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The development of atherosclerosis is accompanied by the functional deterioration of plaque cells, which leads to the escalation of endothelial inflammation, abnormal vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switching and the accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages within vascular walls. Autophagy, a highly conserved homeostatic mechanism, is critical for the delivery of cytoplasmic substrates to lysosomes for degradation. Moderate levels of autophagy prevent atherosclerosis by safeguarding plaque cells against apoptosis, preventing inflammation, and limiting the lipid burden, whereas excessive autophagy exacerbates cell damage and inflammation and thereby accelerates the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Increasing lines of evidence suggest that long noncoding RNAs can be either beneficial or detrimental to atherosclerosis development by regulating the autophagy level. This review summarizes the research progress related to 1) the significant role of autophagy in atherosclerosis and 2) the effects of the lncRNA-mediated modulation of autophagy on the plaque cell fate, inflammation levels, proliferative capacity, and cholesterol metabolism and subsequently on atherogenesis.

A few small retrospective studies recently found that endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in asymptomatic compared with symptomatic common bile duct stones (CBDSs) patients appeared to increase the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). This study aimed to determine the risk of ERCP in asymptomatic CBDS patients.A total of 327 consecutive patients with native papilla were invited to participate into the study and divided into two groups: 53 in the asymptomatic group and 274 in the symptomatic group, who underwent CBDS removal by ERCP. Patient's characteristics and outcomes were analyzed.A total of 46 (14.1%) patients had ERCP-related complications, including PEP, cholangitis, perforation, and bleeding. The overall complication rate in the asymptomatic group was higher than in the control group (26.4% vs 11.7%, P0.01). PEP was the most common complication (30/327, 9.2%). Of the 30 cases of PEP, 25 (83.3%) were mild, and the severity in both groups was similar (9/1/1 vs 16/2/1, P0.05). The incidence rate of PEP in the asymptomatic group was higher than in the symptomatic group (20.8% vs 6.9%, P0.01). Multivariate regression analysis identified asymptomatic CBDSs (odds ratio = 0.241, 95% confidence interval: 0.092-0.628) as being independently associated with PEP occurrence.Asymptomatic CBDSs were associated with increased incidence of PEP compared with symptomatic CBDSs.

The "Four-step Teaching of Encouraging and Sharing" is a learner-centered teaching method that advocates teamwork and gives full play to the role of the teacher in guiding learning. It is an innovative teaching approach to realize students' self-transcendence by stimulating students' internal motivation for independent learning, applying group task-driven learning, and giving teachers' feedback to students' sharing. It consists of four steps: teachers' guiding, students' self-regulated learning, team learning and practice, experience sharing. We have applied this method to the teaching practice of physiology and experimental physiological science with a significant impact on teaching effects. This teaching method has also been implemented to other courses in other majors. To solve the problems of reduced communication and interaction, low learning enthusiasm and motivation in online teaching course during COVID-19 pandemic, we recruited 21 undergraduates from different schools and majors. Using the "Tencent Meeting" platform, the authors tried to apply the whole process of the "Four-step Teaching of Encouraging and Sharing" to the online teaching of physiology. Group tests and questionnaires were used to evaluate teaching effects. The results showed that the implementation of the "Online Four-step Teaching of Encouraging and Sharing (OFST)" was feasible and effective, and to a certain extent alleviated the problems of loneliness and low learning motivation of students during online learning caused by home quarantine, which was particularly helpful for long-distance inter-school and inter-discipline team learning.

Kcnq1 overlapping transcript 1 (kcnq1ot1), an imprinted antisense lncRNA in the kcnq1 locus, acts as a potential contributor to cardiovascular disease, but its role in atherosclerosis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of kcnq1ot1 on atherogenesis and the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that kcnq1ot1 expression was significantly increased in mouse aorta with atherosclerosis and lipid-loaded macrophages. Lentivirus-mediated kcnq1ot1 overexpression markedly increased atherosclerotic plaque area and decreased plasma HDL-C levels and RCT efficiency in apoE−/− mice fed a Western diet. Upregulation of kcnq1ot1 also reduced the expression of miR-452-3p and ABCA1 but increased HDAC3 levels in mouse aorta and THP-1 macrophages. Accordingly, kcnq1ot1 overexpression inhibited cholesterol efflux and promoted lipid accumulation in THP-1 macrophages. In contrast, kcnq1ot1 knockdown protected against atherosclerosis in apoE−/− mice and suppressed lipid accumulation in THP-1 macrophages. Mechanistically, kcnq1ot1 enhanced HDAC3 expression by competitively binding to miR-452-3p, thereby inhibiting ABCA1 expression and subsequent cholesterol efflux. Taken together, these findings suggest that kcnq1ot1 promotes macrophage lipid accumulation and accelerates the development of atherosclerosis through the miR-452-3p/HDAC3/ABCA1 pathway.

The marine oleaginous protist Aurantiochytrium sp. (Schizochytrium sp.) is a well-known docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) producer and its different DHA products are the ideal substitute for the traditional fish oil resource. However, the cost of the DHA products derived from Aurantiochytrium sp. (Schizochytrium sp.) is still high, limiting their wide applications. In order to reduce the cost or improve the productivity of DHA from the microbial resource, many researches are focusing on exploring the renewable and low-cost materials as feedbacks, and/or the stimulators for biomass and DHA production. In addition, the genetic engineering is also being used in the Aurantiochytrium sp. (Schizochytrium sp.) system for further improvement. These break the bottleneck of the DHA production by Aurantiochytrium sp. (Schizochytrium sp.) in some degree. In this review, the strategies used currently to reduce cost and improve DHA productivity, mainly from the utilizations of low-cost materials and effective stimulators to the genetic engineering perspectives, are summarized, and the availabilities from the cost perspective are also evaluated. This review provides an overview about the strategies to revolve the production cost and yield of the DHA by Aurantiochytrium sp. (Schizochytrium sp.), a theoretical basis for genetic modification of Aurantiochytrium sp. (Schizochytrium sp.), and a practical basis for the development of DHA industry. KEY POINTS : • Utilizations of various low-cost materials for DHA production • Inducing the growth and DHA biosynthesis by the effective stimulators • Reducing cost and improving DHA productivity by genetic modification • The availability from cost perspective is evaluated.

In the present study, a pyridoxal-5&prime, phosphate (PLP)-dependent L-aspartate-&alpha, decarboxylase from Tribolium castaneum (TcPanD) was selected for protein engineering to efficiently produce &beta, alanine. A mutant TcPanD-R98H/K305S with a 2.45-fold higher activity than the wide type was selected through error-prone PCR, site-saturation mutagenesis, and 96-well plate screening technologies. The characterization of purified enzyme TcPanD-R98H/K305S showed that the optimal cofactor PLP concentration, temperature, and pH were 0.04% (m/v), 50 &deg, C, and 7.0, respectively. The 1mM of Na+, Ni2+, Co2+, K+, and Ca2+ stimulated the activity of TcPanD-R98H/K305S, while only 5 mM of Ni2+ and Na+ could increase its activity. The kinetic analysis indicated that TcPanD-R98H/K305S had a higher substrate affinity and enzymatic reaction rate than the wild enzyme. A total of 267 g/L substrate l-aspartic acid was consumed and 170.5 g/L of &beta, alanine with a molar conversion of 95.5% was obtained under the optimal condition and 5-L reactor fermentation.

Biochanin A (BCA), a dietary isoflavone extracted from red clover and cabbage, has been shown to antagonize hypertension and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, very little is known about its role in atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of BCA on atherosclerosis and explore the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that administration of BCA promoted reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), improved plasma lipid profile, and decreased serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and atherosclerotic lesion area in apoE-/- mice fed a Western diet. In THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells, treatment with BCA upregulated ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ABCG1 expression and facilitated subsequent cholesterol efflux and diminished intracellular cholesterol contents by activating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)/liver X receptor α (LXRα) and PPARγ/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) pathways. BCA also activated these two signaling pathways to inhibit the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these findings suggest that BCA is protective against atherosclerosis by inhibiting lipid accumulation and inflammatory response through the PPARγ/LXRα and PPARγ/HO-1 pathways. BCA may be an attractive drug for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Wheat stripe (yellow) rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis West. f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the most destructive diseases in many wheat-growing countries, especially in China, the largest stripe rust epidemic area in the world. Growing the resistant cultivars is an effective, economic and environmentally friendly way to control this disease. Wheat cultivar Zhengmai 7698 has shown a high-level resistance to wheat stripe rust. To elucidate its genetic characteristics and location of the resistance gene, Zhengmai 7698 was crossed with susceptible variety Taichung 29 to produce $$\hbox {F}_{{1}}$$ , $$\hbox {F}_{{2}}$$ and $$\hbox {BC}_{{1}}$$ progeny generations. The genetic analysis showed that the stripe rust resistance in Zhengmai 7698 to Pst predominant race CYR32 was controlled by a single-dominant gene, namedYrZM. Bulked segregant analysis and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to map the gene. Four SSR markers, Xbarc198, Xwmc179, Xwmc786 and Xwmc398 on chromosome 6BL were polymorphic between the parents and resistance, and susceptible bulks. A linkage genetic map was constructed using 212 $$\hbox {F}_{{2}}$$ plants in the sequential order of Xwmc398, Xwmc179, YrZM, Xbarc198, Xwmc786. As this gene is effective against predominant race CYR32, it is useful in combination with other resistance genes for developing new wheat cultivars with resistance to stripe rust.

Background To observe the outcome of endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) with minor sphincterotomy (mEST) for periampullary diverticular papilla related to stone removal. Methods Patients with confirmed periampullary diverticulum (PAD) during stone removal from May 2016 to April 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. The Chi-square test with Yates correction or Fisher's exact test was used for the analysis of categorical data and a normality test was applied for continuous data. Results A total of 154 consecutive patients (89 males and 65 females, aged 51-87 years) with confirmed PAD during stone removal were included in the study. Cases were divided into the conventional EST group (n = 79) and the mEST plus EPLBD group (n = 75). The number of patients with an initial treatment success was greater in the EPLBD+mEST group compared with the EST group (96% vs 86.1%, p=0.03) and the procedure time for EPLBD+mEST was shorter than that for EST alone (46.1±13.7 min vs 53.3±11.6 min, p=0.01). The rate of complications in the EPLBD+mEST group was lower than in the EST group (17.3% vs 32.9%, p=0.04). When PAD was >15 mm, the initial success rate was higher (92.6% vs 73.9%, p=0.04) and the rate of overall complications was lower (14.8% vs 41.7%, p=0.03) in the EPLBD+mEST group than those in the EST group. Although, this was similar when PAD was

Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is one of the most damaging diseases to wheat in the world. The cultivation of resistant varieties of wheat is essential for controlling the powdery mildew epidemic. Wheat landraces are important resources of resistance to many diseases. Mapping powdery mildew resistance genes from wheat landraces will promote the development of new varieties with disease resistance. The Chinese wheat landrace Baiyouyantiao possesses characteristic of disease resistance to powdery mildew. To identify the resistance gene in this landrace, Baiyouyantiao was crossed with the susceptible cultivar Jingshuang 16 and seedlings of parents and F1, BC1, F2, and F2:3 were tested with Bgt isolate E09. The genetic results showed that the resistance of Baiyouyantiao to E09 was controlled by a single recessive gene, tentatively designated PmBYYT. An Illumina wheat 90K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array was applied to screen polymorphisms between F2-resistant and F2-susceptible DNA bulks for identifying the chromosomal location of PmBYYT. A high percentage of polymorphic SNPs between the resistant and susceptible DNA bulks was found on chromosome 7B, indicating that PmBYYT may be located on this chromosome. A genetic linkage map of PmBYYT consisting of two simple sequence repeat markers and eight SNP markers was developed. The two flanking markers were SNP markers W7BL-8 and W7BL-15, with genetic distances of 3 and 2.9 cM, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated the rapid characterization of a wheat disease resistance gene and SNP marker development using the 90K SNP assay. The flanking markers of gene PmBYYT will benefit marker-assisted selection (MAS) and map-based cloning in breeding wheat cultivars with powdery mildew resistance.

In order to study the running state of the traffic flow that occurred at urban tunnel access, the urban tunnel traffic flow was taken as the object of the study. Then the dynamic accelerati...

Based on the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO) with inertia weight, this paper proposed a distributed generator (DG) optimization method in active distribution considering fault risk with the goal of minimizing economic loss. According to the number of users and the loss of user load caused by power failure of the active distribution network, the fault risk impact factor is proposed and defined and then used to correct the objective function. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by a 24-node 6kV network. The results show that, after accessing the DG, the user's loss risk value, load loss risk value and total risk value are greatly improved. And the effectiveness of the DG optimization method considering the risk of failure is confirmed.

Macrophages are major pathogen-killing cells. Mycobacteria can represent a serious threat to human health, in particular Mycobacterium tuberculosis and, less so, the opportunistic Mycobacterium avium. They can cause disseminated infections because of their capacity to survive and proliferate within macrophage phagolysosomes. Accumulating evidence indicates that the regulation of miRNA expression is implicated in the mechanisms of defense of macrophages against mycobacterial infections. Nevertheless, the precise contribution of miRNAs is largely unknown. The present study analyzes the expression profile of miRNAs during M. avium infection of macrophages by means of microarrays. We detected that the levels of 23 miRNAs were significantly changed ≥2.5-fold 24 h after M. avium infection. In particular, MiR-125a-5p was found to be highly expressed as part of the known immunological response of macrophages to bacterial or viral infections. MiR-125a-5p overexpression inhibited the expression of target signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) in THP-1 cells. Conversely, inhibitors of miR-125a-5p had the opposite effect. Silencing of STAT3 significantly enhanced the level of autophagy in both uninfected and M. avium-infected cells. Overexpression of miR-125a-5p significantly increased autophagy and decreased M. avium survival within THP-1 cells. Instead, co-transfection with miR-125a-5p mimic and a human STAT3 expressing construct reversed the effects: autophagy decreased and intracellular bactericidal survival was improved. Taken together, our findings indicate that miR-125a-5p participates in the regulation of innate host defenses by targeting STAT3 and enhancing autophagy levels. The results reported here contribute to a better understanding of host defense mechanisms against mycobacterial infections and offer some clues about their control.

The present work sought to extract and quantify the factors influencing the speed at the access of the urban tunnels by factor analysis method and then found out that the principle factors influencing operating speed were cart ratio, mean time headway, brightness difference between inside and outside of the cave. Finally through the SPSS statistics software and on the base of analysis of multi-line regression, the prediction model of operating speed was established.

AIM To evaluate early and late outcomes of endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) with minor endoscopic sphincterotomy (mEST) for stone removal. METHODS A total of 149 consecutive patients with difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones (diameter ≥ 10 mm or ≥ 3 stones) underwent conventional endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) or mEST plus EPLBD from May 2012 to April 2016. Their demographic, laboratory and procedural data were collected, and pancreaticobiliary complications were recorded. RESULTS Sixty-nine (94.5%) of the patients in the EPLBD + mEST group and 64 (84.2%) in the conventional EST group achieved stone clearance following the first session (P = 0.0421). The procedure time for EPLBD + mEST was shorter than for EST alone (42.1 ± 13.6 min vs 47.3 ± 11.8 min, P = 0.0128). The overall rate of early complications in the EPLBD + mEST group (11%) was lower than in the EST group (21.1%); however, the difference was not significant (P = 0.0938). The cumulative recurrence rate of cholangitis and CBD stones between the two groups was also similar. The procedure time was independently associated with post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (OR = 6.374, 95%CI: 1.193-22.624, P = 0.023), CBD stone diameter ≥ 16 mm (OR = 7.463, 95%CI: 2.705-21.246, P = 0.0452) and use of mechanical lithotripsy (OR = 9.913, 95%CI: 3.446-23.154, P = 0.0133) were independent risk factors for stone recurrence. CONCLUSION EPLBD with mEST is more effective than EST alone for difficult CBD stone removal, with shorter procedure time and fewer early complications.

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) was associated with a higher rate of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP). The purpose of this study was to determine whether placement of an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) catheter can also prevent PEP after EPBD. A total of 93 patients, who with proven common bile duct (CBD) stones, received EPBD were enrolled this trial. They were randomly divided into ENBD group (n = 45) and no-ENBD group (n = 48) according whether undergone an ENBD procedure after EPBD. Their demographics, laboratory, procedural data were collected, and pancreaticobiliary complications were followed. The number of patients with serum amylase levels above the normal upper limit (>180 U/L) did not differ between groups. However, compared with ENBD group, more patients in No-ENBD group had levels greater than three times the normal limit (>540 U/L) (11/48 vs 3/45, P = 0.0285), and more patients developed to PEP (7/48 vs 0/45, P = 0.0250). During follow-up, the numbers of patients undergone cholecystectomy, cholangitis and recurrence of CBD stones were similar. There was also no significant difference in the cumulative rate of recurrent pancreaticobiliary complications between the two groups (P = 0.452). EPBD followed by insertion of an ENBD catheter can prevent PEP, and routine ENBD catheter placement is recommended after an EPBD procedure.

This study is aimed to establish how to organize the vehicles to exit from tunnels in a good order. First, the paper analyzed the traffic principles at the tunnel access. Then the organization design such as tunnel exits connecting crossroads、T style cross and vertical T style cross was introduced in detail and the lane connection feasibility was analyzed. Finally, the flow characteristics considering adjacent intersections were researched. The management methods of tunnel access may provide a preliminary support to improve the urban tunnel safety.

In recent years there are many approaches to the reform of public hospitals, especially with the help of information technology. This paper analyzes the modes in Shanghai, Suqian, Shenzhen, and Beijing focusing on management, operation and funding system. It points out that there is resources disparity and the reform in funding, governance and internal operation should be continued.

According to Chinese housing status and characteristics of suburbanization, learning from the experience of foreign suburbanization, based housing performance technical standards and questionnaire of Shenyang 2013 people purchase needs, unit plane, residential condominiums, 10 residential properties identified indicators including unit plane and residential condominiums are selected. Using rough set theory with engineering examples, preferred and established a widely used value prices, public service facilities, land using and planning three suburban residential evaluation and brief evaluation of suburban residential applications, at the same time gives some recommendations about the optimization and transformation of residential construction in the suburbs.

Stripe rust is one of major diseases in wheat production worldwide. The best economic and efficient method is to utilize resistant varieties. Alturas has high-temperature adult-plant resistance. In order to determine stripe rust resistance characteristics, resistance gene combination and molecular map of the resistance gene(s), Alturas was crossed with Chinese susceptible cultivar Taichung29. The parents, F1, F2 progenies were tested with Chinese predominant mixed races CYR31, CYR32 and CYR33 in field experiments in 2010 and F3 progenies were evaluated at one site in Beijing, the other site in Langfang, Hebei Province. Infection type (IT) and disease severity (DS) were recorded three times for each plant for F1 and F2, and each progeny for F3 during each growing season. The DS data were used to calculate relative area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values. Both IT and AUDPC data showed continuous distributions, indicating that the Alturas HTAP resistance was controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs). A major HTAP QTL, designated as QYrAlt.syau-3BS, was consistently detected across environments and was located on chromosome 3BS. The gene contributed to 34.28 % of the phenotypic variation for average AUDPC and 50.20 % for average IT. Markers Xgwm389 and Xbarc238 flanking the major QTL, should be useful in breeding for obtaining durable and high-level resistance by combinations with other non-race-specific resistance genes.

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Eriks., is a major disease that causes substantial losses to wheat production worldwide. The utilization of effective resistance genes in wheat cultivars is the preferred control of the disease. To study the inheritance of all-stage resistance in spring wheat cultivars Louise, WA008016, Express, Solano, Alturas and Zak from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States, the six cultivars were crossed with the Chinese susceptible variety Taichung 29. Single-spore isolates of CYR32 and CYR33, the predominant Chinese races of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici, were used to evaluate F1, F2 and BC1 generations for stripe rust resistance under controlled greenhouse conditions. Genetic analysis determined that Louise had one dominant resistance gene to CYR32, temporarily designated as YrLou. WA008016 had two dominant and one recessive resistance genes to CYR32, temporarily designated as YrWA1, YrWA2 and YrWA3, respectively. Express had a single recessive gene that conferred resistance to CYR32, temporarily designated as YrExp3. The two independent dominant genes in Solano conferring resistance to CYR32 were temporarily designated as YrSol1 and YrSol2. Alturas had two recessive genes for resistance to CYR32, temporarily designated as YrAlt1 and YrAlt2. Zak has one dominant gene for resistance to CYR33, temporarily designated as YrZak1. These six cultivars can be important resistance sources in Chinese wheat stripe rust resistance breeding.

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici , is one of the major diseases of wheat in China. In order to asses the resistance levels and existing Yr genes among 59 wheat cultivars (lines) from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States, to provide resistance resources for genetic improvement of wheat stripe rust resistance in China, 59 wheat cultivars (lines) from PNW of the United States were infected by 3 mixed races of predominant Chinese stripe rust races CRY31, CRY32, and CRY33 to evaluate their resistance at seedling and adult plant stages, and screened with molecular markers tightly linked to currently effective all-stage resistance genes Yr10 , Yr15 and adult plant resistance genes Yr18 , Yr39 . Of 59 American cultivars (lines), five cultivars (lines), Expresso, 02W50076, ACS52610, WA008012, and WA00801833, had all-stage resistance, showing resistance to mixed races of CRY31, CRY32, and CRY33 at both seedling and adult plant stages. 33 cultivars (lines) had adult plant resistance, only showing resistance to stripe rust at adult stage. Based on the molecular screening, none of the 59 PNW cultivars (lines) had the polymorphic bands of linked markers to Yr10 . There were 12, 33 and 29 cultivars (lines) which had polymorphic bands of linked markers to Yr15 , Yr18 and Yr39 , accounting for 20, 55 and 49% of the 59 PNW cultivars (lines), respectively. All these results suggested that Yr15 , Yr18 and Yr39 were widespread among PNW cultivars (cultivars) and could be utilized in Chinese wheat stripe rust resistance breeding.

The regenerability of three ornamental species— Lysimachia christinae , Lysimachia rubinervis and Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, were investigated using in vitro leaves and shoot tips. 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) added to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium were tested for their effect on organogenesis. On the medium, shoot regeneration occurred directly without callus formation. In these species, L. christinae developed the highest regeneration rate and numbers of shoots/explant from shoot tips (100%, 12.25) and leaf bases (100%, 13.01) on the MS medium containing 3.0 mg l −1 BAP and 0.1 mg l −1 NAA. For L. rubinervis , the highest shoot induction rate and number of shoots/explant were obtained from shoot tip (100%, 16.87–17.20) on the MS medium with 0.1 mg l −1 NAA and 3.0–5.0 mg l −1 BAP. L. nummularia ‘Aurea’, however, showed the highest regeneration rate and number of shoots/explant (100%, 12.73) from leaf bases on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l −1 BAP and 0.1 mg l −1 NAA. All in vitro shoots rooted well on half macronutrient MS medium containing 0.1 mg l −1 NAA. After acclimatization, transplanted plantlets grew normally and flowered in the field.

To evaluate the necessity of endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) catheter placement after clearance of common bile duct (CBD) stones.Patients enrolled in this study were randomly divided into two groups, according to whether or not they received ENBD after the removal of CBD stones. Group 1 (ENBD group) was then subdivided into three groups: G1a patients received an endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD), G1b patients received an endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST), and G1c patients received neither. Group 2 (non-ENBD group) patients were also subdivided into three groups (G2a, G2b, and G2c), similar to Group 1. The maximum CBD diameter, the time for C-reactive protein (CRP) to normalize, levels of serum amylase, total serum bilirubin (TB) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and postoperative hospitalization duration (PHD) were measured.A total of 218 patients (139 males, 79 females), with an average age of 60.1±10.8 years, were enrolled in this study. One hundred and thirteen patients who received ENBD were included in Group 1, and 105 patients who did not receive ENBD were included in Group 2. The baseline clinical characteristics were similar in both groups. There were no significant differences in post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related complications when Groups 1 and 2 were compared. Seventy-seven patients underwent EPBD, and 41 received an ENBD tube (G1a) and 36 did not (G2a). Seventy-three patients underwent EST, and 34 patients received an ENBD tube (G1b) and 39 did not (G2b). The remaining 68 patients underwent neither EPBD nor EST; of these patients, 38 received an ENBD tube (G1c) and 30 did not (G2c). For each of the three pairs of subgroups (G1a vs G2a, G1b vs G2b, G1c vs G2c), there were no significant differences detected in the PHD or the time to normalization of CRP, TB and ALT. In the EPBD group, the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis, hyperamylasemia and overall patient complications was significantly higher for G2a (post-ERCP pancreatitis: 6/36 vs 0/41, P=0.0217; hyperamylasemia: 11/36 vs 4/41, P=0.0215; overall patient complications: 18/36 vs 7/41, P=0.0029).After successful CBD stone clearance, ENBD is only beneficial when an EPBD procedure has been performed.

Sol-gel coatings of mixed TiO2-SiO2 had been deposited on ceramic substrates by spraycoating technique to study their hydrophilic and photocatalytic behavior on exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet illumination. The range of the films heat-treatment temperature is from 300°C to 500°C. AFM and XRD analysis were used to characterize the crystal structure and surface morphology of these coatings. Hydrophilic property was evaluated by water contact angle measurement under sunlight illumination condition, and photocatalytic activity by decomposition rate of aniline blue under ultraviolet illumination. Attrition resistance experiment was also carried out to test the hardness and adherence strength of these films. The experimental results demonstrate that this coating possesses high photo-activity and excellent adhesion to ceramic substrates.

The effects of α-asarone in four assays predictive of anxiolytic activity in male mice were studied, with diazepam as a positive anxiolytic control. The use of the elevated plus-maze test revealed that diazepam (2 mg/kg) or α-asarone (3.5 mg/kg) increased the percentage of entries into open arms and of the time spent on open arms. In the light/dark transition test, as with 2 mg/kg diazepam, 7 mg/kg α-asarone increased the time spent in the light area and the number of transitions between the two compartments. In the novel food consumption test, α-asarone (3.5, 7 and 14 mg/kg) caused significant increases in food intake during 5 min as well as diazepam (0.5 mg/kg). In the marble burying test, α-asarone also produced a significant inhibition of marble burying at doses of 14 and 28 mg/kg, as did diazepam (5 mg/kg). Thus, these findings indicated that α-asarone exhibited an anxiolytic-like effect. Further studies will be required to assess the generality of the present findings to other species and behavioral paradigms.

The effects of α-asarone in four assays predictive of anxiolytic activity in male mice were studied, with diazepam as a positive anxiolytic control. The use of the elevated plus-maze test revealed that diazepam (2 mg/kg) or α-asarone (3.5 mg/kg) increased the percentage of entries into open arms and of the time spent on open arms. In the light/dark transition test, as with 2 mg/kg diazepam, 7 mg/kg α-asarone increased the time spent in the light area and the number of transitions between the two compartments. In the novel food consumption test, α-asarone (3.5, 7 and 14 mg/kg) caused significant increases in food intake during 5 min as well as diazepam (0.5 mg/kg). In the marble burying test, α-asarone also produced a significant inhibition of marble burying at doses of 14 and 28 mg/kg, as did diazepam (5 mg/kg). Thus, these findings indicated that α-asarone exhibited an anxiolytic-like effect. Further studies will be required to assess the generality of the present findings to other species and behavioral paradigms.

AIM: To develop a safe, simple, noninvasive and affordable system to predict esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) in decompensated cirrhosis patients. METHODS: Four hundred and eighty-six patients with decompensated cirrhosis (238 males and 248 females), with a mean age of 63.1 ± 11.2 years, were admitted to Changshu Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University between May 2008 and March 2011. Patients enrolled in this study underwent ultrasound-Doppler (US-Doppler) to assess left gastric vein (LGV) blood flow velocity (LGVV) and blood flow direction (LGVBFD), and were evaluated by the Model For End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scoring system. All patients received follow-up evaluations every three months. The resulting data were entered into a database after each time point collection. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixteen patients completed follow-up evaluations for an average of 31.6 mo (range: 12 to 47 mo). Fifty-one (12.3%) patients experienced EVB. The change in the MELD score over three months (ΔMELD), LGVV and LGVBFD were independently associated with EVB occurrence. MELD-US-Doppler Index (MUI), a new index, was developed and calculated using the following logistic regression equation: MUI = Logit (P) = 1.667 (ΔMELD) + 2.096 (LGVV) - 3.245 (LGVBFD) - 1.697. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for prediction of EVB occurrence was significantly higher for the MUI [0.858 (95%CI: 0.774-0.920)] than for ΔMELD [0.734 (95%CI: 0.636-0.817); P < 0.05], LGVV [0.679 (95%CI: 0.578-0.769); P < 0.05] or LGVBFD [0.726 (95%CI: 0.627-0.810); P < 0.05] alone. When the MUI was set at 46, the index had high diagnostic accuracy (85.8%), with high specificity (80%) and sensitivity (87.27%). CONCLUSION: The MUI, a noninvasive and affordable index, can predict EVB occurrence in decompensated cirrhotic patients and serve as an alternative when conventional endoscopic screening is declined.

The genus Lysimachia L. contains 180 species from subtropical and temperate regions in the northern hemisphere, and more than 150 species are native to China (Chen and Hu, 1989). Some of them are used as commercial garden plants. Up to now, 30 Lysimachia cultivars, especially color-leaf cultivars, were traded in North America, East Asia, and Europe. Lysimachia christinae Hance, a mat-forming herbaceous perennial endemic to China, commonly known as Christina loosestrife, is distributed extensively in south, southwest, and central China (Chen and Hu, 1989) with a subtropical continental monsoon climate. In recent years, it has been grown as a groundcover plant in central China. Its characteristics of creeping stems, charming yellow flowers, and strong adaptability render it particularly valuable in landscaping design. Moreover, L. christinae has greater heat and drought tolerance than L. nummularia ‘Aurea’, which has been widely used as groundcover in China (Du et al., 2007; Xu, 2007). Although the wild-type L. christinae has green foliage, color-leaf variations in the wild are available by direct