was 200 mg/kg in feed.

[Efficacy and safety of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-supported percutaneous coronary intervention in chronic coronary total occlusion patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-supported percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO) patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods: The CTO patients with LVEF≤35% and undergoing CTO-PCI assisted by ECMO in the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from December 2018 to March 2022 were enrolled in this study. The post-procedure complications, changes of LVEF from pre-procedure to post-procedure during hospitalization, and the incidence of all-cause mortality and changes of LVEF after discharge were assessed. Results: A total of 17 patients aged (59.4±11.8) years were included. There were 14 males. The pre-procedure LVEF of these patients were (29.00±4.08)%. Coronary angiography results showed that there were 29 CTO lesions in these 17 patients. There was 1 in left main coronary artery, 7 in left anterior descending artery, 11 in left circumflex artery, and 10 in right coronary artery. ECMO was implanted in all patients before procedure. Among 25 CTO lesions attempted to cross, 24 CTO were successfully implanted with stents. All patients underwent successful PCI for at least one CTO lesion. The number of drug-eluting stents implantation per patient were 4.6±1.3. After procedure, there were 8 patients with hemoglobin decreased>20 g/L, and 1 patient with ECMO-access-site related bleeding. The LVEF value at a median duration of 2.5 (2.0-5.5) days after procedure significantly increased to (38.73±7.01)% (P<0.001 vs. baseline). There were no in-hospital deaths. Patients were followed up for 360 (120, 394) days after discharge, 3 patients died (3/17). The LVEF value was (41.80±7.32)% at 155 (100, 308) days after discharge, which was significantly higher than the baseline value (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of present study demonstrate that it is feasible, efficient and safe to perform ECMO)-supported CTO-PCI in CTO patients with reduced LVEF.

[Clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of female patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection]

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of female patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection. Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with Stanford type B aortic dissection in General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from June 2002 to August 2021 were enrolled, and grouped based on sex. According to the general clinical conditions and complications of aortic dissection tear, patients were treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair, surgery, or optimal medication. The clinical characteristics and aortic imaging data of the patients at different stages were collected, adverse events including all-cause deaths, stroke, and occurrence of aortic-related adverse events were obtained during hospitalization and within 30 days and at 1 and 5 years after discharge. According to the time of death, death was classified as in-hospital death, out-of-hospital death, and in-hospital death was divided into preoperative death, intraoperative death and postoperative death. According to the cause of death, death was classified as aortic death, cardiac death and other causes of death. Aortic-related adverse events within 30 days after discharge included new paraplegia, post-luminal repair syndrome, and aortic death; long-term (≥1 year after discharge) aortic-related adverse events included aortic death, recurrent aortic dissection, endoleak and distal ulcer events. The clinical characteristics, short-term and long-term prognosis was compared between the groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between different clinical factors and all-cause mortality within 30 days in female and male groups separately. Results: A total of 1 094 patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection were enrolled, mean age was (53.9±12.1) years, and 861 (78.7%) were male and 233 (21.3%) were female. (1) Clinical characteristics: compared with male patients, female patients were featured with older average age, higher proportion of aged≥60 years old, back pain, anemia, optimal medication treatment, and higher cholesterol level; while lower proportion of smoking and drinking history, body mass index, calcium antagonists use, creatine kinase level, and white blood cell count (all P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in dissection tear and clinical stage, history of coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and cerebrovascular disease between female and male patients (all P>0.05). (2) Follow-up result: compared with male patients, female patients had a higher rate of 30-day death [6.9% (16/233) vs. 3.8% (33/861), P=0.047], in-hospital death (5.6% (13/233) vs. 2.7% (23/861), P=0.027), preoperative death (3.9% (9/233) vs. 1.5% (12/861), P=0.023) and aorta death (6.0% (14/233) vs. 3.1% (27/861), P=0.041). The 1-year and 5-year follow-up results demonstrated that there were no significant differences in death, cerebrovascular disease, and aorta-related adverse events between the two groups (all P>0.05). (3) Prognostic factors: the results of the univariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index>24 kg/m² (HR=1.087, 95%CI 1.029-1.149, P=0.013), history of anemia (HR=2.987, 95%CI 1.054-8.468, P=0.032), hypertension (HR=1.094, 95%CI 1.047-1.143, P=0.040) and troponin-T>0.05 μg/L (HR=5.818, 95%CI 1.611-21.018, P=0.003)were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality within 30 days in female patients. Conclusions: Female patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection have specific clinical characteristics, such as older age at presentation, higher rates of anemia and combined back pain, and higher total cholesterol levels. The risk of death within 1 month is higher in female patients than in male patients, which may be associated with body mass index, hypertension, anemia and troponin-T, but the long-term prognosis for both female and male patients is comparable.

AMPKα2 controls the anti-atherosclerotic effects of fish oils by modulating the SUMOylation of GPR120

Consuming fish oils (FO) is linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in certain populations. However, FO failed to exhibit therapeutic effects in some patients with cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine the possible reasons for the inconsistent effects of FO. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α2 is an important energy metabolic sensor, which was reported to involve in FO mediated regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. In an in vivo study, FO administration significantly reduced the aortic lesions and inflammation in the Ldlr^-/- mouse model of atherosclerosis, but not in Ldlr^-/-/Prkaa2^-/-and Ldlr^-/-/Prkaa2^-/-Sm22Cre mice. Mechanistically, inactivation of AMPKα2 increased the SUMOylation of the fatty acid receptor GPR120 to block FO-induced internalization and binding to β-arrestin. In contrast, activation of AMPKα2 can phosphorylate the C-MYC at Serine 67 to inhibit its trans-localization into the nuclei and transcription of SUMO-conjugating E2 enzyme UBC9 and SUMO2/3 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which result in GPR120 SUMOylation. In human arteries, AMPKα2 levels were inversely correlated with UBC9 expression. In a cohort of patients with atherosclerosis, FO concentrations did not correlate with atherosclerotic severity, however, in a subgroup analysis a negative correlation between FO concentrations and atherosclerotic severity was found in patients with higher AMPKα2 levels. These data indicate that AMPKα2 is required for the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects of FO.

Relationship between age of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and mode of delivery and neonatal Apgar score

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) refers to abnormal glucose tolerance during pregnancy, and it is often accompanied by obvious changes in glucose and lipid metabolism, and associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The incidence of fetal distress, polyhydramnios, puerperal infection, premature delivery, and macrosomia in pregnant women with GDM are higher than in those without GDM.

AIM

To analyze the relationship between age of pregnant women with GDM and mode of delivery and neonatal Apgar score.

METHODS

A total of 583 pregnant women with GDM who delivered in the Department of Obstetrics at our hospital between March 2019 and March 2022 were selected. Among them, 377 aged < 35 years were selected as the right age group and 206 aged > 35 years were selected as the older group. The clinical data of the two groups were collected, and the relationship between age of the pregnant women with GDM and mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and neonatal Apgar score were compared. In the older group, 159 women were classed as the adverse outcome group and 47 as the good outcome group according to whether they had adverse maternal and infant outcomes. The related factors of adverse maternal and infant outcomes were analyzed through logistic regression.

RESULTS

The number of women with assisted pregnancy, ≤ 37 wk gestation, ≥ 2 pregnancies, one or more deliveries, and no pre-pregnancy blood glucose screening in the older group were all higher than those in the right age group (P < 0.05). The natural delivery rate in the right age group was 40.85%, which was higher than 22.33% in the older group (P < 0.05). The cesarean section rate in the older group was 77.67%, which was higher than 59.15% in the right age group (P < 0.05). The older group had a higher incidence of polyhydramnios and postpartum hemorrhage, and lower incidence of fetal distress than the right age group had (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in neonatal weight between the two groups (P > 0.05). The right age group had higher Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min than the older group had (P < 0.05). Significant differences existed between the poor and good outcome groups in age, education level, pregnancy mode, ≤ 37 wk gestation, number of pregnancies, and premature rupture of membranes (P < 0.05). Logistic regression showed that age, education level and premature rupture of membranes were all risk factors affecting the adverse outcomes of mothers and infants (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Delivery mode and Apgar score of pregnant women with GDM are related to age. Older age increases the adverse outcome of mothers and infants.

[Key data elements for clinical management and outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease: definitions from Coronary Artery Disease and Creative Antithrombotic Clinical Research Collaboration (CardiaCare)]

Objective: To develop a set of data elements and standardized definitions of Coronary Artery Disease and Creative Antithrombotic Clinical Research Collaboration (CardiaCare), aiming to facilitate the exchange of disparate data sources, enhance the abilities to support multicenter researches, and subsequently ensure the databases use under standardized process and criteria. Methods: The Cardiacare writing committee members reviewed data elements and definitions from published guidelines, clinical trials, databases, and standardized documents, then determined the data elements and standardized definitions, which should be included in CardiaCare. The writing committee also considered the specific domestic clinical management strategies during the establishment of Cardiacare. The resulting documents provide a series of key data elements and standardized definitions used in the management of coronary artery disease patients. Key data elements from CardiaCare could be sorted by clinical management flowsheet and outcome from hospitalization to long-term follow-up. Results: The Cardiacare standardized set comprised 864 data elements from admission to post-hospital follow-up visit. There were 8 tables in the documents, including demographic and admission information (23 elements), medical history and risk factors (102 elements), clinical presentations and diagnosis (22 elements), diagnostic and laboratory tests (111 elements), interventional diagnosis and treatment (118 elements), pharmacological therapy (213 elements), clinical outcomes (161 elements), and special subpopulations (114 elements: 87 elements for transcatheter valve replacement and 27 elements with cardiac rehabilitation). Conclusions: The Cardiacare standardized data elements set could provide support for real-world clinical research in consecutive data collection and databases mining. A wider applicability in various settings of CardiaCare needs to be explored further.

[Analysis of components of proteins from Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the components of proteins from Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid using the shotgun method, and to identify the active components with potential regulatory effects for immune dysregulation diseases.

METHODS

The E. granulosus cyst fluid was collected aseptically from the hepatic cysts of patients with cystic echinococcosis, and characterized by liquid chromatography (LC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) following digestion with trypsin. The protein data were searched using the software MaxQuant version 1.6.1.0 and the cellular components, molecular functions, and biological processes of the identified proteins were analyzed using the Gene Ontology (GO) method.

RESULTS

The E. granulosus cyst fluid separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) had a relative molecular mass of 25 to 70 kDa. LS-MS/MS analysis identified 37 proteins, including 32 known proteins and 5 unknown proteins. At least 4 proteins were preliminarily found to exhibit potential regulatory effects for immune dysregulation diseases, including antigen B, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), thioredoxin peroxidase (TPX) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH). GO enrichment analysis showed that the identified proteins had 149 molecular functions and were involved in 341 biological processes.

CONCLUSIONS

E. granulosus cyst fluid has a variety of protein components, and four known proteins are preliminarily identified to be associated with immune dysregulation diseases.

[Effect of platelet reactivity on clinical events in patients using bivalirudin in selective percutaneous coronary intervention]

Objective: To investigate the effect of platelet reactivity and other clinical factors on the postoperative 1-year adverse clinical events in patients who underwent selective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) anticoagulated with bivalirudin. Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective and observational study, enrolling 632 patients at high risk of bleeding adjudicated by operators who underwent selective PCI anticoagulated with bivalirudin and had preoperative thrombelastography (TEG) test results in Fuwai Hospital, Northern Theater General Hospital and Xinxiang Central Hospital between January 2017 and August 2018. Platelet reactivity was tested by TEG and adenosine-induced maximal amplitude (MAADP) was recorded. According to MAADP patients were divided into three groups: low on-treatment platelet reactivity (LTPR) group (MAADP<31 mm, n=229), normal on-treatment platelet reactivity (NTPR) group (31 mm≤MAADP≤47 mm, n=207) and high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) group (MAADP>47 mm, n=196). The endpoints consisted of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and bleeding events. The definition of MACCE was the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, intrastent thrombosis, stroke and revascularization. Bleeding events were defined by bleeding academic research consortium (BARC) type 2, 3 and 5 bleeding. Using multivariate Cox regression to analyze the factors of MACCE and bleeding events in patients underwent selective PCI anticoagulated with bivalirudin. Results: A total of 632 patients were finally enrolled in the study with age of (68.3±10.0) years and there were 423 (66.9%) males. All of 632 patients finished one-year follow-up, and 48 (7.6%) patients occurred MACCE and 11 (1.7%) patients occurred bleeding events. There was not statistically significant difference in the incidence of MACCE (8.3% (19/229) vs. 6.3% (13/207) vs.8.2% (16/196), P=0.68) and bleeding events (1.8% (4/229) vs. 2.9% (6/207) vs. 0.5% (1/196), P=0.17) in LTPR, NTPR and HTPR group. Multivariate Cox regression showed that HTPR was not the independent factor of MACCE (HR=1.25, 95%CI 0.67-2.30, P=0.49), and the history of peripheral vessel disease was the independent risk factor of MACCE (HR=2.47, 95%CI 1.19-5.11, P=0.02). LTPR was not the independent factor of bleeding events (HR=1.35, 95%CI 0.39-4.66, P=0.64), and the independent factors of bleeding events were history of peripheral vessel disease (HR=3.95, 95%CI 1.03-15.22, P=0.05) and hemoglobin (HR=0.96, 95%CI 0.93-0.99, P=0.01). Conclusions: In patients undergoing selective PCI anticoagulated with bivalirudin, there is no significant association between platelet reactivity and postoperative 1-year MACCE or bleeding events. History of peripheral vessel disease is an independent risk factor of MACCE, and history of peripheral vessel disease and decreased hemoglobin are independent risk factors of bleeding events.

[Effects of interpregnancy interval on pregnancy outcomes of subsequent pregnancy: a multicenter retrospective study]

Objective: To explore the effects of interpregnancy interval (IPI) on pregnancy outcomes of subsequent pregnancy. Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 21 hospitals in China. Information of age, height, pre-pregnancy weight, IPI, history of diseases, complications of pregnancy, gestational age of delivery, delivery mode, and pregnancy outcomes of the participants were collected by consulting medical records of pregnant women who had two consecutive deliveries in the same hospital during 2011 to 2018. The participants were divided into 4 groups according to IPI:<18 months, 18-23 months, 24-59 months and ≥60 months. According to the WHO's recommendation, with the IPI of 24-59 months group as a reference, to the effects of IPI on pregnancy outcomes of subsequent pregnancy were analyzed. Stratified analysis was further carried out based on age, history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), macrosomia, and premature delivery, to explore the differences in the effects of IPI on pregnancy outcomes among women with different characteristics. Results: A total of 8 026 women were included in this study. There were 423, 623, 5 512 and 1 468 participants in <18 months group, 18-23 months group, 24-59 months group and ≥60 months group, respectively. (1) The age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), history of cesarean section, GDM, gestational hypertension and cesarean section delivery rate of <18 months group, 18-23 months group, 24-59 months group and ≥60 months group were gradually increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). (2) After adjusting for potential confounding factors, compared with women in the IPI of 24-59 months group, the risk of premature delivery, premature rupture of membranes, and oligohydramnios were increased by 42% (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.07-1.88, P=0.015), 46% (OR=1.46, 95%CI: 1.13-1.88, P=0.004), and 64% (OR=1.64, 95%CI: 1.13-2.38, P=0.009) respectively for women in the IPI≥60 months group. No effects of IPI on other pregnancy outcomes were found in this study (P>0.05). (3) After stratified by age and adjusted for confounding factors, compared with women in the IPI of 24-59 months group, IPI≥60 months would significantly increase the risk of oligohydramnios for women with advanced age (OR=2.87, 95%CI: 1.41-5.83, P=0.004); and <18 months could increase the risk of premature rupture of membranes for women under the age of 35 (OR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.04-2.43, P=0.032). Both the risk of premature rupture of membranes (OR=1.58, 95%CI: 1.18-2.13, P=0.002) and premature delivery (OR=1.52, 95%CI: 1.07-2.17, P=0.020) were significantly increased in the IPI≥60 months group. After stratified by history of GDM and adjusted for confounding factors, compared with women in the IPI of 24-59 months group, IPI≥60 months would lead to an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage for women with a history of GDM (OR=5.34, 95%CI: 1.45-19.70, P=0.012) and an increased risk of premature rupture of membranes for women without a history of GDM (OR=1.44, 95%CI: 1.10-1.90, P=0.009). After stratified by history of macrosomia and adjusted for confounding factors, compared with women in the IPI of 24-59 months group, IPI≥60 months could increase the proportion of cesarean section for women with a history of macrosomia (OR=4.11, 95%CI: 1.18-14.27, P=0.026) and the risk of premature rupture of membranes for women without a history of macrosomia (OR=1.46, 95%CI: 1.12-1.89, P=0.005). After stratified by history of premature delivery and adjusted for confounding factors, compared with women in the IPI of 24-59 months group, IPI≥60 months would significantly increase the risk of premature rupture of membranes for women without a history of premature delivery (OR=1.47, 95%CI: 1.13-1.92, P=0.004). Conclusions: Both IPI≥60 months and <18 months would increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the subsequent pregnancy. Healthcare education and consultation should be conducted for women of reproductive age to maintain an appropriate IPI when they plan to pregnant again, to reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the subsequent pregnancy.

[Five-year clinical outcomes of the second generation biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (EXCROSSAL) in treating patients with de novo coronary lesions]

Objective: To evaluate the five-year safety and efficacy of the second generation biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (EXCROSSAL) in treating patients with de novo coronary artery diseases. Methods: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD)who were implanted with EXTROSSAL stents in CREDIT Ⅱ and CREDIT Ⅲ study were included. CREDIT Ⅱ was a randomized trial, and CREDIT Ⅲ was a single-arm study. From November 2013 to December 2014, 833 CAD patients with de novo coronary lesions implanted with EXTROSSAL stents were selected from 33 centers in China. The primary outcome was 5-year target lesion failure (TLF), a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization. Secondary endpoints was patient-oriented composite endpoint (PoCE), including all-cause death, all myocardial infarction, or any revascularization within 5 years post stenting and stent thrombosis according to Academic Research Consortium's (ARC) definition. Kaplan Meier method was used to calculate the incidence of TLF and PoCE within 5 years after operation. Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the impacts of diabetes, small vessel disease (vessel diameter ≤ 2.74 mm), lesion length ≥ 16.7 mm and multivessel disease on the incidence of TLF within 5 years after operation. Results: A total of 833 patients were included in this study including 579 males (69.5%), the age was (59.3±9.1) years. And 832 (99.9%) patients completed 5-year clinical follow-up. The incidence of TLF and PoCE in the 5-year follow-up were 10.6%(86/811) and 15.5%(126/811), respectively. Stent thrombosis occurred in 1.0%(8/811) of patients. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that vessel diameter ≤ 2.74 mm (HR=3.20,95%CI 1.90-5.39,P<0.001), lesion length ≥ 16.7 mm (HR=1.88,95%CI 1.18-2.99,P=0.007) and multivessel disease (HR=2.44,95%CI 1.60-3.72,P<0.001) were related factors of TLF within 5 years after operation. Conclusion: EXCROSSAL stent is effective and safe in treating CAD patients with de novo coronary lesions, with low incidence of TLF and PoCE within 5 years after operation.

[A pathological report of three COVID-19 cases by minimal invasive autopsies]

Objective: To investigate the pathological characteristics and the clinical significance of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-infected pneumonia (termed by WHO as coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19). Methods: Minimally invasive autopsies from lung, heart, kidney, spleen, bone marrow, liver, pancreas, stomach, intestine, thyroid and skin were performed on three patients died of novel coronavirus pneumonia in Chongqing, China. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE), transmission electron microcopy, and histochemical staining were performed to investigate the pathological changes of indicated organs or tissues. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to evaluate the infiltration of immune cells as well as the expression of 2019-nCoV proteins. Real time PCR was carried out to detect the RNA of 2019-nCoV. Results: Various damages were observed in the alveolar structure, with minor serous exudation and fibrin exudation. Hyaline membrane formation was observed in some alveoli. The infiltrated immune cells in alveoli were majorly macrophages and monocytes. Moderate multinucleated giant cells, minimal lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils were also observed. Most of infiltrated lymphocytes were CD4-positive T cells. Significant proliferation of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelia and focal desquamation of alveolar epithelia were also indicated. The blood vessels of alveolar septum were congested, edematous and widened, with modest infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes. Hyaline thrombi were found in a minority of microvessels. Focal hemorrhage in lung tissue, organization of exudates in some alveolar cavities, and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis were observed. Part of the bronchial epithelia were exfoliated. Coronavirus particles in bronchial mucosal epithelia and type Ⅱ alveolar epithelia were observed under electron microscope. Immunohistochemical staining showed that part of the alveolar epithelia and macrophages were positive for 2019-nCoV antigen. Real time PCR analyses identified positive signals for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid. Decreased numbers of lymphocyte, cell degeneration and necrosis were observed in spleen. Furthermore, degeneration and necrosis of parenchymal cells, formation of hyaline thrombus in small vessels, and pathological changes of chronic diseases were observed in other organs and tissues, while no evidence of coronavirus infection was observed in these organs. Conclusions: The lungs from novel coronavirus pneumonia patients manifest significant pathological lesions, including the alveolar exudative inflammation and interstitial inflammation, alveolar epithelium proliferation and hyaline membrane formation. While the 2019-nCoV is mainly distributed in lung, the infection also involves in the damages of heart, vessels, liver, kidney and other organs. Further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanism underlying pathological changes of this disease.

Effects of thermal boundary condition on methane oxidation in landfill cover soil at different ambient temperatures

Microbial aerobic methane oxidation (MAMO) has been considered as an environmental-friendly method for mitigating methane emission from municipal landfill sites. Soil column has in a landfill cover under one-dimensional (1-D) condition. However, most of the published soil column tests failed to simulate 1-D heat transfer due to the use of thermal conductive boundary at the sidewall. In the present study, a heavily instrumented soil column was developed to quantify the effects of thermal boundary condition on the methane oxidation efficiency under different ambient temperatures in landfill cover soil. The sidewall of the soil column was thermally insulated to ensure 1-D heat transport as would have been typically expected in the field condition. Two soil column tests with and without thermal insulation were conducted at a range of controlled ambient temperatures from 15 to 30°C, for studying how soil moisture, matric suction, gas pressure, soil temperature and gas concentration evolve with MAMO. The test results reveal that ignoring thermal insulation in a soil column test would result in a greater loss of soil heat generation by MAMO and hence oxidation efficiency by up to 100% for the range of temperature considered. When the ambient temperature increased to 30°C (but less than the optimum temperature for MAMO), the MAMO efficiency increased abruptly at first but then decreased substantially with time, and this is likely due to the accumulation of biomass generated by MAMO.

[Long-term efficacy of a second generation biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (EXCEL2) in treating patients with de novo coronary artery diseases]

Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of a second generation biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (EXCEL2) in treating patients with de novo coronary artery diseases. Methods: CREDIT Ⅱ trial was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled study, conducted at 15 Chinese cardiac centres from November 2013 to December 2014. In this analysis, eligible patients for coronary stenting (n=419) were randomized to receive either the EXCEL2 stent (n=208) or the EXCEL stent (n=211). The primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF) at 3 years after PCI defined as a composite endpoints of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TVMI), or clinically indicated target lesion revascularization (CI-TLR). Secondary endpoints included patient-oriented composite endpoint (PoCE) including all-cause death, all MI, or any revascularization at 3 years and independent components, and stent thrombosis according to Academic Research Consortium's (ARC) definition. Results: Among 419 enrolled patients, 413 (98.6%) patients completed 3-year clinical follow-up. Compared with the EXCEL group, 3-year TLF (5.4%(11/204) vs. 11.5% (24/209), P=0.025) and PoCE (9.8% (20/204) vs. 20.1% (42/209), P=0.003) were significantly lower in the EXCEL2 group. The cumulative event rate of CI-TLR (2.0% (4/204) vs. 5.7% (12/209), P=0.042) and any revascularization (4.9% (10/204) vs. 14.4% (30/209), P=0.001) were statistically lower in the EXCEL2 group than in the EXCEL group. There were no significant difference between two groups in terms of all-cause death and all MI. Rates of stent thrombosis were low without significant difference between the two groups (EXCEL2 vs. EXCEL, 1.0% (2/204) vs. 2.9% (6/209), P=0.285). Conclusion: 3-year clinical follow-up results demonstrate that EXCEL2 stents are effective and safe in treating CAD patients with de novo coronary lesions.

[The value of red blood cell distribution width in the evaluation of patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

Objective:To investigate the relationship between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and severity of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Method:A total of 112 patients with OSAHS who were diagnosed by PSG monitoring were selected as OSAHS group, and 61 healthy subjects with matched age, gender and BMI were selected as the control group. The peripheral venous blood of all subjects was collected in the morning, and relevant hematological indexes such as RDW, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, mean red blood cell volume, and platelet count were obtained. Result:The RDW level in the OSAHS group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The RDW value increased gradually with the severity of OSAHS and was positively correlated with AHI(r=0.259), the mean SaO₂ (r=-0.279), the lowest SaO₂( r=-0.328), BMI(r=0.203) and negatively correlated with sleep time(r=-0.204). Conclusion:The elevated level of RDW may be an indicator of the severity of OSAHS. Since RDW is usually included in the complete blood count, it can provide an economical and practical indicator to initially assess the condition of OSAHS patients and prioritize polysomnography monitoring.

Effects of chlorogenic acid-enriched extract from Eucommia ulmoides leaf on performance, meat quality, oxidative stability, and fatty acid profile of meat in heat-stressed broilers

To investigate the effects of chlorogenic acid-enriched extract (CGAE) from Eucommia ulmoides leaf on performance, meat quality, oxidative stability, and fatty acid profile of breast meat in heat-stressed broilers, 400 28-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned into 4 groups with 10 replicates per group (10 broilers per replicate). Broilers in the normal group (NOR) were kept at 22 ± 2°C (24 h/D) and fed the basal diet, and the other 3 groups were treated with cyclic heat (34 ± 2°C from 08:00 to 18:00 and 22 ± 2°C from 18:00 to 08:00) and fed the basal diet supplemented with 0 (HT), 500 (CGAE500), and 1,000 mg (CGAE1000) mg of CGAE/kg of diet. The experiment lasted for 14 D. Compared with the HT group, broilers in the NOR and CGAE1000 groups had a higher average daily gain and a lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). CGAE supplementation at 1,000 mg/kg increased pH24 value, a* value and total superoxide dismutase activity and reduced drip loss, cooking loss, L* value and the contents of malondialdehyde and carbonyl in breast meat of heat-stressed broilers (P < 0.05). Broilers in the HT group showed lower mRNA levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (P < 0.001), superoxide dismutase (P = 0.004), and catalase (P < 0.001) in breast meat compared with the other groups. CGAE supplementation at 1,000 mg/kg reduced the stearic acid and saturated fatty acids (SFA) contents and increased the dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and n-6 PUFA contents and PUFA:SFA ratio in breast meat of heat-stressed broilers (P < 0.05). In conclusion, CGAE supplementation at 1,000 mg/kg could alleviate the adverse effects of heat stress on growth performance and meat quality and improve oxidative stability and fatty acid profile of breast meat in heat-stressed broilers.

Antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes of Streptococcus isolated from dairy cows with mastitis in China

Streptococcus is a major mastitis-causing pathogen in dairy cows. To investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence gene of Streptococcus in mastitic milk, a total of 735 mastitic raw milk samples from dairy cows in 11 provinces of China were collected and tested. Antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus isolates was determined by disc diffusion against 8 classes 29 antimicrobial agents, and Streptococcus resistant genes and virulence genes were determined by PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. A total of 64 (8.71%) isolates of Streptococcus were isolated and identified using biochemical profiling, including 22 isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae, 13 isolates of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and 29 isolates of Streptococcus uberis. Out of 64 resistant Streptococcus isolates, all isolates (100%) were resistant to 3 or more antimicrobials. The most frequency (n = 18, 28.12%) of the isolates were multi-resistant to 5-7 antimicrobials and the highest multi-resistant number was 29 (n = 1, 1.56%). Streptococcus isolates had the highest resistance rate to tetracycline (98.44%) and oxacillin (98.44%), followed by penicillin G (96.88%) and doxycycline (96.88%), and the lowest resistance was observed with respect to ciprofloxacin (1.56%). A total of 16 antimicrobials resistance genes with 25 combination patterns were detected in the isolates. The gene combination of Sul1/Sul2/Sul3 + gyrA/parC + cat1/cat2 was the most common pattern (12.5%). The correlation between resistant phenotypes and resistance genes in Streptococcs was 35.87%. A total of 7 virulence genes were detected and 59 (92.19%) isolates harbored at least one gene. Twenty-four classes of gene patterns were found in the isolates and the patterns of bca (9.38%) and cfb (9.38%) were the most prevalent form. In conclusion, the issue of drug resistance of Streptococcus is still a great concern in cattle health in China.

[The clinical characteristics and two different treatment outcomes of 321 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma]

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics, two different treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Method:The life table method was used to calculate the overall survival rates, Log-rank test was used to compare the overall survival rates between the two groups．The Cox proportional hazard model was used to perform the multivariate analysis to confirm independent treatment modalities as prognostic factors. Result:Among the 321 patients, 197 patients received surgery combine with radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy treatment（S+R/CRT） and 124 patients received radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy treatment(R/CRT). For 321 patients, the 1,3,5year overall survival rates were 75.87%,49.39%,41.38% and the median survival time was 37.65 months. The difference in throat retention ratio between the radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy treatment(41.94%) and surgery combine with radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy treatment（11.17%) was statistically significant (P<0.01).Univariate analysis showed that clinical stage of tumor, T stage, N stage, M stage and two different treatment modalities have impact on survival prognosis. Cox regression multivariate analysis showed that T stage, N stage, two different treatment modalities were independent risk factors of prognosis. Conclusion:The overall prognosis of hypopharyngeal carcinoma was poor and dismal. Hypopharyngeal carcinoma is characterized by high degree of malignancy, difficult to be found early, prone to recurrence and metastasis after operation, large trauma and poor prognosis. Comprehensive examination should be conducted to define the stage of tumor and choose the rational treatment plan before treatment. Surgery combine with radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment modality is still the main treatment strategy for advanced-stage hypopharyngeal carcinoma..

[An experimental study of CD4 targeted chimeric antigen receptor modified T cell with anti-lymphoma activity]

目的

探讨针对CD4膜蛋白的CAR-T细胞对CD4⁺T细胞淋巴瘤细胞的靶向特异性杀伤作用。

方法

采用重组DNA技术构建含4-1BB共刺激分子的第二代针对CD4的CAR慢病毒载体，应用293T细胞包装慢病毒，采用流式细胞术检测T细胞的转染效率及T细胞亚群动态变化，采用流式细胞术微球法检测培养上清中IFN-γ浓度。

结果

①构建的慢病毒载体转染激活的T细胞后CAR膜蛋白阳性率达到50.0%~70.0%。T细胞激活后部分CD8⁺T细胞弱表达（dim）CD4膜蛋白。T细胞转染针对CD4的CAR慢病毒后CD4⁺ T细胞、CD8⁺ CD4^dim T细胞逐渐被清除。②CAR-T细胞、对照组T细胞（空载体转染的T细胞）以8∶1效靶比分别与CD4⁺人T细胞淋巴瘤细胞株KARPAS 299细胞共培养24 h，杀伤效率分别为（96.9±2.1）%和（11.2±3.1）%，前者明显高于后者（t=7.137，P=0.028）。③CAR-T细胞单独培养，与转染慢病毒载体表达人CD4的K562细胞（K562-CD4细胞）、K562细胞共培养后上清中IFN-γ浓度分别为（1 785±268）、（15 648±2 168）、（1 978±354）pg/ml，CAR-T细胞与K562-CD4细胞共培养上清IFN-γ浓度明显高于其他两组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）。

结论

CD4特异性CAR-T细胞效应细胞免疫表型为CD8⁺ CD4⁺ T细胞，在体外具有杀伤正常CD4⁺ T细胞和CD4⁺ T细胞淋巴瘤细胞的活性，对于CD4^dim T细胞也有较好的清除活性。

A steady-state analytical profile method for determining methane oxidation in landfill cover

Gas concentration profiles of carbon dioxide (CO₂), oxygen (O₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrogen (N₂) are usually measured during tests investigating microbial aerobic methane oxidation in landfill cover. However, only qualitative/limited information can be obtained from gas concentration profiles by existing methods. A new method is proposed to determine methane oxidation in soil quantitatively and comprehensively, including methane oxidation efficiency, stoichiometry, gas transfer mechanism, methane generation rate and gas reaction rate distributions. Governing equations are established based on mass balance for O₂, CO₂, CH₄ and N₂ at one-dimensional and steady-state condition. Gas transfer mechanisms considered include gas diffusion, advection and gas reaction. The method utilizes gas concentration profiles to determine gas diffusion for each gas component according to Fick's law. Then gas advections and reactions can be determined by mass balance. The method is validated by (i) published soil column tests investigating methane oxidation and (ii) a calibrated numerical model based on a selected soil column test. The new method is capable of determining methane oxidation efficiency, stoichiometry, gas transfer mechanism, methane generation rate and gas reaction rate distributions for CH₄, CO₂ and O₂.

Role and influence of p75NTR receptor on antioxidative damage of retinal pigment epithelial cells

The study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of the p75 NTR receptor in the oxidative damage of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). RPE cells transfected with the p75 NTR receptor were used as the experimental group, and the untransfected RPE cells as the control group. BrdU (5-Bromo-2-deoxyUridine) was used to detect cell proliferation activity; PI/Annexin V-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate, FITC) double staining was used to detect the apoptosis rate of the cells. The expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells was observed by laser microscope, and the expression of ROS, mitochondrial markers, and C expression of cytochrome in cells was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the Fas protein, pyrolysis Caspase-3, and expression level of the vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) protein. The results showed that the proliferation activity of RPE cells in the experimental group decreased gradually with the increase of transfection time, and the apoptosis rate of RPE cells in the experimental group increased gradually with the increase of transfection time, and the apoptosis rate of RPE cells at each time point was significantly higher than that of the control group. The fluorescence intensity of ROS in the experimental group was significantly stronger than that in the control group (P less than 0.01). The fluorescence intensity of cytochrome C in the RPE cells in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group, while the number of positive mitochondria markers in the experimental group was less than that of the control group and the fluorescence intensity was weakened. The expression of Fas protein, Caspase-3 and VEGF165 protein in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P less than 0.01). In conclusion, p75 NTR receptor may be a cause of oxidative damage in RPE cells. .

One-year Outcomes in Patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Caused by Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Occlusion Treated by Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background

Very few data have been reported for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) occlusion, and very little is known about the results of this subgroup of patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to determine the clinical features and outcomes of patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI for acute ULMCA occlusion.

Methods

From January 2000 to February 2014, 372 patients with STEMI caused by ULMCA acute occlusion (ULMCA-STEMI) who underwent primary PCI at one of two centers were enrolled. The 230 patients with non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) caused by ULMCA lesion (ULMCA-NSTEMI) who underwent emergency PCI were designated the control group. The main indexes were the major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in-hospital, at 1 month, and at 1 year.

Results

Compared to the NSTEMI patients, the patients with STEMI had significantly higher rates of Killip class≥III (21.2% vs. 3.5%, χ² = 36.253, P < 0.001) and cardiac arrest (8.3% vs. 3.5%, χ² = 5.529, P = 0.019). For both groups, the proportions of one-year cardiac death in the patients with a post-procedure thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade<3 were significantly higher than those in the patients with a TIMI flow grade of 3 (STEMI group: 51.7% [15/29] vs. 4.1% [14/343], P < 0.001; NSTEMI group: 33.3% [3/9] vs. 13.6% [3/221], P = 0.001; respectively]. Landmark analysis showed that the patients in STEMI group were associated with higher risks of MACE (16.7% vs. 9.1%, P = 0.009) and cardiac death (5.4% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.011) compared with NSTEMI patients at 1 month. Meanwhile, in patients with ULMCA, the landmark analysis for incidences of MACE and cardiac death was similar between the STEMI and NSTEMI (all P = 0.72) in the intervals of 1-12 months. However, patients who were diagnosed with STEMI or NSTEMI had no significant difference in reinfarction (all P > 0.05) and TVR (all P > 0.05) in the intervals of 0-1 month as well as 1 month to 1 year. The results of Cox regression analysis showed that the differences in the independent predictors for MACE included the variables of Killip class ≥ III and intra-aortic balloon pump support for the STEMI patients and the variables of previous MI, ULMCA distal bifurcation, and 2-stent for distal ULMCA lesions for the NSTEMI patients.

Conclusions

Compared to the NSTEMI patients, the patients with STEMI and ULMCA lesions still remain at a much higher risk for adverse events at 1 year, especially on 1 month. If a successful PCI procedure is performed, the 1-year outcomes in those patients might improve.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study of the Effects of Tongxinluo Capsules in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients with High On-Treatment Platelet Reactivity

Background

High platelet reactivity (HPR) during clopidogrel treatment predicts postpercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) ischemic events strongly and independently. Tongxinluo capsules (TCs) are a traditional Chinese medicine formulation used as antiplatelet treatment. However, its efficacy against HPR is not known. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of TCs in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with HPR.

Methods

This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study prospectively analyzed 136 ACS patients with HPR who underwent PCI. The patients were enrolled from November 2013 to May 2014 and randomized to receive placebo or TCs in addition to standard dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel. The primary end points were the prevalence of HPR at 30 days and the mean change in P2Y₁₂reaction units (PRUs) between baseline and 30 days. Survival curves were constructed with Kaplan-Meier estimates and compared by log-rank tests between the two groups.

Results

Both groups had a significantly reduced prevalence of HPR at 30 days versus baseline, but the TC group, compared with the placebo group, had greater reduction (15.8% vs. 24.8%, P = 0.013), especially among patients with one cytochrome P450 2C19 loss of function (LOF) allele (χ² = 2.931, P = 0.047). The TC group also had a lower prevalence of HPR (33.3% vs. 54.2%, t = 5.284, P = 0.022) and superior performance in light transmittance aggregometry and higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), but the composite prevalence of ischemic events did not differ significantly (χ² = 1.587, P = 0.208).

Conclusions

In addition to standard DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel, TCs further reduce PRU and hsCRP levels, especially in patients carrying only one LOF allele. The data suggest that TCs could be used in combination therapy for ACS patients with HPR undergoing PCI.

High Incidence of Thrombophilia Detected in Chinese Patients with Venous Thrombosis

Venous thromboembolism is rare in Chinese. To determine the incidence and disease profile of thrombophilia in Chinese patients with thrombosis, 52 unselected Chinese patients with documented venous thrombosis were studied for the presence of thrombophilia. Levels of antithrombin III (AT III), protein C (PC) and protein S (PS) as well as the presence of acquired lupus anticoagulant (LA) and anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) were investigated. Thirty patients were found to be abnormal. These consisted of 5 AT III deficiencies, 9 PC deficiencies, 10 PS deficiencies, 1 combined PC & PS deficiency (all in the heterozygous range), and 5 patients with LA and/or ACA. When the patients with LA and/or ACA are excluded, the incidence of hereditary thrombophilia is 25/47 i.e. 53.2%' which is much higher than those reported in studies of Caucasian patients selected under strict criteria. Family studies performed in 16 cases ot hereditary thrombophilia revealed involvement in 11 cases (68.7%); a total of 36 heterozygous family members were affected, most of which remain asymptomatic. Although 35 events predisposing to thrombosis (27 pregnancies, 1 oral contraceptive consumption and 7 surgical operations) were identified among these index patients, and the heterozygous family members, thrombosis was observed on only 6 occasions (17.1%). The data suggest that pregnancy and surgery do not carry the same degree of thrombotic risk in Chinese as in the Caucasian population with heterozygous AT III, PC and PS deficiency.

[Efficacy and safety of low-dose levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system in Chinese women: a multicenter, single-arm, open labeled interventional trial]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, bleeding profile and safety of low-dose levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS 8) in Chinese healthy women of childbearing age. Methods: A multi-center, open-label, single-arm clinical trial conducted at 16 centres in China enrolled 773 healthy women of childbearing age (mean age 31.6 years old, range 18 to 40 years old) , who demanded contraception, from April 2006 to June 2013. All women placed LNG-IUS 8 for 3 years and then been followed up at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 months. The efficacy variables including pregnancy rate and expulsion rate were analyzed using life table, while observing adverse events (AE) to evaluate the safety. The bleeding profile happened during the study was assessed using 90-day reference intervals (World Health Organization criteria) . Results: Eight pregnancies occurred among 773 women, resulting in a overall Pearl index of 0.42 per 100 women years. The 3-year cumulative pregnancy rate was 0.37 per 100 women years and the 3-year cumulative expulsion rate was 1.99 per 100 women years. The number of women with bleeding/spotting reduced and the bleeding/spotting days declined over time. Totally 219 AE were reported related to LNG-IUS 8 placements. The most common AE were vaginal bleeding (8.2%, 63/773) and the ovarian cyst (6.2%, 52/773) . LNG-IUS 8 had an improving effect on dysmenorrhea that the percentage of women with dysmenorrhea as well as the days of dysmenorrhea decreased over time. The percentage of women satisfied or very satisfied with LNG-IUS 8 was 87.2% (622/713) . Conclusion: LNG-IUS 8 is highly effective and safe for Chinese healthy women of childbearing age.

Correlation between Sex and Prognosis of Acute Aortic Dissection in the Chinese Population

BACKGROUND

The prevalence, presentation, management, and prognosis of coronary heart disease differ according to sex. Greater understanding on the differences between men and women with acute aortic dissection (AAD) is needed. We aimed to investigate whether sex disparities are found in patients with AAD, and to study sex differences in complications, mortality in-hospital, and long-term.

METHODS

We included 884 patients enrolled in our institute between June 2002 and May 2016. Considering psychosocial factors, treatments, and the outcomes in men versus those in women with AAD, we explored the association of sex with psychosocial characteristics and mortality risk. For categorical variables, significant differences between groups were assessed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, and continuous parameters were assessed with Student's t-test. Univariate and stratified survival statistics were computed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 884 patients (76.1% male, mean age 51.4 ± 11.8 years) were included in this study. There were fewer current smokers in female compared with male (17.5% vs. 67.2%, χ2 = 160.06, P < 0.05). The percentage of men who reported regular alcohol consumption was significantly higher than that in women (40.6% vs. 3.8%, χ2 = 100.18, P < 0.05). About 6.2% (55 of 884) of patients with AAD died before vascular or endovascular surgery was performed, 34.4% (304 of 884) of patients underwent surgical procedures, and 52.7% (466 of 884) and 12.8% (113 of 884) of patients received endovascular treatment and medication. Postoperative mortality similar (6.0% vs. 5.6%, respectively, χ2 = 0.03, P = 0.91) between men and women. Follow-up was completed in 653 of 829 patients (78.8%). Adjustment for age, history of coronary disease, hypertension, smoking and drinking, Type A and use of beta-blocker, angiotensin II receptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, calcium-channel blockers and statins by multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that age (odds ratios [OR s], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.07; P < 0.05), using of calcium-channel blockers (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.18-0.74; P < 0.05), at discharge were independent predictors of late mortality, ACE inhibitors (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.03-3.54; P = 0.04) was independent risk factor of late mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In Chinese with AAD, sex is not independently associated with long-term clinical outcomes. Age, the intake of calcium-channel blockers at discharge might help to improve long-term outcomes.

[Establishment and evaluation of a new method for determining hemodynamics of pulmonary hypertension rats]

Objective: By evaluating the hemodynamic parameters such as cardiac output (CO), right ventricular pressure (RVP), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and total pulmonary resistance index (TPRI) in pulmonary hypertension rat model, we established a more comprehensive hemodynamic evaluation system, which objectively evaluated the severity of disease and exercise tolerance in rats with pulmonary hypertension. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into a control group and a model group with 5 rats in each group. The model group was intraperitoneally injected with SU5416 (20 mg/kg) and placed in an oxygen chamber at a 10% oxygen concentration for 21 days and then placed in a normoxic environment for 14 days. After modeling, rats were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. The operator cut the skin along the right paraxial line, detached and ligated the intercostal artery, and then cut off the 3 and 4 ribs, exposing the heart and freeing aortic root about 0.2 cm. The flowmeter probe was set in the dissected aortic segment, and real-time recording time, blood flow waveforms, cardiac output were calculated accordingly. Then the needle attached to the baroreceptor was inserted into the right ventricle and the system acquired the right ventricular time-pressure waveform. After the waveform stabilized for about 30 seconds, the end of the cannula was sent to the pulmonary artery trunk through the entrance of the pulmonary artery to record the time-pressure curve of the pulmonary artery. Results: RVSP, PASP, PADP and mPAP in the model group were significantly higher than those of the control group [ RVSP(23.4±5.4) mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa vs (56.4±13.0) mmHg, PASP (22.8±4.4) mmHg vs (58.5±14.9) mmHg, PADP (9.7±1.9) mmHg vs (30.3±7.0) mmHg, mPAP (14.1±2.7) mmHg vs (41.9±8.0) mmHg, all P<0.05 ]. Compared with the control group, the cardiac index in the model group was significantly lower [ CI (0.54±0.08) ml·min(-1)·g(-1) vs (0.40±0.09) ml·min(-1)·g(-1,) P=0.02 ]. Furthermore, compared with the control group, pulmonary vascular resistance index was significantly increased in the model group[PVRI (0.27±0.03) mmHg·ml(-1)·min(-1)·kg(-1) vs (0.06±0.01) mmHg·ml(-1)·min(-1)·kg(-1,) P<0.05]. The pathological results also showed that the middle part of pulmonary arterioles in the model group had muscular hypertrophy and muscular pulmonary arterioles, and even plexiform lesions. Conclusion: In this study, we established a new method that simultaneously determined several hemodynamic parameters such as RVSP, PASP, PADP, CO, CI and PVRI, which provided a more comprehensive assessment of hemodynamic changes in pulmonary hypertension rat models.

[Study on the metastatic sequence of cervix lymph node in hypopharyngeal carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the metastatic sequence of cervical lymph node in hypopharyngeal carcinoma aimed at guiding neck exploration. Methods: Seventy-five serial sections of integrally dissected lateral neck specimens from 67 patients of hypophayryngeal carcinoma were histopathologically observed, and the metastatic sequence of cervical lymph node of hypophayryngeal carcinoma were analysed. Results: In 75 integrally dissected lateral neck specimens, 63 laterals were found to occur cervical lymph node metastases, the metastatic ratio was 84.0%. The analytic result of 63 dissected lateral neck specimens with positive lymph nodes showed that the metastatic lymph node ratio in descending order was level Ⅱ (90.5%), level Ⅲ (76.2%), level Ⅳ (41.3%), level Ⅴ (15.9%), level Ⅰ (7.9%) and level Ⅵ (3.2%). The metastatic ratio of lymph node between level Ⅰ~Ⅵ were significantly different from each other (P<0.01). When the tumor metastasized to one cervical lymph node, this could be found in levels Ⅱ or Ⅲ, when metastasized to two cervical lymph nodes, these could be found in levels Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and when metastasized to more than 5 of cervical lymph nodes, these could be found in levels Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, Ⅴ, Ⅰand Ⅵ. According to the occurring sequence, metastatic ratio and number of cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM), levels Ⅱ and Ⅲ were identified as the first station, level Ⅳ was the second station and levels Ⅴ, Ⅰ and Ⅵ were the third station of cervical LNM in hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Conclusion: The confirmation of metastatic sequence of cervical lymph node in hypophayryngeal carcinoma provides a reliable evidence for neck lymph node dissection and reference value for clinic therapy.

Theoretical analysis of coupled effects of microbe and root architecture on methane oxidation in vegetated landfill covers

Reduction of soil moisture by plant root-water uptake could improve soil aeration for microbial aerobic methane oxidation (MAMO) in a landfill cover, but excessive soil moisture removal could suppress microbial activity due to water shortage. Existing models ignore the coupled microbe-vegetation interaction. It is thus not known whether the presence of plants is beneficial or adverse to MAMO. This study proposes a newly-improved theoretical model that couples the effects of root-water uptake and microbial activity for capturing water-gas flow and MAMO in unsaturated soils. Parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of root characteristics and transpiration rate on MAMO efficiency. Uniform, parabolic, exponential and triangular root architectures are considered. Ignoring the effects of water shortage on microbe over-predicts the MAMO efficiency significantly, especially for plants with traits that give high root-water uptake ability (i.e., uniformly-rooted and long root length). The effects of plants on MAMO efficiency depends on the initial soil moisture strongly. If the soil is too dry (i.e., close to the permanent wilting point), plant-water uptake, with any root architecture considered, would reduce MAMO efficiency as further soil water removal by plants suppresses microbial activity. Plants with exponential or triangular root architectures could preserve 10% higher MAMO than the other two cases. These two architectures are more capable of minimizing the adverse effects of root-water uptake due to microbial water shortage. This implies that high-water-demand plants such as those with long root length and with uniform or parabolic root architectures require more frequent irrigation to prevent from excessive reduction of MAMO efficiency.

Effects of chestnut tannins on intestinal morphology, barrier function, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, microflora and antioxidant capacity in heat-stressed broilers

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chestnut tannins (CT) on intestinal morphology, barrier function, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, microflora and antioxidant capacity in heat-stressed broilers. Four hundred 28-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned into four groups, with 10 replicates per group and 10 broilers per replicate. The broilers in the normal (NOR) group were kept at 22 ± 1°C and fed the basal diet, and each of the other three groups were treated with cyclic heat (33 ± 1°C from 0800 to 1800 and 22 ± 1°C from 1800 to 0800) and fed the basal diet with 0 (HT), 1 (CT1) or 2 (CT2) g of CT/kg of diet. The experiment lasted for 14 days. Compared with the HT group, broilers in the NOR and CT2 groups had higher (p < .05) average daily gain and villus height in the jejunum and lower serum d-lactate (p < .001) and diamine oxidase (p < .01) levels. The addition of 2 g CT/kg of diet increased the total antioxidant capacity (p < .001) and superoxide dismutase activities (p < .05) and zonula occludens-1 mRNA expression level (p < .05) and decreased the malondialdehyde concentration (p < .01) and mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6 (p < .001) and nuclear factor kappa B (p < .001) in the jejunal mucosa of heat-stressed broilers. The populations of Escherichia coli and Clostridium in the jejunum (p < .01) and caecum (p < .05) of broilers in the HT group were higher than those in the NOR and CT2 groups. In conclusion, the addition of 2 g CT/kg of diet seemed to be a feasible means of alleviating the negative effects of heat stress on the growth performance and intestinal function of broilers.

Safety and Necessity of Antiplatelet Therapy on Patients Underwent Endovascular Aortic Repair with Both Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection and Coronary Heart Disease

Background:

Acute aortic dissection is known as the most dangerous aortic disease, with management and prognosis determined as the disruption of the medial layer provoked by intramural bleeding. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and necessity of antiplatelet therapy on patients with Stanford Type B aortic dissection (TBAD) who underwent endovascular aortic repair (EVAR).

Methods:

The present study retrospectively analyzed 388 patients with TBAD who underwent EVAR and coronary angiography. The primary outcomes were hemorrhage, death, endoleak, recurrent dissection, myocardial infarction, and cerebral infarction in patients with and without aspirin antiplatelet therapy at 1 month and 12 months.

Results:

Of those 388 patients, 139 (35.8%) patients were treated with aspirin and 249 (64.2%) patients were not treated with aspirin. Patients in the aspirin group were elderly (57.0 ± 10.3 years vs. 52.5 ± 11.9 years, respectively, χ² = 3.812, P < 0.001) and had more hypertension (92.1% vs. 83.9%, respectively, χ² = 5.191, P = 0.023) and diabetes (7.2% vs. 2.8%, respectively, χ² = 4.090, P = 0.043) than in the no-aspirin group. Twelve patients (aspirin group vs. no-aspirin group; 3.6% vs. 2.8%, respectively, χ² = 0.184, P = 0.668) died at 1-month follow-up, while the number was 18 (4.6% vs. 5.0%, respectively, χ² = 0.027, P = 0.870) at 12-month follow-up. Hemorrhage occurred in 1 patient (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium [BARC] Type 2) of the aspirin group, and 3 patients (1 BARC Type 2 and 2 BARC Type 5) in the no-aspirin group at 1-month follow-up (χ² = 0.005, P = 0.944). New hemorrhage occurred in five patients in the no-aspirin group at 12-month follow-up. Three patients in the aspirin group while five patients in the no-aspirin group had recurrent dissection for endoleak at 1-month follow-up (2.3% vs. 2.2%, respectively, χ² = 0.074, P = 0.816). Four patients had new dissection in the no-aspirin group at 12-month follow-up (2.3% vs. 3.8%, respectively, χ² = 0.194, P = 0.660). Each group had one patient with myocardial infarction at 1-month follow-up (0.8% vs. 0.4%, respectively, χ² = 0.102, P = 0.749) and one more patient in the no-aspirin group at 12-month follow-up. No one had cerebral infarction in both groups during the 12-month follow-up. In the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) subgroup, 44 (31.7%) patients had taken dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT, aspirin + clopidogrel) and the other 95 (68.3%) patients had taken only aspirin. There was no significant difference in hemorrhage (0% vs. 1.1%, respectively, χ² = 0.144, P = 0.704), death (4.8% vs. 4.5%, respectively, χ² = 0.154, P = 0.695), myocardial infarction (2.4% vs. 0%, respectively, χ² = 0.144, P = 0.704), endoleak, and recurrent dissection (0% vs. 3.4%, respectively, χ² = 0.344, P = 0.558) between the two groups at 12-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

The present study indicated that long-term oral low-dose aspirin was safe for patients with both TBAD and coronary heart disease who underwent EVAR. For the patients who underwent both EVAR and PCI, DAPT also showed no increase in hemorrhage, endoleak, recurrent dissection, death, and myocardial infarction.

Numerical modelling of methane oxidation efficiency and coupled water-gas-heat reactive transfer in a sloping landfill cover

Microbial aerobic methane oxidation in unsaturated landfill cover involves coupled water, gas and heat reactive transfer. The coupled process is complex and its influence on methane oxidation efficiency is not clear, especially in steep covers where spatial variations of water, gas and heat are significant. In this study, two-dimensional finite element numerical simulations were carried out to evaluate the performance of unsaturated sloping cover. The numerical model was calibrated using a set of flume model test data, and was then subsequently used for parametric study. A new method that considers transient changes of methane concentration during the estimation of the methane oxidation efficiency was proposed and compared against existing methods. It was found that a steeper cover had a lower oxidation efficiency due to enhanced downslope water flow, during which desaturation of soil promoted gas transport and hence landfill gas emission. This effect was magnified as the cover angle and landfill gas generation rate at the bottom of the cover increased. Assuming the steady-state methane concentration in a cover would result in a non-conservative overestimation of oxidation efficiency, especially when a steep cover was subjected to rainfall infiltration. By considering the transient methane concentration, the newly-modified method can give a more accurate oxidation efficiency.

[The clinical characteristics and treatment strategies of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in adolescents and children]

Objective:To study the clinical characteristics and treatment strategies of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in adolescents and children.Method:From 1983 to 2014, total 2936 patients with the thyroid cancer were collected in our hospital, among which there were 85 patients of adolescents and children with 61 female and 24 male. The age was from 9 to 21 years old (median 18.3 years). There were 12 cases less than 14 years.The pathologic diagnoses were papillary carcinoma 76 cases and follicular carcinoma 9 cases. The clinical material, history of disease, clinical presentation, TNM classification, histopathological features, treatment method, and the final follow-up results were analyzed and studied. Result:Overall survival rate was 100%, follow-up from 0.5 to 31 years(medium 10.9 years), 10 year progression free survival rate was 87.1%. There was no mortality and 8(9.4%)cases occurred recurrence,who followed by surgery and resumed finally. There were 20 cases found extrathyroid extention, including 8 cases less than 14 years and 12 cases older than 15 years. The extrathyroid extention rate was significantly higher in cases of lower years(66.7%)than other group(16.4%)(P<0.01). Forty-nine(57.6%) cases were found lymphanods metastases, among them ≤14 years metastases rate 92.0%（11/12）significantly more than ≥15 years metastases rate 52.1%(38/73) (P<0.05). Three patients suffered with pulmonary metastases and all of them were ≤14 years patients. All of 85 patients were received surgery treatment included total, subtotal and oneside thyroidectomy. The neck lymph nodes were underwent modefied, radical or no neck dissection. Fifteen patients were received 131I therapy postoperatively, the dosage was 50～170 mCi. All of 85 patients were received TSH suppression therapy. 13 cases(15.3%) occurred complications,such as laryngeal recurrent nerve paralysis and hypoparathyroidism commonly. Conclusion:Majority of thyroid cancer for adolescents and children are papillary and follicular carcinoma. The histopathologic feature has significant invasion beyond thyroid capsula, and metastasis to the lymphanods and distante area,especially ≤14 years patients significant more than ≥15 years. The prognosis is favorable, it is few death from thyroid cancer. The treatment means is surgery to resect all of the disease, sometimes should perform total or neartotal thyroidectomy if there are distant metastasis and extensive invasion. It should pay attention to preserve the function of recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid gland. Most of them can be performed unilateral lobectomy if the tumor located oneside thyroid gland. The lymphanode metastasis should be undertaken modified neck dissection, make effort to avoid radical neck dissection. It should be carful to use 131I internal radiation therapy and avoid the excessive treatment.

Comparative Raman study of Weyl semimetals TaAs, NbAs, TaP and NbP

We report a comparative polarized Raman study of Weyl semimetals TaAs, NbAs, TaP and NbP. The evolution of the phonon frequencies with the sample composition allows us to determine experimentally which atoms are mainly involved for each vibration mode. Our results confirm previous first-principles calculations indicating that the A1, B1(2), E(2) and E(3) modes involve mainly the As(P) atoms, the B1(1) mode is mainly related to Ta(Nb) atoms, and the E(1) mode involves both kinds of atoms. By comparing the energy of the different modes, we establish that the B1(1), B1(2), E(2) and E(3) become harder with increasing chemical pressure. This behaviour differs from our observation on the A1 mode, which decreases in energy, in contrast to its behaviour under external pressure.

[A large-scale, multicenter, retrospective study on efficacy of bivalirudin use during peri-percutaneous coronary intervention period for Chinese patients with coronary heart disease]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the efficacy and safety of bivalirudin use in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) during the peri-percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) period.

METHODS

A total of 3 271 patients who underwent PCI and received periprocedural bivalirudin treatment between July 2013 and October 2015 from 88 centers of China were involved in this study. The primary outcome was 30-day net adverse clinical events (NACE a composite of major adverse cardiac or cerebral events (MACE, all-cause death, reinfarction, urgent target vessel revascularization, or stroke) or bleeding), the secondary outcome was stent thrombosis at 30 days.

RESULTS

The mean age of enrolled patients was (65.12±12.44) years old, 27.4%(889/3 244) of them were female. Percent of stable coronary disease (SCD), non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was 5.0%(162/3 248), 44.6%(1 450/3 248) and 50.4%(1 636/3 248) respectively. Radial access was performed in 89.5% (2 879/3 271) patients, and 9.7% (316/3 271) and 34.1% (1 115/3 271) patients also received ticagrelor and tirofiban medication. 69.3% (2 266/3 271) patients received post-procedural bivalirudin infusion, in which 46.3% (1 050/2 266) was treated at PCI-does, with a median duration of 2.5(1.0, 4.0) h. During the 30-day follow-up, NACE occurred in 3.45% (103/2 988) patients, the incidence of MACE, death was 2.17% (65/2 994) and 1.03% (31/3 017), respectively and bleeding events were recorded in 1.37% (41/2 996) patients. Four cases (0.13%) of stent thrombosis (3 acute stent thrombosis) were recorded.

CONCLUSION

Peri-PCI Bivalirudin use is safe and related with low bleeding risk in Chinese CHD patients.

Antisense expression of Gossypium hirsutum UDP-glucuronate decarboxylase in Arabidopsis leads to changes in cell wall components

UDP-glucuronate decarboxylase (UDP-xylose synthase; UXS, EC 4.1.1.35) is an essential enzyme of the non-cellulosic polysaccharide biosynthetic pathway. In the present study, using transient expression of fluorescently labeled Gossypium hirsutum UXS (GhUXS3) protein in onion epidermal cells, we observed that this protein was distributed in the cytoplasm. The GhUXS3 cDNA of cotton was expressed in an antisense orientation in Arabidopsis thaliana by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Homozygous plants showing down-regulation of UXS were analyzed with northern blots. Compared to the untransformed control, transgenic plant showed shorter roots, earlier blossom formation, and delayed senescence. Biochemical analysis indicated that levels of rhamnose, mannose, galactose, glucose, xylose, and cellulose were reduced in some of the down-regulated antisense plants. These results suggest that GhUXS3 regulates the conversion of non-cellulosic polysaccharides and modulates their composition in plant cell walls. We also discuss a possible cellular function for GhUXS in determining the quality of cotton fibers.

Short-term rosuvastatin treatment for the prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients receiving moderate or high volumes of contrast media: a sub-analysis of the TRACK-D study

BACKGROUND

Current randomized trials have demonstrated the effects of short-term rosuvastatin therapy in preventing contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI). However, the consistency of these effects on patients administered different volumes of contrast media is unknown.

METHODS

In the TRACK-D trial, 2998 patients with type 2 diabetes and concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD) who underwent coronary/peripheral arterial angiography with or without percutaneous intervention were randomized to short-term (2 days before and 3 days after procedure) rosuvastatin therapy or standard-of-care. This prespecified analysis compared the effects of rosuvastatin versus standard therapy in patients exposed to (moderate contrast volume [MCV], 200-300 ml, n = 712) or (high contrast volume [HCV], ≥ 300 ml, n = 220). The primary outcome was the incidence of CIAKI. The secondary outcome was a composite of death, dialysis/hemofiltration or worsened heart failure at 30 days.

RESULTS

Rosuvastatin treatment was associated with a significant reduction in CIAKI compared with the controls (2.1% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.050) in the overall cohort and in patients with MCV (1.7% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.029), whereas no benefit was observed in patients with HCV (3.4% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.834). The incidence of secondary outcomes was significantly lower in the rosuvastatin group compared with control group (2.7% vs. 5.3%, P = 0.049) in the overall cohort, but it was similar between the patients with MCV (2.0% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.081) or HCV (5.1% vs. 8.8%, P = 0.273).

CONCLUSIONS

Periprocedural short-term rosuvastatin treatment is effective in reducing CIAKI and adverse clinical events for patients with diabetes and CKD after their exposure to a moderate volume of contrast medium.

Comparison of the efficacy of drug-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents for the treatment of left main coronary artery disease

Background:

Recent studies reported that percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation was safe and feasible for the treatment of left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease in select patients. However, it is unclear whether drug-eluting stents (DESs) have better outcomes in patients with LMCA disease compared with bare-metal stent (BMS) during long-term follow-up in Chinese populations.

Methods:

From a perspective multicenter registry, 1136 consecutive patients, who underwent BMS or DES implantation for unprotected LMCA stenosis, were divided into two groups: 1007 underwent DES implantation, and 129 underwent BMS implantation. The primary outcome was the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 5 years postimplantation.

Results:

Patients in the DES group were older and more likely to have hyperlipidemia and bifurcation lesions. They had smaller vessels and longer lesions than patients in the BMS group. In the adjusted cohort of patients, the DES group had significantly lower 5 years rates of MACE (19.4% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.022), CV death (7.0% vs. 14.7%, P = 0.045), and MI (5.4% vs. 12.4%, P = 0.049) than the BMS group. There were no significant differences in the rate of TLR (10.9% vs. 17.8%, P = 0.110) and stent thrombosis (4.7% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.758). The rates of MACE (80.6% vs. 68.2%, P = 0.023), CV death (93.0% vs. 85.3%, P = 0.045), TLR (84.5% vs. 72.1%, P = 0.014), and MI (89.9% vs. 80.6%, P = 0.029) free survival were significantly higher in the DES group than in the BMS group. When the propensity score was included as a covariate in the Cox model, the adjusted hazard ratios for the risk of CV death and MI were 0.41 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21–0.63, P = 0.029) and 0.29 (95% CI: 0.08–0.92, P = 0.037), respectively.

Conclusions:

DES implantation was associated with more favorable clinical outcomes than BMS implantation for the treatment of LMCA disease even though there was no significant difference in the rate of TLR between the two groups.

A fully coupled model for water-gas-heat reactive transport with methane oxidation in landfill covers

Methane oxidation in landfill covers is a complex process involving water, gas and heat transfer as well as microbial oxidation. The coupled phenomena of microbial oxidation, water, gas, and heat transfer are not fully understood. In this study, a new model is developed that incorporates water-gas-heat coupled reactive transport in unsaturated soil with methane oxidation. Effects of microbial oxidation-generated water and heat are included. The model is calibrated using published data from a laboratory soil column test. Moreover, a series of parametric studies are carried out to investigate the influence of microbial oxidation-generated water and heat, initial water content on methane oxidation efficiency. Computed and measured results of gas concentration and methane oxidation rate are consistent. It is found that the coupling effects between water-gas-heat transfer and methane oxidation are significant. Ignoring microbial oxidation-generated water and heat can result in a significant difference in methane oxidation efficiency by 100%.

On the roles of graphene oxide doping for enhanced supercurrent in MgB2 based superconductors

Due to their graphene-like properties after oxygen reduction, incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) sheets into correlated-electron materials offers a new pathway for tailoring their properties. Fabricating GO nanocomposites with polycrystalline MgB2 superconductors leads to an order of magnitude enhancement of the supercurrent at 5 K/8 T and 20 K/4 T. Herein, we introduce a novel experimental approach to overcome the formidable challenge of performing quantitative microscopy and microanalysis of such composites, so as to unveil how GO doping influences the structure and hence the material properties. Atom probe microscopy and electron microscopy were used to directly image the GO within the MgB2, and we combined these data with computational simulations to derive the property-enhancing mechanisms. Our results reveal synergetic effects of GO, namely, via localized atomic (carbon and oxygen) doping as well as texturing of the crystals, which provide both inter- and intra-granular flux pinning. This study opens up new insights into how low-dimensional nanostructures can be integrated into composites to modify the overall properties, using a methodology amenable to a wide range of applications.

Effects of tannic acid on Haemonchus contortus larvae viability and immune responses of sheep white blood cells in vitro

Direct inhibitory effects of tannic acid on Haemonchus contortus viability were studied in vitro using the larval migration inhibition (LMI) assay. Sheep white blood cells (WBC) were preincubated with 5 and 50 lg/mL tannic acid or not followed by whole H. contortus antigen (WHA). Cells were harvested at 24 h post-incubation to test host immune responses. Concentrations of 50, 100, 500, 1000, 3000 and 5000 lg/mL tannic acid inhibited larvae migration by 19.8, 42.4, 46.3, 92.0, 93.7 and 100%, respectively, within 96 h post-incubation (P < 0.001). The relative mRNA levels of interferon (IFN)-c, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were increased by WHA stimulation without tannic acid. However, the increased effects on IFN-c and IL-2 were inhibited by tannic acid preincubation (P < 0.001), while the increases in IL-4 and IL-10 were greatly enhanced by tannic acid preincubation (P < 0.001). Changes in protein levels of all cytokines essentially paralleled the changes in their corresponding mRNA levels. In conclusion, tannic acid is directly harmful to larvae in a dose- and time-dependent manner and modulates immune responses of sheep WBC stimulated by H. contortus antigen by inhibiting Th1 cytokines and increasing Th2 cytokine expression in vitro.

Observation of a charged charmoniumlike structure in e+ e- → (D* D*)± π∓ at √s = 4.26 GeV

We study the process e+ e- →(D* D*)± π∓ at a center-of-mass energy of 4.26 GeV using a 827  pb(-1) data sample obtained with the BESIII detector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider. Based on a partial reconstruction technique, the Born cross section is measured to be (137±9±15)  pb. We observe a structure near the (D* D*)± threshold in the π∓ recoil mass spectrum, which we denote as the Zc±(4025). The measured mass and width of the structure are (4026.3±2.6±3.7)  MeV/c2 and (24.8±5.6±7.7)  MeV, respectively. Its production ratio σ(e+ e- → Zc±(4025)π∓ → (D* D*)± π∓)/σ(e+ e- → (D* D*)± π∓) is determined to be 0.65±0.09±0.06. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.

(3R(*),5S (*),6R (*))-3,5-dimethyl-6-(methylethyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyran-2-one, a third sex pheromone component forMacrocentrus grandii (goidanich) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and evidence for its utility at eclosion

The compound (3R(*),5S(*),6R(*))-3,5-dimethyl-6-(methylethyl)-3, 4,5,6-tetrahydropyran-2-one was identified as a sex pheromone component ofM. grandii. Laboratory and field bioassays demonstrated that it elicits flight initiation, upwind anemotaxis, and casting in male wasps. The compound acts synergistically with (Z)-4-tridecenal, a previously identified sex pheromone component of femaleM. grandii, to increase male response to the aldehyde component. The source of the lactone was determined to be the mandibular glands of male and female wasps. At eclosion a majority of male-female and female-only cocoon masses released the lactone and attracted male wasps. Male-only cocoon masses were not attractive at eclosion and the lactone component was either not released or released at below-threshold concentration. Mating was observed to occur following eclosion in laboratory and field studies.

Effects of chestnut tannins on performance and antioxidative status of transition dairy cows

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chestnut tannins (CT) on performance and antioxidative status of transition dairy cows. Twenty multiparous Chinese Holstein cows in late gestation were paired according to expected calving date and randomly assigned either to a diet supplemented with CT (CNT, 10 g of CT/kg of diet, dry matter basis) or to an unsupplemented control (CON) diet from 3 wk prepartum to 3 wk postpartum. Blood samples were taken on d -21, 1, 7, and 21 relative to calving for analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Liver samples were taken by puncture biopsy on d 1 and 21 relative to calving for analysis of SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA. Data were analyzed for a completely randomized block design with repeated measures. The addition of CT had no significant effects on dry matter intake, body weight, body condition score, milk yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield, and milk composition but did decrease milk MDA and somatic cell score in transition dairy cows. Dry matter intake decreased from d -21 to 0 and increased from d 1 to 21 relative to calving across treatments. During the experimental period, body weight and body condition score decreased, whereas milk MDA and somatic cell score increased across treatments. A time effect was also observed for plasma MDA, which peaked on d 1 relative to calving and remained higher than that on d -21 relative to calving across treatments. Addition of CT decreased MDA concentrations in plasma and liver. Neither time nor CT × time effects were observed for SOD and T-AOC in plasma and SOD and GSH-Px in liver; a time effect was observed for plasma GSH-Px, which peaked on d 1 relative to calving and remained higher than those on d -21 relative to calving across treatments. Addition of CT increased SOD, GSH-Px, and T-AOC activities in plasma and SOD and GSH-Px activities in liver. In conclusion, addition of CT might inhibit lipid peroxidation and increase antioxidant enzymes activities in plasma and liver of transition dairy cows. Supplementation of CT may be a feasible means to improve the antioxidative status of transition dairy cows.