Response Surface Modeling of Drug-Loaded Micelles Prepared Through Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Evaporation Method Using Box-Behnken Experimental Design.

The nanoscale drug-loaded micelles can be prepared by the supercritical carbon dioxide evaporation method. Here, response surface methodology is used to optimize this process. The effects of pressure, ScCO2 release rate and the volume ratio of water against ScCO2 on the drug entrapment efficiency (EE) of the obtained micelles are discussed in detail. The obtained second-order polynomial equation can successfully predict the drug EE of the drug-loaded micelles. The maximum EE can reach 70.1% under optimal conditions in which the pressure is 12.27 MPa, the release rate is 10 L min-1 and the volume ratio of water against ScCO2 is 3.67:1. The prepared micelles exhibit a narrow size distribution and relatively regularly spherical shape. In vitro drug release study reveals that the release of paclitaxel from the micelles is slow and sustained.

Preparation and evaluation of a chitosan-coated antioxidant liposome containing vitamin C and folic acid.

Vitamin C (VC) and folic acid (FA) are the important nutrient and antioxidant in human body. In order to improve their stability, their co-loaded liposomes (VCFA-Lip) and chitosan-coated liposomes (CS-VCFA-Lip) are prepared and characterised. The mean particle size of VCFA-Lip and CS-VCFA-Lip is 138 nm and 249 nm, respectively. The encapsulation efficiencies of both drugs for CS-VCFA-Lip are much higher than those for VCFA-Lip. Furthermore, the experimental results show that the antioxidant activity of CS-VCFA-Lip is higher than that of VCFA-Lip. Moreover, the storage stability study reveals that the chitosan coating can efficiently improve the physical stability of VCFA-Lip. These results indicate that stability of VC and FA can be greatly improved after being wrapped by liposomes. In addition, the performance of CS-VCFA-Lip is better than VCFA-Lip, indicating CS-VCFA-Lip can be applied as a promising delivery system for the antioxidant defence system to the food industry and cosmetic industry.

Impacts of Habit Formation Effect on Food Consumption and Nutrient Intake in Rural China.

This study employs panel data and a dynamic Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model to investigate the habit formation effect of food consumption among Chinese rural residents and its consequential impact on nutritional intake. The dataset, spanning from 2012 to 2018, encompasses nine provinces in China and involves 5390 rural households. The findings reveal that, excluding beef, mutton, and poultry, there are significant habit formation effect on the consumption of food categories, notably grains, vegetables, and edible oils. Lower-income and younger demographics demonstrate a more pronounced reliance on established dietary habits. Influenced by the habit formation effect, there is a substantial reduction in the income elasticity differences across various food types. Overlooking the habit formation effect in food consumption would lead to an underestimation of the income elasticity of energy, fat, and carbohydrates. This suggests that, over the long term, food consumption habit formation is a pivotal factor in enabling the enhancement of residents' dietary structures, amplifying the incremental energy intake associated with income increases, and accelerating the transition towards nutritional surplus. The conclusions drawn from this study offer valuable insights for ensuring food security and nutritional balance. Policy-makers of food and nutrition strategies should duly consider the habit formation effect on residents' food consumption, and seek to optimize dietary patterns and promote nutritional transformation by food consumption habit intervention.

Related factors of delirium after transsphenoidal endoscopic pituitary adenoma resection-A matched retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study is to explore the factors associated with delirium incidence in postoperative patients who have undergone endoscopic transsphenoidal approach surgery for pituitary adenoma. METHODS: The study population included patients admitted to Tianjin Huanhu Hospital's Skull Base Endoscopy Center from January to December 2022, selected through a retrospective cohort study design. The presence of perioperative delirium was evaluated using the 4 'A's Test (4AT) scale, and the final diagnosis of delirium was determined by clinicians. Statistical analysis included Propensity Score Matching (PSM), χ2 Test, and Binary Logistic Regression. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients were included in this study, and the incidence of delirium was found to be 29.58 % (63/213). Among them, 126 patients were selected using PSM (delirium:non-delirium = 1:1), ensuring age, gender, and pathology were matched. According to the results of univariate analysis conducted on multiple variables, The binary logistic regression indicated that a history of alcoholism (OR = 6.89, [1.60-29.68], P = 0.010), preoperative optic nerve compression symptoms (OR = 4.30, [1.46-12.65], P = 0.008), operation time ≥3 h (OR = 5.50, [2.01-15.06], P = 0.001), benzodiazepines for sedation (OR = 3.94, [1.40-11.13], P = 0.010), sleep disorder (OR = 3.86, [1.40-10.66], P = 0.009), and physical restraint (OR = 4.53, [1.64-12.53], P = 0.004) as independent risk factors for postoperative delirium following pituitary adenoma surgery. CONCLUSIONS: For pituitary adenoma patients with a history of alcoholism and presenting symptoms of optic nerve compression, as well as an operation time ≥3 h, enhancing communication between healthcare providers and patients, improving perioperative sleep quality, and reducing physical restraint may help decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium.

Impacts of China's bioethanol policy on the global maize market: a partial equilibrium analysis to 2030.

Maize is a major component of China's cereal production. It is also one of the main feedstocks for China's bioethanol production. To ensure food security, there is flexibility in China's ethanol policy. In this paper, we build a multicountry and multisector partial equilibrium model to simulate the possible impacts of biofuel policy on maize markets and food security. Considering normal macroeconomic conditions, China's bioethanol promotion policy would result in a net increase in maize imports to 26 mmt in 2030. Meanwhile, China's maize self-sufficiency ratio would decrease to 92% in 2030 as a result of the country's bioethanol promotion policy. In addition, simulation results indicate that China's bioethanol promotion policy could increase the world maize price index by 5% and the world bioethanol price index by 4% in 2030. Based on this modeling study, the Chinese government may take measures in advance to prepare for large-scale maize imports, adjust its strategy in order to make better use of the international market, and strengthen international trade and stock cooperation with maize import regions and countries. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12571-021-01212-5.

Impacts of COVID-19 on Nutritional Intake in Rural China: Panel Data Evidence.

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced risks and challenges to global food and nutrition security. In this paper, we examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nutritional intake of China's rural residents using panel data and a fixed effects model. The data were collected in 2019 and 2020 and covered nine provinces and 2631 households in rural China. The results reveal that an increase of 100 confirmed cases in a county resulted in a 1.30% (p < 0.01), 1.42% (p < 0.01), 1.65% (p < 0.01), and 1.15% (p < 0.01) decrease in per capita intake of dietary energy, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, respectively. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant and negative effect on dietary macronutrient intake in the low-income group at the 5% level of significance. Our study indicates that the potential insufficient nutrition situation, nutritional imbalance, and dietary imbalance of low-income rural residents should be addressed appropriately.

Shrinking Working-Age Population and Food Demand: Evidence from Rural China.

China is facing a rapidly aging population, and the proportion of the working-age population (WAP) is showing a decreasing trend. In this study, we use a two-stage budgeting quadratic almost-ideal demand system framework to estimate the distribution of food demand elasticity under different proportions of the WAP in rural China. The results show that the income elasticities of rural residents' demand for fruits and vegetables, animal products, oils and fats, and grains were 0.73, 0.65, 0.55, and 0.48, respectively. Additionally, the income elasticity of rural residents tended to increase as the household proportion of the WAP decreased. These results can provide a deeper understanding of the food consumption patterns of rural residents in China, and could be used in general or partial equilibrium models to forecast food supply and demand.

Pathogenesis and phylogenetic analyses of canine distemper virus strain ZJ7 isolate from domestic dogs in China.

A new isolate of canine distemper virus (CDV), named ZJ7, was isolated from lung tissues of a dog suspected with CDV infection using MDCK cells. The ZJ7 isolate induced cytopathogenic effects of syncytia in MDCK cell after six passages. In order to evaluate pathogenesis of ZJ7 strain, three CDV sero-negative dogs were intranasally inoculated with its virus suspension. All infected dogs developed clinical signs of severe bloody diarrhea, conjunctivitis, ocular discharge, nasal discharge and coughing, fever and weight loss at 21 dpi, whereas the mock group infected with DMEM were normal. The results demonstrated that CDV-ZJ7 strain isolated by MDCK cell was virulent, and the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of strain ZJ7 had no change after isolation by MDCK cell when compared with the original virus from the fresh tissues. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses for the nucleocapsid (N), phosphoprotein (P) and receptor binding haemagglutinin (H) gene of the ZJ7 isolate clearly showed it is joins to the Asia 1 group cluster of CDV strains, the predominant genotype in China.

Internet Access and Nutritional Intake: Evidence from Rural China.

Over the past 4 decades, China has experienced a nutritional transition and has developed the largest population of internet users. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of internet access on the nutritional intake in Chinese rural residents. An IV-Probit-based propensity score matching method was used to determine the impact of internet access on nutritional intake. The data were collected from 10,042 rural households in six Chinese provinces. The results reveal that rural residents with internet access have significantly higher energy, protein, and fat intake than those without. Chinese rural residents with internet access consumed 1.35% (28.62 kcal), 5.02% (2.61 g), and 4.33% (3.30 g) more energy, protein, and fat, respectively. There was heterogeneity in regard to the intake of energy, protein, and fat among those in different income groups. Moreover, non-staple food consumption is the main channel through which internet access affects nutritional intake. The results demonstrate that the local population uses the internet to improve their nutritional status. Further studies are required to investigate the impact of internet use on food consumed away from home and micronutrient intake.

Effects of depression, diabetes distress, diabetes self-efficacy, and diabetes self-management on glycemic control among Chinese population with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: To examine the direct and indirect effects of depression, diabetes distress, diabetes self-efficacy and diabetes self-management on glycemic control among a group of T2DM patients in China. METHOD: A convenience sample of 254 participants were selected from three outpatient departments in Beijing, China. They were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Diabetes-related information was retrieved from their medical records. Descriptive statistics, independent student t tests, Chi-square tests, correlation analyses and Generalized Structural Equation Modeling were used. RESULTS: Only 91 (35.82%) participants achieved optimal glycemic control of HbA1c<7.0% (53mmol/mol). Only diabetes self-management had a direct effect on glycemic control (OR=0.95, P<0.001). Depression and diabetes distress had only indirect effects on glycemic control through both diabetes self-efficacy and diabetes self-management. Diabetes self-efficacy only had an indirect effect on glycemic control through diabetes self-management. CONCLUSIONS: Glycemic control among Chinese population with T2DM was suboptimal. Future interventions should focus on decreasing depressive symptoms and diabetes distress levels, and, therefore, improve diabetes self-efficacy and self-management practices and, ultimately, reach the optimal goal of glycemic control.

Cooperation of protease-activated receptor 1 and integrin ανß5 in thrombin-mediated lung cancer cell invasion.

Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) and integrins play an important role in thrombin-mediated tumor cell invasion. However, the role of PAR1 and integrin ανß5 and the relationship between the two receptors in thrombin-induced lung cancer invasion remains unknown. Moreover, the mechanisms through which immobilized thrombin facilitates tumor invasion are poorly understood. In this study, both native and immobilized thrombin promoted lung cancer cell adhesion, migration and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. Integrin ανß5 is involved in both native and immobilized thrombin-mediated tumor cell invasion; PAR1 had no effect on immobilized thrombin-mediated cell invasion. PAR1 and integrin ανß5 colocalized on the surface of native thrombin-treated cells. This study suggests that targeting of integrin ανß5 or the PAR1-integrin ανß5 complex may present an important therapeutic opportunity to prevent lung cancer invasion.

[Isolation, identification and genetic analysis of an H1N1 subtype isolate of swine influenza virus].

In 2006, a swine influenza virus (SIV) isolate was isolated from 30 nasal swabs samples collected from pigs with clinical syndromes of swine influenza in a pig farm of Liaoning Province. The virus isolate was studied and identified by the growth in 9-11 days old chicken embryo, hemagglutination (HA) assay, hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays (RT-PCR) for its genetic subtype, whole gene sequence analysis and animal trial for its virulence. The virus isolate demonstrated the hemagglutination activity. Result of HI test against H1 subtype of SIV was positive, however, the results were negative when the HI studies were conducted using SIV H3 subtype virus and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). Eight gene segments of the virus isolate were amplified by RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of the gene sequence of the virus isolate by using DNAstar software program revealed that the isolate have the H1 HA gene, by comparing to the sequences of H1-H16 in the GenBank. Furthermore, sequencing results also demonstrated that the virus isolate's NA gene belongs to N1 subtype. Therefore, the subtype of the SIV isolate is H1N1. The results of sequence analysis indicated that the genome of the SIV-H1N1 LN strain includes 8 fragments, among which only M protein gene is not swine originated. All other 7 fragments have close relationship with the domestic standard swine H1N1 strains. Results suggested that the SIV isolate LN strain might be created by a possible triple reassortants among the classic swine influenza virus, human influenza-like virus, and avian influenza-like virus. Piglets were inoculated with the SIV LN strain virus preparations and the virus caused the typical clinical symptoms of swine influenza in the inoculated piglets. This study, the isolation, identification and genetic analysis of the SIV LN strain provided useful information and basic data for the further investigation of epidemic principles and patterns of swine influenza virus in China.

A fusion protein with improved thrombolytic effect and low bleeding risk.

To resolve the therapeutic dilemma between efficacy of thrombolysis and bleeding risk associated with the use of a combination of thrombolytic and anticoagulant treatments, we created a fusion protein. Staphylokinase was fused to the N-terminus of hirudin using thrombin recognition sequence as linker peptide, resulting in a fusion protein STH. We hypothesised that STH would be cleaved by thrombin at the thrombus site, releasing staphylokinase and hirudin to perform bifunctionally, and attenuating bleeding risk. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analyses indicated that the linker peptide could be specially recognised and cleaved by thrombin. Amidolytic and thromboelastogram assays showed that the N-terminus of hirudin in STH was blocked by staphylokinase and linker peptide, impeding hirudin's anticoagulant activity. Once cleaved, STH displayed 35.7% of the anticoagulant activity of equimolar hirudin and exhibited anticoagulant effects in the fibrin clot lysis assay. Thrombin-binding and fibrin clot lysis assays showed that the C-terminus of hirudin retained its high affinity for thrombin. Moreover, STH showed improved thrombolytic effects and a lower bleeding risk in animals. Thus, STH may have the capacity to perform bifunctionally and release anticoagulant activity in a thrombus-targeted manner in vivo, which may reduce the bleeding risk that often accompanies high thrombolytic efficacy in the treatment of thromboembolic diseases.