It remains unknown whether long-term ozone exposure can impair lung function.
To investigate the associations between long-term ozone exposure and adult lung function in China.
Lung function results ...and diagnosis of small airway dysfunction (SAD) were collected from a cross-sectional study, the China Pulmonary Health Study (
= 50,991). We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models to examine the associations of long-term ozone exposure with lung function parameters and SAD, respectively, adjusting for demographic characteristics, individual risk factors, and longitudinal trends. We then performed a stratification analysis by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
We observed that each 1 SD (4.9 ppb) increase in warm-season ozone concentrations was associated with a 14.2 ml/s (95% confidence interval CI, 8.8-19.6 ml/s decrease in forced expiratory flow at the 75th percentile of vital capacity and a 29.5 ml/s (95% CI, 19.6-39.5 ml/s) decrease in mean forced expiratory flow between the 25th and 75th percentile of vital capacity. The odds ratio of SAD was 1.09 (95% CI, 1.06-1.11) for a 1 SD increase in warm-season ozone concentrations. Meanwhile, we observed a significant association with decreased FEV
/FVC but not with FEV
or FVC. The association estimates were greater in the COPD group than in the non-COPD group.
We found independent associations of long-term ozone exposure with impaired small airway function and higher SAD risks, while the associations with airflow obstruction were weak. Patients with COPD appear to be more vulnerable.
Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns combined with the anatomical cardiac long-axis angle revealed by chest X-ray can prevent the influence of cardiac rotation, physical shape, and lead ...position, so it may be an ideal means to predict the origin of the outflow tract (OT) ventricular arrhythmias (OTVAs) for ablation procedures. The study explores the value of this strategy in identifying the origin of OTVA.
This study was conducted using a retrospective cohort and a prospective cohort of consecutive patients at two centers. The anatomical cardiac long-axis angle was calculated by measuring the angle between the cardiac long-axis (a line joining the apex to the midpoint of the mitral annulus) and the horizontal plane on a chest X-ray. The V2S angle was calculated as the V2S amplitude times the angle. We ultimately enrolled 147 patients with symptomatic OTVAs who underwent successful radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) (98 women (66.7%); mean age 46.9 ± 14.7 years; 126 right ventricular OT (RVOT) origins, 21 left ventricular OT (LVOT) origins) as a development cohort. The new algorithm was validated in 48 prospective patients (12 men (25.0%); mean age 48.0 ± 15.8 years; 36 RVOT, 12 LVOT origins).
Patients with RVOT VAs had greater V2S, long-axis angle, and V2S angle than patients with LVOT VA (all
< 0.001). The cut-off V2S angle obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was 58.28 mV° for the prediction of RVOT origin (sensitivity: 85.7%; specificity: 95.2%; positive predictive value: 99.1%; negative predictive value: 52.6%). The AUC achieved using the V2S angle was 0.888 (
< 0.001), which was the highest among all indexes (V2S/V3R: 0.887 (
< 0.016); TZ index: 0.858 (
< 0.001); V1-2 SRd: 0.876 (
< 0.001); V3 transition: 0.651 (
< 0.001)). In the prospective cohort, the V2S angle had a high overall accuracy of 93.8% and decreased the procedure time (
= 0.002).
V2S angle can be a novel measure that can be used to accurately differentiate RVOT from LVOT origins. It could help decrease ablation duration and radiation exposure.
Aims:
Our aim was to investigate the impact of glycemic variability (GV) on the relationship between glucose management indicator (GMI) and laboratory glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
Methods:
Adult ...patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) were enrolled from five hospitals in China. All subjects wore the iPro™2 system for 14 days before HbA1c was measured at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Data derived from iPro™2 sensor was used to calculate GMI and GV parameters standard deviation (SD), glucose coefficient of variation (CV), and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE). Differences between GMI and laboratory HbA1c were assessed by the absolute value of the hemoglobin glycation index (HGI).
Results:
A total of 91 sensor data and corresponding laboratory HbA1c, as well as demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed. GMI and HbA1c were 7.20 ± 0.67% and 7.52 ± 0.73%, respectively. The percentage of subjects with absolute HGI 0 to lower than 0.1% was 21%. GMI was significantly associated with laboratory HbA1c after basic adjustment (standardized β = 0.83, p < 0.001). Further adjustment for SD or MAGE reduced the standardized β for laboratory HbA1c from 0.83 to 0.71 and 0.73, respectively (both p < 0.001). In contrast, the β remained relatively constant when further adjusting for CV. Spearman correlation analysis showed that GMI and laboratory HbA1c were correlated for each quartile of SD and MAGE (all p < 0.05), with the corresponding correlation coefficients decreased across ascending quartiles.
Conclusions:
This study validated the GMI formula using the iPro™2 sensor in adult patients with T1D. GV influenced the relationship between GMI and laboratory HbA1c.
Aiming at precisely predicting the life of the high-power white light LED (HPWLED), a three-parameter Weibull function and the right approximation method were employed to establish the luminance ...degradation model. The lumen maintenance data collected according to the IES LM-80-08 lumen maintenance test standard were fitted with and without error corrections, and the pseudo failure time of each HPWLED sample was extrapolated. The statistical analysis on the failure time was achieved by using Weibull distribution, normal distribution, lognormal distribution and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Then the life information was acquired. The results indicate that Weibull right approximation luminance degradation model (WRALDM) accurately reflects the variation of the lumen law with time. The failure time is accurately obtained. The best life distributions before and after the error correction to the lumen maintenance data are identified, based on AIC, as Weibull distribution and lognormal distribution, respectively. It is further confirmed by comparing the widths of life confidence interval and the life provided by the IES TM-21-11 method that the HPWLED life using WRALDM has a better accuracy. The optimized model provides researchers and manufacturers with significant guidelines for the further development of life prediction methodology.
•Weibull right approximation luminance degradation model (WRALDM) was established.•The HPWLED pseudo failure time extrapolated by WRALDM is more reliable.•The predicted life in this work is the most accurate.•The WRALDM with error correction is optimal.•The optimized model improves the life prediction methods.
To evaluate the effects of co-expressing hBMP-2 and hTGF-β1 in BMSCs (bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells) on the repairing process of radial segmental defects in rats.
BMSCs were infected ...with a high titer recombinant adenovirus carrying hTGF-βl and/or hBMP-2 genes. Expression of exogenous genes in BMSCs was confirmed by RT-PCR and ELISA assays. In vitro effects of exogenous genes were assessed by MTT and ALP activity tests. A left radial defect model was created using 120 SD rats. Genetically modified or unmodified BMSCs were implanted with collagen sponge scaffolds into the 5-mm radial defect. The bone repair process was systematically monitored and evaluated by X-ray examinations, gross anatomic examinations, histological analyses, and biomechanical tests.
Expression of hBMP-2 and hTGF-β1 showed synergistic effects on promoting BMSC proliferation and enhancing ALP activity in vitro. Bone repair assays showed that hBMP-2 and hTGF-β1 promoted the production of chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Implanted BMSCs transfected with both hBMP-2 and hTGF-β1 led to the best bone repair outcome.
hBMP-2 and hTGF-β1 can synergistically improve the bone repair process. Our results suggest a potential clinical value of combining hBMP-2 and hTGF-β1 in repairing bone defects.
Mafic and semi-pelitic granulites from the Qinling-Tongbai orogen in central China preserve petrological evidence and mineral paragenesis suggesting four distinct stages of metamorphic evolution. The ...prograde history (M1) is recorded by the occurrence of cordierite, orthopyroxene and biotite inclusions in garnet porphyroblasts of the peak-metamorphic (M2) assemblage. Peak-metamorphism was followed by cooling with minor decompression (M3), which formed symplectites and coronitic textures. The greenschist facies retrograde metamorphic assemblage (M4) is represented by hydrous minerals replacing minerals of the M2and M3assemblages. We present LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb data which show ages of 432±4Ma for the peak metamorphism and 403 to 426Ma for the retrograde stage. Microstructural analysis, P–T pseudosections, and mineral isopleths in conjunction with the zircon U-Pb ages define an anticlockwise P–T–t path. The P–T estimates for peak metamorphic conditions of 880–920°C and 8.0–10kbar suggest that these rocks witnessed extreme crustal metamorphism under ultrahigh-temperature conditions. The anticlockwise trajectory reported in this study is comparable with similar P–T paths recorded from subduction–collision settings, and correlate the Tongbai granulites to hot orogens developed within a Paleozoic collisional suture. We propose a ridge subduction and slab window setting to explain the formation of the Tongbai orogen, in a convergent plate setting associated with the northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethyan Qinling Ocean.
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► First report of peak ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism (850–920 °C and 8.0–9.5 kbar ) and anticlockwise P–T–t path from Tongbai granulites. ► Timing of UHT metamorphism constrained from zircon U-Pb data at 432±4 Ma, and retrogression at 415±3 Ma. ► A ridge subduction and slab window setting to explain the formation of the Tongbai granulites.
Biofilm formation from bacterial growth and colonization is a known cause for membrane performance deterioration in water treatment. A broad-spectrum biocide such as silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is ...generally added to the membrane to impart biofilm resistance. Because biofilm formation begins with the membrane surface in contact with the feedwater, a high loading of uniformly dispersed Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on the membrane exterior surface is desirable for a good antimicrobial performance. This was accomplished in this work by a short alkaline treatment of a hydrolyzable membrane (polyacrylonitrile, PAN) to introduce negative charge to the surface. A subsequent exposure to a Ag precursor solution followed by reduction under mild reducing condition (CO) limited the Ag NP deposition to within a narrow region of the membrane surface. The Ag content on the resultant membrane exterior surface in this study was also the highest in the literature. Different from previously reported methods, this method of Ag NP incorporation can be applied to thin film composite (TFC) membranes without any adverse effect on the water flux. The TFC membranes modified as such have shown good antibacterial resistance for 14 days under laboratory conditions optimized for the growth of Escherichia coli.
The structures of two glucans, WGEW and AGEW, isolated from
Gastrodia elata Bl. were elucidated using monosaccharide composition analysis by gas chromatography (GC), methylation analysis by gas ...chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Their structures were deduced as an α-
d-(1→4)-glucan with an α-(1→4) linked branch attached to O-6 branch points with different branch degrees. Their sulfate derivatives with distinct degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared. The substitution position was assigned to O-6 according to the
13C NMR spectra. All sulfated derivatives showed strong anti-dengue virus bioactivities. The structure–activity relationships (SAR) between the polysaccharides and their sulfated derivatives were also investigated. Results showed that the higher the DS is, the more potent the impact on the dengue virus infection would be.
Accumulating evidences indicate regional gray matter (GM) morphology atrophy in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3); however, whether large-scale morphological brain networks (MBNs) undergo ...widespread reorganization in these patients remains unclear.
To investigate the topological organization of large-scale individual-based MBNs in SCA3 patients.
The individual-based MBNs were constructed based on the inter-regional morphological similarity of GM regions. Graph theoretical analysis was taken to assess GM structural connectivity in 76 symptomatic SCA3, 24 pre-symptomatic SCA3, and 54 healthy normal controls (NCs). Topological parameters of the resulting graphs and network-based statistics analysis were compared among symptomatic SCA3, pre-symptomatic SCA3, and NCs groups. The inner association between network properties and clinical variables was further analyzed.
Compared to NCs and pre-symptomatic SCA3 patients, symptomatic SCA3 indicated significantly decreased integration and segregation, a shift to "weaker small-worldness", characterized by decreased C
, lower E
and E
(all p < 0.005). Regarding nodal properties, symptomatic SCA3 exhibited significantly decreased nodal profiles in the central executive network (CEN)-related left inferior frontal gyrus, limbic regions involving the bilateral amygdala, left hippocampus, and bilateral pallidum, thalamus; and increased nodal degree, efficiency in bilateral caudate (all p
<0.05). Meanwhile, clinical variables were correlated with altered nodal profiles (p
≤0.029). SCA3-related subnetwork was closely interrelated with dorsolateral cortico-striatal circuitry extending to orbitofrontal-striatal circuits and dorsal visual systems (lingual gyrus-striatal).
Symptomatic SCA3 patients undergo an extensive and significant reorganization in large-scale individual-based MBNs, probably due to disrupted prefrontal cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loops, limbic-striatum circuitry, and enhanced connectivity in the neostriatum. This study highlights the crucial role of abnormal morphological connectivity alterations beyond the pattern of brain atrophy, which might pave the way for therapeutic development in the future.
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