[Applicability of odor analyzer based on study of processed ginger products and GC-MS validation].

Heracles Ⅱ rapid electronic odor analyzer has been gradually applied in the study on the "odor" of Chinese medicine because of its ability to associate volatile substances in the sample with "odor", but its applicability is not clear. In this article, processed ginger products--dried ginger, roasted ginger, and carbonized ginger were chosen as examples to study the volatile chemical components, and the applied scope and accuracy of Heracles Ⅱ rapid electronic odor analyzer were verified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). Components in ten batches of ginger from different producing places were detected by GC-MS and Heracles Ⅱ rapid electronic odor analyzer. Principal component analysis(PCA) and discriminant factor analysis(DFA) were performed to investigate the effects of producing place and processing degree on dried ginger, roasted ginger, and carbonized ginger. The results showed that the processing degree had significant impact on the processed ginger products, while producing place was not significant to the processed ginger products. At the same time, 42 and 45 compounds were detected by Heracles Ⅱ rapid electronic odor analyzer and GC-MS, respectively, of which 29 compounds were common detected, with a coincidence rate of 64.4%. This result indicated that compared with GC-MS, Heracles Ⅱ rapid electronic odor analyzer had certain referential value in the qualitative analysis. Heracles Ⅱ rapid electronic odor analyzer, with the characteristics of convenience, high efficiency, and accuracy in processing data, has certain advantages in the "odor" research aiming to comprehensively evaluate volatile substances, and has a good application prospect in the quality control of Chinese medicine and its processed products.

The Role of Cholinesterase in Differential Diagnosis between Gastric Cancer and Benign Gastric Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide. In early stages, no obvious symptoms are usually observed in gastric cancer patients, and it is especially hard to distinguish gastric cancer from benign gastric diseases, resulting in delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. Common biomarkers of gastric cancer, such as CEA and CA19-9, are also elevated in benign diseases. There is an urgent need to develop a convenient and reliable biomarker for differentiating between gastric cancer and benign gastric diseases. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 126 patients, including 73 gastric cancer patients and 53 benign gastric disease patients. Patient characteristics collected for analysis included age, gender, laboratory data, and clinical staging. Unpaired t-test was used to check the difference of cholinesterase level between the gastric cancer group and the benign gastric disease group. Kruskal Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to check the difference of cholinesterase level among different stage groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess whether cholinesterase level can be used as a biomarker for differentiating between gastric cancer and benign gastric diseases. RESULTS: Serum cholinesterase level was decreased significantly in the gastric cancer group in comparison to that of the benign gastric disease group (p < 0.001). In addition, cholinesterase level of stage IV patients was significantly lower than stage I patients. ROC curve analysis revealed that with a cutoff of 5,969.00 U/L, cholinesterase level showed an area under the curve of 0.819 (95% CI 0.732 - 0.905, p < 0.001) in differentiating between gastric cancer and benign gastric diseases. No significant difference in the levels of CEA and CA19-9 was observed between gastric cancer patients and benign gastric disease patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that serum cholinesterase level could be considered as a potential biomarker for differentiating between gastric cancer and benign gastric diseases.

One-Pot Synthesis of High-Quality AgGaS2/ZnS-based Photoluminescent Nanocrystals with Widely Tunable Band Gap.

Herein, we present a facile colloidal method to synthesize the high-quality AgGaS2 nanocrystals (NCs) within 2 min via exploiting the high-reactivity S precursor and then extend this synthetic strategy to the preparation of AgGaS2/ZnS core-shell NCs by a one-pot method without prior purification of AgGaS2 core. The as-synthesized samples were structurally characterized to confrim the formation of AgGaS2/ZnS core-shell NCs. The energy band gap of the AgGaS2/ZnS NCs can be effectively tunable from 2.98 to 2.83 eV by the control of their nonstoichiometry and further continuously decreases to 1.90 eV by the preparation of alloyed AgGaxIn1-xS2/ZnS NCs (1 ≤ x ≤ 0). Benefitting from the efficient band gap modulations, the photoluminescence (PL) colors of the AgGaS2-based NCs can cover almost the whole visible region from blue (460 nm) to red (671 nm). Our work demonstrates the one-pot synthesis of AgGaS2/ZnS core-shell NCs and their band gap engineering, which is of crucial in scalability toward industrial application and in tailoring optical characteristics of I-III-VI2 materials.

The material basis of bitter constituents in Carbonized Typhae Pollen, based on the integration strategy of constituent analysis, taste sensing system and molecular docking.

The discovery of bitter constituents is of great significance to the exploration of medicinal substances for they have potential physiological effects. Carbonized Typhae Pollen (CTP), which is a typical example of carbonized Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has a bitter taste and hemostatic effect after carbonized processing. The objective of this study is to elucidate the material basis of bitter constituents in CTP. Firstly, the constituents of CTP extracts with 7 different solvents were characterized by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Then, multivariate statistical analysis was used to visualize the CTP extracts from 7 solvents. A total of 37 constituents were tentatively identified and 17 constituents were considered as the key constituents in differentiating 7 different solvent extracts. Subsequently, the bitter evaluation of extracts from different polar parts was investigated by using an electronic tongue. As a result, the order of bitterness of the extracts was as follows: ethanol > methanol > water > n-butyl alcohol > petroleum ether > butyl acetate > isopropanol. There were statistically significant differences in the bitter degree of extracts. By correlation analysis of bitter information and chemical constituents with partial least squares regression (PLSR), 8 potential bitterness constituents were discovered, including phenylalanine, valine, chlorogenic acid, isoquercitrin, palmitic acid, citric acid, quercetin-3-O-(2-α-L-rhamnosyl)-rutinoside, and typhaneoside. Additionally, molecular docking analysis was conducted to reveal the interaction of these constituents with the bitter taste receptor. The docking result showed that these constituents could be embedded well into the active pocket of T2R46 and had significant affinity interactions with critical amino acid residues by forming hydrogen bonds. This study provided a reliable theoretical basis for future research on biological activity of bitterness substances.

Quality Control Circle Practices to Improve Mask-Wearing Compliance by Patients Diagnosed with Tuberculosis During External Examinations.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of quality control circle (QCC) activities on increasing the mask-wearing compliance of hospitalized patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) during external examinations. Methods: To assess the mask-wearing compliance of patients diagnosed with TB admitted to a ward in our hospital in 2019, who visited other departments, we conducted activities in accordance with the ten steps of the QCC. We outlined the causes of non-compliance and developed and implemented improvement plans. We compared the results obtained before and after the implementation of the QCC to assess the enhancement in patient compliance concerning wearing masks during external examinations, particularly among individuals diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: The compliance rate for mask-wearing during external examinations rose from an initial 32.61% (45/138) prior to the intervention to 83.71% (149/178) following the intervention. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2 = 85.635, P < 0.001). The following countermeasures and implementation measures were formulated: (1) Increasing public health education and awareness; (2) Strengthening the training of nursing staff to enhance their knowledge; (3) Providing free surgical masks; (4) Establishing an effective monitoring system with the department of auxiliary examinations. Conclusion: QCC interventions were significantly effective in enhancing adherence to mask-wearing protocols during external examinations of hospitalized patients with tuberculosis. Such improvements contribute substantially to the mitigation of tuberculosis transmission within clinical and healthcare environments.

Analysis of different injuries of basketball players based on surface electromyography / Análise de diferentes lesões em jogadores de basquete com base na eletromiografia de superfície / Análisis de diferentes lesiones de jugadores de baloncesto basado en electromiografía superficial

ABSTRACT Assessing the performance of basketball players is very important in the implementation of technical training programs. The application of electromyography (EMG) in basketball players is still relatively small. The evaluation of athletes' muscle state index by EMG can guide sports training. This study used surface electromyography to test and compare EMG data, analyze muscle discharge timing, contribution rate and integral EMG value of the turning movement, aiming to explore the prevention mechanism of different types of injury affecting basketball players. The synchronous measurement model of EMG signal and plantar pressure curve in jump shot process of basketball players is established to deepen coaches' understanding of jump shot movement rules and guide athletes to conduct scientific jump shot training. The research shows that the incidence of knee joint injury is relatively high in basketball players. Patella strain and softening, knee meniscus injury and cruciate ligament injury are the main types of injury, and there is no difference between genders.

RESUMO A avaliação do desempenho dos jogadores de basquete é muito importante na implementação de programas de treinamento técnico. A aplicação de eletromiografia (EMG) no basquetebol ainda é relativamente pequena. A avaliação do índice de estado muscular dos atletas por EMG pode guiar o treinamento esportivo. Este estudo utilizou a eletromiografia de superfície para testar e comparar os dados da EMG, analisar o tempo de descarga muscular, a taxa de contribuição e o valor integral da EMG do movimento de rotação, com o objetivo de explorar o mecanismo de prevenção de diferentes tipos de lesões entre jogadores de basquete. O modelo de medição síncrona do sinal EMG e da curva da pressão plantar no processo de arremessos por parte de jogadores de basquete é estabelecido para aprofundar a compreensão dos treinadores sobre as regras de arremessos e guiar atletas a realizar treinamentos de arremessos com bases científicas. A pesquisa mostra que a incidência de lesão nas articulações do joelho é relativamente alta entre os jogadores de basquete. Luxação e amolecimento de patela, lesão de menisco e lesão do ligamento cruzado são os principais tipos de lesão, e não há diferença entre generosos sexos masculino e feminino.

RESUMEN La evaluación del desempeño de los jugadores de baloncesto es muy importante en la implementación de programas de entrenamiento técnico. La aplicación de electromiografía (EMG) en el baloncesto aun es relativamente pequeña. La evaluación del índice de estado muscular de los atletas por EMG puede guiar el entrenamiento deportivo. Este estudio utilizó la electromiografía de superficie para testear y comparar los datos de la EMG, analizar el tiempo de descarga muscular, la tasa de contribución y el valor integral de la EMG del movimiento de rotación, con el objetivo de explorar el mecanismo de prevención de diferentes tipos de lesiones entre jugadores de baloncesto. El modelo de medición síncrona de la señal EMG y de la curva de la presión plantar en el proceso de lanzamientos por parte de jugadores de baloncesto es establecido para profundizar la comprensión de los entrenadores sobre las reglas de lanzamientos y guiar a los atletas a realizar entrenamientos de lanzamientos con bases científicas. La investigación muestra que la incidencia de lesión en las articulaciones de la rodilla es relativamente alta entre los jugadores de baloncesto. Luxación y ablandamiento de rótula, lesión de menisco y lesión del ligamento cruzado son los principales tipos de lesión, y no hay diferencia entre los sexos.

Efficiency analysis of using tailored individual doses of radioiodine and fine tuning using a low-dose antithyroid drug in the treatment of Graves' disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of using tailored individual doses of radioiodine (¹³¹I) and fine tuning using low-dose antithyroid drug (ATD) in the treatment of Graves' disease, and an attempt to establish a therapeutic strategy that can keep both high rate of euthyroidism and low incidence of hypothyroidism. METHODS: The dose of radioiodine was calculated using the calculated dose formula, and low-dose ATD was used as a way of fine tuning during follow-up. The intended dose of radioiodine was modified according to the patient's age at radioiodine therapy, thyroid size, and duration of hyperthyroidism before radioiodine therapy in the study group; it was set as 2.96 MBq/g of thyroid in the control group. Twenty patients with Graves' disease were nonrandomly assigned to the control group and 98 patients with Graves' disease to the study group. The outcomes, which included euthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and persistent hyperthyroidism, were determined according to the patients' states at the end of follow-up. RESULTS: In the study group, 74 patients (75.5%) achieved the euthyroid state, six patients (6.1%) became hypothyroid, and 18 patients (18.4%) remained hyperthyroid. The rate of euthyroidism was statistically different between the study group and the control group (75.5 vs. 50%, P=0.03). Of 98 patients with Graves' disease in the study group, 19 patients were additionally treated with ATD during follow-up, and 12 patients achieved euthyroidism. In different age groups or duration of hyperthyroidism groups, the rate of euthyroidism was not statistically different among subgroups of goiter grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 (P>0.05). Similarly, in different age groups or duration of hyperthyroidism groups, the incidence of hypothyroidism was not statistically different among subgroups of goiter grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 (P>0.05). However, binary logistic regression analysis showed that thyroid size was associated with overtreatment and undertreatment in our study. CONCLUSION: Individual doses of radioiodine, adjusted according to the patient's age, thyroid size, and duration of hyperthyroidism, combined with low-dose ATD for some patients, 1 month or more after radioiodine therapy, was an effective method for treating Graves' disease. Our data showed that using tailored individual doses of radioiodine and fine tuning using low-dose ATD may well be a way to keep both high rate of euthyroidism and low incidence of hypothyroidism. The dose of radioiodine should be decreased a little for small goiter and increased a little for large goiter on the basis of our treatment protocol in future study.