Downregulated serum 14, 15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid is associated with abdominal aortic calcification in patients with primary aldosteronism

Patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) have increased risk of target-organ damage, among which vascular calcification is an important indicator of cardiovascular mortality. 14, 15-Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14, 15-EET) has been shown to have beneficial effects in vascular remodeling. However, whether 14, 15-EET associates with vascular calcification in PA is unknown. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between 14, 15-EET and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in patients with PA. Sixty-nine patients with PA and 69 controls with essential hypertension, matched for age, sex, and blood pressure, were studied. 14, 15-Dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (14, 15-DHET), the inactive metabolite from 14, 15-EET, was estimated to reflect serum 14, 15-EET levels. AAC was assessed by computed tomographic scanning. Compared with matched controls, the AAC prevalence was almost 1-fold higher in patients with PA (27 [39.1%] versus 14 [20.3%]; P=0.023), accompanied by significantly higher serum 14, 15-DHET levels (7.18±4.98 versus 3.50±2.07 ng/mL; P<0.001). Plasma aldosterone concentration was positively associated with 14, 15-DHET (β=0.444; P<0.001). Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that lower 14, 15-DHET was an independent risk factor for AAC in PA (odds ratio, 1.371; 95% confidence interval, 1.145–1.640; P<0.001), especially in young patients with mild hypertension and normal body mass index. In conclusion, PA patients exibited more severe AAC, accompanied by higher serum 14, 15-DHET levels. On the contrary, decreased 14, 15-EET was significantly associated with AAC prevalence in PA patients, especially in those at low cardiovascular risk

Abnormal Calcium Metabolism Mediated Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Events Estimated by High Ankle-Brachial Index in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. But the relationship between regular PD and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) remains controversial. The possible risk factors are not fully elucidated. This study aims to investigate the possible factors affecting the risk of MACE estimated by high ankle-brachial index (ABI) in PD patients. A total of 243 patients were enrolled and divided into chronic kidney diseases (CKD) stage 1, non-dialyzed CKD stages 2–5, and PD groups. The prevalence of high ABI, indicating increased MACE, was elevated with CKD progression but not further increased in PD patients. Systolic blood pressure was closely correlated with high ABI in non-dialyzed CKD patients (β = 0.059, P = 0.001). But in PD patients, serum calcium had a crucial effect on high ABI (β = −9.853, P < 0.001). Additionally, PD patients with high ABI tended to dialyze inadequately (Kt/V <1.7) compared to those with normal ABI (29.0 vs. 13.3%, P = 0.031). Further mediation analysis revealed that ~86.2% of the relationship between Kt/V and high ABI was mediated by serum calcium in PD patients (mediation effect = 86.2%, ab = −0.220, 95% CI: −0.381 to −0.059, P = 0.008), especially in those starting PD before 55 years of age and with normal body mass index. This present study indicated that improvement of PD adequacy by maintaining calcium balance might be a promising method to reduce the risk of MACE estimated by high ABI for PD patients

Dental Diseases Increase Risk of Aortic Arch Calcification Independent of Renal Dysfunction in Older Adults: Shenzhen Community Cohort Study

Many studies have documented that dental diseases were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Aortic arch calcification (AoAC) is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular diseases. However, whether the status of dental health is associated with AoAC is still unknown. 9463 participants over the age of 60 from Shenzhen community centers were included in the cross-sectional analysis. Physical examination data, blood biochemical tests, and AoAC scores calculated by chest radiography were collected and analyzed. Among them, 2630 participants were followed up for AoAC progression up to 36 months. Participants with AoAC suffered more tooth loss than those without AoAC (77.62% vs. 72.91%; p < 0.001). Association rule analysis suggested a strong association between dental diseases and AoAC. Tooth loss or decay increased the risk of AoAC progression (HR 1.459; 95%CI 1.284–1.658) after adjusting other risk factors including renal dysfunction. Dental diseases are potential predictors for AoAC in elderly people, which are independent of renal dysfunction

Cyclic loading test of three-bay RC space frame strengthened with X-shape RC braces

© 2015, RILEM. Previous studies showed improved seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) plane frames by adding RC braces. However, in literature, the studies on the efficiency of RC braces for the improvement of seismic performance of RC space frame (RCSF) are very limited. This paper presents the experimental results on two 1/4-scale, two-storey and three-bay RCSFs under cyclic loading, i.e. a control RCSF and another RC X-braces strengthened RCSF (termed as CBRCSF). The test results show that compared with the control frame, the seismic performance of the CBRCSF was improved significantly in terms of lateral strength, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity due to the addition of RC X-braces. Moreover, the CBRCSF could continue to bear loads after the rupture of the RC braces, thereby revealing redundancy of the CBRCSF because of the use of RC X-braces

Background evaluations for the chiral magnetic effect with normalized correlators using a multiphase transport model

The chiral magnetic effect (CME) induces an electric charge separation in a chiral medium along the magnetic field that is mostly produced by spectator protons in heavy-ion collisions. The experimental searches for the CME, based on the charge-dependent angular correlations ($$\gamma$$), however, have remained inconclusive, because the non-CME background contributions are not well understood. Experimentally, the $$\gamma$$ correlators have been measured with respect to the second-order ($$\Psi _{2}$$) and the third-order ($$\Psi _{3}$$) symmetry planes, defined as $$\gamma _{112}$$ and $$\gamma _{123}$$, respectively. The expectation was that with a proper normalization, $$\gamma _{123}$$ would provide a data-driven estimate for the background contributions in $$\gamma _{112}$$. In this work, we calculate different harmonics of the $$\gamma$$ correlators using a charge-conserving version of a multiphase transport (AMPT) model to examine the validity of the said assumption. We find that the pure-background AMPT simulations do not yield an equality in the normalized $$\gamma _{112}$$ and $$\gamma _{123}$$, quantified by $$\kappa _{112}$$ and $$\kappa _{123}$$, respectively. Furthermore, we test another correlator, $$\gamma _{132}$$, within AMPT, and discuss the relation between different $$\gamma$$ correlators

Present Situation of Dictyophora Industry in China and Cultivation Technique of Dictyophora rubrovolvata

China is the earliest country to eat Dictyophora and to realize its artificial domestication. At present, 12 species of Dictyophora have been reported worldwide, 7 species of which are found in China. Dictyophora rubrovolvata, D. echinovolvata and D. indusiata have been cultivated on a large scale, and the main producing areas are Zhijin in Guizhou Province, Shunchang and Jangle in Fujian Province, and Qingchuan and Changning in Sichuan Province. The cultivation of D. rubrovolvata had experienced 4 stages: wild tending, casserole cultivation, outdoor simple greenhouse cultivation and rapid development of new cultivation techniques. The present integrated cultivation technique of bag removing and soil covering of D. rubrovolvata were introduced in detail from the aspects of production and selection of high-quality fungi bags, bag removing and soil covering, spawn running, as well as fruiting management and harvesting. As one of the “ten main promoting technologies” of Guizhou Province in 2022, it had realized rapid propagation of liquid strains and supporting cultivation of improved varieties and methods. The suitable strains were selected to support understory cultivation, layer cultivation, basket cultivation, factory cultivation and other modes, which had short cultivation period and can realize annual production and supply. With the development of the industry, it is expected that low-cost secondary fermentation or tertiary fermentation cultivation technology will be more widely used