To investigate the association of PNPLA3 polymorphisms with concurrent chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
A cohort of Han patients with biopsy-proven CHB, with or ...without NAFLD (CHB group, n = 51; CHB + NAFLD group, n = 57), and normal controls (normal group, n = 47) were recruited from Northern (Tianjin), Central (Shanghai), and Southern (Zhangzhou) China. Their PNPLA3 polymorphisms were genotyped by gene sequencing. The association between PNPLA3 polymorphisms and susceptibility to NAFLD, and clinical characteristics of NAFLD were evaluated on the basis of physical indices, liver function tests, glycolipid metabolism, and histopathologic scoring. The association of PNPLA3 polymorphisms and hepatitis B virus (HBV) load was determined by the serum level of HBV DNA.
After adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index, we found that four linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PNPLA3, including the rs738409 G allele (CHB + NAFLD group vs CHB group: odds ratio OR = 2.77, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.18-6.54; P = 0.02), rs3747206 T allele (CHB + NAFLD group vs CHB group: OR = 2.77, 95%CI: 1.18-6.54; P = 0.02), rs4823173 A allele (CHB + NAFLD group vs CHB group: OR = 2.73, 95%CI: 1.16-6.44; P = 0.02), and rs2072906 G allele (CHB + NAFLD group vs CHB group: OR = 3.05, 95%CI: 1.28-7.26; P = 0.01), conferred high risk to NAFLD in CHB patients. In patients with both CHB and NAFLD, these genotypes of PNPLA3 polymorphisms were associated with increased susceptibility to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (NAFLD activity score ≥ 3; P = 0.01-0.03) and liver fibrosis (> 1 Metavir grading; P = 0.01-0.04). As compared to those with C/C and C/G at rs738409, C/C and C/T at rs3747206, G/G and G/A at rs4823173, and A/A and A/G at rs2072906, patients in the CHB + NAFLD group with G/G at rs738409, T/T at rs3747206, A/A at rs4823173, and G/G at rs2072906 showed significantly lower serum levels of HBV DNA (P < 0.01-0.05).
Four linked SNPs of PNPLA3 (rs738409, rs3747206, rs4823173, and rs2072906) are correlated with susceptibility to NAFLD, NASH, liver fibrosis, and HBV dynamics in CHB patients.
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•Ore-forming fluids evoluted from magmatic fluids to meteoric water.•The highly positive δ34S indicate major basinal brine contribution.•Lead may have been mostly derived from the ...sedimentary rocks.•Mesoproterozoic SEDEX Pb–Zn mineralization was reworked by Carboniferous magmatism.
The Hongyuan Zn–Pb deposit (ca. 150km southeast of Hami city, Xinjiang) is located in the Central Tianshan Terrane. Discovered in 2009, the deposit is mainly hosted by the Mesoproterozoic Kawabulake Group siliceous slate and carbonaceous marble.
Based on the mineral assemblages and their megascopic/microscopic textural relationships, the Hongyuan Zn–Pb mineralization/alteration can be divided into: Sedimentary period (Stage I: Sedimentary), skarn period (Stages II to VI: Early skarn, late skarn, early sulfide, late sulfide and carbonate) and supergene period (Stage VII: Supergene stage).
Three types of fluid inclusions (FIs), i.e., aqueous (W-type), CH4-bearing aqueous inclusion (W1-type) and solid-bearing (S-type) inclusions, were identified in the Stages IV to VI quartz, calcite and sphalerite: Stage IV contains W1- and W-type FIs, whereas Stage V contains mainly W-type and rare S-type FIs. Only W-type FIs occur at Stage VI. The Stage IV W-type FIs homogenized at 139–341°C (mainly at 220–240°C), with eutectic temperature of −55 to −30°C and salinities of 2.7–14.4wt.% NaCl eqv. The Stage IV W1-type FIs homogenized at 177–402°C (mainly at 230–380°C), with eutectic temperature of −78 to −55°C and salinities of 3.6–19.6wt.% NaCl eqv. The Stage V W-type FIs homogenized at 115–273°C (mainly at 190–220°C), with eutectic temperature of −61 to −42°C and salinities of 3.6–14.3wt.% NaCl eqv. The Stage VI W-type FIs homogenized at 90–206°C (mainly at 100–160°C), with eutectic temperature of −65 to −33°C and salinities of 3.9–13.1wt.% NaCl eqv. The ore-forming fluids consisted of an initial H2O–NaCl–CaCl2 fluid system, may have evolved from high-medium temperature and medium salinity to medium-low temperature and low salinity.
The δ18OH2O and δDH2O of the Stage III fluids are 10.2‰ and −73.8‰, respectively. At Stage IV, the δ18OH2O of quartz ranges from −2.1‰ to 2.7‰; while the δ13CPDB and δ18OSMOW of calcite range from −1.6‰ to −0.2‰ and 3.5‰ to 8.0‰, respectively. At Stage V, the δ18OH2O and δDH2O of quartz range from −3.7‰ to 3.1‰ and −107‰ to −63‰, respectively, while the δ13CPDB and δ18OSMOW of calcite range from 0.1‰ to 0.6‰ and 11.8‰ to 13.5‰, respectively. At Stage VI, the δ18OH2O and δDH2O of quartz range from −8.1‰ to −7.8‰ and −111‰ to −96‰, respectively, while calcite has δ13CPDB and δ18OSMOW of −3.6‰ and 4.1‰, respectively. The H–O–C isotopic compositions at Hongyuan suggest that the ore-forming fluid sources may have changed from magmatic fluids to meteoric water. The sphalerite and pyrite δ34S ranges 16.05–16.80‰, indicating that the sulfur may have been mainly derived from the reduction of Precambrian sulfates. Meanwhile, the Hongyuan sphalerite and galena have Pb isotopic affinities of the ore-hosting Kawabulake Group, suggesting that the lead was mostly derived from the sedimentary host rocks and influenced by magmatic-hydrothermal fluids.
We propose that the Hongyuan Zn–Pb mineralization may have initially formed by Mesoproterozoic sedimentary exhalative processes, and was strongly reworked by Late Carboniferous contact metasomatism, whose intensive skarn alteration may have transformed and upgraded the ores. This superimposing mineralization model may also be applicable to other newly-discovered Zn–Pb deposits in the Eastern Tianshan.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the curative effect of fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT)-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) ...for 42 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III/IV ovarian cancer. Between January 2012 and December 2015, 42 patients with FIGO stage III/IV ovarian cancer who were treated with 18F-FDG-PET/CT-guided IMRT at the Department of Radiation Oncology were analyzed. A total of 21 patients who exhibited recurrence following surgery and 11 patients who were unable to tolerate or rejected surgery received 5–10 cycles of chemotherapy only. A total of 10 patients, who were either older (>70 years) or in poor general health were unable to undergo surgery and only received IMRT. The patients received a total radiation dose of 5,040 cGy (range, 4,500-5,500 cGy), with a dose fraction of 200 cGy/fx, administered a total of 10–14 times, 5 times/week, prior to being rested for half an hour to relocate lesions and undergoing a second round of radiotherapy for 10–14 cycles. The 1-, 2- and 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates of the patients were 66.7, 33.3 and 21.4%, respectively, and the median PFS time was 20.3 months. The 1-, 2- and 3-year local control rates of the patients were 90.5, 83.3 and 69.0%, respectively, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 73.8, 64.3 and 52.4%, respectively. According to the results of multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model, the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score (1) was the only index associated with prognosis (P<0.003). The study concluded that for patients with advanced ovarian cancer, particularly for patients unable to undergo surgery or chemotherapy, 18F-FDG PET/CT-guided IMRT is a safe and effective treatment method, and it may be considered as an equally effective treatment option. Furthermore, the results of the present study suggested that the KPS score of a patient is the only factor affecting the OS time.
This paper investigates a new formation motion problem of a class of first-order multi-agent systems with antagonistic interactions.A distributed formation control algorithm is proposed for each ...agent to realize the antagonistic formation motion.A sufficient condition is derived to ensure that all of the agents make an antagonistic formation motion in a distributed manner.It is shown that all of the agents can be spontaneously divided into several groups and that agents in the same group collaborate while agents in different groups compete.Finally,a numerical simulation is included to demonstrate our theoretical results.
After subcutaneous injection to mice and embolization to a rabbit kidney, radiopaque microcapsules were detected clearly by in vivo imaging system and computed tomography (CT), respectively.
...•Radiopaque microcapsules made of PVA and lipiodol were successfully prepared.•The microcapsules showed spherical shape, reasonable size and high lipiodol content.•The microcapsules proved good deliverability, biocompatibility and radiopacity.•The elasticity of microcapsules was better than that of commercial embolic agent.•The microcapsules were successfully embolized to a rabbit kidney and detected by CT.
Embolic agents, such as microparticles, microspheres or beads used in current embolotherapy are mostly radiolucent, which means the agents are invisible under X-ray imaging during and after the process of embolization, and the fate of these particles cannot be precisely assessed. In this research, a radiopaque embolic agent was developed by encapsulating lipiodol in polyvinyl alcohol. The lipiodol-containing polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules (LPMs) were characterized and evaluated for their morphology, size distribution, lipiodol content, lipiodol release, elasticity, and deliverability through catheter. The radiopacity of LPMs in vials and in living mice was both detected by an X-ray imaging system. The biocompatibility of LPMs was investigated with L929 cells and in mice after subcutaneous injection. Embolization of LPMs to a rabbit kidney was performed under digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and the radiopacity of LPMs was verified by computed tomography (CT).
Abstract Backgrounds Syngeneic or autologous hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) has been proposed to treat autoimmune diseases because of its immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory ...effects, which can also contribute to posttransplant antirejection therapy. In this study, we explored the tolerogenic effect of syngeneic HSCT on prolonging islet allograft survival. Methods C57BL/6 mice received syngeneic HSCT plus preconditioning with sublethal irradiation. Then islets of BALB/c mice were transplanted into the renal subcapsular of C57BL/6 mice after chemically induced into diabetes. Results HSCT mice exhibited improved islet allograft survival and increased serum insulin compared to control mice. Islet allografts of HSCT mice displayed lower level lymphocyte infiltration and stronger insulin staining than control mice. T cells of HSCT mice proliferated poorly in response to allogeneic splenocytes compared to control mice. Mice appeared reversed interferon-γ (IFN-γ)/interleukin-4 (IL-4) ratio to a Th2 immune deviation after syngeneic HSCT. The percentage of CD8+ T cells was lower, while percentage of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) was higher in HSCT mice than control mice. HSCT mice showed higher percentage of CTLA-4+ T cells and expression of CTLA-4 mRNA than control mice. Targeting of CTLA-4 by intraperitoneal injection of anti-CTLA-4 mAb abrogated the effect of syngeneic HSCT on prolonging islet allograft survival, inhibiting activity of T cells in response to alloantigen, promoting Th1 to Th2 immune deviation and up regulating CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs. Conclusions Syngeneic HSCT plus preconditioning of sublethal irradiation induces tolerance and improves islet allograft survival in fully mismatched mice model. Th1 to Th2 immune deviation, increased CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs and up-regulation of CTLA-4 maybe contribute to the tolerogenic effect induced by syngeneic HSCT.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scanners with new features, such as open structure, compact size, and adaptive field of view (FOV), have attracted significant attention. Among these novel designs, ...panel PET has the potential to combine the open structure and variable FOV into a compact form. In this paper, we would like to further exploit these structural advantages by proposing a modified version, called the panel PET with window (PPW). A PPW is a panel PET with a rectangular opening in the center of one detector panel, which inherts the advantages of the compact size and adjustable FOV of the panel PET. Meanwhile, it utilizes fewer detector modules and offers additional flexibility and convenience in practical applications. We quantitatively evaluated the imaging performance of the PPW based on Monte Carlo simulations and real data experiments using a prototype system. The results show that the PPW system sensitivity, spatial resolution, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) deteriorate, and the effective FOV narrows down. However, the deterioration is not linear to the increase of window size. In our extreme case with 69.4% of detectors removed from a panel, the degradation of SNR, CNR, and spatial resolution are 42.4%, 43.1%, and 25.0%, respectively. Meanwhile, the contrast recovery coefficient of PPW remains almost constant.
Background: This study aims to develop an efficient future game participation strategy for teenaged athletes based on an analysis of the 2019 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour ...game expenditure efficiency and prize-winning efficiency. Methods: In this research, Chinese Taipei (TPE) players served as the main research subjects. The input and output categories were determined through a literature analysis. A two-stage efficiency process of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Boston consulting group (BCG) matrix were applied in this study to facilitate the calculation. Results: Based on a slack variable analysis, local travel expenses are the key elements impacting efficiency. The game recommendation order was based on a BCG matrix. The top seven recommended games were the Japan Open, Czech Open, Australian Open, Bulgarian Open, Austrian Open, China Open, and German Open. Conclusion: The results of this current study provide efficient game participation recommendations for teenaged athletes. Long-term follow-up records of game participation information should be developed to provide teenaged athletes with a precise efficiency analysis.
Ketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) orally effective in treating fever, pain, and inflammation but gastrointestinal side effects were observed. Preparation of ketoprofen ...β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes was to increase the solubility and reduce the irritation. The complexes were prepared and preliminarily confirmed using X-ray diffraction and dissolution test. Antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory models were induced by 10% yeast using rabbits, 0.8% acetic acid using mice and 1% carrageenin using rats, respectively. Results showed that the dissolution rate of ketoprofen was significantly improved by complexation. X-Ray diffraction pattern of the complexes exhibited a diffuse pattern that differed from that of physical mixture of ketoprofen and β-cyclodextrin. Ketoprofen markedly inhibited the fever reactions at a single dose of 2 mg/kg as follows: 64.53% (inhibition rate %) at 1h for ketoprofen, 73.04% at 1 h for ketoprofen β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, respectively. Alleviating pain reaction rates following a single dose of 8 mg/kg at 20 min were 39.25% for the inclusion complexes and 26.72% for ketoprofen, respectively. Inhibition rates to rat edema following a single dose of 5 mg/kg at 1 h were 39.47% for the inclusion complexes and 23.86% for ketoprofen. Results for antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities showed that the rapid and stronger effects were found in the treatment group of ketoprofen β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes in comparison with those of free ketoprofen.
Geopolymer-based plant fiber composites were fabricated with metakaolin, alkaline sodium silicate and plant fibers. In this paper, orthogonal test and single factor analysis were used to study the ...influence of water glass modulus, solid liquid ratio and fiber content on bending strength. The results show that sequence of influence factors for bending strength was: solid to liquid ratio > fiber content > water glass modulus. When the water glass modulus is 1.7, the fiber content is 8% and the solid to liquid ratio is 1:1.4, the bending strength is up to 10.44MPa, which exceeds the Standard requirements (9MPa) specified by the China National Standard (GB/T 24312-2009). The micro-morphology of SEM indicates that the mix of plant fiber can enhance the toughness of geopolymer.
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