AIM: To explore the relevance of Maotai liquor and liver diseases. METHODS: Epidemiological study was conducted on groups of subjects, each consisting of 3 subjects from the Maotai liquor group consisting of 99 indivi...AIM: To explore the relevance of Maotai liquor and liver diseases. METHODS: Epidemiological study was conducted on groups of subjects, each consisting of 3 subjects from the Maotai liquor group consisting of 99 individuals and one from the non-alcoholic control group consisting of 33 individuals. Liver biopsy was performed on 23 volunteers from Guizhou Maotai Distillery who had a constant and long history of drinking Maotai liquor. Experimental histopathological study was conducted as follows: sixty male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups randomly and fed with Maotai liquor, ordinary white wine, and physiological saline respectively for a period of 8 and 12 weeks. The rats were sacrificed in batches, then serum ALT, AST, TBil, and AKP were measured. Rat livers were harvested to measure the liver indexes, GSH, and MDA. Histopathological examinations were also performed. Another eighty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups and fed with Maotai (at different dosages of 10 ml.kg(-1) and 20 ml.kg(-1)), ethanol, and physiological saline. The animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks and serum ALT was determined. Then the livers were harvested and liver indexes and MDA were measured. RESULTS: The incidence rate of hepatic symptoms, splenomegaly, liver function impairment, reversal of Albumin/Globulin and increased diameter of portal veins in the Maotai liquor group were 1.0% 1/99 , 1.0% 1/99 , 1.0% 1/99 , 1.0% 1/99 , 0 0/99 and 0 0/99 , 0 0/99 ,0 0/99 , 0 0/99 , 0 0/99 , respectively. There was no significant difference between the Maotai group and the non-alcoholic control group P】0.05 . Various degree of fatty infiltration of hepatocytes was found in the 23 volunteers receiving liver biopsy, but there was no obvious hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis. A comparison was made between the Maotai liquor group and the ordinary white wine group. It was found that hepatic MDA in rats and mice were 0.33+/-0.10 and 0.49+/-0.23 respectively in Maotai group and 0.61+/-0.22 and 0.66+/-0.32 in the ordinary white wine group; MDA had an obvious decrease in the Maotai liquor group (P【0.05); hepatic GSH were 0.12 mg.g(-1)+/-0.06 mg.g(-1) in rats of the Maotai liquor group and (0.08+/-0.02)mg.g(-1) in white wine group, it was obviously increased in the Maotai liquor group (P【0.05). After the 20 rats had been fed with ordinary white wine for 8 weeks consecutively, disarranged hepatocyte cords, fatty infiltration of hepatocytes, and fibrous septa of varying widths due to hepatic connective tissues proliferation were observed; after 12 weeks, the fibrous tissue proliferation continued and early cirrhosis appeared. Compared with the ordinary white wine group, fatty infiltration was observed in the 8-week and 12-week groups, but no necrosis or fibrosis or cirrhosis was found in the Maotai liquor group (P【0.05). CONCLUSION: Maotai liquor may cause fatty liver but not hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis, and it can strengthen lipid peroxidation in the liver.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the association of alcohol dose, duration of drinking and obesity with abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators, the prevalence of alcohol-related liver injury in the island population of Ch...AIM:To investigate the association of alcohol dose, duration of drinking and obesity with abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators, the prevalence of alcohol-related liver injury in the island population of China.METHODS:Randomized multistage stratified cluster sampling from the island population of China was used in the population-based case-control study. Then interview, physical examination, laboratory assessments and ultrasonography were done. RESULTS:Daily alcohol intake ≥ 20 g, duration of drinking ≥ 5 years and obesity were closely related to alcohol-related liver injury (P < 0.05). The odds-ratio (OR) (95% CI) was 1.965 (1.122-3.442), 3.412 (1.789-6.507) and 1.887 (1.261-2.824), respectively. The prevalence rate of alcohol-related liver injury in ≥ 20 g daily alcohol intake group and < 20 g daily alcohol intake group was 37.14% and 12.06%, respectively. The prevalence rate of alcohol-related liver injury in ≥ 5 years drinking group and < 5 years drinking group was 34.44% and 8.53%, respectively. No significant dose-response relation was found between daily alcohol intake and abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators as well as between duration of drinking and abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of alcohol-related liver injury between beer drinking group and yellow rice wine drinking group, hard liquor drinking group, multiple drinking group.CONCLUSION:The risk threshold of daily alcohol intake is 20 g and duration of drinking inducing alcohol-related liver injury 5 years in the island population of China. Liver injury induced by obesity should be concerned.展开更多
The time-driven activity-based costing has received extensive attention from scholars both at home and abroad in recent years,which has been applied to the calculation of manufacturing operations and the cost of produ...The time-driven activity-based costing has received extensive attention from scholars both at home and abroad in recent years,which has been applied to the calculation of manufacturing operations and the cost of products.However, this approach is rarely introduced into the service sector.As to the hospitality industry, the profitability of the customer usually plays a decisive role in the business process.Therefore, this article takes the hotel service industry as the research point and allocates the costs of resources of each departments to customers according to time drivers.The focus of this paper is to calculate the costs of customers ,and then analyze the profitability of customers in order to take the appropriate marketing strategies to improve the hotel service industry Drofitabilitv.展开更多
Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) is one of the most common disorders with an increasing incidence and prevalence.Alcohol consumption may be a risk factor for GERD;however,the relationship remains to be fully eluc...Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) is one of the most common disorders with an increasing incidence and prevalence.Alcohol consumption may be a risk factor for GERD;however,the relationship remains to be fully elucidated.The results of different studies are diverse and contradictory.Systematic investigations concerning this matter are inappropriate and further well-designed prospective studies are needed to clarify the effect of alcohol on GERD.展开更多
Direct numerical simulations are carried out to assess the potential drag reduction of compressible turbulent flow between isothermal walls.For the sake of achieving drag reduction,the flow is actively controlled by d...Direct numerical simulations are carried out to assess the potential drag reduction of compressible turbulent flow between isothermal walls.For the sake of achieving drag reduction,the flow is actively controlled by deformable dimples lying on the bottom wall of the channel.The first stage of the procedure consists in assessing the optimum geometry of the dimples.In this regard,the lower wall is allowed to freely deform itself according to the loop of control.This method is called the smart wall approach in this paper.By an analysis of the typical shape of the wall deformation thus obtained,it is found that dimples should be thinner than or comparable to the width of streaky structures in the spanwise direction and elongated in the streamwise direction.With active dimples as the wall-deformation actuators,a 15% drag reduction is obtained for the flow at Mam = 0.35 while the drag reduction rate is about 12% for the flow at Mam = 1.5.The fundamental mechanism of the drag reduction is then discussed in this paper.The drag reduction is believed to result from two aspects:the reduction of the mean streamwise velocity gradient near the deformable wall and the suppression of the turbulent fluctuations.展开更多
Background and Aims:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common chronic liver disease and is closely related to metabolic syndrome and its risk factors.Worldwide,epidemiological studies have reported NA...Background and Aims:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common chronic liver disease and is closely related to metabolic syndrome and its risk factors.Worldwide,epidemiological studies have reported NAFLD prevalence rates of 5%to 30%depending on geographical variations.While epidemiological data suggest a progressively increasing prevalence of metabolic risk factors in Singapore,there are limited data about NAFLD per se in the community.We aim to explore the prevalence and perceptions of NAFLD in Singapore.Methods:Attendees at a gastroenterology public forum were enrolled in a cross-sectional observational study evaluating demographic,anthropometric and clinical information.The diagnosis of NAFLD was based on sonographic criteria.Metabolic syndrome was defined according to International Diabetes Federation guidelines.Perceptions of NAFLD were explored using a self-administered survey questionnaire.Results:A total of 227 subjects were recruited,with NAFLD being diagnosed in 40%of the cohort.Relative to those without NAFLD,subjects with NAFLD had higher male preponderance,older age,higher body mass index,waist circumference and more metabolic syndrome(all P<0.05).Although 71.2%subjects had heard about NAFLD before,only 25.4%of them felt that they were at risk of NAFLD.Comparable responses were observed in subjects with no metabolic risk factors relative to subjects with one or more metabolic risk factors(P>0.05).Of note,75.6%of subjects with one or more metabolic risk factors did not think that they were at risk of NAFLD.Conclusion:Our study suggests a significant local prevalence of NAFLD in the community including non-obese individuals.Considering the tendency to underestimate risk of NAFLD,enhanced public education about NAFLD is warranted to improve understanding.展开更多
HIV/AIDS has become a worldwide pandemic and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the only generally recognized effective therapy at present. However, various unresolvable problems appear with the widesprea...HIV/AIDS has become a worldwide pandemic and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the only generally recognized effective therapy at present. However, various unresolvable problems appear with the widespread use of HAART. Traditional Chinese Medicine shows good efficacy for intervention in HIV/AIDS and could become an effective treatment option.展开更多
基金The primary sciences and technology project of Guizhou province,No.19992015
文摘AIM: To explore the relevance of Maotai liquor and liver diseases. METHODS: Epidemiological study was conducted on groups of subjects, each consisting of 3 subjects from the Maotai liquor group consisting of 99 individuals and one from the non-alcoholic control group consisting of 33 individuals. Liver biopsy was performed on 23 volunteers from Guizhou Maotai Distillery who had a constant and long history of drinking Maotai liquor. Experimental histopathological study was conducted as follows: sixty male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups randomly and fed with Maotai liquor, ordinary white wine, and physiological saline respectively for a period of 8 and 12 weeks. The rats were sacrificed in batches, then serum ALT, AST, TBil, and AKP were measured. Rat livers were harvested to measure the liver indexes, GSH, and MDA. Histopathological examinations were also performed. Another eighty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups and fed with Maotai (at different dosages of 10 ml.kg(-1) and 20 ml.kg(-1)), ethanol, and physiological saline. The animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks and serum ALT was determined. Then the livers were harvested and liver indexes and MDA were measured. RESULTS: The incidence rate of hepatic symptoms, splenomegaly, liver function impairment, reversal of Albumin/Globulin and increased diameter of portal veins in the Maotai liquor group were 1.0% 1/99 , 1.0% 1/99 , 1.0% 1/99 , 1.0% 1/99 , 0 0/99 and 0 0/99 , 0 0/99 ,0 0/99 , 0 0/99 , 0 0/99 , respectively. There was no significant difference between the Maotai group and the non-alcoholic control group P】0.05 . Various degree of fatty infiltration of hepatocytes was found in the 23 volunteers receiving liver biopsy, but there was no obvious hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis. A comparison was made between the Maotai liquor group and the ordinary white wine group. It was found that hepatic MDA in rats and mice were 0.33+/-0.10 and 0.49+/-0.23 respectively in Maotai group and 0.61+/-0.22 and 0.66+/-0.32 in the ordinary white wine group; MDA had an obvious decrease in the Maotai liquor group (P【0.05); hepatic GSH were 0.12 mg.g(-1)+/-0.06 mg.g(-1) in rats of the Maotai liquor group and (0.08+/-0.02)mg.g(-1) in white wine group, it was obviously increased in the Maotai liquor group (P【0.05). After the 20 rats had been fed with ordinary white wine for 8 weeks consecutively, disarranged hepatocyte cords, fatty infiltration of hepatocytes, and fibrous septa of varying widths due to hepatic connective tissues proliferation were observed; after 12 weeks, the fibrous tissue proliferation continued and early cirrhosis appeared. Compared with the ordinary white wine group, fatty infiltration was observed in the 8-week and 12-week groups, but no necrosis or fibrosis or cirrhosis was found in the Maotai liquor group (P【0.05). CONCLUSION: Maotai liquor may cause fatty liver but not hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis, and it can strengthen lipid peroxidation in the liver.
文摘AIM:To investigate the association of alcohol dose, duration of drinking and obesity with abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators, the prevalence of alcohol-related liver injury in the island population of China.METHODS:Randomized multistage stratified cluster sampling from the island population of China was used in the population-based case-control study. Then interview, physical examination, laboratory assessments and ultrasonography were done. RESULTS:Daily alcohol intake ≥ 20 g, duration of drinking ≥ 5 years and obesity were closely related to alcohol-related liver injury (P < 0.05). The odds-ratio (OR) (95% CI) was 1.965 (1.122-3.442), 3.412 (1.789-6.507) and 1.887 (1.261-2.824), respectively. The prevalence rate of alcohol-related liver injury in ≥ 20 g daily alcohol intake group and < 20 g daily alcohol intake group was 37.14% and 12.06%, respectively. The prevalence rate of alcohol-related liver injury in ≥ 5 years drinking group and < 5 years drinking group was 34.44% and 8.53%, respectively. No significant dose-response relation was found between daily alcohol intake and abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators as well as between duration of drinking and abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of alcohol-related liver injury between beer drinking group and yellow rice wine drinking group, hard liquor drinking group, multiple drinking group.CONCLUSION:The risk threshold of daily alcohol intake is 20 g and duration of drinking inducing alcohol-related liver injury 5 years in the island population of China. Liver injury induced by obesity should be concerned.
文摘The time-driven activity-based costing has received extensive attention from scholars both at home and abroad in recent years,which has been applied to the calculation of manufacturing operations and the cost of products.However, this approach is rarely introduced into the service sector.As to the hospitality industry, the profitability of the customer usually plays a decisive role in the business process.Therefore, this article takes the hotel service industry as the research point and allocates the costs of resources of each departments to customers according to time drivers.The focus of this paper is to calculate the costs of customers ,and then analyze the profitability of customers in order to take the appropriate marketing strategies to improve the hotel service industry Drofitabilitv.
基金supported by the National Key Technology R & D Program of China (No.2008BAI52B03)the Medicine & Health Program of Zhejiang Province (No.2006B037),China
文摘Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) is one of the most common disorders with an increasing incidence and prevalence.Alcohol consumption may be a risk factor for GERD;however,the relationship remains to be fully elucidated.The results of different studies are diverse and contradictory.Systematic investigations concerning this matter are inappropriate and further well-designed prospective studies are needed to clarify the effect of alcohol on GERD.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.10932005 and 50910222)
文摘Direct numerical simulations are carried out to assess the potential drag reduction of compressible turbulent flow between isothermal walls.For the sake of achieving drag reduction,the flow is actively controlled by deformable dimples lying on the bottom wall of the channel.The first stage of the procedure consists in assessing the optimum geometry of the dimples.In this regard,the lower wall is allowed to freely deform itself according to the loop of control.This method is called the smart wall approach in this paper.By an analysis of the typical shape of the wall deformation thus obtained,it is found that dimples should be thinner than or comparable to the width of streaky structures in the spanwise direction and elongated in the streamwise direction.With active dimples as the wall-deformation actuators,a 15% drag reduction is obtained for the flow at Mam = 0.35 while the drag reduction rate is about 12% for the flow at Mam = 1.5.The fundamental mechanism of the drag reduction is then discussed in this paper.The drag reduction is believed to result from two aspects:the reduction of the mean streamwise velocity gradient near the deformable wall and the suppression of the turbulent fluctuations.
基金Medical staff:Ms Tan Quee Eng,Ms Wen Jiaohong,Ms Gladys Sham,Ms Lim Guat Sim,Ms Sukvinder Kaur,Dr Ho Ching Yun,Dr Aaron Chua and Dr Debra Han for assistance in the conduct of the study.Phillips Healthcare Singapore for loaning their Phillips ultrasound machines for the event.
文摘Background and Aims:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common chronic liver disease and is closely related to metabolic syndrome and its risk factors.Worldwide,epidemiological studies have reported NAFLD prevalence rates of 5%to 30%depending on geographical variations.While epidemiological data suggest a progressively increasing prevalence of metabolic risk factors in Singapore,there are limited data about NAFLD per se in the community.We aim to explore the prevalence and perceptions of NAFLD in Singapore.Methods:Attendees at a gastroenterology public forum were enrolled in a cross-sectional observational study evaluating demographic,anthropometric and clinical information.The diagnosis of NAFLD was based on sonographic criteria.Metabolic syndrome was defined according to International Diabetes Federation guidelines.Perceptions of NAFLD were explored using a self-administered survey questionnaire.Results:A total of 227 subjects were recruited,with NAFLD being diagnosed in 40%of the cohort.Relative to those without NAFLD,subjects with NAFLD had higher male preponderance,older age,higher body mass index,waist circumference and more metabolic syndrome(all P<0.05).Although 71.2%subjects had heard about NAFLD before,only 25.4%of them felt that they were at risk of NAFLD.Comparable responses were observed in subjects with no metabolic risk factors relative to subjects with one or more metabolic risk factors(P>0.05).Of note,75.6%of subjects with one or more metabolic risk factors did not think that they were at risk of NAFLD.Conclusion:Our study suggests a significant local prevalence of NAFLD in the community including non-obese individuals.Considering the tendency to underestimate risk of NAFLD,enhanced public education about NAFLD is warranted to improve understanding.
文摘HIV/AIDS has become a worldwide pandemic and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the only generally recognized effective therapy at present. However, various unresolvable problems appear with the widespread use of HAART. Traditional Chinese Medicine shows good efficacy for intervention in HIV/AIDS and could become an effective treatment option.
