Search

Sorghum is a plant with broad adaptability, is resistant to drought, and is very suitable in marginal areas. Sorghum plants contain 7% to 17% seed composition and 83% to 93% leaf stems. At harvest, the moisture content of seeds is 20% to 30%, and the stem is around 76% to 88%. Several stages are carried out after the sorghum harvesting process, and one of them is threshing the sorghum seeds. The threshing of sorghum seeds requires a hold-on threshing machine so seeds can be threshed immediately after harvest, and the stems from sorghum plants can be chopped directly for cattle feed. This study aims to design and test the performance of a hold-on type sorghum threshing machine that can be used to thresh sorghum seeds immediately after harvesting at a grain moisture content of around 20% to 30%. The methods used include problem considerations, the preparation of structural designs, functional designs, manufacturing drawing designs, and manufacturing functional and performance testing. The results of testing the performance of the threshing machine revealed that the working capacity of the machine was affected by rod clamp rotation, the threshing cylinder, and the moisture content of sorghum seeds. The cleanliness level of sorghum seeds is above 90%, while the level of seed damage ranges from 0% to 1%.

Background: Bronchodilators are used to treat asthma symptoms. The administration of this therapy can be given through monotherapy or in combination to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect. Objective: This study aimed to examine the prescribing pattern of bronchodilators in asthmatic outpatients. Methods: A retrospective study was done by reviewing and analyzing medical records of asthmatic outpatients from January 2019 until December 2020. Data analysis was performed descriptively. Results: In this study, bronchodilators were administered by inhalation 97.4% compared to oral routes 2.6%. Combination bronchodilator therapy showed 54.7% compared to monotherapy by 46.3%. The combination ICS/LABA budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 mcg was the most widely used 45.7%. Conclusion: The use of a bronchodilator was in accordance with the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. The route of drug administration through inhalation is more widely used than oral. Combination bronchodilators were more recommended than bronchodilator monotherapy to control asthma symptoms.

Shasha Liu,1 Jinxue Wei,2,3 Rongjun Ni,2,3 Tianhao Gao,1 Peiyan Ni,2,3 Liansheng Zhao,2,3 Xiyu Duan,2,3 Xiaohong Ma,2,3 Pak C Sham,4,5 Tao Li1– 3,6 1Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 3Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China; 5State Key Laboratory for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China; 6Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Tao LiPsychiatric Laboratory of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 1 Keyuan Si Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail litaohx@scu.edu.cnBackground: Mice with a deletion at exon 19 of the circadian locomotor output cycles Kaput gene (Clockdelta19) exhibit mania-like behavior and have been one of the most common animal models for bipolar disorder (BD). The predictive validity of the Clockdelta19 was investigated via studies using lithium previously. Determination of effects of other mood stabilizers on Clockdelta19 mouse would be helpful for better understanding of the mechanism underlined.Methods: Wildtype (WT) and Clockdelta19 mice were treated with saline (n = 10 for WT and n=10 for Clockdelta19) or valproate (VPA) (n = 10 for WT and n=10 for Clockdelta19) for 10 days. The hyperactivity, anxiety-like behaviors and depression-like behaviors were tested. The concentration of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in the hippocampus of saline or VPA treated WT and Clockdelta19 mouse (n = 8 for each) were also determined.Results: VPA can reverse hyperactivity, lower level of anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors of the Clockdelta19 mouse. Clockdelta19 mouse exhibited lower levels of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in right hippocampus compared to WT mouse. Chronic VPA treatment did not affect the levels of 5-HT and DA, but can reduce the level of levodopa (L-DOPA) in the right hippocampus of Clockdelta19 mouse.Conclusion: Our results indicated that chronic VPA treatment can reverse the mania-like behaviors of the Clockdelta19 mouse and further consolidate the validity of the Clockdelta19 mouse as a model of BD. Monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in the hippocampus are partly regulated by mutation of the Clock gene or VPA treatment.Keywords: bipolar disorder, Clockdelta19 mouse, valproate, mania-like behavior, neurotransmitter

Peiyan Ni,1– 3 Manli Liu,1– 3 Dequan Wang,1– 3 Yang Tian,1– 3 Liansheng Zhao,1– 3 Jinxue Wei,1– 3 Xueli Yu,1– 3 Xueyu Qi,1– 3 Xiaojing Li,1– 3 Hua Yu,1– 3 Rongjun Ni,1– 3 Xiaohong Ma,1– 3 Wei Deng,1– 3 Wanjun Guo,1– 3 Qiang Wang,1– 3 Tao Li1– 4 1The Psychiatric Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China; 2Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China; 3Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China; 4Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Tao LiThe Psychiatric Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 28 Dian Xin Nan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +86-28-85423561Email litaohx@scu.edu.cnIntroduction: Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder are three common mental disorders. Although their diagnosis and treatment differ, they partially overlap.Methods: To explore the similarities and characteristics of these three psychiatric diseases, an intelligence quotient (IQ) assessment was performed to evaluate cognitive deficits. Relative catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was examined in all three groups compared with healthy controls (HCs).Results: The results indicated that patients with any of the three psychiatric diseases presented IQ deficits, and that the first-episode schizophrenia (FES) group had even lower cognitive function than the other two groups. The relative COMT expression decreased in the FES group and increased in the BD group compared with the HC group. The correlation analysis of COMT expression level and IQ scores showed a positive correlation between relative COMT expression and full-scale IQ in the HC group. However, this correlation disappeared in all three psychiatric diseases studied.Conclusion: In conclusion, this cross-disease strategy provided important clues to explain lower IQ scores and dysregulated COMT expression among three common mental illnesses.Keywords: first-episode schizophrenia, FES, bipolar disorder, BD, first-episode major depressive disorder, MDD, catechol-O-methyltransferase, COMT, intelligence quotient, IQ

Min Wang,1,2 Jinxue Wei,1,2 Xiao Yang,1,2 Peiyan Ni,1,2 Yingcheng Wang,1,2 Liansheng Zhao,1,2 Wei Deng,1,2 Wanjun Guo,1,2 Qiang Wang,1,2 Tao Li,1,2 Xiaohong Ma1,21Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 2Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of ChinaPurpose: Major depression disorder (MDD) was associated with inflammatory processes, but association results of inflammatory syndrome and MDD were inconsistent. To provide more evidence, we measured the plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-6, interferon (INT)-α2, INT-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in patients having MDD and explored correlations between the five proinflammatory cytokines and specific depressive symptoms.Patients and methods: Plasma concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, INT-α2, INT-γ, and TNF-α were measured using ELISA for 44 MDD patients and 54 healthy controls. Patients with MDD were assessed on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), and a total score and five syndrome scores were acquired.Results: IL-6 levels in depressed patients were significantly elevated than in healthy controls, but no significant differences were observed in the levels of INF-α2, INF-γ, IL-1β, or TNF-α. In addition, correlation analysis revealed that sleep disturbances positively correlated with IL-6. Although there was no significant difference between the two groups in the levels of INF-α2, a significant positive correlation between IFN-α2 and retardation was observed.Conclusion: Elevated IL-6 levels were observed in MDD patients and IL-6 may correlate with sleep disturbances.Keywords: major depression disorder, inflammation, cytokine, interleukin-6, sleep disturbances

Jinxue Wei,* Ye Liu,* Liansheng Zhao, Xiao Yang, Peiyan Ni, Yingcheng Wang, Tao Li, Xiaohong Ma Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Elevation of plasma inflammatory factors in major depressive disorder (MDD) has been repeatedly observed, but contradictory results have also been reported. Alteration of complement components in MDD may also contribute to the pathophysiology of MDD by participating in inflammation. The recent findings that complement component 4 (C4) was involved in neural synapse elimination and associated with schizophrenia implicated the potential roles of C4 in MDD. In this study, we analyzed the plasma concentration of complement C4 and inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-α, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α, of 53 patients with MDD and 60 healthy individuals. The plasma of 17 patients out of 51 after antidepressant medication was also collected for analysis. The results showed that peripheral C4 in MDD was higher than that in healthy controls. No significant correlation of inflammatory factors or C4 with depressive or anxiety symptoms was found. Antidepressant medication significantly reduced plasma C4 of patients with MDD. Our results were consistent with previous findings that complement components were elevated in MDD and suggested that C4 might play a role in pathophysiology of MDD and could be a candidate in the research of biomarker and the pathophysiology of MDD. Keywords: depression, C4, inflammation

PeiYan Ni, ShaoZhi Fu, Min Fan, Gang Guo, Shuai Shi, JinRong Peng, Feng Luo, ZhiYong QianState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of ChinaAbstract: Polylactide (PLA) electrospun fibers have been reported as a scaffold for bone tissue engineering application, however, the great hydrophobicity limits its broad application. In this study, the hybrid amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/hydrophobic PLA fibrous scaffolds exhibited improved morphology with regular and continuous fibers compared to corresponding blank PLA fiber mats. The prepared PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds favored mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) attachment and proliferation by providing an interconnected porous extracellular environment. Meanwhile, MSCs can penetrate into the fibrous scaffold through the interstitial pores and integrate well with the surrounding fibers, which is very important for favorable application in tissue engineering. More importantly, the electrospun hybrid PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds can enhance MSCs to differentiate into bone-associated cells by comprehensively evaluating the representative markers of the osteogenic procedure with messenger ribonucleic acid quantitation and protein analysis. MSCs on the PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds presented better differentiation potential with higher messenger ribonucleic acid expression of the earliest osteogenic marker Cbfa-1 and mid-stage osteogenic marker Col I. The significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity of the PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds indicated that these can enhance the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblast-like cells. Furthermore, the higher messenger ribonucleic acid level of the late osteogenic differentiation markers OCN (osteocalcin) and OPN (osteopontin), accompanied by the positive Alizarin red S staining, showed better maturation of osteogenic induction on the PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds at the mineralization stage of differentiation. After transplantation into the thigh muscle pouches of rats, and evaluating the inflammatory cells surrounding the scaffolds and the physiological characteristics of the surrounding tissues, the PEG/PLA scaffolds presented good biocompatibility. Based on the good cellular response and excellent osteogenic potential in vitro, as well as the biocompatibility with the surrounding tissues in vivo, the electrospun PEG/PLA fibrous scaffolds could be one of the most promising candidates in bone tissue engineering.Keywords: electrospinning, fibrous scaffolds, poly(ethylene glycol)/polylactide, mesenchymal stem cells, bone tissue engineering