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In this work, a small-size inbuilt-metal ceramic heater (IMCH) was for the first time utilized as a solid sampling electrothermal vaporizer (ETV), and then a novel direct sampling mercury analyzer coupled with a miniature atomic absorption spectrometer was thereby fabricated for sensitive determination of mercury in soil. The mercury analyzer is mainly composed of an IMCH-ETV, a catalytic pyrolysis furnace (CPF) using Al 2 O 3 particles as a new filler, an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) and a miniature air pump for carrier gas; herein, the mostly used gold amalgamation was canceled. The IMCH with 30 W heating fulfills the 100% vaporization of mercury from up to 80 mg soil samples using 0.1 L min−1 air carrier. Under the optimized conditions, the method detection limit (LOD) was 0.4 ng g−1 for a 50 mg sample and the RSD of 11 repeated measurements of GSS-3a soil certified reference material (CRM) was 4%. Furthermore, the measured Hg values in various soil CRMs and real soil samples were within their certified values and consistent with that using the Chinese standard method (solid sampling catalytic pyrolysis AAS with gold amalgamation); and the recoveries were 85–113%, which proved favorable analytical accuracy and precision. This fabricated instrumentation only occupies 5 kg and 200 W power consumption vs. more than 25 kg and 1000 W for the traditional Hg analyzer. Therefore, the proposed IMCH-ETV-AAS method is very suitable for portable and rapid detection of mercury in soil. [Display omitted] • An inbuilt-metal ceramic heater was first employed for solid sampling of soil Hg. • Hg LOD of this solid sampling method reaches 0.4 ng g−1 with RSDs＜15%. • The novel mercury analyzer only occupies 5 kg size and <200 W power consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous research has demonstrated that the spleen plays an important role in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-mediated alleviation of acute inflammation, as MSC infusion increases the spleen-derived anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels. However, studies on splenic involvement in MSC-induced protection against chronic inflammatory diseases are limited. Obesity is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation, a key driver of insulin resistance. This study aims to evaluate the effects of MSCs on obesity-related insulin resistance and explore the underlying mechanism, particularly regarding splenic involvement. Methods: We induced obesity in mice by feeding them high-fat diets for 20 weeks. Human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) were systemically infused into the obese mice once per week for 6 weeks. Systemic glucose metabolic homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) were evaluated. Then, we conducted in vivo blockade of IL-10 during UC-MSC infusion by intraperitoneally administrating an IL-10-neutralizing antibody twice per week. We also investigated the therapeutic effects of UC-MSCs on obese mice after removal of the spleen by splenectomy. Results: UC-MSC infusions improved systemic metabolic homeostasis and alleviated insulin resistance in EAT but elicited no change in weight. Despite rare engraftment of UC-MSCs in EAT, UC-MSC infusions attenuated insulin resistance in EAT by polarizing macrophages into the M2 phenotype, coupled with elevated serum IL-10 levels. In vivo blockade of IL-10 blunted the effects of UC-MSCs on obese mice. Furthermore, UC-MSCs overwhelmingly homed to the spleen, and the ability of UC-MSCs to elevate serum IL-10 levels and alleviate insulin resistance was impaired in the absence of the spleen. Further in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that UC-MSCs promoted the capacity of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) to produce IL-10 in the spleen. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that UC-MSCs elevated serum IL-10 levels and subsequently promoted macrophage polarization, leading to alleviation of insulin resistance in EAT. The underlying mechanism was that UC-MSCs improved the capacity of Treg cells to produce IL-10 in the spleen. Our findings indicated that the spleen played a critical role in amplifying MSC-mediated immunomodulatory effects, which may contribute to maximizing MSC efficacy in clinical applications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferon (IFN) is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that activates cell surface receptors and causes cells to produce antiviral proteins, inhibiting viral replication. Interferon use has long been associated with diabetes. The PubMed database was searched for articles related to diabetes and interferon from March 30, 2020. Patients were divided into type 1 diabetes group and type 2 diabetes group. We reviewed the relevant literature to compare interferon-associated T1D and interferon-associated T2D differences. Interferon treatment shortened the incubation period of T2D and changed the original T2D to T1D. The onset of interferon-associated T1D required longer periods of IFN treatment than interferon-associated T2D, and the interferon-associated T1D group had higher GADA positive rates, lower BMI, lower fasting blood glucose, and greater insulin dependence (p<0.05). More patients in the T1D group were positive for HLA-DRB1*04, DRB1*03, DRB1*09, DRB1*14, HLA-DQB1*04, HLA-DQB1*02, HLA-DQB1*03, and HLA-DQB1*05. The combined detection of GAD antibodies and HLA alleles may be an effective method to predict the incidence of T1D after IFN treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Our previous cross-sectional study revealed the association between neck circumference (NC) and hyperuricemia. This study aimed to further investigate the longitudinal association between NC and hyperuricemia and to compare the strengths of longitudinal association of NC and waist circumference (WC) with hyperuricemia. Methods: A total of 4383 subjects without hyperuricemia at baseline were included. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the association between baseline anthropometric indices and uric acid level at follow-up. Cox regression was used to assess the relationship between baseline anthropometric indices and the risk of future hyperuricemia. A receiver-operating characteristic curve was used to compare the predictive ability of baseline anthropometric indices for future hyperuricemia. Results: Among women, only baseline NC was positively, linearly associated with uric acid level at follow-up (β = 1.75) and risk of future hyperuricemia (ptrend < 0.05); risk of hyperuricemia in the third and fourth quartile groups of baseline NC significantly increased, compared with the first quartile group of baseline NC (HR = 1.48 and 1.81, respectively). Among men, neither NC nor WC was associated with hyperuricemia after adjusting for confounder factors. The area under the curve of baseline NC and WC for hyperuricemia was comparable in both genders (0.606 for NC and 0.599 for WC in women, 0.578 for NC and 0.602 for WC in men). Conclusions: For women, only baseline NC is an independent risk factor of hyperuricemia within 3 years. NC and WC have a similar 3-year predictive ability for hyperuricemia in both genders. Key Points • This is the first study to assess the longitudinal association between neck circumference and hyperuricemia. • According to the results of this study, we propose for the first time that neck circumference is an independent risk factor for hyperuricemia in women in the future, rather than waist circumference. • We found for the first time that neck circumference and waist circumference have similar predictive ability for future hyperuricemia in both genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) are very rare disorders but have complex spectrum, including insulinoma, gastrinoma, glucagonoma, somatostatinoma, and VIPoma. Patients with PanNENs usually present with characteristic symptoms caused by corresponding hormone hypersecretion. It has always been challenging in dealing with such rare but complicated disorders. In this report, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of functional PanNENs in a large cohort of Chinese patients and summarized our clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment. Methods. The retrospective analysis was performed in patients with a definite diagnosis of functional PanNENs hospitalized in Chinese PLA General Hospital between 2000 and 2020. The clinical characteristics, surgical information, and pathological findings were extracted from their medical records and were analyzed. Results. Totally, 286 patients (gender: male 103 and female 183; age: 45.55 ± 15.23 years old) were diagnosed with definite functional PanNENs. The most frequent functional PanNENs were insulinoma (266/286) followed by glucagonoma (10/286), somatostatinoma (3/286), adrenocorticotropic hormone- (ACTH-) producing tumor (3/286), gastrinoma (2/286), and VIPoma (2/286). Nine patients were diagnosed with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) in which all the associated functional PanNENs were insulinomas. The duration from symptoms' onset to confirmed diagnosis was 3.67 ± 4.28 years. Two hundred and eighty patients with tumor localized in pancreatic or with limited metastasis underwent surgery. The symptoms associated with hormonal oversecretion were improved significantly after surgery. Five patients with unresectable metastases or tumor recurrence after surgery were administrated with systemic chemotherapy or other targeted therapies. With these various therapies, the symptoms were also partially relieved. According to findings in pathological and immunochemical examination, all the functional PanNENs were categorized into NEN-G1 (41.95%), NEN-G2 (54.90%), NEN-G3 (3.15%), and NEC-G3 (0%). Conclusion. Patients with suspected functional PanNENs should have a systematic endocrine examination at diagnosis. Multidisciplinary collaborations are essential for precise diagnosis and tumor localization. A successful surgery or other targeted therapies can improve the prognosis of patients with such rare but complex disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) and type B insulin resistance syndrome (B-IRS) are rare autoimmune dysglycemia syndromes, but their treatment and prognosis are different. This study aimed to provide a basis for the clinical differential diagnosis of IAS and B-IRS. This was a retrospective study of the medical records of all patients diagnosed with IAS or B-IRS between January 2006 and March 2018 at the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Demographic, clinical, biochemistry, treatment, and follow-up data were examined. There were several different biochemical parameters between IAS (n=13) and B-IRS (n=6): white blood count (WBC, 7.05±3.06 vs. 2.70±0.73×109 /l, p=0.004), platelet (249±56.6 vs. 111±68.0×109 /l, p<0.001), serum creatine (59.0±17.8 vs. 43.1±7.05 μmol/l, p=0.013), serum albumin (42.3±5.17 vs. 33.6±3.40 g/l, p=0.002), triglyceride (median, 1.33 (1.01, 1.93) vs. 0.56 (0.50, 0.79) mmol/l, p=0.002), plasma IgG (1183±201 vs. 1832±469 mg/ml, p=0.018), IgA (328±140 vs. 469±150 mg/ml, p=0.018), and C3 (128±23.4 vs. 45.3±13.5 mg/l, p<0.001). Fasting insulin in the IAS and B-IRS patients was high (299–4708 vs. 118–851 mU/l, p=0.106), and there was a difference in 2 h oral glucose tolerance test insulin (4217–8343 mU/l vs. 274–1143 mU/l, p=0.012). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the B-IRS patients was higher than in IAS patients (114±14.4. vs. 40.6±8.89 mmol/mol, p<0.001). Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was lower in all B-IRS patients (25±0.00 vs. 132±52.7 ng/ml, p<0.001). Although IAS and B-IRS are autoimmune hyperinsulinemic dysglycemic syndromes, several clinical parameters (body mass index, HbA1c, WBC, platelet, albumin, triglyceride, IgG, C3, and IGF-1) are different between these two syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The filamentation phenomenon induced by waveguide is analyzed in semiconductor taper amplifiers. The Split-Step Fourier(SSF) method is used for the first time to simulate the optic field propagation character in laser amplifiers, which could obtain waveguide characteristics rapidly. The simulation results show that the SSF method provides highly accurate description for optic field and indicate that waveguide in taper amplifiers would induce extremely filamentation phenomenon if the seed field could not match the taper angle well. Simulation also shows that, for a taper amplifiers, both seed waist width and taper angle should be designed large in order to reduce the filamentation phenomenon induced by waveguide and obtain better beam quality laser output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of present study was to explore the relationships between osteopenia and dyslipidemia, glycemic levels or blood pressure in postmenopausal Chinese women. A total of 4080 women aged 42-85 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, which was nested in an ongoing longitudinal (REACTION) study. Calcaneus quantitative ultrasound (QUS) was performed and QUS T score was calculated to assess bone mineral density. Osteopenia was defined as a T score ≤−1.0. The relationship between osteopenia and dyslipidemia, glycemic levels or blood pressure was investigated. The prevalence of osteopenia was significantly lower in subjects with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg, fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥8.0 mmol/L, postprandial blood glucose (PBG) ≥15.0 mmol/L, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) 6.5-7.5 %, HbA1C ≥7.5 %. These relationships remained significant after controlling for multiple factors. Moreover, significant trend between osteopenia and SBP, FBG, PBG and HbA1C was observed in women. In contrast, no significant associations between osteopenia and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were found, and no significant trend relationship between osteopenia and DBP, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C was found in postmenopausal Chinese women. The present study showed a relationship between SBP, FBG, PBG, HbA1C and osteopenia in postmenopausal Chinese women, while no significant relationship was observed between dyslipidemia, DBP and osteopenia, even after controlling for multiple confounding factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] miR-30a represses Eya2 expression by binding to the 3′-untranslated region of Eya2. [•] The miR-30a/EYA2 axis regulates breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. [•] The miR-30a/EYA2 axis modulates G1/S cell cycle progression. [•] The miR-30a/EYA2 axis is dysregulated in breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]