Irbesartan protects against type 2 diabetic nephropathy by regulating miR-93/VEGF and its downstream effectors

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of irbesartan against type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN), and the mechanism involved.Methods: Wistar rats (n = 48) were used in this study. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was established in the rats via injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Thereafter, the DM rats were randomly divided into diabetic nephropathy (DN) group and irbesartan group, with 16 rats in each group. Rats in the control group (n = 16) received normal saline in place of irbesartan.Results: Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as protein expression levels of VEGF, FN, collagen IV in DN group were significantly higher in irbesartan group than the corresponding levels in normal control group, while miR-93 protein expression level was significantly lower than that in normal control group (p < 0.05). However, the expression level of mir-93 was significantly higher in irbesartan group than in DN group, while levels of TC, TGs, HDL-C, LDL-C and VEGF, as well as protein levels of FN and collagen IV protein were significantly lower than those in DN group (p < 0.05). There was no obvious change in the renal tissues of the normal control group. In contrast, in the DN group, glomerularcapillary loop hypertrophy, narrow glomerular cavity, thick basement membrane, mesangial matrix, and vacuolar degeneration in renal tubular epithelial cells, were evident. Compared with DN group, the pathological changes in the irbesartan group were significantly mitigated (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Irbesartan protects DM rats against type 2 diabetic nephropathy by regulating mir-93/VEGF and its downstream effector molecules. This provides some ideas for the development of new drugs for the prevention of type 2 diabetic nephropathy

Analysis of clinical and dosimetric factors associated with severe acute radiation pneumonitis in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with concurrent chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the association between the clinical, dosimetric factors and severe acute radiation pneumonitis (SARP) in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LANSCLC) treated with concurrent chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed 94 LANSCLC patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy and IMRT between May 2005 and September 2006. SARP was defined as greater than or equal 3 side effects and graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0.</p> <p>The clinical and dosimetric factors were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between clinical, dosimetric factors and SARP.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Median follow-up was 10.5 months (range 6.5-24). Of 94 patients, 11 (11.7%) developed SARP. Univariate analyses showed that the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), mean lung dose (MLD), relative volumes of lung receiving more than a threshold dose of 5-60 Gy at increments of 5 Gy (V5-V60), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) were associated with SARP (<it>p </it>< 0.05). In multivariate analysis, NTCP value (<it>p </it>= 0.001) and V10 (<it>p </it>= 0.015) were the most significant factors associated with SARP. The incidences of SARP in the group with NTCP > 4.2% and NTCP ≤4.2% were 43.5% and 1.4%, respectively (<it>p </it>< 0.01). The incidences of SARP in the group with V10 ≤50% and V10 >50% were 5.7% and 29.2%, respectively (<it>p </it>< 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>NTCP value and V10 are the useful indicators for predicting SARP in NSCLC patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy and IMRT.</p

An All-solid-state Cd2+-selective electrode with a low detection limit

A new all-solid-state Cd2+-selective electrode with a low detection limit was prepared by using conjugated thiophene oligomer alpha-sexithiophene (alpha-6T) as solid contact deposited between an ionophore-doped poly(vinyl chloride) membrane and a gold disc substrate. The electrode exhibited a Nernstian response for Cd2+ ions over a wide concentration range of 10(-3)-10(-7) M with a detection limit as low as 1.3 x 10(-8) M. Results showed that the fabricated potentiometric sensor was suitable for use within the pH range of 2.0-9.0 and exhibited good reproducibility for long-term measurements. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.A new all-solid-state Cd2+-selective electrode with a low detection limit was prepared by using conjugated thiophene oligomer alpha-sexithiophene (alpha-6T) as solid contact deposited between an ionophore-doped poly(vinyl chloride) membrane and a gold disc substrate. The electrode exhibited a Nernstian response for Cd2+ ions over a wide concentration range of 10(-3)-10(-7) M with a detection limit as low as 1.3 x 10(-8) M. Results showed that the fabricated potentiometric sensor was suitable for use within the pH range of 2.0-9.0 and exhibited good reproducibility for long-term measurements. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Enhanced axial mixing of rotating drums with alternately arranged baffles

Traditional rotating drums are a popular type of tumbling mixer; however, they generally suffer from poor axial mixing with granular materials. To overcome this weakness, a system of alternately arranged baffles is presented, and its effect on particle mixing is numerically assessed using a GPU-based discrete element method. It is found that this arrangement of baffles displays better axial mixing performance than drums with (or without) traditional baffles, and that maximum mixing efficiency can be obtained through a suitable choice of baffle dimension and number. Essentially, this novel arrangement promotes the bulk movement of particles in the axial direction because of the combined radial scattering and axial guiding effects of the baffles. Together with the enhanced dispersive mixing, axial convective mixing serves to increase the axial mixing efficiency. Moreover, it is found that alternately arranged baffles produce good performance in various granular systems of rotating drums. Thus, the proposed system is a promising approach for industrial applications in more complicated mixers. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Improved potentiometric response of all-solid-state Pb2+-selective electrode

Zero-current ion-flux has a great influence on the characteristics of the ion-selective electrodes. In this work the improvement of analytical performance of all-solid-state Pb2+-selective membrane electrodes was demonstrated by adjusting the transmembrane ion flux. The study is focused on the relationship between the conditioning solution and the linear working range of the obtained electrodes for different sample matrixes. Results show that the electrode with appropriate conditioning keeps good reproducibility within linear working range. The utility of the electrode has been tested by successfully determining Pb2+ concentration in real water samples. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Relationship between Technology Acceptance and Self-Directed Learning: Mediation Role of Positive Emotions and Technological Self-Efficacy

With the deep integration of ICT into education and teaching, the effect of technology acceptance on students&rsquo; self-directed learning has been one of the key concerns in the education field. This study examines the relationship between technology acceptance and self-directed learning and the mediating role played by positive emotions and technological self-efficacy in a sample of 501 middle school students in eastern China. The results show that: (1) positive emotions mediate the relationship between technology acceptance and self-directed learning; (2) technological self-efficacy also mediates the relationship between technology acceptance and self-directed learning; (3) positive emotions and technological self-efficacy play a mediating role between technology acceptance and self-directed learning. The findings not only reveal the mediating role of positive emotions and technological self-efficacy between technology acceptance and self-directed learning but are also valuable for Chinese teachers to guide middle school students to engage in self-directed learning with the help of technology