Novel SLC26A6 gene polymorphism rs184187143 is associated with diabetic ketoacidosis of gestational diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Diabetic ketoacidosis is one of the most serious acute complications of the gestational diabetes and is marked by the triad of the uncontrolled hyperglycemia, acidosis, and ketosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis can be a life-threatening emergency for mother and fetus, whose genetic factors resulting in diabetic ketoacidosis remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the correlation between SLC26A6 gene polymorphism rs184187143 and the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis of gestational diabetic mellitus (GDM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 98 patients with GDM and 98 patients with diabetic ketoacidosis of GDM were enrolled. The direct sequencing of the products by Polymerase Chain Reactions of the extracted genomic DNA from the involved patients was performed to analyze the SLC26A6 gene polymorphism rs184187143, and the further genotype frequencies were compared to the statistical analysis of the clinical and biochemical data.

RESULTS

A significantly increased prevalence of the G allele (p = 0.032, OR = 2.326, 95% CI = 1.539-3.516), C/G genotype (p = 0.021, OR = 3.582, 95% CI = 1.216-10.558), and a previously uncharacterized rs184187143, was discovered in the diabetic ketoacidosis of the GDM group. The genotype of SLC26A6 rs184187143 was shown to be markedly associated with increased prevalence of the diabetic ketoacidosis of GDM.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study firstly established that the G allele and C/G genotype of rs184187143 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in SLC26A6 gene was closely linked with the increased risk for the development of the diabetic ketoacidosis of GDM.

Polymerization-induced photothermy: A non-donor-acceptor approach to highly effective near-infrared photothermal conversion nanoparticles

Photothermal conversion nanoagents based on conjugated polymers (CPs) are attracting increasing attention for in vivo disease theranostics and high-performing ones are in urgent pursuit. Herein, we report a new and non-donor-acceptor approach to photothermal conversion CPs that combine several merits including low bandgaps, strong near-infrared absorption, low intersystem crossing rate and non-emissive nature. Three CPs based on 6,7; 6',7'-fused isoindigos (nIIDs), i.e., P2IIDV, P3IIDV and P4IIDV that have optical bandgaps of 1.30, 1.22 and 1.17 eV, respectively, are synthesized. The nanoparticles (NPs) of the CPs in water are prepared via nanocoprecipitation, which are non-fluorescent due to the rapid intramolecular twisting in the CP backbone within NPs, enabling most of the excitation energy flow to generate heat. The photothermal conversion efficiencies of the NPs as measured under irradiation at 808, 880 and 980 nm are 62.4%, 40.5% and 15.8% for P2IIDV, 65.1%, 41.0% and 38.9% for P3IIDV and 71.5%, 48.9% and 41.7% for P4IIDV, which are significantly higher than indocyanine green and many popularly reported photothermal conversion materials. In vivo studies using xenograft 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse model demonstrate that the P4IIDV NPs can serve as a rather effective photothermal conversion nanoagent for enhanced photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy of tumors.

AB0243 THE SHORT DISEASE DURATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH WORSE MOOD DISORDER IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is commonly associated with mood disorders, especially depression and anxiety. But the status of mood disorders in RA patients with different courses is unknown.

Objectives:

The aims of this study were to investigate the frequencies of depression and anxiety in patients with early RA and non-early RA, and further to identify the risk factors for mood disorders.

Methods:

Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were applied to all enrolled RA patients to assess their corresponding status of anxiety and depression. Besides clinical assessment, power Doppler and grey-scale ultrasound of 22 joints were also performed. The status of mood disorder was studied in early RA patients compared to non-early RA patients. Multivariate regression was used to identify the risk factor for mood disorders.

Results:

201 RA patients were enrolled, with 76 early RA (disease duration≤2 years) and 125 non-early RA (disease duration > 2 years) patients. Mood disorder (depression and/or anxiety) was found in 20.9% (42/201) patients. Depression was more often observed in early RA patients than non-early RA patients (26.3% vs. 14.4%,P=0.036). The similar trend for anxiety was observed also in early RA patients compared to non-early RA patients, although the difference was insignificant (13.2% vs. 5.6%,P=0.062). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that disease duration (OR 0.991 [95% CI 0.985-0.998]), rheumatoid factor concentration (OR 2.697 [95% CI 1.165-6.241]), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) (OR 1.045 [95% CI 1.001-1.091]) and grey-scale synovitis score (GS score) (OR 1.092 [95% CI 1.032-1.156]) were independent risk factors for predicting depression in RA. Disease duration (OR 0.983 [95% CI 0.970-0.997]), HAQ-DI (OR 1.069 [95% CI 1.002-1.141]) and GS score (OR 1.073 [95% CI 1.005-1.141]) were independent risk factors for predicting anxiety in RA patients.

Conclusion:

Mood disorders were almost doubled in frequency in early RA patients than non-early RA patients. RA Patients with short disease duration, high HAQ-DI and high GS score were more likely to be in depression and anxiety. More attention is needed to the psychological status of RA patients, especially those at an early stage, with poor physical function and severe synovitis.

References:

[1]Sturgeon JA, Finan PH, Zautra AJ. Affective disturbance in rheumatoid arthritis: psychological and disease-related pathways. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2016;12(9):532-42.

[2]Bacconnier L, Rincheval N, Flipo RM, et al. Psychological distress over time in early rheumatoid arthritis: results from a longitudinal study in an early arthritis cohort. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2015; 54(3): 520-7.

Acknowledgments:

The authors thank all the colleagues in our department.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

SAT0562 ADDITIONAL BENEFIT OF ULTRASOUND TO THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Background:

Being an inflammatory disease of joint, spine or enthesis is the premise of the CASPAR diagnostic criteria for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Traditionally, the assessment of local inflammation in joint, enthesis and tendon relies on physical examinations. But multiple studies have demonstrated that ultrasound (US) is capable of detecting subclinical inflammation as well as non-inflammatory lesions.

Objectives:

To compare the capabilities of physical examination and US findings in the diagnosis of early PsA, and further identify the US features which are most valuable for the diagnosis of PsA.

Methods:

66 patients with suspected PsA or early PsA (disease duration< 2 years) due to psoriasis with joint pain or seronegative inflammatory arthritis were enrolled and further assessed by both physical examination and ultrasound (US).Tender and swollen joint counts based on 68/66 joints, tender tendons, enthesitis (14 entheses) and dactylitis (20 digits) count were collected by physical examination. Abnormalities of peripheral joints, entheses and tendons were also evaluated by US. New bone formation was evaluated by hand X-ray. The diagnostic capacity of CASPAR criteria based on US and based on physical examination were compared. The diagnosis value of US features as well as clinical characteristics were analyzed. The clinical diagnosis of PsA by the expert panel was taken as the standard.

Results:

CASPAR criteria based on US showed a higher specificity than those based on physical examination (96.7% vs. 53.3%) with a bit decrease of sensitivity (91.7% vs. 97.2%). 36 patients were eventually diagnosed as PsA and 30 patients were non-PsA. Gender distribution, mean age and disease duration were equally distributed in two groups of patients. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was higher in PsA patients than non-PsA patients. Significantly more patients had nail change and new bone formation on hand X-ray in PsA patients than in non-PsA patients (69.4% vs. 26.7%,P=0.001 and 66.7% vs. 13.3%,P<0.001 respectively). Significantly higher frequencies of synovitis/synovium hypertrophy, tenosynovitis and enthesitis were found in PsA patients than non-PsA patients (58.3% vs 20.0%,P=0.002, 38.9% vs 3.3%,P=0.001 and 52.8% vs 13.3%,P=0.002, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that nail change (OR=25.1, P=0.007), new bone formation on X-ray (OR=33.1, P=0.003), tenosynovitis on US (OR=149.1, P=0.003) and enthesitis on US (OR=39.2, P=0.008) were independent risk factors for predicting the diagnosis of PsA.

Conclusion:

US increased the specificity of CASPAR criteria compared with physical examination. Combined nail change, new bone formation on X-ray, tenosynovitis and enthesitis on US improved the diagnosis of early PsA.

References:

[1]Polachek A, Cook R, Chandran V, et al. The association between sonographic enthesitis and radiographic damage in psoriatic arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2017; 19(1): 189.

[2]Faustini F, Simon D, Oliveira I, et al. Subclinical joint inflammation in patients with psoriasis without concomitant psoriatic arthritis: a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. Ann Rheum Dis 2016; 75(12): 2068-74.

Acknowledgments:

The author thank all the colleagues in the department of Rheumatology of Guy’s hospital.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Significance of thermodynamic interaction parameters in guiding the optimization of polymer:nonfullerene solar cells

Polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on polymer donors and nonfullerene small molecule acceptors are a very attractive technology for solar energy conversion, and their performance is heavily determined by film morphology. It is of considerable interest to reveal instructive morphology-performance relationships of these blends. This feature article discusses the recent advances in analysing the morphology formation of nonfullerene PSCs with an effective polymer thermodynamic quantity, i.e., Flory-Huggins interaction parameter χ. In particular, guidelines of high and low χ systems are summarized. The fundamental understanding of χ and its correlations to film morphology and photovoltaic device parameters is of utmost relevance for providing essential material design criteria, establishing suitable morphology processing guidelines, and thus advancing the practical applications of PSCs based on nonfullerene acceptors.

A Simple Structure Conjugated Polymer for High Mobility Organic Thin Film Transistors Processed from Nonchlorinated Solvent

Herein, a simple structure, nonchlorinated solvent processable high mobility donor-acceptor conjugated polymer, poly(2,5-bis(4-hexyldodecyl)-2,5-dihydro-3,6-di-2-thienyl-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione-alt-thiophene) (PDPPT3-HDO), is reported. The enhanced solubility in nonchlorinated solvent is realized based on a denser alkyl side chains strategy by incorporating small size comonomer thiophene. An associated benefit of thiophene comonomer is the remarkable structural simplicity of the resulting polymer, which is advantageous for industrial scaling up. The alkyl side chain density and structure of PDPPT3-HDO can efficiently control the self-assembly properties in solution and film. By bar coating from o-xylene solution, PDPPT3-HDO forms aligned films and exhibits high hole mobility of up to 9.24 cm2 V-1 s-1 in organic thin film transistors (OTFTs). Notably, the bar-coated OTFT based on PDPPT3-HDO shows a close to ideal transistor model and a high mobility reliability factor of 87%. The multiple benefits of increased side chain density strategy may encourage the design of high mobility polymers that meet the requirements of mass production of OTFT materials and devices.

Afatinib versus methotrexate as second-line treatment in Asian patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck progressing on or after platinum-based therapy (LUX-Head & Neck 3): an open-label, randomised phase III trial

BACKGROUND

Treatment options are limited for patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) following progression after first-line platinum-based therapy, particularly in Asian countries.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this randomised, open-label, phase III trial, we enrolled Asian patients aged ≥18 years, with histologically or cytologically confirmed recurrent/metastatic HNSCC following first-line platinum-based therapy who were not amenable for salvage surgery or radiotherapy, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0/1. Patients were randomised (2 : 1) to receive oral afatinib (40 mg/day) or intravenous methotrexate (40 mg/m2/week), stratified by ECOG performance status and prior EGFR-targeted antibody therapy. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) assessed by an independent central review committee blinded to treatment allocation.

RESULTS

A total of 340 patients were randomised (228 afatinib; 112 methotrexate). After a median follow-up of 6.4 months, afatinib significantly decreased the risk of progression/death by 37% versus methotrexate (hazard ratio 0.63; 95% confidence interval 0.48-0.82; P = 0.0005; median 2.9 versus 2.6 months; landmark analysis at 12 and 24 weeks, 58% versus 41%, 21% versus 9%). Improved PFS was complemented by quality of life benefits. Objective response rate was 28% with afatinib and 13% with methotrexate. There was no significant difference in overall survival. The most common grade ≥3 drug-related adverse events were rash/acne (4% with afatinib versus 0% with methotrexate), diarrhoea (4% versus 0%), fatigue (1% versus 5%), anaemia (<1% versus 5%) and leukopenia (0% versus 5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent with the phase III LUX-Head & Neck 1 trial, afatinib significantly improved PFS versus methotrexate, with a manageable safety profile. These results demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of afatinib as a second-line treatment option for certain patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01856478.

Meta-analysis of the association between primary tumour location and prognosis after surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND

Primary tumour location is emerging as an important prognostic factor in localized and metastatic colorectal cancers. However, its prognostic role in colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) after hepatectomy remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to evaluate its prognostic value.

METHODS

References were identified through searches of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library comparing overall or disease-free survival after hepatic resection between patients with CRLM originating from right- or left-sided colorectal cancers. Data were pooled using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals according to a random-effects model. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the effect of underlying confounding factors on HR estimates and to adjust for this.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 21 953 patients from 45 study cohorts. Compared with left-sided primary tumour location, right-sided location was associated with worse overall survival (HR 1·39, 95 per cent c.i. 1·28 to 1·51; P < 0·001; prediction interval 1·00 to 1·93), and also tended to have a negative impact on disease-free survival (HR 1·18, 1·06 to 1·32; P = 0·004; prediction interval 0·79 to 1·75). Subgroup analysis showed that the negative effect of right-sided primary tumour location on overall survival was more prominent in the non-Asian population (HR 1·47, 1·33 to 1·62) than the Asian population (HR 1·18, 1·05 to 1·32) (P for interaction <0·01).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated a prognostic role for primary tumour location in patients with CRLM receiving hepatectomy, especially regarding overall survival. Adding primary tumour location may provide important optimization of prognosis prediction models for CRLM in current use.

Rapid improvement of muscle weakness post-thymectomy indicates good long-term neurological outcome in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study was conducted to evaluate whether post-thymectomy rapid remission of ocular myasthenia gravis (oMG) is a prognostic indicator of good long-term neurological outcome.

METHODS

Eighty-four oMG patients who underwent thymectomy at our institute were enrolled. The incidence of 5-year complete stable remission (CSR) was compared between patients with rapid remission of MG status (<1 month after surgery) and those with non-rapid remission.

RESULTS

Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the incidence of CSR was higher in oMG patients with rapid remission than in those without rapid remission (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that rapid remission (odds ratio 16.34, 95% confidence interval 3.58-74.60, P < 0.001) is an independent prognostic factor for CSR.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative rapid remission of MG status predicts a higher likelihood of complete remission in patients with oMG.

Evaluation and comparison of the diagnostic performance of routine blood tests in predicting liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B infection

Background & aims: Biopsy is the gold standard for staging liver fibrosis, but it may be accompanied by complications. As an alternative, non-invasive markers such as transient elastography (for liver fibrosis) and certain combinations of routine blood markers (liver function tests, full blood count) have been developed although their clinical significance remains controversial. Here, we compare the diagnostic values of non-invasive markers for liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. Methods: Transient elastography and routine laboratory tests were performed in 196 patients. Diagnostic performances were compared and were assessed based on the area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Elevated GGT to platelet ratio (GPR), the fibrosis index FIB-4 [based on age, AST, platelets and ALT], platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and total bilirubin were independent predictors of liver stiffness defined by transient elastography (all P < 0.001). The AUCs of GPR in predicting both advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis were significantly larger than that of FIB-4 (P = 0.037 and P = 0.008, respectively) and AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) (P = 0.008 and P = 0.005). FIB-4, APRI and red cell volume distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR) had similar diagnostic values in discriminating different levels of liver fibrosis. Conclusions: GPR showed the best diagnostic value and RPR and PLR are easily available and inexpensive markers in evaluating fibrosis and cirrhosis. The diagnostic values of these laboratory markers are useful in diagnosing advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, and in confirming the different levels of liver fibrosis.

Dexmedetomidine attenuation of renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury requires sirtuin 3 activation

BACKGROUND

Dexmedetomidine attenuates renal ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, but its mechanism of action is unclear. As sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) activation can alleviate acute kidney injury, we investigated whether dexmedetomidine acts through SIRT3 to reduce renal I/R injury.

METHODS

The potential involvement of SIRT3 in dexmedetomidine attenuation of renal I/R injury was tested in HK2 cells subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation and C57BL/6J mice subjected to renal I/R. A short interfering RNA targeting SIRT3 was used in some experiments to examine the potential role of SIRT3. Cell death and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) were analysed in cultured cells. Mitochondrial damage in mice was assessed using electron microscopy and markers for renal function. Expression of cyclophilin D, cytochrome c, and SIRT3, and the level of cyclophilin D acetylation were determined.

RESULTS

Hypoxia/reoxygenation of HK2 cells increased cell death, cytochrome C expression, and cyclophilin D acetylation, and decreased Δψm and SIRT3 expression (P<0.05). Dexmedetomidine attenuated these changes. The dexmedetomidine effects were enhanced by SIRT3 overexpression and eliminated by SIRT3 knockdown. I/R in mice damaged renal function, and increased histological lesions, mitochondrial damage, cytochrome c expression, and cyclophilin D acetylation, while SIRT3 activity was decreased by 51% (P<0.05). Dexmedetomidine inhibited these changes in mice expressing normal levels of SIRT3, but not in SIRT3-knockdown mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine appears to act, at least in part, by up-regulating SIRT3 to inhibit mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis and thereby protect against renal I/R injury.

Wavelength multiplexing of four-wave mixing based fiber temperature sensor with oil-filled photonic crystal fiber

A fiber temperature sensor based on four-wave mixing (FWM) with an oil-filled photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is proposed in this study, and a multipoint measurement based on the wavelength multiplexing of such sensors is constructed for the first time. The sensing performance and signal spectral characteristics of the temperature sensor are theoretically and experimentally studied. The maximum temperature sensitivity of the signal light of 0.207 nm/°C is achieved using a FWM sensing fiber with a length of 10 cm. The signal wavelength response to excitation power is also explored in this experiment. Results showed that the temperature sensor is relatively insensitive to the fluctuation of power change. The wavelength multiplexing of a FWM-based PCF temperature sensor also presents the possibility of multiplexing measurement and multipoint sensing, and high multiplexed capability is theoretically predicted to be obtainable with optimized sensitivity and splicing loss.

Effects of chronic dexamethasone exposure on bile acid metabolism and cecal epithelia function in goats

Bile acids (BAs) are synthesized in the liver via the oxidation of cholesterol and further metabolized by microbiota in the gut, where they simultaneously impact gut function. In the present study, 10 goats were randomly divided into 2 groups; 1 group was injected with dexamethasone (Dex; 0.2 mg/kg), and the other group was injected with saline as the control (Con) for 21 d. Expression levels of key genes and proteins in the liver and gut mucosa were analyzed and compared to investigate the impact of chronic stress on BA metabolism and related functions in ruminants. The results revealed that Dex decreased plasma total BAs (TBAs) concentration (P < 0.05) but increased TBA concentration in the cecal digesta (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol in the liver decreased moderately in response to Dex. The protein expression of cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 and cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily A member 1, 2 enzymes that control BA synthesis in the liver, remained unchanged by Dex administration (P > 0.05). The expression of several genes in the cecal mucosa encoding epithelial tight junction proteins, including occludin (P < 0.05), tight junction protein 1 (P < 0.01), and claudin 1 (P < 0.05), increased significantly in response to Dex, and expression of defensin beta 1, which can strengthen the innate immune system, was also upregulated (P < 0.05). In addition, BAs increased the expression of the Solute Carrier family 9 member A 2 (P < 0.01) that encodes a sodium hydrogen exchanger. These results suggest that the Dex-induced disruption of BA homeostasis might be mediated through a liver-independent pathway in goats, and the Dex-induced accumulation of TBAs in the cecal digesta may improve volatile fatty acid transportation and mucosal defense.

Mortality and prognostic factors in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objectives

To investigate the mortality and causes of death in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Methods

We collected the clinical data of all consecutive adult systemic lupus erythematosus patients at the Rheumatology department of Peking University First Hospital between January 2007 and December 2015. The primary causes of death were identified, the standardized mortality ratio and years of life lost were calculated, and the survival and variables associated with mortality were determined by Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analysis respectively.

Results

The mean age of all 911 patients (814 females and 97 males) was 37.8 ± 14.7 years, the median disease duration at recruitment was 2.6 (0.5–7.0) years, and the median follow-up duration was 3.0 (1.4–5.1) years. Among the 911 patients who were successfully followed up, 45 patients died. Infection (31.1%) was the leading cause of death followed by renal failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension and cerebrovascular diseases. The overall age and sex-adjusted standardized mortality ratio was 3.2 (95% confidence interval 2.4–4.0), and the years of life lost for women and men were 29.8 and 9.4 respectively. Overall survival at 1, 5 and 10 years was 98.2%, 95.3% and 93.7% respectively. Older age at disease onset, infection, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and pulmonary arterial hypertension were independent risk factors for the mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus patients, and longer disease duration at recruitment was an independent protective factor.

Conclusions

Mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus patients in China was substantial, especially in females, with infection the leading cause of death. Older age at disease onset, infection, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and pulmonary arterial hypertension were associated with poor outcomes.

All-optical multilevel amplitude regeneration in a single nonlinear optical loop mirror

We experimentally demonstrate all-optical amplitude regeneration of 4-level pulse amplitude modulated signals (PAM4) based on a single nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM). Four power-plateau regions are achieved using return-to-zero (RZ) pulses of narrow pulse-width, enabling large nonlinear phase shifts within the highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF). We quantify noise suppression characteristics at each amplitude level and obtain an overall EVM improvement of 0.92dB by optimizing input power and distortion strength. A theoretical analysis has been also carried out matching the experimental results and revealing the design characteristics of the regenerator's nonlinear transfer function.

Fused Isoindigo Ribbons with Absorption Bands Reaching Near-Infrared

Through fusing isoindigo (IID) units at 6,7;6',7'-positions, a series of new near-infrared (NIR) absorbing and stable ribbon-like conjugated molecules, namely nIIDs in which n represents the number of IID units, have been synthesized. The optical band gaps of the molecules are lowered from 2.03 eV of 1IID to 1.12 eV of 6IID with the increase of the conjugation length. 3IID, 4IID, and 6IID have strong absorption in the NIR region and exhibit photothermal conversion efficiencies of greater than 50 % under laser irradiation at λ=808 nm.

π-Conjugation expanded isoindigo derivatives and the donor-acceptor conjugated polymers: synthesis and characterization

Two π-conjugation expanded isoindigo derivatives (DIID-PhCO and TIID-PhCO) composed of up to 18 rings and two donor-acceptor conjugated polymers based on DIID-PhCO were synthesized. Both polymers are ambipolar semiconductors with balanced hole and electron mobilities up to 0.10 and 0.14 cm² V^-1 s^-1, respectively, under ambient conditions.

n-Type Azaacenes Containing B←N Units

We disclose a novel strategy to design n-type acenes through the introduction of boron-nitrogen coordination bonds (B←N). We synthesized two azaacenes composed of two B←N units and six/eight linearly annelated rings. The B←N unit significantly perturbed the electronic structures of the azaacenes: Unique LUMOs delocalized over the entire acene skeletons and decreased aromaticity of the B←N-adjacent rings. Most importantly, these B←N-containing azaacenes exhibited low-lying LUMO energy levels and high electron affinities, thus leading to n-type character. The solution-processed organic field-effect transistor based on one such azaacene exhibited unipolar n-type characteristics with an electron mobility of 0.21 cm²  V^-1  s^-1 .

Development of an Open Metadata Schema for Prospective Clinical Research (openPCR) in China

Objectives: In China, deployment of electronic data capture (EDC) and clinical data management system (CDMS) for clinical research (CR) is in its very early stage, and about 90% of clinical studies collected and submitted clinical data manually. This work aims to build an open metadata schema for Prospective Clinical Research (openPCR) in China based on openEHR archetypes, in order to help Chinese researchers easily create specific data entry templates for registration, study design and clinical data collection.

Methods: Singapore Framework for Dublin Core Application Profiles (DCAP) is used to develop openPCR and four steps such as defining the core functional requirements and deducing the core metadata items, developing archetype models, defining metadata terms and creating archetype records, and finally developing implementation syntax are followed.

Results: The core functional requirements are divided into three categories: requirements for research registration, requirements for trial design, and requirements for case report form (CRF). 74 metadata items are identified and their Chinese authority names are created. The minimum metadata set of openPCR includes 3 documents, 6 sections, 26 top level data groups, 32 lower data groups and 74 data elements. The top level container in openPCR is composed of public document, internal document and clinical document archetypes. A hierarchical structure of openPCR is established according to Data Structure of Electronic Health Record Architecture and Data Stand -ard of China (Chinese EHR Standard). Meta-data attributes are grouped into six parts: identification, definition, representation, relation, usage guides, and administration.

Discussions and Conclusion: OpenPCR is an open metadata schema based on research registration standards, standards of the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) and Chinese healthcare related stand -ards, and is to be publicly available throughout China. It considers future integration of EHR and CR by adopting data structure and data terms in Chinese EHR Standard. Archetypes in openPCR are modularity models and can be separated, recombined, and reused. The authors recommend that the method to develop openPCR can be referenced by other countries when designing metadata schema of clinical research. In the next steps, openPCR should be used in a number of CR projects to test its applicability and to continuously improve its coverage. Besides, metadata schema for research protocol can be developed to structurize and standardize protocol, and syntactical interoperability of openPCR with other related standards can be considered.

Asymmetric Conjugated Molecules Based on [1]Benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene for High-Mobility Organic Thin-Film Transistors: Influence of Alkyl Chain Length

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (BTBT)-based asymmetric conjugated molecules, that is, 2-(5-alkylthiophen-2-yl)[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (BTBT-Tn, in which T and n represent thiophene and the number of carbons in the alkyl group, respectively). All of the molecules with n ≥ 4 show mesomorphism and display smectic A, smectic B (n = 4), or smectic E (n > 4) phases and then crystalline phases in succession upon cooling from the isotropic state. Alkyl chain length has a noticeable influence on the microstructures of vacuum-deposited films and therefore on the performance of the organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). All molecules except for 2-(thiophen-2-yl)[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene and 2-(5-ethylthiophen-2-yl)[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene showed OTFT mobilities above 5 cm² V^-1 s^-1. 2-(5-Hexylthiophen-2-yl)[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene and 2-(5-heptylthiophen-2-yl)[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene showed the greatest OTFT performance with reliable hole mobilities (μ) up to 10.5 cm² V^-1 s^-1 because they formed highly ordered and homogeneous films with diminished grain boundaries.

Bone mass loss is associated with systolic blood pressure in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes in Tibet: a retrospective cross-sectional study

We conducted an observational cross-section study to investigate the status of bone mineral mass of Tibetan postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes and the possible predictors for osteoporosis. We found that prevalence of osteoporosis was 27.0% and blood pressure was an independent risk factor for bone mass loss.

INTRODUCTION

The aims of this study is to investigate the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes dwelling in Tibet and the possible risk factors for bone mass loss.

METHODS

We recruited 99 Chinese Tibetan postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes from the department of endocrinology of People's Hospital Tibet Autonomous Region. Multiple sites of bone mineral density (BMD) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The subjects were divided into three groups based on BMD T-score: osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal. The clinical characteristics were compared between groups. The risk factors for bone mass loss were assessed by multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among diabetic postmenopausal women dwelling in high altitude, mean age was 62 ± 8 years, the median postmenopausal period was 12 years (5, 20), the median duration of diabetes mellitus was 3 years (1, 8), and mean BMI was 27.6 ± 4.2 kg/m². Patients (52.5%) had hypertension. The percentages of patients with osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal BMD were 27.3, 42.4, and 30.3%, respectively. HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were independently associated with T-scores of spine; ages and SBP were independently associated with T-scores of femoral neck or hip.

CONCLUSIONS

Among diabetic postmenopausal women dwelling in high altitude, 27.3% patients have osteoporosis, 42.4% patients have osteopenia, and 30.3% are normal. The BMD T-score of spine was inversely associated with SBP and positively associated with HbA1c, while the BMD T-score of femoral neck or hip was inversely associated with ages and SBP.

Modified anastomotic technique for thoracolaparoscopic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy: early outcomes and technical details

Thoracoscopic intrathoracic esophagogastrostomy is a technically demanding operation; these technical requirements restrict the extensive application of minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy. In an attempt to reduce the difficulty of this surgical procedure, this study developed a modified anastomotic technique for thoracolaparoscopic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy. During the entirety of this modified approach, neither technically challenging operations such as intrathoracic suturing or knotting, nor special instruments such as an OrVil system or a reverse-puncture head are required. Between October 2015 and January 2016, 15 consecutive patients with cancer in the distal third of the esophagus or the gastric cardia underwent this modified surgical procedure. The good short-term outcomes that were achieved suggest that the modified anastomotic technique is safe and feasible for thoracolaparoscopic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy.

Multifluorination toward High-Mobility Ambipolar and Unipolar n-Type Donor-Acceptor Conjugated Polymers Based on Isoindigo

Using a "multifluorination" strategy, ambipolar donor-acceptor conjugated polymer with hole and electron mobility (μ_h and μ_e ) up to 3.94 and 3.50 cm² V^-1 s^-1 , respectively, and unipolar n-type donor-acceptor conjugated polymers with μ_e up to 4.97 cm² V^-1 s^-1 is synthesized with isoindigo as acceptor units.

Donor–acceptor conjugated polymers based on two-dimensional thiophene derivatives for bulk heterojunction solar cells

D–A conjugated polymers based on accessible 2D conjugated (E)-1,2-bis(5-alkyl-[2,3′-bithiophen]-2′-yl)ethene units possess low bandgaps, shorter π–π stacking distances, higher mobility and higher photovoltaic performance.

Electron-transporting polymers based on a double B←N bridged bipyridine (BNBP) unit

A series of BNBP-based polymer semiconductors are developed, which show good electron-transporting properties in organic thin film transistors.

Stimuli-responsive NLO properties of tetrathiafulvalene-fused donor–acceptor chromophores

Tetrathiafulvalene-fused electron donor–acceptor dyads display second order nonlinear optical properties that can be triggered by a pH or a redox stimulus.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate experimental cirrhosis through activation of keratinocyte growth factor by suppressing microRNA-199

OBJECTIVE

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) has a demonstrated role in the prevention of cirrhosis during liver regeneration. Previous studies have shown that transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) reduces the development of cirrhosis after liver injury. However, whether KGF may be involved in the underlying molecular mechanisms remains unknown. Here we addressed this question.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We did HUCMSC transplantation in mice that had developed cirrhosis by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The effects of UCMSC transplantation on KGF levels and liver damage were examined. The level of a KGF-targeting microRNA, miR-199, was examined. The regulation of KGF by miR-199 was studied by bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

HUCMSC transplantation significantly ameliorated the severity of liver fibrosis, reduced portal hypertension and sodium retention that were induced by CCl4. HUCMSC transplantation significantly increased the levels of KGF in the injured liver, seemingly through suppression of miR-199, which targeted 3'-UTR of KGF mRNA to inhibit its protein translation.

CONCLUSIONS

HUCMSCs may ameliorate cirrhosis through activation of KGF by suppressing miR-199.

Insight into mechanics of AFM tip-based nanomachining: bending of cantilevers and machined grooves

Atomic force microscope (AFM) tip-based nanomachining is currently the object of intense research investigations. Values of the load applied to the tip at the free end of the AFM cantilever probe used for nanomachining are always large enough to induce plastic deformation on the specimen surface contrary to the small load values used for the conventional contact mode AFM imaging. This study describes an important phenomenon specific for AFM nanomachining in the forward direction: under certain processing conditions, the deformed shape of the cantilever probe may change from a convex to a concave orientation. The phenomenon can principally change the depth and width of grooves machined, e.g. the grooves machined on a single crystal copper specimen may increase by 50% on average following such a change in the deformed shape of the cantilever. It is argued that this phenomenon can take place even when the AFM-based tool is operated in the so-called force-controlled mode. The study involves the refined theoretical analysis of cantilever probe bending, the analysis of experimental signals monitored during the backward and forward AFM tip-based machining and the inspection of the topography of produced grooves.

Correction: Peculiarities of the magneto-optical response in dispersions of anisometric pigment nano-particles

Correction for ‘Peculiarities of the magneto-optical response in dispersions of anisometric pigment nano-particles’ by A. Eremin et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 80666–80669.

Peculiarities of the magneto-optical response in dispersions of anisometric pigment nano-particles

We demonstrate an unusually strong magneto-optical response of elongated plate-shaped pigment particles in magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 25 T.

Molecular versus exciton diffusion in fluorescence-based explosive vapour sensors

The diffusion of p-nitrotoluene vapours into polymer or dendrimer sensing films follows Super Case II dynamics in which the quenching efficiency is strongly correlated to an accelerating analyte front propagating through the neat film rather than being reliant on exciton diffusion.