Abstract Introduction: Propofol is a widely used anesthetic and its dose is closely related to aging. Telomere length (TL) is a unique heritable trait, and emerging as a biomarker of aging, health and disease. Telomerase RNA component (TERC) plays an important role in maintaining TL. We proposed a hypothesis that propofol dose in general anesthesia can be predicted by measuring TL before operation, which greatly reduced the risk of anesthesia, especially the elderly. Methods: The association between the propofol dose in anesthesia induction and: TL in the DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes; body weight; sex; difference of the Bispectral Index (BIS) before and after anesthesia induction in patients was evaluated by multivariable linear regression analyses. The mutation at the 5’end or 3’end of TERC was detected. We recruited 100 patients of elective surgery. Results: We found that propofol dose in anesthesia induction was clearly correlated significantly with TL (r = 0.78, p < 0.001), body weight (r = 0.84, p = 0.004), sex (r = 0.83, p= 0.84, p = 0.004), sex (r = 0.83, p = 0.004), and difference of BIS before and after anesthesia induction (r = 0.85, p = 0.029). By comparing the absolute values of standardized regression coefficients (0.58, 0.21, 0.19, and 0.12) of the four variables, it can be seen that TL contributes the most to the propofol dose in anesthesia induction. However, the mutation at the 5’ end or 3’ end of TERC was not found. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence that the propofol dose in anesthesia induction was clearly correlated with genetically determined TL. TL may be a promising predictor of the propofol dose, which is beneficial to improve the safety of anesthesia and reduce perioperative complications.

Abstract Aiming to provide a new way that preserves more active components in Eucommia ulmoides (EU) leaves, this paper utilizes 4 methods, i.e., microwave, steam, air heating, and frying, to process EU leaves before drying, and their respective effects on the leaves were evaluated. The antioxidant activity of EU leaves in vitro was measured by the DPPH free radical method; the contents of total flavonoids (TFC) and total phenols (TPC) were analyzed by spectrophotometry; and the contents of main active components were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed the pre-process improved the quality of the EU leaves. As a simple and fast process, the microwave process is the most effective technique in the retention of flavonoids and four active ingredients except aucubin. High power (800 W) and short time (2.5 min) are more conducive to the retention of active ingredients, with high antioxidant activity. Appropriate steam and frying processes also exhibited benefits for the active components. In particular, the samples treated with steam for 10 minutes showed great potential for industrial application with the highest antioxidant activity and polyphenol content. Therefore, proper pre-processing before drying should be conducted to effectively protect the active components of EU leaves.

Abstract Objectives Traumatic hemorrhagic shock is a major death-related factor contributing to mortality in emergencies and can be effectively handled by the Limited Fluid Resuscitation (LFR) method. In the current investigation, the authors analyzed the influence of different administrating blood pressure on the treatment outcomes of LFR. Methods 276 participants were enrolled in the current study retrospectively from January 2016 to December 2021 and were divided into three groups based on the administrating blood pressure of LFR. The difference among the three groups regarding serum levels of cytokines as well as blood hemodynamics parameters was analyzed. Results The results showed after the T2 stage treatment, cytokine levels in the three groups were all significantly influenced by different LFR strategies with medium MAP showing the strongest effects on the expression of all cytokine genes. Moreover, the MAP value was in positive correlation with IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α levels, but showed no clear relation with IL-4 level in all three groups. Regarding the effects on hemodynamics parameters, the levels of CVP, CO, and CI were slightly increased by the different LFR administrating strategies, and the effect of medium and high MAP was statistically stronger than that of low MAP. Conclusion The present results showed that LFR would influence serum inflammatory levels by improving blood hemodynamics parameters. Medium MAP showed the strongest improving effects with the least side effects, which can be employed as the optimal administrating strategy for LFR in the future.

SUMMARY A 71-year-old woman with recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was referred to our hospital. A computed tomography scan revealed extensive recurrence in the neck, invading sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein, sternal end of the clavicle, strap muscle and skin; and lateral compartment and subclavian lymph nodes were also involved. Multiple pulmonary micrometastases also noticed. The tumor was considered unresectable; however, the patient was unwilling to accept highly invasive surgery. Therefore, we initiated neoadjuvant therapy with anlotinib, 12mg p.o. daily with a 2-week on/1-week off regimen. The tumor shrunk to resectable state after 4 cycles of treatment, and after 3 weeks of withdrawal, successful surgical resection without gross tumor residual was performed. Pathology confirmed as classic PTC harboring coexistent TERT promoter and BRAFV600E mutations by NGS. After anlotinib therapy, apoptosis induction was observed, and proliferation increased, which was due to three weeks of anlotinib withdraw. Structual recurrence was recorded at 6 months after operation due to no further treatment was taken. Our finding suggests that anlotinib could represent as a good treatment option for patients with locally advanced (with or without distant metastasis) PTC; Anlotinib treatment resulted in sufficient reduction of the tumor mass to enable total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine treatment, providing long-term control of the disease.

Abstract The surfactant-polymer-based (S/P) fracturing fluid combines the advantages of the surfactant-based and polymer-based fracturing fluids. In this study, the synergistic tackifying of cationic surfactants and carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and the potential application in hydraulic fracturing fluid was investigated. Firstly, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and salicylic acid (SA) with a weight ratio of 4:1 were optimized as the main agent of the small molecule surfactant gel, which was then mixed with carboxymethyl 2-hydroxyethyl ether cellulose (CMHEC) and salicylic acid (SA) to obtain the S/P gel. The proppant suspension performance, gel-breaking properties, salt-resistance and thermal stability of the optimized S/P were evaluated to confirm their potential application in the hydraulic fracturing fluid. These results showed that the performance of the S/P fracturing fluid system was much better than the performance of the surfactant fracturing fluid and also the performance of polymer fracturing fluid.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the correlation between different body components and bone mineral density in healthy adults. METHODS: A total of 306 non-manual subjects, 161 males and 145 females, were selected from the physical examination center of our hospital from June to September 2019. They were divided into control group, overweight group, and obese group according to body mass index. The muscle mass and fat mass, body fat content, trunk fat mass, upper limb and thigh fat mass, bone density of femoral neck and lumbar vertebra, and bone mineral salt content of the whole body were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, femoral neck bone mineral density, bone mineral salt content, fat mass, muscle mass, upper limb fat mass, thigh fat mass, and trunk fat mass in the overweight group and obese group were all higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The fat mass, muscle mass, upper limb fat mass, and trunk fat mass were positively correlated with the femoral neck bone mineral density, total lumbar vertebra bone mineral density, and bone mineral salt content (P<0.05). In addition, thigh fat mass was positively correlated with femoral neck bone mineral density and total lumbar spine bone mineral density, whereas body fat content was negatively correlated with bone mineral salt content. CONCLUSION: Body composition was related to bone mineral density and bone mineral salt content, and the correlation between different body composition indexes, and bone mineral density, and bone mineral salt content was different.

Abstract Samples of fine structured Cu were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) of compacts of Cu nanopowder/micron-sized powder blend with a ratio of 3:7 by weight, and one of the SPSed samples was further processed by hot extrusion. The microstructures of the as-SPSed and the as-extruded samples and the tensile properties and fracture behavior of the as-extruded sample were studied. It was found that the microstructures of the samples consist of a concoction of ultrafine and coarse grains with high dislocation densities ( ~1015 m-2) as a result of microstructural evolution during material processing. Some nanograins were oxidized to form Cu2O particles residing around the coarse grains. Extrusion of the SPSed sample increases its microhardness from 70 HV to 90 HV. The electrical conductivity of the as-extruded sample reaches 87% international annealed copper standard (IACS), and its tensile properties are 200 MPa for yield strength, 218 MPa for ultimate tensile strength and 9% for elongation to fracture. The tensile test specimens from the as-extruded sample exhibit nearly ideal plastic deformation and undergo ductile fracture, suggesting that the fine-grained copper is a highly desirable material for high strength electrical conductors.

Abstract To study the long-term clinical efficacy of protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc with percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD). A statistics was conducted on 108 patients who had been treated with percutaneous laser disc decompression, the intervertebral height of related lesion spaces of patients in different time points after treatment and the intervertebral height ratio was calculated respectively; moreover, a statistics was conducted on VAS evaluation of patients in different time points, and the long-term efficacy after treatment with percutaneous laser disc decompression was evaluated with statistical method. The patients with follow-up period after operation respectively up to 5, 8 and 10 years and those in 3 years after operation were analyzed statistically in intervertebral height ratio and VAS scoring, and the difference was without significant statistical significance. Single-factor was analyzed to the factors likely to influence the effect of operation to get the authenticity of influence of age, disease duration and disease stage on the postoperative efficacy. Percutaneous laser disc decompression was featured by safety, efficacy and fewer complications in treatment of protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc, and also it had no obvious influence on the spinal stability, and long-term postoperative efficacy was stable.

Abstract Tongluo-Qutong rubber plaster (TQRP), a typical Chinese patent medicine that contains 13 different herbal remedies, is widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of cervical spondylosis and osteoarthritis. However, due to a lack of in vitro transdermal studies, the active ingredients of TQRP have not been fully elucidated. This presents a huge obstacle for quality evaluation, pharmacokinetic studies and clinical safety assessment of TQRP. In this work, a UPLC/UV/MS/MS method was established and validated to evaluate five analytes in TQRP. The validation demonstrated linearity (r > 0.99), specificity (no co-eluting peaks at the retention times of the analytes), and precision (RSD < 15%) within acceptable parameters. A skin permeation study was performed to determine the concentrations of drugs delivered to the dermis. The 24-hour cumulative permeation of ferulic acid, aleo-emodin, emodin and piperine were 303.68, 709.31, 671.06 and 25561.01 ng/cm2, respectively. According to the fitting data of the TQRP active components, skin permeation was mainly due to a combination of passive diffusion and drug release after matrix erosion.

Abstract Shewanella and Pseudomonas are considered to be the main spoilage bacteria for chilled fish. This work focused on the spoilage and adhesion ability of two spoilage bacteria (Shewanella spp. S-1 and Pseudomonas spp. P-1), and the adhesion inhibitory effects of Bacillus subtilis against the spoilage bacteria in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea). We aimed to develop a feasible solution to prolong the shelf life of large yellow croaker. The spoilage and adhesion characteristics of Shewanella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. strains were compared. It was found that Shewanella spp. induced more significant spoilage of large yellow croaker than Pseudomonas spp. at low temperature in vitro. In addition, Shewanella spp. demonstrated stronger adhesion to the intestinal mucus than Pseudomonas spp. in vitro. The results of a one-week feeding experiment showed that Shewanella was more likely to adhere to large yellow croaker intestines than Pseudomonas. The supplementation of B. subtilis strain BS08 effectively inhibited the proliferation of Shewanella and slowed the spoilage process of large yellow croaker.

Abstract In this paper, the ultra-high drop hammer impact test system is adopted for the vertical impact experiment on six SFSRCBs with steel fiber volume fraction of 2.0% and build the relevant numerical model. The research variables mainly include impact energy, impact mass and cumulative impact mode. The results show that, under a single equal energy impact, with the increase of the impact speed, the crack distribution of the specimen gradually tends to the mid-span local position. Compared with the impact mass, the impact speed has a greater effect on the failure mode, deformation resistance and deformation recovery ability of SFSRCBs. When the total cumulative impact energy is the same as the single impact energy, then the overall damage of the specimen caused by high-mass low-velocity cumulative impact is less significant than that caused by low-mass high-velocity cumulative impact. Combined with the finite element analysis, the calculation formula of the maximum deflection of SFSRCB under impact load is obtained. Finally, the calculation method of the impact damage evaluation factor of SFSRCBs is proposed.

Abstract This article study the influences of fermented wheat germ on rats in terms of the blood glucose, insulin level, serum lipid level, cholesterol metabolism, triglyceride metabolism and enzyme activity on the basis of the high-fat rat model. High fat rats were fed for modeling, and then the serum and liver were collected after sacrifice. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), Superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), Malonic dialdehyde (MDA), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (lecithin cholesterol), Acyltransferase (LCAT), LDL-C, blood glucose and insulin were measured. Fermented wheat germ can significantly increase the levels of insulin and blood glucose in high-fat rats. Fermented wheat germ for 60 days did not affect the levels of serum LDL-C and TG in high-fat rats, but could significantly reduce the level of serum TC. Fermented wheat germ for 60 days did not affect the activities of serum GSH-Px, T-SOD, LCAT and T-SOD, MDA and total lipase in high-fat rats, but it could significantly reduce the activity of serum MDA and increase the activity of GSH-PX in liver. Fermented wheat germ could reduce the protein expression of CYP7A1, induced p-AMPK protein expression, but had no effect on HMGR. Fermented wheat germ can significantly reduce the level of serum cholesterol in high-fat model rats by AMPK signaling pathway, and affect some cholesterol metabolism and triglyceride metabolism related enzyme activities to a certain extent.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are naturally released membrane vesicles that act as carriers of proteins and RNAs for intercellular communication. With various biomolecules and specific ligands, EV has represented a novel form of information transfer, which possesses extremely outstanding efficiency and specificity compared to the classical signal transduction. In addition, EV has extended the concept of signal transduction to intercellular aspect by working as the collection of extracellular information. Therefore, the functions of EVs have been extensively characterized and EVs exhibit an exciting prospect for clinical applications. However, the biogenesis of EVs and, in particular, the regulation of this process by extracellular signals, which are essential to conduct further studies and support optimal utility, remain unclear. Here, we review the current understanding of the biogenesis of EVs, focus on the regulation of this process by extracellular signals and discuss their therapeutic value.

Abstract The mushroom tyrosinase assay, B16-F10 mouse melanoma cell model, and zebrafish model are frequently used for high-throughput screening and are widely used for developing anti-hyperpigmentation compounds, although these systems cannot be compared. We used each of these three systems to evaluate the seven anti-hyperpigmentation compounds. We investigated 1. tyrosinase activity using a mushroom tyrosinase assay, 2. viability, tyrosinase activity, and melanin content in B16-F10 cells, and 3. embryonic toxicity, tyrosinase activity, and melanin content in zebrafish. α-Arbutin, raspberry ketone (RK), raspberry ketone glucoside (RKG), glabridin (GLA), and 3-o-ethyl-ascorbic (EA), inhibited the activity of mushroom tyrosinase; dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (DG) did not inhibit mushroom tyrosinase activity, and glycyrrhetic acid (GA) promoted tyrosinase activity. Tyrosinase activity was inhibited by α-arbutin, GLA, GA and DG in B16-F10 cells; RK, RKG and EA did not inhibit tyrosinase activity. α-Arbutin, RK, RKG, EA, and GA, inhibited tyrosinase activity in zebrafish; GLA and DG did not inhibit tyrosinase activity. α-arbutin, RK, RKG, EA, GLA, and DG reduced melanin synthesis in B16-F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner without significant toxicity; GA did not inhibit melanin synthesis. α-arbutin, RK, RKG and GA significantly reduced melanin content on the zebrafish body surface. Mushroom tyrosinase analysis was the most practical assay among the three systems but had poor reliability. The B16-F10 mouse melanoma cell system was the most sensitive but had the worst stability. The zebrafish system had better reproducibility than other systems; however, most compounds were difficult to screen in this system.

Abstract Drug resistance is a crucial obstacle to achieve satisfactory chemotherapeutic effects. Numerous studies have shown that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway plays a significant role in various processes of cellular events and tumor progression, while few studies have focused on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in drug resistance of endothelial cells. The present study aims to explore the relationship of PI3K/Akt signaling and cellular resistance to anticancer drugs in human microvessel endothelial cells (HMEC-1). We established stable sunitinib-resiatant human microvessel endothelial cells (HMEC-su) after long-term exposure to sunitinib (a small-molecule tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor) for 12 months. HMEC-su showed significant alternations of cell morphology and exhibited a 2.32-fold higher IC50 of sunitinib than parental HMEC-1 cells. Expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer-resistance protein (ABCG2) which mediates drug efflux, increased significantly in HMEC-su lines compared with HMEC-1 cells by western blots assay. Our study further demonstrates that LY294002 (blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway) enhances the sensibility of HMEC-su to suntinib and inhibits the gene transcription and protein expression of P-gp, ABCG2 in HMEC-su cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that LY294002 could reverse P-gp and ABCG2 mediated-drug resistance to sunitinib in HMEC-su cells by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling.