A randomised controlled trial of dexmedetomidine for delirium in adults undergoing heart valve surgery.

Dexmedetomidine might reduce delirium after cardiac surgery. We allocated 326 participants to an infusion of dexmedetomidine at a rate of 0.6 µg kg-1 for 10 min and then at 0.4 µg.kg-1 .h-1 until the end of surgery; 326 control participants received comparable volumes of saline. We detected delirium in 98/652 (15%) participants during the first seven postoperative days: 47/326 after dexmedetomidine vs. 51/326 after placebo, p = 0.62, adjusted relative risk (95%CI) 0.86 (0.56-1.33), p = 0.51. Postoperative renal impairment (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stages 1, 2 and 3) was detected in 46, 9 and 2 participants after dexmedetomidine and 25, 7 and 4 control participants, p = 0.040. Intra-operative dexmedetomidine infusion did not reduce the incidence of delirium after cardiac valve surgery but might impair renal function.

Fungal Denitrification Activity in Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands as Impacted by Plant Species Richness, Carbon, Nitrogen and pH Amendments.

To control potential fungal denitrification rate (PFDR) in vertical flow simulated wetlands (VFSW) microcosms, thirty VFSW microcosms were established and planted with three plant species richness levels (i.e. unplanted, monoculture, and four-species polyculture treatment), and effects of carbon, nitrogen and pH amendments on the PFDR were investigated using a room-incubating method. Among seven carbon compounds, sodium citrate, glycerol, glucose and sodium succinate were more effective in enhancing PFDRs. These enhanced effects were dependant on a given species richness level. Sodium nitrite mostly stimulated PFDRs to a greater extent than the other three nitrogen compound amendments at any richness level. Treatments with pH 5.6 or 8.4 had significantly greater PFDRs than the treatment with pH 2.8 in the three species richness levels. However, no effect of plant species richness on the PFDR was observed among any carbon, nitrogen and pH amendments. Current results suggest carbon, nitrogen and pH factors should be considered when mediating fungal denitrification in VFSW microcosms.

[Characterization and uncertainty evaluation of aqueous reference materials for cholesterol].

Objective: Characterization and evaluation of the uncertainty of the reference materials of cholesterol in aqueous solution. Methods: The certified reference material GBW09203b was weighed accurately and dissolved into methyl cyclodextrin aqueous solution to prepare six kinds of candidate reference materials of cholesterol according to the concentration. The materials were tested for homogeneity and stability using routine methods and were evaluated the uncertainty derived from the inhomogeneity and instability. The uncertainty due to measurement was derived from the purity of the raw material, the weighing and the density measurement. The certified values and expanded uncertainties were calculated according to the ISO Guide. The expanded uncertainty of the certified value was the combination of standard uncertainty of measurement, inhomogeneity and instability. The coverage factor, k, was determined from the Student's t-distribution corresponding to the calculated effective degrees of freedom and 95% level of confidence. Results: It showed that the six candidate reference materials were homogeneous and were tested to be stable for at least 1 year at -70 ℃ and -20 ℃ using the isochronous stability study. The relative uncertainties due to the inhomogeneity were 0.14%, 0.11%, 0.13%, 0.47%, 0.39% and 0.11%. The relative uncertainty due to the instability was 0.25% at -70 ℃. The uncertainties of measurement were 0.06%, 0.05%, 0.05%, 0.05%, 0.05% and 0.05%.The certified values (reference value ± expanded uncertainty, mmol/L) were as follows: (0.651±0.004), (1.310 ±0.007), (2.574±0.015), (5.210±0.055), (7.710±0.072), (10.242±0.056) mmol/L. Conclusions: Six kinds of certified reference materials for cholesterol in aqueous solution have been prepared, which were homogeneity, stable and reliable. It showed that the uncertainty of measurement was very small compared with the uncertainty due to inhomogeneity and instability.

Physical properties and cellular responses to calcium phosphate coating produced by laser rapid forming on titanium.

In order to improve the surface bioactivity of titanium implants, CaCO3 and CaHPO4·2H2O powder was used to fabricate a calcium phosphate (CaP) coating using laser rapid forming (LRF) technology. The surface characterization showed that a porous and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) layer with small amount of alpha-TCP was formed on commercial pure titanium (Ti). The bonding strength between the coating and the Ti substrate was above 40.17 MPa measured by the means of pull-off test. The elastic modulus and the average microhardness of the coating were 117.61 GPa and 431.2 HV0.1, respectively. Through the static immersion test, it was proved that the coating could not only prevent the corrosion of Ti but also promote the redeposition of beta-TCP in artificial saliva. Osteoblasts possessed good attachment performance and strong proliferation ability on the surface of LRF coating (p < 0.05) in our cell experiments. This result demonstrated that the LRF coating could improve the surface cytocompatibility of titanium. Using scanning electron microscopy observation, it was found that osteoblasts grown on LRF coating formed multiple layers in pours. The result of reverse transcription PCR analysis demonstrated that the expressions of ITGß1 and BMP-2 were significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated on the LRF coating in a time-dependent manner, compared with uncoated Ti. These findings suggested that the LRF technology might be a promising potential treatment for fabricating CaP coatings on titanium implants.

Investigation on maternal physiological and psychological factors of cheilopalatognathus.

OBJECTIVE: Case-control study on mothers of cheilopalatognathus children was conducted, to investigate the maternal physiological and psychological factors for occurrence of cheilopalatognathus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred ten mothers of cheilopalatognathus children who were scheduled for one-stage surgery were selected as a research group, and 110 mothers of normal children served as a normal control group at the same time. Trait Anxiety Inventory (T-AI), Life Events Scale (LES), Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ), Type C Behavior Scale (CBS), adult Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and homemade general questionnaire survey were employed for the investigation. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the scores for negative event tension value, anxiety, and depressive factors were higher in the study group (p < 0.05); while the scores for positive event tension value, intellect, optimism, and social support factors were lower (p < 0.05). Regression analysis found that physiological factors included were five: education, changes in body weight during pregnancy, the intake amount of milk and beans, and intake of healthcare products, and supplementary folic acid taken or not, while the psychological factors included were four: positive event stimulation, negative event stimulation, the amount of social support, as well as introvert and extrovert personalities. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that pregnant women's physiological and psychological factors can cause changes in cheilopalatognathus incidence, which is expected to be guidance for healthcare during pregnancy, to prevent the occurrence of cheilopalatognathus.

RAPD analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of Elymus sibiricus (Poaceae) native to the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China.

Genetic diversity of Elymus sibiricus (Poaceae) was examined in eight populations from the southeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We detected 291 RAPD polymorphic loci in 93 samples. The percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) was 79%. Genetic diversity (H(E)) was 0.264, effective number of alleles (N(E)) was 1.444, Shannon's information index (H(O)) was 0.398, and expected Bayesian heterozygosity (H(B)) was 0.371. At the population level, PPB = 51%, N(E) = 1.306, H(E) = 0.176, I = 0.263, and H(B) = 0.247. A high level of genetic differentiation was detected based on Nei's genetic diversity analysis (G(ST) = 32.0%), Shannon's index analysis (33.7%), and the Bayesian method (θ(B) = 33.5%). The partitioning of molecular variance by AMOVA demonstrated significant genetic differentiation within populations (60%) and among populations (40%). The average number of individuals exchanged between populations per generation (N(m)) was 1.06. The populations were found to share high levels of genetic identity. No significant correlation was found between geographic distance and pairwise genetic distance (r = 0.7539, P = 0.9996). Correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation (r = 0.762) between RAPD H(E) found in this study and ISSR H(E) values from a previous study.

[A preliminary exploration into the efficacy of personalized surgical schemes in the repair of maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula].

To explore the efficacy and value of personalized surgical schemes in the repair of maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula based on the size of the maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula. A total of 28 patients with maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula who were admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatology Hospital of Kunming Medical University from July 2017 to May 2020 were included to conduct a prospective case clinical study. After the inflammation in the maxillary sinus was controlled, a proper surgical repair method was selected according to the size of the perforation and fistula based on the double-layer closure technique. The diameter of the perforation and fistula was measured with the assistance of cone-beam CT. After that, the platelet rich fibrin (PRF) repair was performed on the perforation and fistula with 3 mm≤diameter<7 mm in size in 14 patients. The PRF repair and buccal flap repair were performed on the perforation and fistula with 7 mm ≤diameter<15 mm in size in 7 patients. The adjacent buccal pad repair, palatine flap repair, and buccal flap repair were performed on the perforation and fistula with 15 mm≤ diameter<25 mm in size in 4 patients. The nasolabial axial flap repair and nasolabial free flap repair were performed on the perforation and fistula with a diameter ≥25 mm in size in 3 patients. The medical follow-up was conducted in all patients in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th week after surgery, with an overall success rate reaching 96.4% (27/28) after the initial intervention. The relapse of disease occurred in one patient (4.6%) with diabetes and a smoking history in the 2nd week after surgery. Identifying a proper surgical repair method according to the size of the oral and maxillary sinus perforation and maxillary sinus fistula based on the double-layer closure technique can improve the one-time cure rate in these patients under the premise that the inflammation in the maxillary sinus can be controlled.

Distribution of phthalate esters in soil of e-waste recycling sites from Taizhou city in China.

In recent years, increasing concern has surrounded the consequences of improper electric and electronic waste (e-waste) disposal. In this paper, Phthalate esters (PAEs) including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) in the e-waste soils were collected and analyzed from sites Fengjiang, Nanshan and Meishu in Taizhou city. The result showed that the total PAEs concentrations ranged from 12.566 to 46.669 mg/kg in these three sites. DEHP, DBP and DEP were the major phthalates accounting for more than 94% of total phthalates studied. Comparing to the results from other studies, the e-waste soils from Taizhou city were severely contaminated with PAEs.

[Epidemiological characteristics of HIV infected pregnant women and exposed infants in Guangdong province, 2014-2017].

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of HIV-infected pregnant women and exposed infant in Guangdong province and identify the factors associated with infant HIV infection through mother-to-child transmission. Methods: National Information System for Prevention of mother-to-child HIV Transmission and Early Infant Diagnosis Information Management Platform were used to collect the individual information about HIV-infected pregnant women and exposed infants who were delivered in Guangdong from January 1, 2014 to December 31 in 2017. The differences in pregnant women's demographic data, history of pregnancy and childbirth, the utilization of mother-to-child transmission prevention services and early infant diagnosis between the infected HIV exposed infants and uninfected HIV exposed infants were compared, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors associated with mother-to-child HIV transmission. Results: Among 349 HIV infected pregnant women, the proportions of the pregnant women whose HIV infection status were confirmed before pregnancy, during pregnancy and at or after childbirth were 30.4% (106/349), 49.6% (173/349) and 20.0% (70/349) respectively. The proportions of those with sexual partners whose HIV infection status were unknown and those receiving no antiviral treatment were 39.5% (138/349) and 13.2% (46/349) respectively. Among the HIV exposed infants, the mother-to-child transmission rate was 4.2%(15/353), the HIV exposed infants had the first or second early diagnosis tests within 44 (P(25)-P(75): 42-50) days and 96 (P(25)-P(75): 92-106) days after birth, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the risk for mother-to-child HIV transmission increased in those whose HIV infection status were confirmed at or after childbirth compared with before pregnancy (OR=5.72, 95%CI: 1.52-21.61) and in the group that antiviral treatment was given to either mothers or infants compared with the group that antiviral treatment was given to both mothers and infants (OR=33.56, 95%CI: 9.04-124.55), while there was lower mother-to-child HIV transmission risk in artificial feeding group compared with breast feeding group (OR=0.07, 95%CI: 0.01-0.76). Conclusion: The risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Guangdong can be effectively reduced by the measures of early diagnosis, antiviral treatment and artificial feeding as well as the improvement of mother-to-child transmission prevention service.

MiR-155 regulates oral squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cell proliferation, cycle, and apoptosis via regulating p27Kip1.

OBJECTIVE: P27Kip1 is the one of the negative regulators of the cell cycle that plays an important role in regulating cell cycle and inhibiting cell proliferation by restraining cell in G1 phase. P27Kip1 downregulation maybe related to the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). It was found that miR-155 significantly upregulated in OSCC tissue. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-155 may bind with the 3'-UTR of p27Kip1. This study investigated the role of miR-155 in regulating p27Kip1 and affecting Tca8113 cell proliferation, cycle, and apoptosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 46 cases of OSCC patients received treatment in our hospital were enrolled to obtain tumor tissue. Another 25 normal oral mucosa samples were selected as control to detect the relationship between miR-155 and p27Kip1 expressions. Dual luciferase assay was adopted to confirm the targeted relationship between miR-155 and p27Kip1. Flow cytometry was applied to test cell apoptosis and cell cycle. CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate cell proliferation. Caspase-3 activity was detected by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: MiR-155 upregulated, while p27Kip1 declined in OSCC tissue compared with normal oral mucosa. Their expressions were related to TNM stage. MiR-155 targeted suppressed p27Kip1 expression. MiR-155 mimic and/or pEGFP-p27Kip1 transfection obviously declined p27Kip1 expression, blocked cell cycle in G1 phase, reduced cell proliferation, enhanced Caspase-3 activity, and increased cell apoptosis in Tca8113 cells. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-155 increased, while p27Kip1 reduced in OSCC tissue. Inhibition of miR-155 upregulated p27Kip1 expression, blocked cell cycle in G1 phase, weakened cell proliferation, and induced cell apoptosis.

[Effect of sandblasting on bending strength and subcritical crack growth of the dental zirconia ceramics].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of sandblasting on bending strength and subcritical crack growth (SCG) under cyclic loading of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramics. Methods: After being polished, sixty bar-shaped specimens of Y-TZP (Wieland zirconia ceramics) were assigned to two groups (n=30) according to the random number table, the sandblasting group (SG) which was treated with sandblasting and the control group (CG) which remained untouched. In each group, half of the specimens (n=15) were subjected to bending strength test, and the results were examined by Weibull statistics and analyzed with ANOVA. The other 15 specimens in each group were subjected to fatigue tests. The results were examined by Weibull statistics and subcritical crack propagation rates were calculated. Results: The bending strengths of SG and CG were (1 291±133) and (1 140±124) MPa (F=10.117, P=0.004), and the Weibull modules of the two groups were 11.06 and 10.64 respectively. The crack growth rate of SCG of SG was lower than that of CG under the same cyclic loading. Conclusions: Proper sandblasting on Y-TZP ceramic can increase its bending strength and resistance to SCG.

[Construction of CgA gene antisense transgenic mice].

In order to get CgA gene antisense DNA transgenic mouse, we constructed the CgA gene antisense DNA plasmid pCAS2C and microinjected it into the female pronucleus of fertilized mouse eggs, and transplanted them into oviduct of the foster. Every offspring of the fosters was determined by the PCR method. The positive mice had a 300 bp DNA electrophoresis band. We selected two male positive mice from 50 offspring survived of the pseudomother. Then, two positive mice crossed with normal mice respectively to reproduce offspring of F1. All offspring of F1 were determined by PCR to select positive offspring. Positive offspring of F1 carried only one allele of pCAS2C (heterozygous pCAS2C/-). Positive F1 offspring were selfcrossed, 1/4 offspring of F2 carrying two unites of one allele pCAS2C (pCAS2C/pCAS2C) are homozygous. Then, all offspring of homozygous F2 crossed with normal mice, could produce 300 bp DNA electrophoresis band by PCR. Total RNA of brain tissue of transgenic mouse was used to RT-PCR method, the 300 bp DNA product was obtained. The result indicates that the reading frame of CgA antisense DNA of pCAS2C has expressed in the transgenic mice.

Upregulation of DLX2 confers a poor prognosis in glioblastoma patients by inducing a proliferative phenotype.

The human Distal-less Homeobox (DLX) gene family encodes homeobox transcription factors involved in the control of morphogenesis and tissue homeostasis, which is primarily expressed in embryonic development. Recently, DLX gene family was reported to have essential roles in carcinogenesis. We have profiled whole genome expressed genes in 83 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) Group. Two major groups of samples were identified in mRNA expression profiles (referred to as Cluster 1 (C1) and Cluster 2 (C2)). We identified 7 out of the top 10 Gene Ontology terms in the C1 group were associated with differentiation and development of neuronal cell. The most significant prognostic gene was DLX2 (P < 0.001, OR = 1.744); overexpression of DLX2 indicated poor survival in the 83 GBM patients (low DLX2 vs high DLX2, 77.6 vs 44.7 weeks, P < 0.001). Annotation of mRNA profiling data on GBM from The Cancer Genome Atlas and MD Anderson Cancer Center showed the proneural and neural subtypes highly correlated with low and high DLX2 expression, respectively. Knocking down of DLX2 in GBM cell line-LN229 results in decreased cyclin D1 expression and cell proliferation. Collectively, these data identified high expression of DLX2 as a poor prognostic marker to GBM patients.

Sympathetic cooling of complex molecular ions to millikelvin temperatures.

Gas-phase singly protonated organic molecules of mass 410 Da (Alexa Fluor 350) have been cooled from ambient temperature to the hundred millikelvin range by Coulomb interaction with laser-cooled barium ions. The molecules were generated by an electrospray ionization source, transferred to and stored in a radio-frequency trap together with the atomic ions. Observations are well described by molecular dynamics simulations, which are used to determine the spatial distribution and thermal energy of the molecules. In one example, an ensemble of 830 laser-cooled 138Ba+ ions cooled 200 molecular ions to less than 115 mK. The demonstrated technique should allow a large variety of protonated molecules to be sympathetically cooled, including molecules of much higher mass, such as proteins.