Deciphering the influence of S/N ratio in a sulfite-driven autotrophic denitrification reactor.

Sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification is a cost-effective alternative to heterotrophic denitrification for nitrate removal due to no need of external organic carbon supply. Herein, sulfite-driven autotrophic denitrification (SDAD) was firstly established in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor treating high-strength nitrate-containing wastewater added by the sulfite. The nitrogen removal performance was mainly investigated under a molar ratio of sulfur-to­nitrogen (S/N) ranging from 0.44 to 3.07 in a total of 180-day operation. Long-term experiment showed the optimal of S/N was found to be 2.63, much close to the stoichiometric value, achieving the highest autotrophic denitrification rate and complete total nitrogen removal efficiency (TNRE) with 92.4 ± 0.3%. Cyclical trial confirmed nitrate reduction and sulfite oxidation simultaneously occurred along with sulfate formation. Meanwhile, nitrite accumulation was observed at a very low S/N conditions. Microbial community analysis identified that Sulfurovum, Thiobacillus, and Thermomonas as key denitrifying sulfur-oxidizing bacteria responsible for SDAD. Moreover, the dynamic shift in functional microorganisms affected by influent S/N was also detected. Finally, the metabolic pathway of SDAD process was unraveled via the cooperative encoding of sulfite oxidases (Sor, Apr, Sat) and nitrate-reducing genes. This study sheds light on a new sulfur-cycle autotrophic denitrification process for the bioremediation of nitrate-contaminated wastewater.

Research progress of N6-methyladenine demethylase inhibitors / 中国药科大学学报

@#N6-methyladenine (m6A) modification, the most abundant and dynamic chemical modification on messenger RNA, plays an essential role in physiological and pathological progress.Recent studies have found that tumor progression can be affected by altering the m6A modification level of target genes. Therefore, small molecule targeted m6A demethylase can be used as a new anti-tumor strategy.This review focuses on the regulatory mechanism of m6A demethylases, including fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) and AlkB homlog 5 (ALKBH5), as well as their biological functions in tumors, and summarizes the research progress of their small molecule inhibitors.

An overview of the characteristics and quality assessment criteria in systematic review of pharmacoeconomics.

BACKGROUND: The systematic review of economic evaluations plays a critical role in making well-informed decisions about competing healthcare interventions. The quality of these systematic reviews varies due to the lack of internationally recognized methodological evaluation standards. METHODS: Nine English and Chinese databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase (Ovid), NHS economic evaluation database (NHSEED) (Ovid), Health Technology Assessment (HTA) database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WangFang, VIP Chinese Science & Technology Periodicals (VIP) and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were searched. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. The methodological quality of the literature was measured with modified AMSTAR. Data were narrative synthesized. RESULTS: 165 systematic reviews were included. The overall methodological quality of the literature was moderate according to the AMSTAR scale. In these articles, thirteen quality assessment tools and 32 author self-defined criteria were used. The three most widely used tools were the Drummond checklist (19.4%), the BMJ checklist (15.8%), the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement (12.7%). Others included the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES), the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria (CHEC), the checklist of Center for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), the Philips checklist, the World Health Organization (WHO) checklist, the checklist of Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP), the Pediatric Quality Appraisal Questionnaire (PQAQ), the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist, Spanish and Chinese guidelines. The quantitative scales used in these literature were the QHES and PQAQ. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence showed that pharmacoeconomic systematic reviews' methodology remained to be improved, and the quality assessment criteria were gradually unified. Multiple scales can be used in combination to evaluate the quality of economic research in different settings and types.

Synergistic antifungal effects of curcumin derivatives as fungal biofilm inhibitors with fluconazole.

Lack of novel antifungal agents and severe drug resistance has led to high incidence and associated mortality of invasive fungal infections. To tackle the challenges, novel antifungal agents with anti-resistant potency are highly desirable. Thus, derivatives of curcumin were synthesized to restore the effectiveness of fluconazole (FLC) against FLC-resistant Candida spp. and structure-activity relationships were then discussed. Some novel derivatives showed promising features as novel antifungal lead compounds. Of them, compound 4 showed good alone or synergistic antifungal activity against FLC-resistant Candida spp. Moreover, compound 4 was proven as a potent inhibitor of Candida albicans biofilm formation and yeast-to-hypha morphological transition whether used alone or in combination with FLC, which was further confirmed by the inhibitory effect on cellular surface hydrophobicity of C. albicans. Compound 4 also inhibits intracellular ATP production of C. albicans and disrupts membrane permeability of C. albicans when used in combination with FLC. The results highlighted the potential of curcumin derivatives to overcome fluconazole-related and biofilm-related drug resistance.

Pharmacoeconomic Systematic Review of Osimertinib for Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To s ystematically review the economics of osimertinib for advanced non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC），and to provide the reference for clinical application and healthcare decision makers. METHODS ：Retrieved from PubMed，Embase，the Cochrane L ibrary，Health Technology Assessment ，CNKI，Wanfang database ，VIP，CBM，etc.， pharmacoeconomic studies on osimertinib in the treatment of advanced NSCLC were collected from the inception to Apr. 2020. After screening and extracting relevant data ，the quality of the included studies was evaluated by using the Quality of Health Economics Studies （QHES），and the economic research results of the included literatures were systematically evaluated by using descriptive analysis method. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS ：A total of 10 studies from 7 different countries were included ；QHES scores of the included literatures were 73-93，with an average of 86.8，and the quality of the researches was generally high. All the 10 studies were cost-effectiveness analysis ，including 6 first-line treatment ，4 second-line treatment. Six studies reported the cost discount rate ；only one study used the cost of osimertinib after price reduction for evaluation and analysis. Compared with other epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors （EGFR-TKI），six studies from different countries showed that osimertinib as the first-line treatment drug had no cost-effectiveness advantage ；cost-effectiveness of second-line treatment of osimertinib was controversial ，compared to chemotherapy. For advanced NSCLC patients ，the second-line treatment of osimertinib after the national centralized negotiation of price reduction has a more cost-effectiveness advantage in China ’s medical service system，while the first-line treatment of osimertinib before price reduction does not have this advantage compared with other EGFR-TKI drugs.

First-Principle Studies on the Mechanical and Electronic Properties of AlxNiyZrz (x = 1~3, y = 1~2, z = 1~6) Alloy under Pressure.

The elastic and electronic properties of AlxNiyZrz (AlNiZr, Al2NiZr6, AlNi2Zr, and Al5Ni2Zr) under pressure from 0 to 50 GPa have been investigated by using the density function theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The elastic constants Cij (GPa), Shear modulus G (GPa), Bulk modulus B (GPa), Poisson's ratio σ, Young's modulus E (GPa), and the ratio of G/B have been studied under a pressure scale to 50 GPa. The relationship between Young's modulus of AlxNiyZrz is Al5Ni2Zr > AlNiZr > Al2NiZr6 > AlNi2Zr, which indicates that the relationship between the stiffness of AlxNiyZrz is Al5Ni2Zr > AlNiZr > Al2NiZr6 > AlNi2Zr. The conditions are met at 30 and 50 GPa, respectively. What is more, the G/B ratios for AlNiZr, AlNi2Zr, Al2NiZr6, and Al5Ni2Zr classify these materials as brittle under zero pressure, while with the increasing of the pressure the G/B ratios of AlNiZr, AlNi2Zr, Al2NiZr6, and Al5Ni2Zr all become lower, which indicates that the pressure could enhance the brittle properties of these materials. Poisson's ratio studies show that AlNiZr, AlNi2Zr, and Al2NiZr6 are all a central force, while Al5Ni2Zr is a non-central force pressure scale to 50 GPa. The energy band structure indicates that they are all metal. The relationship between the electrical conductivity of AlxNiyZrz is Al2NiZr6 > Al5Ni2Zr > AlNi2Zr > AlNiZr. What is more, compared with Al5Ni2Zr, AlNi2Zr has a smaller electron effective mass and larger atom delocalization. By exploring the elastic and electronic properties, they are all used as a superconducting material. However, Al5Ni2Zr is the best of them when used as a superconducting material.

Systematic Review of Methodological Guidelines for Health Technology Assessment at Home and Abroad / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To evaluate guidelines f or health technology assessment （HTA）at home and abroad ，and to provide reference for scientific formulation of HTA guidelines in China. METHODS ：Databases including PubMed ，Embase，Guidenlines International Network and 83 official websites from 26 countries governments and academic organizations were searched to collect HTA guidelines from inception to April 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature and extracted data ，including basic characteristics， content of guideline and assessment content. Then a descriptive analysis was conducted. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS：A total of 19 guidelines published during 2001 to 2018 were included ，7 guidelines（36.8％）were published in 2015-2020；in addition to 1 guideline from WHO ，14 guidelines （73.7％）were published in Europeand ，2 guidelines（10.5％） in North America and 1 guideline each from South America and Asia （5.3％）. There were 11 guidelines（57.9％）developed by academic organizations and 8 guidelines（42.1％）by health administration ；11 guidelines（57.9％）were evidence-based ，while the others weren ’t evidence- based （42.1％）. The purpose ，content and object of assessment are demonstrated in 19 guidelines；18 guidelines specified the assessment method （94.7％），and 16 guidelines（84.2％）defined the subject of assessment ；14 guidelines （73.7％）specified the HTA assessment process ；12 guidelines（63.3％）mentioned the conflict of interest in HTA assessment process；7 guidelines（36.8％）mentioned the application of assessment results. There are some differences in the formulation methods and contents of HTA guidelines in foreign countries ，but the core contents ar e basically the same. At present ，there is a lack of HTA guidelines in China. We can refer to foreign guidelines，and establish applicable HTA guidelines which aresuitable for national conditions ，so as to provide scientific guidance for HTA research.

Application and effect evaluation of guideline-based symptom cluster management program of fatigue,pain,and sleep disturbance in patients with lung cancer / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To explore the effects of guideline-based symptom cluster management program on the severity of fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance and the quality of life in lung cancer patients. Methods A total of 88 lung cancer patients admitted from July 2017 to November 2017 were divided into the intervention group and the control group with 44 cases in each group by the wards. The control group received routine nursing. The intervention group received health education and related skills guidance about symptom management of fatigue,pain and sleep disturbance on the basis of routine. The severity of fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance and quality of life were compared between the 2 groups after 3 weeks intervention. Results After 3 weeks intervention, the scores of fatigue,pain and sleep disturbance in the intervention group were 3.65 ± 0.97, 2.44 ± 0.79, 9.30 ± 2.41 respectively,the scores in the control group were 3.89 ± 1.05, 2.77 ± 0.88, 10.09 ± 1.97 respectively. There was no statistically significant differences in fatigue score (F=1.60,P>0.05),but there were statistically significant differences in pain and sleep disturbance scores between two groups (F=7.83, 5.13, all P<0.05). The scores of quality of life, physical, psychological, social, environmental domains in the intervention group were 52.42 ± 4.71,14.02 ± 2.05, 12.39±2.36, 14.39±2.45, 11.61±1.84 respectively,the control group were 50.77±4.11, 13.31±2.21, 11.89 ± 2.04, 13.65 ± 2.69, 11.92 ± 1.86 respectively. There was no statistically significant differences in scores of psychological and environmental domains (F=0.52, all P>0.05), but there were statistically significant differences in total score, scores of physical and social domains between two groups(F=5.03-6.86, all P<0.05). Conclusion The guideline-based management program could effectively control the deterioration of the severity of fatigue,pain,sleep disturbance and improve patient's quality of life.

Salvianolic acid B increases recombinant adeno-associated virus transduction through redirecting trafficking pathways and stabilizing perinuclear accumulations / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To screen small molecule compounds from traditional Chinese medicine that can enhance recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) transduction. METHODS Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has been established as a powerful tool for in vivo gene transfer and achieved much promise in gene therapy applications. However, widespread clinical use has been limited by transduction efficiency.In the current study,we screened a panel of small molecule compound from traditional Chinese medicine focused on AAV intracellular trafficking process and found salvianolic acid B can significantly enhance rAAV2 transduction. RESULTS Salvianolic acid B caused a dose-depen-dent increase in rAAV2 transduction regardless of vector dose,genome architecture,and over a broad range of cell line from various cell type and species(HEK293,HeLa,HepG2,Huh-7,CHO-K1,LO-2). Salvianolic acid B treatment redirected rAAV2 particles toward large vesicles positive for late endosomal (Rab7)and lysosomal(LAMP1)markers.Furthermore,salvianolic acid B acted to increase accumulation of viral particles at the perinuclear region. CONCLUSION In summary, our results suggest that salvi-anolic acid B redirects rAAV2 toward more productive trafficking pathways and stabilizes perinuclear accumulations of vectors,facilitating productive nuclear trafficking.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the family hardiness Index among patients with cancer / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective@#To exmain reliability and validity of the Chinese version of Family Hardiness Index(FHI) among patients with cancer.@*Methods@#A convinent sample of 344 patients with cancer was investigated with a self-designed questionnaire about personal information, the Herth Hope Index (HHI) and the Chinese version of FHI. Item analysis was conducted on each item of the Chinese version of FHI; The construct validity of the scale were evaluated by explorotory factor analysis, the reliability of the scale was also evaluated by calculating the Cronbach α coefficient, the split-half reliability and the retest reliability.@*Results@#The Chinese version of FHI consisted of 20 items. Five factors were extracted by factor analysis which explained 57.900% of the total variance. The score of the Chinese version of FHI was significantly correlated to the total score of HHI (r=0.716, p<0.01) .The Cronbach α coefficient of the Chinese version of FHI was 0.806, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.790 and The split-half reliability was 0.793.@*Conclusion@#The Chinese version of FHI demonstrates good reliability and validity during initial testing among patients with cancer.

Association between sleep and leukocyte telomere length in middle-aged and older adults / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the association between peripheral leukocytes telomere length (TL) and sleep in middle-aged and old adults.Methods A total of 176 middle-aged and old adults were investigated by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and questionnaire.TL was measured by fluorescence quantitative PCR.The correlation and regression analysis between sleep and telomere length was performed.Results TL had a mean T/S ratio of 0.995 ± 0.23.There was a negative correlation between TL and age (r=-0.241,P=0.003).With increasing age,sleep quality became worse (r=-0.230,P＜0.01),the time to fall asleep became longer (r=0.227,P＜0.01),sleep duration was shorter (r=-0.486,P＜0.01),sleep efficiency became worse (r=-0.226,P＜0.01).After controlling for the effects of gender,age,marital status,income level,residence,smoking,drinking,physical exercise and disease status,multiple linear regression analysis indicated that sleep quality (β3=0.057,P＜0.01),time to fall asleep (β =-0.046,P＜0.01),sleep duration (β3=0.086,P＜0.01) were independent influencing factors of telomere length,suggesting that the people who had better sleep quality,the shorter time to fall asleep,the longer sleep time would have longer telomere length.Conclusions Sleep is a relevant factor affecting TL in middle-aged and elderly population.Good sleep may delay aging by slowing TL.We encourage to conduct health education about the importance of sleep quality in community.

Association between sleep and leukocyte telomere length in middle-aged and older adults / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the association between peripheral leukocytes telomere length (TL) and sleep in middle-aged and old adults.Methods A total of 176 middle-aged and old adults were investigated by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and questionnaire.TL was measured by fluorescence quantitative PCR.The correlation and regression analysis between sleep and telomere length was performed.Results TL had a mean T/S ratio of 0.995 ± 0.23.There was a negative correlation between TL and age (r=-0.241,P=0.003).With increasing age,sleep quality became worse (r=-0.230,P＜0.01),the time to fall asleep became longer (r=0.227,P＜0.01),sleep duration was shorter (r=-0.486,P＜0.01),sleep efficiency became worse (r=-0.226,P＜0.01).After controlling for the effects of gender,age,marital status,income level,residence,smoking,drinking,physical exercise and disease status,multiple linear regression analysis indicated that sleep quality (β3=0.057,P＜0.01),time to fall asleep (β =-0.046,P＜0.01),sleep duration (β3=0.086,P＜0.01) were independent influencing factors of telomere length,suggesting that the people who had better sleep quality,the shorter time to fall asleep,the longer sleep time would have longer telomere length.Conclusions Sleep is a relevant factor affecting TL in middle-aged and elderly population.Good sleep may delay aging by slowing TL.We encourage to conduct health education about the importance of sleep quality in community.

Redox potential driven aeration during very-high-gravity ethanol fermentation by using flocculating yeast.

Ethanol fermentation requires oxygen to maintain high biomass and cell viability, especially under very-high-gravity (VHG) condition. In this work, fermentation redox potential (ORP) was applied to drive the aeration process at low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, which is infeasible to be regulated by a DO sensor. The performance and characteristics of flocculating yeast grown under 300 and 260 g glucose/L conditions were subjected to various aeration strategies including: no aeration; controlled aeration at -150, -100 and -50 mV levels; and constant aeration at 0.05 and 0.2 vvm. The results showed that anaerobic fermentation produced the least ethanol and had the highest residual glucose after 72 h of fermentation. Controlled aerations, depending on the real-time oxygen demand, led to higher cell viability than the no-aeration counterpart. Constant aeration triggered a quick biomass formation, and fast glucose utilization. However, over aeration at 0.2 vvm caused a reduction of final ethanol concentration. The controlled aeration driven by ORP under VHG conditions resulted in the best fermentation performance. Moreover, the controlled aeration could enhance yeast flocculating activity, promote an increase of flocs size, and accelerate yeast separation near the end of fermentation.

CAD model design for three-dimensional printing of tissue-engineered tooth scaffold / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:There are less reports on how to successfuly build the internal spatial configuration of tissue-engineered tooth scaffolds. OBJECTIVE:To find a way to establish a series of three-dimensional digital modes for tissue-engineered tooth scaffold, such as CAD spatial configuration and Standard Template Library (STL) files. METHODS:In order to get three-dimensional printing format of STL files, MICRO CT data of DICOM format were input into MIMICS and GEOMAGIC softwares, creating the outline of STL files. Then CATIA V5R17 software was used to create the three-dimensional digital mode of tissue-engineered tooth. Then, the overal model of the internal scaffold was obtained by arraying at the proper coordinates. Various overal scaffold configurations could be built rapidly by varying monomer configuration. The STL files of CAD model of three-dimensional printing tissue-engineered tooth were obtained by assembling the tooth outline mode and the internal scaffold. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The CAD model was constructed successfuly, and this model could be directly used for three-dimensional printing rapid prototyping system to produce tissue-engineered tooth scaffolds. These findings indicate that the three-dimensional digital mode based on reverse engineering and positive engineering can be established, which can be used to quickly build a variety of internal spatial configurations of scaffold materials required for tissue-engineered teeth.

Vitrectomy combined with inferior scleral buckling for a special kind of retinal detachment / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To evaluate the efficiency of vitrectomy combined with inferior scleral buckling for a special kind of retinal detachment. METHODS: Nineteen eyes of special retinal detachment had following features: 1 ) the course was more than 6mo;2) there were at least one hole located in the 5 : 00 - 7 : 00 of the marginal retina; 3 ) the detachment range of retina more than 270 degrees and retinal proliferation in retinal detachment. The 19 eyes who received vitrectomy combined with inferior scleral buckling, retinal anatomic reattachment and visual function recovery was observed. RESULTS: Among these 19 eyes, all eyes retinal anatomic reattachment and best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA ) was improved in various degrees. The BCVA was 0. 01-0. 1 in 5 eyes, 0. 12-0. 3 in 9 eyes, and ≥0. 4 in 5 eyes. CONCLUSION: It is an effective method to vitrectomy combined with inferior scleral buckling for the special kind of retinal detachment which has following features:1) the course was more than 6mo;2) there were at least one hole located in the 5:00-7:00 of the marginal retina;3 ) the detachment range of retina more than 270 degrees and retinal proliferation of cable in retinal detachment.

Recombinant lentiviral vector transfected sheep bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and osteogenic gene expression changes / 中国组织工程研究

METHODS:Lentiviral vectors carrying bFGF and BMP-2 were constructed to transfect sheep bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. cells were divided into four groups:bFGF group, BMP-2 group, co-transfection group BACKGROUND:Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can promote the proliferation of bone marrow stromal cells, and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) has an important significance in the induction of new bone formation. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the effects of bFGF, BMP-2 and their co-transfection on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and to compare the relative expressions of col agen I, osteocalcin and osteopontin before and after celltransfection, thereby providing theoretical implications for seed cells in the construction of tissue-engineered bone. and control group. The RNA was extracted using real-time quantitative PCR to detect mRNA levels of col agen I, osteocalcin, and osteopontin. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Significant difference in non-specific osteogenic gene expressions was found among the four groups (P0.05). In vitro experiments showed that the relative expression of col agen I, osteocalcin and osteopontin were higher in the co-transfection group, indicating the cells from the co-transfection group have strongest osteogenic capacity that are suitable for seed cells for bone tissue engineering.