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Aim: Data are limited on clinical characteristics and outcomes of recovered the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients with the reoccurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Patients & methods: Discharged patients in our hospital were included, who had recovered from COVID-19 with the reoccurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Results: Six patients were redetectable and positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA after discharge from 3 to 15 days. The main symptoms, although no fever, included fatigue, dry cough and pharyngeal or chest discomfort, which were generally milder in the repositive period compared with the period of initial infection. Their laboratory indexes were significantly improved compared with the initial infection, and the pulmonary lesions were continuously improving. All close contacts were SARS-CoV-2 RNA-negative. Conclusion: No worsening outcomes or active transmission to close contacts were found for the repositive COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The reliable diagnostic biomarkers for detecting CRC at early stage is critical for decreasing the mortality. Method: A conjunctive lipidomic approach was employed to investigate the differences in plasma lipid profiles of CRC patients (n = 101) and healthy volunteers (n = 52). Based on UHPLC-Q-TOF MS and UHPLC-QQQ MS platforms, a total of 236 lipids were structurally detected. Multivariate data analysis was conducted for biomarkers discovery. Results: A total of 11 lipid species, including 1 Glycerophosphoethanolamine (PE), 3 ethanolamine plasmalogens (PlsEtn), 1 plasmanyl glycerophosphatidylethanolamine (PE-O), 3 fatty acids (FFA), 1 Fatty acid ester of hydroxyl fatty acid (FAHFA) and 2 Diacylglycerophosphates (PA) were identified to distinguish the CRC patients at early stage from healthy controls. In addition, these potential lipid biomarkers achieved an estimated AUC=0.981 in a validation set for univariate ROC analysis. Conclusion: By combining Q-TOF MS and QQQ MS analysis, the 11 lipids exhibited good performance in differentiating early-stage CRC and healthy control. This study also demonstrated that lipidomics is a powerful tool in discovering new potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Apelin is a bioactive peptide manifesting a potent vasodilatory property. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to investigate for the first time whether circulating apelin differed significantly between hypertensive patients and normotensive controls.Methods: Both PubMed and Embase were searched for eligible articles. Eligibility evaluation and data collection were done independently by two investigators. Weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated under random-effects model by STATA.Results: Ten studies were synthesized finally, including 1610 patients and 1105 controls. Overall analysis revealed that circulating apelin was significantly lowered in patients than in controls (WMD = −39.85 pg/mL, 95% CI: −65.56 to −14.15; P = 0.002), with significant heterogeneity (I2= 89.4%). By race, patients had lower circulating apelin than controls in Caucasian populations (WMD = −79.82 pg/mL, 95% CI: −105.80 to −53.85; P < 0.001), without heterogeneity (I2=0.0%), while no significance was observed in Chinese and African-Americans. Further grouping studies by source of controls found a significant reduction in circulating apelin in studies with hospital-based controls (WMD = −96.28 pg/mL, 95% CI: −129.67 to −62.88; P < 0.001) (I2= 49.4%), but not in studies with population-based controls.Conclusions: Via a meta-analysis of 10 studies and on 2715 subjects, our findings demonstrated that lowered circulating apelin was significantly associated with an increased risk for hypertension, especially in Caucasian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This meta-analysis of randomized parallel controlled trials was designed to compare the efficacy of atenolol with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in changing pulse wave velocity (PWV), peripheral blood pressure and heart rate (HR) among patients with essential hypertension.Methods: This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. Data collection was independently completed by two investigators. Statistical analyses were completed by Stata software (v12.0).Results: Eight clinical trials were meta-analyzed in this study. Overall changes in PWV (weighted mean difference or WMD = 0.068, 95% confidence interval or CI: −0.487 to –0.623, P = 0.811) and peripheral systolic blood pressure (PSBP) (WMD = −1.281 mmHg, 95% CI: −6.936 to 4.375, P = 0.657) did not differ significantly between atenolol and ACEIs treatment. Relative to ACEIs, atenolol had a more favorable impact on peripheral diastolic blood pressure (PDBP) (WMD = −1.912 mmHg, 95% CI: −3.732 to −0.091, P = 0.040) and HR (WMD = −9.23 bpm, 95% CI: −12.53 to −5.93, P < 0.001). In stratified analyses, particularly by follow-up period, atenolol was observed to be superior over ACEIs within early 3-month treatment in PSBP (WMD = −4.097 mmHg, 95% CI: −6.589 to −1.605, P = 0.001), PDBP (WMD = −6.802 mmHg, 95% CI: −8.517 to −5.087, P < 0.001) and HR (WMD = −14.242 bpm, 95% CI: −16.427 to −12.058, P = 0.028), without heterogeneity (I2= 0.0%). There were low probabilities of publication bias for all comparisons.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that atenolol and ACEIs were equally effective in reducing PWV and PSBP, while atenolol was superior over ACEIs in improving PDBP and HR, especially within short-term treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Coptodryas elegans was determined, which represents the first sequenced mitogenome from Coptodryas. This mitogenome is 15,959 bp in size and comprises 36 typical coding genes and a control region, the tRNAIle was not detected in this mitogenome, as observed in other species of Curculionidae. The monophyly of the family Scolytinae and the sister relationship between C. elegans and Cyclorhipidion bodoanus is supported by maximum likelihood analysis derived from the protein-coding gene sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corynebacterium glutamicum(C. glutamicum) is a highly promising alternative prokaryotic host for recombinant protein expression, as it possesses several significant advantages overEscherichia coli (E. coli), the currently leading bacterial protein expression system. During the past decades, several experimental techniques and vector components for genetic manipulation ofC. glutamicumhave been developed and validated, including strong promoters for tightly regulating target gene expression, various types of plasmid vectors, protein secretion systems and methods of genetically modifying the host strain genome to improve protein production potential. This review critically discusses current progress in establishingC. glutamicumas a host for recombinant protein expression, and examines, in depth, some successful case studies of actual application of this expression system. The established “expression tool box” for developing novel constructs based onC. glutamicumas a host are also evaluated. Finally, the existing issues and solutions in process development withC. glutamicumas a host are specifically addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and hematoma expansion (HE) in acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage (AHCH) (HE-in-AHCH). Patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, confirmed by head computed tomography (CT) within 12 h of onset, were prospectively collected. Venous blood was sampled within 4 h of the confirmation to determine the serum MMP-9 concentration. The blood pressure and National Institute of Health Stroke Score of the patients were recorded on hospital admission. CT re-scanning was performed within 42–54 h of the first head CT examination or immediately after worsening of the patients’ consciousness disorder. The relationship between MMP-9 level and HE was analyzed. A total of 186 patients were included. Of these patients, 41 had HE (22.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, in addition to the short interval between onset and the first CT examination, and the irregularity of hematoma shape, increasing MMP-9 level was an independent risk factor for HE-in-AHCH (OR value = 15.65, 95% CI: 5.30–46.15). Moreover, increasing plasma MMP-9 level was identified as an independent risk factor in patients with HE-in-AHCH. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cu2O–reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite was synthesized by a simple one-pot solvothermal method. The morphology and properties of Cu2O/RGO nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared nanocomposites were investigated by photodegrading Rhodamine B under visible light. Results show that Cu2O/RGO nanocomposites exhibited a remarkably enhanced photocatalytic efficiency compared with pure Cu2O nanoparticles and commercial P25. Moreover, we found that the content of graphene oxide introduced into composite material was a crucial factor for its improved photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed at using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to monitor compaction pressure for simultaneously determining the tensile strength and content uniformity, as well as moisture and mean particle size of ambroxol hydrochloride tablets. The content uniformity, compression force and tensile strength of the laboratory samples were obtained by pressing a mixture of active principle and excipient components into tablets. To reduce the spectral baseline shift of the laboratory samples, the compaction pressure applied to the mixture was assessed by a variable pressure test. Production samples were added to the test and subjected to principal component analysis. The expanded partial least-squares (PLS) calibration model used to quantify the active content was more accurate than the model constructed from laboratory samples using the production tablets included in the calibration set. The model showed good predictability, with correlation coefficient (R) 0.9977. The validation and reliability of the content model were evaluated to determine trueness and reliability for the measurement of individual production tablets and the laboratory tablets with drug content ranging from 24 to 36 mg. The PLS calibration models for compression force and tensile strength were constructed using the same spectral set assuming both were highly related. These models yielded highRvalues (0.9955 and 0.9910). TheRvalues of the moisture and mean particle size were 0.9994 and 0.9919, respectively. This study demonstrated that NIR spectroscopy combined with chemometric techniques can be successfully used to quantitatively monitor the tablet manufacturing process in the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reported a green and simple method for biosynthesizing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) usingCorymbia citriodoraleaf extract as reducing and stabilizing agent. SEM, EDX, XRD, UV–VIS spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and TGA have been used for characterizing the biosynthesized ZnO NPs. The results indicating the ZnO NPs synthesized byC. citriodoraleaf extract have high purity and the average size is 64 nm. The photocatalytic activity of the ZnO NPs has been investigated by degradation methylene blue under visible light irradiation. Due to the smaller size, the biosynthesized ZnO NPs showed an excellent photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Near infrared spectroscopy in combination with appropriate chemometric methods is an effective technique for quantitative analysis of parameters of interest for the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, the artificial neural network (ANN) was applied to monitor critical parameters (compression force, tablet hardness, mean particle size, and active pharmaceutical ingredient concentration of tablets) in the process of naproxen pharmaceutical preparation. The performance of ANN was compared to linear methods (partial least squares regression (PLS) and synergy interval partial squares (siPLS)). The ANN models for compression force, tablet hardness, mean particle size, and active pharmaceutical ingredient concentration of tablets yielded the low root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) values of 0.936 KN, 0.302 kg, 4.49 mg, and 2.14 µm, respectively. The predictive ability of the PLS model was improved by siPLS with selection of spectral regions and the best performance among all calibration methods was showed by the nonlinear method (ANN). Effective models were built by using these approaches using near infrared spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation neuropathy is one of the severe complications of radiotherapy. Entrapment neuropathy, caused by surrounding soft tissue fibrosis induced by radiation, plays a key role in the onset of this neuropathy. Meanwhile, the pathophysiology of the direct effect of radiation on the peripheral nerve is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the direct effects of radiation on rat sciatic nerves that are isolated from surrounding soft tissue. In the radiation group (R group), only the exposed sciatic nerve was irradiated with 90 Gy X-radiation. In the sham group (S group), the surgical procedures were completed without radiation. The sciatic functional index (SFI) result demonstrated no statistical differences between the R group and S group. However, even though the surrounding soft tissue was not irradiated, the macroscopic and histological findings of the R group at 24 weeks after radiation showed scar formation around the radiated nerve. These findings on radiation neuropathy indicate that neurohumoral factors derived from the radiated nerve itself may cause fibrosis. The electromyographic and histological examination showed axonal degeneration in the R group. Furthermore, the axon diameter and axon packing density in the R group demonstrated the axonal degeneration, even though it was 0.5 cm more proximal to the radiated portion than the axon packing density in the S group. This appearance was assumed to be 'dying-back' neuropathy. It is believed that this study is a first step toward identifying an accurate pathophysiology for intractable radiation-induced peripheral neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to analyze content uniformity, moisture content, compression force, tablet hardness, average particle size, and particle-size distribution. The content uniformity, moisture content, compression force, tablet hardness, and average particle size models yielded high correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.99582, 0.99725, 0.99620, 0.96294, and 0.98421, respectively, whereas the particle size distribution models showed good predictive ability. Conventional criteria such as R2, root-mean-square error of calibration, and the root-mean-square error of prediction were used to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the model. To ensure the accuracy and predictability of the content model for low-dose tablets, additional validation and reliability evaluations were performed using 70%, 80%, 100%, 120%, and 130% drug concentrations as well as 90% and 110% active content formulations. Near-infrared spectroscopy with multivariate modeling is a rapid, nondestructive technique for the characterization of the manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]