Effects of an intraoperative intravenous Bolus Dose of Dexmedetomidine on postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort in male patients undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumors: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the effect of intravenous bolus doses of dexmedetomidine on postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) was dose-dependent in male patients undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT). METHODS: The study protocol was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR 2,000,034,657, date of registration: July 14, 2020). Adult male patients were randomized to one of four groups: placebo (Group C); dexmedetomidine 0.2 µg/kg (Group D 0.2); dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg/kg (Group D 0.5); or dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg (Group D 1). The primary outcome was the incidence of moderate-to-severe CRBD at 0, 1, 6, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. RESULTS: The incidence of moderate-to-severe CRBD was significantly lower in Group D 0.5 and Group D 1 than in Group C at 0 h (13% vs. 40%, P = 0.006; 8% vs. 40%, P = 0.001), 1 h (15% vs. 53%, P < 0.001; 13% vs. 53%, P < 0.001), and 6 h (10% vs. 32%, P = 0.025; 8% vs. 32%, P = 0.009) postoperatively. Compared with baseline, both the MAP and HR were significantly lower in Group D 1 at 1 min ([94 ± 15] vs. [104 ± 13] mm Hg, P = 0.003; [64 ± 13] vs. [73 ± 13] bpm, P = 0.001) and 30 min ([93 ± 10] vs. [104 ± 13] mm Hg, P < 0.001; [58 ± 9] vs. [73 ± 13] bpm, P < 0.001) postextubation. CONCLUSION: The effect of intravenous bolus doses of dexmedetomidine on postoperative CRBD was dose-independent, whereas intravenous administration of 0.5 µg/kg dexmedetomidine reduced the early postoperative incidence of CRBD with minimal side effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial number and registry URL: ChiCTR 2,000,034,657, http://www.chictr.org.cn , date of registration: July 14, 2020.

Impact of the pulmonary ventilation function on the prognosis of suspected asthma patients: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma is a common chronic respiratory diseases, and the relationship between pulmonary ventilation function and the prognosis of patients with suspected asthma is not well understood. This study aims to explore the impact of pulmonary ventilation functions on the prognosis of patients with suspected asthma. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included patients with suspected asthma who were diagnosed and treated at the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between August 2015 and January 2020. The primary outcome of interest was improvement in asthma symptoms, as measured by bronchial provocation test (BPT) results within one year after diagnosis. The impact of pulmonary ventilation functions on prognosis was explored by multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were included in the study. Patients with normal (OR = 0.123, p = .004) or generally normal (OR = 0.075, p = .039) pulmonary ventilation function were more likely to achieve improvement in asthma symptoms compared with patients with mild obstruction. There were no significant differences between the improvement and non-improvement groups in baseline characteristics. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that suspected asthma patients with normal or generally normal pulmonary ventilation function are more likely to achieve improvement in asthma symptoms within one year compared to patients with mild obstruction.

A System of Emotion Recognition and Judgment and Its Application in Adaptive Interactive Game.

A system of emotion recognition and judgment (SERJ) based on a set of optimal signal features is established, and an emotion adaptive interactive game (EAIG) is designed. The change in a player's emotion can be detected with the SERJ during the process of playing the game. A total of 10 subjects were selected to test the EAIG and SERJ. The results show that the SERJ and designed EAIG are effective. The game adapted itself by judging the corresponding special events triggered by a player's emotion and, as a result, enhanced the player's game experience. It was found that, in the process of playing the game, a player's perception of the change in emotion was different, and the test experience of a player had an effect on the test results. A SERJ that is based on a set of optimal signal features is better than a SERJ that is based on the conventional machine learning-based method.

Effects of Etco2 on the Minimum Alveolar Concentration of Sevoflurane that Blunts the Adrenergic Response to Surgical Incision: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded Trial.

BACKGROUND: CO2 has anesthetic potency and effectively influences the circulatory system. We investigated the effects of Etco2 on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane that blunts the adrenergic response to surgical incision (MAC-BAR) in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Ninety patients undergoing radical gastric-carcinoma surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled and randomly assigned into 3 groups. After intubation, the Etco2 in group L (n = 30), group N (n = 30), and group H (n = 30) was adjusted to 25 mm Hg ≤ Etco2 <30 mm Hg, 30 mm Hg ≤ Etco2 < 40 mm Hg, and 40 mm Hg ≤ Etco2 < 45 mm Hg, respectively, by changes in controlled ventilation. Hemodynamics and depth of anesthesia were observed before and after skin incision. The MAC-BAR of sevoflurane for each group was determined using an up-and-down sequential-allocation technique. RESULTS: To obtain 7 crossovers, 25, 26, and 26 patients were used in group L, group N, and group H, respectively. The MAC-BAR of sevoflurane using the up-and-down method for group H was significantly lower than that for group L (2.3% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.2-2.4] vs 2.9% [95% CI, 2.7-3.0]; difference, -0.6% [95% CI, -0.7 to -0.4], P < .001) and group N (2.3% [95% CI, 2.2-2.4] vs 2.8% [95% CI, 2.8-2.9]; difference, -0.5% [95% CI, -0.7 to -0.4], P < .001), while no significant difference was found between group L and group N (P = 1.000). CONCLUSIONS: Higher Etco2 levels (Etco2 values equal to 40 mm Hg or higher) can effectively decrease the MAC-BAR of sevoflurane in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric carcinoma.

Peroxiredoxin 6 mediates the protective function of curcumin pretreatment in acute lung injury induced by serum from patients undergoing one-lung ventilation in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin has attracted much attention due to its wide range of therapeutic effects. In this study, we used serum collected from patients undergoing one-lung ventilation (OLV) to establish an in vitro acute lung injury (ALI) model to explore the potential protective mechanism of curcumin on ALI. Our study provides a new reference for the prevention and treatment of ALI induced by OLV. METHODS: A549 cells were treated with 20% serum from patients undergoing OLV to establish an in vitro ALI model. Curcumin, at a dose of 40 µg/ml, was administered two hours prior to this model. The levels of inflammation and oxidative stress markers were observed by Western blot, qRT-PCR, ELISA and reactive oxygen species assay. Additionally, the expression of peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) and proteins involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway was evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty percent of serum collected from patients undergoing OLV downregulated the expression of Prdx6, leading to the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which was associated with the subsequent overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species. Pretreatment with curcumin restored Prdx6 downregulation and inhibited NF-κB pathway activation by suppressing the nuclear translocation of P65, eventually reducing inflammation and oxidative stress damage in A549 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Prdx6 mediated the protective function of curcumin by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB pathway in ALI in vitro.

Interactive Application of Data Glove Based on Emotion Recognition and Judgment System.

In this paper, the interactive application of data gloves based on emotion recognition and judgment system is investigated. A system of emotion recognition and judgment is established based on the set of optimal features of physiological signals, and then a data glove with multi-channel data transmission based on the recognition of hand posture and emotion is constructed. Finally, the system of virtual hand control and a manipulator driven by emotion is built. Five subjects were selected for the test of the above systems. The test results show that the virtual hand and manipulator can be simultaneously controlled by the data glove. In the case that the subjects do not make any hand gesture change, the system can directly control the gesture of the virtual hand by reading the physiological signal of the subject, at which point the gesture control and emotion control can be carried out at the same time. In the test of the manipulator driven by emotion, only the results driven by two emotional trends achieve the desired purpose.

Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of Nanofluid with Rod-like Particles in Turbulent Flows through a Curved Pipe.

Pressure drop, heat transfer, and energy performance of ZnO/water nanofluid with rodlike particles flowing through a curved pipe are studied in the range of Reynolds number 5000 ≤ Re ≤ 30,000, particle volume concentration 0.1% ≤ Φ ≤ 5%, Schmidt number 104 ≤ Sc ≤ 3 × 105, particle aspect ratio 2 ≤ λ ≤ 14, and Dean number 5 × 103 ≤ De ≤ 1.5 × 104. The momentum and energy equations of nanofluid, together with the equation of particle number density for particles, are solved numerically. Some results are validated by comparing with the experimental results. The effect of Re, Φ, Sc, λ, and De on the friction factor f and Nusselt number Nu is analyzed. The results showed that the values of f are increased with increases in Φ, Sc, and De, and with decreases in Re and λ. The heat transfer performance is enhanced with increases in Re, Φ, λ, and De, and with decreases in Sc. The ratio of energy PEC for nanofluid to base fluid is increased with increases in Re, Φ, λ, and De, and with decreases in Sc. Finally, the formula of ratio of energy PEC for nanofluid to base fluid as a function of Re, Φ, Sc, λ, and De is derived based on the numerical data.

Effects of an Intraoperative Intravenous Bolus Dose of Dexmedetomidine on Remifentanil-Induced Postinfusion Hyperalgesia in Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Consecutive exposure to high-dose remifentanil during anesthesia may induce remifentanil-induced postinfusion hyperalgesia (RPH). Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, may have synergistic effects with opioids and aid in perioperative pain management. In this study, we hypothesized that an intraoperative bolus dose of intravenous dexmedetomidine could alleviate RPH in patients undergoing thyroidectomy under general anesthesia. METHODS: Ninety patients undergoing thyroidectomy were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: placebo, normal saline (group P); low-dose dexmedetomidine 0.2 µg·kg-1 (group LD); or high-dose dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg·kg-1 (group HD). Remifentanil was infused at a rate of 0.30 µg·kg-1·minute-1. Mechanical pain thresholds were measured using an Electronic von Frey device preoperatively and at 30 minutes, 6 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after surgery and were analyzed with 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post hoc comparison. We also recorded postoperative pain scores, the incidence of receiving rescue analgesics, and side effects up to 48 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The mechanical pain thresholds around the skin incision were significantly higher in group LD compared to group P 30 minutes and 6 hours after surgery (mean ± standard deviation: [65.0 ± 25.2] vs [49.6 ± 24.4] g, mean difference [95% confidence interval]: 15.4 [0.3-30.5] g, P = .045 at 30 minutes; [65.9 ± 24.5] vs [49.3 ± 26.1] g, 16.6 [1.1-32.1] g, P = .032 at 6 hours). The pain thresholds around the skin incision were significantly higher in group HD compared to group P 30 minutes and 6 hours after surgery ([67.8 ± 21.7] vs [49.6 ± 24.4] g, 18.2 [3.1-33.3] g, P = .013 at 30 minutes; [68.3 ± 22.5] vs [49.3 ± 26.1] g, 19.0 [3.5-34.5] g, P = .011 at 6 hours). The incidence of hyperalgesia around the skin incision was lower in group HD than in group P 30 minutes and 6 hours after surgery (4 [13%] vs 14 [48%], P = .012 at 30 minutes, 4 [13%] vs 12 [41%], P = .045 at 6 hours), although no significant difference was observed between group LD and group P. Postoperative pain scores, the incidence of rescue analgesic demand, and postoperative side effects were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: An intraoperative intravenous bolus dose of dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg·kg-1 alleviates remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in patients undergoing thyroidectomy without a significant difference in side effects.

Effect of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy With Portal Triad Clamping: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is reported to reduce liver injury in patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis, but its role is unclear in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal triad clamping during hepatectomy. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized trial, 140 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver resection requiring portal triad clamping were randomized to a RIPC group or a control group. Patients in the RIPC group received RIPC (3 cycles of 5-minute ischemia and 5-minute reperfusion in right upper limb with cuff pressure at 30 kPa [225 mm Hg]) approximately 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia. In the control group, patients received sham RIPC (the cuff was not inflated). The primary outcome was the postoperative peak level of total bilirubin (TBIL) and was analyzed with the independent t test. Secondary outcomes were liver function test at postoperative days 1, 3, and 5; postoperative morbidity and mortality during the first month; and the length of postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS: Data from 136 patients (69 in the RIPC group and 67 in the control group) were analyzed. The RIPC group had on average a 5.9 µmol lower peak level of TBIL than the control group; the mean difference is -5.9, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) reverses to -17.9 to 6.1. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in liver function test at postoperative days 1, 3, and 5; postoperative morbidity and mortality during the first month; and the length of postoperative hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that RIPC can reduce postoperative liver injury after hepatectomy.

Internal jugular vein versus subclavian vein as the percutaneous insertion site for totally implantable venous access devices: a meta-analysis of comparative studies.

BACKGROUND: A totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD) provides reliable, long-term vascular access and improves patients' quality of life. The wide use of TIVADs is associated with important complications. A meta-analysis was undertaken to compare the internal jugular vein (IJV) with the subclavian vein (SCV) as the percutaneous access site for TIVAD to determine whether IJV has any advantages. METHODS: All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies assessing the two access sites, IJV and SCV, were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and OVID EMB Reviews from their inception to December 2015. Random-effects models were used in all analyses. The endpoints evaluated included TIVAD-related infections, catheter-related thrombotic complications, and major mechanical complications. RESULTS: Twelve studies including 3905 patients published between 2008 and 2015, were included. Our meta-analysis showed that incidences of TIVAD-related infections (odds ratio [OR] 0.71, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.48-1.04, P = 0.081) and catheter-related thrombotic complications (OR 0.76, 95 % CI 0.38-1.51, P = 0.433) were not significantly different between the two groups. However, compared with SCV, IJV was associated with reduced risks of total major mechanical complications (OR 0.38, 95 % CI 0.24-0.61, P < 0.001). More specifically, catheter dislocation (OR 0.43, 95 % CI 0.22-0.84, P = 0.013) and malfunction (OR 0.42, 95 % CI 0.28-0.62, P < 0.001) were more prevalent in the SCV than in the IJV group; however, the risk of catheter fracture (OR 0.47, 95 % CI 0.21-1.05, P = 0.065) were not significantly different between the two groups. Sensitivity analyses using fixed-effects models showed a decreased risk of catheter fracture in the IJV group. CONCLUSION: The IJV seems to be a safer alternative to the SCV with lower risks of total major mechanical complications, catheter dislocation, and malfunction. However, a large-scale and well-designed RCT comparing the complications of each access site is warranted before the IJV site can be unequivocally recommended as a first choice for percutaneous implantation of a TIVAD.

Protective versus Conventional Ventilation for Surgery: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies show that intraoperative mechanical ventilation using low tidal volumes (VT) can prevent postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). The aim of this individual patient data meta-analysis is to evaluate the individual associations between VT size and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) level and occurrence of PPC. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials comparing protective ventilation (low VT with or without high levels of PEEP) and conventional ventilation (high VT with low PEEP) in patients undergoing general surgery. The primary outcome was development of PPC. Predefined prognostic factors were tested using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Fifteen randomized controlled trials were included (2,127 patients). There were 97 cases of PPC in 1,118 patients (8.7%) assigned to protective ventilation and 148 cases in 1,009 patients (14.7%) assigned to conventional ventilation (adjusted relative risk, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.88; P < 0.01). There were 85 cases of PPC in 957 patients (8.9%) assigned to ventilation with low VT and high PEEP levels and 63 cases in 525 patients (12%) assigned to ventilation with low VT and low PEEP levels (adjusted relative risk, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.37; P = 0.72). A dose-response relationship was found between the appearance of PPC and VT size (R2 = 0.39) but not between the appearance of PPC and PEEP level (R2 = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: These data support the beneficial effects of ventilation with use of low VT in patients undergoing surgery. Further trials are necessary to define the role of intraoperative higher PEEP to prevent PPC during nonopen abdominal surgery.

NBS1 Glu185Gln polymorphism and susceptibility to urinary system cancer: a meta-analysis.

A number of studies have investigated the association between the NBS1 Glu185Gln (rs1805794, 8360 G>C) polymorphism and risk for urinary system cancer including bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and renal cell cancer; however, the findings are conflicting. We conducted a meta-analysis focusing on eight published studies with 3,542 cases and 4,210 controls to derive a more precise evaluation of the relationship between the NBS1 Glu185Gln polymorphism and urinary system cancer susceptibility. Overall, the NBS1 Glu185Gln polymorphism was significantly related to increased risk for urinary system cancer (homozygous model: odds ratio (OR)=1.23, 95 % confidence interval (95% CI)= 1.05­1.44, p=0.011; heterozygous model: OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.04­1.26, p=0.008; dominant model: OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.05­1.27, p=0.002; and Gln vs. Glu: OR=1.12, 9% CI=1.04­1.20, p=0.002) and further stratification analysis indicated an increased risk for bladder cancer (heterozygous model: OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.02­1.26, p=0.022; dominant model: OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.03­1.26, p=0.014; and Gln vs. Glu: OR=1.09, 95%CI=1.01­1.18, p=0.023) and Caucasian populations (homozygous model: OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.11­1.59, p=0.002; heterozygous model: OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.04­1.30, p=0.009; dominant model: OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.07­1.32, p=0.001; and Gln vs. Glu: OR=1.15, 95% CI=1.06­1.25, p<0.001). Despite some limitations, this meta-analysis established some solid statistical evidence for the association between NBS1 Glu185Gln polymorphism and increased risk for urinary system cancer, especially for bladder cancer, but more well-designed prospective studies are needed to further verify our findings.

Long-term survival after resection of hepatocelluar carcinoma: a potential risk associated with the choice of postoperative analgesia.

BACKGROUND: Associations between anesthetic management and cancer recurrence or long-time survival remain uncertain. In this study, we compared the effects of postoperative epidural morphine analgesia with that of postoperative IV fentanyl analgesia on cancer recurrence and long-term survival in patients undergoing resection of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving hepatic resection at this institution (n = 1846, 1997-2007). Recurrence-free survival and long-term survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and compared using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted with propensity scores. RESULTS: Eight hundred nineteen patients met the inclusion criteria and were divided into 2 groups: patients receiving postoperative epidural analgesia with morphine (EA, n = 451) and patients receiving postoperative IV analgesia with fentanyl (IA, n = 368). The median time of follow-up for all patients was 4.2 years (2-9). The rates of recurrence of cancer (37.7% vs 30.7%, P = 0.036) and death (40.6% vs 30.4%, P = 0.003) were higher in the EA group versus IA group. Recurrence-free survival was similar in both the EA and IA groups (hazards ratio 2.224, 95% confidence interval, 0.207-23.893, P = 0.509). Using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted with propensity scores, independent risk factors for long-term survival in patients after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma were ASA physical status, tumor diameter, preoperative α-fetoprotein (+) as well as postoperative epidural analgesia with morphine. CONCLUSION: Compared with postoperative IV analgesia with fentanyl, postoperative epidural analgesia with morphine was associated with increased cancer recurrence and death but had no significant effect on recurrence-free survival in patients undergoing resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of bufalin in rodents.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of bufalin, a major component of "Chan-su." We used a carrageenan-induced paw edema model to assess the anti-inflammatory activity of this compound, and Western blot analysis detected NF- κ B signaling during this effect. The antinociceptive activities were evaluated by acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin, and hot-plate tests; open-field test investigated effects on the central nervous system. Our data showed that bufalin (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg, i.p.) potently decreased carrageenan-induced paw edema. Bufalin down regulated the expression levels of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) during these treatments. Further studies demonstrated that bufalin significantly inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling. Bufalin also reduced acetic acid-induced writhing and the licking time in the formalin test and increased hot-plate reaction latencies. Naloxone pretreatment (2 mg/kg, i.p.) in the early phases of the formalin test and hot-plate test significantly attenuated the bufalin-induced antinociception effects, which suggests the involvement of the opioid system. A reduction in locomotion was not observed in the open-field test after bufalin administration. Taken together, bufalin treatment resulted in in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and bufalin may be a novel, potential drug for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Dural puncture epidural with 25-G spinal needles versus conventional epidural technique for labor analgesia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Dural mater is punctured by using a spinal needle without drugs administrated into intrathecal space directly in dural puncture epidural (DPE) analgesia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to summarize the evidence of benefits and risks of DPE analgesia with 25-G spinal needles for labor pain relief. METHODS: DPE analgesia with EP analgesia for labor pain relief were systematically searched. The Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus and Web of Science databases were systematically searched till 6th November 2022 to find out randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing DPE (using 25-G spinal needles) with conventional epidural (EP) analgesia. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane tool. Risk ratio, mean difference, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Seven RCTs with 761 parturients were identified. Pool data showed that DPE technique was associated with shorter time to pain score ⩽ 3/10, higher percentage with pain score ⩽ 3/10 at 10 min and 20 min, lower incidence of epidural top-up bolus and no S2 block, higher incidence of bilateral S2 blockade at 10 min and during labor, lower incidence of epidural top-up bolus and incidence of asymmetric block. No statistical difference in side effect and parturient satisfaction between DPE and EP technique. CONCLUSION: DPE technique with 25-G spinal needles was associated with faster analgesia onset and sacral coverage, greater sacral spread, lesser requirement of epidural top-up and lower incidence of asymmetric block. DPE technique with 25-G spinal needles showed a greater benefit to parturients.

Expression and characterization of ß-1,3-1,4-glucanase of Aspergillus usamii in Escherichia coli and its application in sourdough bread making.

A ß-1,3-1,4-glucanase gene (Auglu12A) from Aspergillus usamii was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The recombinant enzyme, reAuglu12A was efficiently purified using the one-step nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography. The specific activity of reAuglu12A was 694.8 U/mg, with an optimal temperature of 55°C and pH of 5.0. The reAuglu12A exhibited stability at temperatures up to 60°C and within the pH range of 4.0-5.5. The reAuglu12A hydrolytic activity was increased in the presence of metal ions, especially K+ and Na+ , whereas it exhibited a Km and Vmax of 8.35 mg/mL and 1254.02 µmol/min/mg, respectively, toward barley ß-glucan at pH 5.0 and 55°C. The addition of reAuglu12A significantly increased the specific volume (p < 0.05) and reduced crumb firmness and chewiness (p < 0.05) of wheat-barley sourdough bread during a 7-day storage period compared to the control. Overall, the quality of wheat-barley sourdough bread was improved after incorporation of reAuglu12A (especially at 3000 U/300 g). These changes were attributed to the synergistic effect of acidification by sourdough and its metabolites which provided a conducive environment for the optimal action of reAuglu12A in the degradation of ß-glucans of barley flour in sourdough. This stabilized the dough structure, thereby enhancing the quality, texture, and shelf life of the bread. These findings suggest that reAuglu12A holds promise as a candidate for ß-glucanase application in the baking industry.

Investigation of the correlation between platelet antibodies and peripheral blood cytopenia in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The primary triggers that stimulate the body to generate platelet antibodies via immune mechanisms encompass events such as pregnancy, transplantation, and blood transfusion. Interestingly, our findings revealed that a subset of male patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), despite having no history of transplantation or blood transfusion, has shown positive results in platelet antibody screenings. This hints at the possibility that certain factors, potentially related to the tumor itself or its treatment, may affect antibody production. To delve the causes we initiated this study. We employed a case-control study approach to analyze potential influential factors leading to the positive results via univariate and multivariate regression analysis. We utilized Kendall's tau-b correlation to examine the relationship between the strength of platelet antibodies and peripheral blood cytopenia. Antitumor medication emerged as an independent risk factor for positive results in HCC patients, and the strength of platelet antibodies positively correlated with the severity of anemia and thrombocytopenia. Without history of blood transfusion, transplantation, pregnancy, those HCC patients underwent recent tumor medication therapy are experiencing peripheral erythrocytopenia or thrombocytopenia, for them platelet antibody screenings holds potential clinical value for prevention and treatment of complications like drug-immune-related anemia and/or bleeding.

Numerical Study on the Distribution of Rodlike Particles in Laminar Flows of Power Law Fluids Past a Cylinder.

The contraction/expansion laminar flow containing rodlike particles in power-law fluid is studied numerically when the particles are in a dilute phase. The fluid velocity vector and streamline of flow are given at the finite Reynolds number (Re) region. The effects of Re, power index n and particle aspect ratio ß on the spatial and orientation distributions of particles are analyzed. The results showed that for the shear-thickening fluid, particles are dispersed in the whole area in the contraction flow, while more particles are gathered near the two walls in the expansion flow. The spatial distribution of particles with small ß is more regular. Β has a significant, n has a moderate, but Re has a small impact on the spatial distribution of particles in the contraction and expansion flow. In the case of large Re, most particles are oriented in the flow direction. The particles near the wall show obvious orientation along the flow direction. In shear-thickening fluid, when the flow changes from contraction to expansion, the orientation distribution of particles becomes more dispersed; while in shear-thinning fluid, the opposite is true. More particles orient to the flow direction in expansion flow than that in contraction flow. The particles with a large ß tend to align with the flow direction more obviously. Re, n and ß have great influence on the orientation distribution of particles in the contraction and expansion flow. Whether the particles initially located at the inlet can bypass the cylinder depends on the transverse position and initial orientation of the particles at the inlet. The number of particles with θ0 = 90° bypassing the cylinder is the largest, followed by θ0 = 45° and θ0 = 0°. The conclusions obtained in this paper have reference value for practical engineering applications.

Comparison of esketamine versus dexmedetomidine for attenuation of cardiovascular stress response to double-lumen tracheal tube intubation: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The insertion of a double-lumen tracheal tube may cause a transient but more intense sympathetic response. We examined the effects of esketamine vs. dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to anesthesia induction to blunt double lumen tracheal (DLT) intubation induced cardiovascular stress response. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind trial, 78 adult patients scheduled for elective thoracotomy under general anesthesia requiring DLT intubation were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: each group received one of the following drugs prior to induction of anesthesia: dexmedetomidine 0.8 µg/kg (Group A), esketamine 0.5 mg/kg (Group B), or normal saline (group C). The primary outcome was the incidence of a DLT intubation-related cardiovascular stress response, defined as an increase in mean arterial pressure or heart rate of >30% above the baseline values. The secondary outcomes were changes in hemodynamic and cardiac function. Results: The incidence of the response to cardiovascular stress was 23.1%, 30.8%, and 65.4% in groups A, B, and C, respectively. There was a significant decrease in intubation response in groups A and B in comparison with group C (P < 0.01); however, there was no significant difference between group A and group B (P > 0.05). Following the drug infusion and the induction of anesthesia, there was a significant decrease in HR and cardiac output in group A compared with group B. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the left ventricular ejection fraction or in stroke volume between the three groups during induction of anesthesia. Discussion: Esketamine 0.5 mg/kg and dexmedetomidine 0.8 µg/kg attenuate cardiovascular stress responses related to DLT intubation. As adjuvants to etomidate induction, they do not impair cardiac function (ChiCTR1900028030).

Elucidating the inhibiting mechanism of pseudo-lignin on the enzymatic digestibility of cellulose by surface plasmon resonance.

To explore the interaction mechanism of pseudo-lignin (PL) with cellulase and its influence on cellulose hydrolysis, different PLs were extracted from pretreated bamboo holocellulose (HC) using different organic solvents. Meanwhile, the real-time interaction of PL and cellulase was analyzed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The results showed that the extraction effect of the tetrahydrofuran and 1, 4-dioxane/water solution on PL was more effective than the ethanol/water solution. The inhibition of PL fraction obtained from HC by acid pretreatment with higher temperature showed less effect on Avicel's enzymatic hydrolysis. SPR analysis revealed that PL formed at higher pretreatment temperature had a lower dissociation rate after adsorption with cellulase. Besides, the binding affinity of PL (160 °C) to cellulase was much greater than that of PL obtained from 180 °C, indicating PL extracted at higher temperature treated biomass is more easily dissociated from cellulase after binding.