Associations of total homocysteine and kidney function with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in hypertensive patients: a mediation and joint analysis.

Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and kidney function are both associated with mortality risk, but the degree to which kidney function modifies the impact of tHcy on mortality remains unknown. This prospective cohort study included a total of 14,225 hypertensive adults. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to analyze the separate and combined association of tHcy and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Mediation analysis was conducted to explore the mediating effect of eGFR. During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 805 deaths were identified, including 397 deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD). There were significant, positive relationships of tHcy with all-cause mortality (per 5 µmol/L; HR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.11), CVD mortality (HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.13), and non-CVD mortality (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.10). The proportions of eGFR mediating these relationships were 39.1%, 35.7%, and 49.7%, respectively. There were additive interactions between tHcy and eGFR. Compared with those with low tHcy (<15 µmol/L) and high eGFR (≥90 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2), participants with high tHcy (≥20 µmol/L) and low eGFR (<60 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2) had the highest risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 4.89; 95% CI: 3.81, 6.28), CVD mortality (HR: 5.80; 95% CI: 4.01, 8.40), and non-CVD mortality (HR: 4.25; 95% CI: 3.02, 5.97). In conclusion, among Chinese hypertensive adults, high tHcy and impaired kidney function were independently and jointly associated with higher risks of all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Importantly, kidney function explained most (nearly 40%) of the increased risk of mortality conferred by high tHcy.

Research on the Properties of Wasteforms after Direct Involvement of Uranium-Containing Silica Gel in Glass Network Formation.

Uranium-containing silica gel (UCSG) is a secondary waste generated during the advanced treatment of nuclear wastewater. In order to reduce the growing storage pressure for UCSG, from the perspective of building a borosilicate glass network, UCSG was used to replace SiO2 in the glass-cured formula to directly achieve the immobilization of UCSG. SEM-EDS results showed that uranium was uniformly distributed in the matrix, and the maximum solid solubility of UCSG (two components: silica gel and uranyl ions) in the formula was as high as 55 wt %. At the same time, TG-MS proved that silica gel lost OH groups (down about 4.61 wt %) and formed Si-O-Si bond by condensation. FT-IR and XPS proved a change in the number of Si-O-Si bond, and new Si-O-B and Si-O-Al bond appeared on the spectrum. This was evidence that silica gel could self-involved participate in the construction of glass networks. EPR analysis obtained the changes in the coordination environment of U atom, the U atom decreased spin electrons number in the glass than in uranyl crystals. The glass also has good physical properties (hardness: 6.51 ± 0.23 GPa; density: 2.3977 ± 0.0056 g/cm3) and chemical durability (normalized leaching rate: LRU = 2.34 × 10-4 ± 2.05 × 10-6 g·m2·days-1 after 42 days), this research provided tactics for simple treatment of uranium-containing silica gel in one step.

B7-H3 promotes proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells by modulating PI3K/AKT pathway via ENO1 activity.

Background: B7-H3 (CD276) is overexpressed in diverse malignant tumors and plays critical roles in tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, the mechanism of B7-H3 in lung cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of interaction between B7-H3 and α-enolase (ENO1) in lung cancer progression. Methods: Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2.0 (TIMER 2.0) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA 2) databases were used to analyze the B7-H3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels in lung cancer. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter was used to analyze the correlation between B7-H3 and prognosis. Immunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down were used to verify the B7-H3 and ENO1 interaction. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and wound healing assays were used to investigate the effect of B7-H3 on the lung cancer growth. Results: Based on the public databases, the analysis showed that B7-H3 mRNA expression levels were up-regulated and correlated with patient prognosis in lung cancer. By using B7-H3 gain and off cell model, we concluded that B7-H3 overexpression promoted proliferation and migration of SBC5 cells. Subsequently, we found that both B7-H3 and ENO1 knockdown could inhibit cell proliferation and migration, in the meanwhile, and the phosphorylation levels of PI3K-p85α, and AKT were significantly reduced. Interestingly, we determined that B7-H3 regulated ENO1 activity rather than changing its expression levels. Furthermore, we used an AP-III-a4 to block ENO1 activity in the experiments, which attenuated the roles of B7-H3 not only on phosphorylation levels of those molecules, but also on cell growth and migration. Conclusions: B7-H3 directly interacts with ENO1 in lung cancer cells. B7-H3 can promote proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells by modulating PI3K/AKT pathway via ENO1 activity.

Optimal folic acid dosage in lowering homocysteine: Precision Folic Acid Trial to lower homocysteine (PFAT-Hcy).

BACKGROUND: While folic acid (FA) is widely used to treat elevated total homocysteine (tHcy), promoting vascular health by reducing vascular oxidative stress and modulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase, the optimal daily dose and individual variation by MTHFR C677T genotypes have not been well studied. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the efficacy of eight different FA dosages on tHcy lowering in the overall sample and by MTHFR C677T genotypes. METHODS: This multicentered, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial included 2697 eligible hypertensive adults with elevated tHcy (≥ 10 mmol/L) and without history of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Participants were randomized into eight dose groups of FA combined with 10 mg enalapril maleate, taken daily for 8 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: The intent to treat analysis included 2163 participants. In the overall sample, increasing FA dosage led to steady tHcy reduction within the FA dosing range of 0-1.2 mg. However, a plateau in tHcy lowering was observed in FA dose range of 1.2-1.6 mg, indicating a ceiling effect. In contrast, FA doses were positively and linearly associated with serum folate levels without signs of plateau. Among MTHFR genotype subgroups, participants with the TT genotype showed greater efficacy of FA in tHcy lowering. CONCLUSIONS: This randomized trial lent further support to the efficacy of FA in lowering tHcy; more importantly, it provided critically needed evidence to inform optimal FA dosage. We found that the efficacy of FA in lowering tHcy reaches a plateau if the daily dosage exceeds 1.2 mg, and only has a small gain by increasing the dosage from 0.8 to 1.2 mg. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT03472508 (Registration Date: March 21, 2018).

A sodium alginate gel bead adsorbent doping with amidoxime-modified hydroxyapatite for the efficient adsorption of uranium.

In this work, the modified­sodium alginate gel beads were prepared by sol-gel method. Due to the presence of water channels in the sodium alginate gel bead, amidoxime groups and PO43- were exposed to the surface of the adsorbent to the maximum extent, resulting in the excellent adsorption capacity of modified­sodium alginate gel beads. The introduction of amidoxime-modified hydroxyapatite significantly improved the adsorption capacity and the adsorption rate of the gel beads. The adsorption capacity increased from 308.7 to 466.0 mg/g and the adsorption equilibrium time was shortened from 300 min to 120 min. The modified­sodium alginate gel bead possessed the advantages of short adsorption time, high adsorption efficiency and large adsorption capacity, which could be regarded as a potential adsorbent for uranium. Moreover, the uranium removal ability on the modified gel beads was mainly attributed to the Coulomb force between PO43- and uranium and the complexation between uranium and amidoxime groups. In summary, this work would provide a new idea for the modification and application of sodium alginate-based materials.

Association of plasma homocysteine with peripheral arterial disease in the hypertensive adults: A cross-sectional study.

Increased plasma homocysteine (Hcy) has been identified as one of the important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the association between plasma Hcy and peripheral artery disease (PAD) is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between plasma Hcy and PAD and the potential modifier factors in Chinese hypertensive adults. A total of 25 300 hypertensive patients aged 18 years or older were included in the analysis in this cross-sectional study. The outcome was PAD, which defined as an ankle-brachial index ≤0.90 in either limb. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between plasma Hcy and PAD. The median plasma Hcy was 14.00 (interquartile range: 11.60-17.80) µmol/L. There was a significant positive association between plasma Hcy and PAD (per SD increment; OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06-1.19). Patients in the upper plasma Hcy tertile (≥16.16 µmol/L) were associated with a 53% increased risk of PAD compared with patients in the lower tertile (<12.33 µmol/L) after adjustment for multiple potential confounders. Subgroup analyses showed the association between Hcy and PAD was robust among various strata. Among Chinese adults with hypertension, plasma Hcy is an independent risk factor for PAD. This finding may improve the risk stratification of PAD.

ROS-Activated TRPM2 Channel: Calcium Homeostasis in Cardiovascular/renal System and Speculation in Cardiorenal Syndrome.

The transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channel is a nonselective calcium channel that is sensitive to oxidative stress (OS), and is widely expressed in multiple organs, such as the heart, kidney, and brain, which is inextricably related to calcium dyshomeostasis and downstream pathological events. Due to the increasing global burden of kidney or cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), safe and efficient drugs specific to novel targets are imperatively needed. Notably, investigation of the possibility to regard the TRPM2 channel as a new therapeutic target in ROS-related CVDs or renal diseases is urgently required because the roles of the TRPM2 channel in heart or kidney diseases have not received enough attention and thus have not been fully elaborated. Therefore, we aimed to review the involvement of the TRPM2 channel in cardiovascular disorders related to kidney or typical renal diseases and attempted to speculate about TRPM2-mediated mechanisms of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) to provide representative perspectives for future research about novel and effective therapeutic strategies.

Association between bilirubin and chronic kidney disease in hypertensive patients: The China hypertension registry study.

Limited data exists on the association between Direct bilirubin (DBIL) and Indirect bilirubin (IBIL) with the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among patients with hypertension. This study aimed to assess the relationship between DBIL and IBIL with the risk of CKD in a cohort of Chinese adults diagnosed with hypertension. This study included 14 182 Chinese patients with hypertension between the ages of 27 and 96. CKD, the outcome variable, was defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 . The study employed multivariate linear and multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the correlation between DBIL and IBIL with the risk of CKD. The prevalence of CKD in the study population was 9.77%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increase in DBIL (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.71) and IBIL (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.71, 0.81) were independently and negatively correlated with CKD. Further analyses using a restricted cubic spline (smooth-fitting curve) confirmed the linearly negative association between DBIL and IBIL with the risk of CKD. The subgroup analysis showed that the correlation between IBIL and CKD was stronger among men and populations <65 years of age (p for interaction <.05). DBIL and IBIL were independently and negatively associated with CKD. Furthermore, the correlation between DBIL and IBIL with CKD in the hypertensive population is more significant in those under 65 years of age. These findings may inform future strategies for the management of CKD.

Lithium extraction from typical lithium silicate ores by two bacteria with different metabolic characteristics: Experiments, mechanism and significance.

Microorganisms obtain inorganic nutrients or energy from specific minerals to selectively weather minerals, but few studies on the differences in metabolic components of different functional bacteria lead to different weathering effects. This study evaluated the leaching effects of two bacteria with distinct metabolic characteristics on lithium silicate minerals with different structures. We aimed to understand the microscopic mechanism of crystal destruction of lithium silicate minerals with different structures under the action of microorganisms. The results showed that the metabolites produced by an acid producing silicate strain Raoultella sp. Z107 (strain Z107) had a high content of organic acids, among which lactic acid was up to about 11 g/L. Bacillus mucilaginosus 21,699 (strain BM) secreted capsular polysaccharide with a high content of 14.84 mg/L. The metabolic activities of the two strains were significantly different. Through the analysis of the leaching residue, it was found that the lithium silicate minerals were acid etched, interlayer domains expanded, crystallinity decreased, and metal bonds were broken under the action of bacteria. The dissolution of lithium silicate minerals by bacteria is a combination of bacterial adsorption, organic acid corrosion, and complexation of small molecular organic acids and macromolecular polymers with metal ions. The acid erosion and complexation effects of organic acids are greater than the single complexation of capsular polysaccharides, and the layered lepidolite is more likely to be decomposed by the weathering of bacterial metabolites than the chain structure spodumene. These results indicate that the diversity of metabolic activity of bacteria from different sources and the sequence and decomposition mechanism of metal ions released from minerals after lattice destruction are also different. Microorganisms decompose minerals for energy and nutrients, and eventually become the main players in the transformation of elements in biogeology.

[Microbial Community Composition and Diversity in Metal Sulfide Mine Water Systems].

To understand the characteristics of heavy metal pollution and physicochemical properties caused by mining activities in mine water systems and the response of the microbial community to habitats with different contamination levels, this study selected different types of water (mining area wastewater, spoil heap area wastewater, dressing area wastewater, mine seepage water, and pond water) as the variables related to the mining activities in the water system of the Shizishan mining area in Tongling, Anhui Province. The pollution characteristics and physicochemical properties were compared, and the relationship between environmental factors and the microbial communities were analyzed. The results showed that the content of heavy metals, the physicochemical properties, and the structure and diversity of the microbial community of different types of water were significantly different in different mine areas, among which the most seriously polluted areas were the mining area, the spoil heap area, and the dressing area. There were significant differences in microbial community structure among different functional types of wastewaters, and the diversity and abundance of the microbial community in DW with the heaviest heavy metal pollution were weaker than those in the other four regions. PcoA analysis showed that samples of similar water types had similar clustering. Spearman correlation heat map analysis and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) indicated that heavy metal pollution, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), SO2-4, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) had the greatest effect on the microbial communities in the mine water systems. Moreover, this study found that Proteobacteria, Euryarchaeota, and Bacteroidetes dominated in mine water systems, and their potential use could be explored in the future. Our results provide a better understanding of the different types of water pollution characteristics in mine water systems and the key factors that determine the microbial community structure.

Combined use of amlodipine and folic acid are significantly more efficacious than amlodipine alone in lowering plasma homocysteine and blood pressure among hypertensive patients with hyperhomocysteinemia and intolerance to ACEI: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled clinical trial.

Hyperhomocysteinemia with hypertension can synergistically increase the risk of stroke. The China stroke primary prevention trial showed that combining 0.8 mg folic acid (FA) with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) can effectively lower plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and blood pressure (BP); and reduce first stroke risk by additional 21% compared to ACEI alone. However, intolerance to ACEI is common in Asians and amlodipine can be alternative. This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled clinical trial (RCT) which evaluated whether amlodipine combined with FA is more efficacious than amlodipine alone in lowering tHcy and BP among Chinese hypertensive with hyperhomocysteinemia and intolerance to ACEI. 351 Eligible patients were randomly assigned by 1:1:1 ratio to receive amlodipine-FA tablet daily (amlodipine 5 mg/FA 0.4 mg, A group); amlodipine 5 mg/FA 0.8 mg tablet daily (B group); amlodipine 5 mg daily (C group, control group). Follow-up was conducted at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. The primary outcome was efficacy of lowering both tHcy and BP at the end of 8-week treatment. Compared with C group, A group had a significantly higher rate of lowering both tHcy and BP (23.3% vs. 6.0%; Odds Ratio [OR], 8.68; 95% CI, 3.04-24.78, P < .001); B group also had a higher rate of lowering both tHcy and BP (20.3% vs. 6.0%; OR: 5.90; 95% CI, 2.11-16.47, P < .001). This RCT showed amlodipine combined with FA compared with amlodipine alone, each had significantly higher efficacy of lowering both tHcy and BP. No difference was found in BP-lowering and occurrence of adverse events between the three groups.

Association between remnant cholesterol and chronic kidney disease in Chinese hypertensive patients.

Background: Remnant cholesterol (RC) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have not been definitively linked in individuals with different characteristics. This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum RC level and CKD and examine possible effect modifiers in Chinese patients with hypertension. Methods: Our study is based on the Chinese H-type Hypertension Project, which is an observational registry study conducted in real-world settings. The outcome was CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 ml/min·1.73 m2. Multivariate logistic regression and smooth curve fitting were used to analyze the association between RC and CKD. Subgroup analyses were subsequently conducted to examine the effects of other variables. Results: The mean age of the 13,024 patients with hypertension at baseline was 63.8 ± 9.4 years, and 46.8% were male. A conspicuous linear positive association was observed between RC level and CKD (per SD increment; odds ratio [OR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.23). Compared with the lowest quartile group of RC, the risk of CKD was 53% higher (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.26-1.86) in the highest quartile group. Furthermore, a stronger positive association between RC level and CKD was found among participants with a higher body mass index (BMI <24 vs. ≥24 kg/m2; P-interaction = 0.034) or current non-smokers (smoker vs. non-smoker; P-interaction = 0.024). Conclusions: Among Chinese adults with hypertension, RC level was positively associated with CKD, particularly in those with a BMI of ≥24 kg/m2 and current non-smokers. These findings may help improve lipid management regimens in patients with hypertension.

Synergistic remediation of lead pollution by biochar combined with phosphate solubilizing bacteria.

Pb(II) is extreme toxic to biological cells, which limits the restoration of Pb(II) by functional strains. This study examined a Pb(II)-tolerant phosphate solubilizing bacteria(PSB) Ochrobactrum sp. J023 combined with corn stover biochar to enhance the immobilization of Pb(II). The results showed that the removal rate of Pb(II) by biochar combined with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria was as high as 71.30 %. SEM-EDS showed that more disordered crystals appeared on the surface of biochar treated with bacteria. XRD analysis indicated that the mineralization products of Pb(II) in biochar combined strain system were mainly in Pb5(PO4)3OH and Pb5(PO4)3Cl. FT-IR analysis revealed that there were more phosphate groups involved in the mineralization process when biochar was added. XPS verified the formation of PbO or lead-containing precipitates in this system, and the amount of lead precipitates was larger. The mechanism of lead fixation by strain combined with biochar can be regarded that the strain regulates the microenvironment of the biochar surface, enhances the release of phosphate and promotes the generation of stable pyroxite. Moreover, biochar composition and porous structure not only provide nutrient elements for strains, but also protect and promote the metabolism of strains. Biochar adsorption also reduces the loss of available phosphorus, which helps PSB to fix Pb sustainably and effectively. This suggests that the synergistic effect of PSB-biochar can not only effectively reduce the mobility and bioavailability of Pb(II), but also increase the sustainability of remediation. Therefore, the combination of phosphate solubilizing bacteria and biochar is a promising approach to the remediation of heavy metal pollution.

Associations of combined lifestyle behaviors with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults: A population-based cohort study in Jiangxi Province of China.

Background: Data are limited on the impact of combined lifestyle behaviors on mortality in Jiangxi Province, China. Objective: The study examined the association between combined lifestyle behaviors and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in Jiangxi province. Methods: The baseline survey was completed in Jiangxi Province from November 2013 to August 2014. We conducted a follow-up on 12,608 participants of 35 years of age or older from July 2019 to October 2020. Four known lifestyle behaviors were evaluated: alcohol consumption, smoking, diet (AHEI scores), and physical activity. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the association of combined lifestyle behaviors with all-cause and CVD mortality. Results: During 65,083 person-years of follow-up, among the 11,622 participants (mean age 59.1 years; 40.1% men) 794 deaths occurred, including 375 deaths from CVD disease in this study. Compared to the favorable lifestyle group, the adjusted HR of all-cause mortality was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.03-1.53) for the intermediate lifestyle group and 1.37 (95% CI, 1.11-1.71) for the unfavorable lifestyle group. Compared to the favorable lifestyle group, the adjusted HR of CVD mortality was 1.50 (95% CI, 1.11-2.03) for the intermediate lifestyle group and 1.58 (95% CI, 1.14-2.20) for the unfavorable lifestyle group. Significant interactions of lifestyle and BMI (P for interaction <0.05) with the risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality were observed. Conclusion: In the current study, we reaffirm the associations of combined lifestyle factors with total and CVD mortality in Jiangxi Province, our data suggest that an unfavorable lifestyle was associated with a substantially increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality.

Positive association between triglyceride glucose index and central systolic blood pressure among hypertensive adults.

BACKGROUND: While studies have suggested the association between triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a reliable surrogate for insulin resistance and hypertension data are limited to the correlation of TyG and central blood pressure. This study aims to test the hypothesis that a higher TyG index is associated with elevated central systolic blood pressure (cSBP). METHODS: A total of 9249 Chinese hypertensive adults from the H-type Hypertension and Stroke Prevention and Control Project were analyzed in this study. cSBP was measured noninvasively using an A-Pulse CASPro device. TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Smoothing curve and multivariate linear regression models [beta coefficient (ß) with 95% CI] were applied to analyze the association between TyG index and cSBP. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential modifications to such a correlation. RESULTS: The overall mean TyG index is 8.8 ± 0.7, and the total mean cSBP is 131.3 ± 12.8 mmHg. TyG index was observed to be independently and positively associated with cSBP among the total population (ß = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.53-1.31, P < 0.001), and participants who do not use antihypertensive drugs (ß = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.46-1.60, P < 0.001), which is in accordance with the result of the smoothing curve. The association between TyG index and cSBP appears robust in all tested subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: TyG index is positively and independently associated with cSBP among hypertensive adults. Our study result suggests that TyG index might serve as an effective marker for vascular function.

Positive association between weight-adjusted-waist index and hyperuricemia in patients with hypertension: The China H-type hypertension registry study.

Background and aims: The relationship between the new obesity index weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) and hyperuricemia is unclear. We aimed to explore the association of the WWI and hyperuricemia among the hypertensive population. Methods: A total of 14,078 hypertension participants with complete data were included in our study. WWI was calculated by waist circumference divided by the square root of weight. Specifically, men with 420 µmol/L and women with 360 µmol/L were considered to have hyperuricemia. Results: The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 61.1% in men and 51.4% in women. On the whole, multivariate logistic regression analyses found that there was a linear positive correlation of WWI with hyperuricemia in both men (OR: 1.37; 95%CI: 1.25, 1.49) and women (OR: 1.35; 95%CI: 1.26, 1.45). Subgroup analysis found that the relationship between WWI and hyperuricemia was stable in stratified subgroups (all P-interactions >.05). Conclusion: WWI showed a positive association with hyperuricemia among hypertension patients.

Association between serum calcium levels and first stroke: A community-based nested case-control study.

Background: Evidence from epidemiologic studies has been limited and inconsistent regarding the role of serum calcium in stroke incidence risk. We aimed to evaluate the association between serum albumin-corrected calcium and the risk of the first stroke in the Chinese community-dwelling population. Methods: The study sample population was drawn from the "H-type Hypertension and Stroke Prevention and Control Project." Using a nested case-control study, a total of 1,255 first-stroke cases and 1,255 controls matched for age, sex, and village were included in the final data analysis. We measured the serum calcium by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and assessed the associations between serum albumin-corrected calcium and first stroke using conditional logistic regression. Results: The overall mean (SD) serum albumin-corrected calcium was 8.9 (0.6) mg/dl. Compared with the middle tertile (8.7-9.1 mg/dl), the multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) of first total stroke associated with the lowest tertile and the highest tertile of serum albumin-corrected calcium were 1.37 (1.10, 1.70) and 1.30 (1.04, 1.62), respectively. Similar trends were observed for the first ischemic stroke. Consistently, restricted cubic spline showed a U-shaped association between serum albumin-corrected calcium and risk of total stroke and ischemic stroke. However, serum albumin-corrected calcium had no significant effect on first hemorrhagic stroke. No significant effect modification was observed in the subgroup analysis. Conclusions: Our results suggested a U-shaped association between serum calcium and first stroke; both low and high serum calcium levels were associated with an increased risk of the first stroke in the Chinese population.

Design anion regulated layered double hydroxide and explore its theoretical mechanism of immobilizing uranium.

It is momentous to comprehensively understand the anion's effect during the formation of Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH), especially relating to the long-term disposal of uranium-containing (UO22+) residue. In this research, the CO32-, PO43- and SO42- anions were inserted into the LDH's interlayer driven by its reconstructive memory effect. The UO22+ removal capacity increased in order (typically SO42- < PO43- < CO32-). This was further confirmed by the bond length of U-S, U-P and U-C data acquired by theoretical calculation. The SEM-EDS showed anion-regulated LDH materials got fleecy and facilitated the insertion of anions. The increased average pore size and volume of calcined LDH provided convenient access for anions to easily enter interlayer. XRD results showed inserted interlayer anions could increase the interlayer spacing and expose more active sites, which was conducive to the removal of UO22+. The FTIR combined with theoretical calculation results certified anions could grasp UO22+. XPS results gave a compelling evidence that the amount of anion insertion was proportional to UO22+ removal capacity. In short, the anions could significantly improve LDH to the removal of UO22+ by the mechanism of surface and interlayer complexation. What was discovered can better evaluate the environmental behavior of UO22+ influenced by anion factors.

Surface biomineralization of uranium onto Shewanella putrefaciens with or without extracellular polymeric substances.

The influence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the interaction between uranium [U(VI)] and Shewanella putrefaciens (S. putrefaciens), especially the U(VI) biomineralization process occurring on whole cells and cell components of S. putrefaciens was investigated in this study. The removal efficiency of U(VI) by S. putrefaciens was decreased by 22% after extraction of EPS. Proteins were identified as the main components of EPS by EEM analysis and were determined to play a major role in the biosorption of uranium. SEM-EDS results showed that U(VI) was distributed around the whole cell as 500-nanometer schistose structures, which consisted primarily of U and P. However, similar uranium lamellar crystal were wrapped only on the surface of EPS-free S. putrefaciens cells. FTIR and XPS analysis indicated that phosphorus- and nitrogen-containing groups played important roles in complexing U (VI). XRD and U LIII-edge EXAFS analyses demonstrated that the schistose structure consisted of hydrogen uranyl phosphate [H2(UO2)2(PO4)2•8H2O]. Our study provides new insight into the mechanisms of induced uranium crystallization by EPS and cell wall membranes of living bacterial cells under aerobic conditions.