Analysis of microbial contamination status and influencing factors in pre-cooked food enterprises

Objective To understand the status of microbial contamination in the production of pre-cooked food, provide a basis for the sanitary control of pre-cooked food enterprises, and to make recommendations for the formulation of related product hygiene specifications and standards. Methods From the 70 pre-cooked food enterprises in Hunan Province, 5 samples were stratified to detect the settling microbe in ambient air, the total coliform and the total number of colonies in the contact surface, the adjacent contact surface, and pre-cooked food samples. Results The total coliform and the total number of colonies in the ambient air of medium-sized enterprises and the surfaces and pre-cooked vegetable samples was higher (P<0.05), and the total number of colonies on each surface of the pre-cooked vegetable production workshop is higher (P<0.05). It is easier to touch the hands of processing personnel contaminated by microorganisms (P<0.05); the total number of colonies in pre-cooked vegetable products is higher (P<0.05), and the total number of coliforms and colonies in process products are higher than those in finished products (P<0.05). Conclusion Pre-cooked food enterprises, especially medium-sized enterprises, should strengthen the hygienic requirements of production workshops and the hygienic control of processing. It is recommended that the relevant product standards and hygienic specifications should pay attention to these issues

Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)-encapsulated iodine-131 nanoparticles fabricated with rhTSH induce apoptosis and immobilization of thyroid cancer cells

BackgroundAggressive thyroid carcinoma (ATC) usually loses radioiodine avidity to iodine-131 (131I) due to the downregulation of sodium/iodide symporter (NIS). The expression of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is more persistent than NIS and the administration of recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone (rhTSH) promotes de novo NIS synthesis. Hence, exploring methods integrating 131I with rhTSH might be a feasible therapeutic strategy for selective delivery of 131I into thyroid cancer to fortify the effect of radioiodine ablation.MethodsThe 131I, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and rhTSH were used to synthesize of the 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles. The characteristics of the 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles was determined using a light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), autoradiography and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The diameter of the 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles was measured with a Mastersizer 3000, and the encapsulation efficiency (EF) of 131I in 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles and the radioactivity of a single nanoparticle were determined. Then, the mouse tumor xenograft model was established, and the biodistribution and effect of 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles on apoptosis of thyroid cance cells were investigated in vivo. Thereafter, the role of 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles in cell viability using cell counting kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays. Subsequently, the underlying mechanism of 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles in reducing cell viability was assessed using immunostaining, boyden invasion assays and phalloidin staining.ResultsOur results showed that the method of developing nanoparticles-encapsulated 131I using poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and modified with rhTSH (131I-PLGA-rhTSH), was a feasible avenue for the integration of 131I and rhTSH. Meanwhile, the encapsulation efficiency (EF) of 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles was approximately 60%, and the radioactivity of a single nanoparticle was about 1.1×10-2 Bq. Meanwhile, the 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles were selectively delivered into, gradually enriched and slowly downregulated in xenograft tumor after the administration of 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles through tail vein in mouse tumor xenograft model. Thereafter, the tumor weight was significantly reduced after the administration of 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles. Subsequently, the application of 131I-PLGA-rhTSH nanoparticles facilitated apoptosis and attenuated immobilization via inhibiting F-actin assembling of FTC-133 cells.ConclusionThe present study develops a suitable approach integrating 131I and rhTSH, and this strategy is a feasible regimen enhancing the effect of radioiodine ablation for the treatment of thyroid cancer

Regional homogeneity alterations of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging of chronic rhinosinusitis with olfactory dysfunction

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the brain functional changes of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with olfactory dysfunction (CRSwOD) using regional homogeneity (ReHo) of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and to better explain the occurrence and development of olfactory decline in patients with chronic sinusitis provides a new idea for the study of more advanced olfactory therapy modalities.MethodsA total of 28 CRSwOD patients, 24 patients with CRS without olfactory dysfunction (CRSsOD), and 25 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. All subjects underwent olfactory testing, clinical and brief psychological assessments, and MRI scans. A two-sided two-sample t test with AlphaSim correction (voxel-p &lt; 0.001, cluster size &gt;54 voxels) was used to detect differences between CRSwOD, CRSsOD, and HC groups.ResultsCompared with HCs, the ReHo values in traditional olfactory regions (e.g., parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), hippocampal, olfactory cortex) were increased, and ReHo values in the frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, precuneus, and posterior cingulate gyrus were decreased in CRSwOD patients. The ReHo values in the precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus of CRSwOD patients were negatively correlated with Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements (QOD-NS) scores. Compared with CRSsOD patients, the ReHo values in cerebellar regions were increased and those in the inferior temporal gyrus, precuneus, postcentral, and paracentral gyrus were decreased in CRSwOD patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the mean ReHo values significantly differed between the CRSwOD and CRSsOD groups.ConclusionSynchronization of regional brain activity in the regions of the secondary olfactory cortex orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), temporal gyrus, precuneus, and cerebellum may be closely related to the development of olfactory dysfunction. Precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus may be critical brain areas of action for emotional dysfunction in CRSwOD patients

Abnormal functional connectivity of the core olfactory network in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis accompanied by olfactory dysfunction

ObjectiveTo review and analyze the functional connectivity (FC) abnormalities in the brain olfactory network (ON) of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with olfactory dysfunction (CRSwOD) and explore the relationship between these FC abnormalities and olfactory dysfunction, providing clues to the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying CRSwOD.MethodsFC analysis on the ON of patients with CRSwOD and patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without olfactory dysfunction (CRSsOD) identified the regions of the ON with abnormal FC in CRSwOD patients, and the correlation between abnormal FC and clinical scales for chronic rhinosinusitis was analyzed.Results(1) Compared with the CRSsOD group, CRSwOD patients showed decreased FC between the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the right middle frontal gyrus, (2) Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the FC value between the right middle frontal gyrus and the left OFC (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.852, sensitivity: 0.821, specificity: 0.800, p &lt; 0.001) was more capable of distinguishing whether CRS patients may have olfactory dysfunction than the FC value between the right middle frontal gyrus and the right OFC (AUC = 0.827, sensitivity: 0.893, specificity: 0.667, p &lt; 0.001), and (3) Lund-Kennedy scores were positively correlated with the FC values between the right middle frontal gyrus and the left OFC (r = 0.443, p &lt; 0.018). Lund-Mackay scores were also positively correlated with the FC values between the right middle frontal gyrus and the left OFC (r = 0.468, p &lt; 0.012). Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements scores were negatively correlated with the FC values between the right middle frontal gyrus and the left OFC (r = −0.481, p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionPersistent nasal inflammation affects the FC between the middle frontal gyrus and the OFC, which may serve as a potential imaging marker for identifying CRSwOD. The severity of nasal inflammation and olfactory damage is closely related to the FC between the middle frontal gyrus and OFC, and the abnormal changes in this FC can be used to explain the neurophysiological mechanisms behind the occurrence of olfactory dysfunction in patients

Deviant Dynamics of Resting State Electroencephalogram Microstate in Patients With Subjective Tinnitus

Given the importance of central reorganization and tinnitus, we undertook the current study to investigate changes to electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates and their association with the clinical symptoms in tinnitus. High-density (128 channel) EEG was used to explore changes in microstate features in 15 subjects with subjective tinnitus and 17 age-matched controls. Correlations between microstate parameters and subjective tinnitus symptoms were also analyzed. An increased presence of class A microstate and decreased presence of class D microstate were found in coverage and lifespan of microstate parameters in the tinnitus patients. Syntax analysis also demonstrated an aberrant pattern of activity, with reduced transitions from class D to class B in tinnitus patients. Moreover, a significant positive correlation of tinnitus loudness with increased lifespan of microstate class C was found. Significant differences in temporal characteristics and syntax of the EEG microstate classes were found at rest between tinnitus patients and the healthy subjects. Our study indicates that EEG microstates may provide a possible valuable method to study large-scale brain networks, which may in turn be beneficial to investigation of the neurophysiological mechanisms behind tinnitus

Incorporation size of lymph node metastasis focus and pre-ablation stimulated Tg could more effectively predict clinical outcomes in differentiated thyroid cancer patients without distant metastases

BackgroundThe size of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and pre-ablation stimulated Tg (ps-Tg) were key predictors of clinical prognosis in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients, however, very few studies combine the above two as predictors of clinical prognosis of DTC patients.MethodsPersistent/recurrent disease and clinicopathologic factors were analyzed in 543 DTC patients without distant metastases who underwent LN dissection, near-total/total thyroidectomy, and radioiodine ablation.ResultsIn the multivariate analysis, size of LNM, ps-Tg, and the activity of 131I significantly correlated with long-term remission. The optimal cutoff size of LNM 0.4 cm-1.4 cm (intermediate-risk patients) and &gt;1.4cm (high-risk patients) increased the recurrence risk (hazard ratio [95% CI], 4.674 [2.881-7.583] and 13.653 [8.135–22.913], respectively). Integration of ps-Tg into the reclassification risk stratification showed that ps-Tg ≤ 10.1 ng/mL was relevant to a greatly heightened possibility of long-term remission (92.2%–95.4% in low-risk patients, 67.3%–87.0% in intermediate-risk patients, and 32.3%–57.7% in high-risk patients).ConclusionThe cutoff of 0.4 cm and 1.4 cm for a definition of size of LNM in DTC patients without distant metastases can reclassify risk assessment, and incorporating ps-Tg could more effectively predict clinical outcomes and modify the postoperative management plan

Multi-tissue integrative analysis of personal epigenomes

Evaluating the impact of genetic variants on transcriptional regulation is a central goal in biological science that has been constrained by reliance on a single reference genome. To address this, we constructed phased, diploid genomes for four cadaveric donors (using long-read sequencing) and systematically charted noncoding regulatory elements and transcriptional activity across more than 25 tissues from these donors. Integrative analysis revealed over a million variants with allele-specific activity, coordinated, locus-scale allelic imbalances, and structural variants impacting proximal chromatin structure. We relate the personal genome analysis to the ENCODE encyclopedia, annotating allele- and tissue-specific elements that are strongly enriched for variants impacting expression and disease phenotypes. These experimental and statistical approaches, and the corresponding EN-TEx resource, provide a framework for personalized functional genomics