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Dialysis adequacy is a known risk factor for mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. However, the optimal dialysis dose remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to explore the relationship between dialysis dose and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among MHD. We examined the associations of dialysis dose with mortality in a cohort (n = 558) of MHD patients from 31 December 2015 to 31 December 2020. Dialysis adequacy was assessed using baseline Single-pool Kt/Vurea (spKt/V), which was categorized into three groups, and the lowest dose group was used as the reference category. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. A total of 214 patients died (64.5% for CVD). Compared with the low-dose group, high-dose group could reduce the risk of all-cause mortality by 33% (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.47–0.98). Of note, when stratification by age, high-dose group was associated with both lower all-cause (HR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.26–0.81) and CVD mortality (HR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.20–0.88) among patients with age below 65 years. When stratification by dialysis age, high-dose group was associated with decreased risk of CVD mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20–0.91) among patients with dialysis age over 60 months. spKt/V is a simple index of hemodialysis dose used in clinical practice and a useful modifiable factor in predicting the risk of death, especially in MHD patients under 65 years old or dialysis age more than 60 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal protection from s-ethyl cysteine (SEC) against cisplatin (CP)-induced inflammatory and oxidative injury was examined. Mice were divided into five groups: normal group, 0.25% SEC group, CP group, 0.125% SEC + CP group, 0.25% SEC + CP group. After 2 weeks supplementation, mice of CP and SEC + CP groups received CP treatment. H&E stain showed that CP caused infiltration of inflammatory cells and necrosis of tubular cells. SEC pre-treatments attenuated CP-induced inflammatory injury and degeneration. SEC pre-treatments limited CP-stimulated release of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and prostaglandin E2 in kidney. CP raised the renal activity and mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and nuclear factor kappa B. SEC pre-treatments reversed these alterations. CP increased the production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, and lowered glutathione content, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities in kidney. SEC pre-treatments reversed these changes. CP up-regulated renal inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression, and down-regulated nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf)-2 and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 mRNA expression. SEC pre-treatments suppressed iNOS mRNA expression; and enhanced renal Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA expression. These novel findings suggest that dietary SEC via exerting its multiple bio-functions could be considered as a protective agent for kidney against CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the dry eye symptoms after cataract surgery in MGD patients and their relationships Methods: The study included 115 patients (115 eyes) with age-related cataract that underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery, and the patients were divided into two groups according to the MGD diagnostic criteria: group A (MGD group) and group B (control group). Schirmer I test (ST-I), tear breakup time (TBUT), and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) were performed preoperatively and at 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 30 days postoperatively. We also measured eyelid meibomian gland morphology, meibomian gland expression, and meibum character scores before and after the cataract surgery. Results: Postoperatively, in group A, TBUT decreased and CFS scores increased significantly. ST-I increased in the early postoperative course but decreased later. The eyelid margin morphology scores and meibomian gland expression scores of group A significantly increased after the cataract operation. Thus, patients with MGD may have a greater chance of developing the dry eye disease after cataract surgery. Cataract surgery may aggravate the signs of MGD, and the severity of MGD may positively correlate with TBUT, CFS, and corneal lesions after surgery. Conclusions: The characteristics of dry eye after cataract surgery in patients with MGD are different from common cataract patients, changes in the early postoperative phase to the ocular surface were caused by surgical factors, and the damages to epithelial function in the later postoperative phase were mainly associated with the inflammation of the meibomian gland and eyelid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An automated flow-batch analyzer (FBA) based on spectrophotometry was developed for the determination of nitrite (NO2−) in environmental waters. The FBA consists of a homemade flow cell, light source, detector and a mini-syringe pump, which was controlled by self-designed software written in LabVIEW. Two LEDs and a light-to-voltage converter were used as the light source and detector respectively. The chemical detection method was based on spectrophotometry and modified Griess reaction. With the optimized conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.018 µmol·L−1 and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) at different concentrations (0–12 µmol·L−1) were 0.54%–3.63% (n=3). Measurements of different aqueous samples (n=21) showed no significant difference between results obtained by developed FBA and a commercial spectrophotometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to examine the therapeutic effects of Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) on depression-like behaviors in mice and to explore the potential mechanisms. These results revealed that a single facial injection of BoNT/A induced a rapid and prolonged improvement of depression-like behaviors in naïve and space-restriction-stressed (SRS) mice, reflected by a decreased duration of immobility in behavioral despair tests. BoNT/A significantly increased the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in several brain regions, including the hippocampus and hypothalamus, in SRS mice. BoNT/A increased the expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits NR1 and NR2B in the hippocampus, which were significantly decreased in SRS mice. Furthermore, BoNT/A significantly increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala, which were decreased in SRS mice. Finally, BoNT/A transiently increased the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) and cAMP-response element binding protein (p-CREB), which were suppressed in the hippocampus of SRS mice. Collectively, these results demonstrated that BoNT/A treatment has anti-depressant-like activity in mice, and this is associated with increased 5-HT levels and the activation of BDNF/ERK/CREB pathways in the hippocampus, supporting further investigation of BoNT/A therapy in depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trace element concentrations (Cr, Ni, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe) of feathers from Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), Gadwall (Anas strepera), and Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) from Nanhaizi Wetland, China were measured. (1) There were significant differences in the concentrations of the Cr, Ni, and Pb among the waterfowl species. The concentrations of Cr and Ni in Gadwall feathers and Pb in Green-winged Teal feathers were higher than the concentrations of Cr, Ni and Pb in Ferruginous duck. (2) The Pb concentrations in the feathers of four Green-winged Teals and one Ferruginous duck, Cr concentrations in the feathers of Gadwalls (geomean 5.33 µg g−1 dry weight) and Green-winged Teals (geomean 4.55 µg g−1 dry weight) exceeded the thresholds at which they pose a threat to bird health (i.e., Pb > 4 µg g−1, Cr > 2.8 µg g−1). (3) The Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn concentrations of feathers were within the normal ranges reported for most waterfowl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the investment casting process, different parts of the casting always have various macroscopic structures. Different distribution of internal stress appears in these different parts in the casting, which let each part have different shrinkage distribution. As the design of die cavity can be based on computer-aided design model and fractional shrinkage in the casting process, it can be of benefit for the die cavity design if the fractional shrinkage can be predicted based on structural parameters of the computer-aided design model. Compared to the traditional die-repair method, it is favorable to achieve fast die-repairing and reduce trial-manufacture cost. As an initial study, a wheel shape casting is designed and it is divided into three parts. Fractional shrinkage of these parts is analyzed to research shrinkage rule. The research methods are casting simulation and experiment. The same process parameters are used in the two methods. The simulated and measured results of fractional shrinkage distribution in the corresponding parts show the same trend. It can be concluded that the simulated result can also reflect the fractional shrinkage distribution effectively. Besides, structural parameters that can influence fractional shrinkage are chosen. Then, the mapping model between these structural parameters and fractional shrinkage is built by regression method. Furthermore, the predicted values of the mapping model are compared with measured values. The result shows that the mapping model has a good performance in predicting fractional shrinkage of different parts in wheel shape casting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The expression levels of two DNA repair genes ( CHAF1A and CHAF1B) and a chromosome segregation gene ( AURKA) were susceptible to arecoline exposure, a major alkaloid of areca nut. We hypothesize that genetic variants of these genes might also be implicated in the risk of oral cancer and could be modified by substance use of betel quid or alcohol and cigarettes. Material and methods: A case-control study, which included 507 patients with oral cancer and 717 matched controls, was performed in order to evaluate the cancer susceptibility by the tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) in AURKA, CHAF1A, and CHAF1B using a genotyping assay and gene-environment interaction analysis. Results: The Phe31Ile polymorphism (rs2273535, T91A) of AURKA was significantly associated with an increased risk of oral cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 2.1, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.5). The gene dosage of the 91A allele also showed a significant trend in risk of oral cancer ( P = 0.008). Furthermore, we found the AURKA 91AA homozygote was modifiable by substance use of alcohol, betel quid, and cigarettes (ABC), leading to increased risk of oral cancer in an additive or a multiplicative model (combined effect indexes = 1.2-4.0 and 1.5-2.2, respectively). However, no association was observed between the genetic variants of CHAF1A or CHAF1B and oral cancer risk in the study. Conclusion: These findings reveal the functional Phe31Ile polymorphism tagSNP of AURKA may be a strong susceptibility gene in ABC-related oral cancer occurrence. Clinical relevance: The results of this betel-related oral cancer study provide the evidence of environment-gene interaction for early prediction and molecular diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the frequency, distribution and clinical significance of the antibodies to the fetal and/or adult acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods: AChR antibodies were detected by cell-based assay in the serum of ocular MG (OMG) ( n = 90) and generalized MG (GMG) patients ( n = 110). The fetaltype (2α: β: Γ: δ) and adult-type (2α: β: ɛ: δ) AChR were used as antigens, and their relevance to disease presentation was assessed. Results: The overall frequencies of anti-adult and anti-fetal AChR antibodies were similar in all 200 patients examined, with 14 having serum specific to the AChR-Γ subunit, and 22 to the AChR-ɛ subunit. The overall sensitivity when using the fetal and adult AChR antibodies was higher than that when using the fetal AChR antibody only ( P = 0.015). Compared with OMG patients, the mean age at disease onset and the positive ratio of antibodies to both isoforms of the AChR were significantly higher in patients who subsequently progressed to GMG. Older patients and patients with both anti-fetal and anti-adult AChR antibodies had a greater risk for developing generalized disease [odds ratio (OR), 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.06 and OR, 5.09; 95% CI, 2.23-11.62]. Conclusion: Using both fetal- and adult-type AChRs as the antigens may be more sensitive than using either subtype. Patients with serum specific to both isoforms are at a greater risk of progressing to GMG. Patients with disease onset at an advanced age appear to have a higher frequency of GMG conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous studies have shown that pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in red nucleus (RN) are involved in the development of neuropathic pain and play facilitated roles on the mechanical allodynia induced by peripheral nerve injury. The current study was designed to evaluate the expression and effect of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, in the RN of rats with spared nerve injury (SNI). Immunohistochemical staining results demonstrated when 3 weeks after SNI, the expression level of IL-10 in the contralateral RN of SNI rats was apparently higher than those of sham-operated and normal rats. To further study the effect of IL-10 in the development of neuropathic pain, different doses of IL-10 (1.0, 0.5 and 0.1 μg/μl) were microinjected respectively into the RN contralateral to the nerve injury side of SNI rats. Results demonstrated that higher doses of IL-10 (1.0 and 0.5 μg/μl) significantly attenuated the mechanical allodynia of neuropathic rats, while 0.1 μg/μl of IL-10 did not show any analgesic effect. These results suggest that IL-10 of RN participates in the development of neuropathic pain and plays inhibitory roles on the mechanical allodynia induced by SNI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to know how the CO emits and how much the CO emits due to the cement manufacture in both direct and indirect ways with the increasing concerns about the global warming and the cement plants emitting huge CO. A precise method to calculate CO emissions including three processes was established in this paper and a case study was provided. From the case of 23 typical plants in China, we can see the amount of CO emissions at the right level. The summary of CO emissions consists of emissions from raw materials, fuels and electricity. The average result of the 23 typical plants is 0.74 t CO per ton clinker in this study. Therefore, CO emissions from these typical cement plants were pictured and then measured. The creative point is that an approach provides a basic framework to identify various situations in different cement plants in China and other in the rest of the world. The framework would be useful in quantitatively evaluating CO emissions for government to know precisely CO emissions in the cement plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection upon B vitamins status and antioxidative defense in infected patients was examined. Methods: Dietary record and blood levels of B vitamins and oxidative stress-associated biomarkers were determined for 195 healthy controls, 132 HBV, and 114 HCV patients. Results: HBV-infected patients had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, free fatty acids (FFA), and lower ghrelin level ( p < 0.05); and HCV-infected patients had significantly higher Ishak inflammation score and lactate dehydrogenase activity ( p < 0.05). HBV patients had significantly lower red blood cell (RBC) vitamins B and B levels, and HCV infection significantly decreased vitamins B B and folate levels in RBC and/or plasma ( p < 0.05). Correlation coefficients of RBC vitamin B versus serum FFA in HBV patients, RBC vitamins B and B versus HCV RNA and Ishak inflammation score, and plasma vitamin B vs Ishak inflammation score in HCV patients were <−0.5. HBV-infected patients had significantly higher oxidized glutathione level and lower glutathione peroxidase activity ( p < 0.05), but HCV patients had significantly lower superoxide dismutase and catalase activities ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: HBV or HCV infection enhanced oxidative stress and lowered B vitamins in circulation. In order to avoid other healthy risk, nutrition status should be monitored and limitation or supplementation of certain nutrients might be helpful for HBV- or HCV-infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that the deterioration of communication between the sympathetic nervous system and cardiovascular system always accompanies the aging of human and animals. Cardiac sympathetic norepinephrine (NE) transporter (NET) on presynaptic membrane is a predominant component to eliminate released NE in the synaptic cleft and maintains the sensitivity of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR). In the present study, we investigated NET and β1-AR mRNA levels and sympathetic nerve density in cardiac sympathetic ganglion and left ventricular myocardium in 2- and 16-month-old rats with Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of NET mRNA, NET protein and β1-AR mRNA in the ganglia or myocardia of 16-month-old rats were markedly reduced by 67%, 26%, and 43%, respectively, in comparison with those in 2-month-old rats. Our results also show that aging induces a strong decrease of the catecholaminergic nerve fiber density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new chromium(III) complex, [Cr(ox)(bdmpza)(H2O)], (ox = oxalate dianion and bdmpza = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetate, respectively), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/ c, with a = 7.008(3) Å, b = 14.229(5) Å, c = 16.497(7) Å, β = 101.588(7)°, V = 1611.5(11) Å3, Z = 4. The chromium atom has a distorted octahedral environment with different coordination atoms. Bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetate anion is a tridentate ligand, and the oxalate group acts as a chelating bidentate ligand. This compound also forms an infinite two-dimensional network through O–H ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ O hydrogen bonds. The lengths of the hydrogen bonds are 2.765(5) and 2.733(5) Å, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of carbonylchromium and tungsten complexes containing substituted pyrazole ligands, M(CO)5L, have been synthesized by the photochemical reactions of substituted pyrazoles with M(CO)6 (M = Cr or W). Their electrochemical behavior, investigated by cyclic voltammetry, indicates that the chromium complexes exhibit one reversible or quasi-reversible couple corresponding to a one-electron oxidation, whereas the tungsten complexes have one irreversible oxidation process. The crystal structure of W(CO)5L [L = 3(5)- t-butylpyrazole] was determined by X-ray diffraction, indicating that 3(5)- t-butylpyrazole is a monodentate ligand, and that the central metal is six-coordinate with a quasi-octahedral coordination geometry. All new compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, i.r., 1H-n.m.r. and by 13C-n.m.r. in the case of the tungsten complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-dimensional chain complex, {[Co(bpm)2(N3)2][Co(bpm)2(H2O)2]} (ClO4)2, (bpm being bis(pyrazol-l-yl)methane), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction: triclinic, space group P - 1 with a = 8.805(2) Å, b = 8.902(2) Å, c = 13.621(3) Å, α = 84.27(3)°, β = 84.63(3)°, γ = 80.05(3)°, V = 1043.2(4) Å3, Z = 1. Two cobalt atoms have ideal octahedral environments with different coordination atoms. One cobalt atom is six-coordinated with nitrogen atoms from two bpm ligands and two azide ligands, while the other cobalt atom is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from bpm and two oxygen atoms from water molecules. The complex forms one-dimensional chain through hydrogen bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethane tetracarbonylmolybdenum (1a) and tungsten (1b) have been synthesized by the direct reaction of bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)ethane (bmpze) with M(CO)6 (M = Mo or W). The molecular structure (1b), determined by x-ray crystallography, showed the seven-membered ring W–N–N–C–C–N–N to be in the boat conformation. Upon treatment with RSnCl3 (R=Ph or Cl) in CH2Cl2 at room temperature, complexes (1a) and (1b) gave the seven-coordinate oxidative-addition products [(bmpze)M(CO)3(SnCl2R)Cl] [M = Mo, R = Ph, (2a); M = W, R=Ph, (2b); M = Mo, R = Cl, (2c); M = W, R = Cl, (2d)]. When complexes (1b) and (2b) were heated under reflux with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), the ligand, bmpze, in these complexes was easily removed. The novel compounds were characterized by 1H-n.m.r., i.r. and elemental analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the original publication, Figure 4G was incorrectly published. The correct version of Figure 4G is presented in this correction. This correction does not affect the conclusions of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]