A novel sorbent of diphenyl-functionalized nickel foam (NF-2Ph) was synthesized and used in the dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometric (GC–MS) analysis of ...exogenous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contaminants in Chinese herbal medicines. The prepared materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and N
2
adsorption–desorption experiments. Major parameters affecting the extraction, such as sorbent dosage, extraction time, sample volume, desorption solvent type, eluent solvent volume, and elution time, were evaluated. Under optimal conditions, the proposed method showed good linearity (
R
2
≥ 0.9932) within the concentration range of 20–2000 ng mL
−1
. It provided low limits of detection (0.5–7.6 ng mL
−1
), good precision (relative standard deviation < 7.6%), and satisfactory recoveries (83.0–110%). The developed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of 16 PAHs in Chinese herbal medicines.
Parity-time (PT) symmetry has been demonstrated in the frame of classic optics and its applications in laser science have resulted in interesting mode selection mechanisms. PT symmetry breaking ...gratings (also called unidirectional Bragg gratings) have strong reflection when light is injected from one end, but they are transparent when injected from the other end. Such gratings are obtained through periodic modulations of both real and imaginary part of refractive index with a fixed phase relation. In this paper, we investigate distributed feedback (DFB) laser structures based on PT symmetric diffractive gratings. Our modal gain analysis shows that the PT DFB laser structure exhibits much stronger modal discrimination than the one using conventional diffractive gratings, so it will provide better single-mode operation performance. In addition, we analyze the influence of uncertain facet reflectivities on these DFB structures. We show that PT symmetric DFB structures are more stable against the perturbation of facet reflections.
Small dense LDL cholesterol (sdLDL-c) has been established to be highly associated with metabolic disorder. However, the relationship between circulating sdLDL-c and the presence of metabolic ...syndrome (MetS) has not been fully established.
A total of 1065 Chinese males (45.07 ± 11.08 years old) without diabetes and general obesity was recruited into a population-based, cross-sectional study. The MetS was defined based on the updated National Cholesterol Education Program/ Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Asian Americans. Serum sdLDL-c concentration was measured by a homogeneous assay method and its relationship with MetS and its traits was investigated.
Serum sdLDL-c concentrations increased gradually with increasing numbers of MetS components (
< 0.001) and the proportion of patients with MetS increased gradually with increasing sdLDL-c levels (
for trend< 0.001). For the second, third, and fourth sdLDL-c quartiles versus the first, the OR (95% CI) for MetS were 4.47(2.41,8.28), 5.47(2.97,10.07) and 8.39(4.58,15.38) (
< 0.001 for trend) after multivariate adjustment. The stratified analysis conducted according to LDL-c levels showed that the OR between serum sdLDL-c levels and MetS was greater in those LDL-c levels lower than 3.3 mmol/L (OR = 22.97; 95% CI, 7.64-69.09) than in those LDL-c levels higher than 3.3 mmol/L (OR = 17.49; 95% CI, 4.43-68.98). Mediation analysis showed sdLDL-c mediated 38.6% of the association of waist circumference with triglycerides, while the association between sdLDL-c and MetS components did not mediate by hsCRP.
This study found that high sdLDL-c concentrations were associated with the presence of MetS independently of central obesity and inflammation.
As a newly proposed diagnosis, data on the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is rare. We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of MAFLD using new ...definition in the contemporary South China population. In this population based, cross sectional study, a total of 5377 participants aged 30-79 years old were recruited from the South China between 2018 and 2019. MAFLD was diagnosed in subjects who have both hepatic steatosis and metabolic disorders according to the newly international expert consensus. The total prevalence of MAFLD and prevalence by sex and age was estimated. Demographic characteristics, history of disease, and lifestyle were recorded by participants on a questionnaire. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed and evaluated by experienced sonographers. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) of MAFLD. Overall prevalence of MAFLD was 29.2% (95% confidence interval CI 28.0% to 30.5%). Prevalence was higher in women (31.7%) than in men (25.5%; p < 0.001 for sex difference) and in subjects aged 50 years or older (30.7%) than in those aged 30-49 years (19.8%; p < 0.001 for age difference). In participants diagnosed with MAFLD, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was up to 90.5%, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and metabolic dysregulation were 25.0% and 62.2%, respectively. Risk factors for MAFLD included overweight/obesity (OR = 4.67; 95% CI, 3.76-5.83), T2DM (OR = 2.41, 95% CI, 1.68-3.47), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 2.42, 95% CI, 2.03-2.87), high school education (OR = 1.50, 95% CI, 1.23-1.82), high income (OR = 1.22, 95% CI, 1.05-1.42). A lower risk of MAFLD was associated with high physical activity equivalent (OR = 0.71, 95% CI, 0.60-0.85). A U-shaped association of frequency of soups and ORs of MAFLD was found, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) of lower and higher frequency of soups were 1.58 (1.32-1.89) and 1.36 (1.13-1.63), respectively. Our results showed a high prevalence of MAFLD in the general adult population in South China. Obesity has the greatest impact on MAFLD, physical activity and moderate consumption of soups might be the potential protective factors of MAFLD.
We investigate the optomechanical interaction in two coupled microresonators. Compared to the single resonator optomechanical system where the input light is required to detune from the cavity ...resonance to generate two asymmetrical sidebands and thus large mechanical damping/amplification, the coupled resonator system can allow both the input light and its frequency sideband to be on resonance. In this configuration, we find that the optomechanical interaction can be enhanced and optically induced energy transfer between different mechanical oscillators is possible.
Aim To comprehensively evaluate the association and impact of nutritional status and immune function on the severity of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study ...involved 952 participants who were diagnosed with active PTB. Severe PTB involves three or more lung field infections based on chest radiography. Nutritional status was evaluated using various indicators, including body mass index (BMI), the nutritional risk screening score (NRS-2002), total protein (TP), prealbumin (PA), transferrin (TRF), and serum albumin (ALB) levels and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Immune dysfunction was defined as a CD4 + count <500 cells/µl or a CD4 + /CD8 + ratio <1. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were also calculated. Multivariate logistic and generalized linear regression were used to assess the associations between nutritional status, immune function, the severity of PTB, and the number of infected lung fields, adjusting for age, sex, and diabetes. Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the extent to which immune function mediated the impact of nutritional status on the severity of PTB. Sensitivity analysis was performed to enhance the robustness of the results. Results Compared to those in the general PTB group, patients in the severe PTB group tended to be older men with diabetes. Higher nutritional risk, higher proportion of immune dysfunction and lower lymphocyte counts were observed in the severe group. BMI and the PNI were found to be protective factors, while PLR was identified as a risk factor for disease severity. Immune dysfunction and the PLR are mediators of the relationship between nutritional status and PTB severity. When BMI, the PNI, and the PLR were combined with traditional clinical indicators, these parameters showed promising diagnostic value, and the AUC reached 0.701 (95% CI: 0.668–0.734). Conclusion The findings suggest that nutritional status is significantly associated with the severity of PTB, and immune function mediates the effects of nutritional status on the severity of PTB. Maintaining adequate BMI, PNI levels, and immune function or reducing PLR levels helps reduce the risk of severe PTB.
Context and Objective:
In this prospective study, we evaluated the association of retinoic acid (RA) with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Chinese population.
Design and Participants:
A total of ...1042 nondiabetic adults from the population-based Nutrition and Health of Aging Population were prospectively followed up for 4 years. Serum RA concentrations was determined and its relationship with the MetS and its component was investigated.
Results:
At baseline, higher RA levels were inversely associated with the presence of MetS (odds ratio 0.61; 95% confidence interval CI 0.44–0.74, P < .001) after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, the homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and other confounding factors. Subjects with lower RA levels had a progressively worse cardiometabolic risk profile at baseline. Serum RA levels were inversely associated with 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (P < .001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = .015), and IL-6 (P = .020) and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = .038). Among 825 subjects without MetS at baseline, 146 had developed it at 4 years. Serum RA by quartiles was inversely correlated with the incident MetS (adjusted hazard ratio 0.67; 95% CI 0.48–0.81, P = .006). Apart from HOMA-IR (P < .001), the baseline RA level was the only independent predictor of the development of the MetS during the 4-year follow-up (odds ratio 0.53; 95% CI 0.40–0.69; P < .001) after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, and HOMA-IR.
Conclusions:
The serum RA level is inversely associated with the development of MetS independently of adiposity and insulin resistance.
In this prospective study, which has been followed up for 4 years, an inverse association between serum RA levels with MetS independently of adiposity and insulin resistance has been observed.
We propose and investigate an ultra-sensitive optical sensor system based on optomechanically induced nonlinear effects in high-Q optical resonators. In both dispersive and dissipative optomechanical ...systems, a positive feedback is formed between the optical resonance frequency and the mechanical displacement, which results in nonlinear transmission spectra different from a Lorentzian profile. Given the same resonator design, the optomechanical nonlinearity can increase the overall sensitivity by at least two orders of magnitude. Further improvement is possible by employing the phase sensitive detection. For the stable operation of the proposed sensor, we also analyze the requirement on the input power and the optomechanical coupling rate to overcome the thermal-optically induced frequency shift.
Introduction To explore the distribution of Isthmin-1 (ISM1) level and its association with isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia (IPH). Methods A total of 522 participants without a history of ...diabetes were invited to attend a standard 75g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and 71 subjects were further invited for a 3-h oral minimal model test. Insulin sensitivity and β-cell function were evaluated using both HOMA and estimated from OGTT. Circulating ISM1 levels were determined by a commercially available ELISA kit. Results A total of 76 (14.6%) participants were diagnosed as IPH, accounting for 61.3% of the newly diagnosed diabetes. ISM1 levels were significantly higher in men than in women (1.74 ng/mL versus 0.88 ng/mL). The inverse correlation between ISM1 and β-cell function and IPH was only significant in men. After multivariate adjustment, per unit increment in ISM1 was associated with 0.68-fold (95% CI: 0.49-0.90) reduced odds ratio (OR) of IPH in men. Compared to men with the lowest ISM1 levels, the adjusted OR of IPH with the highest ISM1 levels decreased by 73% (95% CI: 0.11-0.61). Moreover, incorporation of ISM1 into the New Chinese Diabetes Risk Score (NCDRS) model yielded a substantial improvement in net reclassification improvement of 58% (95% CI: 27%-89%) and integrated discrimination improvement of 6.4% (95% CI: 2.7%-10.2%) for IPH. Conclusions ISM1 was significantly and independently associated with IPH, and serves as a feasible biomarker for the early identification of men with high risk of IPH.
Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) is an adipokine that has been explored as a key biomarker of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in recent years. Researchers have conducted a series of experiments to ...understand the interplay between RBP4 and T2DM, including its role in insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell function. The results of these studies indicate that RBP4 has a significant influence on T2DM and is considered a potential biomarker of T2DM. However, there have also been some controversies about the relationship between RBP4 levels and T2DM. In this review, we update and summarize recent studies focused on the relationship between RBP4 and T2DM and its role in insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell function to clarify the existing controversy and provide evidence for future studies. We also assessed the potential therapeutic applications of RBP4 in treating T2DM.
A narrative review.
Overall, there were significant associations between RBP4 levels, insulin resistance, pancreatic β-cell function, and T2DM.
More mechanistic studies are needed to determine the role of RBP4 in the onset of T2DM, especially in terms of pancreatic β-cell function. In addition, further studies are required to evaluate the effects of drug intervention, lifestyle intervention, and bariatric surgery on RBP4 levels to control T2DM and the role of reducing RBP4 levels in improving insulin sensitivity and pancreatic β-cell function.
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