The association of serum total bile acid with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese adults: a cross sectional study

Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the major cause of chronic liver disease globally. Bile acids (BAs) have emerged as relevant signaling molecules that are associated with NAFLD development. This study was aimed to examine the association of serum total bile acids (TBAs) with NAFLD in a large population of Chinese subjects. Methods This cross sectional study recruited 152,336 participants from the Second Xiangya Hospital, China. NAFLD was diagnosed based on the presence of hepatic steatosis on ultrasonography, without significant alcohol consumption and other known causes for chronic liver disease. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to test for the association of serum TBAs with NAFLD, adjusting for conventional risk factors of NAFLD. Results A total of 27.4% of the participants had NAFLD. Patients with NAFLD had slightly higher TBA levels than those without, 3.4 vs. 3.0 μmol/L (p < 0.001). However, TBA levels were not associated with NAFLD in the multivariate logistic regression model, which adjusted for age, gender and other acknowledged risk factors for NAFLD (OR = 1.00. 95% CI: 1.00–1.00, p = 0.797). Conclusions We found that the serum TBA levels were not associated with NAFLD. Future studies in a large population, focusing on serum BA composition may improve the understating of the role of BAs in NAFLD

ANGPTL8: An Important Regulator in Metabolic Disorders

Long-term controversy regarding the role of angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) in beta-cell proliferation and diabetes progression made it a research spotlight. Recently, the controversy was resolved. Although ANGPTL8 could not control beta-cell expansion and islet function, ANGPTL8 was still considered as a novel but atypical member in the ANGPTL family because of its unique structure and crucial effects on lipid metabolism. Besides, ANGPTL8 also participated in some other disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and renal dysfunction. Understanding the features of ANGPTL8 may offer new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to metabolic-related diseases. Therefore, we reviewed most recent findings about ANGPTL8 and aimed to provide an integrated picture of ANGPTL8

The negative effect of ANGPTL8 on HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity

Abstract Background It is well known that angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) exerts its effects on lipid metabolism through the inhibition of lipoprotein lipase and subsequent elevation of plasma triglyceride. However, it is not clear whether ANGPTL8 could affect lipid metabolism via other pathways. The study was aimed to investigate the effects of ANGPTL8 on the function of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which plays a protective role in atherosclerosis progression. Methods Two hundred and ten subjects were recruited. Plasma ANGPTL8 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Cholesterol efflux capacity was chosen as the biomarker of HDL function and measured via H3-cholesterol loading THP-1 cell models. Results ANGPTL8 exhibited no significant difference between CAD group and nonCAD group, but ANGPTL8 in DM group was significantly higher than that in the nonDM group [568.3 (406.2–836.8) vs 458.2 (356.8–755.6), P = 0.023]. Compared to controls, subjects in CAD group and DM group exhibited significantly lower cholesterol efflux capacity [CAD: 14.58 ± 2.06 vs 12.51 ± 2.83%, P < 0.0001; DM: 13.62 ± 2.57 vs 12.34 ± 3.16%, P = 0.0099]. ANGPTL8 was inversely correlated with cholesterol efflux capacity (r = − 0.188, P < 0.01). Regression analysis revealed that plasma ANGPTL8 was an independent contributor to cholesterol efflux capacity (standardized β = − 0.143, P = 0.023). Conclusion ANGPTL8 presents a negative effect on HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity

<p>Hybrid hydrogel microspheres loading single-hole hollow imprinted particles for fast and selective uptake of 2'& nbsp;-deoxyadenosine</p>

Hydrogel microspheres encapsulating molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are promising hybrid sorbents, due to several advantages of high selectivity, fast mass transfer efficiency, and simple collection. Thus, Janus single hole hollow nanoparticles (J-HNPs) with the size of 550 +/-& nbsp; 70 nm were firstly designed by anisotropic emulsion template, and then MIPs were grafted onto their inner surface through electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP). Then as-prepared J-HNPs-MIPs were loaded into hydrogel microspheres via polymerizable water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion droplets combining gelatin methacryloyl (GMA) as monomers, and then obtained J-HNPs-MIPs@Gel with the mean diameter of 2.0 mu m was applied for effective and selective separation of 2'-deoxyadenosine (dA). Fast adsorption equilibrium of J-HNPs-MIPs@Gel for dA can be achieved within 40 min, thanks to the hydrogel matrix and single-hole hollow structure for enhancing diffusion. The maximum multi-layer adsorption capacity calculated according to the Freundlich model was 10.31 mu mol g(-1) at 298 K. The specific memory to the size, shape and functional groups of dA endowed excellent recognition ability, and 88% of the initial capacity after four consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles was maintained. In addition, J-HNPs-MIPs@Gel was expected to show great potential for the selective enrichment and analysis of target dA molecule in complex biological samples

Effect of Moisture Condition of Brick&ndash;Concrete Recycled Coarse Aggregate on the Properties of Concrete

The application of brick&ndash;concrete recycled aggregates can alleviate the problem of increasing construction waste and increasing scarcity of natural aggregates. The different moisture condition of coarse aggregates can significantly affect the performance of brick&ndash;concrete recycled aggregate concrete. In this paper, the additional water quantity of dry and air-dried brick&ndash;concrete recycled coarse aggregate concrete was determined. Additionally, the fluidity, rheological parameters, autogenous shrinkage, strength and chloride ion penetration resistance were tested, and compared with saturated surface dry recycled brick&ndash;concrete coarse aggregate concrete and natural aggregate concrete. The results showed that the slump of concrete was increased, whereas the plastic viscosity, static and dynamic yield stress were decreased by adding additional water or using saturated surface dry coarse aggregate. Compared with the dry and saturated surface dry state, the air-dried recycled coarse aggregate concrete has the smallest 28 days autogenous shrinkage value, higher compressive strength and splitting tensile strength, and less adverse effects on chloride permeability. It is most beneficial to the performance and economy of concrete to adopt the air-dried state when the brick&ndash;concrete recycled coarse aggregate is applied in engineering

Assessment of metal sintering in the copper-zeolite hybrid catalyst for direct dimethyl ether synthesis using synchrotron-based X-ray absorption and diffraction

International audienceDimethyl ether is one of the most promising environmentally optimized alternatives to the conventional fossil fuels and an important platform molecule for chemical industry. Catalyst deactivation is one of the most important challenges of the single-step dimethyl ether synthesis from syngas. Because of the lack of direct characterization techniques working under harsh reaction conditions, the information about deactivation mechanisms of bifunctional Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts is rather contradictory. In this paper, a combination of synchrotron-based in-situ time-resolved X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy operating under high pressure and temperature alongside with the conventional ex-situ characterization uncovered very rapid copper sintering occurring under realistic conditions of direct dimethyl ether synthesis. Copper sintering was strongly affected by the presence of water either produced by the reaction or co-fed to the reactor. No copper oxidation was observed under a wide range of experimental conditions

Fluorescent Features and Applicable Biosensing of a Core–Shell Ag Nanocluster Shielded by a DNA Tetrahedral Nanocage

The DNA frame structure as a natural shell to stably shield the sequence-templated Ag nanocluster core (csAgNC) is intriguing yet challenging for applicable fluorescence biosensing, for which the elaborate programming of a cluster scaffold inside a DNA-based cage to guide csAgNC nucleation might be crucial. Herein, we report the first design of a symmetric tetrahedral DNA nanocage (TDC) that was self-assembled in a one-pot process using a C-rich csAgNC template strand and four single strands. Inside the as-constructed soft TDC architecture, the template sequence was logically bridged from one side to another, not in the same face, thereby guiding the in situ synthesis of emissive csAgNC. Because of the strong electron-repulsive capability of the negatively charged TDC, the as-formed csAgNC displayed significantly improved fluorescence stability and superb spectral behavior. By incorporating the recognizable modules of targeted microRNAs (miRNAs) in one vertex of the TDC, an updated TDC (uTDC) biosensing platform was established via the photoinduced electron transfer effect between the emissive csAgNC reporter and hemin/G-quadruplex (hG4) conjugate. Because of the target-interrupted csAgNC switching in three states with the spatial proximity and separation to hG4, an “on–off–on” fluorescing signal response was executed, thus achieving a wide linear range to miRNAs and a limit of detection down to picomoles. Without complicated chemical modifications, this simpler and more cost-effective strategy offered accurate cell imaging of miRNAs, further suggesting possible therapeutic applications