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【Abstract】Objective: To investigate the dynamic activity of NF-κB at the early stage of injury in multiple trauma patients and the protective effects of ulinastain. Methods: From January 2008 to May 2010, patients with multiple traumas admitted to our emergency department were enrolled in this study. Their age varied from 20-55 years. All enrolled patients were assigned randomly into control group (26 cases of multiple injury without ulinastain treatment), ulinastain group (25 cases of multiple injury with ulinastain treatment), and mild injury group (20 cases) for basic control. The inclusion criteria for mild injury group were AIS-2005≤3, single wound, previously healthy inhospital patients without the history of surgical intervention. In addition to routine treatment, patients in ulinastain group were intravenously injected 200 000 IU of ulinastain dissolved in 100 ml of normal saline within 12 hours after injury and subsequently injected at the interval of every 8 hours for 7 days. NF-κB activity in monocytes and the level of TNF? IL-1, IL? in serum on admission (day 0), day 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 were measured. Data were compared and analyzed between different groups. Results: NF-κB activity in monocytes and TNF? IL-1 and IL? of these patients reached peak levels at 24 hour after trauma, with gradual decrease to normal at 72 hour after trauma. NF-κB activity and levels of TNF? IL-1 and IL? were lower in ulinastain group than control one, without any significant difference between the two groups. The mean duration for systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was 7 d?.1 d and 10 d?.5 d in ulinastain group and control group respectively, and showed a significant difference. Conclusions: NF-κB activity in monocytes and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in multiply injured patients increased transiently at the early stage of trauma. Ulinastain may shorten the duration of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, but does not show the ability to decrease the activity of NF-κB . Key words: Wounds and injuries; Multiple trauma; NF-kappaB; Cytokines

Gnaphalium affine is a plant with various active properties and has been approved for use as a traditional medicine and food ingredient. In this study, liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection was utilized to separate the antioxidant compounds of G. affine, in conjunction with liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for identification. The in vitro antioxidant activity of G. affine was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity assays, as well as the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. The results showed that a total of 25 antioxidant compounds were screened and identified, among which 14 compounds were quantitatively analyzed. G. affine was found to be rich in phenolic substances, with the total phenolic content ranging from 14.62 to 59.30 mg GAE/g DW, which exhibited high antioxidant potential. The antioxidant activities showed a strong positive correlation with the total phenolic content (r > 0.9). The predominant phenolic compounds in G. affine were 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, ferulic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and luteolin, with 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid exhibiting the highest levels. Statistical analysis indicated that monosubstituted caffeoylquinic acids, disubstituted caffeoylquinic acids, and luteolin derivatives strongly correlated with the antioxidant potential. This study identified and quantified the major chemical constituents responsible for the antioxidant properties of G. affine, demonstrating its potential as a natural source of antioxidants for the use in foods, pharmaceuticals, and health products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ever since the GALAD (gender-age-Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein-alpha-fetoprotein-des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin) logistic regression model was established to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there has been no high-level evidence that evaluates and summarizes it. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic ability of the GALAD model. METHODS: The following databases were systematically searched for original diagnostic studies on HCC: PubMed, Embase, Medline, the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Wanfang (China), Wiper and the Chinese BioMedical Literature Database. After screening the search results according to our criteria, the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool was used to evaluate the methodologic qualities, and statistical software were used to output the statistics. RESULTS: Ultimately, 10 studies were included and analyzed. The results revealed the pooled sensitivity and specificity of the GALAD model to be 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82, 0.90) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87, 0.92), respectively, for all-stage HCC. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.94. For early-stage HCC, the pooled sensitivity and specificity of the GALAD model were 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.87) and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.83), respectively. The AUC was 0.90. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis confirmed that the GALAD model has excellent diagnostic performance for early-stage and all-stage HCC and can maintain high sensitivity and specificity in early-stage HCC. Therefore, the GALAD model is qualified for screening early-stage canceration from chronic liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature is a significant abiotic stress factor that restrict the growth of peanuts, and breeding of cold-tolerant varieties is the most direct and effective approach to solve low temperature and cold damage. In this study, 372 peanut germplasm resources collected from home and abroad were used as research objects,and the yield correlation traits and qualities in Wuhan of the warm region and Kunming of the cold region were analyzed. The membership function method was used combined with chain cluster analysis to screen excellent cold tolerance resources, and the influence of cold and cool climate on yield correlation factors and quality was analyzed. Key cold resistance identification indicators were screened to identify and evaluate their cold resistance. The results showed that the plant, yield and quality of peanut were mainly affected by the temperature, light and accumulated temperature at the pod stage and the full fruit ripening stage: the higher temperature and accumulated temperature, longer light time result in the higher yield, oil content, protein and other content and also resulted in lower content of oleic acid, linoleic acid and sucrose. Tolerance of different materials to low temperature was different. The comprehensive cold resistance evaluation value (D) was clustered and analyzed, and 372 varieties were divided into 4 categories. Among them, Class I belonged to the strong cold resistant type with a total of two parts; Class II belongs to the cold-resistant type with a total of 86 varieties; Class III belongs to the non-cold-resistant type with a total of 280 varieties; Class IV is a sensitive type of varieties with a total of 4 varieties. Using multiple stepwise regression analysis method, the evaluation model of peanut field cold tolerance Y=-0.002+0.003X1+0.008X2+0.002X3+0.001X4 was established, and the relative hundred kernel weight, relative number of fruits per plant, relative plant height and relative yield per plant were screened out as the initial screening indicators of peanut field cold tolerance, which provided basic varieties and efficient identification methods for the cultivation of new varieties of peanut cold tolerance and related theoretical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colored peanut is a multi colored seed coat characteristics of edible peanut, integrating ornamental, fresh, nutritional, and health benefits. Yunnan Province is one of the representative production areas for edible peanuts in China. In recent years, on the basis of traditional cultivated red skinned small grain peanuts, excellent germplasm of edible peanuts have been developed. These new varieties exhibit colorful seed coats in purple and black, and possess desirable traits as high sugar content, low oil content (e.g. Yunhua 23). These excellent edible raw materials had advantages in quality and sales price, with a typical annual output value of about 75 000 CNY/hm² and a maximum output value of over 150 000 CNY/hm². These advantages significantly increased regional peanut output value, which became a driving force for rural revitalization in the production area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main targets of this work were to evaluate the antioxidative properties of flavonoids in Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) leaves and quantitatively determine their contents. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and hydroxyl free radicals scavenging assays were performed to determine their antioxidative capacities. The validated ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) method was subsequently applied to the quality evaluation of eleven batches of Jerusalem artichoke leaves grown in different habitats at different harvesting time. Results indicated that two flavonoids isolated from Jerusalem artichoke leaves showed stronger antioxidant effects than the positive control, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). And the total contents of the two flavonoids in the Jerusalem artichoke leaves of flowering stage from Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, were the highest, their contents varied significantly depending on region and harvesting time. This study indicated that the leaves of Jerusalem artichoke possessed excellent antioxidant properties, highlighting their candidacy as natural antioxidants, which could be utilized therapeutically to protect the body from diseases caused by oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beryllium and its compounds are systemic toxicants that are widely applied in many industries. Hydrogen sulfide has been found to protect cells. The present study aimed to determine the protective mechanisms involved in hydrogen sulfide treatment of 16HBE cells following beryllium sulfate‐induced injury. 16HBE cells were treated with beryllium sulfate doses ranging between 0 and 300 μM BeSO4. Additionally, 16HBE cells were subjected to pretreatment with either a 300 μM dose of sodium hydrosulfide (a hydrogen sulfide donor) or 10 mM DL‐propargylglycine (a cystathionine‐γ‐lyase inhibitor) for 6 hr before then being treated with 150 μM beryllium sulfate for 48 hr. This study illustrates that beryllium sulfate induces a reduction in cell viability, increases lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and increases cellular apoptosis and autophagy in 16HBE cells. Interestingly, pretreating 16HBE cells with sodium hydrosulfide significantly reduced the beryllium sulfate‐induced apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, it increased the mitochondrial membrane potential and alleviated the G2/M‐phase cell cycle arrest. However, pretreatment with 10 mM DL‐propargylglycine promoted the opposite effects. PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2/ARE signaling pathways are also activated following pretreatment with sodium hydrosulfide. These results indicate the protection provided by hydrogen sulfide in 16HBE cells against beryllium sulfate‐induced injury is associated with the inhibition of apoptosis and autophagy through the activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2/ARE signaling pathways. Therefore, hydrogen sulfide has the potential to be a promising candidate in the treatment against beryllium disease. BeSO4 could reduce cell viability, increase LDH release, and induce cellular apoptosis and autophagy in 16HBE cells. Pretreatment of NaHS could increase the mitochondrial membrane potential and alleviate the G2/M‐phase cell cycle arrest. The protective effects of H2S in 16HBE cells against BeSO4‐induced injury is associated with the inhibition of apoptosis and autophagy through the activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2/ARE signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beryllium and its compounds are systemic toxicants that mainly accumulate in the lungs. As a regulator of gene expression, microRNAs (miRNAs) were involved in some lung diseases. This study aimed to analyze the levels of some inflammatory cytokine and the differential expressions of miRNAs in human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) induced by beryllium sulfate (BeSO4) and to further explore the biological functions of differentially expressed miRNAs. The profile of miRNAs in 16HBE cells was detected using the high‐throughput sequencing between the control groups (n = 3) and the 150 μmol/L of BeSO4‐treated groups (n = 3). Bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs was performed, including the prediction of target genes, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was applied to verify some damage‐related miRNAs. We found that BeSO4 can increase the levels of some inflammatory cytokine such as interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2). And BeSO4 altered miRNAs expression of 16HBE cells and a total of 179 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, including 88 upregulated miRNAs and 91 downregulated miRNAs. The target genes predicted by 28 dysregulated miRNAs were mainly involved in the transcription regulation, signal transduction, MAPK, and VEGF signaling pathway. The qRT‐PCR verification results were consistent with the sequencing results. miRNA expression profiling in 16HBE cells exposed to BeSO4 provides new insights into the toxicity mechanism of beryllium exposure. Beryllium and its compounds are systemic toxicants that mainly accumulate in the lungs. As a regulator of gene expression, microRNAs (miRNAs) were involved in some lung diseases. This study aimed to analyze the levels of some inflammatory cytokine and the differential expressions of miRNAs in human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) induced by beryllium sulfate (BeSO4) and further explore the biological functions of differentially expressed miRNAs. We found that BeSO4 can increase the levels of some inflammatory cytokine such as interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2). And BeSO4 altered miRNAs expression of 16HBE cells and a total of 179 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, including 88 up‐regulated miRNAs and 91 down‐regulated miRNAs. The target genes predicted by 28 dysregulated miRNAs were mainly involved in the transcription regulation, signal transduction, MAPK, and VEGF signaling pathway. miRNA expression profiling in 16HBE cells exposed to BeSO4 provides new insights into the toxicity mechanism of beryllium exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the drought tolerance of Brassica juncea, quality of 150 local varieties of B. juncea was investigated in Yunnan Province. The aboveground and underground parts of the plants were studied under drought stress with different degrees. Results showed that B. juncea was tolerant to drought, and had wide range of quality variations. The variation coefficient of oleic acid and erucic acid was more than 1, and the varieties tested were roughly grouped into 3 categories according to quality characteristics. The medium and severe drought could significantly affect growth of shoot and root system, especially the root system. Under medium drought, drought tolerance had significant positive correlations with oil content and extremely long fatty acids (erucic acid and arachidonic acid), but had significant negative correlation with 5 long-chain fatty acids (stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid). Under severe drought condition, drought tolerance had no relevance with quality traits. Meanwhile, drought resistance of the same variety was different under different degree of drought. Oil content had extremely significant positive correlation with long chain fatty acids. The oil content was negatively correlated with the content of long chain fatty acids and protein. The very long chain fatty acids had a significant negative correlation with long chain fatty acids. Eight varieties with strong comprehensive drought resistance were screened out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clubroot is one of the most serious disease in oilseed rape. To explore the resistant molecular mechanism of the interaction between Plasmodiophora brassicae and Brassica napus during early infection, gene differential expression analysis of the clubroot - resistant rapeseed line ZHE - 226 ( R) and clubroot - susceptible line 10159 ( S) were performed by RNA - seq. A total of 809 and 1082 genes were commonly up - and down - regulated at 0, 12, 48, 72h post - inoculation (hpi) time points in R line. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), chiti-nase, R gene,WRKY transcription factor, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid(JA) were involved in the early response to clubroot infection in lines of R and S, but showed different expression patterns. Compared to S line, most of the PRRs genes were down - regulated, R genes were up - regulated and SA genes were down - regulated in earlier stage but up -regulated at 72hpi in R line. Chitinase,WRKY and JA related genes were both induced in R and S lines. These results showed that PTI -mediated by PRRs was significantly induced in S line, but played a small role in R line. ETI - mediated by R gene and resistance signal pathway - mediated by SA played great role in clubroot resistance. This research provided a better understanding of the resistance genes of B. napus in response to P. brassicae, and assistance for clubroot - resistant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]