Summary
Background
Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) has been proposed as a non‐ionising alternative method to computed tomography enterography (CTE). Some studies have directly compared CTE and ...MRE in patients with small bowel Crohn's disease (CD) with variable results.
Aim
To compare the overall diagnostic accuracy in assessing the activity of small bowel and complications.
Methods
MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched for studies on the accuracy of MRE and CTE, as compared with a pre‐defined reference standard. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, the weighted area under the curve (AUC), incremental yield (IY) and other diagnostic indices were evaluated.
Results
A total of 290 CD patients from six different studies were analysed. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for MRE in detecting active small bowel CD was 87.9% 95% confidence interval (CI), 81.8–92.5 and 81.2% (95% CI: 71.9–88.4) respectively. The AUC under the summary receiver‐operating characteristic (sROC) of MRE was 0.905 (SEM 0.03, standard error of the mean). Likewise, the pooled sensitivity and specificity of CTE in detecting active small bowel CD was 85.8% (95% CI: 79.2–90.9) and 83.6% (95% CI: 75.3–90.1) with the AUC of 0.898. The AUC of MRE in detecting fistula, stenosis and abscess was 0.936, 0.931 and 0.996, respectively, compared to 0.963, 0.616 and 0.899 of CTE. No statistically significant IY for MRE vs. CTE was found (fixed model, P > 0.05).
Conclusions
Magnetic resonance enterography has a diagnostic effectiveness comparable to computed tomography enterography, thus may serve as a radiation‐free alternative for evaluation of patients with Crohn's disease.
Topological materials with exotic quantum properties are promising candidates for quantum spin electronics. Different classes of topological materials, including Weyl semimetal, topological ...superconductor, topological insulator and Axion insulator, etc., can be connected to each other via quantum phase transition. For example, it is believed that a trivial band insulator can be twisted into topological phase by increasing spin-orbital coupling or changing the parameters of crystal lattice. With the results of LDA calculation and measurement by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we demonstrate in this work that the electronic structure of SrSn2As2 single crystal has the texture of band inversion near the critical point. The results indicate the possibility of realizing topological quantum phase transition in SrSn2As2 single crystal and obtaining different exotic quantum states.
To identify the influence of microstructural variation on the X-ray diffraction intensities, X-ray diffraction patterns of hexagonal graphite (h-graphite) and turbostratic carbon (t-carbon) were ...simulated by using the general Debye equation. The numeric density of interatomic distance (NDID) is sensitive to the size and microstructure of a crystallite, so that it is used to characterize the structures of h-graphite and t-carbon. The dependence of the diffraction angles and full width at half maximums (FWHMs) of diffraction lines on the crystallite size and distortion factors is examined by computer simulation. The distortion factors for t-carbon, including rotation, translation, curvature, local positive fluctuation of interlayer spacing of graphene layers and fluctuation of atomic positions, have different influence on the NDIDs, hence on the X-ray diffraction patterns. The simulation results indicate that the diffraction angles and FWHMs of diffraction lines cannot be simply used to characterize the lattice parameters and crystallite sizes of t-carbon.
A measurement of electron antineutrino oscillation by the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment is described in detail. Six 2.9-GWth nuclear power reactors of the Daya Bay and Ling Ao nuclear power ...facilities served as intense sources of ν¯e’s. Comparison of the ν¯e rate and energy spectrum measured by antineutrino detectors far from the nuclear reactors (∼1500–1950 m) relative to detectors near the reactors (∼350–600 m) allowed a precise measurement of ν¯e disappearance. More than 2.5 million ν¯e inverse beta-decay interactions were observed, based on the combination of 217 days of operation of six antineutrino detectors (December, 2011–July, 2012) with a subsequent 1013 days using the complete configuration of eight detectors (October, 2012–July, 2015). The ν¯e rate observed at the far detectors relative to the near detectors showed a significant deficit, R=0.949±0.002(stat)±0.002(syst). The energy dependence of ν¯e disappearance showed the distinct variation predicted by neutrino oscillation. Analysis using an approximation for the three-flavor oscillation probability yielded the flavor-mixing angle sin22θ13=0.0841±0.0027(stat)±0.0019(syst) and the effective neutrino mass-squared difference of |Δmee2|=(2.50±0.06(stat)±0.06(syst))×10−3 eV2. Analysis using the exact three-flavor probability found Δm322=(2.45±0.06(stat)±0.06(syst))×10−3 eV2 assuming the normal neutrino mass hierarchy and Δm322=(−2.56±0.06(stat)±0.06(syst))×10−3 eV2 for the inverted hierarchy.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the joints characterized by inflammation and cartilage degeneration. Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) contains various function domains ...that interact with multiple transcription factors involved in various cellular functions. However, the function of ZEB2 in OA has not been clearly illustrated.OBJECTIVEOsteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the joints characterized by inflammation and cartilage degeneration. Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) contains various function domains that interact with multiple transcription factors involved in various cellular functions. However, the function of ZEB2 in OA has not been clearly illustrated.Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was used to establish an OA model in vitro. We quantified the ZEB2 expression in cartilage tissues from OA patients and IL-1β-induced chondrocytes through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. We then used functional assays to explore the function of ZEB2 during OA progression.METHODInterleukin-1β (IL-1β) was used to establish an OA model in vitro. We quantified the ZEB2 expression in cartilage tissues from OA patients and IL-1β-induced chondrocytes through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. We then used functional assays to explore the function of ZEB2 during OA progression.ZEB2 expression was increased in OA cartilage tissues and chondrocytes. The silencing of ZEB2 increased aggrecan and collagen II levels, and reduced the content of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), MMP-9, and MMP-13. ZEB2 knockdown inhibited the effects of IL-1β on the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. ZEB2 inhibition also suppressed the levels of IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α, and increased the IL-10 level in IL-1β-treated cells. Mechanically, ZEB2 knockdown blocked the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in chondrocytes.RESULTSZEB2 expression was increased in OA cartilage tissues and chondrocytes. The silencing of ZEB2 increased aggrecan and collagen II levels, and reduced the content of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), MMP-9, and MMP-13. ZEB2 knockdown inhibited the effects of IL-1β on the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. ZEB2 inhibition also suppressed the levels of IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α, and increased the IL-10 level in IL-1β-treated cells. Mechanically, ZEB2 knockdown blocked the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in chondrocytes.Knockdown of ZEB2 alleviated IL-1β-induced cartilage degradation and the inflammatory response through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in chondrocytes.CONCLUSIONKnockdown of ZEB2 alleviated IL-1β-induced cartilage degradation and the inflammatory response through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in chondrocytes.
The invention of bulk metallic glasses has stimulated extensive interest, due to their possible technological applications in a variety of industrial fields and their scientific importance in ...understanding related condensed matter physics. Among all types of BMGs, Fe-based BMGs are a unique yet important family due to their high mechanical strength, good thermal stability, strong corrosion resistance, excellent soft magnetic properties, and relatively low production costs. Since the first synthesis of the Fe-Al-Ga-P-C-B BMG reported in 1995, a vast body of literature regarding Fe-based BMGs has been published. However, until now, a full and systematic description of the development status and future prospects of Fe-based BMGs has been missing. Therefore, this article presents the research development and achievements of Fe-based BMGs in the past few decades, including their preparation, glass-forming ability, crystallization characteristics, mechanical properties, corrosion behaviors, soft and hard magnetic properties, and industrial applications. In addition, future developments of Fe-based BMGs are also proposed.
Summary
What is known and objectives
Different population pharmacokinetics (PPK) models of tacrolimus have been established in various populations. However, the tacrolimus PPK model in paediatric ...systemic lupus erythematosus (PSLE) is still undefined. This study aimed to establish the tacrolimus PPK model in Chinese PSLE.
Methods
A total of nineteen Chinese patients with PSLE from real‐world study were characterized with nonlinear mixed‐effects modelling (NONMEM). The impact of demographic features, biological characteristics, and concomitant medications was evaluated. Model validation was assessed by bootstrap and prediction‐corrected visual predictive check (VPC).
Results
A one‐compartment model with first‐order absorption and elimination was determined to be the most suitable model in PSLE. The typical values of apparent oral clearance (CL/F) and the apparent volume of distribution (V/F) in the final model were 2.05 L/h and 309 L, respectively. Methylprednisolone and simvastatin were included as significant.
What is new and conclusion
The first validated tacrolimus PPK model in patients with PSLE is presented.
The first tacrolimus population pharmacokinetics model in patients with paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus
In this review, a convenient hydrogen generation technology based on sodium borohydride and water as hydrogen carriers has been summarized. The recent progresses in the development of the hydrogen ...generation from sodium borohydride hydrolysis are reviewed. The NaBH
4 hydrolysis behavior is discussed in detail. From reported results, it is considered that hydrogen generation from sodium borohydride hydrolysis is a feasible technology to supply hydrogen for the PEMFC. It has been found that the reported results are encouraging although there are some engineering problems that lie ahead. The critical issues of this hydrogen generation technology have been highlighted and discussed.
This Letter reports a measurement of the flux and energy spectrum of electron antineutrinos from six 2.9 GWth nuclear reactors with six detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 and 561 ...m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls in the Daya Bay experiment. Using 217 days of data, 296 721 and 41 589 inverse β decay (IBD) candidates were detected in the near and far halls, respectively. The measured IBD yield is (1.55±0.04) ×10(-18) cm(2) GW(-1) day(-1) or (5.92±0.14) ×10(-43) cm(2) fission(-1). This flux measurement is consistent with previous short-baseline reactor antineutrino experiments and is 0.946±0.022 (0.991±0.023) relative to the flux predicted with the Huber-Mueller (ILL-Vogel) fissile antineutrino model. The measured IBD positron energy spectrum deviates from both spectral predictions by more than 2σ over the full energy range with a local significance of up to ∼4σ between 4-6 MeV. A reactor antineutrino spectrum of IBD reactions is extracted from the measured positron energy spectrum for model-independent predictions.
In humans, obesity is associated with increased or decreased levels of serum biochemical indicators. However, the relationship is not as well understood in chickens. Due to long-term intense ...selection for fast growth rate, modern broilers have the problem of excessive fat deposition, exhibiting biochemical or metabolic changes. In the current study, the Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF) were used to identify differences in serum biochemical parameters between the 2 lines. A total of 18 serum biochemical indicators were investigated in the 16th, 17th, and 18th generation populations of NEAUHLF, and the genetic parameters of these serum biochemical indicators were estimated. After analyzing the data from these 3 generations together, the results showed that the levels of 16 of the tested serum biochemical parameters were significantly different between the lean and fat birds. In the fat birds, serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL-C:low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total bile acid, total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate transaminase (AST):alanine transaminase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), uric acid, and creatinine were very significantly higher (P < 0.01), whereas LDL-C, albumin:globulin, glucose, AST, ALT, and free fatty acids concentrations in serum were very significantly lower than those in the lean birds (P < 0.01). Of these 16 serum biochemical parameters, 5 (LDL-C, HDL-C:LDL-C, total bile acid, albumin, and albumin:globulin) had high heritabilities (0.58 ≤ h2 ≤ 0.89), 6 (HDL-C, total protein, globulin, AST:ALT, GGT, and creatinine) had moderate heritabilities (0.29 ≤ h2 ≤ 0.48), and the remaining 5 had low heritabilities (h2 < 0.20). Serum HDL-C, HDL-C:LDL-C, and glucose had higher positive genetic correlation coefficients (rg) with abdominal fat traits (0.30 ≤ rg ≤ 0.80), whereas serum globulin, AST, and uric acid showed higher negative genetic correlations with abdominal fat traits (–0.62 ≤ rg ≤ –0.30). The remaining 10 serum biochemical parameters had lower genetic correlations with abdominal fat traits (–0.30 < rg < 0.30). In conclusion, we identified serum HDL-C and HDL-C:LDL-C levels as potential biomarkers for selection of lean birds. These findings will also be useful in future studies for investigating obesity and lipid metabolism in humans as well as in other animal species.
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