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5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) has recently received much attention for its wide applications in medicine and agriculture. In this study, we investigated the effect of NCgl0580 in Corynebacterium glutamicum on 5-ALA biosynthesis as well as its possible mechanism. It was found that the overexpression of NCgl0580 increased 5-ALA production by approximately 53.3%. Interestingly, the knockout of this gene led to an even more significant 2.49-fold increase in 5-ALA production. According to transcriptome analysis and functional validation of phenotype-related targets, the deletion of NCgl0580 brought about considerable changes in the transcript levels of genes involved in central carbon metabolism, leading to fluxes redistribution toward the 5-ALA precursor succinyl-CoA as well as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters affecting 5-ALA biosynthesis. In particular, the positive effects of enhanced sugar transport (by overexpressing NCgl1445 and iolT1), glycolysis (by overexpressing pyk2), iron uptake (by overexpressing afuABC), and phosphate uptake (by overexpressing pstSCAB and ugpQ) on 5-ALA biosynthesis were demonstrated for the first time. Thus, the transcriptional mechanism underlying the effect of NCgl0580 deletion on 5-ALA biosynthesis was elucidated, providing new strategies to regulate the metabolic network of C. glutamicum to achieve a further increase in 5-ALA production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation industry is a high carbon emission industry, and China has also put forward strict requirements for the transportation industry to achieve carbon emission reduction. By measuring the total factor carbon emission efficiency of the transportation industry, we can understand the change trend and the influencing factors of the total factor carbon emissions. To fully consider the problem of multiple inputs and outputs in the transportation industry and obtain a more accurate efficiency evaluation value, this paper adopted the slack-based model-data envelopment analysis method and global Malmquist—Luenberger index to study the change in the total factor carbon emission performance of the transportation industry. The combination of static analysis and dynamic analysis was used to calculate the TFP of the transportation industry and increase the content of output indicators. The results indicate that the average TFP and GML index values exhibited significant heterogeneity nationwide. The values in Anhui and Hebei Provinces were greater than 1, and the average GML index values in Shanxi, Guangxi, and Yunnan were greater than 1. The eastern region performed well in terms of technical efficiency and scale efficiency. The technical efficiency in the central, western, and northeastern regions was optimal. In terms of influencing factors, the influencing factors causing the different carbon emission efficiencies in the four regions varied. Finally, corresponding policy suggestions were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents and siblings play a vital role in promoting and inhibiting the development of comforting behaviour – a typical prosocial behaviour. This study aims to explore the dual mediating model of positive and negative sibling relationships between parental self-efficacy (PSE) and firstborn children's comforting behaviours. We enrolled 163 firstborn children aged 4–6 years. The firstborn children scored significantly higher in comforting behaviour in a 'toy damage' task than that in a 'physical harm' task. Moreover, PSE promoted the development of children's comforting behaviour through a positive sibling relationship and weakened the development of children's comforting behaviour through a negative sibling relationship, revealing the internal mechanism of sibling relationship's two-way influence on firstborn children's comforting behaviour. Comparatively, no significant difference was noted in the mediating effect between positive and negative sibling relationships, providing clues for future intervention studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the structure of sibling relationships among preschool children in China and develop a questionnaire. Methods: The concept of sibling relationships among preschool children in China was established through literature review, open interviews, and expert review, and the initial project was designed. Using the questionnaire survey method, with 651 mothers of preschool children as the research objects, we performed item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability and validity tests on the initial questionnaire. Results: The questionnaire for the sibling relationships among preschool children in China had 18 questions covering dimensions of sibling interaction, sibling acceptance, sibling warmth, and sibling rivalry. The questionnaire fitting indexes were better (χ2/ df = 1.829, CFI = 0.930, TLI = 0.917, RMSEA = 0.055, SRMR = 0.053). The internal consistency coefficient between the total questionnaire and each dimension was 0.759–0.8548, and the total questionnaire significantly correlated with each dimension (r = 0.229–0.792) and the total score of parental self-efficacy (r = –0.106 to 0.338). Conclusion: The Sibling Relationship Questionnaire for Chinese Preschool Children (Parental Version) exhibited good reliability and validity, making it an effective tool for the evaluation of sibling relationships among preschool children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present prospective, double blind, randomized clinical study was designed to evaluate whether dexmedetomidine (Dex) combined with ropivacaine for tranversus abdominis plane (TAP) block could improve analgesic quality and duration, and promote recovery following laparoscopic colectomy. Following induction of anesthesia, ultrasound-guided bilateral TAP block was performed in 60 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic colectomy with either 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine plus 2 ml normal saline 0.9% (R group), or 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine plus 2 ml Dex (0.5 µg/kg) (RD group). Visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, sedation level, length of hospital stay (LOS), and bowel function recovery time and associated complications were recorded. Overall patient satisfaction with postoperative pain management was also assessed. The hemodynamic variables were not significantly different between the two groups during the surgery. However, the duration of analgesia was significantly longer in the RD group compared with the R group (P<0.05). VAS scores at 1, 2, 6 and 12 h following surgery were significantly decreased in the RD group compared with those in the R group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in sedation level between the two groups. Notably, postoperative nausea and vomiting in the RD group was significantly decreased compared with those in the R group in the first 24 h (P<0.05). There were no serious adverse events in any group. Furthermore, 90.0 and 66.7% patients were satisfied with the postoperative pain management in the RD group and R group, respectively. The postoperative first bowel movement time was significantly shorter in the RD group compared with the R group (P<0.05). However, the LOS was not significantly different between the two groups. In conlusion, the addition of Dex to ropivacaine could significantly improve the analgesic quality and duration of TAP block, which in turn promotes recovery following laparoscopic colectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of α2A -adrenergic receptor ( ADRA2A) gene polymorphism on the sedative effect of dexmedetomidine, and to preliminarily explore the genetic mechanism of individual differences in the sedative effect of dexmedetomidine. Methods One hundred and five patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists ( ASA) physical status I and II, undergoing lower extremity surgery under epidural anesthesia were selected. Venous blood was drawn before the operation, the genotypes of ADRA2A C1291 G (rs1800544) in the promoter region of the candidate gene were done by PCR-RFLP. We selected the L2/L3 gap for epidural catheterization and controlled the anesthesia plane below T10. Dexmedetomidine infusion was initiated after epidural catheterization, a loading dose of 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine was pumped intravenously with a constant speed for 10 min, the pumping was stopped after a maintenance rate of 0. 5 µg/(kg·h) for 1 hour. From the beginning of infusion until 1 hour later, EEG bispectral index (BIS), modified Observers Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scale ( OAA/S scale), BP, HR, SpO2 and RR were recorded every 5 minutes, and intraoperative hypotension, bradycardia, respiratory depression and other adverse events were also recorded. Results Among 105 patients, there were 16 cases of type CC for ADRA2A gene rs1800544 allele, 52 cases of CG type and 37 cases of GG type. There was no significant difference in age, BMI or ASA status between the patients with three allele types. The BIS values of all patients began to decrease after 5 minutes of the infusion of dexmedetomidine; after 15-40 minutes, the values of BIS in patients with CG and GG were higher than those in patients with CC (all P < 0. 05). The modified OAA/S score of all patients began to increase after 30 minutes of the infusion of dexmedetomidine, in 35 to 50 minutes, the modified OAA/S scores in patients with CG and GG were lower than those in patients with CC (P < 0. 05) . There was no significant difference in BIS or modified OAA/S between the CG and GG patients at different time points. There was no significant difference in the incidence of BP, HR, and adverse events among patients with different alleles. Conclusion Compared with individuals with ADRA2A gene rsl800544 allele CC genotype, patients with CG and GG genotypes have a slow sedative response to dexmedetomomidine and are not easy to fall asleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burn-induced acute post-operative pain and the associated stress response may result in prolonged convalescence. The present study investigated the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) administration on post-operative pain and the quality of recovery following surgical treatment of moderate-to-severe burn injuries. A total of 60 adult patients undergoing tangential excision skin grafting were randomized into two groups. The DEX group (Group D) received an intravenous (i.v.) single-dose bolus injection of DEX 0.5 µg/kg >10 min prior to induction of anesthesia. Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was provided to the patients from the end of the surgery, which consisted of 100 µg sufentanil plus 200 µg DEX. The control group (Group C) received an equal volume of normal saline as a pre-operative bolus and post-operative PCIA of 100 µg sufentanil infusion. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at rest and during movement, the cumulative dose of sufentanil and the 40-item quality of recovery questionnaire (QoR-40) score were assessed at various time-points after the surgery. During the first 24 h post-surgery, patients in Group D exhibited a lower VAS score at rest and during movement, a lower number of PCIA pump presses (29.17±1.91 vs. 34.13±2.73) and lower sufentanil consumption (62.58±0.96 vs. 65.27±1.26) compared with those in Group C (P<0.05). Furthermore, the QoR-40 recovery score of patients in Group D at 24 h post-surgery was higher compared with that in Group C (P<0.01). In conclusion, the present study indicated that a pre-operative bolus of DEX (0.5 µg/kg) followed by DEX plus sufentanil by PCIA subsequent to surgery improved the quality of analgesia and promoted the quality of recovery at 24 h following tangential excision skin grafting treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe burn injuries compared to PCIA of 100 µg sufentanil only. The present study was retrospectively registered with the trial registration no. ChiCTR1800016646 (date of registration, 14/06/2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]