[Genome sequence analysis of two SARS-CoV-2 virus infections in Inner Mongolia, 2022].

The target gene sequences of the novel coronaviruses obtained by sequencing were compared with the reference sequences to analyze the genetic variation of the two cases of the novel coronaviruses from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2022 and to explore the sources of infection. The results showed that the two sequences belonged to different evolutionary branches, Delta (AY.122) and Omicron (BA.1.1), respectively. hCoV-19/Inner Mongolia/IVDC-591/2022 had 48 single nucleotide polymorphisms on the genome sequences, sharing 40 nucleotide mutation sites with a Mongolian strain; hCoV-19/Inner Mongolia/IVDC-592/2022 genome shared 57 nucleotide mutation sites with a UK strain, and the nucleotide mutation site identity was 100% (57/57). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the target gene sequences were not directly related to domestic novel coronavirus sequences during the same period, but were related to isolates from Europe and Mongolia.

[Effects of free transplantation of expanded perforator flaps in the treatment of severe scar contracture deformities in children].

Objective: To explore the effects of using free transplantation of expanded perforator flaps in the treatment of severe scar contracture deformities in children. Methods: From January 2010 to December 2018, 18 pediatric patients with severe scar contracture were admitted to Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University, and 3 pediatric patients with severe scar contracture were admitted to Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University. There were 14 males and 7 females among the 21 pediatric patients, who were 3-12 years old, with 15 cases of cervicothoracic adhesion, 5 cases of chin-chest adhesion, and 1 case of ankle joint contracture. According to the location of scar contracture and the size of wound after release, the donor site of perforator flap and expander volume were selected, and the expander was inserted to expand the flap. After expanding to proper volume, the contracted scar was resected and released. The perforator flap was designed and transplanted freely according to the wound. The flap area ranged from 14 cm×6 cm to 18 cm×15 cm. The location of the expanded flaps, the number, location, rated volume, and the location of injection port of the inserted expanders, the survival condition of flaps, the complications, the repair of donor sites, and the follow-ups were analyzed. Results: Among this group of pediatric patients, 16 cases used expanded thoracodorsal artery perforator flap, 3 cases used expanded circumflex scapular artery perforator flap, and 2 cases used expanded anterolateral thigh perforator flap, with 14 cases of pure donor site expansion and 7 cases of donor site expansion together with expansion beside donor site. Thirty-four expanders were inserted in 21 pediatric patients, with 21 under flaps, 6 near scars, and 7 near donor sites. The rated volumes of 26 expanders were 200 mL, while those of the remaining 8 expanders were 400 mL. Eight injection ports were placed externally, while the rest were placed internally. All the 21 flaps survived completely. Vascular crisis occurred in 1 pediatric patient 5 days after operation, and exploratory operation and reanastomosis were performed. The donor sites of 19 pediatric patients were closed directly, while the small wounds in lateral thoracic donor sites of 2 pediatric patients were repaired with thin intermediate split-thickness skin graft collected beside the donor site. Follow-up for 6 to 36 months showed that the texture and color of area repaired by the flaps were close to the surrounding skin. The flaps in the neck region of 8 pediatric patients were slightly bulky, requiring debulking operation, while the other cases had good appearance. The movement function of the involved regions was basically restored to normal, and no recurrence of contracture occurred. Conclusions: Free transplantation of expanded perforator flaps can achieve favorable appearance, texture, and function restore in treating severe scar contracture deformities in children, and the curative effect is stable and lasts long.

Effect of pre-slaughter shackling and wing flapping on plasma parameters, postmortem metabolism, AMPK, and meat quality of broilers.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of shackling and wing flapping on stress, postmortem metabolism, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and quality of broiler pectoralis major. Before slaughter, a total of 80 Arbor Acres broilers was randomly categorized into 2 replicate pens (40 broilers per pen) and each pen randomly divided into 2 groups (shackling, T; control, C). Corticosterone, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase were determined on blood plasma parameters. Pectoralis major were removed after evisceration and used for determination of energy metabolism, meat quality, and AMPK phosphorylation. In this study, shackling and wing flapping increased (P < 0.05) plasma corticosterone level, creatine kinase activity, and lactate dehydrogenase activity. Shackling and wing flapping increased (P < 0.05) AMPKα(Thr172) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation, followed by rapid glycolysis and accumulation of lactic acid, and leading to a fast pH decline in the initial postmortem meat. Shackling and wing flapping have an adverse effect on final meat quality, which increased (P < 0.05) muscle lightness, drip loss, and cooking loss. The results indicate that antemortem shackling and wing flapping increased stress and AMPKα(Thr172) phosphorylation, which may accelerate glycolysis and lead to a low water-holding capacity of broiler meat.

A combustion method to synthesize nanoporous graphene.

In this paper, we introduce a combustion method which is rapid, low cost, mass-producing and environmentally friendly to produce nanoporous graphene. After loading a graphene oxide aerogel (GOA)/paper (GOP) on a preheated hot plate (as the heat source, with a temperature as low as 200 °C) under an ambient environment, in a few seconds, the GOA/GOP would self-combust and change into reduced graphene oxide (RGO) with nanopores mainly concentrated in the 0.4-2.0 nm range and a large specific surface area of 536 m2 g-1. Supercapacitors fabricated with the synthesized porous RGO (P-RGO) showed a high specific capacitance of 245 F g-1 at 0.1 A g-1, and a retention rate of about 96.9% after 12 000 cycle tests with respect to the initial specific capacitance with a scan rate of 10.0 A g-1. The production yield of this method was as high as 77.0%.

[Effects of HPA and NF-E2 related factor on smoking related laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective:To further explore the prognostic effects of Heparanase(HPA) and NF-E2 related factor (NRF2) on smoking related laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma,we detect the expression of HPA and NRF2 on smoking related laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients.Method:Continuously collected 84 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in the Ningde Hospital from 2014 to 2015.All patients were divided into three groups according to smoking index:group A (severe smoking patients with laryngeal carcinoma 30 cases),group B(mild to moderate smokers 20 cases) and group C (no smoking in laryngeal carcinoma patients with 34 cases).Antioxidative indices in serum and the expression of HPA and NRF2 in three groups of patients were detected, and to explore their relationship with prognosis and clinical staging of patients.Result:The HPA and NRF2 were highly expressed in the cancer tissues of patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ,while the expression of HPA and NRF2 in patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ was low. The expression level of NRF2 in group A was significantly higher than that of group Band group C(P <0.05) as well as the NRF2 expression levels in higher stage patients with laryngeal cancer were higher than those of low stages.The expression of HPA and NRF2 is related to the pathological stage in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients(P <0.05).Conclusion:Compared with non smoking patients, severe smoking patients with laryngeal cancer will face more severe oxidative stress. The expression of HPA and NRF2 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients is related to the pathological stage.

The dependence of glucan conformational dynamics on linkage position and stereochemistry.

The 13C NMR T1 relaxation times for the (1-->4)-linked maltooligomers (Mi) and the (1-->6)-linked isomaltooligomers (IMi) with i = 2, 4, 6, and 8 were measured in aqueous solution at 22 and 65 degrees C at a concentration (3%) low enough to have removed concentration-dependent effects on the measured T1 values. Separate T1 values were measured for each carbon in the residue at the reducing end of the oligosaccharide, in the residue at the non-reducing end, and in the interior, i.e., non-terminal, residue(s). Analogous data for the corresponding high polymers show that at 22 degrees C the relaxation times for the carbons of the interior residues of the oligomers have converged to their high chain length asymptotes at about i = 10. This observation suggests that at room temperature polymeric motions in the frequency domain effective for 13C NMR relaxation at a magnetic field strength of 11.7 T have a "wavelength" of the order of 10 residues. The relaxation times characterizing the two ends of the chain are different, with longer T1 values for the carbons of the reducing end than for those of the non-reducing end. Carbons of alpha-anomeric residues at the reducing end have shorter relaxation times than those of the corresponding beta-anomeric reducing sugars. Carbons of the interior residues have T1 values shorter than the carbons of either type of terminal residue. For oligomers of a given dp there is no T1 difference between oligomers of the Mi and IMi series at room temperature. This observation is seemingly at odds with the great differences in the inherent conformational freedom of the (1-->4)- and (1-->6)-linkages. At elevated temperatures the orientational relaxation behavior of the two series of oligomers measured by 13C T1 values show interesting differences, and in the case of the Mi series, structure develops in the chain length dependence of the T1 values.