BiB3O6 (BIBO) single crystals with sizes of 44 mm × 24 mm × 10 mm and weight of 24.7 g have been successfully grown by the top-seeded method. In this note, the preparation of seed, the growth of crystal and ...BiB3O6 (BIBO) single crystals with sizes of 44 mm × 24 mm × 10 mm and weight of 24.7 g have been successfully grown by the top-seeded method. In this note, the preparation of seed, the growth of crystal and some problems encountered are reported. The lattice parameters of BIBO are a =7.1203(7)A, b = 4.9948(7)A, c = 6.5077(7)A, β= 105.586(8) ", V=222.93(5)A3, which were determined by BRUKER-P4 four-circle diffractometer. BIBO is biaxial crystal and the relative orientation of (X, Y, Z) with regard to (a, b, c) is: X|| b, (Y, c) =47.2°, (Z, a) = 31.6°, determined by the X-ray analysis combined with polarized microscopy. The second-harmonic-generation (SHG) conversion efficiency of the sample for 1.064 μm light is up to 67.7%. We have also obtained the third harmonic generation (THG) of 1.064 μm, namely, 1.064 μm + 0.532 μn →0.355 μm. BIBO crystal is free of moisture and hygroscopy.展开更多
Obesity is a global pandemic characterized by high levels of body fat(adiposity) and derived-cytokines(i.e., leptin). Research shows that adiposity and leptin provide insight on the link between obesity and cancer pro...Obesity is a global pandemic characterized by high levels of body fat(adiposity) and derived-cytokines(i.e., leptin). Research shows that adiposity and leptin provide insight on the link between obesity and cancer progression. Leptin's main function is to regulate energy balance. However, obese individuals routinely develop leptin resistance, which is the consequence of the breakdown in the signaling mechanism controlling satiety resulting in the accumulation of leptin. Therefore, leptin levels are often chronically elevated in human obesity. Elevated leptin levels are related to higher incidence, increased progression and poor prognosis of several human cancers. In addition to adipose tissue, cancer cells can also secrete leptin and overexpress leptin receptors. Leptin is known to act as a mitogen, inflammatory and pro-angiogenic factor that induces cancer cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. Moreover, leptin signaling induces cancer stem cells, which are involved in cancer recurrence and drug resistance. A novel and complex signaling crosstalk between leptin, Notch and interleukin-1(IL-1) [Notch, IL-1 and leptin crosstalk outcome(NILCO)] seems to be an important driver of leptin-induced oncogenic actions. Leptin and NILCO signaling mediate the activation of cancer stem cells that can affect drug resistance. Thus, leptin and NILCO signaling are key links between obesity and cancer progression. This review presents updated data suggesting that adiposity affects cancer incidence, progression, and response to treatment. Here we show data supporting the oncogenic role of leptin in breast, endometrial, and pancreatic cancers.展开更多
While some research has explored racial and ethnic differences in disordered eating, this study may be the first to examine these differences in orthorexia nervosa, involving obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behavior...While some research has explored racial and ethnic differences in disordered eating, this study may be the first to examine these differences in orthorexia nervosa, involving obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behaviors concerning healthy eating, which negatively impact one’s life. Adult participants, recruited from college courses and social media, completed an online survey with the Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory (ONI) and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). Regarding racial and ethnic background, 743 were White, 249 were Hispanic, 87 were Black, 61 were Asian or Pacific Islander, and 110 were biracial/multiracial. A MANCOVA revealed that the racial and ethnic groups did not differ on the ONI subscales assessing orthorexic behaviors, impairments, and emotions, after accounting for gender, BMI, and EAT-26 total scores that were covariates. In contrast, a second MANCOVA did reveal group differences on the EAT-26 subscales, after accounting for gender, BMI, and ONI total scores that were covariates. Black participants scored significantly lower than the other racial and ethnic groups on the subscale assessing dieting behaviors characteristic of anorexia nervosa, and the subscale assessing binge-eating and purging behaviors characteristic of bulimia nervosa. Further, Hispanic participants scored significantly lower than White participants on the latter subscale. These findings suggest that while orthorexic symptomatology does not differ based on race and ethnicity, a Black race and Hispanic ethnicity may be protective factors against disordered eating, perhaps related either to cultural norms concerning body image or to the resiliency and social support among the Black and Hispanic communities.展开更多
Dyslipidemia is a disorder where abnormally lipid concentrations circulate in the bloodstream. The disorder is common in type 2 diabetics (T2D) and is linked with T2D comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease...Dyslipidemia is a disorder where abnormally lipid concentrations circulate in the bloodstream. The disorder is common in type 2 diabetics (T2D) and is linked with T2D comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemia in T2D is typically characterized by elevated plasma triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. There is a significant gap in the literature regarding dyslipidemia in rural parts of Africa, where lipid profiles may not be captured through routine surveillance. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence and demo-graphic profile of dyslipidemia in T2D in the rural community of Ganadougou, Mali. We performed a cross-sectional study of 104 subjects with T2D in Ganadougou between November 2021 and March 2022. Demographic and lipid profiles were collected through cross-sectional surveys and serological analyses. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia in T2D patients was 87.5% (91/104), which did not differ by sex (P = .368). High low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was the most common lipid abnormality (78.9%, [82/104]). Dyslipidemia was associated with age and hypertension status (P = .013 and.036, respectively). High total and high LDL-C parameters were significantly associated with hypertension (P = .029 and .006, respectively). In low-resource settings such as rural Mali, there is a critical need to improve infrastructure for routine dyslipidemia screening to guide its prevention and intervention approaches. The high rates of dyslipidemia observed in Gandadougou, consistent with concomitant increases in cardiovascular diseases in Africa suggest that lipid profile assessments should be incorporated into routine medical care for T2D patients in African rural settings.展开更多
Despite the well-documented impacts of single natural hazards like earthquakes, less is known about the psychological adaptation to multiple natural hazards, particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the as...Despite the well-documented impacts of single natural hazards like earthquakes, less is known about the psychological adaptation to multiple natural hazards, particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the associations of multiple natural hazards with depression among Chinese adults. Data were retrieved from the China Family Panel Studies conducted during 2010–2018. With a sample of 11,633 Chinese adults, multilevel logistic regression was employed to examine the relationships between natural hazard exposure and depression in the total sample and different age groups. Overall, experiencing four or more natural hazards was associated with a higher risk of being depressed. Regarding hazard type, the number of hydrometeorological and biological hazards was associated with a higher likelihood of depression, whereas the number of geologic and other hazards was related to a lower risk of depression. Middle-aged adults from villages were more likely to be affected by natural hazard exposure than older and younger adults. The findings of this study show that cumulative exposure to natural hazards can generate lasting effects on depressive symptoms, particularly in middle adulthood. The findings also suggest that older adults from rural areas may have accumulated more resilience to mitigate the adverse well-being effects of hazard events. Policies and interventions should enhance disaster awareness and preparation for aging residents from multi-hazard communities.展开更多
Restenosis is a common complication following coronary angioplasty.The traditional use of seaweeds for health benefits has increasingly been explored,however few studies exist reporting its protective effects on the d...Restenosis is a common complication following coronary angioplasty.The traditional use of seaweeds for health benefits has increasingly been explored,however few studies exist reporting its protective effects on the development of restenosis and gut dysbiosis.The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of seaweed extracts(SE) of Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus in inhibiting intimal hyperplasia in a rat model of restenosis and its underlying mechanisms in macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells(vSMCs).16S rRNA sequencing was done to investigate the regulatory effect of SE on the gut microbiome of injured rats.As indicated by the results,SE significantly inhibited the progression of intimal hyperplasia in vivo,attenuated inflammation in macrophages and could inhibit the proliferation,dedifferentiation and migration of vSMCs.It was observed through immunoblotting assays that treatment with SE significantly upregulated PTEN expression in macrophages and inhibited the upregulation of PI3K and AKT expression in vSMCs.Meanwhile,according to the 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis,supplementation with SE modulated gut microbiota composition in injured rats.In conclusion,SE could ameliorate intimal hyperplasia by inhibiting inflammation and vSMCs proliferation through the regulation of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway and modulating the gut microbiome.展开更多
Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) utilizing a head-mounted display allows viewers to immerse themselves in a virtual environment. This technology may be useful in attenuating pain and anxiety and reducing patient sub...Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) utilizing a head-mounted display allows viewers to immerse themselves in a virtual environment. This technology may be useful in attenuating pain and anxiety and reducing patient subjective stress as well as objective physiological increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Aside from the improved experience, physiological stress is reduced which results in improved patient outcomes. Patients and methods: Eligible participants were all adults aged 18 or over who had non craniofacial lesions requiring minor surgery. A total of 99 adult patients who were capable of independent consent were randomized to receive a virtual reality experience (VR) or standard music distraction (no VR). Patients were recruited for the study during their office visit when scheduling minor procedure surgery. This was a single center, double-blind, controlled study conducted at Guthrie Clinic Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania between March 2019 to January 2020 (pre-pandemic). Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Guthrie Clinic. Results: The change in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) significantly decreased from pre-procedure to mid-procedure in the VR group compared with standard. Herein our results are presented. Conclusions: Reductions in intraprocedural SBP, DBP and HR can be achieved when using VR. Although subjective reporting of pain and anxiety were not different between groups, VR significantly improves patient satisfaction compared with non VR standards.展开更多
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease and a leading cause of death worldwide.Macrophages play an important role in inflammatory responses,cell-cell communications,plaque growth and plaque rupture ...Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease and a leading cause of death worldwide.Macrophages play an important role in inflammatory responses,cell-cell communications,plaque growth and plaque rupture in atherosclerotic lesions.Here,we review the sources,functions and complex phenotypes of macrophages in the progression of atherosclerosis,and discuss the recent approaches in modulating macrophage phenotype and autophagy for atherosclerosis treatment.We then focus on the drug delivery strategies that target macrophages or use macrophage membrane-coated particles to deliver therapeutics to the lesion sites.These biomaterial-based approaches that target,modulate or engineer macrophages have broad applications for disease therapies and tissue regeneration.展开更多
Defective interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling has been associated with Th2 bias and elevated IgE levels. However, the underlying mechanism by which IL-6 prevents the development of Th2-driven diseases remains unknown. Usin...Defective interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling has been associated with Th2 bias and elevated IgE levels. However, the underlying mechanism by which IL-6 prevents the development of Th2-driven diseases remains unknown. Using a model of house dust mite (HDM)-induced Th2 cell differentiation and allergic airway inflammation, we showed that IL-6 signaling in allergen-specific T cells was required to prevent Th2 cell differentiation and the subsequent IgE response and allergic inflammation. Th2 cell lineage commitment required strong sustained IL-2 signaling. We found that IL-6 turned off IL-2 signaling during early T-cell activation and thus inhibited Th2 priming. Mechanistically, IL-6-driven inhibition of IL-2 signaling in responding T cells was mediated by upregulation of Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3). This mechanism could be mimicked by pharmacological Janus Kinase-1 (JAK1) inhibition. Collectively, our results identify an unrecognized mechanism that prevents the development of unwanted Th2 cell responses and associated diseases and outline potential preventive interventions.展开更多
Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of natural killer(NK)cells in immunotherapy to treat multiple types of cancer.NK cells are innate lymphoid cells that play essential roles in tumor surveillance and contr...Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of natural killer(NK)cells in immunotherapy to treat multiple types of cancer.NK cells are innate lymphoid cells that play essential roles in tumor surveillance and control that efficiently kill the tumor and do not require the major histocompatibility complex.The discovery of the NK’s potential as a promising therapeutic target for cancer is a relief to oncologists as they face the challenge of increased chemo-resistant cancers.NK cells show great potential against solid and hematologic tumors and have progressively shown promise as a therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy.The effector role of these cells is reliant on the balance of inhibitory and activating signals.Understanding the role of various immune checkpoint molecules in the exhaustion and impairment of NK cells when their inhibitory receptors are excessively expressed is particularly important in cancer immunotherapy studies and clinical implementation.Emerging immune checkpoint receptors and molecules have been found to mediate NK cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment;this has brought up the need to explore further additional NK cell-related immune checkpoints that may be exploited to enhance the immune response to refractory cancers.Accordingly,this review will focus on the recent findings concerning the roles of immune checkpoint molecules and receptors in the regulation of NK cell function,as well as their potential application in tumor immunotherapy.展开更多
We study the dynamic causal effects of the shareholding ratio of controlling shareholder on tunneling behavior in China.We use control-right-transfers as the event to conduct the study.We obtain 394 control-right-tran...We study the dynamic causal effects of the shareholding ratio of controlling shareholder on tunneling behavior in China.We use control-right-transfers as the event to conduct the study.We obtain 394 control-right-transfer samples in China corporate control market from 2001 to 2008.We use related party transactions amount to capture control shareholders’tunneling activities,and make the following findings.Firstly,tunneling behavior is significantly affected by the shareholding ratio of controlling shareholder.Secondly,the relationship between tunneling and shareholding ratio of controlling shareholder takes an N shape(incline-decline-incline).There are at least two turning points in the relationship.Furthermore,firms with shareholding ratios of controlling shareholder that range from 34.46%to 39.01%(8.99–18.04%)exhibit the most(least)severe tunneling.Firm size is significantly positively related to tunneling activities.In addition,the shareholding ratios of the board and the tunneling activities are significantly negatively correlated.These findings imply the shareholding ratio decision of controlling shareholder in control transfers lead to agency problems manifested in China in a particular form of tunneling.展开更多
Two novel quadrupolar organic compounds, 3-(4-((E)-2-(9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl) vinyl)styryl)-9-propyl-9H-carbazole (BCSPC) and 3-(3-(3-((1E)-2-(4-((E)-2-(3-(3,5-bis(9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)phenyl)-9-butyl-9H-carbazo...Two novel quadrupolar organic compounds, 3-(4-((E)-2-(9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl) vinyl)styryl)-9-propyl-9H-carbazole (BCSPC) and 3-(3-(3-((1E)-2-(4-((E)-2-(3-(3,5-bis(9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)phenyl)-9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)vinyl)phenyl) vinyl)-9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)-5-(9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)phenyl)-9-butyl-9H-carbazole (BCPBC), with different conjugated arms, have been designed and synthesized. Their one-and two-photon absorption (TPA) and excited fluorescence properties have been experimentally investigated. The two-photon absorption cross-sections of two compounds were estimated by two-photon excited fluorescence technique using 200 fs, 76 MHz, Ti:sapphire laser, which are 22 and 154 GM for BCSPC and BCPBC, respectively. The optimal excitation wavelengths are 780 nm for both BCSPC and BCPBC. A data recording experiment proved the potential application of the materials.展开更多
The methods to grow a novel upconversion crystal Ba2ErCI7 are reported in this note. Ba2ErCI7 material was synthesized with Er2O3, BaCI2-2H2O and NH4CI by using a so-called "direct synthesis method". High qu...The methods to grow a novel upconversion crystal Ba2ErCI7 are reported in this note. Ba2ErCI7 material was synthesized with Er2O3, BaCI2-2H2O and NH4CI by using a so-called "direct synthesis method". High quality Ba2ErCI7 single crystals with size up to 4 mm×8 mm×15 mm were grown by using the Czochralski and the Bridgman methods. Intense yellow-green luminescence was detected when the crystal was pumped by an 803 laser diode (LD). Transmittance spectrum was measured by using HITACH U-3500 spectrophotometer at room temperature for the first time, in which one can see that the transmittance is high in the range from 350 to 1 600 nm and the cut-off wavelength of the crystal was 230 nm. The upconversion mechanisms were discussed.展开更多
Background Alzheimer’s disease(AD)exhibits mitochondrial dysfunctions associated with dysregulated metabolism,brain inflammation,synaptic loss,and neuronal cell death.As a key protein serving as the mitochondrial gat...Background Alzheimer’s disease(AD)exhibits mitochondrial dysfunctions associated with dysregulated metabolism,brain inflammation,synaptic loss,and neuronal cell death.As a key protein serving as the mitochondrial gatekeeper,the voltage-dependent anion channel-1(VDAC1)that controls metabolism and Ca2+homeostasis is positioned at a convergence point for various cell survival and death signals.Here,we targeted VDAC1 with VBIT-4,a newly developed inhibitor of VDAC1 that prevents its pro-apoptotic activity,and mitochondria dysfunction.Methods To address the multiple pathways involved in AD,neuronal cultures and a 5×FAD mouse model of AD were treated with VBIT-4.We addressed multiple topics related to the disease and its molecular mechanisms using immunoblotting,immunofluorescence,q-RT-PCR,3-D structural analysis and several behavioral tests.Results In neuronal cultures,amyloid-beta(Aβ)-induced VDAC1 and p53 overexpression and apoptotic cell death were prevented by VBIT-4.Using an AD-like 5×FAD mouse model,we showed that VDAC1 was overexpressed in neurons surrounding Aβplaques,but not in astrocytes and microglia,and this was associated with neuronal cell death.VBIT-4 prevented the associated pathophysiological changes including neuronal cell death,neuroinflammation,and neuro-metabolic dysfunctions.VBIT-4 also switched astrocytes and microglia from being pro-inflammatory/neurotoxic to neuroprotective phenotype.Moreover,VBIT-4 prevented cognitive decline in the 5×FAD mice as evaluated using several behavioral assessments of cognitive function.Interestingly,VBIT-4 protected against AD pathology,with no significant change in phosphorylated Tau and only a slight decrease in Aβ-plaque load.Conclusions The study suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction with its gatekeeper VDAC1 is a promising target for AD therapeutic intervention,and VBIT-4 is a promising drug candidate for AD treatment.展开更多
Effects of added fat in sow diets on the sows’reproductive performance and offspring growth performance are influenced by multiple factors such as genetics,nutrition,parity,ambient temperatures,and farm management.In...Effects of added fat in sow diets on the sows’reproductive performance and offspring growth performance are influenced by multiple factors such as genetics,nutrition,parity,ambient temperatures,and farm management.Individual studies cannot cover all these factors.With the view to address this challenge,we searched all studies that were published from 1986 to 2020,and performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the fat effect.In total,19 papers were collected and analyzed.Fat supplementation in sow diets during late gestation and lactation decreased average daily feed intake(ADFI,P<0.05)and tended to increase average daily energy intake(ADEI,P=0.11).It had no impact on litter weights at birth(P=0.40)or weaning(P=0.46).It increased total numbers of piglets at birth(P=0.07),but had no effect on liveborn per litter(P=0.90)or survival rate(P=0.48)of piglets to weaning.Fat supplementation had no significant effect on sow body weight loss(P=0.67)or backfat thickness changes(P=0.66),but sows fed diets with added fat had increased milk fat concentration(P=0.03)and shorter wean to estrus intervals(WEI,P=0.01).In specific circumstances,fat supplementation tended to improve growth performance of piglets with low litter weights at birth(P=0.14),or when the sows lost large amounts of body weight during lactation(P=0.11).The level of supplemented fat was 10%and higher would decrease liveborn per litter at neutral temperature(P=0.10).The meta-analysis revealed that fat supplementation to sows diet during late gestation and lactation can be beneficial for sow reproductive performance and litter growth performance.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the State Key Program of China.
文摘BiB3O6 (BIBO) single crystals with sizes of 44 mm × 24 mm × 10 mm and weight of 24.7 g have been successfully grown by the top-seeded method. In this note, the preparation of seed, the growth of crystal and some problems encountered are reported. The lattice parameters of BIBO are a =7.1203(7)A, b = 4.9948(7)A, c = 6.5077(7)A, β= 105.586(8) ", V=222.93(5)A3, which were determined by BRUKER-P4 four-circle diffractometer. BIBO is biaxial crystal and the relative orientation of (X, Y, Z) with regard to (a, b, c) is: X|| b, (Y, c) =47.2°, (Z, a) = 31.6°, determined by the X-ray analysis combined with polarized microscopy. The second-harmonic-generation (SHG) conversion efficiency of the sample for 1.064 μm light is up to 67.7%. We have also obtained the third harmonic generation (THG) of 1.064 μm, namely, 1.064 μm + 0.532 μn →0.355 μm. BIBO crystal is free of moisture and hygroscopy.
基金Supported by The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health(NIH 1R41 CA183399-01A1,5U54 CA118638 Pilot Project Award and UAB/UMN SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer)the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs--Department of Defense(CDMRP DOD W81XWH-13-1-0382)to Gonzalez-Perez RR+1 种基金and NCI S21 MD000101,5G12 MD0076021,G12 RR026250-03,NIH RR03034 and 1C06 RR18386 to Morehouse School of Medicinethe National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the NIH Award 5T32HL103104-04(MPI)to Daley-Brown D
文摘Obesity is a global pandemic characterized by high levels of body fat(adiposity) and derived-cytokines(i.e., leptin). Research shows that adiposity and leptin provide insight on the link between obesity and cancer progression. Leptin's main function is to regulate energy balance. However, obese individuals routinely develop leptin resistance, which is the consequence of the breakdown in the signaling mechanism controlling satiety resulting in the accumulation of leptin. Therefore, leptin levels are often chronically elevated in human obesity. Elevated leptin levels are related to higher incidence, increased progression and poor prognosis of several human cancers. In addition to adipose tissue, cancer cells can also secrete leptin and overexpress leptin receptors. Leptin is known to act as a mitogen, inflammatory and pro-angiogenic factor that induces cancer cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. Moreover, leptin signaling induces cancer stem cells, which are involved in cancer recurrence and drug resistance. A novel and complex signaling crosstalk between leptin, Notch and interleukin-1(IL-1) [Notch, IL-1 and leptin crosstalk outcome(NILCO)] seems to be an important driver of leptin-induced oncogenic actions. Leptin and NILCO signaling mediate the activation of cancer stem cells that can affect drug resistance. Thus, leptin and NILCO signaling are key links between obesity and cancer progression. This review presents updated data suggesting that adiposity affects cancer incidence, progression, and response to treatment. Here we show data supporting the oncogenic role of leptin in breast, endometrial, and pancreatic cancers.
文摘While some research has explored racial and ethnic differences in disordered eating, this study may be the first to examine these differences in orthorexia nervosa, involving obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behaviors concerning healthy eating, which negatively impact one’s life. Adult participants, recruited from college courses and social media, completed an online survey with the Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory (ONI) and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). Regarding racial and ethnic background, 743 were White, 249 were Hispanic, 87 were Black, 61 were Asian or Pacific Islander, and 110 were biracial/multiracial. A MANCOVA revealed that the racial and ethnic groups did not differ on the ONI subscales assessing orthorexic behaviors, impairments, and emotions, after accounting for gender, BMI, and EAT-26 total scores that were covariates. In contrast, a second MANCOVA did reveal group differences on the EAT-26 subscales, after accounting for gender, BMI, and ONI total scores that were covariates. Black participants scored significantly lower than the other racial and ethnic groups on the subscale assessing dieting behaviors characteristic of anorexia nervosa, and the subscale assessing binge-eating and purging behaviors characteristic of bulimia nervosa. Further, Hispanic participants scored significantly lower than White participants on the latter subscale. These findings suggest that while orthorexic symptomatology does not differ based on race and ethnicity, a Black race and Hispanic ethnicity may be protective factors against disordered eating, perhaps related either to cultural norms concerning body image or to the resiliency and social support among the Black and Hispanic communities.
文摘Dyslipidemia is a disorder where abnormally lipid concentrations circulate in the bloodstream. The disorder is common in type 2 diabetics (T2D) and is linked with T2D comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemia in T2D is typically characterized by elevated plasma triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. There is a significant gap in the literature regarding dyslipidemia in rural parts of Africa, where lipid profiles may not be captured through routine surveillance. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence and demo-graphic profile of dyslipidemia in T2D in the rural community of Ganadougou, Mali. We performed a cross-sectional study of 104 subjects with T2D in Ganadougou between November 2021 and March 2022. Demographic and lipid profiles were collected through cross-sectional surveys and serological analyses. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia in T2D patients was 87.5% (91/104), which did not differ by sex (P = .368). High low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was the most common lipid abnormality (78.9%, [82/104]). Dyslipidemia was associated with age and hypertension status (P = .013 and.036, respectively). High total and high LDL-C parameters were significantly associated with hypertension (P = .029 and .006, respectively). In low-resource settings such as rural Mali, there is a critical need to improve infrastructure for routine dyslipidemia screening to guide its prevention and intervention approaches. The high rates of dyslipidemia observed in Gandadougou, consistent with concomitant increases in cardiovascular diseases in Africa suggest that lipid profile assessments should be incorporated into routine medical care for T2D patients in African rural settings.
基金supported by the National Social Science Fund of China (Grant No. 23CSH035)the Reaching Out Award from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship Fund+1 种基金the Additional Top Conference Grantthe Research Student Attachment Programme (RSAP) from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University。
文摘Despite the well-documented impacts of single natural hazards like earthquakes, less is known about the psychological adaptation to multiple natural hazards, particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the associations of multiple natural hazards with depression among Chinese adults. Data were retrieved from the China Family Panel Studies conducted during 2010–2018. With a sample of 11,633 Chinese adults, multilevel logistic regression was employed to examine the relationships between natural hazard exposure and depression in the total sample and different age groups. Overall, experiencing four or more natural hazards was associated with a higher risk of being depressed. Regarding hazard type, the number of hydrometeorological and biological hazards was associated with a higher likelihood of depression, whereas the number of geologic and other hazards was related to a lower risk of depression. Middle-aged adults from villages were more likely to be affected by natural hazard exposure than older and younger adults. The findings of this study show that cumulative exposure to natural hazards can generate lasting effects on depressive symptoms, particularly in middle adulthood. The findings also suggest that older adults from rural areas may have accumulated more resilience to mitigate the adverse well-being effects of hazard events. Policies and interventions should enhance disaster awareness and preparation for aging residents from multi-hazard communities.
基金supported by the research grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan (MOST108-2320B-038-040-MY3 and MOST 111-2320-B-038-049)the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC111-2320-B-038-049)。
文摘Restenosis is a common complication following coronary angioplasty.The traditional use of seaweeds for health benefits has increasingly been explored,however few studies exist reporting its protective effects on the development of restenosis and gut dysbiosis.The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of seaweed extracts(SE) of Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus in inhibiting intimal hyperplasia in a rat model of restenosis and its underlying mechanisms in macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells(vSMCs).16S rRNA sequencing was done to investigate the regulatory effect of SE on the gut microbiome of injured rats.As indicated by the results,SE significantly inhibited the progression of intimal hyperplasia in vivo,attenuated inflammation in macrophages and could inhibit the proliferation,dedifferentiation and migration of vSMCs.It was observed through immunoblotting assays that treatment with SE significantly upregulated PTEN expression in macrophages and inhibited the upregulation of PI3K and AKT expression in vSMCs.Meanwhile,according to the 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis,supplementation with SE modulated gut microbiota composition in injured rats.In conclusion,SE could ameliorate intimal hyperplasia by inhibiting inflammation and vSMCs proliferation through the regulation of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway and modulating the gut microbiome.
文摘Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) utilizing a head-mounted display allows viewers to immerse themselves in a virtual environment. This technology may be useful in attenuating pain and anxiety and reducing patient subjective stress as well as objective physiological increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Aside from the improved experience, physiological stress is reduced which results in improved patient outcomes. Patients and methods: Eligible participants were all adults aged 18 or over who had non craniofacial lesions requiring minor surgery. A total of 99 adult patients who were capable of independent consent were randomized to receive a virtual reality experience (VR) or standard music distraction (no VR). Patients were recruited for the study during their office visit when scheduling minor procedure surgery. This was a single center, double-blind, controlled study conducted at Guthrie Clinic Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania between March 2019 to January 2020 (pre-pandemic). Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Guthrie Clinic. Results: The change in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) significantly decreased from pre-procedure to mid-procedure in the VR group compared with standard. Herein our results are presented. Conclusions: Reductions in intraprocedural SBP, DBP and HR can be achieved when using VR. Although subjective reporting of pain and anxiety were not different between groups, VR significantly improves patient satisfaction compared with non VR standards.
基金supported by grants from the National Institute of Health(R01HL149940 to S.L.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(11932014 and 31971239 to X.L.).
文摘Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease and a leading cause of death worldwide.Macrophages play an important role in inflammatory responses,cell-cell communications,plaque growth and plaque rupture in atherosclerotic lesions.Here,we review the sources,functions and complex phenotypes of macrophages in the progression of atherosclerosis,and discuss the recent approaches in modulating macrophage phenotype and autophagy for atherosclerosis treatment.We then focus on the drug delivery strategies that target macrophages or use macrophage membrane-coated particles to deliver therapeutics to the lesion sites.These biomaterial-based approaches that target,modulate or engineer macrophages have broad applications for disease therapies and tissue regeneration.
文摘Defective interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling has been associated with Th2 bias and elevated IgE levels. However, the underlying mechanism by which IL-6 prevents the development of Th2-driven diseases remains unknown. Using a model of house dust mite (HDM)-induced Th2 cell differentiation and allergic airway inflammation, we showed that IL-6 signaling in allergen-specific T cells was required to prevent Th2 cell differentiation and the subsequent IgE response and allergic inflammation. Th2 cell lineage commitment required strong sustained IL-2 signaling. We found that IL-6 turned off IL-2 signaling during early T-cell activation and thus inhibited Th2 priming. Mechanistically, IL-6-driven inhibition of IL-2 signaling in responding T cells was mediated by upregulation of Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3). This mechanism could be mimicked by pharmacological Janus Kinase-1 (JAK1) inhibition. Collectively, our results identify an unrecognized mechanism that prevents the development of unwanted Th2 cell responses and associated diseases and outline potential preventive interventions.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81400659,81974377)Natural Science Fund of Liaoning Province(No.2017225032,20180551193,2020-MS-181)+1 种基金Shenyang Science and Technology Project(No.17-230-9-16)the 345 Talent Project of Shengjing Hospital(No.40B).
文摘Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of natural killer(NK)cells in immunotherapy to treat multiple types of cancer.NK cells are innate lymphoid cells that play essential roles in tumor surveillance and control that efficiently kill the tumor and do not require the major histocompatibility complex.The discovery of the NK’s potential as a promising therapeutic target for cancer is a relief to oncologists as they face the challenge of increased chemo-resistant cancers.NK cells show great potential against solid and hematologic tumors and have progressively shown promise as a therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy.The effector role of these cells is reliant on the balance of inhibitory and activating signals.Understanding the role of various immune checkpoint molecules in the exhaustion and impairment of NK cells when their inhibitory receptors are excessively expressed is particularly important in cancer immunotherapy studies and clinical implementation.Emerging immune checkpoint receptors and molecules have been found to mediate NK cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment;this has brought up the need to explore further additional NK cell-related immune checkpoints that may be exploited to enhance the immune response to refractory cancers.Accordingly,this review will focus on the recent findings concerning the roles of immune checkpoint molecules and receptors in the regulation of NK cell function,as well as their potential application in tumor immunotherapy.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC Nos. 71372149, and 71402034)the philosophy and social sciences major issue research projects of the Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 8151027501000039)
文摘We study the dynamic causal effects of the shareholding ratio of controlling shareholder on tunneling behavior in China.We use control-right-transfers as the event to conduct the study.We obtain 394 control-right-transfer samples in China corporate control market from 2001 to 2008.We use related party transactions amount to capture control shareholders’tunneling activities,and make the following findings.Firstly,tunneling behavior is significantly affected by the shareholding ratio of controlling shareholder.Secondly,the relationship between tunneling and shareholding ratio of controlling shareholder takes an N shape(incline-decline-incline).There are at least two turning points in the relationship.Furthermore,firms with shareholding ratios of controlling shareholder that range from 34.46%to 39.01%(8.99–18.04%)exhibit the most(least)severe tunneling.Firm size is significantly positively related to tunneling activities.In addition,the shareholding ratios of the board and the tunneling activities are significantly negatively correlated.These findings imply the shareholding ratio decision of controlling shareholder in control transfers lead to agency problems manifested in China in a particular form of tunneling.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50532030, 20771001, 20775001 and 50873001)the National Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (Grant No. 070414188)the Foundation of Scientific Innovation Team of Anhui Province (Grant No. 2006KJ007TD)
文摘Two novel quadrupolar organic compounds, 3-(4-((E)-2-(9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl) vinyl)styryl)-9-propyl-9H-carbazole (BCSPC) and 3-(3-(3-((1E)-2-(4-((E)-2-(3-(3,5-bis(9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)phenyl)-9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)vinyl)phenyl) vinyl)-9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)-5-(9-butyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)phenyl)-9-butyl-9H-carbazole (BCPBC), with different conjugated arms, have been designed and synthesized. Their one-and two-photon absorption (TPA) and excited fluorescence properties have been experimentally investigated. The two-photon absorption cross-sections of two compounds were estimated by two-photon excited fluorescence technique using 200 fs, 76 MHz, Ti:sapphire laser, which are 22 and 154 GM for BCSPC and BCPBC, respectively. The optimal excitation wavelengths are 780 nm for both BCSPC and BCPBC. A data recording experiment proved the potential application of the materials.
文摘The methods to grow a novel upconversion crystal Ba2ErCI7 are reported in this note. Ba2ErCI7 material was synthesized with Er2O3, BaCI2-2H2O and NH4CI by using a so-called "direct synthesis method". High quality Ba2ErCI7 single crystals with size up to 4 mm×8 mm×15 mm were grown by using the Czochralski and the Bridgman methods. Intense yellow-green luminescence was detected when the crystal was pumped by an 803 laser diode (LD). Transmittance spectrum was measured by using HITACH U-3500 spectrophotometer at room temperature for the first time, in which one can see that the transmittance is high in the range from 350 to 1 600 nm and the cut-off wavelength of the crystal was 230 nm. The upconversion mechanisms were discussed.
基金The Israel Science Foundation,Grant No.974/19,and by a grant from the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev(NIBN)to VSB.
文摘Background Alzheimer’s disease(AD)exhibits mitochondrial dysfunctions associated with dysregulated metabolism,brain inflammation,synaptic loss,and neuronal cell death.As a key protein serving as the mitochondrial gatekeeper,the voltage-dependent anion channel-1(VDAC1)that controls metabolism and Ca2+homeostasis is positioned at a convergence point for various cell survival and death signals.Here,we targeted VDAC1 with VBIT-4,a newly developed inhibitor of VDAC1 that prevents its pro-apoptotic activity,and mitochondria dysfunction.Methods To address the multiple pathways involved in AD,neuronal cultures and a 5×FAD mouse model of AD were treated with VBIT-4.We addressed multiple topics related to the disease and its molecular mechanisms using immunoblotting,immunofluorescence,q-RT-PCR,3-D structural analysis and several behavioral tests.Results In neuronal cultures,amyloid-beta(Aβ)-induced VDAC1 and p53 overexpression and apoptotic cell death were prevented by VBIT-4.Using an AD-like 5×FAD mouse model,we showed that VDAC1 was overexpressed in neurons surrounding Aβplaques,but not in astrocytes and microglia,and this was associated with neuronal cell death.VBIT-4 prevented the associated pathophysiological changes including neuronal cell death,neuroinflammation,and neuro-metabolic dysfunctions.VBIT-4 also switched astrocytes and microglia from being pro-inflammatory/neurotoxic to neuroprotective phenotype.Moreover,VBIT-4 prevented cognitive decline in the 5×FAD mice as evaluated using several behavioral assessments of cognitive function.Interestingly,VBIT-4 protected against AD pathology,with no significant change in phosphorylated Tau and only a slight decrease in Aβ-plaque load.Conclusions The study suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction with its gatekeeper VDAC1 is a promising target for AD therapeutic intervention,and VBIT-4 is a promising drug candidate for AD treatment.
基金funded by The National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFD0700201)。
文摘Effects of added fat in sow diets on the sows’reproductive performance and offspring growth performance are influenced by multiple factors such as genetics,nutrition,parity,ambient temperatures,and farm management.Individual studies cannot cover all these factors.With the view to address this challenge,we searched all studies that were published from 1986 to 2020,and performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the fat effect.In total,19 papers were collected and analyzed.Fat supplementation in sow diets during late gestation and lactation decreased average daily feed intake(ADFI,P<0.05)and tended to increase average daily energy intake(ADEI,P=0.11).It had no impact on litter weights at birth(P=0.40)or weaning(P=0.46).It increased total numbers of piglets at birth(P=0.07),but had no effect on liveborn per litter(P=0.90)or survival rate(P=0.48)of piglets to weaning.Fat supplementation had no significant effect on sow body weight loss(P=0.67)or backfat thickness changes(P=0.66),but sows fed diets with added fat had increased milk fat concentration(P=0.03)and shorter wean to estrus intervals(WEI,P=0.01).In specific circumstances,fat supplementation tended to improve growth performance of piglets with low litter weights at birth(P=0.14),or when the sows lost large amounts of body weight during lactation(P=0.11).The level of supplemented fat was 10%and higher would decrease liveborn per litter at neutral temperature(P=0.10).The meta-analysis revealed that fat supplementation to sows diet during late gestation and lactation can be beneficial for sow reproductive performance and litter growth performance.
