Osteoarthritis (OA) is an important health issue in elderly people. Many studies have suggested that genetic factors are important risk factors for OA, of which tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is one ...of the most examined genes. Moreover, several studies have investigated the relationship between TNF-α G-308A polymorphisms and OA risk, but consistent results have not been obtained.
This study examines the association between TNF-α G-308A polymorphisms and knee OA. Moreover, meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to determine whether this is a susceptibility gene for knee OA.
Between 2015 and 2019, 591 knee OA cases and 536 healthy controls were recruited. The Kellgren-Lawrence grading system was used to identify the knee OA cases. A meta-analysis was conducted including related studies published until 2020 from PubMed, Embase, and previous meta-analysis to improve the evidence level of the current study. The results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) to evaluate the effect of this polymorphism on knee OA risk. The TSA was used to estimate the sample sizes required in this issue.
A nonsignificant association was found between the AA genotype and knee OA adjusted OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.62-1.15) in the recessive model in the present case-control study, and analysis of other genetic models showed a similar trend. After adding the critical case-control samples for Asians, the TNF-α G-308A, AA genotype exhibited 2.57 times more risk of developing arthritis when compared with the GG + GA genotype (95% CI, 1.56-4.23), and the cumulative samples for TSA (n = 2182) were sufficient to obtain a definite conclusion.
The results of this meta-analysis revealed that the TNF-α G-308A, AA genotype is a susceptible genotype for OA in the Asian population. This study integrated all current evidence to arrive at this conclusion, suggesting that future studies on Asians are not required.
Whether the etiology of chronic liver disease (CLD) impacts the overall survival (OS) of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. We aim to clarify this issue.
Between 2011 and ...2020, 3941 patients who were newly diagnosed with HCC at our institution were enrolled in this study. In patients with multiple CLD etiologies, etiology was classified using the following hierarchy: hepatitis C virus (HCV) > hepatitis B virus (HBV) > alcohol-related > all negative. All negative was defined as negative for HCV, HBV, and alcohol use disorder.
Among 3941 patients, 1407 patients were classified with HCV-related HCC, 1677 patients had HBV-related HCC, 145 patients had alcohol-related HCC, and 712 patients had all-negative HCC. Using the all-negative group as the reference group, multivariate analysis showed that HBV is an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio: 0.856; 95% confidence interval: 0.745-0.983; p = 0.027). Patients with HBV-related HCC had superior OS compared with patients with other CLD etiologies (p<0.001). Subgroup analyses were performed, for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages 0-A (p<0.001); serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels≧20 ng/ml (p<0.001); AFP levels < 20 ng/ml (p<0.001); age > 65 years (p<0.001); and the use of curative treatments (p = 0.002). No significant difference in OS between HBV and other etiologies was observed among patients aged ≤ 65 years (p = 0.304); with BCLC stages B-D (p = 0.973); or who underwent non-curative treatments (p = 0.1).
Patients with HBV-related HCC had superior OS than patients with other HCC etiologies.
Two novel bipolar host materials based on carbazole and triarylborane moieties, i.e. B-2CZ and m-B-CZ, are synthesized and characterized. The spatially crowded compound B-2CZ exhibits a high thermal ...stability (Td > 340 °C) compared to the reported triarylboryl carbazoles, presumably due to the highly compact architecture. As a result, phosphorescent Ir(ppy)3 combined with both the borylated compounds is selected to construct a host-guest system. Devices A (B-2CZ) and B (m-B-CZ) achieve peak efficiencies of 19.3% (69.1 cd/A and 88.1 lm/W) and 19.1% (66.1 cd/A and 77.2 lm/W), respectively. The respective turn-on voltages of devices A and B are recorded at 2.4 and 2.6 V, which are much lower than that of device with the benchmark host (mCP, 3.3 V). In addition, at a higher practical luminance of 100 cd/m2 (1000 cd/m2), the external quantum efficiencies of devices A and B are still preserved at 19.1% (17.3%) and 18.2% (13.0%) with the mitigated efficiency drops of 1% (10%) and 5% (32%), suggesting the promising advantage for realizing efficient phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices.
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•Novel bipolar host materials, i.e. B-2CZ and m-B-CZ, exhibit a high thermal stability (B-2CZ, Td > 340 °C) compared to most reported triarylboryl carbazoles due to the spatially crowded and compact architecture.•The respective turn-on voltages of devices A and B are recorded at 2.4 and 2.6 V, which are much lower than that of devices with the conventional host (mCP, 3.3 V) and the reported triarylboryl-substituted carbazoles.•Devices A (B-2CZ) and B (m-B-CZ) achieve peak efficiencies of 19.3% (69.1 cd/A and 88.1 lm/W) and 19.1% (66.1 cd/A and 77.2 lm/W), respectively.
A series of donor–acceptor–donor triazine‐based molecules with thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) properties were synthesized to obtain highly efficient blue‐emitting OLEDs with ...non‐doped emitting layers (EMLs). The targeted molecules use a triazine core as the electron acceptor, and a benzene ring as the conjugated linker with different electron donors to alternate the energy level of the HOMO to further tune the emission color. The introduction of long alkyl chains on the triazine core inhibits the unwanted intermolecular D–D/A–A‐type π–π interactions, resulting in the intermolecular D–A charge transfer. The weak aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) effect caused by the suppressed intermolecular D–D/A–A‐type π–π interaction further enhances the emission. The crowded molecular structure allows the electron donor and acceptor to be nearly orthogonal, thereby reducing the energy gap between triplet and singlet excited states (ΔEST). As a result, blue‐emitting devices with TH‐2DMAC and TH‐2DPAC non‐doped EMLs showed satisfactory efficiencies of 12.8 % and 15.8 %, respectively, which is one of the highest external quantum efficiency (EQEs) reported for blue TADF emitters (λpeak<475 nm), demonstrating that our tailored molecular designs are promising strategies to endow OLEDs with excellent electroluminescent performances.
Getting the blues: A series of donor–acceptor–donor triazine‐based molecules with thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) properties were synthesized to obtain highly efficient blue‐emitting OLEDs with non‐doped emitting layers (EMLs). The targeted molecules use a triazine core as the electron acceptor, and a benzene ring as the conjugated linker with different electron donors to alternate the energy level of the HOMO to further tune the emission color.
This paper explores the impact of the CEO’s supervisory role as an independent director on firm performance, utilizing measures such as Return on Equity (ROE) and Tobin’s Q. The supervisory effect is ...assessed through the remuneration of directors and supervisors. Empirical findings indicate a significant supervisory role when the CEO also serves as an independent director. Whether viewed from the perspective of shareholders’ equity or company growth, the CEO’s involvement as an independent director positively influences firm performance. Furthermore, the concurrent roles of CEO and independent director contribute to enhanced firm performance, irrespective of their relationship.
Dengue is a rapidly emerging, mosquito-borne viral infection, with an estimated 400 million infections occurring annually. To gain insight into dengue immunity, we characterized 145 human monoclonal ...antibodies (mAbs) and identified a previously unknown epitope, the envelope dimer epitope (EDE), that bridges two envelope protein subunits that make up the 90 repeating dimers on the mature virion. The mAbs to EDE were broadly reactive across the dengue serocomplex and fully neutralized virus produced in either insect cells or primary human cells, with 50% neutralization in the low picomolar range. Our results provide a path to a subunit vaccine against dengue virus and have implications for the design and monitoring of future vaccine trials in which the induction of antibody to the EDE should be prioritized.
A recent study from the US showed a decreasing trend in the elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level (i.e., ≥20 ng/mL) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients at the time of diagnosis. ...Furthermore, advanced tumor stage and severe underlying liver disease were associated with elevated AFP levels. We aimed to evaluate this issue in an area endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV). Between 2011 and 2020, 4031 patients were newly diagnosed with HCC at our institution. After excluding 54 patients with unknown AFP data, the remaining 3977 patients were enrolled in this study. Elevated AFP level was defined as ≥20 ng/mL. Overall, 51.2% of HCC patients had elevated AFP levels; this proportion remained stationary between 2011 and 2020 (51.8% vs. 51.1%). Multivariate analysis showed that female gender (odds ratio (OR) = 1.462;
< 0.001), tumor size per 10 mm increase (OR = 1.155;
< 0.001), multiple tumors (OR = 1.406;
< 0.001), Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages B-D (OR = 1.247;
= 0.019), cirrhosis (OR = 1.288;
= 0.02), total bilirubin > 1.4 mg/dL (OR = 1.218;
= 0.030), and HBV- or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive status (OR = 1.720;
< 0.001) were associated with elevated AFP levels. In conclusion, a stationary trend in elevated serum AFP level in HCC patients has been noted in the past 10 years. Advanced tumor stage, severe underlying liver disease, viral etiology, and female gender are associated with elevated AFP levels in HCC patients.
•The developed QuEChERS conditions could extract EU priority PAHs from various foods.•The conditions for determining the PAHs had good accuracy and precision.•The conditions for determining the PAHs ...also meet the EU and TFDA specifications.•The PAHs contents in the 19 most popular cooked foods in Taiwan were determined.•Cooking methods and environmental pollution would affect the PAHs contents in food.
Optimal QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) conditions with good accuracy, repeatability and precision were established to rapidly extract the European Union (EU) priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from various food matrices (Category: Poultry and Meat, Fish and seafood, Grains, Soy beans and products, Root vegetables and Coffee). The QuEChERS conditions combined with the established high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection conditions were used to rapidly determine the PAHs in 19 popular cooked foods in Taiwan and their corresponding original materials. These conditions also meet the EU and Taiwan Food and Drug Administration specifications. Charcoal grilled, gas stove grilled and smoked foods had higher PAHs contents, while fried and electric oven-baked/baked foods had lower PAHs contents. In addition to the effects of cooking methods, the contamination of original materials by PAHs in the environment should also have an important impact on the contents of PAHs in these cooked foods.
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