Carotenoids are secondary metabolite responsible for colored pigments in plants and microbes (Li et al., 2022). They are a class of C₄₀ tetraterpenoids consisting of eight isoprenoid units, and can be classified into carotenes and xanthophylls on the basis of their functional groups (Saini et al., 2015). Carotenes can be linear (phytoene, phytofluene, and ζ‍-carotene) or branched (β‍-carotene and α‍-carotene). Xanthophylls comprise β,β‍-xanthophylls (β‍-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, violaxanthins, and neoxanthin) and β,ε‍-xanthophylls (α-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, and lutein). Citrus fruits are complex sources of carotenoids, which are the principal pigments responsible for the typical orange color of most types (Chen, 2020). The difference in total carotenoid content and the diversity of carotenoid isomer proportion also accounts for other colors of citrus fruits, such as yellow, red, and pink (Chen, 2020).
Citrus/metabolism* ; Carotenoids ; Xanthophylls ; Lutein/metabolism* ; Zeaxanthins/metabolism* ; Fruit

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disease that seriously affects brain function. Currently, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat PTSD clinically but have decreased efficiency and increased side effects. In this study, nasal cannabidiol inclusion complex temperature-sensitive hydrogels (CBD TSGs) were prepared and evaluated to treat PTSD. Mice model of PTSD was established with conditional fear box. CBD TSGs could significantly improve the spontaneous behavior, exploratory spirit and alleviate tension in open field box, relieve anxiety and tension in elevated plus maze, and reduce the freezing time. Hematoxylin and eosin and c-FOS immunohistochemistry slides showed that the main injured brain areas in PTSD were the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus CA1. CBD TSGs could reduce the level of tumor necrosis factor-

Objective: To explore the antagonistic effect of quercetin on fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-induced embryonic developmental toxicity in vitro.Methods: PM2.5 was collected on glass fiber filters by PM2.5 samplers during the heating period of Dec.2015 to Mar.2016 in an area of Haidian District, Beijing City.The sampled filters were cut into 1 cm×3 cm pieces followed by sonication.The PM2.5 suspension was filtered into a 10 cm glass dish through 8 layers of sterile carbasus and stored at-80 ℃ until freeze drying.Frozen PM2.5 suspension was dried by vacuum freeze-drying.In vitro post-implantation whole embryo culture was used in this study.Pregnant rats with 9.5 gestation days (GD) were killed by cervical dislocation and the uteri were removed into sterile Hank's solution.The embryos with intact yolk sacs and ecto placental cones were induced by PM2.5, and then subjected to intervention of quercetin at the doses of 0.1 μmol/L, 0.5 μmol/L, 1.0 μmol/L and 5.0 μmol/L, respectively.At the end of the 48 h culture period, the cultures were terminated, and all embryos were removed from the culture bottles and placed in prewarmed Hank's solution for evaluation.Morphological evaluation of the embryos was conducted under a stereomicroscope using the morphologic scoring system by Brown and Fabro.The mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by FACSCalibur flow cyto-metry using MitoSOXTM Red staining.Results: An obvious antagonistic effect was achieved through querce-tin at the dose of 1.0 μmol/L, which could result in an increase of visceral yolk sac (VYS) diameter, crown-rump length and head length, somite number, and the differentiation of visceral yolk sac vascular vessels.The scores of allantois, flexion, heart, hind brain, midbrain, forebrain, auditory system, visual system, olfactory system, branchialarch, maxillary process, forelimb bud and hindlimb bud also revealed a significant increase and the relative mitochondrial ROS level of embryonic cells was significantly decreased when compared with PM2.5 group.Although quercetin at the doses of 0.1 μmol/L, 0.5 μmol/L, 5.0 μmol/L also exhibited protective effects against PM2.5-induced embryonic developmental toxicity, the protective effect was weaker when compared with the dose of 1.0 μmol/L.Conclusion: Quercetin at proper dose may be of great benefit for the development of embryos exposed to PM2.5 in the uterus of the rats.Quercetin provides an effective strategy for the prevention of PM2.5-induced embryonic developmental toxicity.Clearance of mitochondrial ROS may be one of its mechanisms.

Objective: To study the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia (VT) in heart failure (HF) patients after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-D) and identify the influencing factors for VT occurrence, to explore the impact of CRT-D shocks on mortality and the management of appropriate shocks. Methods: A total of 42 patients with successfully implanted CRT-D in our hospital from 2009-01 to 2015-04 were studied. There were 2 groups of patients: Ischemic cardiomyopathy group,n=12 including 8 patients for primary prevention and 4 for secondary prevention; Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy group,n=30 including 19 patients for primary prevention and 11 for secondary prevention. The patients with appropriate shocks received four step-wise therapy as drug, equipment parameter adjustments, revascularization and radiofrequency ablation (RA). Results: The patients in Ischemic cardiomyopathy group were followed-up for (38.1±24.0) months, 7 patients suffered from post-operative VT, 5 patients had CRT-D appropriate shocks. The patients in Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy group were followed-up for (27.5±17.8) months, 11 patients suffered from post-operative VT, 10 patients had CRT-D appropriate shocks. The occurrence rates of post-operative VT and CRT-D appropriate shocks were similar between 2 groups,P>0.05; the success rate for ATP treating VT was higher in Ischemic cardiomyopathy group (69% vs 55%),P<0.05. Cox regression analysis indicated that CRT-D as secondary prevention was the independent influencing factor for VT occurrence,P=0.001. During follow-up period, 9 patients with shocks died; the mortality in patients with shocks was higher than those without shocks (43% vs 0%),P<0.05. With four step-wise therapy, 80% patients in Ischemic cardiomyopathy group had no more shocks; with three step-wise therapy as drug, equipment parameter adjustments and RA, 90% patients in Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy group had no more shocks, 10% patients had reduced shocks. Conclusion: CRT-D as secondary prevention was the independent impact factor for post-operative VT occurrence, no matter appropriate or inappropriate shocks would elevate the risk of death in HF patients. Step-wise therapy was important to reduce appropriate shocks.

Objective: To examine the regulatory effect of ginsenoside Rg1 (G-Rg1) on endoplasmic reticulum stress and its effect on hepatocellular apoptosis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver failure (ALF). Methods: Forty healthy, adult male C57/BL mice were randomly divided into normal saline control (NS) group, G-Rg1 blank control (G-Rg1) group, CCl₄ model (CCl₄) group, and G-Rg1 preventive treatment (CCl₄+G-Rg1) group, and an ALF mouse model was established by CCl₄ induction. Blood and liver specimens were collected from all mice upon sacrifice at 12 hours post-intraperitoneal injection. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBil) levels were determined using commercial test kits. The mRNA expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) was measured using real-time PCR. The protein expression of GRP78, CHOP, caspase12, and caspase3 were measured by Western blot. Histological changes in the liver were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the expression of GRP78 and caspase3 was detected by immunohistochemistry. Hepatocyte apoptosis was determined using terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling. Quantitative data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and subsequent pairwise comparisons were performed using the LSD-t method. Results: Serum ALT, AST, and TBil levels in the CCl₄+G-Rg1 group were significantly reduced compared with those in the CCl₄ group (ALT: 691.30 ± 108.06 U/L vs 980.66 ± 110.29 U/L, F = 365.07, P < 0.05; AST: 195.40 ± 15.41 U/L vs 319.44 ± 89.32 U/L, F = 115.64, P < 0.05; TBil: 1.09 ± 0.11 mg/dl vs 1.56 ± 0.12 mg/dl, F = 211.29, P < 0.05). The relative mRNA expression of GRP78 and CHOP was significantly lower in the CCl₄ + G-Rg1 group than in the CCl₄ group (P < 0.05). The relative protein expression of caspase3, GRP78, caspase12, and CHOP was significantly reduced to different extents in the CCl₄+G-Rg1 group compared with those in the CCl4 group (P < 0.05). The CCl₄ + G-Rg1 group showed reduced liver tissue degeneration and necrosis compared with the CCl₄ group. Furthermore, the CCl₄+G-Rg1 group showed significantly fewer brown granules in the liver than the CCl4 group (P < 0.05), indicating that G-Rg1 preventive treatment reduced CCl₄-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. Conclusion G-Rg1 prophylaxis can inhibit inflammation and reduce hepatocyte necrosis and apoptosis during CCl₄-induced ALF. Its mechanism may involve the suppression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related signaling molecules to alleviate hepatocyte endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. The results of this study suggest that G-Rg1 may inhibit liver inflammation and hepatocyte apoptosis through multiple targets to protect liver function.

Gut microbiota provide enzymes and additional biochemical metabolic pathways for the host, which together with the host genome and the external environment, influence the body function. The composition of gut microbiota in infant is closely related to health in later life. However, it is influenced by many factors, including delivery mode, feeding pattern, prenatal diet, pregnancy psychology and antepartum antibiotic treatment. Vaginal delivery and breastfeeding is beneficial for shaping gut microbiota, while cesarean section and formula feeding would reduce the amount of gut dominant bacteria. In addition, inappropriate diet during pregnancy, prenatal stress and antepartum antibiotic treatment alters bacterial colonization of the gut in infant.

Objective To describe the status of nurses′professional identity and the self-concept and to explore the relationship between nurses′professional identity and the self-concept. This will be the base for intervening nurses′professional identity. Methods A convenience sample of 250 nurses from one major hospital in Beijing was recruited. The Macleod Clark Professional Identity Scale and the Professional Self-Concept Instrument were introduced. A standard translation procedure was carried out. Results A total of 250 questionnaires were sent out, 241 questionnaires were withdrawed with an effective rate of 96.4%. The mean score of nurses′professional identity was 42.54±8.70, which was at moderate level. The mean score of nurses′professional self-concept was 86.28 ±22.86, also at moderate level, among which,knowledgescores highest (25.91±6.00), leadership scored 20.84±8.02, inter-personal relationship scored (20.28±4.18), caring scored the lowest (19.25±4.67). There was significant difference among the professional identity in the different departments (P<0.05) , while the same results were not seen in professional self-concept. Nurses′professional identity was positively correlated with professional self-concept′s four dimensions (P<0.05). Conclusions The nurse managers should pay attention to the cultivation of professional self-concept in the training of nurses in order to improve the professional identity of nurses and the whole nurses′development.

Objective:To evaluate the immunomodulating effect of oyster peptide on immunosup-pressed mice.Methods:ICR mice injected with cyclophosphamide (CTX)were adopted as the module group,with mice without treatment as the control group,and different dosages of oyster peptide (0.5 g/kg,1 .0 g/kg,and 2.0 g/kg)were given to the low,middle,and high groups for 1 5 days.The body weight,spleen,and thymus weight of the mice,structures under the microscope of the immune organs, numbers of white blood cells,ratios of T lymphocyte subsets,immune cytokines and numbers of nuclear cells,and DNA content in bone marrow were all assessed.Results:Compared with the control group, the structures of thymus and spleen of the mice in the CTX group appeared obscure and shrunk when ob-served under microscope,the number of their white blood cells declined (P =0.04),the proportion of their CD3 +T cells in peripheral blood declined (P =0.003),the proportion of their CD8 +T cells in pe-ripheral blood declined (P =0.002),the concentration of their IL-5 in peripheral blood significantly in-creased (P <0.01 ),the concentration of their nucleated cells and DNA density in bone marrow de-creased (P =0.04,P <0.01 ).Oyster could improve the structures of thymus and spleen of the immuno-suppressed mice.Compared with the CTX group,the number of white blood cells in 2.0 g/kg group in-creased (P =0.003),the proportion of CD3 +T cells in peripheral blood in 1 .0 g/kg group (P =0.04) and 2.0 g/kg group (P =0.02)increased,the proportion of CD8 +T cells in peripheral blood in 2.0 g/kg group increased (P =0.002),the concentration of IL-5 in peripheral blood in all the oyster treated groups increased (P <0.01 in 0.5 g/kg,1 .0 g/kg,and 2.0 g/kg groups),the concentration of IL-1 7 in peripheral blood in 2.0 g/kg group decreased (P =0.03),the concentration of nucleated cells in bone marrow of all the oyster treated groups increased (0.5 g/kg vs.CTX,P =0.04;1 .0 g/kg vs. CTX,P =0.02;2.0 g/kg vs.CTX P =0.01 ),the DNA content in bone marrow of all the oyster treated groups increased (P <0.01 in the 0.5 g/kg,1 .0 g/kg,and 2.0 g/kg groups).Conclusion:Oyster peptide could improve the structures of immune organs of the CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice,re-cover the imbalances of T lymphocyte subsets,improve the immune cytokines and increase numbers of nucleated cells and DNA content in bone marrow,thus improving the immunologic function.

Objective To define the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with dilatedhypertrophic cardiomyopathy (D-HCM).Methods Clinical data of HCM patients hospitalized from January 2002 to December 2015 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into D-HCM and classic HCM patients.The D-HCM patients were followed up by phone.Results A total of 616 consecutive HCM patients were evaluated.Twenty one patients (3.4％) were diagnosed with D-HCM (average age (58.8 ± 10.4) years,13 males).It took (14.2 ± 7.1) years for classic HCM patients to develop D-HCM.Compared to classic HCM patients,D-HCM patients were younger at the time of first HCM diagnosis ((39.7 ± 10.4) years old vs.(48.5 ±9.5) years old,P ＜0.001) and had higher ratio of sudden cardiac death family history (19.0％ (4/21) vs.2.5％ (14/558),P =0.003),more patients of future D-HCM patients had ventricular tachycardia (38.1％ (8/21) vs.5.7％ (32/558),P ＜0.001) and higher TroponinⅠ(66.7％ (14/21) vs.9.3％ (52/558),P ＜ 0.001) before the left ventricular cavity enlargement.Moreover,MLVWH ((24.8 ± 4.2) mm vs.(17.2 ± 3.5) mm,P ＜ 0.001) was significantly thicker and LAD ((39.8 ±5.9) mm vs.(35.2 ± 3.3) mm,P ＜ 0.001) was significantly larger in D-HCM patients than in classical HCM patients.During the(3.8 ± 1.9) years follow up period,12 out of 21 D-HCM patients died (57.1％),5 cases(23.8％)died of severe heart failure and 7 cases(33.3％) died of sudden cardiac death.One patient received heart transplantation.Conclusions Few classical HCM patients progressed into D-HCM in this cohort.Patients diagnosed as HCM at young age,HCM patients with abnormal Troponin Ⅰ and ventricular tachycardia are at higher risk of developing D-HCM.The prognosis of D-HCM is very poor,and heart failure and sudden cardiac death are the main causes of death.

ObjectiveTo review the efficacy and safety in secondary prevention of ischemic stroke with cilostazol or aspirin.Methodswe searched Cochrane Library(the 4th issue, 2009 ), PubMed(1980.1～2009.11), EMBASE(1980.1～2009.11), CBM(1978.1～2009.11), CNKI(1979.1～2009.11) and some other databases, then collected all of the studies describing the outcomes in curing the ischemic stroke after taking cilostazol or aspirin. According to the strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently selected trials, extracted datas, made cross-checking and methodological quality assessment of the homogeneity studies by using the Cochrane systematic review methods, then made Meta analysis using RevMan 5.0 software.ResultsThis systematic review study included two randomized controlled trials and a cross-over trial, which contained a total of 838 participants. The evidence quality of one of the randomized controlled trials was high, however, the evidence quality of another randomized controlled trial and the cross-over trial was poor. Meta analysis results suggested that the effectiveness of cilostazol and aspirin in the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke performed no significantly statistical difference: primary endpoint(30 d［RR=3.00, 95%CI(0.31,28.70)］; 90 d［RR=1.67, 95%CI(0.40,6.92)］; 180 d［RR=1.25, 95%CI(0.50, 3.13)］; 360 d［RR=0.65, 95%CI(0.33, 1.29)］; 540 d［RR=0.80,95%CI(0.54, 1.18)］); combined endpoint(30 d［RR=4.00, 95%CI(0.45,35.61)］; 90 d ［RR=1.75,95%CI(0.52,5.93)］; 180 d［RR=1.00, 95%CI(0.48, 2.07)］; 360 d ［RR=0.77, 95%CI(0.45, 1.29)］; 540 d［RR=0.66,95%CI(0.40,1.09)］); the recurrence of ischemic stroke: cilostazol group: RR=0.64, 95%CI(0.31,1.30)，aspirin group: RR=0.21, 95%CI(0.04,1.06); PDMP［RR=1.00, 95%CI(0.39, 2.58)］. But in terms of the probability of intracranial hemorrhage (［RR=7.14, 95%CI(0.7,58.33)］) and other safety standards, taking cilostazol performed lower than taking aspirin.ConclusionThe side effects of cilostazol and aspirin in the treatment for ischemic stroke were similar to each other, but in terms of the probability of dizziness, headache, tachycardia and palpitation, taking cilostazol performed higher than taking aspirin, however, taking cilostazol performed lower in the probability of intracranial hemorrhage and other organ hemorrhage than taking aspirin. Since this study included a small amount of studies, in which the evidence quality of one of the randomized controlled trials and the cross-over study was poor, therefore, it would be necessary to make a further validation with lots of high-quality clinical trials.