Correlation between the triglyceride-glucose index and chronic kidney disease among adults with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: fourteen-year follow-up

Background and aimsAccording to previous studies, triglyceride-glucose (TyG) is related to chronic kidney disease (CKD), but no studies have explored the correlation between TyG and CKD among adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). We aimed to explore the associations of the TyG index with CKD among adults with MAFLD.MethodsIn this retrospective observational cohort study, data from 11,860 participants who underwent a minimum of three health assessments between 2008 and 2015 were retrospectively collected. Participants were followed up until the final medical visit or health examination. CKD refers to an eGFR < 60 mL/min per 1·73 m2 or the occurrence of two or more incidents of proteinuria.ResultsWithin a median 10·02-year follow-up period, 2005 (16·9%) participants reported developing CKD. Multivariate Cox regression models indicated a noticeable correlation between the TyG index and CKD incidence (HR per unit increase, 1.19; 95% CI: 1.09–1.29) and between the TyG index and CKD incidence (HR per SD increase, 1.12; 95% CI: 1.06–1.18). The CKD incidence increased by 1.8 times in participants in the highest TyG index quartile relative to patients in the lowest quartile of the TyG index quartile (HR 1·18, 95% CI: 1.01–1.38, P = 0.007). According to subgroup analysis, an elevated TyG index is likely to become more harmful to participants younger than 60 years (P for interaction = 0.035).ConclusionAn elevated TyG index may increase CKD incidence among MAFLD adults, particularly among younger people. Early intervention may help reduce the incidence of CKD

Ultrasound Stimulation Modulates Voltage-Gated Potassium Currents Associated With Action Potential Shape in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

Potassium channels (K+) play an important role in the regulation of cellular signaling. Dysfunction of potassium channels is associated with several severe ion channels diseases, such as long QT syndrome, episodic ataxia and epilepsy. Ultrasound stimulation has proven to be an effective non-invasive tool for the modulation of ion channels and neural activity. In this study, we demonstrate that ultrasound stimulation enables to modulate the potassium currents and has an impact on the shape modulation of action potentials (AP) in the hippocampal pyramidal neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in vitro. The results show that outward potassium currents in neurons increase significantly, approximately 13%, in response to 30 s ultrasound stimulation. Simultaneously, the increasing outward potassium currents directly decrease the resting membrane potential (RMP) from −64.67 ± 1.10 mV to −67.51 ± 1.35 mV. Moreover, the threshold current and AP fall rate increase while the reduction of AP half-width and after-hyperpolarization peak time is detected. During ultrasound stimulation, reduction of the membrane input resistance of pyramidal neurons can be found and shorter membrane time constant is achieved. Additionally, we verify that the regulation of potassium currents and shape of action potential is mainly due to the mechanical effects induced by ultrasound. Therefore, ultrasound stimulation may offer an alternative tool to treat some ion channels diseases related to potassium channels

Porous graphene-based materials by thermolytic cracking

Porous graphene monolith and porous composites of graphene oxide (GO) and silica were prepared by thermolytic cracking of graphene-coated, or GO/silica-coated polystyrene (PS) spheres. The spheres were synthesized through in situ precipitation polymerization of styrene using GO and poly (vinylpyrrolidone) as stabilizing agents. During polymerization, GO adsorbed to the surface of the PS particle due to its amphiphilicity as well as spontaneous grafting onGObasal plane. The GO-coated PS spheres were either reduced by hydrazine to graphene-coated PS spheres, or underwent a sol–gel reaction with tetraethyloxysilane (TEOS). These materials were finally subjected to thermolytic cracking in a thermogravimetry instrument or in a furnace under nitrogen up to 550 or 700 C, resulting in graphene-based porous materials in which the pores are surrounded by graphene or GO/silica walls. The factors affecting the specific surface area were discussed. The method may serve as a new approach to fabricate 3D graphene-based porous materials

Radical-induced oxidation of RAFT agents : a kinetic study

Radical-induced oxidn. of reversible addn.-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents is studied with respect to the effect of mol. structure on oxidn. rate. The radicals are generated by homolysis of either azobisisobutyronitrile or alkoxyamine and transformed in situ immediately into peroxy radicals through transfer to mol. oxygen. The oxidn. rate depends on the structure of Z- and R-group of thiocarbonylthio compds. For dithioesters with identical Z-Ph substituent, the oxidn. rate decreases in the order of cyanoisopropyl (-C(Me)2CN) > cumyl (-C(Me)2Ph) > phenylethyl (-CH(Me)Ph) > 2-methoxy-1-methyl-2-oxoethyl (-CH(Me) -C(=O)OCH3) > benzyl (-CH2Ph). For dithioesters with identical R-group, the oxidn. rate decreases in the order of Z = phenyl- ∼ benzyl- > RS- (trithiocarbonates) > RO- (xanthates). The stability of the RAFT agents toward oxidn. correlates well with the chain transfer abilities as those previously reported by Rizzardo and coworkers. The priority of the oxidn. reaction over the RAFT process, and the subsequent influence on RAFT polymn. are also studied. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011. [on SciFinder(R)

Effects of Nano-CeO2 with Different Nanocrystal Morphologies on Cytotoxicity in HepG2 Cells

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nano-CeO2) have been reported to cause damage and apoptosis in human primary hepatocytes. Here, we compared the toxicity of three types of nano-CeO2 with different nanocrystal morphologies (cube-, octahedron-, and rod-like crystals) in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). The cells were treated with the nano-CeO2 at various concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 μg/mL). The crystal structure, size and morphology of nano-CeO2 were investigated by X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. The specific surface area was detected using the Brunauer, Emmet and Teller method. The cellular morphological and internal structure were observed by microscopy; apoptotic alterations were measured using flow cytometry; nuclear DNA, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) in HepG2 cells were measured using high content screening technology. The scavenging ability of hydroxyl free radicals and the redox properties of the nano-CeO2 were measured by square-wave voltammetry and temperature-programmed-reduction methods. All three types of nano-CeO2 entered the HepG2 cells, localized in the lysosome and cytoplasm, altered cellular shape, and caused cytotoxicity. The nano-CeO2 with smaller specific surface areas induced more apoptosis, caused an increase in MMP, ROS and GSH, and lowered the cell’s ability to scavenge hydroxyl free radicals and antioxidants. In this work, our data demonstrated that compared with cube-like and octahedron-like nano-CeO2, the rod-like nano-CeO2 has lowest toxicity to HepG2 cells owing to its larger specific surface areas