RESUMO Fatores climáticos desempenham papel essencial no crescimento da largura dos anéis das árvores. Neste estudo, objetivou-se avaliar a correlação entre variáveis climáticas e características de crescimento de anéis de árvores de Pinus sibirica nas montanhas de Altai, noroeste da China. Este estudo é o primeiro desse tipo na análise do crescimento climático de Pinus sibirica no noroeste da China. O estudo mostrou grande potencial para entender as espécies que crescem sob as condições climáticas específicas. Total de 70 testemunhos coletados em três locais na área de amostragem, dos quais 63 testemunhos considerados para este estudo. O efeito das variáveis climáticas estudadas incluem precipitação, temperatura e PDSI. Nossos resultados mostraram que a cronologia da Largura do Anel da Árvore tem uma correlação significativamente positiva com a temperatura do final do inverno (março) e uma correlação negativa significativa com as temperaturas de julho. Uma correlação significativa foi observada com a precipitação do final do verão, enquanto nenhuma relação significativa foi encontrada com o Índice de Severidade de Seca de Palmer. Essas correlações significativas com a temperatura e precipitação sugeriram que esta espécie de árvore tinha o potencial para a reconstrução do clima passado na área.

Abstract Climatic factors play an essential role in the growth of tree ring width. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation between climatic variables and tree-ring growth characteristics of Pinus sibirica in Altai mountains, northwestern China. This study being is first of its kind on climate growth analysis of Pinus sibirica in northwestern China. The study showed great potential to understand the species growing under the specific climatic conditions. Total of 70 tree cores collected from three sites in the sampling area, out of which 63 tree cores considered for this study. The effect of climatic variables which was studied include precipitation, temperature and PDSI. Our results showed that Tree Ring Width chronology has a significantly positive correlation with the late winter (March) temperature and significant negative correlation with the July temperatures. A significant correlation was observed with the late summer precipitation whereas no significant relation found with the Palmer Drought Severity Index. These significant correlations with temperature and precipitation suggested that this tree species had the potential for the reconstruction of the past climate in the area.

RESUMO: O efeito de atrazina e mesotrione e da atividade conjunta de atrazina mais mesotrione no pigmento, n a peroxidação lipídica e na atividade da enzima antioxidante foi estudado. Os tratamentos com atrazina e mesotrione reduziram significativamente as concentrações de clorofila a (Clf a), de clorofila b (Clf b), de carotenoides e o teor de proteína em plantas de grama-seda (Cynodon dactylon L.), mas aumentaram significativamente a peroxidação lipídica. O tratamento com atrazina mais mesotrione causou maior efeito fitotóxico na grama-seda do que o herbicida isolado, o que foi evidenciado pela diminuição significativa da estabilidade da membrana em função dos teores de oxigênio singlete e malondialdeído (MDA), bem como pela maior redução dos teores de Clf a, Clf b e carotenoides. Embora a grama-seda ativasse as enzimas antioxidantes catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) e glutationa S-transferase (GST), ela foi significativamente danificada após os tratamentos com herbicidas. Assim, os resultados sugerem que os antioxidantes enzimáticos e não enzimáticos da grama-seda foram sobrecarregados após o tratamento com atrazina mais mesotrione, e as espécies reativas de oxigênio (ERO) causaram peroxidação lipídica, degradação de pigmentos e proteínas, além de outros danos a constituintes celulares.

ABSTRACT: The effect of atrazine, mesotrione, and joint activity of atrazine plus mesotrione on pigment, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activity was studied. Atrazine and mesotrione treatments significantly reduced chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), carotenoid concentrations, and protein content in bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) plants, whereas they significantly enhanced lipid peroxidation. The treatment of atrazine plus mesotrione caused greater phototoxic effect on bermudagrass than either herbicide alone, which was evident from the significantly decreased membrane stability noted as a function of the enhanced singlet oxygen and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, as well as from the greater reduction in Chl a, Chl b, and carotenoid contents. Although bermudagrass activated the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), it was significantly injured after the herbicide treatments. Thus, results suggested that the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants of bermudagrass was overloaded after the treatment of atrazine plus mesotrione, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) subsequently caused lipid peroxidation, pigment and protein degradation, as well as other cellular constituent damage.

Salvianolic acid B (SAB) is one the major phytocomponents of Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza and exhibit numerous health promoting properties. The objective of the current study was to examine whether SAB exerts a renoprotective effect by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory response through activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine-threonine kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway in a renal ischemic reperfusion rat model. Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats (250–300 g) were obtained and split into four groups with ten rats in each group. The right kidney of all rats was removed (nephrectomy). The rats of the Control group received only saline (occlusion) and served as a sham control group, whereas rats subjected to ischemic reperfusion (IR) insult by clamping the left renal artery served as a postitive control group. The other 2 groups of rats were pretreated with SAB (20 and 40 mg·kg-1·day-1) for 7 days prior IR induction and served as treatment groups (SAB 20+IR; SAB 40+IR). Renal markers creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly lower in the groups that received SAB. Pretreatment with SAB appears to attenuate oxidative stress by suppressing the production of lipid peroxidation products like malondialdehyde as well as elevating antioxidant activity. The concentration of inflammatory markers and neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase) were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, PI3K protein expression and pAkt/Akt ratio were significantly upregulated upon supplementation with SAB, indicating its renoprotective activity. Taken together, these results indicate that SAB can therapeutically alleviate oxidative stress and inflammatory process via modulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and probably ameliorate renal function and thus act as a renoprotective agent.

The current study aimed to investigate the effects of perinatal exposure to nonylphenol (NP) on delivery outcome of pregnant rats and subsequent inflammatory hepatic injury in newborn rats. The pregnant rats were divided into 2 groups: control group (corn oil) and NP exposure group. Thirty-four pregnant rats were administered NP or corn oil by gavage from the sixth day of pregnancy to 21 days postpartum, with blood samples collected at 12 and 21 days of pregnancy and 60 days after delivery. The NP concentration was measured by HPLC, with chemiluminescence used for detection of estrogen and progesterone levels. Maternal delivery parameters were also observed. Liver and blood of the newborn rats were collected and subjected to automatic biochemical detection of liver function and blood lipid analyzer (immunoturbidimetry), and ultrastructural observation of the hepatic microstructure, with the TNF-α and IL-1β hepatic tissue levels evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Compared with the control group, the pregnant and postpartum serum NP and estradiol levels of the mother rats in the NP group were significantly increased, together with lowered progesterone level, increased number of threatened abortion and dystocia, and fewer newborn rats and lower litter weight. Serum and hepatic NP levels of the newborn rats measured 60 days after birth were significantly higher than those of the control group, as well as lower testosterone levels and increased estradiol levels. When observed under electron microscope, the hepatocyte nuclei of the control group were large and round, with evenly distributed chromatin. The chromatin of hepatocytes in the NP group presented deep staining of the nuclei, significant lipid decrease in the cytoplasm, and the majority of cells bonded with lysate. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that there was almost no TNF-α or IL-1β expression in the hepatocytes of the control group, while the number of TNF-α-, PCNA-, and IL-1β-positive cells in the NP group was increased, with higher integral optical density than the control group. Compared to the control group, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein in the newborn rats of the NP group were significantly increased. There was no significant difference in the serum level of high-density lipoprotein or cholesterol between the groups. Perinatal exposure to NP can interfere with the in vivo estrogen and progesterone levels of pregnant rats, resulting in threatened abortion, dystocia and other adverse delivery outcomes. High liver and serum NP levels of the newborn rats led to alteration of liver tissue structure and function. The NP-induced hepatotoxicity is probably mediated by inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1α.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise training on triglyceride deposition and the expression of musclin and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in a rat model of insulin resistance. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks old, weight 160±10 g) were fed a high-fat diet (40% calories from fat) and randomly divided into high-fat control group and swimming intervention group. Rats fed with standard food served as normal control. We found that 8-week swimming intervention significantly decreased body weight (from 516.23±46.27 to 455.43±32.55 g) and visceral fat content (from 39.36±2.50 to 33.02±2.24 g) but increased insulin sensitivity index of the rats fed with a high-fat diet. Moreover, swimming intervention improved serum levels of TG (from 1.40±0.83 to 0.58±0.26 mmol/L) and free fatty acids (from 837.80±164.25 to 556.38±144.77 μEq/L) as well as muscle triglycerides deposition (from 0.55±0.06 to 0.45±0.02 mmol/g) in rats fed a high-fat diet. Compared with rats fed a standard food, musclin expression was significantly elevated, while GLUT4 expression was decreased in the muscles of rats fed a high-fat diet. In sharp contrast, swimming intervention significantly reduced the expression of musclin and increased the expression of GLUT4 in the muscles of rats fed a high-fat diet. In conclusion, increased musclin expression may be associated with insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, and exercise training improves lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity probably by upregulating GLUT4 and downregulating musclin.

Lymphoepithelioma-like gastric carcinoma (LELGC) is a rare neoplasm of the stomach with dense lymphocytic infiltration. More than 80% of LELGCs are positive for the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Here, we report a 64-year old Chinese man with swallowing discomfort while eating food. Endoscopy and computed tomography both showed a submucosal lesion at the lesser curvature of the upper gastric body. The first diagnostic impression was a gastrointestinal stromal tumour. Subsequently, the patient received a wedge resection of the stomach. On histopathological examination, the tumour was found to consist of small nests of neoplastic cells within dense lymphocytic infiltration. Additionally, most of the neoplastic cells were positive for cytokeratin and Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER). Subsequently, the diagnosis of LELGC was made. We believe that physicians should be aware of the diagnosis of submucosal gastric lesions, particularly in older male patients.

El carcinoma gástrico de tipo linfoepitelioma (CGLE) es una neoplasia rara del estómago con una infiltración linfocítica densa. Más del 80% de los CGLEs son positivos al virus de Epstein-Barr (EBV). Aquí reportamos el caso de un paciente chino de 64 años, que sentía malestar al efectuar la deglución de alimentos. Tanto la endoscopia como la tomografía computarizada mostraron una lesión submucosa en la curvatura menor de la parte superior del cuerpo gástrico. La primera impresión diagnóstica fue de un tumor del estroma gastrointestinal Posteriormente, al paciente se le hizo una resección en cuña del estómago. En el examen histopatológico, se halló que el tumor consistía de pequeños nidos de células neoplásicas dentro de una infiltración linfocítica densa. Además, la mayoría de las células neoplásicas eran positivas a la citoqueratina y al ARN codificado por el virus de Epstein-Barr (EBER). Posteriormente, se realizó el diagnóstico de CGLE. Creemos que los médicos deben tomar conciencia del diagnóstico de las lesiones submucosas gástricas, especialmente en los pacientes mayores hombres.

A major challenge in chemical process design is to make design decisions based on partly incomplete or imperfect design input data. Still, process engineers are expected to design safe, dependable and cost-efficient processes under these conditions. The complexity of typical process models limits intuitive engineering estimates to judge the impact of uncertain parameters on the proposed design. In this work, an approach to quantify the effect of uncertainty on a process design in order to enhance comparisons among different designs is presented. To facilitate automation, a novel relaxation-based heuristic to differentiate between numerical and physical infeasibility when simulations do not converge is introduced. It is shown how this methodology yields more details about limitations of a studied process design.

A 52-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of anorexia and fatigue two months after receiving orthotopic liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. A laboratory investigation demonstrated a clinical picture of obstructive jaundice. T-tube cholangiography showed biliary stricture over the anastomotic site. Percutaneous transluminal balloon dilatation and stenting was attempted but failed. Magnetic resonance cholangiography showed possible tumor recurrence over the site of the anastomotic biliary stricture. A biopsy sample was obtained via ultrasound-guided aspiration and histopathological study revealed inflammatory and fibrotic changes. With high suspicion of recurrence of the hepatocellular carcinoma, surgical exploration was performed and an intraoperative frozen section proved the recurrence. We thus diagnosed this case as a recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of early tumor recurrence after liver transplantation being the cause of an anastomotic biliary stricture.

Un varón de 52 años visitó nuestro hospital quejándose de anorexia y fatiga a los dos meses de haber recibido un trasplante hepático ortotópico a causa de un carcinoma hepatocelular. La analítica mostró un cuadro clínico de ictericia obstructiva. La colangiografía con tubo en T mostró una estenosis biliar sobre la anastomosis. Se intentó una dilatación transluminal percutánea con globo y colocación de endoprótesis, que fracasó. La colangiografía por resonancia magnética mostró una posible recurrencia tumoral sobre el lugar de la estenosis biliar anastomótica. Se extrajo una muestra de biopsia mediante aspiración bajo guía ecográfica y el estudio histopatológico mostró alteraciones inflamatorias y fibróticas. Al sospecharse la recurrencia del carcinoma hepatocelular, se realizó una exploración quirúrgica; un corte intraoperatorio congelado demostró dicha recurrencia. Así, diagnosticamos este caso como la recurrencia de un carcinoma hepatocelular después de un trasplante de hígado. Que sepamos, no se ha publicado anteriormente ninguna recurrencia tumoral precoz posterior a un trasplante hepático que fuera causa de estenosis biliar anastomótica.