Efficacy and safety of azilsartan medoxomil in the treatment of hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are utilized for the management of hypertension and diabetes. Previous meta-analyses suggested that azilsartan medoxomil (AZL-M) improved blood pressure (BP) reduction, but there were no safety findings or suggestions for patients with hypertension or diabetes. Methods: We performed an efficacy and safety meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating AZL-M therapy for reducing BP in patients with hypertension. Patients with hypertension complicated by diabetes were analyzed. The relevant literature was searched in English and Chinese databases for RCTs involving AZL-M in hypertension. Efficacy variables included the change from baseline in the 24-h mean systolic/diastolic BP measured by ambulatory BP monitoring, the change from baseline in clinic systolic/diastolic BP, and responder rates. Safety variables included total adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, AEs leading to discontinuation, and AEs related to the study drug. The raw data from the included studies were utilized to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for dichotomous data and the mean difference (MD) for continuous data, accompanied by 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical analysis was performed using R software. Results: A total of 11 RCTs met the inclusion criteria, representing 7,608 patients, 5 of whom had diabetes. Pooled analysis suggested a reduction in BP among patients randomized to 40 mg of AZL-M vs. control therapy [24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) (MD: -2.85 mmHg), clinic SBP (MD: -3.48 mmHg), and clinic diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MD: -1.96 mmHg)] and for 80 mg of AZL-M vs. control therapy [24-h ABPM mean SBP (MD: -3.59 mmHg), 24-h ABPM mean DBP (MD: -2.62 mmHg), clinic SBP (MD: -4.42 mmHg), clinic DBP (MD: -3.09 mmHg), and responder rate (OR: 1.46)]. There was no difference in the reduction of risks, except for dizziness (OR: 1.56) in the 80-mg AZL-M group or urinary tract infection (OR: 1.82) in the 40-mg AZL-M group. Analysis of patients with diabetes revealed that AZL-M can provide superior management, while safety and tolerability were similar to those of control therapy. Conclusions: AZL-M appears to reduce BP to a greater extent than dose-control therapy and does not increase the risk of adverse events in patients with hypertension and diabetes compared with placebo. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=464284, identifier PROSPERO CRD42023464284.

Clinical effect of acupoint application with turmeric blistering moxibustion plaster on post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. / 姜黄天灸膏穴位贴敷治疗脑卒中偏瘫肩痛临床疗效观察.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effects of acupoint application with turmeric blistering moxibustion plaster on pain, shoulder range of motion (ROM) and upper limb motor function in the patients with post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain (PSHSP). METHODS: Eighty-two patients with PSHSP were randomly divided into an observation group (41 cases, 1 case was eliminated, 4 cases dropped out) and a control group (41 cases, 2 cases were eliminated and 2 cases dropped out). The routine treatment, nursing care and rehabilitation training were performed in the control group. On the basis of the intervention as the control group, in the observation group, the turmeric blistering moxibustion plaster was applied to bilateral ashi points, Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14), Binao (LI 14), Shousanli (LI 10) and Hegu (LI 4), once a day, remained for 6 hours each time. This moxibustion therapy was operated 5 times weekly, one course of treatment consisted of 2 weeks and 2 courses were required. Separately, before treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS), shoulder ROM and the score of upper limbs in Fugl-Meyer assessment (U-FMA) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: VAS scores were lower (P<0.05), ROM in shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation and external rotation was larger (P<0.05), and U-FMA scores were higher (P<0.05) after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment when compared with those before treatment in the two groups. After 4 weeks of treatment, VAS score decreased (P<0.05), and ROM in shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, external rotation and U-FMA score increased (P<0.05) in comparison with those after 2 weeks of treatment in either group. In the observation group, VAS scores were dropped (P<0.05) after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment respectively, and ROM of shoulder flexion and abduction enlarged after 2 weeks of treatment (P<0.05) when compared with those in the control group. After 4 weeks of treatment, ROM in shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation and external rotation in the observation group was larger (P<0.05) and U-FMA score was higher (P<0.05) than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Acupoint application with turmeric blistering moxibustion plaster may effectively reduce the degree of shoulder pain and improve the shoulder range of motion and the upper limb motor function in the patients with post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain.

Monoterpenoid Glycosides from the Leaves of Ligustrum robustum and Their Bioactivities (II).

Ligustrum robustum has been not only used as a heat-clearing and detoxicating functional tea (Ku-Ding-Cha) but also consumed as a hypotensive, anti-diabetic, and weight-reducing folk medicine. From the leaves of L. robustum, ten new monoterpenoid glycosides named ligurobustosides T10 (1a), T11 (1b), T12 (2a), T13 (2b), T14 (3a), T15 (3b), F1 (4b), T16 (5a), T17 (5b), and E1 (6b), together with five known ones (4a, 6a, 7, 8a, 8b), were separated and identified using the spectroscopic method and chemical method in this research. The results of biological tests exhibited that the fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitory action of compound 5 (IC50: 4.38 ± 0.11 µM) was as strong as orlistat (IC50: 4.46 ± 0.13 µM), a positive control; the α-glucosidase inhibitory actions of compounds 1-4 and 7-8, and the α-amylase inhibitory actions of compounds 1-8 were medium; the ABTS radical scavenging capacities of compounds 1-3 and 5-8 (IC50: 6.27 ± 0.23 ~ 8.59 ± 0.09 µM) were stronger than l-(+)-ascorbic acid (IC50: 10.06 ± 0.19 µM) served as a positive control. This research offered a theoretical foundation for the leaves of L. robustum to prevent diabetes and its complications.

A New HPLC-UV Method Using Hydrolyzation with Sodium Hydroxide for Quantitation of Trans-p-Hydroxycinnamic Acid and Total Trans-p-Hydroxycinnamic Acid Esters in the Leaves of Ligustrum robustum.

Trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid and its esters in the leaves of Ligustrum robustum might be a new resource to prevent diabetes and its complications. In the present study, a new HPLC-UV method using hydrolyzation with sodium hydroxide for quantitation of trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid and total trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid esters in the leaves of L. robustum was developed, since it was difficult and troublesome to analyze no less than 34 trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid esters by usual HPLC. The extract of L. robustum was hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide at 80 °C for 2 h, and then, hydrochloride was added. HPLC analysis was performed in reverse phase mode using a C-18 column, eluting with methanol-0.1% acetic acid aqueous solution (40:60, v/v) in isocratic mode at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1 and detecting at 310 nm. The linear range for trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid was 11.0-352.0 µg·mL-1 (r2 = 1.000). The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 2.00 and 6.07 µg·mL-1, respectively. The relative standard deviations of intra-day and inter-day variabilities for trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid were less than 2%. The percentage recovery of trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid was 103.3% ± 1.1%. It is the first HPLC method using hydrolyzation for quantification of many carboxylic esters. Finally, the method was used successfully to determine trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid and total trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid esters in various extracts of the leaves of L. robustum. The 60-70% ethanol extracts of L. robustum showed the highest contents of free trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid (3.96-3.99 mg·g-1), and the 50-80% ethanol extracts of L. robustum displayed the highest contents of total trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid esters (202.6-210.6 mg·g-1). The method can be applied also to the quality control of the products of L. robustum.

The Effects of Selenium Supplementation in the Treatment of Autoimmune Thyroiditis: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

OBJECTIVE: The available evidence on selenium supplementation in the treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) was inconclusive. This research serves to assess the effects of selenium supplementation in the treatment of AIT. METHODS: Online databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 10 June 2022. The AMSTAR-2 tool was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. The information on the randomized controlled trials of the included studies was extracted and synthesized. The GRADE system was used to assess the certainty of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 6 systematic reviews with 75 RCTs were included. Only one study was rated as high quality. The meta-analysis showed that in the levothyroxine (LT4)-treated population, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) levels decreased significantly in the selenium group at 3 months (SMD = -0.53, 95% CI: [-0.89, -0.17], p < 0.05, very low certainty) and 6 months (SMD = -1.95, 95% CI: [-3.17, -0.74], p < 0.05, very low certainty) and that thyroglobulin antibody (Tg-Ab) levels were not decreased. In the non-LT4-treated population, TPO-Ab levels decreased significantly in the selenium group at 3 and 6 months and did not decrease at 12 months. Tg-Ab levels decreased significantly in the selenium group at 3 and 6 months and did not decrease at 12 months. The adverse effects reported in the selenium group were not significantly different from those in the control group, and the certainty of evidence was low. CONCLUSION: Although selenium supplementation might reduce TPO-Ab levels at 3 and 6 months and Tg-Ab levels at 3 and 6 months in the non-LT4-treated population, this was based on a low certainty of evidence.

Chemical Constituents from the Leaves of Ligustrum robustum and Their Bioactivities.

The leaves of Ligustrum robustum have been consumed as Ku-Ding-Cha for clearing heat and removing toxins, and they have been used as a folk medicine for curing hypertension, diabetes, and obesity in China. The phytochemical research on the leaves of L. robustum led to the isolation and identification of two new hexenol glycosides, two new butenol glycosides, and five new sugar esters, named ligurobustosides X (1a), X1 (1b), Y (2a), and Y1 (2b) and ligurobustates A (3a), B (3b), C (4b), D (5a), and E (5b), along with seven known compounds (4a and 6-10). Compounds 1-10 were tested for their inhibitory effects on fatty acid synthase (FAS), α-glucosidase, and α-amylase, as well as their antioxidant activities. Compound 2 showed strong FAS inhibitory activity (IC50 4.10 ± 0.12 µM) close to that of the positive control orlistat (IC50 4.46 ± 0.13 µM); compounds 7 and 9 revealed moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activities; compounds 1-10 showed moderate α-amylase inhibitory activities; and compounds 1 and 10 displayed stronger 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) ammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging effects (IC50 3.41 ± 0.08~5.65 ± 0.19 µM) than the positive control l-(+)-ascorbic acid (IC50 10.06 ± 0.19 µM). This study provides a theoretical foundation for the leaves of L. robustum as a functional tea to prevent diabetes and its complications.

Phenylethanoid and Phenylmethanoid Glycosides from the Leaves of Ligustrum robustum and Their Bioactivities.

The phytochemical study on the leaves of Ligustrum robustum, which have been used as Ku-Ding-Cha, led to the isolation and identification of three new phenylethanoid glycosides and three new phenylmethanoid glycosides, named ligurobustosides R1 (1b), R2-3 (2), R4 (3), S1 (4b), S2 (5), and S3 (6), and five reported phenylethanoid glycosides (7-11). In the bioactivity test, (Z)-osmanthuside B6 (11) displayed strong fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitory activity (IC50: 4.55 ± 0.35 µM) as the positive control orlistat (IC50: 4.46 ± 0.13 µM), while ligurobustosides R4 (3) and S2 (5), ligupurpuroside B (7), cis-ligupurpuroside B (8), ligurobustoside N (9), osmanthuside D (10), and (Z)-osmanthuside B6 (11) showed stronger ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50: 2.68 ± 0.05~4.86 ± 0.06 µM) than the positive control L-(+)-ascorbic acid (IC50: 10.06 ± 0.19 µM). This research provided a theoretical basis for the leaves of L. robustum as a tea with function in treating obesity and diabetes.

Effectiveness and Safety of Probiotics for Patients with Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 10 Randomized Controlled Trials.

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of probiotics in the treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C), we searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing probiotic care versus placebos for patients with IBS-C in five comprehensive databases (March 2022). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. RevMan 5.3 was used to perform a meta-analysis on stool consistency, abdominal pain, bloating, quality of life (QoL), fecal Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus counts, and adverse events. The GRADE approach was used to evaluate the certainty of the evidence. Ten RCTs involving 757 patients were included. Only three studies were rated as having a low risk of bias. The meta-analysis results show that, compared to the placebo, probiotics significantly improved stool consistency (MD = 0.72, 95% CI (0.18, 1.26), p < 0.05, low quality) and increased the number of fecal Bifidobacteria (MD = 1.75, 95% CI (1.51, 2.00), p < 0.05, low quality) and Lactobacillus (MD = 1.69, 95% CI (1.48, 1.89), p < 0.05, low quality), while no significant differences were found in abdominal pain scores, bloating scores, QoL scores, or the incidence of adverse events (p > 0.05). The low-to-very low certainty evidence suggests that probiotics might improve the stool consistency of patients with IBS-C and increase the number of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in feces with good safety. However, more high-quality studies with large samples are needed to verify the findings.

The Efficacy and Safety of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy for Meningiomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carbon ion radiotherapy (CI-RT) in improving meningioma by comparing photon and protons radiotherapy. METHODS: A comprehensive search for relevant studies published until March 17, 2021, was conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and EMBASE. Statistical analyses were performed with R 4.0.3. RESULTS: We identified 396 studies, of which 18 studies involving 985 participants were included. Except for one low quality study, the quality of the included studies was found to be either moderate or high quality. The analyses conducted according random effects model indicated that the 1-year overall survival rate (OS) of benign and non-benign meningiomas after the CI-RT treatment was 99% (95%CL=.91-1.00, I 2 = 0%). The overall average 5-year OS for meningiomas was 72% (95%CL=0.52-0.86, I 2 = 35%), not as effective as proton radiotherapy (PR-RT) 85% (95%CL=.72-.93, I 2 = 73, Q=4.17, df=2, p=.12). Additionally, 5-year OS of atypical meningiomas (81%) was found to be significantly higher than anaplastic meningiomas (52%). The 10-year OS after CI-RT of patients with mixed grade meningioma was 91% (95%CL=.75-.97, I 2 = 73%). The 15-year OS after CI-RT 87% (95%CL=.11-1.00) or PR-RT 87% (95%CL=.23-.99, I 2 = 79%) were the same (Q=0, df=1, p=.99). After undergoing CI-RT for 3 and 5 years, the LC for benign meningioma was 100% and 88%, respectively, while the 2-year LC of non-benign meningiomas (atypical/anaplastic) was 33%. Headache, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, and hearing impairment were found to be the most common adverse reactions, with individual incidences of 19.4%, 23.7%, 9.1%, and 9.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CI-RT is a rapidly developing technique that has been proven to be an effective treatment against meningioma. The efficacy and safety of CI-RT for meningiomas were similar to those of PR-RT, better than photon radiotherapy (PH-RT). However, there is a need for more prospective trials in the future that can help provide more supportive evidence.

Non-pharmacological interventions for older adults with depressive symptoms: a network meta-analysis of 35 randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for seniors with depressive symptoms.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed. We conducted network meta-analysis in two ways, intervention classes (psychosocial, psychotherapy, physical activity, combined, treatment as usual) and individual intervention (11 categories). Whenever included studies used different scales, the different instruments were converted to the units of the scale most frequently used (the Geriatric Depression Scale), such that the effect size was reported as a mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The risk of bias of RCTs included in this review was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook. Bayesian NMA was conducted using R-3.4.0 software.Results: A total of 35 RCTs with 3,797 enrolled patients were included. Compared to conventional treatment, physical activity and psychotherapy resulted in significant improvements in depressive symptoms (MD: 2.25, 95%CrI: 0.99-3.56; SUCRA = 86.07%; MD: 1.75, 95% CrI: 0.90-2.64; SUCRA = 66.44%, respectively). Similar results were obtained for music (MD: 2.6; 95% CrI: 0.84-4.35;SUCRA = 80.53%), life review (MD:1.92; 95% CrI:0.71-3.14; SUCRA = 65.62%), cognitive behavioral therapy (MD: 1.27; 95% CrI: 0.23-2.38; SUCRA = 45.4%), aerobic (MD: 1.84; 95% CrI: 0.39-3.36; SUCRA = 63%) and resistance training (MD: 1.72; 95% CrI: 0.06-3.42; SUCRA = 59.24%). Network meta-regression showed that there were no statistically significant subgroup effects.Conclusions: Physical activity and psychotherapy demonstrated statistically significant superiority over conventional treatment. Music and life review therapy proved the most promising individual interventions. However, conclusions are limited by the lack of sufficient sample size and consensus regarding intervention categories and so an adequately powered study is necessary to consolidate these findings.

Exercise Training for Improving Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

CONTEXT: Patients with advanced-stage cancer often suffer many physical and psychological symptoms. Exercise has been shown to improve quality of life (QoL), decrease cancer-related symptoms, and maintain or improve functional status in cancer survivors or patients with early stage cancer. However, the effect of exercise on these outcomes in patients with advanced-stage cancer is unclear. OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of exercise interventions for patients with advanced-stage cancer in improving cancer-related symptoms and functional status outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science from their inception to February 3, 2019, to include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing exercise and usual care for improving outcomes in patients with advanced-stage cancer. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data of interest, and assessed the risk of bias of individual RCTs using the Cochrane Handbook, Version 5.1.0. RESULTS: About 15 RCTs enrolling 1208 patients were included. Compared with usual care, exercise showed a significant improvement in QoL (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.22; 95% CI 0.06-0.38; P = 0.009), fatigue (SMD -0.25; 95% CI -0.45 to -0.04; P = 0.02), insomnia (SMD -0.36; 95% CI -0.56 to -0.17; P = 0.0002), physical function (SMD 0.22; 95% CI 0.05-0.38; P = 0.009), social function (SMD 0.18; 95% CI 0.02-0.34; P = 0.03), and dyspnea reduction (SMD -0.18; 95% CI -0.34 to -0.01; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Exercise serves as an effective intervention to improve QoL and alleviate fatigue, insomnia, dyspnea, and physical and social functions for patients with advanced-stage cancer.

Effect of ultrasonic thawing on the water-holding capacity, physicochemical properties and structure of frozen tuna (Thunnus tonggol) myofibrillar proteins.

BACKGROUND: The effect of ultrasonic thawing (0, 160, 280, 400 W) on water-holding capacity (WHC), physicochemical properties and structure of tuna myofibrillar proteins was investigated. RESULTS: Thawing time was shown to decrease and thawing loss to increase significantly (P < 0.05) as power increased (160-400 W), whereas there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in cooking loss. Changes in T2 relaxation time were investigated using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance. Ultrasonic thawing could significantly (P < 0.05) improve the immobilised water content compared to the control (0 W). surface hydrophobicity decreased significantly and then increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the reactive sulfhydryl content as power was increased. Tuna thawed at 280 W suffered fewer negative effects on its microstructure. Roman spectral date showed that the α-helix changed to a random coil and ß-turn as power was increased (up to 400 W). CONCLUSION: The application of ultrasonic thawing at a specified power was showed to be a beneficial process when used in the seafood industry, but application of excessive power resulted in lower WHC and structural changes to myofibrillar proteins. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

The efficacy and safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors for type 2 diabetes: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of 58 randomized controlled trials.

AIMS: The aim is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4-I: sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, vildagliptin and alogliptin) in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the Wanfang Database from inception to April, 2018. Randomized controlled trials were included if they compared the different versions of DPP4-I with each other or with placebo in treatment of type 2 diabetes. Bayesian network meta-analysis and pairwise meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the different kinds of DPP4-I and placebo. The data were analyzed using STATA 12.0 and WinBUGS1.4 software. RESULTS: We identified 58 eligible studies (with 31356 patients) involving 14 treatment arms. Indirect comparison results showed that except for alogliptin, a decrease was found for all DPP4-I versus the placebo for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) with vildagliptin50 twice daily (BID) showing the highest probability. Linagliptin5 once daily (QD) decreased the level of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) the most for all DPP4-I versus the placebo; when comparing them with each other, alogliptin25QD was more effective when compared with sitagliptin100QD and vildaglipti50BID; linagliptin5qd had the highest decrease impact on body mass index (BMI). Except for hypoglycemia and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), there are no statistical significance on incidence of adverse events and the body weight when DPP4-I are compared with each other or with placebo. CONCLUSION: Our network meta-analysis presents the associations of DPP4-I versus placebos on HbA1c, FPG, 2 h postprandial blood glucose (2HPPG), BMI, body weight and adverse events. DPP4-I have a lowering effect on the glycemic level (HbA1c, FPG), especially vildaglipti50BID and linagliptin10QD, respectively. Besides, linagliptin5QD has the greatest probabilities of reducing BMI. In addition, DPP4-I were associated with not increasing the incidence of adverse events. Among them, vildagliptin100QD and sitagliptin100QD have the lowest probability in reducing the incidence of hypoglycemia and URTI, respectively.

Effect of low frequency ultrasound thawing method on the quality characteristics of Peru squid ( Dosidicus gigas).

The effects of different thawing methods (air thawing, water soak thawing, refrigeration thawing, low frequency ultrasound thawing at 160, 240, 320 and 400 W) on thawing time, thawing loss, cooking loss, water-holding capacity and texture of frozen squid were investigated. The results showed that thawing loss and thawing time were reduced significantly ( p < 0.05) by ultrasound thawing compared with the water soak thawing and air thawing, but the cooking loss had no significant difference ( p > 0.05). Results of the ultrasound thawing especially at 160 and 240 W on microstructure showed less destructive effect on muscle. The microstructure of the muscle was destroyed significantly after air thawing and water soak thawing compared with the ultrasound thawing, which showed that more fibre structure was broken and the gap between the muscle fibres was increased significantly. Low-field NMR results showed that the ability of immobile water shifting to free water after ultrasound thawing was lower than air thawing and water soak thawing, which was consistent with the results of thawing loss and cooking loss. Ultrasound thawing might be chosen as an alternative method to enhance the quality during thawing process.

[Optimum population analysis of Jilin Province, China based on comprehensive carrying capacity.] / 基于综合承载力的吉林省适度人口分析.

The regional moderate population model was constructed using state-space method, and the weights of relevant factors were obtained using principal component analysis. The optimum population of Jilin Province during 2005-2014 was calculated and the causes for its formation were discussed. The results showed that the optimum population of Jilin Province was in deficit from 2005-2014, and the imbalance existed between the population, resources and environment. The resources carrying population was significantly higher than the economic carrying and the ecological carrying population, indicating that the economic development of Jilin Province was established at the expense of destroying the environment. Moreover, the land resources carrying population was substantially higher than the water and energy carrying population, which was at a deficit, indicating that the economic development of Jilin Province was based on the depletion of energy and water resources. In the future, water resources carrying capacity should be improved according to the local conditions, the energy efficiency should be enhanced via the development of new energy sources, the extensive and consumption-based resource utilization should be transformed to the intensive and low-carbon type, and the production mode and consumption patterns should be changed to protect the ecological environment.

Epidemiology Characteristics, Methodological Assessment and Reporting of Statistical Analysis of Network Meta-Analyses in the Field of Cancer.

Because of the methodological complexity of network meta-analyses (NMAs), NMAs may be more vulnerable to methodological risks than conventional pair-wise meta-analysis. Our study aims to investigate epidemiology characteristics, conduction of literature search, methodological quality and reporting of statistical analysis process in the field of cancer based on PRISMA extension statement and modified AMSTAR checklist. We identified and included 102 NMAs in the field of cancer. 61 NMAs were conducted using a Bayesian framework. Of them, more than half of NMAs did not report assessment of convergence (60.66%). Inconsistency was assessed in 27.87% of NMAs. Assessment of heterogeneity in traditional meta-analyses was more common (42.62%) than in NMAs (6.56%). Most of NMAs did not report assessment of similarity (86.89%) and did not used GRADE tool to assess quality of evidence (95.08%). 43 NMAs were adjusted indirect comparisons, the methods used were described in 53.49% NMAs. Only 4.65% NMAs described the details of handling of multi group trials and 6.98% described the methods of similarity assessment. The median total AMSTAR-score was 8.00 (IQR: 6.00-8.25). Methodological quality and reporting of statistical analysis did not substantially differ by selected general characteristics. Overall, the quality of NMAs in the field of cancer was generally acceptable.

[Comparison of clinical efficacy between minimally invasive total hip artliroplasty and traditional total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review].

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the effectiveness of minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (MIS-THA) versus traditional total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with hip diseases. METHODS: Through a method of combining Free words and keywords,we searched databases including PubMed,The Cochrane Library, EMbase,Web of Science, CBM , CNKI and Wanfang Data for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the comparison between MIS-THA and THA for hip disease from inception to June, 2014. Two reviewers independently screened literatures according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies according to the "bias risk assessment" tool recommended by Cochrane Handbook 5.0 for Systematic Reviews. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: Thirteen RCTs involving 1 213 cases of surgeries and total 1 284 hips (MIS-THA: n = 631; THA: n = 653) were identified. The results of meta-analysis showed that statistically significant differences were found in Harris hip score on the 3rd month after operation [MD = 8.37, 95% CI (6.02,10.72)], Hematocrit [MD = 0.02, 95% CI (0.01, 0.03)] and Hemoglobin [MD = 0.50, 95% CI (0.16, 0.85)] at the 48th hour after operation, changed value of femoral offset [MD = 0.30, 95% CI (0.04, 0.56)] between two groups. In the change value of femoral offset, THA was better than MIS-THA; There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in Harris hip score at 1st year after operation [MD = 3.26, 95% CI (-3.25, 9.76)], WOMAC score [MD = -0.53, 95% CI (-3.67, 2.60)] and Oxford score [MD = 1.34, 95% CI (-3.46, 6.13)] at the 6th week after operation, Hematocrit at the 8th hour after operation [MD = -0.01, 95% CI (-0.02, 0.00)], the incidence of hip varus [RR = 0.82, 95% CI (0.45,1.52)] and dislocation [RR = 1.40, 95% CI (0.48, 4.12)]. CONCLUSION: THA brings less trauma, less hemorrhage and better early clinical outcome compared with MIS-THA, but the difference of the complication rates between the two groups is similar.

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the microbiological, biochemical characteristics of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.

Using thermal processing (TP) treatment (100 ℃, 1-8 min) as a control, the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP, 200-500 MPa, 2.5-20 min) on the microbiological and biochemical characteristics of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei were investigated. The results showed that the efficiency of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) inactivation and log reduction of total plate count (TPC) by HHP treatment were all significantly lower than by TP treatment (p < 0.05). The rate of inactivation for TPC and PPO all increased with the increase of HHP pressure and holding time (p < 0.05). The inactivation of PPO was in accordance with a first-order kinetics with the HHP treating time. Hardness of HHP-treated samples at the pressure of 300-500 MPa was higher than TP-treated samples, while the yield loss of HHP treatment was significantly lower than with TP treatment (p < 0.05), long time and high pressure of HHP treatment turned the appearance of shrimps slightly pink.

Evaluating ECG-aided tip localization of peripherally inserted central catheter in patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ECG-aided tip localization of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in the patients with cancer. METHODS: Between September and December 2014, 170 patients undergoing PICC were divided into observation group and control group (each group with 85 patients). In observation group, patients received ECG-aided tip localization of PICC. In control group, PICC was performed with conventional method. After PICC was performed, all patients took orthophoria chest radiograph (OCR) to check whether the tip position of PICC was appropriate. Finally, successful rate of the first PICC was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In observation group, OCR showed that the tip of PICC was located in middle and low one-third of superior vena cava in 85 patients. In control group, OCR showed that the tip of PICC was located between superior vena cava and right atrium in 75 patients. The successful rate of the first PICC was significantly higher in observation group than in control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ECG-aided tip localization of PICC is accurate and safe, and is worth clinically recommending.

Isolation and characterisation of Bacillus spp. antagonistic to Vibrio parahaemolyticus for use as probiotics in aquaculture.

Acute gastroenteritis caused by pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus is one of the major factors affecting the development of aquaculture and the safety of seafood. Using the antagonism of probiotics against pathogens is an alternative strategy to antibiotics and a common trend to control food-borne pathogenic bacteria. In this study, a total of 249 isolates were isolated from four types of seafood (Litopenaeus vannamei, Oratosquilla oratoria, Mactra veneriformis and Portunus trituberculatus) and coastal sediment from Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea, China with five different separation agars. The most isolates came from the sample of coastal sediment and on agar of 2216E, which accounted for 36.14 and 54.62 % respectively. Twenty-four among 249 isolates displayed direct antimicrobial activity to V. parahaemolyticus with spot inoculation. Sixteen active isolates were selected for extracellular antimicrobial activity using the Oxford cup method. Only strains of B16 and J7 showed extracellular antimicrobial activity and were identified as Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus mojavensis respectively based on the physiological identification and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Both of the strains B16 and J7 exhibited extracellular hydrolytic enzyme activity and antagonism against more than one indicator bacteria in vitro, which indicates that the two strains have broad potential application as suitable probiotic candidates in aquaculture while B. mojavensis was first reported to inhibit pathogenic Vibrio spp. in vitro. There is no particular trait as to antagonism of B. pumilus B16 or B. mojavensis J7 to Gram-positive or Gram-negative indicator bacteria.