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Backgrounds: Metabolic syndrome is a subclinical status in promoting atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The significance of metabolic syndrome and pathophysiology in chronic kidney disease is not investigated. Methods: We enrolled adult patients with CKD stages 3 to 5 from December 2006 to December 2007. Metabolic syndrome was defined by the US National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Plasma levels of angiogenic growth factors were measured. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. Results: Total 451 patients were analyzed with median estimated glomerular filtration rate of 27.0 ml/min per 1.73m2 (interquartile range 14.3–41.3). Patients with metabolic syndrome were older (P = 0.002), had higher percentage using diuretics (P = 0.002) but lower percentage using pentoxifylline (P = 0.017). Patients with metabolic syndrome had higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P < 0.0001), uric acid (P = 0.009) and angiopoietin-2 (P = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed significant association between plasma levels of angiopoietin-2 and metabolic syndrome (P = 0.042). Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in advanced CKD was higher than general population. CKD patients with metabolic syndrome had higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, uric acid and angiopoietin-2. Plasma levels of angiopoietin-2 were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in patients with CKD. Metabolic syndrome in CKD may be not only a prognostic factor but also an interventional target, possibly through ameliorating inflammation. Prospective and interventional studies are necessary to establish the pathophysiology.

It is still a challenging task to make a colorimetric sensor which can respond to multiple responses at the same time. This task is even more difficult in aqueous solutions, as water molecules will significantly interfere the sensing process. Therefore, we have designed the low-cost, simple, efficient and selective dual responsive chemical sensor (DRCS) by capping the aniline trimer with benzoyl isothiocyanate. This sensor combines the advantages of naked eye detection of the CN¯ ion at different pH values. Moreover, DRCS can detect the pH of mixed solvent (DMSO/H2O) by the naked eye. The DRCS has shown high sensitivity to CN¯ ions. Meanwhile, it has no obvious response to other interfering anions, such as F¯, AcO¯, Br¯, HSO4¯, SCN¯, PO43¯, I¯, ClO4¯, Cl¯, NO3¯, PF6¯, and BF4¯. A minimum detection limit of 0.2 μM was achieved by DRCS for CN¯ ions. The feasibility of on-site detection of CN¯ was demonstrated using DRCS coated filter paper stripes. The present study reveals that the DRCS as low-cost material can be used as a potential sensor for the selective sensing of CN¯ ions and pH in the solutions.

This study describes an effective method for the removal of nickel ions (Ni2+) from the water by repetitive absorption and regeneration (desorption) cycles using immobilized adsorbents. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) based epoxy coated gauzes having the high density of active sites were prepared as immobilized adsorbents. The adsorption of Ni2+ by the PEI based epoxy coated gauze was confirmed by the analysis of the immobilized surface using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The effects of type of the cross-linking agents and PEI/cross-linker molar ratio on the adsorption efficiency were studied. The surface wettability of the immobilized adsorbent was evaluated using dynamic contact angle measurements. The adsorption behaviors can be fitted with the Freundlich isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption of the Ni2+ was studied at various treatment time and pH. Because of the porous structure and large surface area of the gauze based adsorbent, together with the large amount of oxygen atoms and amine groups on the molecular chain of adsorbent, the optimized adsorption capacity for Ni2+ can reach 650 mg/g. More importantly, the adsorbent has retained its adsorption capability even after repeated adsorption-desorption cycles.

The development of fluorescence molecules for the fast and effective detection of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) has attracted a lot of attention because it is an important amino acid for baby growth, nitrogen equilibrium in adults, improving sleep, and mood regulation. A dimedone-phenylalanine-based chiral sensor (SDPA) was synthesized and exhibited a strong fluorescence quenching by Fe

The main objective of the present study is to understand the structure-property relationships of sensor capable of colorimetric response, upon the addition of particular anions, due to hydrogen-bonding association between sensor and anion. Further, hydrogen-bonding association between sensor and anion, and thereby colorimetric response of the receptor in various solvent media was also targeted. For this, we have synthesized chloro-substituted quinone based oligomer sensor (QO-Cl) and cyano-substituted quinone based oligomer sensor (QO-CN), which contain the thiourea as a binding site. These oligomeric sensors were exploited as colorimetric sensors for cyanide anion [CN−]. Further, the sensing abilities of these sensors for CN− recognition in various solvents were monitored to investigate the influence of solvent on the hydrogen bonding association between sensor and anion. Our colorimetric and spectrometric results unveiled that the QO-CN sensor has shown the better binding constant (KQO-CN-CN − = 39,317 M− 1) and detection of limit (DOL = 1.2 μM) for CN− than that of QO-Cl, (KQO-Cl-CN − = 1950 M− 1; DOL = 69 μM). This can be attributed to the higher electron withdrawing nature of C N than the moderately electron-withdrawing substituent Cl.

Indeed, the relative strength of specific ion effect on macromolecule/biomacromolecules increases with increasing concentration. However, the utilization of high ion concentration may lead to aggregation or precipitation of macromolecule/biomacromolecule. Therefore, in the present study, we provided a potential alternative method to tune the strengths of “salting-in” and “salting-out” effects of Hofmeister series anions on the coil-globule transition of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) by using a crown ether, 18-crown-6 (18-C-6) as a crowding agent. The ionic liquids (ILs) having the same cation, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Bmim+) and commonly used anions such as CH3COO−, Cl− and I− were selected to explore the strengths of “salting-in” and “salting-out” effects of Hofmeister series anions on a coil-globule transition of PNIPAM in the crowded environment of 18-C-6. Our experimental results (differential scanning calorimetry, hydrodynamic radius, fluoresce intensity, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) demonstrated that the salting-out effect exerted by a kosmotropic anion, CH3COO−, is strengthened, while the salting-in effect exerted by a chaotropic anion, I−, is weakened in the presence of 18-C-6. The results from the present study may certainly provide an alternative method to tune the relative strength of Hofmeister effect without increasing salt concentration.

Quantitative analysis of the L-tryptophan content in commercial products by chemosensor has not been reported yet. In this study, the chiral carbazole based sensor (CCS), bearing a chiral “urea-carboxylic acid” binding site was prepared. CCS was proved to be effective in the consecutive detection of Fe3+, L-tryptophan (Trp), and L-histidine (His) by naked eyes. CCS exhibits different color changes and fluorescent ‘turn-off’ response toward Fe3+ and Fe2+. The discrimination of these two oxidation states of iron by CCS is important to understand the iron-related biological reactions. The limit of detection for Fe3+ by CCS is 84 nM in a high water-content solution (99 % water). CCS sensor can act as a reversible fluorescence quenching sensor for Fe3+. The results of Job’s plot analysis and mass spectra reveal that Fe3+ binds to CCS with a 1:1 stoichiometry. The CCS-Fe3+ complex can sense tryptophan, or histidine by a dose-dependent turn-on fluorescent response in a high water-content solution (99 % water). The mass spectra suggest the sensing of L-histidine or L-tryptophan by CCS-Fe3+ was performed with a CCS-Fe3+: amino acid binding ratio of 1:1. In comparison with other chemosensors reported in the literature, CCS can detect the L-Trp and L-His with a low limit of detection (0.31 μM L-Trp, 7.64 μM L-His) in a high water content environment. Furthermore, the CCS - Fe3+ complex based chemosensor was successfully applied to quantify the L-tryptophan content in commercial sleep-improving capsules containing various ingredients. The measured L-tryptophan contents in two samples are close to the announced values.

The detection of metal ions and amino acids by the aniline oligomer-based receptor has not been reported yet, to the best of our knowledge. In this study, an efficient multifunctional cation-amino acid sensor (CAS) with aniline moiety and chiral thiourea binding site was synthesized by the reaction of aniline trimer and (S)-(+)-1-phenyl ethyl isothiocyanate. CAS can sense Fe3+, Cu2+, Ag+ ions, and L-tryptophan. These results can be recognized by the naked eye. The appropriate pH range for the quantitative analysis of Fe3+, Cu2+, and Ag+ by CAS in DMSO/water (30 vol% water) was evaluated. The interaction between CCS and metal ions was analyzed by 1H NMR titration. The detection limits of CAS for the Cu2+, Ag+, and Fe3+ were 0.214, 0.099, and 0.147 μM, respectively. Moreover, the CAS Cu2+ complex can act as a turn-on fluorescence sensor for L-tryptophan. On the contrary, there is no response upon the addition of other amino acids, such as L-histidine, L-proline, L-phenylalanine, L-threonine, L-methionine, L-tyrosine, and L-cystine to CAS Cu2+ complex.

Objective CD10 (neutral endopeptidase) is expressed in various normal and tumor cells, and its biological function can be controlled through enzymatic activity and signaling pathways. We investigated whether CD10 expression predicted disease recurrence and whether it correlated with histologic subtypes of stage I lung adenocarcinoma. Materials and methods We reviewed tumor slides of resected pathologic stage I lung adenocarcinomas (1995–2009). Tumors were classified according to the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification. CD10 immunohistochemistry was performed using tissue microarrays ( n =915). We combined the intensity (0–3) and distribution scores (0–2) for CD10 to create a total score (0–5). Risk of recurrence was estimated using competing risks methods. Results In the training cohort ( n =313), risk of recurrence of patients with high tumoral CD10 (score>1, n =57) was significantly higher (5-year cumulative incidence of recurrence [CIR], 37%) than in those with low CD10 (score≤1; n =256; 5-year CIR, 16%; P n =602, P =0.036). High tumoral CD10 was associated with higher risk of recurrence in acinar ( P =0.007) and papillary predominant tumors ( P =0.022). High tumoral CD10 was most frequently identified in micropapillary predominant (41%) and solid predominant tumors (34%). On multivariate analysis of intermediate-grade tumors, high tumoral CD10 remained a significant independent risk factor of recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.88; P =0.025). Conclusion In stage I lung adenocarcinoma, tumoral CD10 correlated with high-grade histology and was an independent predictor of recurrence in intermediate-grade tumors.

This paper presents measurements of the discharge by image techniques on the surface velocity field and water stage in irrigation canals. The velocity and stage gauge are obtained from a commercial digital video camera. The time series of the surface velocity and stage were collected simultaneously. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to determine the surface velocities in the irrigation canal. PIV proceeds by using bubbles floating on the water surface as tracer particles, and making a cross-correlation analysis between two continuous images. The whole surface velocity distribution in the irrigation canals can be obtained. The water stage of the canal is obtained from the digital video camera images by making use of image segments to separate the stage gauge and the background. The discharge is computed by using the surface velocities and water stage via open channel velocity distribution theory. Comparing the discharge measured using image techniques with Parshall flume data shows that the differences are less then 5%. The results suggest that the image measurement techniques developed can be used in applications to estimate the discharge in irrigation canals effectively.

ObjectivesOur objective was to identify surgical–pathologic factors affecting prognosis in stage IB non–small cell lung cancers.MethodsBetween 1997 and 2006, a cohort of 272 cases of pT2 N0 M0 stage lung cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The patients included 70 women and 202 men with a mean age of 67.0 years. The surgical resections included pneumonectomy in 4, bilobectomy or lobectomy in 217, and limited resections in another 51. The impact of surgical–pathologic characteristics on survival, including cell type, tumor differentiation, tumor size, depth of visceral pleural invasion, type of surgical resection, and extent of lymphadenectomy on patient survival, was compared accordingly.ResultsTumor types included adenocarcinoma/bronchioloalveolar carcinoma in 142, squamous cell carcinoma in 100, and others in 30. Cell differentiations were classified as well, moderately, and poorly differentiated in 23, 151, and 92 cases, respectively. The mean tumor size was 3.9 cm in diameter, and the average resected lymph node number was 14.3. Direct visceral pleural or subpleural invasions (14 nodes). However, the Cox proportional hazard model revealed female gender, well-differentiated tumor, no pleural involvement, no angiolymphatic invasion, and more than 14 nodes retrieved as independent good prognostic factors.ConclusionsStage IB lung cancer can be treated by standard pulmonary resection accompanied by adequate mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Owing to the heterogeneity of stage IB lung cancer and the fact that prognosis can be affected by many surgical–pathologic factors, refinement of the current TNM staging criteria may be needed.

This paper presents and applies an improved method of determining cross-sectional depth and discharge of a river. The method used with the universal law and Darcy-Weisbach friction factors to obtain the lateral variation of the roughness height. This method of measurement was successfully used at the Kaoping River during the Xangsane typhoon in Taiwan, and the results show that the surface velocity obtained using an X-band pulse radar system were close to that obtained by the float method. The estimated discharges at four stages were within 3% of the recorded values of the stage-discharge rating curve in the gauging station.

This article describes a non-contact method for measuring surface velocity and discharge in a natural channel. The X-band pulse (9.36 GHz) radar, developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington, was used to scan instantaneously the lateral distribution of surface velocity across a river section, according to Bragg scattering from short waves produced by turbulent boils on the surface of the river. Based on the assumption that the vertical velocity distribution follows a universal power or logarithmic law, the discharges were estimated.