Evaluation of the diagnostic value of total bile acids/platelets in HBV related liver fibrosis

Objective:Explore the diagnostic value of total bile acids/platelets in HBV related liver fibrosis.Methods:160 patients with chronic HBV infection admitted to the Infection Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College from February 2021 to December 2022 were selected.They were divided into two groups based on the degree of liver fibrosis detected by liver biopsy:significant liver fibrosis group and non-significant liver fibrosis group.The total bile acid/blood platelet levels and their correlation with liver fibrosis in the two groups were compared and observed,and the efficacy of other non-invasive liver fibrosis diagnostic models was evaluated.Results:(1)Compared with the non-significant liver fibrosis group,the significant liver fibrosis group showed an increase in total bile acid levels,a decrease in platelet levels,and a significant increase in total bile acid/platelet levels(P<0.05).(2)Platelets decrease with the increase of liver fibrosis degree,total bile acids increase with the increase of liver fibrosis degree,and total bile acids/platelets increase with the increase of liver fibrosis degree.(3)The area under the curve(AUC)of total bile acid/platelet,APRI,FIB-4,and elastography in diagnosing the degree of liver fibrosis were 0.69,0.57,0.56,and 0.68,respectively.Conclusions:The diagnostic efficacy of total bile acids/platelets in diagnosing HBV related liver fibrosis is no less than that of other liver fibrosis diagnostic methods,and it is non-invasive,simple,and convenient,which is worthy of further clinical promotion and validation.

Antioxidant Activity and Phytochemical Screening in Acacia rigidula Benth. Leaves

This study aimed to compare the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities of A. rigidula extracts. It also aimed to identify phenolic acids present in the extracts. The 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and ferric thiocyanate lipid peroxidation antioxidant assays were performed. High performance liquid chromatography was used to identify phenolic acids. There was no solvent effect on TPC nor on scavenging activities, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (p > 0.05) among solvent extracts. On the other hand, 1:1:3 water: acetone: methanol extract (10.22 mg GAE/g sample) had significantly higher reducing potential than 50% ethanol extract (EE) (9.259 mg GAE/g sample) (p < 0.05);but EE was not significantly different from 80% methanol extract (9.781 mg GAE/g sample) (p > 0.05). Phenolic fraction designated as fraction 4 had the highest antioxidant activity (p < 0.05) with 69.49% ABTS scavenging activity and FRAP reducing potential, 22.26 mg of GAE/g sample. DPPH scavenging activities of fractions 4 (55.59%) and 5 (55.64%) were significantly higher than the other fractions (p A. rigidula extracts contain gallic, caffeic, vanillic, p-coumaric, salicylic acids and vanillin.

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and fibrolytic enzyme on the fermentation quality and in vitro digestibility of total mixed rations silage including rape straw

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of a lactic acid bacteria inoculant（Lactobacillus plantarum, LP）, fibrolytic enzyme（EN）, combination of LP and EN（LP＋EN） on fermentation quality, nutritive characteristics and in vitro digestibility of total mixed ration（TMR） silages containing 0, 7.5 and 15.0%（on dry matter basis） of rape（Brassica campestris L.） straw（RS）（denoted as CTMR, LTMR and MTMR, respectively）. After ensiling for 60 days, TMR silages without additives were well preserved, but MTMR had higher p H than CTMR and LTMR. There were no differences in other parameters of fermentation quality, microbial composition, nutrition and in vitro digestibility between CTMR and LTMR except for yeast and mold number and crude protein（CP） content. CTMR and LTMR silage had higher CP content, in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility（IVNDFD） and in vitro acid detergent fiber digestibility（IVADFD）, lower acid detergent fiber（ADF） content than MTMR silage. LP and EN decreased p H and increased dry matter（DM） recovery of TMR silages. LP＋EN improved the fermentation quality, nutritive characteristics and in vitro digestibility of TMR silages, showed by lower p H, ADF content, higher lactic acid content, in vitro dry matter digestibility（IVDMD） and IVNDFD. Therefore, It was suggested that TMR silage contained 7.5% RS on a DM basis and treated with LP＋EN can be as a useful feed for ruminant.

Reproductive performance and gestational effort in relation to dietary fatty acids in guinea pigs

Background： Dietary saturated（SFAs） and polyunsaturated（PUFAs） fatty acids can highly affect reproductive functions by providing additional energy, modulating the biochemical properties of tissues, and hormone secretions. In precocial mammals such as domestic guinea pigs the offspring is born highly developed. Gestation might be the most critical reproductive period in this species and dietary fatty acids may profoundly influence the gestational effort. We therefore determined the hormonal status at conception, the reproductive success, and body mass changes during gestation in guinea pigs maintained on diets high in PUFAs or SFAs, or a control diet.Results： The diets significantly affected the females＇ plasma fatty acid status at conception, while cortisol and estrogen levels did not differ among groups. SFA females exhibited a significantly lower body mass and litter size, while the individual birth mass of pups did not differ among groups and a general higher pup mortality rate in larger litters was diminished by PUFAs and SFAs. The gestational effort, determined by a mother＇s body mass gain during gestation, increased with total litter mass, whereas this increase was lowest in SFA and highest in PUFA individuals. The mother＇s body mass after parturition did not differ among groups and was positively affected by the total litter mass in PUFA females.Conclusions： While SFAs reduce the litter size, but also the gestational effort as a consequence, PUFA supplementation may contribute to an adjustment of energy accumulations to the total litter mass, which may both favor a mother＇s body condition at parturition and perhaps increase the offspring survival at birth.

Variability in total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant leaf pigments and foliage yield of vegetable amaranth

Twenty vegetable amaranth genotypes were evaluated for total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant leaf pigments, vitamins, and selection of suitable genotypes for extraction of juice in a randomized complete block design（RCBD） with three replications. Vegetable amaranth was rich in chlorophyll, β-cyanins, β-xanthins, betalains, carotene, ascorbic acid and total antioxidant. The genotypes VA14, VA16, VA18, VA15, and VA20 could be selected as amaranth vegtable varieties with high yields and abundance antioxidant leaf pigments and vitamins to produce juice. The genotypes VA13 and VA19 had above-average foliage yield and high antioxidant profiles while the genotypes VA2, VA3, VA9, VA11, VA12, and VA17 had a high antioxidant profiles and below-average foliage yield. These genotypes could be used as a donor parent for integration of potential high antioxidant profiles genes into other genotypes. The correlation study revealed a strong positive association among all the antioxidant leaf pigments, total antioxidant capacity and foliage yield. Selection based on total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant leaf pigments could economically viable to improve the yield potential of vegetable amaranth genotypes. Total carotene and ascorbic acid exhibited insignificant genotypic correlation with all the traits except total antioxidant capacity. This indicates that selection for antioxidant vitamins might be possible without compromising yield loss.

Changes of Petroleum Acid Distribution Characterized by FT-ICR MS in Heavy Acidic Crude Oil after True Boiling Point Distillation

The molecular transformations of carboxylic acids in heavy acidic SL crude before and after true boiling point distillation were examined by ultra-high resolution negative-ion electrospray ionization(ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry(FT-ICR MS). The acid class(heteroatom number), type(z numbers) and carbon number distributions were positively characterized. It was found out that the total acid number(TAN) of SL crude decreased after true boiling point distillation, and the abundance of O2 class in mass spectra was also found to be reduced from 67.6% to 34.5% in SL TBP mixed crude as measured by MS spectra, indicating to a potential carboxylic acid decomposition. However, it was interesting that the carboxylic acids type distribution in both oils was almost the same although their relative abundance in SL TBP mixed crude turned to be much lower, suggesting that various petroleum carboxylic acid types have the similar thermal decomposition reaction behavior. Furthermore, for each O2 type of acids in SL TBP mixed crude, the abundance of carboxylic acids with carbon number higher than 35 was reduced greatly, especially for those with carbon number higher than 60, the mass peaks of which were nearly totally removed, indicating that the large carboxylic acid molecules in heavy fractions decomposed more significantly because of longer heating time during the true boiling point distillation process. As a result, the reduction of TAN may be caused by the thermal decomposition of carboxylic acids especially those with high carbon number, suggesting that quick distillation or much lower pressure is required to avoid the thermal decomposition.

Total Triterpene Acids,Isolated from Corni Fructus,Ameliorate Progression of Renal Damage in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Objective： To investigate whether total triterpene acids （TTAs）, isolated from Comus Fructus, attenuates renal function by reducing oxidative stress and down-regulating the expression of transforming growth factor β1 （TGF- β1）. Methods： Diabetes was induced by an injection of streptozotocin （40 mg/kg intravenously）. Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups： control group, diabetic model group and l-rAs treatment group （50 mg/kg, intragastrically） administrated for 8 weeks from 5th to 12th week. All rats were anaesthetized and then were killed to remove kidneys. The renal function and redox enzyme system parameters were tested. Glomerular morphology was observed by a light microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were employed to determine the protein levels of TGF- β1. Results： TTAs attenuated the levels of urinary protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, although it did not significantly reduce the level of glucose. In addition, TTAs decreased the malondialdehyde while increased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxide activities in diabetic rats. The renal pathological changes in TTAs treatment group were ameliorated. Furthermore, TTAs also ameliorated the expression of TGF- β1. Conclusion： TTAs improved renal function via reducing oxidative stress and down-regulation the expression of TGF- β1 in diabetic rats.

Standard method design considerations for semi-quantification of total naphthenic acids in oil sands process affected water by mass spectrometry： A review

Naphthenic acids are a complex class of thousands of naturally occurring aliphatic and alicyclic carboxylic acids found in oil sands bitumen and in the wastewater generated from bitumen processing. Dozens of analytical methods have been developed for the semiquantification of total naphthenic acids in water samples. However, different methods can give different results, prompting investigation into the comparability of the many methods. A review of important methodological features for analyzing total naphthenic acids is presented and informs the design of future standard methods for the semi- quantification of total naphthenic acids using mass spectrometry. The design considerations presented are a synthesis of discussions from an Environment and Climate Change Canada （ECCC） led taskforce of 10 laboratory experts from government, industry and academia during April 2016 and subsequent discussions between University of British Columbia and ECCC representatives. Matters considered are： extraction method, solvent, pH, and temperature; analysis instrumentation and resolution; choice of calibration standards; use of surrogate and internal standards; and use of online or offline separation prior to analysis. The design considerations are amenable to both time-of-flight and Orbitrap mass spectrometers.

Clinical Application Value of Combined Detection of CG and TBA in Differential Diagnosis of Hepatobiliary System Diseases

Objective: To understand the clinical value of combined detection of cholyglycine CG and TBA in differential diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases. Methods: Serum samples from 50 healthy people were collected as healthy control group. According to the latest disease diagnosis and treatment plan, 58 cases of HBV asymptomatic carrier group, 17 cases of viral hepatitis group, 49 cases of cirrhosis group, 50 cases of primary liver cancer group and 50 cases of other hepatobiliary diseases groups were collected respectively. The concentration levels of cholyglycine and total bile acid in each group were detected, and the differences among each group were compared. Results: By statistical analysis, serum CG concentration in viral hepatitis group, cirrhosis group, primary liver cancer group and other hepatobiliary diseases group was significantly higher than that in asymptomatic HEPATITIS B carriers and healthy control group, the differences were statistically significant (p 0.05). There was no significant difference in CG concentration among viral hepatitis group, liver cirrhosis group, primary liver cancer group and other hepatobiliary diseases group (p > 0.05). The serum TBA levels of asymptomatic carriers, viral hepatitis group, cirrhosis group, primary liver cancer group and other hepatobiliary system diseases group were significantly higher than those of healthy control group, the difference was statistically significant, p 0.05. Conclusion: Serum CG expression can not only detect liver lesions, but also distinguish different liver lesions. The positive rate of CG combined with TBA detection in patients with hepatobiliary diseases is significantly higher than that of single CG index detection. CG combined with TBA detection can significantly improve the sensitivity and accuracy of the diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases, which is worthy of popularization and application.

放电对变压器油特性的影响(英文)

Petroleum based oils,the so-called mineral oils,are used for impregnating solid insulations or filling products of very large number of electric materials:transformers,reactors,cables,bushings,circuit breakers,tap changers, etc.In these equipments,oil is exposed to electrical stress and may experience electrical discharges under certain circumstances.Since the electrical stress is unavoidable in power equipments,the ability of oil to resist decomposition under electrical stress is of great importance for the safety of these devices.Electrical stress together with heat and moisture,in the presence of oxygen,oxidises the oil producing free radicals,acids and sludge that are deleterious to the transformer.In this paper,the effect of electrical discharges on oil properties is reported.The results indicate that quality of oil is considerably affected with increasing voltage stress.Comparing oil properties before and after voltage application allows assessing the outcome of random secondary chemical reactions between large oil born free radicals.

Effects of Simulated Acid Rain on Main Nutritional Indicators of Three Leafy Vegetables

The purpose of this paper was to identify content changes in the main nutritional indicators of three common leafy vegetables, and to provide a theoretical basis for the protection of leafy vegetables from acid rain. The experiment investigated the effects of simulated acid rain on four main nutritional indicators, including soluble sugar, total free amino acid, soluble protein and vitamin C during the application of simulated acid rain(SAR) in pakchoi(Brassica rapa chinensis), rape(Brassica campestris L.) and lettuce(Lactuca sativa Linn. var. ramosa Hort). The vegetables were respectively exposed to SAR of pH=7.0, 5.6, 5.0, 4.0, 3.0 and a control level of pH=6.5. The concentrations of the four main nutritional indicators were determined at harvest. The results show that nutritional quality of the three leafy vegetable species decreased with the declining of pH values of SAR. The higher the acidity of SAR was, the more significant the inhibitions were. Nutritional quality of lettuce was the most affected by simulated acid rain, followed by pakchoi and rape. The change range of soluble protein content was higher than those of the other three indicators’ contents, which indicates that soluble protein is most sensitive to simulated acid rain.

First total synthesis of natural products cajanolactone A and cajanonic acid A

First total synthesis of cajanolactone A and cajanonic acid A has been achieved through steps of anion–anion condensations,cyclization,Williams etherification,selective demethylation,1 3-sigmatropic rearrangement and hydrolysis.This work provides an efficient method for future cajanonic acid A derivatives synthesis.

Analyze the Performance of Electroactive Anticorrosion Coating of Medical Magnesium Alloy Using Deep Learning

Electroactive anticorrosion coatings are specialized surface treatments that prevent or minimize corrosion. Thestudy employs strategic thermodynamic equilibriumcalculations to pioneer a novel factor in corrosion protection.A first-time proposal, the total acidity (TA) potential of the hydrogen (pH) concept significantly shapes medicalmagnesium alloys. These coatings are meticulously designed for robust corrosion resistance, blending theoreticalinsights and practical applications to enhance our grasp of corrosion prevention mechanisms and establisha systematic approach to coating design. The groundbreaking significance of this study lies in its innovativeintegration of the TA/pH concept,which encompasses the TA/pH ratio of the chemical environment. This approachsurpasses convention by acknowledging the intricate interplay between the acidity and pH levels within thecoating formulation, thereby optimizing metal-phosphate-based conversion coatings and transforming corrosionmitigation strategies. To authenticate the TA/pH concept, the study comprehensively compares its findings withexisting research, rigorously validating the theoretical framework and reinforcing the correlates among TA/pHvalues and observed corrosion resistance in the coatings. The influence of mutations that occur naturally inthe detergent solution on persistent phosphorus changes is shown by empirical confirmation, which improvescorrosion resistance. This realization advances the field ofmaterials and the field’s knowledge of coated generation,particularly anticorrosion converter layers.

Glycophorin variants and contents of sialic acid and total sulfhydryl groups on erythrocyte membranes of residents in a malaria hyperendemic area

Abstract Objective To conduct a screening survey of glycophorin (GP) variants and observe the content changes of sialic acid (SA) and total sulfhydryl (SH) groups on the erythrocyte membranes among residents in a tertian malaria hyperendemic area of Guizhou Province. Methods GP variants were detected in the erythrocyte hemolysates of 173 local residents at two villages of Libo County by SDS PAGE on 10% to 15% gradients gel and Western immunoblotting. Their SA and total SH group contents were estimated in erythrocyte membranes by spectrophotometric methods. 114 healthy subjects in Changsha and 49 individuals at a neighbouring village of the above area showing low morbidity of malaria served as normal and endemic controls respectively. Results Three distinct types of GP variants were found among 19 propositi in this hyperendemic area. The incidence of GP variants was 7.9% (8/101) at Yaolu Village whose population was mainly composed of Yao ethnic group;while that of Buyi ethnic group at Maolan Village was higher (15.3%; 11/72).The erythrocyte membrane contents of SA in residents at both villages exhibited a very significant tendency of decline (P<0.01), whereas those of total SH groups increased prominently in residents of Yaolu Village only (P<0.05). Conclusions The frequency of GP variants in this hyperendemic area does not depend upon the severity of malarial prevalence. The evident reduction of SA contents in the residents may be related to the breaking down of the SA residues on membrane GPs by the invasion of Plasmodium vivax.

Fermented Spirulina products with Saccharomyces and non- Saccharomyces yeasts:Special reference to their microbial,physico-chemical and sensory characterizations

Innovative products produced from various sources through fermentation processes have been a resurgence of interest.This study was designed to determine the performance of fermented Spirulina (FS) products by three different yeast species including Debaryomyces hansenii ,Kluyveromyces marxianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and investigate the microbial,physicochemical and sensory characteristics of products.The results showed that the increase in yeast cell number was around 3 log after 48 h fermentation in Spirulina medium without additional carbon source.Protein bands with a molecular weight of ∼51 kDa seemed less visible and bands 14–22 kDa disappeared after 48 h fermentation by K.marxianus showed strong hydrolysis of proteins during fermentation.The amino acid compositions of the three kinds of FS were different also compared to unfermented Spirulina (unFS).Glutamic acid,methionine,lysine,isoleucine and valine became more dominant in FS samples.According to GC–MS analysis,there was a decrease in the concentration of pyrazine,ketone and aldehyde compounds of FS compared to unFS.The flavor notes of “seaweed”,“cardboard”,“earthy/muddy” and “cereal/straw” were found to be the highest in unFS than in FS detected by panelists during sensory evaluations.FS by K.marxianus is highly characterized as having the lowest “seaweed” and “umami” flavor attributes and higher “fermented” and “rose” attributes.Finally,the current study revealed that the potential of Spirulina biomass to be a suitable substrate for yeasts and fermentation of Spirulina with different yeast species led to different kinds of products.