Analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Perfusion Parameters for the Identification of Spinal Metastatic Tumors with Rich Blood Supply.

Purpose: To determine the reliability of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) perfusion parameters for the evaluation of blood supply to spinal metastatic tumors.

Methods: A total of 36 patients with spinal metastasis who underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance spinal perfusion imaging at Tianjin Hospital from December 2018 to December 2020 were reviewed. Subsequently, the patients underwent corresponding preoperative examination using digital subtraction angiography of the spine at the hospital and were divided into 2 groups accordingly.

[Effects of Different Aeration Treatments on Bacterial Diversity, Metabolic Activity, and Function in Constructed Wetlands].

Bacteria play a key role in the removal of pollutants and nutrients in constructed wetlands. DNA and RNA high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the diversity, metabolic activity, and function of bacteria in aquaculture wastewater and in constructed wetlands treated by different aeration levels. The results revealed that:① a total of 4042 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected in aquaculture wastewater and constructed wetland treatment groups.

Development and validation of a novel risk assessment model to estimate the probability of pulmonary embolism in postoperative patients.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a leading cause of mortality in postoperative patients. Numerous PE prevention clinical practice guidelines are available but not consistently implemented. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel risk assessment model to assess the risk of PE in postoperative patients.

Characterization and role of PGK from Litopenaeus vannamei in WSSV infection.

Phosphoglycerate kinase (EC 2.7.2.

Glycogen phosphorylase of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei): Structure, expression and anti-WSSV function.

Glycogen phosphorylase (GP, EC 2.4.1.

Nematicidal amide alkaloids from the seeds of Clausena lansium.

Five new amide alkaloids (1-3, 5-6) were isolated from the seeds of Clausena lansium together with one new natural product (4) and four known analogues (7-10). The structures of the new amide alkaloids were elucidated based on a comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis including 1D and 2D NMR as well as HRESIMS, and by comparison with the literature. The bioactivity results showed that compound 8 expressed potent nematicidal activity against Panagrellus redivevus, with IC value of 0.

A retrospective study of female reproductive parameters in the Kunming dog.

The Kunming dog is the first and only working dog breed from China to be recognized worldwide. As a domestic working dog, its excellent working performance has been well established; however, its normal reproductive parameters are not well understood. Therefore, this study was conducted to document the main reproductive parameters of this purebred working dog in field breeding conditions.

Flavonoids from artificially induced dragon's blood of Dracaena cambodiana.

Dragon's blood is a rare traditional medicine used in many countries. Because of its various therapeutic uses, its requirement is increasing dramatically, while formation of dragon's blood need at least several years, so many researchers tried to induce the formation of dragon's blood artificially, but the chemical constituents of artificially induced dragon's blood were rarely studied. In our research, twenty constituents, including three new ones, were isolated from artificially induced dragon's blood of Dracaena cambodiana, five of which are the same with those from natural dragon's blood.

Three new flavanoids from artificially induced dragon's blood of Dracaena cambodiana.

Three new flavanoids, (2R)-7,4'-dihydroxy-8-methylflavan (1), (2R)-7,4'-dihydroxy-6-methylflavan (2), and (3R)-7,3',4'-trihydroxyhomoisoflavan (3), together with seven known compounds (4-10), were isolated from artificially induced dragon's blood of Dracaena cambodiana, and their structures were determined based on HR-ESI-MS and extensive spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, 1D-, and 2D-NMR). Compound 2 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against BEL-7402 cells line with the IC value of 39.2 μM.

Birth of puppies of predetermined sex after artificial insemination with a low number of sex-sorted, frozen-thawed spermatozoa in field conditions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate fertility and sex ratios after artificial insemination in dogs under field conditions. Semen was cryopreserved as unsorted (control) or was separated into X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm using a cell sorter. Sixty female dogs were inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa of 100 × 10 unsorted (a dose in practice) and 4 × 10 sorted (X and Y group, respectively).