[Effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid in patients receiving on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting without clopidogrel and aspirin cessation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safty of tranexamic acid in patients receiving on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) without clopidogrel and aspirin cessation. METHODS: The current study is a prospective, randomized and placebo-control trial. A total of 116 patients receiving selective on-pump CABG with their last ingestion of clopidogrle and aspirin within 7 days preoperatively were recruited. Despite 6 patients withdrawal their consent, the rest 110 were randomized to receive tranexamic acid or placebo. The tranexamic acid regimen was a bolus of 10 mg/kg followed by a maintenance of 10 mg·kg(-1)·h(-1) throughout the surgery. The primary outcome was the volume of allogeneic erythrocyte transfused perioperatively. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. In patients receiving tranexamic acid and placebo respectively, the volume of allogeneic erythrocyte transfused was 4.0 (7.5) units and 6.0(6.0) units (W = 1021, P < 0.01). In these 2 groups respectively, blood loss was 930 (750) ml and 1210 (910) ml (W = 1042, P < 0.01), the incidence of major bleeding was 50.9% and 76.4% (χ(2) = 7.70, P < 0.01), the incidence of reoperation was 0 and 9.1% (χ(2) = 5.24, P = 0.02); the volume of plasma transfused was 400 (600) ml and 600 (650) ml (W = 1072, P = 0.01), the exposure of plasma was 60.0% and 85.5% (χ(2) = 8.98, P < 0.01) and the exposure to any allogeneic blood products was 85.5% and 98.2% (χ(2) = 5.93, P = 0.01). Perioperative mortality, morbidity and the incidence of adverse events were balanced between the groups without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Tranexamic acid reduced significantly postoperative bleeding and transfusion in patients receiving on-pump CABG without clopidogrel and aspirin cessation.

[Distribution and Accumulation of Cadmium in Paddy Soil and Rice Affected by Pollutant Sources Control and Improvement Measures].

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of five scenarios on the accumulation of Cd in the soil-rice system, including the return of straw to the field and the lack of the return, atmospheric deposition control, use of clean water for irrigation, and the use of lime. For the field experiments, three typical paddies were selected and divided into five plots (5 m×6 m) in Xiangtan, Zhuzhou, and Liling in the Hunan province from April to October 2016. The results showed that the application of lime can increase pH by 0.87, while the available Cd concentration in the soil was decreased by 33.7%. The accumulations of Cd in roots, stems, and brown rice were decreased by 47.9%, 46.7%, and 54.8%, respectively, with a decrease in the corresponding bioconcentration factors. Irrigating with clean water and liming tended to increase the soil pH by 0.44 and 0.49, respectively, while the available Cd concentration in the soil was decreased by 18.2% and 14.5%, respectively. The Cd concentrations in roots, stems, and brown rice were decreased by 32.6%, 24.2%, and 18.0%, and 17.6%, 11.3%, and 25.4% with decreased bioconcentration factors under both treatments (irrigating with clean water and liming). The available Cd concentration in the soil was increased by 6.1% and the Cd accumulation in the rice plants also increased with the return of straw to the soil. The bioconcentration factors of the rice plants were also increased when the paddy straw was returned to the fields. The results showed that the measures, such as the use of lime, atmospheric deposition control, use of clean water for irrigation, and lack of the return of straw to the paddy soil, should be helpful for the safe production of brown rice. The possible long-term risks associated with returning straw to the paddy field should be evaluated scientifically.

Cloning and characterization of a novel feline IFN-omega.

The interferons (IFNs) are a large family of multifunctional secreted protein involved in antiviral defense, cell growth regulation, and immune activation. The human IFNs are used worldwide as antiviral drugs. Here, we present cDNAs encoding 13 novel feline IFN-omega (FeIFN-omega) subtypes that share 95%-99% amino acid sequence identity. FeIFN-omega2 and FeIFN-omega4 have seven additional amino acids at position 109 that are not present in other subtypes. Sequence identity of the present FeIFN proteins encoded by the 13 subtypes is approximately 57% compared with human IFN-omega (HuIFN-omega). All 13 FeIFN-omega subtypes were expressed in Escherichia coli using a periplasmic expression system. The antiviral activity of each product was evaluated in vitro. In addition, subtype FeIFN-omega2 was cytoplasm expressed in E. coli and secretion expressed in Pichia pastoris. The purified mature recombinant protein demonstrated significant antiviral activity on both homologous and heterologous animal cells in vitro.

High-power high-repetition-rate UV light at 355 nm generated by a diode-end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser.

We describe experimental results with a diode-pumped, passively Q-switched extracavity second- and third-harmonic generation. Cr:YAG is used as a saturable absorber for pulse generation. Taking into account the thermal effects of Nd:YAG at high incident pump power, we use a short plane-to-plane cavity configuration to take advantage of the maximum pump power and obtain the compactness structure. At the same time, we use the type-I critical phase-matched lithium triborate crystal to generate light at 532 nm and mix the residual fundamental at 1064 nm and the second-harmonic wave at 532 nm in the type-II critical phase-matched lithium triborate crystal for UV light generation at 355 nm. A third-harmonic-generation output power of 1.32 W is achieved at the incident pump power of 27.5 W, corresponding to an optical-to-optical efficiency of 4.8%. The instability of the UV laser power is less than 5% for 4 h.