Association of plasma vitamin A level with type 2 diabetes mellitus:a community aging population-based cross-sectional study

Recent studies indicated that vitamin A(VA)might be involved in the pathology of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).This cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the association between circulating VA level and T2DM.A total of 1818 subjects aged 50 years old and above were recruited from the community.Binomial logistic regression and restricted cubic spline(RCS)were applied to analyze the association of plasma VA level with the risk of T2DM.Serum VA and lipid-adjusted VA levels of T2DM patients were significantly higher than that of non-T2DM subjects(P<0.05).The ratios of plasma VA/total cholesterol(TC),VA/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c)and VA/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c)were positively associated with the risk of T2DM in the aging population(P<0.05).Compared with the Q1 level,subjects with Q2 to Q3 levels of plasma VA/triglyceride(TG)have decreased risk of T2DM(odds ratio(OR)Q2=0.68,P_(Q2)=0.021;ORQ3=0.59,P_(Q3)<0.01).Our results indicated that the imbalance of circulating lipids and VA might affect the relationship between VA and T2DM.The middle and aging subjects with higher ratios of plasma VA/TC,VA/HDL-c,and VA/LDL-c displayed increased risk for T2DM,but the moderate ratio of VA/TG might protect against risk of T2DM.

Effects of PEAR1 gene polymorphism on big endothelin-1 levels in Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been associated with poor prognosis,even after revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI),likely due to coronary endothelial cell dysfunction and injury.^([1,2])Endothelin-1 (ET-1),a peptide that serves as a vasoconstrictor of smooth muscle cell proliferation,can reflect endothelial cell functional states.Due to low circulation levels and short plasma half-life time,measuring plasma ET-1 levels is difficult.In contrast,big ET-1.

High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries:Recent Progress and a Promising Future in Applications

It is of great significance to develop clean and new energy sources with high-efficient energy storage technologies,due to the excessive use of fossil energy that has caused severe environmental damage.There is great interest in exploring advanced rechargeable lithium batteries with desirable energy and power capabilities for applications in portable electronics,smart grids,and electric vehicles.In practice,high-capacity and low-cost electrode materials play an important role in sustaining the progresses in lithium-ion batteries.This review aims at giving an account of recent advances on the emerging high-capacity electrode materials and summarizing key barriers and corresponding strategies for the practical viability of these electrode materials.Effective approaches to enhance energy density of lithium-ion batteries are to increase the capacity of electrode materials and the output operation voltage.On account of major bottlenecks of the power lithium-ion battery,authors come up with the concept of integrated battery systems,which will be a promising future for high-energy lithium-ion batteries to improve energy density and alleviate anxiety of electric vehicles.

The specificity of ten non-digestible carbohydrates to enhance butyrate-producing bacteria and butyrate production in vitro fermentation

Butyrate and butyrate-producing bacteria are important indicators of gut microbial metabolism in human health.Ten non-digestible carbohydrates(NDCs),including inulin,fructooligosaccharide(FOS),oatsβ-glucans(OGS),oatsβ-glucan oligosaccharides(OGOS),Astragalus polysaccharides(APS),Astragalus oligosaccharides(AOS),xanthan gum oligosaccharides(XGOS),gellan gum oligosaccharides(GGOS),curdlan oligosaccharides(COS),and pullulan oligosaccharides(POS)were used to investigate NDC specifi city in modulating butyrate-producing bacteria and butyrate production in 48 h in vitro fermentation studies in combination with fecal inocula from 7 healthy donors and 11 patients with type 2 diabetes(T2D).We observed that the amount of these ten NDCs utilized depended on NDC structure and inter-individual gut microbial differences.XGOS and GGOS fermentations signifi cantly increased butyrate-producing bacteria(especially f_Lachnospiraceae)and butyric acid production.Furthermore,XGOS and GGOS fermentations showed a better ability to consistently modulate gut microbiota composition and metabolic properties between individuals of healthy donors or T2D patients when compared to inulin,FOS,APS,AOS,OGS,OGOS,COS and POS fermentation.This research indicated that xanthan gum and gellan gum oligosaccharides have strong specifi city to enhance butyrate-producing bacteria and butyrate production.

Associations between individual and environmental factors and habitual physical activity among older Chinese adults:A social–ecological perspective

Purpose: To examine, within a social–ecological framework, associations between multifaceted individual and environmental factors and habitual physical activity(HPA) among older Chinese adults.Methods: Through a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, a survey instrument assessing various factors underlying 3 social–ecological dimensions of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community and environmental resources was developed. Using a cross-sectional design, older adults(n = 1580, aged 67 ± 7 years) recruited from 10 communities in Shandong province completed the social–ecological survey of HPA. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Path Modeling.Results: Factors related to intrapersonal(medical knowledge, motivation, physical function, sport skills, socioeconomic status, and education),interpersonal(social support, social activity, and social norms), and community and physical environmental resources(safety, capacity, availability of and access to physical activity facilities) were found to be significantly associated with older adults' participation in HPA.Conclusion: The findings provide an initial validation of a social–ecological approach to the study of HPA in China, suggesting that strategies aimed at promoting physical activity in older adults should address multiple levels of factors that may contribute to the likelihood of older Chinese adults being physically active.

Quasi-solid-state polymer plastic crystal electrolyte for subzero lithium-ion batteries

Succinonitrile(SN)-based polymer plastic crystal electrolytes(PPCEs)have attracted considerable attention as solid-state electrolytes owing to their high ionic conductivities similar to those of liquid electrolytes,excellent contacts with the electrodes,and good mechanic properties.As a crucial property of a solid-state electrolyte,the ionic conductivity of the PPCE directly depends on the interactions between the constituent parts including the polymer,lithium salt,and SN.A few studies have focused on the effects of polymer–lithium–salt and polymer–SN interactions on the PPCE ionic conductivity.Nevertheless,the impact of the lithium–salt–SN combination on the PPCE ionic conductivity has not been analyzed.In particular,tuning of the lithium-salt–SN interaction to fabricate a subzero PPCE with a high low-temperature ionic conductivity has not been reported.In this study,we design and fabricate five PPCE membranes with different weight ratios of Li N(SO2 CF3)2(Li TFSI)and SN to investigate the effect of the Li TFSI–SN interaction on the PPCE ionic conductivity.The ionic conductivities of the five PPCEs are investigated in the temperature range of–20 to 60°C by electro-chemical impedance spectroscopy.The interaction is analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy,and differential scanning calorimetry.The Li TFSI–SN interaction significantly influences the melting point of the PPCE,dissociation of the Li TFSI salt,and thus the PPCE ionic conductivity.By tuning the Li TFSI–SN interaction,a subzero workable PPCE membrane having an excellent low-temperature ionic conductivity(6×10-4 S cm–1 at 0°C)is obtained.The electro-chemical performance of the optimal PPCE is evaluated by using a Li Co O2/PPCE/Li4 Ti5 O12 cell,which confirms the application feasibility of the proposed quasisolid-state electrolyte in subzero workable lithium-ion batteries.

High-Order Statistics of Temperature Fluctuations in an Unstable Atmospheric Surface Layer over Grassland

Skewness(S) and kurtosis(K) of temperature in the surface layer over a grassland are investigated under unstable thermal stratifications. We find that both skewness and kurtosis generally obey Monin–Obukhov similarity theory and tend to be constant values(1.5 and 5.3, respectively) when the stability parameter z/L <-2. Quantitative formulas of the similarity functions are proposed. The temperature probability density function(PDF) is close to Gaussian in near neutral stratification and non-Gaussian in unstable stratification. The influence of coherent motions on the PDF behavior is analyzed using the quadrant analysis technique. It shows that PDF behaviors are controlled by ejections and sweeps. The results also indicate that the PDF type of the ejections always follows a Gaussian distribution, while the PDF of the sweeps changes with stability.

Fabrication of Bi_2WO_6 quantum dots/ultrathin nanosheets 0D/2D homojunctions with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

A novel visible light‐responsive homogeneous catalyst based on Bi2WO6 quantum dots(QDs‐BWO)/Bi2WO6 nanosheets(N‐BWO)was successfully fabricated through a simple hydrothermal method.A variety of techniques were employed to investigate the morphology,structure,and electronic properties of the samples.The photocatalytic performance of the QDs/N‐BWO materials was investigated by monitoring the degradation of 4‐chlorophenol and rhodamine B under visible light irradiation.The as‐fabricated QDs/N‐BWO materials showed higher photocatalytic activity than both QDs‐BWO and N‐BWO.The results reveal that the incorporation of the QDs improved the separation efficiency of electron‐hole pairs,leading to enhanced photocatalytic activity.Moreover,the results of quenching experiments show that·O2– species played a major role in the degradation process.This work provides an important reference for the fabrication of homogeneous catalysts with high performance in the degradation of different types of pollutants.

Network pharmacology-based analysis on three amicoumacin-type isocoumarin compounds from an endophytic bacterium in Houttuynia cordata

Amicoumacin isocoumarin-type compounds are mainly derived from the secondary metabolites of Bacillus bacteria,and have potential biological activities such as antibacterial,anti-tumor,anti-inflammatory,and anti-ulcer.In our previous research,three amicoumacin-type isocoumarin compounds,Paenicoumacin A,Paenicoumacin B,and Paenicoumacin C(B and C are novel),were isolated from an endophytic bacterium in Houttuynia cordata.In this study,network pharmacology and bioinformatics techniques were used to analyze the potential activities of amicoumacin compounds in the treatment of liver cancer.These compounds were found to mainly regulate cellular oxidative stress,cancer process,nucleic acid metabolism,nutritional metabolism and other pathways.The findings provide useful information for subsequent experimental verification.

Trapping and Driving Individual Charged Micro-particles in Fluid with an Electrostatic Device

A variety of micro-tweezers techniques, such as optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, and dielectrophoresis technique, have been applied intensively in precise characterization of micro/nanoparticles and bio-molecules. They have contributed remarkably in better understanding of working mechanisms of individual sub-cell organelles, proteins, and DNA. In this paper, we present a controllable electrostatic device embedded in a microchannel, which is capable of driving,trapping, and releasing charged micro-particles suspended in microfluid, demonstrating the basic concepts of electrostatic tweezers. Such a device is scalable to smaller size and offers an alternative to currently used micro-tweezers for application in sorting, selecting, manipulating, and analyzing individual micro/nanoparticles. Furthermore, the system offers the potential in being combined with dielectrophoresis and other techniques to create hybrid micro-manipulation systems.

Usefulness of white blood cell count to mean platelet volume ratio for predicting long-term prognosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background and Objective The white blood cell count to mean platelet volume ratio(WMR)has recently been described as a predictor of cardiovascular events in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of admission WMR in predicting outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS).

Platelet reactivity and clinical outcome in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Background and Objective Renal insufficiency(RI)is reported to be associated with increased ischemic and bleeding events after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI),which is possibly due to high residual platelet reactivity(HRPR)during DAPT therapy.Therefore,we performed a large prospective observational study to evaluate the platelet reactivity and related clinical outcomes in real-world patients with different renal insufficiency stage after PCI,and to examine whether HRPR is associated with higher incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in a 2-year follow up.

Impact of baseline smoking status on long-term prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease underwent percutaneous coronary intervention:a large single-center data

Objective This study analyzed a large single-center sample in China to explain the impact of smoking state at baseline on long-term prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

The Relationship between lipoprotein(a) and clinical outcomes in ST elevation myocardial infarction underwent percutaneous coronary intervention

Background and Objective Elevated serum levels of lipoprotein(Lp[a]) has recently been proposed as a marker of cardiovascular risk.We aimed to determine the role of Lp(a) on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Simulation of the physical process of neural electromagnetic signal generation based on a simple but functional bionic Na^(+)channel

The physical processes occurring at open Na^(+) channels in neural fibers are essential for the understanding of the nature of neural signals and the mechanism by which the signals are generated and transmitted along nerves.However,there is a less generally accepted description of these physical processes.We studied changes in the transmembrane ionic flux and the resulting two types of electromagnetic signals by simulating the Na^(+) transport across a bionic nanochannel model simplified from voltage-gated Na^(+) channels.The results show that the Na^(+) flux can reach a steady state in approximately 10 ns due to the dynamic equilibrium of the Na^(+) ion concentration difference between both sides of the membrane.After characterizing the spectrum and transmission of these two electromagnetic signals,the low-frequency transmembrane electric field is regarded as the physical quantity transmitting in the waveguide-like lipid dielectric layer and triggering the neighboring voltage-gated channels.Factors influencing the Na^(+) flux transport are also studied.The impact of the Na^(+) concentration gradient is found to be higher than that of the initial transmembrane potential on the Na^(+) transport rate,and introducing the surface-negative charge in the upper third channel could increase the transmembrane Na^(+) current.This work can be further studied by improving the simulation model;however,the current work helps to better understand the electrical functions of voltage-gated ion channels in neural systems.

A re-evaluation of unstable angina braunwald classification in Chinese patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Background and Objective Treatment strategy for unstable angina has underwent significant changes since the introduction of Braunwald classification of unstable angina nearly 30 years ago,yet re-evaluation of this routinely used classification system is rarely published in recent years.We aim to re-evaluate the Braunwald unstable angina(UA)classification on its predictive value of clinical characteristics,angiographic features,and occurrence of future adverse events.

Prognostic impact of clinical SYNTAX score on long-term outcomes in three vessels disease undergoing medical therapy

Objective The SYNTAX score(Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery,SS)is now broadly accepted to guide and predict mortality of complex coronary artery disease(CAD)patients undergoing PCI or CABG.Recently,the clinical SYNTAX score which is a combination of age,ejection fraction,decrease in creatinine clearance and classic SYNTAX score,has been found to be superior in predicting adverse outcomes compared with the SYNTAX scores.Whether the clinical SS could help to determine which patients could be managed medically has never been explored.We sought to investigate the prognostic impact of the SS on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with three vessels disease undergoing medical therapy only.

Prediabetes and its Impact on clinical outcome after coronary intervention in Chinese patients

Background and Objective Prediabetes(Pre-DM)is a serious condition that is associated with an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.We sought to explore the prevalence of prediabetes in patients admitted with coronary artery disease who were not known to have diabetes and to determine the impact of prediabetes on 2-year clinical outcomes versus non-diabetic patients.

Cloning, Characterization and Bioinformatic Analysis of the Gene Encoding the Larval Serum Protein 2 in Diapause of the Onion Maggot, Delia Antiqua

The full-length cDNA encoding Larval serum protein 2 (LSp-2) in the onion maggot,Delia antiqua, was cloned and sequenced by rapid ampli?cation of cDNA ends methods. The result showed that the cDNA was 2203 bp long and the open reading frame (ORF) of 2106 bp encoded 701 amino acid with a calculated molecular weight of 80.5 kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.87. The onion maggot LSp-2 shows highest homology (83%) to that ofCalliphora vicinaat amino acid level. Its signal peptides, domains and structures were predicted and analyzed by using bioinformatic methods. The amino acid sequence of LSP-2 suggests that it would be a typical hexamerin.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 — Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, 2001–2021

Escherichia coli(E.coli)that produce Shiga toxin or verocytotoxin is commonly known as Shiga toxinproducing E.coli(STEC)or verocytotoxin-producing E.coli(VTEC).Hemorrhagic enteritis(HC),caused by foodborne zoonotic pathogen enterohemorrhagic E.coli(EHEC)O157:H7,was first reported in the United States in 1982 and has since caused outbreaks of human infections in various countries such as Canada,Japan,and China.In China,the pathogen was isolated from the feces of patients with diarrhea in Xuzhou City,Jiangsu Province in 1986.It later caused an outbreak in Xuzhou and adjacent areas from 1999 to 2000(1).Measures that included investigation of diarrhea patients,identification of the pathogen,and clearing epidemiological characteristics were implemented to control the spread of the disease.Subsequently,a surveillance program was reformulated in 2001 in Tongshan District,Xuzhou City based on the national O157:H7 surveillance program and the reality of Jiangsu Province.The program included 18 towns for diarrhea patients and food surveillance,and 3 major animal farming towns for animal surveillance.The program has led to changes in the detection rates and virulence genes of the strains.In this study,we analyzed O157:H7 surveillance data from 2001 to 2021 to predict possible transmission risks.