Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of lemon essential oil and its mixtures with chitosan, calcium chloride, and natamycin on the postharvest storage quality of citrus. The analysis of the physiological and biochemical index changes of citrus stored at 20 ± 2 °C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity for 60 days showed that lemon essential oil and its mixtures could help to maintain nutritional and sensory quality of citrus. In addition, the lemon essential oil and its mixtures increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD). The citrus treated with 1.0% lemon essential oil, 1.0% chitosan, 1.0% calcium chloride, and 0.03% natamycin presented the highest contents of total soluble solids(TSS), titratable acid (TA), and vitamin C (Vc), and the lowest decay rate, weight loss, relative conductivity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and better SOD, CAT, and POD activities, all of which suggested that this mixture had the best effect on keeping citrus fresh. This work could provide a theoretical basis for using a lemon essential oil mixture as a green preservative to improve the storage quality of citrus.

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a metabolic disorder of the retina and one of the common problems of Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T-2DM) causing visual loss even at teen ages. In this research article, oxidative stress was the main cause due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation at hyperglycemic state and become as the focus point of this study to describe (DR) complication onset. The present study was conducted to compare three groups: T-2DM with complication, T-2DM without complication and control group. For this purpose, number of the individuals participating in this study were n=110 as subject along with T-2DM patients with complication n=50, T-2DM patients without complication n=50 and rest n=10 are taken as control/ normoglycemic individuals. T-2DM patients with/without complication have TAG level is lower than normoglycemic/ control. An observed value of (HbA1c%) glycosylated or glycated hemoglobin type A1c concentration of T2DM with complication group was highest (9.63%) amongst the examined groups. T-2DM with complication has lowest SOD activity (660.96 U/gHb) but the malondialdehyde (MDA) level was found to be higher (5.96 µmol/L) amongst studied groups. Lowest plasma TAG, and higher plasma MDA level indicate the presence of oxidative stress in T2D with/without complications. SOD activity was decreased due to the protein glycation and the surplus level of lipid detoxification especially found in T-2DM cases. Good glycemic control counteracts the response of Lipid peroxidation usually occurs in hyperglycemic state.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Explorar a associação do polimorfismo do gene fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF) com o endofenótipo cognitivo latente de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) após grandes desastres naturais na província de Hainan, China. MÉTODOS Um total de 300 doentes com TEPT e 150 controles saudáveis (HC) foi investigado pela escala de psicanálise para avaliar as suas funções cognitivas. A reação em cadeia polimerase (PCR) e a eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (Page) foram usadas para detectar o polimorfismo do gene BDNF. RESULTADOS Em termos de função cognitiva, as pontuações no grupo TEPT foram piores do que as do grupo HC (P<0,05 ou P<0,01). Houve uma diferença significativa na distribuição do genótipo de BDNF e frequência do alelo entre os dois grupos (P<0,05). Os endofenótipos de TEPT foram significativamente diferentes entre os genótipos de BDNF do grupo TEPT (P≤0,01). CONCLUSÃO Existe uma diferença estatisticamente significativa no polimorfismo do gene BDNF entre o TEPT e os grupos HC, e os alelos estão associados à incidência do TEPT. Assim, pode ser um fator de risco para TEPT.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To explore the association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF) polymorphism with the latent cognitive endophenotype of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after major natural disasters in Hainan Province, China. METHODS A total of 300 patients with PTSD and 150 healthy controls (HC) were surveyed by psychoanalysis scale to assess their cognitive functions. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were used to detect the BDNF gene polymorphism. RESULTS In terms of the cognitive function, the scores in the PTSD group were worse than those of the HC group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the distribution of BDNF genotype and allele frequency between the two groups (P < 0.05). PTSD endophenotypes were significantly different among the BDNF genotypes in the PTSD group (P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION There is a statistically significant difference in the polymorphism of BDNF gene between PTSD and HC groups, and the alleles are associated with the incidence of PTSD. Thus, it may be a risk factor for PTSD.

Abstract IL-10 expressing regulatory B cells (B10) play a key role in immune system balance by limiting excessive inflammatory responses. Effects of toll-like receptor signaling and co-stimulatory molecules on B10 activity during innate and adaptive immune responses are not fully understood. Objective This study is to determine the effects of P. gingivalis LPS and CpG on B10 cell expansion and IL-10 competency in vitro. Material and Methods Spleen B cells were isolated from C57BL/6J mice with or without formalin-fixed P. gingivalis immunization. B cells were cultured for 48 hours under the following conditions: CD40L, CD40L+LPS, CD40L+CpG, and CD40L+LPS+CpG in the presence or absence of fixed P. gingivalis. Percentages of CD1dhiCD5+ B cells were measured by flow cytometry. IL-10 mRNA expression and secreted IL-10 were measured by real-time quantitative PCR and by ELISA respectively. Results P. gingivalis LPS plus CD40L significantly increased CD1dhiCD5+ B cell percentages and secreted IL-10 levels in both immunized and non-immunized mice B cells in the presence or absence of P. gingivalis, compared with control group. Secreted IL-10 levels were significantly increased in CD40L+LPS treated group compared with CD40L treatment group in the absence of P. gingivalis. CpG plus CD40L significantly decreased CD1dhiCD5+ B cell percentages, but greatly elevated secreted IL-10 levels in immunized and non-immunized mice B cells in the absence of P. gingivalis, compared with CD40L treatment group. Conclusions P. gingivalis LPS and CpG differentially enhance IL-10 secretion and expansion of mouse B10 cells during innate and adaptive immune responses.

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the roles of different Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis)-induced and ligature-induced experimental periodontal bone resorption in mice. Wild-type (WT), TLR2 knockout (KO), TLR4KO, and TLR2&4 KO mice with C57/BL6 background were divided into three groups: control, P. gingivalis infection, and ligation. Live P. gingivalis or silk ligatures were placed in the sulcus around maxillary second molars over a 2-week period. Images were captured by digital stereomicroscopy, and the bone resorption area was measured with ImageJ software. The protein expression level of gingival RANKL was measured by ELISA. The gingival mRNA levels of RANKL, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 were detected by RT-qPCR. The results showed that P. gingivalis induced significant periodontal bone resorption in WT mice and TLR2 KO mice but not in TLR4 KO mice or TLR2&4 KO mice. For all four types of mice, ligation induced significant bone loss compared with that in control groups, and this bone loss was significantly higher than that in the P. gingivalis infection group. RANKL protein expression was significantly increased in the ligation group compared with that in the control group for all four types of mice, and in the P. gingivalis infection group of WT, TLR2 KO, and TLR4 KO mice. Expression patterns of RANKL, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 mRNA were different in the P. gingivalis infection group and the ligation group in different types of mice. In summary, P. gingivalis-induced periodontal bone resorption is TLR4-dependent, whereas ligation-induced periodontal bone resorption is neither TLR2- nor TLR4-dependent.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the burden of enteric fever through trends in morbidity and mortality, bacterial species and antimicrobial resistance in Guangxi, a southern, subtropical, coastal province of China with a disproportionally large burden of enteric fever. METHODS: Data on morbidity and mortality caused by enteric fever between 1994 and 2004 were extracted from the Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Laboratory-based surveillance and outbreak investigations were integrated with reports of notifiable infectious diseases to estimate the bacterial species-specific incidence of enteric fever. To adjust for underreporting, survey data were collected from three prefectures that represent the hyper-, moderate- and low-endemic regions of Guangxi province. FINDINGS: In Guangxi province, enteric fever incidence rate varied over the study period, with a peak of 13.5 cases per 100000 population in 1995 and a low of 6.5 in 2003. The disease occurred most frequently during the summer and autumn months and in the group aged 10-49 years. The incidence of enteric fever varied by region within Guangxi province. During the 11-year period covered by the study, 61 outbreaks of enteric fever were reported, and Salmonella paratyphi A (SPA) became the predominant causative agent in the province. CONCLUSION: Prospective studies may provide a better understanding of the reason for the shifting epidemiology of enteric fever in Guangxi province. Given the emergence of resistance to first- and second-line antimicrobials for the treatment of enteric fever, a bivalent vaccine against both SPA and S. typhi would facilitate for disease control.

OBJETIVOS: Determinar la carga de fiebre tifoidea mediante las tendencias de morbilidad y mortalidad, las especies bacterianas y la resistencia a los antibióticos en Guangxi, una provincia costera y subtropical del Sur de China, con una carga de fiebre tifoidea desproporcionalmente elevada. MÉTODOS: Los datos sobre morbilidad y mortalidad causadas por la fiebre tifoidea entre 1994 y 2004 se recogieron en el Centro de control y prevención de enfermedades de Guangxi. Con el fin de estimar la incidencia específica de la fiebre tifoidea para cada una de las especies bacterianas se incorporaron informes de enfermedades infecciosas de declaración obligatoria a la vigilancia basada en pruebas analíticas y las investigaciones de los brotes epidémicos. Para el ajuste de los subregistros se recopilaron los datos del estudio procedentes de tres prefecturas representantes de las regiones hiperendémicas, mesoendémicas e hipoendémicas de la provincia de Guangxi. RESULTADOS: La tasa de incidencia de la fiebre tifoidea en la provincia de Guangxi varió a lo largo del estudio, registrando un pico máximo de 13,5 casos por cada 100 000 habitantes en 1995 y un mínimo de 6,5 en 2003. La enfermedad tuvo una mayor incidencia durante los meses de verano y otoño, así como en el grupo de edad comprendido entre 10 y 49 años. La incidencia de la fiebre tifoidea varió según las regiones dentro de la misma provincia de Guangxi. Durante los 11 años que duró el estudio se declararon 61 brotes epidémicos de fiebre tifoidea, siendo la Salmonella paratyphi A (SPA) el agente causal predominante en la provincia. CONCLUSIÓN: Los estudios prospectivos pueden ayudar a comprender mejor la causa de los datos epidemiológicos cambiantes de la fiebre tifoidea en la provincia de Guangxi. Una vacuna bivalente contra SPA y S. typhi facilitaría el control de la enfermedad, teniendo en cuenta la aparición de resistencias a los antibióticos de primera y segunda línea para el tratamiento de la fiebre tifoidea.

OBJECTIF: Déterminer le fardeau que représente la fièvre typhoïde au travers des tendances de morbidité et de mortalité, des espèces bactériennes et de la résistance antimicrobienne dans le Guangxi, une province subtropicale côtière du sud de la Chine présentant un fardeau anormalement important de fièvre typhoïde. MÉTHODES: Les données de morbidité et de mortalité causées par la fièvre typhoïde entre 1994 et 2004 ont été obtenues auprès du Centre de contrôle et de prévention des maladies du Guangxi. La surveillance en laboratoire et les enquêtes sur les résurgences ont été intégrées aux rapports des maladies infectieuses à déclaration obligatoire pour permettre d'estimer l'incidence spécifique d'espèces bactériennes de la fièvre typhoïde. Afin de compenser les sous-déclarations, les données du sondage ont été recueillies auprès de trois préfectures caractéristiques des régions hyper, modérément et faiblement endémiques de la province du Guangxi. RÉSULTATS: Dans la province du Guangxi, le taux d'incidence de la fièvre typhoïde a varié au cours de la période d'étude, avec un pic de 13,5 cas par 100 000 habitants en 1995 et un minimum de 6,5 en 2003. La maladie est fréquemment survenue pendant les mois d'été et d'automne, et dans la tranche d'âge 10-49 ans. L'incidence de la fièvre typhoïde a varié de région en région dans la province du Guangxi. Pendant la période de 11 ans couverte par l'étude, 61 résurgences de fièvre typhoïde ont été rapportées, et l'agent causatif prédominant dans la province était Salmonella paratyphi A (SPA). CONCLUSION: De futures études devraient fournir une meilleure compréhension de la raison de la variabilité épidémiologique de la fièvre typhoïde dans la province du Guangxi. Étant donné l'apparition de résistance aux première et deuxième lignes de traitements antimicrobiens de la fièvre typhoïde, un vaccin bivalent contre SPA et S. typhi faciliterait le contrôle de la maladie.