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The aberrant changes of fussion/fission-related proteins can trigger mitochondrial dynamics imbalance, which cause mitochondrial dysfunctions and result insulin resistance (IR). However, the relationship between the inner mitochondrial membrane fusion protein optic atrophy 1 (Opa1) and hepatic IR as well as the specific molecular mechanisms of signal transduction has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explore whether abnormalities in the Opa1 cause hepatic IR and whether berberine (BBR) can prevent hepatic IR through the SIRT1/Opa1 signalling pathway. High-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and db/db mice are used as animal models to study hepatic IR in vivo. IR, morphological changes, and mitochondrial injury of the liver are examined to explore the effects of BBR. SIRT1/Opa1 protein expression is determined to confirm whether the signalling pathway is damaged in the model animals and is involved in BBR treatment-mediated mitigation of hepatic IR. A palmitate (PA)-induced hepatocyte IR model is established in HepG2 cells in vitro. Opa1 silencing and SIRT1 overexpression are induced to verify whether Opa1 deficiency causes hepatocyte IR and whether SIRT1 improves this dysfunction. BBR treatment and SIRT1 silencing are employed to confirm that BBR can prevent hepatic IR by activating the SIRT1/Opa1 signalling pathway. Western blot analysis and JC-1 fluorescent staining results show that Opa1 deficiency causes an imbalance in mitochondrial fusion/fission and impairs insulin signalling in HepG2 cells. SIRT1 and BBR overexpression ameliorates PA-induced IR, increases Opa1, and improves mitochondrial function. SIRT1 silencing partly reverses the effects of BBR on HepG2 cells. SIRT1 and Opa1 expressions are downregulated in the animal models. BBR attenuates hepatic IR and enhances SIRT1/Opa1 signalling in db/db mice. In summary, Opa1 silencing-mediated mitochondrial fusion/fission imbalance could lead to hepatocyte IR. BBR may improve hepatic IR by regulating the SIRT1/Opa1 signalling pathway, and thus, it may be used to treat type-2 diabetes.

Pressure fluctuation in single-phase pumps has been studied widely, while less attention has been paid to research on multiphase pumps that are commonly used in the petroleum chemical industry. Therefore, this study investigates the pressure fluctuation for a multiphase rotodynamic pump handling air–water two-phase flow. Simulations based on the Euler two-fluid model were carried out using ANSYS_CFX16.0 at different Inlet Gas Void Fractions (IGVFs) and various flow rate values. Under conditions of IGVF = 0% (pure water) and IGVF = 15%, the accuracy of the numerical method was tested by comparing the experimental data. The results showed that the rotor–stator interaction was still the main generation driver of pressure fluctuation in gas–liquid two-phase pumps. However, the fluctuation near the impeller outlet ascribe to the rotor–stator interaction was weakened by the complex gas–liquid flow. For the different IGVF, the variation trend of fluctuation was similar along the streamwise direction. That is, the fluctuation in the impeller increased before decreasing, while in the guide vane it decreased gradually. Also, the fluctuation in the guide vane was generally greater than for the impeller and the maximum amplitude appeared in the vicinity of guide vane inlet.

Objective To investigate the effect of blood pressure telemonitoring management mode, blood pressure self-monitoring management mode, and outpatient blood pressure management mode on the level of blood pressure and the rate of reaching the standard for blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. Methods A total of 441 patients with essential hypertension were recruited and randomly divided into telemonitoring group with 156 patients, non-telemonitoring group with 144 patients, and conventional group with 141 patients. The patients in the telemonitoring group and the non-telemonitoring group were provided with the same model of intelligent electronic blood pressure monitor, and they were managed in accordance with the telemonitoring management mode and the self-monitoring management mode, respectively. The patients in the conventional group received blood pressure management according to the outpatient blood pressure management mode and were asked to go to the community clinic regularly to have their blood pressure measured by a physician. Related data were recorded before management and after 6 months of management, including office blood pressure, the rate of reaching the standard for blood pressure, medication, body mass index, waist circumference, and lifestyle. Results After 6 months of management, all three groups had significant reductions in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (t=5.611-14.434,P0.05). There was no significant difference in the improvement of life style between the three groups before ma-nagement and after 6 months of management (P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with blood pressure self-monitoring management mode and outpatient blood pressure management mode, blood pressure telemonitoring management mode can better manage blood pressure, improve the rate of reaching the standard for blood pressure, and increase the proportion of patients with combined medication.

To analyze the characteristics of internal flow and phase interaction in a gas-liquid two-phase pump, the influence of Inlet Gas Void Fraction (IGVF), discharge coefficient, and medium viscosity were investigated using medium combinations of air-water and air-crude. Simulations were performed using ANSYS_CFX at different IGVFs and various values of discharge coefficient. Structured grid for the full flow passage was generated using ICEM_CFD and TurboGrid. Under conditions of IGVF = 0% (pure water) and IGVF = 15%, the reliability of numerical method was proved by means of the comparison with the experimental data of external characteristic. The results for air-water combination showed a uniform gas distribution in the inlet pipe, and formation of a stratified structure in the outlet pipe. The gas in impeller gathered at the hub because of the rotation of the impeller, also, the interphase forces increased with the increased IGVF. For the two medium combinations, the drag force was the largest interphase force, followed by added mass and lift forces, and then the turbulent dispersion force was the least, which can be neglected. Because of the larger viscosity of crude than that of water, the variation trend of interphase forces in the impeller is relatively smooth along the flow direction when the medium combination was air-crude.

Objective To investigate the value of plasma neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) combined with global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) score in evaluating the long-term prognosis of patients with non-ST-elevation myocar-dial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods An analysis was performed for 278 patients with NSTEMI who were hospitalized in The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University in 2018 and received long-term follow-up after discharge, and related clinical data were collected to calculate plasma NLR and GRACE score. With the onset of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during follow-up as the endpoint, the patients were divided into MACE group and non-MACE group, and clinical data were compared between the two groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors for MACE, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for plasma NLR and GRACE score to investigate their value in eva-luating patient prognosis. The multivariate Cox regression model was used to explore the impact of plasma NLR and GRACE score on the specific survival time of patients. Results There were significant differences between the two groups in age, composition ratio of male patients, composition ratio of diabetic patients, plasma lymphocyte count, plasma NLR, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide, left ventricular ejection fraction, and GRACE score (t=-2.748-5.054,χ2=5.067,8.952,Z=-3.108-4.442,P