Systemic immune-inflammation index,neutrophilto-lymphocyte ratio,and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes at different stages of diabetic retinopathy

AIM:To investigate systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),and plateletto-lymphocyte ratio(PLR)levels in patients with type 2 diabetes at different stages of diabetic retinopathy(DR).METHODS:This retrospective study included 141 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM):45 without diabetic retinopathy(NDR),47 with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR),and 49 with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).Complete blood counts were obtained,and NLR,PLR,and SII were calculated.The study analysed the ability of inflammatory markers to predict DR using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.The relationships between DR stages and SII,PLR,and NLP were assessed using multivariate logistic regression.RESULTS:The average NLR,PLR,and SII were higher in the PDR group than in the NPDR group(P=0.011,0.043,0.009,respectively);higher in the NPDR group than in the NDR group(P<0.001 for all);and higher in the PDR group than in the NDR group(P<0.001 for all).In the ROC curve analysis,the NLR,PLR,and SII were significant predictors of DR(P<0.001 for all).The highest area under the curve(AUC)was for the PLR(0.929 for PLR,0.925 for SII,and 0.821 for NLR).Multivariate regression analysis indicated that NLR,PLR,and SII were statistically significantly positive and independent predictors for the DR stages in patients with DM[odds ratio(OR)=1.122,95%confidence interval(CI):0.200–2.043,P<0.05;OR=0.038,95%CI:0.018–0.058,P<0.05;OR=0.007,95%CI:0.001–0.01,P<0.05,respectively).CONCLUSION:The NLR,PLR,and SII may be used as predictors of DR.

An evaluation of ureteral diameter ratio and vesicoureteral reflux index in the treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux

Objective:Vesicoureteral reflux(VUR)index is a simple,validated tool that reliably predicts significant improvement and spontaneous resolution of primary reflux in children.The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the ureter diameter ratio(UDR)and VUR index(VURx)of patients treated with endoscopic injection(EI)and ureteroneocystostomy(UNC)methods in the pediatric age group due to primary VUR.Methods:Patients under the age of 18 years old who underwent EI and UNC with the diagnosis of primary VUR between January 2011 and September 2021 were determined as the participants.The UDR was assessed using voiding cystourethrography,and the VURx score was determined prior to treatment based on hospital records included in the study.Results:A total of 255 patients,60(23.5%)boys and 195(76.5%)girls,with a mean age of 76.5(range 13.0e204.0)months,were included in the study.EI was applied to 130(51.0%)patients and UNC was applied to 125(49.0%)patients due to primary VUR.The optimum cut-off for the distal UDR was obtained as 0.17 with sensitivity and specificity of 73.0%and 63.0%,respectively.The positive and negative predictive values were 66.0%and 70.0%,respectively.Conclusion:When the UDR and VURx score are evaluated together for the surgical treatment of primary VUR in the pediatric age group,it is thought that it may be useful in predicting the clinical course of the disease and evaluating surgical treatment options.

Diagnostic value of FIB-4, aspartate aminotransferaseto-platelet ratio index and liver stiffness measurement in hepatitis B virus-infected patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase

AIM To assess the diagnostic value of FIB-4, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI), and liver stiffness measurement(LSM) in patients with hepatitis B virus infection who have persistently normal alanine transaminase(PNALT).METHODS We enrolled 245 patients with chronic hepatitis B: 95 in PNALT group, 86 in intermittently elevated alanine transaminase(PIALT1) group [alanine transaminase(ALT) within 1-2 × upper limit of normal value(ULN)], and 64 in PIALT2 group(ALT > 2 × ULN). All the patients received a percutaneous liver biopsy guided by ultrasonography. LSM, biochemical tests, and complete blood cell counts were performed.RESULTS The pathological examination revealed moderate inflammatory necrosis ratios of 16.81%(16/95), 32.56%(28/86), and 45.31%(28/64), and moderate liverfibrosis of 24.2%(23/95), 33.72%(29/86), and 43.75%(28/64) in the PNALT, PIALT1, and PIALT2 groups, respectively. The degrees of inflammation and liver fibrosis were significantly higher in the PIALT groups than in the PNALT group(P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the areas under the curve(AUCs) between APRI and FIB-4 in the PNALT group; however, significant differences were found between APRI and LSM, and between FIB-4 and LSM in the PNALT group(P < 0.05 for both). In the PIALT1 and PIALT2 groups, no significant difference(P > 0.05) was found in AUCs for all comparisons(P > 0.05 for all). In the overall patients, a significant difference in the AUCs was found only between LSM and APRI(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION APRI and FIB-4 are not the ideal noninvasive hepatic fibrosis markers for PNALT patients. LSM is superior to APRI and FIB-4 in PNALT patients because of the influence of liver inflammation and necrosis.

Detection of Internal Leaf Structure Deterioration Using a New Spectral Ratio Index in the Near-Infrared Shoulder Region

Spectral reflectance in the near-infrared （NIR） shoulder （750-900 nm） region is affected by internal leaf structure, but it has rarely been investigated. In this study, a dehydration treatment and three paraquat herbicide applications were conducted to explore how spectral reflectance and shape in the NIR shoulder region responded to various stresses. A new spectral ratio index in the NIR shoulder region （NSRI）, defined by a simple ratio of reflectance at 890 nm to reflectance at 780 nm, was proposed for assessing leaf structure deterioration. Firstly, a wavelength-independent increase in spectral reflectance in the NIR shoulder region was observed from the mature leaves with slight dehydration. An increase in spectral slope in the NIR shoulder would be expected only when water stress developed sufficiently to cause severe leaf dehydration resulting in an alteration in cell structure. Secondly, the alteration of leaf cell structure caused by Paraquat herbicide applications resulted in a wavelength-dependent variation of spectral reflectance in the NIR shoulder region. The NSRI in the NIR shoulder region increased significantly under an herbicide application. Although the dehydration process also occurred with the herbicide injury, NSRI is more sensitive to herbicide injury than the water-related indices （water index and normalized difference water index） and normalized difference vegetation index. Finally, the sensitivity of NSRI to stripe rust in winter wheat was examined, yielding a determination coefficient of 0.61, which is more significant than normalized difference vegetation index （NDVI）, water index （WI） and normalized difference water index （NDWI）, with a determination coefficient of 0.45, 0.36 and 0.13, respectively. In this study, all experimental results demonstrated that NSRI will increase with internal leaf structure deterioration, and it is also a sensitive spectral index for herbicide injury or stripe rust in winter wheat.

Human development index is associated with mortality-to-incidence ratios of gastrointestinal cancers

AIM:To identify the role of human development in the incidence and mortality rates of gastrointestinal cancers worldwide.METHODS:The age-standardized incidence and mortality rates for gastrointestinal cancers,including cancers of the esophagus,stomach,pancreas,liver,gallbladder,and colorectum,were obtained from the GLOBOCAN 2008 database and United States Cancer Statistics(USCS)report.The human development index(HDI)data were calculated according to the 2011 Human Development Report.We estimated the mortality-toincidence ratios(MIRs)at the regional and national levels,and explored the association of the MIR with development levels as measured by the HDI using a modified"drug dose to inhibition response"model.Furthermore,countries were divided into four groups according to the HDI distribution,and the MIRs of the four HDI groups were compared by one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test.Statespecific MIRs in the United States were predicted from the estimated HDI using the fitted non-linear model,and were compared with the actual MIRs calculated from data in the USCS report.RESULTS:The worldwide incidence and mortality rates of gastrointestinal cancers were as high as 39.4and 54.9 cases per 100000 individuals,respectively.Linear and non-linear regression analyses revealed an inverse correlation between the MIR of gastrointestinal cancers and the HDI at the regional and national levels(<0;P=0.0028 for regional level and<0.0001 for national level,ANOVA).The MIR differed significantly among the four HDI areas(very high HDI,0.620±0.033;high HDI,0.807±0.018;medium HDI,0.857±0.021;low HDI,0.953±0.011;P<0.001,oneway ANOVA).Prediction of the MIRs for individual United States states using best-fitted non-linear models showed little deviation from the actual MIRs in the United States.Except for 28 data points(9.93%of282),the actual MIRs of all gastrointestinal cancers were mostly located in the prediction intervals via the best-fit non-linear regression models.CONCLUSION:The inverse correlation between HDI and MIR demonstrates that more developed areas have a relatively efficacious healthcare system,resulting in low MIRs,and HDI can be used to estimate the MIR.

Combined acoustic radiation force impulse, aminotransferase to platelet ratio index and Forns index assessment for hepatic fibrosis grading in hepatitis B

AIM: To investigate the combined diagnostic accuracy of acoustic radiation force impulse(ARFI), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index(APRI) and Forns index for a non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB). METHODS: In this prospective study, 206 patients had CHB with liver fibrosis stages F0-F4 classified by METAVIR and 40 were healthy volunteers were measured by ARFI, APRI and Forns index separately or combined as indicated. RESULTS: ARFI, APRI or Forns index demonstrated a significant correlation with the histological stage(all P < 0.001). According to the AUROC of ARFI and APRI for evaluating fibrotic stages more than F2, ARFI showed an enhanced diagnostic accuracy than APRI(P < 0.05). The combined measurement of ARFI and APRI exhibited better accuracy than ARFI alone when evaluating ≥ F2 fibrotic stage(Z = 2.77, P = 0.006). Combination of ARFI, APRI and Forns index did not obviously improve the diagnostic accuracy compared to the combination of ARFI and APRI(Z = 0.958, P = 0.338). CONCLUSION: ARFI + APRI showed enhanced diagnostic accuracy than ARFI or APRI alone for significant liver fibrosis and ARFI + APRI + Forns index shows the same effect with ARFI + APRI.

Noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis with combined serum aminotransferase/platelet ratio index and hyaluronic acid in patients with chronic hepatitis B

AIM： To construct a noninvasive assessment model consisting of routine laboratory data to predict significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB）. METHODS： A total of 137 consecutive patients with CriB who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups according to their aminotransferase （ALT） level. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value （PPV）, negative predictive value （NPV）, the likelihood ratio （LR） of aminotransferase/platelet ratio index （APRI） ≥ 1.5 or 〈 1.5 in combination with different hyaluronic acid （HA） cut-off points were calculated for the presence of moderate to severe fibrosis/cirrhosis （fibrosis stages 2 and 4） and no to mild fibrosis/cirrhosis （fibrosis stages 0 and 1）. RESULTS： The APRI correlated with fibrosis stage in CriB patients. The APRI ≥1.5 in combination with a cut-off HA cut-off point 〉 300 ng/mL could detect moderate to severe fibrosis （stages 2-4） in Crib patients. The PPV was 93.7%, the specificity was 98.9%. The APRI 〈 1.5 in combination with different HA cut-off points could not detect no to mild fibrosis in CHB patients. CONCLUSION： The APRI ≥ 1.5 in combination with a HA cut-off point 〉 300 ng/mL can detect moderate to severe fibrosis （stages 2-4） in Crib patients.

Prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma development by aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in primary biliary cholangitis

AIM To investigate the usefulness of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index(APRI) in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) risk in primary biliary cholangitis(PBC).METHODS We identified PBC patients between 2000 and 2015 by searching the electronic medical database of a tertiary center. The hazard ratio(HR) of HCC with different risk factors was determined by Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS One hundred and forty-four PBC patients were recru-ited. Patients were diagnosed at a median age of 57.8 years [interquartile range(IQR): 48.7-71.5 years), and 41(28.5%) patients had cirrhosis at baseline. The median follow-up duration was 6.9 years(range: 1.0-26.3 years). Twelve patients developed HCC, with an incidence rate of 10.6 cases per 1000 patient-years. The overall 5-, 10-and 15-year cumulative incidences of HCC were 2.3% 95%CI: 0%-4.8%), 8.4%(95%CI: 1.8%-14.5%) and 21.6%(6.8%-34.1%), respectively. Older age(HR = 1.07), cirrhosis(HR = 4.38) and APRI at 1 year after treatment(APRI-r1) > 0.54(HR = 3.94) were independent factors for HCC development. APRI-r1, when combined with treatment response, further stratified HCC risk(log rank P < 0.05). The area under receiver operating curve of APRI-r1 in predicting HCC was 0.77(95%CI: 0.64-0.88).CONCLUSION APRI-r1 can be used to predict the development of HCC in PBC patients. Combination of APRI-r1 with treatment response can further stratify the HCC risk.

Systemic immune inflammation index, ratio of lymphocytes to monocytes, lactate dehydrogenase and prognosis of diffuse large Bcell lymphoma patients

BACKGROUND In malignant tumors,inflammation plays a vital role in the development,invasion,and metastasis of cancer cells.Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL),the most common malignant proliferative disease of the lymphatic system,is commonly associated with inflammation.The international prognostic index(IPI),which includes age,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),number of extranodal lesions,Ann Arbor score,and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG)score,can evaluate the prognosis of DLBCL.However,its use in accurately identifying highrisk patients and guiding treatment is poor.Therefore,it is important to find novel immune markers in predicting the prognosis of DLBCL patients.AIM To determine the association between the systemic immune inflammation index(SII),ratio of lymphocytes to monocytes(LMR),ratio of LMR to LDH(LMR/LDH),and prognosis of patients with DLBCL.METHODS A total of 68 patients diagnosed with DLBCL,treated in our hospital between January 2016 and January 2020,were included.χ2 test,Pearson’s R correlation,Kaplan Meier curves,and Cox proportional risk regression analysis were used.The differences in the SII,LMR,and LMR/LDH among patients with different clinicopathological features were analyzed.The differences in progression-free survival time among patients with different SII,LMR,and LMR/LDH expressions and influencing factors affecting the prognosis of DLBCL patients,were also analyzed.RESULTS The LMR and LMR/LDH in patients with Ann Arbor stage III–IV,ECOG score≥2,and SII,IPI score 2–5 were significantly higher than those of patients with Ann Arbor stage I-II and ECOG score<2(P<0.05).Patients with high SII,LMR,and LMR/LDH had progression-free survival times of 34 mo(95%CI:32.52–38.50),35 mo(95%CI:33.42–36.58)and 35 mo(95%CI:33.49–36.51),respectively,which were significantly lower than those with low SII,LMR,and LMR/LDH(P<0.05);the SII,LMR,and LMR/LDH were positively correlated(P<0.05).Cox proportional risk regression analysis showed that the SII,LMR,and LMR/LDH were influencing factors for the prognosis of DLBCL patients(hazard ratio=1.143,1.665,and 1.704,respectively;P<0.05).CONCLUSION The SII,LMR,and LMR/LDH are related to the clinicopathological features of DLCBL,and they also influence the prognosis of patients with the disease.

Fall cone tests considering water content, cone penetration index, and plasticity angle of fine-grained soils

This paper analyzed the consistency of some parameters of soils in the literature and experimental results from fall cone test and its application to soil plasticity classification.Over 500 data from both literatures and experiments using fall cone and Casagrande methods were compiled to assess the relationships among specified water content,cone penetration index ebT,and plasticity angle eaT of finegrained soils.The results indicate that no unique correlation exists among b,liquid limit of the fall cone test(LLc)and a.The water content at 1 mm cone penetration eC0T correlates well with b,plasticity ratio eRpT(i.e.the ratio of plastic limit to liquid limit),and a.Finally,the potential of using the btan a diagram to classify soil plasticity was also discussed.

Female waist-to-hip ratio,body mass index and sexual attractiveness in China

Men and women at Northwest University （n=751）, Xi＇an, China were asked to judge the attractiveness of photographs of female patients who had undergone micrograft surgery to reduce their waist-to-hip ratios （WHR）. Micrograft surgery involves harvesting adipose tissue from the waist and reshaping the buttocks to produce a low WHR and an ‘hourglass＇ female figure. This gynoid distribution of female body fat has been shown to correlate with measures of fertility and health. Significantly larger numbers of subjects, of both sexes, chose post-operative photographs, with lower WHRs, as more attractive than pre-operative photographs of the same women. Some patients had gained, and some had lost weight, post-operatively, with resultant changes in body mass index （BMI）. However, these changes in BMI were not related to judgments of attractiveness. These results show that the hourglass female figure is rated as attractive in China, and that WHR, rather than BMI, plays a crucial role in such attractiveness judgments.

Aspartate transferase-to-platelet ratio index-plus: A new simplified model for predicting the risk of mortality among patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has a spectrum of clinical syndromes with serious involvement of the lung and frequent effection of the liver and hemostatic system.Blood biomarkers are affordable,rapid,objective,and useful in the evaluation and prognostication of COVID-19 patients.AIM To investigate the association between aspartate transferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI)and in-hospital mortality to develop a COVID-19 mortality prediction model.METHODS A multicenter cohort study with a retrospective design was conducted.Medical records of all consecutive adult patients admitted to Al-Azhar University Hospital(Assiut,Egypt)and Chest Hospital(Assiut,Egypt)with confirmed COVID-19 from July 1,2020 to October 1,2020,were retrieved and analyzed.The patient cohort was classified into the following two categories based on the APRI:(1)COVID-19 presenting with APRI≤0.5;and(2)COVID-19 presenting with APRI(>0.5 and≤1.5).The association between APRI and all-cause in-hospital mortality was analyzed,and the new model was developed through logistic regression analyses.RESULTS Of the 353 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria,10%were admitted to the intensive care unit(n=36)and 7%died during the hospital stay(n=25).The median age was 40 years and 50.7%were male.On admission,49%had aspartate transferase-dominant liver injury.On admission,APRI(>0.5 and≤1.5)was independently associated with all-cause in-hospital mortality in unadjusted regression analysis and after adjustment for age and sex;after stepwise adjustment for several clinically relevant confounders,APRI was still significantly associated with all-cause inhospital mortality.On admission,APRI(>0.5 and≤1.5)increased the odds of mortality by fivetimes(P<0.006).From these results,we developed a new predictive model,the APRI-plus,which includes the four predictors of age,aspartate transferase,platelets,and serum ferritin.Performance for mortality was very good,with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.90.CONCLUSION APRI-plus is an accurate and simplified prediction model for mortality among patients with COVID-19 and is associated with in-hospital mortality,independent of other relevant predictors.

Effects of Use and Re-Use of Selected Vegetable Oils on the Proximate, Minerals, Mineral Ratios and Mineral Safety Index of Raw and Fried Plantain Chips: Note I

Raw and fried plantain chips obtained from the use and re-use of olive, refined palm olein and coconut oils were investigated for the proximate, mineral compositions, computed mineral ratios and the mineral safety index using standard analytical methods. For the selected oils (both use and re-use): first and second re-use and the fresh plantain chips (unprocessed plantain chips;UPC) had the following range results: proximate composition (%) (moisture: 8.20 - 12.3, crude protein: 9.70 - 8.60, fat: 7.40 - 12.9, fibre: 3.50 - 4.90, ash: 2.80 - 3.80 and carbohydrates: 63.5 - 64.8), % energy contributions (PEC: 63.4 - 70.8, PEF: 20.2 - 28.6, PEP: 8.03 - 9.66, UEDP: 4.49 - 5.08). The mineral composition (mg/100g) of the samples had the following greater than 80.0: Ca, Mg, K and P;Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn recorded values ranging between 1.00 and 4.00;Co, Se and Ni had their concentrations between 0.00 and 0.0363 whereas Pb and Cd recorded levels lower than 0.0006. In the mineral ratios, only K/(Ca + Mg) values fell within the acceptable ideal range. No MSI aberration was observed for the minerals from all the samples obtained from the various oils. The chi-square analysis showed that on parameter wise comparisons, there were no significant differences among the levels as treated based on the various oils except gross energy, Mg, K, P, Ca/P, Fe/Pb and K/Co. Also on pairwise comparison from linear correlation and regression, all these parameters were significantly different at r = 0.01 between the unprocessed and fried plantain samples: proximate, percentage energy distribution, mineral and mineral ratios. Generally, the first (day) frying showed fairly high nutrient concentration than the first and second re-use oils products. Therefore, for optimum nutrient preservation from fried plantain chips re-use of oil for frying should be sparingly allowed. However, olive showed highest level of nutrients in terms of proximate and mineral compositions.

Analysis of Ankle-Brachial Index, Waist-Hip Ratio, Ejection-Fraction, Obesity, Smoking, Alcohol Habits, Diabetes and Hypertension as Independent Predictors of Complexity and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease

Background: The present study was conducted to examine the association between various coronary risk factors and clinical parameters, with special emphasis on ankle-brachial index, in predicting the severity and complexity of coronary artery disease. Methods: Patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease at our hospital between September-2012 and December-2014 were examined in this study. Selected patients were screened for cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and alcohol habits as well as for clinical parameters including body-mass index, waist-hip ratio, ankle-brachial index, and ejection fraction. All patients underwent coronary angiography and were evaluated for severity of coronary artery disease (based on number of vessels involved) and complexity of coronary angiographic lesions (measured by computer-assisted Syntax score calculator). The collected data were analyzed to determine the role of cardiovascular risk factors and clinical parameters as predictors of complexity and severity of coronary artery disease. Results: A total of 211 patients (mean age: 54.64 ± 9.9 years;81% males) with coronary artery disease were analyzed. Findings revealed that diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.001), smoking habits (p = 0.036), and low ankle-brachial index (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of complex coronary artery disease as measured by Syntax score. Significant associations were also evident between severity of coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.001), and ankle-brachial index (p < 0.001). Conversely, other cardiovascular risk factors including body-mass index, alcohol habits, wait-hip ratio, and ejection fraction did not exhibit significant associations with severity and complexity of coronary artery. Conclusions: The early diagnosis of coronary artery can be predicated by evaluating diabetes, hypertension, and smoking habits in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome. In addition, ankle-brachial index can be used as an effective non-invasive bed-side tool, as an alternative to Syntax score, in predicting the severity and complexity of coronary artery disease.

Ca^(2+)/cAMP ratio:An inflammatory index for diabetes,hypertension,and COVID-19

Ca^(2+)/cAMP ratio could serve as an inflammatory index for diseases like hypertension,diabetes,and coronavirus disease 2019.

Effects of Fuzheng Huayu Capsules combined with nucleoside antiviral drugs on liver and kidney function, serum inflammatory factors, TLR-4, TGF-β1 and aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index in patients with HBV infection and decompensated liver

Objective:To investigate the effect of Fuzheng Huayu Capsule combined with nucleoside antiviral drugs on liver and kidney function,serum inflammatory factors,Toll-like receptor 4(TLR-4),transforming growth factorβ1(TGF-β1)And aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index(APRI).Methods:A total of 144 patients with HBV infection and decompensated cirrhosis were selected.All patients were divided into control group and case group by random number table method,with 72 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional liver protection and antiviral therapy;the case group was supplemented with Fuzheng Huayu Capsule on the basis of treatment in the control group.The changes of liver and kidney function,serum inflammatory factors,TLR-4,TGF-β1 and APRI in the two groups were observed.Results:The total effective rate of the case group was 93.06%,higher than 76.32%of the control group(P<0.05).Case group HBV DNA negative rate,negative rate of hepatitis B virus surface antigen(HBsAg),negative rate of hepatitis B virus e antigen(HBeAg)were significantly higher than the control group(76.39%vs 59.72%,55.56%vs 31.94%,51.39%vs 29.17%),the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),hyaluronic acid(HA),laminin(LN),typeⅢprocollagen after treatment(PCⅢ),typeⅣcollagen(CⅣ),inner diameter of portal vein,inner diameter of splenic vein,spleen thickness,resistance index,urea nitrogen(BUN),creatinine(Cr),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),TLR-4,TGF-β1,APRI are lower than before treatment,albumin(ALB)and renal blood The flow rate was higher than before treatment;liver function indicators,liver fibrosis indicators,liver and spleen imaging indicators,renal hemodynamic indicators,serum inflammatory factors,TLR-4 in the case group The improvement of TGF-β1 and APRI.Conclusion:Fuzheng Huayu Capsules combined with nucleoside antiviral drugs have a clear clinical effect on patients with HBV infection and decompensated liver cirrhosis,significantly improve the clinical symptoms of patients,improve liver and kidney function,reduce inflammatory factor production,and can effectively inhibit HBV replication.Certain promotion value is worthy of further clinical research.

AAindex数据库中傅里叶方法的多重氨基酸指数选择

波谱学方法研究蛋白质时,蛋白质序列的特征频率与蛋白质的位点、功能、空间结构对应。基于时间序列傅里叶变换的交叉谱原理,本文提出的"一个蛋白质关于多种氨基酸指数的一致谱"能够获取一个或多个蛋白质序列较显著的特征频率,再由特征频率去筛选与之对应的氨基酸指数。该方法与Lazovic'的筛选方法和筛选意义不同。结果显示,筛选出的氨基酸指数对应的性质多数与蛋白质的空间结构性质有关。蛋白质特征频率也许是用于特征提取的好方法,氨基酸指数筛选可被看作蛋白质数字表达的一种优化。

Effects of Different Irrigation Times and Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Leaf Area Index and Grain Yield of ‘Yujiao 5'

To provide ＂more reasonable, more saving and more efficient＂ water and fertilizer application proposals, taking ‘Yujiao 5＇ as the experimental material, the effects of different irrigation times and nitrogen application treatments on the leaf area index and yield of wheat were studied using three-factor split plot method. The results showed that irrigation times, nitrogen application rate and the ratio of basa to topdressed nitrogen respectively had significant effects on the leaf area index, the yield and component factors of wheat. Under the treatment of W1（irrigation before sowing）, the leaf area index showed a positive linear correlation with nitrogen application rate; under the treatments of W2（irrigation before sowing and at jointing stage） and W3（irrigation before sowing, at jointing stage and at grain filling stages）,the leaf area index showed a positive linear correlation with nitrogen application rate at the jointing stage, booting stage and heading stage; 20 d after heading, the leaf area index showed a quadric curve relationship with nitrogen application rate at these stages, and the LAI of N3R2 was the highest. Under different irrigation times,the yield, ear number and kernels per ear showed quadric curve relationship with nitrogen application rate, 1 000-seed weight showed the trend of linear decrease with the increase of nitrogen application rate. Under the treatment combination of irrigation before sowing, at jointing stage and at grain filling stage, nitrogen application rate at 240 kg/hm^2 and the ratio of basal to topdressed nitrogen of 5：5, the grain yield（8 609.60 kg/hm^2）, ear number（688.2×104/hm^2） and kernel number per ear（37.9 grains） reached the highest value at W3N3R2, and the grain yield of W3N3R2 increased by 144.8% compared to the W1N0. In conclusion, in Eastern Henan where the rainfall is insufficient at the late growth stage of wheat, the irrigation-saving space in wheat production is relatively small, but the nitrogen-saving space is relatively large.

Novel immunological and nutritional-based prognostic index for gastric cancer

AIM: To assess the prognostic significance of immunological and nutritional-based indices, including the prognostic nutritional index(PNI), neutrophillymphocyte ratio(NLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio in gastric cancer.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 632 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy between1998 and 2008. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated to compare the predictive ability of the indices, together with estimating the sensitivity, specificity and agreement rate.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for overall survival(OS). Propensity score analysis was performed to adjust variables to control for selection bias.RESULTS: Each index could predict OS in gastric cancer patients in univariate analysis, but only PNI had independent prognostic significance in multivariate analysis before and after adjustment with propensity scoring(hazard ratio, 1.668; 95% confidence interval:1.368-2.035). In subgroup analysis, a low PNI predicted a significantly shorter OS in patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ disease(P = 0.019, P < 0.001), T3-T4 tumors(P <0.001), or lymph node metastasis(P < 0.001). Canton score, a combination of PNI, NLR, and platelet, was a better indicator for OS than PNI, with the largest area under the curve for 12-, 36-, 60-mo OS and overall OS(P = 0.022, P = 0.030, P < 0.001, and P = 0.024,respectively). The maximum sensitivity, specificity, and agreement rate of Canton score for predicting prognosis were 84.6%, 34.9%, and 70.1%, respectively.CONCLUSION: PNI is an independent prognostic factor for OS in gastric cancer. Canton score can be a novel preoperative prognostic index in gastric cancer.

Systemic immune-inflammation index for predicting prognosis of colorectal cancer

AIM To investigate the clinical significance of preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index(SII) in patients with colorectal cancer(CRC). METHODS A retrospective analysis of 1383 cases with CRC was performed following radical surgery. SII was calculated with the formula SII =(P × N)/L, where P, N, and L refer to peripheral platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, respectively. The clinicopathological features and follow-up data were evaluated to compare SII with other systemic inflammation-based prognostic indices such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio(PLR) in patients with CRC.RESULTS The optimal cut-off point for SII was defined as 340. The overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival(DFS) were better in patients with low NLR, PLR, and SII(P < 0.05). The SII was an independent predictor of OS and DFS in multivariate analysis. The area under the receiver-operating characteristics(ROC) curve for SII(0.707) was larger than those for NLR(0.602) and PLR(0.566). In contrast to NLR and PLR, SII could effectively discriminate between the TNM subgroups. CONCLUSION SII is a more powerful tool for predicting survival outcome in patients with CRC. It might assist the identification of high-risk patients among patients with the same TNM stage.