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Introduction: Surgery is a risk factor for flares in people with gout. However, gout flares after endovascular interventional procedures are not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and risk factors for gout flare that develop during the postsurgical period including endovascular procedures. Methods: We enrolled 222 patients with gout who developed postsurgical gout and 196 controls who had histories of gout but did not develop gout flares after surgery within 20 days. Clinical characteristics of patients who developed a postsurgical gout flare were compared with the controls. Results: The rate of endovascular interventional procedures was higher (38.74% vs. 13.48%,P< 0.001) in the flare group than in the no-flare group and lower in orthopedic surgery (13.96% vs. 41.84%,P< 0.001). The Cox model showed that endovascular interventional procedures (HR, hazard ratio 1.752; 95% CI, confidence interval 1.126–2.724,P= 0.013) and presurgical uric acid levels of ≥ 7 mg/dl (HR 1.489; 95% CI 1.081–2.051,P= 0.015) were significantly associated with increased risks of postsurgical gout flare, and taking colchicine before surgery were significantly associated with decreased risk of postsurgical gout flare (HR 0.264; 95% CI 0.090–0.774,P= 0.015). There was no significant difference in the types of endovascular interventional procedures between the flare group and the no-flare group. Conclusions: Patients with a history of gout should be more alert to recurrence gout flares after endovascular interventional procedures. Adequate presurgical control of serum uric acid levels and/or prophylactic treatment with colchicine will help prevent gout flares during the postsurgical period.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to explore the efficacy and renal safety of febuxostat in gout and stage 2–4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and factors that correlated with target serum urate (SU). Methods: A single-center retrospective study including male patients with gout and CKD was conducted. SU, the rate of SU < 360 µmol/L (RAT), and renal safety were analyzed in subjects who received febuxostat over 44 weeks. Factors that correlated with target SU were also explored. Results: Between January 2017 and March 2021, 102 patients (stage 2 CKD: n= 27; stage 3 CKD: n= 70; stage 4 CKD: n= 5) were enrolled. The SU level reduced significantly over 44 weeks (600.76 ± 95.42 versus 405.52 ± 111.93 µmol/L; P< 0.05), and RAT increased to 39.20%. The overall estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) level improved over 44 weeks (52.05 ± 11.68 versus 55.46 ± 14.49 mL/min/1.73 cm2, P< 0.05). An obvious improvement of eGFR was observed in stage 3 CKD, in patients with ≤ 1 risk factor (hypertension, diabetic mellitus, hyperlipidemia, or usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and in patients with terminal SU < 360 µmol/L (P< 0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that baseline SU level and body weight were correlated with RAT. Further analysis revealed that patients with SU < 600 μmol/L and body weight ≤ 70 kg reached higher RAT (56.7%). Conclusions: Febuxostat demonstrated efficacy and renal safety in patients with gout and CKD in clinical practice. Achieving the target SU could obviously improve renal function. Baseline SU level and body weight could affect the achievement of target SU.

The Heishan geothermal area is positioned above the sole Yunnan–Tibet high-temperature geothermal belt, where huge geothermal energy resources are available. Utilizing the characteristics of large exploration depth, extensive coverage, and high precision of the wide-field electromagnetic method, four survey lines were deployed, totaling 29.8 km, to enable a comprehensive analysis of the granite structure and fault distribution. The results indicate that the rocks within the area can be vertically divided into a granite basement and a fractured layer. Moreover, three different zones of resistivity were identified: the granite basement zone has a resistivity range of 2500–20,000 Ω m, whereas the compressional shear zone and the secondary fault zone have a resistivity range of 750–2500 Ω m, and the extensional fault zone and the main fault zone have resistivity values below 750 Ω m. The Heishan-Hejian fault and the fault zone formed during its right-lateral strike-slip process, as well as the controlled area of the Qianmaihe fault, are all favorable targets. Of these, the Qianmahe fault possesses a larger-scale heat-conducting and water-controlling structure. In addition, in the secondary fault-controlled area extending to the west, the zone between F2′ and F4 exhibits renewed tectonic activity, suggesting a greater potential for geothermal resources.

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy with large scale and wide distribution. Geothermal resources are abundant in western Yunnan, China, but the work is less. In this study, a wide field electromagnetic method(WFEM) was applied to geothermal exploration in Sanying Basin, and six survey lines were deployed. On the basis of the inversion results, the paper conducts a progressive study on the four genetic factors of geothermal exploration, including “source, storage, channel, and circulation”. The Sanying Basin has three sets of intrusive rock masses, two kinds of lateral and vertical additional heating modes. Two sets of deep and shallow reservoir systems were identified. Two major strike-slip deep faults were identified as heat conduction channels. Two sets of water circulation systems were established, and the formation mechanism of hot springs was clarified. Anomaly 1 is a favorable target area for hydrothermal development, and invasion Ⅱ is a favorable target area for hot dry rock.

The synthesis of acyclic CB[n]-type host (1) is reported. By optimizing the placement of the sulfate groups nearby the electrostatically negative ureidyl C═O portals, the binding affinity of this class of receptors toward hydrophobic (di)ammonium guest molecules (5–23) is maximized. The X-ray crystal structures of 1·6aand 1·6dare reported.

Translating aging rejuvenation strategies into clinical practice has the potential to address the unmet needs of the global aging population. However, to successfully do so requires precise quantification of aging and its reversal in a way that encompasses the complexity and variation of aging.

In addition to the kidney, the intestine is one of the most important organs involved in uric acid excretion. However, the mechanism of urate excretion in the intestine remains unclear. Therefore, the relationship between soluble uric acid and the gut excretion in human intestinal cells was explored. The relevant signaling molecules were then also examined. HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines were stimulated with soluble uric acid. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to measure protein and mRNA levels. Subcellular fractionation methods and immunofluorescence were used to quantify the proteins in different subcellular compartments. Flow cytometry experiments examined the function of ATP-binding cassette transporter, subfamily G, member 2 (ABCG2). Small interfering RNA transfection was used to assess the interaction between ABCG2 and PDZ domain-containing 1 (PDZK1). Soluble uric acid increased the expression of PDZK1 and ABCG2. The stimulation of soluble uric acid also facilitated the translocation of ABCG2 from the intracellular compartment to the plasma membrane and increased its transport activity. Moreover, the upregulation of PDZK1 and ABCG2 by soluble uric acid was partially decreased by either TLR4-NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors or PI3K/Akt signaling inhibitors. Furthermore, PDZK1 knockdown significantly inhibited the expression and transport activity of ABCG2 regardless of the activation by soluble uric acid, demonstrating a pivotal role for PDZK1 in the regulation of ABCG2. These findings suggest that urate upregulates the expression of PDZK1 and ABCG2 for excretion in intestinal cells via activating the TLR4-NLRP3 inflammasome and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

A layered perovskite oxide Y0.8Ca0.2BaCoFeO5+d(YCBCF) was synthesized as a novel cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) by citric acid-nitrates self-propagating combustion method. The phase and microstructure of YCBCF were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The average thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of YCBCF was 14.6×10−6K−1, which was close to other materials of SOFC at the range of RT-1000 °C. An open-circuit potential of 0.75 V and a maximum output power density of 426 mW/cm2were obtained at 650 °C in a Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9(SDC)-based anode-supported SOFC by using humidified (∼3% H2O) hydrogen as fuel and static air as oxidant. The results indicated that the YCBCF was a promising cathode candidate for IT-SOFCs.

Two series of bifunctional catalysts CuO–ZnO/SAPO-34 were prepared by isometric impregnation and milling calcination. The catalyst samples with different composition ratios have been investigated in the direct transformation of syngas to light hydrocarbons. Furthermore, all the samples were characterized by SEM, XRD, BET, H2-TPR and NH3-TPD techniques. The catalytic reactions were conducted with a feeding gas mixture of CO and H2at 320 °C and 3.0 MPa. The results indicate that the preparation methods have significant effect on the catalysts performance. Though both series of catalysts could realize the direct transformation and the catalysts prepared by the milling calcination method facilitated a little more syngas to convert, the catalysts prepared by the impregnation method led to higher light hydrocarbons selectivity and less unexpected byproduct like CO2, since these serious catalysts displayed a smaller amount of metallic solid solution, a stronger interaction between the loaded metallic particles and supportive zeolites, more appropriate acidity strength as well.

AbstractA new wave of foreign mergers and acquisitions (M&A) will be coming to China, but China's various problems prevent corporations from growing and becoming stronger. Dealing with these problems and improving the market environment for M&As in the country are major challenges. This paper discusses the reasons behind the rise of foreign M&As in China and puts forward measures for facilitating and benefiting from foreign M&As. In terms of the M&A of transnational corporations in China, the paper discussed that the government should not only establish restrictions on industrial policy, but also legally and effectively investigate and supervise transnational M&A, thus ensuring the industrial security of China.

A new wave of foreign mergers and acquisitions (M&A) will be coming to China, but China’s various problems prevent corporations from growing and becoming stronger. Dealing with these problems and improving the market environment for M&As in the country are major challenges. This paper discusses the reasons behind the rise of foreign M&As in China and puts forward measures for facilitating and benefiting from foreign M&As. In terms of the M&A of transnational corporations in China, the paper discussed that the government should not only establish restrictions on industrial policy, but also legally and effectively investigate and supervise transnational M&A, thus ensuring the industrial security of China.

Draw resonance is caused by a constant speed winder that leads to non-constant axial forces (Schultz, 1984). The well studied isothermal Newtonian fiber drawing predicts very modest critical draw ratios (around 20, much less than the typical production draw ratios for glass fibers of 103 – 105). The nonisothermal fiber drawing model presented here shows that cooling along the spin line strongly stabilizes the process. However, we show that the conclusion of Shah and Pearson (1972a,b) that non-isothermal Newtonian fiber spinning is unconditionally stable is based on non-converged numerical results. The choice of viscosity-temperature correlation function has a strong influence in determining the stability of the process. While viscoelasticity generally has an adverse effect on the stability, low viscoelasticity in the presence of extensional thinning helps to slightly improve the maximum critical draw ratio.

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