Novel Benzothiazole Derivatives as Potential Anti-Quorum Sensing Agents for Managing Plant Bacterial Diseases: Synthesis, Antibacterial Activity Assessment, and SAR Study.

As quorum sensing (QS) regulates bacterial pathogenicity, antiquorum sensing agents have powerful application potential for controlling bacterial infections and overcoming pesticide/drug resistance. Identifying anti-QS agents thus represents a promising approach in agrochemical development. In this study, the anti-QS potency of 53 newly prepared benzothiazole derivatives containing an isopropanolamine moiety was analyzed, and structure-activity relationships were examined. Compound D3 exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity, with an in vitro EC50 of 1.54 µg mL-1 against Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo). Compound D3 suppressed QS-regulated virulence factors (e.g., biofilm, extracellular polysaccharides, extracellular enzymes, and flagella) to inhibit bacterial infection. In vivo anti-Xoo assays indicated good control efficiency (curative activity, 47.8%; protective activity, 48.7%) at 200 µg mL-1. Greater control efficiency was achieved with addition of 0.1% organic silicone or orange peel essential oil. The remarkable anti-QS potency of these benzothiazole derivatives could facilitate further novel bactericidal compound development.

Burden of stroke and its risk factors in Yunnan Province of China, 1990-2017.

BACKGROUND: There is an overall decreasing trend in stroke incidence and an increasing trend in its prevalence. Disease burden of stroke continues to increase with an increase in the absolute number. In-depth analysis of stroke burden trends in remote areas is extremely important. Our aim was to describe the disease burden of and risk factors for stroke in Yunnan, from 1990 to 2017. METHODS: The methodological framework and analytical strategies adopted in the 2017 Global Burden of Disease study were used. RESULTS: Age-standardized mortality associated with stroke decreased from 1.53 per 100 000 in 1990 to 1.14 per 100 000 in 2017. The prevalence of stroke in Yunnan Province increased from 344 per 100 000 in 1990 to 870 per 100 000 in 2017. The age-standardized rates of years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) decreased more significantly for women than for men. The age-standardized rates of DALYs and YLLs of stroke decreased by 24.3 and 28.4%, respectively, from 1990 to 2017, and the rate of YLDs increased by 32.5%. The top three risk factors for stroke were dietary risks, high systolic blood pressure and tobacco consumption, and their percentage contributions to the DALYs of stroke were 67.5, 51.5 and 29.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of stroke has increased in Yunnan since 1990. The health department should emphasize on the changes of stroke risk factors and advocate healthy diet and living habits for residents.

Burden of cardiovascular disease from 1990 to 2017 in Henan Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death in China. Little is known about the CVD burden and risk factors in Henan Province, China. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the CVD burden and main risk factors between 1990 and 2017 in the Henan Province in China. METHODS: The methodological framework and analytical strategies adopted in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 were used. RESULTS: (1) Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to CVDs increased from 355.0 per 100,000 persons in 1990 to 364.1 per 100,000 persons in 2017 in Henan. (2) Age-standardized disability adjusted life years (DALYs) rate fell by 3.9% from 1990 to 2017. However, the number of DALYs attributed to CVDs increased by 75.9% from 4.2 million person-years in 1990 to 7.3 million person-years in 2017. (3) The age-standardized years lived with disability (YLDs) rate increased by 27.5% from 1990 to 2017. However, years of life lost (YLLs) rate decreased by 6.7% from 1990 to 2017. The contribution of YLLs to the DALYs decreased from 91.4% in 1990 to 89.2% in 2017. (4) Stroke (52.3%) and ischemic heart diseases (38.8%) accounted for 91.1% of total CVDs DALYs among adults in 2017. (5) Dietary factors such as high intake of sodium, alcohol use and low intake of fruits, high systolic blood pressure, and tobacco use were the top risk factors for CVDs, and the estimated population attributable fraction in 2017 was 69.4%, 56.7% and 25.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The absolute burden of CVDs in Henan is still high, although age-standardized DALYs declined between 1990 and 2017. The prevention and control of stroke and ischemic heart diseases should focus on a few modifiable risk factors which mainly contributed to the burden of CVDs, such as dietary factors, high systolic blood pressure, and tobacco use.

Gender and ethnic health disparities among the elderly in rural Guangxi, China: estimating quality-adjusted life expectancy.

BACKGROUND: Ethnic health inequalities for males and females among the elderly have not yet been verified in multicultural societies in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of disparities in health expectancy among the elderly from different ethnic groups using quality-adjusted life expectancy. DESIGN: A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted. A total of 6,511 rural elderly individuals aged ≥60 years were selected from eight different ethnic groups in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China and assessed for health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The HRQoL utility value was combined with life expectancy at age 60 years (LE60) data by using Sullivan's method to estimate quality-adjusted life expectancy at age 60 years (QALE60) and loss in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for each group. RESULTS: Overall, LE60 and QALE60 for all ethnic groups were 20.9 and 18.0 years in men, respectively, and 24.2 and 20.3 years in women. The maximum gap in QALE60 between ethnic groups was 3.3 years in males and 4.6 years in females. The average loss in QALY was 2.9 years for men and 3.8 years for women. The correlation coefficient between LE60 and QALY lost was -0.53 in males and 0.12 in females. CONCLUSION: Women live longer than men, but they suffer more; men have a shorter life expectancy, but those who live longer are healthier. Attempts should be made to reduce suffering in the female elderly and improve longevity for men. Certain ethnic groups had low levels of QALE, needing special attention to improve their lifestyle and access to health care.

Influence of culture, residential segregation and socioeconomic development on rural elderly health-related quality of life in Guangxi, China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess ethnic differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among the rural elderly, and to examine the influence of ethnic culture, residential segregation and socioeconomic development on HRQoL. METHODS: A total of 6,511 rural elderly aged 60 years and older from 5,541 households in 116 villages across eight ethnic groups in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region were selected and assessed for HRQoL. The EQ-5D index values were calculated based on the Chinese Time Trade-Off values set. The EQ-5D descriptive system scores, visual analogue scale scores, and index values were described by ethnic group. The EQ-5D index was modeled against ethnic culture, residential segregation and socioeconomic development using villages as random effects. RESULTS: The median (IQR) of HRQoL among all the ethnic groups was 0.88 (0.80, 0.96). Pain/discomfort was the most prevalent problem, followed by anxiety/depression. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, a significant difference in HRQoL among ethnic groups persisted, but this was not true for residential segregation. CONCLUSION: Social welfare and health policies designed to improve the health of the rural elderly should focus more on older, female, less-educated, Yao minority individuals as well as lower-income households.

Isolated mitral regurgitation: quantitative assessment with 64-section multidetector CT--comparison with MR imaging and echocardiography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of 64-section multidetector computed tomography (CT) for the assessment of the severity of isolated mitral regurgitation by measuring ventricular volumetrics compared with those at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and echocardiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by an institutional review board; patient informed consent was obtained. Forty-nine patients (22 men, 27 women; mean age, 39 years +/- 11 [standard deviation]) with isolated mitral regurgitation underwent retrospective electrocardiographically (ECG) gated 64-section CT, echocardiography, and MR imaging for the assessment of the severity of mitral regurgitation. Stroke volumes of the left and right ventricles were measured at 64-section CT and MR imaging. With these measurements, regurgitant volumes (RVs) and regurgitant fractions (RFs) were calculated and compared. The agreement between CT and MR imaging was tested by using linear regression and Bland-Altman analyses. RFs were compared with corresponding echocardiographic grades (grades I-IV) based on the absolute area of the regurgitation jet and in relation to the size of the left atrium by using Spearman rank order correlation and a weighted kappa test. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in calculated RV and RF between 64-section CT and MR imaging (P = .56 and .87, respectively; paired t test). Regression analysis showed that 64-section CT correlated well with MR imaging for the measurement of RV (r = 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81, 0.94) and for calculating the RF (r = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84, 0.95). Bland-Altman analysis showed no significant differences in RV (bias, -1.0 mL) and RF (bias, 0.2%) between 64-section CT and MR imaging. The severity of regurgitation estimated by using echocardiography correlated well with that estimated by using 64-section CT (r = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92, 0.97) and MR imaging (r = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91, 0.96). CONCLUSION: ECG-gated 64-section CT helps provide quantitative information with high accuracy for determining the severity of isolated mitral regurgitation.