Seasonality of influenza-like illness and short-term forecasting model in Chongqing from 2010 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: Influenza-like illness (ILI) imposes a significant burden on patients, employers and society. However, there is no analysis and prediction at the hospital level in Chongqing. We aimed to characterize the seasonality of ILI, examine age heterogeneity in visits, and predict ILI peaks and assess whether they affect hospital operations. METHODS: The multiplicative decomposition model was employed to decompose the trend and seasonality of ILI, and the Seasonal Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average with exogenous factors (SARIMAX) model was used for the trend and short-term prediction of ILI. We used Grid Search and Akaike information criterion (AIC) to calibrate and verify the optimal hyperparameters, and verified the residuals of the multiplicative decomposition and SARIMAX model, which are both white noise. RESULTS: During the 12-year study period, ILI showed a continuous upward trend, peaking in winter (Dec. - Jan.) and a small spike in May-June in the 2-4-year-old high-risk group for severe disease. The mean length of stay (LOS) in ILI peaked around summer (about Aug.), and the LOS in the 0-1 and ≥ 65 years old severely high-risk group was more irregular than the others. We found some anomalies in the predictive analysis of the test set, which were basically consistent with the dynamic zero-COVID policy at the time. CONCLUSION: The ILI patient visits showed a clear cyclical and seasonal pattern. ILI prevention and control activities can be conducted seasonally on an annual basis, and age heterogeneity should be considered in the health resource planning. Targeted immunization policies are essential to mitigate potential pandemic threats. The SARIMAX model has good short-term forecasting ability and accuracy. It can help explore the epidemiological characteristics of ILI and provide an early warning and decision-making basis for the allocation of medical resources related to ILI visits.

Anticancer potential of grifolin in lung cancer treatment through PI3K/AKT pathway inhibition.

Objective: Grifolin is a natural secondary metabolite isolated from edible fruiting bodies of the mushroom Albatrellus confluens. Grifolin has antitumor activities in several types of cancer. We aimed to determine the effects of grifolin on lung cancer. Methods: We determined the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of lung cancer cells using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Ethynyl deoxyuridine, colony formation, wound scratch, transwell, flow cytometry, and xenograft mouse assays. Molecular docking evaluated the binding relation between grifolin and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA). The levels of PIK3CA, AKT, and p-AKT were measured by western blot. Results: Grifolin (10, 20, or 40 µM) inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Grifolin also decreased CDK4, CDK6, and CyclinD1 expression and significantly decreased PIK3CA and p-AKT expression in lung cancer cells. These anticancer effects were abolished by 740Y-P. Conclusions: Grifolin regulates the PI3K/AKT pathway, thus inhibiting lung cancer progression.

A comparative study of the predictive value of four models for death in patients with severe burns.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic value of the Ryan score, Belgian Outcome of Burn Injury (BOBI) score,revised Baux (rBaux) score, and a new model (a Logit(P)-based scoring method created in 2020) for predicting mortality risk in patients with extremely severe burns and to conduct a comparative analysis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 599 burn patients who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the burn unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from 2017 to 2022. Relevant information was collected, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were plotted for each of the four models in assessing mortality in these burn patients using both age-stratified and unstratified forms. The ROC curve section was further compared with the area under the curve (AUC), optimal cutoff value, as well as its sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, the quality of the AUC was assessed using the Delong test. RESULT: Among the patients who met the inclusion criteria, 532 were in the survival group and 67 in the death group. Irrespective of age stratification, the novel model exhibited superior performance with an AUC of 0.868 (95% CI: 0.838-0.894) among all four models predicting mortality risk in included patients, and also demonstrated better AUC quality than other models; the calibration curves showed that the accuracy of all four models was good; the DCA curves showed that the clinical utility of the novel model and rBuax score were better. In the comparison of four scoring models across different age groups, the new model demonstrated the largest AUC in both 0-19 years (0.954, 95% CI 0.914-0.979) and 20-59 years groups (0.838, 95% CI 0.793-0.877), while rBuax score exhibited the highest AUC in ≥ 60 years group (0.708, 95% CI of 0.602-0.800). The calibration curves showed that the four models exhibited greater accuracy within the age range of 20-59 years, while the DCA curves indicated that both the novel model and rBuax score scale displayed better prediction in both the 20-59 and ≥ 60 years groups. CONCLUSIONS: All four models demonstrate accurate and effective prognostication for patients with severe burns. Both the novel model and rBaux score exhibit enhanced prediction utility. In terms of the model itself alone, the new model is not simpler than, for example, the rBaux score, and whether it can be applied clinicallyinvolves further study.

Association between cultural capital and health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic among community residents in China: the mediating effect of social capital.

Background: Health literacy is crucial for managing pandemics such as COVID-19 and maintaining the health of the population; our goal was to investigate the impact of cultural capital on health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic among community residents and to further examine the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between cultural capital and health literacy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,600 community residents selected in Chongqing, China using a stratified random sampling method. Data were gathered through a questionnaire survey, including sociodemographic characteristics, cultural capital, social capital, and health literacy. Chi-square analysis, one-way ANOVA, t-test, and hierarchical linear regression were used to analyze the level of health literacy among community residents and the related elements; the structural equation model (SEM) was used to explore the influential mechanisms of health literacy and explore whether social capital acted as a mediator in the relationship between cultural capital and health literacy. Results: Cultural capital, community participation, community trust, reciprocity, and cognitive social capital had a significant positive effect on health literacy. In addition, the results of SEM indicated that cultural capital not only directly influences health literacy (ß = 0.383, 95% CI = 0.265-0.648), but also indirectly influences health literacy through three types of social capital (ß = 0.175, 95% CI = 0.117-0.465; ß = 0.191, 95% CI = 0.111-0.406; ß = 0.028, 95% CI = 0.031-0.174); its mediating effect accounting for 50.7% of the overall effect. Conclusions: Our results highlight the empirical link between cultural capital and health literacy, and suggest that social capital mediates this connection. These findings suggest that governments and communities should focus on the construction of community cultural capital and provide residents with better social capital to improve their health literacy to prepare for future pandemics.

Effect of opioid-free anesthesia on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

BACKGROUND: Research on opioid-free anesthesia has increased in recent years; however, it has never been determined whether it is more beneficial than opioid anesthesia. This meta-analysis was primarily used to assess the effect of opioid-free anesthesia compared with opioid anesthesia on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. METHODS: We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase from 2014 to 2022 to identify relevant articles and extract relevant data. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, time to extubation, pain score at 24 hours postoperatively, and time to first postoperative rescue analgesia were compared between patients receiving opioid-free anesthesia and those receiving standard opioid anesthesia. Differences in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were evaluated using risk ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]). The significance of the differences was assessed using mean differences and 95% CI. The heterogeneity of the subject trials was evaluated using the I2 test. Statistical analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: Fourteen randomized controlled trials, including 1354 participants, were evaluated in the meta-analysis. As seen in the forest plot, the OFA group had a lower risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting than the control group (risk ratios = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.33-0.51, P < .00001; n = 1354), and the meta-analysis also found that the OFA group had lower postoperative analgesia scores at 24 hours (P < .000001), but time to extubation (P = .14) and first postoperative resuscitation analgesia time (P < .54) were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid-free anesthesia reduces the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting while providing adequate analgesia without interfering with postoperative awakening.

A green and efficient two-step enzymatic esterification-hydrolysis method for enrichment of c9,t11-CLA isomer based on a three-liquid-phase system.

A novel two-step enzymatic esterification-hydrolysis method that generates high-purity conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers was developed. CLA was first partially purified by enzymatic esterification and then further purified by efficient, selective enzymatic hydrolysis in a three-liquid-phase system (TLPS). Compared with traditional two-step selective enzymatic esterification, this novel method produced highly pure cis-9, trans-11 (c9,t11)-CLA (96%) with high conversion (approx. 36%) and avoided complicated rehydrolysis and reesterification steps. The catalytic efficiency and selectivity of CLA ester enzymatic hydrolysis was greatly improved with TLPSs, as high-speed stirring provided a larger interface area for the reaction and product inhibition was effectively reduced by extraction of the product into other phases. Furthermore, the enzyme-enriched phase (liquid immobilization support) was effectively and economically reused more than 8 times because it contained more than 90% of the concentrated enzyme. Therefore, this novel enzymatic esterification-hydrolysis method can be considered ideal to produce high-purity fatty acid monomers.

Nociception monitors vs. standard practice for titration of opioid administration in general anesthesia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Nociception monitors are being increasingly used during surgery, but their effectiveness in guiding intraoperative opioid administration is still uncertain. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to compare the effectiveness of nociception monitors vs. standard practice for opioid administration titration during general anesthesia. Methods: We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Clinical Trial, and Web of Science from inception up to August 1, 2021, to identify relevant articles, and extracted the relevant data. Intraoperative opioid administration, extubation time, postoperative pain score, postoperative opioid consumption and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were compared between patients receiving nociception monitoring guidance and patients receiving standard management. The standardized mean difference (SMD), with 95% confidence interval (CI), was used to assess the significance of differences. The risk ratio (RR), with 95% CI, was used to assess the difference in incidence of PONV. Heterogeneity among the included trials was evaluated by the I 2 test. RevMan 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 21 RCTs (with 1957 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. Intraoperative opioid administration was significantly lower in patients receiving nociception monitor-guided analgesia than in patients receiving standard management (SMD, -0.71; 95% CI, -1.07 to -0.36; P < 0.001). However, pain scores and postoperative opioid consumption were not significantly higher in the former group. Considerable heterogeneity was found among the studies (92%). Extubation time was significantly shorter (SMD, -0.22; 95% CI, -0.41 to -0.03; P = 0.02) and the incidence of PONV significantly lower (RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.61 to 1.00; P = 0.05) in patients receiving nociception monitoring guidance. Conclusions: Intraoperative nociception monitoring guidance may reduce intraoperative opioid administration and appears to be a viable strategy for intraoperative titration of opioids. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=273619, identifier: CRD42019129776.

Preparation of single-crystal ternary cathode materials via recycling spent cathodes for high performance lithium-ion batteries.

With the rapid consumption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the recycling of spent LIBs is becoming imperative. However, the development of effective and environmentally friendly methods towards the recycling of spent LIBs, especially waste electrode materials, still remains a great challenge. Herein, on the basis of a Li-based molten salt, we have developed a facile and effective strategy to recycle spent polycrystalline ternary cathode materials into single-crystal cathodes. The regenerated plate-like single-crystal LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 material with exposed {010} planes achieves an excellent rate performance and outstanding cycling stability. In particular, a high capacity of 155.1 mA h g-1 and a superior capacity retention of 94.3% can be achieved by the recycled cathode material even after 240 cycles at 1 C. Meanwhile the single-crystal structure can be well reserved without any cracks or pulverization being observed. Moreover, this recycling method can be expanded to recycle other waste Ni-Co-Mn ternary cathode materials (NCM) or their mixtures for producing high-performance single-crystal cathode materials, demonstrating its versatility and flexibility in practical applications. Therefore, the strategy of converting spent NCM cathodes into single-crystal ones with satisfactory electrochemical performance may open up a cost-effective pathway for resolving the issues caused by the large amounts of spent LIBs, thus facilitating the sustainable development of LIBs.

miR-124-3p Ameliorates Isoflurane-Induced Learning and Memory Impairment via Targeting STAT3 and Inhibiting Neuroinflammation.

INTRODUCTION: Substantial evidence has indicated that isoflurane leads to learning and memory impairment. This study was designed to investigate the potential role of microRNA-124-3p (miR-124-3p) in isoflurane-induced learning and memory impairment in rats. METHODS: Spatial learning and memory of rats were estimated by the Morris water maze (MWM) test after the construction of isoflurane-treated models. qRT-PCR was performed to assess the expression levels of miR-124-3p. The levels of interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the hippocampal tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The luciferase activity was determined by using a dual-luciferase reporter assay system. RESULTS: The higher escape latency and lower time spent in the original quadrant were shown in isoflurane-treated rats compared with the control rats. Moreover, treatment with isoflurane could induce neuroinflammation, and miR-124-3p was poorly expressed in the hippocampal tissue of isoflurane-treated rats. Furthermore, STAT3 is a functional target of miR-124-3p, and inflammatory cytokine level was downregulated by miR-124-3p. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Combining the results of the current study demonstrates that miR-124-3p may have pivotal roles in improving isoflurane-induced learning and memory impairment via targeting STAT3 and inhibiting neuroinflammation.

A Highly Efficient Three-Liquid-Phase-Based Enzymatic One-Pot Multistep Reaction System with Recoverable Enzymes for the Synthesis of Biodiesel.

A three-liquid-phase system (TLPS) was developed and used as a novel enzymatic one-pot multistep reaction (EOMR) system. In this system, lipase and phospholipase were enriched in a single liquid phase with a high recovery (ca. 98%) and then used for the simultaneous catalysis of mutually inhibiting and interfering reactions (hydrolysis of phospholipids and glyceride in crude oil). A novel emulsion containing the two dispersed droplets (W2/O/W2 and W1/W2 emulsion structures) could be the key reason for this phenomenon because the emulsion system not only provided a new catalytic interface but also relieved the product inhibition. As a result, the content of free fatty acid (main hydrolysate of the glyceride) and the removal of phospholipid from the crude oil could be increased to 96 and 95%, respectively, within 1 h. The product obtained from the EOMR was directly used in the production of biodiesel via enzymatic esterification, and the content of fatty acid methanol ester could be increased to 93% within 2 h. Furthermore, the enzymes in the middle phase could also be reused, at least for eight rounds without significant loss in catalytic efficiency. Therefore, the TLPS could be considered as an ideal catalytic platform for the EOMR.

Antinociceptive effects of oleuropein in experimental models of neuropathic pain in male rats.

BACKGROUND: The present investigation explored the therapeutic actions of oleuropein along with the possible signaling pathway involved in attenuating neuropathic pain in chronic constriction injury (CCI) and vincristine-induced neuropathic pain in male rats. METHODS: Four loose ligatures were placed around the sciatic nerve to induce CCI, and vincristine (50 µg/kg) was injected for 10 days to develop neuropathic pain. The development of cold allodynia, mechanical allodynia, and mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed using different pain-related behavioral tests. The levels of H2S, cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), cystathionine-ß-synthase (CBS), orexin, and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were measured in the sciatic nerve. RESULTS: Treatment with oleuropein for 14 days led to significant amelioration of behavioral manifestations of neuropathic pain in two pain models. Moreover, oleuropein restored both CCI and vincristine-induced decreases in H2S, CSE, CBS, orexin, and Nrf2 levels. Co-administration of suvorexant, an orexin receptor antagonist, significantly counteracted the pain-attenuating actions of oleuropein and Nrf2 levels without modulating H2S, CSE and CBS. CONCLUSIONS: Oleuropein has therapeutic potential to attenuate the pain manifestations in CCI and vincristine-induced neuropathic pain, possibly by restoring the CSE, CBS, and H2S, which may subsequently increase the expression of orexin and Nrf2 to ameliorate behavioral manifestations of pain.

Propofol Reduces Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Invasion and Migration of Gastric Cancer Cells through the MicroRNA-195-5p/Snail Axis.

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer (GC) is a life-threating malignancy worldwide. Accumulating studies suggest propofol has anti-tumor functions in addition to the anesthetic effect. This study aimed to figure out the effects of propofol treatment in GC development. MATERIAL AND METHODS Human GC SGC-7901 and NCI-N87 cells were treated with different doses of propofol. Then the invasion and migration of GC cells was measured. SGC-7901 cells following 10 µM propofol treatment were applied in the following experiments. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) with differential expression in cells with or without propofol treatment were analyzed. Expression of miR-195-5p, Snail, vimentin and E-cadherin in SGC-7901 cells was measured, and then loss-of-function of miR-195-5p and gain-of-function of Snail were performed. Target relation between miR-195-5p and Snail was confirmed using luciferase assay. Xenograft tumor was induced in nude mice to identify the effect of propofol on GC in vivo. RESULTS Propofol reduced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and migration of GC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Propofol elevated miR-195-5p expression but reduced Snail expression, and it reduced vimentin but increased E-cadherin expression in SGC-7901 cells. miR-195-5p directly bound to Snail. miR-195-5p inhibition or Snail promotion reversed propofol-inhibited malignant behaviors of SGC-7901 cells. In vitro results were reproduced in in vivo experiments. CONCLUSIONS Our study found that propofol could inhibit EMT, invasion, and migration of GC cells by promoting miR-195-5p expression and suppressing Snail expression. This study may provide novel insights in GC treatment.

Genipin protects rats against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by reinforcing autophagy.

Although the protective effects of genipin against acute lung injury (ALI) have been described previously, the associated mechanism remains unclear. We have previously reported that genipin exerts its pharmacological effects by regulating autophagy. Here, we hypothesized that the up-regulation of autophagy may contribute to the protective effects exhibited by genipin against ALI. In the present study, ALI was induced by intratracheal LPS administration in rats. Genipin treatment significantly reduced LPS-induced lung injury as evidenced by improved histopathology, decreased lung edema, total cells, and protein concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). This protection was inhibited by 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an inhibitor of autophagy. Genipin treatment reduced the expression of P62 and increased the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3II, indicating increased autophagy. Genipin treatment also alleviated LPS-induced cell apoptosis (down-regulation of Bax, up-regulation of Bcl-2, and decreased number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end label-positive cells) and oxidative stress (increased SOD and decreased MDA content) in the lung. Furthermore, genipin attenuated LPS-induced production of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in the lung and BALF. These protective effects induced by genipin were reversed by 3-MA treatment, indicating that autophagy was involved in the protective effects exerted by genipin against inflammation and apoptosis in ALI. In A549 cells incubated with LPS for 6 h, genipin treatment increased the number of GFP-LC3 punctae. 3-MA prevented the protective effects of genipin against mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. These findings suggest that genipin protects against apoptosis and inflammation in LPS-induced ALI by promoting autophagy.

Highly Efficient and Enzyme-Recoverable Method for Enzymatic Concentrating Omega-3 Fatty Acids Generated by Hydrolysis of Fish Oil in a Substrate-Constituted Three-Liquid-Phase System.

A novel three-liquid-phase system which contained fish oil as the nonpolar phase was developed for the lipase-based hydrolysis of fish oil and subsequent enrichment of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in the glyceride fraction of the fish oil. In comparison with the traditional oil/water system, the enrichment factor of n-3 PUFA in this system was increased by 363.4% as a result of a higher dispersity, higher selectivity of the lipase for the other fatty acids except for n-3PUFA, and relief of product inhibition. The content of n-3 PUFA in the glyceride fraction could be concentrated to 67.97% by repeated hydrolysis after removing the free fatty acids. Furthermore, the lipase could be reused for at least eight rounds. This method would be an ideal approach for enriching n-3 PUFA because it is cost-effective, low in toxicity, and easily scaled up.

The Application and Analytical Pathway of Dexmedetomidine in Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

Ischemia/reperfusion cerebral injury can cause serious damage to nerve cells. The injured organelles are cleared by autophagy eventually, which is critical for cell survival. Dexmedetomidine is neuroprotective in various ischemia/reperfusion models. Mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is the most important channel of mitochondrial Ca2+ influx into mitochondria, where Ca2+ has a potential effect on mitochondrial autophagy. However, the role of MCU in the changes of mitophagy and autophagy caused by dexmedetomidine is unknown. In this study, we constructed an in vitro I/R model by subjecting the oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion model to SH-SY5Y cells to mimic the cerebral I/R injury. We found that postconditioning with dexmedetomidine and 3-methyladenine (3MA, an autophagy inhibitor) increased the cell survival meanwhile reduced the production of autophagic vesicles and the expression of LC3 and Beclin 1. This process also increased the expression of BCL-2, P62, and TOM20. After applied with spermine (MCU-specific agonist), the expression of autophagy proteins by dexmedetomidine was reversed, and the same changes were also observed in immunofluorescence. The results of our study suggested that dexmedetomidine can inhibit MCU and reduce excessive mitophagy and autophagy for conferring protection against I/R injury.

Sevoflurane reduces ischemic brain injury in rats with diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

To investigate the role of S100B, oxidative stress and the apoptosis signaling pathways in the sevoflurane induced neuroprotective effect on stroke. The brain injury, molecular and cellular damage, and functional recovery were investigated upon ischemic brain injury followed by sevoflurane treatment. Longa rodent stroke scales was used to quantify neurological deficits. TTC staining was used to measure infarct volume of brain tissue. Absolute brain water content was measured by wet/dry weight method. The neuronal morphological change was assessed by H and E staining. The spatial learning and memory ability were measured by water maze test. Serum proteins including S100B, GSH-PX, SOD, Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 were measured by ELISA. The level of NOS and NO in serum was determined by colorimetric method. Compared with control, the serum proteins including S100B, Bax, NO, Caspase-3, and NOS activity in cerebral infarction rats increased significantly while SOD, GSH-PX, and Bcl-2 decreased significantly. Diabetic mellitus complicated with cerebral infarction rats showed more dramatic increase for S100B, Bax, NO, Caspase-3, and NOS activity and dramatic decrease for SOD, GSH-PX, and Bcl-2. Interestingly, sevoflurane reduced the changes significantly. The S100B level positively correlated with brain damage, NO, Bax, caspase-3, and NOS activity but negatively correlated with SOD, Bax, and GSH-PX. Brain damage in sevoflurane groups decreased while behavior outcomes including Longa neurologic score, learning, and memory increased significantly. The neuroprotective effect of sevoflurane is associated with defense mechanisms against free radical-induced oxidative stress and inhibition of apoptosis. S100B protein correlated with oxidative stress and the apoptosis signaling pathways.

[Aerobic Degradation and Microbial Community Succession of Coking Wastewater with Municipal Sludge].

Coking wastewater is a typical industrial wastewater with high toxicity. Its treatment with biological processes is often challenging because it contains constituents inhibiting microbial activity. To study the inhibitory effect and possible acclimation of microbes in coking wastewater treatment, municipal sludge was inoculated into coking wastewater. Time-dependent concentrations of COD, phenol, ammonia nitrogen, and thiocyanide in coking wastewater were analyzed. The microbial community structure was investigated by the Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology during inoculation. The results showed that COD began to decrease after 16 h and 97.1% of phenol disappeared after 40 h. Thiocyanide began to degrade at 72 h and was undetectable after 96 h. Accordingly, the concentration of ammonia increased as the thiocyanide concentrations decreased. High-throughput pyrosequencing analysis showed that the microbial community structure and species richness varied at different culture stages. In the stage of phenol degradation, the abundance of Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas increased rapidly; the species richness was 13.04% of the community at 48 h. In the stage of thiocyanate degradation, Sphingobacterium,Brevundimonas,Lysobacter, and Chryseobacterium were the dominant bacteria and were 16.13% of the community at 96 h. At 144 h, Fluviicola,Stenotrophomonas, and Thiobacillus became the dominant species and were 22.45% of the community abundance. The results showed that municipal sludge can rapidly overcome the toxicity of coking wastewater because the pollutants are degraded rapidly. The microbial community structure changed as wastewater components were degraded. Environmental factors and the competition among bacteria played a key role in microbial community succession.

Diabetes alters the blood glucose response to ketamine in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Ketamine is a commonly used short-acting anesthetic and recently attempted to treat pain which is a complication of diabetes. In this study we investigated the effect of ketamine on glucose levels of normal rats and diabetic rats. The results showed that no significance between the glucose levels in ketamine treatment group and saline treatment group at all time points was observed in normal rats. Ketamine did not produce hyperglycemia in normal fasted rats. However, ketamine dose dependently elevated glucose in diabetic rats from 80 mg/kg to 120 mg/kg at 1 hour after injection. The glucose did not return to the levels before treatment in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Insulin revealed a powerful potency in decreasing glucose levels in diabetic rats. Ketamine did not induce acute hyperglycemia any more after diabetic rats pretreated with insulin. Serum corticosterone was significantly increased in all treatment groups including saline group after 1 hour treatment compared with baseline values. Then the corticosterone declined in both saline treatment groups. However, ketamine induced a more significant increase in corticosterone at 1 hour after injection compared with that of saline control group of diabetic rats. And no decline trend of corticosterone was observed after ketamine treatment 2 hours. Insulin did not reduce the elevated corticosterone level induced by ketamine either. The results suggested that the diabetic rats had a risk of hyperglycaemia when they were treated with ketamine. Pretreatment with insulin is a good symptomatic treatment for hyperglycaemia induced by ketamine.

Substrate-constituted three-liquid-phase system: a green, highly efficient and recoverable platform for interfacial enzymatic reactions.

Highly efficient interfacial enzymatic hydrolysis of oil was achieved in a three-liquid-phase system, wherein the substrate constituted one of the phases. The enlarged interfacial area and relieved product inhibition were responsible for the high catalytic efficiency. Convenient product isolation and the high reusability of the enzyme were also demonstrated.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors trichostatin A and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid attenuate ventilator-induced lung injury.

The pathophysiology of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) involves multiple mechanisms including inflammation. Histone deacetylase inhibitors have been shown to exert anti-inflammation activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the protecting roles and mechanisms of the histone deacetylase inhibitors trichostatin A (TSA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) in ventilator-induced lung injury in normal rat lung. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: lung-protective ventilation (LV), injurious ventilation (HV), HV+TSA and HV+ SAHA groups. Mechanical ventilation (MV) settings were 7 ml/kg VT and 3cm H2O positive end-expiratorypressure [PEEP], 40 breaths/min for LV group and 42 ml/kg VT, zero end-expiratoryvolume [ZEEP], 40 breaths/min for the HV, HV+TSA and HV+ SAHA groups. After 2 h of MV, acute lung injury (ALI) score, wet-to-dry (W/D) weight ratio and the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) were determined. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-10 (IL-6) in the homogenized lung were measured by ELISA. The expression ICAM-1 was measured by both realtime PCR and Western blot assays. In addition, survival of each group was also assessed. Our results indicated that administration of TSA or SAHA alleviated ventilator-induced lung injury. This was accompanied by reduced neutrophil infiltration, reduced MPO activity, decreased intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in lung tissue, and lower TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 levels. In addition, treatment with HDAC inhibitors significantly prolonged the survival time of ventilator-induced lung injury rats. Our data suggested that TSA and SAHA could significantly alleviate ventilator-induced rat lung injury and prolong the survival time of those rats by attenuate intrapulmonary inflammatory response.