ABSTRACT Salt-tolerant ‘Chuanqiao No.1’ and salt-sensitive ‘Chuanqiao No.2’ Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.) were used as materials. Effects of ethephon on physiological characteristics of Tartary buckwheat under salt stress were studied by different concentrations of ethephon (ETH) under 150 mM NaCl stress. Ethephon treatment could improve seed germination rate of both varieties under salt stress, and the effect of ethephon treatment on salt-sensitive variety was better. Ethephon treatment could improve physiological characteristics of Tartary buckwheat seedlings under salt stress, and appropriate concentrations of ETH root treatment in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive variety were 1.0 and 1.5 mM, and for ETH spraying were 0.4 and 0.6 mM. The effect of ETH spraying on improving physiological characteristics of Tartary buckwheat under salt stress was better than that of ETH root treatment. Salt tolerance gene FtNHX1 reached its maximum expression level at 24 h, which was increased by 277.77% and 251.17% in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive variety compared with salt stress under ETH root treatment, while under ETH spraying treatment, which was increased by 232.39% and 190.91% in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive variety compared with salt stress. Salt tolerance gene FtSOS1 reached its maximum expression levels at 12 h, which was increased by 60.94% and 98.75% in salt-tolerant and salt- sensitive variety compared with salt stress under ETH root treatment, while under ETH spraying treatment, which was increased by 35.98% and 67.63% in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive variety compared with salt stress.

Purpose. The study aims to identify the postoperative advantages of tonsillectomy in conjunction with pharyngoplasty and tonsillectomy alone in children with obstructive sleep apneas. Methods. In a prospective observational study, patients who met the study criteria were randomly divided into two groups: tonsillectomy and pharyngoplasty group, and tonsillectomy alone group. In both groups, adenoidectomy was also performed in patients with adenoid hypertrophy. Differences in their healing processes in the pharyngeal wound and their hemorrhage proportions were compared. Furthermore, postoperative velopharyngeal function was also assessed. Results. Pharyngoplasty together with tonsillectomy was performed in 328 children with obstructive sleep apnea from tonsillar hypertrophy, and tonsillectomy was performed in 275 children. These cohorts did not reveal any significant demographic differences between groups. Furthermore, blood loss was found to be significantly decreased in the tonsillectomy and pharyngoplasty group (P <0.01), and the healing process was markedly shorter. Postoperative velopharyngeal function was not affected. Conclusions. Tonsillectomy in conjunction with pharyngoplasty reduced the duration of the healing process and blood loss, compared with tonsillectomy alone; however, postoperative complications did not increase. We consider pharyngoplasty in conjunction with tonsillectomy has great potential in the treatment of children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objetivo. Identificar las ventajas posoperatorias de la amigdalectomía en conjunto con la faringoplastia en comparación con la amigdalectomía sola en niños con apnea obstructiva del sueño. Métodos. En un estudio prospectivo observacional, los pacientes que cumplían con los criterios del estudio fueron asignados aleatoriamente a dos grupos: el grupo de amigdalectomía y faringoplastia, y el grupo de solo amigdalectomía. En ambos grupos, también se practicó adenoidectomía a los pacientes con vegetaciones. Se compararon los procesos de cicatrización en la herida faríngea y las proporciones hemorrágicas. Además, se evaluó la función velofaríngea posoperatoria. Resultados. La faringoplastia junto con la amigdalectomía se practicó en 328 niños con apnea obstructiva del sueño debido a hipertrofia amigdalina, y la amigdalectomía sola, en 275 niños. Estas cohortes no mostraban diferencias demográficas significativas. Por otro lado, se encontró que la pérdida de sangre fue significativamente menor en el grupo que recibió amigdalectomía y faringoplastia (p < 0,01), y el proceso de cicatrización fue notablemente más breve. La función velofaríngea posoperatoria no resultó afectada. Conclusiones. En comparación con la amigdalectomía, la amigdalectomía junto con la faringoplastia redujeron la duración del proceso de cicatrización y la pérdida de sangre; no obstante, las complicaciones posoperatorias no aumentaron. En nuestra opinión, la combinación de faringoplastia y amigdalectomía reúne un gran potencial en el tratamiento de los niños con apnea obstructiva del sueño.

Estudo fotoquímico das folhas e galhos de Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C. B. Rob. forneceu um novo diglucosídeo megastimano (6S, 7E, 9R)-6, 9-dihidroxi-4, 7-megastigmadieno-3-ona-9-O-[α-L-arabinofuranosil-(l→6)]-β-d-glucopiranosídeo (1), juntamente com os glicosídeos (6S, 7E, 9R)-roseosido (2), (7'R, 8'R)-3, 5'-dimetoxi-9, 9'-dihidroxi-4, 7'-epóxi lignina 4'-β-D-glucopiranosídeo (3), álcool (7'R, 8'S)-dihidrodehidrodiconifenil 9'-O-β-D-xilopiranosídeo (4) e pinoresinol 3-O-β-D-glucopiranosídeo (5). Suas estruturas foram estabelecidas com base em métodos espectroscópicos e químicos. Compostos 2-5 são reportados pela primeira vez nestas espécies. Composto 1 foi avaliado para atividades citotóxicas de linhagens de células tumorais humanas (células leucemia mielóide HL-60, carcinoma hepatocelular SMMC-7721, câncer de pulmãoA-549, câncer da mama MCF-7 e câncer do colo SW480), para as quais provou-se ser inativo (IC50 > 40 µM).

Phytochemical study on the leaves and twigs of afforded the new megastigmane diglycoside (6S, 7E, 9R)-6, 9-dihydroxy-4, 7-megastigmadien-3-one-9-O-[α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(l→6)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with glycosides (6S, 7E, 9R)-roseoside (2), (7'R, 8'R)- 3, 5'-dimethoxy-9, 9'-dihydroxy-4, 7'-epoxylignan 4'-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), (7'R, 8'S)-dihydrodehydrodiconifenyl alcohol 9'-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (4) and pinoresinol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 2-5 were reported for the first time in this species. Compound 1 was evaluated for cytotoxic activities against human tumor cell lines (myeloid leukemia HL-60, hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721, lung cancer A-549, breast cancer MCF-7 and colon cancer SW480 cells), for which it was proved to be inactive (IC50 > 40 µM).

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is an association between serum ischemia-modified albumin and the risk factor profile in type 2 diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease and to identify the risk markers for peripheral arterial disease. METHODS: Participants included 290 patients (35.2% women) with type 2 diabetes. The ankle-brachial pressure index was measured using a standard protocol, and peripheral arterial disease was defined as an ankle-brachial index <0.90 or >1.3. The basal ischemia-modified albumin levels and clinical parameters were measured and analyzed. The risk factors for peripheral arterial disease were examined by multiple logistic analyses. RESULTS: Age, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, urine albumin, homocysteine, and ischemia-modified albumin were significantly higher in patients with peripheral arterial disease than in disease-free patients (p<0.05), while ankle-brachial index was lower in the former group (p<0.05). Ischemia-modified albumin was positively associated with HbA1c and homocysteine levels (r = 0.220, p = 0.030; r = 0.446, p = 0.044, respectively), while no correlation was found with ankle-brachial index. Multiple logistic analyses indicated that HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, homocysteine and ischemia-modified albumin were independent risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in the diabetic subjects. CONCLUSION: The baseline ischemia-modified albumin levels were significantly higher and positively associated with HbA1c and homocysteine levels in type 2 diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease. Ischemia-modified albumin was a risk marker for peripheral arterial disease. Taken together, these results might be helpful for monitoring diabetic peripheral arterial disease.