ABSTRACT Introduction: Acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) in late pregnancy is a rare but severe disease. Lack of clinical experience is the main cause of high mortality. This study tries to investigate the multidisciplinary therapeutic strategy for these patients. Case presentation: We reported three patients with AAAD in late pregnancy. Sudden chest pain was the main clinical symptom before operation. All three patients and their newborns survived through multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis and treatment. No serious complications occurred during the mid-term follow-up. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment strategy play a crucial role in saving the lives of pregnant women with AAAD. Introduction (AAAD disease mortality presentation operation midterm mid term followup. followup follow up. up follow-up Conclusion

Abstract In order to develop a quick method for predicting fatty acid in rice storage, gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) was applied to detect and analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at different rice storage stages, and partial least squares regression (PLSR) algorithm was used to establish a linear regression model between fatty acid values and characteristic VOCs. The results showed that rice fatty acid values increased gradually with extension of storage time. Odor components of rice mainly included alcohols and aldehydes. Except for 1-octene-3-alcohol, the content of other VOCs showed an overall downward trend during the storage period. After variable optimization using two different algorithms, the correlation coefficient of the PLSR cross validation model could reach 0.9544, and the corresponding root mean square error was 2.4093. In conclusion, fatty acid values of rice with different storage periods could be accurately predicted by using characteristic VOCs variables and chemometric tools, which would provide a rapid and nondestructive detection method for rice quality during storage based on odor information.

A novel recognition method was put forward to identify the producing areas of the flue-cured tobacco leaves rapidly and non-destructively by using a near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer and a multi-layer-extreme learning machine (ML-ELM) algorithm. In contrast to traditional linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithms, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were the highest for the proposed ML-ELM algorithm. The ML-ELM models for different producing areas of Yunnan tobacco leaves had the best generalization ability and prediction results. Besides, the above three algorithms were also identified by using the chemical index data. The experimental results indicated that the NIR spectroscopy technology together with ML-ELM algorithm achieved the best prediction performance both using the NIR spectral data and chemical index data. It indicates that the combination of NIR and ML-ELM can recognize different producing areas of Yunnan tobacco leaves rapidly, accurately, and non-destructively.

Lumbar disc herniation is a common disease characterized by the degeneration of intervertebral discs (IVDs), accompanied by imbalance of metabolic and inflammatory homeostasis. Current studies establish that IVD degeneration is induced by increased apoptosis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. However, the underlying mechanisms of NP cell survival/apoptosis are not well elucidated. Here, we reveal a novel mechanism by which mTORC1 signaling controls NP cell survival through regulating metabolic homeostasis. We demonstrated that hyperactivated mTORC1 activity induced by inflammatory cytokines engenders the apoptosis of NP cells, whereas pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 activity promotes NP cell survival. Using an integrative approach spanning metabolomics and biochemical approaches, we showed that mTORC1 activation enhanced glucose metabolism and lactic acid production, and therefore caused NP cell apoptosis. Our study identified mTORC1 in NP cells as a novel target for IVD degeneration, and provided potential strategies for clinical intervention of lumbar disc herniation.

Abstract Based on the leakage of the coalbed methane (CBM) drilling engineering practice of Luan mining area in China, the author determines the safe drilling fluid density range for the stable borehole wall based on borehole wall collapse and fracture pressure. Such parameters as the drilling fluid hydraulic parameters (including pump pressure, pump power and displacement, nozzle diameter, bit pressure drop, bit hydraulic horsepower, circulation pressure drop, impact force and jet velocity) and drilling parameters (including weight-on-bit, drilling rotary speed, bit tooth wear) in each borehole section are optimized. Taking the lowest drilling cost as the controlling target, the drilling parameter optimization model is designed and solved by the genetic algorithm. Furthermore, a software named “CBM borehole wall stability parameter design and optimization” characterized by visualization and applicable for drilling formation condition, which can be used to design and optimize the borehole drilling technological parameters, is developed. This program includes such modules as drilling fluid density prediction, drilling technology design, database management, user management and help. The developed software is proven to solve the drilling leakage effectively in the No.67 borehole practice, which can help drilling engineers to optimize CBM drilling technological parameters safely and quickly.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: RNAs longos não codificantes (lncRNAs) comprovadamente apresentam funções distintas no complicado processo de desenvolvimento de tumores. Alguns estudos sobre as funções biológicas dos lncRNA (MAFG-AS1) em cânceres revelaram que eles podem funcionar como um oncogene em alguns tipos de tumores, inclusive no câncer colorretal (CCR). No entanto, pouco é conhecido sobre o papel do MAFG-AS1 no prognóstico do CCR. MÉTODOS: Um conjunto de dados públicos foi analisado em busca de lncRNAs desregulados em casos de CCR. Uma análise quantitativa de reação em cadeia de polimerase precedida de transcrição reversa (qPCR) em tempo real foi utilizada para comparar os níveis de MAFG-AS1 entre pares de amostras de MAFG-AS1 normal e tecidos adjacentes. As correlações entre MAFG-AS1 e características clínico-patológicas do CCR foram analisadas através do teste qui-quadrado. Os testes de Log-rank e Kaplan-Meier foram utilizados para comparar o tempo de sobrevida de pacientes com expressões altas e baixas do MAFG-AS1. A regressão de Cox foi aplicada para ensaios uni e multivariados para validar se MAFG-AS1 poderia ser um fator independente no prognóstico do CCR. RESULTADOS: Observamos que a regulação aumentada de MAFG-AS1 em vários tumores foi um evento comum. MAFG1 estava claramente com a regulação aumentada em espécimes de CCR quando comparado ao de espécimes equivalentes não-tumorais (p < 0,01). Altas expressões de MAFG-AS1 estavam associadas à profundidade de invasão (p = 0,011) e classificação no sistema TNM (p = 0,022). As análises de sobrevida revelaram que pacientes com expressões elevadas do MAFG-AS1 tiveram uma diminuição significativa da sobrevida global (p = 0,0030) e da sobrevida livre de doença (p = 0,0002). CONCLUSÃO: MAFG-AS1 pode ser um novo potencial biomarcador para predizer o tempo de sobrevida de pacientes de CCR.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proven to exhibit distinct functions on the convoluted processes of tumor developments. Some studies on the biological functions of lncRNA MAFG-AS1 (MAFG-AS1) in cancers revealed that they may serve as an oncogene in some kinds of tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, little is known about the role of MAFG-AS1 in the prognostic of CRC. METHODS: A public dataset was mined for the screening of dysregulated lncRNAs in CRC. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) was used to compare the levels of MAFG-AS1 between paired MAFG-AS1 specimens and normal adjacent tissues. The correlations between MAFG-AS1 and clinic pathological features in CRC were analyzed using the chi-square test. The log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier test were carried out to compare the survival time of patients with high and low expressions of MAFG-AS1. Cox regression was applied for univariate and multivariate assays to validate whether MAFG-AS1 could be an independent factor in the prognosis of CRC. RESULTS: We found that the distinct upregulation of MAFG-AS1 in various tumors was a common event. MAFG-AS1 was distinctly up-regulated in CRC specimens compared to matched non-tumor specimens (p < 0.01). High MAFG-AS1 expressions were closely associated with depth of invasion (p = 0.011) and TNM stage (p = 0.022). Survival assays revealed that patients with high expression of MAFG-AS1 have a shorter overall survival (p = 0.0030) and disease-free survival (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: MAFG-AS1 can serve as a novel potential biomarker to predict CRC patients’ survival time.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the changes of the mitral valve geometrics and the degrees of moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS). Methods: A retrospective analysis study of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and postoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 49 patients diagnosed with pure AS combined with moderate MR, who underwent AVR from January 2013 to December 2017. TEE was used to evaluate the direct geometric changes of the mechanical effects on mitral annulus after AVR. TTE was used to evaluate the changes of MR after operation. All patients underwent TTE during the midterm follow-up. The mean follow-up time was 40.21 months. Results: All of the 49 patients had moderate MR. Anterolateral-posteromedial diameter, anterior-posterior diameter, and mitral annular area were significantly reduced after AVR, while no significant changes were found in the intraoperative left ventricular loading conditions before and after AVR. The degree of mitral valve regurgitation, left ventricular size, left atrial size, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, and left ventricular to aortic pressure gradient were significantly reduced before discharge, and midterm follow-up showed good results. Conclusion: This study supports the belief that aortic outflow tract obstruction and an actual mechanical compression of the anterior mitral annulus after AVR would cause reduction in MR. Ventricular remodeling would also cause reduction in MR with time going on. Patients with AS, especially young patients with moderate MR, were most likely to benefit from AVR in early time.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar os perfis de expressão do fator de transcrição da proteína de especificidade 1 e do colágeno I em tecidos pterigiais primários e conjuntivais normais, e explorar o papel da proteína de especificidade 1 e colágeno I no desenvolvimento pterigial. Métodos: Foram coletados os tecidos pterigiais de 20 pacientes submetidos à ressecção de tecido de pterígio primário em nosso hospital no período de junho de 2016 a dezembro de 2017 e os tecidos conjuntivais de 10 pacientes com enucleação por trauma. A reação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativa de transcriptase reversa e a análise de Western blot foram utilizadas para detectar os níveis de expressão relativa da proteína de especificidade 1 e colágeno tipo I nos níveis de mRNA e proteína. Resultados: O conteúdo de especificidade da proteína 1 e do mRNA e proteína do colágeno I foi significativamente maior no tecido de pterígio primário do que no tecido conjuntival (p<0,05). Houve correlação positiva entre os níveis de mRNAs e proteína de especificidade 1 e colágeno I nos tecidos primários do pterígio (proteínas: r=1, p<0,05; mRNA: r=1, p<0,05). Conclusão: A proteína de especificidade 1 e do colágeno I é expressa nos tecidos conjuntivais e pterigiais normais, mas a expressão é significativamente maior no segundo. A especificidade da proteína 1 e do colágeno I pode ser envolvida na regulação do desenvolvimento do pterígio primário.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine the expression profiles of the transcription factor specificity protein 1 and collagen I in primary pterygial and normal conjunctival tissues, and to explore the role of specificity protein 1 and collagen I in pterygial development. Methods: The pterygial tissues of 20 patients who underwent resection of primary pterygial tissue in our hospital from June 2016 to December 2017 and the conjunctival tissues of 10 patients with enucleation due to trauma were collected. Reverse transcription quantitative-po lymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were used to detect the relative expression levels of specificity protein 1 and type I collagen at the mRNA and protein levels. Results: The content of specificity protein 1 and collagen I mRNA and protein was significantly greater in primary pterygial tissue than it was in conjunctival tissue (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the mRNA and protein levels of specificity protein 1 and collagen I in primary pterygial tissues (protein: r=1, p<0.05; mRNA: r=1, p<0.05). Conclusion: Specificity protein 1 and collagen I are expressed in normal conjunctival and pterygial tissues, but expression is significantly greater in the latter. Specificity protein 1 and collagen I may be involved in the regulation of the development of primary pterygium.

Abstract Objective: To investigate whether low bleeding influences the early outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: Retrospective analysis of ischemic heart disease patients who underwent off-pump CABG from January 2013 to December 2017. Patients were divided into low-bleeding group (n=659) and bleeding group (n=270), according to total drainage from chest tube during the first postoperative 12 hours. Clinical material and early outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: Baseline was similar in the two groups. Operation time was 270±51 min in the low-bleeding group and 235±46 min in the bleeding group (P<0.0001). The low-bleeding group presented smaller drainage during the first 12 h (237±47 ml) and shorter mechanical ventilation time (6.86±3.78 h) than the bleeding group (557±169 ml and 10.66±5.19 h, respectively) (P<0.0001). Hemodynamic status was more stable in the low-bleeding group (P<0.0001) and usage rate of more than two vasoactive agents in this group was lower than in the bleeding group (P<0.0001). Number of distal anastomosis, reoperation for bleeding, suddenly increase in chest tube output, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, hospital stay, and other early outcomes had no statistical significance between the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Postoperative bleeding < 300 ml/12 h in off-pump CABG patients did not require blood product transfusion and reoperation and that would contribute to reduction in mechanical ventilation time and maintaining hemodynamic stability. Bleeding < 800 ml during the first postoperative 12 h did not increase infection rates and ICU length of stay.

Abstract Objective: This study aims to compare the early and medium outcomes of on-pump beating-heart (OPBH) coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and off-pump CABG (OPCABG) in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between 30% and 40%. Methods: This is a retrospective study of ischemic heart disease patients with LVEF between 30% and 40% who underwent surgical revascularization from January 2013 to December 2017. Patients were divided into OPBH group (n=44) and OPCABG group (n=68), according to the surgical method. Clinical material with early and medium outcomes were investigated and compared between these groups. Results: The two groups had similar baseline. Two OPBH patients and 3 OPCABG patients died in the hospital, which had no statistical significance (P>0.05). OPBH patients received a greater number of grafts (3.74±0.84) and presented more improved LVEF (45.92±7.11%) than OPCABG patients (3.36±0.80) and (42.81±9.29%), respectively, which had statistical significance (P<0.05). An increased amount of drainage during the first 12 hours was found in the OPBH group (P<0.05). Reoperation for bleeding, duration of mechanic ventilation, and other early outcomes had no statistical significance between the two groups. During the medium-time follow-up, OPBH patients showed significantly lower major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)-free survival time (P=0.049) than OPCABG patients. Conclusion: The OPBH technique was a safe and an acceptable alternative for surgical revascularization in patients with moderate left ventricular dysfunction which provided better mid-term MACE-free survival compared with OPCABG.

Abstract Background: Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, which seriously affects human health. Gramicidin is a short peptide antibiotic which could be used for treating infection induced by bacteria or fungi. However, the anti-cancer effect of gramicidin on gastric cancer cells and its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Results: Gastric cancer cells SGC-7901, BGC-823 and normal gastric mucosal cells GES-1 were treated with different concentrations of gramicidin respectively. The results of CCK-8 experiment revealed cellular toxicity of gramicidin to cancer cells while cell colony formation assay showed that gramicidin significantly inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, but had little effect on normal gastric mucosal cells. In addition, the wound healing assay showed that gramicidin inhibited the migration of SGC-7901 cell. Meanwhile, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis revealed that gramicidin induced cell apoptosis with G2/M cell cycle inhibition. Furthermore, western blot analysis demonstrated that gramicidin down-regulated the expression of cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 as well as the FoxO1 phosphorylation. Conclusions: The current study illustrated the anti-tumor activity of gramicidin on gastric cancer cells, providing a possibility for gramicidin to be applied in clinical practice for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Abstract Conventional batch distillation and middle-vessel batch distillation were studied for the separation of the ternary system of cyclohexane/n-heptane/toluene, which has low relative volatilities. The modified variable and constant reflux operations were applied in the conventional batch distillation. Two control structures were used: one of which was referred to as the composition control structure with a modified level-set point, and the other was referred to as the flowrate-limiting control structure. Thus, the middle-vessel batch distillation was able to simultaneously separate the components of the ternary mixture. Comparing the two control structures showed that the flowrate-limiting control structure was better than the composition control structure with a modified level-set point in terms of their applicability. Disturbances were introduced to assess the controllability of the flowrate-limiting control structure. The dynamic responses demonstrated that the control structure performed well. The results showed that the modified conventional batch distillation and middle-vessel batch distillation increased the purity of the separated components compared to previous studies.

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and related pathways are involved in the therapeutic effect of sleeve gastrectomy for overweight or obese patients with diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of FXR expression regulation during the surgical treatment of obese diabetes mellitus by sleeve gastrectomy. Diabetic rats were established by combined streptozotocin and high-fat diet induction. Data collection included body weight, chemical indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism, liver function, and the expression levels of musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene family B (MAFB), FXR, and related genes induced by sleeve gastrectomy. Chang liver cells overexpressing MAFB gene were established to confirm the expression of related genes. The binding and activation of FXR gene by MAFB were tested by Chip and luciferase reporter gene assays. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy induced significant weight loss and decreased blood glucose and lipids in diabetic rat livers, as well as decreased lipid deposition and recovered lipid function. The expression of MAFB, FXR, and FXR-regulated genes in diabetic rat livers were also restored by sleeve gastrectomy. Overexpression of MAFB in Chang liver cells led to FXR gene expression activation and the alteration of multiple FXR-regulated genes. Chip assay showed that MAFB could directly bind with FXR promoter, and the activation of FXR expression was confirmed by luciferase reporter gene analysis. The therapeutic effect of sleeve gastrectomy for overweight or obese patients with diabetes mellitus was mediated by activation of FXR expression through the binding of MAFB transcription factor.

The effect of bisacodyl on the treatment of rats with slow transit constipation (STC) was studied. Forty-five female Wister rats were divided into control group, STC group, and STC bisacodyl group. The immunohistochemical method was used to determine interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and the expression of c-Kit protein. Body mass and the number of defecations were significantly decreased in the STC group compared with the control group on the 100th day after diphenoxylate administration, while dry weight of feces was significantly increased and the intestinal transit time was prolonged. There were significant differences in the number of defecations, dry weight of feces, and intestinal transit time among the three groups. The number of defecations was higher, dry weight of feces was lower, and intestinal transit time was shorter in the STC bisacodyl group compared to the STC group. In addition, ICC basement membrane dissolution occurred in the colon wall of the STC group. The connection between ICC and surrounding cells was destroyed, and the nucleus shrunken to different degrees. Moreover, c-Kit expression in the STC group was significantly lower than the control group. The connection between ICC and surrounding cells in the STC bisacodyl group was significantly stronger than the STC group, and the number of ICC and the expression of c-Kit were increased. Bisacodyl could reduce the severity of STC in rats by increasing the number of ICC and the expression of c-Kit.

Abstract This paper is concerned with the nonlinear free vibration of a heated micro/nano beam modeled after the nonlocal continuum elasticity theory and Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The governing partial differential equations are derived from the Hamilton variational principle and von Kármán geometric nonlinearity, in which the effects of the nonlocality and ambient temperature are inclusive. These equations are converted into ordinary forms by employing the Kantorovich method. The solutions of nonlinear free vibration are then sought through the use of shooting method in spatial domain. Numerical results show that the proposed treatment provides excellent accuracy and convergence characteristics. The influences of the aspect ratio, nonlocal parameter and temperature rise parameter on the dimensionless radian frequency are carefully investigated. It is concluded that the nonlocal and temperature rise parameters lead to reductions of the nonlinear vibration frequency, while the influence of the nonlocal effect decreases with an increase in the aspect ratio.