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Background: This multi‐center study was aimed at retrospectively evaluating the feasibility, safety, clinical outcomes, and surgical learning curve of an optimized procedure for right upper lobectomy (RUL), which is challenging because of the anatomical structures and features of this lobe. Methods: This study included 45 RUL cases of robot‐assisted thoracoscopy (RATS) in a pilot cohort and 187 RUL cases of video‐assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) in three cohorts. A total of 121 and 111 patients underwent traditional and optimized RUL, respectively. The optimized surgical procedure was performed to consecutively transect the superior arterial trunk and bronchus, and finally disconnect the pulmonary vein and posterior ascending artery with interlobar fissures. Clinical and radiological data were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Optimized RUL can be performed successfully by RATS or VATS. The optimized procedure yielded better clinical outcomes than the traditional procedure, including shorter operation times, less blood loss, fewer complications, shorter hospital times, lower costs, and a lower likelihood of postoperative intermedius bronchial kinking. Additionally, for calcified interlobar lymph nodes, the optimized VATS group was less likely to be converted to thoracotomy than the traditional group. The skills required to perform optimized VATS RUL can be gained by surgeons after 12 to 15 cases. The two RUL procedures in the pilot cohort showed similar disease‐free survival. Conclusions: The optimized RUL was safe, economical, and feasible, with a short learning curve and satisfactory disease‐free survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The influence of epiphytic microbiota and chemical composition on fermentation quality and microbial community of Italian ryegrass silage was evaluated. Italian ryegrass harvested at the filling stage (FS) and the dough stage (DS) was sterilized by gamma-ray irradiation and inoculated as follows: (I) FS epiphytic microbiota + irradiated FS (F F); (II) FS epiphytic microbiota + irradiated DS (F D); (III) DS epiphytic microbiota + irradiated DS (D D); (IV) DS epiphytic microbiota + irradiated FS (D F). RESULTS: After 60 days of ensiling, silage made from irradiated FS had a lower pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) content and a higher lactic acid (LA) content than that made from irradiated DS. Similarly, silage inoculated with the epiphytic microbiota of DS had a lower pH and NH3-N content and a higher LA content than that inoculated with the epiphytic microbiota of FS. However, LA-type fermentation (lactic acid:acetic acid > 2:1) was presented at D F and D D. The principal coordinates analysis showed that the distance between F F and D F and F D and D D was closer than other treatments, suggesting that the microbial community of silages made from irradiated FS (or DS) was more similar. CONCLUSION: The epiphytic microbiota played a more important role in the fermentation type, whereas the chemical composition had a great influence on the contents of fermentation end-products. However, chemical composition had a stronger effect on the microbial community of silage than the epiphytic microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the work is to evaluate the effects of four chemical additives on fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and in vitro ruminal digestibility of total mixed ration (TMR) silage. TMR containing 15% spent mushroom substrate, 25% soybean sauce residue, 45% napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schum.), and 15% concentrate was ensiled with the following: (1) no additives (control), (2) potassium sorbate (PS, 0.1%), (3) sodium benzoate (SB, 0.1%), (4) sodium diacetate (SDA, 0.5%), and (5) calcium propionate (CAP, 0.5%) based on fresh weight. All silos (10 L) were opened for fermentation quality, in vitro ruminal digestibility analysis after 60 days of ensiling, and then subjected to aerobic stability test for 9 days. All TMR silages were well-conserved, as indicated by low pH, butyric acid, and ammonia nitrogen contents. During aerobic exposure, SDA was more stable with higher (p < 0.05) lactic acid and acetic acid contents and lower (p < 0.05) yeast counts than other TMR silages. In addition, SDA significantly (p < 0.05) increased cumulate gas production and in vitro dry matter digestibility compared with the control. Overall, SDA is recommended as additives to improve fermentation quality, in vitro ruminal digestibility, and aerobic stability of TMR silage prepared with local food by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrence is a major challenge in early‐stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) treatment. Here, we investigated the role and mechanism of high‐mobility group AT‐hook 1 (HMGA1) and glucose‐regulated protein 75‐kDa (GRP75) in stage I LUAD and evaluated their potential as biomarkers for predicting the recurrence and prognosis of stage I LUAD. Methods: The TCGA dataset was used to investigate the clinical significance of HMGA1 and GRP75 in early‐stage LUAD. The biological functions of HMGA1 and GRP75 in LUAD were investigated both in vitro and in vivo through overexpression and knockdown experiments. The interaction and regulation between HMGA1 and GRP75 were evaluated with coimmunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays. The downstream signaling pathway of the GRP75/HMGA1 axis was investigated by mRNA‐sequencing analysis. Results: Both HMGA1 expression levels and GRP75 expression levels were associated with recurrence in stage I LUAD patients. In particular, HMGA1 had potential as an independent prognostic factor in stage I LUAD patients. Overexpression of GRP75 or HMGA1 significantly stimulated LUAD cell growth and metastasis, while silencing GRP75 or HMGA1 inhibited LUAD cell growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, GRP75 inhibited ubiquitination‐mediated HMGA1 degradation by directly binding to HMGA1, thereby causes HMGA1 upregulation in LUAD. In addition, the GRP75/HMGA1 axis played its role by activating JNK/c‐JUN signaling in LUAD. Conclusions: The activation of GRP75/HMGA1/JNK/c‐JUN signaling is an important mechanism that promotes the progression of stage I LUAD, and a high level of HMGA1 is a novel biomarker for predicting recurrence and a poor prognosis in stage I LUAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the utilization efficiency of total mixed ration (TMR) on Tibetan plateau, the effects of different additives on fermentation quality and aerobic stability of the ensiled TMR prepared with local feed resources were studied. A total of 150 experimental silos were prepared in a completely randomized design to evaluate the following treatments: (a) control; (b) Lactobacillus buchneri; (c) acetic acid; (d) propionic acid; (e) 1,2-propanediol; and (f) 1-propanol. After 90 days of ensiling, silos were opened for fermentation quality and in vitro parameters analysis, and then subjected to an aerobic stability test for 14 days. The acetic acid, 1,2-propanediol and 1-propanol treatments increased (p < .05) pH and acetic acid content, and lowered (p < .05) the lactic acid production in comparison to control. There were no statistically significant differences in in vitro digestibility parameters among the treatments. Treatments of acetic acid, 1,2-propanediol and 1-propanol substantially improved the aerobic stability of the ensiled TMR, as indicated by almost unchanged pH and lactic acid contents throughout the aerobic exposure test. These results indicated that acetic acid, 1,2-propanediol and 1-propanol had no adverse effect on in vitro digestibility and could be effective additives for enhancing the aerobic stability of ensiled TMR prepared on Tibetan plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasses exhibit variations in chemical composition and epiphytic microorganisms during daytime. These variations may influence the natural fermentation characteristics of silage. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cutting times on chemical composition and epiphytic microorganisms of fresh napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Sch.) and of these effects on fermentation quality of unwilted silage on a sunny day. Primary growth of napiergrass was harvested in its vegetative stage at 0800 (AM), 1300 (M), and 1800 h (PM) on three sunny days. Napiergrass prepared at each cutting time was ensiled in laboratory silos in triplicate and sampled after 30 d to analyze the fermentation attributes and microbial counts. Bacterial community on fresh and post-ensiled forage samples were determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, which were harvested on cutting Day 1. The results showed that 30-d fermented napiergrass silages had good fermentation quality. Lactobacillus plantarum was detected in all silages throughout the ensiling. The fermentation characteristics for silage made with PM-cut napiergrass were better, with higher (P < 0.05) dry matter, water-soluble carbohydrates, and lactic acid concentrations and lower (P < 0.05) NH3-N concentration, than those made with AM- and M-cut forages. In conclusion, delayed-cutting napiergrass on a sunny day was associated with good silage fermentation characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasses exhibit diurnal variation in chemical composition and epiphytic microorganisms, which may influence the natural fermentation attributes of silage. The objective was to determine the effect of diurnal changes on chemical composition and epiphytic microorganisms and these effects on fermentation quality of unwilted Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) silage. Primary growth of Italian ryegrass was harvested in the heading stage at 0800 (AM), 1300 (M) and 1800 h (PM) on three sunny days. Each cutting time was assayed in triplicate in laboratory silos and sampled after 30 d (cutting Day 1) or serial days until 30 d (other cutting days) to analyze the fermentation attributes and microbial counts. Bacterial community was determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) on pre- and post-ensiled forage samples, which were harvested on cutting Day 2. The results showed that fermentation instability for the silage made with M-cut forage, which had fewer lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species in the early phase of ensiling and where Clostridium sp. was present but no Lactobacillus plantarum at the end of ensiling, resulted in higher (P < 0.05) pH value, NH3-N, and butyric acid for 30-d fermented silages than those made with AM- and PM-cut forages. The concentrations of dry matter (DM) and lactic acid were higher (P < 0.05) and the silage pH and NH3-N were lower (P < 0.05) for silage made with PM-cut forage as compared to those made with AM-cut forages. Italian ryegrass cut at 1800 h was associated with good silage fermentation attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) remains a major cause of graft injury, dysfunction and even failure post-transplantation. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) has been found to be an attractive target for anti-inflammatory therapies and a potential candidate responsible for cell injury. The objective of this study was to investigate whether preconditioning the donor liver with Nodosin perfusion upregulates HO-1 and then lessens IRI in rat models. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into four groups: experimental group, control group, positive control group and negative control group in which the donor liver was preconditioned with Nodosin, lactated ringer's solution, cobalt protoporphyrin and zinc protoporphyrin perfusion, respectively. We measured HO-1 expression and enzyme activity in rat livers of each group ex vivo at 0, 1 and 2 h after perfusion. At 1 h after perfusion, donor livers of Wistar rats were transplanted into Sprague-Dawley rats orthotopically. Serum transaminase levels, degree of cell apoptosis and Suzuki's score were used to assess ischemia/reperfusion injury in recipients at 24 h after transplantation. Results: Ex vivo, donor liver preconditioning with Nodosin perfusion induced HO-1 expression and enzyme activity significantly, compared with the control group ( P < 0.05). In vivo, serum transaminase levels, cell apoptosis degree and Suzuki's score of representative recipients in the Nodosin group were lower than that in the control group ( P < 0.05). Preconditioning with Nodosin perfusion induced HO-1 protein mainly in Kupffer cells. Conclusions: This study suggests that preconditioning with Nodosin perfusion provides a potential protective effect through inducing HO-1 expression to attenuate ischemia/reperfusion injury in liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]