Impact of transesophageal echocardiography dynamic monitoring of left ventricular preload on postoperative gastrointestinal function in colorectal cancer patients undergoing radical surgery.

Background: Patients undergoing intestinal tumour surgery are fasted preoperatively for a series of bowel preparations, which makes it difficult to assess the patients' volume, posing a challenge to intraoperative fluid replacement. Besides, inappropriate fluid therapy can cause organ damage and affect the prognosis of patients, and it increases the burden of patients and has a certain impact on patients and families. Material and methods: The authors designed a single-centre, prospective, single-blinded, randomized, parallel-controlled trial. Fifty-four patients undergoing elective radical resection of colorectal cancer were selected and divided into two groups according to whether transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was used or not during the operation, that is the goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) group (group T) guided by TEE and the restrictive fluid therapy group (group C). Fluid replacement was guided according to left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) in group T and according to restrictive fluid replacement regimen in group C. Results: The first postoperative exhaust time and defecation time in group T [(45±21), (53±24) h] were significantly shorter (P<0.05) than those in group C [(63±26), (77±30) h]. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in liquid intake time and postoperative nausea and vomiting incidences between the two groups. The total intraoperative fluid volume in group T was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that in group C. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in urine volume between the two groups. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in lactate content, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate at various time points between the two groups. The length of hospital stay in group C [(18±4) days] was significantly longer (P<0.05) than that in group T [(15±4) days]. Conclusions: For patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery, fluid therapy by monitoring LVEDVI resulted in faster recovery of gastrointestinal function and shorter hospital stay.

[Network Meta-analysis of oral Chinese patent medicines in treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of eight oral Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD) by network Meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trial(RCT) on the treatment of AECOPD with eight oral Chinese patent medicines was retrieved from databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, and Cochrane Library from database inception to August 6, 2022. The information was extracted from the included literature and the quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. The data were analyzed using Stata SE 15.1 and ADDIS 1.16.8 software. Finally, 53 RCTs were included, with 5 289 patients involved, including 2 652 patients in the experimental group and 2 637 patients in the control group. Network Meta-analysis showed that Lianhua Qingwen Capsules+conventional western medicine were optimal in improving clinical effective rate, Shufeng Jiedu Capsules+conventional western medicine in improving FEV1/FVC, Qingqi Huatan Pills+conventional western medicine in improving FEV1%pred, Feilike Mixture(Capsules)+conventional western medicine in improving PaO_2, Lianhua Qingwen Capsules+conventional western medicine in reducing PaCO_2, and Qingqi Huatan Pills+conventional western medicine in reducing C-reactive protein(CRP). In terms of safety, most of them were gastrointestinal symptoms, and no serious adverse reactions were reported. When the clinical effective rate was taken as the comprehensive index of efficacy evaluation, Lianhua Qingwen Capsules+conventional western medicine were the most likely to be the best treatment for AECOPD. There are some limitations in the conclusion of this study. It only provides references for clinical medication.

Balancing "on" and "off" response of hydroxyl groups to a nanozyme-catalyzing system for the construction of an ultra-sensitive and selective "signal-on" detection platform for dopamine.

Targeting the functional groups present in analytes by nanozyme-catalyzed systems is a promising strategy to construct sensitive and selective platforms for the sensing of specific analytes. Herein, various groups (-COOH, -CHO, -OH, and -NH2) on benzene were introduced in an Fe-based nanozyme system with MoS2-MIL-101(Fe) as the model peroxidase nanozyme, H2O2 as the oxidizing agent, and TMB as the chromogenic substrate, and the effects of these groups at both a low concentration and high concentration were further investigated. It was found that the hydroxyl group-based substance catechol showed an "on" effect at a low concentration to increase the catalytic rate and enhance the absorbance signal, whereas an "off" effect at a high concentration with a decreased absorbance signal. Based on these results, the "on" mode and "off" mode for the biological molecule dopamine, a type of catechol derivative, were proposed. In the control system, MoS2-MIL-101(Fe) catalyzed the decomposition of H2O2 to produce ROS, which further oxidized TMB. In the "on" mode, the hydroxyl groups of dopamine could combine with the Fe(iii) site of the nanozyme to lower its oxidation state, resulting in higher catalytic activity. In the "off" mode, the excess dopamine could consume ROS, which inhibited the catalytic process. Under the optimal conditions, by balancing the "on" and "off" modes, the "on" mode for the detection of dopamine was found to have better sensitivity and selectivity. The LOD was as low as 0.5 nM. This detection platform was successfully applied for the detection of dopamine in human serum with satisfactory recovery. Our results can pave the way for the design of nanozyme sensing systems with sensitivity and selectivity.

Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen to body mass index ratio contributes to prognosis prediction in colorectal cancer.

Both carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and body mass index (BMI) are traditional prognostic markers in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, to the best of our knowledge, the value of the CEA to BMI ratio (CBR) has never been addressed. In the present study, 191 patients with CRC treated using radical resection were retrospectively included, and the significance of the CBR in predicting disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) rates was calculated. The prognostic efficacy of the CBR in predicting OS was compared with individual CEA and BMI values. The survival differences of the subgroups were calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis, and corresponding risk factors were then estimated by a Cox proportional hazards model. As a result, 29.84% (57/191) of the patients were assigned to the high CBR group (cut-off, ≥0.28); the CBR had a sensitivity of 56.50 and 68.90%, and a specificity of 80.60 and 80.10% for DFS and OS, respectively. Patients with a high CBR more commonly underwent laparotomy and exhibited advanced T stages, the presence of tumor deposits and advanced Tumor-Node-Metastasis stages (stage II or III). The CBR was more efficient than the CEA or BMI alone in predicting OS. In addition, patients with a high CBR presented with a significantly worse outcome than patients with a low CBR. Finally, the CBR was an independent risk factor for both DFS and OS. In conclusion, the CBR was a more robust prognostic factor in CRC, and patients with a relatively high CBR exhibited poorer survival.

Measurement of Linear Springs' Stiffness Factor Using Ultrasonic Sensing.

We designed an ultrasonic testing instrument that consisted of a single-chip microcomputer module, a digital display module, and an ultrasonic sensor module, which conveniently eliminated the troubles faced by the traditional Jolly's scale. For comparison purpose, three linear springs' stiffness factors were measured by Jolly's scale and by our ultrasonic testing instrument. We found that our instrument could more conveniently and in real time display the distance values between the ultrasonic ranging module and the horizontal bottom plate when loading different weights. By processing these distance data, we found that our instrument was more convenient for obtaining the linear springs' stiffness factors and that the results were more accurate than those of Jolly's scale. This study verified that our instrument can accurately realize the performance of Jolly's scale under diverse temperatures and humidity levels with high data reliability and perfect stability.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel xylanase from Microbacterium imperiale YD-01.

Xylaneses are very common xylanolytic enzymes, which are widely used in food, papermaking, and other industries. In this study, a xylanase-encoding gene xyn1923, which encodes a protein of 1352 amino acids, was identified through the whole genome analysis of Microbacterium imperiale YD-01. Bioinformatics analysis showed that Xyn1923 only had maximum similarity of 37% with the reported xylanase from Alkalihalobacillus halodurans C-125, indicating that Xyn1923 was a novel xylanase. The enzymatic properties of Xyn1923 were systematically analyzed after purification. The results showed that the specific activity of the enzyme was 10.582 ± 0.413 U/mg, while the optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme were 7.0 and 70°C, respectively. The enzyme is stable in the pH range of 6.0-9.0, and the enzyme activity could maintain more than 85% of the original activity after 16 hr incubation at pH 9.0. The enzyme activity is relatively stable in the range of 30-60°C, and its enzyme activity could maintain more than 89% of the original activity after treatment at 60°C for 30 min. Low concentrations (≤1 mM) of Co2+ , Ba2+ , Fe2+ , and Fe3+ metal ions exerted a stimulatory effect on the activity of Xyn1923. And in contrast, high concentrations (≥2 mM) of the above metal ions inhibit the activity of Xyn1923. Mg2+ , Ag+ , Cu2+ , Ca2+ , Mn2+ , and Pb2+ ions showed a negative effect on the activity of Xyn1923. Enzyme kinetic studies showed that Km and Vmax values for xylan were 7.842 ± 0.538 mg/ml and 15.208 ± 0.822 U/mg, respectively. Xyn1923 was found to be a weakly alkaline thermophilic xylanase through an enzymatic property analysis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Xylanases are widely used in food and feed, biofuels, papermaking, and other industries. However, their use is limited by poor performance under the conditions of pH and temperature. Therefore, the discovery of xylanases with the capability of working efficiently at alkaline pH and high temperature is the priority for its industrial applications. In this study, a novel xylanase-encoding gene xyn1923 from Microbacterium imperiale YD-01 was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Enzymatic properties of this novel xylanase were investigated, indicating that the robust thermal stability and alkali resistance of Xyn1923 make it a potential candidate for the food and paper industries.

Phylogenetic and morphological analyses of Coniochaeta isolates recovered from Inner Mongolia and Yunnan revealed three new endolichenic fungal species.

Lichens are the result of a symbiotic interaction between fungi (mycobionts) and algae (phycobionts). Aside from mycobionts, lichen thalli can also contain non-lichenised fungal species, such as lichenicolous and endolichenic fungi. For this study, three surveys were conducted in China's Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region between 2017 and 2020. Several samples of four lichen species were collected during these surveys: Candelariafibrosa, Flavoparmeliacaperata, Flavopuncteliaflaventior and Ramalinasinensis. Six isolates of Coniochaeta were recovered from these four lichen species. The phylogenetic and morphological analyses revealed that two of these isolates were previously identified species, Coniochaetavelutinosa and C.acaciae. Those remaining were from potentially unknown species. We used molecular and morphological data to describe these previously-unknown species as Coniochaetafibrosae sp. nov., C.mongoliae sp. nov. and C.sinensis sp. nov. The findings of this study significantly improve our understanding of the variety and habitat preferences of Coniochaeta in China and globally.

Propofol postpones colorectal cancer development through circ_0026344/miR-645/Akt/mTOR signal pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is responsible for thousands of slow and painful annual deaths. Propofol, an anesthetic, is commonly used in CRC surgery. The role of circularRNA0026344 (circ_0026344) in propofol-treated CRC remains unclear, which was further explored in this study. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the expression of circ_0026344 and microRNA645 (miR-645) in CRC cells and normal cells. Western blot was devoted to testing the protein expression of phospho-protein kinase B (p-AKT), AKT, phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), and mTOR in CRC cells. Moreover, cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), colony formation, flow cytometry, and transwell assays were employed to assess the proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis in CRC cells. Circinteractome online tool was applied to predict the combination between circ_0026344 and miR-645, which was further verified by dual-luciferase reporter system. circ_0026344 was lowly expressed and miR-645 was abundantly expressed in CRC cells. The relative protein expression of p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR was strikingly elevated by si-circ#1, which could be reversed by anti-miR-645 in propofol-treated CRC cells. circ_0026344 overexpression inhibited the proliferation and metastasis and promoted apoptosis in CRC cells. Propofol treatment induced the restraint in proliferation and metastasis and stimulation in apoptosis, which were allayed by si-circ#1; meanwhile, this alleviation could further be abolished by anti-miR-645 in CRC cells. Furthermore, circ_0026344 sponged miR-645 to inhibited Akt/mTOR signal pathway in propofol-treated CRC cells. Propofol postponed CRC process by circ_0026344/miR-645/Akt/mTOR axis. This finding might provide a possibility to improve the therapy of CRC with propofol.

Motility and function of smooth muscle cells in a silk small-caliber tubular scaffold after replacement of rabbit common carotid artery.

Cell infiltration and proliferation are prerequisites for tissue regeneration and repair. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the motility and function of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in a silk-based small-caliber artificial blood vessel (SFTS) following implantation to replace the common carotid artery in rabbits. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed a number of SMCs clearly distributed in the scaffold at 1 month, which gradually increased up to 80-90% of autologous blood vessels at 3 months and was 100% at 12 months. Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) are specific markers of SMCs. Real-time PCR results showed that the gene expression level of α-SMA in SFTSs was significantly down-regulated within 6 months, except in the early stage of implantation. The relative expression level of α-SMA at 12 months was five times higher than that at 3 months, indicating that SMCs phenotype transformed from synthetic to contractile. The SM-MHC+ and α-SMA+ SMCs were disorderly distributed in the scaffolds at 1 month, but became ordered along the circumference 6 months after grafting as shown by immunohistochemistry. Results indicated that the bionic SFTSs were able to induce in situ angiogenesis in defects.

Sequence-structure characterization of recombinant polypeptides derived from silk fibroin heavy chain.

The molecular conformation of a biomedical material plays a major role in the stability, bioactivity and controlled release of drugs. In order to identify the impact of fragments derived from Bombyx mori silk fibroin on their structures and to develop a new strategy for controlling drug release, we designed several hydrophobic-hydrophilic recombinants (GS16F1, GS16F4, and GS16F8), and investigated their molecular conformations and conformational changes induced by different storage temperatures and pH values. The results showed that the α-helix characteristic peaks were prominent in the fresh freeze-dried powder with increasing F1 repeats. During storage at 4 °C, 37 °C or 60 °C, the ß-turns (especially in GS16F8) and α-helixes turned into ß-sheets. The ß-sheet content in the polypeptides increased with increasing temperature and F1 repeats. Following induction by different pH values, their molecular conformations changed significantly, but not the same as that of powder storage. The content of ß-sheets was GS16F1 > GS16F4 > GS16F8 near the isoelectric point of each polypeptide. With increasing pH value, the ß-sheet content of GS16F1 decreased more slowly compared with GS16F4 and GS16F8. These results were satisfactory for structural regulation in the field of drug controlled release research.

Evaluation of the biomedical properties of a Ca+-conjugated silk fibroin porous material.

Hemostatic materials could reduce avertible death from bleeding during surgery and emergency treatment. To this end, silk fibroin (SF) loaded with Ca2+ (1.8, 3.6 5.4, or 7.2%, w:w) was tested as a new hemostatic material (designated as SF1.8, SF3.6, SF5.4, or SF7.2), and the Ca2+ release rate, platelet adhesion, blood coagulation, cytocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties were investigated. Platelet adhesion on SF1.8 was improved significantly compared with pure SF porous material, and increased with increasing Ca2+ concentration. For SF3.6, platelet adhesion was greater than observed for gelatin and calcium alginate porous materials, clotting occurred earlier, and the complete coagulation time was shorter. Additionally, rabbit ear wound studies revealed that the hemostatic time for SF3.6 was significantly shorter than for gelatin, and similar to that for calcium alginate. The shed blood weight was lowest when SF was loaded with 7.2% Ca2+. The SF3.6 porous material displayed no obvious cytotoxicity, and exhibited satisfactory antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Dexmedetomidine reduces inflammation in traumatic brain injury by regulating the inflammatory responses of macrophages and splenocytes.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects people in all demographics, since it is associated with a variety of chronic degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. In TBI, the central nervous system elicits an immune response involving various immune cells that is necessary for healing and defending the body against pathogens, but can also cause secondary damage to the brain if the response is prolonged. In our clinical practice, it has been identified that administration of dexmedetomidine was associated with reduced production of inflammatory cytokines in patients with TBI, which led to the hypothesis that dexmedetomidine may regulate certain inflammatory responses. To test this hypothesis, the roles of dexmedetomidine in the immune system of mice were investigated. Different biological assays were used to assess the influence of dexmedetomidine on the production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-1ß. To understand how dexmedetomidine affects different types of immune cells, the influence of dexmedetomidine on splenocytes was also investigated. Finally, the effects of dexmedetomidine on macrophage activation and inflammatory functions were studied. In the present study, clinical observations and in vivo results using a mouse model of TBI revealed the regulatory functions of dexmedetomidine in TBI-associated immune response.

An RGD-Containing Peptide Derived from Wild Silkworm Silk Fibroin Promotes Cell Adhesion and Spreading.

Arginine-Glycine-Aspartate (RGD) tripeptide can promote cell adhesion when present in the amino acid of proteins such as fibronectin. In order to demonstrate the bioactivity of an RGD-containing silk protein, a gene encoding the RGD motif-containing peptide GSGAGGRGDGGYGSGSS (⁻RGD⁻) derived from nonmulberry silk was designed and cloned, then multimerised and inserted into a commercial pGEX expression vector for recombinant expression of (⁻RGD⁻)n peptides. Herein, we focus on two glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-tagged fusion proteins, GST⁻(⁻RGD⁻)4 and GST⁻(⁻RGD⁻)8, which were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21, purified by GST affinity chromatography, and analyzed with sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MS). Target peptides (⁻RGD⁻)4 and (⁻RGD⁻)8 (6.03 and 11.5 kDa) were cleaved from the GST-tag by thrombin digestion, as verified with MS and SDS-PAGE. Isoelectric point analysis confirmed that target peptides were expressed and released in accordance with the original design. Target peptides self-assembled into a mainly α-helical structure, as determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Furthermore, (⁻RGD⁻)4 and (⁻RGD⁻)8 modified mulberry silk fibroin films were more effective for rapid cell adhesion, spreading and proliferative activity of L929 cells than some chemically synthesized RGD peptides modified and mulberry silk lacking the RGD motif.