Search

Introduction: Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a heterogeneous group of inflammatory central nervous system disorders caused by a misdirected immune response against self‐antigens expressed in the central nervous system. The thymus is a central organ in the immune system and thymic tumors are thought to be possible initiators of many neurological disorders. Recently, there is growing evidence that thymomas are associated with autoimmune encephalitis. Aims: Our study initially explored the characteristics of patients with autoimmune encephalitis combined with thymoma. Methods: We used patient data from January 1, 2011 to October 1, 2021 from the PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, and CNKI platforms to analyze overall demographics, frequency of symptoms and associations, and treatment prognosis outcomes. Results: A total of 68 patients were included. There were 39 female cases (57.4%). The mean age was 50 years (IQR 40–66 years). All had acute and subacute onset. The clinical manifestations were mostly cognitive changes (70.6%), mental disorders (57.4%), and epilepsy (50.0%). The most common neuronal antibody was alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities were present in 81.0% of patients, mostly in the hippocampus, temporal lobe, and some in cortical and subcortical areas. Abnormalities in the electroencephalogram (EEG) in 69.8% of patients. Treatment involved immunotherapy and thymoma treatment, with 79.7% of patients improving after treatment. While 20.3% of patients had a poor prognosis. Further, 14.8% of patients relapsed. Mental disorders, autonomic dysfunction, sleep disturbances, anti‐Ma2, and thymoma untreated were more frequent in patients with poor prognosis. Conclusion: Thymoma‐associated autoimmune encephalitis is a unique disease entity. Long‐term follow‐up of chest CT findings is recommended for patients with autoimmune encephalitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin is known to involve multiple physiological actions in plants. Herein, we found that exogenous melatonin inhibited the Arabidopsis seedling growth through the elevated abscisic acid (ABA) levels, and the elevated ABA was ascribed to the upregulation of 9‐cis‐epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase genes (NCEDs) in the ABA biosynthesis pathway. We also found that the overexpression lines of the melatonin receptor gene PMTR1 (also known as Cand2) yielded smaller seeds and germinated slower than the wild type, whereas PMTR1‐knockout mutants produced larger seeds and germinated faster than the wild type. During the seed development, the accumulation peak of ABA was higher in the PMTR1‐knockout mutant, while it was lower in the PMTR1‐overexpression line than that in the wild type. In the dry seeds and imbibed seeds, the PMTR1‐overexpression line accumulated higher ABA levels, while the PMTR1‐knockout contained less ABA than the wild type. In summary, our findings suggest that PMTR1 is involved in ABA‐mediated seed development and germination in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It remains unclear whether well-maintained subjects, with periodontitis in the past, effectively treated, and maintained for a long time, have the same subgingival microbiome as healthy subjects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the subgingival microbiome in well-maintained patients with a history of periodontitis compared with healthy subjects.Methods: We recruited in 17 well-maintained individuals (no evidence of clinical inflammation and progress of periodontitis) and 21 healthy individuals. Periodontal clinical parameters, consisting of missing teeth, plaque index (PLI), periodontal depth (PD), and bleeding index (BI), were recorded and analyzed. The pooled subgingival samples from mesiobuccal sites of two maxillary first molars were collected. The V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene from 38 subgingival samples was sequenced and analyzed. Alpha diversity, microbial composition, types of bacteria, functional pathways between well-maintained group and health group were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman correlation was used in analyzing the symbiotic relationship among taxa. A classification model was constructed to distinguish two ecological types.Results: The maintained individuals demonstrated a different microbiome from healthy subjects, with higher diversity, more disordered structure, more pathogenic microbiota, and more host-destructive metabolism pathways. The genera Actinomyces, Streptococcus, Leptotrichia, Capnocytophaga, Lautropia, and Fusobacterium were predominant components with relative abundance >5% in the subgingival microbiome of well-maintained patients. The classification model by microbiota got a remarkable accuracy of 83.33%.Conclusions: Individuals with well-maintained periodontitis showed a more dysbiotic microbial community than healthy individuals. Therefore, close monitoring and scheduled maintenance treatment are necessary for them to maintain a healthy periodontal condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staged condensation of coal tar was studied with a three‐staged condensation system (first stage S1, 100–300 °C; second stage S2, 30–70 °C; third stage S3, 0 °C) to perform on‐line preliminary removal of dust and fundamental fractionation of tar components. The dust and heavy components are predominantly distributed in S1. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are abundant in S1. Aliphatics and monocyclic phenols are abundant in S2, and the tar in S3 is rich in aliphatics and monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. With increasing S2 temperature from 30 to 70 °C, the total organics in the water phase in S2 and S3 are least at an S2 temperature of 50 °C, which is advantageous for post‐treatment of wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: CYP1A1 rs1048943 polymorphism was reported to be correlated with periodontitis; however, its association with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) has not yet been investigated. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the CYP1A1 gene rs1048943 variant with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) and platelet activation and analyse whether its interaction with hyperlipidemia affects periodontal status in a Chinese population. Methods: A case‐control study of 224 GAgP patients and 139 healthy controls was conducted. The clinical parameters of probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL) and bleeding index (BI) were recorded. Platelet count (PLT), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet large cell ratio (PLCR), mean platelet volume (MPV), serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), high and low‐density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL) were also measured. The CYP1A1 rs1048943 SNP was genotyped by time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Logistic and linear regression models were used to measure correlation. Results: The CYP1A1 rs1048943 AG/GG genotype was associated with GAgP (OR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.01, 2.42), PD, AL and decreased PDW, PLCR and MPV after adjustment for covariates. Gene‐lipid interactions were found between CYP1A1 rs1048943 and HDL for PD (Pinteraction = 0.0033), BI (Pinteraction = 0.0311) and AL (Pinteraction = 0.0141) and between CYP1A1 rs1048943 and LDL for PD (Pinteraction = 0.013) among patients with GAgP. Conclusion: The G allele of the CYP1A1 rs1048943 gene was associated with GAgP, periodontal status and platelet‐related inflammation status in a Chinese population. Hyperlipidemia could modulate the effect of CYP1A1 rs1048943 on the periodontal status of GAgP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Association between BMI and periodontitis were controversial. A study indicated that not only overweight or obesity but also underweight was correlated with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP). However, the exact relationship between BMI and GAgP and the optimal BMI value for the lowest risk of GAgP remain unknown.Objective: To explore the exact relationship between BMI and GAgP risk, periodontal status and WBC (white blood cell) count and find the optimal BMI value associated with the lowest risk, periodontal status and lowest WBC of GAgP in Chinese.Methods: 300 GAgP patients and 133 healthy controls were recruited. Height and weight of participants were accurately measured to calculate BMI value. Clinical periodontal parameters, including probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL), and bleeding index (BI) were recorded. WBC was obtained from routine blood examination. Smooth curve fitting and segmented regression model were used to analyze the threshold effect between BMI and variables. The shape of the curve was used to describe the relationships between BMI and GAgP.Results: U-shaped relationships between BMI and risk of GAgP, AL, and WBC count in GAgP patients were observed. The optimal value of BMI for the lowest risk of GAgP and lowest WBC count was 22 kg/m2 . The risk of GAgP increased by 39% in patients per unit increase of BMI when BMI ranged from 22 to 28 kg/m2 (adjusted OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.67) and increased by 18% per unit decrease of BMI when BMI ranged from 22 to 18 kg/m2 (adjusted OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.97). The count of WBC increased by 1.12 × 109 /L in patients per unit increase of BMI when BMI ranged from 22 to 28 kg/m2 (adjusted β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.23) and increased by 0.2 × 109 /L per unit decrease of BMI when BMI ranged from 22 to18 kg/m2 (adjusted β = -0.2, 95% CI: -0.35, -0.04).Conclusion: U-shaped relationships exist between BMI and risk of GAgP, AL, and WBC count in patients with GAgP among Chinese aged below 36 years old with their BMI range from 18 to 28 kg/m2 ; the optimal BMI value for lowest odds ratio and lowest WBC count of GAgP was 22 kg/m2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is an important bio‐based platform chemical for liquid fuel production. Herein, efficient conversion of cellulose to HMF in NaHSO4/ZrO2/H2O‐THF biphasic system was investigated with a high HMF yield up to 86.5%. In the co‐catalytic system, H+ ions given from NaHSO4 was promotive to all steps of the cellulose‐to‐HMF conversion; abundant alkaline sites of ZrO2 was particularly favorable to the glucose‐to‐fructose isomerization. The accelerated conversion of glucose as well as the fast extraction of HMF from aqueous phase to tetrahydrofuran (THF) phase, favored the inhibition of humins which was generated from condensation between glucose and HMF. Only a trace amount of humins over ZrO2 was detected after reaction, which guaranteed the reusability of ZrO2 in six running experiments without any post‐treatment. The good reusability of ZrO2, the low ‐cost of NaHSO4, and the biomass‐derived THF were advantageous for potential industrial application. Aqueous phase adsorbed on ZrO2 particle surface afforded the workshop for catalytic reactions, and the synergistic effect of H+ and abundant alkaline sites of ZrO2 could effectively promoted 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) generation, leading to a high yield of HMF (86.5%) from cellulose with a trace amount of humins formation, besides organic phase could promptly extract products against by‐reactions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND More efficient downstream separation technologies need to be explored due to the low concentration of bio-based isobutanol in the fermentation broth. The salting-out extraction of isobutanol from its aqueous solution by employing nine salts (K4P2O7·3H2O, K2HPO4·3H2O, K3PO4·3H2O, K2CO3, K2SO4, KCl, Na2CO3, Na2SO4, NaCl) as salting-out agents and three organic solvents (2-ethyl-1-hexanol, cyclopentanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol) as extractants were investigated at 298.15 K. RESULTS The recovery was greatly influenced by the salt concentration and types of salts and organic solvents. When the initial molar K4P2O7 concentration was equal to or higher than 1.01 mol kg-1 and the mass ratio of aqueous isobutanol solution to 2-ethyl-1-hexanol was 1:1, the recovery of isobutanol reached 100%, and more than 91.62% of water was removed from the organic phase. CONCLUSION The salting-out effects of different anions in nine salts were ordered in the sequence: Cl- < SO42- < HPO42- < CO32- < PO43- < P2O74- at the same initial molar salt concentration and using the same organic solvent. 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol was verified to be the most suitable extractant. The distribution behavior and salting-out extraction effects can be evaluated by tie-line correlations and solubility correlation. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mono-aza-Michael additions of divinyl ketones with benzotriazole and other N-heterocycles in the presence of cesium carbonate were described. This protocol has advantages of high regioselectivity, high yield, and mild condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Catalyst‐free N1 selective aza‐Michael addition of 3‐aminopyrazole to nitroalkenes is described. A series of 1‐(2‐nitro‐1‐arylethyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐amines were efficiently synthesized. The protocol has advantages of wide range of nitroalkene substrates, no catalyst, additives and bases, mild condition, high yield, and high selectivity. The method can also extend to gram scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of screw speed and screw feeder inclination on the residence time distribution (RTD) of particles in a screw feeder via a pulse stimulus response technique. Two models based on Markov chains were developed to simulate particle flows within and between pitches. In upward and horizontal screw feeder inclination cases, a three-parameter two-dimensional Markov chain model consisting of parallel active and stagnant zones fitted well with the experimental RTD data, with correlation coefficients (R2) higher than 0.98, and gave a clear physical meaning for the parameters introduced. In these cases, a high screw speed or a horizontal inclination induced a high probability of forward movement from a pitch to the next pitch ( f) during each rotation period of the screw, and a low ratio of stagnant zone to active zone ( r) in a pitch. The upward screw feeder inclination yielded a higher diffusion probability from stagnant zone to active zone ( d). In the downward screw feeder inclination case, a one-dimensional Markov chain model without a stagnant zone was in agreement with the corresponding experimental data. The analysis showed that during each rotation period of the screw, the particles in a pitch could be transferred not only to the next pitch but also to the following two pitches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ upgrading of coal pyrolysis vapors over Ce/Zr/Ni and Ce/Zr/Ni/Zn catalysts was studied in a two-stage reactor. The catalytic effects of Ce/Zr/Ni and Ce/Zr/Ni/Zn on the pyrolysis products were examined, revealing that CO2, CO, and H2 were dramatically increased and pyrolytic water was decreased when using these catalysts. The tar collected in the cooling traps showed a slight increase after catalysis. Compared to the no-catalyst condition, heterocyclic compounds and multicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the tar were significantly reduced, and benzene derivatives and aliphatics were increased. The molar ratio of H/C in tar was analyzed to further evaluate the tar quality. Possible reaction routes are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]