High Level Group Research Articles

Risk factors for the spread of African Swine Fever in China: A systematic review of Chinese-language literature.

African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) is a contagious pathogen that can cause severe acute haemorrhagic fever in pigs. The first occurrence of an ASF outbreak in Asia was reported in China in August 2018. The devastating impacts caused by ASF on the pig industry have strongly focused research on risk factors for the spread of ASFV. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the potential knowledge gap in the English literature on risk factors for the spread of ASFV in outbreaks that occurred in China, 2018-2020. China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was searched as the primary database. Sixty-four records were screened, and 31 (48%) records were included in data extraction. These records were also assessed for quality of evidence. Frequency tables for reported risks were created, considering quality of evidence. A narrative summary of mortality rate and case fatality rate reported in a small number of records was made. Mortality rate was reported in seven studies, ranging from 3.7% to 84.0% (median 11.9%). Case fatality rate was reported in six studies, ranging from 20.6% to 100% (median 63.3%). Based on 31 reviewed records, live pig transport, swill feeding and vehicles were the three most important risks for spread contributing to the ASF epidemic in China. Bites of infected Ornithodoros ticks was stated in 12 low level of evidence records but only 1 high level of evidence record as a risk factor for transmission. Direct contact with wild pigs was reported to be a risk factor in 8 records with low level of evidence, and 1 record from the high level of evidence group. However, limited evidence was provided to support the tick-domestic pig or wild pig-domestic pig transmission routes in China. Lack of resources to obtain veterinary assistance and to improve husbandry and biosecurity was mentioned four times in the 31 records, especially in remote rural areas. In conclusion, to effectively control the spread of ASF, it is very important to reduce mechanical dissemination of ASFV by vehicles and live pig transport involved in the production cycle and to ensure that transported pigs are always subject to inspection and quarantine. Additionally, despite strict implementation of prohibition on swill feeding often being impractical or nearly impossible, ensuring the safety of pig feed can greatly contribute to disease prevention. Improvement in biosecurity management, specifically environment disinfection, carcass disposal, and decontamination of vehicles and personnel will be most effective in reducing the risk of infection in small-scale pig farms.

The bias in estimating accessibility inequalities using gravity-based metrics

Accessibility measures have been extensively used to explore the outcomes of the spatial distribution of transport, jobs, and population groups in cities. Despite its wide use, identifying the population groups that most benefit from accessibility is not straightforward and different metrics might result in different conclusions. The present work aims to analyze the potential bias of using gravity-based measures based on revealed mobilities to identify job accessibility inequalities. By looking at two large and very different regions, the municipality of São Paulo (SP) and the Greater London Area (GLA), we argue that distance decay functions built from current trip behaviors should be carefully used in evaluations of accessibility inequalities because it may underestimate disparities between socio-occupational groups and also result in a misleading interpretation of impedance factors. Two distinct approaches were implemented to support those claims. We first estimate group-specific distance decay functions, considering only travel time. Secondly, we consider both travel time and travel cost relative to income to estimate zone-specific and city-specific distance decay functions for each one of the study areas. The population of both cases studies was stratified according to the NS-SEC standard to select the highest and the lowest socio-occupational groups and to explore job accessibility inequalities. It was found that higher-level and lower-level socio-occupational groups of SP and GLA present striking differences in terms of travel times and relative travel costs, with SP being more unequal. By applying the distance decay function of the lowest level socio-occupational group to the calculations of the job accessibility of the highest level group, and by adding travel cost to the analysis, we highlight inconsistencies between gravity-based accessibility calculations and theory, as trips taken by different groups can be mistakenly associated with willingness to travel. From a policy perspective, our findings emphasize that accessibility inequalities in large urban centers, especially in the Global South, can be underestimated if revealed mobilities are considered to represent the willingness to travel and by not taking into account the relative cost of travel.

MicroRNA-143 expression inhibits the growth and the invasion of osteosarcoma

BackgroundOsteosarcoma (OS) is a common malignant tumor, which occurs in the metaphysis of the long diaphysis from mesenchymal tissue. Previous studies have indicated that expression of microRNA-143 (miR-143) could affect cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The present research was performed to figure out whethermiR-143 expression inhibits the growth and the invasion of OS.MethodsWe conducted a literature search in the electronic databases of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, SinoMed, WanFang, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI) until January 2022. We used Review Manager 5.3 software to conduct our research.ResultsTwelve eligible articles were included, 5 articles were reported outcomes about mice, 11 articles were reported outcomes about human. The results of mice demonstrated that the miR-143 group had significantly better results in tumor volume, tumor weight and survival rate. The results of human demonstrated that the high level of miR-143 group had significantly better results in the 3-year, 4-year, and 5-year survival rate, lung metastasis and tumor grade.ConclusionsMiR-143 has potentially important value in the treatment and prognosis of OS. However, more reliable animal and clinical trials are needed before miR-143 based therapies can be transferred from animal studies to human applications.

Age at Menarche in Urban Girls Exposed to Lead in the Copper Basin, Poland.

Simple SummaryLead is an environmental pollutant that negatively affects human growth, development and health. However, research into its effect on age at menarche (first menstruation), a proxy for maturation, is, to some extent, inconclusive. In this study, we identified that lower than currently acceptable blood lead level was related to later menarche. However, body weight and fatness had a moderating effect on this relationship, decreasing its significance.Lead negatively affects human growth and development. In this research, we aimed to assess the effect of elevated blood lead level on age at menarche (AM), controlling for body mass index (BMI) and estimated fatness. The sample included 490 girls aged 7–16 examined in Polkowice town (Copper Basin, Poland) in 2008. Measurements included height, weight, skinfold thicknesses and estimated percentage of body fat. AM was assessed using the status quo method. Blood samples were taken for lead level assessment. Two groups were defined based on the median blood lead level for the total sample of children (3.7 µg/dL). Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between AM and independent variables. The results indicated that menarche in the higher blood lead level group was significantly later compared to the lower blood lead level group (p < 0.01). This relationship remained only marginally significant when BMI (p < 0.10), sum of skinfolds (p < 0.09) or percentage of fat (p < 0.08) were controlled. The results revealed that a lower blood lead level (3.7 µg/dL) than the currently acceptable threshold (5 µg/dL) is related to a later AM; however, this relationship is moderated by body fatness, which may decrease its significance.

Developing language attitudes in a second language

AbstractThe current study explores the second language(L2) acquisition of subconsciously held language attitudes. Specifically, we determine whether L2 learners perceive differences between Spanish speakers of four geographic varieties and evaluate them differently, and if these perceptions change with proficiency. Following sociolinguistic methodological practices, we administered a verbal guise task to American English-speaking learners of Spanish from four university enrollment levels. We found that the learners differentially evaluated speakers of these regional varieties across dimensions of solidarity (kindness) and standardness (prestige). We observed development across levels in the evaluation of regional varieties for prestige, while differentiations in kindness ratings remained consistent across levels. We also show that, for our highest-level group, study abroad experience may contribute to patterns of subconscious evaluation. Although one would not expect L2 classroom learners to possess native-like subconscious attitudes, the present study is an essential step in understanding how such attitudes develop in L2 acquisition.

Evaluation of C-reactive protein and platelet–lymphocyte ratio as potential tumor markers in Egyptian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent type of liver malignancy. For HCCs with low or normal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), several indicators have been proposed. Aim To evaluate C-reactive protein (CRP) and platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as potential HCC markers. Patients and methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out at the Tropical Medicine Department of Tanta University. A total of 90 patients with cirrhosis owing to chronic hepatitis C were divided into group 1, which included 30 patients with HCC with low AFP; group 2, which included 30 patients with HCC with elevated AFP (&gt;20 ng/ml); and group 3, which included 30 patients with liver cirrhosis (as control group). The PLR, CRP, and AFP were measured in each group. Results There were significant differences among the studied groups regarding CRP and AFP, with highest levels in group 2 and then group 1 and the least level in group 3. PLR showed significantly higher levels in group 3 when compared with group 2 and group 1. Conclusion CRP can differentiate patients with HCC in total and patients with HCC with low AFP from patients with cirrhosiswith high sensitivity and moderate specificity. When PLR is combined with CRP, the specificity is increased for the diagnosis of HCC cases from patients with cirrhosis.

Reading strategies and attitudes of young learners of English during online extensive reading

This study aims to analyze reading strategies and reading attitudes of elementary school students during online extensive reading. A total of 69 students participated in this study and were divided into two groups: a higher-level group (n = 21) and a lower-level group (n = 21). Both groups were asked to complete surveys concerning their reading strategies and reading attitudes, and take a reading proficiency test. Results showed that there was no significant difference between the higher-level group and the lower-level group in terms of their use of reading strategies. However, a significant difference was observed between two groups regarding anxiety and discomfort. Moreover, male students and female students showed a significant difference in terms of their use of reading strategies. There was a meaningful relationship between reading strategies and the students’ intellectual value regardless of their proficiency level. For the lower-level group in particular, there was also a significant relationship between reading strategies and comfort as well as between reading strategies and anxiety. Based on these findings, an appropriate teaching of reading strategies and the support of interesting activities to lower students’ anxiety can be suggested for a successful online English reading.

Prospective analysis of laboratory blood parameters in patients with cardiovascular diseases who underwent COVID-19-associated pneumonia.

The study of the characteristics and dynamics of laboratory biomarkers in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) undergoing COVID-19-associated pneumonia may be of great clinical importance. The study included 116 patients who underwent COVID-19-associated pneumonia. The patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group included 49 patients without CVD, the second group - 67 patients with CVD. A blood sample was performed in all patients at the time of hospitalization and 3 months after discharge from the hospital. The parameters of general blood count, biochemistry, hemostasis, and biomarkers of inflammation were assessed - concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP), homocysteine and IL-6. All patients initially underwent computed tomography of the chest organs. We found that ESR, WBC (leukocytes), NLR (neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio), fibrinogen, LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), LYM/CRP ratio (lymphocytes/CRP) were parameters that significantly distinguished patients in the 1st and 2nd groups. Three months after discharge from the hospital in patients of both groups the increased indicators approached the reference values, however, some parameters such as CRP, ESR, WBC, fibrinogen remained at a higher level in group 2 compared to group 1. Correlation analysis revealed the relationship between parameters of inflammation and hemostasis in the 2nd group of patients, which confirms the presence of latent vascular inflammatory potential in this group. It was revealed that such indicators as lymphocytes, neutrophils, APTT and LDH were associated with the initial volume of lung lesion more than 50%. Increase of these parameters by 1 unit contributes to increase in the volume of lung tissue damage by 6.5%, 6.4%, 11%, and 0.6%, respectively. Thus, dynamic control of laboratory parameters has prognostic value in assessing the nature of the course of COVID-19 associated pneumonia in patients with CVD and developing an algorithm for personalized monitoring of patients in the post-COVID period with the aim of timely correction of therapy to prevent unwanted vascular complications.

Serum kisspeptin, leptin, neuropeptide Y, and neurokinin B levels in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by ovarian dysfunction, clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Its pathogenesis is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between kisspeptin, leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), and neurokinin B (NKB) levels for evaluating the pathogenesis of PCOS. Levels of these parameters were analyzed in 20 patients with PCOS, and 16 healthy adolescents. Serum NPY levels were significantly higher in the obese and non-obese PCOS group (p<0.01). There was a negative correlation between the kisspeptin and the NKB levels (p<0.01) in the PCOS group but not in the control group. This negative correlation was also found in both PCOS groups (p<0.01). In the obese PCOS group, serum kisspeptin levels were significantly lower than the control and non-obese PCOS groups (p<0.05) although serum leptin and NPY levels were significantly higher in the obese PCOS group (p<0.01). The high NPY levels in both obese and non-obese patients with PCOS indicate that NPY plays a role in the pathogenesis independently from obesity. Significantly high leptin and low kisspeptin levels in the obese PCOS group suggested that they may be associated with obesity rather than PCOS.

Transforming resilience in the context of a pandemic: results from a cross-industry case study exploring supply chain viability

ABSTRACT Lately, there has been increased interest among researchers in studying the resilience of manufacturing supply chains. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions in global supply chains, which have led to calls for greater resilience in these supply chains. This study provides insights into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on supply chain resilience by conducting a multiple case study in three intertwined industries based on the dynamic capability view and the relational capability view as a theoretical underpinning. Data were collected during the pandemic in a two-stage interview process with 18 supply chain and production experts directly involved in crisis management. Internal and external documents supplemented the interviews. The results revealed seven higher-level capability groups for building resilience in intertwined supply chains during a pandemic outbreak: agility, collaboration, digital preparedness, flexible redundancy, human resource management, contingency planning, and transparency and visibility. Each capability group is supported by associated capabilities extracted from the data analysis. The findings obtained based on the results of the multiple case study are discussed, and implications for management and future research directions are presented.

A Study of Critical Thinking Skills Practice in Collaborative Writing in EFL Context

The present study aims to explore critical thinking from EFL Thai students’ perspectives in collaborative writing activity. The subjects were 32 second-year English major students composing paragraph writing in the Writing II course. They were divided into three groups based on their English proficiency: advanced, intermediate, and novice, and data was collected using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The critical thinking skills questionnaire was utilized to collect quantitative data, and the results were analyzed using Mean and Standard deviation. For qualitative data, an interview was used to collect critical thinking skills practice of six students randomly selected. The quantitative results revealed that the highest critical thinking skills practice was found in analyzing (Mean=3.47, SD=1.15), followed by evaluating (Mean=3.44, SD=1.27), and creating (Mean=3.34, SD=.03), respectively. For qualitative results, it was found that the students in the high level of English proficiency group reported they practiced critical thinking by analyzing, evaluating, and creating. They produced a new sentence and a paragraph, selected the best ideas, and categorized the supporting details based on information and ideas from peers. Regarding intermediate and novice level groups, they reported identically that they frequently practiced analyzing and evaluating. Analyzing and assessing were two critical thinking abilities that were commonly utilized. They have to do with comparing and choosing content, as well as elements of arguments and supporting statements. As a result, collaborative writing appeared to promote pupils to use critical thinking skills when writing.

Impairment of sperm efficiency in mice following short-term nano-titanium dioxide exposure: An experimental study.

BackgroundTitanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiONPs) are widely used in many compounds. Recent evidence has displayed some cytotoxic effects of TiONPs on male reproduction.Objective The effects of TiONP administration on sperm parameters and chromatin and seminiferous histopathology of male mice were investigated.Materials and MethodsIn this experimental study, 32 NMRI male mice (35 3 gr, 8-12-week-old) were divided into four groups (n = 8/each): treated groups were fed orally with 2.5 (group I), 5 (group II) and 10 (group III) mg/kg/day TiONPs for 40 days and the control group received phosphate buffered saline. Sperm parameters, DNA integrity and chromatin quality were assessed using chromomycin A3, aniline blue, toluidine blue staining and TUNEL. Hematoxylin eosin staining was performed to measure spermatogenic cells and the total diameter of seminiferous tubules. Also, sex hormone and malondyaldehyde levels were measured.ResultsAbnormal sperm tails rose in group III (28.87 4.91) in comparison with the control group (12.75 3.95). However, chromomycin A3 staining and TUNEL showed higher levels in group III in comparison with the control group, whereas aniline blue and toluidine blue staining showed no differences. A significantly lower spermatogenesis index and lumen parameters were observed in group III. Leydig cell numbers, cellular diameters and the area of the seminiferous tubules were lower in the treated groups. The testosterone level was also lower in these groups and the percentage of malondyaldehyde in the seminal fluid was higher.ConclusionExact mechanisms of TiONPs are not clear; however, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of TiONPs may relate to oxidative stress. Given their widespread use, TiONPs should be a public health focus of attention.

Overtourism: An Analysis of Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors with the Evasion Indicators of Residents in Brazilian Coastal Destinations

ABSTRACT This study aims to analyze the correlation between demographic and socioeconomic factors with indicators of overtourism with the residents' evasion in the high season. The results suggest that the economic cost indicator is the primary variable responsible for residents' evasion due to mobility, agglomeration, and temporary inflation. Behavioral aspects related to inappropriate behavior, vandalism, and delinquent behavior mainly affect the groups of higher education and income levels. The number of tourists is not necessarily the main factor in this perception of overtourism and points to the need for a shift in short-term thinking by the public and private sector, focusing not only on increasing profits and on the reduction of costs, but in the restructuring of master plans and dispersion of tourists through the promotion of other spaces in the cities. The study provides evidence that allows the public and private sectors to promote a better residents' quality of life.

Response of Soil Nematode Community Structure and Function to Monocultures of Pumpkin and Melon.

It is well known that crop monoculture can induce negative effects on soil ecosystems and crop productivity. However, little is known about how vegetable monoculture affects the soil nematode community structure and its relationship with vegetable yields. In this study, the composition, abundance, metabolic footprint, and ecological indices of soil nematodes are investigated in monocultures of pumpkin and melon. The relationships between nematode community structure and yields of pumpkin and melon were analyzed by linear regression. Both monoculture soils of pumpkin and melon suppressed the relative abundance of bacterivores but increased the relative abundance of plant parasites. Pumpkin monoculture soils decreased soil nematode diversity but increased the maturity index of plant parasites. Monoculture soils of pumpkin and melon decreased the metabolic footprint of lower- and higher-level trophic groups of the soil food web, respectively. Pumpkin and melon monoculture soils increased the food web indices channel index (CI) but decreased the enrichment index (EI) and the structure index (SI). The monoculture soils of pumpkin and melon led to a more fungal-dominated decomposition pathway and degraded soil food web conditions. The abundance of bacterivores and food web indices EI and SI were positively correlated with soil nutrients and pH, while the abundance of plant parasites and CI were negatively correlated with soil nutrients and pH. Paratylenchus was negatively correlated with pumpkin and melon yields and could be the potential plant parasites threatening pumpkin and melon productions. Redundancy analysis showed that monocultures of pumpkin and melon altered the soil nematode community via soil properties; total N, total P, alkeline-N, and pH were the main driving factors.

CYFRA21-1 is a more sensitive biomarker to assess the severity of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

BackgroundSerum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CYFRA21-1 are the commonly used biomarkers to identify patients with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (APAP). However, it is not clear which of the biomarkers is more sensitive to the severity of the patient’s condition.MethodsAPAP patients numbering 151 were enrolled in this study. All patients’ severity was assessed through the severity and prognosis score of PAP (SPSP). According to the respective laboratory upper limits of serum levels of LDH, CEA and CYFRA21-1, APAP patients were divided into higher and lower-level groups. Patients were divided into five groups based on SPSP. 88 patients had completed six months of follow-up. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and critical point of LDH, CEA and CYFRA21-1 between APAP patients and normal control group, and between grade 1–2 and 3–5 through receiving operating characteristics (ROC) curve.ResultsSerum LDH, CEA and CYFRA21-1 levels of patients with PAP were higher and distinctly related to PaO2, FVC, FEV1, DLCO, HRCT scores and SPSP. The SPSP of patients in higher-level LDH, CEA and CYFRA21-1 groups were higher than those of corresponding lower-level groups. Based on SPSP results, the patients were divided into five groups (grade I, 20; grade II, 37; grade III, 40; grade IV, 38; grade V, 16). The serum level of CYFRA21-1 of patients with APAP in grade II was higher than that of patients in grade I and lower than that of patients in grade III. Serum CYFRA21-1 of patients with APAP after six months were higher than the baseline among the aggravated group. Serum LDH, CEA and CYFRA21-1 levels after six months among patients in the relieved group of patients with APAP were lower than the baseline. ROC correlating LDH, CEA and CYFRA21-1 values with APAP severity (between grade 1–2 and 3–5) showed an optimal cutoff of LDH of over 203 U/L (< 246 U/L), CEA of over 2.56 ug/L (< 10 ug/L), and CYFRA21-1 of over 5.57 ng/ml (> 3.3 ng/ml) (AUC: 0.815, 95% CI [0.748–0.882], sensitivity: 0.606, specificity: 0.877).ConclusionSerum CYFRA21-1 level was more sensitive in revealing the severity of APAP than LDH and CEA levels among mild to moderate forms of disease.

The prognostic role of inflammatory markers in COVID-19 patients: A retrospective analysis in a tertiary care hospital of southern India

Background: Approximately 5% of COVID-19 patients suffer from near-fatal disease. Clinical and radiologic features may predict severe disease although with limited specificity and radiation hazard. Laboratory biomarkers are specific, simple, and point-of-care triage tools that can be used to predict the severity of the disease. This research aimed to study the role of inflammatory markers (serum ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], D-dimer, and C-reactive protein [CRP]) in prognosticating COVID-19 patients. Methodology: This was a hospital-based retrospective study conducted on COVID-19 adult inpatients classified into three groups: mild disease-recovered (Group I), severe disease-recovered (Group II), and dead (Group III). Categorical outcomes were compared using the Chi-square test. Univariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association between the outcome and explanatory variables. An unadjusted odds ratio (OR) along with a 95% confidence interval was calculated. The utility of laboratory parameters (ferritin, LDH, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, D-dimer, and platelet/lymphocyte ratio) in predicting the severity of COVID-19 was assessed by the receiver operative curve analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 500 case records were analyzed. The mean age was 49.32 ± 17.1 years. About 72.4% were <60 years and 301 male and 199 female patients were included. The comorbidity count included diabetes 168 (33.6%), hypertension 122 (24.4%), coronary artery disease 23 (4.6%), hypothyroidism 3 (6%), and others 33 (6.6%) The median levels of ferritin among the three groups differed significantly bearing higher levels in Group 3 (P < 0.001). Median LDH and D-dimer values of the three groups showed statistical significance (P < 0.001). Qualitative CRP was significantly associated with poor outcomes (P < 0.001). The odds of patients suffering severe COVID-19 rose with rising values of ferritin, LDH, and D-dimer (unadjusted OR: 1.007, 1.004, and 1.020). Conclusion: Onetime measurement of serum ferritin, LDH, D-dimer, and CRP performed between 7th and 10th day of symptoms significantly predicted outcomes for COVID-19 inpatients.

Validity of score interpretations on an online English placement writing test

A much-debated question in the L2 assessment field is if computer familiarity should be considered a potential source of construct-irrelevant variance in computer-based writing (CBW) tests. This study aims to make a partial validity argument for an online source-based writing test (OSWT) designed for English placement testing (EPT), focusing on the explanation inference. Score interpretations on the OWST are proposed and supporting evidence is sought in terms of test-takers’ self-confidence in and preferences for CBW tests (two interrelated aspects of computer familiarity) and L2 writing ability. Ninety-seven ESL students demonstrating two different levels (higher and lower levels) of L2 writing ability studying at a US university completed the OSWT and an online questionnaire asking about their attitudes towards CBW tests. A series of statistical and thematic analyses revealed that most of the test-takers held self-confidence in and preferences for CBW tests for reasons related to previous CBW experience (e.g., familiarity with CBW, useful tools/functions available on computers) regardless of L2 writing ability. The higher-level test-takers obtained significantly higher scores on the OSWT than their lower-level counterparts. Test-takers’ preferences were a significant predictor of the OSWT scores only in the higher-level group. The findings largely support the validity of proposed score interpretations on the OSWT. Implications are discussed in terms of test fairness and the construct of CBW tests.

Dietary beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate supplementation improves meat quality of Bama Xiang mini-pigs through manipulation of muscle fiber characteristics

• HMB supplementation (0.13%) decreases subcutaneous fat accumulation. • HMB supplementation (0.13%) improves meat quality of pigs. • HMB supplementation promotes muscle fiber type switching from type II to type I. • HMB’s beneficial effects were associated with AMPKα-Sirt1 signaling. To analyse the effects of dietary beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate (HMB) on meat quality, 32 Bama Xiang mini-pigs was selected and fed 1 of 4 diets for 60 days: HMB deficient group (0%, control), low, moderate, and high levels of HMB group (0.13%, 0.64%, 1.28%, respectively). We found quadratic effects for backfat thickness and lean percentage ( P < 0.05) as well as a* value in selected muscles (0.05 < P < 0.10), and the best effects were noted in the 0.13% HMB group. Moreover, dietary HMB quadratically increased the mRNA expression levels of MyHC I, AMPKα, and Sirt1 in selected muscles, the highest values were observed in the 0.13% HMB group. These results suggest that low HMB levels improved meat quality of Bama Xiang mini-pigs via the changed myofiber characteristics induced by AMPKα-Sirt1 axis.

The impact of education as a marker of socio-economic status on survival of patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

IntroductionAn association exists between low socio-economic status (SES) and increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality worldwide.AimTo evaluate the impact of educational level as a marker of socio-economic status (SES) on the clinical condition of patients before transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and survival after TAVI.Material and methodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study involving patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent TAVI. We divided patients based on their level of education into lower (LLE) and higher educational level (HLE) groups. We evaluated periprocedural (combined endpoints of device success (DS) and early safety (ES), according to VARC2 criteria) and mid-term outcomes (all-cause and cardiovascular mortality).ResultsOf the 379 study patients, 212 were in the LLE group. The mean follow-up was 2.1 ±1.8 years. Patients with a LLE were younger (77.4 ±7.2 vs. 79.4 ±6.5 years, p = 0.006) and more often female (58% vs. 40%, p < 0.001). They had higher body mass index (29.5 ±5.7 vs. 28.3 ±4.8, p = 0.037), more often type 2 diabetes mellitus (43% vs. 31%, p = 0.013) and moderate or severe aortic regurgitation (8% vs. 2%, p = 0.026), and some patients’ condition required urgent TAVI (5% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). There were no differences in combined procedural endpoints. The all-cause mortality during mid-term follow-up was 25% in the LLE group and 24% in the HLE group (log-rank, p = 0.941). Cardiovascular mortality was 19% in both groups (log-rank, p = 0.925).ConclusionsPatients with an LLE required TAVI at a younger age, had more comorbidities and had a more risky profile. Level of education did not influence periprocedural and mid-term outcomes.

Effect of castration and testosterone administration on the analgesic efficacies of methanolic extract of Annona Senegalensis and Piroxicam in Wistar rats

Introduction: Analgesic potency of Annona senegalensis (crude stem-bark methanolic extract) and piroxicam on castrated and testosterone-treated male Wistar rats were evaluated. Methods: Twenty-five (25) mature male Wistar rats with average body weight of 184 ± 4.1 g were randomly allocated into five groups of five (n = 5) rats each. Groups I and II were non-castrated (NC) and treated as follows: group I (NC + Annona senegalensis {AS; 910mg/kg}), while group II (NC + piroxicam {PRX; 10mg//kg}). Rats in groups III, IV and V were castrated and treated as follows: castrated (CS) + distilled water {DW; 0.5ml/rat}); (CS + Annona senegalensis {AS; 910mg/kg}); (CS + AS + Testosterone 400µg/rat) respectively. The latent period of pain sensation (analgesic time) was determined using hot plate thermal method, and recorded in seconds. Results: Latent period of analgesia in rats was recorded at 0, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-mins post treatment with A. Senegalensis and piroxicam. The serum concentration of testosterone post experiment showed higher levels in group II rats (NC+PRX; {4.3ng/ml}) while group III and V rats had the lowest concentration (CS+DW; CS+AS+TES {2.9ng/ml}) and group IV rats all died after the experiment (CS+AS). The findings of the study indicated that the analgesia effect of A. senegalensis is higher than the piroxicam-induced analgesia (3.8±1.2 vs 1.0±0.0sec, 2.0±1.4 vs 1.0±0.0sec) at 30mins and 60mins in groups I and II respectively. Significance: Castration and testosterone replacement did not affect the Analgesic effect of Annona senegalensis while castration enhanced the latent period of thermal pain sensation.