Dyslipidemia is one of the most important factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a novel indicator involved in dyslipidemia. However, the relation between AIP ...and CAD in postmenopausal women remains unclear. We hypotheses that AIP is a strong predictive indicator of CAD in postmenopausal women.
A propensity score matching case-control study including 348 postmenopausal CAD cases and 348 controls was conducted in the present study.
Compared with controls, CAD patients had higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B (APOB), but lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein A-1 (APOA-1). The values of nontraditional lipid profiles, including non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, non-HDL-C/HDL-C (atherogenic index, AI), TC∗TG∗LDL/HDL-C (lipoprotein combine index, LCI), log(TG/HDL-C) (atherogenic index of plasma, AIP) and APOB/APOA-1 were all significantly higher in the CAD patients. The results of Pearson correlation analyses showed AIP was positively and significantly correlated with TC (r = 0.092, P < 0.001), TG (r = 0.775, P = 0.015), APOB (r = 0.140, P < 0.001), non-HDL-C (r = 0.295, P < 0.001), TC/HDL-C (r = 0.626, P < 0.001), LDL-C/HDL-C (r = 0.469, P < 0.001), AI (r = 0.626, P < 0.001), LCI (r = 0.665, P < 0.001), APOB/APOA-1(r = 0.290, P < 0.001) and was negatively correlated with APOA-1 (r = - 0.278, P < 0.001) and HDL-C (r = - 0.665, P < 0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, AIP was an independent predictor of CAD. After adjusting for the traditional clinical prognostic factors including diabetes and hypertension, we found AIP could be an independent risk factor for CAD (odds ratio OR, 3.290; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.842-5.877, P < 0.001). After adjusting for multiple clinical factors include diabetes, hypertension, smoking, heart ratio, fasting blood glucose, we found AIP also could a powerful risk factor, OR = 3.619, 95%CI (2.003-6.538), P < 0.001.
The present study indicated that AIP might be a strong marker for predicting the risk of CAD in postmenopausal women.
In the past two decades, synthetic biodegradable and biobased polyesters have emerged as a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-derived polymers for diverse range of applications. Most of ...the synthetic biodegradable and biobased polyesters are semicrystalline. Some of these polymers can exist in a variety of polymorphs depending on the crystallization and processing conditions. In addition, blends or copolymers can exhibit cocrystallization behavior (such as stereocomplex, isomorphic, and isodimorphic crystallization). Polymorphic crystallization and cocrystallization of polymers plays an essential role not only in the scientific understanding of condensed matter structures of polymers, but also in the technological development and application of this new class of materials. This paper reviews the recent progress in the understanding of the polymorphic crystallization, co-crystallization, and structure-property relationship of synthetic biodegradable and biobased polyesters that has occurred within the past decade. Particular focus is on the structure, morphology, formation kinetics, and phase transition of crystals grown from biodegradable and biobased polyesters. Since the physical properties of polymers depend on their crystal structure and morphology, we also reviewed the relationships between the crystallization and processing conditions, crystalline structure and morphology, and physical properties (e.g., mechanical and biodegradability) of biodegradable and biobased polymorphic, cocrystallizable polyesters.
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Multiresponsive flexile sensors with strain, temperature, humidity, and other sensing abilities serving as real electronic skin (e‐skin) have manifested great application potential in flexible ...electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT). Although numerous flexible sensors with sole sensing function have already been reported since the concept of e‐skin, that mimics the sensing features of human skin, was proposed about a decade ago, the ones with more sensing capacities as new emergences are urgently demanded. However, highly integrated and highly sensitive flexible sensors with multiresponsive functions are becoming a big thrust for the detection of human body motions, physiological signals (e.g., skin temperature, blood pressure, electrocardiograms (ECG), electromyograms (EMG), sweat, etc.) and environmental stimuli (e.g., light, magnetic field, volatile organic compounds (VOCs)), which are vital to real‐time and all‐round human health monitoring and management. Herein, this review summarizes the design, manufacturing, and application of multiresponsive flexible sensors and presents the future challenges of fabricating these sensors for the next‐generation e‐skin and wearable electronics.
Multiresponsive flexible sensors susceptible to various stimuli including strain, temperature, humidity, etc., have been rapidly emerging due to their great potential application in e‐skins. Thus, the recent progress of multiresponsive flexible sensors including the design strategies (the choices of sensing materials and mechanisms, and structure designs and fabrication methods), applications and prospects is reviewed to promote further development of e‐skins.
Different oleanolic acid (OA) oxime ester derivatives (3a-3t) were designed and synthesised to develop inhibitors against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. All the synthesised OA derivatives were ...evaluated against α-glucosidase and α-amylase in vitro. Among them, compound 3a showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibition with an IC
50
of 0.35 µM, which was ∼1900 times stronger than that of acarbose, meanwhile compound 3f exhibited the highest α-amylase inhibitory with an IC
50
of 3.80 µM that was ∼26 times higher than that of acarbose. The inhibition kinetic studies showed that the inhibitory mechanism of compounds 3a and 3f were reversible and mixed types towards α-glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively. Molecular docking studies analysed the interaction between compound and two enzymes, respectively. Furthermore, cytotoxicity evaluation assay demonstrated a high level of safety profile of compounds 3a and 3f against 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells.
Highlights
Oleanolic acid oxime ester derivatives (3a-3t) were synthesised and screened against α-glucosidase and α-amylase.
Compound 3a showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory with IC50 of 0.35 µM.
Compound 3f presented the highest α-amylase inhibitory with IC50 of 3.80 µM.
Kinetic studies and in silico studies analysed the binding between compounds and α-glucosidase or α-amylase.
Hybrid graphene aerogels (HGA) consisting of graphene oxide (GO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) were prepared and introduced into polyethylene glycol (PEG) via vacuum impregnation, aiming at ...obtaining composite phase change materials (PCMs) with high thermal conductivity, outstanding shape-stabilization, high energy storage density, commendable thermal repeatability and the ability to light-to-heat energy storage. GO nanosheets formed a three-dimensional supporting network to keep the shape of PEG stable during phase change and GNP dispersed uniformity along the network structure of GO and thus a thermal conductive pathway was constructed. The incorporation of HGA remarkably enhanced the thermal conductivity and shape-stabilization of the composite PCMs. The PEG/HGA composite PCM with only ca. 0.45 wt% GO and ca. 1.8 wt% GNP, showed an enhanced thermal conductivity of 1.43 W/mK from 0.31 W/mK of pure PEG and an improvement of 361%, much higher than the improvement that can be achieved by solution or melt blending. Moreover, an energy conversion from light to heat was realized with the composite PCMs. Thus, this work provides a simple, green and environmentally friendly way to achieve simultaneous enhancement of the thermal conductivity, energy storage density and shape-stabilization of PCMs and realize light-to-thermal energy conversion.
The synthetic strategy and building block about high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters are summarized, demonstrating the role of template anion in their assembly.
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•High-nuclearity ...lanthanide clusters, because of their unique physical and chemical properties and their potential application, have attracted great much attention in different fields. Owing to the final structures of the lanthanide clusters not only sensitive to starting materials used in the synthesis, but also to reaction conditions including metal ions/ligands ratio, pH, solvents, temperature, duration, rational design and synthesis of lanthanide clusters remains a great challenge. Thus, it is necessary to review the recent advance in the assembly of high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters.•In this review, the synthesis of high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters using the anion template strategy was outlined based on recently reported results. The presence of small anionic species appears to be essential as a template for modular build-up of higher-nuclearity cluster complexes. Compared with a single-anion template, the slow release of anions, multiple anions or mixed anions as templates is more conducive to the assembly of high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters because of their dispersive effect on the positive charges of the clusters.•Based on the structures of the lanthanide clusters recently achieved, the building blocks in the lanthanide clusters were analysed. Some of the high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters with sophisticated structures are assembled from two or more types of structural motifs. Using this building block strategy, abundant clusters featuring multiple combinations of these basic motifs have appeared at a fast rate.•Perspective in future study on the high-nuclearity clusters is discussed. For the rational design and synthesis of lanthanide clusters, future investigations should focus on the assembly mechanism of the lanthanide clusters, which not only being helpful to the rational design and construction of the high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters, but also to the properties study on the high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters.
High-nuclearity lanthanide clusters have attracted much attention in different fields because of their unique physical and chemical properties and their potential applications. In this review, the synthetic strategy and building blocks for the assembly of high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters are outlined based on recently reported high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters. Perspectives for future studies on high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters are also discussed. We hope this review will provide insight into future research on high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters.
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The virus uses ACE2 receptor for viral entry. ACE2 is part of the counter-regulatory renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and is ...also expressed in the lower respiratory tract along the alveolar epithelium. There is, however, significant controversy regarding the role of ACE2 expression in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Some have argued that decreasing ACE2 expression would result in decreased susceptibility to the virus by decreasing available binding sites for SARS-CoV-2 and restricting viral entry into the cells. Others have argued that, like the pathogenesis of other viral pneumonias, including those stemming from previous severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) viruses, once SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2, it downregulates ACE2 expression. Lack of the favourable effects of ACE2 might exaggerate lung injury by a variety of mechanisms. In order to help address this controversy, we conducted a literature search and review of relevant preclinical and clinical publications pertaining to SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, ACE2, viral pneumonia, SARS, acute respiratory distress syndrome and lung injury. Our review suggests, although controversial, that patients at increased susceptibility to COVID-19 complications may have reduced baseline ACE2, and by modulating ACE2 expression one can possibly improve COVID-19 outcomes. Herein, we elucidate why and how this potential mechanism might work.
As a renewable and environment-friendly technology for seawater desalination and wastewater purification, solar energy triggered steam generation is attractive to address the long-standing global ...water scarcity issues. However, practical utilization of solar energy for steam generation is severely restricted by the complex synthesis, low energy conversion efficiency, insufficient solar spectrum absorption and water extraction capability of state-of-the-art technologies. Here, for the first time, we report a facile strategy to realize hydrogen bond induced self-assembly of a polydopamine (PDA)@MXene microsphere photothermal layer for synergistically achieving wide-spectrum and highly efficient solar absorption capability (≈ 96% in a wide solar spectrum range of 250–1,500 nm wavelength). Moreover, such a system renders fast water transport and vapor escaping due to the intrinsically hydrophilic nature of both MXene and PDA, as well as the interspacing between core-shell microspheres. The solar-to-vapor conversion efficiencies under the solar illumination of 1 sun and 4 sun are as high as 85.2% and 93.6%, respectively. Besides, the PDA@MXene photothermal layer renders the system durable mechanical properties, allowing producing clean water from seawater with the salt rejection rate beyond 99%. Furthermore, stable light absorption performance can be achieved and well maintained due to the formation of ternary TiO2/C/MXene complex caused by oxidative degradation of MXene. Therefore, this work proposes an attractive MXene-assisted strategy for fabricating high performance photothermal composites for advanced solar-driven seawater desalination applications.
Long nanopore reads are advantageous in de novo genome assembly. However, nanopore reads usually have broad error distribution and high-error-rate subsequences. Existing error correction tools cannot ...correct nanopore reads efficiently and effectively. Most methods trim high-error-rate subsequences during error correction, which reduces both the length of the reads and contiguity of the final assembly. Here, we develop an error correction, and de novo assembly tool designed to overcome complex errors in nanopore reads. We propose an adaptive read selection and two-step progressive method to quickly correct nanopore reads to high accuracy. We introduce a two-stage assembler to utilize the full length of nanopore reads. Our tool achieves superior performance in both error correction and de novo assembling nanopore reads. It requires only 8122 hours to assemble a 35X coverage human genome and achieves a 2.47-fold improvement in NG50. Furthermore, our assembly of the human WERI cell line shows an NG50 of 22 Mbp. The high-quality assembly of nanopore reads can significantly reduce false positives in structure variation detection.
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