RESUMO
Clayey sand is widely distributed and commonly encountered in geotechnical engineering practice. To understand its bearing capacity behavior under unsaturated conditions, plate load tests are performed on sand-kaolin mixture samples with varying water tables. The distributions of suction and volumetric water content with depth are measured by vibrating wire piezometers and soil moisture sensors, respectively. It is shown by the test results that the bearing capacity increases when the water table in the soil sample drops. The influence of suction on the bearing capacity is found to be dependent on the height of the water table and the hydraulic loading history of the soil sample. The plate load test results are interpreted using bearing capacity equations. Good agreement is obtained between measured and calculated bearing capacities. This study provides a simple method to estimate the bearing capacity of in situ unsaturated soil foundations.
RESUMO
Aim: To explore whether C-reactive protein (CRP) mediates the risk of body mass index (BMI) in pancreatic cancer (PC) and calculate the mediate proportion of CRP in this possible mechanism. Methods: Based on two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR), a two-step Mendelian randomization (TM) model was conducted to determine whether CRP was a mediator of the causal relationship between BMI and PC. The multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) study was designed for mediating analysis and to calculate the mediating proportion mediated by CRP. Results: BMI has a positive causal relationship with PC (n = 393 SNPs, OR = 1.484, 95% CI: 1.021-2.157, p< 0.05). BMI has a positive causal relationship with CRP (n = 179 SNPs, OR = 1.393, 95% CI: 1.320-1.469, p< 0.05). CRP has a positive causal relationship with PC (n = 54 SNPs, OR = 1.348, 95% CI: 1.004-1.809, p< 0.05). After adjusting CRP, BMI has no causal relationship with PC (n = 334 SNPs, OR = 1.341, 95% CI: 0.884-2.037, p< 0.05). After adjusting BMI, there was still a positive causal relationship between CRP and PC (n = 334 SNPs, OR = 1.441, 95% CI: 1.064-1.950, p< 0.05). The mediating effect of CRP was 29%. Conclusions: In clinical practice, while actively advocating for weight loss among obese patients, we should focus on chronic inflammation levels in obese patients as well. In addition, anti-inflammatory dietary patterns and appropriate physical activity are important in preventing PC.
RESUMO
The recombinant adeno-associated virus human thioredoxin-PR39 (rAAV/hTRX-PR39) has been demonstrated to have a protective effect on hypoxic cells. The present study aimed to explore the potential effect of rAAV/hTRX-PR39 on acute cerebral infarction in rats. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model rats were produced and divided into three groups: Normal saline group, empty virus group (rAAV, without hTRX-PR39 cDNA) and rAAV/hTRX-PR39 group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and electron microscopy observation were used to assess the morphological changes of ischemic brain tissue during different periods. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of CD34 to reflect angiogenesis of ischemic brain tissue. Rats treated with rAAV/hTRX-PR39 showed an alleviated degree of ischemic brain edema relative to that in control groups, suggesting PR39 can ameliorate brain damage after cerebral ischemia. In the rAAV/hTRX-PR39 group, CD34-positive cells were significantly increased in ischemic brain tissues compared to control groups. Furthermore, CD34-positive cells were primarily observed around the perivascular in ischemic brain, indicating the angiogenesis role of PR39 in ischemic brain. The present findings suggest that PR39 could effectively ameliorate ischemic brain damage and promote angiogenesis, which may contribute to the treatment of acute cerebral infarction.