Simultaneous control of ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity by oxygen octahedral backbone stretching

Coexistence of ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in a single material is an intriguing phenomenon,but has been rarely found.Here we studied both the ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in a group of LaCoO3 films with systematically tuned atomic structures.We found that all films exhibit ferroelastic domains with four-fold symmetry and the larger domain size(higher elasticity)is always accompanied by stronger ferromagnetism.We performed synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies to investigate the backbone structure of the CoO6 octahedra,and found that both the ferromagnetism and the elasticity are simultaneously enhanced when the in-plane Co–O–Co bond angles are straightened.Therefore the study demonstrates the inextricable correlation between the ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity mediated through the octahedral backbone structure,which may open up new possibilities to develop multifunctional materials.

Robust,Flexible,and Superhydrophobic Fabrics for High-Efficiency and Ultrawide-Band Microwave Absorption

Microwave absorption(MA)materials are essential for protecting against harmful electromagnetic radiation.In this study,highly efficient and ultrawide-band microwave-absorbing fabrics with superhydrophobic surface features were developed using a facile dip-coating method involving in situ graphene oxide(GO)reduction,deposition of TiO_(2)nanoparticles,and subsequent coating of a mixture of polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)and octadecylamine(ODA)on polyester fabrics.Owing to the presence of hierarchically structured surfaces and low-surface-energy materials,the resultant reduced GO(rGO)/TiO_(2)-ODA/PDMS-coated fabrics demonstrate superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 159°and sliding angle of 5°.Under the synergistic effects of conduction loss,interface polarization loss,and surface roughness topography,the optimized fabrics show excellent microwave absorbing performances with a minimum reflection loss(RL_(min))of47.4 dB and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth(EAB_(max))of 7.7 GHz at a small rGO loading of 6.9 wt%.In addition,the rGO/TiO_(2)-ODA/PDMS coating was robust,and the coated fabrics could withstand repeated washing,soiling,long-term ultraviolet irradiation,and chemical attacks without losing their superhydrophobicity and MA properties.Moreover,the coating imparts self-healing properties to the fabrics.This study provides a promising and effective route for the development of robust and flexible materials with microwave-absorbing properties.

3D electromagnetic simulation of the coupling characteristics and double-stub Ferrite tuners impedance matching for EAST ICRH four-strap antenna

A program developed with COMSOL software integrates EAST four-strap antenna coupling with the double-stub Ferrite tuners(FT)impedance matching,obtaining physical quantities crucial for predicting the overall performance of the ion cyclotron resonance heating(ICRH)antenna and matching system.These quantities encompass S-matrix,port complex impedance,reflection coefficients,electric field and voltage distribution,and optimal matching settings.In this study,we explore the relationship between S-matrix,reflection coefficients,port complex impedance,and frequency.Then,we analyze the impact of Faraday screens placement position and transparency,the distance from the Faraday screen(FS)to the current straps(CS),the relative distance between ports,and the characteristic impedance of the transmission line on the coupling characteristic impedance of the EAST ICRH system.Finally,we simulate the electric field distribution and voltage distribution of the EAST ICRH system for plasma heating with double-stub FT impedance matching.Using optimized parameters,the coupling power of the ICRH system can be approximately doubled.The results present herein may offer guidance for the design of high-power,long-pulse operation ICRH antenna systems.

Effect of Luhong formula on the cardiac rehabilitation of patients with chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND Current treatments for chronic heart failure(CHF)are therapeutically ineffective.The optimization of treatments for this disease needs to be explored and analyzed.AIM To analyze the effect of using Luhong Formula in the cardiac rehabilitation of patients with CHF and its influence on cardiopulmonary function(CPF)and prognosis.METHODS In total,160 patients with CHF admitted between June 2022 and June 2023 were selected,including 75 receiving perindopril(control group)and 85 receiving Luhong Formula(research group).We conducted comparative analyses on the curative effects of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes and cardiac function,CPF[oxygen consumption at the anaerobic threshold(VO2 AT)and at peak exercise(peak VO2)],echocardiographic indexes[left atrial volume index(LAVI),left ventricular muscle mass index(LVMI),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)],and prognosis[major adverse cardiovascular events(MACEs)at 6 months follow-up].RESULTS The research group showed markedly higher curative effects of TCM syndromes and cardiac function than the control group.In addition,post-treatment VO2 AT,peak VO2,LVMI and LVEF in the research group were significantly higher,whereas LAVI was significantly lower,than those of the control group.Furthermore,fewer patients in the research group developed MACEs at the 6-month follow-up.CONCLUSION Luhong Formula is more therapeutically effective than perindopril for the cardiac rehabilitation of patients with CHF,specifically in enhancing CPF and prognosis.

Influence of the continuing COVID-19 epidemic on sleep quality and psychological status of healthcare workers in private institutions

BACKGROUND On January 22,2020,Macao reported its first case of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection.By August 2021,the situation had escalated into a crisis of community transmission.In response,the government launched a recruitment campaign seeking assistance and services of healthcare workers(HCWs)from the private sector throughout Macao.These participants faced concerns about their own health and that of their families,as well as the responsibility of maintaining public health and wellness.This study aims to determine whether the ongoing epidemic has caused them physical and psychological distress.AIM To examine the influence of COVID-19 on the sleep quality and psychological status of HCWs in private institutions in Macao during the pandemic.METHODS Data were collected from December 2020 to January 2022.Two consecutive surveys were conducted.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)scale,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)were employed as investigation tools.RESULTS In the first-stage survey,32%of HCWs experienced a sleep disorder,compared to 28.45%in the second-stage survey.A total of 31.25%of HCWs in the first-stage survey and 28.03%in the second had varying degrees of anxiety.A total of 50.00%of HCWs in the first-stage survey and 50.63%in the second experienced varying degrees of depression.No difference in PSQI scores,SAS scores,or SDS scores were observed between the two surveys,indicating that the COVID-19 epidemic influenced the sleep quality and psychological status of HCWs.The negative influence persisted over both periods but did not increase remarkably for more than a year.However,a positive correlation was observed between the PSQI,SAS,and SDS scores(r=0.428-0.775,P<0.01),indicating that when one of these states deteriorated,the other two tended to deteriorate as well.CONCLUSION The sleep quality,anxiety,and depression of HCWs in private institution in Macao were affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.While these factors did not deteriorate significantly,the negative effects persisted for a year and remained noteworthy.

考虑摩擦因数的薄壁胀环缓冲性能研究

为避免爆炸螺栓解锁冲击引发飞行器结构破坏或电子设备失效及运动部件回弹,需要对冲击能量进行缓冲吸收并对运动部件进行回弹抑制。将具有良好缓冲吸能特性且变形可控的薄壁胀环结构应用于舱段级间分离缓冲吸能装置中。为系统评价摩擦因数对薄壁胀环结构缓冲性能的影响,采用有限元计算方法,对不同摩擦因数下薄壁胀环的力学性能及缓冲吸能效果进行了分析与对比,并通过缓冲试验进行了验证。结果表明,在相同冲击条件下,随着摩擦因数增大,轴向制动位移逐渐减小、轴向冲击力逐渐增大、总吸能效果提升。

系统性红斑狼疮患者的血清IgG糖链特征

系统性红斑狼疮(systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE)是一种发病机制不明、临床表型异质性大的自身免疫性疾病。目前已有的SLE血清生物标志物灵敏度或特异性有限,使得SLE的早期精准诊断存在困难。在本研究中,通过对389例SLE患者及304例健康对照者进行深入的糖组学分析,鉴定出血清免疫球蛋白G(IgG)上的两种N-糖链能够作为SLE的诊断生物标志物。在其他易与SLE混淆的系统性自身免疫性疾病(如类风湿性关节炎、原发性干燥综合征或系统性硬化症)中,这两种生物标志物没有出现显著变化,提示这两种N-糖链生物标志物对诊断SLE具有特异性。值得注意的是,这两种N-糖链生物标志物被证明是自身抗体非依赖性的,并且适用于所有阶段的SLE患者。基于片段特异性糖链分析和糖肽分析,发现这两种N-糖链生物标志物位于IgG上的Fc区域,并与疾病活动性密切相关。而酶学分析结果则提示,SLE患者体内一系列糖转移酶的失调可能是观察到的糖链产生变化的原因。研究结果为基于血清IgG糖基化的高效人群筛查和SLE潜在的新致病因素提供了新的思路。

False positive detection of serum cryptococcal antigens due to insufficient sample dilution:A case series

At present,with the development of technology,the detection of cryptococcal antigen(CRAG)plays an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of cryptococcosis.However,the three major CRAG detection technologies,latex agglutination test(LA),lateral flow assay(LFA)and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay,have certain limitations.Although these techniques do not often lead to false-positive results,once this result occurs in a particular group of patients(such as human immunodeficiency virus patients),it might lead to severe consequences.

端羟基超支化聚(胺-酯)接枝氧化石墨烯及在环氧树脂中的应用

采用改进的Hummer方法制备了氧化石墨烯(GO),再用核准一步酯化缩聚法接枝改性氧化石墨烯制备了端羟基超支化聚(胺-酯)接枝氧化石墨烯(HP-GO),将其与环氧树脂(EP)复配制得了HP-GO/EP复合材料。HP-GO的结构和特性用傅里叶变换红外光谱、X射线衍射、扫描电镜和热重分析进行了表征。结果表明,在GO上成功接枝上了端羟基超支化聚(胺-酯)。对复配的复合材料进行力学性能、拉伸断面形貌和热稳定性表征,并考察了GO和HP-GO在环氧树脂基体中的分散状态。结果表明,HP-GO有利于提高复合材料的综合性能,在HP-GO的质量分数为0.5%时,复合材料的拉伸强度、弯曲强度和冲击强度均达到最大值,分别为67.24MPa,86.09 MPa和12.64kJ/m^(2),与空白EP相比,分别增加了66.7%,37.39%和23.20%。拉伸断面形貌分析表明,纯EP是脆性断裂,而HP-GO/EP是典型的韧性断裂;热重分析发现,HP-GO较纯GO能更好地提高环氧树脂的热稳定性。HP-GO在环氧树脂基体中的分散状态更加均匀。

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Emergency Ventilator Treatment for Severe Acute Left Ventricular Heart Failure

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of emergency ventilator therapy in severe acute left heart failure.Methods:A total of 75 patients with severe acute left ventricular heart failure who were admitted to the hospital from July 2020 to July 2023 were randomly divided into two groups.Group A received additional emergency ventilator treatment,and group B received conventional treatment.The efficacy was compared.Results:The curative effect of patients with severe acute left heart failure in group A was higher than that in group B(P<0.05);all blood gas indicators in group A were better than those in group B(P<0.05);all vital signs indicators in group A were better than those in group B(P<0.05);group A was more satisfied with the treatment of severe acute left ventricular heart failure than group B(P<0.05).Conclusion:Patients with severe acute left heart failure who receive emergency ventilator treatment can stabilize vital signs,improve blood oxygen supply,and enhance curative effect.

复合材料Nomex蜂窝夹芯结构的平压试验研究

采用试验方法对不同高度的Nomex蜂窝夹芯结构的后屈曲承载特性及失效机理进行了研究,结合蜂窝夹芯结构的失效过程分析,发现Nomex蜂窝单胞的失稳是由局部屈曲造成的,伴随着整体屈曲而发生的失稳现象。压溃过程是一个非线性的运动过程,蜂窝单胞压溃后的剩余强度体现了蜂窝结构的后屈曲承载能力,Nomex蜂窝的剩余强度约为极限强度的45%~46%。通过吸能性分析发现,蜂窝高度为6mm的夹芯结构能量吸收率高于蜂窝为8mm的夹芯结构,本研究能够为蜂窝夹芯结构的优化设计提供有利依据。

肺癌化疗合并院内肺部感染的病原菌特点及影响因素

背景与目的本研究旨在探讨肺癌患者化疗期间并发院内肺部感染的病原菌类型、分布、耐药性及影响因素。方法本研究回顾性分析2017年1月-2018年12月于浙江大学医学院附属第一医院住院治疗的411例肺癌化疗患者的临床资料,统计患者院内肺部感染发生率、病原体、耐药性及影响因素。结果411例肺癌患者在化疗期间发生院内肺部感染184例次,感染率达44.77%,分离的病原体包括革兰阴性菌、革兰阳性菌、病毒、真菌和结核,其中以革兰阴性菌为主,占37.25%,其次为病毒感染,占15.69%。革兰阴性菌以铜绿假单胞菌和肺炎克雷伯菌为主,革兰阳性菌以金黄色葡萄球菌和肺炎链球菌常见,病毒以乙型流感病毒为主,真菌以念珠菌和曲霉菌多见。铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南的耐药率偏高,达26.67%,而肺炎克雷伯菌对亚胺培南的耐药率仍保持低水平,为12.50%;主要革兰阳性菌对万古霉素的耐药率均为0.00%。低蛋白血症、化疗周期长、高强度化疗及合并有慢性阻塞性肺疾病、支气管扩张基础疾病者是肺癌患者在化疗期间合并院内肺部感染的高危因素(P<0.05)。结论肺癌患者化疗期间合并院内肺部感染的病原菌分布和耐药性具有一定的特征,临床医生应加强对病原菌及其耐药性检测,在对症治疗的基础上,以达到保障治疗效果、延长患者生存期的目的,对高危患者应做好预防措施,尽可能降低化疗周期及强度,以减少感染的发生。

High-frequency electroacupuncture evidently reinforces hippocampal synaptic transmission in Alzheimer＇s disease rats

The frequency range of electroacupuncture in treatment of Alzheimer＇s disease in rats is commonly 2-5 Hz（low frequency） and 50-100 Hz（high frequency）. We established a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease by injecting β-amyloid 1-42（Aβ1-42） into the bilateral hippocampal dentate gyrus to verify which frequency may be better suited in treatment. Electroacupuncture at 2 Hz or 50 Hz was used to stimulate Baihui（DU20） and Shenshu（BL23） acupoints. The water maze test and electrophysiological studies demonstrated that spatial memory ability was apparently improved, and the ranges of long-term potentiation and long-term depression were increased in Alzheimer＇s disease rats after electroacupuncture treatment. Moreover, the effects of electroacupuncture at 50 Hz were better than that at 2 Hz. These findings suggest that high-frequency electroacupuncture may enhance hippocampal synaptic transmission and potentially improve memory disorders in Alzheimer＇s disease rats.

High-frequency (50 Hz) electroacupuncture ameliorates cognitive impairment in rats with amyloid beta 1–42-induced Alzheimer＇s disease

Acupuncture has been shown to ameliorate cognitive impairment of Alzheimer’s disease.Acupoints and stimulation frequency influence the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture.Rat models of Alzheimer’s disease were established by injecting amyloid beta 1–42（Aβ_（1–42））into the bilateral lateral ventricles.Electroacupuncture at 2,30,and 50 Hz was carried out at Baihui（GV20;15°obliquely to a depth of 2mm）and Shenshu（BL23;perpendicularly to 4–6 mm depth）,once a day for 20 minutes（each）,for 15 days,taking a break every 7 days.The Morris water maze test was conducted to assess the learning and memory.The expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase-3β（GSK-3β）,p Ser9-GSK-3β,p Tyr216-GSK-3β,amyloid precursor protein and Aβ_（1–40） in the hippocampus were determined by western blot assay.Results demonstrated that electroacupuncture treatment at different frequencies markedly improved learning and memory ability,increased synaptic curvatures,decreased the width of synaptic clefts,thickened postsynaptic densities,and downregulated the expression of GSK-3β,amyloid precursor protein,and Aβ_（1–40）.pSer9-GSK-3βexpression markedly decreased,while p Tyr216-GSK-3βexpression increased.High-frequency（50 Hz）electroacupuncture was more effective than low（2 Hz）or medium-frequency（30 Hz）electroacupuncture.In conclusion,electroacupuncture treatment exerts a protective effect against Aβ_（1–42）-induced learning and memory deficits and synapse-ultrastructure impairment via inhibition of GSK-3βactivity.Moreover,high-frequency electroacupuncture was the most effective therapy.

Acupuncture and moxibustion reduces neuronal edema in Alzheimer's disease rats

To examine the possible correlation of aberrant Wnt signaling and pathological changes in Alzheimer’s disease, we established a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease and measured axin and β-catenin expression in the hippocampus. Rats were pretreated with moxibustion or electroacu-puncture, or both, at Baihui（GV20） and Shenshu（BL23）. Axin expression was lower, β-catenin expression was greater, and neuronal cytoplasmic edema was visibly prevented in the rats that had received the pretreatments. Our results suggest that the mechanism underlying the neuro-protective effect of acupuncture and moxibustion in Alzheimer’s disease is associated with axin and β-catenin expression in the Wnt signal transduction pathway.

Short-chain fatty acids can improve lipid and glucose metabolism independently of the pig gut microbiota

Background:Previous studies have shown that exogenous short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)introduction attenuated the body fat deposition in conventional mice and pigs.However,limited studies have evaluated the effects of exogenously introduced SCFAs on the lipid and glucose metabolism independently of the gut microbiota.This study was to investigate the effects of exogenous introduction of SCFAs on the lipid and glucose metabolism in a germ-free(GF)pig model.Methods:Twelve hysterectomy-derived newborn pigs were reared in six sterile isolators.All pigs were hand-fed with sterile milk powder for 21 d,then the sterile feed was introduced to pigs for another 21 d.In the second 21-d period,six pigs were orally administrated with 25 mL/kg sterile saline per day and considered as the GF group,while the other six pigs were orally administrated with 25 mL/kg SCFAs mixture(acetic,propionic,and butyric acids,45,15,and 11 mmol/L,respectively)per day and regarded as FA group.Results:Orally administrated with SCFAs tended to increase the adiponectin concentration in serum,enhance the CPT-1 activity in longissimus dorsi,and upregulate the ANGPTL4 mRNA expression level in colon(P<0.10).Meanwhile,the mRNA abundances of ACC,FAS,and SREBP-1C in liver and CD36 in longissimus dorsi of the FA group were decreased(P<0.05)compared with those in the GF group.Besides,the mRNA expression of PGC-1αin liver and LPL in longissimus dorsi tended to(P<0.10)upregulate and downregulate respectively in the FA group.Moreover,oral administration of SCFAs tended to increase the protein level of GPR43(P<0.10)and decrease the protein level of ACC(P<0.10)in liver.Also,oral administration of SCFAs upregulated the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio and the mRNA expressions of GLUT-2 and GYS2 in liver(P<0.05).In addition,the metabolic pathway associated with the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids was most significantly promoted(P<0.05)by oral administration of SCFAs.Conclusions:Exogenous introduction of SCFAs might attenuate the fat deposition and to some extent improve the glucose control in the pig model,which occurred independently of the gut microbiota.

The Scientific Foundation of Chinese Herbal Medicine against COVID-19

新近暴发的新冠病毒肺炎(COVID-19)已成为危害全球健康的紧急事件。现有证据表明,新冠病毒(SARS-CoV-2)与其他冠状病毒(如SARS-CoV和MERS-CoV)的基因序列具有相似性。因此,针对现存冠状病毒的引发疾病的机制研究和在治疗SARS时所取得的经验和教训,可咨今天对抗新冠病毒引发疾病的参考。COVID-19患者的临床病理特征提示患者在病情进展过程中通常会经历五个发展阶段:大量病毒感染、免疫系统抑制、细胞因子风暴、多器官损伤及后期的肺纤维化样改变,严重者常导致死亡。早期阻断疾病进展是取得治疗成功的关键。但是,目前尚无针对COVID-19的特效药物或疫苗,世界卫生组织(WHO)正敦促尽快建立新型预防和治疗策略。传统中医药(TCM)对于疫病的防治的实践已经积累了几千年的有用经验,它通过整体调节机体功能发挥疗效。在此次疫情中,中医药作为替代治疗或与西药联合使用,在疫情防控中发挥了重要的作用。本文总结了此次抗疫过程中中国国家和省级机构推荐使用的中药复方和中成药的潜在用途和治疗机制,以期发现其治疗COVID-19的潜在科学内涵。同时,整合应用多种组学及转化医学技术开展基础与临床研究有望进一步证实中药复方的治疗机制。

Clinical and procedural predictors of no-ref low in patients with acute myocardial infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND: The treatment of acute myocardial infarction(AMI) is thought to restore antegrade blood flow in the infarct-related artery(IRA) and minimize ischemic damage to the myocardium as soon as possible. The present study aimed to identify possible clinical predictors for no-refl ow in patients with AMI after primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).METHODS: A total of 312 consecutive patients with AMI who had been treated from January 2008 to December 2010 at the Cardiology Department of East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine were enrolled in this study. Inclusion criteria were:(i) patients underwent successfully primary PCI within 12 hours after the appearance of symptoms; or(ii) patients with ischemic chest pain for more than 12 hours after a successful primary PCI within 24 hours after appearance of symptoms. Exculsion criteria were:(i) coronary artery spasm;(ii) diameter stenosis of the culprit lesion was ≤50% and coronary blood f low was normal;(iii) patients with severe left main coronary or multivessel disease, who had to require emergency revascularization. According to thrombolysis in myocardial infarction(TIMI), the patients were divided into a reflow group and a no-reflow group. The clinical data, angiography f indings and surgical data were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the predictors for no-ref low.RESULTS: Fifty-four(17.3%) of the patients developed NR phenomenon after primary PCI. Univariate analysis showed that age, time from onset to reperfusion, systolic blood pressure(SBP) on admission, Killip class of myocardial infarction, intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP) use before primary PCI, TIMI flow grade before primary PCI, type of occlusion, thrombus burden on baseline angiography, target lesion length, reference luminal diameter and method of reperfusion were correlated with no-reflow(P<0.05 for all). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified that age >65 years [OR=1.470, 95% confi dence interval(CI) 1.460–1.490, P=0.007], long time from onset to reperfusion >6 hours(OR=1.270, 95%CI 1.160–1.400, P=0.001), low SBP on admission <100 mmHg(OR=1.910, 95%CI 1.018–3.896, P=0.004), IABP use before PCI(OR= 1.949, 95%CI 1.168–3.253, P=0.011), low(≤1) TIMI fl ow grade before primary PCI(OR=1.100, 95%CI 1.080–1.250, P<0.001), high thrombus burden(OR=1.600, 95%CI 1.470–2.760, P=0.030), and long target lesion(OR=1.948, 95%CI 1.908–1.990, P=0.019) on angiography were independent predictors of no-refl ow.CONCLUSION: The occurrence of no-refl ow after primary PCI for acute myocardial infarction can predict clinical, angiographic and procedural features.

The Correlation Between Decreased Ornithine Level and Alleviation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Assessed by a Randomized,Placebo-Controlled,Double-Blind Clinical Trial of Sinomenine

Sinomenine(SIN)is commonly used as part of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)therapy in China,but there is still no published evidence of the efficacy of SIN monotherapy.This work investigates the efficacy and safety of SIN in treating RA patients and analyzes the correlation between ornithine level and the alleviation of disease activity in RA patients.In this 24 week,randomized,placebo-controlled,double-blind clinical trial,people with mild to moderate RA were randomly assigned(1:1:1,stratified by hospital)to receive SIN(120 mg,twice daily),methotrexate(MTX)(10 mg per week),or SIN+MTX therapy.The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who achieved a 50%improvement in the American College of Rheumatology(ACR50)criteria at week 24 and who showed improvement according to the clinical disease activity index(CDAI).In this prospective subgroup analysis,we also assessed whether the 24-week alterations of disease activity in the treatment group were significantly correlated to the levels of blood ornithine.Of the 135 enrolled participants,38,39,and 36 patients were treated with SIN,MTX,and SIN+MTX,respectively.In the SIN-treated group,52.63%of patients achieved ACR50 after 24-weeks of treatment,which was comparable to the results in the MTX-treated and SIN+MTX-treated groups.Hepatic and gastrointestinal disorders were the main adverse events;however,the ratio of patients suffering from hepatic disorder in the SIN group(1/38)was much lower than that in the MTX(10/39)and SIN+MTX(8/36)groups.A total of 221 serum samples were collected at the four follow-up time points in the three treatments,and the levels of ornithine,citrulline,and arginine were obtained through ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS).The serum ornithine level decreased after the 24-week treatment along with a decrease in disease activity,and may reflect therapeutic responses with a sensitivity value of 80%.In conclusion,SIN revealed a comparable efficacy to MTX for treating RA patients,but with fewer side effects.In addition,the serum ornithine level was found for the first time to have a close correlation with the alleviation of RA,which shows the value of this measure as an assessment indicator of drugs in treating RA.

Epigenetic Regulation of Amyloid-beta Metabolism in Alzheimer’s Disease

Senile plaques(SPs)are one of the pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease(AD)and they are formed by the overproduction and aggregation of amyloid-beta(Aβ)peptides derived from the abnormal cleavage of amyloid precursor protein(APP).Thus,understanding the regulatory mechanisms during Aβ metabolism is of great importance to elucidate AD pathogenesis.Recent studies have shown that epigenetic modulation-including DNA methylation,non-coding RNA alterations,and histone modifications-is of great significance in regulating Aβ metabolism.In this article,we review the aberrant epigenetic regulation of Aβ metabolism.