ABSTRACT Purpose: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly. We aimed to identify baseline predictors of visual prognosis after intravitreal conbercept injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 58 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were treated with intravitreal injections of conbercept 0.5 mg in routine clinical practice. Basic information such as age, sex, intraocular pressure, and disease course was collected. Best-corrected visual acuity, mean retinal sensitivity, and optical coherence tomography findings were recorded at baseline and 6 months after treatment. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of best-corrected visual acuity at 6 months after treatment. Results: After the 6-month treatment, the mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 1.10 ± 0.42 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) to 0.41 ± 0.18 logMAR, the mean retinal sensitivity increased from 5.13 ± 0.86 dB to 7.32 ± 1.21 dB, the mean central retinal thickness decreased from 440.38 ± 61.05 μm to 260.01 ± 24.86 μm, and the total number of hyperreflective dots and the number of hyperreflective dots in each retina layer were significantly reduced as compared with those before treatment (all p<0.05). Twenty-two patients showed improved vision, and 36 had unimproved vision. Multivariate analyses revealed that the number of subretinal hyperreflective dots, the state of external limiting membrane, baseline best-corrected visual acuity, and age were independent predictors of best-corrected visual acuity (all p<0.05). Conclusion: Poor recovery of patients after intravitreal conbercept injection may be related to the number of subretinal hyperreflective dots, the state of external limiting membrane, baseline best-corrected visual acuity, and age, which may be used as predictors of short-term visual outcomes and should be fully evaluated before operation.

RESUMO Objetivo: A degeneração macular neovascular relacionada à idade é a principal causa de perda de visão em idosos. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os preditores iniciais que afetam o prognóstico visual após a injeção intravítrea de combercepte para degeneração macular neovascular relacionada à idade. Métodos: Esta é uma revisão retrospectiva de 58 pacientes com degeneração macular neovascular relacionada à idade que foram tratados com injeções intravítreas de 0,5 mg de combercepte na prática clínica de rotina. Foram coletadas informações básicas, tais como idade, sexo, pressão intraocular e evolução da doença. A melhor acuidade visual corrigida, as sensibilidades retinianas médias e varreduras de tomografia de coerência óptica foram registradas no início do estudo e 6 meses após o tratamento. Foi efetuada uma análise de regressão logística para determinar os preditores independentes da melhor acuidade visual corrigida 6 meses após o tratamento. Resultados: Após 6 meses de tratamento, a média da acuidade visual melhor corrigida melhorou de 1,10 ± 0,42 para 0,41 ± 0,18 logMAR; as sensibilidades retinianas médias aumentaram de 5,13 ± 0,86 para 7,32 ± 1,21 dB; a espessura retiniana central média diminuiu de 440,38 ± 61,05 para 260,01 ± 24,86 μm; e os pontos hiper-reflexivos, tanto em números totais quanto em cada camada de retina, foram significativamente reduzidos em comparação com os valores de antes do tratamento (todos com p<0,05). Houve 22 pacientes com visão melhorada e 36 pacientes com visão não melhorada. As análises multivariadas mostraram que o número de pontos hiper-reflexivos sub-retinianos, o estado da membrana limitante externa, a melhor acuidade visual corrigida inicial e a idade foram preditores independentes para a melhor acuidade visual corrigida (todos com p<0,05). Conclusão: A má recuperação de pacientes após a injeção de combercepte intravítreo pode estar relacionada ao número de pontos hiper-reflexivos sub-retinianos, ao estado da membrana limitante externa, à acuidade visual corrigida inicial e à idade, parâmetros que podem ser usados como preditores de resultados visuais de curto prazo e devem ser totalmente avaliados antes da cirurgia.

Abstract Objective At present, bleomycin has been widely used in the treatment of Lymphatic Malformations (LMs). This study aims to perform a meta-analysis to investigate the effectiveness and influencing factors of bleomycin in the treatment of LMs. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between bleomycin and LMs. PubMed, ISI Web of Science and MEDLINE were searched. Results A total of 21 studies (including 428 cases) about bleomycin sclerotherapy for LMs were included in the current meta-analyses. We calculated pooled effective rate and 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) using random effects model to evaluate the relations between bleomycin and LMs. The results suggested that the effective rate of bleomycin was the combined effective rate was 84.0% (95% CI 0.81‒0.87) and ranged from 39% (95% CI 0.22‒0.56) to 94% (95% CI 0.87-1.02). The heterogeneity among the studies was substantial (I2 = 61.7%, p = 0.000). In subgroup analyses, it was observed that among retrospective study and prospective study, the estimated effective rate was 80.0% (95% CI 0.76‒0.84) and 91.0% (95% CI 0.85‒0.97), respectively. In terms of the dosage, the combined effective rates of weight-based group and fixed-dose group were 86% (95% CI 0.83‒0.90) and 74.0% (95% CI 0.66‒0.82), respectively. There was no significant publication bias in Egger's test (p = 0.059, 95% CI −3.81 to 0.082), but Begg's test did (p = 0.023), and the funnel plot is asymmetric. Conclusion Our study suggested that bleomycin was safe and effective in the treatment of LMs and was primarily dose dependent.

Abstract In this study, we aimed to compare clinical efficacy of laparoscopic surgery and open surgery for colorectal cancer in the Huaihe River Basin in China. A total of 92 patients with colorectal cancer were selected as subjects. Patients were divided into control group (open surgery, n = 27 cases) and test group (laparoscopic surgery, n = 28 cases). Our results showed that the duration of operation (122.54 ± 14.85) min and length of incision (4.51 ± 1.065) cm were shorter in the experimental group than those in the control group. The intraoperative blood loss of the experimental group was (161.12 ± 10.694) ml, which was less than that of the control group (218.53 ± 15.369) ml (P < 0.05). Patients in the experimental group have higher Five-year survival rate and lower incidence of postoperative complications than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, in the treatment of colorectal cancer, laparoscopic surgery has a better clinical effect than open surgery, which is worthy of clinical application.

ABSTRACT To accurately measure sowing depth, we designed a multisensor data fusion algorithm based on the Kalman filter and applied it to a dual-channel ultrasonic sowing depth measurement system. We installed two ultrasonic sensors on the frame above the depth limit wheel and the soil covering-compacting wheel. The terrain-like plate was installed on the central axis of the depth limit wheel to simulate the surface relief and calculate the seeding depth value. The Kalman filter algorithm filters out the clutter generated when the two ultrasonic sensors collect the depth data and then fuses the two ultrasounds of the filtered data. The test shows that when the vehicle speed is 4 km/h , the fluctuation ranges of the collected data of ultrasonic 1 and 2 are 45-60 mm and 35-70 mm , respectively, and the fluctuation ranges of the filtered data are 52-58 mm and 48-60 mm , respectively. After data fusion processing, the data fluctuate in a small range of approximately 55 mm . When the vehicle speed is 6 km/h and 8 km/h, the obtained results have the same trend as the experimental results at 4 km/h . The results show that the sowing depth measurement system is effective.

RESUMO Objetivo: Com o objetivo de estudar a relação entre atividade aeróbia e atividade nervosa autonômica cardíaca por algoritmo de rede neural artificial e fusão biológica de imagens, tendo em vista os problemas existentes no modelo de rede neural artificial (RNA), é introduzida a tecnologia de processamento biológico de imagens com base em ANN. Métodos: um algoritmo de inteligência biológica de imagem Ann é proposto, um classificador adequado para triagem eletrocardiográfica (ECG) é projetado e um sistema de triagem de sinal de ECG é estabelecido com sucesso. Além disso, o conjunto de dados de sinais de ECG normais recuperados dos sujeitos durante o período experimental é construído e um classificador é usado para extrair os dados característicos de um sinal de ECG normal durante o período experimental. Resultados: As alterações na frequência cardíaca em repouso e outros indicadores de saúde física são analisadas pela combinação de indicadores fisiológicos de repouso, a saber, frequência cardíaca, peso corporal, índice de massa corporal e índice de gordura corporal. Os resultados mostram que o classificador autodesenhado pode processar com eficiência as imagens de ECG, e as atividades regulares de longo prazo podem melhorar as condições físicas da maioria das pessoas. O peso corporal e a taxa de gordura corporal da maioria dos indivíduos diminuem com a extensão do tempo do experimento, e a freqüência cardíaca em repouso diminui relativamente. Conclusões: Certos indicadores podem ser usados para prever a saúde física dinâmica de uma pessoa, o que indica que a pesquisa experimental de predição de índice nesta pesquisa tem um bom efeito, que não apenas estende a aplicação da rede neural artificial, mas também estabelece uma base para a pesquisa e implementação de dispositivos vestíveis de teste inteligente de ECG. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos- investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

ABSTRACT Objective: To study the relationship between aerobic activity and cardiac autonomic nerve activity by artificial neural network algorithm and biological image fusion; because of the artificial neural network model (ANN) problems, biological image processing technology is introduced based on ANN. Methods: An Ann under biological image intelligence algorithm is proposed, a classifier suitable for electrocardiograph (ECG) screening is designed, and an ECG signal screening system is successfully established. Moreover, the data set of normal recovered ECG signals of the subjects during the experimental period is constructed, and a classifier is used to extract the characteristic data of a normal ECG signal during the experimental period. Results: The changes in resting heart rate and other physical health indicators are analyzed by combining resting physiological indicators, namely heart rate, body weight, body mass index and body fat rate. The results show that the self-designed classifier can efficiently process the ECG images, and long-term regular activities can improve the physical conditions of most people. Most subjects’ body weight and body fat rate decrease with the extension of experiment time, and the resting heart rate decreases relatively. Conclusions: Certain indicators can be used to predict a person's dynamic physical health, which indicates that the experimental research of index prediction in this research has a good effect, which not only extends the application of artificial neural network but also lays a foundation for the research and implementation of ECG intelligent testing wearable devices. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Para estudiar la relación entre la actividad aeróbica y la actividad del nervio autónomo cardíaco mediante el algoritmo de red neuronal artificial y la fusión de imágenes biológicas, ante los problemas existentes en el modelo de red neuronal artificial (ANN), se introduce la tecnología de procesamiento de imágenes biológicas basada en ANA. Métodos: Se propone un algoritmo de inteligencia de imagen biológica de Ann, se diseña un clasificador adecuado para el cribado electrocardiógrafo (ECG) y se establece con éxito un sistema de cribado de señales de ECG. Además, se construye el conjunto de datos de las señales de ECG recuperadas normales de los sujetos durante el período experimental, y se utiliza un clasificador para extraer los datos característicos de una señal de ECG normal durante el período experimental. Resultados: Los cambios en la frecuencia cardíaca en reposo y otros indicadores de salud física se analizan combinando indicadores fisiológicos en reposo, a saber, frecuencia cardíaca, peso corporal, índice de masa corporal y tasa de grasa corporal. Los resultados muestran que el clasificador de diseño propio puede procesar de manera eficiente las imágenes de ECG, y las actividades regulares a largo plazo pueden mejorar las condiciones físicas de la mayoría de las personas. El peso corporal y la tasa de grasa corporal de la mayoría de los sujetos disminuyen con la extensión del tiempo del experimento, y la frecuencia cardíaca en reposo disminuye relativamente. Conclusiones: Ciertos indicadores pueden usarse para predecir la salud física dinámica de una persona, lo que indica que la investigación experimental de predicción de índices en esta investigación tiene un buen efecto, lo que no solo extiende la aplicación de la red neuronal artificial sino que también sienta las bases para la investigación. e implementación de dispositivos portátiles de prueba inteligente de ECG. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos- investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate the effect of ferulic acid (FA) on spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced motor dysfunction and to explore the possible pharmacological mechanisms. Methods Adult male Wistar rats were used in our study. SCI was achieved by clipping the spinal cord T9 of the rat by a vascular clip for 2 minutes. The motor function of the rat was evaluated by Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scoring method (BBB) and inclined plane test. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, NISSL staining, and transmission electron microscopic examination were used to evaluate alterations at the histological level. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blots, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were employed in biochemical analysis. Results The BBB score and inclined plane test score significantly decreased after SCI surgery, whereas chronic FA treatment (dose of 90 mg/kg, i.g.) for 28 days improved SCI-induced motor dysfunction. HE staining showed that SCI surgery induced internal spinal cord edema, but the structural changes of the spinal cord could be reversed by FA treatment. NISSL staining and transmission electron microscopic examination confirmed the improvement of the effect of FA on the injury site. In the biochemical analysis, it could be found that FA inhibitedSCI-induced mRNA and protein overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), as well as iNOS and COX-2 via the modulation of NF-κB level in the spinal cord of SCI rat. Moreover, the SCI-induced decrease of Bcl-2/Bax ratio was also reversed by FA treatment. However, the effect of FA on the expression of Beclin-1 was not statistically significant. Conclusions FA showed a therapeutic effect on SCI, which may be associated with the regulation of neuroinflammation and apoptosis.

Abstract Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the main subtype of non-small cell lung cancer with a poor survival prognosis. In our study, gene expression, DNA methylation, and clinicopathological data of primary LUAD were utilized to identify potential prognostic markers for LUAD, which were recruited from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Univariate regression analysis showed that there were 21 methylation-associated DEGs related to overall survival (OS), including 9 down- and 12 up-regulated genes. The 12 up-regulated genes with hypomethylation may be risky genes, whereas the other 9 down-regulated genes with hypermethylation might be protective genes. By using the Step-wise multivariate Cox analysis, a methylation-associated 6-gene (consisting of CCL20, F2, GNPNAT1, NT5E, B3GALT2, and VSIG2) prognostic signature was constructed and the risk score based on this gene signature classified patients into high- or low-risk groups. Patients of the high-risk group had shorter OS than those of the low-risk group in both the training and validation cohort. Multivariate Cox analysis and the stratified analysis revealed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor for LUAD patients. The methylation-associated gene signature may serve as a prognostic factor for LUAD patients and the represent hypermethylated or hypomethylated genes might be potential targets for LUAD therapy.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos A administração pré‐operatória de Flurbiprofeno Axetil (FA) é amplamente usada para a modulação da analgesia. No entanto, a relação entre FA e fármacos sedativos permanece obscura. Neste estudo, nosso objetivo foi investigar os efeitos de diferentes doses de FA na Concentração Efetiva mediana (CE50) do propofol. Métodos Noventa e seis pacientes (ASA I ou II, com idades de 18–65 anos) foram alocados aleatoriamente em quatro grupos na proporção de 1:1:1:1. Dez minutos antes da indução, o Grupo A (grupo controle) recebeu 10 mL de Intralipid, enquanto os grupos B, C e D receberam FA na dose de 0,5 mg.kg‐1; 0,75 mg.kg‐1 e 1 mg.kg‐1, respectivamente. A profundidade da anestesia foi medida pelo Índice Bispectral (BIS). O método up‐and‐down foi usado para calcular a CE50 do propofol. Durante o período de equilíbrio, se o valor do BIS fosse ≤ 50 ou BIS > 50, o próximo paciente tinha a infusão de propofol ajustada para uma concentração alvo‐controlada 0,5 µg.mL‐1 inferior ou superior, respectivamente. Os dados hemodinâmicos foram registrados no início do estudo, 10 minutos após a administração de FA, após a indução, após a intubação e 15 minutos após a intubação. Resultados A CE50 do propofol foi menor no Grupo C (2,32 µg.mL‐1, Intervalo de Confiança de 95% [95% IC] 1,85–2,75) e D (2,39 µg.mL‐1, 95% IC 1,91–2,67) do que no Grupo A (2,96 µg.mL‐1; 95% IC 2,55–3,33) (p = 0,023, p = 0,048, respectivamente). Não houve diferenças significantes na CE50 entre o Grupo B (2,53 µg.mL‐1, 95% IC 2,33–2,71) e o Grupo A (p > 0,05). Não houve diferenças significantes na Frequência Cardíaca (FC) entre os grupos A, B e C. A FC foi significantemente menor no grupo D do que no grupo A após a intubação (66 ± 6 vs. 80 ± 10 bpm, p < 0,01) e 15 minutos após a intubação (61 ± 4 vs. 70 ± 8 bpm, p < 0,01). Não houve diferenças significantes entre os quatro grupos na Pressão Arterial Média (PAM) em qualquer momento. A PAM dos quatro grupos foi significantemente menor após a indução, após a intubação e 15 minutos após a intubação do que na linha de base (p < 0,05). Conclusão FA em altas doses (0,75 mg.kg‐1 ou 1 mg.kg‐1) reduz a CE50 do propofol, e 1 mg.kg‐1 de FA reduz a FC durante níveis adequados de anestesia em pacientes não estimulados. Embora esse resultado deva ser investigado na presença de estimulação cirúrgica, sugerimos que a pré‐administração de FA pode reduzir a necessidade de propofol durante anestesia cuja profundidade seja monitorada pelo BIS.

Abstract Background and objectives Preoperative use of flurbiprofen axetil (FA) is extensively adopted to modulate the effects of analgesia. However, the relationship between FA and sedation agents remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of FA on the median Effective Concentration (EC50) of propofol. Methods Ninety-six patients (ASA I or II, aged 18–65 years) were randomly assigned into one of four groups in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. Group A (control group) received 10 mL of Intralipid, and groups B, C and D received 0.5 mg.kg−1, 0.75 mg.kg−1 and 1 mg.kg−1 of FA, respectively, 10 minutes before induction. The depth of anesthesia was measured by the Bispectral Index (BIS). The “up-and-down” method was used to calculate the EC50 of propofol. During the equilibration period, if BIS ≤ 50 (or BIS > 50), the next patient would receive a 0.5 µg.mL−1-lower (or -higher) propofol Target-Controlled Infusion (TCI) concentration. The hemodynamic data were recorded at baseline, 10 minutes after FA administration, after induction, after intubation and 15 minutes after intubation. Results The EC50 of propofol was lower in Group C (2.32 µg.mL−1, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 1.85–2.75) and D (2.39 µg.mL−1, 95% CI 1.91–2.67) than in Group A (2.96 µg.mL−1, 95% CI 2.55–3.33) (p = 0.023, p = 0.048, respectively). There were no significant differences in the EC50 between Group B (2.53 µg.mL−1, 95% CI 2.33–2.71) and Group A (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in Heart Rate (HR) among groups A, B and C. The HR was significantly lower in Group D than in Group A after intubation (66 ± 6 vs. 80 ± 10 bpm, p < 0.01) and 15 minutes after intubation (61 ± 4 vs. 70 ± 8 bpm, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences among the four groups in Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) at any time point. The MAP of the four groups was significantly lower after induction, after intubation, and 15 minutes after intubation than at baseline (p < 0.05). Conclusion High-dose FA (0.75 mg.kg−1 or 1 mg.kg−1) reduces the EC50 of propofol, and 1 mg.kg−1 FA reduces the HR for adequate anesthesia in unstimulated patients. Although this result should be investigated in cases of surgical stimulation, we suggest that FA pre-administration may reduce the propofol requirement when the depth of anesthesia is measured by BIS.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effect of intermittent vibration at different intervals on bone fracture healing and optimize the vibration interval. Methods: Ninety sheep were randomized to receive no treatment (the control group), incision only (the sham control group), internal fixation with or without metatarsal fracture (the internal fixation group), and continuous vibration in addition to internal fixation of metatarsal fracture, or intermittent vibration at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 17-day interval in addition to internal fixation of metatarsal fracture (the vibration group). Vibration was done at frequency F=35 Hz, acceleration a=0.25g, 15 min each time 2 weeks after bone fracture. Bone healing was evaluated by micro-CT scan, bone microstructure and mechanical compression of finite element simulation. Results: Intermittent vibration at 7-day interval significantly improved bone fracture healing grade. However, no significant changes on microstructure parameters and mechanical properties were observed among sheep receiving vibration at different intervals. Conclusions: Clinical healing effects should be the top concern. Quantitative analyses of bone microstructure and of finite element mechanics on the process of fracture healing need to be further investigated.

A series of HPW/Zn-Ti layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were prepared by immobilizing phosphotungstic acid (HPW) on the Zn-Ti LDHs. Systematically characterizations were performed to elucidate their structure. These HPW/Zn-Ti LDHs hybrids were used as heterogeneous catalysts in the epoxidation of fatty acid methyl ester (FAMEs) with H2O2. The HPW/Zn-Ti LDHs showed higher activity than bulk HPW and Zn-Ti LDHs. The conversion of FAMEs and the selectivity to epoxy fatty acid methyl ester (EFAME) were up to 90.6 and 86.0%, respectively. (PO4[WO2(O2)]4)3- was presumed to be the active site for the epoxidation in this work. The formed oxygen-donating intermediate Ti-OOH transferred oxygen free radicals to (PO4[WO2(O2)]4)3- in the catalytic process, accelerating the transfer of oxygen free radicals. Therefore, high catalytic activity of HPW/Zn-Ti LDHs is related to the potential synergistic interactions of Ti-OOH and PW anions.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos Dexmedetomidina (DEX) demonstrou ter efeito pré-condicionante e também efeitos protetores contra lesão organizada. Neste estudo, com células A549 (células epiteliais alveolares humanas), investigamos se o pré-condicionamento com DEX proporcionaria proteção contra lesão pulmonar aguda (LPA) in vitro. Métodos Células A549 foram aleatoriamente distribuídas em quatro grupos (n = 5): controle, DEX, lipopolissacarídeos (LPS) e D-LPS (DEX + LPS). Administramos solução de PBS (tampão fosfato-alcalino) ou DEX. Após 2 h de pré-condicionamento, o meio foi renovado e as células desafiadas com LPS por 24 h nos grupos LPS e D-LPS. Em seguida, malondialdeído (MDA), superóxido dismutase (SOD), Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 e em A549 foram testados. Apoptose também foi avaliada nas células. Resultados Em comparação com o grupo LPS, o pré-condicionamento com DEX reduziu a apoptose (26,43% ± 1,05% vs. 33,58% ± 1,16%, p < 0,05) em células A549, o que está correlacionado com a diminuição de MDA (12,84 ± 1,05 vs. 19,16 ± 1,89 nmol.mg-1 de proteína, p < 0,05) e aumento da atividade de SOD (30,28 ± 2,38 vs. 20,86 ± 2,19 U.mg-1 de proteína, p < 0,05). O pré-condicionamento com DEX também aumentou o nível de Bcl-2 (0,53 ± 0,03 vs. 0,32 ± 0,04, p < 0,05) e diminuiu o nível de Bax (0,49 ± 0,04 vs. 0,65 ± 0,04, p < 0,05), caspase-3 (0,54 ± 0,04 vs. 0,76 ± 0,04, p < 0,05) e citocromo c. Conclusão O pré-condicionamento com DEX tem efeito protetor contra LPA in vitro. Os potenciais mecanismos envolvidos são inibição da morte celular e melhoria da antioxidação.

Abstract Background and objectives Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has demonstrated the preconditioning effect and shown protective effects against organize injury. In this study, using A549 (human alveolar epithelial cell) cell lines, we investigated whether DEX preconditioning protected against acute lung injury (ALI) in vitro. Methods A549 were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5): control group, DEX group, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) group, and D-LPS (DEX + LPS) group. Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) or DEX were administered. After 2 h preconditioning, the medium was refreshed and the cells were challenged with LPS for 24 h on the LPS and D-LPS group. Then the malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and the cytochrome c in the A549 were tested. The apoptosis was also evaluated in the cells. Results Compare with LPS group, DEX preconditioning reduced the apoptosis (26.43% ± 1.05% vs. 33.58% ± 1.16%, p < 0.05) in the A549, which is correlated with decreased MDA (12.84 ± 1.05 vs. 19.16 ± 1.89 nmoL.mg-1 protein, p < 0.05) and increased SOD activity (30.28 ± 2.38 vs. 20.86 ± 2.19 U.mg-1 protein, p < 0.05). DEX preconditioning also increased the Bcl-2 level (0.53 ± 0.03 vs. 0.32 ± 0.04, p < 0.05) and decreased the level of Bax (0.49 ± 0.04 vs. 0.65 ± 0.04, p < 0.05), caspase-3 (0.54 ± 0.04 vs. 0.76 ± 0.04, p < 0.05) and cytochrome c. Conclusion DEX preconditioning has a protective effect against ALI in vitro. The potential mechanisms involved are the inhibition of cell death and improvement of antioxidation.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have demonstrated that both low and high hemoglobin concentrations are predictive of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in various populations. However, an association of hemoglobin with the ankle-brachial index, which is widely used as a screening test for peripheral arterial disease, has not yet been identified. METHODS: We examined 786 subjects (236 women and 550 men) who received routine physical check-ups. The ankle-brachial index and several hematological parameters, including the hemoglobin level, hematocrit and red blood cell count and other demographic and biochemical characteristics were collected. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to assess the relationships between the ankle-brachial index and the independent determinants. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted to calculate the cut-off level of hemoglobin for detecting a relatively low ankle-brachial index (less than 20% of all subjects, which was 1.02). RESULTS: The hemoglobin level, hematocrit and red blood cell count were correlated with the ankle-brachial index in the males (r=-0.274, r=-0.224 and r=-0.273, respectively, p<0.001 for all), but these associations were not significant in the females. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the independent determinants of the ankle-brachial index included age, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the white blood cell count for the females and age, hypertension, total cholesterol and hemoglobin (β=-0.001, p<0.001) for the males after adjusting for confounding factors. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the cut-off level of hemoglobin for predicting a low ankle-brachial index was 156.5 g/L in the males. CONCLUSIONS: A high hemoglobin concentration was independently correlated with a low ankle-brachial index in the healthy males, indicating that an elevation in this level may be associated with an increased atherosclerosis risk.

A convenient and sensitive GC-MS method was developed to identify thirteen sesquiterpenes and polyacetylenes (e.g. caryophyllene, γ-elemene, α-caryophyllene, β-selinene, isoledene, germacrene B, elixene, atractylone, hinesol, β-eudesmol, atrctylodin, atractylenolide II and acetylatractylodinol) in Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC., Asteraceae. Among those compounds, four major components including atractylone, hinesol, β-eudesmol and atrctylodin were quantified with standards; contents of other components were estimated by using calibration curve of hinesol. In this study, we presented that the concentrations of those thirteen components varied drastically in A. lancea samples from different producing areas. Among those components, atractylenolide II and acetylatractylodinol were identified by GC-MS for the first time. A hierarchical clustering analysis based on relative peak areas of those thirteen components in total ion current (TIC) profiles was used to characterize A. lancea samples from different producing areas. Further clustering analysis showed that a simplified method with only four major bioactive components could be used to serve the same aim.

A simple, high yielding synthesis of tri (3a-i) and tetrasubstituted (4a-g) imidazols from aldehydes is described. The cornerstone of this methodology involves the condensation of NH4OAc, substituted aldehydes, and benzoin, which is synthesized in situ from aldehydes catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbine (NHC), under microwave irradiation in water to afford trisubstituted imidazoles (3a-i). If arylamine is added in the solution, tetrasubstituted imidazoles (4a-g) can be obtained. Lepidilines B and trifenagrel are also synthesized in high yield using this procedure. All the experiment deta are in agreement with the literature.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) oil supplementation on the growth performance and lipid metabolism in geese and the fatty acid concentrations in their liver and muscle tissues. One hundred and ninety two one-day old geese were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments. The diet in Group A, the control, contained 2.5% soyabean oil, that in Group B 2.0% soyabean oil and 0.5% CLA, that in Group C 1.0% soybean oil and 1.5% CLA and that in Group D 2.5% CLA. The birds were fed for 56 days. No significant effects were observed in body weight and body weight gain between Groups B, C and the control, but these parameters were significantly lower in Group D compared to the control. The feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and abdominal fat percentage (AFP) were significantly lower in the groups receiving CLA in their diets compared with the control. Dietary CLA altered serum lipid concentrations by decreasing total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations, the atherogenic index and activity of lipoprotein lipase, and increased serum concentration of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. The fatty acid composition of the liver and muscle tissues showed significant increases in the biologically active cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomers in the geese fed increasing levels of CLA. The supplementation of CLA to the geese led to significant increases in saturated fatty acid concentrations and significant reductions in the monounsaturated fatty acid concentrations in liver and muscle tissues. The results clearly demonstrated that geese can successfully incorporate CLA in their liver and muscle tissues, thus producing a healthy food for humans.