Origin traceability of Cordyceps sinensis based on trace elements and stable isotope fingerprints.

Cordyceps sinensis is a kind of valuable Chinese herbal medicine, and its quality and price depend on the place of origin. Building a traceability system for Cordyceps sinensis products is an effective way to protect Cordyceps sinensis geographical indication products and consumers. In this study, concentrations of 45 trace elements and stable C, N, and Pb isotopes were used to distinguish Cordyceps sinensis samples from different habitats and different varieties (natural and artificial). The results showed that there were significant differences in the isotope compositions of N and Pb and trace elements contents in the Cordyceps sinensis samples from different sources. Stepwise discriminant analysis was used to select effective traceability indicators, and three discriminant models were successfully established. A combination of Co, Sr, Cu, Tl, and Zr indexes was selected to distinguish the naturally grown samples from the artificially cultivated ones, with an overall cross-validation correctness rate of 90.0 %; while a combination of As, Cu, Rb, Tl, W, and Zr indexes was adopted to distinguish the naturally grown samples from different regions, with a corresponding 100.0 % overall cross-validation correctness rate. To simultaneously distinguish samples between natural and artificial and between different regions, a combination of As, Cu, Rb, Tl, U, W, and δ15N indexes was employed, with an overall cross-validation correctness rate of 89.3 %.

Study of the method of spinal cord neuron culture in Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study aimed to explore the method of culture of spinal cord neurons (SPNs) in vitro and to provide prerequisites for studying the molecular mechanism and pharmacological mechanism of spinal cord injury and repair. The spinal cord tissues of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were taken and digested by trypsin, followed by cytarabine (Ara-C) to inhibit the proliferation of heterogeneous cells, differential velocity adhesion, and natural growth in neuron-specific medium. Then, the morphology of SPNs was observed. Ara-C treatment inhibited the growth of heterogeneous cells and the growth of spinal neurons. Using the differential velocity adhesion method, it was found that the adhesion time of heterogeneous cells and SPNs was not significantly different, and it could not separate neurons and heterogeneous cells well. A large number of mixed cells gathered and floated, and died on the 18th day. Compared with the 20th day, the cell viability of the 18th day was better (p < 0.001). The natural growth and culture of SPNs in Neurobasal-A medium can yield neurons of higher purity and SPNs from the 12th day to the 18th day can be selected for related in vitro cell experiments.

Analysis of the distribution of adult height standard deviation scores in relation to prepubertal height standard deviation scores using longitudinal growth data: -Investigation of the catch-up rates of children with short stature to attain normal adult height.

Using the longitudinal growth data of 13,809 individuals in the Akita Prefecture, the percentage distributions of their adult height (AH) standard deviation scores (SDS) in relation to their prepubertal height SDS were obtained. The AH SDS increased with negative prepubertal height SDS and decreased with positive prepubertal height SDS, showing that a greater amount of change was associated with a greater interval of the prepubertal height SDS from the mean. The proportions of individuals who achieved normal AH stratified by prepubertal height SDS were as follows: 67.1%, in the group with prepubertal height SDS of -2.5 < to ≤ -2.0 SD, 46.0% in the group with -3.0 < to ≤ -2.5 SD, 75.2% in the group with +2.0 ≤ to < +2.5 SD, and 55.1% in the group with +2.5 ≤ to < +3.0 SD. Of all participants with short stature at prepuberty, 58.4%, 33.8%, 8.3%, and 0% of those with prepubertal height SDS of ≤ -2.0 SD, ≤ -2.5 SD, ≤ -3.0 SD, and ≤ -3.5 SD attained normal AH, respectively. On average, it is difficult for children with prepubertal height SDS of ≤ -2.5 SD to attain normal AH.

Treatment effects after maxillary expansion using invisalign first system vs. acrylic splint expander in mixed dentition: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Invisalign First System (First) is a new type of orthodontic appliance for maxillary arch expansion in mixed dentition children. Till now, few studies have evaluated the expansion effects of First versus other appliances. What's more, most studies of arch expansion did not include a natural group to rule out growth effects. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the dental and dentoalveolar effects using First or acrylic splint rapid maxillary expander (RME) in adolescents excluding growth factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After screening by strict inclusion criteria and propensity score matching (PSM), fifty-one patients were included: First group (n = 17), RME group (n = 17), and natural growth (NG) group (n = 17). Nine indicators including dental arch width, dentoalveolar arch width, and inclination of the molars were measured on digital dental casts at baseline (T0) and six-month follow-up (T1). Paired t-tests were used for intra-group results, and two-sample independent t-tests were used for inter-group comparisons. RESULTS: There was no significant increase in all indicators within six months in the NG group (p > 0.05). In the First group and RME group, all width indicators were significantly increased after treatment (p < 0.05). The RME group exhibited greater expansion than the First group in intercanine width, first interpremolar width, second interdeciduous molar width, first intermolar width, arch perimeter, intercanine dentoalveolar width, intermolar dentoalveolar width, and inclination of the molars (p < 0.05). Whereas, there was no significant difference in arch depth between the two treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both First and RME can expand the maxillary arch in mixed dentition. In case of mild to moderate maxillary transverse deficiency (MTD), Invisalign First System could be a reasonable option. RME shows significant better efficiency of dental arch expansion than First, recommended for patients with severe MTD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This prospective study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (01/02/2022, registration number: ChiCTR2200056220). The trial was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Hunan Xiangya Stomatological Hospital Central South University (20,200,088), and informed consent was obtained from all subjects and their legal guardian(s).

ß-sitosterol as an alternative to oxytetracycline: Effect on growth performance, feed intake and utilization efficiency and viscera macromorphometry of Cobb 500 broiler chickens.

Antibiotics are used to fortify broiler chicken feeds as growth promoters. Chronic antibiotic use pollutes the environment and causes the development of antibiotic resistance. Natural alternatives that mimic the properties of antibiotics, without causing health and environmental challenges are required. ß-sitosterol has antimicrobial, antioxidant, digestive and immune system modulating and growth stimulating activities. We evaluated its potential to replace oxytetracycline as a growth-promoter in broiler chicken feeds. Two hundred and forty, one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four diets where ß-sitosterol replaced oxytetracycline at 0 mg/kg (control; fortified with 50 mg/kg oxytetracycline), 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg and 1500 mg/kg (w/w) feed and fed for 6 weeks: 2 weeks for each growth phase. Each diet was replicated thrice with 20 chicks per replicate. Initial, weekly and terminal body mass (TBM) and daily feed intake (FI) were measured. Body mass gain (BMG), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio were computed. Terminally, the chickens were fasted for 4 h then slaughtered and dressed. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and GIT accessory viscera masses and small and large intestine lengths were measured. Dietary fortification with ß-sitosterol had similar effects (P > 0.05) to oxytetracycline on the chickens' TBM, BMG, ADG, FI and utilisation efficiency and GIT organ macromorphometry. In conclusion, ß-sitosterol can replace oxytetracycline in Cobb 500 broiler chicken feeds without compromising growth performance, feed intake and utilisation efficiency and GIT organ growth and development.

[The natality and mortality of population in various social economic regions of the Far North].

The issues of improving demographic situation in Russia at large and in its particular subjects are of special actuality. Therefore, the study was carried out concerning actual characteristics of population natural movement with consideration of regional specifics of the northern and eastern territories of the country. Nowadays, in Far North regions, Arctic and Sub-Arctic territories, Far East territories that occupy almost 2/3 of the area of the Russian Federation reside less than 10% of total population. By virtue of immense industrial and resource potential of these regions, the issue of natural population increase in the northern and arctic territories is of strategic importance for the Russian Federation. The entire territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is included in the Far North regions. The demographic situation in this territory is determined both by processes of national level and specific climatic, economic and other conditions specific for northern and arctic territories. The study was carried out to comparatively analyze indices of population natural movement in various social economic regions of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) such as arctic, agricultural and industrial, including Yakutsk. It was established that most unfavorable demographic situation from point of view of processes of population natural reproduction is observed in industrial regions, where lowest natality indices are observed at high mortality rates. The highest natality indices were noted in agricultural regions. The highest mortality indices were specific for Arctic and industrial regions and the lowest ones for Yakutsk. Since 2014, occurs slowdown of natural population increase in all groups of regions, while in industrial areas in 2006 and 2020, natural population loss was recorded. The revealed differences in medical and demographic indices are a basis of implementation of regional programs targeted to development of social economic living conditions and improvement of demographic policy in regions of the Far North.

Growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, gut microflora and ghrelin gene expression analysis of broiler by supplementing natural growth promoters: A nutrigenomics approach.

In an epoch of escalating number of antibiotic-resistance bacteria, there is a dire need to develop efficient and novel feeding strategies for animal nutrition as alternatives to antibiotics. Here, implicating nutrigenomic approach, phytobiotics and organic acids were used to evaluate ghrelin gene expression levels, gut microflora composition, performance parameters and intestinal histomorphological changes in broiler chickens. One-day-old chicks (n = 315) were reared for 42 days and distributed randomly into five experimental groups; each with three replicates (21 birds per replicate). Experimental groups were control: basal diet only, antimicrobial growth promoter: 40 g/metric ton of basal diet (virginiamycin), organic acids: 4 kg/metric ton of basal diet, phytobiotics: 3 kg/metric ton of basal diet, combination: 7 kg/metric ton of basal diet (organic acids 4 kg and phytobiotics 3 kg metric ton of feed). Growth performance, histological and ghrelin gene expression analysis were executed on 21 and 42 days while, quantitative bacterial analysis of cecum and ileum was performed on day 42. Increased feed intake and body weight (p < 0.05) were noticed in phytobiotics group. Addition of phytobiotics significantly improved (p < 0.05) villus height and ratio of villus height/crypt depth in ileum, jejunum, and duodenum and down-regulated ghrelin gene expression levels. Total coliform and Escherichia coli in cecal and ileal digesta were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in organic acids group. Correlation analysis revealed Lactobacillus spp. were positively correlated to villus height/crypt depth ration in duodenum. The findings indicated the importance of gene-nutrient-microbiota interactions based on nutrigenomics approach. Hence, phytobiotics and organic acids might be suitable alternatives to antibiotics for improved performance and immunity, along with healthier meat production in poultry.

Field demonstration of irradiated sodium alginate as tea production booster.

Sodium alginate oligomers were tested for tea plant growth promoter and anti-fungal agent in this experiment. Sodium alginate solutions were irradiated by Co-60 gamma radiation with different radiation doses to produce the oligomers. Irradiated solutions were then diluted into 150, 300 and 500 ppm prior to foliar application. Solutions were applied through foliar spraying at 7 days interval and the best response of tea plants in terms of various attributes were recorded. Tea buds were collected in 10 days of interval and the growth attributes like- total number of buds, fresh weight of buds, average leaf area and weight per bud, weight of made tea etc. were calculated. The experiment was continued up to 12 weeks and the attributes were averaged to get results per plucking. 12 kGy radiation doses along with 300ppm solution showed the best results and about 36% increase in productivity was found based on the fresh weight of buds. Total fungal count in tea leaves was also found to be reduced greatly. Based on the present study, irradiated sodium alginate could be used as safe and environmentally friendly agent to increase tea production.

Reaching Natural Growth: The Significance of Light and Temperature Fluctuations in Plant Performance in Indoor Growth Facilities.

Recommendations for near-natural plant growth under indoor conditions have been described without considering environmental fluctuations, which might have important consequences for researchers and plant producers when comparing results from indoor facilities with natural ecosystems or production. Previous authors proposed that differences in temperature, light quantity, and the lack of their variation are sources of deviations between indoor and outdoor experiments. Here, we investigated the effect of fluctuating light, temperature, and humidity in an indoor environment on plant performance. Seven plant species from different functional plant types were grown outdoors during summer and spring. The same species were then grown in indoor growth chambers under different scenarios of climate complexity in terms of fluctuations of temperature, air humidity, and light: 1) fixed night and day conditions, 2) daily sinusoidal changes, and 3) variable conditions tracking the climate records from the field trials. In each scenario, the average of the environmental variables was the same as in the respective field trial. Productivity-, gas exchange-, and leaf pigment-traits were measured in all plants at the end of the experiments. The plant trait responses were highly dependent on species and treatment, but general trends were observed. The variable condition yielded lower biomass compared to the fixed and sinusoidal conditions, together with a higher specific leaf area and increased chlorophyll concentrations. A principal component analysis (PCA) across all plant traits in response to climatic conditions suggested that at least a sinusoidal fluctuation is recommended for a more natural-like plant performance in indoor growth facilities. However, prevailing significant differences for several traits between field- and indoor-grown plants even under variable climates indicate that additional factors other than those controllable in standard phytotrons (e.g., wind speed and direction, leaf and soil temperature) can still significantly bias plant performance in indoor facilities.

The Natural Growth of Subsolid Nodules Predicted by Quantitative Initial CT Features: A Systematic Review.

Background: The detection rate for pulmonary nodules, particularly subsolid nodules (SSNs), has been significantly improved. The purpose of this review is to summarize the relationship between quantitative features of initial CT imaging and the subsequent natural growth of SSNs to explore potential reasons for these findings. Methods: Relevant studies were collected from a literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Data extraction was performed on the patients' basic information, CT methods, and acquisition methods, including quantitative CT features, and statistical methods. Results: A total of 10 relevant articles were included in our review, which included 850 patients with 1,026 SSNs. Overall, the results were variable, and the key findings were as follows. Seven studies looked at the relationship between the diameter and growth of SSNs, showing that SSNs with larger diameters were associated with increased growth. An additional three studies which focused on the relationship between CT attenuation and the growth of SSNs showed that SSNs with a high CT attenuation were associated with increased growth. Conclusion: CT attenuation may be useful in predicting the natural growth of SSNs, and mean CT attenuation may be more useful in predicting the natural growth of pure ground glass nodules (GGNs) than part-solid GGNs. While evaluation by diameter did have some limitations, it demonstrates value in predicting the growth of SSNs.

Essential Oils as a Feed Additives: Pharmacokinetics and Potential Toxicity in Monogastric Animals.

Essential oils (EOs) are now a hot topic in finding modern substitutes for antibiotics. Many studies have shown positive results and confirmed their high antibacterial activity both in vitro and in vivo. Deservedly, there is an attempt to use EOs as a substitute for antibiotics, which are currently limited by legislation in animal breeding. Given the potential of EOs, studies on their fate in the body need to be summarized. The content of EO's active substances varies depending on growing conditions and consequently on processing and storage. Their content also changes dynamically during the passage through the gastrointestinal tract and their effective concentration can be noticeably diluted at their place of action (small intestine and colon). Based on the solubility of the individual EO's active substances, they are eliminated from the body at different rates. Despite a strong antimicrobial effect, some oils can be toxic to the body and cause damage to the liver, kidneys, or gastrointestinal tissues. Reproductive toxicity has been reported for Origanum vulgare and Mentha arvensis. Several publications also address the effect on the genome. It has been observed that EOs can show both genoprotective effects (Syzygium aromaticum) and genotoxicity, as is the case of Cinnamomum camphor. This review shows that although oils are mainly studied as promising antimicrobials, it is also important to assess animal safety.

Robust Cochlear Modiolar Axis Detection in CT.

The cochlea, the auditory part of the inner ear, is a spiral-shaped organ with large morphological variability. An individualized assessment of its shape is essential for clinical applications related to tonotopy and cochlear implantation. To unambiguously reference morphological parameters, reliable recognition of the cochlear modiolar axis in computed tomography (CT) images is required. The conventional method introduces measurement uncertainties, as it is based on manually selected and difficult to identify landmarks. Herein, we present an algorithm for robust modiolar axis detection in clinical CT images. We define the modiolar axis as the rotation component of the kinematic spiral motion inherent in the cochlear shape. For surface fitting, we use a compact shape representation in a 7-dimensional kinematic parameter space based on extended Plücker coordinates. It is the first time such a kinematic representation is used for shape analysis in medical images. Robust surface fitting is achieved with an adapted approximate maximum likelihood method assuming a Student-t distribution, enabling axis detection even in partially available surface data. We verify the algorithm performance on a synthetic data set with cochlear surface subsets. In addition, we perform an experimental study with four experts in 23 human cochlea CT data sets to compare the automated detection with the manually found axes. Axes found from co-registered high resolution µCT scans are used for reference. Our experiments show that the algorithm reduces the alignment error providing more reliable modiolar axis detection for clinical and research applications.

Análise e previsão demográfica utilizando matrizes de crescimento e distribuição populacional intermunicipal / Demographic analysis and forecasting using of inter-municipal population growth and distribution matrices / Análisis y previsión demográfica utilizando matrices de crecimiento y distribución intermunicipal de la población

Resumo Entre os desafios para a área de projeções demográficas estão a volatilidade do componente migratório - fundamental para a projeção de pequenas áreas -, a compatibilização entre projeções de pequenas e grandes áreas de forma consistente e a mensuração e inclusão da incerteza em cenários futuros de crescimento demográfico. O presente artigo lida com estes três desafios ao desenvolver e testar um novo método probabilístico de previsão populacional para os municípios paulistas. As vantagens do método proposto são: utilizar como insumo apenas as informações sobre o município de residência anterior e as distribuições populacionais dos últimos dois Censos; gerar intervalos de confiança para as populações projetadas; explicitar o papel dos fluxos migratórios na dinâmica de crescimento intermunicipal; e facilitar a elaboração de cenários contrafactuais e análises de sensitividade usando matrizes de crescimento multirregional. Descrevem-se os padrões e tendências das trocas migratórias municipais utilizando ferramentas de análise e visualização espacial e identificam-se as áreas nas quais a migração é responsável por parte considerável da dinâmica demográfica observada. Mais de 95% das 572 populações municipais paulistas projetadas tiveram boa precisão e localizaram-se dentro dos intervalos de confiança previstos. Utilizaram-se os dados dos Censos Demográficos de 1980, 1991 e 2000.

Abstract Challenges in the field of demographic projections include, among others, the volatility of the migration component - critical for the projection of small areas; the compatibility between projections of small and large areas; and the measurement and inclusion of uncertainty in future scenarios of population growth. This article presents a new probabilistic method to conduct interregional population forecasting dealing with these three challenges. The proposed method has the following advantages: 1) it only requires information about the last place of residence and the population distributions of the last two Censuses; 2) it generates confidence intervals for the projected populations; 3) it makes the role of migration flows in the growth dynamics explicit and; 4) it facilitates the elaboration of counterfactual scenarios and sensitivity analysis using matrices of interregional population growth and distribution. We describe the patterns and trends in migration flows in the state of São Paulo applying spatial visualization tools and identifying areas in which migration is responsible for considerable shares of the demographic dynamics. About 95% of the 572 municipal projected populations of São Paulo had good precision and were within expected confidence intervals. We used data from the 1980, 1991 and 2000 Brazilian Censuses.

Resumen Entre los desafíos en el campo de las proyecciones demográficas están la volatilidad del componente de migración - fundamental para la proyección de áreas pequeñas; la compatibilidad entre las proyecciones de las áreas grandes y pequeñas; y la medición y la inclusión de la incertidumbre en los escenarios futuros de crecimiento de la población. Este artículo presenta un nuevo método probabilístico para llevar a cabo las proyecciones de población interregional que se ocupa de estos tres desafíos. Las ventajas del método propuesto son: utilizar como entrada únicamente la información sobre el municipio de residencia y las distribuciones de población de los dos últimos censos; generar intervalos de confianza para la población proyectada; enfatizar el papel de la migración en la dinámica de crecimiento inter-municipal; y facilitar el desarrollo de escenarios hipotéticos y análisis de sensibilidad utilizando matrices de crecimiento multirregional. Describe los patrones y tendencias de los flujos migratorios en el estado de São Paulo aplicando herramientas de visualización espacial y identifica las áreas en que la migración se encarga de parte considerable de la dinámica demográfica observada. Más del 95% de las 572 poblaciones proyectadas de los municipios de São Paulo tuvieron buena precisión y se quedaron dentro de los intervalos de confianza especificados. Utilizamos los datos de los Censos de Brasil de 1980, 1991 y 2000.

Rate and time trend of perinatal, infant, maternal mortality, natality and natural population growth in kosovo.

AIM: THE AIM OF WORK HAS BEEN THE PRESENTATION OF THE RATE AND TIME TRENDS OF SOME INDICATORS OF THE HEATH CONDITION OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN IN KOSOVO: fetal mortality, early neonatal mortality, perinatal mortality, infant mortality, natality, natural growth of population etc. The treated patients were the newborn and infants in the post neonatal period, women during their pregnancy and those 42 days before and after the delivery. METHODS: THE DATA WERE TAKEN FROM: register of the patients treated in the Pediatric Clinic of Prishtina, World Health Organization, Mother and Child Health Care, Reproductive Health Care, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kosovo, Statistical Department of Kosovo, the National Institute of Public Health and several academic texts in the field of pediatrics. Some indicators were analyzed in a period between year 1945-2010 and 1950-2010, whereas some others were analyzed in a time period between year 2000 and 2011. RESULTS: The perinatal mortality rate in 2000 was 29.1‰, whereas in 2011 it was 18.7‰. The fetal mortality rate was 14.5‰ during the year 2000, whereas in 2011 it was 11.0‰, in 2000 the early neonatal mortality was 14.8‰, in 2011 it was 7.5‰. The infant mortality in Kosovo was 164‰ in 1950, whereas in 2010 it was 20.5‰. The most frequent causes of infant mortality have been: lower respiratory tract infections, acute infective diarrhea, perinatal causes, congenital malformations and unclassified conditions. Maternal death rate varied during this time period. Maternal death in 2000 was 23 whereas in 2010 only two cases were reported. Regarding the natality, in 1950 it reached 46.1 ‰, whereas in 2010 it reached 14‰, natural growth of population rate in Kosovo was 29.1‰ in 1950, whereas in 2011 it was 11.0‰. CONCLUSION: Perinatal mortality rate in Kosovo is still high in comparison with other European countries (Turkey and Kyrgyzstan have the highest perinatal mortality rate), even though it is in a continuous decrease. Infant mortality considerably decreased (from 164‰ in 1950 to 20.5‰ in 2010). The causes of infant mortality have still been tightly related with the causes of the developing countries. Next to this, natality and the natural population growth have experienced a considerably decrease in Kosovo. Even though there have been some improvements within the health care in Kosovo, there is still a lot to be done with the aim of constant improvement of health care in order to promote the health care for mothers and children.

Natural Growth Characteristics in C6 Glioma Model / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To establish C6 glioma model in rat brain and to study its biological behavior(such as the incidence of tumor development, the process of cell invasion pathological characteristics of C6 and neoangiogenesis, the spontaneous regression of experimental gliomas and the best experimental time window).Methods C6 tumor cells and DMEM were implanted into the right caudate of 50 male Wistar rats. 9 rats implanted DMEM is the control group. The animals were examined by MRI and pathological staining at postoperative day (POD) 3, 7, 14, 21,28, 35, and 50. Matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and CD31 immunohistochemistry staining were used to study the histopathological features of the developed tumor. Methodology, physical findings and biological behavior were also discussed. Results 45 Wistar rats survived after surgery and tolerated MRI procedures well. On POD 7, there was a focal signal at the implantation site. The C6 cells sprout to the surroundings along the nerve fiber. During the day 14～28, the tumor exhibited a marked increase in size with focal mass effect, and immunohistochemical-staining shows MMP-2 and CD31 is overexpression; C6 cells were aggregated and blood brain barrier were destroyed greatly. Most of the tumor bearing rats died within 30 days. But, C6 cells in the two rats retrogress spontaneously after more leucocytes rounded 28 days. HE staining shows tumors.Conclusion The characteristics of rat C6 brain tumor model mimicked the human tumor with respect to its development, progression, and invasion. Although, part of C6 tumor spontaneously regressed, it is a useful animal model of glioblastoma for pre-clinical evaluation of various therapeutic strategies for the management of glioblastoma. The best experimental time window is 14 to 28 days.