Abstract The higher acidity in fruits compared with grapes was one of the main obstacles to producing high-quality fruit wines. In the present research, the effect of the split batch fermentation pattern on the metabolites of greengage wines was investigated. This fermentation pattern included whole fruit immersion in the sucrose and coculturing Saccharomyces bayanus Y4 with Torulaspora delbrueckii Y7. These results showed that the contents of total acidity and dominant organic acids were significantly reduced among the batches. Aliphatic compounds were decreased with the batches, while aromatic compounds that contributed to flavor improvement were increased oppositely. The acetate esters, ketones, and terpenes contents were significantly increased in the first batch of coculture. In addition, acidic stress largely affected the kinetics characteristics of greengage wine on a pilot scale. Interestingly, the increment of total acidity was closely associated with the rate of total sugar consumption, which was affected by microbial activities. The acidity content was significantly declined and distinct flavour profiles were formed in split batch and coculture fermentation of greengage wines. It provides a new avenue to enhance the flavor and quality of fruit wines. highquality high research investigated Y Y7 batches oppositely esters ketones addition scale Interestingly consumption activities

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the suboptimal health status or subhealth status and their relationship with mental health and smartphone addiction among Chinese medical students. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Wannan Medical College of China in Wuhu. RESULTS: A total of 2,741 students were surveyed in October 2020. Of 2,741 Chinese medical students who completed the survey, 904 (33%) participants reported to have had subhealth status. Anxiety status (p<0.001), depression status (p<0.001), and smartphone addiction status (p<0.001) have strong association with subhealth status. CONCLUSION: This survey shows that the detection rate of subhealth status in Chinese medical students was 33%. Anxiety, depression, and smartphone addiction students had a higher detection rate of subhealth status. The anxiety, depression, and smartphone addiction of Chinese medical students are associated with subhealth status.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the attitudes of Chinese residents toward COVID-19 vaccines and explore the potential drivers for Chinese residents' vaccine hesitancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 16 to March 16, 2021, by administering an online questionnaire to the Chinese residents. RESULTS: Of 5240 residents who completed the survey, 464 (8.9%) participants reported to have had one shot, and 348 (6.6%) reported to have had 2 shots. At the time the questionnaire was administered, 2298 (43.9%) participants reported they wanted to get vaccinated, while 2255 (43.0%) declared that they still did not know, and 687 (13.1%) respondents declared vaccine refusal. Overall, 2255 (43%) participants were categorized as vaccine hesitancy. Female participants (p=0.000), <20 years old (p=0.000), have low risk of COVID-19 (p=0.000) infection and strong associations of vaccine hesitancy. eHealth literacy was a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show high rates of vaccine hesitancy in China. This could pose a serious threat to the preventive measures that aimed at controlling COVID-19 spread in the country. The government and different media platforms should encourage the dissemination of correct information about vaccines, the communities and medical staff to improve residents' knowledge about vaccines, and strive to improve residents' electronic health literacy.

OBJECTIVES: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy and volume-modulated arc therapy have become the main treatments for esophageal carcinoma; however, side effects caused by radiotherapy greatly impact the quality of life in these patients. This study aimed to explore the impact of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels on the prognosis of patients with ESCC undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS: Patients aged between 18 and 80 years with lower-middle ESCC who underwent radiotherapy were eligible for this assessment. Adverse events, responses, treatment outcomes, and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Between 2012 and 2014, 195 patients were enrolled, of which 65 were assigned to the low- and high-SOD groups based on their serum SOD values. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups, except for the T staging. Adverse events in the low-SOD group were significantly higher than those in the high-SOD group (radiation esophagitis, p=0.007; radiation pneumonitis, p=0.032; leukopenia, p=0.023; thrombocytopenia, p=0.037; anemia, p=0.041). There were no significant differences in response, treatment outcomes, or OS. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, high serum SOD activity improved post-radiotherapy quality of life but did not impact the prognosis of patients with ESCC. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report that serum SOD activity is associated with radiation-induced toxicity and moderately increased radiotherapeutic response in patients with ESCC undergoing radiotherapy.

RESUMEN En la subcuenca de Jiyang, rocas madre del Carbonífero tardío y del Pérmico temprano (C-P) han experimentado multifases tectónicas complejas que además tienen una historia de generación de hidrocarburos. Debido a que estas rocas estuvieron sometidas a un enterramiento multifásico y a exhumación, estas se caracterizan por una variedad de profundidades de enterramiento. En este estudio se usó la técnica de modelado de cuenca para analizar la relación entre la historia de enterramiento y la evolución de generación de hidrocarburos. Se reconstruyeron el enterramiento y los registros termal y de desarrollo de las rocas fuente, incluida la generación de hidrocarburos primarios, el estancamiento, el reinicio, y el pico secundario de la generación de hidrocarburos. La fase secundaria de generación de hidrocarburos en esta reconstrucción se caracterizó por la generación discontinua y las diferencias geográficas de desarrollo debido a los efectos acoplados de profundidad y un retraso en la generación de hidrocarburos. De acuerdo con el registro de desarrollo y el efecto de retraso en la segunda fase de generación de hidrocarburos, se concluyo que el umbral de profundidad de esta fase en la subcuenca Jiyang ocurre a 2100 metros durante la época Yanshan (de 205 Ma a 65 Ma) y a 3200 metros durante la época Himalaya (de 65 Ma al presente). Con base en la profundidad, el grosor residual, el desarrollo y la intensidad de generación de hidrocarburos, se identificaron cinco áreas favorables de la segunda fase de generación en la subcuenca Jiyang, que incluye las áreas de Chexi, Gubei-Luojia, y Yangxin, la pendiente al sur de la depresión de Huimin y el suroccidente de la depresión de Dongying. La profundidad máxima VRo/enterramiento (%/km) ocurrió en la época Indosina, mientras que el máximo VRo/tiempo (%/100 Ma) ocurrió en la época del Himalaya, lo que indica que el acoplamiento de controles de temperatura e índice de subsidencia en la evolución del desarrollo juegan un rol significante en la evolución de generación de hidrocarburos. Una mayor temperatura y un mayor índice de subsidencia pueden mejorar la evolución de generación de hidrocarburos.

ABSTRACT In the Jiyang Sub-basin, Carboniferous-Permian (C-P) coal-measure source rocks have experienced complex multi-stage tectonics and therefore have a complex history of hydrocarbon generation. Because these coal measures underwent multi-stage burial and exhumation, they are characterized by various burial depths. In this study, we used the basin modeling technique to analyze the relationship between burial history and hydrocarbon generation evolution. The burial, thermal and maturity histories of C-P coals were reconstructed, including primary hydrocarbon generation, stagnation, re-initiation, and peak secondary hydrocarbon generation. The secondary hydrocarbon generation stage within this reconstruction was characterized by discontinuous generation and geographical differences in maturity due to the coupled effects of depth and a delay of hydrocarbon generation. According to the maturity history and the delay effect on secondary hydrocarbon generation, we concluded that the threshold depth of secondary hydrocarbon generation in the Jiyang Sub-basin occurred at 2,100 m during the Yanshan epoch (from 205 Ma to 65 Ma) and at 3,200 m during the Himalayan period (from 65 Ma to present). Based on depth, residual thickness, maturity, and hydrocarbon-generating intensity, five favorable areas of secondary hydrocarbon generation in the Jiyang Sub-basin were identified, including the Chexi areas, Gubei-Luojia areas, Yangxin areas, the southern slope of the Huimin depression and southwest of the Dongying depression. The maximum VRo/burial depth (%/km) occurred in the Indosinian epoch as the maximum VRo/time (%/100Ma) happened in the Himalayan period, indicating that the coupling controls of temperature and subsidence rate on maturation evolution play a significant role in the hydrocarbon generation evolution. A higher temperature and subsidence rate can both enhance the hydrocarbon generation evolution.

Abstract Background: Circulating RNA (circRNA) regulates various bioactivities in cells. A better understanding of the exosomal circRNA can provide novel insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of Graves' disease (GD). We aimed to profile the differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcRs) in plasma exosomes of patients with GD and speculate and probe the functions of the DEcR by comprehensive bioinformatics analyses. Methods: Serum exosomes were isolated from five primary GD patients and five healthy controls via ultracentrifugation. After verification with transmission electron microscopy, exosome samples were subjected to microarray profiling using human circRNA microarrays. Two up-regulated and two down-regulated DEcRs were selected for validation in plasma exosomes from 20 GD and 20 healthy control participants using reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The circRNA/microRNA/mRNA interaction network was then assembled and the analysis of the Gene Ontology and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways was utilized to predict the potential functions of the DEcR associated genes. Results: There were 15 DEcRs revealed in primary GD cases. The intronic circRNA hsa_circRNA_000102 was confirmed as an up-regulated component in plasma exosomes from patients with GD. The circRNA/microRNA/mRNA interaction network unveiled the most potential targeting microRNAs of hsa_circRNA_000102 and its associated genes. The functional analyses predicted involvement of hsa_circRNA_000102 associated genes in pathways of immune system activation, such as viral infection and interferon-beta signaling. Conclusions: hsa_circRNA_000102 is a differentially up-regulated plasma exosomal circRNA in patients with GD. Our study highlights multiple pathways, particularly virus infection and interferon-beta signaling, for mediating immune activation in Graves' disease.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of 17 platelet-based prognostic scores in patients with malignant hepatic tumors after TACE therapy. Methods: In total, 92 patients were divided into death group and survival group according to long-term follow-up results. The AUC was calculated to determine the optimal cut-off values for predicting prognosis. To determine better prognostic models, platelet-based models were analyzed separately after being showed as binary according to cut-off values. Cumulative survival rates of malignant hepatic tumors were calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves and differences were analyzed by the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify platelet-based prognostic scores associated with overall survival. Results: Univariate analysis showed that APGA, APRI, FIB-4, FibroQ, GUCI, King's score, Lok index, PAPAS, cirrhosis, number of tumors, vascular cancer embolus, AFP, ALP and APTT were significantly related to prognosis. A multivariate analysis showed that the APGA, number of tumors, ALP and APTT were independently associated with overall survival. Conclusion: This study showed that the APGA, a platelet-based prognostic score, was an independent marker of prognosis in patients with malignant hepatic tumors after TACE and was superior to the other platelet-based prognostic scores in terms of prognostic ability.

SUMMARY: The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplemental chromium (Cr) on growth performance, meat quality, intestinal morphology, mucosa Hsp70 mRNA expression and antioxidant status of ducks reared under heat stress conditions. All ducks were randomly divided into three treatment groups, respectively, control group (Control, 23 ± 2 °C), heat stress group (HS, 32 ±2 °C), Cr picolinate group (CrPic, 32 ± 2 °C, 0.2 mg Cr/kg). Feed and distilled-deionized water were available ad libitum for an experimental phase of 35 days. Samples were collected on the day 14, 21 and 35 to determine biological and hematological values. Results showed that heat stress or dietary supplemental Cr both didn’t have distinct influence on growth performance (P>0.05), compared to controls. Ducks fed 0.2 mg Cr/kg diet had greater ultimate pH (pHu)(P<0.05) than HS group. At day 14, the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (V/C) in CrPic group significantly increased (P<0.05) than that of HS group in jejunum. Heat stress remarkably increased Hsp70 mRNA expression in jejunum compared with controls (P<0.05). While the expression of Hsp70 mRNA in CrPic group was significantly decreased compared with HS (P<0.05). At day 21, the V/C of ileum in CrPic group significantly increased compared with HS group (P<0.05). Serum SOD levels in CrPic group were significantly higher than those in HS group (P<0.05). At day 35, Hsp70 mRNA expression and serum T-SOD levels in CrPic group significantly increased compared with controls (P<0.05). T-AOC in HS group significantly decreased compared with controls (P<0.05). Results indicate that dietary Cr supplementation doesn’t influence ducks’ growth performance, but has a positive effect on meat quality, small intestine morphology, also regulates Hsp70 mRNA expression under heat stress conditions, and enhances the antioxidant status.

RESUMEN: Se evaluó los efectos del cromo (Cr) dietético suplementario sobre el rendimiento del crecimiento, la calidad de la carne, la morfología intestinal, la expresión del ARNm Hsp70 en la mucosa y el estado antioxidante de los patos criados bajo condiciones de estrés por calor. Todos los patos se dividieron aleatoriamente en tres grupos: grupo control (control, 23 ± 2 °C), grupo de estrés térmico (HS, 32 ± 2 °C) y grupo de picolinato de Cr (CrPic, 32 ± 2 °C, 0,2 mg Cr / kg). El alimento y el agua desionizada destilada estuvieron disponibles ad libitum durante la fase experimental de 35 días. Las muestras se recogieron los días 14, 21 y 35 para determinar los valores biológicos y hematológicos. Los resultados mostraron que el estrés térmico o la suplementación dietética de Cr no tuvieron una influencia distinta en el rendimiento del crecimiento (P> 0,05), en comparación con los controles. Los patos alimentados con 0,2 mg de Cr / kg de dieta tuvieron un mayor pH final (pHu) (P <0,05) que el grupo HS. En el día 14, la relación de la altura de las vellosidades a la profundidad de la cripta (V / C) en el grupo CrPic aumentó significativamente (P <0,05) en relación a la del grupo de HS en el yeyuno. El estrés por calor incrementó notablemente la expresión del ARNm de Hsp70 en el yeyuno en comparación con los controles (P <0,05). Mientras que la expresión del ARNm de Hsp70 en el grupo CrPic se redujo significativamente en comparación con HS (P <0,05). En el día 21, la relación V / C del íleon en el grupo CrPic aumentó significativamente en comparación con el grupo HS (p <0,05). Los niveles séricos de SOD en el grupo CrPic fueron significativamente más altos que los del grupo HS (P <0,05). En el día 35, la expresión de ARNm de Hsp70 y los niveles séricos de T-SOD en el grupo CrPic aumentaron significativamente en comparación con los controles (P <0,05). T-AOC en el grupo HS disminuyó significativamente en comparación con los controles (P <0,05). Los resultados indican que la suplementación dietética de Cr no influye en el rendimiento de crecimiento de los patos, pero tiene un efecto positivo en la calidad de la carne, en la morfología del intestino delgado, y también regula la expresión de ARNm de Hsp70 en condiciones de estrés calórico y mejora el estado antioxidante.

ABSTRACT Background: Alternative splicing (AS), which plays an important role in gene expression and functional regulation, has been analyzed on genome-scale by various bioinformatic approaches based on RNA-seq data. Compared with the huge number of studies on mouse, the AS researches approaching the rat, whose genome is intermedia between mouse and human, were still limited. To enrich the knowledge on AS events in rodents' brain, we perfomed a comprehensive analysis on four transcriptome libraries (mouse cerebrum, mouse cerebellum, rat cerebrum, and rat cerebellum), recruiting high-throughput sequencing technology. An optimized exon-exon junction library approach was introduced to adapt the longer RNA-seq reads and to improve mapping efficiency. Results: In total, 7,106 mouse genes and 2,734 rat genes were differentially expressed between cerebrum and cerebellum, while 7,125 mouse genes and 1,795 rat genes exhibited varieties on transcript variant level. Only half of the differentially expressed exon-exon junctions could be reflected at gene expression level. Functional cluster analysis showed that 32 pathways in mouse and 9 pathways in rat were significantly enriched, and 6 of them were in both. Interestingly, some differentially expressed transcript variants did not show difference on gene expression level, such as PLCβ1 and Kcnma1. Conclusion: Our work provided a case study of a novel exon-exon junction strategy to analyze the expression of genes and isoforms, helping us understand which transcript contributes to the overall expression and further functional change.

This study investigated the effects of visfatin on the structure and the immunity levels in the small intestine of LPS-induced rats. Forty Wistar male and female SPF rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups: the saline (control), vistfatin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and visfatin+LPS co-stimulated. The functions of visfatin in the intestinal mucosal immunity were investigated by examining the variation of tissue structure, inflammation and immunity-related proteins in the intestine of immunologically stressed rats using HE staining, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. The results showed that, when compared with the control group, the visfatin-treated group showed a decrease in the intestinal villus height and width, and a significant increase in the levels of IL-6 and TNF-ð as well as Immunoglobulin A (IgA) positive cells. Additionally, when compared with the LPS-treated group, the visfatin+LPS co-stimulated group showed a decrease in the villus height and width as well as the levels of IL-6 and TNF-ð, and an increase in IgA levels, implying a shrinking response to LPS injection. All the results suggest that, under normal physiological conditions, visfatin disturbs the body's homeostasis and causes intestinal villus atrophy by increasing IgA expression. While under immune response conditions, LPS acts as an exogenous antigen to promote visfatin against LPS-induced inflammation by decreasing the expression of IgA. Under immune stress conditions, visfatin as an exogenous stimulus promotes the immune response by regulating the protein levels of IL-6, TNF-ð and IgA.

Este estudio investigó los efectos de la visfatina sobre la estructura y los niveles de inmunidad en el intestino delgado de ratas inducidas por lipopolisacáridos (LPS). Cuarenta ratas Wistar se dividieron aleatoriamente e igualmente en cuatro grupos: solución salina (control), vistafin, LPS y visfatina + LPS co-estimuladas. Las funciones de la visfatina en la inmunidad de la mucosa intestinal se investigaron mediante el examen de variación de la estructura del tejido, la inflamación y las proteínas relacionadas con la inmunidad en el intestino de ratas estresadas inmunológicamente; usando tinción HE, ELISA, inmunohistoquímica y Western Blot. Los resultados mostraron que, en comparación con el grupo control, el grupo tratado con visfatina presentó una disminución en la altura y ancho de las vellosidades intestinales, y un aumento significativo en los niveles de IL-6 y TNF-ð, así como inmunoglobulina A (IgA células positivas). Además, al comparar este grupo con el grupo tratado con LPS- el grupo visfatina + LPS co-estimulado mostró una disminución en la altura y ancho de las vellosidades, así como en los niveles de IL-6 y TNF-ð, y un aumento en los niveles de IgA, lo que implica reducción de una respuesta a la inyección LPS. Todos los resultados sugieren que, en condiciones fisiológicas normales, la visfatina perturba la homeostasis del cuerpo y provoca la atrofia de las vellosidades intestinales mediante el aumento de la expresión de IgA. Mientras que bajo condiciones de la respuesta inmune, LPS actúa como un antígeno exógeno para promover visfatina contra la inflamación inducida por LPS por la disminución de la expresión de IgA. En condiciones de estrés inmunológico, la visfatina como estímulo exógeno promueve la respuesta inmune mediante la regulación de los niveles de proteína de IL-6, TNF-ð e IgA.

To evaluate the association of either propylthiouracil or methimazole treatment for hyperthyroidism during pregnancy with congenital malformations, relevant studies were identified by searching Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE. We intended to include randomized controlled trials, but no such trials were identified. Thus, we included cohort studies and case-control studies in this meta-analysis. A total of 7 studies were included in the meta-analyses. The results revealed an increased risk of birth defects among the group of pregnant women with hyperthyroidism treated with methimazole compared with the control group (odds ratio 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.47-2.10) or the non-exposed group (odds ratio 1.71, 95% confidence interval 1.39-2.10). A maternal shift between methimazole and propylthiouracil was associated with an increased odds ratio of birth defects (odds ratio 1.88, 95% confidence interval 1.27-2.77). An equal risk of birth defects was observed between the group of pregnant women with hyperthyroidism treated with propylthiouracil and the non-exposed group (odds ratio 1.18, 95% confidence interval 0.97-1.42). There was only a slight trend towards an increased risk of congenital malformations in infants whose mothers were treated with propylthiouracil compared with in infants whose mothers were healthy controls (odds ratio 1.29, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.55). The children of women receiving methimazole treatment showed an increased risk of adverse fetal outcomes relative to those of mothers receiving propylthiouracil treatment. We found that propylthiouracil was a safer choice for treating pregnant women with hyperthyroidism according to the risk of birth defects but that a shift between methimazole and propylthiouracil failed to provide protection against birth defects.

PURPOSE: To construct a new biomaterial-small intestinal submucosa coated with gelatin hydrogel incorporating basic fibroblast growth factor, and to evaluate the new biomaterials for the reconstruction of abdominal wall defects.METHODS: Thirty six Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the animal experiments and randomly divided into three groups. The new biomaterial was constructed by combining small intestinal submucosa with gelatin hydrogel for basic fibroblast growth factor release. Abdominal wall defects were created in rats, and repaired using the new biomaterials (group B), compared with small intestinal submucosa (group S) and ULTRAPROTM mesh (group P). Six rats in each group were sacrificed at three and eight weeks postoperatively to examine the gross effects, inflammatory responses, collagen deposition and neovascularization.RESULTS: After implantation, mild adhesion was caused in groups B and S. Group B promoted more neovascularization than group S at three weeks after implantation, and induced significantly more amount of collagen deposition and better collagen organization than groups S and P at eight weeks after implantation.CONCLUSION: Small intestinal submucosa coated with gelatin hydrogel incorporating basic fibroblast growth factor could promote better regeneration and remodeling of host tissues for the reconstruction of abdominal wall defects.

Introduction The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is about 20% in men aged 40 or above. Other than benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), urethral diverticulum or calculus is not uncommon for LUTS in men. Surgical treatment is often recommended for urethral diverticulum or calculus, but treatment for an impacted urethral calculus complicated by a stone-containing diverticulum is challenging. Materials and Methods An 82-year-old man had the persistence of LUTS despite having undergone transurethral resection of prostate for BPH. Regardless of treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics and an α-blocker, LUTS and post-void residual urine volume (100 mL) did not improve although repeated urinalysis showed reduction of WBCs from 100 to 10 per high power field. Further radiology revealed multiple urethral calculi and the stone configuration suggested the existence of a diverticulum. He was successfully treated without resecting the urethral diverticulum; and a new generation of ultrasound lithotripsy (EMS, Nyon, Switzerland) through a 22F offset rigid Storz nephroscope (Karl Storz, Tuttingen, Germany) was used to fragment the stones. Results The operative time was 30 minutes and the stones were cleanly removed. The patient was discharged after 48 hours with no immediate complications and free of LUTS during a 2 years follow-up. Conclusions When the diverticulum is the result of a dilatation behind a calculus, removal of the calculus is all that is necessary. Compared with open surgery, ultrasound lithotripsy is less invasive with little harm to urethral mucosa; and more efficient as it absorbs stone fragments while crushing stones.