Abstract In this study, the effects of degradation on ascorbic acid (AA) in asparagus-lemon juice with different blending ratios were investigated during storage. The R2 values of the first-order kinetic model for predicting AA loss were 0.8216-0.9990, indicating that the model described well the degradation of AA in asparagus-lemon juice with different blending ratios. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the blending ratio of asparagus-lemon juice during storage. The optimum blending ratios that selected by the RSM were: 23%, 26%, 27%, 28% and 29% of diluted asparagus juice blended with 85% of diluted lemon juice, and the desirability were 0.820. The RSM correlation coefficients (R2) between experimental and model predicted values ranged from 0.6394 to 0.9975. Therefore, RSM and the first-order model may be effective tools to optimize the blending ratio of blended juice and AA degradation in juices.

Abstract Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance is the highest treatment goal recommended by the current guidelines for hepatitis B. Levels of antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) are strongly associated with HBsAg recurrence, but hepatitis B vaccination may increase the anti-HBs seroconversion rate and reduce recurrence. We conducted a retrospective clinical study to ascertain the effect of this vaccination on the seroconversion rate and levels of protective anti-HBs after HBsAg. In this retrospective study, we distributed a questionnaire through an online survey platform to collect information related to hepatitis B vaccination in patients with functional cure of hepatitis B with Interferon-α (IFNα) therapy. We enrolled 320 patients who achieved functional cure from IFNα therapy. Of these, 219 patients had received hepatitis B vaccination according to their personal preference and drug accessibility after HBsAg seroclearance, whereas the remaining 101 patients did not receive hepatitis B vaccination. The anti-HBs seroconversion rate of 78.1% in the vaccinated group was significantly greater than that in the unvaccinated group (41.6%) (p < 0.001). Stratified comparisons with anti-HBs of ≥ 100 IU/L and ≥ 300 IU/L showed that both proportions in the vaccinated group were greater than those in the unvaccinated group (71.2% vs. 32.7% and 56.2% vs. 17.8%, respectively, all p-values < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of vaccination was 4.427, which was the strongest influencing factor for anti-HBs, reaching 100 IU/L or higher. Hepatitis B vaccination in patients after HBsAg seroclearance not only increased the anti-HBs seroconversion rate but also significantly increased antibody levels, with good safety, indicating the clinical value of vaccine therapy for patients with functional cure.

Abstract Background: The internal NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDA) gene family was a member of the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (ND) gene family, mainly involved in the non-phosphorylated respiratory pathways in mitochondria and played crucial roles in response to abiotic stress. Methods: The whole genome identification, structure analysis and expression pattern of NDA gene family were conducted to analyze the NDA gene family. Results: There were 51, 52, 26, and 24 NDA genes identified in G. hirsutum, G. barbadense, G. arboreum and G. raimondii, respectively. According to the structural characteristics of genes and traits of phylogenetic tree, we divided the NDA gene family into 8 clades. Gene structure analysis showed that the NDA gene family was relatively conservative. The four Gossypium species had good collinearity, and segmental duplication played an important role in the evolution of the NDA gene family. Analysis of cis-elements showed that most GhNDA genes contained cis-elements related to light response and plant hormones (ABA, MeJA and GA). The analysis of the expression patterns of GhNDA genes under different alkaline stress showed that GhNDA genes were actively involved in the response to alkaline stress, possibly through different molecular mechanisms. By analyzing the existing RNA-Seq data after alkaline stress, it was found that an NDA family gene GhNDA32 was expressed, and then theGhNDA32 was silenced by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). By observing the phenotype, we found that the wilting degree of silenced plants was much higher than that of the control plant after alkaline treatment, suggesting that GhNDA32 gene was involved in the response to alkaline stress. Conclusions: In this study, GhNDAs participated in response to alkaline stress, especially NaHCO3 stress. It was of great significance for the future research on the molecular mechanism of NDA gene family in responding to abiotic stresses.

ABSTRACT Low light levels during rice (Oryza sativa L.) growing seasons may lead to significant reductions in grain yield and quality. The effect of shading stress on remobilization of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) from the stem plus sheath (SPS) to the grain, a process crucial to rice grain formation, was investigated. Field shading experiments were conducted in Hanyuan and Wenjiang, China, using two rice varieties (Huanghuazhan and Guichao II) subjected to shading stress after heading. Stored NSC of 60.00-159.15 g m-2 were remobilized from SPS after heading, contributing 9.63%-23.63% to grain dry weight at maturity. Shading stress resulted in the 23.99%-50.30% and 31.65%-61.33% reduction in NSC content of SPS at 20 d after heading (DAH20) and maturity stages, respectively. This contributed to the 13.80%-89.00% increase in the remobilization of stored NSC from SPS to the grain (RASN) and 15.86%-73.30% increase in remobilization percentage of removed NSC from SPS to the grain (RPRN). The effect of shading stress on remobilization differed between sites and varieties. Owing to a greater sink capacity, shading stress led to a higher RASN and RPRN from heading to DAH20 for ‘Huanghuazhan’ in Hanyuan. To compensate for photosynthate deficiency under shading stress, rice is adapted to remobilize stored NSC during early grain filling stages. Consequently, grain yield loss caused by shading could be reduced by increasing the SPS remobilization ability (especially in low light areas). Increasing NSC accumulation in SPS before heading for later remobilization may be a feasible way to alleviate rice yield loss under adverse light conditions.

Abstract Background Our study aimed to investigate the roles of autophagy against high glucose induced response in retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19 cells). Methods The morphological changes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in ARPE-19 cells under high glucose treatment were respectively detected using the transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry. The expression levels of Parkin, PINK1, BNIP3L, LC3-I and LC3-II in ARPE-19 cells received high glucose treatment were measured by western blot after pretreatment of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), 3-methyladenine (3-MA), N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or cyclosporin A (CsA) followed by high glucose treatment. Results ARPE-19 cells subjected to high glucose stress showed an obvious reduction in the LC3-I expression and significant increase in the number of autophagosomes, in the intracellular ROS level, and in the expression levels of Parkin, PINK1, BNIP3L and LC3-II (p < 0.05). Pretreatment with CCCP significantly reduced the LC3-I expression and increased the expression levels of Parkin, PINK1, BNIP3L and LC3-II (p < 0.05). ARPE-19 cells pretreated with CsA under high glucose stress showed markedly down-regulated expressions of Parkin, PINK1 and BNIP3L compared with the cells treated with high glucose (p < 0.05). Pretreatment of ARPE-19 cells with NAC or 3-MA under high glucose stress resulted in a marked reduction in the expression levels of PINK1, BNIP3L and LC3-II (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression level of Parkin in the ARPE-19 cells pretreated with NAC under high glucose stress was comparable with that in the control cells. Conclusion Autophagy might have protective roles against high glucose induced injury in ARPE19 cells via regulating PINK1/Parkin pathway and BNIP3L.

Resumo Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a experiência inicial da aplicação do implante percutâneo da válvula aórtica com o sistema balão-expansível na China. A tecnologia TAVI tem sido amplamente utilizada para pacientes com estenose aórtica grave inoperável no mundo desenvolvido. A aplicação de implante percutâneo da válvula aórtica está ainda nas etapas iniciais de teste na China, em particular o procedimento de válvula balão-expansível. Métodos: O estudo foi retrospectivo e todos os pacientes submetidos a implante percutâneo da válvula aórtica com sistema balão-expansível em nosso hospital entre 2011 e 2014 foram incluídos. Edwards SAPIEN XT Válvula Cardíaca Transcatheter foi usado. A melhoria do funcionamento da válvula e do coração foi avaliada, bem como mortalidade em 30 dias e as principais complicações de acordo com a definição VARC-2. Resultados: Um total de 10 procedimentos Tavi com o sistema balão-expansível foram realizados em nosso hospital, dos quais 9 foram transfemorais e 1 foi transapical. A idade média foi de 76 anos, e os STS mediana marcar e Logistic EuroSCORE (%) foram de 8,9 e 16,2. A implantação foi realizada com sucesso em todos os pacientes, apenas 2 pacientes tiveram vazamento paravalvar leve. Não houve um futuro implante valvar. Além disso, mortalidade em 30 dias ou complicações não foram relatadas. Seguindo o procedimento de implante percutâneo da válvula aórtica, as válvulas cardíacas e funções melhoraram significativamente. Durante o período de acompanhamento de 3-34 meses, um paciente morreu de câncer de pulmão 13 meses após a operação. Conclusão: Esta experiência inicial apresentou elementos de prova preliminar para a segurança e eficácia do procedimento implante percutâneo da válvula aórtica com o sistema balão-expansível no mundo em desenvolvimento com crescente envelhecimento da população.

Abstract Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the early experience of the application of transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the balloon-expandable system in China. The transcatheter aortic valve implantation technology has been widely used for patients with inoperable severe aortic stenosis in the developed world. The application of transcatheter aortic valve implantation is still in the early stages of testing in China, particularly for the balloon-expandable valve procedure. Methods: This was a retrospective study. All patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation with balloon-expandable system in our hospital between 2011 and 2014 were included. Edwards SAPIEN XT Transcatheter Heart Valve was used. The improvement of valve and heart function was evaluated as well as 30-day mortality and major complications according to the VARC-2 definition. Results: A total of 10 transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures with the balloon-expandable system were performed in our hospital, of which 9 were transfemoral and 1 was transapical. The median age was 76 years, and the median STS score and Logistic EuroSCORE (%) were 8.9 and 16.2. The implantation was successfully conducted in all patients, only 2 patients had mild paravalvular leak. There was no second valve implantation. Moreover, no 30-day mortality or complications was reported. Following the transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure, the heart and valve functions had improved significantly. During the follow-up period of 3-34 months, one patient died of lung cancer 13 months after the operation. Conclusion: This early experience has provided preliminary evidence for the safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure with the balloon-expandable system in the developing world with an increasing aging population.

Pulmonary mucormycosis is a very rare clinical condition in patients without underlying risk factors. A limited number of cases have been reported in predominantly elderly patients; history of smoking appears to be a common feature. A case of non-smoking male who developed pulmonary mucormycosis with the longest reported follow-up is presented. In addition, this is also the first reported case with disease recurrence after lobectomy (two years) in an immunocompetent host. Treatment with an additional lobectomy and amphotericin B was successful in this patient.

We investigated inheritance and carried out gene fine mapping of aroma in crosses between the aromatic elite hybrid rice Oryza sativa indica variety Chuanxiang-29B (Ch-29B) and the non-aromatic rice O. sativa indica variety R2 and O. sativa japonica Lemont (Le). The F1 grains and leaves were non-aromatic while the F2 non-aroma to aroma segregation pattern was 3:1. The F3 segregation ratio was consistent with the expected 1:2:1 for a single recessive aroma gene in Ch-29B. Linkage analysis between simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and the aroma locus for the aromatic F2 plants mapped the Ch-29B aroma gene to a chromosome 8 region flanked by SSR markers RM23120 at 0.52 cM and RM3459 at 1.23 cM, a replicate F2 population confirming these results. Three bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones cover chromosome 8 markers RM23120 and RM3459. Our molecular mapping data from the two populations indicated that the aroma locus occurs in a 142.85 kb interval on BAC clones AP005301 or AP005537, implying that it might be the same gene reported by Bradbury et al (2005a; Plant Biotec J. 3:363-370). The flanking markers Aro7, RM23120 and RM3459 identified by us could greatly accelerate the efficiency and precision of aromatic rice breeding programs.

Wild type and mutant toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxins were examined for their binding to midgut brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV). CryIAa, CryIAb, and CryIAc were examined for their binding to Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) BBMV. The binding of CryIAa and CryIAc was directly correlated with their toxicity, while CryIAb was observed to have lower binding than expected from its toxicity. The latter observation confirms the observation of Wolfersberger (1990). The "rule" of reciprocity of binding and toxicity is apparently obeyed by CryIAa and CryIAc, but broken by CryIAb on L. dispar. Alanine substitutions were made in several positions of the putative loops of CryIAa to test the hypothesis that the loops are intimately involved in binding to the receptor. The mutant toxins showed minor shifts in heterologous binding to Bombyx mori BBMV, but not enough to conclude that the residues chosen play critical roles in receptor binding.