The Role of Vitamin D in Supporting Health in the COVID-19 Era

The genomic activity of vitamin D is associated with metabolic effects, and the hormone has a strong impact on several physiological functions and, therefore, on health. Among its renowned functions, vitamin D is an immunomodulator and a molecule with an anti-inflammatory effect, and, recently, it has been much studied in relation to its response against viral infections, especially against COVID-19. This review aims to take stock of the correlation studies between vitamin D deficiency and increased risks of severe COVID-19 disease and, similarly, between vitamin D deficiency and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Based on this evidence, supplementation with vitamin D has been tested in clinical trials, and the results are discussed. Finally, this study includes a biochemical analysis on the effects of vitamin D in the body’s defense mechanisms against viral infection. In particular, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions are considered in relation to energy metabolism, and the potential, beneficial effect of vitamin D in COVID-19 is described, with discussion of its influence on different biochemical pathways. The proposed, broader view of vitamin D activity could support a better-integrated approach in supplementation strategies against severe COVID-19, which could be valuable in a near future of living with an infection becoming endemic.     

福建设施葡萄园土壤氮磷钾丰缺状况及垂直分布特征

以福建寿宁高优葡萄示范园区为研究对象,选取了14个代表性葡萄园(坡地6个和平地8个),按照0～20 cm、20～40 cm和40～60 cm深度分层取样,测定土壤氮、磷、钾含量,研究养分的垂直分布特征。结果表明:平地葡萄园土壤氮磷钾含量明显高于坡地葡萄园;调查区内土壤养分具有明显的表层"积聚效应",土壤全氮、全磷及其有效量和有效钾含量随土层深度的增加而增加;除有效磷和全钾在中等以上水平外,其他指标均处于缺素状态,土壤不平衡缺肥现象比较突出。因此,应充分考虑葡萄园所处的地形位置,合理配施氮磷肥,避免盲目过量施用钾肥,通过增施有机肥和补充土壤微生物菌剂,促进被固定土壤养分的重新利用。不仅减少化肥的投入量,还可以避免因养分大量富集而造成的农业面源污染。     

安徽省部分城乡居民血清维生素A水平及相关因素分析

了解安徽省部分城乡地区6周岁以上居民维生素A营养状况及其相关因素分析。通过多阶段分层与人口成比例的整群随机抽样的方法抽取安徽省合肥市某区和安庆市某农村年龄在6周岁以上居民468名,于2010年8月至2010年10月进行问卷调查,并采集清晨空腹静脉血分离血清,用超高效液相色谱(UPLC)测定血清视黄醇浓度水平,同时测定部分生理生化指标。研究对象血清维生素A缺乏及边缘性缺乏率为15.6%(血清视黄醇0.3μg/mL),维生素A正常率为84.4%(血清视黄醇0.3μg/mL)。调查对象的维生素A水平在地区、性别、年龄、受教育程度、人均年收入、BMI、DBP、SDP、TC和TG分布上存在差异(P0.05)。单因素线性回归分析发现血清视黄醇浓度水平与地区、年龄、受教育程度、BMI、DBP、SBP、TC、TG和Hb呈正相关。多元线性回归分析发现血清视黄醇浓度水平与地区、年龄、TC和TG呈正相关。安徽省部分城乡地区6周岁以上居民存在一定比例的维生素A缺乏状况,并可能受地区、年龄、性别、TC和TG等因素影响。     

In vitro antioxidant and in vivo xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of Pandanus amaryllifolius in potassium oxonate‐induced hyperuricemic rats

Xanthine oxidase (XO) plays an important role in the regulation of uric acid and prevents it from being overproduced as in hyperuricemia disease. The combined effects of antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitor would become a promising approach for hyperuricemia treatment. In this research, the antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of Pandanus amaryllifolius leaf were evaluated. The leaf water extract (PA‐W) showed highest total phenols, and petroleum ether extract (PA‐PE) showed highest total flavonoids contents. The antioxidant activity of DPPH, metal chelating and hydrogen peroxide was highest in PA‐W extract. The treatment of PA‐W extract at 1000 mg kg^?1 body weight in potassium oxonate‐induced hyperuricemic rats showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease in serum uric acid level by 85% and XO activity by 64%, respectively, as compared to the hyperuricemic rats. In conclusion, the P. amaryllifolius possess the dual effect of antioxidant and XO inhibition as potential therapeutic agents in the hyperuricemia treatment.     

大麦、麦芽和啤酒酿造中的内源性氧化还原酶

由于大麦和麦芽中存在的内潭性氧化还原酶的作用，使内源性多酚、不饱和脂类等物质被氧化，导致成品啤酒风味稳定性和非生物稳定性的降低。酶促氧化反应可发生在不同的酿造阶段，包括发芽、焙爆和糖化等环节。五种主要的内源性氧化还原酶中，超氧化物歧化酶是最为重要的抗氧化酶，可防止超氧阴离子自由基的危害；而过氧化氢酶可催化具有活性的H2O2生成如，由此构成了清除活性氧的初级抗氧化酶体系。过氧化物酶和多酚氧化酶分别在H2O2和O2存在的情况下，可催化内源性酚类底物生成具有活性的醌类物质，所产生的次级氧化产物可改变啤酒的品质。脂肪酸氧化酶可氧化不饱和脂肪酸生成可挥发性的醛类物质，是导致啤酒风味老化的关键酶。酶促氧化的结果在成品啤酒上主要表现为老化异昧的出现、形成混浊、苦味和收敛性的改变，以及色泽的加深等。本文综述了这五种酶的基本性质，在制麦和糖化过程中的变化及其影响，并探讨了对啤酒酿造的影响。     

胥虹桥上部结构计算分析

胥虹桥为三孔刚架拱桥，主孔净跨为６０ｍ，全桥长度为１５５．９８ｍ，该桥于１９９２年６月建成，从竣工后延续至今，相继出现桥面裂缝，拱肋开裂，墩台变位，桥面下沉等病害。本文着重分析该桥病害发生的上部结构的原因。     

In situ observation of oxygen deficiency occurring during electron irradiation in high Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3Oy

The decreasing process of oxygen in YBa₂Cu₃O _y is investigated through high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED). Measurements of the axial length in HREM images show that oxygen content y decreases faster near a twin boundary than at the inner part of a twin lamella. The transformation from an orthorhombic to a tetragonal phase starts at a twin boundary and the transformed region propagates to an inner region of lamella. Lattice strains are observed near boundaries between transformed and non-transformed regions. The transformation is almost complete within 30 s during observation of HREM images at 400 kV and at room temperature. A value of y was quantitatively measured by analysing observed intensities of energy-filtered CBED patterns with the dynamical theory. The value of y decreases from 6.9 to 6.5 when 200 kV electrons are irradiated for 160 s in a microscope at 108 K. More precise analysis of the intensities provides information on charge distribution along the c -axis as well as local oxygen content at a spatial resolution of several nanometres.     

浅埋近距离煤层群工作面上隅角贫氧致因及综防技术

我国神东、平朔、大同煤田赋存着大量浅埋近距离煤层群,浅埋近距离煤层群具有煤层埋藏浅、煤层间距近等特点,在开采扰动下,层间易产生裂隙形成漏风通道,当地表空气进入上覆采空区,易引起上覆采空区遗煤自燃,间接影响下层煤开采过程中工作面上隅角的氧气浓度,造成贫氧现象。为了探究浅埋近距离煤层群工作面上隅角贫氧致因,提出防治贫氧的措施,以大恒煤矿91103综采工作面为研究背景,采用理论分析、CDEM数值模拟以及SF6示踪气体漏风测试等方法进行了研究。结果表明:地面裂缝、沉积现象明显;模拟煤岩损伤、破裂过程、裂隙发育,得出地表与上覆采空区、工作面贯通模型;利用连续定量释放SF6示踪气体在工作面进行漏风测定,测定结果验证了数值模拟中地表、上覆采空区以及工作面的贯通。工作面上隅角贫氧是由于浅埋赋存煤体破碎析出的低氧气体、采空区氧化衍生气体以及防灭火注入的惰性气体,在通风负压和大气压力的双重作用下,通过漏风通道进入工作面,加之U型通风方式的通风特点等多种因素共同造成的,其中工作面与地表贯通造成漏风严重是上隅角贫氧的主要致因。基于对贫氧致因的研究,大恒煤矿采用了井上下堵漏、安设风帘、埋管抽采、风机配合风筒等综合性防治措施,有效解决了工作面上隅角贫氧对安全生产的制约和影响,确保了工作面上隅角氧气浓度始终处于正常水平。     

区域电力市场在缺电情况下的小扰动稳定性

针对缺电情况下区域电力市场的运营特征建立了在不考虑阻塞时,电价、需求、参与竞价机组三者间相互约束在平衡点附近和偏离平衡点的数学模型,从系统角度分析平衡点附近模型在一阶T ay lor展开下的小扰动稳定性问题,并对平衡点附近模型和偏离平衡点后修正模型的小扰动进行算例分析,比较需求侧对小扰动后稳定可能造成的影响。结果表明,区域电力市场运营需要充分考虑其自身的动态特性,并制订长远的电力规划和完善的市场规则。     

The WWOX/HIF1A Axis Downregulation Alters Glucose Metabolism and Predispose to Metabolic Disorders

Recent reports indicate that the hypoxia-induced factor (HIF1α) and the Warburg effect play an initiating role in glucotoxicity, which underlies disorders in metabolic diseases. WWOX has been identified as a HIF1α regulator. WWOX downregulation leads to an increased expression of HIF1α target genes encoding glucose transporters and glycolysis’ enzymes. It has been proven in the normoglycemic mice cells and in gestational diabetes patients. The aim of the study was to determine WWOX’s role in glucose metabolism regulation in hyperglycemia and hypoxia to confirm its importance in the development of metabolic disorders. For this purpose, the WWOX gene was silenced in human normal fibroblasts, and then cells were cultured under different sugar and oxygen levels. Thereafter, it was investigated how WWOX silencing alters the genes and proteins expression profile of glucose transporters and glycolysis pathway enzymes, and their activity. In normoxia normoglycemia, higher glycolysis genes expression, their activity, and the lactate concentration were observed in WWOX KO fibroblasts in comparison to control cells. In normoxia hyperglycemia, it was observed a decrease of insulin-dependent glucose uptake and a further increase of lactate. It likely intensifies hyperglycemia condition, which deepen the glucose toxic effect. Then, in hypoxia hyperglycemia, WWOX KO caused weaker glucose uptake and elevated lactate production. In conclusion, the WWOX/HIF1A axis downregulation alters glucose metabolism and probably predispose to metabolic disorders.