Association between factors in life course and physiological disorders among the middle-aged and older population in Zhoushan city of Zhejiang province. / æµ™æ±ŸçœèˆŸå±±å¸‚ä¸­è€å¹´äººç¾¤ç”Ÿå‘½åŽ†ç¨‹å› ç´ ä¸Žç”Ÿç†å¤±è°ƒçš„å ³è”ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the associations between factors in life course and physiological disorders in the middle-aged and elderly population of Zhoushan city of Zhejiang province, and the mediating roles of lifestyle and mental health. METHODS: A total of 1553 island residents aged ≥45 years were enrolled from the Zhejiang Metabolic Syndrome Cohort Zhoushan Liuheng Sub-cohort. The demographic information, life-course information, lifestyle, and mental health information of participants were documented, and blood samples of were collected. The status of aging was evaluated by physiological disorders calculation model developed by authors previously. The Shapley value decomposition method was used to assess the cumulative and relative contribution of multiple factors in life course to the aging. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to classify subgroups. General linear regression model was used to assess the associations between the life-course subgroups and physiological disorders. Five key factors associated with aging were finally identified. Logistic regression model, general linear regression model, and mediation analysis model were used to assess the complex associations between life-course subgroups, key factors, unhealthy lifestyle, mental health, and aging. RESULTS: Shapley value decomposition method indicated that eight types of life-course factors explained 6.63% (SE=0.0008) of the individual physiological disorders variance, with the greatest relative contribution (2.78%) from adversity experiences in adulthood. The study participants were clustered into 4 subgroups, and subgroups experiencing more adversity in adulthood and having low educational attainment or experiencing more trauma and having poorer relationships in childhood had significantly higher levels of physiological disorders. Life-course subgroups and key factors (childhood trauma and health, adversity experience in adulthood, and lower education) were positively associated with unhealthy lifestyles (ß=0.12-0.41, P<0.05). In addition, life-course subgroups and key factors (adversity experience in adulthood) were positively associated with psychological problems (OR=2.14-4.68, P<0.05). Unhealthy lifestyle scores showed a marginal significant association with physiological disorders (ß=0.03, P=0.055). However, no significant association was found between psychological problems and physiological disorders (ß=0.03, P=0.748). The results of the mediation analysis model suggested that unhealthy lifestyles partially mediated the associations between life-course subgroups, adversity experience in adulthood and physiological disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple life-course factors contribute about 6% of the variance in physiological disorders in the middle aged and elderly population of the study area; subgroups with adverse life course experiences have higher levels of aging; and the association may be partially mediated by unhealthy lifestyles.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate-induced apoptosis in kidney cells by triggering the NOX4/ROS/JNK axis and antagonism of cannabidiol.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is one of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which can cause severe nephrotoxicity in mammals. Cannabinol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid obtained from the cannabis plant, has attracted attention in recent years for its excellent antioxidant properties. NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) has an important effect in supporting normal renal physiological function. The potential mechanisms of PFOS nephrotoxicity and whether CBD can prevent renal damage caused by PFOS remain unclear. This work aimed to study the mechanisms of PFOS-induced kidney damage and the protective role of CBD against PFOS-induced kidney damage. We demonstrated that PFOS led to renal insufficiency and structural damage in mice, induced overexpression of NOX4 and the onset of oxidative stress, and activated apoptosis of the mitochondrial pathway via the JNK signaling pathway. However, treatment with CBD reversed these changes. For further investigation of the potential mechanism of PFOS-induced renal cell apoptosis, the expression of NOX4 was inhibited in vitro experiments using Apocynin, an effective NOX4 inhibitor. The outcomes showed that PFOS-induced ROS production and JNK signaling pathway activation and apoptosis in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells were significantly reduced after inhibition of NOX4. This suggests that PFOS-induced NOX4 overexpression serves as an upstream event for JNK pathway activation. In conclusion, the findings suggest that PFOS induces apoptosis in renal cells via the NOX4/ROS/JNK pathway. Meanwhile, CBD alleviated PFOS-induced renal apoptosis through the inhibition of NOX4/ROS/JNK axis activation.

Structural Evolution of Graphitic Carbon Derived from Ionic Liquids-Dissolved Cellulose and Its Application as Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes.

With an attempt to replace petroleum-derived commercial graphite (CG) with biomass-derived carbon, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (BMIMAcO) was facilely carbonized to prepare cellulose-derived carbon under a low-temperature range of 250-1600 °C. TEM and AFM results revealed structural evolution of carbon nanosheets starting from carbon dots. The XRD and Raman results showed that the degree of crystallinity of the MCC-derived carbon was apparently enhanced as the temperature was increased to 93.02% at 1600 °C, while the XPS results revealed that the nitrogen content was greatly reduced with increasing temperature. BMIMAcO not only induced low-temperature graphitization of MCC-derived carbon but also provided nitrogen doping for the carbon. Used as an anode of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the carbon synthesized at 750 °C showed the best cyclic stability and reversible capacity (1052.22 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 after 100 cycles and 1017.46 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 1000 cycles) compared to other MCC-derived carbon and CG. In addition, the costs of cellulose-derived carbon are much lower than those of the petroleum-derived graphite, showing environmental and economical merits for LIB anode production.

Flexible Anti-Metal RFID Tag Antenna Based on High-Conductivity Graphene Assembly Film.

We propose a flexible anti-metal radio frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna based on a high-conductivity graphene assembly film (HCGAF). The HCGAF has a conductivity of 1.82 × 106 S m-1, a sheet resistance of 25 mΩ and a thickness of 22 µm. The HCGAF is endowed with high conductivity comparable to metal materials and superb flexibility, which is suitable for making antennas for microwave frequencies. Through proper structural design, parameter optimization, semiautomatic manufacturing and experimental measurements, an HCGAF antenna could realize a realized gain of -7.3 dBi and a radiation efficiency of 80%, and the tag could achieve a 6.4 m read range at 915 MHz on a 20 × 20 cm2 flat copper plate. In the meantime, by utilizing flexible polyethylene (PE) foam, good conformality was obtained. The read ranges of the tags attached to curved copper plates with different bending radii were measured, as well as those of those attached to several daily objects. All the results demonstrate the excellent performance of the design, which is highly favorable for practical RFID anti-metal applications.

Rubber Seed Oil-Based UV-Curable Polyurethane Acrylate Resins for Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D Printing.

Novel UV-curable polyurethane acrylate (PUA) resins were developed from rubber seed oil (RSO). Firstly, hydroxylated rubber seed oil (HRSO) was prepared via an alcoholysis reaction of RSO with glycerol, and then HRSO was reacted with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) to produce the RSO-based PUA (RSO-PUA) oligomer. FT-IR and 1H NMR spectra collectively revealed that the obtained RSO-PUA was successfully synthesized, and the calculated C=C functionality of oligomer was 2.27 per fatty acid. Subsequently, a series of UV-curable resins were prepared and their ultimate properties, as well as UV-curing kinetics, were investigated. Notably, the UV-cured materials with 40% trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) displayed a tensile strength of 11.7 MPa, an adhesion of 2 grade, a pencil hardness of 3H, a flexibility of 2 mm, and a glass transition temperature up to 109.4 °C. Finally, the optimal resin was used for digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. The critical exposure energy of RSO-PUA (15.20 mJ/cm2) was lower than a commercial resin. In general, this work offered a simple method to prepare woody plant oil-based high-performance PUA resins that could be applied in the 3D printing industry.

Prevalence and epidemiological determinants of metabolically obese but normal-weight in Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: There is metabolic heterogeneity in normal-weight individuals, however, there has been limited research in the Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, distribution and epidemiological determinants of metabolically obese but normal-weight (MONW) in a Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 17,876 normal-weight individuals were recruited from 37,815 individuals in Zhejiang province in southeastern China. Normal-weight was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-23.9 kg/m2. Metabolically abnormal traits were assessed by metabolic syndrome criteria from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2015. MONW was defined as individuals who had at least two metabolically abnormal trait but normal weight. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate MONW risk factors, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic abnormality was 34.1% in normal-weight individuals, and the overall prevalence of MONW was 16.1% in the general population. Different MONW distributions were found between men and women depending on age. Compared with women, men had a significantly higher MONW prevalence among those aged < 45 years old, and there was a lower prevalence for those aged ≥50 years old. Higher BMI or waist circumference (WC), central obesity, menopause, and family histories of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, increased MONW risk. Higher education levels, regular alcohol drinking, and balanced or vegetarian food preferences reduced MONW risk. CONCLUSIONS: Normal-weight individuals have metabolic heterogeneity in China. The MONW distribution between men and women depends on age. BMI, WC, dietary factors, and family history of chronic diseases, are associated with metabolic status.

Growth differentiation factor 11 ameliorates experimental colitis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) has an anti-inflammatory effect in the mouse model of atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, but how GDF11 regulates intestinal inflammation during ulcerative colitis (UC) is poorly defined. The Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-1 containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is closely associated with intestinal inflammation because of its ability to increase IL-1ß secretion. Our aim is to determine whether GDF11 has an effect on attenuating experimental colitis in mice. In this study, using a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis mouse model, we reported that GDF11 treatment attenuated loss of body weight, the severity of the disease activity index, shortening of the colon, and histological changes in the colon. GDF11 remarkably suppressed IL-1ß secretion and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in colon samples and RAW 264.7 cells, such as the levels of NLRP3 and activated caspase-1. Furthermore, we found that GDF11 inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation by downregulating the Toll-like receptor 4/NF-κB p65 pathway and reactive oxygen species production via the typical Smad2/3 pathway. Thus, our research shows that GDF11 alleviates DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation, providing some basis for its potential use in the treatment of UC. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here, we identify a new role for growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), which ameliorates dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis. Meanwhile, we discover a new phenomenon of GDF11 inhibiting IL-1ß secretion and Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-1 containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. These findings reveal that GDF11 is a new potential candidate for the treatment of ulcerative colitis patients with a hyperactive NLRP3 inflammasome.

Susceptibility loci for metabolic syndrome and metabolic components identified in Han Chinese: a multi-stage genome-wide association study.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of metabolic disturbances that increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, was because of genetic susceptibility and environmental risk factors. To identify the genetic variants associated with MetS and metabolic components, we conducted a genome-wide association study followed by replications in totally 12,720 participants from the north, north-eastern and eastern China. In combined analyses, independent of the top known signal at rs651821 on APOA5, we newly identified a secondary triglyceride-associated signal at rs180326 on BUD13 (Pcombined = 2.4 × 10-8 ). Notably, by an integrated analysis of the genotypes and the serum levels of APOA5, BUD13 and triglyceride, we observed that BUD13 was another potential mediator, besides APOA5, of the association between rs651821 and serum triglyceride. rs671 (ALDH2), an east Asian-specific common variant, was found to be associated with MetS (Pcombined = 9.7 × 10-22 ) in Han Chinese. The effects of rs671 on metabolic components were more prominent in drinkers than in non-drinkers. The replicated loci provided information on the genetic basis and mechanisms of MetS and metabolic components in Han Chinese.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Annulation of Amides with Isocyanides via C(sp2)-H Activation.

A cobalt-catalyzed [4 + 1] cycloaddition of easily accessible amides with isocyanides for the efficient synthesis of 3-iminoisoindolinone derivatives in high yield under mild conditions via intramolecular C(sp2)-H activation and isocyanide insertion is reported. The annulation was found to be applicable to a broad range of substrates, including arylamides, heteroarylamides, and acrylamide derivatives. Strongly coordinating N-heterocyclic directing groups such as pyridine, pyrimidine, and even pyrazole were fully tolerated in this cobalt-catalyzed C-H activation reaction.

Sulfuration of the C(sp(2))-H bond of enaminones: a protocol for the synthesis of thioether using elemental sulfur as a sulfurating reagent.

Sulfuration reaction of the C(sp(2))-H bond of enaminones with elemental sulfur in the presence of CuBr/K3PO4 was carried out. It provided an efficient method for the synthesis of thioethers in moderate to good yields. The protocol was also applicable to synthesize selenides when selenium powder was used instead of sulfur powder.

Higher Levels of Magnesium and Lower Levels of Calcium in Whole Blood Are Positively Correlated with the Metabolic Syndrome in a Chinese Population: A Case-Control Study.

Magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) are essential for numerous kinds of metabolisms in human body. To investigate the associations between Mg and Ca and the ratio of Ca to Mg (Ca/Mg) in whole blood with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a Chinese population, a matched case-control study including 204 MetS patients and 204 healthy controls (aged 48-89) was carried out in 2011. MetS were diagnosed according to the criteria of Chinese Diabetes Society. Controls had no abnormal metabolic components and were matched with cases by age, gender and region. Blood samples were collected in the morning after an overnight fast. Whole blood Mg and Ca were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Subjects who were male constituted 44.1% of the part of this study. The average age was 64.0 ± 7.18, and the average body mass index was 24.3 ± 3.75. The MetS group showed significantly higher Mg and lower Ca and Ca/Mg as compared with the control group. Comparing with the bottom tertile (T1) of Mg, increased ORs for MetS were found in median tertile (T2) and top tertile (T3) of Mg. For Ca, T2 and T3 were negatively associated with MetS. Inverse relationship was also found between Ca/Mg ratio and MetS. Our findings suggested that increased Mg and decreased Ca and Ca/Mg in whole blood were correlated with MetS in Chinese adults.

Command filter-based event-triggered control for stochastic MEMS gyroscopes with finite-time prescribed performance.

This paper proposes an adaptive neural control strategy for stochastic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes, aiming to achieve a prescribed performance in a finite time. The radial basis function neural network is introduced to address the system's unknown nonlinear dynamics and stochastic disturbances. Then, the technology of finite-time prescribed performance function, along with the method of command-filtered backstepping design, is utilized to ensure both transient and steady-state performance and simultaneously solve the problem of "explosion of complexity." Moreover, a switching threshold event-triggered control law is proposed to cut down on communication resources and eliminate corresponding parametric inequality restrictions. The proposed adaptive state feedback control strategy is able to guarantee that the output tracking error converges to a prescribed, arbitrarily small residual set. Additionally, the closed-loop system's signals can be semi-globally ultimately uniformly bounded in probability. Finally, numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed strategy.

Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry and COPD Accelerate Frailty Progression: Evidence From a Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: COPD has been found to be associated with frailty. However, longitudinal evidence for associations of COPD with frailty progression is inadequate. Furthermore, recent studies revealed a new phenotype of lung function impairment: preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) findings. Associations of PRISm findings and their transitions with frailty progression are unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the associations of PRISm findings, transitions of PRISm findings, and COPD with frailty progression? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To analyze the associations of PRISm findings and COPD with frailty progression, 5,901 patients were included from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Patients were classified into three lung function patterns of normal spirometry (NS) findings, PRISm findings, and COPD. Frailty progression was assessed by repeated measurements of the frailty index (FI) during follow-up. Among these 5,901 patients, 3,765 patients were included to analyze the associations of PRISm findings transitions with frailty progression. PRISm findings transitions were assessed based on the changes of lung function patterns after a 4-year interval. Linear mixed-effect models were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The median follow-up periods were 9.5 years for the analyses of PRISm findings and COPD with frailty progression and 5.8 years for PRISm findings transitions with frailty progression. When compared with participants with NS findings, patients with PRISm findings and COPD demonstrated accelerated FI progression with additional annual increases of 0.301 (95% CI, 0.211-0.392; P < .001) and 0.172 (95% CI, 0.102-0.242; P < .001), respectively. Patients who transitioned from NS findings to PRISm findings also demonstrated accelerated FI progression when compared with those with stable NS findings (ß = 0.242; 95% CI, 0.008-0.476; P = .042). However, no accelerated FI progression was found in patients with PRISm findings who transitioned to NS findings (ß = 0.119; 95% CI, -0.181 to 0.418; P = .438). INTERPRETATION: Our findings indicate that PRISm findings and COPD are associated with accelerated frailty progression. Further studies are needed to elucidate the causality of the association of PRISm findings and COPD with frailty.

The evolution of intraventricular vortex during ejection studied by using vector flow mapping.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to assess the evolution of intraventricular vortex during left ventricular (LV) ejection. METHODS: Vector flow mapping was performed in 51 patients with coronary artery disease and LV ejection fraction (EF) >50%, 70 patients with EF <50% (13 with coronary artery disease and 57 with dilated cardiomyopathy), and 62 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: In normals and patients with EF >50%, the intraventricular vortex dissipated quickly during early ejection. In patients with EF <50%, the vortex stayed mainly at apex and persisted for a significantly longer time. The evolution of vortex during ejection was significantly correlated with QRS width, EF, fractional shortening, LV outflow velocity time integral, wall motion score index (WMSI), LV dimensions, left atrial diameter, and diastolic mitral annular velocities. LV end-diastolic short diameter and WMSI were the independent determinants of the duration of vortex (R(2) = 0.482, P < 0.001). End-systolic short diameter and apical WMSI were the independent determinants of duration of vortex corrected for ejection time (R(2) = 0.565, P < 0.001). End-systolic short diameter was the independent determinant of percentage change in vortex area during early ejection (R(2) = 0.355, P < 0.001). End-systolic short diameter and ejection time were the independent determinants of percentage change in vortex flow volume (R(2) = 0.415, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LV systolic dysfunction, the vortex persists during ejection and stays mainly at apex. The vortex evolution during ejection is closely associated with LV dimensions and functions.

Wood-Derived Polymers from Olefin-Functionalized Lignin and Ethyl Cellulose via Thiol-Ene Click Chemistry.

Lignin and cellulose derivatives have vast potential to be applied in polymer materials. The preparation of cellulose and lignin derivatives through esterification modification is an important method to endow cellulose and lignin with good reactivity, processability and functionality. In this study, ethyl cellulose and lignin are modified via esterification to prepare olefin-functionalized ethyl cellulose and lignin, which are further used to prepare cellulose and lignin cross-linker polymers via thiol-ene click chemistry. The results show that the olefin group concentration in olefin-functionalized ethyl cellulose and lignin reached 2.8096 mmol/g and 3.7000 mmol/g. The tensile stress at break of the cellulose cross-linked polymers reached 23.59 MPa. The gradual enhancement in mechanical properties is positively correlated with the olefin group concentration. The existence of ester groups in the cross-linked polymers and degradation products makes them more thermally stable. In addition, the microstructure and pyrolysis gas composition are also investigated in this paper. This research is of vast significance to the chemical modification and practical application of lignin and cellulose.

Recent Advances in Degradation of Polymer Plastics by Insects Inhabiting Microorganisms.

Plastic pollution endangers all natural ecosystems and living creatures on earth. Excessive reliance on plastic products and excessive production of plastic packaging are extremely dangerous for humans because plastic waste has polluted almost the entire world, whether it is in the sea or on the land. This review introduces the examination of pollution brought by non-degradable plastics, the classification and application of degradable materials, and the current situation and strategy to address plastic pollution and plastic degradation by insects, which mainly include Galleria mellonella, Zophobas atratus, Tenebrio molitor, and other insects. The efficiency of plastic degradation by insects, biodegradation mechanism of plastic waste, and the structure and composition of degradable products are reviewed. The development direction of degradable plastics in the future and plastic degradation by insects are prospected. This review provides effective ways to solve plastic pollution.

Simulation Study on the Optimisation of Replenishment of Landscape Water with Reclaimed Water Based on Transparency.

Water-scarce cities have fewer surface water (SW) resources available for ecological use, causing landscape water to deteriorate due to water shortage and fail to perform their intended landscape functions. As a result, many cities use reclaimed water (RW) to replenish them. However, this could cause concern among the people, as RW usually has higher nutrient concentrations, which may stimulate algae growth and deteriorate the aesthetic senses of the receiving water bodies. In order to assess the feasibility of using RW for this purpose, this study used Xingqing Lake in Northwest China as insight into the effect of RW replenishment on the visual landscape quality of urban landscape water. Water transparency (measured by SD) is used as an intuitive indicator to reflect the comprehensive influence of suspended solids and algae growth on the water's aesthetic quality. Scenario analyses were carried out after calibrating and validating one-year data in MIKE 3 software with both SD and algae growth calculations, and the results showed that the low concentration of suspended matter in RW could compensate for the decrease in SD due to algal blooms caused by high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, and the effect on SD is especially pronounced under conditions that are not conducive to algal growth, such as good flow conditions and low temperature. In addition, to meet a SD ≥ 70 mm, the total water inflow required can be significantly reduced with the optimal application of RW. It is also indicated that partial or complete utilization of RW to replace SW for replenishing the landscape water could be feasible from the viewpoint of landscape quality, at least for the landscape water investigated in this study. This can provide a method for the improvement to urban water management practices by using RW for replenishment in water-scarce cities.

Healthy lifestyle scores associate with incidence of type 2 diabetes mediated by uric acid.

BACKGROUND: Whether and to what extent serum uric acid (SUA) mediates the association between combined lifestyle behaviors and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of SUA in the relationship between healthy lifestyle scores (HLS) and the incidence of T2DM. METHODS: This prospective study used data from Zhejiang Metabolic Syndrome cohort. A HLS (5-point scale including healthy waist circumference (WC), never smoking, high physical activity, healthy diet and moderate alcohol intake) was estimated in 13,919 participants, who had SUA at baseline examination in 2009-2014, and were followed-up to 2021-2022 to ascertain incident of T2DM. Cox proportional hazards models and mediation analysis were used to examine the associations between HLS, SUA and T2DM. RESULTS: We included 13,919 participants aged 18 years or older without diabetes at baseline (mean age 54.6 [SD 13.9] years, 58.7% female). During a median follow-up of 9.94 years, 645 cases of T2DM occurred. Compared with participants with a poor HLS, those with 4-5 low-risk lifestyle factors showed a 60% reduction in the risk of developing T2DM (adjusted HR, 0.40; 95% CI: 0.28-0.57). Further, the population-attributable risk percent (95% CI) of T2DM for poor adherence to the overall healthy lifestyle (< 4 low-risk factors) was 43.24% (30.02%, 56.46%). The HLS was inversely associated with SUA level. With per score increased in HLS, the beta (95% CI) of SUA (log transformed) was - 0.03 (- 0.03, - 0.02), and the odds ratio (95% CI) of hyperuricemia was 0.82 (0.77, 0.86). The relationship between the HLS and risk of T2DM was mediated by SUA with a 13.06% mediation effect. There was no significant combined effect of HLS and SUA on risk of T2DM (P = 0.097). CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between overall healthy lifestyle behaviors and T2DM was reconfirmed and the association appeared to be mediated by SUA. The mediation effect of baseline SUA was more pronounced among women who were below 60 years old.

Left ventricular radial systolic dysfunction in diabetic patients assessed by myocardial acceleration derived from velocity vector imaging.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether left ventricular (LV) radial systolic dysfunction occurred in diabetic patients with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and impaired longitudinal contraction. METHODS: Velocity vector imaging was performed in 22 patients with type 2 diabetes without microangiopathy (12 men and 10 women; mean age ± SD, 49 ± 7 years), 21 patients with microangiopathy (12 men and 9 women; mean age, 50 ± 6 years), and 21 healthy control participants (11 men and 10 women; mean age, 49 ± 8 years). The groups were matched for age and sex. All had no clinical symptoms of heart disease, coronary artery disease, or hypertension. RESULTS: The LVEF, fractional shortening, and end-diastolic diameter were statistically comparable in all groups. The left ventricular wall thickness was significantly greater in diabetic patients than controls (P < .05). Average peak early diastolic accelerations at all LV levels were significantly lower in diabetic patients than controls in the long-and short-axis directions (all P < .05). In the long-axis direction, a significantly lower average peak isovolumic contraction acceleration was found at the mid and apical levels in patients without microangiopathy and at all LV levels in patients with microangiopathy than controls (all P < .05). In the short-axis direction, a significantly lower average isovolumic contraction acceleration was found at the apical level in patients without microangiopathy and at the basal and apical levels in patients with microangiopathy (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In diabetic patients with a normal LVEF, myocardial systolic dysfunction occurs not only in the long-axis direction but also in the short-axis direction.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Biological Activity of Two Triketone-Containing Quinoxalines as HPPD Inhibitors.

Two new triketone-containing quinoxaline derivatives were designed by fragment splicing strategy and synthesized using 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid and substituted cyclohexanedione as starting materials. Both compounds were characterized by IR, 1H and 13C NMR, HRMS and X-ray diffraction. 3-Hydroxy-5-methyl-2-(quinoxaline-6-carbonyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (6a) crystallized in the triclinic system, space group Pi, a = 7.9829(2) Å, b = 8.1462(2) Å, c = 10.7057(3) Å, α = 84.3590(10)°, ß = 89.7760(10)°, γ = 87.4190(10)°, Z = 2, V = 692.12(3) Å3, F(000) = 296, Dc = 1.335 Mg/m3, m(MoKa) = 0.095 mm-1, R = 0.0683 and wR= 0.1983. 3-Hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-(3-ethoxyquinoxaline-6-carbonyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (6b) crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c, a = 10.1554(6) Å, b = 9.6491(6) Å, c = 17.7645(10) Å, ß = 90.784(2)°, Z = 4, V = 1740.59(18) Å3, F(000) = 720, Dc = 1.299 Mg/m3, m(MoKa) = 0.092 mm-1, R = 0.0462 and wR = 0.1235. Physicochemical property comparison and ADMET prediction showed that compound 6a had similar properties to the commercial herbicide mesotrione. Molecular docking results showed that the interactions between 6a and AtHPPD were similar to mesotrione. Moreover, the extended aromatic ring system and the additional alkyl form more interactions with the surrounding residues. Examination of AtHPPD inhibition and herbicidal activity showed that 6a had similar inhibition values to mesotrione and had a superior inhibitory effect on Echinochloa crus-galli.