Interconnecting bilayer networks

A typical complex system should be described by a supernetwork or a network of networks, in which the networks are coupled to some other networks. As the first step to understanding the complex systems on such more systematic level, scientists studied interdependent multilayer networks. In this letter, we introduce a new kind of interdependent multilayer networks, i.e., interconnecting networks, for which the component networks are coupled each other by sharing some common nodes. Based on the empirical investigations, we revealed a common feature of such interconnecting networks, namely, the networks with smaller averaged topological differences of the interconnecting nodes tend to share more nodes. A very simple node sharing mechanism is proposed to analytically explain the observed feature of the interconnecting networks.Comment: 9 page

Expressions of toll-like receptors 2 and 4, and relative cellular factors in HIV patients with tuberculosis infection

Purpose: To investigate the expressions of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IFN-γ (IFN- gamma), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with tuberculosis (TB) infection.Methods: Two groups of HIV patients (68 in each group) were used for this study. These were HIV with TB (HIV/TB) group and HIV without TB group. A third group (68 healthy people) served as control. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was adopted to measure TLR-2 and TLR-4 expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), while the serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 were determined by ELISA.Results: The △Ct values of TLR-2 and TLR-4 in HIV/TB and HIV groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Compared to control group, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 significantly increased, while IFN-γ and IL-2 in HIV/TB and HIV groups significantly decreased (p < 0.05). However, IFN-γ and IL-2 decreased significantly in HIV/TB group (p < 0.05). Expression of TLR2 correlated positively with serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10, but negatively with IFN-γ and IL-2 (p < 0.05).Conclusion: TLR2 signal pathway plays a role in HIV patients with TB infection by promoting the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10, while inhibiting IFN-γ and IL-2 cellular factors, and thus may provide a new pathway for the treatment of patients with HIV/TB.Keywords: HIV, Tuberculosis, Toll-like receptor, Cellular factors, Tumor necrosis factor, Interleuki

Goal-directed fluid optimization based on stroke volume variation and cardiac index during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing thoracoscopy lobectomy operations: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study was designed to utilize stroke volume variation and cardiac index to ensure fluid optimization during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomies. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy were randomized into either a goal-directed therapy group or a control group. In the goal-directed therapy group, the stroke volume variation was controlled at 10%±1%, and the cardiac index was controlled at a minimum of 2.5 L.min-1.m-2. In the control group, the MAP was maintained at between 65 mm Hg and 90 mm Hg, heart rate was maintained at between 60 BPM and 100 BPM, and urinary output was greater than 0.5 mL/kg-1/h-1. The hemodynamic variables, arterial blood gas analyses, total administered fluid volume and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: The PaO2/FiO2-ratio before the end of one-lung ventilation in the goal-directed therapy group was significantly higher than that of the control group, but there were no differences between the goal-directed therapy group and the control group for the PaO2/FiO2-ratio or other arterial blood gas analysis indices prior to anesthesia. The extubation time was significantly earlier in the goal-directed therapy group, but there was no difference in the length of hospital stay. Patients in the control group had greater urine volumes, and they were given greater colloid and overall fluid volumes. Nausea and vomiting were significantly reduced in the goal-directed therapy group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that an optimization protocol, based on stroke volume variation and cardiac index obtained with a FloTrac/Vigileo device, increased the PaO2/FiO2-ratio and reduced the overall fluid volume, intubation time and postoperative complications (nausea and vomiting) in thoracic surgery patients requiring one-lung ventilation

Prognostic value of vitamin D in patients with pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic role of vitamin D in pneumonia patients  through meta-analysis.Methods: PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for relevant studies that assessed the impact of vitamin D on the risk of adverse outcomes among patients with pneumonia. Risk ratios (RR) with 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) were pooled using meta-analysis. Q-test and I2 statistics were used to evaluate between-study heterogeneity.Results: Six studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. The results of meta-analysis of these studies indicated that low vitamin D status was associated with higher risk of mortality among pneumonia patients (RR = 2.59, 95 % CI = 1.32-5.08; p = 0.005). Results from meta-analysis of studies with adjusted estimates suggest that low vitamin D status was independently associated with higher risk of mortality among pneumonia patients (RR = 3.15, 95 % CI 1.54-6.44, p = 0.002). There was no significant risk of bias in the meta-analysis.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that low vitamin D level is associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes in patients with pneumonia.Keywords: Pneumonia, Vitamin D, Prognosis, Meta-analysis, Systematic revie

High prevalence of coexisting prehypertension and prediabetes among healthy adults in northern and northeastern China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prehypertension and prediabetes are major risk factors of cardiovascular disease, and their combined presence may result in more serious cardiovascular outcomes than expected with either prehypertension or prediabetes alone. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of coexisting prehypertension and prediabetes, and the associated risk profiles in a Chinese population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey in a representative sample of 3,595 men and 4,593 women aged 18 years and older was performed between 2008 and 2010. Prehypertension and prediabetes were diagnosed using the guidelines from the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on prevention, detection, and treatment of high blood pressure and American Diabetes Association, respectively. Prehypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure of 120-139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of 80-89 mmHg, and prediabetes was defined as a fasting blood glucose of 5.6-6.9 mmol/L.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of coexisting prehypertension and prediabetes was 11.0%. Men had a higher prevalence of coexisting prehypertension and prediabetes than women (14.2% vs. 8.4%; <it>P </it>< 0.0001). This prevalence increased with age and body mass index, and was the lowest among Mongolian-Chinese (5.1%). A multivariate analysis showed that γ-glutamyltransferase and uric acid were significantly and positively correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, and negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol in subjects with prehypertension and prediabetes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There is a large proportion of Chinese adults with coexisting prehypertension and prediabetes. Thus, there is a need for more efforts that implement public health programs that target the earlier stages of hypertension and diabetes.</p

Identification of susceptibility genes in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate using whole-exome sequencing

Background: Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) is among the most common congenital malformations. The etiology of NSCL/P remains poorly characterized owing to its complex genetic heterogeneity. The objective of this study was to identify genetic variants that increase susceptibility to NSCL/P. Material and Methods: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed in 8 fetuses with NSCL/P in China. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using commercially available software. Variants detected by WES were validated by Sanger sequencing. Results: By filtering out synonymous variants in exons, we identified average 8575 nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants (SNVs). We subsequently compared the SNVs against public databases including NCBI dbSNP build 135 and 1000 Genomes Project and obtained an average of 203 SNVs. Total 12 reported candidate genes were verified by Sanger sequencing. Sanger sequencing also confirmed 16 novel SNVs shared by two or more samples. Conclusions: We have found and confirmed 16 susceptibility genes responsible for NSCL/P, which may play important role in the etiology of NSCL/P. The susceptibility genes identified in this study will not only be useful in revealing the etiology of NSCL/P but also in diagnosis and treatment of the patients with NSCL/P

Structural mechanism for bacterial oxidation of oceanic trimethylamine into trimethylamine N -oxide

Trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) are widespread in the ocean and are important nitrogen source for bacteria. TMA monooxygenase (Tmm), a bacterial flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO), is found widespread in marine bacteria and is responsible for converting TMA to TMAO. However, the molecular mechanism of TMA oxygenation by Tmm has not been explained. Here, we determined the crystal structures of two reaction intermediates of a marine bacterial Tmm (RnTmm) and elucidated the catalytic mechanism of TMA oxidation by RnTmm. The catalytic process of Tmm consists of a reductive half-reaction and an oxidative half-reaction. In the reductive half-reaction, FAD is reduced and a C4a-hydroperoxyflavin intermediate forms. In the oxidative half-reaction, this intermediate attracts TMA through electronic interactions. After TMA binding, NADP+ bends and interacts with D317, shutting off the entrance to create a protected micro-environment for catalysis and exposing C4a-hydroperoxyflavin to TMA for oxidation. Sequence analysis suggests that the proposed catalytic mechanism is common for bacterial Tmms. These findings reveal the catalytic process of TMA oxidation by marine bacterial Tmm and first show that NADP+ undergoes a conformational change in the oxidative half-reaction of FMOs