[Urinary retinol binding protein and ß2-microglobulin were associated with urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and renal function in hospitalized diabetic patients].

Objective: To explore the associations of urinary retinol binding protein (RBP) and ß2-microglobulin (ß2-MG) with urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) and renal function in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 1 030 Chinese patients with T2DM were included in this study. The subjects were divided into the UACR normal group (<30 mg/g), microalbuminuria group (30-300 mg/g) and macroalbuminuria group (>300 mg/g). Patients with normal UACR were further divided into two groups according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): the eGFR low group (<90 ml·min-1·1.73m-2) and the normal eGFR group (≥90 ml·min-1·1.73m-2). Urine RBP and ß2-MG levels among the groups were compared. Multiple linear regression analyses were applied to evaluate risk factors of urine RBP and ß2-MG. Results: In all patients (n=1 030), urine RBP and ß2-MG increased gradually with the increase of UACR across the three groups, the proportions of abnormal urine RBP (>0.7 mg/L) and ß2-MG (>370 µg/L) in these groups were 3.8%, 8.5%, 39.0% (P<0.001), and 12.9%, 26.7%, 46.8% (P<0.001), respectively. In the UACR normal group (n=788), 12.2% of the patients were with eGFR<90 ml·min-1·1.73m-2. The proportion of abnormal ß2-MG (>370 µg/L) was higher in the eGFR low group than that in the eGFR normal group (29.2% vs. 10.7%, P<0.001). Multivariate linear stepwise regression analyses were performed using natural logarithm of urine RBP or ß2-MG as dependent variable, and showed that urine RBP was independently associated with UACR (ß=0.0005, P<0.001), serum creatinine (ß=0.006, P<0.001) and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (ß=0.050, P=0.001), and ß2-MG was independently correlated with UACR (ß=0.000 4, P<0.001), serum creatinine (ß=0.011, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (ß=0.005, P=0.031) and fasting blood-glucose (ß=0.027, P=0.046). Conclusions: Urine RBP and ß2-MG are positively associated with high UACR and impaired renal function in T2DM patients, and these changes could occur before UACR and eGFR turned out to be abnormal. It is recommended that urine RBP and ß2-MG be detected as early as possible to identify diabetic kidney disease in patients with normal UACR and eGFR.

The antibiofilm and collagen-stabilizing effects of proanthocyanidin as an auxiliary endodontic irrigant.

AIM: To evaluate the antibiofilm effect of proanthocyanidin (PA) solution as an irrigant against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and its influence on the mechanical properties and biodegradation resistance of demineralized root dentine. METHODOLOGY: Enterococcus faecalis were introduced into human root dentine tubules by a serial centrifugation method and grown for 1 week. Dentine blocks infected with 1-week-old E. faecalis biofilms were treated with the following irrigants: sterile water (control), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), 2% PA, 5% PA and 10% PA. After treatment, the live and dead bacteria proportions within E. faecalis biofilms were analysed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. To evaluate the biostability of fully demineralized dentine treated by the aforementioned irrigants, the elastic modulus and hydroxyproline release of human dentine incubated in collagenase solution were tested at baseline, after irrigant treatment and after biodegradation, respectively. Furthermore, the surface chemical bond of demineralized dentine collagen treated by various irrigants was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way anova and Tukey's post hoc multiple comparisons with the significance level at 5%. RESULTS: The proportion of dead E. faecalis volume was significantly higher in the PA and CHX groups than that in the control group (P < 0.05). PA irrigation significantly increased the mechanical properties of demineralized dentine (P < 0.05), and the effect was enhanced with increasing PA concentration. CHX and PA groups had significantly less elasticity loss and hydroxyproline release (P < 0.05). The biomodification of dentine collagen by PA was verified by increased C-O/C-N peak percentage under C1s and C-O peak percentage under O1s narrow-scan XPS spectra. CONCLUSIONS: Proanthocyanidin killed E. faecalis within biofilms and enhanced the biostability of the collagen matrix of demineralized root dentine. It might be used as an auxiliary endodontic irrigant with antibiofilm and collagen-stabilizing effects.

Micro-patterned photo-aligned ferroelectric liquid crystal Fresnel zone lens.

In this Letter, we disclose a fast switchable Fresnel zone lens (FZL) by confining the ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) in multiple microscopically defined photo-aligned alignment domains. The photo-alignment (PA) offers good control on the anchoring energy (W) by mean of irradiation doses (ID) and thus excellent alignment for FLCs. Two operational modes of the FLCFZL, i.e., FOCUS/OFF and FOCUS/DEFOCUS, were demonstrated. The proposed diffracting element provides fast response time, high diffraction efficiency (η), with saturated electro-optical (EO) operations up to high frequency (≈2 kHz). Thus, the proposed FLCFZLs with simple fabrication open several opportunities to improve the quality of existing devices and to find new applications.

[Study of proanthocyanidin promotes osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells through the transcription factor EB-induced autophagy-lysosome pathway].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of proanthocyanidin (PA) in regulating the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), and to explore the effects of PA on the expression and nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) and on the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Methods: PDLSCs were divided into control group and PA group, which were subjected to RNA sequencing analysis (RNA Seq) to detect differentially expressed genes. The osteogenic differentiation ability and autophagy level were observed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. Scratch assay and Transwell assay were used to detect the migration ability of PDLSCs. Lysotracker and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the biogenesis of lysosomes. The total protein expression of transcription factor EB (TFEB) as well as that in cytoplasm and nucleus were detected by Western blotting. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) was used to observe the nuclear translocation of TFEB. The PDLSCs were treated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology to knock down the expression levels of TFEB gene with or without PA treatment. Western blotting was used to analyze the expressions of autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3B), as well as osteogenic-related proteins runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), ALP, and osteocalcin in PDLSCs. Results: Compared with the control group, the osteogenic-related and autophagy-related genes showed differential expression in PDLSCs after PA treatment (P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of osteogenic-related genes RUNX2 (2.32±0.15) and collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1 (COL1α1) (1.80±0.18), as well as the autophagy related genes LC3B (1.87±0.08) and Beclin1 (1.63±0.08) were significantly increased in the PA group, compared with the control group (1.01±0.16, 1.00±0.10, 1.00±0.07, 1.00±0.06, respectively, all P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the PA group had higher ALP activity, and more autophagosomes and autophagolysosomes observed by TEM. PA promoted the migration of PDLSCs (P<0.05) and the increased number of lysosomes and the expression of lysosomal associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1). In the PA group, the relative expression level of total TFEB protein (1.49±0.07) and the nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of TFEB protein (1.52±0.12) were significantly higher than the control group (1.00±0.11, 1.00±0.13, respectively) (t=6.43, P<0.01; t=5.07, P<0.01). The relative nuclear/cytoplasmic fluorescence intensity of TFEB in the PA group (0.79±0.09) was increased compared with the control group (0.11±0.08) (t=8.32, P<0.01). Knocking down TFEB significantly reduced the expression of TFEB (1.00±0.15 vs 0.64±0.04), LAMP1 (1.00±0.10 vs 0.69±0.09), Beclin1 (1.00±0.05 vs 0.60±0.05), and LC3B Ⅱ/Ⅰ (1.00±0.06 vs 0.73±0.07) in PDLSCs (P<0.05, P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01). When TFEB gene was knocked down, the expression levels of Beclin1 (1.05±0.11), LC3B Ⅱ/Ⅰ (1.02±0.09), RUNX2 (1.04±0.10), ALP (1.04±0.16), and osteocalcin (1.03±0.15) proteins were significantly decreased in the PA group compared with the pre-knockdown period (1.28±0.03, 1.44±0.11, 1.38±0.11, 1.62±0.11, 1.65±0.17, respectively) (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.01, respectively). Conclusions: PA promotes the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs through inducing the expression and nuclear translocation of TFEB and activating the autophagy-lysosome pathway.

Quantum entangling gates using the strong coupling between two optical emitters and nanowire surface plasmons.

We propose a scheme to generate quantum entangling gate using one-dimensional surface plasmon waveguide. The protocol is based on the detection of the transmission spectrum of the single optical plasmons passing through two separate three-level emitters on metallic nanowire waveguide. It is shown that the low efficiency in direct detection of the single photon can be avoided by repeating the measurement of the transmission spectrum.

Strongly interacting photons in asymmetric quantum well via resonant tunneling.

We propose an asymmetric quantum well structure to realize strong interaction between two slow optical pulses. The essential idea is the combination of the advantages of inverted-Y type scheme and resonant tunneling. We analytically demonstrate that giant cross-Kerr nonlinearity can be achieved with vanishing absorptions. Owing to resonant tunneling, the contributions of the probe and signal cross-Kerr nonlinearities to total nonlinear phase shift vary from destructive to constrictive, leading to nonlinear phase shift on order of π at low light level. In this structure, the scheme is inherent symmetric for the probe and signal pulses. Consequently, the condition of group velocity matching can be fulfilled with appropriate initial electron distribution.

Clinical-grade Garcinia cambogia extract dissolves calcium oxalate crystals in Drosophila kidney stone models.

OBJECTIVE: Kidney stone formers have a high rate of stone recurrence after kidney stone removal surgery and there is no effective medication for treatment. Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which is the major component of Garcinia cambogia extract, can dissolve calcium oxalate crystals in vitro, suggesting that Garcinia cambogia could be used to treat calcium oxalate kidney stone. In this study, we used the Drosophila kidney disease model to evaluate the effect of Garcinia cambogia on the prevention and removal of calcium oxalate stones in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flies were reared in fly food containing different concentrations of GCE for one week. The effect of GCE on preventing the formation of calcium oxalate stone was examined. WT and v-ATPase gene RNAi knockdown flies were reared in fly food with 0.3% NaOx for one week, then fed different concentrations of GCE for one week. The effect of GCE on the removal of calcium oxalate stone was examined. RESULTS: Garcinia cambogia extract dissolves calcium oxalate crystals from Malpighian tubules in both genetic and non-genetic Drosophila kidney stone models compared to citric acid. Hydroxycitric acid also directly dissolves calcium oxalate crystals in Drosophila Malpighian tubules ex vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Garcinia cambogia extract removes calcium oxalate kidney stones from Drosophila Malpighian tubules via directly dissolving calcium oxalate stones by HCA. Our study strongly suggests that clinical-grade Garcinia cambogia extract could be used to treat patients with nephrolithiasis in the future.

Single-photon transistor based on cavity electromagnetically induced transparency with Rydberg atomic ensemble.

A scheme is presented to realize a single-photon transistor based on cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) with Rydberg atomic ensemble. By combining the advantages of the cavity-enhanced interaction and Rydberg blockade, we achieve a high gain single-photon transistor. The numerical calculation shows that by using one single gate photon more than one thousand source photons can be switched.

[Current status and further prospects of dental resin-based materials with antibacterial properties].

The mode of dental antibacterial resin-based materials can be divided into two types, namely, single and combined antibacterial mode. With regard to single antibacterial mode, only one kind of antibacterial agent is added into the resin, which can be released or act as contacting antibacterial agent. The single mode resin has limitation in sterilization methods and effect. As for combined antibacterial mode, it is a combination of different types of biocides and thus maximizes the sterilizing effect, including the releasing antibacterial agent incorporated with the contacting antibacterial agent or antibacterial agents combined with calcium compound possessing biological mineralization function. In this paper, current status and further prospects of dental resin-based materials with antibacterial properties are reviewed from the perspectives of single and combined antibacterial modes to provide guidance for dental antibacterial resin material research.

Quantum controlled-phase-flip gate between a flying optical photon and a Rydberg atomic ensemble.

Quantum controlled-phase-flip (CPF) gate between a flying photon qubit and a stationary atomic qubit could allow the linking of distant computational nodes in a quantum network. Here we present a scheme to realize quantum CPF gate between a flying optical photon and an atomic ensemble based on cavity input-output process and Rydberg blockade. When a flying single-photon pulse is reflected off the cavity containing a Rydberg atomic ensemble, the dark resonance and Rydberg blockade induce a conditional phase shift for the photon pulse, thus we can achieve the CPF gate between the photon and the atomic ensemble. Assisted by Rydberg blockade interaction, our scheme works in the N-atoms strong-coupling regime and significantly relaxes the requirement of strong coupling of single atom to photon in the optical cavity.

Changes in pulmonary Cu-Zn contents in superior mesenteric artery occlusion shock of rabbit.

Contents of Cu and Zn of into-pulmonary blood (IPB), out-pulmonary blood (OPB), Lung tissue, and supernatant and macrophages of Lung Lavage were determined in superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) shock of rabbits. Zn of pulmonary tissue was 11.42 +/- 0.60 and 14.52 +/- 1.78 (micrograms/g wet wt) in SMAO shock and control groups, respectively. Content of Zn was found to be lower, Cu was not changed, and Cu/Zn ratio increased in lung tissue in SMAO shock. Contents of Cu and Zn in other samples were not changed. The results suggest that lower Zn in lung tissue related to acute lung injury.