ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Primary thyroid tuberculosis (PTT) is an uncommon type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It does not have specific clinical manifestations, and most cases are diagnosed through postoperative histopathological examination. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic pattern and management strategy among patients with primary thyroid tuberculosis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study on patients with primary thyroid tuberculosis in the First Hospital of Jilin University (Changchun, China). METHODS: Between March 2015 and June 2020, nine cases of PTT were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Thyroid Surgery of the First Hospital of Jilin University. Age at diagnosis, primary symptoms, preoperative biopsy, operation method, pathological classification, acid-fast staining test, anti-TB therapy and prognosis were registered in order to explore the appropriate protocol for diagnosis and treatment of this disease. RESULTS: None of the patients was diagnosed with thyroid tuberculosis before surgery. All the patients underwent surgery. Granulomatous changes or caseous necrosis in thyroid tissue were found through postoperative histopathological evaluation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were positive in all patients. Most patients had a good prognosis after surgery and anti-tuberculosis drug therapy. CONCLUSION: PTT is a rare disease. It is important to improve the preoperative diagnosis. Preoperative diagnostic accuracy relies on increased awareness of the disease and appropriate use of preoperative diagnostic methods, such as PCR detection, fine-needle aspiration cytology, acid-fast bacillus culture, ultrasound and blood sedimentation. PCR detection of M. tuberculosis is recommended as the gold standard for diagnosis.

We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Six relevant electronic databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared rTMS with control condition for PSD were included. The mean change in depression symptom scores was defined as the primary efficacy outcome. Secondary outcomes included the remission rate of depression, stroke recovery, and cognitive function recovery. In total, 7 RCTs with 351 participants were included. At post-treatment, rTMS was significantly more effective than the control condition, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of -1.15 (95%CI: -1.62 to -0.69; P<0.001, I2=71%) and remission with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.46 (95%CI: 1.68 to 7.12; P<0.001; I2=11%). As for stroke recovery, rTMS was also better than the control condition (SMD=-0.67, 95%CI: -1.02 to -0.32; P<0.001). However, no significant difference was found for cognitive function recovery between the two groups (SMD=4.07, 95%CI: -1.41 to 9.55; P=0.15). To explore the potential moderators for the primary outcome, a series of subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. The results implied that rTMS may be more effective in Asian samples than in North American samples (P=0.03). In conclusion, from the current evidence in this study, rTMS could be an effective treatment for patients with PSD. Further clinical studies with larger sample sizes and clearer subgroup definitions are needed to confirm these outcomes.

Abstract The environmental condition has changed after the implementation of the '97' water diversion scheme, and there are still queries regarding the rationality of the water diversion scheme due to the potential difficulty of completing the releasing goal of Zhengyixia section. This paper simulated the implementation of the scheme through a simulation model for water resources allocation in the Heihe River. Then, the rationality of the water diversion scheme was evaluated. Results indicated that, in the current water demand situation, the releasing indicator could not be completed. The releasing indicator could be accomplished under two returning farmland schemes in the midstream, but the irrigation guarantee rate is low and the groundwater is overused. Therefore, there are some irrationalities between the '97' water diversion scheme based on economic, social and hydrologic conditions in the Heihe River in the mid-1980s and the current situation of the Heihe River Basin.

ABSTRACT Expressways in China are developing rapidly, as is traffic pollution, which is one of the major sources of urban pollution. In this study, we chose the greenbelt in the idle zone near the Lin’an toll station along the Hang Rui expressway as our sampling area. Five points in the sampling area along Qianjin road were marked vertically at distances of 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 m to monitor concentrations of PM2.5 and learn the varying patterns of these concentrations and influencing factors. The results showed that in spring (March, April and May), the average PM2.5 concentrations in the greenbelt were 32.56 ± 22.51, 77.71 ± 32.11 and 64.15 ± 29.00 μg m-3, respectively. The ranking of concentrations at different monitoring points in the same period was 0 > 15 > 60 > 30 > 45 m. The average concentrations in winter (November and December 2017, and February 2018) were 33.56 ± 9.34, 60.78 ± 17.67 and 124.71 ± 43.19 μg m-3, respectively. However, the ranking of concentrations at different monitoring points in the same period revealed some differences. Except at 0 m, the concentrations of PM2.5 in the other four positions were higher in winter than in spring. The reduction rate at 45 m reached its maximum in both spring and winter. PM2.5 concentrations were significantly correlated with meteorological factors, the structure of the plant community and traffic flow. PM2.5 concentrations were negatively correlated with temperature, positively correlated with relative humidity and was not significantly correlated with wind speed. The correlations of PM2.5 concentrations with the canopy density and degree of porosity differed greatly due to different seasons, and concentrations were significantly correlated with the amount of traffic flow, especially when there were large trucks.

RESUMEN Las vías rápidas se están desarrollando con gran celeridad en China y junto con ellas la contaminación por tráfico, que es una de las mayores fuentes de contaminación urbana. En este estudio se eligió como área de muestreo el cinturón verde ubicado en la zona de amortiguamiento cercana a la estación de peaje Lin’an en la autopista Hang Rui. Se seleccionaron cinco puntos verticales a lo largo de la carretera Qianjin a distancias de 0, 15, 30, 45 y 60 m para monitorear las concentraciones de PM2.5 y conocer tanto sus patrones de variaciones como los factores que influyen en ellos. Los resultados mostraron que durante la primavera (marzo, abril y mayo) las concentraciones promedio de PM2.5 en el cinturón verde fueron de 32.56 ± 22.51, 77.71 ± 32.11 y 64.15 ± 29.00 μg m-3, respectivamente. La categorización de las concentraciones en diferentes puntos de monitoreo en el mismo periodo fue de 0 > 15 > 60 > 30 > 45 m. Las concentraciones promedio en invierno (noviembre y diciembre de 2017, y febrero de 2018) fueron de 33.56 ± 9.34, 60.78 ± 17.67 y 124.71 ± 43.19 μg m-3, respectivamente. Sin embargo, la categorización de las concentraciones en diferentes puntos de monitoreo mostró algunas diferencias. Con excepción del punto de muestreo ubicado a 0 m, las concentraciones de PM2.5 en los otros cuatro puntos fueron superiores en invierno que en primavera. La tasa de reducción a una distancia de 45 m alcanzó su máximo tanto en primavera como en invierno. Las concentraciones de PM2.5 tuvieron una correlación significativa con factores meteorológicos, la estructura de la comunidad vegetal y el flujo de tráfico; asimismo, tuvieron una correlación negativa con la temperatura, correlación positiva con la humedad relativa, y correlación no significativa con la velocidad del viento. Las correlaciones de PM2.5 con la densidad y el grado de porosidad de la cubierta vegetal difirieron de manera considerable como resultado de la estacionalidad, y las concentraciones se correlacionaron significativamente con la densidad del flujo de tráfico, especialmente en presencia de camiones pesados.

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of antibiotics, yeast culture (YC), and Lactobacillus culture (LC) on the gut microbiome and metabolites in the serum and caecum of weaning piglets. Twenty-four weaning piglets were divided into four treatment groups: control, antibiotic (1% chlortetracycline), 1.8% yeast culture (YC), and 1.6% Lactobacillus culture groups (LC). Each group had six replicated pens with one pig per pen. Feed and water were available ad libitum. Dietary supplementation with antibiotics, YC and LC increased the abundance of phylum, Firmicutes, and decreased the abundance of phylum, Proteobacteria. Beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Megasphaera in YC and LC groups increased, whereas the proportion of Shigella was decreased. Genera Alloprevotella and Lachnospira were biomarkers in the control and antibiotic groups, respectively. Phylum, Bacteroidetes, and genus, Collinsella, were biomarkers in the YC group, and Mitsuokella, Anaerotruncus, Syntrophococcus and Sharpea were biomarkers in the LC group. Dietary supplementation with different probiotics changed the serum and caecum metabolite profiles too. Antibiotic supplementation increased the levels of D-mannose, D-glucose, and hexadecanoic acid in the serum, and the levels of myo-inositol, D-mannose and benzenepropanoic acid in the caecum. LC increased the concentrations of D-mannose, cis-9-hexadecenoic acid and heptadecanoic acid in caecum compared with the control group. YC and LC supplementation in the weaning diet could improve the abundance of beneficial bacteria by changing the concentrations of some metabolites in the serum and caecum. Therefore, dietary supplementation with YC or LC could be used as additives instead of antibiotics in weaning piglets.

RESUMO: Este estudo foi conduzido para avaliar os efeitos de aditivos nas características de fermentação, composição química e digestibilidade in vitro do gafanhoto preto tetraplóide (TBL). A silagem de folhas TBL não foi tratada (controle) ou foi tratada com 1 × 106 ufc / g FM Lactobacillus plantarum (L), 1% glicose (G), 3% melaço (M), uma combinação de 1% glicose e Lactobacillus plantarum ( L + G), ou uma combinação de 3% de melaço e Lactobacillus plantarum (L + M). A qualidade da fermentação, a composição química e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes foram analisadas. As concentrações de etanol e ácido acético foram os produtos de fermentação dominantes em todas as silagens, com exceção da silagem L + M. Os tratamentos L, G e L + G não influenciaram na fermentação. O tratamento com M aumentou (P<0,05) a concentração de ácido láctico e diminuiu (P<0,05) o pH, quando comparado com a silagem controle. As melhores propriedades de fermentação foram observadas na silagem L + M, como indicado pela dominância do ácido lático sobre o etanol nos produtos de fermentação. As silagens M e L + M apresentaram maior teor de matéria seca (P<0,05), e a silagem M apresentou maior carboidrato solúvel em água residual que o controle. A ensilagem aumentou (P<0,05) a matéria seca in vitro, a fibra em detergente neutro e a degradabilidade da fibra em detergente ácido de TBL. Entre as silagens, a silagem M apresentou os maiores teores de matéria seca, fibra em detergente neutro e degradabilidade da fibra em detergente ácido. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a aplicação de bactérias lácticas em conjunto com 3% de melaço pode ser uma estratégia eficaz para evitar a ocorrência de fermentação alcoólica e melhorar a qualidade da fermentação da silagem TBL. A adição de açúcares fermentáveis à TBL aumenta a disponibilidade de nutrientes para ruminantes.

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of additives on the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of tetraploid black locust (TBL). The TBL leaves silage was either untreated (control) or treated with 1 × 106 cfu/g FM Lactobacillus plantarum (L), 1% glucose (G), 3% molasses (M), a combination of 1% glucose and Lactobacillus plantarum (L+G), or a combination of 3% molasses and Lactobacillus plantarum (L+M). Fermentation quality, chemical composition and nutrient digestibility were then analyzed. Ethanol and acetic acid concentrations were the dominant fermentation products in all silages except L+M silage. The L, G and L+G treatments failed to influence the fermentation. The M treatment increased (P<0.05) the lactic acid concentration and lowered (P<0.05) the pH when compared with control silage. The best fermentation properties were observed in L+M silage, as indicated by the dominance of lactic acid over ethanol in fermentation products. The M and L+M silages exhibited higher (P<0.05) dry matter, and M silage showed higher residual water-soluble carbohydrates than the control. Ensiling increased (P<0.05) the in vitro dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber degradability of TBL. Among the silages, M silage had the highest levels of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber degradability. The obtained results suggested that application of lactic acid bacteria together with 3% molasses could be an effective strategy to prevent the occurrence of ethanol fermentation and improve fermentation quality of TBL silage; addition of fermentable sugars to TBL improves nutrient availability to ruminants.

ABSTRACT This study examined the effect of chestnut ( Castanea sativa ) meal (CNM) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of pigs. Thirty-two crossbred pigs were randomly allocated equally into four groups and fed one of four diets containing 0, 30, 50, or 100 g kg−1 DM CNM for 49 days. The animals were housed individually into the cage, fed the diet ad libitum , and allowed to access water freely. Feed efficiency decreased quadratically, while carcass yield decreased linearly with increasing CNM supplementation. The highest pH and the lowest drip loss were found in 30 g kg−1 of CNM supplementation, respectively, while no effects on fatty acid profiles were observed in all treatments. The addition of CNM at 30 g kg−1 into the diets could improve feed efficiency and reduce drip loss in meat.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatments such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stent placements are becoming the standard method in managing haemodialysis access failure. Venous rupture is the most common complication during endovascular procedures. Complications during endovascular treatments of central venous stenosis or occlusion have been rarely reported OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence and management of central vein rupture while performing PTA for central vein stenosis or occlusion in haemodialysis patients METHOD: Between 1998 and 2013, PTA was performed using various techniques in haemodialysis patients for central vein stenoses (n = 2437) and occlusions (n = 666). When the guide wire passed through the stenosis or the occlusion, PTA was performed regardless of the presence of a venous rupture. The incidence of central vein rupture was analysed using the chi-square test according to the gender, location, right versus left, presence of thrombosis and stenosis versus occlusion. Percutaneous management of central vein rupture was also evaluated RESULTS: Central vein rupture occurred in 12 cases (0.39%). All ruptures occurred in the cases with occlusion. Only stenosis versus occlusion reflected a significant correlation (p < 0.001) with central vein rupture. Central vein ruptures were managed by low-pressure balloon tamponade (n = 2), stent/stent-graft (n = 5) and balloon-mediated haemostasis blocking venous inflow followed by the observation (n = 5 CONCLUSION: Central vein rupture is a rarely occurring complication while performing PTA for central vein stenosis and occlusion, and the majority can be successfully managed by percutaneous techniques

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (TAC) combined with corticosteroids in treating patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). One hundred seventy-seven biopsy-proven IMN patients were recruited in this retrospective clinical study. Sixty patients received TAC (target blood concentration of 4–8 ng/mL) and 117 patients received daily cyclophosphamide (CYC, 100 mg) combined with prednisone. Remission rates at the end of the first, second and third month in the TAC group were significantly higher than that in the CYC group (1st: 35.0 vs 19.7%, P<0.05; 2nd: 56.7 vs 38.5%, P<0.05; 3rd: 76.7 vs 59.0%, P<0.05). In the first 3 months, daily urinary protein and serum albumin in the TAC group obtained a better improvement than that in the CYC group (P<0.05). At the end of the sixth and the twelfth month, the remission rates, daily urinary protein and serum albumin were all comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). No significant difference of relapse rate between the groups was found (16.3 vs 12.0%, P>0.05). Patients were more likely to develop glucose intolerance in the TAC group. The TAC regimen obtained more benefits in treating IMN patients, especially in the first 3 months, than the CYC regimen.