Resumo Muitas cepas patogênicas adquiriram padrões multirresistentes nos últimos anos, o que representa um grande problema de saúde pública. A crescente necessidade de agentes antimicrobianos eficazes como novas terapias contra patógenos multirresistentes atraiu a atenção dos cientistas para a nanotecnologia. As nanopartículas de prata são consideradas capazes de matar isolados multirresistentes por causa de seu efeito oligodinâmico em microrganismos. Neste estudo de pesquisa, as NPs foram sintetizadas usando a bactéria Gram-positiva Lactobacillus bulgaricus e sua atividade contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas. Culturas puras de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foram isoladas do leite cru e cultivadas em caldo “De Man, Rogasa e Sharp” para síntese de nanopartículas. A cultura de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foi centrifugada, e o sobrenadante livre de células foi empregado com íons prateados aquosos, avaliando-se suas atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas, isto é, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis e Salmonella typhi usando ensaio de difusão em poço de ágar. O perfil de antibióticos contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas também foi conduzido usando o método de difusão em disco. A síntese e a caracterização das nanopartículas de prata foram monitoradas principalmente pela conversão da cor amarelo-pálida da mistura em uma cor marrom-escura e por espectroscopia de absorção visível e ultravioleta e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, respectivamente. O resultado mostrou que AgNPs com tamanho de 30,65-100 nm, obtidas de Lactobacillus bulgaricus, exibiram atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas selecionadas. Tomados em conjunto, esses achados sugerem que o Lactobacillus bulgaricus tem um grande potencial para a produção de AgNPs com atividades antibacterianas e altamente eficazes em comparação aos antibióticos testados.

Abstract Many pathogenic strains have acquired multidrug-resistant patterns in recent a year, which poses a major public health concern. The growing need for effective antimicrobial agents as novel therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens has drawn scientist attention toward nanotechnology. Silver nanoparticles are considered capable of killing multidrug-resistant isolates due to their oligo-dynamic effect on microorganisms. In this research study NPs were synthesized using the gram-positive bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and its activity against selected pathogenic strains. Lactobacillus bulgaricus pure cultures were isolated from raw milk and grown in “De Man, Rogasa, and Sharp” broth for synthesis of nanoparticles. Lactobacillus bulgaricus culture was centrifuged and Cell- free supernatant of it was employed with aqueous silvery ions and evaluated their antibacterial activities against bacterial strains i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhi using agar well diffusion assay. Antibiotic profiling against selected pathogenic strains were also conducted using disc diffusion method. The synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles were monitored primarily by the conversion of the pale-yellow color of the mixture into a dark-brown color and via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy respectively. The result showed that that AgNPs with size (30.65-100 nm) obtained from Lactobacillus bulgaricus were found to exhibit antibacterial activities against selected bacterial strains. Taken together, these findings suggest that Lactobacillus bulgaricus has great potential for the production of AgNPs with antibacterial activities and highly effective in comparison to tested antibiotics.

TiCl4 slurry containing valuable metals is an unavoidable by-product of the titanium ore chlorination process. The recovery of these valuable metals, which include titanium, niobium, tantalum, and aluminum, is an urgent issue to tackle in the titanium industry. The results of this investigation show that the valuable metallic elements can be recovered from the slurry by evaporation in a sealed container and leaching with dilute hydrochloric acid. After evaporation at 200°C for 60 minutes, nearly 99% of the titanium was recovered in the form of TiCl4, which was formed by the reaction of the TiO2 in the slurry with AlCl3. After evaporation, metals like niobium, aluminum, and tantalum remained in the residue. By leaching with 2.1 mol/L HCl at a L/S ratio of 6:1 mL/g at 80°C for 60 minutes, the soluble metals, such as aluminum, iron, and copper were all removed from the residue, and the niobium and tantalum were further enriched in the leach residue. A concentrate containing 53.40 wt% Nb and 5.57 wt% Ta was obtained by washing the leach residue with dilute aqueous ammonia under stirring. A potential waste water purifying agent containing 263.75 g/L AlCl3 was produced by purifying the leaching solution with Al(OH)3 and modified polyacrylamide.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to establish dietary threonine (Thr) levels for Linwu ducks, aged 4 to 8 wk. Experimental diets formulated to contain 0.56, 0.61, 0.66, 0.71, 0.76, and 0.81% Thr fed to Linwu ducks. A total of 360 healthy Linwu female ducks with similar body weight (1183.89±3.83 g) were randomly divided into six groups, with five replicates in each group, and 12 ducks in each replicate. Samples were collected at 8 wk for the determination of growth performance, carcass traits, visceral organ indices, and serum biochemical parameters. As a result of this study, Thr level had no significant influence on the final weight, the daily gain, feed/gain ratio, and average daily intake (p>0.05). Similarly, there were no significant effects of dietary Thr on carcass traits and visceral organ indices (p>0.05). The pancreatic index was highest among all the treatments when the dietary Thr level was 0.66%. The different dietary Thr levels had no significant effect (p>0.05) on the concentration of total protein (TP), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), glucose (GLU), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione (GSH). However, the serum MDA concentration in the 0.66% treatment was lower (P=0.068) than in the other treatments. In conclusion, Thr at 0.66% concentration may have an antioxidant activity and exert positive effect on Linwu ducks.

ABSTRACT Objective: To detect the skewness of T cell receptor (TCR) Vα and TCR Vβ of patients with Type 1 diabetes. Methods: The heparinized venous blood was collected from ten patients with Type 1 diabetes. The peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were isolated and used to extract mRNA. Reverse amplyfication was performed for cDNA synthesis. The skewness of TCR Vα and Vβ was detected with real-time florescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) and analysed by DNA melting-curve analysis technique, respectively. Results: Among the TCR Vα genes, the skewness frequency rate (SFR) of Vα22 was 30%; both of Vα5 and Vα24 were 20%; the SFR of Vα28 was 10%, which was the only gene that showed restricted-clone. In all the Vβ genes, Vβ7 and Vβ17 were the the highest expression genes, and their SFRs were both 60%. Vβ11 was near them with the SFR of 40%; the restricted clonal genes were Vβ18 and Vβ20, and their SFRs were 10% and 20%, respectivley. Conclusions: There were skewed genes in TCR Vα and TCR Vβ, which were probably relative to the onset of Type 1 diabetes.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Detectar la asimetría de RCT Vα y RCT Vβ de pacientes con diabetes tipo 1 (DT1). Métodos: Muestras de sangre venosa heparinizada fueron tomadas de diez pacientes con DT1. Los linfocitos de la sangre periférica (LSP) fueron aislados y usados para extraer el ARNm. La amplificación inversa se realizó para la síntesis del ADNc. La asimetría de RCT Vα y Vβ fue detectada mediante reacción en cadena cuantitativa fluorescente de la polimerasa en tiempo real (QF-PCR) y analizada mediante la técnica de análisis de curva de fusión del DNA, respectivamente. Resultados: Entre los genes RCT Vα, el índice de frecuencia de asimetría (SFR, en inglés) de Vα22 fue de 30%; tanto el de Vα5 como el de Vα24 fue 20%; y el SFR de Vα28 fue 10%, siendo el único gene que mostró clon restringido. De todos los genes Vβ, los de mayor expresión fueron Vβ7 y Vβ17, y sus índices SFR fueron de 60%. El gen Vβ11 estuvo cerca de estos valores, con un SFR de 40%; los genes clónicos restringidos fueron Vβ18 y Vβ20, y sus SFR fueron de 10% y 20%, respectivamente. Conclusiones: Hubo genes sesgados en RCT Vα y RCT Vβ, probablemente relacionados con el inicio de DT1.

The presence of phenolic compounds can make a great contribution to the perception of astringency in red wines based on their interactions with proteins. Human salivary protein and bovine serum albumin were used in this study to investigate the relationship between astringency and polyphenol composition. The interactions between polyphenols and proteins were analysed by means of electrophoresis and fluorescence spectra, and they were further confirmed by sensory analysis. The results indicate that a positive correlation existed among the percentage of polymeric proanthocyanidins and the total phenols. Additionally, astringent wine was generally identified as having a high percentage of polymeric fragments. In comparison with other fractions, polymeric fractions exhibited the highest affinity for protein, and thus the highest astringency.

This study proposed a decision tree model to screen upper urinary tract damage (UUTD) for patients with neurogenic bladder (NGB). Thirty-four NGB patients with UUTD were recruited in the case group, while 78 without UUTD were included in the control group. A decision tree method, classification and regression tree (CART), was then applied to develop the model in which UUTD was used as a dependent variable and history of urinary tract infections, bladder management, conservative treatment, and urodynamic findings were used as independent variables. The urethra function factor was found to be the primary screening information of patients and treated as the root node of the tree; Pabd max (maximum abdominal pressure, >14 cmH2O), Pves max (maximum intravesical pressure, ≤89 cmH2O), and gender (female) were also variables associated with UUTD. The accuracy of the proposed model was 84.8%, and the area under curve was 0.901 (95%CI=0.844-0.958), suggesting that the decision tree model might provide a new and convenient way to screen UUTD for NGB patients in both undeveloped and developing areas.

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), particularly in infants and children below 4 years of age. Shikonin is a bioactive compound with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial activities derived from the roots of the Chinese medicinal herb Lithospermum erythrorhizon. This study aimed to examine the antiviral activity of PMM-034, a shikonin ester derivative, against EV71 in rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Cytotoxicity of PMM-034 on RD cells was determined using WST-1 assay. Dose- and time-dependent effects of PMM-034 on EV71 replication in RD cells were determined using plaque reduction assay. mRNA expression levels of EV71/VP1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) were determined by real-time RT-PCR, and EV71/VP1 and phospho-p65 protein expressions were determined by western blot analysis. PMM-034 exhibited only weak cytotoxicity against RD cells. However, PMM-034 exhibited significant antiviral activity against EV71 in RD cells with 50% inhibitory concentration of 2.31 μg/mL. The VP1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in cells treated with PMM-034. Furthermore, relative mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α significantly decreased in the cells treated with PMM-034, while the phospho-p65 protein expression was also significantly lower in the treated cells. These results indicated that PMM-034 suppressed the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in RD cells, exhibiting antiviral activity against EV71, as evidenced by the reduced VP1 mRNA and protein levels in PMM-034-treated cells. Thus, PMM-034 is a promising candidate for further development as an EV71 inhibitor.

The conditions for extracting polysaccharides from sweet corncobs (SCP) were studied. Four parameters (ratio of water to raw material, compound enzyme concentration, temperature of enzymolysis and duration of enzymolysis) affecting the extraction of SCP were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Under the optimized conditions, the yield of SCP was 17.58 %. SCP had inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, and the IC50 was 20.91 mg/mL and 12.47 mg/mL. SCP may therefore have prevention and treatment efects on postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes. The inhibitory effects of SCP were improved after fractionation, and were strongest in the fraction SCP80. The fraction of SCP belong to β-glycosides heteropolysaccharides with a pyran group.

Se estudiaron las condiciones para extraer polisacáridos de marlos de maíz dulce (SCP). Se optimizaron cuatro parámetros [relación de agua al material inicial (materia prima), concentración de enzima compuesta, temperatura de ruptura de enzimas, y duración de la ruptura de enzimas) que afectan la extracción de SCP usando metodología de superficie de respuesta (RSM). Bajo condiciones óptimas, el rendimiento de SCP fue 17,58%. SCP tuvo efectos inhibitorios en las actividades de las enzimas α-amilasa yα-glucosidasa, y el IC50 fue de 20,91 y 12,47 mg/L. SPC puede tener efectos de prevención y tratamiento de los altos niveles de glucosa en sangre luego de las comidas en la diabetes. Los efectos inhibitorios de SCP mejoraron luego del fraccionamiento, y fueron los más fuertes en la fracción SCP80. La fracción de SCP pertenece a heteropolisacáridos β-glucósidos con un grupo piran.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by ventricular dilatation, and it is a common cause of heart failure and cardiac transplantation. This study aimed to explore potential DCM-related genes and their underlying regulatory mechanism using methods of bioinformatics. The gene expression profiles of GSE3586 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database, including 15 normal samples and 13 DCM samples. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between normal and DCM samples using Limma package in R language. Pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs was then performed. Meanwhile, the potential transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) of these DEGs were predicted based on their binding sequences. In addition, DEGs were mapped to the cMap database to find the potential small molecule drugs. A total of 4777 genes were identified as DEGs by comparing gene expression profiles between DCM and control samples. DEGs were significantly enriched in 26 pathways, such as lymphocyte TarBase pathway and androgen receptor signaling pathway. Furthermore, potential TFs (SP1, LEF1, and NFAT) were identified, as well as potential miRNAs (miR-9, miR-200 family, and miR-30 family). Additionally, small molecules like isoflupredone and trihexyphenidyl were found to be potential therapeutic drugs for DCM. The identified DEGs (PRSS12 and FOXG1), potential TFs, as well as potential miRNAs, might be involved in DCM.

This study proposes a methodology for evaluating the risk of coal bumps in multiple-seam longwall mining. Both the stress field and the total energy release (TER) during retreat were evaluated in the specified case involving multiple-seam mining using the LaModel program. The results of numerical simulations indicated that both the peak vertical stresses on the panel edges and the peak TERs in the outby longwalls increased significantly as the horizontal offsets were reduced from 60 m to zero. With the comprehensive consideration of the stress field and TERs, a conservative offset of 60 m was ultimately adopted when developing the gateroads of the lower panel in the field. The field measurements indicated that coal bumps were avoided completely by employing the proposed design, and the maximum roof-to-floor and rib-to-rib convergences of the tailgate during retreat were only 360 mm and 576 mm, respectively.

ABSTRACT Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the influence of repeated recruitment manoeuvres (RRMs) on lung injury in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: Forty-one ventilated patients with severe ARDS were selected for this study. Recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) were conducted with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP; 30 cm H2O for 40 seconds). Recruitment manoeuvres were repeated every two hours for all three groups. Changes in haemodynamics, pulmonary compliance, gas exchange and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) were monitored before RM (pre-RM), 10 minutes after each RM, and four hours after RM3 (4 hours post-RRM). Pulmonary inflammatory factors (tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] and interleukin [IL]-6 and −10) were also analysed. Results: Compared with those in pre-RM, pulmonary compliance, oxygenation index (ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen [PaO2/FiO2]) and EVLWI remarkably improved in RM1, RM2, RM3 and 4 hours post-RRM (p < 0.05). The PaO2/FiO2 ratio increased significantly in RM1 and RM3 (p < 0.05). Extravascular lung water index decreased significantly in RM1 compared with that in RM3 and 4 hours post-RRM (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in cytokines. Conclusion: Repeated recruitment manoeuvres during lung-protected ventilation can improve pulmonary compliance and oxygenation and significantly decrease extravascular lung water in ARDS patients. Lung injury was not worsened by RRMs in patients with severe ARDS.

RESUMEN Objetivo: El estudio tuvo por objeto evaluar la influencia de las maniobras de reclutamiento repetidas (MRR) en la lesión pulmonar en pacientes con síndrome de dificultad respiratoria agudo (SDRA). Métodos: Para este estudio se seleccionaron cuarenta y un pacientes ventilados, con SDRA severo. Se realizaron maniobras de reclutamiento (MR) con presión positiva continua de las vías respiratorias (CPAP; 30 cm H2O durante 40 segundos). Las maniobras de reclutamiento se repitieron cada dos horas para los tres grupos. Los cambios de hemodinámica, distensibilidad pulmonar, intercambio gaseoso e índice de agua pulmonar extravascular (EVLWI) fueron monitoreados antes de MR (pre-MR), diez minutos después de cada MR y cuatro horas después de MR3 (4 horas post-MRR). También se analizaron los factores de inflamación pulmonar: factor de necrosis tumoral alfa, e interleucina-6 y-10 (TNF-α, IL-6 e IL-10). Resultados: En comparación con los de pre-MR, la distensibilidad pulmonar, el índice de oxigenación, la proporción de la presión parcial de oxígeno arterial con respecto a la fracción de oxígeno inspirado (PaO2/FiO2) y EVLWI mejoraron notablemente en MR1, MR2, MR3, y cuatro horas post-MRR (p < 0.05). La razón PaO2/FiO2 aumentó significativamente en MR1 y MR3 (p < 0.05). El índice de agua pulmonar extravascular disminuyó significativamente en MR1, en comparación con la de MR3 y cuatro horas de post-MRR (p < 0.05). No hubo diferencias significativas en las citocinas. Conclusión: Las maniobras de reclutamiento repetidas durante la ventilación de protección pulmonar puede mejorar la oxigenación y la distensibilidad pulmonar, y disminuir considerablemente el agua pulmonar extravascular en pacientes con SDRA. La lesión pulmonar no fue empeorada por MRR en pacientes con SDRA grave.

Potassium utilization efficiency (KUE) for plants is related to genotype difference, soil characteristics, application of fertilizer and irrigation. Up to now, the KUE of different genotypes worldwide has been extensively studied, but the influence of environment stress on KUE of cotton is infrequently reported. Thus, we selected a high K utilization efficiency cotton genotype (HEG) and a low K utilization efficiency cotton genotype (LEG) as indicator plants. The results showed that both soil water stress and K stress limited the growth of cotton genotypes. The change of soil water levels had significant influence on yield, KUE, rates of fallen leaves and bolls (RF), biomass and potassium accumulation in cotton. Deficient of soil water restricted the uptake and translocation of K. The absence of soil K greatly increased the proportion of biomass of reproductive organs and K distribution to reproductive organs in this experiment. The HEG exhibited higher physiological compared with LEG under the stress conditions, especially under low K treatment.

BACKGROUND: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Augmentation pharmacotherapy is effective for TRD, but it is still unclear which augmentation agent is most efficacious. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of seven augmentation agents on TRD. METHODS:We did a multiple-treatments meta-analysis, accounting for both direct and indirect comparisons. PubMed, the Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Web of Science, Embase, CBM-disc, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and relevant websites (up to August 2013) were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) about augmentation agents. The following terms were used: 'potentiation, 'augmentation', and 'adjunct' paired with 'depression' and 'resistant depression'. No language limitation was imposed. RESULTS: We systematically reviewed 12 RCTs (1 936 participants), which included seven augmentation agents: lithium, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), atypical antipsychotics (AAPs), antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), buspirone, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and tri-iodothyronine (T3). The results revealed that T3 was more efficacious than lithium, TCAs, AAPs, AEDs, buspirone and CBT with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.58, 1.56, 1.51, 1.47, 1.77 and 1.25, respectively. ORs favoured CBT compared with lithium, TCAs, AAPs, AEDs and buspirone. Buspirone was the least efficacious of all the other augmentation agents tested. AAPs were significantly more acceptable than lithium, and CBT more than buspirone. T3 was slightly more acceptable than lithium, and CBT more than AAPs. CONCLUSION: T3 as an augmentation agent should be a clinician's first consideration instead of lithium in acute treatment for TRD. CBT might be a good augmentation agent in some communities. Buspirone should be a final option as an augmentation agent. Further research is needed, such as a well-designed, large-scale controlled trial, to support and draw definite conclusions.

The Helanshan Donglu wine zone (China) is one of the most successful wine region of China, and the phenolic characterisation and antioxidant capacity of the primarily young, monovarietal wines from there were evaluated. The result showed that Helanshan Donglu wines contained abundant phenolic compounds, especially flavan-3-ols, and possessed high antioxidant capacity. In different grape varieties, the phenolic profiles varied greatly in both red and white wines. For red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon represented the highest total phenols (2 631 mg/L GAE), total flavonoids (1 840.83 mg/L CTE) and antioxidant capacity. Gamay and Cabernet Gernischt possessed the highest total flavan-3-ols (1 108.08 mg/L CTE) and total anthocyanins (258.78 mg/L CGE). Amongst the white wines, Chardonnay and Chenin blanc showed the highest phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity. (+)-Catechin and (-)-epicatechin were dominant phenolic constituents in both the red and white wines. Gallic acid and salicylic acid were the second most abundant in red wines, while gentisic acid was the second most abundant in white wines.

The incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of fulvic acid (FA) on phosphorus (P) movement and transformation in acid soil. FA at the rate of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 g and in combination with 0.19 g KH2PO4 was sprinkled uniformly on the surface of the filter paper on the soil cylinder for 21 days incubation, respectively. The result showed that the pH of soil treated with FA increased from the original value of 5.83 to the highest value of 6.27 in the surface soil layer after 21 days incubation. Due to the application of FA, exchangeable Al concentration evidently decreased in comparison to the only P treatment, which in turn significantly increased available P concentration. FA also increased the movement length of P that reached 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 cm depth for treatments reinforced with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g FA per column, respectively. As FA was added into soil, microbial population, organic matter content and cation exchange capacity (CEC) all clearly elevated. It is suggested that P fertilizer and FA are fertilized together may be considered as an optimum choice for the improvement of P availability and soil physicochemical conditions.