Controllable nonreciprocal phonon laser in a hybrid photonic molecule based on directional quantum squeezing

Here, a scheme for a controllable nonreciprocal phonon laser is proposed in a hybrid photonic molecule system consisting of a whispering-gallery mode (WGM) optomechanical resonator and a χ(2)-nonlinear WGM resonator, by directionally quantum squeezing one of two coupled resonator modes. The directional quantum squeezing results in a chiral photon interaction between the resonators and a frequency shift of the squeezed resonator mode with respect to the unsqueezed bare mode. We show that the directional quantum squeezing can modify the effective optomechanical coupling in the optomechanical resonator, and analyze the impacts of driving direction and squeezing extent on the phonon laser action in detail. Our analytical and numerical results indicate that the controllable nonreciprocal phonon laser action can be effectively realized in this system. The proposed scheme uses an all-optical and chip-compatible approach without spinning resonators, which may be more beneficial for integrating and packaging of the system on a chip. Our proposal may provide a new route to realize integratable phonon devices for on-chip nonreciprocal phonon manipulations, which may be used in chiral quantum acoustics, topological phononics, and acoustical information processing.

Chemical profile of Roselle extract and its inhibitory activities on three digestive enzymes in vitro and in vivo

Roselle is rich in an extensive diversity of beneficial substances, including phenolic acids, amino acids, anthocyanins, vitamins, and flavonoids. Herein, the chemical constituents in Roselle extract (RE) were identified by UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS. Besides, its inhibitory effects on three digestive enzymes, i.e. α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase, were investigated in both in vitro and in vivo. Thirty-three constituents including hibiscus acid, 18 phenolic acids, 2 anthocyanins and 12 flavonoids were identified. The anthocyanins content in RE was 21.44 ± 0.68 %, while the contents of chlorogenic acids, rutin and quercetin were 17.76 ± 2.28 %, 0.31 ± 0.01 % and 0.32 ± 0.01 %, respectively. RE inhibited pancreatic lipase in a non-competitive way with an IC50 value of 0.84 mg/mL. Besides, it demonstrated a mixed-type inhibition on both α-glucosidase and α-amylase with IC50 values of 0.59 mg/mL and 1.93 mg/mL, respectively. Fluorescence quenching assays confirmed the binding of RE to the enzyme proteins. Furthermore, rats pre-treated with RE at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (bwt) exhibited significant reductions in fat absorption and improvements in fat excretion through feces. Additionally, the in vivo study revealed that RE was effective in suppressing the increase of blood glucose after starch consumption, while its effects on maltose and sucrose consumption were relatively weak.

Fabrication of Luteolin Loaded Zein-Caseinate Nanoparticles and its Bioavailability Enhancement in Rats

Luteolin loaded zein nanoparticles (Lut-ZNP) were prepared by using sodium caseinate as an electrostatic stabilizer. The formulation of the nanoparticles was optimized. Lut-ZNP were spray-dried, and the physicochemical properties were characterized by SEM, XRD, FT-IR and DSC. Then, the bioavailability of luteolin in rats was determined. Under the formulation of luteolin, zein and sodium caseinate with mass ratio of 1:5:15, the particle size, ζ-potential, encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency of Lut-ZNP were 171.8 nm, -49.05 mV, 85.85% and 3.15%, respectively. Luteolin existed in the nanoparticles with amorphous form. Lut-ZNP exhibited good redispersibility in water after drying. Compared with free luteolin, the solubility, stability and release of luteolin in Lut-ZNP were greatly improved. Besides, the fecal excretion of luteolin in rats was significantly reduced after oral administration of Lut-ZNP. In addition to native luteolin, its metabolites including sulfate, glucuronidate and methylated glucuronidate were found in rat plasma. Lut-ZNP significantly increased the plasma concentrations of luteolin and its metabolites, and the bioavailability of luteolin was enhanced by 2.92 times.

Efficacy of high-fidelity simulation in advanced life support training: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Simulation is an increasingly used novel method for the education of medical professionals. This study aimed to systematically review the efficacy of high-fidelity (HF) simulation compared with low-fidelity (LF) simulation or no simulation in advanced life support (ALS) training.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Chinese Biomedicine Database, Embase, CENTRAL, ISI, and China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the use of HF simulation in ALS training. Quality assessment was based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 5.0.1. The primary outcome was the improvement of knowledge and skill performance. The secondary outcomes included the participants' confidence and satisfaction at the course conclusion, skill performance at one year, skill performance in actual resuscitation, and patient outcomes. Data were synthesized using the RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

Altogether, 25 RCTs with a total of 1,987 trainees were included in the meta-analysis. In the intervention group, 998 participants used HF manikins, whereas 989 participants received LF simulation-based or traditional training (classical training without simulation). Pooled data from the RCTs demonstrated a benefit in improvement of knowledge [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18-0.59, P = 0.0003, I2 = 70%] and skill performance (SMD = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.21-1.04, P = 0.003, I2 = 92%) for HF simulation when compared with LF simulation and traditional training. The subgroup analysis revealed a greater benefit in knowledge with HF simulation compared with traditional training at the course conclusion (SMD = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.20-0.83, P = 0.003, I2 = 61%). Studies measuring knowledge at three months, skill performance at one year, teamwork behaviors, participants' satisfaction and confidence demonstrated no significant benefit for HF simulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Learners using HF simulation more significantly benefited from the ALS training in terms of knowledge and skill performance at the course conclusion. However, further research is necessary to enhance long-term retention of knowledge and skill in actual resuscitation and patient's outcomes.

[Mechanism and prevention and treatment strategy of progressive injury in high-voltage electric burns]

High-voltage electric burn is one of burns that can cause severe damages to tissue and organs. Clinically, progressive injury in high-voltage electric burns is a key pathological change that affects the level of amputation and the success rate of treatment. At present, the exact definition and mechanism of progressive injury in high-voltage electric burns have not been elucidated, and the clinical treatment is mainly symptomatic treatment. Relevant research data on the mechanism and treatment of progressive injury in high-voltage electric burns are lacking. This paper analyzes and summarizes the mechanism, diagnosis, treatment, and common outcome of progressive injury in high-voltage electric burns, and provides a reference for the mechanism research, clinical diagnosis and treatment of progressive injury in high-voltage electric burns.

[Study on F9 gene expression downregulation and its clinical value in hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To analyze the expression levels of the F9 gene and F9 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma by combining multiple gene chip data, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT qPCR), and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, explore their correlation with the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as with various clinical indicators and prognosis. Methods: The mRNA microarray dataset from the GEO database was analyzed to identify the F9 gene with significant expression differences associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver cancer and adjacent tissues were collected from 18 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. RT-qPCR method was used to detect the F9 gene expression level. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the F9 protein level. Combined with the TCGA database information, the correlation between F9 gene expression level and prognostic and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. The biological function of F9 co-expressed genes associated with hepatocellular carcinoma was analyzed by the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Statistical analysis was performed using Graphpad Prism software. Results: Meta-analysis results showed that the expression of the F9 gene was lower in HCC tissues than in non-cancerous tissues. Immunohistochemistry results were basically consistent with those of RT-qPCR. The data obtained from TCGA showed that the F9 gene had lower expression values in stages III-IV, T3-T4, and patients with vascular invasion. A total of 127 genes were selected for bioinformatics analysis as co-expressed genes of F9, which were highly enriched in redox processes and metabolic pathways. Conclusion: This study validates that the F9 gene and F9 protein are lower in HCC. The down-regulation of the F9 gene predicts adverse outcomes, which may provide a new therapeutic target for HCC.

A Co-Expressed Natural Antisense RNA FCER1A-AS Controls IgE-Dependent Immunity by Promoting Expression of FcεRIα

As the α-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin E (FcεRIα), FcεRIα plays a central role in IgE-mediated allergic disorders and in the immunity and immunopathology of some parasitic infections. FcεRIα is specifically expressed on basophils and mast cells, but the mechanism that controls FcεRIα expression in these cells is poorly understood. In this study, we found that the natural antisense transcript (NAT) of FcεRIα (FCER1A-AS) is co-expressed with the sense transcript (FCER1A-S) in both interleukin (IL)-3-induced FcεRIα-expressing cells and in the high FcεRIα-expressing cell line MC/9. When FCER1A-AS is selectively knocked down by the CRISPR/RfxCas13d (CasRx) approach in MC/9 cells, the expression of both FCER1A-S mRNA and proteins is markedly decreased. Furthermore, FCER1A-AS deficiency was also found to be associated with a lack of FCER1A-S expression in vivo. Correspondingly, homozygous mice deficient in FCER1A-AS demonstrated a similar phenotype to FCER1A knockout mice in Schistosoma japonicum infection and in IgE-FcεRIα-mediated cutaneous anaphylaxis. Thus, we uncovered a novel pathway for the control of FcεRIα expression by its co-expressed natural antisense transcript. IMPORTANCE FcεRIα is responsible for high-affinity binding with the Fc portion of IgE, which is critical for IgE-dependent disease responses such as allergy responses and anti-parasite immunity. FcεRIα is expressed on a few cell types, including mast cells and basophils. Although the expression of FcεRIα is known to be promoted by the IL-3-GATA-2 pathway during its differentiation, the mechanism by which FcεRIα expression is maintained remains unknown. In this study, we discovered that a natural antisense transcript, FCER1A-AS, is co-expressed with the sense transcript. The presence of FCER1A-AS is essential for sense transcript expression in mast cells and basophils, but not for the differentiation of these cells through cis-regulation. Like FcεRIα knockout mice, mice lacking FCER1A-AS also exhibit reduced survival after Schistosoma japonicum infection and a lack of IgE-mediated cutaneous anaphylaxis. Thus, a novel pathway for regulating IgE-mediated allergic diseases through noncoding RNAs has been revealed.

Structure-activity relationship of dietary flavonoids on pancreatic lipase

Lipase is a very important digestive enzyme for triglyceride absorption in vivo. The inhibitory activities of 26 dietary flavonoids, including flavone, flavanone, isoflavone and flavanol, on lipase were determined. Flavone exhibited stronger inhibitory activity than other types of flavonoids. Among them, luteolin exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 99 ± 11 μM, followed by quercetin and baicalein. The binding affinity of these flavonoids with lipase was investigated by fluorescence titration method. The binding affinity of flavones was stronger than flavanones, and was linearly positively correlated with their inhibitory activity. The binding of flavones on lipase caused the blue-shift of fluorescence, while flavanones caused red-shift. The analysis of structure-activity relationship of flavonoids on lipase revealed that the structure of C ring is very crucial. The hydrogenation of C2=C3 bond and the absence of C=O group in C ring both caused significant decrease of inhibitory activity. Besides, the hydroxylation on ring A and B of flavones increased the activity, while glycosylation weakened the activity. Molecular docking analysis confirmed that C2=C3 bond in C ring of flavones increases the π-conjugation and contributes to maintaining the planarity of flavonoid structure, which favour its Pi-Pi interaction with lipase.

[Introduction and development of the Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire authorized simplified Chinese translation]

Objective: The purpose of this article is to translate and adapt the Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (TWVQ) into the simplified Chinese version (TWVQ-SC), and to evaluate its reliability and validity. Methods: Authorized by the author of the TWVQ,the TWVQ-SC was developed through translation, back translation,and cross-cultural adaptation.The TWVQ-SC contained 30 items capturing personal perception of vocal function, psychosocial impact of voice, and degree of limitation in social participation. Subjects included 279 trans women in the experimental group, 128 cis women in the control group, and 89 trans women in the retest group. The Cronbach α and the item total correlation coefficient (ITC) were calculated to examine the internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was chosen to examine the test-retest reliability. Regarding validity, the expert judgment method was utilized to examine the content validity. Factor analysis and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used to examine the construct validity, and the discriminant validity was examined by the rank sum test of the total scores of the cisgender and transgender subjects. Results: The Cronbach's α of TWVQ-SC is 0.97 and the ITC of 30 items range from 0.40 to 0.86. The ICC is 0.84. The four principal components' cumulative contribution is 65.12%. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient to VHI-10 is 0.85 (P<0.01). The total score of the TWVQ scale in the transgender female group is significantly higher than that in the cisgender female group (U=1 580,P<0.01). Conclusion: TWVQ-SC demonstrates good reliability and validity and therefore can be used clinically as a self-assessment tool for transgender women to evaluate their own voice.

Chalcone-1-Deoxynojirimycin Heterozygote Reduced the Blood Glucose Concentration and Alleviated the Adverse Symptoms and Intestinal Flora Disorder of Diabetes Mellitus Rats

Chalcone-1-deoxynojirimycin heterozygote (DC-5), a novel compound which was designed and synthesized in our laboratory for diabetes treatment, showed an extremely strong in vitro inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase in our previous studies. In the current research, its potential in vivo anti-diabetic effects were further investigated by integration detection and the analysis of blood glucose concentration, blood biochemical parameters, tissue section and gut microbiota of the diabetic rats. The results indicated that oral administration of DC-5 significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose, both in diabetic and normal rats; meanwhile, it alleviated the adverse symptoms of elevated blood lipid level and lipid metabolism disorder in diabetic rats. Furthermore, DC-5 effectively decreased the organ coefficient and alleviated the pathological changes of the liver, kidney and small intestine of the diabetic rats at the same time. Moreover, the results of 16S rDNA gene sequencing analysis suggested that DC-5 significantly increased the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and improved the disorder of gut microbiota in diabetic rats. In conclusion, DC-5 displayed a good therapeutic effect on the diabetic rats, and therefore had a good application prospect in hypoglycemic drugs and foods.

Selection signatures in goats reveal a novel deletion mutant underlying cashmere yield and diameter

Cashmere traits were deployed for fiber yield and quality during the domestication of goats. However, the genetic alterations underlying cashmere trait selection are still unclear. We sequenced 120 Chinese native goats, including 2 cashmere goat breeds and 6 ordinary goat breeds. The genome-wide selective sweep of cashmere goat and ordinary goat revealed a novel set of candidate genes as well as pathways, such as nuclear factor–κB and Wnt signaling pathways. Of them, LHX2, regulating hair follicle development, was evident from the strongest selection signal when comparing the Uhumqin cashmere goat and ordinary goat. Interestingly, we identified a 582-bp deletion at 367 kb upstream of LHX2 with higher frequency in cashmere goats and their ancient relatives. This mutation probably arose along with breeding procedures and is putatively responsible for cashmere production and diameter, as revealed by association studies. Luciferase assay showed that the 582-bp sequence, which acts as an insulator, restrains the expression of LHX2 by interfering with its upstream enhancers. Our findings provide new insights into the genetic formation of cashmere and facilitate subsequent molecular breeding for cashmere goat improvement.

Metabolism, tissue distribution and excretion of taxifolin in rat

The metabolism, tissue distribution and excretion of taxifolin in rat after oral administration of taxifolin encapsulated zein-caseinate Nanoparticles (TZP) were studied. The isomerization of taxifolin in rat small intestine and colon was found. Besides isomers, 16 metabolites of taxifolin were identified in rat feces, plasma and urine by UPLC-QTOF-MS. In colon, taxifolin underwent the metabolism of hydration, dehydration and ring-fission through the gut microflora. The main metabolites of taxifolin found in plasma and urine were its sulfated, glucuronidated, and/or methylated products. The dynamic variation of taxifolin and its metabolites in tissues and urine were quantified by UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS. Taxifolin and its metabolites could be quickly absorbed and distributed in the tissues, and relatively low concentrations were found in the heart and brain. The feces excretion of taxifolin was determined by HPLC. The total excretion during 24 h was 2.83 ± 0.80% to its given does, and the maximum excretion was found during 8-10 h post administration. Compared with feces, the excretion of taxifolin and its metabolites in urine was much faster, and the total excretion was 1.96 ± 0.23% during 12 h.

The natural source, physicochemical properties, biological activities and metabolism of astilbin

Astilbin is a dihydroflavanol found in many plants and processed foods. Astilbin possesses multiple health-beneficial bioactivities and has received great attention. Hence, the natural source, physicochemical properties, biological activities and metabolism of astilbin are summarized in the present article. Engelhardia roxburghiana Wall. and Smilax glabra Roxb. are the main resource for astilbin purification because of high content. Because of chemical instability, astilbin amount in foods is dependent on the processing and storage conditions. The degradation of astilbin includes isomerization and decomposition. The interconversion of astilbin and its isomers occurs through a chalcone intermediates, which significantly affects the taste of wine during storage. Many factors such as temperature, pH, metal ions and food additives could affect the chemical stability of astilbin. Astilbin exhibits very novel selective immunosuppressive activity, which is not found in other compounds. The rhamnose moiety of astilbin is essential for this bioactivity. After digestion, astilbin was mainly absorbed and transported in circulatory blood in its intact form, and only one metabolite, 3'-O-methylastilbin, was found. Although having many bioactivities, astilbin faces the challenge of poor bioavailability. Some promising strategies were developed for improving its bioavailability, particularly through fabrication the zein nanoparticles.

The anti-obesity and gut microbiota modulating effects of taxifolin in C57BL/6J mice fed with a high-fat diet

BACKGROUND

Taxifolin is a natural dihydroflavonol found in many plants and health products. In the present study, its anti-obesity and gut microbiota modulating effects were studied. C57BL/6J mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) supplemented with taxifolin (0, 0.5 and 1 mg mL^-1 , respectively) in drinking water for 15 weeks.

RESULTS

Taxifolin supplementation showed no influence on food and water intake. However, it decreased body weight gain, inhibited fat accumulation, and decreased total cholesterol and triacylglycerol level in mice liver. Taxifolin enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in mice liver, which in turn protected the liver from lipid peroxidation damage. It also improved insulin resistance in obese mice. Metagenomic analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA demonstrated that HFD decreased gut microbiota diversity and caused dysbiosis. However, taxifolin improved the gut microbiota diversity and decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. In particular, it inhibited Proteobacteria from blooming, this being a signature of dysbiosis in gut microbiota.

CONCLUSION

Taxifolin ameliorated the symptoms of obesity, hepatic steatosis, lipid peroxidation, insulin resistance, and gut microbiota dysbiosis in HFD fed C57BL/6J mice. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dihydromyricetin Improves Cognitive Impairments in d-Galactose-Induced Aging Mice through Regulating Oxidative Stress and Inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase

SCOPE

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with phenomena of cognitive impairments. Oxidative stress and cholinergic system dysfunction are two widely studied pathogenesis of AD. Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a natural dihydroflavonol with many bioactivities. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the effects of DMY on cognitive impairment in d-galactose (d-gal) induced aging mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mice are intraperitoneally injected with d-gal for 16 weeks, and DMY is supplemented in drinking water. The results show that DMY significantly improves d-gal-induced cognitive impairments in novel object recognition and Y-maze studies. H&E and TUNEL staining show that DMY could improve histopathological changes and cell apoptosis in mice brain. DMY effectively induces the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and reduces malondialdehyde level in mice brain and liver. Furthermore, DMY reduces cholinergic injury by inhibiting the activity of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in mice brain. In vitro studies show that DMY is a non-competitive inhibitor of AChE with IC50 value of 161.2 µg mL^-1 .

CONCLUSION

DMY alleviates the cognitive impairments in d-gal-induced aging mice partly through regulating oxidative stress and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase.

Processing, digestion property and structure characterization of slowly digestible gorgon nut starch

Slowly digestible gorgon nut starch (GN-SDS) was prepared by heating-cooling treatment (HCT), meanwhile its morphological and structural features were characterized in detail by SEM, DSC, XRD and IR detection. The optimized parameters of GN-SDS processing were as following: starch milk (20%) was heated at 100 °C for 20 min, and then cooled under 4 °C for 24 h. Under the optimized parameters, the SDS content increased from 20.49 to 61.74%. GN-SDS showed typical SDS characteristics in in vivo digestion with a low postprandial blood glucose. SEM images suggested that GN-S particles changed from uniform regular polyhedron with smooth surface to irregular gravel-like particles with coarse surface and obvious layered structure inside after HCT. The results of SEM, DSC, XRD and IR determination indicated that HCT changed the granule morphology, interior structure, gelatinization temperature and crystal type (A to B-type) of GN-S, and therefore made it hard to be digested accordingly.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-021-01007-6.

In vivo and in vitro comparison of three astilbin encapsulated zein nanoparticles with different outer shells

Three shell materials, lecithin (ZNP-L), chitosan (ZNP-CH) and sodium caseinate (ZNP-SC), were used to prepare core-shell zein nanoparticles. Astilbin was encapsulated as a model flavonoid to compare the influence of the shell materials on zein nanoparticles both in vitro and in vivo. The particle size was moderately increased by lecithin and sodium caseinate, but notably increased by chitosan. All the shell materials provided good redispersibility for the nanoparticles and significantly improved the colloidal stability. Chitosan and sodium caseinate significantly delayed and decreased the feces excretion of astilbin in rats, while lecithin exhibited a very weak effect. The results may be attributed to the difference in mucoadhesive properties between the shell materials. As a consequence, the bioavailability values of astilbin in rats were 18.2, 9.3 and 1.89 times increased through ZNP-CH, ZNP-SC and ZNP-L compared with that of free astilbin, respectively.

Pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of Bambusa multiplex cv. Fernleaf leaf extract in vitro and in vivo

Bambusa multiplex cv Fernleaf (B. multiplex) is a species of bamboo. In the present study, B. multiplex leaf extract was prepared through the resin absorption/desorption procedure and analyzed by HPLC. C-Glycosyl flavonoids are the main constituents of B. multiplex extract, and the content of isoorientin and vitexin was 51.8 and 23.1 mg g^-1, respectively. Besides, the extract exhibited inhibitory activities on pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 0.91 and 1.16 mg mL^-1, respectively. The extract could bind to pancreatic lipase and showed mixed-type inhibition. An in vivo study showed that pre-administration of B. multiplex extract significantly reduced the fat absorption in rats and increased fat excretion through feces. The change in the C-glycosyl flavonoid content in feces was the same as that in the triglyceride content. The inhibitory activity of B. multiplex leaf extract on pancreatic lipase was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo.

The N2N3 domains of ClfA, FnbpA and FnbpB in Staphylococcus aureus bind to human complement factor H, and their antibodies enhance the bactericidal capability of human blood

In the complement system, the opsonin C3b binds to the bacterial cell surface and mediates the opsonophagocytosis. However, the cell-wall protein SdrE of Staphylococcus aureus inhibits the C3b activity by recruiting the complement regulatory protein factor H (fH). SdrE binds to fH via its N-terminal N2N3 domain, which are also found in six other staphylococcal cell-wall proteins. In this study, we report that not only the N2N3 domain of SdrE but also those of ClfA, FnbpA and FnbpB can bind to fH. When immobilized on a microplate, the N2N3 domains recruited fH and enhanced the factor I (fI)-mediated cleavage of C3b. When mixed with fH and S. aureus cells, the N2N3 domains inhibited the fH binding to S. aureus cells and reduced the fI-mediated C3b cleavage on the bacterial cell surface. The F(ab)'2 fragments of the rabbit N2N3 antibodies also inhibited the fH binding to the S. aureus cell surface. When added to human blood, the N2N3 antibodies or the N2N3 domain proteins significantly increased the bactericidal activity. Based on these results, we conclude that, in S. aureus, not only SdrE but also ClfA, FnbpA and FnbpB can contribute to the inhibition of C3b-mediated opsonophagocytosis.

Physicochemical properties of dihydromyricetin and the effects of ascorbic acid on its stability and bioavailability

BACKGROUND

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a natural dihydroflavonol with many bioactive effects. However, the physicochemical properties of DMY related to its bioavailability, especially its stability, are unclear.

RESULTS

The effects of pH, temperature, metal ions and ascorbic acid (AA) on the stability of DMY were studied using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The bioavailability of DMY in the presence and absence of AA was compared. Dihydromyricetin was unstable in weak alkaline solutions, and the degradation was significantly accelerated in the presence of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ . The degradation process followed the first-order kinetic model. The degradation rate constant (k) increased with increasing pH and temperature. The remaining DMY was only 49% of its initial concnentration after 4 h in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) at 37 °C. However, by supplementing with AA, the degradation of DMY was rarely occured within 6 h. The solubility of DMY at pH 3-5 was about 750 μg mL^-1 , slightly increasing to 853 μg mL^-1 at pH 6. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that the bioavailability of DMY increased from 0.122% to 0.341% by supplementing with AA (10% of DMY).

CONCLUSION

The degradation of DMY is one reason for its poor bioavailability. The presence of AA could significantly improve the stability of DMY, and further improve its bioavailability in rats. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development of Faraday rotation measurements on Keda Reconnection eXperiment (KRX) device

The Faraday-effect based polarimeter and interferometer are developed for non-perturbation magnetic field and density measurements on the Keda Reconnection eXperiment (KRX) device. The magnetic reconnection is externally driven by a pair of parallel current plates. To design this instrument and provide an alternative way to facilitate theory-experiment comparisons via forward modeling of the diagnostics process with full plasma dynamics given by simulation, we develop a synthetic diagnostics based on 2D photonic integrated circuit simulation for magnetic reconnection on the KRX. The view-line geometry is optimized and wavelengths (1 mm) of the polarimeter and interferometer are selected to ensure the sensitivity of measurement on the KRX. We have simulated magnetic reconnection on the x-line (x-z plane) with horizontal viewing and vertical viewing for line of sight measurements. It is found that the current sheet width and indicator of magnetic reconnection can be inferred directly from the dynamics of Faraday rotation even with the line-integrated character of polarimeter-interferometer diagnostics.

[Application of the Virtual Reality-Pattern Visual Evoked Potential in Forensic Visual Acuity Evaluation]

Abstract

Objective To explore a kind of visual evoked potential test equipment and method that is more suitable for the application of forensic clinical visual acuity evaluation. Methods Thirty-four volunteers （68 eyes） were selected, including 15 males and 19 females, aged between 20 and 40 years. Test lenses were placed before the tested eyes of volunteers to induce refractive myopia with insert method, and the diopter lenses were adjusted so that the visual acuity level of one eye of volunteers was above 0.8, and the visual acuity of the other eye was at moderate damage level （<0.3 and ≥0.1）. The tests were carried out under the binocular simultaneous asynchronous stimulation mode （hereinafter referred to as "binocular mode"） and monocular separate stimulation mode （hereinafter referred to as "monocular mode"） of virtual reality-pattern visual evoked potential （VR-PVEP）, and the amplitude of PVEP of volunteers under the two modes was compared at four spatial frequencies of 8×8, 16×16, 24×24 and 32×32. Results The differences in the amplitude of P100 wave between monocular and binocular modes at 8×8 spatial frequency had no statistical significance and the differences in amplitude of P100 wave between monocular and binocular modes at 16×16, 24×24, and 32×32 spatial frequencies had statistical significance （P<0.05）. The amplitude of the same eye in monocular mode was higher than that in binocular mode. Through correlation analysis, it was found that the amplitude of P100 wave in monocular mode was moderately correlated with amplitude of P100 wave in binocular mode. Conclusion In forensic identification practice, VR-PVEP is helpful for overcoming the disturbance of poor fixation, and to increase the reliability of PVEP evaluation results. It can greatly shorten the detection time of PVEP and improve work efficiency.

[Application value of urinary IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 in acute kidney injury with decompensated hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis]

Objective: To investigate the application value of new urinary biomarkers insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and tissue matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-2 (TIMP-2) in acute kidney injury with decompensated hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis. Methods: 45 newly hospitalized cases with decompensated hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis were selected. Among them, 19 cases were combined with AKI on admission (cirrhosis-AKI group), 26 cases without AKI (cirrhosis-non-AKI group), and 12 healthy cases (normal control group). First-morning urine samples were collected and IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Urinary IGFBP7 and serum creatinine (SCr) were dynamically monitored after hospitalization in cirrhosis-non-AKI group. Normally distributed measurement data were compared by t-test, and non-normally distributed measurement data were compared by rank sum test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the indicators. Results: Urinary IGFBP7, IGFBP7 with TIMP-2 (IGFBP7×TIMP-2) in cirrhosis-AKI group (n = 19) were equally higher than that of the cirrhosis-non-AKI group (P < 0.05). Urinary IGFBP7, TIMP-2 and IGFBP7×TIMP-2 in cirrhosis-AKI group or cirrhosis-non-AKI group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group (P < 0.01). The AUC of urinary IGFBP7 and urinary IGFBP7×TIMP-2 for diagnosis of AKI were 0.703 (95% CI 0.547-0.860) and 0.700 (95% CI 0.541-0.859), respectively. In the liver cirrhosis-non-AKI group (n = 26), 5 cases of AKI were newly diagnosed according to the changes in SCr during hospitalization (progressive group). Urinary IGFBP7 was significantly increased 2 days before the diagnosis of AKI. The concentration of urinary IGFBP7 at admission in the progressive group (n = 5) was higher than that of the non-progressive group (n = 21) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Urinary IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 concentrations were significantly increased in patients with decompensated hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis. When AKI occurred, urinary IGFBP7 and IGFBP7×TIMP-2 was further increased. Urinary IGFBP7 is valuable for early AKI diagnosis, and may play a role in predicting AKI occurrence.

Acidic hydrolysis of astilbin and its application for the preparation of taxifolin from Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae

The acidic hydrolysis of astilbin to produce its aglycone, taxifolin, was investigated in this study. The effects of aq. HCl concentration and temperature on the reaction were studied, and the kinetic parameters were calculated. The results showed that with higher aq. HCl concentration and temperature, the hydrolysis of astilbin became faster. The activation energy of the hydrolysis reaction under 1 mol L−1 aq. HCl was calculated with a value of 148.6 kJ mol−1. The reaction was successfully applied to produce taxifolin from a sample of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae. A simple method for the purification of taxifolin from Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae was developed with purity of 97.5%.

Fabrication and characterization of dihydromyricetin encapsulated zein-caseinate nanoparticles and its bioavailability in rat

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) encapsulated zein-caseinate nanoparticles (DZP) were fabricated by antisolvent method. The encapsulation and loading efficiency of DMY in DZP were 90.2% and 22.6% as determined by HPLC. DZP is spherical with particle size and ζ potential of 206.4 nm and -29.6 mV, respectively. Physicochemical characterization showed that DMY existed in amorphous form in DZP and its interaction with proteins was found. The fabrication of DZP significantly improved the stability of DMY. Besides, the diffusion rate of DMY in DZP was faster than its suspensions in both simulated gastric and intestinal fluid. The adhesion of DMY in mice gastrointestinal tract was also improved. Besides DMY itself, its methylated metabolites with further sulfation and glucuronide were identified in rat plasma by UPLC-QTOF-MS. UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS quantitative analysis showed that the oral bioavailability of DMY was 1.95 times enhanced. Besides, the concentration of DMY metabolites in plasma were all increased.

[Comparison of different critical care scoring systems in prognosis evaluation of heat stroke]

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of different critical care scoring systems in 28-day survival rate of patients with heat stroke. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 71 patients with heat stroke admitted to the department of emergency medicine of Beijing Luhe Hospital. Capital Medical University from July 2015 to September 2018. The general information and the worst values of vital signs and related pathophysiological indicators within 24 hours were collected and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) , multiple organ dysfunction (MODS) , simplified acute physiological scoreⅡ (SAPS Ⅱ) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHE Ⅱ) were calculated. The patients were divided into the survival group (n=45) and the non-survival group (n=26) according to 28-day prognosis, and the clinical data and scores of the two groups were compared.The ROC curve was drawn to analyze the evaluation value of each scoring system on the survival rate of patients at 28-day. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curve of patients. Results: There were no significant differences in age, sex, vital signs and laboratory parameters between two groups (P>0.05) . In non-survival patients, SOFA, SAPS Ⅱ, APACHE Ⅱ scores were significantly elevated in the survival group (P<0.05) . ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of SOFA score for predicting 28-day survival rate was the highest, which was significantly higher than the APACHE Ⅱ, SAPS Ⅱ, MODS score. When the best cut-off value of SOFA score was 9.0, the sensitivity was 84.6%, and the specificity was 71.1%. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that 28-day survival rate after hospital discharge in patients with SOFA score<9 (n=27) was significantly higher than that in patients with SOFA score ≥9.0 (χ(2)=1.0, P<0.01) . Conclusion: SOFA, APACHE Ⅱ, SAPS Ⅱ on admission have been proved to have good prognostic ability to predict 28-day prognosis in heat stroke patients. Among them, SOFA score system has more accurate prediction value.

A Comparison of Solubility, Stability, and Bioavailability between Astilbin and Neoastilbin Isolated from Smilax glabra Rhizoma

Astilbin and neoastilbin are two flavonoid stereoisomers. In the present study, their solubility, stability, and bioavailability were compared in a rat. The results revealed that the water solubility of astilbin and neoastilbin was 132.72 μg/mL and 217.16 μg/mL, respectively. The oil–water distribution coefficient (log P) of astilbin and neoastilbin in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) was 1.57 and 1.39, and in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) was 1.09 and 0.98, respectively. In SIF, about 78.6% astilbin remained after 4 h of incubation at 37 °C, while this value was 88.3% for neoastilbin. Most of the degraded astilbin and neoastilbin were isomerized into their cis-trans-isomer, namely neoisoastilbin and isoastilbin, respectively, and the decomposed parts were rare. For bioavailability comparison in a rat, an HPLC method for trace amounts of astilbin and neoastilbin determination in plasma was developed, and the pretreatment of plasma was optimized. A pharmacokinetic study showed that the absolute bioavailability of astilbin and neoastilbin in a rat showed no significant difference with values of 0.30% and 0.28%, respectively.

[Different anesthesia management in preterm infants undergoing surgeries for retinopathy of prematurity: A retrospective study]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of different anesthesia management on clinical outcomes in former prematurely born infants undergoing surgeries for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, electronic medical record database was searched for all former prematurely born infants (gestational age < 37 weeks and post conceptual age < 60 weeks) who received ROP surgery under inhalational general anesthesia between November 2016 and October 2018. The patients were divided into two groups based on anesthesia management: laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion without intravenous muscle relaxant injection and with pressure support ventilation (LMA group) or airway secured with endotracheal tube (ETT) with intravenous muscle relaxant injection and pressure controlled ventilation (ETT group). Primary outcomes included perioperative adverse events and complications. Extubation time and length of stay after surgery were also recorded.

RESULTS

Sixty eight preterm infants in the LMA group and 100 preterm infants in the ETT group were included. The incidence of adverse events during surgery (including airway management change and desaturation) was similar in LMA group and ETT group (4.4% vs. 1.0%, P =0.364). During the early recovery period after surgery, the incidence of difficult extubation (extubation time >30 min) was significantly lower in LMA group compared with ETT group (4.4% vs.15.0%, RR=0.262, 95%CI:0.073－0.942, P=0.029). The incidence of respiratory events was similar between the two groups (20.6% vs. 27.0%, P =0.342). However, the incidence of apnea was significantly lower in the LMA group than in the ETT group (5.9% vs.19.0%, RR=0.266, 95%CI: 0.086－0.822, P =0.015). No significant difference was observed between the LMA group and ETT group in incidences of cardiovascular events (0% vs. 1.0%, P =1.000) and unplanned admission to neonatal intensive care unit (5.9% vs. 7.0%, P=0.774). No airway spasm, re-intubation, aspiration or regurgitation was observed during early recovery. During late recovery after returning to ward, the incidence of adverse events was also similar between the two groups (0% vs. 2.0%, P =0.241). The median (IQR) extubation time was 6 (5, 10) min in LMA group and 10 (6, 19) min in ETT group (P < 0.001). The median length of stay after surgery was significantly shortened in LMA group compared with ETT group [20 (17, 22) hours vs. 22 (17, 68) hours, P =0.002].

CONCLUSION

Compared with endotracheal intubation with intravenous muscle relaxant injection, laryngeal mask airway insertion without muscle relaxant could achieve an early extubation, and reduce the incidence of apnea during early recovery period in former prematurely born infants undergoing ROP surgery.

[A multicenter clinical analysis of short-term efficacy of laparoscopic radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma at multiple centers in China. Methods: Between December 2015 and August 2019, the clinical data of 143 patients who underwent LRHC in Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Affiliated Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated to Army Medical University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Zhejiang University, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were collected prospectively. There were 92 males and 51 females with age of (64±11) years (range: 53 to 72 years). Bismuth type: type I, 38 cases (26.6%), type Ⅱ, 19 cases (13.3%), type Ⅲa, 15 cases (10.5%), type Ⅲb, 28 cases (19.6%) and type Ⅳ, 43 cases (30.0%). The patients within the first 10 operation cases in each operation time (the first 10 patients in each operation team) were divided into group A (77 cases), and the patients after 10 cases in each operation time were classified as group B (66 cases); the cases with more than 10 cases in the center were further divided into group A(1) (116 cases), and the center with less than 10 cases was set as group A(2) (27 cases). T test or Wilcoxon test was used to compare the measurement data between groups, and the chi square test or Fisher exact probability method was used to compare the counting data between groups. Kaplan Meier curve was used for survival analysis. Results: All patients successfully completed laparoscopic procedure. The mean operation time was (421.3±153.4) minutes (range: 159 to 770 minutes), and the intraoperative blood loss was 100 to 1 500 ml (median was 300 ml) .Recent post-operative complications contained bile leakage, abdominal bleeding, abdominal infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, and delay gastric emptying, pulmonary infection, liver failure, et al.The post-operative hospital stay was (15.9±9.2) days. The operation time in group B was relatively reduced ( (429.5±190.7)minutes vs. (492.3±173.1)minutes, t=2.063, P=0.041) and the blood loss (465 ml vs. 200 ml) was also reduced (Z=2.021, P=0.043) than that in group B. The incidence of postoperative biliary fistula and lung infection in patients in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (χ(2)=4.341, 0.007; P=0.037, 0.047) .Compared with group A(2), the operation time in group A(1) was relatively reduced( (416.3±176.5)minutes vs. (498.1±190.4)minutes, t=2.136, P=0.034) , the incidence of bile leakage and abdominal cavity infection in group A(1) was lower than that in group A(2) (χ(2)=7.537, 3.162; P=0.006, 0.046) . Kaplan Meier survival curve showed that the difference of short-term survival time between group A and group B was statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusions: The completion of laparoscopic hilar cholangiocarcinoma radical surgery is based on improved surgical skills, and proficiency in standardized operation procedures.It is feasible for laparoscopic radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma to well experienced surgeon with cases be strictly screened, but it is not recommended for widespread promotion at this exploratory stage.

[A birth cohort study of the association between prenatal serum bisphenol A concentration and infant neurobehavior development]

Objective: To explore the association between maternal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure during pregnancy and neurobehavioral development in infant. Methods: Participants were from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort, which was established from October 2008 to October 2010 based on four municipal medical and health institutions in Ma'anshan. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was applied for the determination of serum BPA concentration in 1 783 pregnant women sampled at their first filing, and during 2.97 to 28.1 months age of the infants. Neurobehavioral development were assessed by 0-6-year-old pediatric examination table of neuropsychological development. Generalized linear model was used to analyze the association between serum BPA levels during pregnancy and infants' neurobehavioral development. Results: A total of 931 mother-child pairs had complete data on serum BPA detection during pregnancy and assessment of infants' neurobehavioral development status. The age of pregnant women at their first filing was (26.67±3.45) years old, and the M (P₂₅,P₇₅) of serum BPA concentration (ng/ml) was 0.23 (0.11, 0.52), with a detection rate of 84.1% (783/931). The age of infants was (13.18±5.46) months, and 53.5% (498) were boys. The developmental quotient scores of large motor, fine motor, adaptive ability, language ability and social behaviors of infants were (97.88±16.32), (97.16±15.35), (99.64±15.47), (95.3±16.04) and (98.95±14.76) points, respectively. Generalized linear model showed that after adjusting for factors such as delivery mode, feeding mode, family per capita monthly income, preterm delivery, gender, maternal age, residence, pre-pregnancy body mass index and residence time, serum BPA level in pregnancy was negatively associated with infant's development of social behavior [β (95%CI):-2.42 (-4.71, -0.12)]. The post-stratification analysis by infant age revealed that the serum BPA level in pregnancy was only negatively associated with the development of language and social behavior developmental quotient scores in infants between the ages of 12 and 18 months, with β (95%CI) about -6.66 (-13.06, -0.25) and -7.401 (-12.97, -1.83), respectively. Conclusion: BPA exposure during pregnancy affects language and social behavior development in infants, and the detection window is between 12 and 18 months old of the infant.

[Influence factors related epidemics on hantavirus disease]

Hantavirus disease is a globally distributed, natural foci-related infectious disease caused by hantavirus, that maintaining persistent infections in their rodent hosts without apparent disease symptoms but seriously affecting the health safety of human beings. Development of the disease depends on the interaction between virus, rodent host and the individual person. Factors as significant geographical and seasonal variations, certain periodicity and contingency can all be related to the incidence of hantavirus disease. The disease is affected by climate and meteorological,environment, economic and social development, human life style and individual behaviors, etc.. Results from the analysis on main influencing factors and the nature of epidemics provide as with more evidence and information in setting up programs onto timely implementation of related prevention and control measures scientifically. By searching relevant scientific and technological literature, this paper summarizes the factors that affecting the nature of transmission and infection of hantavirus from related perspectives and factors including virus, host, climate and meteorological, meteorology, geographical environment, economic and social factors, etc.. In order to elaborate on the understanding of the epidemics and transmission characteristics of this kind of diseases, this paper provides evidence on prediction, prevention and control measures of hantavirus disease.

[Focus on mental disorders induced by electrical burns]

Electrical burn is a special type of injury with complex injury mechanism, which is one of the difficult issues in the treatment of burn injuries. It not only seriously damages the tissue and organs of body, but also significantly affects the mental health of patients. Many patients with electrical burn simultaneously suffer physical and mental agonies causing increased difficulty in treatment and prolonging the time of recovery. Some of them may experience loss of ability to work or even death due to the mental disorders, despite successful patch-up of their physical injuries. Therefore in treating electrical burn, the psychotherapy and rehabilitation of patients should be closely monitored in addition to the reconstruction of their physical damage.

Actin-related protein Arp4 regulates euchromatic gene expression and development through H2A.Z deposition in blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum

BACKGROUND

Malaria caused by Plasmodium spp. is still a major threat to public health globally. The various approaches to developing new antimalarial agents rely on the understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms of dynamic gene expression in the life-cycle of these malaria parasites. The nuclear members of the evolutionarily conserved actin-related protein nuclear (ARP) superfamily are the major components of nucleosome remodelling complexes. In the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, bioinformatics analysis has predicted three ARP orthologues: PfArp1, PfArp4 and PfArp6. However, little is known about the biological functions of putative PfArp4. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function and the underlying mechanisms of PfArp4 gene regulation.

METHODS

A conditional gene knockdown approach was adopted by incorporating the glucosamine-inducible glmS ribozyme sequence into the 3' UTR of the PfArp4 and PfArp6 genes. The transgenic parasites PfArp4-Ty1-Ribo, PfArp6-Ty1-Ribo and pL6-PfArp4-Ty1::PfArp6-HA were generated by the CRISPR-Cas9 technique. The knockdown effect in the transgenic parasite was measured by growth curve assay and western blot (WB) analysis. The direct interaction between PfArp4 and PfArp6 was validated by co-IFA and co-IP assays. The euchromatic gene expression mediated through H2A.Z (histone H2A variant) deposition and H3K9ac modification at promoters and regulated by PfArp4, was determined by RNA-seq and ChIP-seq.

RESULTS

The inducible knockdown of PfArp4 inhibited blood-stage development of P. falciparum. PfArp4 and PfArp6 were colocalized in the nucleus of P. falciparum parasites. PfArp4 gene knockdown altered the global transcriptome. PfArp4 protein colocalized with the histone variant H2A.Z and euchromatic marker H3K9ac in intergenic regions. The inducible downregulation of PfArp4 resulted in the depletion of H2A.Z and lower H3K9ac levels at the upstream regions of eukaryotic genes, thereby repressing the transcriptional abundance of H2A.Z-dependent genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that PfArp4 regulates the cell cycle by controlling H2A.Z deposition and affecting centromere function, contributing to the understanding the complex epigenetic regulation of gene expression and the development of P. falciparum.

Identification of immunological subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma with expression profiling of immune-modulating genes

Recent studies demonstrate that immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has achieved success in many types of advanced cancers including advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, ICI therapy is beneficial in only some HCC patients, suggesting that immune-responses are highly variable in HCCs. Therefore, understanding the immune status in HCC microenvironment will facilitate ICI immunotherapy and guide patient selection for the therapy. In this study, we first analyzed the expression profile of immune-modulating genes and their relationship with survival of HCC patients using the data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas - Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) database, and found that the higher expressions of CD276 (B7-H3) and CD47 were significantly associated with poor survival. Then we identified 4 immune subtypes of HCCs with different survivals by using the combination expression of B7-H3 (or CD47) and CD8. Patients with B7-H3^low/CD8^high or CD47^low/CD8^high have the best survival while ones with B7-H3^high/CD8^low or CD47^high/CD8^low have the worst survival. The 4 immune subtypes were validated in another 72 HCC patients obtained from South China. In conclusion, our findings suggest that HCC patient prognosis is associated with immunophenotypes by T cell infiltration (CD8 expression) and the expression of the adaptive immune resistance gene (B7-H3 or CD47), and this immune classification system will facilitate HCC patient selection for ICI immunotherapy.

Population Structure and Genetic Diversity of Fungi Causing Rice Seedling Blight in Northeast China Based on Microsatellite Markers

Rice seedling blight, which is caused by diverse pathogenic microorganisms, occurs worldwide and is the most important seedling disease affecting rice production in Northeast China. To further characterize the population structure and genetic diversity of the fungi responsible for rice seedling blight in Northeast China, 225 fungal strains were isolated from diseased rice seedlings collected from various rice-producing areas. The isolated strains included Fusarium oxysporum (48.0%), F. verticillioides (11.6%), F. tricinctum (8.0%), F. redolens (6.7%), F. equiseti (6.2%), F. solani (6.2%), Rhizoctonia solani (6.7%), Alternaria alternata (4.0%), and Curvularia coatesiae (2.7%). F. oxysporum was the dominant fungal species causing rice seedling blight, with most isolates exhibiting moderate pathogenicity. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first study to identify A. alternata and C. coatesiae as causal agents of rice seedling blight in Northeast China. None of the F. oxysporum isolates were sensitive to 10 μg/ml of carbendazim, implying that carbendazim is ineffective for controlling rice seedling blight in Northeast China. The F. oxysporum isolates were divided into nine groups based on a simple sequence repeat analysis involving 14 primer pairs. In addition, an analysis of molecular variance revealed a significant correlation between the F. oxysporum population and geographical location, which had a significant effect on the differentiation of the dominant isolate population. The results of this study provide insights into the genetic diversity of F. oxysporum strains causing rice seedling blight and may be useful for selecting isolates to screen for disease-resistant rice varieties, evaluating fungicide efficacy, and developing effective disease management strategies.

Correction: Enantioselective iridium catalyzed α-alkylation of azlactones by a tandem asymmetric allylic alkylation/aza-Cope rearrangement

Correction for 'Enantioselective iridium catalyzed α-alkylation of azlactones by a tandem asymmetric allylic alkylation/aza-Cope rearrangement' by Xue-Dan Bai et al., Chem. Commun., 2019, 55, 5547-5550.

[The scheme of diagnosis and treatment on metastatic cervical carcinomas from an unknown primary]

SummaryMetastatic cervical carcinomas from unknown primary（MCCUP） are a group of metastatic carcinomas of cervical lymph nodes which could not be managed to find their origins. The diagnosis of MCCUP includes pathological diagnosis of metastatic cervical carcinomas, search of the primary cancer, the stage of（T₀） NM. For unknown primary, there are some uncertainties of treatment on MCCUP. The methods of diagnosis and treatment on MCCUP should be renewed with the development of clinical medicine.

Population structure and genetic diversity of Setosphaeria turcica from corn in Heilongjiang province, China

AIM

The aims of this study were to identify races and mating types of Setosphaeria turcica causing northern corn leaf blight in Heilongjiang province of China and analyse the genetic diversity of S. turcica isolates using SSR markers.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Based on gene-for-gene interactions, 13 races of S. turcica (races 0, 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 23, 123, N, 1N, 12N, 3N and 23N) were isolated from infected corn plants in Heilongjiang province. Races 0 and 1 were the predominant races, and race 23N was identified for the first time in the region. Using two pairs of specific primers, three mating types, 'a', 'Aa' and 'A', were identified, with 'a' being the predominant mating type. SSR markers were used to analyse genetic diversity of 60 S. turcica isolates. Five SSR primers were polymorphic, which resulted in 45 reproducible bands with 2-15 bands for each primer. Cluster analysis separated the isolates into five groups at a similarity coefficient of 0·84. Analysis of molecular variance showed that there was significant correlation between SSR groups and mating type of the isolates. No significant correlation was found between SSR groups and physiological races or geographical location of the isolates.

CONCLUSIONS

The work reported that races 0 and 1 were the predominant races, and race 23N was identified for the first time in Heilongjiang province with 'a' being the predominant mating type. There was significant correlation between SSR groups and mating type of S. turcica isolates.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Our results provide information on population structure and genetic diversity of S. turcica causing Northern corn leaf blight, which will facilitate the development of effective disease management programs.

[Changes in natural killer cell subsets marked with CD27 and CD11b for HBV carrier mice]

Objective: To evaluate the changes in natural killer cell subsets marked with CD27 and CD11b for HBV carrier mice. Methods: The pAAV-HBVl.2 plasmid was injected into the tail vein of C57BL/6 mice by hydrodynamic injection method to construct HBV-carrier model group and empty vector as the control group. Liver function and virological examination at different time points were used to judge the construction of HBV- plasmid carrier animal model. Flow cytometry was used to detect the frequency of NK cells and CD11b combined with CD27 NK cell subsets in spleen and liver. GraphPad Prism software was used for statistical analysis. Results: HBV-carrier mouse model was successfully constructed. There were no statistically significant difference in NK cell frequencies between spleen and liver of HBV carrier mice (P> 0.05), compared to control group. NK cells were divided into four subsets with in combination to CD27 and CD11b: CD11b(+)CD27(-)(CD11b(+)SP), CD11b(+)CD27(+)(DP), CD11b(-)CD27(+)(CD27(+)SP) and CD11b-CD27-(DN). Furthermore, the spleen of HBV-carrier mice had no statistically significant difference (P> 0.05) with the frequency of the four NK-cell subsets. The frequency of DN NK cell subsets was significantly increased in the liver of HBV carrier mice than control group (P< 0.001); however, the frequency of CD11b(+)SP cell subsets was significantly decreased (P < 0.05).There were no statistical significance in the frequency comparison between NK subgroups of DP and CD27(+)SP NK cell subsets (P> 0.05). Conclusion: HBV-carrier mice with abnormal distribution of hepatic NK cell subsets significantly increased and decreased the frequency of DN NK cell subsets and CD11b(+)SP cell subsets.

Chemical profile and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of Sinobambusa tootsik (Sieb.) Makino leaves

Background

Sinobambusa tootsik (Sieb.) Makino (S. tootsik) is one species of bamboo distributed in China, Japan and Vietnam. The chemical profile of its leaves and its potential application was unknown yet.

Methods

The chemical profile of S. tootsik was studied by HPLC and UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS. The S. tootsik extract was prepared by extraction with 50% aqueous ethanol, followed by H103 macroporous resins adsorption and desorption processes. Pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity was determined using p-nitrophenyl palmitate as the substance, which was hydrolyzed by lipase to form coloured p-nitrophenol.

Results

Eighteen compounds were identified in S. tootsik. Most of them were the C-glycosylated derivatives of luteolin and apigenin, such as isoorientin, isoorientin-2″-O-rhamnoside and isovitexin. Isoorientin-2″-O-rhamnoside was the most dominant flavonoid in the sample. S. tootsik extract was prepared through resin adsorption/desorption with yield of 1.12 ± 015% and total flavonoids content of 82 ± 2 mg/g (in term of isoorientin). The extract exhibited pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 0.93 mg/mL.

Conclusion

The chemical profile of S. tootsik leaves was uncovered for the first time. C-glycosyl flavonoids were the main constituents in the plant. The extract exhibited pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity and may have potential for use as a food supplement for controlling obesity.

Metabolism, Excretion, and Tissue Distribution of Astilbin-Zein Nanoparticles in Rats

The excretion, tissue distribution, and metabolic profile of astilbin in rat were studied by HPLC and UPLC-QTOF-MS. Astilbin underwent isomerization in the small intestine, and its four isomers were found in feces. Besides, taxifolin, the aglycone of astilbin, and its further metabolites by gut microbes through hydrogenation, dehydration, and ring-fission were found. The total feces excretion of astilbin was about 14.4% of administration. The forming of zein-caseinate nanoparticles can significantly delay and reduce the feces excretion of astilbin. Astilbin and its isomers were absorbed in their intact form. The main metabolites found in plasma and tissues were the methylated products. Astilbin was rapidly distributed in various tissues including brain and maintained relatively high concentration in heart. Compared with other tissues, significantly higher concentration and longer duration of astilbin were found in the gastrointestinal tract. Astilbin and its isomers were excreted in their intact and methylated form in urine.

Bioavailability Enhancement of Astilbin in Rats through Zein-Caseinate Nanoparticles

Astilbin-encapsulated zein-caseinate nanoparticles were fabricated through the antisolvent method. The encapsulation and loading efficiency of astilbin in the nanoparticles were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The nanoparticles were characterized by particle size, ζ potential, redispersibility, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Under the optimal formulation of astilbin, zein, and sodium caseinate with a mass ratio of 1:1:2, the size and ζ potential of the nanoparticles were 152.9 nm and -40.43 mV, respectively, while the encapsulation and loading efficiency of astilbin were 80.1 and 21.8%, respectively. The nanoparticles had good redispersibility in water without a particle size change after freeze drying. The nanoparticles showed a spherical shape with a smooth surface. XRD and DSC analyses showed that astilbin existed in amorphous form in the nanoparticles. The interactions between astilbin and the protein were found, and astilbin was encapsulated in nanoparticles rather than adsorbed. The diffusion of astilbin from nanoparticles was significantly faster than that of astilbin suspensions in both simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Astilbin was relatively stable in simulated intestinal fluids, and the encapsulation in the nanoparticles showed a slight stability improvement effect. A pharmacokinetic study showed that the absolute bioavailability of astilbin was improved from 0.32 to 4.40% in rats through nanoparticle fabrication.

[The relationship of maternal and umbilical cord blood zinc level associated with newborn birth weight: a birth cohort study]

Objective: To study serum zinc level in pregnancy and umbilical cord blood and their association with newborn birth weight. Methods: Pregnant women accepting obstetric examination in Ma'anshan Maternal and Child Care Center were recruited from May 2013 to September 2014. The follow up was conducted during their first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy and the self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information of social and demographic characteristics. Blood samples in the first, second pregnancy period and umbilical cord blood samples were collected and serum concentrations of zinc were assayed. 3 239 mother-infant entered the final analysis. We divided serum zinc level into low (<P(25)), medium (P(25)-P(75)) and high (>P(75)) groups according to their exposure concentrations at each trimesters. Non-conditional multivariate logistic regression model was conducted to evaluate the association between serum zinc level in first, second trimesters of pregnancy and umbilical cord blood with small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA). Results: Serum zinc level in P(50) (P(25)-P(75)) during the first, second trimesters and cord blood were 1 016.18 (907.09-1 145.60), 813.36 (732.47-897.89) and 903.44 (808.71-1 015.64) μg/L, respectively. The prevalence of zinc deficiency during the first, second trimesters and cord blood were 1.5% (44/2 957), 15.9% (492/3 087) and 6.5% (176/2 707), respectively. The prevalence of total SGA and LGA were 9.7% (313/3 239) and 16.5% (536/3 239), respectively. Compared to high-level serum zinc group, the risk of SGA (OR (95%CI) in low-level serum zinc group during first trimesters was 1.51 (1.05-2.19)). Serum zinc level among second pregnancy period and umbilical cord blood had no statistically significant effect on SGA and LGA (both P values >0.05). Conclusion: Zinc nutritional status of pregnant women in Ma'anshan city was at a good level. The low serum zinc level in first trimester increased the risk of SGA.

[Reduced frequency of natural killer cell on siglec-7(+) is associated with progression of hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis]

Objective: To explore the relationship between sialic-acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 7 (Siglec-7) expressed on NK cells and hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis. Methods: Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 23 healthy controls and 31 patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A, n = 7; Child-Pugh B, n = 12; Child-Pugh C, n = 12). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained by using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation and the expression of Siglec-7 and NK cells phenotype and their subpopulations were detected by flow cytometry. Comparisons between various groups were performed using t -test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and correlations between variables were analyzed using Pearson's-correlation coefficient. Results: (1) There was no significant difference in the percentage of NK cells and in their subpopulations with HBV-related cirrhosis and healthy controls. (2) Siglec-7 expression on NK cells in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis(62.44±13.45%)was significantly down-regulated than that to healthy controls(75.39±12.19%)while the frequency of Siglec-7(+) NK cells were negatively correlated with Child-Pugh score. (3) Subpopulation analysis showed that Siglec-7 expression on CD56(bright)CD16(-)NK cells(66.99±15.93%)was significantly lower than CD56(dim)CD16(+)NK cells(76.54±13.9%) in HBV-related cirrhosis. However, the expression of Siglec-7 in healthy controls showed no difference in these two NK cell subsets. (4) Phenotypic analysis showed that Siglec-7(+) NK cells express higher levels of activating receptor CD16, CD38, NKp46 and lower levels of inhibitory receptor CD158b. Indeed, the frequency of CD16 and CD38 on Siglec-7(+) NK cells in HBV-related cirrhosis was lower than that in healthy controls. Conclusion: The disease progression in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis is associated to decreased frequencies of Siglec-7(+)NK cells.

[Potential application of sofosbuvir-based treatment for chronic hepatitis C in China]

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has a prevalence rate of 0.43% in China and approximately 10 million chronically infected people are in urgent need of treatment. Since the beginning of 2013, pan-genotypic sofosbuvir (SOF) with its potent antiviral activity, minimal drug resistance, less drug-drug interactions and good safety has created a new era in HCV treatment. Its combination with ribavirin, in single tablet regimen with either ledipasvir or velpatasvir has been widely used in about 1.6 million patients worldwide. Furthermore, SOF-based therapy is proven to be effective and safe in serious or terminal illness such as decompensated cirrhosis, liver or kidney transplantation, HIV or HBV co-infections, bleeding disorders, intravenous drug users, adolescents, and elderly. Therefore, SOF-based regimens would fill the unmet medical needs of our patients with HCV.

Identification and quantification of main flavonoids in the leaves of Bambusa multiplex cv. Fernleaf

The chemical profile of Bambusa multiplex cv. Fernleaf (B. multiplex) leaves was analysed by UPLC-DAD-Q-TOF-MS. Twelve compounds were identified and C-glycosyl flavonoids, including vitexin, isovitexin, isoorientin and its derivatives, are the main constitutes of the plant. Besides, a HPLC method for isoorientin quantification was developed. The RSD of retention time and peak area were 0.05% and 2.04% for six times analysis of isoorientin with concentration of 20 μg/mL. The recovery of isoorientin in real sample was 99.2%. The general trend of isoorientin content in B. multiplex leaves was that it steady increased from Jan. to May, and then quickly decreased. The maximum was found on May with value of 4.7 mg/g. The lowest level of isoorientin was found during Aug. to Nov. with value of about 1.66 mg/g. In different seasons, isoorientin is always the most dominant flavonoid which was accounted for about 50% of total flavonoids in the sample.