Abstract Water soluble sugars play an important role in the flavors and irritations of the cigarette sensory quality and the low content of water soluble sugars in the discarded tobacco leaves was a huge obstacle for their application. To make better use of the discarded tobacco leaves, a novel roasting method with sugar supplement was developed to enhance the sugar contents and total flavor compounds (TFCs) of tobaccos. Three main factors in the roasting process namely the reaction time, reaction temperature, and glucose supplement were optimized by single factor methodology. A proper condition was established as reaction time of 10 min, reaction temperature of 140 °C, and glucose supplement of 30%, which was further optimized by the response surface method through a three-level-three-variable Box–Behnken design. Moreover, the flavor compounds of the roasted cut tobacco extracts were analyzed and their effects in cigarettes were also determined. All these results suggested that this simple and easy method could be used to make better use of discarded tobacco leaves.

Abstract To study the caramel reactions of disaccharides with water, the type I maltose caramel products (MCPs) and sucrose caramel products (SCPs) at three reaction stages were yielded and their reaction rates, UV absorptions, flavor compounds, and antioxidant activities were also detected. It was found that the caramel reactions of sucrose were faster than those of maltose and their reaction rates quickly increased to a high level in the middle stage. UV absorption of SCP in the late stage at 305 nm was much stronger than those of MCPs. Both the MCP and SCP obtained at 180 °C and 4 min had the highest concentrations of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and total flavor compounds. Moreover, the total flavor concentrations of SCPs were much larger than those of MCPs and the antioxidant effects of SCPs were also stronger. Thus, a preferred condition for both two disaccharide caramel reactions was suggested at 180 °C for 4 min and the sucrose caramels could give better flavors than maltose caramels.

Abstract Introduction: Diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) has a poor prognosis and many patients are ineligible for conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study evaluated the 12-month outcomes of coronary artery reconstruction and surgical patch angioplasty of the coronary artery for diffuse CAD. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent CABG with surgical patch angioplasty of the coronary artery (reconstruction group) or standard CABG alone (standard group) at the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of the local Hospital between January 2014 and January 2016. Follow-up was censored at 12 months after surgery. Results: Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping durations were longer in the reconstruction group (n=32) than in the standard group (n=125) (P<0.05). There were no differences in graft blood flow and postoperative levels of cardiac markers between the two groups (P>0.05). In the reconstruction group, one patient died; a vein graft showed occlusion. In the standard group, two patients died; one left internal mammary artery graft and three vein grafts showed occlusion. There were no significant differences in mortality, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and patency between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Coronary artery reconstruction and surgical patch angioplasty of the coronary artery can be performed for diffuse CAD. Patient outcomes were not significantly different from those of patients who underwent standard CABG.

ABSTRACT Agronomy practices aimed at wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain Zn biofortification are important to alleviate Zn deficiency in humans, especially for those resource-poor people owing to subsistence on diets dominated by cereal-based foods with low concentrations and bioavailability of Zn. To promote understanding of source-sink flow processes affecting biofortification of wheat with Zn, effects of different source/sink manipulations on grain Zn accumulation by wheat were examined in pot and field at two locations. Treatments included foliar applications of deionized water, sucrose, ZnSO4, sucrose + Zn, defoliation, spike shading or partial removal of spikes. Results showed sucrose + Zn significantly increased grain Zn concentration more than Zn alone. Grain Zn concentration with sucrose + Zn averaged 66 mg kg-1 for ‘Kenong 9204’ and 59 mg kg-1 for ‘Liangxing 99’ in pot, and ranged from 42 to 58 mg kg-1 for ‘Liangxing 99’, ‘Jinan 17’, ‘Jimai 20’, ‘Jimai 22’, and ‘Luyuan 502’ under field, approaching the field-grown target 60 mg kg-1 proposed by World Health Organization. Molar ratios of phytic acid/Zn and phytic acid × Ca/Zn of ‘Jinan 17’, ‘Jimai 20’ or ‘Luyuan 502’ with sucrose + Zn were reduced to be < 15 and < 200, respectively, suggesting higher Zn bioavailability. Defoliation or spike shading decreased grain weight, Zn concentration and content. It is concluded that grain Zn accumulation of wheat can be affected by the source-sink relationship of Zn and/or carbohydrate, and the foliar spray ‘sucrose + Zn’ is recommended for increasing concentration and bioavailability of Zn in wheat grains.

OBJECTIVE: To compare compensatory sweating after lowering or restricting the level of sympathectomy. METHOD: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted of all randomized controlled trials published in English that compared compensatory sweating after lowering or restricting the level of sympathectomy. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio method was used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 11 randomized controlled trials were included, including a total of 1079 patients. Five of the randomized controlled trials studied restricting the level of sympathectomy, and the remaining six studied lowering the level of sympathectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The compiled randomized controlled trial results published so far in the literature do not support the claims that lowering or restricting the level of sympathetic ablation results in less compensatory sweating.

Taurine has positive effects on bone metabolism. However, the effects of taurine on osteoblast apoptosis in vitro have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of taurine on apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. The data showed that 1, 5, 10, or 20 mM taurine resulted in 16.7, 34.2, 66.9, or 63.75% reduction of MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis induced by the serum deprivation (serum-free α-MEM), respectively. Taurine (1, 5, or 10 mM) also reduced cytochrome c release and inhibited activation of caspase-3 and -9, which were measured using fluorogenic substrates for caspase-3/caspase-9, in serum-deprived MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, taurine (10 mM) induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in MC3T3-E1 cells. Knockdown of the taurine transporter (TAUT) or treatment with the ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 (10 μM) blocked the activation of ERK induced by taurine (10 mM) and abolished the anti-apoptotic effect of taurine (10 mM) in MC3T3-E1 cells. The present results demonstrate for the first time that taurine inhibits serum deprivation-induced osteoblast apoptosis via the TAUT/ERK signaling pathway.

Se ha desarrollado un sistema de cámaras para medir simultáneamente la emisión de gases de pequeños rumiantes y la digestibilidad de nutrientes dietarios. Gracias a que las cámaras cuentan con paneles transparentes, también se puede observar fácilmente el comportamiento animal. El sistema completo se compone de varias cámaras para respirometría y metabolismo, unidades de muestreo y análisis de gas, así como de una unidad de adquisición de datos. Tras una prueba de recuperación con metano (CH4), se observó que la tasa de recuperación de CH4 fluctuó entre 96.7 y 99.6% en 8 repeticiones, y el valor medio fue del 98,1% (coeficiente de variación = 1,3%). Un experimento preliminar con animales se llevó también a cabo con 4 cabras Coreanas negras nativas de 23.5 kg de peso. Las cabras consumieron una mezcla 50:50 de forraje y concentrado, con un suministro diario de alimento equivalente al 2% del peso corporal. La digestibilidad de la materia seca fue del 70.9%, y la producción media de CH4 fue del 11.6 g / día, correspondiente a 24.7 g / kg de consumo de materia seca. Mediante este sistema se pueden realizar con precisión y eficiencia diversos experimentos de medición de emisiones de metano, digestibilidad de nutrientes, o ambos, en pequeños rumiantes tales como cabras, ovejas y ciervos.

A novel chamber system was developed to measure gas emission from small ruminants and to measure nutrient digestibility simultaneously. Animal behavior can also be easily observed in this system through transparent panels. The system is composed of respiration-metabolism chambers, gas sampling and analysis units, and a data acquisition unit. A recovery test was performed using standard methane (CH4) gas. Values for recovery rate of CH4 gas ranged from 96.7 to 99.6% in 8 replications, and the mean value was 98.1% (coefficient of variation = 1.3%). A preliminary animal experiment was also conducted using 4 Korean native black goats with a mean body weight of 23.5 kg. The goats consumed a 50:50 mixture of forage and concentrate, and daily feed allowance was 2% body weight. Dry matter digestibility was 70.9%, and the mean CH4 gas production was 11.6 g/day that was calculated to be 24.7 g/kg dry matter intake. Using this system, researchers can accurately and efficiently conduct various experiments measuring methane emission, nutrient digestibility, or both in small ruminant animals including goats, sheep, and deer.

Um curioso sistema de câmara foi desenvolvido para a medição simultânea de emissões de gás para pequenos ruminantes e a digestibilidade de nutrientes. O comportamento dos animais pode ser facilmente observado no sistema a traves de panéis transparentes. O sistema está composto de câmaras de respiração e metabolismos, unidades de amostragem análises de gás e uma unidade de aquisição de datas. Um teste de recuperação foi desenvolvido usando um gás metano estandardizado (CH4). Os valores de recuperação de CH4 variou entre 96.7 a 99.6% em 8 replicações, e a media foi de 98.1% (coeficiente de variação = 1.3%). Um experimento preliminar foi realizado utilizando 4 cabras pretas nativas coreanas com uma media de peso corporal de 23.5 kg. As cabras consumiram uma mistura de forragem e concentrado 50:50, e um suplemento do 2% do peso corporal. A digestibilidade da matéria seca foi de 70.9%, e a media da produção de gás CH4 foi de 11.6 g/dia a qual foi calculada por 24.7 g/kg do consumo de matéria seca. Usando este sistema, pesquisas com exactidão e eficiência podem ser realizadas para a medição de emissões de metano, digestibilidade de nutrientes, ou ambas em pequenos ruminantes incluindo cabras, ovelhas e veados.

We conducted a retrospective review of 130 occupational blood borne pathogens exposure (BBP-OE) records at Centro de Estudios Médicos e Investigaciones Clínicas, a university hospital with an ongoing educational program and a postexposure management program for healthcare workers (HCWs) since 1995, in order to evaluate adherence to a hospital BBP-OE management program. We compared HCWs from our institution (Group 1) and HCWs from independent institutions that contract our postexposure management program (Group 2). Compliance with standard precautions in Group 1 was inadequate in 77%, 23%, and 16% of nurses, physicians, and others, respectively. A greater proportion of HCWs in Group 1 (74% vs. 40%) reported occupational accidents within two hours after exposure (p = 0.0001). No difference was observed regarding compliance with adherence to schedule, partial adherence, and loss at follow-up (14%, 33%, and 53%; p > 0.05). Adherence to the standard of care for BBP-OE, including postexposure prophylaxis, was low (HIV: 53% and HBV: 63%). Knowledge of the seropositive status of the source patient did not improve adherence. We conclude that postexposure programs do not guarantee appropriate behavior by HCWs. General interventions and ongoing personnel education to modify individual attitudes are needed, as are continued efforts to assess HCWs' experiences with these programs, as well as the identification of strategies to improve adherence.