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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the normal reference left common iliac vein (LCIV) area in chronic venous disease (CVD) patients with or without May–Thurner syndrome (MTS) and its relevant influencing factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective analysis of patients with left lower extremity CVD was conducted in a single institution from January to August 2019. A total of 326 patients, 98 with MTS and 228 without MTS after computed tomography (CT) venography, were finally enrolled in this study, and their basic information was recorded. MTS cases were distinguished from non-MTS cases by calculating area stenosis rate with CT three-dimensional reconstruction. The reference area of LCIV was also defined and calculated to analyze its coefficient of variation and relationship with influencing factors in patients with and without MTS. RESULTS: Ninety-eight cases of MTS and 228 cases of non-MTS were finally analyzed. In the MTS group, the mean area of reference LCIV was significantly lower (116.29 ± 53.17 mm2 vs. 160.44 ± 52.99 mm2, P < 0.01) and showed greater variability (0.21 ± 0.13 vs. 0.16 ± 0.08, P = 0.04) compared with non-MTS group. Obesity radio was significantly higher in non-MTS group (28.5% vs. 16.3%, P = 0.03). In both MTS and non-MTS groups, the increase of body mass index (BMI) was generally associated with statistically significant increases in the LCIV area (P = 0.002 and P = 0.005), while other factors showed no statistically significant correlation. CONCLUSIONS: The reference area of LCIV was redefined in this study. We found that the increase of the LCIV area in both MTS and non-MTS groups was correlated with an increase in BMI. Furthermore, a smaller area of reference LCIV and more variability in the LCIV area were found in the MTS group in contrast to the non-MTS group.

As the key component of a hydroelectric power generation system, hydraulic turbine plays a decisive role in the overall performance of the system. There are many sandy rivers in the world, and turbines working in these rivers are seriously damaged. Therefore, the research of flow in sandy water has great theoretical significance and practical value. Based on the specific hydrological conditions of a hydropower station, the solid–liquid two-phase flow in the whole flow passage of a Francis turbine with splitter blades in sandy water was numerically studied. A geometric model of the whole flow passage of the Francis turbine was established on the basis of given design parameters. The solid–liquid two-phase turbulent flows in Francis turbine runner under three different loads were numerically analyzed by using this model. The three different loads are as follows: Condition 1: single unit with 1/4 load, Condition 2: single unit with 1/2 load, and Condition 3: single unit with full load. The distributions of pressure and sand concentration on the leading side and the suction side of the runner blades, as well as the velocity vector distribution of water and sand on the horizontal section of the runner, were obtained under different load conditions. Therefore, the damages to various flow passage components by sand can be qualitatively predicated under various conditions. To guarantee the safety and stability of the unit, the adverse conditions shall be avoided, which can provide certain reference for plant operation.

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is a promising, noninvasive invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement method. This study aims to analyze the differences in ONSD between the left and right eyeballs and the differences in ultrasonic measurement between the transverse and sagittal planes. Methods: Data from a total of 50 eligible patients with various types of brain injury who were admitted to our hospital from May 2019 to June 2021 were analyzed. An ONSD assessment was then performed using Philips B-mode ultrasound, measuring ONSD 3 mm posterior to the eyeballs. The left and right ONSDs in the transverse and sagittal planes were measured. Intraparenchymal fiber optic sensors and catheters were inserted into the ventricles and connected to an external pressure transducer to measure ICP. Results: A total of 164 sonographic measurements of ONSD were performed in 50 patients with brain injury in a prospective observational study. Statistically significant differences were found in ONSD between the transverse and sagittal planes. The difference in the left ONSD between the transverse and sagittal planes was 0.007 ± 0.030 cm (P = 0.003). The Spearman rank correlation test showed that the correlation coefficient between ICP and left/right ONSD in the transverse/sagittal planes was 0.495 vs 0.546 and 0.559 vs 0.605, respectively. The results showed that the areas under the curve of ONSD in the transverse and sagittal planes were 0.843 and 0.805, respectively. Medcalc software was used to compare the areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve, and the results showed that ONSD in the sagittal plane is generally better than in the transverse plane (P = 0.0145). Conclusions: This study found that ONSD in the sagittal plane is superior to the transverse plane regarding the comprehensive efficacy of ICP, and unilateral measurement is sufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A type of Al-MCM-41 supported dual imidazolium ionic liquids were constructed and efficiently used as catalysts for the synthesis of 2-oxazolidinones from epoxides, amines, and CO2. The influence of the different catalysts and reaction parameters on the catalytic behaviours was investigated. Al-MCM-41@ILTiCl5 was identified as the most excellent catalyst because it could efficiently promote the three-component cycloaddition of CO2, epoxide, and amines to form the corresponding 2-oxazolidinones in high to excellent yields (84∼96%) with excellent selectivities (98∼99.7%). In addition, the recovery and reuse performances of Al-MCM-41@ILTiCl5 were examined. The catalyst could be recovered by simple filtration and reused six times without a change in the catalytic activity. Green reaction conditions, operational simplicity, feasibility, and sustainability of the functionalized catalyst are the main highlights of the present protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor recurrence remains an obstacle after liver surgery, especially in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The acute-phase liver graft injury might potentially induce poor response to chemotherapy in recurrent HCC after liver transplantation. We here intended to explore the mechanism and to identify a therapeutic target to overcome such chemoresistance. The associations among graft injury, overexpression of IP10 and multidrug resistant genes were investigated in a rat liver transplantation model, and further validated in clinical cohort. The role of IP10 on HCC cell proliferation and tumor growth under chemotherapy was studied both in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanism was revealed by detecting the activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling pathways. Moreover, the effect of IP10 neutralizing antibody sensitizing cisplatin treatment was further explored. In rat liver transplantation model, significant up-regulation of IP10 associated with multidrug resistant genes was found in small-for-size liver graft. Clinically, high expression of circulating IP10 was significant correlated with tumor recurrence in HCC patients underwent LDLT. Overexpression of IP10 promoted HCC cell proliferation and tumor growth under cisplatin treatment by activation of ATF6/Grp78 signaling. IP10 neutralizing antibody sensitized cisplatin treatment in nude mice. The overexpression of IP10, which induced by liver graft injury, may lead to cisplatin resistance via ATF6/Grp78 ER stress signaling pathway. IP10 neutralizing antibody could be a potential adjuvant therapy to sensitize cisplatin treatment.

Efficient and sustainable chemical fixation of CO2 into value-added chemicals is one of the most promising objectives in environmental chemistry. In this work, transition metal acetylacetonate immobilized onto triazolium ionic liquid-modified periodic mesoporous organosilica PMO-IL-M(x) was successfully prepared and investigated as an effective and heterogeneous catalyst in the direct carboxylation of terminal alkynes and CO2 to the desired alkynyl carboxylic acids. It was found that the catalyst PMO-IL-Sn(0.3) exhibited extraordinary catalytic performance in terms of excellent activity, stability, productivity, and excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the catalyst PMO-IL-Sn(0.3) could be easily recovered and reused at least six times without considerable loss in catalytic activity. This work provides a sustainable and efficient synergistic strategy for the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide into valuable alkynyl carboxylic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is to obtain precise data on iron physiological requirements in Chinese children using single stable isotope tracer technique. Thirty boys (10.6 ± 0.2 years) and 27 girls (10.4 ± 0.2 years) were received oral 6 mg 57Fe each day for 5 consecutive days. Venous blood samples were subsequently drawn to examine the change of total iron concentration and 57Fe abundance at day 0, 14, 28, 60, 90, 180, 360, 450, 540, 630, 720. The iron physiological requirement was calculated by iron loss combined with iron circulation rate once 57Fe abundance stabilized in human body. The iron physiological requirement was significantly lower in boys than those values in girls (16.88 ± 7.12 vs. 18.40 ± 8.81 μg/kg per day, P < 0.05). Correspondingly, the values were calculated as 722.46 ± 8.43 μg/day for boys and 708.40 ± 7.55 μg/day for girls, respectively. Considering nearly 10% iron absorption rate, the estimated average iron physiological requirement was 6.0 mg/day in boys and 6.2 mg/day in girls. This study indicate that iron physiological requirement could require more daily iron intake in girls as compare with the values in boys having the same body weight. These findings would be facilitate to the new revised dietary reference intakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]