Efficacy and Safety of Pioglitazone/Metformin Fixed-Dose Combination Versus Uptitrated Metformin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes without Adequate Glycemic Control: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pioglitazone/metformin fixed-dose combination (FDC) versus uptitrated metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without adequate glycemic control.

Methods: A total of 304 patients were recruited from 15 hospitals in China and randomly assigned (1:1) to the test group (pioglitazone/metformin FDC, 15/500 mg) or the control group (uptitrated metformin, 2000-2500 mg/day). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≤ 6.

Facilitating the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Basal-Plane S Sites on MoS@NiS by Dual Ti and N Plasma Treatment.

Atomic engineering of the basal plane active sites in MoS holds great promise to boost the electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), yet the performance optimization and mechanism exploration are still not satisfactory. Herein, we proposed a dual-plasma engineering strategy to implant Ti and N heteroatoms into the basal plane of MoS supported by NiS nanorods on nickel foam (MSNF) for efficient electrocatalysis of HER. Owing to the low formation energy of Ti dopants in MoS and the extra charge carriers introduced by N dopants, the optimally codoped samples N1.

Inactivation of the antidiabetic drug acarbose by human intestinal microbial-mediated degradation.

Drugs can be modified or degraded by the gut microbiota, which needs to be considered in personalized therapy. The clinical efficacy of the antidiabetic drug acarbose, an inhibitor of α-glucosidase, varies greatly among individuals for reasons that are largely unknown. Here we identify in the human gut acarbose-degrading bacteria, termed Klebsiella grimontii TD1, whose presence is associated with acarbose resistance in patients.

Plasma Engineering of Basal Sulfur Sites on MoS @Ni S Nanorods for the Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Inexpensive and efficient catalysts are crucial to industrial adoption of the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to produce hydrogen. Although two-dimensional (2D) MoS materials have large specific surface areas, the catalytic efficiency is normally low. In this work, Ag and other dopants are plasma-implanted into MoS to tailor the surface and interface to enhance the HER activity.

Stacked Dual-Band Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector Based on Double-Layer Gold Disk Enhanced Local Light Field.

We propose a stacked dual-band quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) integrated with a double-layer gold disk. Two 10-period quantum wells (QW) operating at different wavelengths are stacked together, and gold nano-disks are integrated on their respective surfaces. Numerical calculations by finite difference time domain (FDTD) showed that the best enhancement can be achieved at 13.

NiS Nanocomposite Structures Doped with Zn and Co as Long-Lifetime, High-Energy-Density, and Binder-Free Cathodes in Flexible Aqueous Nickel-Zinc Batteries.

Flexible rechargeable Zn//Ni batteries are attractive owing to their high energy density, good safety, inexpensive cost, and simple manufacturing process. However, the effects of metal doping on the properties of NiS cathodes in Zn/Ni batteries are not well understood. Herein, a binder-free NiS electrode is doped with Zn and Co and the nanocomposite structures are prepared on nickel foam (named ZCNS/NF) by a simple two-step hydrothermal technique.

Large Brunner's gland adenoma of the duodenum for almost 10 years.

Background: Brunner's gland adenoma is a rare benign tumor arising from Brunner's glands. It is mostly small in size, and patients with this tumor are asymptomatic.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 63-year-old woman with upper gastrointestinal obstruction for almost 10 years, who was pathologically diagnosed with large Brunner's gland adenoma of the duodenum.

Various pathways of zoledronic acid against osteoclasts and bone cancer metastasis: a brief review.

Zoledronic acid (ZA) is one of the most important and effective class of anti-resorptive drug available among bisphosphonate (BP), which could effectively reduce the risk of skeletal-related events, and lead to a treatment paradigm for patients with skeletal involvement from advanced cancers. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of its anticancer effects have only recently been identified. In this review, we elaborate the detail mechanisms of ZA through inhibiting osteoclasts and cancer cells, which include the inhibition of differentiation of osteoclasts via suppressing receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) pathway, non-canonical Wnt/Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) pathway, and preventing of macrophage differentiation into osteoclasts, in addition, induction of apoptosis of osteoclasts through inhibiting farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS)-mediated mevalonate pathway, and activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced pathway.

Pleomorphic liposarcoma: An analysis of 6 case reports and literature review.

Rationale: Pleomorphic liposarcoma (PLS), is a rare subtype of liposarcoma, and is considered to be of the highest malignancy grade.

Patient Concerns: We aimed to analyze the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and recurrence of the 6 cases of PLS.

Diagnoses: Six cases with confirmed pathological PLS presented at out hospital from January 2003 to January 2017.

Primary Pleomorphic Liposarcoma of Fallopian Tube with Recurrence: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Liposarcoma, which develops in adipose tissue, is one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas. It appears mostly in the lower limbs, particularly in the thigh and limb girdles, followed by the upper extremities, thoracoabdominal wall, and the internal trunk and retroperitoneum. Pleomorphic liposarcoma (PLS), a rare subtype of liposarcoma is considered a highgrade malignancy.

Manganese molybdate nanoflakes on silicon microchannel plates as novel nano energetic material.

Nano energetic materials have attracted great attention recently owing to their potential applications for both civilian and military purposes. By introducing silicon microchannel plates (Si-MCPs) three-dimensional (3D)-ordered structures, monocrystalline MnMoO with a size of tens of micrometres and polycrystalline MnMoO nanoflakes are produced on the surface and sidewall of nickel-coated Si-MCP, respectively. The MnMoO crystals ripen controllably forming polycrystalline nanoflakes with lattice fringes of 0.

Novel approach to the preparation of organic energetic film for microelectromechanical systems and microactuator applications.

An activated RDX-Fe2O3 xerogel in a Si-microchannel plate (MCP) has been successfully prepared by a novel propylene epoxide-mediated sol-gel method. A decrease of nearly 40 °C in decomposition temperature has been observed compared with the original cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX). The RDX-Fe2O3 xerogel can release gas and solid matter simultaneously, and the ratio of gas to solid can be tailored easily by changing the initial proportions of RDX and FeCl3·6H2O, which significantly enhances the explosive and propulsion effects and is of great benefit to the applications.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-modified Ni/silicon microchannel plate electrode for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid.

A Ni/silicon microchannel plate (Ni/Si MCP) electrode modified with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was successfully fabricated. The analytical performance of prepared electrode for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The sensitivities for AA, DA and UA obtained by DPV are 5.

Investigation of inner surface of silicon microchannels fabricated by electrochemical method.

Various silicon-based microchannels with different internal surface morphologies were investigated to improve the growth of carbon nanotubes on the inner surface of the pore wall. The morphology of the samples prepared under different conditions was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Parameters such as concentration of hydrofluoric acid, potential, current density, temperature and so on were found to affect the inner surface of the pore wall.

Nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on over-oxidized polypyrrole modified Pd/Si microchannel plate electrode.

A silicon microchannel plate (MCP) array electrode modified with over-oxidized polypyrrole (OPPy) has been fabricated to detect glucose. The morphology and structure of the electrode are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The OPPy modified silicon MCP array electrode exhibits high electrocatalytic activity as well as excellent selectivity to the electrochemical oxidation of glucose.