With the development circular economy, the use of agricultural waste to prepare biomass materials to remove pollutants has become a research hotspot. In this study, sunflower straw activated carbon (SSAC) was prepared...With the development circular economy, the use of agricultural waste to prepare biomass materials to remove pollutants has become a research hotspot. In this study, sunflower straw activated carbon (SSAC) was prepared by the one-step activation method, with sunflower straw (SS) used as the raw material and H3PO4 used as the activator. Four types of SSAC were prepared with impregnation ratios (weight of SS to weight of H3PO4) of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:5, corresponding to SSAC1, SSAC2, SSAC3, and SSAC4, respectively. The adsorption process of acid fuchsin (AF) in water using the four types of SSAC was studied. The results showed that the impregnation ratio significantly affected the structure of the materials. The increase in the impregnation ratio increased the specific surface area and pore volume of SSAC and improved the adsorption capacity of AF. However, an impregnation ratio that was too large led to a decrease in specific surface area. SSAC3, with an impregnation ratio of 1:3, had the largest specific surface area (1 794.01 m2/g), and SSAC4, with an impregnation ratio of 1:5, exhibited the smallest microporosity (0.052 7 cm3/g) and the largest pore volume (2.549 cm3/g). The adsorption kinetics of AF using the four types of SSAC agreed with the quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic model. The Langmuir isotherm model was suitable to describe SSAC3 and SSAC4, and the Freundlich isotherm model was appropriate to describe SSAC1 and SSAC2. The result of thermodynamics showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. At 303 K, SSAC4 showed a removal rate of 97.73% for 200-mg/L AF with a maximum adsorption capacity of 2 763.36 mg/g, the highest among the four types of SSAC. This study showed that SAAC prepared by the H3PO4-based one-step activation method is a green and efficient carbon material and has significant application potential for the treatment of dye-containing wastewater.展开更多
BACKGROUND The coaxial radiography-guided puncture technique(CR-PT)is a novel technique for endoscopic lumbar discectomy.As the X-ray beam and the puncturing needle are maintained in a parallel and coaxial direction,t...BACKGROUND The coaxial radiography-guided puncture technique(CR-PT)is a novel technique for endoscopic lumbar discectomy.As the X-ray beam and the puncturing needle are maintained in a parallel and coaxial direction,the X-ray beam can be used to guide the trajectory angle,facilitating the choice of the puncture site and providing real-time guidance.This puncture technique offers numerous advantages over the conventional anterior-posterior and lateral radiography-guided puncture technique(AP-PT),especially in cases of herniated lumbar discs with a hypertrophied transverse process or articular process,high iliac crest,and narrowed intervertebral foramen.AIM To confirm whether CR-PT is a superior approach to percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy compared to AP-PT.METHODS In this parallel,controlled,randomized clinical trial,herniated lumbar disc patients appointed to receive percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy treatment were recruited from the Pain Management Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Sixty-five participants were enrolled and divided into either a CR-PT group or an AP-PT group.The CR-PT group underwent CR-PT,and the AP-PT group underwent AP-PT.The number of fluoroscopies during puncturing,puncture duration(min),surgery duration(min),VAS score during puncturing,and puncture success rate were recorded.RESULTS Sixty-five participants were included,with 31 participants in the CR-PT group and 34 in the AP-PT group.One participant in the AP-PT group dropped out due to unsuccessful puncturing.The number of fluoroscopies[median(P25,P75)]was 12(11,14)in the CR-PT group vs 16(12,23)in the AP-PT group,while the puncture duration(mean±SD)was 20.42±5.78 vs 25.06±5.46,respectively.The VAS score was 3(2,4)in the CR-PT group vs 3(3,4)in the AP-PT group.Further subgroup analysis was performed,considering only the participants with L5/S1 segment herniation:9 patients underwent CR-PT,and 9 underwent AP-PT.The number of fluoroscopies was 11.56±0.88 vs 25.22±5.33;the puncture duration was 13.89±1.45 vs 28.89±3.76;the surgery duration was 105(99.5,120)vs 149(125,157.5);and the VAS score was 2.11±0.93 vs 3.89±0.6,respectively.All the above outcomes demonstrated statistical significance(P<0.05),favoring the CR-PT treatment.CONCLUSION CR-PT is a novel and effective technique.As opposed to conventional AP-PT,this technique significantly improves puncture accuracy,shortens puncture time and operation time,and reduces pain intensity during puncturing.展开更多
BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension is a rare cardiopulmonary disease,with an insidious onset that usually worsens rapidly.Amyloid light chain(AL)amyloidosis is a rare systemic disease caused by extracellular deposition...BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension is a rare cardiopulmonary disease,with an insidious onset that usually worsens rapidly.Amyloid light chain(AL)amyloidosis is a rare systemic disease caused by extracellular deposition of pathologic,insoluble,and proteinaceous fibrils in organs and tissues;however,it is difficult to diagnose given its varied and nonspecific symptoms.To date,rare cases of amyloidosis with pulmonary hypertension have been reported.Of note,the optimal treatments for cardiac amyloidosis complicated with pulmonary hypertension remain unclear.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a 51-year-old woman who presented with progressively worsening dyspnea.Transthoracic echocardiography indicated severe pulmonary hypertension.Twenty-seven months after first admission,the patient returned with symptoms of progressive heart failure.A myocardial tissue sample stained with Congo red was positive,and the patient was ultimately diagnosed with AL amyloidosis with cardiac involvement.CONCLUSION Although pulmonary hypertension may be idiopathic,it is frequently associated with other conditions.In rare cases,pulmonary hypertension can be a complication of AL amyloidosis,which should be seriously considered in any adult presenting with nonspecific signs or symptoms of cardiac distress.展开更多
The active ingredient of ginseng,ginsenosides Rg1,has been shown to scavenge free radicals and improve antioxidant capacity.This study hypothesized that ginsenosides Rg1 has a protective role in human neuroblastoma ce...The active ingredient of ginseng,ginsenosides Rg1,has been shown to scavenge free radicals and improve antioxidant capacity.This study hypothesized that ginsenosides Rg1 has a protective role in human neuroblastoma cells injured by H_2O_2.Ginsenosides Rg1 at different concentrations(50 and 100 μM) was used to treat H_2O_2(150 μM)-injured SH-SY5 Y cells.Results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 elevated the survival rate of SH-SY5 Y cells injured by H_2O_2,diminished the amount of leaked lactate dehydrogenase,and increased superoxide dismutase activity.Ginsenoside Rg1 effectively suppressed caspase-3 immunoreactivity,and contributed to heat shock protein 70 gene expression,in a dose-dependent manner.These results indicate that ginsenoside Rg1 has protective effects on SH-SY5 Y cells injured by H_2O_2 and that its mechanism of action is associated with anti-oxidation and the inhibition of apoptosis.展开更多
Rice plants would more frequently suffer from high temperature (HT) stress at the grain-filling stage in future. A japonica rice variety Koshihikari and an indica rice variety IR72 were used to study the effect of hig...Rice plants would more frequently suffer from high temperature (HT) stress at the grain-filling stage in future. A japonica rice variety Koshihikari and an indica rice variety IR72 were used to study the effect of high temperature on dynamic changes of glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activity, glutamic oxalo-acetic transminase (GOT) activity, glutamate pyruvate transminase (GPT) activity in grains and grain nutritional quality at the grain-filling stage. Under HT, the activities of GOGAT, GOT, GPT and soluble protein content in grains significantly increased, whereas GS activity significantly decreased at the grain-filling stage. In addition to the increase of protein and amino acids contents, it was suggested that GOGAT, GOT and GPT in grains played important roles in nitrogen metabolism at the grain-filling stage. Since the decrease of GS activity in grains did not influence the accumulations of amino acids and protein, it is implied that GS might not be the key enzyme in regulating glutamine content in grains.展开更多
Antiviral treatment is the only option to prevent or defer the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV) or hepatitis C virus(HCV). The approved medicatio...Antiviral treatment is the only option to prevent or defer the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV) or hepatitis C virus(HCV). The approved medication for the treatment of chronic HBV infection is interferon-α(IFNα) and nucleos(t)ide analogues(NAs), including lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, telbivudine, entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. IFNα is the most suitable for young patients with less advanced liver diseases and those infected with HBV genotype A. IFNα treatment significantly decreases the overall incidence of HBV-related HCC in sustained responders. However, side effects may limit its long-term clinical application. Orally administered NAs are typically implemented for patients with more advanced liver diseases. NA treatment significantly reduces disease progression of cirrhosis and therefore HCC incidence, especially in HBV e antigen-positive patients. NA-resistance due to the mutations in HBV polymerase is a major limiting factor. Of the NA resistance-associated mutants, A181 T mutant significantly increases the risk of HCC development during the subsequent course of NA therapy. It is important to initiate treatment with NAs that have a high genetic barrier to resistance, to counsel patients on medication adherence and to monitor virological breakthroughs. The recommended treatment for patients with chronic HCV infection is peg-IFN plus ribavirin that can decrease the occurrence of HCC in those who achieve a sustained virological response and have not yet progressed to cirrhosis. IFN-based treatment is reserved for patients with decompensated cirrhosis who are under evaluation of liver transplantation to reduce post-transplant recurrence of HCV. More effective therapeutic options such as direct acting antiviral agents will hopefully increase the response rate in difficult-totreat patients with HCV genotype 1. However, the risk of HCC remains in cirrhotic patients(both chronic HBV and HCV infection) if treatment is initiated after cirrhosis is established. Future research should focus on investigating new agents, especially for those patients with hepatic decompensation or post-transplantation.展开更多
AIM: To explore the effect of the Notch signaling pathway on retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) and optic nerve in rats with acute ocular hypertension(OH).METHODS: Totally 48 Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were included, among whi...AIM: To explore the effect of the Notch signaling pathway on retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) and optic nerve in rats with acute ocular hypertension(OH).METHODS: Totally 48 Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were included, among which 36 rats were selected to establish acute OH models. OH rats received a single intravitreal injection of 2 μL phosphate buffered solution(PBS) and another group of OH rats received a single intravitreal injection of 10 μmol/L γ-secretase inhibitor(DAPT). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) and Western blot assay were adopted to determine the mRNA level of Notch and the protein levels of Notch, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and growth-associated protein 43(GAP-43). The RGC apoptosis conditions were assessed by TUNEL staining.RESULTS: The OH rats and PBS-injected rats had increased expression levels of Notch1, Bax, caspase-3, and GAP-43, decreased expression levels of Bcl-2, and increased RGC apoptosis, with severer macular edema and RGCs more loosely aligned, when compared with the normal rats. The DAPT-treated rats displayed increased expression levels of Notch1, Bax, caspase-3, and GAP-43, decreased expression levels of Bcl-2, and increased RGC apoptosis, in comparison with the OH rats and PBSinjected rats. RGCs were hardly observed and macular edema became severe in the DAPT-treated rat.CONCLUSION: The Notch signaling pathway may suppress the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells and enhances the regeneration of the damaged optic nerves in rats with acute OH.展开更多
Previous studies demonstrate an accumulation of transferrin and transferrin receptor 1(TfR1) in regenerating peripheral nerves.However, the expression and function of transferrin and TfR1 in the denervated skeletal mu...Previous studies demonstrate an accumulation of transferrin and transferrin receptor 1(TfR1) in regenerating peripheral nerves.However, the expression and function of transferrin and TfR1 in the denervated skeletal muscle remain poorly understood.In this study, a mouse model of denervation was produced by complete tear of the left brachial plexus nerve.RNA-sequencing revealed that transferrin expression in the denervated skeletal muscle was upregulated, while TfR1 expression was downregulated.We also investigated the function of TfR1 during development and in adult skeletal muscles in mice with inducible deletion or loss of TfR1.The ablation of TfR1 in skeletal muscle in early development caused severe muscular atrophy and early death.In comparison, deletion of TfR1 in adult skeletal muscles did not affect survival or glucose metabolism, but caused skeletal muscle atrophy and motor functional impairment, similar to the muscular atrophy phenotype observed after denervation.These findings suggest that TfR1 plays an important role in muscle development and denervation-induced muscular atrophy.This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, China(approval No.SYXK 2017-C023) on June 1, 2018.展开更多
The volatile pollutants that spill into natural waters cause water pollution. Air pollution arises from the water pollution because of volatilization. Mass exchange caused by turbulent fluctuation is stronger in the d...The volatile pollutants that spill into natural waters cause water pollution. Air pollution arises from the water pollution because of volatilization. Mass exchange caused by turbulent fluctuation is stronger in the direction normal to the air-water interface than in other directions due to the large density difference between water and air. In order to explore the characteristics of anisotropic diffusion of the volatile pollutants at the air-water interface, the relationship between velocity gradient and mass transfer rate was established to calculate the turbulent mass diffusivity. A second-order accurate smooth transition differencing scheme (STDS) was proposed to guarantee the boundedness for the flow and mass transfer at the air-water interface. Simulations and experiments were performed to study the trichloroethylene (C2HCl3 ) release. By comparing the anisotropic coupling diffusion model, isotropic coupling diffusion model, and non-coupling diffusion model, the features of the transport of volatile pollutants at the air-water interface were determined. The results show that the anisotropic coupling diffusion model is more accurate than the isotropic coupling diffusion model and non-coupling diffusion model. Mass transfer significantly increases with the increase of the air-water relative velocity at a low relative velocity. However, at a higher relative velocity, an increase in the relative velocity has no effect on mass transfer.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) is pneumonia acquired infectiously from normal social contact as opposed to being acquired during hospitalization. CAP is a leading cause of illness and death. This review...BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) is pneumonia acquired infectiously from normal social contact as opposed to being acquired during hospitalization. CAP is a leading cause of illness and death. This review aims to determine the efficacy and safety of glucocorticoids in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP).DATA SOURCES: We searched randomized controlled trials(RCTs) from Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese Journal Full-text Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database to obtain the information by using steroids, glucocorticoids, cortisol, corticosteroids, community-acquired pneumonia and CAP as key words. The quality of RCTs was evaluated. A Meta-analysis was made using Rev Man 5.0 provided by the Cochrance Collaboration.RESULTS: Seven RCTs involving 944 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The mean length of hospital stay in glucocorticoids treatment group was significantly shorter than that in standard treatment group(WMD=–1.70, 95%CI 2.01–1.39, Z=10.81, P<0.00001). No statistically significant differences were found in the mortality rate(RR=0.77,95%CI 0.46–1.27, Z=1.03, P=0.30), the mean length of hospital stay in ICU(WMD=1.17, 95%CI 1.68–4.02, Z=0.81, P=0.42), the incidence of super infection(RR=1.32, 95%CI 0.66–2.63, Z=0.79, P=0.43), the incidence of hyperglycemia(RR=1.84, 95%CI 0.76–4.41, Z=1.36, P=0.17), the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding(RR=1.98, 95%CI 0.37–10.59, Z=0.80, P=0.42) between the standard treatment group and the glucocorticoids treatment group.CONCLUSIONS: The use of glucocorticoids in patients with community-acquired pneumonia can significantly shorten the duration of illness and have a favorable safety profile. However, it could not reduce the overall mortality.展开更多
BACKGROUND Oxidative stress results in the production of excess reactive oxygen species(ROS)and triggers hippocampal neuronal damage as well as occupies a key role in the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative d...BACKGROUND Oxidative stress results in the production of excess reactive oxygen species(ROS)and triggers hippocampal neuronal damage as well as occupies a key role in the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease(AD).A recent study confirmed that magnesium had an inhibitory effect against oxidative stress-related malondialdehyde in vitro.However,whether Magnesium-L-threonate(MgT)is capable of suppressing oxidative stress damage in amyloidβ(Aβ)_(25-35)-treated HT22 cells and the AD mouse model still remains to be investigated.AIM To explore the neuroprotective effect of MgT against oxidative stress injury in vitro and in vivo,and investigate the mechanism.METHODS Aβ_(25-35)-induced HT22 cells were preconditioned with MgT for 12 h.APPswe/PS1dE9(APP/PS1)mice were orally administered with MgT daily for 3 mo.After MgT treatment,the viability of Aβ_(25-35)-treated HT22 cells was determined via conducting cell counting kit-8 test and the cognition of APP/PS1 mice was measured through the Morris Water Maze.Flow cytometry experiments were applied to assess the ROS levels of HT22 cells and measure the apoptosis rate of HT22 cells or hippocampal neurons.Expression of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X(Bax),hypoxiainducible factor(HIF)-1α,NADPH oxidase(NOX)4,Aβ_(1-42) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)pathway proteins was quantified by Western blot.RESULTS In vitro data confirmed that Aβ_(25-35)-induced HT22 cells had a significantly lower cell viability,higher ROS level and higher apoptosis rates compared with those of control cells(all P<0.001).MgT prevented the Aβ_(25-35)-triggered oxidative stress damage by elevating viability and decreasing ROS formation and apoptosis of HT22 cells(all P<0.001).APP/PS1 mice exhibited worse cognitive performance and higher apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons than wild-type(WT)mice(all P<0.01).Meanwhile,significant higher expression of Aβ_(1-42) and NOX4 proteins was detected in APP/PS1 mice than those of WT mice(both P<0.01).MgT also ameliorated the cognitive deficit,suppressed the apoptosis of hippocampal neuron and downregulated the expression of Aβ_(1-42) and NOX4 proteins in APP/PS1 mouse(all P<0.05).Moreover,MgT intervention significantly downregulated HIF-1αand Bax,upregulated Bcl-2 and activated the PI3K/Akt pathway both in vitro and in vivo(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION MgT exhibits neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in Aβ_(25-35)-treated HT22 cells and APP/PS1 mice.展开更多
A transient three-dimensional coupling model based on the compressible volume of fluid(VOF) method was developed to simulate the transport of volatile pollutants at the air-water interface. VOF is a numerical techniqu...A transient three-dimensional coupling model based on the compressible volume of fluid(VOF) method was developed to simulate the transport of volatile pollutants at the air-water interface. VOF is a numerical technique for locating and tracking the free surface of water flow.The relationships between Henry's constant, thermodynamics parameters, and the enlarged topological index were proposed for nonstandard conditions. A series of experiments and numerical simulations were performed to study the transport of benzene and carbinol. The simulation results agreed with the experimental results. Temperature had no effect on mass transfer of pollutants with low transfer free energy and high Henry's constant. The temporal and spatial distribution of pollutants with high transfer free energy and low Henry's constant was affected by temperature. The total enthalpy and total transfer free energy increased significantly with temperature, with significant fluctuations at low temperatures. The total enthalpy and total transfer free energy increased steadily without fluctuation at high temperatures.展开更多
· AIM: To evaluate the frequency of blue-on-yellow perimetry (B/YP) deficits in ocular hypertension (OHT) patients and to correlate these findings with central corneal thickness (CCT), and to investigate the infl...· AIM: To evaluate the frequency of blue-on-yellow perimetry (B/YP) deficits in ocular hypertension (OHT) patients and to correlate these findings with central corneal thickness (CCT), and to investigate the influence of age, refraction and gender on the B/YP results in OHT patients. · METHODS: The B/YP and CCT were checked respectively in 72 OHT patients with normal white-on-white perimetry(W/WP) and normal optic nerve head. The B/YP was tested by Octopus 101 automated perimetry using G2 strategy, while the CCT was checked with DGH-550 ultrasound pachymeter. All patients were chosen randomly one eye for statistical analysis, a binary regression model was used to determine the independent contribution of variables included in the model, and the differences of the intraocular pressure (IOP), CCT, age, refraction and gender between the normal B/YP group and abnormal B/YP group were compared. · RESULTS: Forty-nine out of 72 patients with OHT showed normal B/YP results, whereas 23 of 72 patients(31.9%) demonstrated abnormal B/YP results. CCT showed a correlation with the B/YP results (B=-0.038, SE=0.019, P = 0.044), whereas none of the IOP, age, refraction and gender was found to be correlated with the B/YP results. The mean CCT in OHT patients with abnormal B/YP group was lower than that with normal B/YP group(t =2.066, P =0.043).There was a significant positive correlation between IOP and CCT (R 2=0.513, P = 0.000). · CONCLUSION: The mean CCT in OHT patients with abnormal B/YP results was lower than that with normal B/YP results. There was a significant positive correlation between IOP and CCT in OHT patients. The age, refraction and gender didn't influence the B/YP results in OHT patients. ·展开更多
Hepatic impairment in coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)may derive from cholangiocyte damage in the beginning,but not from direct infection of hepatocytes.Chronic liver disease patients co-infected with severe acute r...Hepatic impairment in coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)may derive from cholangiocyte damage in the beginning,but not from direct infection of hepatocytes.Chronic liver disease patients co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)exhibited overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors and overwhelming cytokine storm.Consensus has been reached that we should encourage as many people as possible to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity.SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can prevent or alleviate severe infection and cytokine storm.It is recommended that all adult patients with chronic liver diseases and liver transplant recipients should receive COVID-19 vaccines using the standard dose and schedule.Data is not yet sufficient to compare the efficacy of different types of vaccines used in chronic liver disease patients.展开更多
Clinical Ladder Programs is to develop different training programs according to different levels of nurses’management.The purpose is to improve nurses’sense of professional identity,professional and technical capabi...Clinical Ladder Programs is to develop different training programs according to different levels of nurses’management.The purpose is to improve nurses’sense of professional identity,professional and technical capabilities,and determine salary levels,so as to fully mobilize nurses’enthusiasm.This article reviews the current status of the application of Clinical Ladder Programs in clinical nursing around the world,and understands the obstacles and facilitating factors that affect the implementation of Clinical Ladder Programs,in order to provide a reference for establishing a perfect hierarchical nurse training model in China.展开更多
Background Home oxygen therapy(HOT)is indicated upon discharge in some preterm infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD).There is a lack of evidence-based consensus on the indication for HOT among these infa...Background Home oxygen therapy(HOT)is indicated upon discharge in some preterm infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD).There is a lack of evidence-based consensus on the indication for HOT among these infants.Because wide variation in the institutional use of HOT exists,little is known about the role of regional social-economic level in the wide variation of HOT.Methods This was a secondary analysis of Chinese Neonatal Network(CHNN)data from January 1,2019 to December 31,2019.Infants at gestational ages<32 weeks,with a birth weight<1500 g,and with moderate or severe BPD who survived to discharge from tertiary hospitals located in 25 provinces were included in this study.Infants with major congenital anomalies and those who were discharged against medical advice were excluded.Results Of 1768 preterm infants with BPD,474 infants(26.8%)were discharged to home with oxygen.The proportion of HOT use in participating member hospitals varied from 0 to 89%,with five of 52 hospitals’observing proportions of HOT use that were significantly greater than expected,with 14 hospitals with observing proportions significantly less than expected,and with 33 hospitals with appropriate proportions.We noted a negative correlation between different performance groups of HOT and median GDP per capita(P=0.04).Conclusions The use of HOT varied across China and was negatively correlated with the levels of provincial economic levels.A local HOT guideline is needed to address the wide variation in HOT use with respect to different regional economic levels in countries like China.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41865010)the 2020 Leading Talents of Young Science and Technology Talents in Colleges and Universities of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(Grant No.NJYT-20-A04)the Project of the 10th Group of Grassland Talents of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,the 2022 Inner Mongolia Outstanding Youth Fund Project,and the Key Research and Development and Achievement Transformation Program of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2022(Grant No.2022YFHH0035).
文摘With the development circular economy, the use of agricultural waste to prepare biomass materials to remove pollutants has become a research hotspot. In this study, sunflower straw activated carbon (SSAC) was prepared by the one-step activation method, with sunflower straw (SS) used as the raw material and H3PO4 used as the activator. Four types of SSAC were prepared with impregnation ratios (weight of SS to weight of H3PO4) of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:5, corresponding to SSAC1, SSAC2, SSAC3, and SSAC4, respectively. The adsorption process of acid fuchsin (AF) in water using the four types of SSAC was studied. The results showed that the impregnation ratio significantly affected the structure of the materials. The increase in the impregnation ratio increased the specific surface area and pore volume of SSAC and improved the adsorption capacity of AF. However, an impregnation ratio that was too large led to a decrease in specific surface area. SSAC3, with an impregnation ratio of 1:3, had the largest specific surface area (1 794.01 m2/g), and SSAC4, with an impregnation ratio of 1:5, exhibited the smallest microporosity (0.052 7 cm3/g) and the largest pore volume (2.549 cm3/g). The adsorption kinetics of AF using the four types of SSAC agreed with the quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic model. The Langmuir isotherm model was suitable to describe SSAC3 and SSAC4, and the Freundlich isotherm model was appropriate to describe SSAC1 and SSAC2. The result of thermodynamics showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. At 303 K, SSAC4 showed a removal rate of 97.73% for 200-mg/L AF with a maximum adsorption capacity of 2 763.36 mg/g, the highest among the four types of SSAC. This study showed that SAAC prepared by the H3PO4-based one-step activation method is a green and efficient carbon material and has significant application potential for the treatment of dye-containing wastewater.
文摘BACKGROUND The coaxial radiography-guided puncture technique(CR-PT)is a novel technique for endoscopic lumbar discectomy.As the X-ray beam and the puncturing needle are maintained in a parallel and coaxial direction,the X-ray beam can be used to guide the trajectory angle,facilitating the choice of the puncture site and providing real-time guidance.This puncture technique offers numerous advantages over the conventional anterior-posterior and lateral radiography-guided puncture technique(AP-PT),especially in cases of herniated lumbar discs with a hypertrophied transverse process or articular process,high iliac crest,and narrowed intervertebral foramen.AIM To confirm whether CR-PT is a superior approach to percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy compared to AP-PT.METHODS In this parallel,controlled,randomized clinical trial,herniated lumbar disc patients appointed to receive percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy treatment were recruited from the Pain Management Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Sixty-five participants were enrolled and divided into either a CR-PT group or an AP-PT group.The CR-PT group underwent CR-PT,and the AP-PT group underwent AP-PT.The number of fluoroscopies during puncturing,puncture duration(min),surgery duration(min),VAS score during puncturing,and puncture success rate were recorded.RESULTS Sixty-five participants were included,with 31 participants in the CR-PT group and 34 in the AP-PT group.One participant in the AP-PT group dropped out due to unsuccessful puncturing.The number of fluoroscopies[median(P25,P75)]was 12(11,14)in the CR-PT group vs 16(12,23)in the AP-PT group,while the puncture duration(mean±SD)was 20.42±5.78 vs 25.06±5.46,respectively.The VAS score was 3(2,4)in the CR-PT group vs 3(3,4)in the AP-PT group.Further subgroup analysis was performed,considering only the participants with L5/S1 segment herniation:9 patients underwent CR-PT,and 9 underwent AP-PT.The number of fluoroscopies was 11.56±0.88 vs 25.22±5.33;the puncture duration was 13.89±1.45 vs 28.89±3.76;the surgery duration was 105(99.5,120)vs 149(125,157.5);and the VAS score was 2.11±0.93 vs 3.89±0.6,respectively.All the above outcomes demonstrated statistical significance(P<0.05),favoring the CR-PT treatment.CONCLUSION CR-PT is a novel and effective technique.As opposed to conventional AP-PT,this technique significantly improves puncture accuracy,shortens puncture time and operation time,and reduces pain intensity during puncturing.
文摘BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension is a rare cardiopulmonary disease,with an insidious onset that usually worsens rapidly.Amyloid light chain(AL)amyloidosis is a rare systemic disease caused by extracellular deposition of pathologic,insoluble,and proteinaceous fibrils in organs and tissues;however,it is difficult to diagnose given its varied and nonspecific symptoms.To date,rare cases of amyloidosis with pulmonary hypertension have been reported.Of note,the optimal treatments for cardiac amyloidosis complicated with pulmonary hypertension remain unclear.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a 51-year-old woman who presented with progressively worsening dyspnea.Transthoracic echocardiography indicated severe pulmonary hypertension.Twenty-seven months after first admission,the patient returned with symptoms of progressive heart failure.A myocardial tissue sample stained with Congo red was positive,and the patient was ultimately diagnosed with AL amyloidosis with cardiac involvement.CONCLUSION Although pulmonary hypertension may be idiopathic,it is frequently associated with other conditions.In rare cases,pulmonary hypertension can be a complication of AL amyloidosis,which should be seriously considered in any adult presenting with nonspecific signs or symptoms of cardiac distress.
基金supported by the Research and Development Project Fund of Science and Technology Plan Program of Science and Technology Bureau of Beijing of China,No.Z111107067311022
文摘The active ingredient of ginseng,ginsenosides Rg1,has been shown to scavenge free radicals and improve antioxidant capacity.This study hypothesized that ginsenosides Rg1 has a protective role in human neuroblastoma cells injured by H_2O_2.Ginsenosides Rg1 at different concentrations(50 and 100 μM) was used to treat H_2O_2(150 μM)-injured SH-SY5 Y cells.Results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 elevated the survival rate of SH-SY5 Y cells injured by H_2O_2,diminished the amount of leaked lactate dehydrogenase,and increased superoxide dismutase activity.Ginsenoside Rg1 effectively suppressed caspase-3 immunoreactivity,and contributed to heat shock protein 70 gene expression,in a dose-dependent manner.These results indicate that ginsenoside Rg1 has protective effects on SH-SY5 Y cells injured by H_2O_2 and that its mechanism of action is associated with anti-oxidation and the inhibition of apoptosis.
基金financed by the International Technological Cooperation Program of Science and Technology Department, Sichuan Province, China (Grant No. 2010HH0015)the Science and Technological Innovation Project for Youth of Sichuan Agriculture University, China (Grant No. 04030100)
文摘Rice plants would more frequently suffer from high temperature (HT) stress at the grain-filling stage in future. A japonica rice variety Koshihikari and an indica rice variety IR72 were used to study the effect of high temperature on dynamic changes of glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activity, glutamic oxalo-acetic transminase (GOT) activity, glutamate pyruvate transminase (GPT) activity in grains and grain nutritional quality at the grain-filling stage. Under HT, the activities of GOGAT, GOT, GPT and soluble protein content in grains significantly increased, whereas GS activity significantly decreased at the grain-filling stage. In addition to the increase of protein and amino acids contents, it was suggested that GOGAT, GOT and GPT in grains played important roles in nitrogen metabolism at the grain-filling stage. Since the decrease of GS activity in grains did not influence the accumulations of amino acids and protein, it is implied that GS might not be the key enzyme in regulating glutamine content in grains.
基金Supported by National Natural Scientific Foundation of China,No.81025015 and 91129301
文摘Antiviral treatment is the only option to prevent or defer the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV) or hepatitis C virus(HCV). The approved medication for the treatment of chronic HBV infection is interferon-α(IFNα) and nucleos(t)ide analogues(NAs), including lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, telbivudine, entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. IFNα is the most suitable for young patients with less advanced liver diseases and those infected with HBV genotype A. IFNα treatment significantly decreases the overall incidence of HBV-related HCC in sustained responders. However, side effects may limit its long-term clinical application. Orally administered NAs are typically implemented for patients with more advanced liver diseases. NA treatment significantly reduces disease progression of cirrhosis and therefore HCC incidence, especially in HBV e antigen-positive patients. NA-resistance due to the mutations in HBV polymerase is a major limiting factor. Of the NA resistance-associated mutants, A181 T mutant significantly increases the risk of HCC development during the subsequent course of NA therapy. It is important to initiate treatment with NAs that have a high genetic barrier to resistance, to counsel patients on medication adherence and to monitor virological breakthroughs. The recommended treatment for patients with chronic HCV infection is peg-IFN plus ribavirin that can decrease the occurrence of HCC in those who achieve a sustained virological response and have not yet progressed to cirrhosis. IFN-based treatment is reserved for patients with decompensated cirrhosis who are under evaluation of liver transplantation to reduce post-transplant recurrence of HCV. More effective therapeutic options such as direct acting antiviral agents will hopefully increase the response rate in difficult-totreat patients with HCV genotype 1. However, the risk of HCC remains in cirrhotic patients(both chronic HBV and HCV infection) if treatment is initiated after cirrhosis is established. Future research should focus on investigating new agents, especially for those patients with hepatic decompensation or post-transplantation.
基金Supported by Fund of Hainan Provincial Health Department(No.1601032037A2001)
文摘AIM: To explore the effect of the Notch signaling pathway on retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) and optic nerve in rats with acute ocular hypertension(OH).METHODS: Totally 48 Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were included, among which 36 rats were selected to establish acute OH models. OH rats received a single intravitreal injection of 2 μL phosphate buffered solution(PBS) and another group of OH rats received a single intravitreal injection of 10 μmol/L γ-secretase inhibitor(DAPT). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) and Western blot assay were adopted to determine the mRNA level of Notch and the protein levels of Notch, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and growth-associated protein 43(GAP-43). The RGC apoptosis conditions were assessed by TUNEL staining.RESULTS: The OH rats and PBS-injected rats had increased expression levels of Notch1, Bax, caspase-3, and GAP-43, decreased expression levels of Bcl-2, and increased RGC apoptosis, with severer macular edema and RGCs more loosely aligned, when compared with the normal rats. The DAPT-treated rats displayed increased expression levels of Notch1, Bax, caspase-3, and GAP-43, decreased expression levels of Bcl-2, and increased RGC apoptosis, in comparison with the OH rats and PBSinjected rats. RGCs were hardly observed and macular edema became severe in the DAPT-treated rat.CONCLUSION: The Notch signaling pathway may suppress the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells and enhances the regeneration of the damaged optic nerves in rats with acute OH.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos.31770929(to HTW), 31522029(to HTW), 81902847(to HHY)the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission of China, Nos.Z181100001518001(to HTW), Z161100000216154(to HTW)。
文摘Previous studies demonstrate an accumulation of transferrin and transferrin receptor 1(TfR1) in regenerating peripheral nerves.However, the expression and function of transferrin and TfR1 in the denervated skeletal muscle remain poorly understood.In this study, a mouse model of denervation was produced by complete tear of the left brachial plexus nerve.RNA-sequencing revealed that transferrin expression in the denervated skeletal muscle was upregulated, while TfR1 expression was downregulated.We also investigated the function of TfR1 during development and in adult skeletal muscles in mice with inducible deletion or loss of TfR1.The ablation of TfR1 in skeletal muscle in early development caused severe muscular atrophy and early death.In comparison, deletion of TfR1 in adult skeletal muscles did not affect survival or glucose metabolism, but caused skeletal muscle atrophy and motor functional impairment, similar to the muscular atrophy phenotype observed after denervation.These findings suggest that TfR1 plays an important role in muscle development and denervation-induced muscular atrophy.This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, China(approval No.SYXK 2017-C023) on June 1, 2018.
基金This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 31171212）, the Medical and Health Science and Technology Development Projects of Shangdong Province （No. 2017WS379）, and the Science and Technology Development Projects of Zibo City （No. 2017kj010010）.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51109106)the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China (Grant No.11KJB570001)
文摘The volatile pollutants that spill into natural waters cause water pollution. Air pollution arises from the water pollution because of volatilization. Mass exchange caused by turbulent fluctuation is stronger in the direction normal to the air-water interface than in other directions due to the large density difference between water and air. In order to explore the characteristics of anisotropic diffusion of the volatile pollutants at the air-water interface, the relationship between velocity gradient and mass transfer rate was established to calculate the turbulent mass diffusivity. A second-order accurate smooth transition differencing scheme (STDS) was proposed to guarantee the boundedness for the flow and mass transfer at the air-water interface. Simulations and experiments were performed to study the trichloroethylene (C2HCl3 ) release. By comparing the anisotropic coupling diffusion model, isotropic coupling diffusion model, and non-coupling diffusion model, the features of the transport of volatile pollutants at the air-water interface were determined. The results show that the anisotropic coupling diffusion model is more accurate than the isotropic coupling diffusion model and non-coupling diffusion model. Mass transfer significantly increases with the increase of the air-water relative velocity at a low relative velocity. However, at a higher relative velocity, an increase in the relative velocity has no effect on mass transfer.
文摘BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) is pneumonia acquired infectiously from normal social contact as opposed to being acquired during hospitalization. CAP is a leading cause of illness and death. This review aims to determine the efficacy and safety of glucocorticoids in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP).DATA SOURCES: We searched randomized controlled trials(RCTs) from Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese Journal Full-text Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database to obtain the information by using steroids, glucocorticoids, cortisol, corticosteroids, community-acquired pneumonia and CAP as key words. The quality of RCTs was evaluated. A Meta-analysis was made using Rev Man 5.0 provided by the Cochrance Collaboration.RESULTS: Seven RCTs involving 944 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The mean length of hospital stay in glucocorticoids treatment group was significantly shorter than that in standard treatment group(WMD=–1.70, 95%CI 2.01–1.39, Z=10.81, P<0.00001). No statistically significant differences were found in the mortality rate(RR=0.77,95%CI 0.46–1.27, Z=1.03, P=0.30), the mean length of hospital stay in ICU(WMD=1.17, 95%CI 1.68–4.02, Z=0.81, P=0.42), the incidence of super infection(RR=1.32, 95%CI 0.66–2.63, Z=0.79, P=0.43), the incidence of hyperglycemia(RR=1.84, 95%CI 0.76–4.41, Z=1.36, P=0.17), the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding(RR=1.98, 95%CI 0.37–10.59, Z=0.80, P=0.42) between the standard treatment group and the glucocorticoids treatment group.CONCLUSIONS: The use of glucocorticoids in patients with community-acquired pneumonia can significantly shorten the duration of illness and have a favorable safety profile. However, it could not reduce the overall mortality.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 81870836Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China,No. 2020A1515010210+1 种基金Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou,China,No. 202007030010Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation,China,No. 2020A1515110317 and No. 2021A1515010705
文摘BACKGROUND Oxidative stress results in the production of excess reactive oxygen species(ROS)and triggers hippocampal neuronal damage as well as occupies a key role in the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease(AD).A recent study confirmed that magnesium had an inhibitory effect against oxidative stress-related malondialdehyde in vitro.However,whether Magnesium-L-threonate(MgT)is capable of suppressing oxidative stress damage in amyloidβ(Aβ)_(25-35)-treated HT22 cells and the AD mouse model still remains to be investigated.AIM To explore the neuroprotective effect of MgT against oxidative stress injury in vitro and in vivo,and investigate the mechanism.METHODS Aβ_(25-35)-induced HT22 cells were preconditioned with MgT for 12 h.APPswe/PS1dE9(APP/PS1)mice were orally administered with MgT daily for 3 mo.After MgT treatment,the viability of Aβ_(25-35)-treated HT22 cells was determined via conducting cell counting kit-8 test and the cognition of APP/PS1 mice was measured through the Morris Water Maze.Flow cytometry experiments were applied to assess the ROS levels of HT22 cells and measure the apoptosis rate of HT22 cells or hippocampal neurons.Expression of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X(Bax),hypoxiainducible factor(HIF)-1α,NADPH oxidase(NOX)4,Aβ_(1-42) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)pathway proteins was quantified by Western blot.RESULTS In vitro data confirmed that Aβ_(25-35)-induced HT22 cells had a significantly lower cell viability,higher ROS level and higher apoptosis rates compared with those of control cells(all P<0.001).MgT prevented the Aβ_(25-35)-triggered oxidative stress damage by elevating viability and decreasing ROS formation and apoptosis of HT22 cells(all P<0.001).APP/PS1 mice exhibited worse cognitive performance and higher apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons than wild-type(WT)mice(all P<0.01).Meanwhile,significant higher expression of Aβ_(1-42) and NOX4 proteins was detected in APP/PS1 mice than those of WT mice(both P<0.01).MgT also ameliorated the cognitive deficit,suppressed the apoptosis of hippocampal neuron and downregulated the expression of Aβ_(1-42) and NOX4 proteins in APP/PS1 mouse(all P<0.05).Moreover,MgT intervention significantly downregulated HIF-1αand Bax,upregulated Bcl-2 and activated the PI3K/Akt pathway both in vitro and in vivo(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION MgT exhibits neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in Aβ_(25-35)-treated HT22 cells and APP/PS1 mice.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51109106)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(Grant No.BK20130946)the Qing Lan Project of Jiangsu Province
文摘A transient three-dimensional coupling model based on the compressible volume of fluid(VOF) method was developed to simulate the transport of volatile pollutants at the air-water interface. VOF is a numerical technique for locating and tracking the free surface of water flow.The relationships between Henry's constant, thermodynamics parameters, and the enlarged topological index were proposed for nonstandard conditions. A series of experiments and numerical simulations were performed to study the transport of benzene and carbinol. The simulation results agreed with the experimental results. Temperature had no effect on mass transfer of pollutants with low transfer free energy and high Henry's constant. The temporal and spatial distribution of pollutants with high transfer free energy and low Henry's constant was affected by temperature. The total enthalpy and total transfer free energy increased significantly with temperature, with significant fluctuations at low temperatures. The total enthalpy and total transfer free energy increased steadily without fluctuation at high temperatures.
基金Supported by Shanghai Leading Academi Discipline Project, China (No.S30205)Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau Project, China(No.034075)
文摘· AIM: To evaluate the frequency of blue-on-yellow perimetry (B/YP) deficits in ocular hypertension (OHT) patients and to correlate these findings with central corneal thickness (CCT), and to investigate the influence of age, refraction and gender on the B/YP results in OHT patients. · METHODS: The B/YP and CCT were checked respectively in 72 OHT patients with normal white-on-white perimetry(W/WP) and normal optic nerve head. The B/YP was tested by Octopus 101 automated perimetry using G2 strategy, while the CCT was checked with DGH-550 ultrasound pachymeter. All patients were chosen randomly one eye for statistical analysis, a binary regression model was used to determine the independent contribution of variables included in the model, and the differences of the intraocular pressure (IOP), CCT, age, refraction and gender between the normal B/YP group and abnormal B/YP group were compared. · RESULTS: Forty-nine out of 72 patients with OHT showed normal B/YP results, whereas 23 of 72 patients(31.9%) demonstrated abnormal B/YP results. CCT showed a correlation with the B/YP results (B=-0.038, SE=0.019, P = 0.044), whereas none of the IOP, age, refraction and gender was found to be correlated with the B/YP results. The mean CCT in OHT patients with abnormal B/YP group was lower than that with normal B/YP group(t =2.066, P =0.043).There was a significant positive correlation between IOP and CCT (R 2=0.513, P = 0.000). · CONCLUSION: The mean CCT in OHT patients with abnormal B/YP results was lower than that with normal B/YP results. There was a significant positive correlation between IOP and CCT in OHT patients. The age, refraction and gender didn't influence the B/YP results in OHT patients. ·
文摘Hepatic impairment in coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)may derive from cholangiocyte damage in the beginning,but not from direct infection of hepatocytes.Chronic liver disease patients co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)exhibited overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors and overwhelming cytokine storm.Consensus has been reached that we should encourage as many people as possible to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity.SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can prevent or alleviate severe infection and cytokine storm.It is recommended that all adult patients with chronic liver diseases and liver transplant recipients should receive COVID-19 vaccines using the standard dose and schedule.Data is not yet sufficient to compare the efficacy of different types of vaccines used in chronic liver disease patients.
基金This research was supported by Yunnan Province Science and Technology Project(No.2017FE467(-204)).
文摘Clinical Ladder Programs is to develop different training programs according to different levels of nurses’management.The purpose is to improve nurses’sense of professional identity,professional and technical capabilities,and determine salary levels,so as to fully mobilize nurses’enthusiasm.This article reviews the current status of the application of Clinical Ladder Programs in clinical nursing around the world,and understands the obstacles and facilitating factors that affect the implementation of Clinical Ladder Programs,in order to provide a reference for establishing a perfect hierarchical nurse training model in China.
基金funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research(CTP87518 to Shoo Lee).
文摘Background Home oxygen therapy(HOT)is indicated upon discharge in some preterm infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD).There is a lack of evidence-based consensus on the indication for HOT among these infants.Because wide variation in the institutional use of HOT exists,little is known about the role of regional social-economic level in the wide variation of HOT.Methods This was a secondary analysis of Chinese Neonatal Network(CHNN)data from January 1,2019 to December 31,2019.Infants at gestational ages<32 weeks,with a birth weight<1500 g,and with moderate or severe BPD who survived to discharge from tertiary hospitals located in 25 provinces were included in this study.Infants with major congenital anomalies and those who were discharged against medical advice were excluded.Results Of 1768 preterm infants with BPD,474 infants(26.8%)were discharged to home with oxygen.The proportion of HOT use in participating member hospitals varied from 0 to 89%,with five of 52 hospitals’observing proportions of HOT use that were significantly greater than expected,with 14 hospitals with observing proportions significantly less than expected,and with 33 hospitals with appropriate proportions.We noted a negative correlation between different performance groups of HOT and median GDP per capita(P=0.04).Conclusions The use of HOT varied across China and was negatively correlated with the levels of provincial economic levels.A local HOT guideline is needed to address the wide variation in HOT use with respect to different regional economic levels in countries like China.
