We have performed high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on Fe-based superconductor LiFeAs (T(c)=18 K). We reveal multiple nodeless superconducting (SC) gaps with 2Δ/k(B)T(c) ...ratios varying from 2.8 to 6.4, depending on the Fermi surface (FS). We also succeeded in directly observing a gap anisotropy along the FS with magnitude up to ~30%. The anisotropy is fourfold symmetric with an antiphase between the hole and electron FSs, suggesting complex anisotropic interactions for the SC pairing. The observed momentum dependence of the SC gap offers an excellent opportunity to investigate the underlying pairing mechanism.
•Prospective cohort studies support that a higher intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fat is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.•High-quality randomized controlled trials support the ...cardioprotective effect of replacing saturated fats by polyunsaturated fats in the diet.•Epidemiologic studies provide key evidence to the dietary guidelines that recommend replacing saturated fats by polyunsaturated fats in the diet.
Epidemiologists have been studying the effect of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) intake on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) for many decades. Abundant evidence from prospective studies on the clinical endpoints of CVD, including cohort studies measuring n-6 PUFA intake by food frequency questionnaires and nested case-control studies using biomarkers of intake level, strongly support that higher intakes of n-6 PUFAs are associated with a lower risk of CVD. Furthermore, a significant reduction in CVD risk can be achieved when saturated fatty acids (SFAs) is replaced by n-6 PUFAs. Evidence from appropriately designed and vigorously executed randomized controlled trials support that high-PUFA (predominantly linoleic acid) and low-SFA diets, compared to high-SFA diets, reduced the risk of coronary heart disease. Overall, epidemiologic studies provide a solid evidence base of the current dietary guidelines that recommend replacing SFA by PUFA, both n-6 and n-3 PUFA, for CVD prevention.
Changes in the economy, nutrition policies, and food processing methods can affect dietary macronutrient intake and diet quality. It is essential to evaluate trends in dietary intake, food sources, ...and diet quality to inform policy makers.
To investigate trends in dietary macronutrient intake, food sources, and diet quality among US adults.
Serial cross-sectional analysis of the US nationally representative 24-hour dietary recall data from 9 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles (1999-2016) among adults aged 20 years or older.
Survey cycle.
Dietary intake of macronutrients and their subtypes, food sources, and the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (range, 0-100; higher scores indicate better diet quality; a minimal clinically important difference has not been defined).
There were 43 996 respondents (weighted mean age, 46.9 years; 51.9% women). From 1999 to 2016, the estimated energy from total carbohydrates declined from 52.5% to 50.5% (difference, -2.02%; 95% CI, -2.41% to -1.63%), whereas that of total protein and total fat increased from 15.5% to 16.4% (difference, 0.82%; 95% CI, 0.67%-0.97%) and from 32.0% to 33.2% (difference, 1.20%; 95% CI, 0.84%-1.55%), respectively (all P < .001 for trend). Estimated energy from low-quality carbohydrates decreased by 3.25% (95% CI, 2.74%-3.75%; P < .001 for trend) from 45.1% to 41.8%. Increases were observed in estimated energy from high-quality carbohydrates (by 1.23% 95% CI, 0.84%-1.61% from 7.42% to 8.65%), plant protein (by 0.38% 95% CI, 0.28%-0.49% from 5.38% to 5.76%), saturated fatty acids (by 0.36% 95% CI, 0.20%-0.51% from 11.5% to 11.9%), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (by 0.65% 95% CI, 0.56%-0.74% from 7.58% to 8.23%) (all P < .001 for trend). The estimated overall Healthy Eating Index 2015 increased from 55.7 to 57.7 (difference, 2.01; 95% CI, 0.86-3.16; P < .001 for trend). Trends in high- and low-quality carbohydrates primarily reflected higher estimated energy from whole grains (0.65%) and reduced estimated energy from added sugars (-2.00%), respectively. Trends in plant protein were predominantly due to higher estimated intake of whole grains (0.12%) and nuts (0.09%).
From 1999 to 2016, US adults experienced a significant decrease in percentage of energy intake from low-quality carbohydrates and significant increases in percentage of energy intake from high-quality carbohydrates, plant protein, and polyunsaturated fat. Despite improvements in macronutrient composition and diet quality, continued high intake of low-quality carbohydrates and saturated fat remained.
In the framework of the Cartan classification of Hamiltonians, a kind of topological classification of Fermi surfaces is established in terms of topological charges. The topological charge of a Fermi ...surface depends on its codimension and the class to which its Hamiltonian belongs. It is revealed that six types of topological charges exist, and they form two groups with respect to the chiral symmetry, with each group consisting of one original charge and two descendants. It is these nontrivial topological charges which lead to the robust topological protection of the corresponding Fermi surfaces against perturbations that preserve discrete symmetries.
Increasing evidence has revealed a significant association between microorganisms and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Porphyromonas gingivalis, the keystone pathogen in chronic periodontitis, is ...considered an important potential etiologic agent of OSCC, but the underlying immune mechanisms through which P. gingivalis mediates tumor progression of the oral cancer remain poorly understood. Our cohort study showed that the localization of P. gingivalis in tumor tissues was related to poor survival of patients with OSCC. Moreover, P. gingivalis infection increased oral lesion multiplicity and size and promoted tumor progression in a 4-nitroquinoline-1 oxide (4NQO)–induced carcinogenesis mouse model by invading the oral lesions. In addition, CD11b+ myeloid cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) showed increased infiltration of oral lesions. Furthermore, in vitro observations showed that MDSCs accumulated when human-derived dysplastic oral keratinocytes (DOKs) were exposed to P. gingivalis, and CXCL2, CCL2, interleukin (IL)–6, and IL-8 may be potential candidate genes that facilitate the recruitment of MDSCs. Taken together, our findings suggest that P. gingivalis promotes tumor progression by generating a cancer-promoting microenvironment, indicating a close relationship among P. gingivalis, tumor progression of the oral cancer, and immune responses.
AbstractObjectiveTo examine how a healthy lifestyle is related to life expectancy that is free from major chronic diseases.DesignProspective cohort study.Setting and participantsThe Nurses’ Health ...Study (1980-2014; n=73 196) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1986-2014; n=38 366).Main exposuresFive low risk lifestyle factors: never smoking, body mass index 18.5-24.9, moderate to vigorous physical activity (≥30 minutes/day), moderate alcohol intake (women: 5-15 g/day; men 5-30 g/day), and a higher diet quality score (upper 40%).Main outcomeLife expectancy free of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.ResultsThe life expectancy free of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer at age 50 was 23.7 years (95% confidence interval 22.6 to 24.7) for women who adopted no low risk lifestyle factors, in contrast to 34.4 years (33.1 to 35.5) for women who adopted four or five low risk factors. At age 50, the life expectancy free of any of these chronic diseases was 23.5 (22.3 to 24.7) years among men who adopted no low risk lifestyle factors and 31.1 (29.5 to 32.5) years in men who adopted four or five low risk lifestyle factors. For current male smokers who smoked heavily (≥15 cigarettes/day) or obese men and women (body mass index ≥30), their disease-free life expectancies accounted for the lowest proportion (≤75%) of total life expectancy at age 50.ConclusionAdherence to a healthy lifestyle at mid-life is associated with a longer life expectancy free of major chronic diseases.
Diabet. Med. 28, 237–246 (2011)
Aims We used microarray as well as quantitative real‐time PCR (Q‐RT‐PCR) validation to define the genes and/or pathways that are involved in gestational diabetes ...mellitus (GDM) in patients of Chinese ethnicity.
Methods We used the Illumina microarray platform to obtain comprehensive gene expression profiles of blood and placenta taken from GDM‐positive and GDM‐negative women.
Results We found 5197 genes in blood and 243 genes in placenta, which had significantly altered expression profiles attributable to GDM. Genes previously known to have altered expressions as a result of GDM (such as TNF, IL1B, LEP, IFNG and HLA‐G) were also validated. In addition, we identified a number of previously unreported genes: VAV3, PTPN6, CD48 and IL15, which had expression patterns that were significantly different from our GDM and control samples, as determined by both microarray and Q‐RT‐PCR assays. Two significant pathways were identified as GDM‐associated pathways through integrated functional annotation. These pathways were: ‘Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity’ in blood and ‘Cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction’ in placenta. Furthermore, despite differences between blood and placenta in terms of the quantity of gene expression, we nonetheless observed similar functional distributions in both tissues in terms of immune‐related genes.
Conclusions These newly identified key genes and pathways may provide valuable information about the pathogenesis of GDM and can be used to improve early diagnosis, prevention, medication design and clinical treatment.
Transcription Under Torsion Ma, Jie; Bai, Lu; Wang, Michelle D.
Science,
06/2013, Letnik:
340, Številka:
6140
Journal Article
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In cells, RNA polymerase (RNAP) must transcribe supercoiled DNA, whose torsional state is constantly changing, but how RNAP deals with DNA supercoiling remains elusive. We report direct measurements ...of individual Escherichia coli RNAPs as they transcribed supercoiled DNA. We found that a resisting torque slowed RNAP and increased its pause frequency and duration. RNAP was able to generate 11 ± 4 piconewton-nanometers (mean ± standard deviation) of torque before stalling, an amount sufficient to melt DNA of arbitrary sequence and establish RNAP as a more potent torsional motor than previously known. A stalled RNAP was able to resume transcription upon torque relaxation, and transcribing RNAP was resilient to transient torque fluctuations. These results provide a quantitative framework for understanding how dynamic modification of DNA supercoiling regulates transcription.
AIM: The goal of this study was to investigate the synergic effects between magnolol and azoles, and the potential antifungal mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microdilution checkerboard, time‐kill ...and agar diffusion assay were employed to evaluate the synergic effects between magnolol and fluconazole (FLC). Magnolol significantly decreased the efflux of rhodamine 123 (Rh123), leading to greater intracellular accumulation of Rh123 in Candida albicans cells. Compared to the Candida drug resistance (cdr) 2 or multidrug resistance (mdr) 1 deletion mutant, the growth of cdr1 strain was most sensitive to magnolol exposure. In the presence of magnolol, MDR1 overexpressing cells were sensitive to FLC, whereas CDR1 and CDR2 overexpressing cells displayed tolerance to FLC. Magnolol treatment correlated with up‐regulation of transporter and ergosterol biosynthesis pathway genes, analyzed by real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. The ergosterol content of C. albicansSC5314 was significantly decreased after magnolol exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Magnolol synergizes with azoles for targeting of C. albicans by inducing a higher intracellular content of antifungals, by tapping into the competitive effect of ABC transporter Cdr1p substrates, and enhancing the effect by targeting of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our results provide the first evidence that magnolol may function as a Cdr1p substrate and as an inhibitor of ergosterol biosynthesis. This function can thus be exploited in combination with azoles to reverse multidrug resistance of C. albicans strains.
Three 0.3 vol% graphene nano-sheet reinforced Al composites (GNS/Al), namely forged GNS/Al–4Cu, extruded GNS/Al–4Cu and forged GNS/Al–4Cu–1Mg, with different graphene-Al interfaces were prepared by ...wet mixing of graphene oxide aqueous solution and flaky Al powders, thermal reduction and subsequent powder metallurgy route. Their strengthening behaviors related with interface bonding were investigated, with the help of high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and interface bonding test of specially designed model materials. In the forged composite, amorphous Al2O3 layer was observed between GNS and Al, resulting in a weak bonding of GNS and Al with interface shear strength of 117 MPa and normal strength of 227 MPa. In this case, nearly no strengthening effect was achieved by GNS addition. Using extruding to replace forging or adding Mg element could respectively break or exhaust amorphous Al2O3 layers, leading to improved graphene-Al interface bonding strength due to high fraction of Al–C ionic bond, thereby significantly increasing the strengthening effect of GNS. The best strengthening efficiency with a strengthening factor of ~33 was achieved in the forged GNS/Al–4Cu–1Mg due to strong interface shear strength of 209 MPa and normal strength of 402 MPa.
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