Anti-UV Microgel Based on Interfacial Polymerization to Decrease Skin Irritation of High Permeability UV Absorber Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC) is frequently employed as a photoprotective agent in sunscreen formulations. EHMC has been found to potentially contribute to health complications as a result of its propensity to produce irritation and permeate the skin. A microgel carrier, consisting of poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (pEDGMA), was synthesized using interfacial polymerization with the aim of reducing the irritation and penetration of EHMC. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the EHMC content accounted for 75.72% of the total composition. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images depicted the microgel as exhibiting a spherical morphology. In this study, the loading of EHMC was demonstrated through FTIR and contact angle tests. The UV resistance, penetration, and skin irritation of the EHMC-pEDGMA microgel were additionally assessed. The investigation revealed that the novel sunscreen compound, characterized by limited dermal absorption, had no irritant effects and offered sufficient protection against ultraviolet radiation.

Microemulsion of Cinnamon Essential Oil Formulated with Tea Polyphenols, Gallic Acid, and Tween 80: Antimicrobial Properties, Stability and Mechanism of Action.

The objective of this article was to combine tea polyphenols, gallic acid, and cinnamon essential oil to construct a natural extract-complex microemulsion system (NMs) with good antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, and stability, as well as low irritation. NMs were characterized by particle size distribution, electrical conductivity, and light transmittance. The stability, as well as the antimicrobial, antioxidant, irritation, and antimicrobial mechanisms, of NMs were also studied. The results showed that NMs had a significant antimicrobial function against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus brasiliensis. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were 156 µg/mL, 62.5 µg/mL, 125 µg/mL, 250 µg/mL, and 125 µg/mL, respectively. Through the cell membrane permeability test and growth curve test of bacteria and fungi, we concluded that the NMs' mechanism of action on bacteria and fungi could be interpreted as NMs mainly altering the permeability of cell membranes to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. The results of this study have important implications for utilizing plant extracts as natural preservatives for food and cosmetics.

Prognostic value of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio in esophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

In recent years, some studies suggested that the pretreatment C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) may be predictive for prognosis of esophageal cancer (EC), but their results were inconsistent. Therefore, the current meta-analysis was preformed to better determine the prognostic value of pretreatment CAR in EC. The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PubMed Central databases were searched up to January 10, 2019 to identify studies evaluating the correlation between CAR and prognosis of EC. The primary outcome was the overall survival (OS) and secondary outcomes were disease-free survival (DFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to estimate the predictive role of CAR for prognosis in EC. Based on the results of this research, a total of 11 studies with 2930 patients diagnosed as EC were included. Pooled results suggested that elevated pretreatment CAR was significantly associated with poor OS (HR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.31-2.47, P < .001) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 86.5%, P < .001) and poor CSS (HR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.33-2.22, P < .001) without heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%, P < .323); however, no significant association was observed between pretreatment CAR and DFS (HR = 1.41, 95% CI: 0.60-3.34, P = .429) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 76.7%, P < .038). Subgroup analyses further manifested that EC patients with higher CAR had worse OS. An elevated pretreatment CAR may indicate poor survival in patients with EC. Thus, pretreatment CAR may serve as a promising biomarker in EC and could be used to predict prognosis and help decision-making in clinical work.

Prognostic Value of Pretreatment Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Past evidence has shown that lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) could be considered as a potential prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted the current meta-analysis based on published studies to elucidate the prognostic value of pretreatment LMR on survival outcomes in NSCLC. Comprehensive searches of available electronic databases were implemented to identify potentially related studies that focused on the role of pretreatment LMR in predicting the prognosis of NSCLC patients. The hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to assess the association of pretreatment LMR with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A total of 20 articles including 8,304 patients were analyzed. Compared with patients with higher LMR, patients with lower LMR had poorer OS (HR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.44-1.85, p < 0.001) and PFS (HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.25-1.77, p < 0.001). The subgroup analysis outcomes were similar to the overall analysis. Pretreatment LMR may be a useful prognostic marker in patients with NSCLC. However, more well-designed studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Nitrogen balance of very preterm infants with extrauterine growth restriction.

Wu R, Li LH, Tian ZF, Xu WY, Hu JH, Liu YY. Nitrogen balance of very preterm infants with extrauterine growth restriction. Turk J Pediatr 2019; 61: 352-358. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of nitrogen balance in preterm infants with extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) during hospitalization. A total of 64 very preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Medical Center of Huai`an Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital were enrolled from May to October 2014. These infants had gestational ages less than 32 weeks and were within 24 hours after birth. The enrolled infants were classified into EUGR (n=18) and non EUGR (n=46) groups according to the discharge weight being below or above the 10th percentile of the expected intrauterine growth for the postmenstrual age. The urinary urea nitrogen of the infants were assayed by the Kjeldahl method and determined at 1st, 7th, 14th and 28th day after birth. Nitrogen balance at each time point was calculated and compared between the EUGR and non EUGR groups. The incidence rate of small for gestational age (SGA) infants (33.3% vs 0.0%) in the EUGR group was higher than that in non EUGR group. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The birth weight (1.37±0.20 vs 1.63±0.27) and birth weight Z-score (-1.14±0.29 vs-0.37±0.66) in the EUGR group were lower those in non EUGR group. The difference was statistically significant (all p < 0.05). At the 1st, 7th, 14th and 28th day after birth, nitrogen balance values of all infants were negative, showing an upward trend with age. At each observation time point, the nitrogen balance values in the EUGR group were lower than those in non-EUGR group. The differences on the 1st and 28th day between two groups were statistically significant (both p < 0.05), while those on the other time point were not statistically significant (both p > 0.05). All very preterm infants of study were in negative nitrogen balance while the infants of EUGR group had more seriously negative balance.

Characterization of char from slow pyrolysis of sewage sludge.

The effects of final pyrolysis temperature Tend from 300 ºC to 550 ºC, heating rates ß of 2 ºC/min, 3 ºC/min and 5 ºC/min, retention time RT from 45 min to 90 min, and the moisture content MC from 0 to 70% on characteristics of the pyrolysis char from sewage sludge were investigated using a tube furnace in this study. The resulting chars were characterized by sorption of nitrogen (surface area and pore volume). Their adsorption characteristics were evaluated via iodine value and methylene blue value. Either the pore structures or adsorption characteristics depend on the pyrolysis processing and moisture content of the sludge precursors. In terms of iodine value and surface area of the char, Tend of 450 ºC, RT of 75 min and ß of 3 ºC/min proved the optimum combination of pyrolysis parameters. The chars have an undeveloped mesopore and macropore structure and a developed micropore structure. The sodium phenoxide adsorption equilibrium data fit well with the Langmuir model of adsorption, suggesting monolayer coverage of sodium phenoxide molecules at the surface of the char. Its adsorption mechanism is mainly physical in nature, enhanced by chemisorption.

[Study on index components and fingerprints of crude and processed Siegesbeckia Herbs].

The change of kirenol, darutigenol and darutoside in Siegesbeckia and its first to ninth processed products were studied, and the ten fingerprints were compared, which provided the experimental basis for the study of Siegesbeckia processing tech- nology. The samples were analysed by HPLC on a SunFire-C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 µm) with gradient elution of acetonitrile (0.1% formic acid)-water (0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). Column temperaturewas 30 °C and the detected wavelength was 215, 320 nm. The calibration curves of kirenol, darutigenol and darutoside were linear in the range of 2.180-26.16, 2.900-34.80, and 1.012-6.072 mg x L(-1), respectively, and the average recoveries were 96.4%, 97.2% and 96.3% wit RSD 2.2%, 1.7% and 2.4%. This method was simple, the result was stable and had good repeatability, recovery and precision. The re- sult was the basis of the chemical contents variation in the processing of Siegesbeckia Herbs and further clarifying the effect of the changing.

[Quality survey of different species of clematidis radix et rhizoma].

Quality survey of different species of Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma was made by determining the content of hederagenin and oleanolic acid from Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma. The result showed that only a few samples of Clematis chinensis met the quality standard for Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma in Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010 Edition.

Skin texture parameters of the dorsal hand in evaluating skin aging in China.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: There are various non-invasive methods in skin morphology for assessing skin aging. The use of digital photography will make it easier and more convenient. In this study, we explored some skin texture parameters for evaluating skin aging using digital image processing. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-eight subjects who lived in Sanya, China, were involved. Individual sun exposure history and other factors influencing skin aging were collected by a questionnaire. Meanwhile, we took photos of their dorsal hands. Skin images were graded according to the Beagley-Gibson system. These skin images were also processed using image analysis software. Five skin texture parameters, Angle Num., Angle Max., Angle Diff., Distance and Grids, were produced in reference to the Beagley-Gibson system. RESULTS: All texture parameters were significantly associated with the Beagley-Gibson score. Among the parameters, the distance between primary lines (Distance) and the value of angle formed by intersection textures (Angle Max., Angle Diff.) were positively associated with the Beagley-Gibson score. However, there was a negative correlation between the number of grids (Grids), the number of angle (Angle Num.) and the Beagley-Gibson score. These texture parameters were also correlated with factors influencing skin aging such as sun exposure, age, smoking, drinking and body mass index. In multivariate analysis, Grids and Distance were mainly affected by age. But Angle Max. and Angle Diff. were mainly affected by sun exposure. CONCLUSION: It seemed that the skin surface morphologic parameters presented in our study reflect skin aging changes to some extent and could be used to describe skin aging using digital image processing.

Diurnal variations in solar ultraviolet radiation at typical anatomical sites.

OBJECTIVE: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an important environmental factor that affects human health. The understanding of diurnal variations of UV radiation at anatomical sites may be helpful in developing ways to protect humans from the harmful effects of UV radiation. METHODS: In order to characterize the diurnal variations, the UV exposure values were measured at 30 min intervals by using Solar-UV Sensors and a rotating manikin in Shenyang city of China (41 degrees 51'N, 123 degrees 27'E). Measurement data for four representative days (in each of the four seasons respectively) were analyzed. RESULTS: The diurnal variations in solar UV radiation at the shoulder, the forehead and the chest were similar to those associated with a horizontal control measurement. However, the diurnal variations at the eye and the cheek exhibited bimodal distributions with two peaks in spring, summer and autumn, and a unimodal distribution in winter. The UV exposure peaks at the eye and the cheek were measured at solar elevation angles (SEA) of about 30 degrees and 40 degrees , respectively. CONCLUSION: The protection of some anatomical sites such as the eye from high UV exposure should not be focused solely on the periods before and after noon, especially in the places and seasons with high SEA.

[Electrochemical disinfection using the gas diffusion electrode system].

Study on the electrochemical disinfection with the H2O2 produced at the gas diffusion electrode (GDE) prepared from active carbon/ poly-tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was performed in the non-membrane cell. The effects of PTFE mass fraction W(PTFE) and content of the pore-forming agent in GDE m(NH4CO3), operating conditions such as pH value and oxygen flow rate Q(o2)) on disinfection were investigated, respectively. The experimental results showed that H2 O2 reached peak production at W(PTFE) of 0.5 in GDE. Addition of the pore-forming agent in the appropriate amount improved the disinfection, and this phenomenon was more obvious at neutral pH than at acidic pH. BET specific area analysis indicated that the average pore size in the membrane electrode first decreased significantly with the increasing amount of pore-forming agent, and then increased moderately. This helped the mass transfer of oxygen at the GDE. Adsorption made little or no progress to kill the bacteria during the electrolysis. Drop of pH value resulted in a rapid rise of the germicidal efficacy. This system had a broad pH coverage: when total bacterial count in raw water was 10(6) CFU x mL(-1), pH 3-10,the germicidal efficacy was greater than 80% after 30 min electrolysis using the GDE with W(Pt) of 3 per thousand as cathode. Increase of the oxygen flow rate Q(o2) within limits had little influence on the production of H2 O2 and the succeeding disinfection. On one hand, resistance of the solution and energy consumption on the disinfection increased at high oxygen flow rate, which gave rise to an increase in the operating cost of disinfection with the GDE system; on the other hand, treatment time could be reduced reasonably at high oxygen flow rate, which leads to reduction of equipment investment. Killing mechanism study showed that the direct oxidation and formation of the free radicals at the anode played a greater role in the beginning, and then the oxidative indirect effect of the generated H2 O2 at the GDE enhanced rapidly with the prolonging of the reaction time. 30 min after electrolysis the germicidal efficacy in the anode compartment was almost the same as in the cathode compartment indicating that their contribution was similar at that time.

A novel C2-domain phospholipid-binding protein, OsPBP1, is required for pollen fertility in rice.

Pollen fertility is a crucial factor for successful pollination and essential for seed formation. Recent studies have suggested that a diverse range of internal and external factors, signaling components and their related pathways are likely involved in pollen fertility. Here, we report a single C2-domain containing protein, OsPBP1, initially identified through cDNA microarray analysis. OsPBP1 is a single copy gene and preferentially expressed in pistil and pollen but down-regulated by pollination. OsPBP1 had a calcium concentration-dependent phospholipid-binding activity and was localized mainly in cytoplasm and nucleus, but translocated onto the plasma membrane in response to an intracellular Ca(2+) increase. Pollen grains of antisense OsPBP1 transgenic lines were largely nonviable, germinated poorly in vitro and of low fertility. OsPBP1 protein was localized in a region peripheral to pollen wall and vesicles of elongating pollen tube, and its repressed expression reduced substantially this association and led to alteration of microfilament polymerization during pollen germination. Taken together, these results indicate that OsPBP1 is a novel functional C2-domain phospholipids-binding protein that is required for pollen fertility likely by regulating Ca(2+) and phospholipid signaling pathways.

Dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride by the catalyzed Fe-Cu process.

The electrochemical reduction characteristics of carbon tetrachloride (CT) were investigated using cyclic voltammetry in this study. In addition, the difference in reduction mechanisms of CT between Master Builders' iron and the catalyzed Fe-Cu process was discussed. The results showed that CT was reduced directly on the surface of copper rather than by atomic hydrogen produced at the cathode in the catalyzed Fe-Cu process. The reduction was realized largely by atomic hydrogen in Master Builders' iron. The entire CT in 350 ml aqueous solution with 320 mg/L was reduced to trichloromethane and dichloromethane in 2.25 h when 100 g of scrap iron with Fe/Cu ratio of 10:1 (w/w) were used. Moreover, the reduction rate slowed with time. CT could be reduced at acidic, neutral and alkaline pH from solution by Fe-Cu bimetallic media, but the mechanisms were different. The degradation rate was not significantly influenced by pH in the catalyzed Fe-Cu process; in Master Builders' iron it clearly increased with decreasing pH. The kinetics of the reductions followed pseudo-first order in both cases. Furthermore, the reductions under acidic conditions proceeded faster than that under the neutral and alkaline conditions. The catalyzed Fe-Cu process was superior to Master Builders' iron in treating CT-containing water and this advantage was particularly noticeable under alkaline conditions. The reduction was investigated in the cathode (Cu) and anode (Fe) compartments respectively, the results showed that the direct reduction pathway played an important role in the reduction by the catalyzed Fe-Cu process. The catalyzed Fe-Cu process is of practical value.

[Electrochemical reduction characteristics and mechanism of chlorinated hydrocarbon at the copper electrode].

The electrochemical reduction characteristics of chlorinated hydrocarbons were investigated by applying cyclic voltammetry technique. The reduction mechanism and reactivity of the chlorinated hydrocarbons at the copper electrodes were explored. The relation between the reductive reactivity at the copper electrode and the structures of this kind of compounds was discussed. The experimental results show that chlorinated paraffin hydrocarbons and a portion of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons could be reduced directly at the copper electrode; however, chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons aren't easy to reduced directly at the copper electrode. The results provide a theoretical basis for the catalyzed iron inner electrolysis method.

[Electrochemical reduction characteristics of nitro-benzene compounds at the copper electrode and the influence of pH on reduction].

The electrochemical reduction characteristics of nitro-benzene compounds were investigated using cyclic voltammetry technique. The reductive reactivity of the nitro-benzene compounds at the copper electrode was evaluated, the reduction mechanisms of the nitrobenzene compounds at the copper electrode and the influences of pH on them were also discussed in this paper. The experimental results show that nitro-benzene compounds is capable of reducing directly at the copper electrode, and the reduction peaks were at - 0.58V and - 1.32V or so (vs. SCE). Both acidity and basicity favor reduction of nitro-group at the copper electrode: the elimination reaction is easy to occur in the alkaline medium with the formation of nitroso-group; in the acid medium the probability of the reaction between the obtained electrons nitro group and hydrogen ions raises, which causes magnification of the current through the solution; in addition, the growth of hydrogen atoms in number favors the occurring of the addition and substitution reactions at the electrode. pH strongly influenced the electrochemical reduction characteristics of the nitrobenzene compounds at the copper electrode, and it mainly depends on the properties of the substituents on the benzene ring, their configurations and numbers, and their location versus nitro group on the benzene ring. The results provide a theoretical and experimental basis for investigating the reduction mechanisms by the catalyzed iron inner electrolysis process.

Reduction of nitrobenzene by the catalyzed Fe-Cu process.

The electrochemical reduction characteristics of nitrobenzene were investigated using cyclic voltammetry. In addition, the difference in reduction mechanisms between Master Builders' iron and the catalyzed Fe-Cu process was discussed in this paper. The results showed that nitrobenzene was reduced directly on the surface of copper rather than by the hydrogen evolved at cathode in the catalyzed Fe-Cu process. The reduction was realized largely by the hydrogen evolved at cathode in Master Builders' iron. Both acidity and basicity favored the direct reduction at the copper electrode. The catalyzed Fe-Cu process was superior to Master Builders' iron in treating nitrobenzene-containing water, withal. This advantage was particular noticeable under alkaline conditions. The reduction was investigated in the cathode and anode compartments, respectively, and the experimental results showed that the direct pathway had a large role in the reduction by the catalyzed Fe-Cu process. To reduce nitrobenzene directly at the copper electrode is easier than to reduce it by the hydrogen evolved at cathode, copper could be regarded as the electrocatalyst in this case. The influence of copper usage on the treatment efficiency by the catalyzed Fe-Cu process was also studied. The results indicated copper increased the reduction rate. The catalyzed Fe-Cu process is of practical value.