Clinical Analysis and Risk Factors of Bronchiolitis Obliterans After Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia.

Purpose: Severe mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia can cause bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). In order to improve the prognosis of BO, it is necessary to grasp the clinical characteristics and risk factors of BO after severe MP pneumonia and intervene as soon as possible. Patients and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 110 patients with severe MP pneumonia, and divided them into BO group (22 cases) and non-BO group (88 cases). The clinical characteristics of BO group were analyzed, and the clinical data of two groups were compared to identify the risk factors of BO. Results: At the time of diagnosis, all BO patients had symptoms of cough and wheezing, and 10 (45.45%) had decreased exercise intolerance. Lung function showed moderate to severe obstructive ventilatory dysfunction, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) showed mosaic perfusion patterns. Multivariate binomial regression analysis showed that higher levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and hypoxemia were independent risk factors for BO after severe MP pneumonia. Conclusion: Higher levels of serum LDH and hypoxemia were independent risk factors for BO after severe MP pneumonia. For patients with risk factors, clinicians should regular follow-up for early diagnosis and intervention of BO.

Alveolar-arterial partial pressure difference as an early predictor for patients with acute paraquat poisoning.

OBJECTIVE: Paraquat (PQ) is associated with high mortality rates in acute poisoning. This study aimed to determine the importance of the alveolar-arterial partial pressure difference (A-aDo2) in the expected consequences of acute PQ poisoning. METHODS: Patients who were hospitalized for PQ poisoning in 2018 were enrolled in this retrospective study. A-aDo2 data were collected. Multivariate analysis was performed using binary logistic regression to determine whether A-aDo2 is an independent risk factor for mortality from PQ. RESULTS: A total of 352 cases were analyzed. The mean PQ dose was 36.84 ± 50.30 mL (0.3-500 mL). There were 185 survivors and 167 non-survivors. The mean A-aDo2 was not significantly correlated between survivors and non-survivors on day 1. However, there were significant differences in A-aDo2 between survivors and non-survivors on days 3, 7, 14, and 21. Increased A-aDo2 values were correlated with an increased mortality rate. The mean A-aDo2 on day 14 showed the most significant difference between survivors and non-survivors. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that A-aDo2 plays an important role as a reference index, which could be a useful predictor in assessing acute PQ poisoning, especially on the 14th day after onset of poisoning.

Liquid-liquid extraction intensification by micro-droplet rotation in a hydrocyclone.

The previous literature reports that using a hydrocyclone as an extractor intensifies the mass transfer and largely reduces the consumption of extractant from 1800-2000 kg h-1 to 30-90 kg h-1. However, the intensification mechanism has not been clear. This paper presents experimental and numerical methods to study the multi-scale motion of particles in hydrocyclones. In addition to the usually considered translational behavior, the high-speed rotation of dispersed micro-spheres caused by the anisotropic swirling shear flow is determined. The rotation speeds of the tested micro-spheres are above 1000 rad s-1, which are much larger than the instantaneous rotation speed in isotropic turbulence. Due to the conical structure of a hydrocyclone, the rotation speed maintains stability along the axial direction. Numerical results show that the particle Reynolds number of micro-droplets in a hydrocyclone is equal to that in conventional extractors, but the particles have high rotation speeds of up to 10,000 rad s-1 and long mixing lengths of more than 1000 mm. Both the rotation of micro-droplets along the spiral trajectories and the intense eddy diffusion in a hydrocyclone contribute to the extraction intensification.

Reactive aging of films of secondary organic material studied by infrared spectroscopy.

The reactive aging of films of secondary organic material (SOM) to ozone, irradiation, and water was studied by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR). The films were prepared by deposition onto the ATR elements of particles produced by reaction of isoprene with hydroxyl radicals and of α-pinene with ozone in the Harvard Environmental Chamber (HEC). The infrared spectra showed that the isoprene-derived film had strong hydroxyl absorptions whereas the α-pinene-derived film had strong carbonyl absorptions. The organic films were exposed to dry and humid flows of ozone, as well as to ultraviolet irradiation, to mimic reactive aging processes that can occur in the troposphere. Both the isoprene- and α-pinene-derived films were nonreactive with respect to ozone exposure, for both dry and humid conditions, indicating that the secondary organic material consisted mostly of saturated organic species. Both films, however, were susceptible to aging by ultraviolet radiation possibly due to the presence of organic hydroperoxides, and all functional groups other than carbonyls decreased upon irradiation. In regard to hygroscopicity, as a benchmark the ratio x(W_CO) for oxalic acid of the intensity of the water-bending peak to that of carbonyl absorption (arising from carboxylic acids) was recorded from 20% to 80% relative humidity (RH). This quantity was then also measured for the isoprene- and α-pinene-derived organic films. The result of (x(W_CO))(isoprene) > (x(W_CO))(benchmark) across the range of studied RH values shows that species other than carboxylic acids contributed significantly to the hygroscopicity of the isoprene-derived film. The spectra were consistent with alcohols and hydroperoxides as the hygroscopic components. By comparison, the result of (x(W_CO))(pinene) ≈ (x(W_CO))(benchmark) indicates a dominance of carboxylic acids with respect to the hygroscopicity of this film.

Organic vapour sensing using localized surface plasmon resonance spectrum of metallic nanoparticles self assemble monolayer.

The response of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectra of gold and silver nanoparticles, and gold nanoshells to organic vapors was investigated. The surface area of nanomaterials was sufficiently high for quantitative adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Surface adsorption and condensation of VOCs caused the environmental refractive index to increase from n=1.00 in pure air to as high as n=1.29 in near saturated toluene vapor. The extinction and wavelength shift of the LSPR spectra were very sensitive to changes in the surface refractive index of the nanoparticles. Responses of the LSPR band were measured with a real-time UV-vis spectrometer equipped with a CCD array detector. The response of silver nanoparticles to organic vapors was most sensitive in changes in extinction, while gold nanoshells exhibited red-shifts in wavelength ( approximately 250nm/RIU) when exposed to organic vapors. The LSPR spectral shifts primarily were determined by the volatility and refractive indices of the organic species. The T(90) response time of the VOC-LSPR spectrum was less than 3s and the response was completely reversible and reproducible.

[Effects of methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid on phenylethanoid glycosides synthesis in suspension cultures of Cistanche deserticola].

The present study investigated the influence of the methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid elicitors on the formation of phenylethanoid glycosides (PeG) in the suspension cultures of Cistanche deserticola. The results showed that methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid enhanced greatly the accumulation of PeG and echinacoside (Echin), but their optimum elicitation dosage and addition time were different. The yields of PeG and Echin were significantly increased in the presence of 5 micromol/L methyl jasmonate on day 14 (up to 2.59-fold and 3.82-fold, respectively), whereas treated with 50 micromol/L salicylic acid on day 28, the maximum content of them were, respectively, 2.71 and 3.16-fold higher than the untreated cell cultures.

Glucose biosensor based on multi-wall carbon nanotubes and screen printed carbon electrodes.

This paper describes a disposable electrochemical biosensor for glucose monitoring. The sensor was based on multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) immobilized with glucose oxidase and upon screen printed carbon electrode. The effect of MWCNTs on the response of amperometric glucose oxidase electrode for glucose was examined. Results obtained, of interest for basic and applied biochemistry, represent a first step in construction of a MWCNT-enzyme electrode biosensor with potentialities for a successful application in the biosensor area.

Inhibition of NF-kappaB stabilizes gadd45alpha mRNA.

Growth arrest- and DNA damage-inducible protein alpha (gadd45alpha) is an important regulator for cell cycle, genomic stability, and cell apoptosis. In the present report, we demonstrated that NF-kappaB inhibition due to Ikkbeta deficiency enhanced the stability of gadd45alpha mNRA. Using embryo fibroblast cells derived from wild type (wt) or Ikkbeta gene knockout (Ikkbeta(-/-)) mice, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed a three- to fourfold increase of gadd45alpha mRNA in Ikkbeta(-/-) cells compared with wt cells. The deficiency in Ikkbeta substantially decreased basal NF-kappaB activity and increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, such deficiency had no effect on the basal expression or activity of Akt, FoxO3a, p53, and c-myc that regulate the transcription of gadd45alpha gene positively or negatively. Analysis of gadd45alpha mRNA stability showed a ROS-dependent increase in the half-life of gadd45alpha mRNA in Ikkbeta(-/-) cells. Immunoprecipitation experiments indicated an increased binding of a RNA stabilizing protein, nucleolin, to gadd45alpha mRNA in Ikkbeta(-/-) cells. The binding of nucleolin to gadd45alpha mRNA could be prevented by the antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine. Thus, these data are the first to suggest that inhibition of Ikkbeta-NF-kappaB signaling up-regulates the expression of gadd45alpha mNRA through a post-transcriptional, rather than a transcriptional, mechanism.

[Induction of embryogenic calli from caryopses of common bermudagrass and ultrastructure of embryogenic cells as well as plant regeneration].

A tissue culture system for embryogenic callus (EC) induction and plant regeneration of common bermudagrass using mature caryopsis (embryos) as explants was developed. The results showed that embryogenic calli could be induced from caryopsis with high frequency, in MS medium with 2,4-D 2.0-6.0 mg/L, and the best concentration of 2,4-D was 4.0 mg/L. The best method for maintaining EC and tissue differentiation was to subculture EC in MS+2,4-D 4.0 mg/L 1-2 times, follwed by subculturing in 1/2 MS+2,4-D 2.0 mg/L for 1-2 times, then to transfer EC to 1/2 MS without hormone for a 10-d-preregeneration in light, followed by transferring to MS+6-BA 3.0 mg/L for regeneration, with regeneration frequency 31.7%. Morphological and micro-structural differences between EC and non-embryogenic callus (NEC) were observed by electron microscope. Ultrastructrual characteristics of the EC cells are described in this paper.

Long-term effect on carcinoma of esophagus of distal subtotal gastrectomy.

AIM: To investigate the surgical treatment and long-term survival for patients with carcinoma of esophagus after distal subtotal gastrectomy. METHODS: Resections of the tumor through left thoracotomy were performed in 85 patients with esophageal carcinoma following distal subtotal gastrectomy. The procedure involved preserving the left short gastric artery and transporting the residual stomach, the spleen and tail of the pancreas into the left thoracic cavity, and using the residual stomach to reconstruct the alimentary tract. RESULTS: The resectable rate was 91.8%, complication rate 10.3%, and no death occurred in the postoperative period. The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 85.7%, 50.7%, 30.6% and 18.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection is the optimal management method for the patients with esophageal carcinoma after distal subtotal gastrectomy. The reconstruction of digestive tract using anastomosis of the esophagus and the residual stomach is not only simple but also can achieve a better curative effect, promoting the digestive function and improving the quality of life.

[Expression of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin and nitrilase in the yeast Pichia pastoris].

The expression of the vgb gene in vivo could improve the fermentation density and then contribute the extracellular secretion of the product of bxn gene. Constructed the recombination plasmid pPIC9K-vgbbxn and transformed into Pichia pastoris GS115. The results of PCR and SDS-PAGE indicate that the vgb gene and bxn gene had integrated into the genome of Pichia pastoris GS115 and expressed in efficient level. Also, the protein activity of their products had been verified respectively. Shake flask fermentation experiments showed that the presence of VHb in yeast Pichia pastoris efficiently enhanced cell growth and secretive expression of bxn gene under hypoxic habitats.

[Stochastic resonance in weak signal detection by sensory systems].

OBJECTIVE: To study the stochastic resonance phenomenon in biological sensory systems through signal detection theories and psychophysical experiments. METHOD: Sensory system is considered as threshold detectors including the receiver part and the classifier part. Compared with conventional models regarding the receiver part of the sensory system as a linear or single non-linear system, a summing network constructed by MacCulloch-Pitts neurons was provided in our model to simulate the receiver part. RESULT: The simulation results showed that the relevant indices of the percent correct measure and the detectability of signal both exhibit stochastic resonance behaviors. Psychophysical experiments were carried out through both 1IFC (one interval forced choice) and 2IFC (two interval alternative forced choice) methods. The experimental results qualitatively verified the considerations in accordance with the theoretical model. CONCLUSION: This work gives a proof that stochastic resonance is not only an epiphenomenon in sensory systems.