Abstract Objective Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species are increasingly being isolated and have become a key factor affecting public health by causing pulmonary diseases. Most NTM species do not respond to conventional tuberculosis (TB) drugs. This study aimed to identify NTM isolated from suspected pulmonary TB patients from the Zhejiang province and analyze their distribution in the region. Methods A total of 1,113 NTM isolates from patients suspected to be suffering from acid-fast bacilli-positive tuberculosis were identified at the species level, using the CapitalBio Mycobacterium identification array and polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of 16S-23S gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 16S rRNA, and hsp65. Results Of the 23,138 isolates, we identified 1,102 NTM (4.8%), mainly including Mycobacterium intracellulare (54.81%, 604/1,102), M. chelonae-M. abscessus (16.52%, 182/1,102), M. avium (13.16%, 145/1,102), M. kansasii (8.17%, 90/1,102), and M. gordonae (3.27%, 36/1,102). Conclusion The distribution of NTM species observed in patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis provides guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of NTM pulmonary diseases.

Abstract 4-Coumaric acid: coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is a key enzyme in the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway that regulates the biosynthesis of lignin and flavonoids. Therefore, the study of 4CL is important to explore the accumulation and regulation of metabolites. This study investigated the role that the 4CL2 gene from Dryopteris fragrans (Df4CL2) plays in the metabolite synthesis. Changes in gene expression, enzyme activity, and the content of lignin and flavonoids were measured in different tissues of tobacco as model plant that was successfully transferred with Df4CL2. Tobacco plants with Df4CL2 (transgenic tobacco, TT) were successfully obtained via the Agrobacterium-transformation method. This TT tended to be thicker and had an earlier flowering period than wild type tobacco (WT). The expression levels of Df4CL2 were higher in the stem, leaf, and root in TT compared to WT. In addition, compared to WT, TT had higher 4CL enzyme activity and higher lignin and flavonoids contents. This suggests that Df4CL2 is involved in the synthesis of lignin and flavonoids in D. fragrans. This research provides important evidence toward understanding the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway in ferns.

Abstract Rabbit with hypercholesterolaemia is an important model for studying cholesterol metabolism disease. This study aimed to evaluate the expression stability of nine reference genes for quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis in adrenal gland, liver, spleen, and kidney tissue from rabbits with hypercholesterolaemia. In total, 30 male Harbin Large White (HLW) rabbits were fed a normal feed (n = 15) or a high cholesterol feed (n = 15) for 8 weeks to induce hypercholesterolaemia. Nine reference genes were verified by qPCR using cDNA extracted from rabbit tissue samples. For qPCR analysis, reference genes were evaluated using the RefFinder and GeNorm algorithms. Overall, seven rabbits with hypercholesterolaemia were identified based on body weight and total cholesterol measurements. Combining the results of the RefFinder and GeNorm algorithms, the most stable reference genes were hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 (Hprt1) and eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 1 (Eef1a1) in the adrenal gland, β-2-microglobulin (B2m) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapdh) in the liver, tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta (Ywhaz) and Gapdh in the spleen, and peptidylprolyl isomerase (Ppia), β-actin (Actb), succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A flavoprotein (Sdha), and B2m in the kidney. Taken together, our results confirmed that Hprt1 and Eef1a1, B2m and Gapdh, Ywhaz and Gapdh, and Ppia, Actb, Sdha, and B2m were the best reference genes for qPCR analyses in adrenal gland, liver, spleen, and kidney tissue, respectively, of rabbits with hypercholesterolaemia.

The corridor area of Gansu Province is one of the most important wine grape growing regions in China, and this strip of land results in a significant difference in terms of terroir between its regions. Chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of the main wine grape varieties (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivated in the corridor area of Gansu Province in northwest China were compared. Three regions (Zhangye, Wuwei, and Jiayuguan) were selected to explain the influence of soil and climate conditions on the quality of wine grapes. This study aims to investigate the effect of different regions on berry composition and antioxidant capacity, providing a general evaluation of red and white wine grapes quality in the corridor area of China. The results showed that ‘Merlot’ grapes grown in Zhangye had the best quality among the different varieties in the three regions of Gansu evaluated. The moderate temperature and nitrogen deficiency were associated with improved fruit quality. It was identified that the most suitable grape variety from Zhangye is ‘Merlot’, and that ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Italian Resling’ are the most suitable varieties from Wuwei and Jiayuguan, respectively.

In this study we focused on the development of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and investigated changes in the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) in different tissues. We sampled grape skin at four, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks after anthesis; developing flowers when blooming at 0%, 5%, 50%, and 90%; and leaves at two and four weeks before anthesis and at two, four, six, eight, nine, and 10 weeks after anthesis. We also examined the type and fluctuation of volatile contents. ADH activity increased with the development of flowers and grape skins, which led to the increasing of types and concentration of alcohols. Low levels of 9-HPL led to low concentrations of C9 compounds. According to this paper, C6 compounds became abundant with the development of grape berries, while the activity of 13-HPL kept at a low level in the flowers and grape skins. There might have been a high level of 13-HPL activity from the end of flowering until fruit setting that we did not detect. Furthermore, similar C6 and C5 compounds were detected across all tissues, including hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-2-penten-1-ol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol and 3-hexen-1-ol. Generally speaking, the concentrations of C6 and C5 compounds could be used as the criterion of maturation of the three grape tissues.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of hepatitis B virus with A1762T/G1764A double mutation in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and create a sensitive, fast, accurate assay for detection of A1762T/G1764A double mutation.METHODS: We developed an accurate and fast real-time amplification refractory mutation system to detect A1762T/G1764A double mutation. Cloned hepatitis B virus genome was used as a control. Assay sensitivity was determined by serial dilution and mixed template experiments. Specificity was determined by cross experiments with wild and mutant hepatitis B virus. Fifty clinical samples were tested by the real-time amplification refractory mutation system and the results were compared with sequencing.RESULTS: The real-time amplification refractory mutation system had a sensitivity of 100 copies of virus with these mutations, and 0.1% weak population virus with double mutation could be found in mixtures. A total of 50 randomly collected clinical samples were detected by real-time amplification refractory mutation system, and the results were consistent with those by DNA sequencing. Hepatitis B virus genotype C was more prevalent in 39 of 50 samples than genotype B (11 samples), and about 75% of genotype C carried a double mutation compared to 45% of genotype B. However, the percentage of A1762T/G1764A double mutation in hepatitis B e antigen-negative (58.3%) samples was almost the same as in hepatitis B e antigen-positive (61%) samples.CONCLUSION: The real-time amplification refractory mutation system is sensitive and specific for detection of hepatitis B virus double mutation.

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study was designed to utilize stroke volume variation and cardiac index to ensure fluid optimization during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomies. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy were randomized into either a goal-directed therapy group or a control group. In the goal-directed therapy group, the stroke volume variation was controlled at 10%±1%, and the cardiac index was controlled at a minimum of 2.5 L.min-1.m-2. In the control group, the MAP was maintained at between 65 mm Hg and 90 mm Hg, heart rate was maintained at between 60 BPM and 100 BPM, and urinary output was greater than 0.5 mL/kg-1/h-1. The hemodynamic variables, arterial blood gas analyses, total administered fluid volume and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: The PaO2/FiO2-ratio before the end of one-lung ventilation in the goal-directed therapy group was significantly higher than that of the control group, but there were no differences between the goal-directed therapy group and the control group for the PaO2/FiO2-ratio or other arterial blood gas analysis indices prior to anesthesia. The extubation time was significantly earlier in the goal-directed therapy group, but there was no difference in the length of hospital stay. Patients in the control group had greater urine volumes, and they were given greater colloid and overall fluid volumes. Nausea and vomiting were significantly reduced in the goal-directed therapy group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that an optimization protocol, based on stroke volume variation and cardiac index obtained with a FloTrac/Vigileo device, increased the PaO2/FiO2-ratio and reduced the overall fluid volume, intubation time and postoperative complications (nausea and vomiting) in thoracic surgery patients requiring one-lung ventilation.

Reaction of [MoO2(acac)2] (where acac = acetylacetonate) with two similar hydrazone ligands in methanol yielded two water coordinated mononuclear molybdenum(VI) oxo complexes with general formula [MoO2L(OH2)], where L = L¹ = N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-2-methoxybenzohydrazide (H2L¹), and L = L² = N'-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-methoxybenzohydrazide (H2L²). Crystal and molecular structures of the complexes were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction method. All of the investigated compounds were further characterized by elemental analysis and FT-IR spectra. Single crystal X-ray structural studies indicate that the hydrazone ligands coordinate to the MoO2 cores through enolate oxygen, phenolate oxygen and azomethine nitrogen. The Mo atoms in both complexes are in octahedral coordination.