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Background: Heart failure (HF) may increase the risk of dementia via shared risk factors. Objectives: The authors investigated the incidence, types, clinical correlates, and prognostic impact of dementia in a population-based cohort of patients with index HF. Methods: The previously territory-wide database was interrogated to identify eligible patients with HF (N = 202,121) from 1995 to 2018. Clinical correlates of incident dementia and their associations with all-cause mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox/competing risk regression models where appropriate. Results: Among a total cohort aged ≥18 years with HF (mean age 75.3 ± 13.0 years, 51.3% women, median follow-up 4.1 [IQR: 1.2-10.2] years), new-onset dementia occurred in 22,145 (11.0%), with age-standardized incidence rate of 1,297 (95% CI: 1,276-1,318) per 10,000 in women and 744 (723-765) per 10,000 in men. Types of dementia were Alzheimer's disease (26.8%), vascular dementia (18.1%), and unspecified dementia (55.1%). Independent predictors of dementia included: older age (≥75 years, subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR]: 2.22), female sex (SHR: 1.31), Parkinson's disease (SHR: 1.28), peripheral vascular disease (SHR: 1.46), stroke (SHR: 1.24), anemia (SHR: 1.11), and hypertension (SHR: 1.21). The population attributable risk was highest for age ≥75 years (17.4%) and female sex (10.2%). New-onset dementia was independently associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted SHR: 4.51; P < 0.001). Conclusions: New-onset dementia affected more than 1 in 10 patients with index HF over the follow-up, and portended a worse prognosis in these patients. Older women were at highest risk and should be targeted for screening and preventive strategies.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a local therapy for liver cancer is widely used. The study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of RFA on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and identify the risk factors for recurrence. Clinical records of 124 patients with 135 small HCC with percutaneous RFA as a first-line treatment modality were evaluated in Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital from October 2001 to December 2006. With a median follow-up period of 46 months after RFA therapy, the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates and disease-free survival rates were 91, 70, 61, 48 and 40% and 64, 44, 31, 24 and 24%, respectively. The total recurrence and metastasis rates were 50 and 6.5%, respectively. Independent risk factors for recurrence after RFA included tumor with diameter more than 3 cm, located near the intrahepatic blood vessels, subcapsular locations and PT prolonged more than 3s. Severe complications occurred in 2 cases (1.6%), including biliary tract hemorrhage and subphrenic effusion. RFA appears to be a safe and effective treatment for HCC. It will benefit the efficacy of RFA therapy if those risk factors are considered during the clinical practice.

NR2A-containing N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors have important roles in influencing the long-term potentiation and spatial memory. Here using Morris water maze, we found that inhibition of NR2A-containing NMDA receptors by [(R)-[(S)-1-(4-bromophenyl)-ethylamino]-(2, 3-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxalin-5-yl)-methyl]-phosphonic acid (NVP-AAM077) hindered the formation of spatial memory. An increasing number of reports suggest that adult hippocampal neurogenesis is involved in hippocampal-mediated learning. To explore the possible mechanisms understanding the reduced spatial memory by NVP-AAM077, we investigated the effects of NVP-AAM077 on neurogenesis. We found that NVP-AAM077 inhibited progenitor cells proliferation in the subventricular zone and dentate gyrus and reduced the survival of newborn cells in the dentate gyrus in the adult mice. In null mutant mice lacking neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) gene (nNOS−/−), the effects of NVP-AAM077 on neurogenesis disappeared. In addition, NVP-AAM077 increased nNOS enzymatic activity. Our findings suggest that NVP-AAM077 reduced spatial learning through down-regulating neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus.

China is the second largest country in energy consumption. More and more energy demand pressures cause the Chinese government to review its economy and energy policies in order to support the sustainable development. In China, the building sector amounts to 27.8% total energy consumption, which is only behind the industry sector. China has abundant solar energy resource, which is extensively applied to buildings. Therefore, solar energy utilization in buildings has become one of the most important issues to help China optimize the energy proportion, increasing energy efficiency and protecting the environment. Solar energy resource and its district distribution in China are introduced in detail in this paper, and the representative solar energy application to the building sector is highlighted as well. The solar energy utilization obstacles, especially policy disadvantages in building sector in China, are reviewed. Moreover, the application prospects of solar energy in building sector are presented in combination with the China economic and household industry growth.

A new method was developed for simultaneous determination of trace arsenic and antimony in Chinese herbal medicines by hydride generation-double channel atomic fluorescence spectrometry with a Soxhlet extraction system and an n -octanol-water extraction system, respectively. The effects of analytical conditions on the fluorescence intensity were investigated and optimized. A water-dissolving and methanol-water-dissolving capability were compared. The contents of different species in five Chinese herbal medicines and their decoctions were analyzed. The concentration ratios of n -octanol-soluble As or Sb to water-soluble As or Sb were related to the kinds of medicine and the acidity of the decoction. Soxhlet extraction was found to be an effective method for plants pretreatment for determination of arsenic and antimony species in Chinese herbs; the interferences of coexisting ions were evaluated. The proposed method has the advantages of simple operation, high sensitivity and high speed, with 3 σ detection limits of 0.094 μg g −1 for As(III), 0.056 μg g −1 for total As, 0.063 μg g −1 for Sb(III) and 0.019 μg g −1 for total Sb in a 1.0 g of the sample.

Two novel octahedral complexes with formula of Zn[(C6H5N3)4(H2O)2](ClO4)2 1 and Cu[(C6H5N3)4(H2O)2](ClO4)2 2 have been obtained by the reaction of benzotriazole (BTA) ligand with zinc(II) salt and copper(II) salt in ethanol–water solution, respectively. Elemental analysis, IR spectra and X-ray crystal structure analysis were carried out to determine the compositions and crystal structures of the two compounds. The complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic C2/c space group, with lattice parameters a=13.838(2), b=13.374(4), and c=16.944(3) A. β=103.206(9)°, V=3053.1(11) A 3 , Z=4, R1=0.0411. The complex 2 crystallizes also in monoclinic C2/c space group, with lattice parameters a=13.919(7), b=13.380(7), and c=16.733(9) A. β=103.206(9)°, V=3026 A 3 , Z=4, R1=0.0423. The two complexes are isostructural. Both are mononuclear compounds, with similar coordination modes and packing arrangement in crystals. Every center metal ion is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from four BTA ligands and two oxygen atoms from two water molecules, forming an octahedral coordination polyhedron.

The role of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) in beta-cells is presently unclear. We have tested the notion that UCP-2 participates in beta-cell defense against oxidants. Expression of the UCP-2 gene in clonal beta-cells (INS-1) was decreased by 45% after 48 h of culture with vitamin E and selenite. When INS-1 cells were exposed to 200 microM H(2)O(2) for 5 min, the cell viability (MTT assay) decreased to 85 +/- 1, 61 +/- 1, 40 +/- 2, and 39 +/- 2% of control when measured respectively 30 min, 2 h, 6 h, and 16 h after H(2)O(2) exposure. At corresponding time points UCP-2 mRNA levels were 1.01 +/- 0.09, 1.53 +/- 0.15 (P0.05), 1.44 +/- 0.18 (P = 0.06), and 1.12 +/- 0.09 fold of control, i.e., transiently increased. We next tested whether overexpression of UCP-2 could enhance resistance of beta-cells toward H(2)O(2) toxicity. A cotransfection method using EGFP as a suitable marker and a human cDNA UCP-2 construct was used for transient overexpression of UCP-2. Transfected cells expressed the gene about 30-fold more than normal cells. After exposure to H(2)O(2) (200 micrometer, 5 min), the survival of UCP-2 overexpressing cells was measured 30-45 min later by flow cytometry. Survival was 13 +/- 0.05% higher than control (EGFP only) cells, P0.004 for difference. The results indicate that oxidative stress induces UCP-2 expression in beta-cells, and that UCP-2 serves a role in beta-cell defense against oxidative stress.