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Background/Aims: Dysregulated expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) was demonstrated to be implicated in many diseases. Here, we aimed to determine circRNA profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from active tuberculosis (TB) patients to identify novel biomarkers for TB. Methods: Expression profile of circRNAs in PBMCs from 3 active pulmonary TB patients and 3 healthy controls were analyzed by microarray assay. Six circRNAs were selected for validation using real time-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) in 40 TB patients and 40 control subjects. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate their values in TB diagnosis. Hsa_circRNA_001937 was chosen for further evaluation in an independent cohort consisting of 115 TB, 40 pneumonia, 40 COPD, 40 lung cancer patients and 90 control subjects. An eight-month follow up was performed in 20 newly diagnosed TB patients to investigate the expression change of hsa_circRNA_001937 after chemotherapy. Results: We revealed and confirmed that a number of circRNAs were dysregulated in TB patients. Of the six studied physio circRNAs, the levels of hsa_circRNA_001937, hsa_circRNA_009024 and hsa_ circRNA_005086 were significantly elevated and hsa_circRNA_102101, hsa_circRNA_104964 and hsa_circRNA_104296 were significantly reduced in PBMCs from TB patients as compared to healthy controls. ROC curve analysis suggested that hsa_circRNA_001937 has the largest area under the curve (AUC = 0.873, P

Low-temperature oxidation (LTO) is the main reaction that affects fuel formation in the in-situ combustion process, which has important significance for the subsequent combustion propulsion and the successful extraction of crude oil. In this study, heavy oil was subjected to LTO reactions at different temperatures. Three types of reaction products with varying oxidation depths were characterized in terms of the number of oxygen atoms and the polarity of the molecule to reveal the low-temperature oxidation process of the heavy oil. Ketone compounds and acid polyoxides in the oil phase and deep oxidation products with a higher number of oxygen atoms in the coke were identified with increasing oxidation depth. The experimental results showed that the oxidation reaction of the heavy oil changed from kinetic-controlled to diffusion-controlled in the open oxidation system of the heavy oil as the oxidation depth increased. The oxidation reaction of the oil phase reached a maximum and stable value in oxygen content. The molecular compositions of the ketone compound and acid polyoxide did not change significantly with further increase in reaction temperature. The molecular compositions of the deep oxidation products with a higher number of oxygen atoms in the coke phase changed significantly. The coke precursor molecules with a lower oxygen content and condensation degree participated in the coke formation, and the oxidation reaction pathway and the complexity of the oxidation product component also increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Despite its ethical implications, physical restraint (PR) is widely used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to guarantee the safety of patients. This study investigated the frequency and risk factors of PR use for patients in the ICU to establish a predictive nomogram. Methods. Clinical parameters of patients admitted to the ICU of Jiangsu Province Hospital from January 2021 to July 2021 were retrospectively collected. Independent risk factors of PR were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The R software was used to establish the nomogram. Model performance was validated using the concordance-index (C-index) and calibration curves. Results. The rate of PR use was 46.32% (233/503 patients). Age (B = 0.036, odds ratio [OR]: 1.037, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.022–1.052, P < 0.001), consciousness disorder (B = 0.770, OR: 2.159, 95% CI: 1.216–3.832, P = 0.009), coma (B = −1.666, OR: 0.189, 95% CI: 0.101–0.353, P < 0.001), passive activity (B = 1.014, OR: 2.756, 95% CI: 1.644–4.618, P < 0.001), delirium (B = 0.993, OR: 2.699, 95% CI: 1.097–6.642, P = 0.031), −3 < Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) score <2 (B = 0.698, OR: 2.009, 95% CI: 1.026–3.935, P = 0.042), RASS score ≥2 (B = 1.253, OR: 3.499, 95% CI: 1.126–10.875, P = 0.030), and mechanical ventilation (B = 1.696, OR: 5.455, 95% CI: 2.804–10.611, P < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for PR in the ICU (P < 0.05) and included in the nomogram. The C-index was 0.830, and the calibration curve indicated good discriminatory ability and accuracy (mean absolute error: 0.026). Conclusion. The prediction nomogram model of PR in ICU was established based on age, mobility, delirium, consciousness, RASS score, and mechanical ventilation. It showed good discrimination and accuracy. This nomogram may predict the probability of PR use in the ICU and guide nurses in developing precise interventions to reduce the rate of PR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High salt intake is positively linked to many health problems, but the effect of mineral-rich sea salt (SS) has rarely been studied. To better understand the physiological effects of SS intake, the changes in general characteristics, metabolites, steroid hormones, and gut microbiota of SS-fed rats were investigated. Male rats were fed either a normal diet (ND, control) or ND containing 1% SS or 4% SS for 5 weeks. SS intake decreased fat, spleen, liver, and body weight, and increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), water intake, and gut salt content. Accumulated gut salt content led to a decrease in beneficial bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillus, but an increase in potentially harmful bacteria, resulting in a change in lipid metabolites associated with gut health. Interestingly, most renal lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) associated with many renal functions were dramatically decreased and female hormones, such as estrogens, were significantly more altered than the male hormones by high SS intake. Although further investigation is needed, these data suggest that high SS intake could be positively linked to kidney dysfunction and gut health problems, and salt-related physiological changes may be sex-specific. Additionally, these data will be useful to better under-stand the physiological effects of SS intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginsenosides have been widely conceded as having various biological activities and are considered to be the active ingredient of ginseng. Nowadays, preparative high-performance liquid chromatography is considered to be a highly efficient method for ginseng saponins purification and preparation. However, in the process of practical application, due to the complex and varied composition of natural products and relatively simple pretreatment process, it is likely to block the chromatographic column and affect the separation efficiency and its service life. In this work, an orthogonal strategy was developed; in the first-dimension separation, reverse-phase macroporous resin was applied to remove impurities in ginseng crude extracts and classified ginseng extracts into protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol fractions. In the second-dimension separation, the obtained fractions were further separated by a preparative hydrophilic column, and finally yielded 11 pure compounds. Eight of them identified as ginsenoside Rh1, Rg2, Rd, Rc, Rb2, Rb1, Rg1, and Re by standards comparison and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The purity of these ginsenosides was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to systematically assess the efficacy and safety of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) for patients with heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus (DM).Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search for controlled studies that evaluated the efficacy and safety of MRAs in patients with DM and HF. Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched. Two reviewers independently identified citations, extracted data and evaluated quality. Risk estimations were abstracted and pooled where appropriate.Results: Four observational studies were included. MRAs use was associated with reduced mortality compared with controls (RR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.69-0.88; I(2) = 0%; P < 0.001). Increased risk of developing hyperkalaemia was observed in those patients taking MRAs (RR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.27-2.38; I(2) = 0%; P = 0.0005).Conclusions: The current cumulative evidence suggests that MRAs can improve clinical outcomes but increase the risk of hyperkalaemia in patients with DM and HF.Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42015025690 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Reform and Opening, a great change has taken place in Chinese political studies, from an instrument of the ruling ideology to relatively independent research both in theory and practice, which should be affirmed and encouraged. But value problems still need to be resolved. Although absolute value neutrality is infeasible, relative value neutrality is possible and necessary for political studies, which means objective observation of social facts and breaking away from ideology in evaluation of political events and theoretical studies. As there are different levels of value, relative value neutrality requires that universal values be insisted upon as a common ground in political evaluation, which is closely related to overlapping consensus and public reason that China needs to seek for its social stability and harmony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outlines the progress and attendant problems of the rule of law in China. Confucian tradition of the rule of sages; Rapid legal reform; Lack of constitutional order.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Comparison of compensatory curve spontaneous derotation after selective thoracic or lumbar fusions in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis," by T. F. Ritzman, V. V. Upasani, T. P. Bastrom, and colleagues in the 2008 issue.

Self-assembling of colloidal particles dispersed in a mixture of ethanol and water at the air-liquid interface of the colloidal suspension at room temperature is investigated, and a method of rapidly assembling colloidal particles is proposed. By this method, a uniform colloidal crystal thin film over ten square centimeters in area can be fabricated in 10 min without special facilities and heating the suspension. SEM images and a normal incidence transmission spectrum of the sample show that the colloidal crystal film fabricated by this method is of high quality. In addition, this method is very suitable for fabricating colloidal crystal heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) provides in vivo biochemical information on tissue metabolites. The purpose of this study was to investigate the serial metabolic changes of 1H MRS in the cerebrum of ischemic dogs. An ischemic stroke was induced in five health laboratory beagle dogs by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion using a silicone plug. 1H MRS was serially performed three times with a 1.5-T MR system: before, three days after and 10days after the stroke. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the expression of neuronal nuclei (NeuN) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) at both the ipsilateral and contralateral cerebral cortex. Reduced levels of N-acetyl-asparate (p <0.05), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr) and myo-inositol (mI), and a marked increase in the lactate (Lac) level (p <0.01) were found at three days after the stroke. At 10days after the stroke, the levels of Lac significantly increased (p <0.01); however, the other metabolites were partially elevated. The changes of Cr, Cho and mI were not statistically significant (p >0.05) when the before and after stroke values were compared. There was a significant loss of NeuN and GFAP immunoreactivity at the ischemic core. 1H MRS may be to a useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of ischemic stroke in dogs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]