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In this study, a unified calculation expression for freeze–thaw damage variables, including the ultrasound longitudinal wave velocity and void ratio, was derived based on the elastic wave theory to examine the properties of the freeze–thaw damage of graphene-basalt fiber asphalt mixtures. The method of evaluating the freeze–thaw damage of the asphalt mixtures based on non-destructive ultrasound technology was proposed and the freeze–thaw damage of graphene-basalt fiber asphalt mixtures was evaluated. The proposed method was validated and compared with an elastic-modulus-defined damage evaluation method. The results demonstrated that the proposed ultrasound-based freeze–thaw damage evaluation method applied to assess freeze–thaw damage of graphene-basalt fiber asphalt mixtures was viable and reliable, and freeze–thaw cycles have non-negligible impacts on the performance parameters of graphene-basalt fiber asphalt mixtures. As the number of freeze–thaw cycles increased, the ultrasound longitudinal wave speed and elastic modulus decreased progressively, and the void ratio gradually increased. Each of these quantities showed a large change amplitude initially and flattened out later. Moreover, the freeze–thaw damage of graphene-basalt fiber asphalt mixtures progressively increased as the number of freeze–thaw cycles increased. The largest increase occurred in the early stage of the freeze–thaw cycles, then gradually slowed down and basically reached a stable state after approximately 15 freeze–thaw cycles. The results of this study can be used as a theoretical basis and technical guide for the evaluation of freeze–thaw damage of graphene-basalt fiber and other asphalt mixtures in seasonally frozen areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia are closely correlated and statins might be associated with a decreased risk of fracture. We aimed to investigate the association between proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) therapy and the risk of fracture. The PubMed, Cochrane library, and EMBASE databases were systematically searched from the inception dates to October 22, 2022. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that addressed to fracture events of participants using alirocumab, evolocumab, bococizumab or inclisiran, with a follow-up of ≥ 24 weeks were included. Meta-analyses were conducted to calculate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for major osteoporotic fracture, hip fracture, osteoporotic non-vertebral fracture, and total fracture. 30 trials assessing PCSK9i among 95, 911 adults were included. There were no significant associations between PCSK9i therapy and the risk of major osteoporotic fracture [OR 1.08 (95% Cl 0.87–1.34), p = 0.49], hip fracture [OR 1.05 (95% Cl 0.73–1.53), p = 0.79], osteoporotic non-vertebral fracture [OR 1.03 (95% Cl 0.80–1.32), p = 0.83], and total fracture [OR 1.03 (95% Cl 0.88–1.19), p = 0.74] over a period of 6–64 months. No significant associations were detected in any of the sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses stratified by the type of PCSK9i, follow-up duration, age, sex, sample size, and patient profile. Pooled results of our meta-analysis showed that exposure to PCSK9i was not associated with reduced risks of fracture in the short term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To elucidate the association between baseline renal characteristics and the disparities in renal outcomes among patients with SGLT2i treatment. Methods: Pubmed, Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Clinicaltrial.gov were searched from inception to November 2022. Event-driven randomized controlled trials of SGLT2i with reports of renal outcomes were included. Sensitivity analyses of prespecified eGFR and UACR subgroups were conducted. Results: Generally, compared with placebo, the use of SGLT2i was associated with improved renal prognosis (HR = 0.64, 95%CI 0.59–0.70). The magnitude of risk reductions in composite renal outcomes between SGLT2i versus placebo was comparable among different eGFR stratifications (normal renal function: HR = 0.49, 95%CI 0.31–0.79; mild renal impairment: HR = 0.57, 95%CI 0.48–0.68; moderate renal impairment: HR = 0.70, 95%CI 0.63–0.78; severe renal impairment: HR = 0.72, 95%CI 0.62–0.84; P for subgroup difference = 0.09). However, renal benefits seemd to be more prominent in normal to mildly increased albuminuria stratum (HR = 0.51, 95%CI 0.39–0.66) and severely increased albuminuria stratum (HR = 0.57, 95%CI 0.47–0.68), when compared with moderately increased albuminuria stratum (HR = 0.79, 95%CI 0.65–0.96; P for subgroup difference = 0.01). Conclusions: Generally, the use of SGLT2i was consistently associated with decreased risk of renal events in all prespecified eGFR and albuminuria spectrums, even in patients with substantial renal impairment. The renal benefits of SGLT2i seemed to be independent of baseline eGFR, while the risk reduction in renal events was more profound among patients with mildly increased albuminuria or severely increased albuminuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Current knowledge about the ovarian reserve in patients with type 1 diabetes is inconsistent and based on studies with small sample size. This meta-analysis aimed to produce a comprehensive evaluation on the ovarian reserve of type 1 diabetes female patients and to analyze the associated factors with the ovarian reserve. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted for studies published from the inception to December 2021. Original human observational studies either with case-control, cross-sectional, or longitudinal design evaluating ovarian reserve markers between type 1 diabetes patients and healthy controls were included. Levels of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E2) were extracted. Results: It was indicated that women with type 1 diabetes were associated with decreased levels of AMH compared with healthy controls (weighted mean difference [WMD] −0.70 ng/ml, 95% confidence intervals [CI] −1.05 to −0.34 ng/ml, P = 0.0001). Subgroup analyses stratified by age showed that adult patients with type 1 diabetes were associated with decreased levels of AMH (WMD −0.70 ng/ml, 95% CI −1.06 to −0.34 ng/ml, P = 0.0001) and FSH (WMD −1.07 IU/L, 95% CI −1.75 to −0.39 IU/L, P = 0.002) compared with healthy controls. Meta-regression analysis showed no significant correlation between AMH, FSH, and clinical factors, while level of E2 was negatively correlated with daily insulin doses and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values. Conclusion: According to this meta-analysis, type 1 diabetes might be associated with decreased AMH levels. Further studies using different markers and fertility outcomes focus on the ovarian reserve of women with type 1 diabetes are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous epidemiologic studies indicate an increased risk of cancer and cancer mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Whether the resolution of hyperglycemia will lead to reduced risk of neoplasm in T2D remains uncertain. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between glycemic control and incidence of neoplasm in T2D patients. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in T2D with significant HbA1c reduction difference between intensive/active and standard/control groups plus follow-up ≥48 weeks were included and analyzed by fixed-effect models, random-effect model, and meta-regression analysis accordingly. Results: Overall, 52 studies were included. Compared with standard/control treatment, intensive/active treatment led to significantly greater HbA1c reduction from baseline (WMD = −0.51%, 95% CI, −0.55 to −0.46%, P < 0.001), but was not associated with a decreased incidence of neoplasm (OR = 0.99, 95% CI, 0.94–1.03, I2 = 2%) in T2D. Meta-regression analysis indicated that HbA1c reduction difference between intensive/active treatment and standard/control treatment was not associated with the incidence of neoplasm in T2D patients (β = −0.0011, 95% CI, −0.0058 to 0.0035, P = 0.625). In neoplasm-site subgroup analysis, a decreased incidence of breast neoplasm was observed in T2D patients using dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitor (OR = 0.56, 95% CI, 0.35–0.89, I2 = 0%) and incidence of prostate neoplasm was reduced in T2D patients with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment (OR = 0.66, 95% CI, 0.47–0.91, I2 = 0%). Conclusion: Improved glycemic control in short and medium periods achieved by existing glucose-lowering drugs or strategies may not confer reduced risk of neoplasm in patients with T2D. Studies with longer follow-up duration are needed to better elucidate the long-period effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to explore adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) candidates based on a recurrence risk-scoring model in completely lobectomized stage I patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LAD). Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 4606 patients (non-ACT group: n = 3514; ACT group: n = 1092) who underwent complete lobectomy for LAD at Shanghai Chest Hospital from 2008 to 2014. The nomogram predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) was developed in the non-ACT group using Cox proportional hazards regression. The nomogram-based risk score was calculated in the entire cohort. Differences of RFS between the non-ACT and ACT groups were compared as stratified by the risk score. The score cut-off points were determined using the X-tile software. Results: Six independent predictors, including age, sex, tumor size, pathological subtype, visceral pleural invasion (VPI), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were associated with RFS. The nomogram more accurately predicted RFS than the 8th TNM staging {C-index: 0.784 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.756–0.812] vs. 0.719 (95% CI 0.689–0.749), p = 0.0017}. A significant RFS difference was observed among the low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups (p < 0.0001), as divided by the optimal cut-points of risk score (203 and 244). ACT did not improve RFS for patients at intermediate-risk, or was even detrimental for low-risk patients; however, improved RFS was observed in ACT receivers at high-risk (p = 0.0416). ACT candidates with a risk score ≥ 245 constituted 2.6% of stage I patients. Conclusions: The nomogram provided an individual prediction of RFS for stage I LAD following lobectomy. High-risk patients (score ≥ 245) may benefit from postoperative ACT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolbachia is a maternally inherited intracellular bacterium (Rickettsiaceae) that infects a wide range of arthropods and nematodes, plays an influential role in host development and triggers various reproductive abnormalities. In this study it was investigated whether Wolbachia infection of the Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) species of Guizhou brown planthopper (BPH) induces cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and alters BPH developmental timing, longevity, and fecundity. It was shown that although Wolbachia does not induce CI in the species of BPH, its absence decreases BPH fitness. Furthermore, the cross of a Wolbachia -free female BPH and an infected male (F▽ × M) resulted in a significantly shorter pre-adult developmental period (11.15 ± 0.22), significantly reduced ovi-days (5.80 ± 0.2438), significantly shorter longevity (22.9 ± 0.38), and lower fecundity (176.28 ± 5.79b). This cross also affected a series of population parameters by increasing the finite rate (λ) (1.2903 ± 0.02) and intrinsic rate value (r) (0.2548 ± 0.01), reducing the net reproductive rate (R 0) (88.12 ± 19.9) and decreasing longevity (22.9 ± 0.38). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To clarify the relevance between smoking and diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: Published evidence were searched in MEDLINE and EMBASE from the databases began until Feb. 2017. Studies evaluating the association between smoking and diabetic retinopathy or evaluating the risk factors of diabetic retinopathy including smoking were included.Results: Totally 73 studies were identified, among which 19 studies included type 1 diabetes patients and 56 studies included type 2 diabetes patients. In type 1 diabetes, compare with non-smokers, the risk of diabetic retinopathy significantly increased in smokers (risk ratio (RR) = 1.23, 95% CI 1.14, 1.33, P < 0.001), and the risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy also significantly increased in smokers (RR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.20, 1.81, P < 0.001). In type 2 diabetes, compare with non-smokers, the risk of diabetic retinopathy significantly decreased in smokers (RR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.86, 0.98, P = 0.02) and the risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy also significantly decreased in smokers (RR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.61, 0.74, P < 0.001).Conclusions: Compare with non-smokers, the risk of diabetic retinopathy significantly increased in smokers with type 1 diabetes while significantly decreased in smokers with type 2 diabetes. However, this result did not change the importance of smoking cessation for public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of initial combination therapy compared with monotherapy in drug-naïve type 2 diabetes patients.Methods: MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for randomized clinical trials of initial combination therapy with hypoglycemic agents compared with monotherapy. Those which satisfied the search criteria were included in the meta-analysis. Weighted mean difference and relative risks were calculated.Results: A total of 36 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with metformin monotherapy, initial combination therapy with metformin plus another anti-diabetes drug exhibited significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (p < 0.001). Most of the combination therapies had a similar risk of hypoglycemia (p > 0.05), with the exception of combinations of sulfonylurea/glinide and metformin or combinations of thiazolidinedione and metformin. Compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor monotherapy, initial combination therapy with DPP-4 inhibitor plus another anti-diabetes drug showed a significant decrease in HbA1c (p < 0.001) and a similar risk of hypoglycemia (p > 0.05). Compared with monotherapy with other anti-diabetes drugs, initial combination therapies also resulted in significant HbA1c reductions, a similar risk of hypoglycemia and similar risks of other adverse events.Conclusion: Compared with monotherapy, all initial combination therapies resulted in significant HbA1c reductions. Compared with metformin monotherapy, initial combination therapies with DPP-4 inhibitors plus metformin, sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and metformin, respectively, were associated with similar risks of hypoglycemia, but initial combination therapies with sulfonylurea plus metformin, thiazolidinedione and metformin, respectively, were associated with higher risks of hypoglycemia.Funding: AstraZeneca Ltd. (China).Trial registration: Registration number CRD42017060717 in PROSPERO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hole series parts is widely used in the aerospace, automotive electronics, instrumentation, and hydraulic components. There are many of holes with the same machining parameter in this kind of parts, the consistency evaluation of these hole surface quality is one of the most important considerations. Based on wavelet packet energy spectrum, higher-order statistics, radar chart, and fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm, a method is presented to evaluate hole surface quality quickly and effectively. Vibration signal is used as the main source of information about the drilling process. In this paper, wavelet packet energy spectrum (WPES) and higher-order statistics, which can image the information on both time and frequency domain, are applied as preparatory work for cluster analysis. Then, a ten-dimensional feature vector for cluster analysis is constructed from the value of higher-order statistics and wavelet packet energy ratio of the frequency bands where the energy is abnormal. Finally, cluster analysis based on radar chart and FCM algorithm is conducted on the feature vector for classification. By comparison, it is found that the cluster analysis result is basically consistent with the artificial test result. The proposed method can be further extended to the quality evaluation of other machining processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health effects of long-term ingestion of rare earth elements (REEs) on the villagers living in high-REE-background areas in South Jangxi Province, China were studied. Major health complaints from the REE area population included indigestion, diarrhea, abdominal distension, anorexia, weakness, and fatigue, especially after high-fat or high-protein intake. Liver function tests were conducted for adult villagers. Among them, 45 live in a heavy rare earth (HREE) area, 62 in a light rare earth (LREE) area, and 49 in the control area. Test results showed that serum total protein and globulin from both HREE and LREE areas, as well as albumin from the LREE area, were significantly lower ( p<0.05–0.01) compared to the results from the control area, whereas albumin from the HREE area showed no significant variance ( p>0.05). The chi-square test showed that Serum-glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) in both areas were not significant ( p>0.05), whereas the IgM in the HREE area was significantly elevated. It is our conclusion that long-term ingestion of REE affected activities of some digestive enzymes, causing malabsorption and indigestion, and might further lead to a low-protein effect for the villagers in the LREE area. However, the damage to the liver was rather mild. The elevation of IgM was probably the result of stimulation induced by the formation of a large amount of granules as a result of direct binding of REEs to globulin or albumin (combination of REEs with globulin or albumin). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]