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Phytochemical study on 90% ethanol extract from the green walnut husks of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. resulted into the isolation of three undescribed triterpenoids, juglansmanoids A–C (1–3). Structural elucidation of all the compounds were performed by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. The isolated components were evaluated in vitro for anti-hyaluronidase activities. As a result, triterpenoid 1 exhibited potent anti-hyaluronidase activity (IC50 = 9.78 μg/ml) three times more than the positive control drug oleanolic acid (IC50 = 40.12 μg/ml). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to identify the hydrogeochemical characteristics, formation mechanism and evolution law of shallow groundwater in Dangshan, China, and to evaluate the suitability of the groundwater for irrigation. In this study, ninety-six samples were taken to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater in Dangshan County. The geographic information system (GIS) method was used to analyse the spatial distribution characteristics of total dissolved solids (TDS). Gibbs diagram, Binary relation analysis and reverse geochemical reaction simulation method were utilised to reveal the main formation mechanism of relatively high TDS in this region. The results show that water-rock interaction and evapotranspiration are the main mechanisms for controlling the chemical evolution of shallow groundwater in wet and dry seasons in the study area, respectively. The main waterrock interactions in the study area include dissolution of halite and dolomite, the precipitation of gypsum, as well as cation exchange and adsorption. Suitability of shallow groundwater quality for irrigation use was evaluated according to the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and the electrical conductivity (EC) with a United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) diagram. Meanwhile, GIS technology was used to demonstrate the spatial distribution of irrigation suitability variations. Based on the spatial interpolation result on the USSL salinity diagram classification, the shallow groundwater in 89% of the study area is suitable for irrigation, while 11% of the area is unsuitable for irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recurrent brown tide phenomenon, attributed to Aureococcus anophagefferens (A. anophagefferens), constitutes a significant threat to the Qinhuangdao sea area in China, leading to pronounced ecological degradation and substantial economic losses. This study utilized machine learning and deep learning techniques to predict A. anophagefferens population density, aiming to elucidate the occurrence mechanism and influencing factors of brown tide. Specifically, Random Forest (RF) algorithm was utilized to impute missing water quality data, facilitating its direct application in subsequent algal population prediction models. The results revealed that all four models—RF, Support Vector Regression (SVR), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)—exhibited high accuracy in predicting A. anophagefferens population densities, with R2 values exceeding 0.75. RF, in particular, showed exceptional accuracy and reliability, with an R2 value surpassing 0.8. Additionally, the study ascertained five critical factors influencing A. anophagefferens population density: ammonia nitrogen, pH, total nitrogen, temperature, and silicate. • ML/DL models predict A. anophagefferens density and brown tide outbreaks with R2 > 0.75. • Five key factors (NH 4 +, pH, TN, T, SiO 3 2−) significantly influence brown tide formation. • RF model imputes missing data and provides potential for water quality data generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis are common respiratory diseases for which children seek medical care. Their main clinical manifestation is sore throat which interferes with patients' quality of life. However, there is no proven effective or safe method to treat it. It is necessary to find an excellent strategy to reduce sore throat and reduce the burden of acute illness. We designed the randomized controlled trial with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to determine the clinical positioning of Kai-Hou-Jian spray (children's type) (KHJS) through evidence-based research. This trial aims to evaluate the immediate analgesic efficacy of KHJS on sore throat caused by acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis (wind-heat syndrome/heat exuberance in lung and stomach syndrome) in children and to observe its safety.Methods/design: This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial. It will include 240 children with acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis from 7 study sites across China. All participants are randomly assigned to two parallel treatment groups, one with KHJS and the other with placebo sprays, for 5 consecutive days. The primary outcome is the time of analgesic onset. Secondary outcomes include duration of analgesic effect, area under time curve of 0-3 h Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBS) score (AUC0-3 h), rate of analgesic onset, rate of disappearance of sore throat, changes of WBS score (in days), effective rate of pharyngeal signs, and effective rate of TCM syndrome. The incidence of adverse events during the trial is the primary safety outcome. In addition, vital signs and laboratory tests before and after medication are monitored.Discussion: To our knowledge, this will be the first clinical trial to explore the immediate analgesic efficacy of a Chinese patent medicine spray for acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis induced sore throat in children in a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled manner. Not only might it prove the efficacy and safety of KHJS in the treatment of sore throat caused by acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis in children, but it might also provide evidence for the treatment of acute sore throat with Chinese herbal medicine.Trial Registration: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, very low-dose, parallel controlled trial for the immediate analgesic effect and safety of Kai-Hou- Jian spray (children's type) in the treatment of sore throat caused by acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis in children. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000031599 . Registered on 5 April 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Total 22 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) compounds and 31 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners in mangrove sediments and tissues (leaf, branch, root and fruit) of nine species from three Mangrove Reserves of China were studied. The mean concentrations of total DDTs, HCHs, OCPs and PCBs in sediments were 2.84, 0.06, 3.84 and 0.17 ng g−1 dw, while those in tissues were 1.85, 0.22, 9.43 and 1.61 ng g−1 dw, respectively. The elevated OCPs and PCBs levels in mangrove leaves may be caused by atmospheric sedimentation. The biota sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) values of both OCPs (mean: 3.4) and PCBs (mean: 9.9) are generally larger than one, implying mangroves' bioaccumulation and their ability to intercept pollutants. The BSAFs of PCBs in mangrove tissues were negatively correlated with the PCB congener's octanol-water partition coefficients (K OW , R = 0.58, n = 31, p < 0.001), suggesting that lower chlorinated CB congeners are more bioaccumulative in mangroves. In order to better understanding the fate of these organochlorine compounds, the cycling (including the standing accumulation, the annual absorption, the annual net retention, the annual return, and the turnover period) of OCPs and PCBs in the Mangrove Reserves were estimated, and the results indicated that mangroves are playing important roles in retaining OCPs and PCBs. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Concentrations of OCPs and PCBs in natural mangrove plants are reported. • The larger BSAF values of OCPs and PCBs (>1) suggest mangroves' bioaccumulation. • BSAF of PCB in mangrove branches is significantly correlated with log K OW. • Lower chlorinated PCB congeners are more bioaccumulative in mangroves. • Mangroves are playing important roles in retaining OCPs and PCBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies suggested that insulin resistance (IR) may be a significant causal risk factor for cardiovascular events and depression independent of other risk factors. In this prospective, we assess the value of Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) at admission to predict post-stroke depression (PSD) later developed at 3 months follow-up.Methods: This prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted from January 2015 through December 2016 in China. Clinical information and HOMA-IR was assessed at admission. Neurological and neuropsychological evaluations were conducted at the 3-month follow-up.Results: In the study population, 56.6% were male and the median age was 59 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 51-69). One hundred and eighty-six patients (26.6%) showed depression at 3 months after admission and in 53 patients (28.5%) this depression was classified as severe. For each 1-unit increase of HOMA-IR, the unadjusted and adjusted risk of PSD increased by 63% (odds ratios [OR]: 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.44-1.85; P < 0.001) and 27% (1.27; 1.13-1.39; P = 0.002). In a multivariate model using the fourth quartiles of HOMA-IR vs. quartiles 1 through 3 together with the clinical variables, the marker displayed prognostic information (PSD: OR for fourth quartile, 2.76 [95% CI, 1.66-3.73; P = 0.003]).Conclusions: The data suggests that the HOMA-IR may be of potential clinical relevance in identifying stroke patients at risk of developing depression, independent of the well-established predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a closed country in which tourism was virtually unknown, China has become a major player in the international tourism market since the country opened its doors to the outside world in 1978. Because of the constant increase in international and domestic tourism in China, provincial tourism planning has become a widely discussed topic in recent years. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to address the human resources-planning issues in the development of provincial tourism in China, using Heilongjiang as a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a frequent mood disorder in stroke patient. Our aim was to determine irisin levels in serum and investigate their associations with post-stroke depression (PSD) in a 6-month follow-up study in Chinese patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods: The subjects were first-ever AIS patients who were hospitalized at three stroke centers during the period from January 2015 to December 2016. Neurological and neuropsychological evaluations were conducted at the 6-month follow-up. Serum irisin concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: During the study period, 1205 patients were included in the analysis. There were 370 patients (30.7%) classified as depression. The depression distribution across the irisin quartiles ranged between 49.8% (first quartile) and 9.9% (fourth quartile). In the patients with depression, serum irisin levels were lower compared with those in patients without depression (P < 0.001). In a multivariate model using the first (Q1) quartile of irisin vs. Q2-4 together with the clinical variables, the marker displayed predictive information and increased risk of PSD by 75% (odds ratio [OR] for Q1, 1.75 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-2.65]). In addition, a model containing known risk factors plus irisin compared with a model containing known risk factors without irisin showed a greater discriminatory ability; the area under the curve (AUC) increased from 0.77 to 0.81 (95% CI, 0.76-0.86).Conclusions: The data suggested that reduced serum levels of irisin were powerful biological markers of risk of developing PSD even after adjustment by variables. Further studies are necessary to confirm this association, which may open the way to the proposal of new therapeutic options.Trial Registration: ChiCTR-OPC-17013501 . Retrospectively registered 23 September 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Predict groundwater levels (GWLs) using wavelet and artificial neural network hybrid model. • Analyze the correlation between GWL and semi-diurnal tide using wavelet coherence. • Wavelet improves ANN model prediction performance. It is challenging to predict groundwater level (GWL) accurately and reliably in reclaimed coastal areas, the dynamic of which has been greatly altered by the land reclamation activities, due to its diverse engineering boundaries. In this study, the data-driven Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models (nonlinear input-output network (NIO), nonlinear autoregressive network with exogenous inputs (NARX), and wavelet-NARX (WA-NARX)) are used to predict the GWL in a newly reclaimed land on Zhoushan Island, China. The models use semi-diurnal tide (SDT) and precipitation as input variables, and the wavelet coherence (WTC) is applied to analyze the response of GWL to SDT. The results show that the WA-NARX hybrid model provides better prediction performance, especially for short-term periods. Meanwhile, we also explore the correlations between GWL and SDT in the filled and clay layers by using the WTC and the global coherence coefficient (GCC). The results show strong correlations at 0.5-, 1-, and 15-day time scales (resonance periodicities), which are then used as prediction periods for ANN models. The correlation is stronger for the filled layer than that for the clay layer indicates GWL in the filled layer is more sensitive to SDT, especially at 0.5-day time scale. The predicted results also confirm that SDT and precipitation have great influences on GWL with better prediction in the filled layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of crop seeds and feed with Aspergillus flavus and its associated aflatoxins presents a significant threat to human and animal health due to their hepatotoxic and carcinogenic properties. To address this challenge, researchers have screened for potential biological control agents in peanut soil and pods. This study identified a promising candidate, a strain of the nonpigmented bacterium, Achromobacter xylosoxidans ZJS2-1, isolated from the peanut rhizosphere in Zhejiang Province, China, exhibiting notable antifungal and antiaflatoxin activities. Further investigations demonstrated that ZJS2-1 active substances (ZAS) effectively inhibited growth at a MIC of 60 μL/mL and nearly suppressed AFB1 production by 99%. Metabolomic analysis revealed that ZAS significantly affected metabolites involved in cell wall and membrane biosynthesis, leading to compromised cellular integrity and induced apoptosis in A. flavus through the release of cytochrome c . Notably, ZAS targeted SrbA, a key transcription factor involved in ergosterol biosynthesis and cell membrane integrity, highlighting its crucial role in ZJS2-1's biocontrol mechanism. Moreover, infection of crop seeds and plant wilt caused by A. flavus can be efficiently alleviated by ZAS. Additionally, ZJS2-1 and ZAS demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on various Aspergillus species, with inhibition rates ranging from 80 to 99%. These findings highlight the potential of ZJS2-1 as a biocontrol agent against Aspergillus species, offering a promising solution to enhance food safety and protect human health.

Background: Adiponectin plays role in multiple metabolic pathways. Previous studies in cardiovascular disease evaluated the association between adiponectin and clinical outcomes, yielding conflicting results. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of adiponectin with major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and mortality in Chinese patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke (AIS)., Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter cohort study. From September 2009 through October 2015, all patients with AIS from 3 stroke centers in Shandong were included. Serum levels of adiponectin at admission were tested. The prognostic role of adiponectin to predict the MACCE and mortality within 3 years was evaluated by multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models., Results: This study included 4274 patients (median age 68 years [interquartile ranges {IQR}: 61-76]; 53.2% men). There were 794 deaths and 899 MACCE events. Higher serum levels of adiponectin on admission were found in patients with MACCE events and nonsurvivors (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). In multivariable models adjusted for factors that confirmed in the univariate model, elevated serum levels of adiponectin were associated with a higher risk of MACCE (Quartile[Q]4 vs. Q1, Hazard ratio[HR] = 4.95 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 3.03-7.06]) and mortality (Q4 vs. Q1, HR = 5.63 [95% CI 3.15-7.99]). Adiponectin improved the prognostic value of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) to predict MACCE (combined areas under the curve [AUC], 0.76; 95% CI 0.68-0.88; P = 0.001) and mortality (0.78[0.69-0.91]; P < 0.01). Subgroups analysis indicated that the prognostic role of adiponectin was more pronounced in women and patients with high levels of N-terminal-pro B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-pro BNP) (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Elevated serum levels of adiponectin were associated with a higher risk of MACCE and mortality independent of traditional risk factors in ischemic stroke patients.

The present study aims to analyze the effects of breast-conserving surgery and modified radical mastectomy on operation indexes, Symptom checklist-90 scores and prognosis in patients with early breast cancer.The clinical data of 128 patients with breast cancer who were treated in our hospital from May 2015 to May 2016 were included into the analysis. These patients were divided into 2 groups, according to the different modes of operation (n = 64): control group, patients underwent modified radical mastectomy; observation group, patients underwent early breast conserving surgery. Then, the surgical indexes and prognosis were compared between these 2 groups.Intraoperative bleeding volume, incision length and hospitalization duration were better in the observation group than in the control group (P < .05). Furthermore, postoperative symptom checklist-90 scores in the observation group were better than scores before the operation, and were better than the scores in the control group (P < .05). Moreover, the incidence of postoperative complications was lower in the observation group (3.13%) than in the control group (21.88%, P < .05).Early breast-conserving surgery is more advantageous for breast cancers and results to lesser bleeding, rapid recovery, and fewer complications.

Objective: To explore the association between serum retinoic acid (RA) level in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and mortality risk in the 6 months after admission., Methods: From January 2015 through December 2016, patients admitted to 3 stroke centers in China for first-ever AIS were screened. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality or cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in the 6 months after admission. The significance of serum RA level, NIH Stroke Scale score, and established risk factors in predicting mortality were determined. The integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) statistics were applied in statistical analysis., Results: Of the 1,530 patients enrolled, 325 died within 6 months of admission, with an all-cause mortality of 21.2% and CVD-related mortality of 13.1%. In multivariable analysis, RA levels were expressed as quartiles with the clinical variables. The results of the second to fourth quartiles (Q2-Q4) were compared with the first quartile (Q1); RA levels showed prognostic significance, with decreased all-cause and CVD mortality of 55% and 63%, respectively. After RA was added to the existing risk factors, all-cause mortality could be better reclassified, in association with only the NRI statistic ( p = 0.005); CVD mortality could be better reclassified with significance, in association with both the IDI and NRI statistics ( p < 0.01)., Conclusions: Low circulating levels of RA were associated with increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality in a cohort of patients with first-incidence AIS, indicating that RA level could be a predictor independent of established conventional risk factors., (© 2019 American Academy of Neurology.)

Objective: To summarize the experience in donor-recipient gender mismatching heart transplantation., Methods: Seven female patients with end-stage cardiopathy aged 13 approximately 44, underwent orthotopic transplantation of hearts from male donors. Fine-tuning immunosuppressive protocols were adopted: Stanford classic therapy was applied on 3 cases and immunosupression induction therapy was applied on 4 cases. The clinical outcomes were observed for an average of 20 months (5 approximately 54 months)., Results: No acute reject reaction was found in all 7 cases within 3 months postoperatively. The earliest 2 patients died of refractory rejection 38 and 34 months postoperatively due to immunosuppressive withdrawal because of financial difficulty. The other 5 cases resumed their normal work and daily life. No allograft dysfunction, severe opportunistic infection episodes, and injury of liver and kidney functions were found in all cases., Conclusion: Fine-tuning immunosuppressive protocols improve the short-term and long-term clinical effects of donor-recipient gender mismatching heart transplantation.