The low-temperature electrochemical corrosion behavior of aircraft 2024 aluminum alloy was investigated in different concentrations of potassium-acetate-type fluid, and the results showed that the corrosion medium initially impacted some corrosiveness on the 2024 aluminum alloy. However, the corrosion rate of the alloy decreased with prolonged immersion in the corrosion medium, and this was attributed to the protective effect of the corrosion products layer, which impeded the attack by the aggressive solution. Time-domain analysis of electrochemical noise measurements at -5 °C revealed the occurrence of uniform corrosion on the alloy at the initial stages of immersion, general corrosion at the middle stages of immersion, and a pitting-dominated corrosion type from the middle to late stages of immersion.

This study evaluated the effects of perioperative nutrition management by a multidisciplinary team on nutrition and postoperative complications of patients with esophageal cancer. A total of 239 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy and gastric conduit reconstruction for esophageal or esophagogastric junction cancer between February 2019 and February 2020 were included in the study. They were divided into the experimental group (120 patients) and the control group (119 patients) using the random number table method. Control group patients received routine diet management and experimental group patients received perioperative nutrition management by a multidisciplinary team. The differences of nutriture and postoperative complications between the two groups were compared. At 3 and 7 days after surgery, the experimental group patients had higher total protein and albumin levels (P<0.05), shorter postoperative anal exhaust time (P<0.05), lower incidence of postoperative gastrointestinal adverse reactions, pneumonia, anastomotic fistula, hypoproteinemia (P<0.05), and lower hospitalization costs (P<0.05) than the control group. Nutrition management by a multidisciplinary team effectively improved the nutriture of patients, promoted the rapid recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function, reduced postoperative complications, and reduced hospitalization costs.

Resumo Fundamento: A disfunção hepática é uma variável postulada de prognóstico desfavorável na cardiomiopatia dilatada (CMD). Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o valor prognóstico do escore albumina-bilirrubina (ALBI), um modelo relativamente novo para a avaliação da função hepática, em pacientes com CMD idiopática. Métodos: Um total de 1.025 pacientes com CMD idiopática foram incluídos retrospectivamente e divididos em três grupos com base nos escores de ALBI: grau 1 (≤ −2,60, n = 113), grau 2 (−2,60 a −1,39, n = 835) e grau 3 (> −1,39, n = 77). Foi analisada a associação do escore ALBI com eventos clínicos adversos maiores (ECAM) intra-hospitalares e mortalidade a longo prazo. Valor de p inferior a 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: A taxa de ECAM intra-hospitalares foi significativamente maior nos pacientes com grau 3 (2,7% versus 7,1% versus 24,7%, p < 0,001). A análise multivariada mostrou que o escore ALBI foi um preditor independente para ECAM intra-hospitalares (odds ratio ajustada = 2,80, IC 95%: 1,63 – 4,80, p < 0,001). Após seguimento mediano de 27 meses, 146 (14,2%) pacientes morreram. A curva de Kaplan-Meier indicou que a taxa cumulativa de sobrevida a longo prazo foi significativamente menor em pacientes com grau mais alto de ALBI (log-rank = 45,50, p < 0,001). O escore ALBI foi independentemente associado à mortalidade a longo prazo (hazard ratio ajustada = 2,84, IC 95%: 1,95 – 4,13, p < 0,001). Conclusão: O escore ALBI, como modelo de risco simples, pode ser considerado uma ferramenta de estratificação de risco para pacientes com CMD idiopática.

Abstract Background: Liver dysfunction is a postulated variable for poor prognosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, a relatively new model for evaluating liver function, in patients with idiopathic DCM. Methods: A total of 1025 patients with idiopathic DCM were retrospectively included and divided into three groups based on ALBI scores: grade 1 (≤ −2.60, n = 113), grade 2 (−2.60 to −1.39, n = 835), and grade 3 (> −1.39, n = 77). The association of ALBI score with in-hospital major adverse clinical events (MACEs) and long-term mortality was analyzed. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The in-hospital MACEs rate was significantly higher in the grade 3 patients (2.7% versus 7.1% versus 24.7%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ALBI score was an independent predictor for in-hospital MACEs (adjusted odds ratio = 2.80, 95%CI: 1.63 – 4.80, p < 0.001). After a median 27-month follow-up, 146 (14.2%) patients died. The Kaplan–Meier curve indicated that the cumulative rate of long-term survival was significantly lower in patients with higher ALBI grade (log-rank = 45.50, p < 0.001). ALBI score was independently associated with long-term mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.84, 95%CI: 1.95 – 4.13, p < 0.001). Conclusion: ALBI score as a simple risk model could be considered a risk-stratifying tool for patients with idiopathic DCM.

Abstract The present study is to explore the interventional effects and potential mechanisms of Maslinic acid on heart damage in obesity hypertension. The rats were given SHR high-fat diet for 16 weeks. WGA staining and Masson staining were applied to detect heart structure and heart fibrosis degree. WB method was used to detect the expressions of ANP, BNP, P-MHC, TGF-β1, CTGF, Collagen I, Collagen III, Fibronectin and other proteins in SHR heart tissue. ELISA method was used to detect serum TNF-α, IL-6, and PAI-1 content. IF method was employed to detect the expression of Nrf2 in heart tissue. Maslinic acid can significantly improve the morphology of the heart tissue, reduce the hypertrophy and swelling of cardiomyocytes, inhibit the deposition of collagen fibers, and significantly inhibit the expressions of ANP, BNP, MYH7, CTGF, TGFpl, Fibronectin, CollagenI and CollagenIII proteins in the heart tissue. Maslinic acid can effectively inhibit TNF-a, IL-6 and PAI-1 expression, reduce heart inflammation, and significantly elevate Nrf2 level in heart tissue. Maslinic acid can significantly improve the heart structure of obese SHR, inhibit myocardial hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, and cardiac inflammation. The underlying mechanism may be related to elevating the expression of Nrf2 protein in the cytoplasm of heart tissue, promoting Nrf2 to enter the nucleus, thereby promoting the expression and activity of mitochondria-function-related proteins. The capabilities to inhibit the expression of hypertrophy-related proteins are also related.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of lemon essential oil and its mixtures with chitosan, calcium chloride, and natamycin on the postharvest storage quality of citrus. The analysis of the physiological and biochemical index changes of citrus stored at 20 ± 2 °C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity for 60 days showed that lemon essential oil and its mixtures could help to maintain nutritional and sensory quality of citrus. In addition, the lemon essential oil and its mixtures increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD). The citrus treated with 1.0% lemon essential oil, 1.0% chitosan, 1.0% calcium chloride, and 0.03% natamycin presented the highest contents of total soluble solids(TSS), titratable acid (TA), and vitamin C (Vc), and the lowest decay rate, weight loss, relative conductivity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and better SOD, CAT, and POD activities, all of which suggested that this mixture had the best effect on keeping citrus fresh. This work could provide a theoretical basis for using a lemon essential oil mixture as a green preservative to improve the storage quality of citrus.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a newly emerged virus that poses a great threat to human health because of high fatality rate. Methods: To develop sensitive and specific sero-diagnostic systems for SFTSV infections, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against recombinant SFTSV nucleocapsid (rSFTSV-N) protein were developed by immunizing BALB/C mice with rSFTSV-N protein and fusing the spleen cells with SP2/0 myeloma cells. Three hybridoma cell lines secreting MAbs against rSFTSV-N were obtained. MAb based IgG sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IgM capture ELISA systems were established by using the newly developed MAbs. One hundred fifteen clinical suspected SFTS patients serum samples were used to evaluate the newly established systems by comparing with the total antibody detecting sandwich ELISA system and indirect ELISA systems. Results: The MAbs based sandwich IgG ELISA was perfectly matched with that of the total antibody sandwich ELISA and the indirect IgG ELISA. IgM capture ELISA results perfectly matched with that of the total antibody sandwich ELISA while detecting eight additional positive samples missed by the indirect IgM ELISA. Conclusions: The MAbs against rSFTSV-N protein offer new tools for SFTSV studies and our newly developed MAb-based IgG and IgM capture ELISA systems would offer safe and useful tools for diagnosis of SFTS virus infections and epidemiological investigations.

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a metabolic disorder of the retina and one of the common problems of Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T-2DM) causing visual loss even at teen ages. In this research article, oxidative stress was the main cause due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation at hyperglycemic state and become as the focus point of this study to describe (DR) complication onset. The present study was conducted to compare three groups: T-2DM with complication, T-2DM without complication and control group. For this purpose, number of the individuals participating in this study were n=110 as subject along with T-2DM patients with complication n=50, T-2DM patients without complication n=50 and rest n=10 are taken as control/ normoglycemic individuals. T-2DM patients with/without complication have TAG level is lower than normoglycemic/ control. An observed value of (HbA1c%) glycosylated or glycated hemoglobin type A1c concentration of T2DM with complication group was highest (9.63%) amongst the examined groups. T-2DM with complication has lowest SOD activity (660.96 U/gHb) but the malondialdehyde (MDA) level was found to be higher (5.96 µmol/L) amongst studied groups. Lowest plasma TAG, and higher plasma MDA level indicate the presence of oxidative stress in T2D with/without complications. SOD activity was decreased due to the protein glycation and the surplus level of lipid detoxification especially found in T-2DM cases. Good glycemic control counteracts the response of Lipid peroxidation usually occurs in hyperglycemic state.

Abstract Total spikelet number per spike (TSS) is one of the key components of grain yield in wheat. Chromosome (chr.) 2D contains numerous genes that control TSS. In this study, we evaluated 138 F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from an F2 population of a synthetic hexaploid wheat line (SHW-L1) and a common wheat cultivar (Chuanmai 32) for TSS in six different environments. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for TSS, we constructed an integrated high-density genetic map of chr. 2D containing two simple sequence repeats, 35 diversity array technology markers, and 143 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We identified three stable QTL for TSS that individually explained 9.7–19.2% of the phenotypic variation and predicted 23 putative candidate genes within the QTL mapping interval. Overall, our results provide insight into the genetic basis of TSS in synthetic hexaploid wheat that may be useful in breeding high-yielding wheat cultivars.

Abstract Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a major abiotic factor affecting grain weight and quality, and is caused by an early break in seed dormancy. Association mapping (AM) is used to detect correlations between phenotypes and genotypes based on linkage disequilibrium (LD) in wheat breeding programs. We evaluated seed dormancy in 80 Chinese wheat founder parents in five environments and performed a genome-wide association study using 6,057 markers, including 93 simple sequence repeat (SSR), 1,472 diversity array technology (DArT), and 4,492 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The general linear model (GLM) and the mixed linear model (MLM) were used in this study, and two significant markers (tPt-7980 and wPt-6457) were identified. Both markers were located on Chromosome 1B, with wPt-6457 having been identified in a previously reported chromosomal position. The significantly associated loci contain essential information for cloning genes related to resistance to PHS and can be used in wheat breeding programs.

Abstract IL-10 expressing regulatory B cells (B10) play a key role in immune system balance by limiting excessive inflammatory responses. Effects of toll-like receptor signaling and co-stimulatory molecules on B10 activity during innate and adaptive immune responses are not fully understood. Objective This study is to determine the effects of P. gingivalis LPS and CpG on B10 cell expansion and IL-10 competency in vitro. Material and Methods Spleen B cells were isolated from C57BL/6J mice with or without formalin-fixed P. gingivalis immunization. B cells were cultured for 48 hours under the following conditions: CD40L, CD40L+LPS, CD40L+CpG, and CD40L+LPS+CpG in the presence or absence of fixed P. gingivalis. Percentages of CD1dhiCD5+ B cells were measured by flow cytometry. IL-10 mRNA expression and secreted IL-10 were measured by real-time quantitative PCR and by ELISA respectively. Results P. gingivalis LPS plus CD40L significantly increased CD1dhiCD5+ B cell percentages and secreted IL-10 levels in both immunized and non-immunized mice B cells in the presence or absence of P. gingivalis, compared with control group. Secreted IL-10 levels were significantly increased in CD40L+LPS treated group compared with CD40L treatment group in the absence of P. gingivalis. CpG plus CD40L significantly decreased CD1dhiCD5+ B cell percentages, but greatly elevated secreted IL-10 levels in immunized and non-immunized mice B cells in the absence of P. gingivalis, compared with CD40L treatment group. Conclusions P. gingivalis LPS and CpG differentially enhance IL-10 secretion and expansion of mouse B10 cells during innate and adaptive immune responses.

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the roles of different Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis)-induced and ligature-induced experimental periodontal bone resorption in mice. Wild-type (WT), TLR2 knockout (KO), TLR4KO, and TLR2&4 KO mice with C57/BL6 background were divided into three groups: control, P. gingivalis infection, and ligation. Live P. gingivalis or silk ligatures were placed in the sulcus around maxillary second molars over a 2-week period. Images were captured by digital stereomicroscopy, and the bone resorption area was measured with ImageJ software. The protein expression level of gingival RANKL was measured by ELISA. The gingival mRNA levels of RANKL, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 were detected by RT-qPCR. The results showed that P. gingivalis induced significant periodontal bone resorption in WT mice and TLR2 KO mice but not in TLR4 KO mice or TLR2&4 KO mice. For all four types of mice, ligation induced significant bone loss compared with that in control groups, and this bone loss was significantly higher than that in the P. gingivalis infection group. RANKL protein expression was significantly increased in the ligation group compared with that in the control group for all four types of mice, and in the P. gingivalis infection group of WT, TLR2 KO, and TLR4 KO mice. Expression patterns of RANKL, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 mRNA were different in the P. gingivalis infection group and the ligation group in different types of mice. In summary, P. gingivalis-induced periodontal bone resorption is TLR4-dependent, whereas ligation-induced periodontal bone resorption is neither TLR2- nor TLR4-dependent.

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.

BACKGROUND: Diets are the important players in regulating plasma lipid profiles. And the R219K polymorphism at the gene of ATP-binding cassette transporter 1(ABCA1) was reported to be associated with the profiles. However, no efforts have been made to investigate the changes of lipid profiles after a high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet in different subjects with different genotypes of this polymorphism. This study was to evaluate the effects of ABCA1 R219K polymorphism on serum lipid and apolipoprotein (apo) ratios induced by a high-carbohydrate/low-fat (high-CHO) diet. After a washout diet of 54.1% carbohydrate for 7 days, 56 healthy young subjects (22.89 ± 1.80 years old) were given a high-CHO diet of 70.1% carbohydrate for 6 days. Height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, glucose (Glu), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apoA-1 and apoB-100 were measured on the 1st, 8th and 14th days of this study. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratios (WHR), log(TG/HDL-C), TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and apoA-1/apoB-100 were calculated. ABCA1 R219K was analyzed by a PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: The results indicate that the male subjects of all the genotypes had higher WHR than their female counterparts on the 1st, 8th and 14th days of this study. The male K carriers had higher log(TG/HDL-C) and TC/HDL-C than the female carriers on the 1st and 14th days, and higher LDL-C/HDL-C on the 14th day. When compared with that on the 8th day, TC/HDL-C was decreased regardless of the genotypes and genders on the 14th day. Log(TG/HDL-C) was increased in the males with the RR genotype and the female K carriers. Lowered BMI, Glu and LDL-C/HDL-C were found in the male K carriers, but only lowered BMI in the female K carriers and only lowered LDL-C/HDL-C in the females with the RR genotype. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ABCA1 R219K polymorphism is associated differently in males and females with elevated log(TG/HDL-C) and decreased LDL-C/HDL-C induced by the high-CHO diet.

An efficient method for the rapid separation and purification of polyphenols from artichoke by polyamide column chromatography in combination with high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully built. The crude ethanol extracts from dry artichoke were first pre-separated by polyamide column chromatography and divided in two parts as sample 1 and sample 2. Then, the samples were further separated by HSCCC and yielded 7.8 mg of chlorogenic acid (compound I), 24.5 mg of luteolin-7-O-β-D-rutinoside (compound II), 18.4 mg of luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (compound III), and 33.4 mg of cynarin (compound IV) with purity levels of 92.0%, 98.2%, 98.5%, and 98.0%, respectively, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The chemical structures of these compounds were identified by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

FUNDAMENTO: O programa de biogênese mitocondrial no coração parece apresentar remodelação adaptativa após estresse biomecânico e oxidativo. Os mecanismos adaptativos que protegem o metabolismo do miocárdio durante a hipóxia são coordenados, em parte, pelo óxido nítrico (NO). OBJETIVO: Observar a biogênese mitocondrial e expressão do óxido nítrico sintase (NOS) em corações de cardiopatia congênita com cianose; discutir a resposta mitocondrial à hipóxia crônica do miocárdio. MÉTODOS: Foram investigados 20 pacientes com defeitos cardíacos cianóticos (n = 10) ou acianóticos (n = 10). Foram estudadas amostras do miocárdio na via de saída ventricular direita, tomadas durante a operação. A análise morfométrica de mitocôndrias foi realizada por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. A relação mtDNA/nDNA foi determinada com PCR em tempo real. Os níveis de transcrição da subunidade I da citocromo c oxidase (COXI), coativador-1α do receptor γ ativado por proliferador de peroxissoma (PGC-1α), o fator respiratório nuclear 1 (NRF1), e fator de transcrição mitocondrial A (Tfam) foram detectados por reação em cadeia da polimerase via transcriptase reversa (RT-PCR) ativado por fluorescência em tempo real. Os níveis proteicos de COXI e nNOS, iNOS e eNOS foram medidos por técnica de Western Blot. RESULTADOS: A densidade volumétrica mitocondrial (Vv) e a densidade numérica (Nv) foram significativamente elevadas em pacientes com cianose, em comparação com a cardiopatia congênita acianótica. MtDNA elevada e suprarregulação dos níveis de COXI, PGC-1 α, NRF1 e Tfam mRNA foram observadas em pacientes cianóticos. Os níveis de proteína de COXI e eNOS foram significativamente maiores no miocárdio de pacientes cianóticos que nos de acianóticos. Os níveis de transcrição do PGC-1α se correlacionam com os níveis de eNOS. CONCLUSÃO: A biogênese mitocondrial é ativada no miocárdio da via de saída ventricular na cardiopatia congênita com cianose, que poderia ser a resposta adaptativa à hipóxia crônica e possivelmente envolve suprarregulação da eNOS. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2012; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial biogenesis program in heart appears to exhibit adaptive remodeling following biomechanical and oxidative stress. The adaptive mechanisms that protect myocardium metabolism during hypoxia are coordinated in part by nitric oxide (NO). OBJECTIVE: To observe mitochondrial biogenesis and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in hearts of congenital heart disease with cyanosis, discuss mitochondrial response to chronic hypoxia in myocardium. METHODS: 20 patients with cyanotic (n=10) or acyanotic cardiac defects (n=10) were investigated. Samples from the right ventricular outflow tract myocardium taken during operation were studied. Morphometric analysis of mitochondria was performed with transmission electron microscope. Relative mtDNA/nDNA ratio was determined with real-time PCR. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COXI), peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) transcript levels were detected by real-time fluorescent RT-PCR. COXI and nNOS, iNOS and eNOS protein levels were measured with western blot. RESULTS: Mitochondrial volume density (Vv) and numerical density (Nv) were significantly elevated in patients with cyanotic compared to acyanotic congenital heart disease. Elevated mtDNA and up-regulated COXI, PGC-1α, NRF1 and Tfam mRNA levels were observed in cyanotic patients. Protein levels of COXI and eNOS were significantly higher in the myocardium of cyanotic than of acyanotic patients. PGC-1α transcript levels correlated with the levels of eNOS. Conclusion: Mitochondrial biogenesis is activated in right ventricular outflow tract myocardium in congenital heart disease with cyanosis, which could be the adaptive response to chronic hypoxia and possibly involves eNOS up-regulation. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2012; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)