Analysis of Oral Microbiota Revealed High Abundance of Prevotella Intermedia in Gout Patients

Background/Aims: Microbes reside in a number of body sites, including the oral cavity, and are associated with the progression of many systemic diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of gout and hyperuricemia (HUA) on the composition of oral microbiomes. Methods: Analysis of the oral microbiota from 12 gout patients, 11 HUA patients, and 19 healthy control subjects was performed using a deep sequencing approach, and validation of significant changes in Prevotella intermedia and Serratia marcescens in new patient cohorts was performed using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results: Our analysis indicated that both gout and HUA significantly altered the composition of the oral microbiome in patients. Patients with gout or HUA had significantly greater levels of salivary Prevotella intermedia but significantly lower levels of Serratia marcescens than healthy control subjects. Conclusion: We demonstrated the association between the oral microbiome and gout and HUA for the first time. In particular, 16S sequencing and qPCR analysis revealed significantly higher levels of oral Prevotella intermedia in gout/HUA patients, which suggests that these patients might be at risk for the development of periodontitis

Giant All-Optical Modulation of Second-Harmonic Generation Mediated by Dark Excitons.

All-optical control of nonlinear photonic processes in nanomaterials is of significant interest from a fundamental viewpoint and with regard to applications ranging from ultrafast data processing to spectroscopy and quantum technology. However, these applications rely on a high degree of control over the nonlinear response, which still remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate giant and broadband all-optical ultrafast modulation of second-harmonic generation (SHG) in monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides mediated by the modified excitonic oscillation strength produced upon optical pumping. We reveal a dominant role of dark excitons to enhance SHG by up to a factor of ∼386 at room temperature, 2 orders of magnitude larger than the current state-of-the-art all-optical modulation results. The amplitude and sign of the observed SHG modulation can be adjusted over a broad spectral range spanning a few electronvolts with ultrafast response down to the sub-picosecond scale via different carrier dynamics. Our results not only introduce an efficient method to study intriguing exciton dynamics, but also reveal a new mechanism involving dark excitons to regulate all-optical nonlinear photonics

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Effects of Type 2 Diabetic Serum on Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Diabetic patients have an increased risk of osteoporosis-associated fractures. However, the results of most studies of the effects of diabetes on bone mass in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have been contradictory. To clarify these conflicting findings, we investigated the effects of diabetic serum on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We used human sera from subjects with different levels of glycemic control to culture the MSCs and induce osteogenic differentiation. The rate of MSC proliferation differed when MSCs were cultured with sera from diabetic subjects with different levels of hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemic sera promoted MSC proliferation to some extent, but all the diabetic sera inhibited the differentiation of MSCs to osteoblasts. The effects of type 2 diabetic sera on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs are closely related to glycemic control. Our data demonstrate the importance of stratifying the study population according to glycemic control in clinical research into diabetic osteoporosis

Characteristics of deep water depositional system in Campos basin, Brazil

To make clear about the sedimentary facies types and distribution of deep water sandstone reservoirs in Campos basin of Brazil, this paper researches the characteristics of deep-water sedimentary system in Campos basin through the comprehensive analysis of drilling, logging and seismic data. There are 3 subfacies and 7 microfacies in the study area. There are 3 channels from south to north in Upper Cretaceous Maastrichtian, and the sedimentary incised valley and compound channels developed in micro-salt basin are the main deep water depositional types. The Paleocene to Eocene dominated by sedimentary incised valley and eroded compound channel deposits, also include 3 channel systems. From Oligocene to Miocene, the main deposition type is lobe, which is mainly distributed in central-north of the basin. Corresponding to deep water depositional stages, 3 kinds of depositional models are found. From Turonian to Maastrichtian of Upper Cretaceous, with tectonic uplift, strong source material supply, and the negative topography produced by salt rock movement providing favorable accommodation for sand deposition, the depositional model was terrigenous direct feed mechanism with sedimentary incised valley and compound channels in micro salt basin. From Paleocene to Eocene, as the amplitude of tectonic uplift reached the maximum and the accompanied erosion peaked, accommodation space offered by micro salt basin was leveled up; the depositional model was terrigenous direct feed mechanism with sedimentary valley and incised compound channels. From Oligocene to Miocene, because of sable tectonics, sea level fluctuation is the main controlling factor for deep water deposition, so the depositional model was wide shelf indirect feed mechanism with bypass incised valley and lobe. The analysis of the characteristics and controlling factors of the 3 types deep-water sedimentary systems during 3 different stages in Campos Basin can provide valuable reference for the oil exploration in deep-water deposits in the Campos Basin and across the world. Key words: Campos basin, deposition system, sedimentary facies, depositional model, reservoi

A combination of plasma exchange and steroids in the treatment of a-lipoic acid-induced insulin autoimmune syndrome

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