Association between Adiponectin and Metabolic Syndrome in Older Adults from Major Cities of China

Objective To investigate the association between adiponectin and metabolic syndrome （MetS） and related diseases in older adults from major cities of China. Methods A total of 2 049 adults at the age of 60-96 years from18 major cities of China were enrolled in the study. Plasma adiponectin and insulin concentrations were measured. Insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR）. The definitions proposed by International Diabetes Federation （IDF） and American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood/nstitute （AHA/NLHBI） were used to identify MetS. Results The adiponectin concentration increased with the advance of age and was higher in women than in men. The sex specific adiponectin concentration was inversely correlated with body mass index （BMI）, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, glucose and fasting blood insulin, and positively correlated with HDL-C （P〈0.001）. The adiponectin concentration decreased with increasing MetS components. Compared with the 4th sex-specific adiponectin quartile, the odds ratio （OR） for prevalent MetS-IDF and MetS-AHA/NLHBI in subjects of the 1st quartile group was 3.25 （95% CI： 2.24, 4.71） and 3.21 （95% CI： 2.26, 4.55）, respectively. The association was independent of age, sex, life-style factors, medication, family history of chronic diseases, BMI, and HOMA-IR, The OR for MetS was much higher than those of MetS components and its related diseases. Conclusion Adiponectin is strongly associated with MetS independent of insulin resistance and obesity in older adults from major cities in China. The adiponectin concentration is a useful predictor for the risk of MetS.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome with small intestinal malignancy and cervical carcinoma

We report a case of 30-year-old woman with Peutz- Jeghers syndrome (PJS). Because of small intestinal obstruction, she received the small intestinal polypectomy in 2001, and the pathological diagnosis was Peutz-Jeghers polyp canceration (mucinous adenocarcinoma, infiltrating full-thickness of the intestine). The patient did not feel uncomfortable after 6 mo of chemotherapy and other management. We kept a follow-up study on her and found that she suffered from cervical cancer in 2007, with a pathological diagnosis of cervical adenosquamous carcinoma.The patient presented with typical features of PJS, but without a family history. The PJS accompanied with both small intestinal and cervical malignancies has not been reported so far in the world.

The surface properties of aluminated meso–macroporous silica and its catalytic performance as hydrodesulfurization catalyst support

Aluminated mesoporous silica was prepared by multiple post-grafting of alumina onto uniform mesoporous SiO2 ,which was assembled from monodisperse SiO2 microspheres.Hydrodesulfurization（HDS）catalyst was prepared by loading Ni and Mo active components onto the aluminated uniform mesoporous SiO2 ,and its HDS catalytic performance was evaluated using hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene as the probe reaction at 300℃ and 6.0 MPa in a tubular reactor.The samples were characterized by N2 physisorption,scanning electronic microscopy,Fourier transform infrared spectrum,X-ray diffraction（XRD）,temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia（NH3-TPD）,^27Al nuclear magnetic resonance（^27Al-NMR）and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy（HRTEM）.The results showed that the Si–OH group content of SiO2 was mainly dependent on the pretreatment conditions and had significant influence on the activity of the Ni Mo catalyst.The surface properties of the aluminated SiO2 varied with the Al2O3-grafting cycles.Generally after four cycles of grafting,the aluminated SiO2 behaved like amorphous alumina.In addition,plotting of activity of Ni Mo catalysts supported on aluminated meso–macroporous silica materials against the Al2O3-grafting cycle yields a volcano curve.

Angiography-derived radial wall strain predicts coronary lesion progression in non-culprit intermediate stenosis

BACKGROUND Intermediate coronary lesions(ICLs)are highly prevalent but ported mixed prognosis.Radial strain has been associated with plaque vulnerability,yet its role in predicting lesion progression is largely unknown.The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of angiography-derived radial wall strain(RWS)for progression of untreated non-culprit ICLs.METHODS Post-hoc analysis was conducted in a study cohort including 603 consecutive patients with 808 ICLs identified at index procedure with angiographic follow-up of up to two years.RWS analysis was performed on selected angiographic frames with minimal foreshortening and vessel overlap.Lesion progression was defined as≥20%increase in percent diameter stenosis.RESULTS Lesion progression occurred in 49 ICLs(6.1%)with a median follow-up period of 16.8 months.Maximal RWS(RWSmax),frequently located at the proximal and throat plaque regions,distinguished progressive ICLs from silent ones.The largest area under the curve value of 0.75(95%CI:0.67–0.82,P<0.001)was reached at the optimal RWSmax cutoff value of>12.6%.According to this threshold,178 ICLs were classified as having a high strain pattern.Exposure to a high strain amplitude with RWS_(max)>12.6%was independently associated with an increased risk of lesion progression(adjusted HR=6.82,95%CI:3.67–12.66,P<0.001).CONCLUSIONS Assessment of RWS from coronary angiography is feasible and provides independent prognostic value in patients with untreated ICLs.

Uniformity of Asymmetric Augmented Designs

Follow-up experimental designs are widely applied to explore the relationship between factors and responses step by step in various fields such as science and engineering.When some additional resources or information become available after the initial design of experiment is carried out,some additional runs and/or factors may be added in the follow-up stage.In this paper,the issue of the uniform row augmented designs and column augmented designs with mixed two-,three-and four-level is investigated.The uniformity of augmented designs is discussed under the wrap-around L_(2)-discrepancy.Some lower bounds of wrap-around L_(2)-discrepancy for the augmented designs are obtained,which can be used to assess uniformity of augmented design.Numerical results show that augmented designs have high efficiency,which have low discrepancy and close to the proposed lower bounds.