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Abstract Background This study examined the feasibility of transabdominal intestinal ultrasonography in evaluating acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI). Methods A total of 116 patients were included. Intestinal ultrasonography was conducted daily within 1 week after admission to the intensive care unit. Ultrasonography indicators including intestinal diameter, changes in the intestinal folds, thickness of the intestinal wall, stratification of the intestinal wall, and intestinal peristalsis (movement of the intestinal contents) were observed to determine the acute gastrointestinal injury ultrasonography (AGIUS) score. The gastrointestinal and urinary tract sonography ultrasound (GUTS) protocol score was also calculated. During the first week of the study, the gastrointestinal failure (GIF) score was determined daily. The correlations between transabdominal intestinal scores (AGIUS and GUTS) and the GIF score were analyzed to clarify the feasibility of evaluating AGI through observation of the intestine. The utility of intestinal ultrasonography indicators in predicting feeding intolerance was investigated to improve the ability of clinicians to manage AGI. Results A total of 751 ultrasonic examinations were performed with 511 images (68%) considered to be of “good quality.” AGIUS and GUTS scores differed significantly between AGI patients (GIF score 0–2) and non-AGI patients (GIF score 3–4) (p 10/min) have increased risk for feeding intolerance (16/83 vs. 25/33, p

Abstract. Background:. Although the use of extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been rapidly increasing, the benefit of ECMO in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains unclear. Our objective was to investigate the effect of venovenous ECMO (VV-ECMO) on adult patients with severe ARDS. Methods:. We conducted a multi-center, retrospective, cohort study in the intensive care units (ICUs) of six teaching hospitals between January 2013 and December 2018. Patients with severe ARDS who received VV-ECMO support were included. The detailed demographic data and physiologic data were used to match ARDS patients without ECMO. The primary endpoint was the 28-day mortality. Results:. Ninety-nine patients with severe ARDS supported by VV-ECMO and 72 patients without ECMO were included in this study. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score was 23.1 ± 6.3 in the ECMO group and 24.8 ± 8.5 in the control group (P = 0.1195). The sequential organ failure assessment score was 12.8 ± 3.4 in the ECMO group and 13.7 ± 3.5 in the control group (P = 0.0848). The 28-day mortality of patients with ECMO support was 39.4%, and that of the control group was 55.6%. The survival analysis curve showed that the 28-day mortality in the ECMO group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P = 0.0097). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the independent predictors of the 28-day mortality were the requirement of vasopressors before ECMO (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.006; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001–1.013; P = 0.030) and duration of mechanical ventilation before ECMO (HR: 3.299; 95% CI: 1.264–8.609; P = 0.034). Conclusions:. This study showed that ECMO improved the survival of patients with severe ARDS. The duration of mechanical ventilation and the requirement of vasopressors before ECMO might be associated with an increased risk of death.

The aim was to characterize the expression patterns of several genes in the gastrointestinal tracts of Tibetan pigs (TP) and Yorkshire pigs (YP) and to explore their correlation with digestion and growth difference of the two breeds. The body weights and growth of YP and TP were studied at 6, 12 and 24 weeks of age, and their plasma levels of ghrelin (GHRL), leptin (LEP), somatostatin (SST) and cholecystokinin (CCK) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood and gastrointestinal sections (stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon) were collected and assayed for mRNA expression of the six genes (GHRL, ghrelin receptor (GHSR), LEP, leptin receptor (LEPR), SST and CCK) by reverse transcription-qPCR (RT-qPCR). TP generally had higher mRNA expressions of GHSR, LEP, LEPR, SST and CCK genes compared to YP, and expressed lower levels of the GHRL gene in most tissues of the digestive tract. In both breeds, plasma levels of the expressed proteins were more closely correlated with the feed intake and growth than with mRNA levels of the target genes. Our data indicate that TP possess special gene expression patterns in the gastrointestinal tract compared to YP, which is consistent with its unique feed intake and adaptation to harsh environment.

Abstract. Background:. Little is known about the risk factors for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the overall hospitalized cardiac department population. This study was conducted to investigate the risk factors and develop a predictive model for SCD in a hospitalized cardiac department population. Methods:. We conducted a retrospective study of patients admitted to the cardiac department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from June 2015 to February 2017. We collected the clinical data from medical records. Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis was carried out to confirm the risk factors for SCD and develop a predictive risk model. The risk score was assessed by the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. Results:. A total of 262 patients with SCD and 4485 controls were enrolled in our study. Logistic regression modeling identified eight significant risk factors for in-hospital SCD: age, main admitting diagnosis, diabetes, corrected QT interval, QRS duration, ventricular premature beat burden, left ventricular ejection fraction, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. A predictive risk score including these variables showed an AUROC curve of 0.774 (95% confidence interval: 0.744–0.805). The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed the chi-square value was 2.527 (P = 0.640). The incidence of in-hospital SCD was 1.3%, 4.1%, and 18.6% for scores of 0 to 2, 3 to 5 and ≥6, respectively (P

Celery is one of the most widely cultivated vegetables worldwide. Boron (B), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) are essential microelements for plant growth with Cu also important in controlling fungal diseases. But little is known about the combined effects of B, Zn, and Cu fertilizers on celery. A pot experiment was conducted during two growing seasons (2014–2015 and 2015–2016) using a novel foliar fertilizer: a copper-based-zinc-boron foliar fertilizer (Cu-ZnB) based on the Bordeaux mixture (BDM). Celeries were sprayed with water (the control); BDM; 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g L−1 copper foliar fertilizer (CFF1, CFF2, and CFF3), and with 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g L−1 the Cu-ZnB (Cu-ZnB1, Cu-ZnB2, and Cu-ZnB3). During both seasons, Cu-ZnB1 increased celery yield and decreased disease index, compared with control and BDM treatments. Application of Cu-ZnB1 also increased vitamin C content while reducing nitrate content of celery compared with BDM and increased leaf Zn and B concentration compared with the control, BDM, and CFF1 treatments. Furthermore, Leaf Cu concentration in Cu-ZnB1 treatment was lower by 76.9% compared with BDM. Spraying Cu-ZnB1 also significantly increased SOD, POD, and CAT activities, while decreasing MDA content of functional leaves. By applying Cu-ZnB during 2015–2\016, soil available Cu concentration was reduced by 24.9–42.2%, compared with BDM. Hence, applying 1.0 g L−1 Cu-ZnB to celery is recommended for enhancing plant nutritional quality and yield; simultaneously, it reduces the levels of Cu in the soil and disease index of celery.

The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior and mechanism of M152 and 17-4PH high-strength steels in high Cl- environment were studied through neutral salt spray test and slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) test. The result shows that M152 and 17-4PH steels exhibit a certain sensitivity to SCC in Cl- environment, elongations of them both decrease with the increasing time of early neutral salt spray test, and the SCC sensitivity gradually increases. Comparing the fracture morphology with lateral crack through SEM, it can be found that the fracture mechanism of M152 and 17-4PH high-strength steels converts ductile fracture to brittle fracture as the extension of neutral salt spray test time. The synergistic effect of anodic dissolution (AD) and hydrogen embrittlement (HE) result in the occurrence of SCC in high Cl- environment, and Cl- can promote the AD process. Due to the obvious effect of HE, 17-4PH steel has higher SCC sensitivity than M152 steel with the same time of early neutral salt spray test. 17-4PH high-strength steel is more prone to SCC than M152 in high Cl- environment.

C34H36CoN4O5, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 8.7040(5) Å, b = 12.7375(9) Å, c = 14.2626(9) Å, α = 99.054(2)°, β = 95.727(2)°, γ = 92.477(2)° V = 1550.96(17) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0554, wRref(F2) = 0.1369, T = 296(2) K.

C24H22Cl2N4O4, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 9.7533(6) Å, b = 10.2969(8) Å, c = 17.9128(12) Å, α = 104.131(2)°, β = 99.242(2)°, γ = 91.106(2)°, V = 1718.7(2) Å3, Z = 3, Rgt(F) = 0.0502, wRref(F2) = 0.1256, T = 153(2) K.

C44H38Zn3N4O12, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 16.2076(17) Å, b = 13.9361(19) Å, c = 19.029(3) Å, β = 107.635(14)°, V = 4096.1(10) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0760, wRref(F2) = 0.1768, T = 173 K.

C44H38Co3N4O12, monoclinic, C12/c1 (no. 15), a = 16.1982(8) Å, b = 14.1334(7) Å, c = 18.7433(11) Å, β = 107.916(6)°, V = 4082.9(4) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0639, wRref(F2) = 0.1538, T = 173.00(10) K.

The present work reports the influence of the presence of different ions (Cl-, Br-, NO3-, or SO42-) on the formation and proprieties of Cu(II) complexes with pyridoxal-benzoylhydrazone (PLBHZ). Four new complexes were successfully synthesized, [CuCl2(PLBHZ)] (1), [CuBr2(PLBHZ)] (2), [CuCl(PLBHZ)H2O]-NO3-H2O (3), and [CuSO4(PLBHZ)H2O]-3H2O (4), and characterized by spectroscopic and physicochemical methods. A single-crystal X-ray study reveals the Schiff base coordinated to the metal center tridentate by the ONS-donor system, resulting in distorted square pyramidal coordination geometries. Noncovalent interactions were investigated by 3D Hirshfeld surface analysis by the dnorm function, 2D fingerprint plots, and full interaction maps. The ion exchange is important in forming three-dimensional networks with π···π stacking interactions and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The in vitro biological activity of the free ligand and metal complexes was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacterial strains and the free pyridoxal-hydrazone ligand showed higher activity than their Cu(II) complexes. Molecular docking was used to predict the inhibitory activity of the ligand and complexes against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-rich manganese oxide is a promising candidate for the next-generation cathode material of lithium-ion batteries because of its low cost and high specific capacity. Herein, a series of xLi2MnO3·(1 − x)LiMnO2 nanocomposites were designed via an ingenious one-step dynamic hydrothermal route. A high concentration of alkaline solution, intense hydrothermal conditions, and stirring were used to obtain nanoparticles with a large surface area and uniform dispersity. The experimental results demonstrate that 0.072Li2MnO3·0.928LiMnO2 nanoparticles exhibit a desirable electrochemical performance and deliver a high capacity of 196.4 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C. This capacity was maintained at 190.5 mAh g−1 with a retention rate of 97.0% by the 50th cycle, which demonstrates the excellent cycling stability. Furthermore, XRD characterization of the cycled electrode indicates that the Li2MnO3 phase of the composite is inert, even under a high potential (4.8 V), which is in contrast with most previous reports of lithium-rich materials. The inertness of Li2MnO3 is attributed to its high crystallinity and few structural defects, which make it difficult to activate. Hence, the final products demonstrate a favorable electrochemical performance with appropriate proportions of two phases in the composite, as high contents of inert Li2MnO3 lower the capacity, while a sufficient structural stability cannot be achieved with low contents. The findings indicate that controlling the composition through a dynamic hydrothermal route is an effective strategy for developing a Mn-based cathode material for lithium-ion batteries.

C44H49Cl2Co3N6O12, Triclinic, P1̅, a = 9.7415(9) Å, b = 13.6440(14) Å, c = 17.5241(11) Å, α = 72.807(10)°, β = 83.019(9)°, γ = 72.246(9)°, V = 2450.6(5) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0700, wRref(F2) = 0.1505, T = 291(2) K.