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Abstract Purpose To explore the value of tissue quantitative diffusion analysis of ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods The observation group comprised 54 patients with early-stage CKD treated at Fuzhou No 7 Hospital, and the control group consisted of 40 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations at the same hospital. The renal parenchyma of the participants were examined using ultrasonography, color Doppler ultrasonography, and tissue quantitative diffusion analysis of ultrasound elastography. Renal dimensions (diameter, thickness, and renal parenchyma thickness), interlobar artery blood flow parameters, and 11 elastic characteristic values were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, cut-off values, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated using the ROC curve analysis. Results There were no significant differences in the blood flow parameters of the interlobar artery and the dimensions of renal meridians between the two groups. In the observation group, the mean (MEAN) decreased, while the blue area ratio and skewness, increased, compared to the control group (p 0.7). Notably, the best cut-off value of the MEAN was found to be 106, indicating that a MEAN value less than 106 represented early-stage CKD. Also, this cutoff value had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 81%. Conclusion Tissue quantitative diffusion analysis of ultrasound elastography can quantitatively evaluate renal parenchymal damage in early-stage CKD using quantitative diffusion parameters, with the MEAN parameter, having a cutoff of 106, being particularly effective. This parameter and cutoff value offer a valuable tool for the early detection and diagnosis of CKD, potentially improving patient outcomes through earlier intervention. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Abstract Ginseng, from the roots of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, is a widely used herbal medicine in Asian countries, known for its excellent therapeutic properties. The growth of P. ginseng is depend on specific and strict environments, with a preference for wetness but intolerance for flooding. Under excessive soil moisture, some irregular rust-like substances are deposited on the root epidermis, causing ginseng rusty symptoms (GRS). This condition leads to a significant reduce in yield and quality, resulting in substantial economic loses. However, there is less knowledge on the cause of GRS and there are no effective treatments available for its treatment once it occurs. Unsuitable environments lead to the generation of large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We investigated the key indicators associated with the stress response during different physiological stages of GRS development. We observed a significant change in ROS level, MDA contents, antioxidant enzymes activities, and non-enzymatic antioxidants contents prior to the GRS. Through the analysis of soil features with an abundance of moisture, we further determined the source of ROS. The levels of nitrate reductase (NR) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities in the inter-root soil of ginseng with GRS were significantly elevated compared to those of healthy ginseng. These enzymes boost nitric oxide (NO) levels, which in turn showed a favorable correlation with the GRS. The activities of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase first rose and then decreased as GRS developed. Excess soil moisture causes a decrease in oxygen levels. This activated NR and NOS in the soil, resulting in a production of excess NO. The NO then diffused into the ginseng root and triggered a burst of ROS through NADPH located on the cell membrane. Additionally, Fe2+ in soil was oxidized to red Fe3+, and finally led to GRS. This conclusion was also verified by the Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP), a precursor compound producing NO. The presence of NO from NR and NOS in water-saturated soil is responsible for the generation of ROS. Among these, NO is the main component that contribute to the occurrence of GRS.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of ZKY001 eye drops with different concentrations in the treatment of corneal epithelial defects(CED)after primary pterygium excision.METHODS: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial. From March 15, 2022 to November 14, 2022, patients with primary pterygium who had undergone surgery were recruited from 12 tertiary hospitals across China. Using block randomization, 178 patients(178 eyes)were randomly assigned to 3 groups in a 1:1:1 ratio: 0.002% ZKY001 group(n=59), 0.004% ZKY001 group(n=59), and placebo group(n=60, receiving ZKY001 sham eye drops). Subjects in each group received 1 drop of the study drug 4 times per day for 4 d. The percentage of CED area recovery from baseline, the first complete healing time of CED area, the number of first complete healing cases of CED, and changes in visual analogue scale(VAS)scores for eye discomfort including eye pain, foreign body sensation, tearing and photophobia were observed.RESULTS: In terms of improvement in CED, there were no statistically significant differences among the three groups including the first healing time of CED, the percentage improvement in CED area compared to baseline, and the percentage of first healing cases at different follow-up visits(all P>0.05). Numerically, the first healing time of CED was shorter in the test groups compared to the placebo group(67.87±21.688 h for the 0.002% ZKY001 group, 61.48±22.091 h for the 0.004% ZKY001 group, and 68.85±20.851 h for the placebo group). On D1 morning, the percentage improvement in CED area compared to baseline was maximally different from the placebo group, and the numerical difference advantage was maintained at subsequent follow-up visits. The number of first healing cases in the CED area at different follow-up visits was higher in the test groups than the placebo group. In terms of improvement in ocular discomfort, the total VAS scores were lower in the test groups compared to the placebo group, mainly due to reductions in foreign body sensation and pain scores. At D3, the 0.004% ZKY001 group showed statistically significant improvement in foreign body sensation(P

To study the effect of 6’-O-caffeoylarbutin (CA) treatment on the prevention and control of gray mold in postharvest blueberry fruit and its effect on fruit phenylpropane metabolism, blueberries were soaked in 2.5 mmol/L CA solution or distilled water as the control. The results showed that CA treatment significantly reduced the incidence of gray mold in postharvest blueberry fruit and inhibited the expansion of lesion diameter when compared with the control. Meanwhile, it increased the activities of phenylalanine ammoniase (PAL), cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coenzyme coenzyme A ligase (4CL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD), as well as the contents of total phenols, flavonoids and lignin, with few adverse effects on the storage quality. It is concluded that CA treatment could promote the synthesis and accumulation of resistance-related substances and consequently enhance the resistance to gray mold by activating the enzyme activities related to phenylpropane metabolism in postharvest blueberry fruit.

[C8H11N3O4], monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 4.5811(16) Å, b = 19.734(7) Å, c = 11.812(4) Å, β = 101.181(11)°, V = 1047.6(6) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt (F) = 0.0742, wRref (F 2) = 0.1176, T = 296(2) K.

Background Urinary incontinence often occurs in women aged 40-60 years and contributes to a significant impact on women's physical health and quality of life. Objective To explore the prevalence and influencing factors of urinary incontinence and its impact on quality of life in women aged 40-60 years in Guizhou Province. Methods From June 2022 to January 2023, women aged 40-60 years who underwent health checkups in 10 hospitals in 7 regions of Guizhou Province were selected as the study subjects. A self-designed general data questionnaire was used to collect the basic data of the study subjects, and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS) and Incontinence Quality of Life Measure (I-QoL) were used to determine the severity of urinary incontinence and the level of quality of life of the study subjects, respectively. Different types of incontinence, including stress incontinence, urge incontinence, and mixed incontinence, were determined according to the diagnostic criteria established by the International Continence Society (ICS). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of urinary incontinence, and explore the effects of different types and severity levels of urinary incontinence on patients' quality of life. Results A total of 3 000 questionnaires were distributed, and 2 966 valid questionnaires were collected, with a valid recovery rate of 98.9%. The prevalence of urinary incontinence among the 2 966 study subjects was 33.4% (991/2 966), including 20.1% (596/2 966) for stress incontinence, 2.0% (58/2 966) for urge incontinence, and 11.4% (337/2 966) for mixed incontinence. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that physical exercise, menstrual status, parity, history of pelvic organ prolapse, perineal laceration, and lateral episiotomy were the influencing factors of stress incontinence (P