Effect of Paper and Aluminum Bagging on Fruit Quality of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.).

Bagging regulates the fruit microenvironment and improves the quality and market value of fruits. It is a safe and ecofriendly technique to protect fruits from insect/pest infestation and multiple biotic and abiotic stresses. In the current study, the influence of fruit bagging was evaluated on the development and quality of loquat fruits. Fruits from a healthy loquat orchard (Cv. Zaozhong No.6), located in Fujian, China, were enveloped in paper (T1), aluminum (T2), and aluminum-polyethylene bags (T3), while unbagged fruits were maintained as control (T0). In general, fruit bagging improved fruit quality in terms of fruit physiological and biochemical attributes and protected fruits from physical damage. In particular, aluminum-polyethylene bagging enhanced fruit weight, length, and width by 1.37-, 1.18-, and 1.13-fold, respectively. Loquat fruits bagged with paper bags exhibited the maximum soluble sugar and lowest titratable acid content. Fruits treated with paper and aluminum-ethylene bags showed twofold higher sugar-acid ratio as compared to control. Aluminum-polyethylene bagging caused 66.67%, 55.56%, and 33.33% reductions in skin burn, fruit rotting, and black spot of loquat. The fruits bagged in aluminum and aluminum-polyethylene did not show insect or bird damage, while unbagged fruits had 14.70% and 17.65% insect and bird damage, respectively. Overall, the results suggest that paper, aluminum, and aluminum-polyethylene bagging improved fruit health by 75%, 131%, and 144%, respectively, as compared to control. To delineate bagging type-dependent effects, principal component analysis was performed. Paper bagging was positively correlated with fruit firmness, rotting, soluble sugars, sugar-acid ratio, and proline content. Aluminum bagging was highly associated with improvements in titratable acids, cystine, and methionine. Aluminum-polyethylene bags were correlated with fruit weight, size, peel thickness, edible rate, and certain amino acids.

Edoxaban improves atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism through regulation of the Wnt-ß-induced PI3K/ATK-activated protein C system.

Thromboembolism is a commonly observed condition in geriatrics that is caused by vascular endothelial injury, platelet activation, physiological coagulation processes, reduction of anticoagulant activity, decreased fibrinolytic activity and abnormal flow in the heart chamber, artery or vein. The protein C anticoagulant system serves a crucial role in anticoagulant therapy for the treatment of thromboembolism. Previous findings have suggested that edoxaban is an efficient oral anticoagulant in the acute treatment of venous thromboembolism. In the present study, the efficacy of edoxaban on thromboembolism induced by atrial fibrillation was investigated in a mouse model. Inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1, -4, -8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were analyzed in the sera of mice with fibrillation induced by thromboembolism. Expression and activity of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and activated protein C resistance were investigated in platelets and vascular endothelial cells (VECs). TSLP-induced platelet viability, Wnt-ß phosphorylation and integrin expression were analyzed in platelets. Furthermore, Wnt-ß expression and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway in VECs were analyzed. Results demonstrated that the expression levels of IL-1, -4, -8 and TNF-α were significantly downregulated in the sera of mice with fibrillation and thromboembolism following treatment with edoxaban (P<0.01). Furthermore, the expression levels of prostacyclin (PGI2), prostaglandin (PG)E2, PGD2 and PGF2α were significantly increased in the sera of experimental mice that received edoxaban therapy (P<0.01). Results also indicated that edoxaban significantly stimulated the protein expression of TSLP and activated Wnt-ß phosphorylation and integrin expression in platelets (P<0.01). In addition, edoxaban therapy significantly upregulated the expression levels of PI3K and AKT, and subsequently increased the activity of protein C and S in VECs (P<0.01). Notably, edoxaban treatment improved atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism, as determined by pathological analysis. In conclusion, these results suggested that edoxaban elicited beneficial effects for mice with atrial fibrillation induced by thromboembolism through the regulation of the Wnt-ß-induced PI3K/ATK-activated protein C system.

Surgical treatment and outcome of cardiac cystic echinococcosis.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac cystic echinococcosis (CE), or hydatid cyst is exceptionally uncommon. We review the experience of surgical treatment of cardiac CE. METHODS: Twenty-six patients (11 females; mean age, 28.9 ± 7.6 years) with cardiac CE undergoing surgical treatment from February 1978 to April 2013 were reviewed. The operative methods mainly included puncture-aspiration cystectomy, intact endocyst enucleation and total cyst resection. RESULTS: Cardiac CE was located in the myocardium in 16 cases, pericardium in 8 and both myocardium and pericardium in 2. There were 21 cases with solitary hydatid cyst including at the left ventricle in 7, right ventricle in 5, right atrium in 2, interventricular septum in 1 and at the pericardium in 6; 5 cases were with multiple cysts. There was no operative mortality. All patients received albendazole postoperatively. The mean follow-up time was 68 ± 21 months (range 7-195 months) except for 4 who were lost to follow-up. There were three recurrences and one late death. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac cystic echinococcosis (CE) remains a very infrequent zoonotic infection. Presenting symptoms of cardiac hydatid disease are variable depending on the size, number and location of the cyst. Echocardiography, corroborated with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, affords the best diagnostic and follow-up confirmation. Surgical treatment is associated with a low morbidity and mortality, and the selection of proper technique is very important to completely remove the hydatid cyst and prevent recurrence. Postoperative oral antiparasitic therapy is necessary for a definitive cure.

[Surgical treatment of cardiac echinococcosis].

OBJECTIVE: To review the experience of surgical treatment of cardiac echinococcosis. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with cardiac echinococcosis, including 15 males and 10 females with a mean age of (29±8) years, undergoing surgical treatment from February 1978 to September 2011 were retrospectively summarized. RESULTS: There were myocardial echinococcosis (n=16), pericardial echinococcosis (n=7), myocardial and pericardial echinococcosis (n=2). The surgical procedures included complete resection of hydatid cysts, cystectomy with needle aspiration and complete removal of endocyst. There was no intraoperative mortality. Twenty-one patients were followed up for 5-168 months. Four patients recurred and 1 died from heart failure at 10 months postoperation. CONCLUSION: The preferred treatment of cardiac hydatid cyst is surgical resection. And a selection of proper technique is of great importance for excising hydatid cyst and preventing recurrence.

Surgery for sinus of valsalva aneurysm: 27-year experience with 100 patients.

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare anomaly. This study was designed to assess the long-term outcome of surgical repair of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm and factors influencing the prognosis. From August 1980 to August sinus of Valsalva aneurysm repair. Ventricular septal defect (42) and aortic regurgitation (34) were the most frequent coexisting anomalies. An approach via the involved chamber was used in 60 patients, aortotomy in 5, and a combined approach in 35. Either direct (43) or patch (57) closure was used to repair the defect. Aortic valve replacement was required in 14 patients, and 8 needed valvuloplasty. Eighty patients were followed up for 15.6 +/- 3.9 years. There were 3 hospital deaths and 2 late deaths. New York Heart Association functional class improved significantly after surgery. Actuarial survival was 94% at 10 years, and 90% at 15 years. Surgical treatment of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is safe and effective, but late progressive aortic regurgitation is still a risk during long-term follow-up, and early aggressive measures are recommended.