Impact of gout on cardiovascular disease mortality: a meta-analysis.

Background: Several epidemiological studies have suggested that gout patients have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease mortality than healthy people. In contrast, the association between gout and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality was not obvious in other studies. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relative risk for CVD mortality in gout patients in comparison to healthy controls.

Metallaphotoredox catalysis for sp C-H functionalizations through hydrogen atom transfer (HAT).

In recent years, the integration of photocatalytic hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) with transition metal catalysis has emerged as a formidable strategy for the construction of C(sp)-carbon and C(sp)-hetero bonds. The fusion of these two methodologies has been utilized widely in organic synthesis, leading to new transformations in chemical synthesis. In this review, we aim to summarize the recent advances made in sp C-H functionalizations through photocatalytic HAT followed by transition metal catalysis.

The immunoregulation effect of tumor microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic cancer has the seventh highest death rate of all cancers. The absence of any serious symptoms, coupled with a lack of early prognostic and diagnostic markers, makes the disease untreatable in most cases. This leads to a delay in diagnosis and the disease progresses so there is no cure.

Production and evaluation of biosynthesized cellulose tubes as promising nerve guides for spinal cord injury treatment.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a central nervous disorder that can result in permanent motor and sensory damage due to a severed communication pathway. Although there is currently no effective treatment, nerve guide tubes have been used to bridge the injured stumps and act as drug delivery systems. In this study, biosynthesized cellulose (BC) nerve guides were prepared, and nerve growth factor (NGF)-a model growth factor-was incorporated into the tubular nerve guide in order to obtain a nerve guide/drug delivery system to assist the regeneration.

Catalytic Hydrolysis Mechanism of Cocaine by Human Carboxylesterase 1: An Orthoester Intermediate Slows Down the Reaction.

Human carboxylesterase 1 (hCES1) is a major carboxylesterase in the human body and plays important roles in the metabolism of a wide variety of substances, including lipids and drugs, and therefore is attracting more and more attention from areas including lipid metabolism, pharmacokinetics, drug-drug interactions, and prodrug activation. In this work, we studied the catalytic hydrolysis mechanism of hCES1 by the quantum mechanics computation method, using cocaine as a model substrate. Our results support the four-step theory of the esterase catalytic hydrolysis mechanism, in which both the acylation stage and the deacylation stage include two transition states and a tetrahedral intermediate.

Target capturing performance of microfluidic channel surface immobilized aptamers: the effects of spacer lengths.

Aptamers have been widely used to recognize and capture their targets in sensitive detection applications, such as in detections of circulating tumor cells. In this study, we investigate the effects of different lengths of oligo-T spacers on surface tethered sgc8 aptamers and their target capturing performances. To achieve this, sgc8 aptamers were immobilized onto microfluidic channel surfaces via oligo-T spacers of different lengths, and the target capturing performances of these immobilized aptamers were studied using CCRF-CEM cells.

Application value of hypersensitive C-reactive protein, lactic acid and myoglobin in the combined detection of myocarditis.

Application value of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), blood lactic acid (LAC) and myoglobin (Mb) in the combined detection of myocarditis was explored. A total of 107 patients with suspected myocarditis treated in The Second Nanning People's Hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, of whom 81 patients diagnosed with myocarditis were enrolled into the research group, and 26 non-myocarditis individuals were enrolled into the control group. Fasting venous blood was drawn from all patients to detect the hs-CRP, LAC and Mb, and their levels were compared and analyzed between the two groups.

STAT3-induced upregulation of lncRNA MEG3 regulates the growth of cardiac hypertrophy through miR-361-5p/HDAC9 axis.

Cardiac hypertrophy is closely correlated with diverse cardiovascular diseases, augmenting the risk of heart failure and sudden death. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been studied in cardiac hypertrophy for their regulatory function. LncRNA MEG3 has been reported in human cancers.

Protective effects and mechanism of curcumin on myocardial injury induced by coronary microembolization.

Objective: Coronary microembolization (CME) is a common complication during the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). CME-induced local myocardial inflammation and myocardial apoptosis are the primary causes of progressive cardiac dysfunction. Curcumin exerts a protective role in various cardiovascular diseases; however, its effects in CME are yet to be clarified.

Development of multifunctional nanoparticles towards applications in non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging and axonal tracing.

A multifunctional nanobiomaterial has been developed by deliberately combining functions of superparamagnetism, fluorescence, and axonal tracing into one material. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were first synthesized and coated with a silica layer to prevent emission quenching through core-dye interactions; a fluorescent molecule, fluorescein isothiocyanate, was doped inside second layer of silica shell to improve photo-stability and to enable further thiol functionalization. Subsequently, biotinylated dextran amine, a sensitive axonal tracing reagent, was immobilized on the thiol-functionalized nanoparticle surfaces.

In situ and ex situ modifications of bacterial cellulose for applications in tissue engineering.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is secreted by a few strains of bacteria and consists of a cellulose nanofiber network with unique characteristics. Because of its excellent mechanical properties, outstanding biocompatibilities, and abilities to form porous structures, BC has been studied for a variety of applications in different fields, including the use as a biomaterial for scaffolds in tissue engineering. To extend its applications in tissue engineering, native BC is normally modified to enhance its properties.

Developing a non-fouling hybrid microfluidic device for applications in circulating tumour cell detections.

Non-specific cell adsorption is a challenge in sensitive detections using microfluidic systems, such as detecting circulating tumour cells from blood samples. In this report, we present a new strategy to study the combined effects of surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, electric charges and roughness on surface non-fouling properties of a PDMS/SU-8 microfluidic system. To achieve this, microchannel surfaces were modified by poly(amidoamine) generation 4 and generation 7, dendrimers that rendered surfaces negatively and positively charged at pH 7.

Hypoxia induces the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells via upregulation of Apelin/APLNR/MAPK signaling.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can form new vessels through differentiation into endothelial cells (ECs), thus being important in the prevention of hypoxia/ischemia. Apelin can activate different signaling pathways through its receptor, APLNR, which regulate diverse biological functions, including cardiovascular function. However, the molecular mechanism by which Apelin mediates hypoxia-induced EPCs proliferation remain to be fully elucidated.

Apelin/APJ signaling promotes hypoxia-induced proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells via phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt signaling.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can adhere to the endothelium at sites of hypoxia/ischemia and participate in the formation of novel vessels through differentiating into endothelial cells (ECs). Apelin is an endogenous ligand for the G protein‑coupled receptor APJ, and apelin/APJ signaling has a role in cardiovascular function. The present study aimed to investigate the role of apelin/APJ signaling in the regulation of EPC proliferation under hypoxia.

Palladium(II)-catalyzed meta-selective direct arylation of O-β-naphthyl carbamate.

Selective meta-arylation of O-β-naphthyl carbamate has been accomplished using Pd(OAc)2 as a catalyst precursor and K2S2O8 with AgOAc as the oxidant. A range of aryl boronic acids could be introduced in moderate to good yields. Mechanistic investigation shows that the carbamate substituent has a unique effect and the reaction undergoes an ortho-carbometallation/meta-direct arylation process.

Unique role of ionic liquid in microwave-assisted synthesis of monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles.

A small amount of ionic liquid [bmim][BF(4)] was found to be an efficient aid for microwave heating of nonpolar dibenzyl ether in high temperature solution-phase synthesis of monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles. It was found to act as both microwave absorber and assistant stabilizer in the reactive process and was recovered and reused in successive reactions.

[Collagen spatial distribution in rapid atrial pacing dogs with or without superior vena cava and aortic root fat pad].

Objective: To observe the collagen spatial distribution, collagen volume fraction (CVF) and Cx40, Cx43mRNA expressions in rapid atrial pacing dogs post vagal denervation by removing fat pad located between the medial superior vena cava and aortic root (SVC-Ao fat pad).

Methods: Twenty-four dogs were randomly divided into unpaced sham operation group (S group, n = 8), Keeping SVC-Ao fat pad group (K group, n = 8) and Removing SVC-Ao fat pad group (R group, SVC-Ao fat pad was removed by surgical excision before pacing, n = 8). K and R groups were paced for six weeks.

Enhanced luminescence of novel rare earth complexes Eu(3,5-DNBA)3Phen in nano-TiO2.

Eu(3+) (or Tb(3+)) of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline ternary rare earth complexes were synthesized and characterized by thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. In this study an organic-inorganic combined device indium tin oxide/poly(N-vinylcar-bazole):RE(3,5-DNBA)(3)Phen:TiO(2)/Al was fabricated. The nano-TiO(2) has been used in the luminescence layer to change the electroluminescence property of RE(3,5-DNBA)(3) Phen (RE=Eu(3+)or Tb(3+)).

Study on the nature of interaction of furan with various hydrides.

The nature of interactions of furan with various hydrides (Y) (Y=HF,HCl,H2O,H2S,NH3,PH3) is investigated using ab initio calculations. The contribution of attractive (electrostatic, inductive, and dispersive) and repulsive (exchange) components to the interactions energy is analyzed. HF, H2O, and NH3 favor sigma o-type H bonding, while HCl, H2S, and PH3 favor pi-type H bonding.

The study on the effect and mechanism of the second ligands on the luminescence properties of terbium complexes.

The binary complex of Tb(III) with N-phenylanthranilic acid (N-HPA) was synthesized, and the ternary complexes were synthesized by introducing 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), 2,2'-dipyridyl (Bipy), trioctylphosphine oxide (TPPO) as the second ligand, respectively. These complexes were characterized by infrared spectra, UV spectra and fluorescence spectra. The effect and mechanism of different second ligands on the fluorescent intensity of the terbium N-phenylanthranilic acid complexes was discussed.

Enhanced luminescence of rare-earth complexes Tb(1-x)Eu(x)(m-NBA)3Phen in ZnS.

Rare-earth ternary complexes Tb(1-x)Eu(x)(m-NBA)(3)Phen (X=1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.

[The luminescence characteristics of rare earth complex Tb0.5 Eu.5 (TTA)3Dipy].

The new complex Tb0.5 Eu0.5 (TTA)3Dipy was synthesized.

Theoretical study on intermolecular interactions between furan and dihalogen molecules XY(X,Y=F,Cl,Br).

Equilibrium geometries, interaction energies, atomic charge, and charge transfer for the intermolecular interactions between furan and dihalogen molecules XY(X; Y=F,Cl,Br) were studied at the MP2aug-cc-pVDZ level. Three types of geometry are observed in these interactions: the pi-type geometry (I), in which the XY lies above the furan ring and almost perpendicularly to the C4-C5 bond of furan; the sigma-type geometry (II), where the X atom is pointed toward the nonbonding electron pair (n pair) of oxygen atom in furan; and the chi-type geometry (III), describing a blueshift hydrogen bond formed between the hydrogen atom of furan and dihalogen molecules XY. The calculated interaction energies show that the pi-type structures are more stable than the corresponding sigma-type and chi-type structures.

Enhanced luminescence of Eu(3+) by Y(3+) in ternary complexes Eu(X)Y(1-X)(TTA)3Dipy.

Rare-earth ternary complexes Eu(X)Y(1-X)(TTA)3Dipy {X=0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.