[The urate-lowering efficacy of febuxostat and its relationship with residual renal function in peritoneal dialysis patients with hyperuricemia]

Objective: To investigate the urate-lowering efficacy of febuxostat in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with hyperuricemia (HUA) and its relationship with residual renal function. Methods: Patients with HUA who underwent PD in Ningbo First Hospital from January 2018 to October 2021 were enrolled and divided into experimental group and control group according to whether to use febuxostat. The clinical baseline data before treatment and clinical indicators during 1-12 months after treatment were collected in two groups, and the adverse reactions during the use of febuxostat were also recorded. The changes of serum uric acid, standard-reaching rate and residual renal function were compared between the two groups during the follow-up. Results: A total of 105 patients were included in the study. There were 55 patients in the experimental group [27 males and 28 females, with a mean age of (54.5±14.8) years] and 50 patients in the control group [32 males and 18 females, with a mean age of (53.8±15.2) years]. No statistically significant difference was detected in clinical baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). The serum uric acid of the experimental group [(479±77), (311±69), (286±61), (307±65), (312±57) μmol/L] and control group [(486±59), (454±71), (453±76), (463±70), (459±76) μmol/L] were lower than baseline values at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment and the differences of two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The serum uric acid in experimental group was significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.05). At 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment, the standard-reaching rate of serum uric acid in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (all P<0.05). The decrease of residual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and residual renal urea clearance index (Kt/V) in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 12 months after treatment (all P<0.05). During the follow-up, the incidence of adverse reactions in the experimental group was 9.09% (5/55). Conclusions: Febuxostat can effectively treat PD patients with hyperuricemia and has a high safety profile. Moreover, it may delay the loss of residual renal function.

[Research advances in transmission dynamic models on hand, foot, and mouth disease]

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common childhood infectious disease caused by various enteroviruses. China has the most significant number of reported cases and deaths of HFMD over the globe. Understanding the epidemic laws of HFMD can provide a scientific basis for designing prevention and control measures. The dynamic transmission models focus on the transmission mechanism of infectious diseases. They can simulate the actual situation to study the epidemic rules of diseases by adding, deleting, and subdividing compartments. More researchers have paid attention to dynamic models because of their high flexibility. To carry out the dynamic model of the HFMD research more effectively, a comprehensive understanding of related research progress in this field is deeply needed. In this paper, based on various researchers' different research purposes of dynamic models, the research progress was classified and summarized, providing meaningful guidance for model construction methods and future research directions and references for dynamic modeling of other models of infectious diseases. It was found that most studies used the SIR dynamic model or its extended model (such as the SEIR model), and few studies contained a complex factor compartment. Some important epidemiological parameters (such as R₀) were obtained by studying the HFMD cases in a specific region, simulating different intervention scenarios to evaluate the effect of measures, or revealing the future trend by model prediction. However, there is no dynamic model simultaneously considering age structure, population moving, seasonality and periodicity, and vaccination.

Short-term outcomes of intracorporeal and extracorporeal anastomosis in robotic right colectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ileocolic anastomosis is performed via extracorporeal or intracorporeal techniques in robotic right hemicolectomy. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the short-term outcomes of intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) and extracorporeal anastomosis (EA) for robotic right colectomy. The EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically (from inception until March 1, 2020) for randomized and non-randomized control trials reporting the short-term outcomes of IA and EA for robotic right colectomy. Five observational cohort studies involving 585 participants were included in our meta-analysis. Compared to the EA group, the IA group showed significantly longer operation time [weighted mean difference (WMD): 28.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 13.88-43.89, p = 0.0002], lower rate of anastomotic leak (odds ratio: 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.85, p = 0.03), and shorter time to first flatus (WMD: - 0.57, 95% CI - 0.95 to 0.19, p = 0.003). However, pooled results revealed no difference in blood loss, complications, wound infection, incisional hernia, length of incision, and hospital stay between the IA and EA groups (p < 0.05). This meta-analysis indicated that IA was superior to EA in terms of anastomotic leak and time to first flatus, but inferior in terms of operation time. Large-scale, multicenter, randomized studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma: a radiomic nomogram based on MRI

AIM

To develop a reliable model to predict microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by combining a large number of clinical and imaging examinations, especially the radiomic features of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred and one consecutive patients from two centres were enrolled. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to shrink the feature size, and logistic regression was used to construct a predictive radiomic signature. The ability of the nomogram to discriminate MVI in patients with HCC was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics (ROC), accuracy, and calibration curves.

RESULTS

The radiomic signature showed a significant association with MVI (p<0.001 for all data sets). Other useful predictors of MVI included non-smooth tumour margin, internal arteries, and the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. The nomogram demonstrated a strong prognostic capability in the training set and both validation sets, providing AUCs of 0.914 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.853-0.956), 0.872 (95% CI: 0.757-0.946), and 0.881 (95% CI: 0.806-0.934), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative radiomic nomogram, incorporating clinical risk factors and a radiomic signature, could predict MVI in patients with HCC. The MRI-based radiomic-clinical model predicted the MVI of HCC effectively and was more efficient compared with the radiomic model or clinical model alone.

Urinary complement proteins and risk of end-stage renal disease: quantitative urinary proteomics in patients with type 2 diabetes and biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy

PURPOSE

To investigate the association between urinary complement proteins and renal outcome in biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODS

Untargeted proteomic and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional analyses and targeted proteomic analysis using parallel reaction-monitoring (PRM)-mass spectrometry was performed to determine the abundance of urinary complement proteins in healthy controls, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN. The abundance of each urinary complement protein was individually included in Cox proportional hazards models for predicting progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

RESULTS

Untargeted proteomic and functional analysis using the KEGG showed that differentially expressed urinary proteins were primarily associated with the complement and coagulation cascades. Subsequent urinary complement proteins quantification using PRM showed that urinary abundances of C3, C9, and complement factor H (CFAH) correlated negatively with annual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, while urinary abundances of C5, decay-accelerating factor (DAF), and CD59 correlated positively with annual rate of eGFR decline. Furthermore, higher urinary abundance of CFAH and lower urinary abundance of DAF were independently associated with greater risk of progression to ESRD. Urinary abundance of CFAH and DAF had a larger area under the curve (AUC) than that of eGFR, proteinuria, or any pathological parameter. Moreover, the model that included CFAH or DAF had a larger AUC than that with only clinical or pathological parameters.

CONCLUSION

Urinary abundance of complement proteins was significantly associated with ESRD in patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN, indicating that therapeutically targeting the complement pathway may alleviate progression of DN.

Proatherogenic gut-microbiome metabolite trimethylamine elicits a gut-liver circuit to regulate TMAO metabolism and atherosclerosis via mediation of CREBH

Introduction

In humans, circulating metabolite Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is closely associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Trimethylamine (TMA), a precursor of TMAO, is produced by gut microbiome using dietary components, i.e., choline and carnitine, as substrates. The gut-derived TMA is then transferred to the liver where it is further oxidized to TMAO by the flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs). The ER-resident transcription factor c-AMP responsive element binding protein H (CREBH/CREB3L3) is exclusively expressed in the liver and intestine. Perturbation of CREBH activity contributes to the development of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the Purpose of this study is to investigate the regulatory effect of a gut bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), on TMA and TMAO metabolism and the role of CREBH in this process.

Methods

Two groups of wild type (WT) and CREBH knockout (CREBH-KO) mice were inoculated with 200 μL of A. muciniphila (2×108 cfu/0.2 mL) in PBS or the vehicle (PBS) alone as control every other day through oral gavage for 2 weeks. Plasmas, liver and intestinal tissues were collected for metabolomics analysis, immunoblotting analysis and q-RT-PCR.

Results

Metabolomics analysis of the plasmas from the experimental mice revealed that increased colonization of A. muciniphila in the gut significantly reduced circulating TMA in the WT mice but not in CREBH-KO mice (P&lt;0.05), suggesting that depletion of CREBH altered the microenvironment of gut microbiome which affected the metabolism of TMA by gut bacteria. In the livers, A. muciniphila treatment markedly reduced mRNA expression of FMO1 and FMO3 (P&lt;0.05), which subsequently inhibited the enzymatic conversion of TMA to TMAO in hepatocytes. Immunoblotting analysis further revealed that LDL receptor was upregulated whereas ER stress markers, GRP94 and JNK1/2, were downregulated in the A. muciniphila treated KO mice, indicating an acceleration in lipoprotein (VLDL remnant) clearance from the circulation and the improvement of metabolic inflammation. In vitro, incubation of mouse hepatocytes AML12 with TMA (600 mM) for 12 hours stimulated expression of FMOs to facilitate the conversion of TMA to TMAO and induced lipotoxicity.

Conclusion

CREBH mediates the crosstalk between gut microbiome and liver metabolic system that regulates TMA and TMAO metabolism, which contributes to the induction of metabolic inflammation and atherogenesis. This novel finding may lend support to the therapeutic strategy of atherosclerosis.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation

Cystatin C alleviates H2O2-induced H9c2 cell injury

OBJECTIVE

At present, the incidence of acute myocardial infarction is increasing year by year, and it has become one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate in humans. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is a major problem in the treatment of myocardial infarction, but clinically there is no effective way to treat MIRI. This study used Cystatin C (Cys C) to treat cardiomyocytes and rats to investigate the effect of Cys C on MIRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used H2O2 to induce rat cardiomyocytes (H9c2 cells) injury and stimulated the cells with Cys C. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) assay was used to determine the optimal concentration of H2O2 and Cys C to stimulate H9c2 cells. We determined the effects of Cys C on oxidative stress and apoptosis levels in H9c2 cells by measuring the activity of dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the expression of apoptosis-related molecules (caspase3/8/9, Bax and Bcl-2). Changes in the activity of the NF-κB signaling pathway in H9c2 cells were also detected. In addition, we made rat MIRI models by ligating the coronary arteries and used Cys C to treat rats to verify the effect of Cys C on MIRI.

RESULTS

According to the results of the CCK8 assay, 1000 μM of H2O2 and 15 μM of Cys C were used to stimulate H9c2 cells. Cys C alleviated H2O2-induced H9c2 cell injury, manifested as a decrease in LDH and MDA activity and an increase in SOD activity. Cys C also reduced the apoptosis level in H9c2 cells. The activity of NF-κB signaling pathway in injured H9c2 cells was increased, and stimulation of Cys C could inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway in H9c2 cells. The application of Cys C in MIRI rats also verified its therapeutic effect on MIRI.

CONCLUSIONS

Cys C reduced the oxidative stress and apoptosis levels of cardiomyocytes by inhibiting the activity of NF-κB signaling pathway in cardiomyocytes, thereby reducing cardiomyocyte injury and treating MIRI.

MiR-372-3p promotes tumor progression by targeting LATS2 in colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

Many studies suggest that microRNAs can promote the malignant development of tumors. MiRNA-372-3p (miR-372-3p) has been proved to be associated with a variety of cancers. However, the role of miR-372-3p in colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed the expression of miR-372-3p in CRC tissues and several CRC cell lines by quantitative Real Time-PCR. The relationship between miR-372-3p and clinical pathology was also analyzed in CRC patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox multivariate analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of miR-372-3p in CRC. Next, we investigated the biological function of miR-372-3p, including cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and analyzed its potential molecular mechanism in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

Our data showed that the expression of miR-372-3p was dramatically increased in CRC tissues compared with normal tissues. Moreover, the high expression of miR-372-3p was significantly correlated with tumor size and differentiation. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the high miR-372-3p expression group patients had a significantly shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) than those with the low miR-372-3p group. The analysis of the prognostic factors revealed that miR-372-3p was an independent prognostic factor for RFS and DSS in CRC patients. The knockdown of miR-372-3p inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Interestingly, the overexpression of LATS2 partially reversed the miR-372-3p -mediated cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC. Besides, the Hippo signaling pathway was demonstrated to be activated by decreasing of miR-372-3p in CRC. Thus, our study revealed that miR-372-3p is involved in CRC progression by inhibiting the Hippo signaling pathway through its target LATS2. MiR-372-3p and its target genes with signaling pathways are new hope for precise treatment of CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

The upregulation of miR-372-3p was involved in the process of CRC progression by inhibiting the Hippo signaling pathway through inhibition of LATS2. We showed that miR-372-3p and its target genes with signaling pathways are a novel hope for precise treatment of CRC.

Whole-genome sequencing reveals breed-differential CNVs between Tongcheng and Large White pigs

Large phenotypic differences have been observed between Tongcheng and Large White pigs. However, little is known about their genetic basis. This study performed a genome-wide comparison of CNVs between Tongcheng and Large White pigs using genome sequencing data. By combining the advantages of three different strategies (read depth, paired-end mapping and split read), we detected in total 18 687 CNVs that covered approximately 3.5% of the pig genome length for Tongcheng and Large White pigs. We identified 1864 breed-stratified CNVs (top 10%) by performing V_ST statistics. Functional enrichment analyses for genes located in breed-stratified CNVs were found to be involved in pigmentation, behavior, immune system and reproductive processes, which coincide with phenotypic differences between the two breeds. Using a systematic analysis of the genome and transcriptome data, we further identified four novel breed-differential CNVs on the functional genes (disease-resistant, DCUN1D2 and SPARCL1; lipid metabolism, PLEKHA2 and SLCO1A2). Subsequent PCR validation confirmed their accurate breakpoint positions in 33 Tongcheng pigs and 33 Large White pigs. This study provides essential information on differential CNVs for further research on the genetic basis of phenotypic differences between Tongcheng and Large White pigs.

Gender and age differences in the association between sleep characteristics and fasting glucose levels in Chinese adults

AIM

The present study examined the associations between night-time sleep duration, midday napping duration and bedtime, and fasting glucose levels, and whether or not such associations are dependent on gender and age.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 172,901 adults aged≥40 years living in mainland China. Sleep duration was obtained by self-reports of bedtime at night, waking-up time the next morning and average napping duration at midday. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG)≥7.0mmol/L was defined as hyperglycaemia. Independent associations between night-time sleep duration, midday naptime duration and bedtime with hyperglycaemia were evaluated using regression models.

RESULTS

Compared with night-time sleep durations of 6-7.9h, both short (<6h) and long (≥8h) night-time sleep durations were significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperglycaemia in women [odds ratio (OR): 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.29 and OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.08-1.21, respectively], and revealed a U-shaped distribution of risk in women and no significant association in men. Long midday nap durations (≥1h) were significantly but weakly associated with hyperglycaemia (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.09) compared with no napping without interactions from gender or age, whereas the association between bedtime and fasting glucose levels did vary according to gender and age.

CONCLUSION

Night-time sleep duration, midday napping duration and bedtime were all independently associated with the risk of hyperglycaemia, and some of the associations between these sleep characteristics and hyperglycaemia were gender- and age-dependent.

Universal energy scaling law for optimally excited nonlinear oscillators

We compute the optimal temporal profile for an external driving force F(t) that can maximize the energy absorption of any driven nonlinear oscillator. The technique is based on constraining the maximum amplitude of the force field such that optimal control theory can provide quasianalytical solutions. We illustrate this computational technique for the undamped Duffing oscillator as well as for a driven quantum mechanical two-level system. We find that under optimal force conditions the asymptotic time-dependence of the maximum amplitude growth is given by a power law X(t)∼t^{2/α}, where the (possibly noninteger) exponent is determined by the highest degree of the oscillator's nonlinearity α. As a universal result, this predicts that the maximal energy absorption of any nonlinear oscillator grows (under an optimized force field) quadratically in time. We also find for the two-level system that-even under optimized excitation conditions-the maximally achievable inversion does not monotonically increase with the force amplitude. It is characterized by an interesting sequence of n-cycle thresholds as well as a self-termination of the growth.

Symbiotic versus nonsymbiotic optimization for spatial and temporal degrees of freedom in pair creation

The field-induced decay of the quantum vacuum state associated with the creation of electron-positron pairs can be caused independently by either multiphoton transitions or by tunneling processes. The first mechanism is usually induced by appropriate temporal variations of the external field while the second (Schwinger-like) process occurs if a static but spatially dependent electric field is of supercritical strength. The ultimate goal is to construct an optimal space-time profile of an electromagnetic field that can maximize the creation of particle pairs. The simultaneous optimization of parameters that characterize the spatial and temporal features of both fields suggests that the optimal two-field configuration can be remarkably similar to that predicted from two independent optimizations for the spatial and temporal fields separately.

Spatial Patterns of Brain Activity Preferentially Reflecting Transient Pain and Stimulus Intensity

How pain emerges in the human brain remains an unresolved question. Neuroimaging studies have suggested that several brain areas subserve pain perception because their activation correlates with perceived pain intensity. However, painful stimuli are often intense and highly salient; therefore, using both intensity- and saliency-matched control stimuli is crucial to isolate pain-selective brain responses. Here, we used these intensity/saliency-matched painful and non-painful stimuli to test whether pain-selective information can be isolated in the functional magnetic resonance imaging responses elicited by painful stimuli. Using two independent datasets, multivariate pattern analysis was able to isolate features distinguishing the responses triggered by (1) intensity/saliency-matched painful versus non-painful stimuli, and (2) high versus low-intensity/saliency stimuli regardless of whether they elicit pain. This indicates that neural activity in the so-called "pain matrix" is functionally heterogeneous, and part of it carries information related to both painfulness and intensity/saliency. The response features distinguishing these aspects are spatially distributed and cannot be ascribed to specific brain structures.

Chicken infectious anemia virus helps fowl adenovirus break the protection of maternal antibody and cause inclusion body hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome in layers after using co-contaminated Newcastle disease virus-attenuated vaccine

Inclusion body hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (IBH-HPS) caused by fowl adenovirus type 4 (FAdV-4) has caused huge economic losses for China in the past five years. At present, this disease is controlled in many flocks with the inactivated FAdV vaccine, but the offspring chicks of a layer breeding flock that were vaccinated with this vaccine still became infected and developed IBH-HPS with a 20% mortality rate. Analysis revealed that the NDV-attenuated vaccine in use from the above-mentioned poultry farm was simultaneously contaminated with FAdV-4 and chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV). The FAdV and CIAV isolated from the vaccine were purified for the artificial preparation of an NDV-attenuated vaccine singly contaminated with FAdV or CIAV, or simultaneously contaminated with both of them. Seven-day-old layers with maternal FAdV antibody were inoculated with the artificially prepared, contaminated vaccines and assessed for corresponding indices. The experiments showed that no obvious symptoms occurred after using the NDV-attenuated vaccine singly contaminated with FAdV or CIAV; however, common IBH and occasional HPS-related death was found in birds after administering the NDV-attenuated vaccine co-contaminated with FAdV and CIAV. In conclusion, this study illustrated that CIAV could assist FAdV in breaking maternal FAdV antibody protection, which then caused the IBH-HPS after vaccination with the co-contaminated NDV vaccine.

Dirac Vacuum as a Transport Medium for Information

Usually, the transport of information requires either an electromagnetic field or matter as a carrier. It turns out that the Dirac vacuum modes could be exploited as a potentially loss-free carrier of information between two distant locations in space. At the first location, a spatially localized electric field is placed, whose temporal shape is modulated, for example, as a binary sequence of distinguishable high and low values of the amplitude. The resulting distortion of the vacuum state reflecting this information propagates then to a second location, where this digital signal can be read off sequentially by a static electric field pulse. If this second field is supercritical, it can create electron-positron pairs from the manipulated vacuum state. The original information transported by the vacuum mode is then imprinted on the temporal behavior of the created particle yield for a selected energy.

Effects of oat protein supplementation on skeletal muscle damage, inflammation and performance recovery following downhill running in untrained collegiate men

The positive influence of animal-based protein supplementation during muscle-damaging exercise has been widely studied. However, the effects of plant-based proteins remain unclear and require further clarification. This study investigated the protective role of oat protein against exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD), subsequent inflammation, and loss of performance induced by downhill running. Subjects consumed either oat protein (25 g protein) or a placebo for 14 days prior to a downhill running test and then for 4 days thereafter. Treatments with oat protein for 19 days markedly alleviated eccentric exercise induced skeletal muscle soreness, and reduced the elevation of plasma IL-6 concentrations and serum creatine kinase, myoglobin and C reactive protein contents. In addition, oat protein supplementation significantly inhibited limb edema following damaging exercise, and the adverse effects on muscle strength, knee-joint range of motion, and vertical jump performance were lessened. Furthermore, the administration of oat protein facilitated recovery from exhaustive downhill running in this study. These findings demonstrated that oat protein supplementation has the potential to alleviate the negative effects of eccentric exercise in untrained young males.

Analysis of factors that influence the quality of sexual life of climacteric women in China

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to identify the factors associated with the sexual lives of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women in China.

METHODS

A total of 426 participants were approached about this study from May 2012 to August 2013. In total, 252 cases were included in this study. One hundred and ninety-seven women who filled out the Quality of Sexual Life Questionnaire for Women (QSLQW) and the modified Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) had an active sexual life. Pearson's coefficient index was used to determine the correlation between the KMI and different domains of the QSLQW. Multivariable statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between different factors and the sexual life of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

RESULTS

When the participants reported a higher KMI, they suffered lower sexual satisfaction (r = -0.16, p = 0.035), more severe sexual anxiety (r = -0.367, p = 4.9 × 10^-7), and less sexual response (r = -0.21, p = 0.004). No correlation was found between the KMI and sexual communication, sexual attitude, and self-image. Multivariable statistical analysis showed that menopause status and higher KMI scores are associated with a decrease in sexual satisfaction among Chinese women (β = -9.76, 95% CI -16.89 to -2.64 and β = -0.41, 95% CI -0.68 to -0.15, respectively), and that the better the spousal relationship, the fewer deliveries and the higher the scores of sexual life quality (β = 8.86, 95% CI -0.91 to 18.63 and β = -6.65, 95% CI -11.83 to -1.48, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Factors including parity, spousal relationship, menopausal status, and menopausal symptoms are associated with the quality of sexual life of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women in China.

Manipulation of the Vacuum to Control Its Field-Induced Decay

It has long been predicted that permanent electron-positron pairs can be created from the quantum vacuum at those spatial regions where an external electric field exceeds a supercritical value. By solving the Dirac equation numerically, we show that the yield of the created positrons at targeted energies can be controlled via a second (subcritical) electric field that is placed far outside the creation zone. This is a clear indication of the nonlocal character of the pair-creation process, as the second field can be placed at distant spatial regions that are never visited by the created positrons. This counterintuitive phenomenon can be understood in terms of a dressing of the vacuum state long before the particles are actually created. We present an analytical expression for the spectrum of the created particles that describes all quantitative features of this dressing and predicts how the second field can be used to increase as well as decrease the electron-positron yield for desired energies.

[Research progress of salivary glands mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma]

Salivary glands mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (SGML) is a distinct subtype of marginal zone B-cell type non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), which is commonly seen in middle aged females. SGML is usually associated with autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome or with chronic infection such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Chromosomal abnormalities are frequently seen in SGML, which usually activate nuclear factor-κB molecular pathway to modulate cell survival and proliferation, resulting in lymphoma occurrence. SGML tends to arise from parotid gland, presenting frequently as a localized and indolent lesion, a long-term follow-up and biopsy are needed for accurate diagnosis. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are usually effective disseminated diseases at multiple sites need combined treatment. SGML has a relatively better prognosis with a higher relapse rate than other types of NHLs, dissemination or higher degree of malignant transformation may occur. Thus, a long-term and close follow-up is essential for patients with SGML.

Superposition principle for the simultaneous optimization of collective responses

We study the dynamics of sets of independent systems, all of which are coupled to the same time-dependent external force. Using optimal control theory, we compute the most efficient temporal pulse shape for this force that can maximize simultaneously the collective response of these systems. This response can be a weighted sum of all amplitudes at the final interaction time. Remarkably, it turns out that for certain systems this optimal force for the collective response can be related to the individual forces that would optimize each system separately. We illustrate this superposition principle for the simultaneous optimization of collective responses with numerical and also analytical solutions for sets of damped linear and nonlinear oscillators. We also apply this principle to predict the optimal temporal profile of a laser pulse that can maximize the final macroscopic polarization (total dipole moment) of a set of quantum mechanical two-level atoms.

Scaling analysis of core pressure drop in reduced height integral test facility

Integral test plays essential role to assess the design of the emergency cooling system of nuclear reactors. Different from full height integral test facilities, reduced height integral test facilities have new problems on the pressure drop scaling. This paper mainly focuses on scaling of pressure drop across the core as it is the major pressure drop in primary loop. The analysis of pressure drop across the core has been divided into three terms and each term has been discussed separately based on two conditions: the normal operation condition and natural circulation condition. After that, the total pressure drop ratios under these two conditions have been discussed.

A potential strategy for counteracting age-related sarcopenia: preliminary evidence of combined exercise training and leucine supplementation

Previous research has demonstrated the positive effects of concurrent/combined aerobic and resistance exercise or leucine supplementation on skeletal muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and hypertrophy in aging organisms. However, the effects of a multimodal intervention which combines both aerobic and resistance exercise and leucine supplementation has not been fully elucidated. Eighteen month old and 2 month old C57BL/6 mice were assigned to aging control (AC, n = 8), aging and multimodal intervention (AMI, n = 8) and young control (YC, n = 8). Mice in the YC and AC groups were fed an alanine-rich diet (3.4%), and mice in the AMI group received an isonitrogenous leucine-supplemented (5%) diet in combination with combined aerobic (30 minutes swimming) and resistance exercise training (incremental jumping submersed in water with overload corresponding to 40%-50% body weight) for a total of 4 weeks. The gastrocnemius muscles were dissected for western blotting detection (signaling proteins involved in MPS) and the ex vivo determination of protein synthesis and protein content. The muscle strength of the hind limbs was measured pre-experiment and repeated once per week on Sunday for 4 weeks. Mice in the AC and AMI groups showed lower ex vivo protein synthesis, protein content, expression of signaling proteins involved in MPS, maximal grip strength but higher plasma cortisol compared with the YC group post intervention. When compared to AC mice, the multimodal treatment led to lower activity of Sestrin2, higher expression of PI3K III and the phosphorylation of mTOR, p70S6K and 4E-BP1, as well as higher plasma leucine, wet gastrocnemius muscle weight and muscle weight to body weight ratio. Furthermore, the multimodal intervention induced more pronounced anabolic response such as higher ex vivo protein synthesis rate, total protein content, and myofibrillar fractions in gastrocnemius muscle, and greater maximum grip strength. The present research shows that a multimodal intervention including combined both aerobic and resistance exercise training and 5% leucine supplementation has the potential to maintain skeletal muscle protein synthesis and attenuate losses in muscular strength during the aging process.

Can we assess severity of Guillain-Barré syndrome using absolute monocyte count?

INTRODUCTION

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory demyelinating autoimmune disease, associated with blood-nerve barrier breakdown, inflammatory cells infiltration, and cytokine leakage in the peripheral nervous system. Currently, it has been revealed that monocytes play key roles in the inflammatory response. Therefore, we aimed to assess the correlation between monocyte count and GBS in this study.

METHODS

Retrospective study was conducted in 114 patients with GBS and 120 age- and gender-matched individuals.

RESULTS

Absolute monocyte count in patients with GBS was higher than that in healthy controls (0.61 ± 0.24 vs 0.41 ± 0.10; P  < .001). Interestingly, monocyte count had significant positive correlations with CRP, ESR, and disease severity of GBS (r = .244, P = .009; r = .269, P = .004; r = .322, P < .001). A cutoff value of 0.515 for monocyte count was observed in patients with GBS (areas under the curve = 0.808, 95% confidence interval = 0.749-0.868, P  < .001). Meanwhile, absolute monocyte count was independently associated with GBS in logistic regression analysis (odds ratio = 2.291, 95% confidence interval = 3.557-27.493, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrated that elevated monocyte count is independently associated with GBS patients, and suggested monocyte count is positively associated with disease severity of GBS.

Cockroach is a major cross-reactive allergen source in shrimp-sensitized rural children in southern China

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the prevalence of food allergy (FA) in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the disparity of FA between urban and rural areas in southern China.

METHODS

EuroPrevall questionnaire responses were obtained from 5542 school-age children in urban Guangzhou and 5319 in rural Shaoguan. A case-control study enrolled 190 children with adverse reactions (ARs) after food intake as cases and 212 controls in Guangzhou, whereas 116 cases and 233 controls in Shaoguan. These subjects underwent skin prick test (SPT) and serum IgE measurements to food and inhalant allergens. Allergen extracts from shrimp, house dust mite (HDM), and cockroach were prepared for IgE cross-reactivity testing in 23 Guangzhou and 20 Shaoguan shrimp-sensitized subjects.

RESULTS

The prevalence of ARs to shrimp was higher in Guangzhou than in Shaoguan children (3.5% vs 1.4%, P < .001). However, sensitization rate to shrimp (SPT: 3.7% vs 11.2%, P = .015; IgE: 12.6% vs 36.2%, P < .001) and cockroach (SPT: 5.3% vs 33.5%; IgE: 2.6% vs 27.6%, P < .001) was lower in Guangzhou. A significant correlation between shrimp and HDM/cockroach IgE was found in Shaoguan children. The proportions of positive IgE to tropomyosin (Pen a 1, Der p 10) were lower than 7.4% in both areas. Cockroach allergen has a significantly higher inhibition rate of binding to IgE to house dust mite allergens in Shaoguan sera.

CONCLUSION

Shrimp is a common allergic food in southern China. Higher proportion of shrimp sensitization in rural subjects could be explained by cross-reactivity to cockroach. Tropomyosin was not a major allergen responding to the cross-reactivity.

[Microdeletion and Mutation of Y Chromosome in Full Sibling Identification]

OBJECTIVES

To explore the identification method of full sibling between two males with microdeletion and mutation of Y chromosome.

METHODS

DNA were extracted from two samples. The type testing of Y-STR and autosomal STR were performed. Full sibling between two individuals was calculated by IBS, ITO and discriminant functions methods.

RESULTS

There were 2 loci mutations existed in 33 Y-STR loci and one of the two samples had 19 loci deletions. The IBS of two samples was 53 and greater than the threshold which was 42; FSI was 1.36×10¹⁶ and far greater than 19. The discriminant function of full sibling-unrelated individual D_FS2 was greater than D_R2, which meant the two individuals tend to be full sibling.

CONCLUSIONS

The methods of IBS, ITO and discriminant functions of full sibling-unrelated individual can be used comprehensively to provide more reliable expert opinion in microdeletion and mutation of Y chromosome in full sibling identification.

Applications of the first digit law to measure correlations

The quasiempirical Benford law predicts that the distribution of the first significant digit of random numbers obtained from mixed probability distributions is surprisingly meaningful and reveals some universal behavior. We generalize this finding to examine the joint first-digit probability of a pair of two random numbers and show that undetectable correlations by means of the usual covariance-based measure can be identified in the statistics of the corresponding first digits. We illustrate this new measure by analyzing the correlations and anticorrelations of the positions of two interacting particles in their quantum mechanical ground state. This suggests that by using this measure, the presence or absence of correlations can be determined even if only the first digit of noisy experimental data can be measured accurately.

The correlation analysis of primary liver cancer with Type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between Type 2 diabetes and primary liver cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the period from December 2008 to December 2014, all blood sugar data of patients in our hospital was collected, and the total number is 18213. Except for repeatedly hospitalized diabetic person, newborn stress status, or venous transfusion blood glucose, gestational diabetes, etc., By retrieving the medical record information of patients in the hospital, and using telephone or letter follow-up the patients, we collected 127 people with type 1 diabetes and found no liver cancer patients; Type 2 diabetes, 10,794 cases of patient information, 59 with primary liver cancer. For data analysis, Stata11.0 ratio was used as the main analysis indicators, using Chi-square test and statistical analysis.

RESULTS

About 10,794 Type 2 diabetes cases with 59 primary liver cancer, the incidence is 54.66/10,000, men liver cancer incidence (92.78/10,000) than women (27.13/10,000), with significant difference (χ2 = 26.621, P < 0.001). As the growth of the age, the possibility of liver cancer in patients with diabetes increased significantly (χ2 = 19.961, P = 0.001). The rate was highest for 50-60-year-old men, and the women at age 70, and older incidence is highest. Irrespective of men or women with diabetes as the growth of the age, the possibility of liver cancer had significantly increased (P = 0.001, P = 0.002). Hepatitis B or hepatitis C incidence was 2.94%, but diabetes incidence of hepatitis men (3.98%) and women (2.01%) did not find significant differences (χ2 = 0.3361, P = 0.562). Three hundred and seventeen cases of Type 2 diabetes with hepatitis, the incidence of primary liver cancer was 11.67%, the liver cancer incidence of diabetes patients with hepatitis men (17.78%) than women (3.97%), with significant difference (χ2 = 37.429, P < 0.001). With the growth of age, the overall risk of getting liver cancer (χ2 =15.023, P = 0.01) of diabetes and hepatitis patients is significantly increased, and with the growth of age, the risk of getting liver cancer of male patients showed significant (P < 0.05), but not the female patients. Without merge hepatitis, the morbility of primary liver cancer in 10477 cases of type2 diabetes incidence is 0.21%, the liver cancer incidence men (0.34%) than women (0.11%), with significant difference (χ2 = 6.471, P = 0.011).As the growth of age, the overall risk of getting liver cancer of diabetes patients without hepatits is significantly increased (χ2 =15.612, P = 0.008) ,and the risk of getting liver cancer of male patients showed significant (P < 0.05) as the growth of the age, but not the female patients. Diabetic persons according to the illness time can be divided into 0-5 years, 5-10 years, 10-20 years, and over 20 years of four stages, including 5-10 years and 10-20 years is liver cancer patients with diabetes incidence peak, male diabetic hepatitis in patients with liver cancer incidence than women, with significant difference (χ2 = 22.757, P < 0.001). The possibility of liver cancer in patients with diabetes increased significantly (χ2 = 15.023, P = 0.01) for longer duration of illness, but only the male patients with liver cancer incidence showed significant difference with longer duration of illness, women showed no significance.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes was associated with the primary liver cancer, most likely is one of the causes of primary liver cancer.

microRNA-199a-5p mediates high glucose-induced reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis in INS-1 pancreatic β-cells by targeting SIRT1

OBJECTIVE

Hyperglycemia-induced pancreatic β-cell loss is a pathologic hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study was conducted to clarify the function of microRNA (miR)-199a-5p in high glucose-elicited β-cell toxicity and associated molecular mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

INS-1 rat pancreatic β-cells were cultured under normal (11 mM) or high (30 mM) glucose for 16-72 h and examined for miR-199a-5p expression. Gain and loss-of-function studies were performed to determine the role of miR-199a-5p in high glucose-induced apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Additionally, the involvement of SIRT1 in the action of miR-199a-5p was checked.

RESULTS

High glucose caused a significant upregulation of miR-199a-5p in INS-1 cells compared to cells under normal glucose conditions. Pre-transfection with anti-miR-199a-5p inhibitors prevented the reduction in cell viability and inhibited ROS generation in INS-1 cells after high glucose treatment. In contrast, overexpression of miR-199a-5p significantly reduced cell viability and promoted apoptosis and ROS formation in INS-1 cells, which was coupled with a downregulation of SIRT1. Knockdown of SIRT1 led to apoptotic death in INS-1 cells. Moreover, enforced expression of SIRT1 blocked miR-199a-5p-induced ROS generation and attenuated high glucose-mediated apoptosis in INS-1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-199a-5p is upregulated in pancreatic β-cells in response to high glucose and promotes apoptosis and ROS generation by targeting SIRT1. The miR-199a-5p/SIRT1 axis may represent a promising target for the treatment of T2DM.

Reduced expression of SCF in serum and follicle from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

In humans, stem cell factor (SCF), produced by cumulus granulosa cells during the follicular phase, plays a crucial role in follicular development. Remarkably, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the main reasons affecting women fertility, is accompanied by some abnormal follicles. Is there a relationship between SCF and PCOS? This study aimed to compare the expression of SCF in follicle and serum from patients with and without PCOS undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and to investigate the potential relationship between aberrant SCF expression and PCOS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum, follicular fluid (FF) samples and granulosa cells (GCs) from 48 patients with PCOS (PCOS group) and 62 normal ovulatory patients (control group) were collected. SCF was evaluated in FF, serum, and GCs by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining, Western blot and real-time PCR. The rates of metaphase II (MII) oocyte, fertilization, embryo cleavage and high-quality embryo between PCOS group and control group were also analyzed.

RESULTS

The rates of MII oocyte and fertilization were significantly lower in PCOS group than those in control group (p < 0.05). No difference was observed for the rate of embryo cleavage and high-quality embryo in these two groups. The concentrations of SCF in serum and FF from PCOS patients were remarkably lower than those in the controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, the expressions of SCF protein and SCF mRNA in GCs from PCOS patients were also decreased compared with the controls (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

PCOS patients showed a reduced SCF expression in serum and follicle, which might be associated with oocyte dysmaturity and low fertilization rate.

New potently bioactive alkaloids from Crinum erubescens

Antimalarial bioassay-guided fractionation of the swamp lily Crinum erubescens led to the isolation of four compounds with potent antiplasmodial activity. Compounds 1 and 2 were determined from their spectroscopic data to be the known pesticidal compound cripowellin A and the known pesticidal and antiproliferative compound cripowellin B. 1D and 2D-NMR techniques were used to determine the identities of 3 and 4 as the new compounds cripowellin C and D. A fifth compound was identified as the known alkaloid hippadine, which was inactive against Plasmodium falciparum. The antiplasmodial IC₅₀ values of compounds 1-4 were determined to be 30±2, 180±20, 26±2, and 260±20nM, respectively, and their antiproliferative IC₅₀ values against the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line were 11.1±0.4, 16.4±0.1, 25±2, and 28±1nM.

Gut microbes in correlation with mood: case study in a closed experimental human life support system

BACKGROUND

Gut microbial community, which may influence our mood, can be shaped by modulating the gut ecosystem through dietary strategies. Understanding the gut-brain correlationship in healthy people is important for maintenance of mental health and prevention of mental illnesses.

METHODS

A case study on the correlation between gut microbial alternation and mood swing of healthy adults was conducted in a closed human life support system during a 105-day experiment. Gut microbial community structures were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing every 2 weeks. A profile of mood states questionnaire was used to record the mood swings. Correlation between gut microbes and mood were identified with partial least squares discrimination analysis.

KEY RESULTS

Microbial community structures in the three healthy adults were strongly correlated with mood states. Bacterial genera Roseburia, Phascolarctobacterium, Lachnospira, and Prevotella had potential positive correlation with positive mood, while genera Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Anaerostipes were correlated with negative mood. Among which, Faecalibacterium spp. had the highest abundance, and showed a significant negative correlation with mood.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Our results indicated that the composition of microbial community could play a role in emotional change in mentally physically healthy adults.

Antiplasmodial phloroglucinol derivatives from Syncarpia glomulifera

Bioassay guided fractionation of a MeOH extract of the stem bark of Syncarpia glomulifera (Myrtaceae) led to the isolation of the two new phloroglucinol derivatives (±)-rhodomyrtosone F (1) and (±)-calliviminone I (2), the three known triterpenes, betulinic acid (3), ursolic acid-3-acetate (4), and ursolic acid (5), and 1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-1-hexanone (6). Compound 1 exhibited strong antiplasmodial activity, while compounds 2-4 were moderately active and 5 and 6 were inactive in this assay. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated based on analyses of their mass spectrometric data, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and comparison with related compounds.

New Antiplasmodial Diterpenes from Gutierrezia sarothrae

Bioassay guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of the plant Gutierrezia sarothrae (Asteraceae) using an assay for antiplasmodial activity against the drug-resistant Dd2 strain of Plasmodium falciparum led to the isolation of the two new diterpenes 3α-angeloyloxy-15-hydroxylabda-7,13-dien-16,15-olid-18-oic acid (1) and 3α-angeloyloxy-15-methoxylabda-7,13-dien-16,15-olid-18-oic acid (2). The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, mass spectrometry, and comparison with the data of related compounds reported in the literature. Compound 1 exhibited moderate antiplasmodial activity with an IC50 values of 10.4 ± 4.3 μM.

New Antiplasmodial Diterpenes from Gutierrezia Sarothrae

Bioassay guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of the plant Gutierrezia sarothrae (Asteraceae) using an assay for antiplasmodial activity against the drug-resistant Dd2 strain of Plasmodium falciparum led to the isolation of the two new diterpenes 3α-angeloyloxy-15-hydroxylabda-7,13-dien-16,15-olid-18-oic acid (1) and 3α-angeloyloxy-15-methoxylabda-7,13-dien-16,15-olid-18-oic acid (2). The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by interpretation of ID and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, mass spectrometry, and comparison with the data of related compounds reported in the literature. Compound 1 exhibited moderate antiplasmodial activity with an IC50 values of 10.4 ± 4.3 μM.

Elevated serum complement C3 levels are related to the development of prediabetes in an adult population: the Tianjin Chronic Low-Grade Systematic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study

AIMS

To investigate whether serum complement C3 is related to the prevalence and incidence of prediabetes in an adult population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional (n = 10 206) and prospective cohort study (n = 3333), with a mean (range; 95% CI) follow-up of 2.63 (1-6; 2.58-2.68) years, was conducted in people recruited from the Health Management Centre of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in Tianjin, China. Measurement of serum C3 concentration, blood fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance, HbA1c and other potential confounding factors was performed at baseline and each year during the follow-up. Prediabetes was defined according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association. Adjusted logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the relationships between C3 quintiles and prediabetes.

RESULTS

The prevalence and incidence of prediabetes were 38.5% and 119 per 1000 person-years, respectively. In cross-sectional analysis, after adjustment for potential confounders, the odds ratios of prediabetes for increasing quintiles of C3 were 1.00 (reference), 1.32 (95% CI 1.14-1.53), 1.37 (95% CI 1.18-1.59), 1.75 (95% CI 1.51-2.03), 2.25 (95% CI 1.93-2.62; P for trend < 0.0001). In the cohort analysis, the multiple-adjusted hazard ratio of prediabetes in the highest quintile of baseline C3 was 1.43 (95% CI 1.15, 1.78; P for trend < 0.001), when compared with the lowest quintile.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that elevated serum C3 levels are significantly related to an increased risk of developing prediabetes in an adult population, suggesting that C3 can be used as a biomarker in high-risk individuals to improve primary prevention of prediabetes and diabetes.

Glycemic control and self-monitoring of blood glucose in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin: Baseline results from the COMPASS study

AIMS

Self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is not widely utilized in insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes. In this analysis, we evaluated the current state of SMBG in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin.

METHODS

The 2-phase COMPASS study involved 24 centers across 10 provinces and cities in China. In the first phase, a cross sectional survey was carried out in type 2 diabetes patients receiving insulin treatment. The inclusion criteria for the study subjects in the first phase were: type 2 diabetes, insulin treatment for ≥ 3 months, and age ≥ 18 years. Evaluation was made on the status of SMBG and insulin therapy in these patients by a questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 2819 patients (age 58.2 ± 10.8 years; 49.6% females; BMI 24.6 ± 3.4 kg/m(2)) with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes were recruited in phase I of this study. The majority of patients (80.4%) were receiving insulin treatment for at least 6 months. At baseline, the mean HbA1c was 8.5 ± 1.9% and 54.6% of patients had an HbA1c above 8%. 50.4% of the cohort had diabetes for at least 10 years, and fewer of these patients achieved HbA1c <7.0% (53 mmol/mol). At baseline, 65.8% of patients reported that daily SMBG frequency was performed on a random basis. 59.2% of patients reported that they occasionally, rarely or never follow their physician's instructions regarding SMBG. Hypoglycemia occurred in over 50% of patients, although in 71.8% of patients this was a rare occurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

There is low utilization of SMBG in Chinese adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, with approximately two-thirds of patients reporting irregular use of SMBG. This is in line with an overall poor level of glycemic control.

Antiproliferative Triterpenoid Saponins from Leptaulus citroides Baill. from the Madagascar Rain Forest

Bioassay-guided fractionation of EtOH extracts obtained from the roots and wood of the Madagascan plant Leptaulus citroides Baill. (Cardiopteridaceae) led to the isolation of ethyl esters of three new triterpenoid saponins (1-3) and the known sesquiterpenoid cinnamosmolide (4). The structures of 1-3 were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments and mass spectrometry. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed moderate cytotoxicity against the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line with IC50 values of 2.8, 10.2 and 2.0 µM, respectively.

Impact of structured self-monitoring of blood glucose on the quality of life of insulin-treated Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Results from the COMPASS study

AIMS

To evaluate the effect of structured self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) regimen on quality of life (QoL) in poorly controlled insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Phase II of the COMPASS trial was a 6-month, multicenter, prospective, single-arm, interventional study. This study recruited 820 outpatients from 19 clinical sites in China who met the following inclusion criteria: type 2 diabetes, insulin treatment for ≥ 3 months, and age 18-65 years, an HbA1c >8.0% (64 mmol/mol), and willingness to perform SMBG. Subjects were advised to follow a structured SMBG regimen specific to their insulin regimen, and were trained to respond to SMBG readings via lifestyle changes and insulin dose self-adjustment. QoL assessments (SF-36) were performed at baseline and 6 months.

RESULTS

Patients with a mean age of 55.13 ± 9.77 years had an average diabetes duration of 9.83 ± 7.05 years and had been receiving insulin therapy for a mean of 45.4 ± 46.79 months. All QoL parameters were significantly improved following structured SMBG after 6 months, most notably the physical role functioning (p<0.0001) and emotional role functioning (p<0.0001) component scores. Overall, 40.6% of patients rated their overall QoL as 'a bit' or a lot better' after structured SMBG compared with 16.5% prior to the intervention (p<0.0001). SMBG also improved overall feelings of wellbeing, with 39.13% of patients believing that their health was deteriorating prior to SMBG compared with only 14.4% of patients after the intervention (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The structured SMBG program in insulin-treated Chinese outpatients with type 2 diabetes significantly improved QoL outcomes. Physical and emotional role functioning are the 2 QoL scales that demonstrate the largest improvement with SMBG.

Enhanced low temperature CO oxidation by pretreatment: specialty of the Au–Co3O4 oxide interfacial structures

The enhanced CO oxidation by Au deposition and particularly He- and in situ-pretreatments was elucidated in light of the structural specialties associated with the facets of Co₃O₄ substrates and the corresponding Au–Co₃O₄ interfaces.

Consumption of Chilies, but not Sweet Peppers, Is Positively Related to Handgrip Strength in an Adult Population

BACKGROUND

Chili consumption may have a beneficial effect on muscle strength in the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between frequency of chili consumption and handgrip strength in adults.

DESIGN

Population-based cross-sectional study.

SETTING

This study used baseline data from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 3 717 subjects were recruited to the study. Frequency of chili consumption during the previous month was assessed using a valid self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the relationship between muscle strength and frequency of chili consumption. Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer.

RESULTS

After adjustment for potential confounding factors, significant relationships were observed between different categories of chili consumption and handgrip strength in males, the means (95% confidence interval) for handgrip strength across chili consumption categories were 44.7 (42.1, 47.2) for < one time/week; 45.5 (42.9, 48.1) for one time/week; and 45.8 (43.3, 48.4) for ≥ 2-3 times/week (P for trend < 0.01). Similar results were not observed with sweet pepper consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals a positive correlation between frequency of chili consumption and muscle strength in adult males. Further studies are necessary in order to determine whether there is a causal relationship between chili consumption frequency and muscle strength.