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For this study, porous anodic alumina thin films with annular structural colors were fabricated in a phosphoric acid electrolyte by the one-step oxidation of an aluminum (Al) sheet. In this case, small carbon balls were used as the cathode and an Al sheet used as the anode, with the distance between cathode and anode remaining adjustable. Electron microscopy shows that the different parts of films are different in microstructure. Results additionally reveal that the depth and aperture of nano-holes diminished symmetrically outward from the center of the films. It is possible to control ring density by changing the oxidation time and voltage. These experimental results, conducted using point electrode, are consistent with a theoretical study of the oxidation process and formation mechanism of anodic alumina thin films with annular structural colors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in situ imaging nanoindentation technique was used to investigate the effect of age, culm height, and radial position on the cell wall mechanical properties of bamboo (Dendrocalamus farinosus) along the longitudinal direction of culms. The results indicated that among our foursampled culm ages, the fiber cell wall had average values for the elastic modulus (MOE) and hardness (HL) of 18.56 GPa and 410.72 MPa, respectively. The ages of the culm had no significant effect on the observed MOE and HL among the 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old D. farinosus test specimens, with similar results observed at three different culm heights and radial positions. Furthermore, longitudinal MOE and HL values along the thickness of the cell wall were uneven, with average values for the middle lamella and the edge near the cavity only 20.97% to 29.78% and 9.22% to 31.71%, respectively, of the values found in the cell wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo is one of the world's fastest growing plants. They reach a final height of 15-40 m during a period of 40-120 days. The full height is reached by intercalary growth of each node. However, it is very difficult to detect the complex vascular system in a bamboo node using traditional methods. X-ray computed microtomography (µCT) is a noninvasive novel approach to the three-dimensional (3D) visualization and quantification of biological structures. In the present article, µCT has been applied to provide insights into the internal structure of bamboo node, where three branches are connected. The picture obtained could hardly be obtained by any other means. The bamboo nodal characteristics of three transverse and axial sections are presented. The complex 3D network of vascular bundles has been directly obtained for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pattern of fat distribution is a major determinant for metabolic homeostasis. As a depot of energy, the storage of triglycerides in adipose tissue contributes to the normal fat distribution. Decreased capacity of fat storage in adipose tissue may result in ectopic fat deposition in nonadipose tissues such as liver, pancreas, and kidney. As a critical biomarker of metabolic complications, chronic low-grade inflammation may have the ability to affect the process of lipid accumulation and further lead to the disorder of fat distribution. In this review, we have collected the evidence linking inflammation with ectopic fat deposition to get a better understanding of the underlying mechanism, which may provide us with novel therapeutic strategies for metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Febuxostat has been approved for the treatment of hyperuricemia in patients with/without gout. Objectives: This meta-analysis and systematic review assessed the efficacy and tolerability of febuxostat in hyperuricemic patients with/without gout. Methods: Major electronic databases were searched for articles of all publication years (up to February 2012), as were the Web sites of the American College of Rheumatology, the European League Against Rheumatism, and the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration, and clinicaltrials.gov for unpublished studies. Only randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Results: Ten trials were included. A significantly greater proportion of patients achieved the target serum urate level (sUA =6.0 mg/dL) at the final visit in the febuxostat group compared with the placebo (OR = 235.73; P < 0.01) and allopurinol groups (OR =3.14; P < 0.01). In subgroup analysis, the proportion of patients who achieved target sUA at the final visit was significantly greater in the febuxostat-treated group (40 mg/d) compared with the allopurinol-treated group (100-300 mg/d) (50.9% vs 45.6%; OR = 1.25; 95% CI, 1.05-1.49; P = 0.01). As the dosage was increased (40, 80, 120 mg/d), the proportion of patients who achieved target sUA in the febuxostattreated group increased gradually (50.9%, 71.4%, 82%, respectively). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) between the febuxostat- and allopurinol-treated groups. Conclusion: Febuxostat was effective in reducing serum urate in hyperuricemic patients with/without gout, and febuxostat (40-120 mg/d) was more efficacious compared with allopurinol (100-300 mg/d). The doses of allopurinol to which febuxostat has been compared, although commonly prescribed, are low in the range of approved doses of allopurinol. The tolerability of febuxostat for the treatment of hyperuricemia with/without gout is similar to that of allopurinol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) plays an important role in obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR). The study aims to investigate the effect of metformin, a widely used agent to improve IR, on PEDF production both in vivo and in vitro. Methods. SD rats were divided into normal control group, high fat group (HF group), and metformin group (MET group). Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp was performed to evaluate insulin sensitivity. IR models of 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells were established and then treated with metformin and inhibitor of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). Results. In vivo, the HF group showed increased serum PEDF which is negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity, while the MET group revealed decreased serum PEDF and downregulated PEDF expression in fat and liver, concomitant with significantly improved IR. In vitro, the IR cells showed enhanced PEDF secretion and expression, whereas metformin lowered PEDF secretion and expression, accompanied with increased glucose uptake. Metformin stimulated AMPK phosphorylation in fat and liver of the obese rats, while in vitro, when combined with AMPK inhibitor, the effect of metformin on PEDF was abrogated. Conclusions. Metformin inhibits the expression and secretion of PEDF in fat and liver via promoting AMPK phosphorylation, which is closely associated with IR improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type I IFNs are unusually pleiotropic cytokines that bind to a single heterodimeric receptor and have potent antiviral, antiproliferative, and immune modulatory activities. The diverse effects of the type I IFNs are of differential therapeutic importance; in cancer therapy, an enhanced antiproliferative effect may be beneficial, whereas in the therapy of viral infections (such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C). the antiproliferative effects lead to dose limiting bone marrow suppression. Studies have shown that various members of the natural IFN-α family and engineered variants, such as IFN-con1, vary in the ratios between various IFN-mediated cellular activities. We used DNA shuffling to explore and confirm the hypothesis that one could simultaneously increase the antiviral and Th1-inducing activity and decrease the antiproliferative activity. We report IFN-α hybrids wherein the ratio of antiviral:antiproliferative and Th1-inducing: antiproliferative potencies are markedly increased with respsect to IFN-con1 (75- and 80-fold, respectively). A four-residue motif that overlaps with the IFNAR1 binding site and is derived by cross breeding with a pseudogene contributes significantly to this phenotype. These IFN-αs have an activity profile that may result in an improved therapeutic index and, consequently, better clinical efficacy for the treatment of chronic viral diseases such as hepatitis B virus, human papilloma virus, HIV, or chronic hepatitis C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overlapping coding regions balance selective forces between multiple genes. One possible division of nucleotide sequence is that the predominant selective force on a particular nucleotide can be attributed to just one gene. While this arrangement has been observed in regions in which one gene is structured and the other is disordered, we sought to explore how overlapping genes balance constraints when both protein products are structured over the same sequence. We use a combination of sequence analysis, functional assays, and selection experiments to examine an overlapped region in HIV-1 that encodes helical regions in both Env and Rev. We find that functional segregation occurs even in this overlap, with each protein spacing its functional residues in a manner that allows a mutable non-binding face of one helix to encode important functional residues on a charged face in the other helix. Additionally, our experiments reveal novel and critical functional residues in Env and have implications for the therapeutic targeting of HIV-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study on the major subtypes of obesity such as the general and the abdominal obesity which are known to be associated with chronic diabetes complications, like cardiovascular diseases and diabetic retinopathy. Topics discussed include the diabetic kidney disease (DKD), type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients assess through DXA, and the parameters of general obesity such as body mass index (BMI), total body fat percentage(TBF), and fat mass index (FMI).

Background/Aims: Whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) could benefit patients with diabetes and albuminuria remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to answer this question by comparing ACE inhibitors or ARB with placebo among these patients. Methods: In this meta-analysis, electronic data sources (Medline, the Cochrane Collaboration, and EMBASE) were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ACE inhibitors or ARB with placebo in subjects with diabetes and albuminuria (defined as urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, UACR≥30mg/g Cr) were included. Outcomes parameters were all-cause mortality, end stage renal disease (ESRD), doubling of serum creatinine levels, and cardiovascular events (CV). Results: Twenty-six RCTs (including 20 for ACE inhibitors and 6 for ARB) were included, comprising 10378 participants with diabetes and albuminuria. Compared to placebo, treatment with ACE inhibitors or ARBs did not reduce all-cause mortality or CV. For renal outcomes, ARBs significantly reduced the risk of ESRD by 23% (odds ratio 0.77, 95%CI 0.65-0.92), while ACE inhibitors were not associated with a decreased risk of ESRD (0.69, 0.43-1.10). Both ACE inhibitors and ARBs reduced the risk of doubling of the serum creatinine level (0.60, 0.39-0.91 for ACE inhibitors; 0.75, 0.64-0.88 for ARBs), and subgroup analyses for patients with macroalbuminuria or microalbuminuria showed similar results. Conclusion: In patients with diabetes and albuminuria, ARBs reduced risks of ESRD and doubling of the serum creatinine level. ACE inhibitors and ARBs failed to reduce all-cause mortality and CV. Based on the renoprotective effects, ARBs may be preferred for diabetic patients with albuminuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the mechanical properties of rattan/polymer composites prepared by polymerization with methyl methacrylate (MMA). The P. kerrana rattan samples were impregnated in a vacuum system and polymerized in an oven at 60℃ for 8 h, using 0.5 wt.% of azobisisobutyronitrile as a catalyst. The macro-mechanical properties of the treated and untreated samples were analyzed. The bending modulus and strength of the treated rattan increased by 206% and 215%, respectively. Additionally, the compressive modulus and strength increased by 109% and 107%, compared to untreated rattan. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that MMA penetrated the cell lumen. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that MMA diffused into the parenchyma and vessels, but it was not found in the fiber wall. Thus, it can be inferred that the improvement in the mechanical properties of treated rattan was mainly caused by the strengthened parenchyma and vessels. Modification with MMA was shown to be an effective way to enhance the macromechanical properties of P. kerrana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]