Dietary Behaviors and Incident COVID-19 in the UK Biobank

Background: Nutritional status influences immunity but its specific association with susceptibility to COVID-19 remains unclear. We examined the association of specific dietary data and incident COVID-19 in the UK Biobank (UKB). Methods: We considered UKB participants in England with self-reported baseline (2006–2010) data and linked them to Public Health England COVID-19 test results—performed on samples from combined nose/throat swabs, using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)—between March and November 2020. Baseline diet factors included breastfed as baby and specific consumption of coffee, tea, oily fish, processed meat, red meat, fruit, and vegetables. Individual COVID-19 exposure was estimated using the UK’s average monthly positive case rate per specific geo-populations. Logistic regression estimated the odds of COVID-19 positivity by diet status adjusting for baseline socio-demographic factors, medical history, and other lifestyle factors. Another model was further adjusted for COVID-19 exposure. Results: Eligible UKB participants (n = 37,988) were 40 to 70 years of age at baseline; 17% tested positive for COVID-19 by SAR-CoV-2 PCR. After multivariable adjustment, the odds (95% CI) of COVID-19 positivity was 0.90 (0.83, 0.96) when consuming 2–3 cups of coffee/day (vs. <1 cup/day), 0.88 (0.80, 0.98) when consuming vegetables in the third quartile of servings/day (vs. lowest quartile), 1.14 (1.01, 1.29) when consuming fourth quartile servings of processed meats (vs. lowest quartile), and 0.91 (0.85, 0.98) when having been breastfed (vs. not breastfed). Associations were attenuated when further adjusted for COVID-19 exposure, but patterns of associations remained. Conclusions: In the UK Biobank, consumption of coffee, vegetables, and being breastfed as a baby were favorably associated with incident COVID-19; intake of processed meat was adversely associated. Although these findings warrant independent confirmation, adherence to certain dietary behaviors may be an additional tool to existing COVID-19 protection guidelines to limit the spread of this virus.     

Associations of Lifestyle Factors with Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in Polish Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Reduced physical activity (PA), smoking, and coffee and alcohol drinking constitute risk factors of osteoporosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) and frequency of osteopenia and osteoporosis in patients with IBD and their correlation with PA, smoking, coffee, and alcohol. The study group consisted of 208 patients with IBD-103 with Crohn’s disease (CD), 105 suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC). Densitometric measurements were performed using the DXA. All patients completed a questionnaire concerning PA, smoking, and coffee and alcohol consumption. The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis (L2–L4) in the IBD group was 48.1%; in the CD group, it amounted to 48.6%, and in the UC group, the prevalence was equal to 33.3%. Patients with CD who were diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis demonstrated reduced PA compared to patients with a normal BMD who exercised regularly (p = 0.0335). A similar observation was made in the group of women with IBD. Women with a normal BMD exercised significantly more often than women suffering from osteopenia and osteoporosis (p = 0.0146). However, no differences in BMD were observed with regard to coffee use, alcohol consumption, or smoking. Thus, since the incidence of osteoporosis in IBD patients is high, it may be dependent on PA.     

The effects of fenugreek seed extract supplementation in patients with Alzheimer's disease: A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial

The aim of the current randomized control trial (RCT) study was to investigate the effects of fenugreek seed extract on memory, depression, quality of life, blood pressure, and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in adult AD patients. This randomized clinical trial was conducted in geriatric homes in Iran. The study participants included 82 AD patients with mild-to-moderate memory deficit. Patients in the intervention group received 5 cc of fenugreek seed extract for 4 months and subjects in the control group received a placebo. Memory, depression, quality of life, and BP levels, as well as serum MDA and TAC, were assessed before and after the intervention. There was a significant increase in serum levels of TAC (p < 0.001) and a reduction in serum MDA status (p < 0.001) after 4 months of fenugreek seed extract supplementation. In addition, increasing levels of memory (p < 0.001) and quality of life (p < 0.001), as well as reduction of depression (p = 0.002), systolic BP (p < 0.001), and diastolic BP (p < 0.001) levels were detected in the intervention group compared with baseline. Fenugreek seed extract supplementation in AD patients shows promising positive effects on memory, quality of life, BP, and selective oxidative indices levels.     

黄连种子胚后熟期间的生理生化变化及激素的影响

黄连种子需要在低温条件下才能解除休眠。本文对黄连种子层积在室外和冰箱两种条件下,种胚后熟过程中的淀粉酶活性及DNA、蛋白质的变化规律作了测定,并对ABA处理后种子的生理生化变化作了研究。     

种姜和播种方式对黄丝郁金块根产量的影响

目的:研究种姜和播种方式对植株生长及郁金块根产量影响,为其规范化种植提供科学依据。方法:田间采用二因素裂区设计,齐苗后调查出苗数,定期调查株高,收获时测定小区产量,并对试验结果进行方差分析。结果:种姜对出苗数、株高和郁金块根产量都存在显著影响,不同播种方式对郁金块根产量无显著影响,两者间存在显著的互作效应。结论:窝播配合未发芽的具3～4节的子姜或母姜作种时,郁金块根产量最高。     

放射性粒子103 Pd与缓释化疗粒子联合应用靶向治疗肝癌

目的探讨应用放、化疗粒子联合植入法综合治疗肝癌的可行性、安全性及短期疗效。方法自2001年12月～2004年12月，应用放、化疗粒子联合植入法综合治疗复发性直肠癌48例。在治疗计划指导下，交替植入5-Fu缓释化疗粒子和放射性。Pd粒子。放射性粒子的肿瘤匹配周边剂量（Matched Peripheral dose，MPD）为90～130Gy。平均每例使用^103Pd粒子10粒，5-Fu 1000mg。结果48例病人手术均顺利完成，未发生出血、感染等并发症，经摄片证实放射性粒子的位置无变化。疼痛缓解率为95．83％（46／48），平均疼痛缓解时间为5～9d。于术后3～6个月CT复查肿瘤变化，提示瘤体不同程度缩小，其中11例完全缓解，27例部分缓解，9例稳定，局部控制率为79．17％。随访6～28个月，中住生存期为17个月，最长1例随访时间为术后26个月，现仍存活。1例术后6个月死于全身广泛转移。结论放射性^103Pd粒子和5-Fu缓释化疗粒子联合应用局部植入技术具有安全、微创及并发症发生率低的特点，是综合治疗肝癌的较有效手段之一。     

泽泻种子发芽特性研究

目的探讨建泽泻种子萌发的特性及发芽条件。方法将泽泻种子置于不同温度下浸种,不同温度、光照条件及不同发芽床上发芽,观察其萌发所需的时间、发芽率或成活率。结果在25℃~30℃温水中浸种24 h,温度30℃,培养皿内置双层纱布的条件适宜泽泻种子萌发,光照条件对泽泻种子萌发无明显影响。结论泽泻种子具有高温、高湿和非光敏特性,创造种子萌发的环境条件可控制和提高种子发芽率和出苗整齐度。     

丹参种子形态结构与吸水萌发特性

目的 :系统研究丹参种子的形态结构与吸水萌发特性 ,为丹参规范化栽培提供理论依据和技术参考。方法 :形态结构研究采用扫描电子显微镜观察并拍照 ;种子吸水 /脱水速率用重量法 ,种子发芽条件研究参照国家农作物种子检验规程和国际标准的有关规定进行。结果 :①通过种子形态结构观察发现 ,在丹参果实的果皮外层有 10～20μm厚度的黏液物质覆盖 ,并形成菱形网纹结构 ,其重量占种子重量的 8%～ 10 % ;②黏液物质能够迅速吸水膨胀 ,2h吸水量可达种子原重的 10倍以上 ,而脱水速率却远低于吸水 ;③丹参种子发芽的最适温度在 25℃左右 ,当年的新种子发芽率可以达到 75%以上 ,在 23℃ ,28℃变温条件下发芽势与活力指数最高。同时发现 ,预先冷冻、PEG引发和GA₃ 浸种等处理技术可以明显提高丹参种子的发芽率。     

试论岳甫嘉医案中不育的诊治思维

岳甫嘉诊病重视脉症合参,尤以诊脉见长;处方多用中和之剂,收固真阴,反对过用热药,耗散精血。诊治思维贯穿其著作《妙一斋医学正印种子编》上卷所载验案。此卷专门论述男性不育的诊治,虽仅载验案八则,但八者皆奇,诊治结合,涵盖多法,可归纳为“先清热毒,再施温补”“药用滑涩,当辨标本”“先治脾,后治肾”“脾肾同治”“先祛痰火,再滋肾阴”及“交通心肾”6类,诸法之中的诊治思维,蕴含奥妙,颇具特色,特作探析。