Natural pyrethrins induce cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and neurotoxicity in zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio).

Natural pyrethrins are widely used in agriculture because of their good insecticidal activity. Meanwhile, natural pyrethrins play an important role in the safety evaluation of pyrethroids as precursors for structural development of pyrethroid insecticides. However, there are fewer studies evaluating the neurological safety of natural pyrethrins on non-target organisms. In this study, we used SH-SY5Y cells and zebrafish embryos to explore the neurotoxicity of natural pyrethrins. Natural pyrethrins were able to induce SH-SY5Y cells damage, as evidenced by decreased viability, cycle block, apoptosis and DNA damage. The apoptotic pathway may be related to the involvement of mitochondria and the results showed that natural pyrethrins induced a rise in Capase-3 viability, Ca2+ overload, a decrease in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and a collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential in SH-SY5Y cells. Natural pyrethrins may mediate DNA damage in SH-SY5Y cells through oxidative stress. The results showed that natural pyrethrins induced an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and catalase (CAT) activity, and induced a decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in SH-SY5Y cells. In vivo, natural pyrethrins induced developmental malformations in zebrafish embryos, which were mainly characterized by pericardial edema and yolk sac edema. Meanwhile, the results showed that natural pyrethrins induced damage to the Huc-GFP axis and disturbed lipid metabolism in the head of zebrafish embryos. Further results showed elevated ROS levels and apoptosis in the head of zebrafish embryos, which corroborated with the results of the cell model. Finally, the results of mRNA expression assay of neurodevelopment-related genes indicated that natural pyrethrins exposure interfered with their expression and led to neurodevelopmental damage in zebrafish embryos. Our study may raise concerns about the neurological safety of natural pyrethrins on non-target organisms.

[Cangxi Tongbi Capsules promote chondrocyte autophagy by regulating circRNA＿0008365/miR-1271/p38 MAPK pathway to inhibit development of knee osteoarthritis].

To investigate the mechanism by which Cangxi Tongbi Capsules promote chondrocyte autophagy to inhibit knee osteoarthritis(KOA) progression by regulating the circRNA＿0008365/miR-1271/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) pathway. The cell and animal models of KOA were established and intervened with Cangxi Tongbi Capsules, si-circRNA＿0008365, si-NC, and Cangxi Tongbi Capsules combined with si-circRNA＿0008365. Flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy were employed to determine the level of apoptosis and observe autophagosomes, respectively. Western blot was employed to reveal the changes in the protein levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3)Ⅱ/Ⅰ, Beclin-1, selective autophagy junction protein p62/sequestosome 1, collagen Ⅱ, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5(ADAMTS-5), and p38 MAPK. The mRNA levels of circRNA＿0008365, miR-1271, collagen Ⅱ, and ADAMTS-5 were determined by qRT-PCR. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to reveal the pathological changes of the cartilage tissue of the knee, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the levels of interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α). The chondrocytes treated with IL-1ß showed down-regulated expression of circRNA＿0008365, up-regulated expression of miR-1271 and p38 MAPK, lowered autophagy level, increased apoptosis rate, and accelerated catabolism of extracellular matrix. The intervention with Cangxi Tongbi Capsules up-regulated the expression of circRNA＿0008365, down-regulated the expression of miR-1271 and p38 MAPK, increased the autophagy level, decreased the apoptosis rate, and weakened the catabolism of extracellular matrix. However, the effect of Cangxi Tongbi Capsules was suppressed after interfering with circRNA＿0008365. The in vivo experiments showed that Cangxi Tongbi Capsules dose-dependently inhibited the p38 MAPK pathway, enhanced chondrocyte autophagy, and mitigated articular cartilage damage and inflammatory response, thereby inhibiting the progression of KOA in rats. This study indicated that Cangxi Tongbi Capsules promoted chondrocyte autophagy by regulating the circRNA＿0008365/miR-1271/p38 MAPK pathway to inhibit the development of KOA.

The effects of Spinosad on zebrafish larvae and THP-1 cells: Associated with immune cell damage and NF-kappa B signaling pathway activation.

Spinosad is a highly effective macrolide insecticide with a wide range of applications. However, few studies have been reported on the effects of Spinosad on immune cells. The immune system is an important line of defense in the human body and plays an important role in maintaining the normal functioning of the organism. Meanwhile, macrophages, neutrophils and Thymic T cells are an important component of the immune system. We studied the immunotoxicity of Spinosad using zebrafish and THP-1 cells. In vivo, Spinosad (0-20 µM) did not cause developmental toxicity in zebrafish, but induced damage to immune cells. In vitro, Spinosad (0-20 µM) inhibited THP-1 cells viability and induced mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress production. In further studies, it impaired phagocytosis of THP-1 cells and interfered with lipid metabolism. In addition, we found that Spinosad can promote the formation of the inflammatory body NLRP3 (NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 3) and activate the NF-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. These results suggest that Spinosad has a potential risk for inducing immunotoxicity. This study has drawn attention to Spinosad-induced immunotoxicity.

Bioinformatic analysis of biological changes involved in pelvic organ prolapse.

The molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) remain unclear. This study aimed to identify key molecules involved in the pathogenesis and progression of POP. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified based on gene expression data extracted from the GSE53868, GSE28660, and GSE12852 datasets in the gene expression omnibus database. The R software was used for data mining, and gene ontology functional annotation and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analyses were performed to explore the biological functions of DEGs. A protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database, and hub genes were identified by the Cytoscape plug-in cytoHubba. In addition, the CIBERSORT algorithm was used to analyze and evaluate immune cell infiltration in POP tissues. A total of 92 upregulated DEGs were identified and subjected to enrichment analysis. Gene ontology analysis revealed that these DEGs were associated with response to hormones, positive regulation of cell death, collagen-containing extracellular matrix, and extracellular matrix. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis showed that the upregulated genes were mainly enriched in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT signaling pathway. The PPI network was structured. Nodes in the PPI network were associated with structural molecular activity and collagen-containing extracellular matrix. A total of 10 hub genes were identified, namely, CDKN1A, IL-6, PPARG, ADAMTS4, ADIPOQ, AREG, activating transcription factor 3, CCL2, CD36, and Cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-like effector A. Furthermore, patients with POP were found to have a higher abundance of CD8-positive T cells in the 3 gene expression omnibus datasets. The abundance of CD8-positive T cells was negatively correlated with that of follicular helper T cells (Pearson correlation coefficient = -0.34, P < .01) or gamma delta T cells (Pearson correlation coefficient = -0.33, P < .01). But was positively correlated with that of M2 macrophages (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.35, P < .01) and activated memory CD4 T cells (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.34, P < .01). Altogether, PPARG, ADAMTS4, ADIPOQ, AREG, CD36, and Cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-like effector A genes were discovered in the POP process for the first time, which should be intensively investigated.

The health risk of acetochlor metabolite CMEPA is associated with lipid accumulation induced liver injury.

Liver injury may cause many diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Acetochlor is one of the representative chloroacetamide herbicides, and its metabolite 2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methyl phenyl) acetamide (CMEPA) is the main form of exposure in the environment. It has been shown that acetochlor can cause mitochondrial damage of HepG2 cells and induce apoptosis by activating Bcl/Bax pathway (Wang et al., 2021). But there has been less research on CMEPA. we explored the possibility of CMEPA and liver injury through biological experiments. In vivo, CMEPA (0-16 mg/L) induced liver damage in zebrafish larvae, including increased lipid droplets, changes in liver morphology (>1.3-fold) and increased TC/TG content (>2.5-fold). In vitro, we selected L02 (human normal liver cells) as the model, and explored its molecular mechanism. We found that CMEPA (0-160 mg/L) induced apoptosis (similar to 40%), mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress in L02 cells. CMEPA induced intracellular lipid accumulation by inhibiting AMPK/ACC/CPT-1A signaling pathway and activating SREBP-1c/FAS signaling pathway. Our study provides evidence of a link between CMEPA and liver injury. This raises concerns regarding the health risks of pesticide metabolites to liver health.

Association Between Serum Copper Levels and Urinary Incontinence in Adult Men.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a major health burden to aging patients. The function of the trace element copper in male UI is unclear. To elaborate on the impact of serum copper levels on UI, we investigated the association between serum copper levels and UI using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional survey of male participants aged 20 years old and older in the United States from 2011 to 2016. We performed weighted multivariable logistic and linear regression models to evaluate the association between serum copper levels and UI. Compared with serum copper levels in quartile 1 (Q1), serum copper levels in Q2 and Q3 were associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after adjusting for all potential confounders (Q2, odds ratio [OR] = 0.292, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.093-0.920, P = 0.047; Q3, OR = 0.326, 95% CI = 0.113-0.937, P = 0.049). No significance was found between serum copper levels and other types of UI. Our findings revealed that the serum copper levels were inversely related to SUI in adult males. Race and education level might modulate this relationship. Further studies are warranted for validation.

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia after total hip arthroplasty in a dermatomyositis patient: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is a serious opportunistic infection that occurs mostly in patients with immunodeficiency and long-term immunosuppressive therapy. In non-human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, the most important risk factor for PJP is the use of glucocorticoids in combination with other immunosuppressive treatments. The management of glucocorticoids during the perioperative period in patients with dermatomyositis requires special care. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of PJP in the perioperative period. A 61-year-old woman with a history of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5)-positive dermatomyositis and interstitial pneumonia was administered with long-term oral methylprednisolone and cyclosporine. The patient underwent right total hip arthroplasty in the orthopaedic department for bilateral osteonecrosis of the femoral head. She was given intravenous drip hydrocortisone before anesthesia and on the first day after surgery and resumed oral methylprednisolone on the second postoperative day. On the fifth day after surgery, the patient suddenly developed dyspnea. The computed tomography scan showed diffuse grid shadows and ground glass shadows in both lungs. Polymerase chain reaction testing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was positive for Pneumocystis jiroveci. The patient was eventually diagnosed with PJP and was administered with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. At the 6-mo review, there was no recurrence or progression. CONCLUSION: Continued perioperative glucocorticoid use in patients with anti-MDA5-positive dermatomyositis may increase the risk of PJP.

Two naturally derived small molecules disrupt the sineoculis homeobox homolog 1-eyes absent homolog 1 (SIX1-EYA1) interaction to inhibit colorectal cancer cell growth.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence indicates that the sineoculis homeobox homolog 1-eyes absent homolog 1 (SIX1-EYA1) transcriptional complex significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple cancers by mediating the expression of genes involved in different biological processes, such as cell-cycle progression and metastasis. However, the roles of the SIX1-EYA1 transcriptional complex and its targets in colorectal cancer (CRC) are still being investigated. This study aimed to investigate the roles of SIX1-EYA1 in the pathogenesis of CRC, to screen inhibitors disrupting the SIX1-EYA1 interaction and to evaluate the efficiency of small molecules in the inhibition of CRC cell growth. METHODS: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to examine gene and protein levels in CRC cells and clinical tissues (collected from CRC patients who underwent surgery in the Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, between 2016 and 2018, n = 24). In vivo immunoprecipitation and in vitro pulldown assays were carried out to determine SIX1-EYA1 interaction. Cell proliferation, cell survival, and cell invasion were determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, clonogenic assay, and Boyden chamber assay, respectively. The Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay Screen (AlphaScreen) method was used to obtain small molecules that specifically disrupted SIX1-EYA1 interaction. CRC cells harboring different levels of SIX1/EYA1 were injected into nude mice to establish tumor xenografts, and small molecules were also injected into mice to evaluate their efficiency to inhibit tumor growth. RESULTS: Both SIX1 and EYA1 were overexpressed in CRC cancerous tissues (for SIX1, 7.47 ±â€Š3.54 vs.1.88 ±â€Š0.35, t = 4.92, P = 0.008; for EYA1, 7.61 ±â€Š2.03 vs. 2.22 ±â€Š0.45, t = 6.73, P = 0.005). The SIX1/EYA1 complex could mediate the expression of two important genes including cyclin A1 (CCNA1) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) by binding to the myocyte enhancer factor 3 consensus. Knockdown of both SIX1 and EYA1 could decrease cell proliferation, cell invasion, tumor growth, and in vivo tumor growth (all P < 0.01). Two small molecules, NSC0191 and NSC0933, were obtained using AlphaScreen and they could significantly inhibit the SIX1-EYA1 interaction with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12.60 ±â€Š1.15 µmol/L and 83.43 ±â€Š7.24 µmol/L, respectively. Administration of these two compounds could significantly repress the expression of CCNA1 and TGFB1 and inhibit the growth of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of the SIX1/EYA1 complex transactivated the expression of CCNA1 and TGFB1, causing the pathogenesis of CRC. Pharmacological inhibition of the SIX1-EYA1 interaction with NSC0191 and NSC0933 significantly inhibited CRC cell growth by affecting cell-cycle progression and metastasis.

Robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a review.

PURPOSE: Presented here is an up-to-date review concerning robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (rUKA), including its rationale, operative system, pros and cons. METHODS: We did a systematic research in electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase up to March 30, 2020 to retrieve literature pertaining to rUKA. The search strategies "(robotic* AND knee arthroplasty OR knee replacement)" and "(knee arthroplasty OR knee replacement NOT total)" were used. Studies describing rUKA and clinical trials, dry bone or cadaveric researches regarding technologies, positioning, alignment, function, or survivorship of implants were included in this review. All retrieved studies were first browsed for eligibility on the basis of title and abstract, and the selected studies were further evaluated by reading full text for final inclusion. RESULTS: Robotic-assisted technology has been found to increase the accuracy of bone preparation and implant placement, reduce technical variability and outliers, and enhance reproduction of limb alignment. Additionally, early clinical outcomes were excellent, but mid-term follow-up showed no superiority in component survivorship. The potential drawbacks of the robotic-assisted technology include relatively-low time- and cost-effectiveness, development of some rUKA-related complications, and lack of support by high-quality literature. CONCLUSION: This review shows that rUKA can decrease the number of outliers concerning the optimal implant positioning and limb alignment. However, due to absence of extensive studies on clinical outcomes and long-term results, it remains unclear whether the improved component positioning translates to better clinical outcomes or long-term survivorship of the implant. Nevertheless, since an accurate implant position is presumably beneficial, robotic-assisted technology is worth recommendation in UKA.

Modified Van Assche magnetic resonance imaging-based score for assessing the clinical status of anal fistulas.

The modified Van Assche magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based score is a feasible system to assess the clinical status of anal fistulas in Crohn disease. In this study, we evaluated this score's association with clinical status in patients with anal fistulas (AFs).We included all patients with AF who underwent contrast-enhanced pelvic MRI and surgery between January 2011 and December 2016. The score was evaluated retrospectively preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the risk factors for AF recurrence were also performed.We retrospectively analyzed data for 104 patients. Twelve (11.5%) patients developed AF recurrence. We classified patients' preoperative clinical status into three grades: 52 (50.0%) grade A, 31 (29.8%) grade B, and 21 (20.2%) grade C. The preoperative MRI-based score was significantly correlated with patients' preoperative clinical status grade (Pearson correlation: 0.547; P < .001). The 3 preoperative clinical status grades showed significant (F = 23.303, P < .001) tendencies for associations with lower respective MRI-based scores. The incidence of AF recurrence decreased with the MRI-based score to 1-month postoperatively, then gradually increased (F = 60.863, P = .000). Long duration of disease, prior interventions, and high MRI-based score were independent risk factors for AF recurrence.The MRI-based score objectively assessed the clinical status and disease activity of patients with AFs, with a high score being associated with severe clinical status and long recovery time.

High failure rate after Beta-tricalcium phosphate grafting for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Non-vascularized bone grafting is a promising head-preserving technique for younger patients diagnosed as non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (NONFH). Among the various types of bone grafting techniques, "light-bulb" procedure grafting with synthetic bone substitute is an attractive option. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of using beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) for the treatment of pre-collapse and early post-collapse lesions NONFH. METHODS: From April 2010 to June 2014, 33 patients (47 hips) with NONFH were treated using the afore-mentioned technique. The clinical and radiological outcomes were recorded and compared statistically between pre- and post-operation. Harris hip score (HHS) was used to evaluate the clinical results, and Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) stage was applied to assess the radiological outcomes. RESULTS: The 5-years survival rate of using ß-TCP grafting was accounting for 25.5%. HHS was decreased from 78.47 to 52.87 points, and a very significant worsening of radiological results were revealed (P <  0.05). Two hips collapsed more than 2 mm were awaiting for THA, and 33 of the 47 hips had converted to THAs in an average time to failure of 24.24 months postoperatively. Meanwhile, only 4 hips survived without collapse, and 8 hips collapsed less than 2 mm. After surgery, the time onset of head collapse was 3.65 months on average, and the first conversion to THA was performed at 5 months postoperative. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that "light-bulb" procedure grafting with ß-TCP sticks presented with a high failure rate in the early postoperative period. It is not proposed for the treatment of pre-collapse and early post-collapse lesions NONFH.

A modified technique for tibial bone sparing in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Previously, the authors modified the surgical technique to preserve tibial bone mass for Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical outcomes and values of this modified technique. METHODS: Clinical data of 34 consecutive patients who underwent the unilateral modified UKA technique (modified group, 34 knees) were retrospectively analyzed. To compare the outcome, a match-paired control group (conventional group, 34 knees) of an equal number of patients using the conventional technique system in the same period were selected and matched with respect to diagnosis, age, pre-operative range of motion (ROM), and radiological grade of knee arthrosis. Clinical outcomes including knee Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, ROM, and complications were compared between the two groups. Post-operative radiographic assessments included hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), joint line change, implant position, and alignment. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 38.2 ±â€Š6.3 months. There was no difference in baseline between the two groups. The amount of proximal tibial bone cut in the modified group was significantly less than that of the conventional group (4.7 ±â€Š1.1 mm vs. 6.7 ±â€Š1.3 mm, t = 6.45, P < 0.001). Joint line was elevated by 2.1 ±â€Š1.0 mm in the modified group compared with -0.5 ±â€Š1.7 mm in the conventional group (t = -7.46, P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups after UKA with respect to HSS score, VAS score, ROM, and HKA. Additionally, the accuracy of the post-operative implant position and alignment was similar in both groups. As for implant size, the tibial implant size in the modified group was larger than that in the conventional group (χ = 4.95, P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The modified technique for tibial bone sparing was comparable with the conventional technique in terms of clinical outcomes and radiographic assessments. It can preserve tibial bone mass and achieve a larger cement surface on the tibial side.

Effect of lateral internal sphincterotomy in patients undergoing excisional hemorrhoidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Excisional hemorrhoidectomy (EH) is the major surgical option for high-grade symptomatic hemorrhoids, but it has some shortcomings, especially postoperative pain. This study was performed to assess the effect of lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) in patients undergoing excisional hemorrhoidectomy. METHODS: A systematic literature search (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Science Citation Index, Science Direct, Springer Link, Ovid Journals, and EBSCO) was performed to identify all eligible articles. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until July 7, 2017 comparing EH combined with LIS (experimental group) with EH only (control group) were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome of interest was postoperative pain. RESULTS: Ten RCTs involving 1560 patients were identified for inclusion. The pooled analysis revealed that patients undergoing EH and LIS were associated with lower pain score [standardized mean difference (SMD), -0.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), -1.14 to -0.36; z = 3.76; P = .0002] and resting anal pressure [odds ratio (OR), -17.19; 95% CI, -25.66 to -8.72; z = 3.98; P < .0001], and lower incidence of anal stricture (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03-0.53; z = 2.85; P = .004). However, the differences of urinary retention, bleeding and length of hospital stay were similar between the 2 methods. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggests that LIS effectively relieves postoperative pain and reduces patient's postoperative analgesic requirements. LIS also reduces the incidence of anal stenosis but increases the incidence of fecal incontinence.

Use of Clavien-Dindo classification in evaluating complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy in 1,056 cases: A retrospective analysis from one single institution.

The Clavien-Dindo (C-D) classification is a simple and feasible grading system of postoperative complications. The aim of the present study was to apply this system to retrospectively classify all types of post-pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) complications (PPCs) and to systematically identify associated risk factors. Between January 2009 and December 2014, the C-D classification was applied to retrospectively classify PPCs for 1,056 patients who had undergone PD at the West China Hospital. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to link perioperative parameters and mortality with the severity of PPCs, which were subdivided into overall PPCs (Grade I-V), severe PPCs (Grade III-V) and mortality (Grade V). The number of patients with Clavien-Dindo grade I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb and V complications was 185 (17.5%), 128 (12.1%), 50 (4.7%), 25 (2.4%), 35 (3.3%), 19 (1.8%) and 33 (3.1%), respectively. A total of 475 (45.0%) patients experienced overall PPCs; 168 (15.9%) patients experienced severe PPCs; and 33 patients succumbed to mortality following PD. The following risk factors were identified following PD: Preoperative hypoproteinemia was correlated with all three subdivisions; obstructive jaundice was associated with severe PPCs and mortality; and older age was revealed to be an independent risk factor of mortality. A large retrospective study was performed in the present study and PD was correlated with a high occurrence of PPCs. The Clavien-Dindo system represents a broad applicable and feasible approach to evaluating PPCs in patients following PD. The independent risk factors of PPCs that were identified in the present study require further validation using the Clavien-Dindo classification in additional prospective studies.

Effect of iron salt type and dosing mode on Fenton-based pretreatment of rice straw for enzymatic hydrolysis.

Fenton-based processes with four different iron salts in two different dosing modes were used to pretreat rice straw (RS) samples to increase their enzymatic digestibility. The composition analysis shows that the RS sample pretreated by the dosing mode of iron salt adding into H2O2 has a much lower hemicellulose content than that pretreated by the dosing mode of H2O2 adding into iron salt, and the RS sample pretreated by the chloride salt-based Fenton process has a much lower lignin content and a slightly lower hemicellulose content than that pretreated by the sulphate salt-based Fenton process. The higher concentration of reducing sugar observed on the RS sample with lower lignin and hemicellulose contents justifies that the Fenton-based process could enhance the enzymic hydrolysis of RS by removing hemicellulose and lignin and increasing its accessibility to cellulase. FeCl3·6H2O adding into H2O2 is the most efficient Fenton-based process for RS pretreatment.

Locomotor activity of rats with SCI is improved by dexmedetomidine by targeting the expression of inflammatory factors.

Dexmedetomidine, a well­known selective α­2 adrenoceptor agonist, inhibits the apoptosis of neurons and protects other organs from oxidative damage. In the present study, the effect of dexmedetomidine on spinal cord injury (SCI) in a rat model was investigated. The SCI rat model was prepared using the weight­drop method, and the effect of dexmedetomidine on locomotor activity was analyzed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) rating scale. Western blot analysis was used to observe changes in the expression of apoptosis­related proteins, including B­cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl­2) and Bcl­2­associated X protein (Bax). The results revealed that treatment of the SCI rats with dexmedetomidine at a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly prevented the formation of edema in the tissues of the spinal cord. Dexmedetomidine also inhibited the SCI­induced accumulation of neutrophils in the spinal cord. The BBB scores were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the rats with SCI treated with dexmedetomidine after 10 days. The results of grid walking test revealed a marked decrease in the number of missteps following 10 days of dexmedetomidine treatment. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­α and interleukin (IL)­1ß were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in the spinal cord tissues of the dexmedetomidine group, compared with those in the control group of rats. Dexmedetomidine treatment following SCI exerted an inhibitory effect on the SCI­induced increase in the expression of Bax. The expression of Bcl­2 was increased in the dexmedetomidine treated rats, compared with that in the control group. Taken together, dexmedetomidine improved the locomotor activity of the rats through the inhibition of edema, reduction in the expression levels of TNF­α and IL­1ß, and inhibition of the induction of apoptosis. Therefore, dexmedetomidine may be of therapeutic importance for patients with SCI.

Incidence of and Risk Factors and Reinterventions for Post-Pancreatoduodenectomy Hemorrhage: Retrospective Analysis.

AIMS: To analyze the incidence of and risk factors for post-pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) hemorrhage (PPH) and to evaluate the outcomes of reinterventions for PPH. METHODS: All PDs between January 2009 and December 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. PPH was evaluated according to the criteria of the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery. Both univariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors for PPH and mortality were performed. Reinterventions were also evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 1,056 PDs during the study period, 78 (7.4%) developed PPH, including 36 with grade B and 42 with grade C. Of these 78 patients, 24 (30.8%) died of PPH-related causes. Multivariate analysis showed that older age, higher total bilirubin concentration, and postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) were independent risk factors for PPH. Patients who died of PPH were significantly older and had lower preoperative hemoglobin and albumin concentrations than patients who did not die of PPH. Of the 78 patients with PPH, 58 underwent reintervention, including 27 who underwent angiography, 24 who underwent endoscopy, 24 who underwent re-laparotomy, and 15 who underwent more than one reintervention. CONCLUSIONS: Older age, total bilirubin, and POPF are independent risk factors for PPH. Higher mortality are associated with advanced PPH and poor nutritional conditions.

Ultrasound-assisted alkaline pretreatment for enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of rice straw by using the heat energy dissipated from ultrasonication.

Rice straw samples were exposed to ultrasound-assisted alkaline (NaOH) pretreatment by using the heat energy dissipated from ultrasonication to increase their enzymatic digestibility for saccharification. The characterization shows that the pretreatment could selectively remove lignin and hemicellulose without degrading cellulose, and increase porosity and surface area of rice straw. The porosity, surface area and cellulose content of rice straw increased with the increasing concentration of NaOH used. The rice straw sample pretreated by using the heat energy dissipated from ultrasonication has a higher surface area and a lower crystallinity index value than that pretreated by using the external source of heating, and the amount of reducing sugar released from the former sample at 48h of enzymatic saccharification, which is about 3.5 times as large as that from the untreated rice straw sample (2.91vs. 0.85gL-1), is slightly larger than that from the latter sample (2.91vs. 2.73gL-1). The ultrasound-assisted alkaline pretreatment by using the heat energy dissipated from ultrasonication was proved to be a reliable and effective method for rice straw pretreatment.