Sideband cooling of a trapped ion in strong sideband coupling regime.

Conventional theoretical studies on the ground-state laser cooling of a trapped ion have mostly focused on the weak sideband coupling (WSC) regime, where the cooling rate is inverse proportional to the linewidth of the excited state. In a recent work [New J. Phys.23, 023018 (2021)10.1088/1367-2630/abe273], we proposed a theoretical framework to study the ground state cooling of a trapped ion in the strong sideband coupling (SSC) regime, under the assumption of a vanishing carrier transition. Here we extend this analysis to more general situations with nonvanishing carrier transitions, where we show that by properly tuning the coupling lasers a cooling rate proportional to the linewidth can be achieved. Our theoretical predictions closely agree with the corresponding exact solutions in the SSC regime, which provide an important theoretical guidance for sideband cooling experiments.

Monitoring the lipid oxidation and flavor of Russian sturgeon fillets treated with low temperature vacuum heating: formation and relationship.

BACKGROUND: Sturgeon is one of the most precious fish resources worldwide. Low temperature vacuum heating (LTVH) has been confirmed as a good way of maintaining food quality. However, there is a lack of in-depth studies assessing the impact of LTVH on lipid oxidation and flavor formation. RESULTS: The present study compared the effect of LTVH and traditional cooking on lipid oxidation and flavor of sturgeon fillets. In total, 13 fatty acids were detected, of which polyunsaturated fatty acids content was the highest (P < 0.05). LTVH prevented the formation of conjugated diene and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (P < 0.05), as manifested by an increased signal intensity of free radicals of electron spin resonance. The characteristic peaks intensity of lipid by Raman at 970 cm-1 , 1080 cm-1 and 1655 cm-1 were reduced, whereas peaks at 1068 cm-1 and 1125 cm-1 displayed the opposite trend. Confocal fluorescence microscopy showed that the lipids particles were reduced and distributed more evenly with an increase in heating temperature. Principal component analysis of electronic nose cannot effectively separate all groups; however, gas chromatography-ion migration spectrometry showed that the volatile flavor compounds were relatively stable during LTVH. Correlation analysis of all the above lipid oxidation indices and characteristic flavor substances showed that each treatment group was located in different quadrants and demonstrated great differentiation. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results of the present study support the view that LTVH is a healthier way of cooking. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Perilipin 5 deficiency promotes atherosclerosis progression through accelerating inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress.

Excessive plasma triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels promote the progression of several prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, including atherosclerosis, which is a leading death cause. Perilipin 5 (Plin5), an important perilipin protein, is abundant in tissues with very active lipid catabolism and is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress. Although inflammation and oxidative stress play a critical role in atherosclerosis development, the underlying mechanisms are complex and not completely understood. In the present study, we demonstrated the role of Plin5 in high-fat-diet-induced atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E null (ApoE-/- ) mice. Our results suggested that Plin5 expressions increased in the artery tissues of ApoE-/- mice. ApoE/Plin5 double knockout (ApoE-/- Plin5-/- ) exacerbated severer atherogenesis, accompanied with significantly disturbed plasma metabolic profiles, such as elevated TG, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol contents. ApoE-/- Plin5-/- exhibited a higher number of inflammatory monocytes and neutrophils, as well as overexpression of cytokines and chemokines linked with an inflammatory response. Consistently, the IκBα/nuclear factor kappa B pathway was strongly activated in ApoE-/- Plin5-/- . Notably, apoptosis was dramatically induced by ApoE-/- Plin5-/- , as evidenced by increased cleavage of Caspase-3 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-2. In addition, ApoE-/- Plin5-/- contributed to oxidative stress generation in the aortic tissues, which was linked with the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B and mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways. In vitro, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) increased Plin5 expression in RAW264.7 cells. Its knockdown enhanced inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and lipid accumulation, while promotion of Plin5 markedly reduced all the effects induced by ox-LDL in cells. These studies strongly supported that Plin5 could be a new regulator against atherosclerosis, providing new insights on therapeutic solutions.

Plin5 deficiency promotes atherosclerosis progression through accelerating inflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Excessive plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels promote the progression of several prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, including atherosclerosis, which is a leading death cause. Perilipin 5 (Plin5), an important perilipin protein, is abundant in tissues with very active lipid catabolism, and is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress. Although, in?ammation and oxidative stress play a critical role in atherosclerosis development, the underlying mechanisms are complex and not completely understood. In the present study, we demonstrated the role of Plin5 in high-fat-diet-induced atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E null (ApoE-/- ) mice. Our results suggested that Plin5 expressions increased in the artery tissues of ApoE-/- mice. ApoE/Plin5 double knockout (ApoE-/- Plin5-/- ) exacerbated severer atherogenesis, accompanied with significantly disturbed plasma metabolic profiles, such as elevated triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) contents. ApoE-/- Plin5-/- exhibited higher number of inflammatory monocytes and neutrophils, as well as over-expression of cytokines and chemokines linked with inflammatory response. Consistently, IκBα/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway was strongly activated in ApoE-/- Plin5-/- . Notably, apoptosis was dramatically induced by ApoE-/- Plin5-/- , as evidenced by increased cleavage of Caspase-3 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-2 (PARP-2). In addition, ApoE-/- Plin5-/- contributed to oxidative stress generation in the aortic tissues, which was linked with the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase /protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways. In vitro, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) increased Plin5 expression in RAW264.7 cells. Its knockdown enhanced inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress and lipid accumulation, while promotion of Plin5 markedly reduced all the effects induced by ox-LDL in cells. These studies strongly supported that Plin5 could be a new regulator against atherosclerosis, providing new insights on therapeutic solutions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Treatment of biliary stenosis using percutaneous transhepatic cholangiobiopsy with biopsy forceps of varying diameter.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to compare the clinical results and pathological diagnostic quality of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiobiopsy for biliary obstruction using biopsy forceps (BFs) of varying diameter. METHODS: A total of 57 patients with obstructive jaundice who underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiobiopsy and drainage with 1 of 2 BFs diameters (6.0-mm BFs, n=30; 4.5-mm BFs, n=27) between February 2018 and May 2019 were retrospectively assessed. BFs were compared in terms of their sample quality, diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, number of passes, and complication rate. RESULTS: All 57 patients underwent the procedure successfully and the technical success rate was 100%. The 6.0- and 4.5-mm BFs demonstrated a diagnostic accuracy of 80% (24/30) and 85% (23/27), respectively (P=0.733), and a sensitivity of 78% (22/28) and 86% (22/26), respectively (P=0.729). The specificity of both the 6.0- and 4.5-mm BFs was 100%. The complication rate was 10% (3/30) with the 6.0-mm BFs and 19% (5/27) with the 4.5-mm BFs (P=0.456). The mean number of biopsies was 2.9±0.6 with the 6.0-mm BFs compared with 3.6±1.0 with the 4.5-mm BFs (P<0.001). The 6.0-mm BFs provided a larger biopsy size and a less crushed specimen compared with the 4.5-mm BFs. The overall tissue scores were 5.2±0.8 with 6.0-mm BFs and 4.5±1.0 with 4.5-mm BFs (P=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in the clinical results between the 2 BFs in the context of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiobiopsy. Superior samples were obtained using the 6.0-mm BFs, with a fewer number of passes. The complication rate did not increase compared with the 4.5-mm BFs.

Role of fundoplication in treatment of patients with symptoms of hiatal hernia.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is often associated with hiatal hernia (HH). However, the need for fundoplication during hiatal hernia repair (HHR) remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of HHR with concomitant laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (HHR-LNF) in HH patients. A total of 122 patients with symptomatic HH were randomized to receive either HHR (n = 61) or HHR-LNF (n = 61). The measures of evaluating outcomes included DeMeester scores (DMS), complications, Reflux Diagnostic Questionnaire and patients' satisfaction 24 months following surgery. Despite comparable values in both groups at randomization, the DMS, total numbers of reflux episodes and percentage of time with pH < 4 were significantly higher in HHR group than in HHR-LNF group (P = 0.017, P = 0.002 and P = 0.019, respectively) at 6 months after surgery. One months postoperatively, complications were higher in the HHR-LNF group than in the HHR group (all P < 0.001), and there was no difference between the two groups at 6 months. By the end of the 2-year follow-up, HHR-LNF group showed a significantly lower reflux syndrome frequency-intensity score and greater percentage of satisfaction compared with HHR group (all P < 0.001). Laparoscopic HHR should be combined with a fundoplication in GERD patients with HH. HHR-LNF is safe and effective, not only improve reflux-related symptom, but also reduce the incidence of complications.

Detection and characterization of Budd-Chiari syndrome with inferior vena cava obstruction: Comparison of fixed and flexible delayed scan time of computed tomography venography.

PURPOSE: To compare the results of computed tomography venography (CTV) with a fixed and a flexible delayed scan time for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) with inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 209 consecutive BCS patients with IVC obstruction underwent either a CTV with a fixed delayed scan time of 180s (n=87) or a flexible delayed scan time for good image quality according to IVC blood flow in color Doppler ultrasonography (n=122). The IVC blood flow velocity was measured using a color Doppler ultrasound prior to CT scan. Image quality was classified as either good, moderate, or poor. Image quality, surrounding structures and the morphology of the IVC obstruction were compared between the two groups using a χ2-test or paired or unpaired t-tests as appropriate. Inter-observer agreement was assessed using Kappa statistics. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in IVC blood flow velocity between the two groups. Overall image quality, surrounding structures and IVC obstruction morphology delineation on the flexible delayed scan time of CTV images were rated better relative to those obtained by fixed delayed scan time of CTV images (p<0.001). Evaluation of CTV data sets was significantly facilitated with flexible delayed scan time of CTV. There were no significant differences in Kappa statistics between Group A and Group B. CONCLUSION: The flexible delayed scan time of CTV was associated with better detection and more reliable characterization of BCS with IVC obstruction compared to a fixed delayed scan time.