Spatiotemporal distribution and risk assessment of short-chain chlorinated paraffins in 30 major rivers in Taiwan.

Because of their highly persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) have become emerging contaminants and have been included in Annex A (elimination) of the Stockholm Convention since 2017. The contamination of SCCPs has been observed in the environment and biota worldwide but has not been detected in Taiwanese river ecosystems. Thus, this study aimed to determine the occurrence of SCCPs in sediments and fish from 30 major rivers in Taiwan and to evaluate the risk of SCCPs to river ecosystems and human health.

Reference Values of Carotid Ultrafast Pulse-Wave Velocity: A Prospective, Multicenter, Population-Based Study.

Background: Ultrafast ultrasound imaging has been demonstrated to be an effective method to evaluate carotid stiffness through carotid pulse-wave velocity (PWV) with high reproducibility, but a lack of reference values has precluded its widespread use in clinical practice. The aims of this study were to establish reference values of PWV for ultrafast ultrasound imaging in a prospective, multicenter, population-based cohort study and to investigate the main determinants of carotid PWV.

Methods: A total of 1,544 healthy Han Chinese volunteers (581 men [38%]; age range, 18-95 years) were enrolled from 32 collaborating laboratories in China.

Absent atherosclerotic risk factors are associated with carotid stiffening quantified with ultrafast ultrasound imaging.

Objectives: To evaluate carotid stiffening in participants without conventional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) by using ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV).

Methods: The present study enrolled 517 participants without conventional CVRFs (CVRF-Free total population). Subjects in this population were defined as current non-smokers with untreated blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg, fasting blood glucose (FBG) < 7.

Liver Fibrosis with Two-dimensional US Shear-Wave Elastography in Participants with Chronic Hepatitis B: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Purpose To investigate the diagnostic performance of two-dimensional (2D) shear-wave elastography (SWE) in chronic hepatitis B. Materials and Methods This prospective multicenter study from January 2015 to January 2016 was conducted at 12 hospitals and included 654 participants with chronic hepatitis B who had undergone liver biopsy and 2D SWE examination. Participants were divided into chronic infection and chronic hepatitis groups.

[Correlation between accumulation of flavoneand expression of functional genes in Carthamus tinctorius].

The average yield of safflower blooming from 1 to 7 day was recorded and calculated, HPLC was used to detect the percentage composition of HYSA,quercetin,naringenin and kaempferol, and the real-time PCR was used to analyze the expression of chs and chi. The average yield,percentage composition of HYSA and naringenin as well as functional genes' expression presented similar trends. The average yield reached the highest peak at the third day, showing highpositive correlation with the contents of HYSA (r=0.

[Safflower's origin and changes of producing areas].

Human's application of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) has a long history, but the origin remains unclear. Safflower was introduced into China for traditional Chinese medicine, and Sichuan was major producing area. However, in recent years, the main producing area is in Xinjiang province, in contrast Sichuan safflower is difficult to find.

[Effect of moisture content on vigor of Cyathula officinalis seeds and its anti-aging mechanism analysis].

Effects of nine different moisture contents on vigor of Cyathula officinalis seeds and its anti-aging mechanism were studied by artificial accelerated aging through high temperature and wet. The research results showedthat seed vigor were generally decreased after artificial aging; in general, seed vigor and its anti-aging ability are relatively stronger within the scope of 6.55%-4.

[Cloning,Bioinformatic Analysis of Chalcone-Flavonone Isomerase Gene( CHI) and Relationship Between Expression of CHI and Accumulation of HSYA in Carthamus tinctorius].

Objective: To clone chalcone-flavonone isomerase( CHI) gene in Carthamus tinctorius,to analyze the bioinformation of CHI,to compare the expression of CHI,and to analyze the percentage composition of hydroxysafflor yellow A( HSYA) during the florescence,in order to provide the foundation for functional verification of CHI and the composition and regulation mechanism of the flavonoid constituents in Carthamus tinctorius.

Methods: CHI was cloned,bioinformatics was used to analyze the protein characteristics, real timePCR was used to analyze the expression of CHI,and HPLC was used to analyze the percentage composition of HSYA

Results: A 696 bp CHI sequence in Carthamus tinctorius,the expression of CHI and the percentage composition of HSYA during the florescence were obtained. The variation tendency was similar between the expression of CHI and the accumulation of HSYA, which was increased gradually during 1 ~ 4 d and peaked at the fourth day,then decreased sharply during the fifth to the seventh day of florescence.

[Cloning,Analysis and Expression on Gene of Squalene Synthase in Citrus reticulata Seeds].

Objective: To clone squalene synthase gene( ss) from seeds of Citrus reticulate ‘Dahongpao’,and to analyze its expression and bioinformatics.

Methods: The technology of RT-PCR was used to clone the gene of Citrus reticulata seeds and analyze its expression at various growing stages. Moreover, the bioinformatics was analyzed by online analytical tools.