Effect of the combination of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and pharmacological thrombolysis on hemodialysis patients

Purpose: To examine the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), combined withpharmacologic thrombolysis (PT) on thrombosis of autologous arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs),inflammatory factors, and β2 microglobulin (β2-MG) levels in hemodialysis patients.Methods: Seventy-eight patients with AVF thrombosis allocated randomly into a control group (CG) received PTA, and a study group (SG) received PTA combined with PT (n = 39 in each). The patency, vascular condition, inflammatory factors, viz, interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)), β2-MG levels, vascular-related factors (VEGF-A and MCP-1), complications, and quality of life were determined.Results: At three and six months after surgery, t SG exhibited a higher vascular patency than CG (p <0.05). Serum levels of IL-6, hs-CRP, β2-MG, VEGF-A, and MCP-1 of t SG were lower than those of CG(p < 0.05). The SG showed higher cross-sectional area, inner diameter at the site of fistula, and better quality of life scores than CG (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The combination of PTA and PT enhances efficacy, increases vascular patency, reduces inflammatory response, lowers the level of β2-MG, and improves quality of life in patients with AVFs without increasing complications. Thus, the combination treatment has potentials for the management of hemodialysis patients

Experimental study on failure characteristics of jointed rock mass under staged unloading conditions

Strength and deformability characteristics of rock with pre-existing fissure are governed by cracking behavior. To further research the effects of pre-existing fissures on the mechanical properties and crack coalescence process under staged unloading conditions, a series of uniaxial compression tests were carried out. In this study, cement, fine sand, and water were used to fabricate a kind of brittle rock-like material rectangular model specimen. The mechanical properties of rock-like material specimen used in this research were all in good agreement with the brittle rock materials. The pre-existing fissure was created by mica sheets and the unloading zone was created by pre-filling Polylactic acid (PLA) resin material during the molding processes the model specimen. And the staged unloading test was conducted based on polylactic acid’s hot-melt characteristics. In order to investigate the crack initiation, propagation and coalescence process, inclination angle of pre-existing fissure was set to change from 0° to 90°. The mechanism of crack propagation and coalescence under photographic monitoring was discussed. And these experimental results indicate that the failure modes in the zone above unloading zone mainly consist of four modes: separation failure, shear-slip failure, mixed shear-separation failure and compression-shear failure. The experimental results are also expected to increase the understanding of the strength failure behavior and the cracking mechanism of rock under staged unloading

Common promoter variants of the NDUFV2 gene do not confer susceptibility to schizophrenia in Han Chinese

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase flavoprotein gene (<it>NDUFV2</it>), which encodes a 24 kD mitochondrial complex I subunit, has been reported to be positively associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in different populations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We genotyped the promoter variants of this gene (rs6506640 and rs1156044) by direct sequencing in 529 unrelated Han Chinese schizophrenia patients and 505 matched controls. Fisher's Exact test was performed to assess whether these two reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) confer susceptibility to schizophrenia in Chinese.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Allele, genotype and haplotype comparison between the case and control groups showed no statistical significance, suggesting no association between the <it>NDUFV2 </it>gene promoter variants and schizophrenia in Han Chinese.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The role of NDUFV2 played in schizophrenia needs to be further studied. Different racial background and/or population substructure might account for the inconsistent results between studies.</p

Author Correction:3D-printed liquid metal polymer composites as NIR-responsive 4D printing soft robot

Correction to: Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43667-4, published online 28 November 2023

Effect of Inoculated Fermentation with Different Aspergillus Strains on the Formation of the Umami Taste of Liuyang Douchi

In order to investigate the effect of inoculated fermentation with different Aspergillus strains on the umami taste of Liuyang Douchi, the differences in the umami taste and protein degradation of Liuyang Douchi fermented naturally (NF) or by four dominant Aspergillus flavus strains isolated from Douchi (A. flavus 7214, A. flavus 7622, A. flavus 6112, and A. flavus 5322) alone and their mixture in an equal proportion (M4) were compared. The results showed that the major protease produced by each of the four strains was serine proteases, and A. flavus 5322 had the strongest protease activity, with significantly higher activity of acidic protease than the other three strains. The contents of amino acid nitrogen and water-soluble protein in Aspergillus fermented Douchi were higher than those in NF Douchi after the end of pile-fermentation stage. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed that the degradation trends of six proteins in Douchi were consistent, all of which exhibited rapid degradation during the pile-fermentation process. Additionally, the results of sensory evaluation and electronic tongue analysis showed that Douchi fermented by A. flavus 5322 showed the strongest umami taste, which significantly increased when compared with NF. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray/quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) combined with correlation and peptidomics analysis, a total of 43 potential umami peptides were identified. The total peak area of potential umami peptides in Douchi fermented by A. flavus 6112 was the highest, followed by A. flavus 5322 with little difference, significantly greater than that in NF Douchi. In summary, inoculated fermentation, especially with A. flavus 5322, could promote protein degradation and the release of potential umami peptides, thereby enhancing the umami taste of Liuyang Douchi. This study will provide theoretical guidance for improving the umami taste of Liuyang Douchi and development of industrial production strains

An in vitro vesicle formation assay reveals cargo clients and factors that mediate vesicular trafficking

The fidelity of protein transport in the secretory pathway relies on the accurate sorting of proteins to their correct destinations. To deepen our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms, it is important to develop a robust approach to systematically reveal cargo proteins that depend on specific sorting machinery to be enriched into transport vesicles. Here, we used an in vitro assay that reconstitutes packaging of human cargo proteins into vesicles to quantify cargo capture. Quantitative mass spectrometry (MS) analyses of the isolated vesicles revealed cytosolic proteins that are associated with vesicle membranes in a GTP-dependent manner. We found that two of them, FAM84B (also known as LRAT domain containing 2 or LRATD2) and PRRC1, contain proline-rich domains and regulate anterograde trafficking. Further analyses revealed that PRRC1 is recruited to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites, interacts with the inner COPII coat, and its absence increases membrane association of COPII. In addition, we uncovered cargo proteins that depend on GTP hydrolysis to be captured into vesicles. Comparing control cells with cells depleted of the cargo receptors, SURF4 or ERGIC53, we revealed specific clients of each of these two export adaptors. Our results indicate that the vesicle formation assay in combination with quantitative MS analysis is a robust and powerful tool to uncover novel factors that mediate vesicular trafficking and to uncover cargo clients of specific cellular factors.</p

Putative carboxylesterase gene identification and their expression patterns in Hyphantria cunea (Drury)

The olfactory system of insects is important for behavioral activities as it recognizes internal and external volatile stimuli in the environment. Insect odorant degrading enzymes (ODEs), including antennal-specific carboxylesterases (CXEs), are known to degrade redundant odorant molecules or to hydrolyze important olfactory sex pheromone components and plant volatiles. Compared to many well-studied Type-I sex pheromone-producing lepidopteran species, the molecular mechanisms of the olfactory system of Type-II sex pheromone-producing Hyphantria cunea (Drury) remain poorly understood. In the current study, we first identified a total of ten CXE genes based on our previous H. unea antennal transcriptomic data. We constructed a phylogenetic tree to evaluate the relationship of HcunCXEs with other insects\u27 CXEs, and used quantitative PCR to investigate the gene expression of H. cunea CXEs (HcunCXEs). Our results indicate that HcunCXEs are highly expressed in antennae, legs and wings, suggesting a potential function in degrading sex pheromone components, host plant volatiles, and other xenobiotics. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for subsequent olfactory mechanism studies on H. cunea, but also offers some new insights into functions and evolutionary characteristics of CXEs in lepidopteran insects. From a practical point of view, these HcunCXEs might represent meaningful targets for developing behavioral interference control strategies against H. cunea

Intermediate follow-up following intravascular stenting for treatment of coarctation of the aorta

Background : We report a multiinstitutional study on intermediate-term outcome of intravascular stenting for treatment of coarctation of the aorta using integrated arch imaging (IAI) techniques. Methods and Results : Medical records of 578 patients from 17 institutions were reviewed. A total of 588 procedures were performed between May 1989 and Aug 2005. About 27% (160/588) procedures were followed up by further IAI of their aorta (MRI/CT/repeat cardiac catheterization) after initial stent procedures. Abnormal imaging studies included: the presence of dissection or aneurysm formation, stent fracture, or the presence of reobstruction within the stent (instent restenosis or significant intimal build-up within the stent). Forty-one abnormal imaging studies were reported in the intermediate follow-up at median 12 months (0.5–92 months). Smaller postintervention of the aorta (CoA) diameter and an increased persistent systolic pressure gradient were associated with encountering abnormal follow-up imaging studies. Aortic wall abnormalities included dissections ( n = 5) and aneurysm ( n = 13). The risk of encountering aortic wall abnormalities increased with larger percent increase in CoA diameter poststent implant, increasing balloon/coarc ratio, and performing prestent angioplasty. Stent restenosis was observed in 5/6 parts encountering stent fracture and neointimal buildup ( n = 16). Small CoA diameter poststent implant and increased poststent residual pressure gradient increased the likelihood of encountering instent restenosis at intermediate follow-up. Conclusions : Abnormalities were observed at intermediate follow-up following IS placement for treatment of native and recurrent coarctation of the aorta. Not exceeding a balloon:coarctation ratio of 3.5 and avoidance of prestent angioplasty decreased the likelihood of encountering an abnormal follow-up imaging study in patients undergoing intravascular stent placement for the treatment of coarctation of the aorta. We recommend IAI for all patients undergoing IS placement for treatment of CoA. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57392/1/21191_ftp.pd