Preparation, structural characteristics and antioxidant activity of polysaccharide and its metal chelates from the peel of Dioscorea oppositifolia L.

Two metal chelates of Dioscorea oppositifolia L. peel polysaccharides (DTP) were prepared: iron chelate (DTP-Fe) and zinc chelate (DTP-Zn). The physicochemical properties of the polysaccharide and its metal chelates were assessed by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH, ABTS + and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. According to ICP-MS, the iron content of DTP-Fe was 9.47%, while the zinc content of DTP-Zn was 4.02%. The antioxidant capacity of DTP-Fe increased with the increase of concentration, and its overall activity was higher than that of DTP and DTP-Zn. This polysaccharide-iron chelate can be developed and utilised as an antioxidant and multifunctional iron supplement. DTP-Zn showed the potential to be a natural antioxidant and zinc supplement food.

Angioplasty for Supra-Aortic Arterial Lesions from Takayasu Arteritis: Efficacy of Cutting Balloon Angioplasty Versus Conventional Balloon Angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cutting balloon angioplasty and conventional balloon angioplasty in supra-aortic arterial lesions caused by Takayasu arteritis. METHODS: A total of 46 patients with supra-aortic arterial lesions between January 2011 and December 2018 were included. Cutting balloon angioplasty was applied for 17 patients with 24 supra-aortic arterial lesions (group A), while 29 patients with 36 supra-aortic arterial lesions received conventional balloon angioplasty (group B). The preoperative clinical manifestation, operation result, and postoperative outcomes were recorded and compared in the 2 groups. RESULTS: Dizziness, visual disturbance, and unequal/absent pulses were the most common manifestations. The technical success of revascularization was 93.5% (43/46) in patients and 93.3% (56/60) in lesions. The stent implantation rate in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (4.2% vs. 50% in lesions, P < 0.05). Restenosis was the most common complication in both groups. Although the early (≤30 days) and late (>30 days) complications in group A were less than those in group B, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Moreover, the primary-assisted patency of cutting balloon angioplasty and conventional balloon angioplasty at 1, 2, and 5 years were 66.7%, 62.5%, and 62.5% and 61.1%, 58.2%, and 49.8%, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P > 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional balloon angioplasty, cutting balloon angioplasty could be considered a safe and effective alternative for supra-aortic arterial lesions caused by Takayasu arteritis, demonstrating better patency and clinical benefit.

Structure and Bioactivities of a Novel Polysaccharide Extracted From Dendrobium huoshanense by Subcritical Water.

In this study, the polysaccharide was extracted by subcritical water from Dendrobium huoshanense. A novel polysaccharide (DHPs-1) was obtained through several purification steps and its structure and bioactivity were investigated. Structural analysis indicated that the weight-average molecular weight of DHPs-1 was 5.0 × 104 Da and it was mainly composed of glucose (65.04%), mannose (14.23%), galactose (8.17%), galacturonic acid (6.41%), rhamnose (2.34%), and xylose (1.25%). 1,4-Glcp, and 1,4,6-Galp were existed in the backbone of DHPs-1. The residues of 1,3,4-Galp, 1,4-Manp, 1,4-Galp, and 1,3,4,6-Galp could be in the backbone or the side chains with the non-reducing terminal of α-Manp. Bioactivity tests indicated that DHPs-1 had immunomodulatory activity in that it significantly enhanced transcript levels of cytokines [Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and Interleukin-10 (IL-10)]. DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging tests showed that it had good antioxidant activity. These results reveal that DHPs-1 could be developed as a safe immunomodulatory agent and antioxidant for pharmacological or functional food applications.

Keratinase improves the growth performance, meat quality and redox status of broiler chickens fed a diet containing feather meal.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of keratinase on the production of broilers fed a diet containing feather meal. A total of 162 1-d-old Cobb 500 male broiler (n = 9 cages/diet with 6 chicks/cage) were randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments. The broilers were fed a corn-soybean-feather meal based diet (BD), or BD supplemented with keratinase at 100,000 or 200,000 U/kg for 6 weeks. Compared to the control, dietary supplementation with 200,000 U/kg keratinase increased (P < 0.05) body weight gain (3.6-4.3%) and reduced feed conversion ratio (2.4-5.6%) during the various experimental periods, and also improved (P < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility of ash and calcium by 45.0% and 8.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, dietary supplementation of keratinase at 100,000 U/kg reduced (P < 0.05) the drip loss (29.2%), while 200,000 U/kg keratinase supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the pH value (1.6%) at 45 min and decreased (P < 0.05) the lightness (L* value; 13.6%) and drip loss (22.1%) of pectoral muscle. Moreover, dietary supplementation of keratinase at both levels of 100,000 and 200,000 U/kg increased (P < 0.05) Glutathione peroxidase activity (82.5-87.5%) and decreased the Malondialdehyde concentration (14.5-18.3%) in the pectoral muscle. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of keratinase at 200,000 U/kg can improve the performance, meat quality, apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, and redox status of broiler chickens fed a diet containing feather meal.

Study on dynamic learning-enabled electrocardiogram for evaluating the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:Rapid assessment of the outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is an important clinical issue. In this study, an electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis method based on dynamic learning was proposed.Methods:A total of 203 patients with ACS after successful PCI were enrolled for prospective analysis at the Emergency Department of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from April 2019 to December 2020. All patients were divided into group without ≥70% postoperative stenosis ( n=72) and group with ≥ 70% postoperative stenosis ( n=131) according to the presence of 70% or more stenosis after PCI. The clinical data of ACS patients were collected and analyzed by χ2 test, t-test, or Mann-Whitney test. ECGs were recorded before and 2 h after PCI, and were dynamically analyzed to generate cardiodynamicsgram (CDG) using dynamic learning. In the group without ≥ 70% postoperative stenosis, the model and CDG index for evaluating myocardial ischemia were obtained by training support vector machine (SVM) using 10 times 10-fold cross-validation. Results:There was no significant difference in clinical data between the two groups. The prediction accuracy and sensitivity of the support vector machine model for myocardial ischemia in group without≥70% postoperative stenosis were 73.61%, and 84.72% respectively. CDG transformed from disorderly to regular after PCI, and CDG index decreased significantly ( P<0.001): 90.28% (65) patients in group without≥70% postoperative stenosis, and 79.39% (104) patients in group with≥70% postoperative stenosis had lower CDG indexes than before PCI. Conclusions:In this study, CDG obtained by dynamic learning can intuitively and effectively evaluate the changes of myocardial ischemia before and after PCI, which is helpful to assist clinicians to formulate the next treatment plan.

Assessment of Prognostic Factors of Racial Disparities in Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Survival in the United States (1992-2015) / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Objective@#Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are the most common cancer among men aged 15 to 39 years. Previous studies have considered factors related to TGCT survival rate and race/ethnicity, but histological type of the diagnosed cancer has not yet been thoroughly assessed.@*Methods@#The data came from 42,854 eligible patients from 1992 to 2015 in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results 18. Frequencies and column percent by seminoma and nonseminoma subtypes were determined for each covariates. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to assess the impact of multiple factors on post-diagnostic mortality of TGCT.@*Results@#Black males were diagnosed at a later stage, more commonly with local or distant metastases. The incidence of TGCT in black non-seminoma tumors increased most significantly. The difference in survival rates between different ethnic and histological subtypes, overall survival (OS) in patients with non-seminoma was significantly worse than in patients with seminoma. The most important quantitative predictor of death was the stage at the time of diagnosis, and older diagnostic age is also important factor affecting mortality.@*Conclusion@#Histological type of testicular germ cell tumor is an important factor in determining the prognosis of testicular cancer in males of different ethnic groups.

Effect of microRNA125a on macrophage polarization during myocardial ischemia reperfusion / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the expression of microRNA125a in infiltrating macrophages during myocardial ischemia reperfusion, and to analyze the effect of microRNA125a on the polarization of infiltrating macrophages during myocardial ischemia reperfusion.Methods:The rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion was established. Myocardial injury tissues were taken, infiltrated macrophages were isolated, and RNA was extracted. qRT-PCR was used to detect M1 and M2 markers in macrophages and evaluate the types of infiltrated macrophages. Subsequently the expression level of microRNA125a in infiltrating macrophages was detected. Finally, the effect of microRNA125a on macrophage polarization was further elucidated.Results:Macrophages in myocardium of ischemia reperfusion showed high expression of M1 markers (TNF-alpha and IL-8), presenting M1 macrophages. At the same time, microRNA125a was also highly expressed in this macrophage. Knockdown or overexpression of microRNA125a in macrophages in vitro can affect the macrophages polarization.Conclusions:Macrophages in myocardial ischemia reperfusion are M1 type, and microRNA125a is highly expressed in this macrophage and promotes its migration to M1 type.

Research progresses of ultrasonic pressure strain loops technique in evaluation of myocardial work / 中国医学影像技术

Based on 2D speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI), myocardium layer-specific strain can be used for quantitative assessment of myocardial function, but is load dependent. Added after-load (blood pressure) measurement to myocardium layer-specific strain, pressure strain loops (PSL) technique can effectively restrict load dependence and quantitatively analyze the work of whole and segmental myocardium. The research progresses of PSL in evaluation of myocardial work were reviewed in this article.

Copy Number Aberrations of Multiple Genes Identified as Prognostic Markers for Extrahepatic Metastasis-free Survival of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Extrahepatic metastasis confers unfavorable patient prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, reliable markers allowing prediction of extrahepatic metastasis at the time of initial diagnosis are still lacking. This study was to identify gene-level copy number aberrations (CNAs) related to extrahepatic metastasis-free survival of HCC patients, and further examine the associations between CNAs and gene expression. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and expression array were used to analyze gene CNAs and expression levels, respectively. The associations between CNAs of a panel of 20 genes and extrahepatic metastasis-free survival were analyzed in 66 patients with follow-up period of 1.6-90.5 months. The gene expression levels between HCCs with and without gene CNA were compared in 109 patients with HCC. We observed that gains at MDM4 and BCL2L1, and losses at APC and FBXW7 were independent prognostic markers for extrahepatic metastasis-free survival of HCC patients. Integration analysis of aCGH and expression data showed that MDM4 and BCL2L1 were significantly upregulated in HCCs with gene gain, while APC and FBXW7 were significantly downregulated in HCCs with gene loss. We concluded that gene gains at MDM4 and BCL2L1, and losses at APC and FBXW7, with concordant expression changes, were associated with extrahepatic metastasis-free survival of HCC patients and have potential to act as novel prognostic markers.

Physicochemical properties and bioactivities of original and Se-enriched polysaccharides with different molecular weights extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus.

Three polysaccharides (WZP1, WZP2, WZP3) and their Se-enriched products (SeWZP1, SeWZP2 and SeWZP3) were obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus using a simple, rapid method and HNO3-Na2SeO3 method, respectively. The molecular weight distribution profiles of all samples except SeWZP2 showed double peaks. The average molecular weights (Mw) of WZP1-3 were 48.6 kDa, 20.2 kDa and 11.8 kDa, respectively, and of SeWZP1-3 were 19.6 kDa, 37.7 kDa, 14.5 kDa, respectively. The complexity of monosaccharide composition of WZP1-3 was inversely proportional to the ethanol concentration used in the ethanol precipitation process. Additionally, the results of biological activity tests indicated that α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of WZP1-3 was related to the molecular weight and the monosaccharide composition complexity. The selenized modification can improve the α-glucosidase-inhibiting, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity of P. ostreatus polysaccharides. Therefore, by improving their bioactivities by selenization, the polysaccharides of P. ostreatus could be utilized as a natural health food supplement.

Sirt6-induced autophagy restricted TREM-1-mediated pyroptosis in ox-LDL-treated endothelial cells: relevance to prognostication of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Inflammation mediated by myeloid cells trigger receptors 1 (TREM-1) is important for atherosclerosis development, while sirtuin 6 (Sirt6) levels decrease in atheroscleoritc plaque. Here we demonstrate that oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-treated endothelial cells (ECs) exhibited increased TREM-1-mediated pyroptosis and decreased Sirt6-induced autophagy. We show that high sTREM-1 and low sSirt6 levels were independent predictors of boosted endothelial microparticles (EMPs) on admission, and were associated with increased risk for all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at median 24 months (interquartile range, 18-26) follow-up in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Additionally, blockage of Sirt6-induced autophagy led to augmented TREM-1-mediated pyroptosis, whereas Sirt6 overexpression attenuated ECs inflammation and pyroptosis following ox-LDL treatment. Our findings indicate that TREM-1 and in a reversed trend Sirt6 appeared to be markers of endothelial inflammation with potential for use in risk stratification.

Chinese quince seed gum: Flow behaviour, thixotropy and viscoelasticity.

Characterization of the rheological properties of Chinese quince seed gum (CQSG) is fundamental when using it in food production. In the present paper, the chemical compositions and the rheological properties of CQSG at different concentrations, types of salts, temperatures and pH values were characterized by using shear or dynamic rheological experiments. The results demonstrated that uronic acid content of CQSG (31.7%) was high and different concentration CQSG solutions presented Newtonian plateaus followed by shear thinning regions. The viscosities of the gum solutions decreased with the addition of any salt, with increase in temperature and at extreme pH values (3 and 11). The stress and frequency sweep tests demonstrated a unique result in that the crossover frequency shifted to a higher value when the CQSG solution concentration increased. It is the basis for CQSG product development and quality control for its potential applications.

Prenylated Indole Diterpene Alkaloids from a Mine-Soil-Derived Tolypocladium sp.

Ten new prenylated indole diterpene alkaloids, tolypocladin A-J (1-10), including four chlorinated metabolites, have been isolated from a culture of a mine-soil-derived fungus, Tolypocladium sp. XL115. The structures and absolute configurations of 1-10 were determined by spectroscopic analysis, ECD calculations, and comparison with known compounds. Compounds 1 and 8 displayed significant antimicrobial activities. In addition, compound 1 also showed weak cytotoxic activity against all tested human cancer cell lines and suppressed the growth and viability of the patient-derived HCC cells T1224.

Effect of early bundle therapy on prognosis of patients with sepsis and septic shock / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To observe the effect of early bundle therapy on prognosis of patients with sepsis/septic shock and analyze the risk factors for death.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted to select patients with sepsis/septic shock at the Second Soochow University Hospital betweenJanuary 1,2016,and December 31,2016.Data pertaining to demographic variables,compliance rate of bundle therapy,and incidence of organ failure were collected.Patients were categorized into the nonsurvivor or survivor groups based on 28-day mortality.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for 28-day mortality.Results Totally 118 sepsis/septic shock patients were included in the analysis;28-day mortality was 32.2％.Compared to the survivor group,patients in the non-survivor group were more likely to have chronic heart dysfunction and cerebrovascular disease,lower lactate clearance,lower 6-h compliance rate of bundle therapy and higher incidence of failure of one or ＞2 organs.Age,leukocyte,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine,brain natriuretic peptide,sequential organ failure score and acute physiological and chronic health scores Ⅱ on admission,and lactate after bundle therapy were higher than that of the survivor group.Logistical regression analysis showed that age ≥ 75 years [odds ratio (OR)1.012],6-h lactate clearance ＜30％ (OR=1.122),chronic heart failure (OR=1.741),failure of ＞2 organs (OR=1.769),and 6-h compliance rate of bundle therapy (OR=1.958) were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality.Conclusions Patients with sepsis/septic shock need early diagnosis and resuscitation to improve the compliance rate of bundle therapy and reduce the mortality.

Chemical constituents from the fruit bodies of Daedalea dickinsii / 中成药

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the fruit bodies of Daedalea dickinsii (Berk.) Yasuda.METHODS The methanol extract from the fruit bodies of D.dickinsii was isolated and purified by silica,Sephadex LH-20 and HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Six compounds were isolated and identified as (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol (1),(22E,24R)-5α,8α-epoxyergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (2),stellasterol (3),6-methoxycer-evisterol (4),16-acetylpolyporenic acid C (5),and 3 α-carboxyacetoxy-24-methylene-23-oxolanost-8,24 (31)-dien-26-oic acid (6).CONCLUSION Compounds 1-4,6 are isolated from this fungus for the first time.

Effect of Heat-sensitive Point Moxibustion on High-normal Blood Pressure in Persons with Yin or Yang Deficiency / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of heat-sensitive point moxibustion on high-normal blood pressure in persons with yin or yang deficiency.Methods Eighty-six persons with high-normal blood pressure were randomized to a treatment group (42 cases, 20 with yin deficiency and 22 with yang deficiency) and a control group (44 cases, 19 with yin deficiency and 25 with yang deficiency). The control group received health education and diet guidance and the treatment group, heat-sensitive point moxibustion in addition. Both groups were followed up twice a week with blood pressure measured. The clinical therapeutic effects, hypertension diagnosis rates and neutral constitution transformation percentages were compared between the two groups of persons with different constitutions after one month of treatment.Results The total efficacy rate was 90.0％ in persons with yin deficiency and 100％ in persons with yang deficiency of the treatment group and correspondingly 78.9％ and 92.0％ of the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Post-treatment hypertension diagnosis rate 15.0％ in persons with yin deficiency and 9.1％ in persons with yang deficiency of the treatment group and correspondingly 36.8％ and 16.0％ of the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Post-treatment neutral constitution transformation percentage was 23.3％ in persons with yin or yang deficiency of the treatment group and 13.6％ in those of the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusions Heat-sensitive point moxibustion can reduce high-normal blood pressure and hypertension incidence and effectively rectify biased constitution in persons with yin or yang deficiency.

Efficacy of conjunctival autograft transplant and limbal - conjunctival autograft transplant for primary pterygium / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To compare the safety and efficacy of conjunctival autograft transplant ( CAT ) and limbal - conjunctival autograft transplant (LCAT) for primary pterygium. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized and controlled clinical study, 120 patients ( 120 eyes ) diagnosed with primary pterygium were collected in NO. 474 Hospital of Chinese PLA from January 2014 to January 2015. The 120 patients enrolled in the study in turn, and divided into two group by the odd and even number. The odd number underwent CAT and the even number underwent LCAT. RESULTS:One hundred and seven patients (107 eyes) completed the follow-up of 1a, including 54 patients (54 eyes) from the CAT group and 53 patients (53 eyes) from the LCAT group. Four patients (4 eyes, recurrence rate 7. 4%) in the CAT group and 2 patients ( 2 eyes, recurrence rate 3. 8%) in the LCAT group developed recurrence. However, there were no significant in recurrence rate between CAT group and LCAT group (P =0. 678). CONCLUSION: CAT and LCAT might be both effective treatment for primary pterygium for reducing the recurrence rate of pterygium. However, LCAT is the optimal surgical method for primary pterygium.

Multiple genes identified as targets for 20q13.12-13.33 gain contributing to unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent chromosome 20q gain is implicated in progressive cancer behaviors and has been associated with clinical outcomes in multiple types of cancer; however, its prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the involved genes remain unclear. METHODS: Array comparative genomic hybridization and expression arrays were used to detect copy number alterations (CNAs) and expression levels, respectively. The associations between CNAs in 20q and outcomes were analyzed on 66 patients, for which the follow-up period was 2.6-73.3 months. One hundred seventeen tumors were further investigated to identify target genes in the potentially outcome-related CNAs. RESULTS: Regional or whole 20q gain was detected in 24 (36.4%) of the 66 HCC cases. The most recurrent gains were 20q11.21-12, 20q12-13.12, 20q13.12-13.33 and 20q13.33. Of the CNAs, 20q13.12-13.33 gain was significantly associated with reduced extrohepatic metastasis-free and overall survival, as well as with elevated postoperative AFP level, tumor vascular invasion and advanced tumor stage. Multivariate Cox analysis identified 20q13.12-13.33 gain as an independent prognostic marker for metastasis (HR 3.73, 95% CI 1.08-12.87) and death (HR 3.00, 95% CI 1.26-7.13). A panel of 19 genes in 20q13.12-13.33 was significantly overexpressed in HCCs with gain compared to HCCs without. High expression (greater than median) for 5 of the 19 genes, DDX27, B4GALT5, RNF114, ZFP64 and PFDN4, correlated significantly with vascular invasion, and high RNF114 expression also with advanced tumor stage. CONCLUSIONS: Gain at 20q13.12-13.33 is a prognostic marker of metastasis and death, and DDX27, B4GALT5, RNF114, ZFP64, and PFDN4 are probable target genes which may be involved together in the unfavorable outcomes of HCC patients.

Protective effects of seahorse extracts in a rat castration and testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia model and mouse oligospermatism model.

This study investigated the effects of seahorse (Hippocampus spp.) extracts in a rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and mouse model of oligospermatism. Compared to the sham operated group, castration and testosterone induced BPH, indicated by increased penile erection latency; decreased penis nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity; reduced serum acid phosphatase (ACP) activity; increased prostate index; and epithelial thickening, increased glandular perimeter, increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index and upregulation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the prostate. Seahorse extracts significantly ameliorated the histopathological changes associated with BPH, reduced the latency of penile erection and increased penile NOS activity. Administration of seahorse extracts also reversed epididymal sperm viability and motility in mice treated with cyclophosphamide (CP). Seahorse extracts have potential as a candidate marine drug for treating BPH without inducing the side effects of erectile dysfunction (ED) or oligospermatism associated with the BPH drug finasteride.