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Background. Pulse rate variability monitoring and atrial fibrillation detection algorithms have been widely used in wearable devices, but the accuracies of these algorithms are restricted by the signal quality of pulse wave. Time synchronous averaging is a powerful noise reduction method for periodic and approximately periodic signals. It is usually used to extract single-period pulse waveforms, but has nothing to do with pulse rate variability monitoring and atrial fibrillation detection traditionally. If this method is improved properly, it may provide a new way to measure pulse rate variability and to detect atrial fibrillation, which may have some potential advantages under the condition of poor signal quality. Objective. The objective of this paper was to develop a new measure of pulse rate variability by improving existing time synchronous averaging and to detect atrial fibrillation by the new measure of pulse rate variability. Methods. During time synchronous averaging, two adjacent periods were regarded as the basic unit to calculate the average signal, and the difference between waveforms of the two adjacent periods was the new measure of pulse rate variability. 3 types of distance measures (Euclidean distance, Manhattan distance, and cosine distance) were tested to measure this difference on a simulated training set with a capacity of 1000. The distance measure, which can accurately distinguish regular pulse rate and irregular pulse rate, was used to detect atrial fibrillation on the testing set with a capacity of 62 (11 with atrial fibrillation, 8 with premature contraction, and 43 with sinus rhythm). The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the performance of the indexes. Results. The Euclidean distance between waveforms of the two adjacent periods performs best on the training set. On the testing set, the Euclidean distance in atrial fibrillation group is significantly higher than that of the other two groups. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve to identify atrial fibrillation was 0.998. With the threshold of 2.1, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 98.39%, 100%, and 98.04%, respectively. This new index can detect atrial fibrillation from pulse wave signal. Conclusion. This algorithm not only provides a new perspective to detect AF but also accomplishes the monitoring of PRV and the extraction of single-period pulse wave through the same technical route, which may promote the popularization and application of pulse wave.

Anatomical changes in and hormone roles of the exserted stigma were investigated, and localization and functional analysis of SlLst for the exserted stigma were performed using SLAF-BSA-seq, parental resequencing and overexpression of SlLst in tomato. Tomato accession T431 produces stigmas under relatively high temperatures ( 27 °C, the average temperature in Harbin, China, in June-August), so pollen can rarely reach the stigma properly. This allows the percentage of male sterility exceed 95%, making the use of this accession practical for hybrid seed production. To investigate the mechanism underlying the exserted stigma male sterility, the morphological changes of, anatomical changes of, and comparative endogenous hormone (IAA, ABA, GA

The design of an ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader antenna covering an electrically large near-field area is challenging for near-field UHF RFID applications. In such a design, magnetic field distribution on a large coverage area is required to be as uniform as possible. For some specific UHF near-field RFID applications, given radiation pattern characteristics are expected. A fragment-type wire structure is quite suitable for these demands because uniform magnetic field distribution and given patterns could be generated through optimizing the fragmented wires in a designated electrically large area to obtain corresponding current distribution. In this article, the concept of a fragment-type structure as well as some design guidelines are reviewed and summarized. Then, two omnidirectional fragment-type wire antennas with different cell size and two directional fragment-type wire antennas are designed. Both simulation and experiment results show that there is no reading null within an electrically large near-field zone having a perimeter of four operating wavelengths at 915 MHz (i.e., 320 mm x 320 mm). The omnidirectional designs are promising in the applications of UHF near-field RFID tag detection in self-confined volumes, and the directional designs are potential in the systems of UHF near-field/far-field RFID.

Objective Pulmonary nodules (PNs) are one of the imaging manifestations of early lung cancer screening, which should receive more attention. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that voice changes occur in patients with pulmonary diseases. The purpose of this study is to explore the differences in phonetic characteristics between patients with PNs and able-bodied persons. Methods This study explores the phonetic characteristics of patients with PNs in order to provide a simpler and cheaper method for PN screening. It is a case-control study to explore the differences in phonetic characteristics between individuals with and without PNs. This study performed non-parametric statistics on acoustic parameters of vocalizations, collected from January 2017 to March 2018 in Shanghai, China, from these two groups; it explores the differences in third and fourth acoustic parameters between patients with PNs and a normal control group. At the same time, computed tomography (CT) scans, course of disease, combined disease and other risk factors of the patients were collected in the form of questionnaire. According to the grouping of risk factors, the phonetic characteristics of the patients with PNs were analyzed. Results This study was comprised of 200 patients with PNs, as confirmed by CT, and 86 healthy people that served as a control group. Among patients with PNs, 43% had ground glass opacity, 32% had nodules with a diameter ≥ 8 mm, 19% had a history of smoking and 31% had hyperlipidemia. Compared with the normal group, there were statistically significant differences in pitch, intensity and shimmer in patients with PNs. Among patients with PNs, patients with diameters ≥ 8 mm had a significantly higher third formant. There was a significant difference in intensity, fourth formant and harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) between smoking and non-smoking patients. Compared with non-hyperlipidemia patients, the pitch, jitter and shimmer of patients with PNs and hyperlipidemia were higher and the HNR was lower; these differences were statistically significant. Conclusion This measurable changes in vocalizations can be in patients with PNs. Patients with PNs had lower and weaker voices. The size of PNs had an effect on the phonetic formant. Smoking may contribute to damage to the voice and formant changes. Voice damage is more pronounced in individuals who have PNs accompanied by hyperlipidemia.

By employment of a flexible tetracarboxylic acid ligand 5-(bis(4-carboxybenzyl)amino)-isophthalic acid (H4L), a new fluorescent Eu(III)-containing metal-organic framework (MOF) {[Eu2L2]·2NH2(CH3)2·DMA} (1) with channel-type framework has been successfully prepared under the solvothermal reaction conditions. In view of its excellent red emission under the UV irradiation at room temperature, we explored MOF 1 as the potential sensor to detect Fe3+ ion. In section of pharmacological activity evaluation, the compound was given to the PD rats for 4 weeks treatment, then the animal behaviors were assessed by the neurobehavioral scoring system. Next, the substantia nigra tissues were collected from treatment rats and the mitochondrial complex I-IV activity was evaluated. The results obtained through molecular docking and pose scoring software exhibited a possible binding mode of the compound binding to NADPH, which might provide potential regulation mechanisms for the compound.

Sucrose non-fermenting related protein kinases (SnRKs) are a ubiquitous Ser/Thr protein kinase in the plant kingdom. These kinases play important roles in plant growth, development, metabolism and resistance to environmental stresses. The soybean (Glycine max L.) genome has four SnRK1 genes, of which GmSnRK1.1 and GmSnRK1.2 are predominant and participate in multiple stress response pathways. To dissect the mechanism of the role of GmSnRK1.1 and GmSnRK1.2 proteins in response to ABA and alkaline stresses, we constructed a dual-gRNA CRISPR vector to specifically knock out GmSnRK1.1 and GmSnRK1.2. The resultant constructs were transformed into soybean cotyledon nodes to induce hairy roots by agrobacteria (Agrobacterium rhizogenes). The soybean hairy roots obtained were genotyped, and the results showed that GmSnRK1.1 and GmSnRK1.2 were efficiently doubly knocked out in 48.6% hairy roots. We also generated control hairy roots that over-expressed GmSnRK1. The materials were treated with 25 μmol/L ABA for 15 days and the results showed that the growths of wild-type and GmSnRK1 over-expressed roots were significantly inhibited than GmSnRK1.1 GmSnRK1.2 double-knockout roots, as the controls displayed less root lengths and fresh weights. However, after treating with 50 mmol/L NaHCO

The electrical monitoring is the most important part of industrial production, with industrial production situation of increasingly complex, also more and more high to the requirement of wireless industrial monitoring and control system. In this context strengthen monitoring system based on ZigBee wireless industry research is of great significance. Wireless electric monitoring system based on ZigBee has more advantages compared with traditional wireless monitoring technology. To strengthen the research of this technique is a necessary choice to meet the requirements of the actual industrial production. This article will revolve around ZigBee technology to explore how to enhance the level of electrical control system.

Based on the basic idea of biological gene sequencing method,“Shotgun Method”,this paper proposes a new method of heat/power load optimizing distribution,named as “Shotgun Method”.This method is mainly based on historical operating data of thermal power plant,and puts the reciprocal of fuel utilization coefficient in the physical sense—factory comprehensive standard coal consumption rate as thermal economic index.Through the calculation of thermal system of principle,every unit can get its own coal consumption characteristic equation,as the foundation operating condition library for the heat/power load distribution.“Shotgun Method” aims at minimum factory comprehensive standard coal consumption rate to establish mathematical model for seeking the best match between operating condition library of each unit.The application instance shows that this method is simple,practical,and the energy saving effect is remarkable.

An analytical method of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was developed for pineapple aroma volatile compounds. Different sample preparation procedures involving SPME fibres, including the addition of sodium chloride, extraction time, and temperature, were evaluated to optimise the method. For the optimised method, 6.5 g of ground pineapple flesh was placed in a 20 mL headspace vial with 1 g of sodium chloride; a 65 μm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene fibre was used for extraction at 50°C for 40 min with continuous stirring. The method was validated by determining its repeatability and recovery. The relative standard deviations for the pineapple aroma compounds were 5.48-11.02%. The average method recovery was 99.13%. The results demonstrate that this SPME procedure is suitable as a simple, rapid, and solvent-free extraction technique for the analysis of pineapple aroma volatile compounds. Using this method, 15 volatile compounds were identified, and the amount was 1019.78 μg.kg−1 in pineapple cv. Shenwan, including seven esters, one terpene, two aldehydes, one ketone, two lactones, one alcohol, and one hydrocarbon. A tentative study to estimate the contribution of the identified compounds to the aroma of the pineapple variety based of their odour activity values indicated four compounds that were characteristic aroma compounds, including methyl hexanoate, δ-octalactone, decanal, and geranyl acetone.

Along with the popularization of artificial intelligence and information technology, the development of automobile industry have been closely combined with information technology, environmental protection and energy saving ideas, promotion and application of electronic control technology, which development cycle becoming shorter and shorter. In this paper, through the analysis of the present application situation and development trend of the automobile electronic technology at present, in order to provide a theoretical reference for the future development of the automobile electronic control technology.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a high morbidity in patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Bicyclol is a synthetic compound known to protect the liver against oxidation and lipid injuries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of metformin and bicyclol in the treatment of NAFLD patients with IFG. After lifestyle changes and metformin treatment (500 mg orally three times daily), the 248 patients enrolled with NAFLD and IFG were equally randomized to two 24-week treatment groups: bicyclol 25 mg three times daily or vitamin E (α-tocopherol) 100 mg three times daily (control). Anthropometric measurements, serum biochemistry, liver/spleen computed tomography ratio, and changes in liver histological parameters were compared before and after treatments. A total of 223 patients completed the treatment, and there were significant improvements in body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and biochemical parameters in both groups (P

The purpose of this study was to examine the specific allele combinations of three loci connected with the liver cancers, stomach cancers, hematencephalon and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to explore the feasibility of the research methods. We explored different mathematical methods for statistical analyses to assess the association between the genotype and phenotype. At the same time we still analyses the statistical results of allele combinations of three loci by difference value method and ratio method. All the DNA blood samples were collected from patients with 50 liver cancers, 75 stomach cancers, 50 hematencephalon, 72 COPD and 200 normal populations. All the samples were from Chinese. Alleles from short tandem repeat (STR) loci were determined using the STR Profiler plus PCR amplification kit (15 STR loci). Previous research was based on combinations of single-locus alleles, and combinations of cross-loci (two loci) alleles. Allele combinations of three loci were obtained by computer counting and stronger genetic signal was obtained. The methods of allele combinations of three loci can help to identify the statistically significant differences of allele combinations between liver cancers, stomach cancers, patients with hematencephalon, COPD and the normal population. The probability of illness followed different rules and had apparent specificity. This method can be extended to other diseases and provide reference for early clinical diagnosis.

To know passenger’s real needs of taxi service quality, operator and regulator are seeking a proper method that can represent passengers’ opinions accurately. In this paper, a weighted SERVPERF model was expressed to assess taxi service quality of Hangzhou, China. All 22 items were divided into five dimensions including tangibles, assurance, reliability, responsiveness, and empathy. Importance and performance of five dimensions were calculated. Authors found that assurance had the highest point and responsiveness had the lowest point in performance appraisal, reliability had the highest point and empathy had the lowest point in importance appraisal. Passenger’s characteristics are unrelated with service quality appraisal indicate that there are not personalized needs for taxi service.

Background & Aims N -acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) is an endogenous tetrapeptide which has antifibrogenic effects at physiological concentrations in various tissues. AcSDKP is produced locally in the liver, however, little is known about its biological effect in this organ. We hypothesize that basal levels of endogenous AcSDKP decrease during the development of liver fibrosis and preservation of basal AcSDKP attenuates liver fibrosis. Methods Endogenous levels of AcSDKP in the liver were measured by enzyme immunoassay after 2, 6, and 10weeks of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Subcutaneous osmotic pump infusion of vehicle or AcSDKP (800μg/kg/day) was administered to CCl 4 -treated rats for 8weeks to study the effect of exogenous AcSDKP on liver fibrosis. The effect of AcSDKP on profibrogenic properties of hepatic stellate cells was studied in vitro . Results Endogenous AcSDKP was significantly decreased in the liver of CCl 4 -treated rats. Chronic AcSDKP infusion preserved basal levels of AcSDKP and reduced liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis, and profibrogenic transforming growth factor-β signaling. This was demonstrated by decreased aminotransferase serum levels, CD45 positive cells, collagen accumulation, α-smooth muscle actin positivity, transforming growth factor-β1, phosphorylated Smad2/3 protein, increased bone morphogenetic protein-7, and phosphorylated Smad1/5/8. Further, AcSDKP exerts antifibrogenic effects on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by downregulation of HSC activation in vitro. Conclusions Maintaining physiological levels of AcSDKP is critical in negatively regulating the development of fibrosis in chronic liver injury. Preservation of AcSDKP may be a useful therapeutic approach in the management of liver fibrosis.

An ideal animal model is necessary for a clear understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis, and mechanisms of human non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and for facilitating the design of effective therapy for this condition. We aimed to establish a rat model of NASH with fibrosis by using a high-fat diet (HFD). Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed a HFD consisting of 88 g normal diet, 10 g lard oil, and 2 g cholesterol. Control rats were fed normal diet. Rats were killed at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, and 48 weeks after HFD exposure. Body weight, liver weight, and epididymal fat weight were measured. Serum levels of fasting glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), free fatty acids (FFA), insulin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined. Hepatic histology was examined by H&E stain. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed by VG stain and immunohistochemical staining for transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), and alpha-smooth-muscle actin (α-SMA). The liver weight and liver index increased from week 4, when hepatic steatosis was also observed. By week 8, the body weight and epididymal fat weight started increasing, which was associated with increased serum levels of FFA, cholesterol, and TNF-α, as well as development of simple fatty liver. The serum ALT level increased from week 12. Steatohepatitis occurred from weeks 12 through 48. Apparent hepatic perisinosodial fibrosis did not occur until week 24, and progressed from week 36 to 48 with insulin resistance. Therefore, this novel model may be potentially useful in NASH study. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC., published_or_final_version, Springer Open Choice, 01 Dec 2010

Genetic research has progressed along with scientific and technological developments. However, it is difficult to identify frequency differences in a particular allele distribution at a single locus. Such differences can be identified by examining the allele combination distribution. We explored different mathematical methods for statistical analyses to assess the association between the genotype and phenotype. We investigated the frequency distributions of alleles, combinations of single-locus genes, and combinations of cross-loci genes at 15 loci using 447 blood samples of 200 normal subjects, 72 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary resistance, 50 liver cancers, 75 stomach cancers and 50 hematencephalon and identified each population as having a unique gene distribution and that the distribution followed certain rules. The probability of illness followed different rules and had apparent specificity. Differences obtained using statistics of combinations of cross-loci genes are superior to single-locus gene statistics, and combinations of single-locus gene statistics are better than allelic statistics.

To obtain a better understanding of the effects of ortho-halogen and related substituents on the phenyl rings of TPPH2 and (TPP)Fe(III) complexes, a series of unsymmetrically substituted tetraphenylporphyrins have been synthesized. In each of these complexes one phenyl ring bears halogen(s) on one (or both) ortho position(s), while the other three phenyl rings carry para-methoxy substituents. The free-base porphyrins were characterized by UV−visible and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The resonance of the pyrrole protons closest to the phenyl ring bearing the ortho substituent, Ha, of the free-base porphyrins shows a progressive shift to higher shielding as the atomic radius and Hammett substituent constant σp of the substituent increases. However, the fact that 2,6-substitution has a similar effect as 2-substitution suggests that size effects are more important than through-bond electronic effects. Equilibrium constants, β2III, for addition of N-methylimidazole to the series of complexes (o-X)(p-OCH3)3(TPP)FeCl and...

This study aimed to determine whether functional gastrointestinal disorders are more common among adolescents with self-reported poor sleep. Junior middle school and senior high school students (n = 1,362) were recruited from schools in Shanghai. Students completed two questionnaires: the questionnaire for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adolescents and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The prevalence of poor sleep was 34.29% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 31.77–36.81] and there was no significant difference between genders (P = 0.991). The tendency towards poor sleep increased with age, with age group yielding a significant effect (P = 0.001). In junior middle school and senior high school students, the propensity towards poor sleep was 30.10% (95% CI = 27.08–33.12%) and 42.11% (95% CI = 37.67–46.55%), respectively. Among students with poor sleep, the prevalence of IBS was 19.70% (95% CI = 16.09–23.31). After adjusting for age, sex, night pain, and psychological factors, IBS was significantly more common in students with poor sleep (odds ratio = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.07–2.58). We conclude that IBS is prevalent in students with poor sleep. Poor sleep was independently associated with IBS among adolescents in Shanghai China.

Insufficiency of phosphorus could greatly effect rice production, thus it is significant to adopt quick and nondestructive diagnosis of phosphorus content. The present paper focused on first expanded leaves with different phosphorus fertilization levels, comprehensively extracted 26 features' spectral information such as color, texture and shape etc. Single feature index analysis was conducted. Then features were collected to integrate CfsSubsetEval + Scattersearch method for optimizing, evaluation and choosing. Based on the feature selection for different leave positions, leaves in different phosphorus fertilization levels were finally classified into three grades (extremly insufficient, significant insufficient and normal) according to rough set theory. Results showed that the accuracy of recognition was very high while few phosphorus contained in the leaves. Moreover, the third expanded leaf is the best part for phosphorus-nutrient diagnosis.

The timing, convenient and reliable method of diagnosing and monitoring crop nutrition is the foundation of scientific fertilization management. However, this expectation cannot be fulfilled by traditional methods, which always need excessively work on sampling, detection and analysis and even exhibit lagging timing. In the present study, stable images for potassium-stressed leaf were acquired using stationary scanning, and object-oriented segmentation technique was adopted to produce image objects. Afterwards, nearest neighbor classifier integrated the spectral, shape and topologic information of image objects to precisely identify characteristics of potassium-stressed features. Diagnosing with image, the 3rd expanded leaves are superior to the 1st expanded leaves. In order to assess the result, 250 random samples and an error matrix were applied to undertake the accuracy assessment of identification. The results showed that the overall accuracy and kappa coefficient was 96.00% and 0.9453 respectively. The study offered an information extraction method for quantitative diagnosis of rice under potassium stress.

The present study obtained data of rice canopy spectrum, and P and chlorophyll content at typical growth stages with different rates of P supply by means of solution experiment. The effects of P treatments on leaf P and chlorophyll content were analyzed statistically using LSD's multiple comparison at a probability of 0.05; By mutual information (MI) variable selection procedure, the optimal spectral variables were identified at 536, 630, 1040, 551 and 656 nm, and their corresponding mutual information values were 1.0575, 1.1039, 1.135 3, 1.1417 and 1.1494 respectively; based on these sensitive bands, the built feed-forward artificial neural network model (ANN) had higher precision for P content estimation than the multiple linear regression model (MLR). Its RMSE of cross-validation and R were 0.038 8 and 0.9882, respectively, for the calibration data set, and the RMSE of prediction and R were 0.0505 and 0.9892, respectively, for the test data set. Therefore, it was suggested that MI was encouraged for quantitative prediction of leaf P content in rice with visible/near infrared hyperspectral information without assumption on the relationship between independent and dependent variables. But more work is needed to explain why these bands are sensitive to leaf P content in rice.

Persephin, together with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and neurturin, has a neurotrophic effect and promotes the survival of motor neurons cultured in vitro. In this study, dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of rats were transfected with the Persephin gene. One week later 6-hydroxydopamine was injected into the anterior medial bundle to establish a Parkinson′s disease model in the rats. Results found that the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra increased, tyrosine hydroxylase expression was upregulated and concentrations of dopamine and its metabolites in corpus striatum were increased after pretreatment with Persephin gene. In addition, the rotating effect of the induced Parkinson′s disease rats was much less in the group pretreated with the Persephin gene. Persephin has a neuroprotective effect on the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinson′s disease through protecting dopaminergic neurons.

To investigate the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and its relationship to the content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in livers of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats fed a fat-rich diet.To produce a NAFLD model, a fat-rich diet, consisting of 10% lard oil + 2% cholesterol, was given to Sprague-Dawley rats for a period of 8, 12, 16 and 24 weeks. The normal control rats were fed normal diets. The expressions of UCP2 in the liver were detected by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The content of ATP of liver was measured by fluorometry.Simple fatty livers were observed in the model group after 8 weeks. From 12 week to 24 week, the livers of the model group rats gradually progressed from simple steatohepatitis to steatohepatitis with pericellular fibrosis. Both immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitive RT-PCR suggested the up-regulated expression of UCP2 in these NAFLD rat livers. The hepatic expression of UCP2 mRNA in the model group was increased with time, and peaked in 24 week by 4.2 times compared to the control group ( t = 16.474, P0.01). The ATP content of livers was significantly reduced in the model group compared with the control group at 16 weeks [(2.97+/-0.48) x 10(-8) micromol/g vs. (2.25+/-0.55) x 10(-8) micromol/g, t = 2.419, P0.05] and 24 weeks [(2.97+/-0.48) x 10(-8) micromol/g vs. (1.99+/-0.66) x 10(-8) micromol/g, t = 3.248, P0.01]. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between the UCP2 mRNA expression and the content of ATP in the livers of the NAFLD group (r = -0.93, P0.01).The rat model of NAFLD could be replicated sucessfully by feeding a fat-rich diet for 24 weeks, and the mRNA and its protein of UCP2 were expressed un-regulated in livers of NAFLD. The increasing UCP2 might play a role in the reduction of ATP content in livers of the NAFLD rats.

To investigate the dynamic changes of plasma levels of prostacycline (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and their relationship with the severity of hepatic injury in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).We established a NAFLD model, with a fat-rich diet consisting of 10% lard oil + 2% cholesterol, which was given to Sprague-Dawley rats (n=48) for a period of 8, 12, 16 and 24 weeks. The other rats were fed standard diets and were used as normal controls (n=24). At sacrifice, liver pathology scores were evaluated and plasma levels of PGI2, its stable metabolic product 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXA2, and TXB2 were determined by radioimmunoassay.Simple fatty livers were observed in the model group at 8 weeks. From 12 weeks to 24 weeks, the livers gradually progressed from simple steatohepatitis to liver fibrosis. Plasma levels of TXB2 in the model group increased higher than in the control group after 8 weeks [(52.4+/-3.15) ng/L vs (41.1+/-1.45) ng/L] and continued to increase over time, with the highest levels at 24 weeks [(117.7+/-7.47) ng/L]. A strong positive correlation (r=0.537) was seen between plasma TXB2 levels and the severity of liver injury. Plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentrations decreased in the model group in comparison with the control group after 8 weeks [(31.1+/-1.62) ng/L vs (36.5+/-1.68) ng/L] and continued to decrease over time, with the lowest concentrations at 24 weeks [(3.4+/-2.43) ng/L t=3.77]. A negative correlation was shown between the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level and the severity of the liver injury.A rat model of NAFLD was established successfully by feeding a fat-rich diet for 24 weeks. In this model, the imbalance of plasma PGI2 and TXA2 levels (increased TXB2 and decreased 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels) may play a role in the pathogenesis of experimental NAFLD.

To explore the role of endotoxin in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).Rat models of NASH were established by giving a fat-riched diet. These rats were sacrificed at the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks during the study. The other rats fed with normal diet were taken as normal controls at the same stage during the study. The blood of abdominal aorta was obtained and the levels of serum endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 b) were measured. The expression of CD(14) and lysozyme in rats' livers were detected by immunohistochemistry.Rat models of NASH with liver fibrosis were established successfully. The levels of endotoxin in aorta blood of NASH rats increased significantly at the 24th week (0.23 EU/L 0.06 EU/L vs 0.15 EU/L 0.03 EU/L, t2.179, p0.05) while the expression of CD(14) increased from the 4th week, and the Kupffer cells expressing lysozyme were activated, then kept increasing activation through the study. In NASH rats, the levels of serum TNF-a increased from the 8th week (26.39 pg/ml 24.21 pg/ml vs 9.82 pg/ml 9.29 pg/ml, t2.145, p0.05) and serum IL-1beta increased from the 16th week (23.76 pg/ml 21.81 pg/ml vs 6.25 pg/ml 2.98 pg/ml, t2.145, p0.05).Liver injury results from endotoxin existing in NASH rats which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of NASH by activating Kupffer cells and inducing the production of cytokines, such as TNF-a.

The molecule of the title compound, C23H23N3, which was synthesized by the condensation reaction between 2,6-diacetylpyridine and 2-dimethylaniline, adopts an E configuration about both C=N imine bonds. The dihedral angles formed by the benzene rings with the pyridine ring are 89.68 (5) and 53.62 (6)°.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of low calorie diet (LCD) on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rats with obesity and hyperlipidemia. METHODS: 29 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups. The animals in control (n = 9) and NASH group (n = 10) were fed on standard rat diet and high fat diet respectively for 12 weeks, ten rats in LCD group were fed on high fat diet for 10 weeks and then low calorie diet for 2 weeks. At the end of the experiment, body weight, abdominal adipose content, liver function, and hepatopathological changes were examined to evaluate the effect of different feeding protocols on the experimental animals. RESULTS: There was no death of animal in the experimental period. All rats in the NASH group developed steatohepatitis according to liver histological findings. Compared with the control group, body weight (423.5 ± 65.2 vs 351.1 ± 43.0 g, P < 0.05), abdominal adipose content (14.25 ± 1.86 vs 9.54 ± 1.43, P < 0.05), liver index (3.784 ± 0.533 vs 2.957 ± 0.301%, P < 0.01), total serum cholesterol (1.60 ± 0.41 vs 1.27 ± 0.17 mmol/L, P < 0.05) and free fatty acids (728.2 ± 178.5 vs 429.2 ± 96.7 mmol/L, P < 0.01), serum alanine aminotransferase (1257.51 ± 671.34 vs 671.34 ± 118.57 nkat/L, P < 0.05) and aspartic aminotransferse (2760.51 ± 998.66 vs 1648.29 ± 414.16 nkat/L, P < 0.01) were significantly increased in the NASH group. Whereas, when rats were fed on LCD protocol, their body weight (329.5 ± 38.4 g, P < 0.01), abdominal adipose content (310.21 ± 1.52 g, P < 0.05), liver index (3.199 ± 0.552%, P < 0.05), and serum alanine aminotransferase (683.03 ± 245.49 nkat/L, P < 0.05) were significantly decreased, and the degree of hepatic steatosis (P < 0.05) was markedly improved compared with those in the NASH group. However, no significant difference was found in serum lipid variables and hepatic inflammatory changes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: LCD might play a role in the prevention and treatment of obesity and hepatic steatosis in SD rats, but it exerts no significant effects on both serum lipid disorders and hepatic inflammatory changes.