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Background: Several existing studies have shown a correlation between some of the blood and urine biomarkers and oral leukoplakia (OLK). However, the causality of this relationship remains uncertain. Thus, this study aimed to examine the causal association between 35 blood and urine biomarkers and OLK., Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 35 blood and urine biomarkers were selected as instrumental variables (IVs) using a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR) study to assess the causal relationship between the biomarkers and the risk of oral leukoplakia. We used the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method as the main analysis. Furthermore, several sensitivity analyses were performed to assess heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and stability., Results: Based on the selection criteria of the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method, the analysis found that 5 blood and urine biomarkers were significantly associated with the development of leukoplakia, of which the results of IVW showed that abnormalities of Apolipoprotein B (Apo B), Cholesterol, Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL), Triglycerides (TG) promoted the development of oral leukoplakia, and Non Albumin Protein (NAP) had a protective effect on the development of oral leukoplakia. We then performed a Bonferroni correction for these results, and after correction Apo B was still causally associated with the development of oral leukoplakia (IVW P<0.0007), whereas the other four biomarkers could only provide some evidence of predisposition., Conclusion: Our two-sample Mendelian randomization study supports the existence of a causal relationship between these five blood and urine biomarkers and the occurrence of oral leukoplakia, and provides evidence for a number of risk and protective factors for the development of oral leukoplakia; however, the definitive mechanisms for the occurrence and development of oral leukoplakia still remain to be elucidated, and further studies on these relevant mechanisms are still needed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ouyang, Wei, Liu, Zhang, Liu and Feng.)

Objective: Genotypes (G) 1, 3, and 5 of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) have been isolated in China, but the dominant genotype circulating in Chinese coastal areas remains unknown. We searched for G5 JEV-infected cases and attempted to elucidate which JEV genotype was most closely related to human Japanese encephalitis (JE) in the coastal provinces of China., Methods: In this study, we collected serum specimens from patients with JE in three coastal provinces of China (Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Shandong) from 2018 to 2020 and conducted JEV cross-neutralization tests against G1, G3, and G5., Results: Acute serum specimens from clinically reported JE cases were obtained for laboratory confirmation from hospitals in Shandong (92 patients), Zhejiang (192 patients), and Guangdong (77 patients), China, from 2018 to 2020. Seventy of the 361 serum specimens were laboratory-confirmed to be infected with JEV. Two cases were confirmed to be infected with G1 JEV, 32 with G3 JEV, and two with G5 JEV., Conclusion: G3 was the primary infection genotype among JE cases with a definite infection genotype, and the infection caused by G5 JEV was confirmed serologically in China., (Copyright © 2024 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.)

Currently, slow-release gel therapy is considered to be an effective treatment for fundus macular disease, but the lack of effective evaluation methods limits its clinical application. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the application and clinical effect of slow-release gel based on CT image examination in the treatment of diabetic fundus macular disease. CT images of fundus macular lesions were collected in a group of diabetic patients. Then the professional image processing software is used to process and analyze the image and extract the key parameters. A slow-release gel was designed and prepared, and applied to the treatment of diabetic fundus macular disease. CT images before and after treatment were compared and analyzed, and the effect of slow-release gel was evaluated. In a certain period of time after treatment, the lesion size and lesion degree of diabetic fundus macular disease were significantly improved by using slow-release gel therapy with CT image examination. No significant adverse reactions or complications were observed during the treatment. This indicates that the slow-release gel based on CT image examination is a safe, effective and feasible treatment method for diabetic fundus macular disease. This method can help improve the vision and quality of life of patients, and provide a new idea and plan for clinical treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Viral encephalitis is an infectious disease severely affecting human health. It is caused by a wide variety of viral pathogens, including herpes viruses, flaviviruses, enteroviruses, and other viruses. The laboratory diagnosis of viral encephalitis is a worldwide challenge. Recently, high-throughput sequencing technology has provided new tools for diagnosing central nervous system infections. Thus, In this study, we established a multipathogen detection platform for viral encephalitis based on amplicon sequencing., Methods: We designed nine pairs of specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for the 12 viruses by reviewing the relevant literature. The detection ability of the primers was verified by software simulation and the detection of known positive samples. Amplicon sequencing was used to validate the samples, and consistency was compared with Sanger sequencing., Results: The results showed that the target sequences of various pathogens were obtained at a coverage depth level greater than 20×, and the sequence lengths were consistent with the sizes of the predicted amplicons. The sequences were verified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST, and all results were consistent with the results of Sanger sequencing., Conclusion: Amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing technology is feasible as a supplementary method for the pathogenic detection of viral encephalitis. It is also a useful tool for the high-volume screening of clinical samples., (Copyright © 2024 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of early lens extraction during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) compared to those of PPV with subsequent cataract surgery., Methods: This multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in three Chinese hospitals on patients with PDR, aged >45y, with mild cataracts. The participants were randomly assigned to the combined (PPV combined with simultaneously cataract surgery, i.e. , phacovitrectomy) or subsequent (PPV with subsequent cataract surgery 6mo later) group and followed up for 12mo. The primary outcome was the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to 6mo, and the secondary outcomes included complication rates and medical expenses., Results: In total, 129 patients with PDR were recruited and equally randomized (66 and 63 in the combined and subsequent groups respectively). The change in BCVA in the combined group [mean, 36.90 letters; 95% confidence interval (CI), 30.35-43.45] was significantly better (adjusted difference, 16.43; 95%CI, 8.77-24.08; P <0.001) than in the subsequent group (mean, 22.40 letters; 95%CI, 15.55-29.24) 6mo after the PPV, with no significant difference between the two groups at 12mo. The overall surgical risk of two sequential surgeries was significantly higher than that of the combined surgery for neovascular glaucoma (17.65% vs 3.77%, P =0.005). No significant differences were found in the photocoagulation spots, surgical time, and economic expenses between two groups. In the subsequent group, the duration of work incapacity (22.54±9.11d) was significantly longer ( P <0.001) than that of the combined group (12.44±6.48d)., Conclusion: PDR patients aged over 45y with mild cataract can also benefit from early lens extraction during PPV with gratifying effectiveness, safety and convenience, compared to sequential surgeries., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: Feng WB, None; Zheng L, None; Li YQ, None; Li YH, None; Zhang GM, None; Wang X, None; Liu BQ, None; Jin L, None; Huang YN, None; Yang YF, None; Chen ZD, None; Ma DH, None; Chen QS, None; Qin CJ, None; Feng BM, None; Yang ZM, None; Huang X, None; Yang CJ, None; Liu SH, None; Wu MX, None., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic inflammatory disease predominantly causing back pain, affects up to 0.5% of the global population, more commonly in males. Frequently undiagnosed in early stages, AS is often associated with comorbid depression and anxiety, imposing significant healthcare burdens. Despite available pharmaceutical treatments, exercise therapy (ET) has emerged as an effective, side-effect-free alternative, particularly for managing AS-induced back pain. This study aims to explore the research trends in ET for treating AS back pain from 2004-2023. MATERIAL AND METHODS A comprehensive analysis of 437 articles, sourced from the Science Citation Index-Expanded within the Web of Science Core Collection, was conducted using CiteSpace 6.2.R5. This study spanned from 2004 to October 15, 2023, examining publications, authors, institutions, and keywords to assess keyword co-occurrences, temporal progressions, and citation bursts. RESULTS Research interest in ET for AS began escalating around 2008 and has since shown steady growth. The USA emerged as a significant contributor, with Van der Heijde, Desiree, and RUDWALEIT M being notable authors. Key institutions include Assistance Publique Hopitaux Paris and UDICE-French Research Universities, with ANN RHEUM DIS being the most influential journal. The field's evolution is marked by interdisciplinary integration and branching into various sub-disciplines. CONCLUSIONS Exercise therapy for AS-induced back pain is a growing research area, necessitating further exploration in clinical management and rehabilitation strategies. The relationship between ET and osteoimmunological mechanisms remains a focal point for future research, with a trend towards personalized and interdisciplinary treatment approaches.

Taipu River is a river spanning two provinces and one city in a demonstration area in the Yangtze River Delta on an ecologically friendly developmentand an important water source in the upper reaches of the Huangpu River in Shanghai. To understand the multi-media distribution characteristics, pollution status, and ecological risk of heavy metals in the Taipu River, the contents of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) in the sediments of Taipu River were analyzed, and the pollution status and potential ecological risk were evaluated using the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index, geo-accumulation index, and potential ecological risk index methods. In addition, the health risk assessment model was used to assess the health risk of heavy metals in surface water of Taipu River. The results showed that the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Mn, and Ni in the surface water of Taipu River exceeded the class Ⅲ water limit at the upstream point in spring; the concentrations of Sb exceeded the class Ⅲ water limit at all points in winter; the average value of As exceeded the class Ⅲ water limit in overlying water during the wet season; and the average values of As and Cd exceeded the class Ⅲ water limit in pore water during the wet season. The health risk assessment of surface water implied that both adults and children had higher health risk in spring and lower health risk in other seasons. The health risk of children was significantly higher than that of adults, and it mainly came from chemical carcinogenic heavy metal elements As, Cd, and Cr. The average contents of Co, Mn, Sb, and Zn in Taipu River sediments in the four seasons all exceeded the Shanghai soil baseline; the average contents of As, Cr, and Cu in summer, autumn, and winter exceeded the Shanghai soil baseline; and the average contents of Cd, Ni, and Pb in summer and winter exceeded the Shanghai soil baseline. The evaluation results of the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index and geo-accumulation index showed that the pollution degree of the middle reaches of Taipu River was higher than that of the upper and lower reaches, and the Sb pollution was more serious. The potential ecological risk index method revealed that the Taipu River sediment was at a low risk. Cd had a high contribution in both the wet and dry seasons and could be regarded as the main heavy metal of potential ecological risk in the Taipu River sediment.

The genus Bambusa belongs to the subtribe Bambusinae and the subfamily Bambusoideae. The subgenera of Bambusa has not been satisfactorily circumscribed, and this remains a major taxonomic issue. Simultaneously, genera such as Dendrocalamus and Gigantochloa have not been confidently assigned to Bambusa. Here, the phylogenetic relationships among subgenera were investigated using five chloroplast DNA markers (rpl32-trnL, rpl16, matK, rbcL, and trnH-psbA) for a sample of 50 ingroup and 16 outgroup species. A total of 186 key morphological descriptors were studied for the 50 ingroup species. The results indicated that five chloroplast DNA markers were possible to distinguish Bambusa species from other species and divide them into several clusters. Phylogenetic analyses conducted using morphological descriptors and a combined marker (rpl32-trnL+rpl16) revealed three and five distinct lineages, respectively, among the currently recognized Bambusa species. The branching pattern of the dendrogram was not completely consistent with the classical taxonomic classification of Bambusa. In addition, not all varieties and cultivars were clustered with McClure classifications. As the maximum parsimony topology and morphological analyses were inconsistent, some clustering results overlapped. Overall, the results obtained here do not support the current classification of the Bambusa subgenera., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Reverse thermally induced separation (RTIPS) was used to obtain a separation membrane with a better internal structure for a higher water flux and a surface that could easily form a hydration layer. In comparison to the traditional modification method, this work focused on the aspect that the internal structure obtained by changing the membrane-making method provided easier adhesion conditions for the dopamine/TiO 2 hybrid nanoparticles (DA/TiO 2 HNPs) obtained by biomimetic mineralization. It provided a basis for exploring the variation in adhesion with the water bath temperature and the amount of titanium added through the study of turbidity point, SEM images, water contact angle, thermogravimetric test, EDX, AFM, XPS, FTIR and other test results. The SEM images proved that the membrane obtained through the RTIPS method had a porous surface and spongy internal structure, furthermore, additional polymers were adsorbed. Use of EDX demonstrated that biomimetic mineralization prevented the production of agglomerated titanium dioxide. XPS and FTIR spectra confirmed the introduction and immobilization of HNP aggregation. Moreover, a decrease in the surface roughness and water contact angle further suggested an improvement in the hydrophilicity of the modified membrane. The introduction of HNP at a higher water bath temperature helped increase the water flux up to ten times, moreover, the oil-water separation efficiency could still reach over 99.50%. Lastly, a cycle test of the modified membrane under the optimal conditions helped confirm that the membrane forming conditions at this time could provide a better environment for the formation of the hydrophilic layer, which was conducive to the recycling of the separation membrane. In summary, more fixed more hydrophilic particles could be obtained through the RTIPS method based on biomimetic mineralization to prevent the accumulation of titanium dioxide, thus helping improve permeability and anti-fouling of the membrane., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study aims to evaluate the clinical application value of two materials, drug-eluting stent, and biodegradable stent, in the treatment of coronary heart disease. The results show that the therapeutic effects of drug-eluting stents and biodegradable stents are similar. Both treatment methods have high safety and effectiveness. The ideal coronary artery stent should have good biocompatibility, safety, and possibility.

In this study, to mitigate the permeability-selectivity trade-off effect, Pluronic F127 (F127) and HKUST-1 were employed to construct high-performance membranes based on the reverse thermally induced phase separation (RTIPS) method. F127, as a hydrophilic modifier, was applied to increase permeability and resist polyethersulfone (PES) membrane fouling, while the collapse of HKSUT-1 caused by its instability in pure water improved the permeability and selectivity of the membrane. Characterizations demonstrated the successful synthesis of HKUST-1, together with the successful introduction of HKSUT-1 and F127 in PES membranes. It was observed that the membrane prepared by the RTIPS process possessed a uniformly porous surface and sponge-like cross-section with excellent mechanical properties, higher permeability, and selectivity compared to the dense skin and finger-like cross-section of the membrane prepared by the nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. Moreover, the permeation and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection rate of the optimal membrane reached 2378 L/m 2 h and 89.3%, respectively, which were far higher than those of the pure membrane. Hydrophilic F127 and many microvoids formed by the collapse of HKUST-1, played an important role in excellent antifouling properties, high permeability, and selectivity by pure water flux (PWF), flux recovery rate (FRR), BSA flux, and COD removal rate tests. Overall, the membrane with F127 and HKSUT-1 prepared via the RTIPS method not only obtained excellent antifouling properties but also mitigated the permeability-selectivity trade-off., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Low back pain is the most common spinal disorder among soldiers, and load carriage training (LCT) is considered the main cause. We aimed to investigate changes in the spine system of soldiers after LCT at high altitudes and the change trend of the lumbar spine and surrounding soft tissues under different load conditions., Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the lumbar spines of nine soldiers from plateau troops were collected and processed. We used ImageJ and Surgimap software to analyze changes in the lumbar paraspinal muscles, intervertebral discs (IVDs), intervertebral foramina, and curvature. Furthermore, the multiple linear regression equation for spine injury owing to LCT at high altitudes was established as the mathematical prediction model using SPSS Statistics version 23.0 software., Results: In the paraspinal muscles, the cross-sectional area (CSA) increased significantly from 9126.4 ± 691.6 mm 2 to 9862.7 ± 456.4 mm 2 , and the functional CSA (FCSA) increased significantly from 8089.6 ± 707.7 mm 2 to 8747.9 ± 426.2 mm 2 after LCT (P < 0.05); however, the FCSA/CSA was not significantly different. Regarding IVD, the total lumbar spine showed a decreasing trend after LCT with a significant difference (P < 0.05). Regarding the lumbar intervertebral foramen, the percentage of the effective intervertebral foraminal area of L 3 / 4 significantly decreased from 91.6 ± 2.0 to 88.1% ± 2.9% (P < 0.05). For curvature, the lumbosacral angle after LCT (32.4° ± 6.8°) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that before LCT (26.6° ± 5.3°), while the lumbar lordosis angle increased significantly from 24.0° ± 7.1° to 30.6° ± 7.4° (P < 0.05). The linear regression equation of the change rate, △FCSA% = - 0.718 + 23.085 × load weight, was successfully established as a prediction model of spinal injury after LCT at high altitudes., Conclusion: The spinal system encountered increased muscle volume, muscle congestion, tissue edema, IVD compression, decreased effective intervertebral foramen area, and increased lumbar curvature after LCT, which revealed important pathophysiological mechanisms of lumbar spinal disorders in soldiers following short-term and high-load weight training. The injury prediction model of the spinal system confirmed that a load weight < 60% of soldiers' weight cannot cause acute pathological injury after short-term LCT, providing a reference supporting the formulation of the load weight standard for LCT.

Background: Increasing evidence has suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) act as key post-transcriptional regulators in tumor progression. Previous studies have confirmed that miR-17-5p functions as an oncogene in multiple cancers and contributes to tumor progression. However, the role and biological functions of miR-17-5p in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) still remain unknown., Methods: qRT-PCR was used to detect miRNA and mRNA expression levels in LSCC tissues and cell lines. CCK-8 assay was used to measure cell viability and flow cytometry was performed to evaluate cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein levels of BAX, BCL-2, cleaved Caspase-3, PIK3R1 and AKT. Luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the effect of miR-17-5p on PIK3R1 expression. Xenograft animal model was used to test the effect of miR-17-5p on LSCC cell in vivo., Results: In the present study, we found that miR-17-5p expression level was upregulated in LSCC tissues and cell lines. Depletion of miR-17-5p in LSCC cells significantly reduced cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, knockdown of miR-17-5p in LSCC cells inhibited BCL-2 expression while enhanced BAX and cleaved Caspase-3 protein expression. Moreover, depletion of miR-17-5p in LSCC cells suppressed AKT phosphorylation but did not influence PTEN expression. Importantly, miR-17-5p positively regulated PIK3R1 expression by directly binding to its 3'-untranslated region (UTR). Additionally, PIK3R1, which expression was downregulated in LSCC tissues and cell lines, was involved in LSCC cell survival by modulating the activation of AKT signal pathway. Dysregulation of miR-17-5p/PIK3R1 axis was participated in LSCC cell proliferation and apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway., Conclusions: In conclusion, our study indicates that the miR-17-5p/PIK3R1 axis plays an essential role in the development of LSCC and provides a potential therapeutic target for LSCC treatment., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

A new method was presented to prepare hydrophilic PES/SPSF flat-sheet membrane by a reverse thermally induced phase separation (RTIPS) method to enhance permeability and hydrophilicity. SPSF was self-made and was blended to improve the hydrophilicity of PES flat-sheet membrane. The performance of PES/SPSF flat-sheet membrane, which varied with SPSF content and coagulation water bath temperature, was investigated by SEM, FTIR, AFM, pure water flux, BSA rejection rate, water contact angle and long-term testing. FTIR results proved the successful blending of SPSF with PES membrane, SEM images showed that dense skin surface and finger-like structure emerged in the membrane fabricated by NIPS method, while a porous top surface and sponge-like structure emerged in the membrane fabricated by RTIPS. The pure water flux and BSA rejection rate of the membrane for RTIPS were both higher than those for NIPS. AFM images revealed that surface roughness increased with the addition of SPSF. The water contact angle decreased with the increase of SPSF, which illustrated better hydrophilicity with the addition of SPSF. The flat-sheet PES membrane prepared with 2 wt% SPSF by RTIPS method exhibited decent properties, reaching maximum pure water flux (966 L m -2 h -1 ) and at the same time the BSA rejection rate was 79.2%. The long-term test proved that the anti-fouling performance of PES/SPSF membrane was better than that of PES membrane., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) was used as an additive to prepare hydrophilic poly(ethersulfone) (PES) hollow fiber membranes via non-solvent assisted reverse thermally induced phase separation (RTIPS) process. The PES/SPES/ N , N -dimethylacetamide (DMAc)/ polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200) casting solutions are lower critical solution temperature (LCST) membrane forming systems. The LCST and phase separation rate increased with the increase of SPES concentrations, while the casting solutions showed shear thinning. When the membrane forming temperature was higher than the LCST, membrane formation mechanism was controlled by non-solvent assisted RTIPS process and the also membranes presented a more porous structure on the surface and a bi-continuous structure on the cross section. The membranes prepared by applying SPES present higher pure water flux than that of the pure PES membrane. The advantages of the SPES additive are reflected by the relatively high flux, good hydrophilicity and excellent mechanical properties at 0.5 wt.% SPES content.

A novel antifouling polyethersulfone (PES) hollow fiber membrane was modified by the addition of bisphenol sulfuric acid (BPA-PS) using a reverse thermally induced phase separation (RTIPS) process. BPA-PS was synthesized by click chemistry and was blended to improve the hydrophilicity of PES hollow fiber membranes. The performance of PES/BPA-PS hollow fiber membranes, prepared with different contents of BPA-PS and at different temperatures of the coagulation water bath, was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), pure water flux ( J w ), BSA rejection rate ( R ), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and water contact angle measurements. SEM morphologies revealed that a finger-like cross-section emerged in the hollow fiber membrane by a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) mechanism while a sponge-like cross-section appeared in the hollow fiber membrane via the RTIPS method. Both FTIR and XPS analysis indicated that the sulfate group in BPA-PS was successfully blended with the PES membranes. The results from AFM and water contact angle measurements showed that the surface roughness increased and the hydrophilicity of the PES/BPA-PS hollow fiber membrane was improved with the addition of BPA-PS. The results demonstrated that the PES/BPA-PS membrane with 1 wt% BPA-PS via RTIPS exhibited optimal properties., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Exogenous ethylene, or ethephon, has been widely used to induce pineapple flowering, but the molecular mechanism behind ethephon induction is still unclear. In this study, we cloned four genes encoding ethylene receptors (designated AcERS1a, AcERS1b, AcETR2a, and AcETR2b). The 5' flanking sequences of these four genes were also cloned by self-formed adaptor PCR and SiteFinding-PCR, and a group of putative cis-acting elements was identified. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that AcERS1a, AcERS1b, AcETR2a, and AcETR2b belonged to the plant ERS1s and ETR2/EIN4-like groups. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that AcETR2a and AcETR2b (subfamily 2) were more sensitive to ethylene treatment compared with AcERS1a and AcERS1b (subfamily 1). The relative expression of AcERS1b, AcETR2a, and AcETR2b was significantly increased during the earlier period of pineapple inflorescence formation, especially at 1-9 days after ethylene treatment (DAET), whereas AcERS1a expression changed less than these three genes. In situ hybridization results showed that bract primordia (BP) and flower primordia (FP) appeared at 9 and 21 DAET, respectively, and flowers were formed at 37 DAET. AcERS1a, AcERS1b, AcETR2a, and AcETR2b were mainly expressed in the shoot apex at 1-4 DAET; thereafter, with the appearance of BP and FP, higher expression of these genes was found in these new structures. Finally, at 37 DAET, the expression of these genes was mainly focused in the flower but was also low in other structures. These findings indicate that these four ethylene receptor genes, especially AcERS1b, AcETR2a, and AcETR2b, play important roles during pineapple flowering induced by exogenous ethephon.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ischemic postconditioning on expressions of pentraxin-related protein 3 (PTX3) and neutrophil CD11b in the plasma of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Methods: Fifty-six patients who had AMI with ST-segment elevation were randomly divided into a control group and an ischemic postconditioning group (n=28). Both groups received emergency PCI. After recanalization of infarct-related arteries, the control group did not receive intervention within three minutes, while the ischemic postconditioning group was treated by low-pressure filling and emptying of balloon within one minute. The plasma expressions of PTX3 before and 24 hour after PCI were detected by ELISA, and those of neutrophil CD11b were detected by flow cytometry., Results: PTX3 and neutrophil CD11b expressions of the two groups were similar before PCI, but those of the ischemic postconditioning group significantly decreased 24 hour after PCI (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Ischemic postconditioning lowered the expressions of PTX3 and neutrophil CD11b in AMI patients after PCI, inhibited inflammatory response, reduced the adhesion between leukocytes and endothelial cells, and protected the ischemic-reperfused myocardium.

Background: Plasma glutamine (Gln) level has been negatively correlated with the severity of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Although Gln is widely used today, the results of individual randomized controlled trials of Gln-enriched nutrition support for patients with SAP are conflicting., Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, HighWire, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Wanfang, China Journals Full-Text Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were searched. Literature published before June 2014 was searched. Randomized controlled trials investigating the comparison of conventional and Gln-enriched nutrition support were included; a random effect model using Rev Man 5.2 software was chosen to complete this meta-analysis. The count data were analyzed using the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and the measurement data were analyzed using the standard mean difference or weighted mean difference and 95% CI. Heterogeneity analyses were conducted by I(2) test; publication bias analyses were conducted by Begg test., Results: Ten studies were eventually chosen for analysis, including 218 patients who received conventional methods (control group) and 215 patients who received Gln-enriched nutrition support (experimental group). Compared with the control group, Gln is helpful in elevating the albumin level, decreasing C-reaction protein (standard mean difference = 1.01, -1.89; 95% CI: 0.50 to 1.51, -3.23 to -0.56; P < .05), decreasing the incidence of infectious complication and mortality (RR = 0.62, 0.36; 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.83, 0.16 to 0.83; P < .05), and shortening the hospital stay length (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -3.89; 95% CI: -4.98 to -2.81; P < .05) without increasing expenses (WMD = -0.16; 95% CI: -1.34 to 1.02; P > .05). Intravenous infusion manifested more advantages by decreasing the incidence of infectious complications and mortality., Conclusions: Gln-enriched nutrition support is superior to conventional methods for SAP, and intravenous infusion may be a better choice for drug administration., (© 2015 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

The fruit physico-chemical properties, antioxidant activity and mineral contents of 26 pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] genotypes grown in China were measured. The results showed great quantitative differences in the composition of these pineapple genotypes. Sucrose was the dominant sugar in all 26 genotypes, while citric acid was the principal organic acid. Potassium, calcium and magnesium were the major mineral constituents. The ascorbic acid (AsA) content ranged from 5.08 to 33.57 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), while the total phenolic (TP) content varied from 31.48 to 77.55 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g FW. The two parameters in the predominant cultivars Comte de Paris and Smooth Cayenne were relative low. However, MD-2 indicated the highest AsA and TP contents (33.57 mg/100 g and 77.55 mg GAE/100 g FM, respectively), and it also showed the strongest antioxidant capacity 22.85 and 17.30 μmol TE/g FW using DPPH and TEAC methods, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of pineapple was correlated with the contents of phenolics, flavonoids and AsA. The present study provided important information for the further application of those pineapple genotypes.

Background: Fetuin-A inhibits inflammation and has a protective effect against myocardial ischemia. We investigated the influence of ischemic postconditioning on serum fetuin-A levels and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous intervention., Methods: Forty-five patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomly assigned to a control (n = 21) or postconditioning (PC, n = 24) group within 90 minutes after admission. After predilatation, in the control group, no intervention was applied in the first 3 minutes of reperfusion, while in the postconditioning group, three cycles of 30-second angioplasty balloon deflation and 30-second inflation were repetitively applied. Blood samples were obtained and assayed for creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), fetuin-A and hs-CRP., Results: The control group presented with higher peak CK-MB as compared with the PC group (123.67 +/- 44.19 vs. 93.08 +/- 35.29 U/L, p < 0.05). After PCI, PC was associated with a lower level of hs-CRP in comparison with the control group (6.07 +/- 1.35 vs. 7.03 +/- 1.27 mg/L, p < 0.05). Serum fetuin-A levels in the PC group was higher than in the control (161.06 +/- 23.98 mg/L vs. 144.59 +/- 22.76 mg/L, p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Postconditioning may increase serum fetuin-A levels and decrease high-sensitive C-reactive protein in myocardial infarction patients.

PISTILLATA (PI)-like genes are crucial regulators of flowering in angiosperms. A homologue of PI, designated as AcPI (Genbank accession number HQ717796), was isolated from pineapple cultivar Comte de Paris by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The cDNA sequence of AcPI is 907 bp in length and contains an open reading frame of 594 bp, which encodes a protein of 197 amino acids. The molecular weight was 2.29 kDa and the isoelectric point was 9.28. The alignment showed that AcPI had a high identity with CsPIC2 (78.6%), AoPI (77.4%), OrcPI (75.7%) and HPI2 (72.4%). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses in different tissues showed that the expression pattern of AcPI was different from the B-class genes in eudicots. AcPI was expressed in all the tissues investigated. The expression level was very low in fruit stems, bracts, leaves and sepals, high in petals and carpels, and moderate in apical meristems, flesh and stamens. The qRT-PCR analyses in different stages indicated that the expression of AcPI reached the highest level at 40 days after flower inducement, when the multiple fruit and floral organs were forming. It proved the important role of AcPI in floral organs and fruit development. The 35S::AcPI transgenic Arabidopsis plants flowered earlier and had more inflorescences or branches than wild type plants.

Characteristic aroma volatile compounds from different parts of cayenne pineapple were analyzed by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main volatile compounds were esters, terpenes, ketones and aldehydes. The number and content of aroma compounds detected in pulp were higher than those found in core. In pulp, the characteristic aroma compounds were ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl hexanoate, 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (DMHF), decanal, ethyl 3-(methylthio)propionate, ethyl butanoate, and ethyl (E)-3-hexenoate; while in core the main compounds were ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl hexanoate and DMHF. The highest odor units were found to correspond to ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, followed by ethyl hexanoate and DMHF. The odor units found for pulp were higher than those for core.

In the present study, we hypothesized that postcon (postconditioning) confers cardioprotection in vivo by reducing the production of ONOO- (peroxynitrite) and nitro-oxidative stress subsequent to the inhibition of the iNOS (inducible NO synthase). Patients with AMI (acute myocardial infarct) were randomly assigned to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention without (control) or with ischaemic postcon by three episodes of 30-s inflation and 30-s deflation of the angioplasty balloon. Animal models of MI/R (myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion) injury were induced in rats by occluding the left coronary artery for 40 min followed by 4-h reperfusion. Rats were randomized to receive vehicle, postcon (three cycles of 10-s reperfusion and 10-s coronary re-occlusion preceding full reperfusion), the selective iNOS inhibitor 1400W or postcon plus 3-morpholinosydnonimine (an ONOO- donor). Postcon in patients reduced iNOS activity in white blood cells, decreased plasma nitrotyrosine, a fingerprint of ONOO- and an index of nitro-oxidative stress, and improved cardiac function (P<0.01 compared with control). In rats, postcon reduced post-ischaemic myocardial iNOS activity and nitrotyrosine formation, reduced myocardial infarct size (all P<0.05 compared with control) and improved cardiac function. Administration of 1400W resembled, whereas 3-morpholinosydnonimine abolished, the effects of postcon. In conclusion, reduction in ONOO--induced nitro-oxidative stress subsequent to the inhibition of iNOS represents a major mechanism whereby postcon confers cardioprotection in vivo.

Background: Postconditioning has been shown to reduce infarct size during reperfusion (< 72 hours). However, it is unknown whether the infarct size reduction with postconditioning is a long-term effect after clinical percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The present study tested the hypothesis that postconditioning during primary PCI preserves global cardiac function and reduces infarct size in patients after prolonged reperfusion., Methods: Fortyone patients undergoing PCI were randomly assigned to a control (n = 18) or postconditioning (n = 23) group within 90 minutes after admission. After predilatation, in the Control group, no intervention was applied in the first 3 minutes of reperfusion, while in the Postconditioning group, three cycles of 30-second angioplasty balloon deflation and 30-second inflation were repetitively applied., Results: There was a trend toward increased ejection fraction quantified by echocardiography in the Postconditioning group compared to that in the Control group (54 +/- 12.9% vs. 44 +/- 16.7%; p > 0.05). Infarct size represented by the area under the curve of creatine-kinase activity during the first 72 hours of reperfusion was significantly less by 27% in the Postconditioning group than that in the Control group (58,002 +/- 593 vs. 79,787 +/- 681; p = 0.04). After 7 days of reperfusion, infarct size quantified by single-photon emission computed tomography was 27% smaller in the Postconditioning group than that measured in the Control group (31.3 +/- 8.6% vs. 22.8 +/- 6.7% of left ventricle; p < 0.05)., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that postconditioning following PCI significantly protects the heart against ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury. More importantly, this study indicates that protection with postconditioning is still apparent 1 week following reperfusion, suggesting long-term protection.

Objective: To study the effects of "half-conditioning", a modified postconditioning process, on myocardial injury induced by severe myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in anesthetized dogs., Methods: Mongrel dogs of both sexes were subjected to 40 min ischemia (coronary blood flow reduced by 80% via controlled coronary stenosis). At the end of ischemia, dogs were randomly received one of the following treatments: (1) control, reperfusion for 3 h (n = 7); (2) post-conditioning, three cycles of ischemia 30 s followed by reperfusion for 30 s and then reperfusion for 3 h (n = 7); (3) half-conditioning, coronary blood flow recovered to 50% for 2 min, then 80% for 2 min, thereafter 100% for 3 h (n = 7). Electrocardiogram (ECG), arterial blood pressure and left ventricular pressure were monitored throughout the experiment. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured spectrophotometrically. Myocardial necrosis was defined by TTC-staining., Results: Compared with control animals, arrhythmia incidence, LVEDP at 2 and 3 h reperfusion, CK and LDH were significantly reduced in animals received post-conditioning and half-conditioning treatments, infarct size as a percentage (%) of the area at risk was also significantly reduced by post-conditioning and half-conditioning treatments. No differences were observed in the post-conditioning and half-conditioning groups., Conclusion: Half-conditioning exerts the same cardioprotective effects on post-ischemic hearts as postconditioning.