Effect of family intervention on relapse rate of Chinese patients with alcohol-dependent.

Objective: This study explored the impact of a family intervention on the relapse rate of Chinese patients with alcohol dependence. Methods: A total of 151 male patients with alcohol dependence who were discharged from the Substance Dependence Department of the Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital from January to December 2020 were selected. They were divided into the control (n = 73) and experimental (n = 78) groups. Patients in both groups received routine alcohol cessation treatment. Moreover, patients in the experimental group were followed up by a professional psychiatrist to carry out individual family intervention. The Family Function Rating Scale (FAD), a Self-made general information questionnaire, and the Chinese version of the Family Intimacy and Adaptability Scale (FACESI-CV) were performed. Re-drinking rate and readmission rate were assessed. Results: Family intervention could reduce relapse rate (31, 39.74%) and rehospitalization (27, 34.62%) compared with the control group. After family training, FAD factor scores were improved in the experiment group in comparison with the control group. Family training improved communication (18.2 ± 3.7), role (20.8 ± 2.5), emotional response (10.8 ± 1.8), emotional involvement (13.7 ± 1.2), behavioral control (19.8 ± 1.2), and overall functionality (23.5 ± 2.1) in the experiment group in comparison with the control group. After family training, intimacy (70.5 ± 8.7) and adaptability (64.1 ± 6.9) in the experiment group was higher than in the control group. After family intervention, Michigan Alcohol Dependence Scale (MAST) (9.21 ± 0.68) and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) (80.32 ± 4.47) in the experiment group were higher than the control group. Conclusion: Family intervention for families of patients with alcohol dependence can improve their family function, increase their family intimacy and adaptability, and reduce the rate of relapse.

The impact of bacillus pumilus TS2 isolated from yaks on growth performance, gut microbial community, antioxidant activity, and cytokines related to immunity and inflammation in broilers.

Intensive poultry farming faces challenges like gut inflammation in the absence of antibiotics, resulting in reduced productivity, heightened susceptibility to enteric diseases, and other complications. Alternative strategies are needed to manage inflammation and maintain sustainable poultry production. Yaks living in high-altitude hypoxic environments have specialized gut microbes. However, yak probiotics remain largely uncharacterized. We previously isolated a strain of Bacillus pumilus (named TS2) from yaks and demonstrated its potential as a probiotic in vitro. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the in vivo growth-promoting, antioxidant, immune, and anti-inflammatory effects of Bacillus pumilus isolated from yaks in broilers. We demonstrated the safety of TS2 isolated from yaks in broilers. Furthermore, we found that TS2 increased the average daily weight gain (ADWG) and reduced the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Supplementation with TS2 also improved the mucosal morphology, the ratio of villi to crypt cells, and enzyme activity. High-throughput sequencing showed that the abundance of Lactobacillus was higher in the TS2 treated broilers. Importantly, the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced and the levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were increased in the low-dose TS2 group, while the inflammatory factors interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were downregulated compared with the control group. We demonstrated that TS2 supplementation can increase the overall growth performance and ameliorate the blood parameters related to inflammation and immunity in broilers.

Comparison of the recovery time of remimazolam besylate and propofol for gastrointestinal endoscopy sedation in elderly patients.

Background: Recovery time is a crucial factor in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of both patients and endoscopy centers. Propofol is often preferred due to its fast onset and minimal side effects. Remimazolam is a new intravenous sedative agent, characterized by its rapid onset of action, quick recovery and organ-independent metabolism. Importantly, its effect can be specifically antagonized by flumazenil. The primary goal of this study is to compare the recovery time of remimazolam besylate and propofol anesthesia during endoscopic procedures in elderly patients. Methods: 60 patients aged 65-95 years who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomly and equally assigned to two groups: the remimazolam group (Group R) and the propofol group (Group P). The primary measure was the recovery time, defined as the time from discontinuing remimazolam or propofol until reaching an Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation scale (OAA/S) score of 5 (responds readily to name spoken in normal tone). The time required to achieve an OAA/S score of 3 (responds after name spoken loudly or repeatedly along with glazed marked ptosis) was also recorded and compared. Results: The recovery time for Group R (2.6 ± 1.6 min) was significantly shorter than that for Group P (10.8 ± 3.0 min), with a 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.949-9.431 min, p <0.001. Similarly, the time to attain an OAA/S score of 3 was significantly less in Group R (1.6 ± 0.9 min) compared to Group P (9.6 ± 2.6 min), with a 95% CI: 6.930-8.957 min, p <0.001. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that remimazolam anesthesia combined with flumazenil antagonism causes a shorter recovery time for elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy compared to propofol. Remimazolam followed by flumazenil antagonism provides a promising alternative to propofol for geriatric patients, particularly during gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Rapid evaluation of the quality of Smilax glabra Roxb. using QADS based on FT-NIR combined with multiple intelligent algorithms.

Smilax glabra Roxb. (SGR) is known for its high nutritional and therapeutic value. However, the frequent appearance of counterfeit products causes confusion and inconsistent quality among SGR varieties. Herein, this study collected the proportion of SGR adulteration and used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure the astilbin content of SGR. Then Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) technology, combined with multivariate intelligent algorithms, was used to establish partial least squares regression quantitative models for detecting SGR adulteration and measuring astilbin content, respectively. The method conducted a quantitative analysis of dual indicators through single-spectrum data acquisition (QADS) to comprehensively evaluate the authenticity and superiority of SGR. The coefficients of determination (R2) for both the calibration and prediction sets exceeded 0.96, which successfully leverages FT-NIR combined with multivariate intelligent algorithms to considerably enhance the accuracy and reliability of quantitative models. Overall, this research holds substantial value in the comprehensive quality evaluation in functional health foods.

Activation of PPARδ in bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells improves their hematopoiesis-supporting ability after myelosuppressive injury.

Dysfunctional bone marrow (BM) endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) with high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are responsible for defective hematopoiesis in poor graft function (PGF) patients with acute leukemia or myelodysplastic neoplasms post-allotransplant. However, the underlying mechanism by which BM EPCs regulate their intracellular ROS levels and the capacity to support hematopoiesis have not been well clarified. Herein, we demonstrated decreased levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ), a lipid-activated nuclear receptor, in BM EPCs of PGF patients compared with those with good graft function (GGF). In vitro assays further identified that PPARδ knockdown contributed to reduced and dysfunctional BM EPCs, characterized by the impaired ability to support hematopoiesis, which were restored by PPARδ overexpression. Moreover, GW501516, an agonist of PPARδ, repaired the damaged BM EPCs triggered by 5-fluorouracil (5FU) in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, activation of PPARδ by GW501516 benefited the damaged BM EPCs from PGF patients or acute leukemia patients in complete remission (CR) post-chemotherapy. Mechanistically, we found that increased expression of NADPH oxidases (NOXs), the main ROS-generating enzymes, may lead to elevated ROS level in BM EPCs, and insufficient PPARδ may trigger BM EPC damage via ROS/p53 pathway. Collectively, we found that defective PPARδ contributes to BM EPC dysfunction, whereas activation of PPARδ in BM EPCs improves their hematopoiesis-supporting ability after myelosuppressive therapy, which may provide a potential therapeutic target not only for patients with leukemia but also for those with other cancers.

Relationship between age and remimazolam dose required for inducing loss of consciousness in older surgical patients.

Background: Remimazolam is a new ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine for procedural sedation and general anaesthesia, characterised by rapid onset of action, quick recovery, and organ-independent metabolism. Older patients tend to sustain more treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and worse perioperative prognoses after receiving remimazolam. However, few studies have investigated the appropriate dose of remimazolam for loss of consciousness (LOC) in geriatric patients. We designed this study to provide evidence for dose references and elucidate the relationship between age and remimazolam requirement for inducing LOC during anaesthesia induction. Methods: Exactly 120 patients scheduled for general surgery under general anaesthesia were included and divided into two groups: Group A (60 patients, 18-64 years) and Group B (60 patients, ≥ 65 years). LOC, defined as a Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation score at 1 had been reached, emerged after all participants received a continuous infusion of remimazolam at a rate of 0.05 mg/kg/min. Results: The remimazolam required for inducing LOC was 0.26 and 0.19 mg/kg in groups A and B, respectively, and the remimazolam dose in group B decreased by 26.9% compared to group A. According to the bivariate linear correlation analysis, remimazolam requirement was negatively correlated with age. Multivariable linear regression models and further adjustments for potential impact factors indicated that age was an independent factor for the remimazolam dose required for LOC. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that age was significantly and independently correlated with the remimazolam requirement for inducing LOC. To obtain haemodynamic stability during the induction of general anaesthesia, appropriately reducing the remimazolam dose is recommended for geriatric patients.

Paenibacillus thermotolerans sp. nov., isolated from a hot spring in Yunnan Province, south-west China.

Two Gram-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming strains, YIM B05601 and YIM B05602T, were isolated from soil sampled at Hamazui hot spring, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province, PR China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that the two strains fell within the genus Paenibacillus, appearing most closely related to Paenibacillus alkalitolerans YIM B00362T (96.9 % sequence similarity). Genome-based phylogenetic analysis confirmed that strains YIM B05601 and YIM B05602T formed a distinct phylogenetic cluster within the genus Paenibacillus. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values of strains YIM B05601 and YIM B05602T with the related species P. alkalitolerans YIM B00362T were within the ranges of 74.43-74.57 % and 12.1-18.5 %, respectively, which clearly indicated that strains YIM B05601, YIM B05602T represented a novel species. Strains YIM B05601 and YIM B05602T exhibited 99.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The ANI and dDDH values between the two strains were 99.8 and 100 %, respectively, suggesting that they belong to the same species. Optimum growth for both strains occurred at pH 7.0 and 45 °C. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan of strains YIM B05601 and YIM B05602T was meso-diaminopimelic acid. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone. The polar lipids of strain YIM B05602T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, four unidentified glycolipids, an unidentified polarlipid and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The major fatty acids of the two stains were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. Based on phylogenomic and phylogenetic analyses coupled with phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterizations, strains YIM B05601 and YIM B05602T could be classified as a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus thermotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM B05602T (=CGMCC 1.60051T=KCTC 43460T=NBRC 115924T).

Association of age at diagnosis of diabetes with subsequent risk of age-related ocular diseases and vision acuity.

BACKGROUND: The importance of age on the development of ocular conditions has been reported by numerous studies. Diabetes may have different associations with different stages of ocular conditions, and the duration of diabetes may affect the development of diabetic eye disease. While there is a dose-response relationship between the age at diagnosis of diabetes and the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, whether the age at diagnosis of diabetes is associated with incident ocular conditions remains to be explored. It is unclear which types of diabetes are more predictive of ocular conditions. AIM: To examine associations between the age of diabetes diagnosis and the incidence of cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and vision acuity. METHODS: Our analysis was using the UK Biobank. The cohort included 8709 diabetic participants and 17418 controls for ocular condition analysis, and 6689 diabetic participants and 13378 controls for vision analysis. Ocular diseases were identified using inpatient records until January 2021. Vision acuity was assessed using a chart. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 11.0 years, 3874, 665, and 616 new cases of cataract, glaucoma, and AMD, respectively, were identified. A stronger association between diabetes and incident ocular conditions was observed where diabetes was diagnosed at a younger age. Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) diagnosed at < 45 years [HR (95%CI): 2.71 (1.49-4.93)], 45-49 years [2.57 (1.17-5.65)], 50-54 years [1.85 (1.13-3.04)], or 50-59 years of age [1.53 (1.00-2.34)] had a higher risk of AMD independent of glycated haemoglobin. T2D diagnosed < 45 years [HR (95%CI): 2.18 (1.71-2.79)], 45-49 years [1.54 (1.19-2.01)], 50-54 years [1.60 (1.31-1.96)], or 55-59 years of age [1.21 (1.02-1.43)] was associated with an increased cataract risk. T2D diagnosed < 45 years of age only was associated with an increased risk of glaucoma [HR (95%CI): 1.76 (1.00-3.12)]. HRs (95%CIs) for AMD, cataract, and glaucoma associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were 4.12 (1.99-8.53), 2.95 (2.17-4.02), and 2.40 (1.09-5.31), respectively. In multivariable-adjusted analysis, individuals with T2D diagnosed < 45 years of age [ß 95%CI: 0.025 (0.009,0.040)] had a larger increase in LogMAR. The ß (95%CI) for LogMAR associated with T1D was 0.044 (0.014, 0.073). CONCLUSION: The younger age at the diagnosis of diabetes is associated with a larger relative risk of incident ocular diseases and greater vision loss.

New Analogues of Amides and Quinolinones Produced by Streptomyces sp. YIM S01983.

Streptomide (1), a new amide analogue, streptomynone (2), a new quinolinone, and ten known compounds including three aliphatic acids (3-5), two amides (6-7), four cyclic dipeptides (8-11), and an adenosine (12) were isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. YIM S01983 isolated from a sediment sample collected in Bendong Village, Huadong Town, Chuxiong, China. Their structures were determined by analysis of the 1D/2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra. Compound 12 presented weak antimicrobial activities against Candida albicans and Aligenes faecalis (MIC=64 µg/mL). Compounds 7 and 12 showed weak cytotoxic activity against MHCC97H.

Cardiotoxicity induced by fluoropyrimidine drugs in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors.

In this editorial, we review the article published in World J Gastrointest Oncol 2019, 11: 1031-1042. We specifically focus on the occurrence, clinical characteristics, and risk factors of fluoropyrimidine drug-related cardiotoxicity in patients with gastrointestinal tumors. Despite significant advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques that have reduced mortality rates associated with digestive system tumors, the incidence and mortality rates of treatment-related cardiotoxicity have been increasing, severely impacting the survival and prognosis of cancer patients. Fluoropyrimidine drugs are widely used as antimetabolites in the treatment of malignant tumors, including gastrointestinal tumors, and they represent the second largest class of drugs associated with cardiotoxicity. However, there is often a lack of awareness or understanding regarding their cardiotoxic effects and associated risks.

Solibacillus ferritrahens sp. nov., a novel siderophore-producing bacterium isolated from Wumeng Mountain National Nature Reserve in Yunnan Province.

A gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterial strain capable of producing siderophores, named YIM B08730T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Wumeng Mountain National Nature Reserve, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province. Growth occurred at 10-45 °C (optimum, 35-40 â„ƒ), pH 7.0-9.0 (optimum, 7.0) and in the presence of 0-5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0-1 %, w/v). A comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence (1558 bp) of strain YIM B08730T showed the highest similarity to Solibacillus isronensis JCM 13838T (96.2 %), followed by Solibacillus silvestris DSM 12223T (96.0 %) and Solibacillus kalamii ISSFR-015T (95.4 %). The main polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and one unidentified lipid. The main respiratory quinone of strain YIM B08730T was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0 and C16:1ω7c alcohol. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain YIM B08730T and the reference strain S. isronensis JCM 13838T were 24.8 % and 81.2 %, respectively. The G + C content of the genomic DNA was 37.1 mol%. The genome of the novel strain contained genes associated with the production of siderophores, and it also revealed other functional gene clusters involved in plant growth promotion and soil bioremediation. Based on these phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain YIM B08730T is considered to be a novel species of the genus Solibacillus, for which the name Solibacillus ferritrahens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM B08730T (= NBRC 116268T = CGMCC 1.60169T).

[Preparation and effectiveness evaluation of placebo of Jiawei Ermiao Granules].

This study explored the preparation process of the placebo of Jiawei Ermiao Granules and evaluated the placebo effect, aiming to provide qualified placebo samples for clinical trials of Jiawei Ermiao Granules and a reference for the preparation and quality evaluation of placebos of traditional Chinese medicine granules. On the basis of the comprehensive analysis results of Jiawei Ermiao Granules, the orthogonal experiment was conducted to optimize the flavoring agents and colorants. After manual evaluation, the placebo formula was determined as dextrin 10 g, Codonopsis Radix extract 5.0 g, bitter melon extract 1.6 g, Mume Fructus extract 0.3 g, stevioside 0.1 g, sucrose octaacetate 0.004 g, indigo 0.004 g, lemon yellow 0.003 1 g, sunset yellow 0.001 8 g, bitter tea powder 0.001 8 g, caramel 0.001 3 g. Pilot trials were conducted on the placebo formula. The simulation effect of placebo was evaluated independently and comparatively, and the objectively evaluated by electronic nose and electronic tongue. The results showed that the independent manual evaluation of the placebo formula had higher error rate, and the placebo and Jiawei Ermiao Granules showed the similarity of 99.61% in the comparative manual evaluation. The smell similarity between the placebo and Jiawei Ermiao Granules was 99.19%, and the electronic tongue test showed little difference in the taste. In conclusion, the placebo prepared in this study shows a high similarity to Jiawei Ermiao Granules, which is not easy to break the blindness when being applied to clinical trials. This study provides a reference for the preparation and quality evaluation and promotes the large-scale production of placebos of traditional Chinese medicine granules, playing a role in improving the persuasiveness and acceptance of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines.

Mycolicibacterium arseniciresistens sp. nov., isolated from lead-zinc mine tailing, and reclassification of two Mycobacterium species as Mycolicibacterium palauense comb. nov. and Mycolicibacterium grossiae comb. nov.

A Gram-positive, acid-fast, aerobic, rapidly growing and non-motile strain was isolated from lead-zinc mine tailing sampled in Lanping, Yunnan province, Southwest China. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the most closely related species of strain KC 300T was Mycolicibacterium litorale CGMCC 4.5724T (98.47 %). Additionally, phylogenomic and specific conserved signature indel analysis revealed that strain KC 300T should be a member of genus Mycolicibacterium, and Mycobacterium palauense CECT 8779T and Mycobacterium grossiae DSM 104744T should also members of genus Mycolicibacterium. The genome size of strain KC 300T was 6.2 Mb with an in silico DNA G+C content of 69.2 mol%. Chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain KC 300T were also consistent with the genus Mycolicibacterium. The average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average amino acid identity values, as well as phenotypic, physiological and biochemical characteristics, support that strain KC 300T represents a new species within the genus Mycolicibacterium, for which the name Mycolicibacterium arseniciresistens sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain KC 300T (=CGMCC 1.19494T=JCM 35915T). In addition, we reclassified Mycobacterium palauense and Mycobacterium grossiae as Mycolicibacterium palauense comb. nov. and Mycolicibacterium grossiae comb. nov., respectively.

A longitudinal epidemiology study of fluoroquinolone-nonsusceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae reveals an increasing prevalence of qnrB and qnrS in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes in fluoroquinolone-nonsusceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae (FQNSKP) in Taiwan, 1999-2022. METHODS: A total of 938 FQNSKP isolates were identified from 1966 isolates. The presence of PMQR and virulence genes, antimicrobial susceptibility, capsular types, and PMQR-plasmid transferability were determined. RESULTS: An increasing number of PMQR-containing FQNSKP isolates were observed over the study period. Our results showed that 69.0% (647 isolates) of FQNSKP isolates contained at least one PMQR gene, and 40.6%, 37.0%, and 33.9% of FQNSKP carried aac(6')-Ib-cr, qnrB, and qnrS, respectively. None of FQNSKP carried qepA and qnrC. The most common combination of PMQR genes was aac(6')-Ib-cr and qnrB (12.3%). The presence of PMQR genes is strongly related to resistance to aminoglycoside, cephalosporin, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim in FQNSKP. The capsular serotype K64 is the most common serotype we tested in both the non-PMQR and PMQR FQNSKP isolates, while K20 showed a higher prevalence in PMQR isolates. The magA and peg-344 genes showed a significantly higher prevalence rate in non-PMQR isolates than in PMQR isolates. Eleven isolates that carried the PMQR and carbapenemase genes were identified; however, three successful transconjugants showed that the PMQR and carbapenemase genes were not located on the same plasmid. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated an increasing prevalence of PMQR genes, especially qnrB and qnrS, in FQNSKP in Taiwan. Moreover, the distribution of PMQR genes was associated with capsular serotypes and antimicrobial resistance gene and virulence gene distribution in FQNSKP.

The function of carnosic acid in lipopolysaccharides-induced hepatic and intestinal inflammation in poultry.

Inflammatory processes are often accompanied by oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, which might lead to cellular and organ damage. Carnosic acid (CA), an active component found in rosemary, exhibits pharmacological properties including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. The aim of this research was to investigate whether CA can mitigate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in poultry and to understand its underlying mechanisms. We administered CA to broiler chickens via oral gavage and treated them with LPS, followed by analysis of the effects of different dosages of CA on body weight, antioxidative capacity, and inflammatory factors. Carnosic acid had no significant impact on the body weight of broiler chickens. However, serum analysis indicated that the middle dose of CA effectively enhanced the antioxidative capacity and reduced levels of oxidative stress and inflammation-related factors. Moreover, in the liver, CA demonstrated the ability to regulate the expression of proteins such as heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38), suggesting its protective role against liver damage induced by LPS. In the intestinal tract of broiler chickens, CA regulated the expression and localization of proteins including HSP60, HSP70, NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2 (Nrf2), and P38, while also influencing the expression of inflammatory markers such as protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C (CD45), and connexin (Cx). These findings revealed the potential protective mechanisms of CA in alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory damage induced by LPS in poultry. Carnosic acid notably enhanced the chickens' antioxidative capacity by modulating the expression of key proteins, thereby reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory response levels. This study provides a deeper comprehension of the protective mechanisms of CA and its potential impact on avian health.

Consumption of a Taiwanese cafeteria diet induces metabolic disorders and fecal flora changes in obese rats.

OBJECTIVES: Among diet-induced obesity animal models, the cafeteria diet, which contains human junk food and processed foods, is a popular experimental animal diets in Western countries. Consumption of a cafeteria diet can lead to the development of obesity and non-alcoholic liver disease in as soon as 2 mo, which more accurately reflects human eating patterns. The aim of this study was to establish a Taiwanese cafeteria diet and compare it with a traditional lard-based, 60% high-fat diet in a 12-wk animal model. METHODS: Six-wk-old male Wistar rats were assigned to the following three groups: control diet (C; LabDiet 5001); high-fat diet (HFD; 60% HFD); and the Taiwanese cafeteria diet (CAF). RESULTS: At the end of the study, weight gain and steatosis were observed in the HF and CAF groups. Compared with the HFD group, rats in the CAF group showed significantly higher plasma triacylglycerol concentrations and insulin resistance, which may have been correlated with increased inflammatory responses. Significantly lower hepatic sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and insulin receptor substrate-1 protein expressions were observed in the CAF group compared with the HFD group. Additionally, disruption of the microbiotic composition followed by increased obesity-related bacteria was observed in the CAF group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed that the Taiwanese cafeteria diet-induced rat model provided a potential platform for investigating obesity-related diseases.

Heart rhythm complexity analysis in patients with inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Heart rhythm complexity (HRC), a subtype of heart rate variability (HRV), is an important tool to investigate cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to analyze serial changes in HRV and HRC metrics in patients with inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) within 1 year postinfarct and explore the association between HRC and postinfarct left ventricular (LV) systolic impairment. We prospectively enrolled 33 inferior STEMI patients and 74 control subjects and analyzed traditional linear HRV and HRC metrics in both groups, including detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and multiscale entropy (MSE). We also analyzed follow-up postinfarct echocardiography for 1 year. The STEMI group had significantly lower standard deviation of RR interval (SDNN), and DFAα2 within 7 days postinfarct (acute stage) comparing to control subjects. LF power was consistently higher in STEMI group during follow up. The MSE scale 5 was higher at acute stage comparing to control subjects and had a trend of decrease during 1-year postinfarct. The MSE area under scale 1-5 showed persistently lower than control subjects and progressively decreased during 1-year postinfarct. To predict long-term postinfarct LV systolic impairment, the slope between MSE scale 1 to 5 (slope 1-5) had the best predictive value. MSE slope 1-5 also increased the predictive ability of the linear HRV metrics in both the net reclassification index and integrated discrimination index models. In conclusion, HRC and LV contractility decreased 1 year postinfarct in inferior STEMI patients, and MSE slope 1-5 was a good predictor of postinfarct LV systolic impairment.

H/F Substitution Achieved Enantiomeric Organic Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites and Trigonal Structure [DMFP]3(CdBr3)(CdBr4).

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) have been emerging as a hot research topic due to their potential applications in energy storage, semiconductors, and electronic devices. Herein, we systematically investigated the synthesis and phase transition behaviors of the enantiomeric OIHPs, (R) and (S)-N,N-dimethyl-3-fluoropyrrolidinium cadmium bromide ([DMFP][CdBr3]), and the hybrid trigonal structure [DMFP]3 (CdBr3)(CdBr4). The enantiomers have a mirror-symmetric structure and enhanced solid-state phase transition points of 417 and 443 K, in contrast to the nonfluorinated parent compound, N,N-dimethyl-pyrrolidinium cadmium bromide ([DMP][CdBr3], 385 K). Moreover, racemic H/F substitution on the pyrrolidinium cations leads to the formation of a trigonal compound, showing above-room-temperature structural phase transition and dominant ferroelasticity. This work discovers chiral enantiomeric OIHPs through H/F substitution, demonstrating a useful chemical synthesis strategy for exploring novel phase transition materials.

[Research Advances in Barrier Technology of Paddy Soil Co-contaminated with As and Cd].

Arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) are the most common toxic and harmful heavy metal elements in paddy soils and are easily transferred from the soil to grains. At present, As and Cd and their co-contamination in paddy soils in China are widespread, posing a serious threat to food security and human health. As and Cd have opposite environmental behaviors in soil, and the simultaneous remediation of co-contamination with As and Cd is a current technical difficulty for safe rice production. This review focuses on several practical techniques for simultaneous mitigation of As and Cd uptake and transport in rice in recent years, including water management, passivation, drenching techniques, electrokinetic remediation, phytoremediation, selection of low-accumulation rice varieties, and foliar spraying application. The treatment effects, mechanisms of action, and constraints of various technologies are summarized and analyzed; the development direction of the main barrier control technologies is proposed and the importance of constructing a comprehensive technology model with high regional adaptability is emphasized to provide a reference for the remediation of co-contamination with As and Cd in paddy and safe rice production.