Summary
Background and Aims
We aimed to define gender‐specific, optimal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) cut‐off values for the prediction of significant liver histological changes (SLHC) in Chinese ...patients with grey zone (GZ) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and normal ALT.
Methods
In a retrospective study, we included 1101 consecutive patients with GZ CHB and normal ALT assigned to training or internal validation cohorts. We included an independent cohort of 842 patients for external validation. We performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, smoothed curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses to determine optimal ALT cut‐off values. Area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated to assess their predictive performance.
Results
A proportion of 79.3% of patients with GZ CHB and normal ALT (≤40 U/L) had SLHC. ROC curve analysis initially identified optimal ALT cut‐off values of 29 U/L (male) and 22 U/L (female). After smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analyses, new optimal cut‐off values were 27 U/L for males and 24 U/L for females. AUCs for these values were 0.836 (male) and 0.833 (female) in the internal validation cohort, and 0.849 (male) and 0.844 (female) in the external validation cohort. The accuracy and discriminative ability of the newly defined ALT cut‐off values were greater than those of the current recommendations.
Conclusion
This study established novel optimal ALT cut‐off values for more precise prediction of SLHC among Chinese patients with GZ CHB and normal ALT levels. This may help identify individuals who will benefit from timely antiviral therapy.
1101 antiviral treatment naïve CHB patients in the grey zone (GZ) with normal ALT 1.60.1%‐79.3% in GZ CHB patient groups with different upper limits of normal (ULNs) for ALT have SLHC 2. The new optimal ALT cut‐offs to predict SLHC were 27U/L (male) and 24U/L (female).
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The change of bonding status, typically occurring only in chemical processes, could dramatically alter the material properties. Here, we show that a tunable breaking and forming of a diatomic bond ...can be achieved through physical means, i.e., by a moderate biaxial strain, in the newly discovered MoN2 two-dimensional (2D) material. On the basis of first-principles calculations, we predict that as the lattice parameter is increased under strain, there exists an isostructural phase transition at which the N–N distance has a sudden drop, corresponding to the transition from a N–N nonbonding state to a N–N single bond state. Remarkably, the bonding change also induces a magnetic phase transition, during which the magnetic moments transfer from the N(2p) sublattice to the Mo(4d) sublattice; meanwhile, the type of magnetic coupling is changed from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic. We provide a physical picture for understanding these striking effects. The discovery is not only of great scientific interest in exploring unusual phase transitions in low-dimensional systems, but it also reveals the great potential of the 2D MoN2 material in the nanoscale mechanical, electronic, and spintronic applications.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
A ultrathin 2D MOF nanosheets decorated with tetra-pyridyl calix4arene was designed and prepared for determination of pesticide through host-guest chemistry.
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•2D MOF nanosheet ...decorated with calix4arene was fabricated by a simple method.•The thickness of MOF nanosheet is only 2.20 nm, better interacting with analytes.•Highly accessible active sites of calix4arene on the surface of 2D MOF nanosheet.•It can selectively sense glyphosate by interaction with the host of calix4arene.
Chemical pesticides are highly toxic and widely spread as environmental pollutants. New strategies are being developed to selectively and sensitively detect pesticides. Herein, we prepared ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheets, decorated with tetra-pyridyl calix4arene, for determination of pesticide based on host-guest chemistry. The 3D layered MOF {Cd2(5-NO2-BDC)2L(MeOH)∙2MeOH}n (MOF-Calix; 5-NO2-H2BDC = 5-nitro-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid; L = 25,26,27,28-tetra-(4-pyridylmethyl)oxycalix4arene) was elaborately constructed, with features of 2D layered structure that are held together by weak π…π interactions. Due to the cup-shaped characteristic of calix4arene ligand and easy-to-departure MeOH molecules in the interspaces of the 2D layers in MOF-Calix, the 3D bulk MOF-Calix can be readily exfoliated into ultrathin single (2.20 nm) or double-layer (3.73 nm) of 2D nanosheets by ultrasound method with high efficiency. We take the intrinsic advantages of calix4arene and the highly accessible active site of calix4arene on the surface of the 2D MOF-Calix nanosheets for selective and sensitive sensing of glyphosate via fluorescence enhancement effect with a detection limit of 2.25 μM. This work demonstrates the simple preparation of a 2D MOF nanosheet as fluorescent sensor for glyphosate detection.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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Previous studies have suggested that miR-324-3p is related to the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia, but the mechanism underlying this relationship is unclear. In this study, we found ...that miR-324-3p expression was decreased in patients with acute ischemic stroke and in in vitro and in vivo models of ischemic stroke. miR-324-3p agomir potentiated ischemic brain damage in rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion, as indicated by increased infarct volumes and cell apoptosis rates and greater neurological deficits. In a PC12 cell oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation model, a miR-324-3p mimic decreased cell viability and expression of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 and increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein BAX and rates of cell apoptosis, whereas treatment with a miR-324-3p inhibitor had the opposite effects. Silencing miR-324-3p increased adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) expression through regulation of GATA binding protein 2 (GATA2). These findings suggest that silencing miR-324-3p reduces ischemic brain damage via the GATA2/A1R axis.
In recent decades, respiratory infections, including SARS, HINI and the currently spreading COVID-19, caused by various viruses such as influenza and coronavirus have seriously threatened human ...health. It has generated inconsistent recommendations on the mandatory use of facemasks across countries on a population level due to insufficient evidence on the efficacy of facemask use among the general population. This meta-analysis aimed to explore (1) the efficacy of facemask use on preventing respiratory infections, and (2) the perceptions, intentions, and practice about facemask use among the general population worldwide. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane, bioRxiv, and medRxiv databases since inception to August 17, 2020. From 21,341 records identified, eight RCTs on facemask in preventing infections and 78 studies on perception, intention, and practice of facemask use among the general population were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis of RCTs found a significant protective effect of facemask intervention (OR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.71-0.99; I
= 0%). This protective effect was even more pronounced when the intervention duration was more than two weeks (OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.66-0.88; I
= 0%). The meta-analysis of observational studies on perception, intention, and practice on facemask use showed that 71% of respondents perceived facemasks to be effective for infection prevention, 68% of respondents would wear facemasks, and 54% of respondents wore facemasks for preventing respiratory infections. Differences in perception, intention, and practice behavior of facemask use in different regions may be related to the impact of respiratory infections, regional culture, and policies. The governments and relevant organizations should make effort to reduce the barriers in the use of facemasks.
The design of electrocatalysts including precious and nonprecious metals for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media remains challenging due to the sluggish reaction kinetics caused ...by the additional water dissociation step. Herein, we fabricate tungsten-doped Ni-Co phosphides based on Ni foam (W-NiCoP/NF), which have multiple catalytic sites for water dissociation and H
2
formation steps, respectively. Physical and electrochemical studies imply that bimetallic Ni-Co sites are responsible for water dissociation by absorbing hydroxide, while the W atoms function as binding sites for hydrogen intermediates (H
ad
) in the second step of the alkaline HER process. Benefiting from the moderate combination ability between W and H atoms, W sites could effectively convert H
ad
to H
2
, and the synergistic effect between Ni-Co sites and W sites can accelerate the HER rate. W-NiCoP/NF exhibits a low overpotential of 29.6 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm
−2
and a small Tafel slope of 38 mV dec
−1
, which is close to that of the Pt/C catalyst. W-NiCoP/NF also displays excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance and thus outstanding performance for overall water splitting. This work may provide a way to modulate multisite catalysts based on transition metal phosphides for wider application in other electrolysis fields.
The design of electrocatalysts including precious and nonprecious metals for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media remains challenging due to the sluggish reaction kinetics caused by the additional water dissociation step.
Quinolones and isoquinolones are of particular importance to pharmaceutical industry due to their diverse biological activities. However, their synthetic protocols were limited by high toxicity, high ...energy consumption, poor functional group tolerance and noble metal catalyst. This study concerns the development of a series of TEMPO@PCN‐222 (TEMPO: 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy; PCN: porous coordination network) composite photocatalysts by coordinating different amount of 4‐carboxy‐TEMPO with the secondary building units of PCN‐222. Upon visible‐light irradiation, photogenerated holes in the highest occupied molecular orbital of PCN‐222 can smoothly transfer to TEMPO, which can significantly boost the photosynthesis of bioactive (iso)quinolones from readily available N‐alkyl(iso)quinolinium salts. TEMPO@PCN‐222 exhibits an outstanding catalytic stability and substrate tolerance with a 1‐methyl‐2‐quinolinone yield of 86.7 %, over four times that with PCN‐222 (21.4 %). This work provides a new route to construct composite photocatalysts from abundant starting materials for efficient photosynthesis of high value‐added chemicals.
Shedding light on photocatalysis: A TEMPO@MOF composite exhibits high activity, superior cycling stability, good functional group tolerance, and mild reaction conditions for the photocatalytic oxidation of N‐alkyl(iso)quinolinium salts to afford bioactive (iso)quinolones. This work provides a new route to construct composite photocatalysts from abundant starting materials for efficient photosynthesis of high value‐added chemicals.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A loss-of-function mutation in ATPase phospholipid transporting 11-B (putative) (ATP11B) gene causing cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) in vivo, and a single intronic nucleotide polymorphism in ...ATP11B: rs148771930 that was associated with white matter hyperintensities burden in European patients with SVD, was recently identified. Our results suggest that ATP11B may not play an essential role in SVD in the Chinese population.
We performed target region sequencing including ATP11B gene in 182 patients with sporadic SVD, and identified five rare variants and two novel variants of ATP11B. A case-control study was then performed in 524 patients and matched 550 controls to investigate the relationship between ATP11B and sporadic SVD in the Chinese Han population. Although none of these variants were significantly associated with SVD in our samples, it is important to mention that we identified a novel variant, p. G238W, which was predicted to be pathogenic in silico. This variant was present in our cohort of patients with an extremely low frequency and was absent in the controls.
Our results suggest that ATP11B may not play an essential role in SVD in the Chinese population.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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