Serum uric acid predicts cardiovascular mortality in male peritoneal dialysis patients with diabetes

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Serum uric acid may predict mortality in diabetic patients and dialysis patients. However, the relationship between serum uric acid and prognosis in diabetic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a cohort study of 1278 incident PD patients, (mean age 47.6 years), of which 328 (25.7%) had diabetes and 289 (22.6%) had diabetic nephropathy. During a median follow-up period of 30.7 months, 231 deaths occurred, of which 126 were ascribed to cardiovascular events. Mean serum uric acid was lower for diabetic patients than non-diabetic patients (6.8 ± 1.3 vs. 7.4 ± 1.4 mg/dL, respectively; P < 0.001). Cox regression models were adjusted for glycated hemoglobin, dialysis-related factors, traditional risk factors, and treatments. After adjustments, the highest sex-specific tertile of uric acid was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.14-4.48) compared to the lowest tertile in diabetic patients. Adjusted HRs per 1 mg/dL higher uric acid for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 1.09 (95% CI, 0.91-1.32) and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.13-1.79) for diabetic men and 1.06 (95% CI, 0.83-1.35) and 1.12 (95% CI, 0.78-1.61) for diabetic women, respectively. Elevated serum uric acid predicted a higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in non-diabetic men but not in non-diabetic women.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated serum uric acid is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in diabetic male PD patients.

Foldable and portable triboelectric-electromagnetic generator for scavenging motion energy and as a sensitive gas flow sensor for detecting breath personality

An easily foldable and portable triboelectric-electromagnetic generator (TEMG) based on two polymer/Al layers and one copper coil has been designed to harvest ambient mechanical energy, where the copper coil is used both as a spring to achieve contact and separation of triboelectric layers and as a circuit to collect electromagnetic-induced electricity. The output performance of the TEMG is approximately reproducible after being folded many times. The working mechanism is discussed. The output performance of individual triboelectric generator (TEG) and electromagnetic generator (EMG) are systematically investigated. The maximum output current, voltage, and power are obtained to be 32.2 μA, 500 V, and 2 mW for the TEG, and 4.04 mA, 30 mV, and 15.8 μW for the EMG, respectively. The TEG with a higher internal resistance can be used as a current source, while the EMG with a lower resistance can be used as a voltage source. It can be used as a mobile light source via integrating the TEMG in clothes or bags, and as a self-powered gas flow sensor for detecting respiratory rate, which has a potential application in medical diagnoses. The simple structure and easy portability of the TEMG could be used widely in daily life to harvest ambient energy for electronic devices.

Precision Measurement of the Helium Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays of Rigidities 1.9 GV to 3 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

Knowledge of the precise rigidity dependence of the helium flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. A precise measurement of the helium flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1.9 GV to 3 TV based on 50 million events is presented and compared to the proton flux. The detailed variation with rigidity of the helium flux spectral index is presented for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at rigidities larger than 100 GV. The rigidity dependence of the helium flux spectral index is similar to that of the proton spectral index though the magnitudes are different. Remarkably, the spectral index of the proton to helium flux ratio increases with rigidity up to 45 GV and then becomes constant; the flux ratio above 45 GV is well described by a single power law.

CORRELATION OF SERUM VITAMIN D LEVEL WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS IN CHILDREN: A META-ANALYSIS

OBJECTIVE

to assess the relationship between serums vitamin D level and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children.

METHODS

the following electronic databases were searched until Sep 2014 to identify relevant studies that assessed the relationship between serum vitamin D with T1DM: PubMed\EMbase\Medline\Central Register of Controlled Trials\CBM\Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)\wangfang; The NOS scale was used to evaluate the quality of studies, and the statistical tests were performed by Stata 11.0 software.

RESULT

a total of 10 studies were included in this study. Our results showed that serum vitamin D was significantly lower in children with T1DM than in healthy controls (MD = -0.60, P < 0.05). No evidence support publication bias in present study.

CONCLUSION

the meta-analysis suggests that serum vitamin D level is associated with T1DM in children.

New measurement of antineutrino oscillation with the full detector configuration at Daya Bay

We report a new measurement of electron antineutrino disappearance using the fully constructed Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment. The final two of eight antineutrino detectors were installed in the summer of 2012. Including the 404 days of data collected from October 2012 to November 2013 resulted in a total exposure of 6.9×10^{5} GW_{th}  ton days, a 3.6 times increase over our previous results. Improvements in energy calibration limited variations between detectors to 0.2%. Removal of six ^{241}Am-^{13}C radioactive calibration sources reduced the background by a factor of 2 for the detectors in the experimental hall furthest from the reactors. Direct prediction of the antineutrino signal in the far detectors based on the measurements in the near detectors explicitly minimized the dependence of the measurement on models of reactor antineutrino emission. The uncertainties in our estimates of sin^{2}2θ_{13} and |Δm_{ee}^{2}| were halved as a result of these improvements. An analysis of the relative antineutrino rates and energy spectra between detectors gave sin^{2}2θ_{13}=0.084±0.005 and |Δm_{ee}^{2}|=(2.42±0.11)×10^{-3}  eV^{2} in the three-neutrino framework.

Novel Spiral-Like Electrode Structure Design for Realization of Two Modes of Energy Harvesting

A planar spiral-like electrodes (PSE) based triboelectric generator has been designed for harvesting rotary mechanical energy to translate into electricity. The performance of the PSE-triboelectric generator with different cycles of spiral-like electrode strip at different rotating speeds is investigated, which demonstrates the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of 470 V and 9.0 μA at rotating speed of 500 r/min with three cycles. In addition, a novel coaxially integrated multilayered PSE-triboelectric generator is built, which can enhance the output of the power effectively. The short-circuit current, the open-circuit voltage, and output power reach to 41.55 μA, 500 V, and 11.73 mW, respectively, at rotating speed of 700 r/min. The output power of the multilayered PSE-triboelectric generator can drive 200 LEDs connected in antiparallel and charge a 110 μF commercial capacitor to 6 V in 23 s. Besides, due to the spiral-like electrode structure, the PSE-generator can work simultaneously in the modes of triboelectricity and electromagnetic induced electricity by sticking a small magnet on the rotating disk. The electromagnetic induced output power reaches to 21 μW at a loading resistance of 2 Ω at a rotating rate of 200 r/min. The spiral-like electrode structure not only broadens the electrode structure design but also adds a new function to the electrode.

Basic fibroblast growth factor promotes macaque follicle development in vitro

Fertility preservation is an important type of frontier scientific research in the field of reproductive health. The culture of ovarian cortices to i) initiate primordial follicle growth and ii) procure developing follicles for later oocyte maturation is a promising fertility preservation strategy, especially for older women or cancer patients. At present, this goal remains largely unsubstantiated in primates because of the difficulty in attaining relatively large follicles via ovarian cortex culture. To overcome this hurdle, we cultured macaque monkey ovarian cortices with FSH, kit ligand (KL), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and/or epidermal growth factor (EGF). The various factors and factor combinations promoted primordial follicle development to different extents. Notably, both bFF (bFGF, 100 ng/ml and FSH, 50 ng/ml) and KF (KL, 100 ng/ml and FSH, 50 ng/ml) contributed to the activation of primordial follicles at day 12 (D12) of culture, whereas at D18, the proportions of developing follicles were significantly higher in the bFF and KF groups relative to the other treatment groups, particularly in the bFF group. Estradiol and progesterone production were also highest in the bFF group, and primary follicle diameters were the largest. Up until D24, the bFF group still exhibited the highest proportion of developing follicles. In conclusion, the bFGF–FSH combination promotes nonhuman primate primordial follicle developmentin vitro, with the optimal experimental window within 18 days. These results provide evidence for the future success of human ovarian cortex culture and the eventual acquisition of mature human follicles or oocytes for fertility restoration.

Precision Measurement of the Proton Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays from Rigidity 1 GV to 1.8 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

A precise measurement of the proton flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1 GV to 1.8 TV is presented based on 300 million events. Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the proton flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. We present the detailed variation with rigidity of the flux spectral index for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at high rigidities.

Cytoplasmic p21 is responsible for paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer A2780 cells

PURPOSE

P21 which bound to cyclin-dependent kinase complexes was originally described as a suppressor of cancer cell prolifera- tion, while many recent studies have shown p21, when accumulated in the cell cytoplasm, could promote tumor progression. This study was conducted to investigate the role of p21 in the paclitaxel (PTX) resistance of ovarian cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Regulation of cytoplasmic p21 was performed through transfection of Akt2 constitutively active vector, Akt2 shRNA and p21 siRNA in the ovar- ian cancer cell line A2780. Akt2, p-Akt, and p21 expression were examined by Western blot and cell apoptosis rates were assessed by flow cytometry after treatment with PTX.

RESULTS

Induction of p21 translocation into the cytoplasm via constitutively active Akt2 transfection in A2780 enhanced the resistance to PTX, while inhibition of p21 translocation into the cytoplasm via Akt2 shRNA trans- fection in A2780 cells significantly increased PTX treatment sensitivity. Furthermore, knockdown of cytoplasmic p21 by direct p21 siRNA transfection in Akt2 overexpressed A2780 cells notably increased PTX-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Cytoplasmic p21 may represent a potential therapeutic target for ovarian tumors that are resistant to PTX treatment.

Precision Measurement of the (e^{+}+e^{-}) Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays from 0.5 GeV to 1 TeV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We present a measurement of the cosmic ray (e^{+}+e^{-}) flux in the range 0.5 GeV to 1 TeV based on the analysis of 10.6 million (e^{+}+e^{-}) events collected by AMS. The statistics and the resolution of AMS provide a precision measurement of the flux. The flux is smooth and reveals new and distinct information. Above 30.2 GeV, the flux can be described by a single power law with a spectral index γ=-3.170±0.008(stat+syst)±0.008(energy scale).

Search for a light sterile neutrino at Daya Bay

A search for light sterile neutrino mixing was performed with the first 217 days of data from the Daya Bay Reactor Antineutrino Experiment. The experiment's unique configuration of multiple baselines from six 2.9 GW(th) nuclear reactors to six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 m and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls makes it possible to test for oscillations to a fourth (sterile) neutrino in the 10(-3) eV(2)<|Δm(41)(2) |< 0.3 eV(2) range. The relative spectral distortion due to the disappearance of electron antineutrinos was found to be consistent with that of the three-flavor oscillation model. The derived limits on sin(2) 2θ(14) cover the 10(-3) eV(2) ≲ |Δm(41)(2)| ≲ 0.1 eV(2) region, which was largely unexplored.

Electron and positron fluxes in primary cosmic rays measured with the alpha magnetic spectrometer on the international space station

Precision measurements by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station of the primary cosmic-ray electron flux in the range 0.5 to 700 GeV and the positron flux in the range 0.5 to 500 GeV are presented. The electron flux and the positron flux each require a description beyond a single power-law spectrum. Both the electron flux and the positron flux change their behavior at ∼30  GeV but the fluxes are significantly different in their magnitude and energy dependence. Between 20 and 200 GeV the positron spectral index is significantly harder than the electron spectral index. The determination of the differing behavior of the spectral indices versus energy is a new observation and provides important information on the origins of cosmic-ray electrons and positrons.

High statistics measurement of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays of 0.5-500 GeV with the alpha magnetic spectrometer on the international space station

A precision measurement by AMS of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays in the energy range from 0.5 to 500 GeV based on 10.9 million positron and electron events is presented. This measurement extends the energy range of our previous observation and increases its precision. The new results show, for the first time, that above ∼200  GeV the positron fraction no longer exhibits an increase with energy.

Prevalence and characterization of Salmonella enterica in dried milk-related infant foods in Shaanxi, China

The aim of this study was to investigate the existence and characteristics of Salmonella enterica in dried milk-related infant foods. Twenty-four (3.4%) of 705 samples, including 5 (2.0%) of 246 powdered infant formula, 18 (4.0%) of 445 infant rice cereal, and 1 (7.1%) of 14 other infant foods, were positive for Salmonella. Fifteen serotypes were identified in 40 Salmonella isolates; Salmonella Duesseldorf (15.0%) and Salmonella Indiana (15.0%) were more frequently detected than other serotypes. Resistance to chloramphenicol (82.5%) was most common, followed by tetracycline (57.5%), ceftiofur (52.5%), kanamycin (52.5%), streptomycin (50.0%), gentamycin (45.0%), nalidixic acid (35.0%), ceftriaxone (32.5%), ciprofloxacin (25.0%), amikacin (20.0%), and cefoxitin (15.0%). Twenty-eight (70.0%) isolates were resistant to ≥ 8 antimicrobials, with 5 (12.5%) being resistant to 14 antimicrobials. Amino acid substitutions in gyrase A (GyrA) were most frequently detected as Ser83Arg/Asp87Glu and in p53-associated Parkin-like cytoplasmic protein (ParC), they were all Ser80Arg; the quinolone resistance gene qnrS (47.5%) was commonly detected as well as aminoglycoside acetyltransferase [aac(6')-Ib; 25.0%], qnrA (17.5%), and qnrB (15.0%) genes. Thirty distinct pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns were identified among 40 isolates; no identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern was detected among Salmonella isolates with the same serovar that was recovered in 2010 and 2012. Our results suggest that dried milk-related infant foods could be contaminated with Salmonella and highlight that the dangers to infant health should not be neglected.

Establishing HbA1c -mean blood glucose formulae for patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

AIM

To determine the relationship between HbA1c and mean blood glucose concentrations by using HbA1c -mean blood glucose formulae for people on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

METHODS

A total of 305 people on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, including 13 people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus, 161 people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and 131 people without diabetes, from a single peritoneal dialysis centre at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, were enrolled between January 2006 and June 2011. Serum HbA1c concentration was measured quarterly and other laboratory variables, including blood glucose, were measured every month. The formulae were established using regression analysis and adjusted for other factors. The estimated blood glucose level calculated using our formulae was compared with that using previous formulae namely the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and A1c -Derived Average Glucose formulae for people not on dialysis and the Hoshino formula for people on haemodialysis.

RESULTS

The HbA1c -mean blood glucose formulae obtained by linear regression analysis were: 1) mBGmmol/l = 0.107 × HbA1c (mmol/mol) + 1.764 [adjusted R(2) (Radj2)  = 0.494]; 2) mBGmmol/l  = 0.101 × HbA1c  (mmol/mol) - 0.001 × Cr (μmol/l) + 2.850 (Radj2 = 0.507); 3) mBGmmol/l  = 0.102 × HbA1c  (mmol/mol) - 0.095 × Alb (g/l) + 5.394 (Radj2 = 0.521); and 4) mBGmmol/l  = 0.099 × HbA1c (mmol/mol) - 0.001 × Cr (μmol/l)-0.084 × Alb (g/l) + 5.754 (Radj2 = 0.526), where mBG is mean blood glucose, Cr is serum creatinine and Alb is serum albumin. These new formulae performed as well as or better than previous formulae.

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between HbA1c and mean blood glucose for people on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis differs from that for people not on dialysis or for those on haemodialysis. Clinicians and patients can determine glycaemic control targets by applying our formulae.

Cell-to-cell variability in cell death: can systems biology help us make sense of it all?

One of the most common observations in cell death assays is that not all cells die at the same time, or at the same treatment dose. Here, using the perspective of the systems biology of apoptosis and the context of cancer treatment, we discuss possible sources of this cell-to-cell variability as well as its implications for quantitative measurements and computational models of cell death. Many different factors, both within and outside of the apoptosis signaling networks, have been correlated with the variable responses to various death-inducing treatments. Systems biology models offer us the opportunity to take a more synoptic view of the cell death process to identify multifactorial determinants of the cell death decision. Finally, with an eye toward 'systems pharmacology', we discuss how leveraging this new understanding should help us develop combination treatment strategies to compel cancer cells toward apoptosis by manipulating either the biochemical state of cancer cells or the dynamics of signal transduction.

Spectral measurement of electron antineutrino oscillation amplitude and frequency at Daya Bay

A measurement of the energy dependence of antineutrino disappearance at the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment is reported. Electron antineutrinos (ν¯(e)) from six 2.9  GW(th) reactors were detected with six detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls. Using 217 days of data, 41 589 (203 809 and 92 912) antineutrino candidates were detected in the far hall (near halls). An improved measurement of the oscillation amplitude sin(2)2θ(13)=0.090(-0.009)(+0.008) and the first direct measurement of the ν¯(e) mass-squared difference |Δm(ee)2|=(2.59(-0.20)(+0.19))×10(-3)  eV2 is obtained using the observed ν¯(e) rates and energy spectra in a three-neutrino framework. This value of |Δm(ee)2| is consistent with |Δm(μμ)2| measured by muon neutrino disappearance, supporting the three-flavor oscillation model.