Systematic evaluation of antioxidant capacities of the ethanolic extract of different tissues of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) from China

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) has long been used for human consumption and medicinal purposes in China. It is recommended for some diseases in which radical species are produced as a result of oxidative stress. However, the systematic study on the antioxidant capacities of various tissues of jujube is still lacking. In order to address this, various tissues of three jujube varieties were characterized with respect to their antioxidant capacities and antioxidant compounds such as flavonoid, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and phenolic. Antioxidant capacity was measured using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) assays. The phenolic acids were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results show that the peel of all cultivars has the highest antioxidant capacities, reflecting the highest content of total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins found in this part. In addition, the predominant phenolic acid in jujube was found to be protocatechuic acid, followed by gallic acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that Chinese jujube has a significant potential to use as a natural antioxidant agent.     

Comparison of the sensitivity of NAT using pooled donor samples for HBV and that of a serologic HBsAg assay

BACKGROUND: Studies were conducted using samples from early and late-stage HBV-infected persons to determine the pool size at which PCR had better sensitivity than a sensitive HBsAg chemoluminescence immunoassay (CLIA-HBsAg). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: HBV seroconversion panels were tested for HBsAg by CLIA and for HBV DNA by nested PCR (95% hit rate: 100 copies/mL); PCR was carried out at various dilutions. HBV serologically positive samples that were detected from the simultaneous screening of 540,161 routine whole-blood donations using CLIA-HBsAg and agglutination assays were also characterized for additional markers of HBV infection. RESULTS: In 9 of 10 HBV seroconversion panels, PCR had better sensitivity than CLIA-HBsAg at dilutions of 1-in-25 or lower. Of 65 CLIA-only confirmed-positive donor samples (agglutination assay-negative), 8 represented early infection, 2 of which were PCR positive at a 1-in-50 dilution but negative at a 1-in-100 dilution. Only 2 of 47 samples from probable late-stage HBV infection that were positive on CLIA only were PCR positive with 0.1-mL sample volume and the S-region primer; the remaining 45 samples required a 1.0-mL sample input and C-region primer for increased PCR positivity. The remaining 10 CLIA-only confirmed-positive donor samples were from HBV vaccine recipients. None of the 12 CLIA- and HBsAg-negative donor samples that were strongly anti-HBc reactive could be detected by PCR at any dilution; all 12 were PCR positive when undiluted, but 4 required a 1.0-mL input volume for PCR positivity. CONCLUSION: For the detection of samples representing early-stage HBV infection, PCR at dilutions of 1-in-25 or lower (equivalent to a pool of < or =25 members) had greater sensitivity than CLIA-HBsAg. In contrast, samples from late-stage HBV infection were detected by PCR only with undiluted samples (0.1-mL or 1.0-mL input volumes), regardless of CLIA-HBsAg reactivity. Therefore, although NAT using minipools of 25 donations or less may be effective for the detection of early-stage HBV infection, it may not be effective for the detection of persistent HBV infection.     

Magnetocardiographic Pacemapping for Nonfluoroscopic Localization of Intracardiac Electrophysiology Catheters

The purpose of the study was to validate, in patients, the accuracy of magnetocardiography (MCG) for three-dimensional localization of an amagnetic catheter (AC) for multiple monophasic action potential (MAP) with a spatial resolution of 4 mm2. The AC was inserted in five patients after routine electrophysiological study. Four MAPs were simultaneously recorded to monitor the stability of endocardial contact of the AC during the MCG localization. MAP signals were band-pass filtered DC-500 Hz and digitized at 2 KHz. The position of the AC was also imaged by biplane fluoroscopy (XR), along with lead markers. MCG studies were performed with a multichannel SQUID system in the Helsinki BioMag shielded room. Current dipoles (5mm; 10mA), activated at the tip of the AC, were localized using the equivalent current dipole (ECD) model in patient-specific boundary element torso. The accuracy of the MCG localizations was evaluated by: (1) anatomic location of ECD in the MRI, (2) mismatch with XR. The AC was correctly localized in the right ventricle of all patients using MRI. The mean three-dimensional mismatch between XR and MCG localizations was 6 ± 2 mm (beat-to-beat analysis). The coefficient of variation of three-dimensional localization of the AC was 1.37% and the coefficient of reproducibility was 2.6 mm. In patients, in the absence of arrhythmias, average local variation coefficients of right ventricular MAP duration at 50% and 90% ofrepolarization, were 7.4% and 3.1%, respectively. This study demonstrates that with adequate signal-to-noise ratio, MCG three-dimensional localizations are accurate and reproducible enough to provide nonfluoroscopy dependant multimodal imaging for high resolution endocardial mapping of monophasic action potentials.     

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Incidence of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in US Veterans: A Cohort Study

Objective

To assess the association between exercise capacity and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

Reduction of patient radiation dose with a new organ based dose modulation technique for thoraco-abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) (Liver dose right index)

Purpose

To evaluate the radiation dose reduction, image quality and diagnostic confidence with thoraco-abdominopelvic computed tomography (TACT) using a new organ based dose modulation system (liver dose right index [Liver DRI]), compared to TACT using a standard automatic exposure control adjusting mA according to attenuation.

Role of Physical Activity in Lowering Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between the amount and intensity of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).MethodsThe study examined a cohort of 543,667 participants aged 20 years and older who participated in a health screening program from January 1, 1996, through December 31, 2017. We identified 2520 individuals undergoing dialysis or who had a kidney transplant by linking participants’ encrypted personal identification with the registry for ESRD with a median follow-up of 13 years. We classified participants into 5 categories measured by metabolic equivalent of tasks. Within each category, we analyzed the effect of moderate- and vigorous-intensity LTPA in reducing risk of ESRD. We used a Cox proportional hazards model to calculate hazard ratios (HRs).ResultsWe observed a dose-response relationship between LTPA and the risk of ESRD. The fully active group had a 12% lower hazard of ESRD compared with the no reported LTPA group (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.98) adjusting for covariates including baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria. Within the same category of LTPA, vigorous-intensity exercise carried a 35% lower HR for ESRD compared with moderate-intensity exercise (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.81). The effect was observed stronger among men, younger participants, and participants with diabetes or hyperlipidemia.ConclusionSustained LTPA (≥ 150 minutes per week), particularly with vigorous intensity, significantly lowered the ESRD risk, even among individuals with comorbidities such as diabetes or hyperlipidemia. This finding suggested that patients with no reported LTPA with cardiovascular risks should engage in more LTPA to lower their risk of ESRD.     

Synergistic Assessment of Mortality Risk According to Body Mass Index and Exercise Ability and Capacity in Patients Referred for Radionuclide Stress Testing

ObjectiveTo determine the interrelationship between body mass index (BMI), mode of stress testing (exercise or pharmacological), exercise capacity, and all-cause mortality in patients referred for stress-rest single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging.Patients and MethodsWe evaluated all-cause mortality in 21,638 patients undergoing stress-rest single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging between January 2, 1991, and December 31, 2012. Patients were divided into exercise and pharmacologically tested groups and 9 BMI categories. The median follow-up was 12.8 years (range, 5.0-26.8 years).ResultsIn exercise patients, mortality was increased with both low and high BMI vs patients with a normal referent BMI of 22.5 to 24.9 kg/m². In pharmacologically tested patients, only low BMI, but not high BMI, was associated with increased mortality vs normal BMI. When exercise and pharmacologically tested groups were compared directly, pharmacologically tested patients manifested a marked increase in mortality risk vs exercise patients within each BMI category, ranging from an approximately 4-fold increase in mortality in those with normal or high BMI to a 12.3-fold increase in those with low BMI values. Similar findings were observed in a cohort of 4804 exercise and 4804 pharmacologically tested patients matched to have similar age and coronary artery disease risk factor profiles. In exercise patients, further risk stratification was achieved when considering both BMI and metabolic equivalent tasks of achieved exercise.ConclusionThe combined assessment of BMI and exercise ability and capacity provides synergistic and marked risk stratification of future mortality risk in patients referred for radionuclide stress testing, providing considerable insights into the “obesity paradox” that is observed in populations referred for stress testing.     

Individual and Combined Associations of Cognitive and Mobility Limitations on Mortality Risk in Older Adults

Objective

To evaluate the potential independent and combined associations of cognitive and mobility limitations on risk of all-cause mortality in a representative sample of the US older adult population who, at baseline, were free of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.

血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂肾保护作用的有效剂量探讨

目的　探讨ACEI肾保护作用的有效剂量。方法　原发性肾小球疾病患者 15 4例。分别实施Captopril、Cilazapril和Enalapril各高、低两个剂量组以及作为对照给予Amlodipine治疗 4个月。治疗前、后每月检测平均动脉压、尿蛋白、尿白蛋白排泄率、尿钠、尿尿素氮和肾功能 ,并检测患者ACE基因表型。结果　①各组间ACE基因表型分布和蛋白质、食盐摄入量无明显差别 ;②三种ACEI的高、低剂量组间的抗尿蛋白作用和对肾功能的影响无明显差别。结论　对原发性肾小球疾病患者低剂量的ACEI也具备良好的肾保护作用。