Comparative analysis of sensory features, microbial diversity, and their correlations in light-flavor Daqu from different regions.

This study performed a comparative analysis of the sensory and microbial profiles of light-flavor Bijou (LFD) from Taiyuan (Shanxi Province) and Suizhou (Hubei Province) in China. The results of the electronic nose showed that the aromatic substances of the LFD from Taiyuan (TLFD) were significantly higher (p < .05), while alcohol and aldehyde substances were significantly lower (p < .05) compared with the LFD from Suizhou (SLFD). The average response values of sensors W1C (sensitive to aromatic hydrocarbons), W3C (sensitive to amine and aromatic components), W5C (sensitive to olefins, aromatics, and polar molecules), and W2S (sensitive to alcohol and aldehyde compounds) to TLFD were 0.26, 0.33, 0.34, and 7.72, whereas the response values to SLFD were 0.25, 0.32, 0.33, and 8.04, respectively. The electronic tongue results showed that the aftertaste A (bitter aftertaste) and aftertaste B (astringent aftertaste) of the TLFD were significantly higher (p < .05) and umami was significantly lower (p < .05) as compared to the SLFD. The relative intensities of the aftertaste A, aftertaste B, and umami indicators of TLFD were 0.10, -0.008, and -0.22, respectively, while those of SLFD were -0.23, -0.36, and 0.835, respectively. MiSeq high-throughput sequencing results showed that TLFD exhibited lower fungal richness and diversity compared to SLFD. The dominant bacterial genera were mainly Bacillus (58.12%), Kroppenstedtia (10.11%), and Weissella (6.26%), and the dominant fungal genera were Saccharomycopsis (67.53%), Rasamsonia (9.90%), and Thermoascus (7.10%). Streptomyces and Staphylococcus were identified as the key characteristic microorganisms in TLFD, while Kroppenstedtia, Rasamsonia, and Thermoascus were the key characteristic microorganisms in SLFD. Correlation analysis indicated a stronger correlation between microorganisms and sensory characteristics in SLFD samples. This study provides valuable insights into the sensory and microbiological characteristics of LFD from different regions and offers a new perspective for understanding the production of differently flavored light-flavor Baijiu.

Modified versus three-level technique of retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for all patients with adrenal lesions ≤ 6cm: a retrospective, case-controlled study.

Objectives: The modified three-level technique for retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (RLA) has proven beneficial in the treatment of adrenal lesions in patients with BMI≥25 Kg/m2. This paper aims to summarize our institution's seven-year experience using this technique for all patients with Adrenal Lesions ≤ 6cm. Patients and methods: Between January 2016 and December 2022. The patients underwent laparoscopic adrenal surgery were categorized into Zhang's technique (ZT) (Three-level Technique) group and modified technique (MT) group. The fundamental characteristics and perioperative data were analyzed, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: In total, 731 patients were stratified into two groups: ZT (n=448) and MT (n=283). Statistically significant distinctions were not detected between the two groups regarding sex, BMI, tumor location, tumor size, tumor type, or American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (p>0.05). The MT group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the ZT group in terms of operative time, estimated blood loss, drainage volume, diet recovery time, complication rates, and postoperative hospitalization duration (p<0.05). 17 (4.34%) in the ZT group required unplanned adrenalectomy, while there was none in MT group (P<0.05). Conclusion: MT retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy has demonstrated its benefits in the treatment of adrenal lesions across all patients with adrenal lesions ≤ 6cm, serving as a valuable point of reference for the surgical management of adrenal diseases. Patient summary: We have made modifications to the classic retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy and achieved superior surgical outcomes, resulting in a procedure known as modified retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy. This technique is suitable for both obese individuals and the general population with adrenal lesions ≤ 6cm.

An effective insulin infusion protocol for severe traumatic brain injury patients: A retrospective observational study.

PURPOSE: Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) patients often experience stress hyperglycaemia, which can lead to negative outcomes. This study aims to introduce an effective insulin infusion protocol specifically designed for sTBI patients. METHODS: Data was collected from all sTBI patients during two periods: 1 October 2019 to 30 April 2020, and 1 June 2020 to 31 December 2020. In May 2020, a new insulin infusion protocol was implemented. Blood glucose management, infection, coagulation, and prognosis were compared in these two periods. RESULT: 195 patients were included, with 106 using the new protocol. The proportion of hyperglycaemia decreased from 40.04% to 26.91% (P<0.05), and the proportion of on-target blood glucose levels increased from 35.69% to 38.98% (P<0.05). Average blood glucose levels decreased from 9.98±2.79mmol/L to 8.96±2.82mmol/L (P<0.05). There was no substantial increase in hypoglycaemia, which remained controlled below 1%. The new protocol positively influenced glucose concentration and dispersion trends. There were no significant differences in catheter-related infections, antibiotic use, mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, length of stay in ICU, Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), or mortality. However, the conventional protocol group had a higher coagulation tendency (R-value of thromboelastography 4.80±1.35min vs. 5.52±1.87min, P<0.05), with no difference in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) incidence. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a customized insulin infusion process for sTBI patients can effectively manage blood glucose. While there is no significant improvement in infection control or prognosis, it may have a positive impact on coagulation without affecting the occurrence of DVT.

Predicting and assessing greenhouse gas emissions during the construction of monorail systems using artificial intelligence.

Based on partial data, this paper uses BP neural network optimised by particle swarm optimisation algorithm to predict the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the line in the construction phase. The GHG emission efficiency is analysed by SBM (Slacks-Based Measure) super efficiency method. Finally, the grey relational analysis (GRA) is applied to sort the GHG emission correlation factors. Based on the existing design and quota document data of 16 stations and 16 sections of the Wuhu Monorail Line 1, we have employed a neural network optimized by particle swarm optimization algorithm to predict the total emissions of greenhouse gases during the construction phase of the entire line consisting of 25 stations and 24 sections. The GHG emissions of all stations and sections are 29,300 tons and 21,000 tons. The technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency of the stations and sections were high. As for stations, the order of influence degree is metal material consumption (0.9731) > cost (0.9486) > electric energy consumption (0.9481) > station area (0.9109) > concrete and cement consumption (0.9032) > other material consumption (0.8831) > gasoline and diesel consumption (0.7258). For the section, the order of influence degree is cost (0.9766) > concrete (0.9581) > steel reinforcement (0.9483) > other steels (0.874) > section length (0.8337) > power energy consumption (0.7169) > wood consumption (0.6684).

Exploring jujube wine flavor and fermentation mechanisms by HS-SPME-GC-MS and UHPLC-MS metabolomics.

The fermentation metabolites significantly influence the quality of jujube wine. However, the dynamics of these metabolites during fermentation are not well understood. In this study, a total of 107 volatile and 1758 non-volatile compounds were identified using a flavor-directed research strategy and non-targeted metabolomics. The increase in esters and alcohols during fermentation shifted the aroma from grassy, mushroomy, and earthy to a floral and fruity flavor in the jujube wine. Leucine and phenylalanine were notably enriched during fermentation, potentially benefiting human health and enriching the flavor of fruit wines. Moreover, pathway analysis identified four key metabolic pathways and two crucial metabolic substrates, pyruvate and l-aspartate. This study provides a theoretical reference for optimizing the fermentation process and enhancing the quality of jujube wine.

Presence of lymph nodes and metastasis within prostatic anterior fat pad in radical prostatectomy patients: A single Chinese institution experience and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Limited data from China, aim to investigate the incidence and the risk fctors of lymph node metastases in the prostatic anterior fat pad (PAFP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) were enrolled between March 2020 to December 2022 at a single institution. Separate pathological analysis of PAFP was performed within this area. Univariate analysis and Multivariate analysis were performed to determine the risk factor of PAFP metastasis. RESULT: A total of 255 patients were included. The study revealed an average age of 67.72 ± 7.07 years, with a mean total tumor volume of 41.54 ± 23.79 mL, and an average Pre-op PSA of 16.85 ng/mL. Clinical T stage was divided into T2, T3, and T4 (226, 25, 4 cases, respectively), while the Clinical M stage was categorized as M0 and M1 (248 and 7 cases, respectively). Out of the patients with PAFP, 19 (7.45 %) had lymph node in PAFP, and 3 (1.18 %) patients had metastases. In the univariate and multivariate analysis, Clinical M stage and anterior primary tumor were found to be a significant high-risk factor. Among the other 15 studies, six examined the risk factors associated with it, including anterior tumors, higher tumour volume, intermediate or high risk prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: Due to the low proportion of lymph node involvement (7.45 %) and rare tumor metastasis (1.18 %), routine separate pathological analysis of PAFP is not recommended in all RP patients unless there are anterior tumors, higher tumor volume, or intermediate/high risk prostate cancer.

Exploring metabolic dynamics during the fermentation of sea buckthorn beverage: comparative analysis of volatile aroma compounds and non-volatile metabolites using GC-MS and UHPLC-MS.

Sea buckthorn has a high nutritional value, but its sour taste and foul odor make it unpalatable for consumers. In this study, we analyzed the metabolite changes occurring during the yeast-assisted fermentation of sea buckthorn juice using the HeadSpace Solid-Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) techniques. A total of 86 volatile aroma compounds were identified during the fermentation process. The content of total volatiles in sea buckthorn juice increased by 3469.16 µg/L after 18 h of fermentation, with 22 compounds showing elevated levels. Notably, the total content of esters with fruity, floral, and sweet aromas increased by 1957.09 µg/L. We identified 379 non-volatile metabolites and observed significant increases in the relative abundance of key active ingredients during fermentation: glycerophosphorylcholine (increased by 1.54), glutathione (increased by 1.49), L-glutamic acid (increased by 2.46), and vanillin (increased by 0.19). KEGG pathway analysis revealed that amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism were the primary metabolic pathways involved during fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fermentation has been shown to improve the flavor of sea buckthorn juice and increase the relative content of bioactive compounds. This study provides novel insights into the metabolic dynamics of sea buckthorn juice following yeast fermentation through metabolomics analysis. These findings could serve as a theoretical foundation for further studies on the factors influencing differences in yeast fermentation.

Comparative genomic analysis of the genus Weissella and taxonomic study of Weissella fangxianensis sp. nov., isolated from Chinese rice wine starter.

In this study, three lactic acid bacteria, namely, HBUAS51963T, HBUAS51964 and HBUAS51965, were isolated from Chinese rice wine starter sampled in Fangxian County, PR China. All were non-motile, non-spore-forming and Gram-positive spherical cells. Their taxonomic status was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Genome-based analysis revealed that all three strains were phylogenomically related to Weissella thailandensis KCTC 3751T and Weissella paramesenteroides ATCC 33313T. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between the three strains and the phylogenetically related type strains were less than 54.8 and 93.8 %, respectively, and thus, they were below the thresholds of dDDH and ANI for species definition. The genomic DNA G+C content was 38.6 mol %. The predominant fatty acid methyl esters (>10 %) were C16 : 0, C19 : 0 cyc11 and summed feature 10 (C18 : 1 cyc11 and/or ECL 17.834). The polar lipids in the cells of strain HBUAS51963T were mainly phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, unidentified glycolipids, phospholipids and lipids. Finally, the three strains were capable of producing d-lactic acid (4.29 g l-1) and various organic acids such as tartaric, acetic, lactic and succinic acids. Overall, the results of genotypic, phenotypic and genomic analyses suggest that the three strains represent a new species of the genus Weissella, for which the name Weissella fangxianis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HBUAS51963T (=GDMCC 1.3506T= JCM 35803T).

Application of the PDCA Cycle for Managing Hyperglycemia in Critically Ill Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Stress hyperglycemia is a common symptom in critically ill patients, and is not only a marker indicating the severity of illness but is also related to worsening outcomes. Managing stress hyperglycemia without increasing the likelihood of hypoglycemia is one of the most pressing challenges to be urgently addressed in clinics. The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle management has been put forward in various surgical management scenarios, and has proven to be effective in the diagnosis and treatment of different diseases. It possesses dynamic characteristics and can be updated according to the results of glycemic control and feedback. This study focused on the use of PDCA to manage glucose levels in critically ill patients. METHODS: Based on the glucose level of 1003 critically ill patients admitted to the emergency intensive care unit (EICU) from 1 October 2019 to 31 December 2020, we collected and matched the prevalence of hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and glucose variability on a quarterly basis. According to the PDCA management method, we analyzed the possible causes, supervised the implementation of measures, summarized the feedback on improvements, and then proposed new improvement measures for implementation in the next quarter. RESULTS: Three measures were proposed and applied to enhance the management of hyperglycemia: (I) Updating and formulating three editions of the insulin infusion protocol and increasing the initial and maintenance doses of insulin on a case-by-case basis; (II) reducing the use of parenteral nutrition and ensuring that enteral nutrition is consumed at a uniform and slow rate; and (III) forming a training method during the COVID-19 pandemic and improving implementation of the insulin infusion protocol. Following PDCA management, the prevalence of hyperglycemia fell from 43.18% to 32.61%, the incidence of hypoglycemia was below 1.00%, and there was no significant fluctuation in blood glucose variability. CONCLUSION: The PDCA method is helpful in developing a superior insulin infusion protocol for critically ill patients and lowering the prevalence of hyperglycemia in critically ill patients.

The effect of creative expression program in neurocognitive networks performance measured by task and resting-state functional MRI.

BACKGROUND: The current study examined the effects of a 16-week creative expression program on brain activity during a story creating task and resting-state functional network connectivity in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) adults. METHOD: Thirty-six MCI adults were allocated to either the creative expression program (CrExp, n = 18) or control group (CG,n = 18). Before and after intervention, all participants were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during story creating task performance and a resting state. The two-group comparison was calculated between the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes for each cluster to investigate the differences in fMRI activation and functional connectivity (FC) between two groups. RESULTS: Task activation analyses showed an increase in the right anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG), right medial frontal gyrus (MFG), right lentiform nucleus (LN), left hippocampus (HIP), left middle occipital gyrus (MOG), and left cerebellum posterior lobe (CPL) (p < 0.05). Story creating performance improvements were associated with greater activation in the left HIP region. Resting-state functional connectivity (FC) between left HIP and certain other brain areas shown a significant interaction of creative expression group versus control group. Moreover, connectivity between the right angular gyrus (ANG), right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG), right superior occipital gyrus (SOG), left ANG, and left MFG were related to improved cognitive performance (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data extend current knowledge by indicating that the creative expression program can improve cognitive activation in MCI, and these enhancements may be related to the neurocognitive network plasticity changes induced by creative expression training.

Application of the PDCA Cycle for Managing Hyperglycemia in Critically Ill Patients.

Introduction: Stress hyperglycemia is a common symptom in critically ill patients, and is not only a marker indicating the severity of illness but is also related to worsening outcomes. Managing stress hyperglycemia without increasing the likelihood of hypoglycemia is one of the most pressing challenges to be urgently addressed in clinics. The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle management has been put forward in various surgical management scenarios, and has proven to be effective in the diagnosis and treatment of different diseases. It possesses dynamic characteristics and can be updated according to the results of glycemic control and feedback. This study focused on the use of PDCA to manage glucose levels in critically ill patients. Methods: Based on the glucose level of 1003 critically ill patients admitted to the emergency intensive care unit (EICU) from 1 October 2019 to 31 December 2020, we collected and matched the prevalence of hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and glucose variability on a quarterly basis. According to the PDCA management method, we analyzed the possible causes, supervised the implementation of measures, summarized the feedback on improvements, and then proposed new improvement measures for implementation in the next quarter. Results: Three measures were proposed and applied to enhance the management of hyperglycemia: (I) Updating and formulating three editions of the insulin infusion protocol and increasing the initial and maintenance doses of insulin on a case-by-case basis; (II) reducing the use of parenteral nutrition and ensuring that enteral nutrition is consumed at a uniform and slow rate; and (III) forming a training method during the COVID-19 pandemic and improving implementation of the insulin infusion protocol. Following PDCA management, the prevalence of hyperglycemia fell from 43.18% to 32.61%, the incidence of hypoglycemia was below 1.00%, and there was no significant fluctuation in blood glucose variability. Conclusion: The PDCA method is helpful in developing a superior insulin infusion protocol for critically ill patients and lowering the prevalence of hyperglycemia in critically ill patients.

Evaluating the effect of lactic acid bacteria fermentation on quality, aroma, and metabolites of chickpea milk.

Legumes are an attractive choice for developing new products since their health benefits. Fermentation can effectively improve the quality of soymilk. This study evaluated the impact of Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation on the physicochemical parameters, vitamins, organic acids, aroma substances, and metabolites of chickpea milk. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation improved the color, antioxidant properties, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, lactic acid content, and vitamin B6 content of raw juice. In total, 77 aroma substances were identified in chickpea milk by headspace solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS); 43 of the 77 aroma substances increased after the LAB fermentation with a significant decrease in beany flavor content (p < 0.05), improving the flavor of the soymilk product. Also, a total of 218 metabolites were determined in chickpea milk using non-targeted metabolomics techniques, including 51 differentially metabolites (28 up-regulated and 23 down-regulated; p < 0.05). These metabolites participated in multiple metabolic pathways during the LAB fermentation, ultimately improving the functional and antioxidant properties of fermented soymilk. Overall, LAB fermentation can improve the flavor, nutritional, and functional value of chickpea milk accelerating its consumer acceptance and development as an animal milk alternative.

Tail artifacts removal of three-dimensional optical coherence tomography angiography with common parts extraction method.

In optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), each blood vessel has a tail artifact. These tails of superficial vessels will shadow underlying the deep vascular images and make it difficult to reconstruct the three-dimensional (3D) image of the vessels. As 3D structure can provide much more information than two-dimensional (2D) images, it is important to develop a method to remove the artifacts. In this letter, we introduce an image processing technique based on common parts extraction to remove the artifacts. With the help of subtraction operation and erode operation, our method can reconstruct the 3D image of vascular network by extracting the common parts of adjacent B-Scan OCTA images. Vessels of palm are used as samples to experimentally demonstrate our technique. In the 3D image, we can see the interesting phenomenon that the ends of the blood vessels which close to the surface of the skin point toward the surface.

Depth-depended quality comparison of light-flavor fermented grains from two fermentation rounds.

To improve the utilization of raw materials, the fermentation of light-flavor Baijiu (LFB) will usually take two rounds of fermentation to the same batch of raw materials. The microorganisms involved in the fermented grains (FG) from these two fermentation rounds are the key to the quality formation of light-flavor style. Using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing and electronic-senses, it was found that the microbiota and flavor of FG for light-flavor Baijiu were mainly affected by fermentation rounds rather than depths, while the physicochemical factors were just the opposite. Starch was the most influential physiochemical factor on the microbiota. FG from the first fermentation round (FFRFG) had a higher fungal diversity, while FG from the second fermentation round (SFRFG) had a higher microbial richness and bacterial diversity. Monascus and the function of metabolism were significantly enriched in FFRFG; while Nocardia, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus and the functions of information storage and processing as well as cellular processes and signaling were significantly enriched in SFRFG. The flavor characteristics of FFRFG were mainly sourness as well as rich in sulfur organic compounds and broad range compounds, while that of SFRFG was mainly saltiness, umami, and bitterness, as well as rich in aromatic compounds. The findings could contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the role of FG in LFB fermentation from the perspective of rounds and depths.

Analysis of bacterial diversity and genetic evolution of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei isolates in fermentation pit mud.

AIMS: Since little is known about the genetic diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates from the fermentation pit mud (FPM), we sought to evaluate the bacterial structure, identify the LAB isolates and investigate the genotype and genetic diversity of the LAB isolates. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using high-throughput MiSeq sequencing, we identified seven dominant bacterial genera in FPM. Lactobacillus had the highest abundance. We isolated 55 LAB strains. These isolates were all identified as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. Using an extant multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme, isolates were assigned to 18 sequence types (STs) and three clonal complexes. ST1, the largest group, mainly comprised FPM isolates. Niche-specific ST2 to ST18 only contained FPM isolates. Isolates could be divided into four lineages, with most assigned to Lineage 1. Only one FPM isolate was classified as L. paracasei subsp. paracasei. Other isolates could not be classified at the subspecies level using the seven MLST loci. CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacilli account for a high proportion of bacteria in pit mud. Based on the traditional culture method, L. paracasei was the dominant species, and these isolates exhibit a high ethanol tolerance, high intraspecific diversity and specific genetic profiles. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study described the characterization of FPM bacterial diversity, giving an insight into the genetic diversity of L. paracasei strains present in FPM.

Metagenomic and physicochemical analyses reveal microbial community and functional differences between three types of low-temperature Daqu.

Complex microbes of different types of low-temperature Daqu (LTD) play an important role in the formation of flavors and qualities of light-flavor Baijiu during fermentation. However, characterizing the taxonomic and functional diversity of microbiota in three types of LTD (Houhuo, Hongxin, Qingcha) remains a major challenge. The present study combined metagenomic sequencing with culture-based methods and physicochemical analysis to compare the three LTD microbiota and elucidate their function in LFB brewing. The results revealed a high diversity of microbes in LTD, with 1286 genera and 4157 species detected across all studied samples. Bacteria and fungi were the main microbes in LTD, with a bacterial to fungal relative abundance ratio of above 4:1. Bacillus (21.18%) and Bacillus licheniformis (17.45%) were the most abundant microbes in the LTD microbiota at the genus and species levels, respectively. Culture-dependent analysis found the highest abundances of bacteria, fungi, and lactic acid bacteria in Houhuo, while the metagenomic-based microbiota found that the relative abundance of bacteria and fungi were highest in Houhuo and Hongxin among the three types of LTD, respectively. The different production temperatures of LTD had little effect on its microbial variety, but obviously impacted the microbiota structure and metagenomic function of LTD. Although the microbiota of the three types of LTD shared a high commonality, each had specific microbiota and functional metagenomic features, suggesting their different but complementary roles in the LFB fermentation process. The representative dominant microbes in Houhuo were mostly involved in metabolic pathways associated with the production of flavor substances in liquor. In contrast, the enriched microbes in Qingcha and Hongxin were not only capable of producing specific flavor substances but also had a strong ability to degrade macromolecular substances in raw materials, promoting microbial growth. This study has greatly enriched our knowledge of the effect of LTD fermentation temperature on its quality, providing practical and interesting information for future improvement of LTD and light-flavor Baijiu products.

Insights into the Aroma Profile of Sauce-Flavor Baijiu by GC-IMS Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis.

Aroma is among the principal quality indicators for evaluating Baijiu. The aroma profiles of sauce-flavor Baijiu produced by 10 different manufacturers were determined by GC-IMS. The results showed that GC-IMS could effectively separate the volatile compounds in Baijiu, and a total of 80 consensus volatile compounds were rapidly detected from all samples, among which 29 volatile compounds were identified, including 5 alcohols, 14 esters, 2 acids, 2 ketones, 5 aldehydes, and 1 furan. According to the differences in aroma profile found by multivariate statistical analysis, these sauce-flavor Baijiu produced by 10 different manufacturers can be further divided into three types. The relative odor activity value of the identified volatile compounds indicated that seven volatile compounds contributed most to the aroma of sauce-flavor Baijiu in order of aroma contribution rate, and they were ethyl hexanoate, ethyl pentanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl octanoate (also known as octanoic acid ethyl ester), ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, ethyl butanoate, and ethyl isobutyrate. Correspondingly, the main aromas of these sauce-flavor Baijiu produced by 10 different manufacturers were sweet, fruity, alcoholic, etheral, cognac, rummy, and winey. On the one hand, this study proved that GC-IMS is well adapted to the detection of characteristic volatile aroma compounds and trace compounds in Baijiu, which is of positive significance for improving the aroma fingerprint and database of sauce-flavor Baijiu. On the other hand, it also enriched our knowledge of Baijiu and provided references for the evaluation and regulation of the flavor quality of sauce-flavor Baijiu.

Effects of a staged integral art-based cognitive intervention (SIACI) program in older adults with cognitive impairments: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Given the aging population worldwide and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been found to be associated with a deterioration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptoms, investigating methods to prevent or delay cognitive decline in preclinical AD and AD itself is important. The trial described in this protocol aims to evaluate the effects of a staged integral art-based cognitive intervention (SIACI) in older adults with CIs (preclinical AD [SCD or MCI] and mild AD), in order to gather evidence on the effects of SIACI on cognition and psychological/psychosocial health gains and determine the mechanisms. METHODS: The planned study is a single-center, parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment and outcome assessor blinding. A total of 88 participants will be randomized to two groups: (i) an intervention group that receives the 16-week, 24-session SIACI program and (ii) a waitlist control group (which will receive the SIACI program after completing the follow-up assessment). Global cognitive function, specific domains of cognition (memory, language, executive function, and visuospatial skills), and other health-related outcomes (quality of life, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and physical activity level) will be measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at the 6-month follow-up. Blood biomarkers, event-related potential (ERP)-P300, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data will be collected at baseline and immediately after the intervention to explore the mechanisms of SIACI. DISCUSSION: The trial will elucidate the immediate and long-term effects of SIACI based on neuropsychological testing and blood biomarkers, and neuroscience involving ERP-P300 and MRI parameters will make it possible to explore the mechanisms of SIACI in older adults with CIs. The results will provide evidence on the effectiveness of an AT-based cognitive intervention, which may delay or even halt cognitive decline in preclinical AD and AD itself. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR, ChiCTR2100044959 . Registered 03 April 2021.

CD71+ Erythroid Cell Expansion in Adult Sepsis: Potential Causes and Role in Prognosis and Nosocomial Infection Prediction.

BACKGROUND: Immune suppression contributes to nosocomial infections (NIs) and poor prognosis in sepsis. Recent studies revealed that CD71+ erythroid cells had unappreciated immunosuppressive functions. This study aimed to investigate the values of CD71+ erythroid cells (CECs) in predicting NIs and prognosis among adult septic patients. The potential factors associated with the expansion of CECs were also explored. METHODS: In total, 112 septic patients and 32 critically ill controls were enrolled. The frequencies of CD71+ cells, CD71+CD235a+ cells, and CD45+ CECs were measured by flow cytometry. The associations between CECs and NIs and 30-day mortality were assessed by ROC curve analysis and Cox and competing-risk regression models. Factors associated with the frequency of CECs were identified by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The percentage of CD71+ cells, CECs, and CD45+ CECs were higher in septic patients than critically ill controls. In septic patients, the percentages of CD71+ cells, CECs, and CD45+ CECs were associated with NI development, while CD71+ cells and CECs were independently associated with 30-day mortality. Linear regression analysis showed that the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon (IFN)-γ were positively associated with the frequencies of CD71+ cells, CECs, and CD45+ CECs, while IL-10 was negatively associated with them. Additionally, the levels of red blood cells (RBCs) were negatively associated with the percentage of CD45+ CECs. CONCLUSIONS: CECs were expanded in sepsis and can serve as independent predictors of the development of NI and 30-day mortality. Low levels of RBCs and high levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ may contribute to the expansion of CECs in sepsis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900024887. Registered 2 August 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=38645.