Search

BACKGROUND: Early identification of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is urgent. Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a reference predictor of obesity-related diseases, but its predictive value for MAFLD remains unclear. No studies have reported whether its combination with waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) can improve the predictive performance for MAFLD. AIM: To systematically explore the relationship between AIP and MAFLD and evaluate its predictive value for MAFLD and to pioneer a novel noninvasive predictive model combining AIP, WC, and BMI while validating its predictive performance for MAFLD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consecutively enrolled 864 participants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to evaluate the relationship between AIP and MAFLD and its predictive power for MAFLD. The novel prediction model A-W-B combining AIP, WC, and BMI to predict MAFLD was established, and internal verification was completed by magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis. RESULTS: Subjects with higher AIP exhibited a significantly increased risk of MAFLD, with an odds ratio of 12.420 (6.008-25.675) for AIP after adjusting for various confounding factors. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of the A-W-B model was 0.833 (0.807-0.858), which was significantly higher than that of AIP, WC, and BMI (all P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis illustrated that the A-W-B model had significantly higher area under receiver operating characteristic curves in female, young and nonobese subgroups (all P < 0.05). The best cutoff values for the A-W-B model to predict MAFLD in males and females were 0.5932 and 0.4105, respectively. Additionally, in the validation set, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve of the A-W-B model to predict MAFLD was 0.862 (0.791-0.916). The A-W-B level was strongly and positively associated with the liver proton density fat fraction (r = 0.630, P < 0.001) and significantly increased with the severity of MAFLD (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AIP was strongly and positively associated with the risk of MAFLD and can be a reference predictor for MAFLD. The novel prediction model A-W-B combining AIP, WC, and BMI can significantly improve the predictive ability of MAFLD and provide better services for clinical prediction and screening of MAFLD.

Four energetic binders, polyglycidyl nitrate (PGN), poly (3-nitratomethyl-3-methyloxetane) (PNIMMO), poly(bis(azidomethyl)oxetane) (PBAMO) and glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) were respectively mixed with dihydroxylammonium 5,5’-bistetrazole-1,1’-diolate (TKX-50), forming TKX-50 based polymer bonded explosives (PBXs). Interfacial forces (binding energies) under different temperatures, mechanical properties (tensile modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio) and moldability of TKX-50-based PBXs were investigated by employing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the energy characteristics of TKX-50 based PBXs were calculated by C-J (Chapman-Jouguet) detonated theory. Results show that temperature has little effect on the binding energies, but the binding energies between every energetic binder and each surface of TKX-50 are different and the order of combined ability between four energetic binders and TKX-50 decrease as follows: PNIMMO > PBAMO > PGN > GAP. Compared with TKX-50, the addition of four energetic binders all make the rigidity of TKX-50 based PBXs decrease and the plasticity improve, the plastic ability rank in order of PNIMMO > PGN > GAP > PBAMO. What’s more, the moldability of TKX-50 based PBXs is obviously improved, the increasing order is PGN > PNIMMO > PBAMO > GAP. Finally, the detonation performances indicate that compared with common binder, the addition of the energetic binder makes TKX-50-based PBXs have higher energy under the same condition.

Objective Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy that has a poor prognosis. Through the literatures, TINAG significantly participated in the processes of the renal-associated diseases, but there were no studies about the roles of TINAG in the HCC development. Hence, we attempted to use the HCC samples collected by ourselves to reveal the clinical significance and prognostic impact of TINAG in HCC. Methods We first measured the expression level of TINAG in HCC on the basis of TCGA database. Then, real time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to examine the expression level of TINAG in 100 pairs of HCC tissues and corresponding adjacent non-tumor tissues, as well as HCC cell lines (HepG2, HB611, HHCC, and Hep3B). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier method and COX's proportional hazards model were utilized to perform the survival and prognosis analyses using the clinical data collected by ourselves. After knockdown of TINAG, the cell proliferation, invasion and migration capacities of HepG2 and Hep3B cells were evaluate by counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay (24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h post-cultivation), clone formation experiment, would-healing, and invasion as well as migration assays. To further explore whether the dys-regulated TINAG expression regulates the HCC progression and prognosis, protein biomarkers of PI3K signaling pathway, including AKT, p-AKT, PI3K, p-PI3K, p70S6K, and p-p70S6K were measured based on western blotting analysis. Results According to the data of TCGA database, clinical patients, and HCC cell lines, TINAG was highly expressed in HCC compared with normal. Relationship of TINAG expression level with the clinicopathological factors implicated that the high expression of TINAG was significantly associated with pathologic stage, pathologic-node, and pathologic-metastasis. Univariate as well as multivariate COX analysis indicated that TINAG expression and pathologic metastasis can serve as the independent prognostic factor for overall survival of HCC. After TINAG knockdown in HepG2 and Hep3B cells, cell proliferation rate, the colony numbers, and the invasive and migratory capacity were found to be suppressed. Remarkably, western blot results showed that reduction of TINAG remarkably decreased p-AKT, p-PI3K, and p-p70S6K expression level in HepG2 and Hep3B cells. Conclusion Collectively, our results underscore the significance of TINAG in HCC progression and prognosis, and TINAG might be a novel candidate oncogene in HCC. These results propose that targeting TINAG might offer future clinical utility in HCC.

The pressure characteristics and safety performance of dihydroxylammonium 5,5ʹ-bistetrazole-1,1ʹ-diolate (TKX-50) decomposition were studied in confined space by using the accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC). The effects of the heating rate and the sample amount on the safety performance were investigated. The experiment results revealed that high heating rate was harmful to the safety performance of TKX-50. The decomposition mechanism did not change when using different amounts of sample in the range between 47.5 and 72.5 mg. After ignition, TKX-50 exhibited better safe performance than RDX and HMX.

Xin Li,1 Xiaoqian Jia,2 Hu Niu2 1Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, Shandong, China; 2Department of General Surgery 2, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, China Background: Multidrug resistance is responsible for the poor outcome in breast cancer therapy. Lapa is a novel therapeutic agent that generates ROS through the catalysis of the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) enzyme which significantly facilitate the intracellular accumulation of the co-delivered DOX to overcome MDR in cancer cells. Purpose: Herein, in our study, nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) co-delivering β-lapachone (Lapa) and doxorubicin (DOX) was developed (LDNLC) with the aim to overcome the multidrug resistance (MDR) in breast cancer therapy. Patients and methods: Lapa and DOX were loaded into NLC to prepare LDNLC using melted ultrasonic dispersion method. Results: The well designed LDNLC was nanoscaled particles that exhibited preferable stability in physiological environment. In vitro cell experiments on MCF-7 ADR cells showed increased DOX retention as compared to DOX mono-delivery NLC (DNLC). In vivo anti-cancer assays on MCF-7 ADR tumor bearing mice model also revealed significantly enhanced efficacy of LDNLC than mono-delivery NLCs (DNLC and LNLC). Conclusion: LDNLC might be a promising platform for effective breast cancer therapy. Keywords: β-lapachone, doxorubicin, nanostructured lipid carriers, multidrug resistance, breast cancer

Thermal decomposition and safety assessment of 3,3′-dinitrimino-5,5′-bis(1H-1,2,4-triazole) (DNABT) were investigated by thermogravimetry–derivative thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DTG-DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC). The result of TG-DTG-DSC at a heating rate of 10 °C min−1 indicated that an endothermic decomposition and an exothermic decomposition occurred at 133.98 and 210.86 °C, respectively. The apparent activation energy (Ea) and pre-exponential factor (A) of the exothermic decomposition, and the free energy of activation, activation enthalpy, and activation entropy at initial decomposition temperature (Tp0) were calculated from the DTA curves recorded at the heating rates of 1, 2, 4, 8 °C min−1. The critical temperature of thermal explosion (Tbp0) obtained by Ozawa’s and Kissinger’s methods were calculated as 205.01 and 205.14 °C, respectively. The result of ARC indicated that the self-heating decomposition started at 200.22 °C and ended at 232.66 °C. The self-heating decomposition parameters, including the onset temperature, final temperature, temperature at maximum rate, maximum temperature rate, adiabatic temperature rise, and time to maximum rate were obtained, and these parameters were corrected by thermal inertia factor. The Ea and A under adiabatic condition were also calculated. In addition, the self-accelerating decomposition temperature (TSADT, 50kg) was calculated as 175.37 °C. These results could contribute to improve the safety in the reaction, transportation, and storage processes of DNABT.

Several polymer binders based on 3,3-bis(azidomethyl)oxetane (BAMO) were studied to explore the compatibility and interaction of the energetic binders with three common energetic oxidants. The compatibilities were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the rating was obtained according to the evaluated standards. The results showed that all the binders based on BAMO had a good compatibility with cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylenetetranitroamine (HMX), and hexanitrohexazaiso- wurtzitane (CL-20). The work of adhesion (Wa) between binders and explosives was tested via measurement of contact angle and the results present the same orders: chain-extended PBAMO by isophorone diisocyanate with diethyl bis(hydroxymethyl) malonate (IPDI-DBM-CE) > chain- extended PBAMO by isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI-CE) > poly(3,3-bis(azidomethyl)oxetane) (PBAMO). In addition, similar results were found in the binding energies reported by the molecular dynamics (MD), and the average values of Ebinding for IPDI-DBM-CE systems were larger than others due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between –COOEt and –NO2, which would improve the bonding abilities.

TKX-50-based PBX (PBX-T) is prepared by solution–water suspension method using dihydroxylammonium 5,5′-bistetrazole-1,1′-diolate (TKX-50) as the explosive. The thermal behavior of PBX-T is investigated under a nonisothermal condition by using TG-DTG and DSC method. The kinetic parameters (E a = 167.98 kJ mol−1 and A = 1016.05 s−1) for the main thermal decomposition reaction of PBX-T are calculated from the analysis of DSC curves by differential method and integral method, and the nonisothermal kinetic equation of the exothermic process is $${\text{d}}\alpha /{\text{d}}T = \left( {10^{16.05} /2\beta } \right)5\left( {1 - \alpha } \right)\left[ { - \ln \left( {1 - \alpha } \right)} \right]^{3/5} \exp ( - 2.0204 \times 10^{4} /T)$$ , suggesting that the main exothermic decomposition reaction mechanism of PBX-T is classified as Avrami–Erofeev equation. The specific heat capacity (C p) of PBX-T is measured using continuous C p mode of C80 micro-calorimeter. Depending on the thermal decomposition parameters and Chinese Military Standards GJB 772A-97 method, the adiabatic time, self-accelerating decomposition temperature, sensitivities, and 5-second flash point on of PBX-T are obtained.

The enthalpies of dissolution for dihydroxylammonium 5, 5′-bistetrazole-1,1′-diolate (TKX-50) in water were measured using a C-80 Calvet microcalorimeter at four different temperatures under atmospheric pressure. Differential enthalpies (Δdif H) and molar enthalpies (Δdiss H) of dissolution were calculated. The corresponding kinetic equations that describe the dissolution rate at the four experimental temperatures are dα/dt = 10−3.06(1 − α)0.59 (T = 298.15 K), dα/dt = 10−2.98(1 − α)0.37 (T = 303.15 K), dα/dt = 10−2.90(1 − α)0.37 (T = 308.15 K), dα/dt = 10−2.85(1 − α)0.43 (T = 313.15 K). In addition, the determined values of the activation energy E and pre-exponential factor A for the dissolution process are 25.08 kJ mol−1 and 21.98 s−1, respectively.

The enthalpies of dissolution for 5,5′-Bistetrazole-1, 1′-dihydroxy ((H2O)2BTO) and disodium 5,5′-Bistetrazole-1,1′-diolate ([Na2(H2O)4]BTO) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 298.15 K were studied by using a C-80 Calvet microcalorimeter. Empirical formulae for the calculation of the molar enthalpies of dissolution (Δdiss H), relative partial molar enthalpies (Δdiss H partial), and relative apparent molar enthalpies (Δdiss H apparent) were deduced by the experimental results of the dissolution processes of (H2O)2BTO and [Na2(H2O)4]BTO in DMSO. Finally, the corresponding kinetic equations describing the dissolution processes were dα/dt = 10−2.60(1−α)0.61 for the dissolution of (H2O)2BTO in DMSO, and dα/dt = 10−2.69(1−α)0.62 for the dissolution of [Na2(H2O)4]BTO in DMSO.

Electric coalescence is an effective way to achieve high performance of separating small dispersed water droplets from oils. We investigated the coalescence and break-up behaviors of double conducting droplets dissolved 0.4394 M NaCl in the presence of electric field using molecular dynamic simulations. Our results provide that the critical electric field (Ec) and the corresponding conical angle for coalescence are 0.52 V/nm and 42°. Two conducting droplets are driven to approach, contact, and eventually coalescence by the electric field when the applied electric field is weaker than Ec. Nevertheless, in the presence of the electric field stronger than Ec, the partial break-up that small daughter droplets break away from their mother droplet occurs due to the exchange and neutralization of positive and negative charged ions in the connecting liquid bridge. As the electric field increases further to 0.80 V/nm or stay above, the strong electric field leads to the entire break-up process, accompanied with ion jetting before droplets contacting.

Dihydroxylammonium 5,5′- bistetrazole-1,1′-diolate (TKX-50) was used to prepare TKX-50-based polymer bonded explosive (PBX) for the first time in this study. The thermal stabilities and the kinetic parameters of TKX-50 and TKX-50-based PBX were compared via Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermal Gravity-Differential Thermal Gravity (TG-DTG) and Accelerating Rate Calorimeter (ARC). Furthermore, in order to know about their thermal safeties comprehensively, an advanced thermal analysis program based on Friedman method was employed to calculate the thermal safety parameters for TKX-50 and its PBX. With its help, two important safety parameters (time to maximum rate under adiabatic conditions (TMRad) and self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT)) for the two energetic materials were calculated and discussed. Finally, based on the safety parameters, effects of storage conditions and ambient temperatures on the thermal explosions of TKX-50 and TKX-50-based PBX were further studied by using finite element analysis (FEA).

The research on statistical analysis of multivariable panel data is a blank in China. The paper tries to do the basal study on cluster analysis of multivariable panel data. This paper firstly analyses the numeric characteristic and constructs anew the distance function of multivariable panel data and the function of sum of squares. On this base, the paper explains the arithmetic and process of cluster analysis. At last, an experimental analysis is done on productive efficiency of the industrial enterprises in China.

Hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (HPAH) is a refractory disease characterized by increased proliferation of pulmonary vascular smooth cells and progressive pulmonary vascular remodeling. The level of nitric oxide (NO), a potential therapeutic vasodilator, is low in PAH patients. L-arginine can be converted to either beneficial NO by nitric oxide synthases or to harmful urea by arginase. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether an arginase inhibitor, S-(2-boronoethyl)-L-cysteine ameliorates HPAH in vivo and vitro. In a HPAH mouse model, we assessed right ventricle systolic pressure (RVSP) by an invasive method, and found that RSVP was elevated under hypoxia, but was attenuated upon arginase inhibition. Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) were cultured under hypoxic conditions, and their proliferative capacity was determined by cell counting and flow cytometry. The levels of cyclin D1, p27, p-Akt, and p-ERK were detected by RT-PCR or Western blot analysis. Compared to hypoxia group, arginase inhibitor inhibited HPASMCs proliferation and reduced the levels of cyclin D1, p-Akt, p-ERK, while increasing p27 level. Moreover, in mouse models, compared to control group, hypoxia increased cyclin D1 expression but reduced p27 expression, while arginase inhibitor reversed the effects of hypoxia. Taken together, these results suggest that arginase plays an important role in increased proliferation of HPASMCs induced by hypoxia and it is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of pulmonary hypertensive disorders.

A derivative of squaramide (cyclobuta[b]quinoxaline-1, 2(3H, 8H)-dione) has been synthesized for the ratiometric and colorimetric sensing of F(-) in aqueous solution in competitive fashion. With F(-), probe 1 showed a highly selective naked-eye detectable color change along with a characteristic UV-Vis absorbance over other tested ions, which probably originates from the deprotonation occurred between 1 and F(-), as proved by the (1)H NMR titration experiments and DFT calculations.

To assess whether serum magnesium concentration can predict risk of short-term outcome of acute ischemic stroke.Between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, 1493 patients with acute ischemic stroke were recruited from four hospitals in Shandong province, P.R China. Data on demographic characteristics, life style risk factors, history of cardiovascular disease, admission blood pressure and other clinical characteristics were collected from all subjects. The short-term outcome was defined as neurological deficiency NIHSS ≥ 10 or death (NIHSS ≥ 10/death). The Cox proportion hazard regression model was used to evaluate the association between serum magnesium concentration and risk of short-term outcome of acute ischemic stroke.Serum magnesium concentration in subjects with NIHSS ≥ 10/death was lower than those with NIHSS10 (p0.05). When comparing the highest quartile of serum magnesium concentration with the lowest quartile in an unadjusted model, there was a decreased risk of NIHSS ≥ 10/death in individuals with the highest quartile; the risk ratio (RR) was 0.47 (p0.05). However, after adjustment for age, sex, serum calcium concentration, serum potassium concentration and other covariates, the fourth and the third quartiles of serum magnesium concentration were associated with decreased risks of NIHSS ≥ 10/death; the RRs were 0.40 and 0.56 (all p0.05), respectively. The dose-response relationship between serum magnesium concentration and risk of NIHSS ≥ 10/death was not materially altered after adjustment for other covariates (p-value for trend = 0.002).Higher serum magnesium concentration was associated with lower risk of NIHSS ≥ 10/death; there was a dose-response relationship between serum magnesium concentration and risk of NIHSS ≥ 10/death.

To explore the relationship between the concentration of serum magnesium and the short-term outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke, in order to provide evidence for improving the outcomes.Patients with acute ischemic stroke under study, were from four hospitals in Shandong province. Data on demographic characteristics, life style related risk factors, history of cardiovascular disease, blood pressure at admission and other clinical characteristics were collected for all the participants. The outcomes were defined as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥ 10 or death. According to NIHSS, the subjects were divided into two groups: death/NIHSS ≥ 10 and NIHSS10. Concentrations of Mg(2+) were categorized into four levels according to the quartiles of serum magnesium. Cox proportion hazard regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between serum magnesium concentrations and the short-term outcome of acute ischemic stroke.In the death/NIHSS ≥ 10 group, concentrations of serum magnesium and the time from onset to admission were lower than that in the NIHSS10 group while the systolic blood pressure on admission, the proportion of low density lipoprotein abnormal, impaired fasting glucose and history of auricular fibrillation were all higher than that in the NIHSS10 group. Without the adjustment of multiple factors, when comparing to the lowest quartile of serum magnesium level, the fourth quartile (highest) seemed to have had a tendency of reducing the risk of death/NIHSS ≥ 10 (RR = 0.47, P0.05). When multiple factors were adjusted (adjust serum calcium, potassium level and other factors), the fourth and the third quartiles could both reduce the risk of death/NIHSS ≥ 10 (RR values were 0.39 and 0.54, P0.05, respectively). With or without the adjustment of multiple factors, there appeared a dose-response relationship between serum magnesium concentrations and the risk to death/NIHSS ≥ 10 (trend P0.05).Higher serum magnesium concentrations could reduce the risk to death/NIHSS ≥ 10, suggesting that there was a dose-response relationship between magnesium and the risk to death/NIHSS ≥ 10.