Indirect Enhancement of ALD Thin-Film Properties Induced by the ECAP Modification of an As-Extruded Mg-Ca Alloy.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the indirect effects on the properties of ZrO films deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) when an Mg-Ca alloy is modified through equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) following extrusion. The study aims to understand how the increase in CaO content in the native oxide layer of the Mg-Ca alloy influences the crystallinity and defect density of the ZrO film. Consequently, the corrosion protection performance of the ZrO film is enhanced by 1.

Biophysical mechanisms underlying tefluthrin-induced modulation of gating changes and resurgent current generation in the human Na1.4 channel.

Human skeletal muscle contraction is triggered by activation of Na1.4 channels. Na1.

Study of Atomic Layer Deposition Nano-Oxide Films on Corrosion Protection of Al-SiC Composites.

In recent years, aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) have attracted attention due to their promising properties. However, the presence of ceramic particles in the aluminum matrix renders AMCs a high corrosion rate and makes it challenging to use traditional corrosion protection methods. In this study, atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques were used to deposit HfO, ZrO, TiO, and AlO thin films on AMC reinforced with 20 vol.

Kinetic Alterations in Resurgent Sodium Currents of Mutant Na1.4 Channel in Two Patients Affected by Paramyotonia Congenita.

Paramyotonia congenita (PMC) is a rare skeletal muscle disorder characterized by muscle stiffness upon repetitive exercise and cold exposure. PMC was reported to be caused by dominant mutations in the SCN4A gene encoding the α subunit of the Na1.4 channel.

Therapeutic DNA vaccine encoding CEMIP (KIAA1199) ameliorates kidney fibrosis in obesity through inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Background: CEMIP is a novel risk factor of various cancers through activating Wnt/β-catenin /epithelial-mesenchymal transition between epithelial cells and stroma. The chronic fibrosis commonly contributes renal carcinogenesis in patients with obesity. As there have very few choices of medicines targeting CEMIP.

Cannabidiol Selectively Binds to the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Na1.4 in Its Slow-Inactivated State and Inhibits Sodium Current.

Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, can relieve the myotonia resulting from sodium channelopathy, which manifests as repetitive discharges of muscle membrane. We investigated the binding kinetics of CBD to Na1.4 channels on the muscle membrane.

Changes in Resurgent Sodium Current Contribute to the Hyperexcitability of Muscles in Patients with Paramyotonia Congenita.

Paramyotonia congenita (PMC) is a rare hereditary skeletal muscle disorder. The major symptom, muscle stiffness, is frequently induced by cold exposure and repetitive exercise. Mutations in human gene, which encodes the α-subunit of Na1.

Lung Cancer Cell-Derived Secretome Mediates Paraneoplastic Inflammation and Fibrosis in Kidney in Mice.

Kidney failure is a possible but rare complication in lung cancer patients that may be caused by massive tumor lysis or a paraneoplastic effect. Clinical case reports have documented pathological characteristics of paraneoplastic syndrome in glomeruli, but are short of molecular details. When Lewis lung carcinoma 1 (LLC1) cells were implanted in mice lungs to establish lung cancer, renal failure was frequently observed two weeks post orthotopic xenograft.

Stemness regulation of the adrenal mixed corticomedullary tumorigenesis-a case-control study.

Mixed corticomedullary tumor is an adrenal tumor intermixed with cortical and medullary cells. It is extremely rare with unclear tumorigenesis. We reported a 32-year-old female, manifested with typical Cushing's syndrome and hypertension, to be diagnosed with right huge adrenal mixed corticomedullary tumor (8.

Changes of Resurgent Na Currents in the Na1.4 Channel Resulting from an Mutation Contributing to Sodium Channel Myotonia.

Myotonia congenita (MC) is a rare disorder characterized by stiffness and weakness of the limb and trunk muscles. Mutations in the gene encoding the alpha-subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel Na1.4 have been reported to be responsible for sodium channel myotonia (SCM).

Effect of metformin on kidney function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and moderate chronic kidney disease.

Background: Impaired renal function can lead to the accumulation of metformin, and elevated concentrations of metformin have been associated with lactic acidosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuous metformin treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 30-0 ml/min/1.73 m) on renal function.

Rapid Biochemical Mixture Screening by Three-Dimensional Patterned Multifunctional Substrate with Ultra-Thin Layer Chromatography (UTLC) and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS).

We present a three-dimensional patterned (3DP) multifunctional substrate with the functions of ultra-thin layer chromatography (UTLC) and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), which simultaneously enables mixture separation, target localization and label-free detection. This multifunctional substrate is comprised of a 3DP silicon nanowires array (3DP-SiNWA), decorated with silver nano-dendrites (AgNDs) atop. The 3DP-SiNWA is fabricated by a facile photolithographic process and low-cost metal assisted chemical etching (MaCE) process.

Association of Serum Uric Acid Concentration with Diabetic Retinopathy and Albuminuria in Taiwanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) may experience chronic microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) during their lifetime. In clinical studies, serum uric acid concentration has been found to be associated with DR and DN. The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the increases in serum uric acid level and the severity of DR and albuminuria in Taiwanese patients with type 2 DM.

MTTP-297H polymorphism reduced serum cholesterol but increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-a cross-sectional study.

Background: Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) works to lipidate and assemble the apoB-containing lipoproteins in liver. It closely links up the hepatic secretion of lipid to regulate serum lipid and atherosclerosis. Cases of MTTP gene mutation is characterized by abetalipoproteinemia and remarkable hepatic steatosis or cirrhosis.

Automated detection of fovea in fundus images based on vessel-free zone and adaptive Gaussian template.

This study developed a computerised method for fovea centre detection in fundus images. In the method, the centre of the optic disc was localised first by the template matching method, the disc-fovea axis (a line connecting the optic disc centre and the fovea) was then determined by searching the vessel-free region, and finally the fovea centre was detected by matching the fovea template around the centre of the axis. Adaptive Gaussian templates were used to localise the centres of the optic disc and fovea for the images with different resolutions.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and silent myocardial ischemia in Chinese with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. When diabetes exists in patients with established CAD, absolute risk for future events is very high. Diabetic patients often have severe, yet asymptomatic, CAD.

The association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase G894T polymorphism with C-reactive protein level and metabolic syndrome in a Chinese study group.

Some studies have reported a possible relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and metabolic syndrome (MS), which is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. A recent meta-analysis study found the eNOS G894T polymorphism to be associated with ischemic heart disease. Here, we examine the association of eNOS G894T polymorphism with MS in a Chinese population (n = 397).