Rb4 Li2 TiOGe4 O12 : A Titanyl Nonlinear Optical Material with the Widest Transparency Range

Practical mid-infrared (MIR) coherent light beams generated by frequency conversion in nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals are indispensable in time-resolved infrared vibrational spectroscopy, remote light detection and ranging, and free-space communications. Herein, a new titanyl germanate Rb₄ Li₂ TiOGe₄ O₁₂ (RLTG) MIR NLO crystal was obtained by heavier element substitution. It features a complicated structure network composed of compressed TiO₅ square pyramids and distorted GeO₄ tetrahedra, separated by Rb⁺ and Li⁺ cations. More importantly, RLTG exhibits concurrently short ultraviolet (0.28 μm) and long IR (5.58 μm) transmittance cutoffs, fully covering the atmospheric transparent window of 3-5 μm. Related to the short UV cutoff, it shows a higher laser-induced damage threshold in comparison to commercial MIR NLO crystals, about twice that of KTiOPO₄ (KTP) and 50 times that of AgGaS₂ (AGS).

Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with lupus nephritis: clinical correlations and associations with long-term outcomes

Whether the presence or absence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) is associated with differences in clinical outcomes remains unclear. We reviewed LN patients at a single centre during 2000-2017, and compared the clinical features and long-term outcomes between patients who were seropositive or seronegative for aPL. aPL was detected in 53/149 (35.6%) patients with biopsy-proven LN, and anticardiolipin IgM, anticardiolipin IgG, anti-β2 glycoprotein I and lupus anticoagulant was detected in 18.8%, 18.1%, 10.7% and 8.1%, respectively. Follow-up was 155.8 ± 61.0 months, and was similar between aPL-seropositive and -seronegative patients. aPL seropositivity persisted in 94.3% of patients during remission. aPL-seropositive patients showed inferior patient survival (91% and 85% at 10 and 15 years, respectively, compared to 99% and 95% in aPL-seronegative patients; p = 0.043). Nine (6.0%) patients died during follow-up, including six aPL-seropositive (four thrombotic events and two bleeding complications related to anticoagulation) and three aPL-seronegative patients. aPL seropositivity was associated with more rapid decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (-1.44 mL/min/year compared to -0.38 mL/min/year in aPL-seronegative patients; p = 0.027) and inferior long-term renal survival (82% and 74% at 10 and 15 years, respectively, compared to 91% and 87% in aPL-seronegative patients; p = 0.034). aPL-seropositive patients also had a higher incidence of thrombotic events and miscarriage (32.1% and 13.2%, respectively, compared to 16.7% and 2.1% in the aPL-seronegative group; p = 0.030 and 0.006). We concluded that aPL seropositivity was associated with inferior long-term patient and renal survival and more frequent thrombotic events and miscarriage in LN patients.

P5476Usefulness of haemoglobin level combined with CAMI-STEMI score for predicting MACCE in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after PCI

Background

Early risk stratification was strongly recommended to guide therapeutic management and to improve outcome for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Anaemia and high haemoglobin levels are common in STEMI patients, but the effect of the haemoglobin level on the prognosis of STEMI patients remains in dispute. The China Acute Myocardial Infarction registry-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (CAMI-STEMI) score can predict in-hospital mortality among Chinese STEMI patients, with similar performance to the well-established Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score, while relying solely on simple and practical variables. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the haemoglobin level combined with the CAMI-STEMI score in STEMI patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

We included 360 STEMI patients who underwent PCI. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the first haemoglobin value after PCI, group 1 (male: Hb<120 g/L, female: Hb<110 g/L; 42 cases), group 2 (male: 120 g/L ≤ Hb<160 g/L, female: 110 g/L≤Hb<150 g/L; 278 cases), and group 3 (male: Hb ≥160 g/L, female: Hb ≥150 g/L; 40 cases). Clinical characteristics, and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) during the follow-up period were recorded.

Results

The incidence of MACCE in the 3 groups increased with a decrease in the haemoglobin level. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the CAMI-STEMI score was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 30 days after PCI and that anaemia was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 6 months and 1 year after PCI. A high haemoglobin level was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 1 year after PCI. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of the haemoglobin level, CAMI-STEMI score and haemoglobin level combined with CAMI-STEMI score predicting the occurrence of MACCE in STEMI patients within 30 days after PCI were 0.604, 0.614, and 0.639, respectively.

Figure 1. MACCE-free survival curve

Conclusion

The CAMI-STEMI score was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 30 days after PCI. The haemoglobin level combined with the CAMI-STEMI score improved the predictive value of MACCE in STEMI patients within 30 days after PCI.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This study was supported by grants to Chengchun Tang from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Research Grant #81670237)

Tuning high-Q nonlinear dynamics in a disordered quantum magnet

Quantum states cohere and interfere. Atoms arranged imperfectly in a solid rarely display these properties. Here we demonstrate an exception in a disordered quantum magnet that divides itself into nearly isolated subsystems. We probe these coherent spin clusters by driving the system nonlinearly and measuring the resulting hole in the linear spectral response. The Fano shape of the hole encodes the incoherent lifetime as well as coherent mixing of the localized excitations. For the Ising magnet LiHo0.045Y0.955F4, the quality factor Q for spectral holes can be as high as 100,000. We tune the dynamics by sweeping the Fano mixing parameter q through zero via the ac pump amplitude as well as a dc transverse field. The zero crossing of q is associated with a dissipationless response at the drive frequency. Identifying localized two-level systems in a dense and disordered magnet advances the search for qubit platforms emerging from strongly interacting, many-body systems.

Birth population survey in Huai'an in 2015: perinatal-neonatal mortality and preterm birth rate in emerging regions in China

Objective: This survey followed the birth population-based study conducted in 2010 in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, with the aim to estimate perinatal-neonatal mortality and preterm birth rate in emerging regions with similar maternal-fetal and neonatal care conditions in China.Materials and methods: Data of total births in 2015 were prospectively collected by regional perinatal network collaboration in Huai'an, a subprovincial region with a population of 5,644,500 and gross domestic production of 9082 USD per capita.Results: The 59,424 birth registries (including 59,023 live births and 167 stillbirths) corresponded to a birth rate of 10.5‰ and a Male-to-female ratio of 113.7:100. All births there were from 85, 16, and 6 level I, II, and III hospitals, with a delivery rate of 30.4, 40.2, and 29.4%, respectively. Of all births, 14.1% had pregnancy-associated comorbidities and complications, 54.4% (32,226/59,190) had cesarean delivery, and multiple pregnancies and birth defects occurred in 2.1% (1,250) and 5.5‰ (324), respectively. The mean birth weight was 3448 ± 507 g with 13.9% being macrosomia, and 2.86% (1695/59,190) low birth weight. Preterm birth rate was 4.06% (2404/59,190) with a mortality rate of 8.5%. There were 94.5% recorded as healthy newborns and 5.5% (3263) requiring hospitalization after birth. The perinatal and neonatal mortality rate was 5.2‰ (167 stillbirths, 139 early neonatal deaths) and 4.0‰, respectively. Compared with the 2010 survey, these data demonstrated generally improved status of perinatal-neonatal healthcare.Conclusions: The low rates of perinatal-neonatal mortality, preterm birth and preterm mortality suggest that the concept and study protocol of perinatal-neonatal healthcare in Huai'an may serve as the benchmark for estimating regional vital statistics and perinatal and neonatal outcomes.

Structural Properties and Macrophage Activation of Cell Wall Polysaccharides from the Fruiting Bodies of Hericium erinaceus

In this study, water-soluble and alkali-soluble cell wall polysaccharides were obtained from fruiting body extracted residual micropowders of Hericium erinaceus, harvested at seven different growing stages. The structural properties and in vitro immunity activities of cell wall polysaccharides extracted successively by hot water and sodium hydroxide solution were studied, and the results indicated that the yield and content of polysaccharides increased during the reproductive growth stage and decreased with the maturity of the fruiting body. Water-soluble cell wall polysaccharides mainly composed of glucose and galactose at a molar ratio of 3.4⁻14:1.0, and also contained a small ratio of glucuronic acid. The alkali-soluble cell wall polysaccharides were glucans with lower molecular weight and higher macrophage activation activity in vitro than water-soluble ones. Our findings suggest that the growth stages (H4 and H5) are suitable for harvesting H. erinaceus fruiting bodies with higher cell wall polysaccharide yield and functional benefits.

[Effect of interleukin-6 promoter DNA methylation on the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus]

Objective: To analyze peripheral blood interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter DNA methylation status and its clinical significance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Blood samples of 41 adult patients with SLE and 20 healthy controls were collected.The methylation status of IL-6 promoter was determined by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). The IL-6 expression was detected by real-time PCR.Correlations between IL-6 promoter methylation status and clinical features or laboratory findings in patients with SLE were analyzed. Results: The levels of IL-6 mRNA were significantly higher in peripheral blood of SLE.DNA methylation levels of IL-6 promoter were reduced in SLE patients as compared with healthy controls.The methylation status and expression of IL-6 in peripheral blood reflected the levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Significantly positive correlation was found between IL-6 hypomethylation and renal disorder, as well as hypocomplementemia in patients with SLE. Conclusion: Hypomethylation of interleukin-6 promoter in peripheral blood might be involved in the etiology of SLE.

Herpes zoster-induced acute urinary retention: Two cases and literature review

We report two uncommon cases of acute urinary retention in Chinese patients caused by reactivation of sacral herpes zoster and requiring bladder drainage. Indwelling urinary catheterization, antiviral medication (ganciclovir), and physiotherapy with infrared light (830 nm) led to successful recovery of the micturition reflex in both cases.

The production characteristics of volatile organic compounds and their relation to growth status of Staphylococcus aureus in milk environment

In our previous research, 3-methyl-butanal and 3-methyl-butanoic acid were identified as representative and specific volatile organic compounds released by Staphylococcus aureus in broth. In this study, we explored the production of the 2 volatiles and their correlation to Staph. aureus growth in milk under different conditions. We found significant correlations between the production of 3-methyl-butanoic acid and cell counts of 5 Staph. aureus strains in sterile milk, and there were no obvious differences for its production among 5 tested strains. The intensities of the 2 volatiles were similar and positively correlated with bacterial counts in cultures at 25°C and 37°C despite delayed production of volatiles at 25°C; however, neither compound could be detected at 4°C. The production of 3-methyl-butanoic acid was strongly correlated with growth of Staph. aureus mixed with Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Shigella flexneri, whereas correlations for 3-methyl-butanal were not statistically significant. Compared with the monoculture of Staph. aureus, in mixed cultures, production of 3-methyl-butanal was decreased and that of 3-methyl-butanoic acid was comparatively higher. In pasteurized and raw milks, production of 3-methyl-butanoic acid was correlated with growth of Staph. aureus, and 3-methyl-butanoic acid could be detected when Staph. aureus populations reached 10⁶ to 10⁷ cfu/mL in pasteurized milk and 10⁵ to 10⁶ cfu/mL in raw milk; the correlations for 3-methyl-butanal were not statistically significant. Our results suggest that 3-methyl-butanoic acid is a more suitable marker for high counts of Staph. aureus in milk, whereas 3-methyl-butanal is a transient metabolite and easily depressed by environmental factors.