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The role of bilirubin in inflammatory bowel disease is not only functioned as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory factor, but also functioned in immune regulation, anti-platelet aggregation, and as inhibition factor of digestive protease and remodeling of microbiota. Serum bilirubin level is correlated with disease activity and severity, so is a potential serum marker of inflammatory bowel disease in terms of supporting clinical diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Since December 2019, COVID-19 has broken out in Wuhan and spread rapidly across the country. In order to effectively prevent and control the spread of the disease, most provinces and cities in China initiated to restrain traffic, blocked access and other public health control measures, which have brought great challenges to the emergency transfer process of patients. In order to effectively encourage patients to hospital for treatment, the Emergency Department of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, established an innovative medical isolation transport system for COVID-19 patients, and applied to the emergency transport process of the first case. The patients were admitted to hospital smoothly, and received treatment as planned without secondary infection.

Eighteen novel 3/5(3,5)-(di)nitropaeonol hydrazone derivatives were prepared, and their structures well characterized by 1H NMR, HRMS, and mp. Due to the steric hindrance, the substituents on the C = N double bond of all hydrazine compounds (except E/Z = 4/1 for IV-1g, IV-1l, IV-2b, and E/Z = 3/2 for IV-1n, IV-3a) adopted E configuration. Among all compounds, four compounds 2, 4, IV-1j, and IV-1n exhibited potent nematicidal activity than their precursor paeonol, especially 5-nitropaeonol (2) and 3,5-dinitropaeonol (4) displayed the most potent nematicidal activity Heterodera glycines in vivo with LC50 values of 32.3307 and 36.7074 mg/L, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studies ionospheric scintillation impacts on GEO SAR focusing based on multiple phase screen (MPS) simulations. The power spectrum of electron irregularities is modified according to the anisotropic ionosphere. In the case of the oblique incidence, the electromagnetic wave equations in random medium are derived, and then the MPS simulations are realized. After the simulation of GEO SAR imaging, the effects of the random fluctuations are analyzed. Finally, the optimized integration time under different scintillation conditions are proposed through Monte Carlo simulations. The paper concludes that the greater ionospheric fluctuations and longer integration time will lead to more serious deterioration in the same GEO SAR configuration; and even not focus at all for the worst case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), an important packaging material for carbonated beverages, was investigated on its glassy relaxations and melt crystallizations in CO2 in a high-pressure differential scanning calorimeter (PDSC) and a high-pressure thermostat chamber as a function of CO2 pressure, time, CO2 depressurization rate, and PET crystallinity. DSC measurements found a low glass transition temperature (T gL) at near 50°C in the wholly amorphous PET and a high glass transition temperature (T gH) at near 70°C in the PET sample with a fairly high crystallinity (X c 50%). Both T gL and T gH decreased with increasing time in CO2, attributed to plasticization by CO2. PET sample with a moderate crystallinity (X c 42%), however, exhibited both T gL and T gH corresponding to the relaxations of the dual amorphous phases as confirmed by dynamic mechanical analysis, with the T gL assigned to the free amorphous phase and the T gH to the constrained amorphous phase. The T gL is much farther apart from T gH than those obtained in N2. The T gL and T gH in PET with a moderate crystallinity unexpectedly appeared to be insignificantly varied with time in CO2; however, the magnitude of the T gL signal increased but the T gH signal decreased with increasing time in CO2, attributed to disentanglement of polymer chains by CO2. Dual melting peaks in PET were found after nonisothermal crystallization from the melt in CO2. Temperature-modulated DSC (TMDSC) analysis indicated that melting-recrystallization model and double lamellar thickness model were both responsible for the appearance of the dual melting peaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the clinical effect between Stiletto needle combined with massotherapy and articular injection of sodium hyaluronate for pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA)., Methods: A total of 156 patients with KOA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 78 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with Stiletto needle (once a week) combined with massotherapy (twice a week); the patients in the control group were treated with articular injection of sodium hyaluronate (once a week). The treatment period were 5 weeks in total. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, local tenderness value, knee joint activity and Lysholm knee joint score were recorded before treatment, 3 weeks and 5 weeks of treatment., Results: Compared before treatment, the VAS score, local tenderness value, knee joint activity and Lysholm knee joint score in the two groups were improved 5 weeks of treatment ( P <0.05). After 5 weeks of treatment, The local tenderness value and Lysholm knee joint score in the observation group were significantly improved compared with the control group ( P <0.05), but the knee joint activity in the control group was superior to that in the observation group ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: The Stiletto needle combined with massotherapy are superior to articular injection of sodium hyaluronate in relieving pain and improving knee joint function in patients with early-to-moderate KOA, but its effect on joint activity is inferior to sodium hyaluronate.

As one of the air pollution transmission channels around the beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Puyang frequently suffer from severe airpollution in autumn and winter. In order to study the characteristics and main sources of fine particulate matter during these periods, manual membrane sampling of PM 2.5 was conducted at three national control sites from October 15, 2017, to January 13, 2018. Chemical composition analysis was conducted and, combined with a PMF receptor model, source analysis of the fine particles was also undertaken. The results show that the average mass concentration of PM 2.5 in Puyang was 94.16 μg·m -3 in the autumn and winter of 2017, and Pushuihe station was the most polluted site. During the heating season, the three control stations all recorded the frequent occurrence of severe and serious pollution events, while the frequency of mild pollution events decreased. When heavy pollution events occurred, the concentrations of NO 2 and CO increased significantly. The main components of PM 2.5 were water-soluble ions (52.33%), OCEC (25.32%), and crustal elements (0.08%). The concentrations of NO 3 - were high while the concentrations of SO 4 2- were low. When heavy pollution occurred, the concentrations of water-soluble ions, OC, EC, and K in PM 2.5 increased significantly, while the concentrations of crustal elements decreased. During the sampling period, the conversion ratios of sulfur and nitrogen in Puyang were high and atmospheric oxidation was strong. The transformation of sulfur and nitrogen promoted the occurrence of heavy pollution. Emissions of NO x , CO, and VOCs were higher in Puyang in 2017, and the source apportionment results showed that the main sources of PM 2.5 in autumn and winter were secondary inorganic salts (37%), industrial sources (16%), secondary organic aerosol (SOA, 14%), biomass combustion (12%), mobile sources (9%), coal burning (7%), and dust (4%). Secondary transformation played an important role in the development of heavy pollution events in Puyang. It is necessary to focus on the control of emissions from industrial sources, biomass combustion, moving source, and civil coal combustion.

Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

To reveal the radial growth trends of Pinus koraiensis and the differences in their responses to climate factors among different latitudes, and to assess the dynamic characteristics, adaptabi-lity and sensitivity of P. koraiensis under the influence of climate change, dendrochronological techniques were used to study the relationships between the climatic variables and the radial growth of P. koraiensis in broad-leaved Korean pine forests with different latitudes. The results showed that there were differences in the responses of the radial growth of P. koraiensis in four different latitudes to local climatic factors. In Baishilazi Nature Reserve, the southernmost sample plot, the radial growth of P. koraiensis was significantly positively correlated to the average relative humidity but significantly negatively correlated to the average maximum temperature of growing season. In low altitude of Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve, the intermediate sample plot, it was significantly positively correlated with precipitation, average relative humidity and PDSI, and significantly negatively correlated with the average maximum temperature in growing season. In Liangshui Nature Reserve, the intermediate sample plot, significantly positive correlations occurred for average relative humidity and PDSI in growing season, while significantly negative correlations occurred for the average temperature and the average maximum temperature in growing season. Nevertheless, in Shengshan Nature Reserve, the northernmost sample plot, it was positively correlated to the tempe-rature factors of most months. The climatic variables in June of current year were the main factors limiting the radial growth of P. koraiensis in all latitudes, and the average maximum temperature in June of current year was highly negatively correlated with radial growth for P. koraiensis measured at all sites. In recent four decades, with the rising of temperature, the radial growth of P. koraiensis decreased significantly in the southernmost point, increased significantly in the northernmost point, and did not change significantly in middle latitudes. The distribution area of P. koraiensis would be reduced if the temperature increased and precipitation remained unchanged in the future.

Objective: To investigate the possible effects of apolipoprotein C I gene (APOC3) polymorphisms on plasma lipids in healthy adolescents with different body mass index (BMI)., Methods: Seven hundred and twenty three adolescents were divided into four groups according to BMI: group 1 CBMI= (17.80 +/- 0.75) kg/m2,n=180], group 2 [BMI = (19.39 +/- 0.32) kg/m2, n=182), group 3 [BMI= (20.68 +/- 0.43) kg/m2, n=1813 and group 4 [BMI= (23.40 +/- 2.05) kg/m2 ,n=180J. Fasting venous blood samples were collected, plasma lipids were determined and genome DNA was extracted for determining the genotypes of the APOC3 Sst I and -482C>T polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP., Results: With the elevation of BMI, height and plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly (P<0.001 for both), body mass, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist/hip ratio, plasma triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly (P<0.001 for all). No significant differences in TG levels among Sst I genotypes were observed in group 1, group 2 and group 3; but in group 4, significant differences in TG levels among Sst I genotypes were observed, S2 carriers had higher TG levels than the adolescents with S1S1 genotype. No significant differences in plasma lipids among -482C>T genotypes were observed in all groups., Conclusion: The elevation of plasma TG levels by the S2 allele of APOC3 Sst I polymorphism is associated with BMI. It is possible that the reduction of body mass could favorably modulate the elevation of TG levels by S2 allele in healthy adolescents.

Objective: To investigate the possible effects of apolipoprotein A1 gene (APOA1) rs670 and rs5069 polymorphisms on plasma lipid profiles in healthy adolescents with different body mass index (BMI)., Methods: Totally 723 adolescents were divided into four groups according to their BMI: group 1[BMI =(17.80 ± 0.75)kg/m2], group 2[BMI = (19.39 ± 0.32) kg/m²], group 3[BMI = (20.68 ± 0.43) kg/m²], and group 4[BMI=(23.40 ± 2.05) kg/m²]. Height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, heart rate, plasma lipids, and blood glucose were determined, BMI and waist to hip ratio (W/H ratio) were calculated,and genome DNA was extracted for analyzing the genotypes of the APOA1 rs670 and rs5069 polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism., Results: No significant differences in height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, W/H ratio, blood pressure, heart rate, plasma lipids, and blood glucose between APOA1 rs670 or rs5069 genotypes were observed among group 1, group 2, and group 3. In group 4, A carriers of the rs670 polymorphism had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (P=0.017) and blood glucose levels (P=0.009) than the adolescents with the GG genotype. T carriers of the rs5069 polymorphism had significantly higher height (P=0.013), weight (P=0.011), and hip circumference (P=0.026) than the adolescents with the CC genotype., Conclusions: In healthy adolescents with higher BMI, APOA1 rs670 polymorphism is associated with systolic blood pressure and blood glucose levels. The elevation of systolic blood pressure and blood glucose levels in A carriers of APOA1 rs670 polymorphism may be favorably modulated by weight loss.

Background: Changes in the ratios of plasma lipids and apolipoproteins may be associated with diets and the C161T polymorphism in the gene of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). As a result, this study was to investigate the effects of this polymorphism on changes of the ratios induced by a high-carbohydrate (high-CHO) diet., Methods: After a washout diet of 54% carbohydrate for 7 days, 56 healthy young adults (22.89 +/- 1.80 years old) were given the high-CHO diet of 70% carbohydrate for 6 days. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), glucose, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein (apo) AI, and apoB100 at baseline and before and after the high-CHO diet were measured. Body mass index (BMI), TG/HDL-C, log (TG/HDL-C), TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and apoB100/apoAI were calculated. PPARgamma C161T was detected by a PCR-RFLP method. The relationship between the polymorphism and the ratios were analyzed., Results: The female T carriers had higher BMI and WC than the female CC homozygotes at baseline and before and after the diet, higher glucose, TG/HDL-C and log (TG/HDL-C) before the diet. In males, when compared to the T carriers, the CC homozygotes had higher TG/HDL-C, log (TG/HDL-C) and apoB100/apoAI at baseline and before and after the diet, higher glucose at baseline, higher LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C before and after the diet. Compared with those before the high-CHO diet, TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C decreased after the diet regardless of gender and the genotypes. Decreased BMI and WC were observed in the male CC homozygotes but only decreased BMI in the female T carriers. Notably, decreased apoB100/apoAI was observed in the male T carriers, while elevated TG/HDL-C and log (TG/HDL-C) in the female CC homozygotes, and reduced glucose in the female T carriers., Conclusions: The results suggest that the interplay of gender, the PPARgamma C161T polymorphism and the high-CHO diet can change not only the ratios of plasma lipids and apolipoproteins but also the association of the ratios with plasma glucose, WC, and BMI in healthy Chinese young adults. Once confirmed by larger sample size and multi-center trials, the findings will provide a new scientific basis for personalized dietary intervention for the subjects with different PPARgamma C161T genotypes to reduce risks of CAD, especially in a country with a quarter of the world's population.

Objective: To investigate the effects of an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism at the intron 16 of the gene of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) on the changes of serum lipid ratios and blood pressure induced by a high-carbohydrate and low-fat (HC/LF) diet in healthy Chinese Han youth., Methods: Fifty six healthy Chinese Han young volunteers were enrolled. A washout diet was given for seven days followed by the HC/LF diet for six days. Serum lipids and blood pressure were measured on the 1st, 8th, and 14th days. Serum lipid ratios were calculated. The ACE I/D polymorphism was detected by PCR., Results: There were no significant differences of serum lipid ratios and blood pressure at baseline and before and after the HC/LF diet between the II genotype and the D carriers (ID and DD genotypes) in the whole study population, the males or the females separately. When compared with those before the HC/LF diet, all the subjects regardless of the genotype experienced statistical decreases of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C, but significant decrease of systolic blood pressure (SBP) was only found in the subjects with the II genotype. After taking into account gender, triglyceride (TG)/HDL-C and Log (TG/HDL-C) decreased in the males with theII genotype and increased in the female counterparts. The decreases of TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDIL-C were observed in all the males and the female D carriers. SBP decreased only in the male D carriers., Conclusion: The interaction of the HC/LF diet with the I allele of the intron 16 I/D polymorphism at the ACE gene decreases TG/HDL-C and log (TG/HDL-C) in males, but increases TG/HDL-C and log (TG/HDL-C) in females in the Chinese young population. The interplay with the D allele lowers SBP in males, and TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/ HDL-C in females.