Objectives To evaluate the plasma atherosclerotic biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） and arteriosclerosis obliteran （ASO） when treated with Probucol plus Cilostazol in combination and indi...Objectives To evaluate the plasma atherosclerotic biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） and arteriosclerosis obliteran （ASO） when treated with Probucol plus Cilostazol in combination and individually. Methods In this open-label study, patients aged 40-75 years were randomized to receive conventional therapy alone, or with Cilostazol 100 mg bid, or with Probucol 250 mg bid, or with both in combination. Endpoints included changes in plasma biomarker and safety at 12 weeks. Results Of the 200 randomized pati- ents, 165 for per-protocol and 160 for the safety （QTc intervals） were set, respectively. Probucol significantly reduced total cholesterol （P 〈 0.001）, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）, （P = 0.01）, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） （P 〈 0.001） compared with conventional therapy. Cilostazol was effective in increasing HDL-C （P = 0.002） and reducing triglycerides levels （P 〈 0.01） compared with conventional therapy. A trend towards significance was observed for the difference between conventional therapy alone and Probucol plus Cilostazol group for the change in oxidized low-density lipoprotein （Ox-LDL, P = 0.065）. No significant effects on the majority of the remaining biomarkers were found across the treatment groups. Conclusions We have confirmed that Ox-LDL could be a possible plasma atherosclerotic biomarker among the evaluated biomarkers, which reflected the synergetic effect of Cilostazol plus Probucol in patients with T2DM and ASO shown previously in preclinical studies.展开更多
AIM： To evaluate treatment safety and hemodynamic changes during a single 6-h treatment with the PrometheusTM liver assist system in a randomized, controlled study. METHODS： Twenty-four patients were randomized to e...AIM： To evaluate treatment safety and hemodynamic changes during a single 6-h treatment with the PrometheusTM liver assist system in a randomized, controlled study. METHODS： Twenty-four patients were randomized to either the study group or to one of two control groups： Fractionated Plasma Separation Adsorption and Dialysis, PrometheusTM system （Study group; n = 8）; Molecular Adsorbent Recirculation System （MARS）TM （Control group 1, n = 8）; or hemodialysis （Control group 2; n = 8）. All patients included in the study had decompensated cirrhosis at the time of the inclusion into the study. Circulatory changes were monitored with a Swan-Ganz catheter and bilirubin and creatinine were monitored as measures of protein-bound and water-soluble toxins. RESULTS： Systemic hemodynamics did not differ between treatment and control groups apart from an increase in arterial pressure in the MARS group （P = 0.008）. No adverse effects were observed in any of the groups. Creatinine levels significantly decreased in the MARS group （P = 0.03） and hemodialysis group （P = 0.04）. Platelet count deceased in the Prometheus group （P = 0.04）.CONCLUSION： Extra-corporal liver support with Prometheus is proven to be safe in patients with endstage liver disease but does not exert the beneficial effects on arterial pressure as seen in the MARS group,展开更多
Background Insulin resistance （IR） is present at all stages of chronic kidney disease （CKD） and is associated with CKD progression. Probueol can improve the prognosis of IR in diabetes mellitus （DM） patients. Th...Background Insulin resistance （IR） is present at all stages of chronic kidney disease （CKD） and is associated with CKD progression. Probueol can improve the prognosis of IR in diabetes mellitus （DM） patients. This study aimed to observe the effect of probucol on IR and kidney protection in non-diabetic CKD patients. Methods This was an open-label, non-placebo-controlled, randomized study. A total of 59 patients were randomized to the probucol group （0.5 g, twice daily） or the control group using a 1： 1 treatment ratio. IR was determined using a homeostatic model assessment-IR （HOMA-IR） index. An Excel database was established to analyze foUow-up data at weeks 0, 12, and 24. The primary outcome of interest was changes in the HOMA-IR, and the secondary outcomes of interest were changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate （eGFR）, body mass index （BMI）, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein （HDL）, low-density lipoprotein （LDL）, and 24-h urinary protein. Results The HOMA-IR index of the probucol group after 24 weeks was significantly decreased （P 〈 0.001） compared to the value before treatment （average decrease： 1.45; range： -2.90 to -0.43）. The HOMA-IR index in the control group increased （average increase： 0.54; range： -0.38 to 1.87）. For the secondary outcomes of interest, the changes between these two groups also exhibited significant differences in eGFR （P = 0.041）, cholesterol （P = 0.001）, fasting insulin （P 〈 0.001）, and fasting C-peptide （P = 0.001）. Conclusions Compared to angiotensin receptor blockers alone, the combination with probucol ameliorates IR in non-diabetic CKD patients and delays disease progression.展开更多
This paper reconstructs,based on American and Chinese primary sources,the visits of Chinese mathematicians Shiing-shen Chern陈省身(Chen Xingshen)and Hua Luogeng华罗庚(Loo-Keng Hua)4 to the Institute for Advanced Study...This paper reconstructs,based on American and Chinese primary sources,the visits of Chinese mathematicians Shiing-shen Chern陈省身(Chen Xingshen)and Hua Luogeng华罗庚(Loo-Keng Hua)4 to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton in the United States in the 1940s,especially their interactions with Oswald Veblen and Hermann Weyl,two leading mathematicians at the IAS.It argues that Chern’s and Hua’s motivations and choices in regard to their transnational movements between China and the US were more nuanced and multifaceted than what is presented in existing accounts,and that socio-political factors combined with professional-personal ones to shape their decisions.The paper further uses their experiences to demonstrate the importance of transnational scientific interactions for the development of science in China,the US,and elsewhere in the twentieth century.展开更多
As Russia＇s ongoing economic restructuring over the past twenty years has revealed, Russia＇s exchange mechanism departs from that of an ideally standard market economy. To a large extent, the problem can be traced b...As Russia＇s ongoing economic restructuring over the past twenty years has revealed, Russia＇s exchange mechanism departs from that of an ideally standard market economy. To a large extent, the problem can be traced back to the ＂power-property＂ system established by Ivan IIL That is to say, the possession of power is equivalent to the possession of property, and property becomes certain functions of power. For a long time, this system has been accepted as a natural state of society by the Russian people. Rapid economic growth under the Putin administration is characterized by the return to and strengthening of a ＂power- property ＂system dominated by the state and an abandonment of ＂institutional transplantation＂ from the Western liberal market economic model in the Yeltsin era under which power and property were separated Mr. Putin＇s reelection in 2012 means that the ＂long-Putin era＂ that started from 2000 will last at least until 2018. However, with the solidification of the ＂power- property＂ system, the Putin administration has been confronted with new challenges, and the prospects for Russia＇s economic modernization still face great uncertainties.展开更多
An experimental field study was conducted at the University of California at Santa Cruz USA to determine if radar cross section signals were different between a person without wearing any wires and a person wearing bo...An experimental field study was conducted at the University of California at Santa Cruz USA to determine if radar cross section signals were different between a person without wearing any wires and a person wearing both a suicide vest and wires with （without） loops in the wires. The data was collected using the GunnPlexer Doppler radar at 12.5 GHz at various safe distances using various subjects both without any wires and wearing a suicide vest with detonation wires and with detonation wires and loops. The raw data was separated in its horizontal and vertical polarization signals （HH and VV）. The analysis of these two HH and VV polarization signals from the data allowed several promising metrics to be created. These metrics were individually tested in a Monte Carlo simulation which is in order to determine the probability of detection of a would-be suicide bomber. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation showed that the metrics yielded a probability of successful detection of slightly over 98% and a false positive rate of just less than 2 %. This research and its result are encouraging and suggest further testing to insure that suicide bombers can be found prior to their detonation of their bombs at a safe range.展开更多
The last two years have attracted the world＇s attention to Russia. The annexation of Crimea, the hybrid war in Eastern Ukraine, and finally the unexpected interference in Syria--all these actions bring us back to the...The last two years have attracted the world＇s attention to Russia. The annexation of Crimea, the hybrid war in Eastern Ukraine, and finally the unexpected interference in Syria--all these actions bring us back to the question of understanding the Russian motivation properly. Generally, it includes the whole interpretation of Russian strategic culture which is based on the research and analysis of the different factors： from literature and history to religion and political nature of the Russian state. Significant attempts to understand Moscow＇s strategic culture were made by the American experts during the Cold War; therefore the article analyzes the main pillars of Russian strategic culture, its continuity and change in comparison to Soviet times as well as the main reactions of Moscow for what it considers to be a threat.展开更多
The article is devoted to the psychoanalytic issues of the deconstruction of images of socialist ideals in Russian Sots Art--an ironic title of the artistic trend in which used a mixture signs of visual semiotics of ...The article is devoted to the psychoanalytic issues of the deconstruction of images of socialist ideals in Russian Sots Art--an ironic title of the artistic trend in which used a mixture signs of visual semiotics of ＂social realism＂ and ＂pop art＂ of the 1990-2000s. By comparing the idealization of the image of Lenin in Soviet art of the 1930-1950s with its grotesque interpretation in Sots Art works of the 1990s, it appears to be interesting to trace the functions of grotesque and caricature in the deconstruction of the canons of socialist realism. Thereupon, special interest is the role of the regression mechanism in the transformation of the ideals of socialist realism into laughable images.展开更多
文摘Objectives To evaluate the plasma atherosclerotic biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） and arteriosclerosis obliteran （ASO） when treated with Probucol plus Cilostazol in combination and individually. Methods In this open-label study, patients aged 40-75 years were randomized to receive conventional therapy alone, or with Cilostazol 100 mg bid, or with Probucol 250 mg bid, or with both in combination. Endpoints included changes in plasma biomarker and safety at 12 weeks. Results Of the 200 randomized pati- ents, 165 for per-protocol and 160 for the safety （QTc intervals） were set, respectively. Probucol significantly reduced total cholesterol （P 〈 0.001）, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）, （P = 0.01）, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） （P 〈 0.001） compared with conventional therapy. Cilostazol was effective in increasing HDL-C （P = 0.002） and reducing triglycerides levels （P 〈 0.01） compared with conventional therapy. A trend towards significance was observed for the difference between conventional therapy alone and Probucol plus Cilostazol group for the change in oxidized low-density lipoprotein （Ox-LDL, P = 0.065）. No significant effects on the majority of the remaining biomarkers were found across the treatment groups. Conclusions We have confirmed that Ox-LDL could be a possible plasma atherosclerotic biomarker among the evaluated biomarkers, which reflected the synergetic effect of Cilostazol plus Probucol in patients with T2DM and ASO shown previously in preclinical studies.
基金The NOVO Nordic Foundation, Savvrksejer Jeppe & Ovita Mindelegat, Fabricant Vilhelm Pedersen & Wifes Mindelegat, A.P. Moller Scientific Foundation, the Danish Medical Association Research Fund and the Laerdal Foundation for Acute Medicine, and by an unrestricted grant from the Fresenius Medical Care GmBH
文摘AIM： To evaluate treatment safety and hemodynamic changes during a single 6-h treatment with the PrometheusTM liver assist system in a randomized, controlled study. METHODS： Twenty-four patients were randomized to either the study group or to one of two control groups： Fractionated Plasma Separation Adsorption and Dialysis, PrometheusTM system （Study group; n = 8）; Molecular Adsorbent Recirculation System （MARS）TM （Control group 1, n = 8）; or hemodialysis （Control group 2; n = 8）. All patients included in the study had decompensated cirrhosis at the time of the inclusion into the study. Circulatory changes were monitored with a Swan-Ganz catheter and bilirubin and creatinine were monitored as measures of protein-bound and water-soluble toxins. RESULTS： Systemic hemodynamics did not differ between treatment and control groups apart from an increase in arterial pressure in the MARS group （P = 0.008）. No adverse effects were observed in any of the groups. Creatinine levels significantly decreased in the MARS group （P = 0.03） and hemodialysis group （P = 0.04）. Platelet count deceased in the Prometheus group （P = 0.04）.CONCLUSION： Extra-corporal liver support with Prometheus is proven to be safe in patients with endstage liver disease but does not exert the beneficial effects on arterial pressure as seen in the MARS group,
文摘Background Insulin resistance （IR） is present at all stages of chronic kidney disease （CKD） and is associated with CKD progression. Probueol can improve the prognosis of IR in diabetes mellitus （DM） patients. This study aimed to observe the effect of probucol on IR and kidney protection in non-diabetic CKD patients. Methods This was an open-label, non-placebo-controlled, randomized study. A total of 59 patients were randomized to the probucol group （0.5 g, twice daily） or the control group using a 1： 1 treatment ratio. IR was determined using a homeostatic model assessment-IR （HOMA-IR） index. An Excel database was established to analyze foUow-up data at weeks 0, 12, and 24. The primary outcome of interest was changes in the HOMA-IR, and the secondary outcomes of interest were changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate （eGFR）, body mass index （BMI）, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein （HDL）, low-density lipoprotein （LDL）, and 24-h urinary protein. Results The HOMA-IR index of the probucol group after 24 weeks was significantly decreased （P 〈 0.001） compared to the value before treatment （average decrease： 1.45; range： -2.90 to -0.43）. The HOMA-IR index in the control group increased （average increase： 0.54; range： -0.38 to 1.87）. For the secondary outcomes of interest, the changes between these two groups also exhibited significant differences in eGFR （P = 0.041）, cholesterol （P = 0.001）, fasting insulin （P 〈 0.001）, and fasting C-peptide （P = 0.001）. Conclusions Compared to angiotensin receptor blockers alone, the combination with probucol ameliorates IR in non-diabetic CKD patients and delays disease progression.
文摘This paper reconstructs,based on American and Chinese primary sources,the visits of Chinese mathematicians Shiing-shen Chern陈省身(Chen Xingshen)and Hua Luogeng华罗庚(Loo-Keng Hua)4 to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton in the United States in the 1940s,especially their interactions with Oswald Veblen and Hermann Weyl,two leading mathematicians at the IAS.It argues that Chern’s and Hua’s motivations and choices in regard to their transnational movements between China and the US were more nuanced and multifaceted than what is presented in existing accounts,and that socio-political factors combined with professional-personal ones to shape their decisions.The paper further uses their experiences to demonstrate the importance of transnational scientific interactions for the development of science in China,the US,and elsewhere in the twentieth century.
文摘As Russia＇s ongoing economic restructuring over the past twenty years has revealed, Russia＇s exchange mechanism departs from that of an ideally standard market economy. To a large extent, the problem can be traced back to the ＂power-property＂ system established by Ivan IIL That is to say, the possession of power is equivalent to the possession of property, and property becomes certain functions of power. For a long time, this system has been accepted as a natural state of society by the Russian people. Rapid economic growth under the Putin administration is characterized by the return to and strengthening of a ＂power- property ＂system dominated by the state and an abandonment of ＂institutional transplantation＂ from the Western liberal market economic model in the Yeltsin era under which power and property were separated Mr. Putin＇s reelection in 2012 means that the ＂long-Putin era＂ that started from 2000 will last at least until 2018. However, with the solidification of the ＂power- property＂ system, the Putin administration has been confronted with new challenges, and the prospects for Russia＇s economic modernization still face great uncertainties.
文摘An experimental field study was conducted at the University of California at Santa Cruz USA to determine if radar cross section signals were different between a person without wearing any wires and a person wearing both a suicide vest and wires with （without） loops in the wires. The data was collected using the GunnPlexer Doppler radar at 12.5 GHz at various safe distances using various subjects both without any wires and wearing a suicide vest with detonation wires and with detonation wires and loops. The raw data was separated in its horizontal and vertical polarization signals （HH and VV）. The analysis of these two HH and VV polarization signals from the data allowed several promising metrics to be created. These metrics were individually tested in a Monte Carlo simulation which is in order to determine the probability of detection of a would-be suicide bomber. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation showed that the metrics yielded a probability of successful detection of slightly over 98% and a false positive rate of just less than 2 %. This research and its result are encouraging and suggest further testing to insure that suicide bombers can be found prior to their detonation of their bombs at a safe range.
文摘The last two years have attracted the world＇s attention to Russia. The annexation of Crimea, the hybrid war in Eastern Ukraine, and finally the unexpected interference in Syria--all these actions bring us back to the question of understanding the Russian motivation properly. Generally, it includes the whole interpretation of Russian strategic culture which is based on the research and analysis of the different factors： from literature and history to religion and political nature of the Russian state. Significant attempts to understand Moscow＇s strategic culture were made by the American experts during the Cold War; therefore the article analyzes the main pillars of Russian strategic culture, its continuity and change in comparison to Soviet times as well as the main reactions of Moscow for what it considers to be a threat.
文摘The article is devoted to the psychoanalytic issues of the deconstruction of images of socialist ideals in Russian Sots Art--an ironic title of the artistic trend in which used a mixture signs of visual semiotics of ＂social realism＂ and ＂pop art＂ of the 1990-2000s. By comparing the idealization of the image of Lenin in Soviet art of the 1930-1950s with its grotesque interpretation in Sots Art works of the 1990s, it appears to be interesting to trace the functions of grotesque and caricature in the deconstruction of the canons of socialist realism. Thereupon, special interest is the role of the regression mechanism in the transformation of the ideals of socialist realism into laughable images.
