[Effect of preemptive analgesia with ibuprofen on postoperative pain after mandibular third molar extraction: a randomized controlled trial]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of preemptive analgesia with ibuprofen on postoperative pain following the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars in a Chinese population, aiming to provide a clinical reference for its application. Methods: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial was conducted from April 2022 to October 2023 at the Capital Medical University School of Stomatology (40 cases), Beijing TianTan Hospital, Capital Medical University (22 cases), and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University (20 cases). It included 82 patients with impacted mandibular third molars, with 41 in the ibuprofen group and 41 in the control group. Participants in the ibuprofen group received 300 mg of sustained-release ibuprofen capsules orally 15 min before surgery, while the control group received a placebo. Both groups were instructed to take sustained-release ibuprofen capsules as planned for 3 days post-surgery. Pain intensity was measured using the numerical rating scale at 30 min, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after surgery, and the use of additional analgesic medication was recorded during days 4 to 6 postoperatively. Results: All 82 patients completed the study according to the protocol. No adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, or allergies were reported in either group during the trial. The ibuprofen group exhibited significantly lower pain scores at 4 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs. 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)] (Z=-3.73, P<0.001), 6 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs. 5.0(2.5, 6.0)] (Z=-3.38, P<0.001), and 8 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs. 5.0 (2.0, 6.0)] (Z=-2.11, P=0.035) postoperatively compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in pain scores between the groups at 30 min, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively (P>0.05). Additionally, 11 out of 41 patients (26.8%) in the ibuprofen group and 23 out of 41 patients (56.1%) in the control group required extra analgesic medication between days 4 and 6 post-surgery, with the ibuprofen group taking significantly fewer additional pills [0.0 (0.0, 1.0) vs. 1.0 (0.0, 3.0)] (Z=-2.81, P=0.005). Conclusions: A pain management regimen involving 300 mg of oral sustained-release ibuprofen capsules administered 15 minutes before surgery and continued for 3 d postoperatively effectively reduces pain levels and the total amount of analgesic medication used after the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Considering its efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, ibuprofen is recommended as a first-line drug for perioperative pain management, enhancing patient comfort during diagnosis and treatment in a feasible manner.

Isoniazid urine spectrophotometry for prediction of serum pharmacokinetics in adults with TB

BACKGROUND

Isoniazid (INH) is an important drug in many TB regimens, and unfavorable treatment outcomes can be caused by suboptimal pharmacokinetics. Dose adjustment can be personalized by measuring peak serum concentrations; however, the process involves cold-chain preservation and laboratory techniques such as liquid chromatography (LC)/mass spectrometry (MS), which are unavailable in many high-burden settings. Urine spectrophotometry could provide a low-cost alternative with simple sampling and quantification methods.

METHODS

We enrolled 56 adult patients on treatment for active TB. Serum was collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h for measurement of INH concentrations using validated LC-MS/MS methods. Urine was collected at 0-4, 4-8, and 8-24 h intervals, with INH concentrations measured using colorimetric methods.

RESULTS

The median peak serum concentration and total serum exposure over 24 h were 4.8 mg/L and 16.4 mg*hour/L, respectively. Area under the receiver operator characteristic curves for urine values predicting a subtherapeutic serum concentration (peak <3.0 mg/L) were as follows: 0-4 h interval (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.7-0.96), 0-8 h interval (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.71-0.96), and 0-24 h urine collection interval (AUC 0.84, 95% CI 0.68-0.96).

CONCLUSION

Urine spectrophotometry may improve feasibility of personalized dosing in high TB burden regions but requires further study of target attainment following dose adjustment based on a urine threshold.

[Prevalence of frailty and related factors in middle-aged and elderly people in island and mountainous areas of Taizhou, Zhejiang Province]

Objective: To compare the prevalence of frailty and related factors in middle-aged and elderly people aged ≥45 years in island and mountainous areas of Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. Methods: Based on cross-sectional design, stratified cluster sampling and quota sampling methods were adopted. One administrative district was randomly selected from each of six coastal and three inland administrative districts in Taizhou during July to August, representing two different geographical terrains. In the island area (Jiaojiang District), all residents aged ≥45 years were included by cluster sampling. In the mountainous area (Xianju County), participants were selected through quota sampling, with same gender and age distributions. Data about their demographic characteristics, lifestyle and health-related factors were collected through questionnaire surveys and laboratory examinations. The prevalence of frailty was assessed using the Fried frailty phenotype scale. Hierarchical analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to compare the influencing factors of frailty. Results: A total of 1 011 local residents were studied, in whom island and mountainous residents accounted for 48.1% (486/1 011) and 51.9% (525/1 011) respectively; men and women accounted for 45.9% (464/1 011) and 54.1% (547/1 011) respectively. Middle-aged (45-49 years), younger elderly (60-74 years), and older elderly (≥75 years) residents accounted for 38.6% (390/1 011), 44.6% (451/1 011), and 16.8% (170/1 011) respectively. The overall prevalence rate of frailty was 3.6% (36/1 011), the prevalence rate was 3.7% (17/464) in men and 3.5% (19/547) in women. The prevalence rates in age groups 45-59,60-74 years and ≥75 years were 0.3% (1/390), 2.2% (10/451), and 14.7% (25/170), respectively. The prevalence rates of frailty and pre-frailty in island area were 6.0% (29/486) and 39.1% (190/486), respectively, which was higher than those in mountainous area (1.3%, 7/525) and (30.9%, 162/525). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the risk for frailty in island residents was significantly higher than that in mountainous residents (aOR=1.55,95%CI: 1.07-2.25,P=0.019). In island area, older age (60-74 years:aOR=2.52,95%CI: 1.56-4.13; ≥75 years:aOR=11.65,95%CI:5.38-26.70), being women (aOR=1.94,95%CI: 1.20-3.17), suffering from depression (aOR=1.09,95%CI:1.02-1.17) were associated with frailty symptoms. In mountainous area, older age was also associated with an increased risk of frailty symptoms, but the OR value was lower than those in island area (60-74 years: aOR=1.74,95%CI:1.04-2.94;≥75 years: aOR=4.78,95%CI:2.45-9.50). Polydrug use (aOR=2.08,95%CI: 1.14-3.80) and suffering from depression (aOR=1.10,95%CI: 1.02-1.18) had significant positive association with frailty symptoms. Higher education level had significant negative association with frailty symptoms (junior high school: aOR=0.40,95%CI: 0.21-0.75; senior high school and technical secondary school: aOR=0.29,95%CI: 0.15-0.53; college or above:aOR=0.22,95%CI: 0.11-0.42). Conclusions: The prevalence of frailty in middle-aged and elderly community residents was significantly higher in island area than in mountainous area in Taizhou. The frailty-related factors varied with area. The elderly people (≥75 years) and women in island area had higher risk for frailty. Older age and suffering from depression were the independent risk factors for frailty. It is necessary to pay attention to the health risk factors and special environment in island area, and take comprehensive intervention measures to delay the process of debilitation and improve the quality of life of middle-aged and elderly people.

Bioactivity and genome analysis of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GL18 isolated from the rhizosphere of Kobresia myosuroides in an alpine meadow

The unique eco-environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau breeds abundant microbial resources. In this research, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GL18, isolated from the rhizosphere of Kobresia myosuroides from an alpine meadow, and the antagonistic activity, bacteriostatic hydrolase activity, and low temperature, salt, and drought resistance of it were determined and analysed. The seedlings of Avena sativa were root-irrigated using bacteria suspensions (cell concentration 1 × 107 cfu/mL) of GL18, and the growth-promoting effect of GL18 on it was determined under cold, salt and drought stress, respectively. The whole genome of GL18 was sequenced, and its functional genes were analysed. GL18 presented significant antagonistic activity to Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium acuminatum, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger (inhibition zone diameter > 17 mm). Transparent zones formed on four hydrolase detection media, indicating that GL18 secreted cellulase, protease, pectinase and β-1,3-glucanase. GL18 tolerated conditions of 10 °C, 11% NaCl and 15% PEG-6000, presenting cold, salt and drought resistance. GL18 improved the cold, salt and drought tolerance of A. sativa and it showed significant growth effects under different stress. The total length of the GL18 genome was 3,915,550 bp, and the number of coding DNA sequence was 3726. Compared with the clusters of orthologous groups of proteins, gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes databases, 3088, 2869 and 2357 functional genes were annotated, respectively. GL18 contained gene clusters related to antibacterial substances, functional genes related to the synthesis of plant growth-promoting substances, and encoding genes related to stress resistance. This study identified an excellent Bacillus strain and provided a theoretical basis for improving stress resistance and promoting the growth of herbages under abiotic stress.

[Research progress in the diagnosis and management of proliferative verrucous leukoplakia]

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is one of the oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) with the highest malignant potential. PVL tends to be easily misdiagnosed owing to the resemblance in clinical manifestations between PVL and other diseases such as oral leukoplakia or oral lichen planus. PVL is considered as a special type of oral leukoplakia by some scholars, which is characterized by its tendency of recurrence and metastasis, along with its high risk of malignant transformation. So far, the accurate clinic diagnosis and management of PVL are still intractable due to the lack of definite histopathological definition, unified diagnostic criteria and effective treatment modalities. This review aims to provide the clinical practitioners with a series of advices on the clinical diagnosis and management of PVL by systematically reviewing the diagnostic logistics, therapeutic strategies, malignant transformation detection based on tremendous relevant data and evidence-based medicine.

MicroRNA-137 inhibits pituitary prolactinoma proliferation by targeting AKT2

PURPOSE

Prolactinoma is the most common type of pituitary adenoma. Most prolactinoma need medical treatment, but some of them are aggressive and require surgery. In previous decades, some miRNAs have been manifested as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Consequently, miRNAs' abnormal expression involves tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis of different types of tumors, including pituitary tumors. The current study aim to explore the aggressiveness-associated miRNAs in prolactinoma and underlying molecular mechanisms based on the bioinformatic analysis and fundamental experiment studies.

METHODS

GSE46294 miRNA expression profile from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was downloaded. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were filtered from this data. Subsequently, the target genes of downregulated miRNAs were analyzed by Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. RT-qPCR, western blot, and CCK-8 assays were used to validate the effect of miR-137 on the proliferation of MMQ cells through AKT2. Finally, the binding site of rat miR-137 to AKT2 were predicted by Targetscan and Bibiserv database, and verified by double luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

Twenty-four changed DEMs (fourteen upregulated and ten downregulated) were identified. Target genes of downregulated DEMs were classified into three groups by GO terms. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed these target genes enriched in the PI3K-Akt pathway. We also confirmed that miR-137 can target AKT2 and inhibit the proliferation of MMQ cells induced by AKT2.

CONCLUSION

MiR-137 suppressed prolactinomas' aggressive behavior by targeting AKT2.

[Effects of subanesthetic dose of esketamine on opioid consumption after thoracoscopic surgery]

Objective: To investigate the effect of continuous intravenous infusion of subanesthetic dose of esketamine intraoperatively on postoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. Methods: A total of 71 patients with elective thoracoscopic lung surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2020 to December 2021 were selected. Patients who were classified as grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and aged 18-70 years were included, including 32 males and 39 females, with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-30.0 kg/m². The patients were randomly divided into three groups: (1) Control group (group C, n=24): continuous intravenous infusion of normal saline at the same rate during surgery; (2) Subanesthetic dose of esketamine 0.125 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 group (group ES1, n=23): continuous intravenous infusion of esketamine at a rate of 0.125 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 during surgery; (3) Subanesthetic dose of esketamine 0.250 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 group (group ES2, n=24): continuous intravenous infusion of esketamine at a rate of 0.250 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 during surgery. The main outcome measures were the total consumptions of hydromorphone of 3 groups within 24 and 48 hours after surgery. The secondary outcome measures were the extubation time, length of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, the time of first feeding, and the incidences of adverse effects within 24 h after surgery in 3 groups. Results: The 24 h postoperative consumption of hydromorphone in group C, ES1 and ES2 was (5.4±1.0) mg, (4.5±1.5) mg and (4.0±0.8) mg, respectively. Likewise, the 48 h postoperative consumption of hydromorphone was (9.7±2.2) mg, (9.0±3.0) mg and (7.7±1.8) mg, respectively. Compared with group C, the 24 h postoperative hydromorphone consumptions were significantly reduced in group ES1 and ES2 (both P<0.05). The extubation time, length of PACU stay and the time of first feeding after surgery in group C were (23±10) min,(70±12) min,(17±3) h,in group ES1 were (22±4) min,(69±11) min,(14±5) h,in group ES2 were (16±8) min,(58±12) min,(14±3) h, respectively. Compared with group C and group ES1, both of the extubation time and length of PACU stay were shortened in group ES2 (both P<0.05). Compared with group C, the first postoperative feeding time of group ES1 and ES2 was shortened (both P<0.05). There were no differences in the incidences of adverse effects at postoperative 24 h among 3 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Continuously intravenous infusion of subanesthetic esketamine at a rate of 0.250 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 can significantly reduce the postoperative opioid consumption and improve the patient's outcomes.

Nano-Honokiol ameliorates the cognitive deficits in TgCRND8 mice of Alzheimer's disease via inhibiting neuropathology and modulating gut microbiota

Introduction

Honokiol (HO) exerts neuroprotective effects in several animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the poor dissolution hampers its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.

Objectives

A novel honokiol nanoscale drug delivery system (Nano-HO) with smaller size and excellent stability was developed in this study to improve the solubility and bioavailability of HO. The anti-AD effects of Nano-HO was determined.

Methods

Male TgCRND8 mice were daily orally administered Nano-HO or HO at the same dosage (20 mg/kg) for 17 consecutive weeks, followed by assessment of the spatial learning and memory functions using the Morris Water Maze test (MWMT).

Results

Our pharmacokinetic study indicated that the oral bioavailability was greatly improved by Nano-HO. In addition, Nano-HO significantly improved cognitive deficits and inhibited neuroinflammation via suppressing the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the brain, preventing the activation of microglia (IBA-1) and astrocyte (GFAP), and reducing β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the cortex and hippocampus of TgCRND8 mice. Moreover, Nano-HO was more effective than HO in modulating amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing via suppressing β-secretase, as well as enhancing Aβ-degrading enzymes like neprilysin (NEP). Furthermore, Nano-HO more markedly inhibited tau hyperphosphorylation via decreasing the ratio of p-Tau (Thr 205)/tau and regulating tau-related apoptosis proteins (caspase-3 and Bcl-2). In addition, Nano-HO more markedly attenuated the ratios of p-JNK/JNK and p-35/CDK5, while enhancing the ratio of p-GSK-3β (Ser9)/GSK-3β. Finally, Nano-HO prevented the gut microflora dysbiosis in TgCRND8 mice in a more potent manner than free HO.

Conclusion

Nano-HO was more potent than free HO in improving cognitive impairments in TgCRND8 mice via inhibiting Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation through suppressing the activation of JNK/CDK5/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Nano-HO also more potently modulated the gut microbiota community to protect its stability than free HO. These results suggest that Nano-HO has good potential for further development into therapeutic agent for AD treatment.

TET2 modulates proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via LEMD2/NOX1/NOX4 signaling pathway

Background

Ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2), a widely reported DNA hydroxymethylation enzyme, is involved in active DNA demethylation. TET2 may play an critical role in numerous cellular processes by regulating the level of DNA hydroxymethylation and altering gene expression. TET2 expression was proved to be down-regulated in aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared to Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) as well as in VSMCs subjected to15% cyclic stretch compared to 5% cyclic stretch. However, whether TET2 regulates vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and migration and its underlying mechanisms remains unclear.

Purpose

The present study aims to investigate whether TET2 affects VSMC proliferation and migration and its possible underlying mechanisms.

Methods

TET2 knockdown rat VSMC was established using crispr/Cas9 method. Different expression genes were identified by next generation sequencing (NGS) between TET2 knockdown VSMC and control VSMCs while differentially hydroxymethylated promoter region were identified by hydroxymethylcytosine DNA immunoprecipitation (hMeDIP) sequencing. Expression of mRNA and proteins was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot respectively. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs were assessed by EdU assay, flowcytometry assay, and wound healing assay. LEMD2 overexpression and knockdown stable VSMC lines were established through Lentiviral infection.

Results

The EdU assay and wound healing assay show that knockdown of TET2 enhanced proliferation and migration of VSMCs. NGS identified 123 differentially expressed genes (91 up-regulated and 32 down-regulated) between TET2 knockdown VSMCs and control VSMCs while hMeDIP sequencing identified 166 genes with differentially hydroxymethylated promoter region (68 up-regulated and 98 down-regulated) between TET2 knockdown VSMCs and control VSMCs. Through comparing these sequencing results, we identified a gene named as LEMD2 simultaneously present in both sequencing results. Expression of LEMD2 at mRNA and protein level was significantly increased in TET2 knockdown VSMCs compared to control VSMCs. Then we successfully established LEMD2 overexpression and knockdown stable VSMC lines and found that overexpression of LEMD2 enhanced proliferation and migration of VSMCs while knockdown of LEMD2 inhibited proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Furthermore, overexpression of LEMD2 up-regulated the expression of NOX1 and down-regulated the expression of NOX4 while knockdown of LEMD2 show the opposite effect.

Conclusion

The present study confirmed that TET2 modulates VSMC proliferation and migration via LEMD2/NOX1/NOX4. The ROS level may be involved in VSMC proliferation and migration.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National natural science foundation of China

[The Museum of Western Studies on Chinese Medicine:Chinese medicine in the western societies]

The historical artifacts displayed in the Museum of Western study on Chinese Medicine at Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine came from a variety of Chinese medical schools in America and European countries. They are in the memorial galleries for some well-known figures, such as George Soulié de Morant (Su Lie), Jacques-André Lavier (La Wei Ai), Felix Mann (Man Fu Li) and Manfred Porkert (Man Xi Bo), representing the development and status of respective Chinese medical schools in America and European countries. The displayed artifacts are nearly 3,000 photos, manuscripts, documents and more than 500 hours of audiovisual materials, including instruments for acupuncture and moxibustion, books, passports, letters and even supplies for their life. The displayed artifacts demonstrate the process and the access of people in the western societies to know, learn and take use of Chinese medicine.

[Reconstruction of complex tissue defects in temporal region: report of 3 cases]

Objective: To discuss the techniques and repairing methods of various degree of compound tissue defects in the auriculotemporal region. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on three cases of different repairing methods for huge compound tissue defects in different degrees in the auriculotemporal region after the resection of the malignant tumor or sinus tract due to repeated infection in our hospital. Results: Following total removal of the tumors or sinus tract in all patients, we applied retroauricular lingual flap transfer repairing, latissimus dorsi flap free transfer repairing and vascular anastomosis, scalp tissue expansion in stage Ⅰ, then repairing the lesion with expanded scalp and filling the huge mastoid cavity with abdominal fat in stage Ⅱ, respectively, according to the characteristics of compound tissue defects in the auriculotemporal region. All free flaps survived well. Conclusions: The anatomy of the auricular-temporal area is complex and involves important vascular and neural structures of head and neck and lateral skull base. The huge composite tissue defect following auriculotemporal region surgery, which is composed of skin, muscle and bone tissue, needs to be repaired in one stage. Therefore, flexible repairing methods should be chosen based on different situations, for attaining the goal of completely removing tumor and lesions, and then, covering the operation cavity.

[The hemodynamic study of internal jugular vein in patients with pulsatile tinnitus by color doppler sonography]

Objective:To investigate the hemodynamic changes of internal jugular vein（IJV） in patients with pulsatile tinnitus（PT） detected by color doppler sonography（CDS）. To explore the correlation of PT with IJV drainage dominance and the value of CDS in the diagnosis of PT. Method:Two hundred and twenty-one patients with PT were examined with the CDS and IJV compression test. The hemodynamic data of the upper, middle and lower IJV were compared with both PT side and unaffected side. The correlation of the PT with the IJV drainage dominance was analyzed. Result:A total of 125 cases（56.6%） of 221 patients with PT underwent ultrasonic IJV compression test with positive results, 96 cases（43.3%） with negative results. In the positive compression test group, the tinnitus disappeared after IJV being completely compressed in 109 cases（87.2%）, and in 16 cases（12.8%） after IJV being partial closure. The extent of sectional area reduction was: upper jugular vein（75.41 ±9.39）%, middle jugular vein（80.25±13.16）%, lower jugular vein（86.58± 7.53）%. The blood flow volume on the tinnitus side was obviously higher than that on the unaffected side（P=0.001）. In the negative compression test group, there was no significant difference in blood flow volume between tinnitus side and unaffected side. In the IJV positive compression test group, 54 cases（43.2%） were IJV drainage dominance combined, and 71 cases（56.8%） were non-dominant combined. In the IJV negative compression test group, 24 cases（25%） were IJV drainage dominance combined, and 72 cases（75%） were non-dominant combined. Conclusion:The positive result of IJV compression test using CDS and the flow volume of IJV on the affected side significantly higher than that on the unaffected side contributed to the diagnosis of venous PT. In this study, the IJV non-dominant side was more common in the venous PT.

Apoptosis induced by bruceine D in human non‑small‑cell lung cancer cells involves mitochondrial ROS‑mediated death signaling

Bruceine D is one of the active components of Brucea javanica (L.) Merr., which is widely used to treat cancer in China. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential effect of bruceine D against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and delineate its underlying mechanisms. The results indicated that treatment with bruceine D markedly inhibited the proliferation of wild-type NSCLC cells and epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and significantly decreased the colony-forming ability and migration of A549 cells. Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that treatment with bruceine D effectively induced apoptosis of A549 cells. In addition, the proapoptotic effect of bruceine D was found to be associated with G0-G1 cell cycle arrest, accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde, depletion of glutathione levels and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, a ROS scavenger, significantly attenuated the bruceine D-induced inhibition in A549 cells. Western blotting demonstrated that treatment with bruceine D significantly suppressed the expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, BclxL and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, enhanced the expression levels of apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak, and inhibited the expression of pro-caspase-3 and pro-caspase-8. Based on these results, it may be suggested that inhibition of A549 NSCLC cell proliferation by bruceine D is associated with the modulation of ROS-mitochondrial-mediated death signaling. This novel insight may provide further evidence to verify the anticancer efficacy of B. javanica, and support a role for bruceine D in the anti-NSCLC treatment.

Incidence and mortality of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: interim analysis of a cluster randomized controlled screening trial (PRO-NPC-001) in southern China

BACKGROUND

Previous mass screening studies have shown that IgA antibodies against Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) can facilitate early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but the impact of EBV-antibody screening for NPC-specific mortality remains unknown.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective, cluster randomized, controlled trial for NPC screening (PRO-NPC-001) was conducted in 3 selected towns of Zhongshan City and 13 selected towns of Sihui City in southern China beginning in 2008. Serum samples of the screening group were tested for two previously selected anti-EBV antibodies. Subjects with serological medium risk were subsequently retested annually for 3 years, and those with serological high risk were referred to otorhinolaryngologists for diagnostic check-up. An interim analysis was carried out to evaluate the primary end points of the NPC-specific mortality and the early diagnostic rate, and the secondary end point of the NPC incidence, through linkage with the database of Zhongshan City.

RESULTS

Among 70 296 total subjects, 29 413 screened participants (41.8% of the total subjects) in the screening group and 50 636 in the control group, 153 (43.3 per 100 000 person-year), 62 (55.3 per 100 000 person-year) and 99 (33.1 per 100 000 person-year) NPC cases were identified. The early diagnostic rates of NPC were significantly higher in the participants (79.0%, P < 0.0001) and the screening group (45.9%, P < 0.0001) compared with the control group (20.6%). Although no differences were found between NPC-specific mortality of the screening group and the control group [relative risk (RR)= 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37-1.79], lower NPC-specific mortality was noticed among participants from the screening group versus the control group (RR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.09-0.49).

CONCLUSION

IgA antibodies against EBV can identify high-risk population and was effective in screening for early asymptomatic NPC. Although the mortality reduction was not significant in the primary end point, we noted encouraging evidence of a mortality reduction in screening participants in this interim analysis.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

NCT00941538.

Ameliorative effect of supercritical fluid extract of Chrysanthemum indicum Linnén against D-galactose induced brain and liver injury in senescent mice via suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chrysanthemum indicum Linne (C. indicum), a healthy food and folk medicine in China for thousands of years, has been reported to exert heat-clearing and detoxifying effects and extensively applied to treat various symptoms such as inflammation diseases, hepatitis and headache.

AIM OF THIS STUDY

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of the supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extract from flowers and buds of C. indicum (CI_SCFE) on D-galactose-induced brain and liver damage during aging process and to illuminate the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were orally administrated with CI_SCFE (100, 150 and 300 mg/kg) after injection with D-galactose. 24 h after the last administration, the blood samples, whole brain and liver tissues were collected for biochemical analysis, histological examination and western blot analysis. The body weight, spleen and thymus indexes, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain and liver, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected. Besides, the expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by western blot assay.

RESULTS

The results indicated that CI_SCFE effectively increased the suppressed body weight, attenuated the decline of thymus and spleen indexes, and reduced the elevated levels of ALT and AST induced by D-gal. Furthermore, CI_SCFE might notably alleviate D-gal-induced abnormal alterations in structure and function of brain and liver dose-dependently via renewing normal antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px), reducing MDA accumulation, decreasing inflammatory cytokines productions (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), as well as attenuating the increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cleaved caspase-3 activation in the liver and brain.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our present results suggested that CI_SCFE treatment could effectively mitigate the D-gal-induced hepatic and cerebral injury, and the underlying mechanism might be tightly related to the decreased oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, indicating CI_SCFE might be an alternative and promising agent for the treatment of aging and age-associated brain and liver diseases.

[Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: a clinicopathological analysis of 18 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinical symptoms, imaging features, pathologic manifestations and diagnosis of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO). Methods: The clinical data, imaging and pathologic features and outcome of 18 TO patients diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from August 2011 to August 2018 were collected and analyzed. Results: The 18 TO patients included 10 males and 8 females; patients' age range was 31 to 64 years (mean 52 years). Six patients (6/18) were smokers. The main presenting clinical symptoms included cough in 15 cases, expectoration in eight cases (8/18), hemoptysis in five cases (5/18), chest tightness in four cases, wheezing in three cases and chest pain in two cases. The time interval between the initial symptoms and diagnosis was 1.5 to 360.0 months, and the average time interval was 45.2 months. Blood calcium and phosphorus were normal in 18 patients (18/18). Chest X-ray showed no direct evidence of TO. Six patients (6/18) showed irregular changes in the trachea or bronchial wall by chest CT scan. Three patients (3/18) had mild ventilatory obstruction. TO was classified as: 10 cases (10/18) were scattered type, seven cases (7/18) were diffuse type and one case (1/18) was confluent type. Epithelial squamous metaplasia, submucosal cartilage, submucosal ossification and hematopoietic bone marrow within the ossified areas were the characteristic histopathologic findings of TO. Conclusions: TO is a rare benign disorder that shows atypical presentation. CT scan is insensitive, the histopathology shows submucosal cartilage or ossification. TO should be diagnosed by comprehensive consideration of clinical symptoms, imaging and pathology.

[Clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of primary pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma: a study of 59 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic indicators of primary pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Methods: Fifty-nine cases of primary pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma were collected from August 2011 to December 2017 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. All cases were retrospectively studied by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological features were reviewed and patient survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model. Status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), KRAS, BRAF genes was analyzed in 15 of the 59 study cases. Results: Among 59 cases, there were 25 males and 34 females with male to female ratio of 1.0 to 1.4. The patient age ranged from 29 to 81 years with a mean age of 55 years. The tumor max diameters ranged from 1.0 to 9.6 cm with an average diameter of 2.8 cm. Fifteen (25.4%) patients were smokers while 44 patients (74.6%) were non-smokers. Tumors predominantly occurred in the trachea (28/59,47.5%), the left main bronchus (7/59,11.9%) and the right bronchus (5/59,8.5%). Grossly, the tumors were well circumscribed, greyish-white nodules. Microscopically the tumor cells were small and uniform, and arranged in tubular, cribriform, and solid patterns. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumor cells were positive for CK7, S-100 protein, Sox-10, CD117 and p63. TTF1 was only positive in 2 cases and Ki-67 index ranged from 3% to 40%. Eighteen cases (30.5%) were gradeⅠ, 26 cases (40.1%) grade Ⅱ, and 15 cases (25.4%) grade Ⅲ. Overall, 39 cases (66.1%), 7 cases (11.9%), 10 cases (16.9%), and 3 cases (5.1%) were at stages Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ, respectively. Twenty-three patients (39.0%) received surgical therapy, 3 patients (5.1%) surgery combined with radiotherapy, 9 patients (15.2%) surgery combined with chemotherapy, and 24 cases (40.7%) chemotherapy only. No mutation of EGFR, KRAS and BRAF was detected in all 15 tested cases. The overall survival rate at the first, third and fifth years was 94.9%, 86.4% and 84.7%, respectively. Prognostic analysis showed that patient's age and tumor size were statistically associated with the survival (P<0.05). Conclusions: Majority of the patients with primary pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma are at an early clinical stage with a favorable prognosis. The size of the tumor and the age of the patients are independent prognostic indicators.

Therapeutic effect of Brucea javanica oil emulsion on experimental Crohn's disease in rats: Involvement of TLR4/ NF-κB signaling pathway

Brucea javanica is an important Chinese folk medicine traditionally used for the treatment of dysentery (also known as inflammatory bowel diseases). Brucea javanica oil emulsion (BJOE), the most common preparation of Brucea javanica, has a variety of pharmacological activities. In this follow-up investigation, we endeavored to illuminate the potential benefit of BJOE on 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced Crohn's disease (CD) in rats and decipher the mechanism of action. The result illustrated that BJOE treatment significantly reduced the body weight loss, disease activity index and macroscopic scores, ameliorated shortening of colon length, arrested colonic histopathological deteriorations, lowered the histological scores in parallel to the model group. Furthermore, BJOE also decreased the levels of MPO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 and IFN-γ), and increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β) as compared with the model group. In addition, the elevated mRNA expression of MMP-1, MMP-3 and RAGE induced by TNBS was remarkably inhibited by BJOE, SASP or AZA treatments, while the mRNA expression of PPAR-γ was significantly enhanced. Furthermore, the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was significantly inhibited by AZA and BJOE treatment when compared with that of TNBS-treated rats. Our study suggested that BJOE exerted superior therapeutic effect to SASP and AZA in treating TNBS-induced colitis in rats. The protective effect of BJOE may involve the inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses. These results indicated that BJOE held promising potential to be further developed into a novel candidate for the treatment of CD.

[Establishment and characterization of an orthotopic murine model of mucosal malignant melanoma of the maxillary sinus]

Objective:To establish a stable and reliable orthotopic murine model of mucosal malignant melanoma of the maxillary sinus so as to provide animal models for further studying for pathogenesis and therapy of sinonasal malignancy.Method:B16 were implanted in the right maxillary sinus of male nude mice. After tumors appeared in right maxillary sinus, tumor growth and survival rate were recorded. The degree of tumor infiltration was observed through the MRI.Result:Mice with B16 implanted in right maxillary sinus developed primary tumors. The survival and the tumor volume were related to the number of tumor cells implanted. We found that the tumor can invade into nasal cavity, orbital cavity and the basilar region using MRI.Conclusion:We successfully established a model for mucosal malignant melanoma of the maxillary sinus. This model offers an experimental tool for further research on biological characteristics of sinonasal malignancy and the development of new therapy.

Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system of bruceine D: a new approach for anti-ulcerative colitis

Background

Bruceine D (BD) is a major bioactive component isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Brucea javanica which has been widely utilized to treat dysentery (also known as ulcerative colitis [UC]).

Methods

To improve the water solubility and absolute bioavailability of BD, we developed a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) composing of MCT (oil), Solutol HS-15 (surfactant), propylene glycol (co-surfactant) and BD. The physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics of BD-SNEDDS were characterized, and its anti-UC activity and potential mechanism were evaluated in TNBS-induced UC rat model.

Results

The prepared nanoemulsion has multiple beneficial aspects including small mean droplet size, low polydispersity index (PDI), high zeta potential (ZP) and excellent stability. Transmission electron microscopy showed that nanoemulsion droplets contained uniform shape and size of globules. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that BD-SNEDDS exhibited enhanced pharmacokinetic parameters as compared with BD-suspension. Moreover, BD-SNEDDS significantly restored the colon length and body weight, reduced disease activity index (DAI) and colon pathology, decreased histological scores, diminished oxidative stress, and suppressed TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, NF-κB p65 protein expressions in TNBS-induced UC rat model.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that BD-SNEDDS exhibited highly improved oral bioavailability and advanced anti-UC efficacy. In conclusion, our current results provided a foundation for further research of BD-SNEDDS as a potential complementary therapeutic agent for UC treatment.

Identification and diversity of Y-chromosome haplotypes in Qinghai yak populations

The aim of the present study was to perform a preliminary analysis of the characterization and diversity of Y-chromosome haplotypes/haplogroups in yak of Qinghai Province, China. A total of 322 male yaks from nine populations belonging to three officially recognized breeds (Gaoyuan, Huanhu and Datong) were sampled. Animals were genotyped using six previously reported Y-SNPs present in the SRY, USP9Y, UTY, AMELY and OFD1Y genes and four new Y-SNPs in the OFD1Y gene (g.569A>C, g.578A>C, g.608G>T and g.653G>C) identified in this study. Seven Y-chromosome haplotypes (H1-H7) were identified according to the combination of the 10 Y-SNPs. H1, H2 and H6 were the most common and shared haplotypes across all yak populations/breeds. Private haplotypes H3 and H7 were detected in the Datong breed; H4 in Guoleimude, Qumalai, Qilian, Tianjun and Ganglong populations; and H5 in Qumalai of Gaoyuan breed. Haplotype clustering and network analyses inferred two haplogroups, Y1 and Y2, indicating two divergent lineages of paternal origins of Qinghai yak. The analysis of molecular variance showed a significant difference among individuals (P < 0.0001) with more than 93% of the total genetic variation present within populations, suggesting a weak genetic structure among Qinghai yak populations. The overall Y-haplotype diversity was 0.538 ± 0.028, showing a relatively high diversity in Qinghai yak. The Gaoyuan and Datong breeds had similar haplotype diversities (0.547 ± 0.030 and 0.553 ± 0.083, respectively), which were higher than that of the Huanhu breed (0.441 ± 0.098). Our results support the conservation and sustainable use of unique yak genetic resources in Qinghai.

Polydatin attenuates d-galactose-induced liver and brain damage through its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in mice

Accumulating evidence has shown that chronic injection of d-galactose (d-gal) can mimic natural aging, with accompanying liver and brain injury. Oxidative stress and apoptosis play a vital role in the aging process. In this study, the antioxidant ability of polydatin (PD) was investigated using four established in vitro systems. An in vivo study was also conducted to investigate the possible protective effect of PD on d-gal-induced liver and brain damage. The results showed that PD had remarkable in vitro free radical scavenging activity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH˙), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⁺˙) radical ions, and hydroxyl and superoxide anions. Results in vivo indicated that, in a group treated with d-gal plus PD, PD remarkably decreased the depression of body weight and organ indexes, reduced the levels of the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alleviated alterations in liver and brain histopathology. PD also significantly decreased the level of MDA and elevated SOD, GSH-Px, CAT activity and T-AOC levels in the liver and brain. In addition, the levels of inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in serum were markedly reduced after PD treatment. Western blotting results revealed that PD treatment noticeably attenuated the d-gal-induced elevation of Bcl-2/Bax ratio and caspase-3 protein expression in liver and brain. Overall, our findings indicate that PD treatment could effectively attenuate d-gal-induced liver and brain damage, and the mechanism might be associated with decreasing the oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis caused by d-gal. PD holds good potential for further development into a promising pharmaceutical candidate for the treatment of age-associated diseases.

Parasitism of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by Microplitis prodeniae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Spodoptera litura Fabricius is a major vegetable pest that is widely distributed throughout tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. Microplitis prodeniae Rao and Chandry is a solitary endoparasitoid of S. litura. To assess the potential use of this parasitoid as a biological control agent, the reproductive schedule, fecundity and functional response of M. prodeniae were investigated under conditions of 28 ± 1°C and 70 ± 10% relative humidity with a 14:10-h L:D photoperiod. The parasitoid's average lifetime fecundity was 171.0 ± 10.4 eggs, of which approximately 50% were laid within the first 3 days. Additionally, M. prodeniae exhibited a Holling type II functional response, and the estimated maximum numbers of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd instar larvae that were parasitized by a single M. prodeniae female were 71.6, 78.4 and 41.5 larvae over a 24-h period, respectively. The results of this study suggest that M. prodeniae has great potential as a candidate for controlling S. litura and can guide efforts in its mass production.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Brucea javanica oil emulsion by suppressing NF-κB activation on dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Brucea javanica is an important traditional medicinal herb used for the treatment of dysentery, malaria, inflammation and cancer in southeast Asia for many years. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Brucea javanica in the treatment of dysentery (also known as ulcerative colitis, UC) has not been fully illuminated. Brucea javanica oil emulsion (BJOE) is the major active and most common application form of Brucea javanica oil (BJO), which has a variety of pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effect of BJOE and possible mechanism of action on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The components of BJOE were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Balb/C mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS, 30mg/mL) induced colitis were treated with BJOE (0.5, 1 and 2g/kg) and two positive drugs (sulfasalazine, SASP, 200mg/kg; and azathioprine, AZA, 13mg/kg) once daily by gavage for 7 days. Mice in normal control group and DSS group were orally given the same volume of distilled water and soybean lecithin suspension (0.15g/kg) respectively. The effects of BJOE on DSS-induced UC were assessed by determination of body weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, histological analysis, as well as levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The mRNA expression of MPO, iNOS and COX-2 in colon tissues was detected by qRT-PCR. In addition, NF-κB p65, p-p65 and IκB-α, p-IκBα protein expression levels in colon tissues were investigated using Western blotting.

RESULTS

The major components of BJOE were found to be oleic acid (62.68%) and linoleic acid (19.53%) as detected by GC-MS. Our results indicated that BJOE, SASP and AZA showed beneficial effect on DSS-induced colitis in mice, and significantly reduced the body weight loss and DAI, restored the colon length, repaired colonic pathological variations, decreased histological scores, and decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 and IFN-γ) as compared with the DSS group. In addition, the mRNA expression of MPO, iNOS and COX-2 induced by DSS treatment was remarkably inhibited by BJOE, SASP or AZA treatments. Furthermore, when compared with DSS-treated mice, the activation of NF-κB was significantly inhibited by AZA and BJOE treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that BJOE possessed appreciable anti-inflammatory effect against murine experimental UC induced by DSS. The protective mechanism of BJOE may involve inhibition of NF-κB signal transduction pathways and subsequent down-regulation of inflammatory mediators. These findings suggest that BJOE might be an efficacious and promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of UC. Our investigation might also provide experimental evidence for the traditional application of Brucea javanica in the treatment of dysentery and might add new dimension to the clinical indications for BJOE.

High stability of electro-transport and magnetism against the A-site cation disorder in SrRuO3

It is known that the electro-transport and magnetism of perovskite alkaline-earth ruthenate oxides are sensitive to the lattice distortion associated with the A-site cation size. Orthorhombic CaRuO3 and cubic BaRuO3 exhibit distinctly different electro-transport and magnetic properties from orthorhombic SrRuO3. It has been suggested that SrRuO3 can be robust against some intrinsic/external perturbations but fragile against some others in terms of electro-transport and magnetism, and it is our motivation to explore such stability against the local site cation disorder. In this work, we prepare a set of SrRuO3-based samples with identical averaged A-site size but different A-site cation disorder (size mismatch) by Ca and Ba co-substitution of Sr. It is revealed that the electro-transport and magnetism of SrRuO3 demonstrate relatively high stability against this A-site cation disorder, characterized by the relatively invariable electrical and magnetic properties in comparison with those of SrRuO3 itself. A simple electro-transport network model is proposed to explain quantitatively the measured behaviors. The present work suggests that SrRuO3 as an itinerant electron ferromagnetic metal possesses relatively high robustness against local lattice distortion and cation occupation disorder.

Pure spin-Hall magnetoresistance in Rh/Y3Fe5O12 hybrid

We report an investigation of anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) and anomalous Hall resistance (AHR) of Rh and Pt thin films sputtered on epitaxial Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ (YIG) ferromagnetic insulator films. For the Pt/YIG hybrid, large spin-Hall magne toresistance (SMR) along with a sizable conventional anisotropic magnetoresistance (CAMR) and a nontrivial temperature dependence of AHR were observed in the temperature range of 5–300 K. In contrast, a reduced SMR with negligible CAMR and AHR was found in Rh/YIG hybrid. Since CAMR and AHR are characteristics for all ferromagnetic metals, our results suggest that the Pt is likely magnetized by YIG due to the magnetic proximity effect (MPE) while Rh remains free of MPE. Thus the Rh/YIG hybrid could be an ideal model system to explore physics and devices associated with pure spin current.

Protective Effect of Super-Critical Carbon Dioxide Fluid Extract from Flowers and Buds of Chrysanthemum indicum Linnén Against Ultraviolet-Induced Photo-Aging in Mice

It is known that solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation to human skin causes photo-aging, including increases in skin thickness and wrinkle formation and reduction in skin elasticity. UV radiation induces damage to skin mainly by superfluous reactive oxygen species and chronic low-grade inflammation, which eventually up-regulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In this study, the super-critical carbon dioxide extract from flowers and buds of Chrysanthemum indicum Linnén (CISCFE), which has been reported to possess free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties, was investigated for its photo-protective effect by topical application on the skin of mice. Moreover, CISCFE effectively suppressed the UV-induced increase in skin thickness and wrinkle grading in a dose-dependent manner, which was correlated with the inhibition of loss of collagen fiber content and epidermal thickening. Furthermore, we observed that CISCFE could obviously decrease UV-induced skin inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α), alleviate the abnormal changes of anti-oxidative indicators (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase), and down-regulate the levels of MMP-1 and MMP-3. The results indicated that CISCFE was a novel photo-protective agent from natural resources against UV irradiation.

Magnetic phase transitions and monopole excitations in spin ice under uniaxial pressure: A Monte Carlo simulation

In this work, we explore the spin ice model under uniaxial pressure using the Monte Carlo simulation method. For the known spin ices, the interaction correction (δ) introduced by the uniaxial pressure varies in quite a wide range from positive to negative. When δ is positive, the ground state characterized by the ferromagnetic spin chains is quite unstable, and in real materials it serves as intermediate state connecting the ice state and the long range ordered dipolar spin ice ground state. In the case of negative δ, the system relaxes from highly degenerate ice state to ordered ferromagnetic state via a first order phase transition. Furthermore, the domain walls in such ferromagnetic state are the hotbed of the excitations of magnetic monopoles, thus indicating that the uniaxial pressure can greatly increase the monopole density.

Note: A new regulation method of stable operation of high power cathode ion source

The hot cathode ion source will tend to be unstable when operated with high power and long pulse. In order to achieve stable operation, a new regulation method based on the arc power (discharge power) feedback control was designed and tested on the hot cathode ion source test bed with arc discharge and beam extraction. The results show that the new regulation method can achieve stable arc discharge and beam extraction. It verifies the success of feedback control of arc source with arc power.

Unusual ferromagnetism enhancement in ferromagnetically optimal manganite La0.7-yCa0.3+yMn1-yRuyO3 (0≤y<0.3): the role of Mn-Ru t2g super-exchange

The e_g-orbital double-exchange mechanism as the core of physics of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) manganites is well known, which usually covers up the role of super-exchange at the t_2g-orbitals. The role of the double-exchange mechanism is maximized in La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃, leading to the concurrent metal-insulator transition and ferromagnetic transition as well as CMR effect. In this work, by a set of synchronous Ru-substitution and Ca-substitution experiments on La_0.7–yCa_0.3+yMn_1–yRu_yO₃, we demonstrate that the optimal ferromagnetism in La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ can be further enhanced. It is also found that the metal-insulator transition and magnetic transition can be separately modulated. By well-designed experimental schemes with which the Mn³⁺-Mn⁴⁺ double-exchange is damaged as weakly as possible, it is revealed that this ferromagnetism enhancement is attributed to the Mn-Ru t_2g ferromagnetic super-exchange. The present work allows a platform on which the electro-transport and magnetism of rare-earth manganites can be controlled by means of the t_2g-orbital physics of strongly correlated transition metal oxides.

Real-space anisotropic dielectric response in a multiferroic skyrmion lattice

A magnetic skyrmion lattice is a microstructure consisting of hexagonally aligned skyrmions. While a skyrmion as a topologically protected carrier of information promises a number of applications, an easily accessible probe of the skyrmion and skyrmion lattice at mesoscopic scale is of significance. It is known that neutron scattering, Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, and spin-resolved STM as effective probes of skyrmions have been established. In this work, we propose that the spatial contour of dielectric permittivity in a skyrmion lattice with ferromagnetic interaction and in-plane (xy) Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction can be used to characterize the skyrmion lattice. The phase field and Monte Carlo simulations are employed to develop the one-to-one correspondence between the magnetic skyrmion lattice and dielectric dipole lattice, both exhibiting the hexagonal symmetry. Under excitation of in-plane electric field in the microwave range, the dielectric permittivity shows the dumbbell-like pattern with the axis perpendicular to the electric field, while it is circle-like for the electric field along the z-axis. The dependences of the spatial contour of dielectric permittivity on external magnetic field along the z-axis and dielectric frequency dispersion are discussed.

An inexact mixed risk-aversion two-stage stochastic programming model for water resources management under uncertainty

Uncertainties exist in the water resources system, while traditional two-stage stochastic programming is risk-neutral and compares the random variables (e.g., total benefit) to identify the best decisions. To deal with the risk issues, a risk-aversion inexact two-stage stochastic programming model is developed for water resources management under uncertainty. The model was a hybrid methodology of interval-parameter programming, conditional value-at-risk measure, and a general two-stage stochastic programming framework. The method extends on the traditional two-stage stochastic programming method by enabling uncertainties presented as probability density functions and discrete intervals to be effectively incorporated within the optimization framework. It could not only provide information on the benefits of the allocation plan to the decision makers but also measure the extreme expected loss on the second-stage penalty cost. The developed model was applied to a hypothetical case of water resources management. Results showed that that could help managers generate feasible and balanced risk-aversion allocation plans, and analyze the trade-offs between system stability and economy.

An inexact multi-objective programming model for water resources management in industrial parks of Binhai New Area, China

In recent years, Binhai New Area of Tianjin has been suffering severe water shortage due to climate change and industrial activities. Integrated and effective water resources management approaches are urgent for the sustainable development of industrial parks in Binhai New Area. However, uncertainties exist in many aspects of the water resources system and are inevitably problematic for water resources planning and policy-making. To address these uncertainties, an interval multiple-objective programming model was developed here to support the long-term planning of industrial water resources management in Binhai New Area, Tianjin, China. The model incorporated both multiple-objective programming and interval linear programming into a general programming framework. The developed model could handle the uncertainties and complexities of the water management system, and also allowed decision makers to adjust fuzzy objective control decision variables to satisfy multiple holistic and interactive objectives. The solutions are useful for planning adjustments of the existing water allocation patterns in Binhai New Area.

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola on Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) in China

Kiwifruit (Actinidia) is a common fruit cultivated in many countries. Actinidia deliciosa and A. chinensis are two commercially important kiwifruit species. Over 70,000 ha are grown annually in China. In 2012, a leaf spot disease of A. chinensis was observed in several orchards in Leye County (106°34' E, 24°47' N), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The disease mainly damaged the leaves during the fruit development stage through to the maturity stage. Initially reddish-brown small lesions appeared on the leaves; later, typical symptoms were tan to taupe lesions surrounded by purple brown margins, nearly circular to irregular, 2 to 10 × 2.2 to 15.5 mm in diameter. Some lesions exhibited a concentric pattern. The lesions eventually coalesced, causing extensive leaf necrosis and defoliation. The fungus that sporulated from lesions had the following morphological characteristics: light brown conidiophores with slightly swollen apexes, light brown conidia formed singly or in acropetal chains, straight or curved, cylindrical to oblavate, 52.9 to 240.5 μm long (avg. 138.9 μm) and 5.3 to 13.6 μm wide (avg. 8.4 μm), 5 to 12 distoseptate, with a flat, darkened, and thickened hilum. These morphological characteristics corresponded with that of Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. & Curt.) Wei (1). To isolate the pathogen of the disease, small pieces of symptomatic foliar tissues, including young lesions, typical older lesions, and atypical older lesions with concentric pattern were surface sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 to 60 s, disinfected in 0.1% HgCl₂ for 1 min followed by washing with sterile water, plated on PDA, and incubated at 28°C for 7 to 10 days. Gray to dark gray colonies and conidia of C. cassiicola were observed. To validate the identity of the fungus, the sequence of the ITS region of one of the purified strains, LYCc-1, was determined. DNA was extracted from the isolate that was grown on PDA at 28°C for 4 days, and the ITS region was amplified using the universal primer pair ITS4/ITS5 (2). The double strand consensus sequence was submitted to GenBank (KJ747095) and had 99% nt identity with published sequences of C. cassiicola in GenBank (JN853778, FJ852574, and FJ852587). Pathogenicity tests were carried out on detached leaves in petri dishes in an incubator at 28°C and on whole plants in a glasshouse at 25 ± 3°C. The isolations did not produce enough conidia in pure culture, so mycelial discs were used in pathogenicity tests. For both assays, 60-day-old healthy kiwifruit leaves were inoculated with a 5-mm mycelial disc obtained from the periphery of a 5-day-old C. cassiicola strain (LYCc-1) grown on PDA. The PDA discs were placed on the leaf surface with their mycelial surface down and secured with sterile wet cotton. Controls consisted of leaves that were inoculated with sterile PDA discs. For the detached leaf assay, the leaves were placed on filter paper reaching water saturation in petri dishes, and for the whole plant assays the inoculated leaves were kept moist with intermittent water sprays for 48 h. Four leaves of each plant were inoculated with the isolate in both assays, and experiment was repeated twice. Eight inoculated leaves of the detached leaf assay all showed the first water soaked lesions 36 h after inoculation, followed by extensive leaf rot 72 h after inoculation, and yielded abundant conidia of C. cassiicola. Six out of eight leaves inoculated on whole plants showed the first lesions 5 days after inoculation, whereas control leaves remained healthy. Only C. cassiicola was re-isolated from the lesions in both assays, fulfilling Koch's postulates. This is the first report of leaf spot caused by C. cassiicola on kiwifruit in China. References: (1) M. B. Ellis. Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. CMI, Kew, Surrey, UK, 1971. (2) T. J. White et al. In: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.

Prevention of UV radiation-induced cutaneous photoaging in mice by topical administration of patchouli oil

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pogostemon cablin has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of many diseases, including skin disorders. In the skin beauty and care prescriptions, Pogostemon cablin is one of the top ten frequently used traditional Chinese medicines.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of the essential oil of Pogostemon cablin (patchouli oil, PO) against UV-induced skin photoaging in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To ensure the quality of PO, the chemical compositions of PO were identified, and the content of its chemical marker patchouli alcohol was determined, which was around 28.2% (g/g) in PO. During the experiment period, the dorsal depilated skin of mice was treated with PO for two hours prior to UV irradiation. Then the protective effects of PO on UV-induced skin photoaging were determined by macroscopic and histological evaluations, skin elastic test, collagen content determination and biochemical assays of malondiaidehyde (MDA) content, activities of anti-oxidative indicators including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT).

RESULTS

Compared to UV exposure groups, present results showed that topical administration of PO, especially at dose of 6mg/mouse and 9mg/mouse, significantly inhibited the increase in skin wrinkle formation, alleviated the reduction in skin elasticity and increased the collagen content by about 21.9% and 26.3%, respectively. We also found that application of 6-9mg/mouse PO could not only decrease the epidermal thickness by about 32.6%, but also prevent the UV-induced disruption of collagen fibers and elastic fibers. Furthermore, the content of MDA was decreased by almost 26.5% and activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT were significantly up-regulated after the treatment of PO.

CONCLUSION

Results of present study revealed that PO was capable of maintaining skin structural integrity caused by UV irradiation and it was useful in preventing photoaging. These protective effects of PO were possibly due to its anti-oxidative property. Therefore, we suggested that PO should be viewed as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing photoaging.

Kinetics of 90° domain wall motions and high frequency mesoscopic dielectric response in strained ferroelectrics: a phase-field simulation

The dielectric and ferroelectric behaviors of a ferroelectric are substantially determined by its domain structure and domain wall dynamics at mesoscopic level. A relationship between the domain walls and high frequency mesoscopic dielectric response is highly appreciated for high frequency applications of ferroelectrics. In this work we investigate the low electric field driven motion of 90°-domain walls and the frequency-domain spectrum of dielectric permittivity in normally strained ferroelectric lattice using the phase-field simulations. It is revealed that, the high-frequency dielectric permittivity is spatially inhomogeneous and reaches the highest value on the 90°-domain walls. A tensile strain favors the parallel domains but suppresses the kinetics of the 90° domain wall motion driven by electric field, while the compressive strain results in the opposite behaviors. The physics underlying the wall motions and thus the dielectric response is associated with the long-range elastic energy. The major contribution to the dielectric response is from the polarization fluctuations on the 90°-domain walls, which are more mobile than those inside the domains. The relevance of the simulated results wth recent experiments is discussed.

Module function and two-way clustering analysis of Epstein-Barr virus-related nasopharyngeal cancer

This study sought to identify and characterize the function of genes as diagnostic markers for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). The gene expression profile of GSE13597 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, which included 28 EBV-related NPC gene expression profile data sets, 25 disease samples, and 3 control samples. Data were pre-processed, and differentially expressed genes were screened using the R language. The co-expression coefficient was calculated to construct a co-expression network using Cytoscape. ClusterONE was used to perform module analysis to find enriched gene families. The BiCAT software was used to perform a two-way clustering analysis of differentially expressed gene expression profiles based on the co-expression networks and to verify the enriched gene families, followed by functional enrichment analysis of these gene families. The MCM gene family was found to be enriched in EBV-related NPC. This gene family is essential for eukaryotic DNA replication. Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes in the co-expression network revealed that the enriched biological processes and pathways were mainly involved in the cell cycle. EBV-related NPC is likely associated mainly with the process of cell reproduction, providing a strong basis for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of EBV-related NPC and a direction for targeted chemotherapy.

Wang-Landau sampling with logarithmic windows for continuous models

We present a modified Wang-Landau sampling (MWLS) for continuous statistical models by partitioning the energy space into a set of windows with logarithmically shrinking width. To demonstrate its necessity and advantages, we apply this sampling to several continuous models, including the two-dimensional square XY spin model, triangular J1-J2 spin model, and Lennard-Jones cluster model. Given a finite number of bins for partitioning the energy space, the conventional Wang-Landau sampling may not generate sufficiently accurate density of states (DOS) around the energy boundaries. However, it is demonstrated that much more accurate DOS can be obtained by this MWLS, and thus a precise evaluation of the thermodynamic behaviors of the continuous models at extreme low temperature (kBT<0.1) becomes accessible. The present algorithm also allows efficient computation besides the highly reliable data sampling.

An inexact two-stage stochastic programming model for water resources management in Nansihu Lake Basin, China

In this study, an inexact two-stage water resources management model was developed for multi-regional water resources planning in the Nansihu lake Basin, China. Four planning districts, four water users, and five water sources were considered in the optimization model, with net system benefit, recourse cost, water supply cost, and wastewater treatment cost being analyzed. Methods of interval-parameter programming (IPP) and two-stage stochastic programming (TSP) were incorporated into the model to tackle uncertainties described by both interval values and probability distributions. A number of scenarios corresponding to different river inflow levels were examined, and the results indicated that different inflow levels could lead to different water allocation schemes with varied system benefit and system-failure risk. In general, the developed model can provide an effective linkage between economic benefits and the associated penalties attributed to the violation of predefined policies. The modeling results were valuable for supporting the adjustment or justification of the existing water allocation schemes within a complicated water resources system under uncertainty.

Relieving visceral hyperalgesia effect of Kangtai capsule and its potential mechanisms via modulating the 5-HT and NO level in vivo

Kangtai capsule (KT) is one type of traditional Chinese medicine preparation derived from the proved recipe, which was frequently applied as an effective clinical treatment of IBS. However, there still lack the reasonable and all-round analytical approach and the scientific studies on its underlying mechanisms. Therefore, our study aimed to develop the novel method for evaluating its quality as well as to interpret the potential mechanisms. In our study, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint was applied to provide a chemical profile of KT. The neonatal maternal separation (NMS) on Sprague-Dawley pups was employed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of KT by virtue of various parameters including visceral hyperalgesia, serum nitric oxide (NO) level, and tissue 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level. Consequently, a chromatographic condition, which was carried at 30°C with a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min on AQUA 3μ C18 column with mobile phase of acetonitrile and water-phosphoric acid (100:0.1, v/v), was established to give a common fingerprint chromatography under 254 nm with a similarity index of 0.963 within ten batches of KT samples. On the NMS model, KT markedly elevated the pain threshold of NMS rats. Furthermore, KT at three doses significantly decreased 5-HT content from distal colon of visceral hyperalgesia rats induced by NMS, while the significant decrease of 5-HT content in serum was only observed in the group with KT at high dose. However, compared with that in NMS rats without KT, there was no apparent difference of 5-HT level from brain issue in the rats with various doses. Besides, KT could substantially elevate the concentration of NO in the serum. The results showed our study developed the simple, rapid, accurate, reproducible qualitative and quantitative analysis by HPLC fingerprint for the quality control for KT. Data from the pharmacological investigation suggested that the curative effect of KT to the visceral hypersensitivity may be concerned with the level of 5-HT and NO in vivo, promising its potential in irritable bowel syndrome treatment.

An interval-based regret-analysis method for identifying long-term municipal solid waste management policy under uncertainty

In this study, an interval-based regret-analysis (IBRA) model is developed for supporting long-term planning of municipal solid waste (MSW) management activities in the City of Changchun, the capital of Jilin Province, China. The developed IBRA model incorporates approaches of interval-parameter programming (IPP) and minimax-regret (MMR) analysis within an integer programming framework, such that uncertainties expressed as both interval values and random variables can be reflected. The IBRA can account for economic consequences under all possible scenarios associated with different system costs and risk levels without making assumptions on probabilistic distributions for random variables. A regret matrix with interval elements is generated based on a matrix of interval system costs, such that desired decision alternatives can be identified according to the interval minimax regret (IMMR) criterion. The results indicate that reasonable solutions have been generated. They can help decision makers identify the desired alternatives regarding long-term MSW management with a compromise between minimized system cost and minimized system-failure risk.

An inexact chance-constrained programming model for water quality management in Binhai New Area of Tianjin, China

In this study, an inexact-chance-constrained water quality management (ICC-WQM) model is developed for planning regional environmental management under uncertainty. This method is based on an integration of interval linear programming (ILP) and chance-constrained programming (CCP) techniques. ICC-WQM allows uncertainties presented as both probability distributions and interval values to be incorporated within a general optimization framework. Complexities in environmental management systems can be systematically reflected, thus applicability of the modeling process can be highly enhanced. The developed method is applied to planning chemical-industry development in Binhai New Area of Tianjin, China. Interval solutions associated with different risk levels of constraint violation have been obtained. They can be used for generating decision alternatives and thus help decision makers identify desired policies under various system-reliability constraints of water environmental capacity of pollutant. Tradeoffs between system benefits and constraint-violation risks can also be tackled. They are helpful for supporting (a) decision of wastewater discharge and government investment, (b) formulation of local policies regarding water consumption, economic development and industry structure, and (c) analysis of interactions among economic benefits, system reliability and pollutant discharges.

Evidence for competing magnetic and superconducting phases in superconducting Eu 1-x Sr x Fe 2-y Co y As 2 single crystals

In single crystals of Eu(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(2-y)Co(y)As(2), Co doping suppresses spin-density wave (SDW) ordering and induces a superconducting transition. A resistivity reentrance due to the antiferromagnetic ordering of Eu(2+) spins is observed, indicating the competition between antiferromagnetism (AFM) and superconductivity (SC). It is striking that the resistivity reentrance can be completely suppressed by a small magnetic field due to a field-induced metamagnetic transition from AFM to ferromagnetism (FM). The resistivity reentrance can also be suppressed by the substitution of Eu(2+) ions with nonmagnetic Ba(2+)/Sr(2+) to completely destroy the AFM ordering. These results indicate that the AFM order appears destructive to SC, while FM can coexist with the superconductivity. Further we find that magnon excitation exists in AFM ordering and can be suppressed by an applied field. Coexistence of SC from the FeAs layer and the inner field produced by the ferromagnetic Eu(2+) layer suggest a possible p-wave component in the superconducting order parameter.

Structural models of FeSe(x)

Two different structural models for non-stoichiometric FeSe(x) are examined and compared with soft x-ray spectroscopy findings for FeSe(x) (x = 0.85, 0.50). A structural model of tetragonal FeSe with excess interstitial Fe gives better agreement with experiment than a structural model of tetragonal FeSe with Se vacancies. This interstitial Fe increases the number of 3d states at the Fermi level. We find evidence that large non-stoichiometric ratios of Fe:Se, such as that of FeSe(0.50), yield clusters of pure Fe in the crystal structure.

Superconductivity at 56 K in samarium-doped SrFeAsF

We synthesized the samples Sr(1-x)Sm(x)FFeAs with a ZrCuSiAs-type structure. These samples were characterized by resistivity and susceptibility. It is found that substitution of rare earth metal for alkaline earth metal in this system suppresses the anomaly in resistivity and induces superconductivity. Superconductivity at 56 K in nominal composition Sr(0.5)Sm(0.5)FFeAs is realized, indicating that the superconducting transition temperatures in the iron arsenide fluorides can reach as high as that in oxypnictides with the same structure.

Anisotropy in the electrical resistivity and susceptibility of superconducting BaFe2As2 single crystals

We report that sizable single crystals of BaFe2As2 have been grown with the self-flux method. Measurements and anisotropy of intrinsic transport and magnetic properties from high-quality single crystal are first presented. The resistivity anisotropy (rho{c}/rho{ab}) is as large as 150 and independent of temperature. In contrast to the susceptibility behavior observed in polycrystalline samples, no Curie-Weiss behavior is observed, and a linear-T dependent susceptibility occurs from the spin-density-wave transition temperature, (T{s}), to 700 K. This result suggests that strong antiferromagnetic correlations are present well above T{s}. A twofold symmetry of susceptibility in the ab plane indicates a stripelike spin structure as observed by neutron scattering. The resistivity minimum is strongly dependent on the magnetic field, suggesting that the upturn of the resistivity at low temperatures should be related to spin fluctuation.

Magnetotransport properties in K(0.50)CoO(2) single crystals

We have measured susceptibility and angle-dependent magnetoresistance (AMR) on K(0.50)CoO(2) single crystals. A possible magnetic structure similar to that of Na(0.5)CoO(2), a G-type anti-ferromagnetic (AF) structure (both in-plane and inter-plane are AF), is proposed. At ∼20 K, a loop is observed between zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) susceptibility. The absolute value of magnetoresistance (MR) at 20 K is much larger than other cases with H applied within the ab plane. This could arise from the magnetic field being applied in the ab plane, leading to spin-flop of the small magnetic moment of Co(3.5-δ) sites at 20 K to form in-plane ferromagnetic ordering, as observed in Na(0.52)CoO(2).

Anomalous transport properties and phase diagram of the FeAs-based SmFeAsO1-xFx superconductors

We report the detailed phase diagram and anomalous transport properties of Fe-based high-T_{c} superconductors SmFeAsO1-xFx. It is found that superconductivity emerges at x approximately 0.07, and optimal doping takes place in the x approximately 0.20 sample with the highest T_{c} approximately 54 K. T_{c} increases monotonically with doping; the anomaly in resistivity from structural phase or spin-density-wave order is rapidly suppressed, suggesting a quantum critical point around x approximately 0.14. As manifestations, a linear temperature dependence of the resistivity shows up at high temperatures in the x<0.14 regime but at low temperatures just above T_{c} in the x>0.14 regime; a drop in carrier density evidenced by a pronounced rise in the Hall coefficient is observed below the temperature of the anomaly peak in resistivity. A scaling behavior is observed between the Hall angle and temperature: cottheta_{H} proportional, variantT;{1.5} for all samples with different x in SmFeAsO1-xFx system.