Hierarchical porous amorphous metal-organic frameworks constructed from ZnO/MOF glass composites.

For the first time, hierarchical porous amorphous metal-organic frameworks (HP-aMOFs) containing ultramicropores, micropores, and mesopores were synthesized by etching a composite of MOF glass (agZIF-76) and ZnO using ammonia. These materials show potential applications in the adsorption of C2 hydrocarbons.

Corydalis saxicolaBunting total alkaloid eliminates Porphyromonas gingivalis strain 33277 internalized into macrophages by inhibition of TLR2.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of Corydalis Saxicola Bunting Total Alkaloid (CSBTA) on Porphyromonas gingivalis internalization within macrophages and explore the potential role of Toll-Like Receptor 2 (TLR2) in this process. METHODS: We established a P. gingivalis internalization model in macrophages by treating P. gingivalis-infected macrophages (MOI=100:1) with 200 µg/mL metronidazole and 300 µg/mL gentamicin for 1 h. Subsequently, the model was exposed to CSBTA at concentrations of 0.02 g/L or 1 µg/mL Pam3CSK4. After a 6 h treatment, cell lysis was performed with sterile water to quantify bacterial colonies. The mRNA expressions of TLR2 and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in macrophages were analyzed using RT-qPCR, while their protein levels were assessed via Western blot and ELISA respectively. RESULTS: P. gingivalis could internalize into macrophages and enhance the expression of TLR2 and IL-8. Activation of TLR2 by Pam3CSK4 contributed to P. gingivalis survival within macrophages and increased TLR2 and IL-8 expression. Conversely, 0.02 g/L CSBTA effectively cleared intracellular P. gingivalis, achieving a 90 % clearance rate after 6 h. Moreover, it downregulated the expression of TLR2 and IL-8 induced by P. gingivalis. However, the inhibitory effect of CSBTA on the internalized P. gingivalis model was attenuated by Pam3CSK4. CONCLUSION: CSBTA exhibited the ability to reduce the presence of live intracellular P. gingivalis and lower IL-8 expression in macrophages, possibly by modulating TLR2 activity.

An illustrated key to the species of Gasteruption Latreille (Hymenoptera, Gasteruptiidae) from Palaearctic China, with description of four new species.

Four new species of the genus Gasteruption Latreille, 1797 (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Gasteruptiidae: Gasteruptiinae) are described from China. Three are from Shaanxi (NW China; G. granulatum Tan & van Achterberg, sp. nov., G. pedion Tan & van Achterberg, sp. nov., and G. reductum Tan & van Achterberg, sp. nov.) and one from S China and Ningxia (G. kexinae Tan & van Achterberg, sp. nov.). Eleven species are newly recorded for Shaanxi (G. abeillei Kieffer, 1912, G. amoyense Pasteels, 1958, G. bimaculatum Pasteels, 1958, G. corniculigerum Enderlein, 1913, G. latitibia Zhao, van Achterberg & Xu, 2012, G. minutum (Tournier, 1877), G. nigritarse (Thomson, 1883), G. parvicollarium Enderlein, 1913, G. sinarum Kieffer, 1911, G. subtile (Thomson, 1883) and G. brevicuspis Kieffer, 1911). The newly-recorded species and the new species are keyed and illustrated. Two new synonyms are proposed: G. rufescenticorne Enderlein, 1913, with G. japonicum Cameron, 1888, syn. nov. and G. oriplanum Kieffer, 1911, with G. minutum (Tournier, 1877), syn. nov.

Association of Olfactory Impairment and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of anesthesia on the change of olfactory function and cognitive function in elderly patients who undergo abdominal surgery. METHODS: A total of 30 elderly patients who underwent abdominal surgery were recruited as the research subjects. The Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory test was used to test the olfactory function and the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised (HVLT-R), Trail Making Test (TMT), Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), Digit-Symbol Coding Test (DSCT), and Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) were used to assess their cognitive function before general anesthesia, and on the 3rd and 7th day post-anesthesia. The serum level of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α were measured before anesthesia and at 0, 12, and 24 h post-anesthesia. In total, 30 healthy volunteers who did not undergo anesthesia were used as the control group. The test results of all subjects were recorded and their correlations were analyzed. RESULTS: On the 3rd and 7th day post-anesthesia, the olfactory recognition threshold of patients in the surgical group was lower than that of control group with significant difference (P < 0.05). On the 3rd and 7th postoperative day, the patient's short-term memory and delayed memory, attention and processing speed were decreased (P < 0.05). On the 7th day post-anesthesia, delayed memory and processing ability were still decreased (P < 0.05). In the surgical group, Spearman correlation analysis showed that the difference of olfactory recognition score on the 3rd and 7th day post-anesthesia was positively correlated with short-term memory and delayed memory of cognitive function. Compared with pre-anesthesia, the serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in the surgical group were significantly increased at each time point after anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Abdominal surgery with general anesthesia in elderly patients may increase the level of serum inflammatory factors, induce olfactory impairment, particularly the decline of olfactory identification threshold and cause cognitive dysfunction with declined short-term memory, delayed memory and attention. There was a positive correlation between olfactory impairment and cognitive dysfunction after general anesthesia. Therefore, olfactory impairment could be an early indicator to guide early intervention for postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

New Gnamptodontinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from China and Vietnam, with two genera new for China and seven new species.

The genus Pseudognaptodon Fischer, 1965 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Gnamptodontinae) is reported for the first time from the Palaearctic region, Neognamptodon Belokobylskij, 1999 is new for the Oriental region and both genera are new for China. Seven new species are described and fully illustrated: Pseudognaptodon sinensis Tan van Achterberg, sp. n. from China (Shaanxi), P. curvinervis van Achterberg, sp. n., P. bidoupensis van Achterberg, sp. n., P. longi van Achterberg, sp. n. from Vietnam, Neognamptodon laticauda Tan van Achterberg, sp. n. from China (Yunnan), Tamdaona brevizona van Achterberg, sp. n. and T. sculpturata van Achterberg, sp. n. from Vietnam. A key to the tribes and genera of the Gnamptodontinae are given, together with keys to species of Pseudognaptodon (Old World), Neognamptodon, and Tamdaona Belokobylskij, 1994.                The phylogeny and distribution of the Gnamptodontinae is discussed, Tamdaona Belokobylskij, is transferred from the Exothecinae to the Gnamptodontinae, and included in a new tribe, Tamdaonini van Achterberg, trib. n., together with Neognamptodon Belokobylskij. Gnamptodon novobritannicus Fischer, 1971, from Bismarck Archipelago is transferred to the latter genus (Neognamptodon novobritannicus (Fischer, 1971) comb. n.). Pseudognaptodon striatus Williams, 2004 (not P. striatus Braga Penteado-Dias, 2002), is renamed P. williamsi van Achterberg, nom. n., and P. carinatus Williams, 2004 (not P. carinatus Cirelli Penteado-Dias, 2002) is renamed P. carinatoides van Achterberg, nom. n. Tobiasnusa Papp, 2004, is a new synonym of Alysdacnusa Tobias Perepetchayenko, 1995 (syn. n.) and Alysdacnusa atomus (Papp, 2004) is a new combination (comb. n.).

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction Induced by Different Surgical Methods and Its Risk Factors.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of different surgical methods on postoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, determine the risk factors of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) by logistic regression, and investigate these risk factors through different surgical methods. A total of 70 patients undergoing selective abdominal surgery were selected into this study. The age of these patients ranged within 32 to 85 years. The cognitive function of these patients was assessed by the mini-mental state examination at one day before the operation, and at the first and seventh day after the operation. The temperature of the tympanic membrane, PETCO2 values, visual analogue scale scores, educational level, and operation time were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze related factors of POCD. The incidence rate of perioperative hypothermia in groups O and L were 31.2 and 10.5 per cent, respectively; and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The difference in visual analogue scale scores at the first and seventh day after the operation between these two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01). The incidence of POCD in group O was significantly higher than that in group L at the first and seventh day after the operation (P < 0.05). According to logistic regression results, it was found that age, perioperative hypothermia, and postoperative pain were risk factors of POCD. The difference in POCD for the patients undergoing abdominal surgery through different surgical methods was statistically significant, and this was closely correlated to perioperative hypothermia and postoperative pain.

Five new species of Utetes Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Opiinae) from NW China.

Five new species of the genus Utetes Foerster, 1863 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Opiinae) are reported from Shaanxi and Ningxia provinces (NW China). The new species (U. aharmus sp. n., U. elongisulcus sp. n., U. karsius sp. n., U. stenotus sp. n. and U. subrosae sp. n.) are keyed and fully illustrated. Opiognathus pratensis (Weng Chen, 2005) comb. n., Apo-desmia punctata (Chen Weng, 2005) comb. n. and Phaedrotoma saltator (Telenga, 1950) comb. n. are new combinations.

[Effect of cervical paravertebral block combined with acupuncture intervention on cervicogenic headache].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of cervical paravertebral block plus acupuncture treatment for cervicogenic headache. METHODS: Sixty cases of cervicogenic headache were randomly and equally divided into cervical paravertebral block (control) group and acupuncture plus cervical paravertebral block (acupuncture) group. Paravertebral block was performed by injection of 5 mL of 0.3% lidocaine solution containing triamcinolone (10 mg) into the 2nd cervical paravertebral tissue from the cross point between the posterior border of the sternomastoid muscle and the angle of jaw, once every week for three weeks. Manual acupuncture stimulation was applied to Baihui (GV 20), unilateral Fengchi (GB 20) and Jiaosun (SJ 20), once daily for 3 weeks. The patients' headache severity was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and their cervical vertebral activity assessed by range of motion (ROM) before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Compared with pre-treatment in the same one group, the scores of both VAS and ROM at time points of one, two and three weeks after the treatment were significantly decreased in the control and acupuncture groups (P < 0.05), suggesting a marked improvement of both headache and cervical motion after the treatment. Comparison between the two groups showed that the VAS and ROM scores of the acupuncture group were evidently lower than those of the control group at each time point after the treatment (P < 0.05), displaying a better therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus paravertebral block for cervicogenic headache. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with cervical paravertebral block is effective in relieving cervicogenic headache and improving cervical vertebral activity in cervicogenic headache patients, and can strengthen the therapeutic effect of simple paravertebral block.

[Investigation of female chronic constipation: a multi-center cross-sectional clinical study].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of female chronic constipation (CC), contributing factors of severe constipation and the correlation between female CC and pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) so as to provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of female CC. METHODS: Five hundred and sixty-one CC outpatients meeting Rome III criteria at clinics of gastroenterology from ten Beijing hospitals were recruited during March-May 2007. After data input and verification, formulated the standard of severe CC. RESULTS: The peak age of CC onset was 20 - 29 years in female patients while 60 - 69 years in male patients. F:M = 3.04:1. A wide range of CC symptoms were present and straining was the most common one (381, 76%). However, a significant difference between females and males was shown in defecation by manually pelvic floor supporting (female 26/69, 38%, male 3/20, 15% in manual assisted defecation, P < 0.05) and urinary incontinence when coughing (female 95/422, 22.5%, male 13/139, 9.4%, P < 0.01). Severity of CC, its manifestations and pelvic floor dysfunction were closely correlated with frequencies of pregnancy and delivery. CONCLUSION: Owing to anatomic features of female pelvic floor and physiological nature of pregnancy and delivery, the early onset of CC in female patients should attract sufficient attention of multi-disciplinary clinicians.