Clinical presentation, biochemical profile, and HLA haplotype frequency of celiac disease among adults in Northwest China.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters and the distribution of HLA-DQ genotypes among adult patients with celiac disease (CD) in Northwest China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study retrospectively collected clinical, biochemical, and HLA-DQ genotype of patients with CD from a tertiary hospital in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China between March 2016 and December 2021. Small intestinal biopsy and serum-specific antibodies were used to diagnose CD. RESULTS: Of the 102 CD patients, 63.7% were women (female: male = 1.76:1), and the mean age was 47.3 ± 14.7 years at diagnosis. Common gastrointestinal symptoms included abdominal pain (50.0%), diarrhea (39.2%), and abdominal distension (24.5%). While common extraintestinal manifestations were anemia (48.0%), osteopenia or osteoporosis (36.3%), and fatigue (35.3%). Approximately 34.3% of patients with CD had comorbidities, with the most common being thyroid diseases (18.6%). Biochemical profiles showed lower hemoglobin, higher platelet count, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) deficiency. HLA-DQ2/DQ8 was detected among all 53 patients who underwent genotype testing; the frequency of the HLA-DQ2.5, DQ2.2, and DQ8 haplotypes was 71.7%, 24.5%, and 3.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CD was more common among women. Clinical manifestations include primarily gastrointestinal symptoms, but extraintestinal manifestations were not uncommon. Lower hemoglobin level, higher platelet count, and 25[OH]D deficiency are the main biochemical manifestations. The HLA-DQ2.5 and DQ2.2 haplotypes are the most common genotypes in CD.

Optimisation of the Conversion and Extraction of Arctigenin From Fructus arctii Into Arctiin Using Fungi.

Fructus arctii is commonly used in Chinese medicine, and arctiin and arctigenin are its main active ingredients. Arctiin has low bioavailability in the human body and needs to be converted into arctigenin by intestinal microbes before it can be absorbed into the blood. Arctigenin has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumour effects and its development has important value. In this study, we used external microbial fermentation with Aspergillus awamori and Trichoderma reesei to process and convert arctiin from F. arctii powder into arctigenin, hence increasing its bioavailability. We developed a fermentation process by optimising the carbon and nitrogen source/ratio, fermentation time, pH, liquid volume, inoculation volume, and substrate solid-liquid ratio. This allowed for an arctiin conversion rate of 99.84%, and the dissolution rate of the final product was 95.74%, with a loss rate as low as 4.26%. After the fermentation of F. arctii powder, the average yield of arctigenin is 19.51 mg/g. Crude fermented F. arctii extract was purified by silica gel column chromatography, and we observed an arctigenin purity of 99.33%. Our technique effectively converts arctiin and extracts arctigenin from F. arctii and provides a solid basis for further development and industrialisation.

Strain Dependence of Energetics and Kinetics of Vacancy in Tungsten.

We investigate the influence of hydrostatic/biaxial strain on the formation, migration, and clustering of vacancy in tungsten (W) using a first-principles method, and show that the vacancy behaviors are strongly dependent on the strain. Both a monovacancy formation energy and a divacancy binding energy decrease with the increasing of compressive hydrostatic/biaxial strain, but increase with the increasing of tensile strain. Specifically, the binding energy of divacancy changes from negative to positive when the hydrostatic (biaxial) tensile strain is larger than 1.5% (2%). These results indicate that the compressive strain will facilitate the formation of monovacancy in W, while the tensile strain will enhance the attraction between vacancies. This can be attributed to the redistribution of electronic states of W atoms surrounding vacancy. Furthermore, although the migration energy of the monovacancy also exhibits a monotonic linear dependence on the hydrostatic strain, it shows a parabola with an opening down under the biaxial strain. Namely, the vacancy mobility will always be promoted by biaxial strain in W, almost independent of the sign of strain. Such unexpected anisotropic strain-enhanced vacancy mobility originates from the Poisson effect. On the basis of the first-principles results, the nucleation of vacancy clusters in strained W is further determined with the object kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that the formation time of tri-vacancy decrease significantly with the increasing of tensile strain, while the vacancy clusters are not observed in compressively strained W, indicating that the tensile strain can enhance the formation of voids. Our results provide a good reference for understanding the vacancy behaviors in W.

[Effect of sandblasting combined with femtosecond laser-etching on surface physicochemical properties of pure titanium].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to generate periodic microstructures on pure titanium surface by femtosecond laser-etching after sandblasting, and to assess the physicochemical properties of its surface. METHODS: Twelve pure titanium discs with diameter of 10 mm and thickness of 4 mm were used and divided into 3 groups according to different surface treatment methods: group S (sandblasting surface), group SA (sandblasting surface with acid-etching), and group SL (sandblasting surface with femtosecond laser-etching). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the surface morphology. X-ray energy spectrum(EDS) was used to observe the surface chemical compositions. Three dimensional surface topography and surface roughness were evaluated by laser scanning confocal microscope (CLSM). The static contact angle was detected by high temperature wetting angle measuring instrument. SPSS19.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: SEM and CLSM showed well-distributed periodic and cyclic microstructure which formed second-order roughness composite structure in group SL. EDS analysis showed that the Al element on SL surface decreased (group SL 4.37%group SA 0.32>group S 0). Surface roughness analysis showed that surface roughness significantly increased in group SL [group SL (7.33±0.38)µm>group SA (1.08±0.12)µm>group S (1.05±0.14)µm](P<0.001). Static contact angle analysis showed that the static contact angle of surface was significantly reduced in group SL [group SL (34.4±2.5)°

Energetics of vacancy segregation to [100] symmetric tilt grain boundaries in bcc tungsten.

The harsh irradiation environment poses serious threat to the structural integrity of leading candidate for plasma-facing materials, tungsten (W), in future nuclear fusion reactors. It is thus essential to understand the radiation-induced segregation of native defects and impurities to defect sinks, such as grain boundaries (GBs), by quantifying the segregation energetics. In this work, molecular statics simulations of a range of equilibrium and metastable [100] symmetric tilt GBs are carried out to explore the energetics of vacancy segregation. We show that the low-angle GBs have larger absorption length scales over their high-angle counterparts. Vacancy sites that are energetically unfavorable for segregation are found in all GBs. The magnitudes of minimum segregation energies for the equilibrium GBs vary from -2.61 eV to -0.76 eV depending on the GB character, while those for the metastable GB states tend to be much lower. The significance of vacancy delocalization in decreasing the vacancy segregation energies and facilitating GB migration has been discussed. Metrics such as GB energy and local stress are used to interpret the simulation results, and correlations between them have been established. This study contributes to the possible application of polycrystalline W under irradiation in advanced nuclear fusion reactors.

Shear-coupled grain boundary migration assisted by unusual atomic shuffling.

Shear-coupled grain boundary (GB) migration can be an efficacious mechanism to accommodate plastic deformation when the grain size of polycrystalline materials goes small. Nevertheless, how this kind of GB motion comes into play at the atomic level has not been fully revealed. Here, we have investigated the shear-coupled migration (SCM) of typical [100] group symmetrical tilt GBs in bcc W using atomistic simulations. Depending on GB character, the SCM is found to proceed via dislocation slipping in the 〈100〉 or 〈110〉 mode with striking shear strength difference between them. We demonstrate that there exists an unusual atomic shuffling along the tilt axis, which greatly assists SCM to operate in the easier 〈110〉 mode instead of the 〈100〉 one. The present results highlight the significant role of GB character in the atomistic SCM process and contribute to the future design and fabrication of high-performance materials in GB engineering.

Chinese herbal medicine Yougui Pill reduces exogenous glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in anterior pituitary cells.

Long-term glucocorticoid use may result in sustained suppression of one or more secreted components from the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, and often results in apoptosis. Yougui Pill (YGP), a 10-component traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been shown to be clinically effective for glucocorticoid-induced suppression of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that YGP would exert an anti-apoptosis effect on dexamethasone-treated anterior pituitary cells. In vivo experiments showed that YGP significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells, down-regulated mRNA expression of cytochrome c, caspase-3, and caspase-9, and up-regulated mRNA expression of Bcl-2. These findings suggest that YGP reduced glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in rat anterior pituitary cells by regulating the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway.

[Study on Chemical Constituents of Petroleum Ether Fraction from Rubus alceaefolius].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of Rubus alceaefolius. METHODS: Nine compounds were isolated and purified from the petroleum ether extract of 95% alcohol extract of Rubus alceaefolius by repeated column chromatography on silica, Sephadex LH-20 and structurally identified by spectral analysis. RESULTS: The compounds were identified as chrysophanol(1), physcion (2), ß-sitosterol(3), 3-oxotirucalla-7, 24-dien-21-oic acid(4), myricadiol(5), 19-α-hydroxy-3-acetyl-ursolic acid(6), N-benzoylphenylalaninyl-N-benzoylphenylalaninate(7), aurantiamide acetate(8) and euscaphic acid(9). CONCLUSION: Compounds land 4~8 are isolated from this plant for the first time, and compounds 4 - 8 are found in plants of Rubus genus for the first time.

Interplay between intrinsic point defects and low-angle grain boundary in bcc tungsten: effects of local stress field.

We have used molecular statics in conjunction with an embedded atom method to explore the interplay between native point defects (vacancies and self-interstitials (SIAs)) and a low-angle grain boundary (GB) in bcc tungsten. The low-angle GB has biased absorption of SIAs over vacancies. We emphasize the significance of phenomena such as vacancy delocalization and SIA instant absorption around the GB dislocation cores in stabilizing the defect structures. Interstitial loading into the GB can dramatically enhance the interaction strength between the point defects and the GB due to SIA clustering (SIA cloud formation) or SIA vacancy recombination. We propose that the 'maximum atom displacement' can complement the 'vacancy formation energy' in evaluating unstable vacancy sites. Calculations of point defect migration barriers in the vicinity of GB dislocation cores show that vacancies and SIAs preferentially migrate along the pathways in the planes immediately above and below the core, respectively.

[Chemical constituents from roots of Rubus parvifolius].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents from the roots of Rubus parvifolius. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, as well as preparative high performance liquid chromatography. Their structures were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties and NMR analysis. RESULTS: Six comounds were isolated and identified as 3-O-Acetyl-11α, 12α-epoxy-oleanan-28,ß-olide( I ) ,3-O-Acetyl-pomolic acid( II ), Ursolic acid( Ill),Ursolic acid acetate (1V ), Euscaphic acid ( V) and ß-Sitosterol ( VI). CONCLUSION: Compounds I , II and IV are isolated from Rubus parvifolius for the first time.

Critical concentration for hydrogen bubble formation in metals.

Employing a thermodynamic model with previously calculated first-principle energetics as inputs, we determined the hydrogen (H) concentration at the interstitial and monovacancy as well as its dependence on temperature and pressure in tungsten and molybdenum. Based on this, we predicted the critical H concentration for H bubble formation at different temperatures. The critical concentration, defined as the value when the concentration of H at a certain mH-vacancy complex first became equal to that of H at the interstitial, was 24 ppm/7.3 GPa and 410 ppm/4.7 GPa at 600 K in tungsten and molybdenum in the case of a monovacancy. Beyond the critical H concentration, numerous H atoms accumulated in the monovacancy, leading to the formation and rapid growth of H-vacancy complexes, which was considered the preliminary stage of H bubble formation. We expect that the proposed approach will be generally used to determine the critical H concentration for H bubble formation in metals.

A simple strategy for the generation of multi-copy Pichia pastoris with the efficient expression of mannanase.

Pichia pastoris expression system was widely used for producing heterologous proteins. Some researches revealed that the increase in the copy number could improve the expression of foreign genes in P. pastoris. Hundreds or thousands of antibiotic-resistance recombinants need to be screened because the frequency of multiple gene insertion events is very low in P. pastoris. The traditional method of constructing multi-copy gene is complicated, tedious, and full of randomness. Here, we developed a rapid method for constructing multi-copy Pichia expression vectors harboring mannanase gene. The developed strategy is easy to manipulate genetically and can precisely generate plasmids with a certain copy number of heterologous gene. The average mannanase activities of recombinants randomly chosen from two-, four-, and six-copy recombinant libraries were 1.7-, 2.2-, and 1.3-folds, respectively, of that from single-copy recombinant library. The result revealed that the strategy could effectively improve the expression of foreign proteins in P. pastoris.

Screening of multi-copy mannanase recombinants of Pichia pastoris based on colony size.

Pichia pastoris pGAP (glyceraldehyde dehydrogenase promoter) expression system was widely used for the expression and production of heterologous proteins. Screening multi-copy recombinants was an effective strategy to improve the heterologous protein production in P. pastoris. Because multiple gene insertion events occurred with a low frequency, hundreds to thousands of antibiotic-resistance recombinants need to be screened. The common way of improving screening efficiency was to increase antibiotic concentration in screening plates. Here we developed a screening method by selecting small colonies from low-concentration antibiotic screening plates. This strategy greatly improved the probability of obtaining multi-copy mannanase gene (man) recombinants and it could replace the common strategy by increasing antibiotic concentration in screening plates. The further study in liquid shake flask cultures revealed that cell concentrations, growth rates and substrate consumption rates of recombinants gradually decreased with the increase in man copy number. This indicated that such a screening strategy was effective to screen multi-copy recombinants based on colony size.

Assembling 1D magnetic chain based on octacyanotungstate(V) and [Cu2L2Ln] sub-building units (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb and Dy).

Reaction of (NBu3H)3[W(CN)8]·H2O and linear trinuclear complexes [Cu(II)2L2Ln(III)(NO3)3] (L = 2,6-di(acetoacetyl)pyridine, Ln = Eu (1), Gd (2), Tb (3) and Dy (4)) leads to the formation of four one-dimensional (1D) complexes. Single crystal X-ray analysis reveals that [W(CN)8](3-) bridges between the [Cu(II)2L2Ln(III)] sub-building units to construct the alternative chains. Magnetic investigation indicates that ferromagnetic interaction occurred between all paramagnetic ions and the slow magnetic relaxation properties were observed in complexes 3 and 4.

Anisotropic strain enhanced hydrogen solubility in bcc metals: the independence on the sign of strain.

When an impurity is doped in a solid, it inevitably induces a local stress, tending to expand or contract the lattice. Consequently, strain can be applied to change the solubility of impurity in a solid. Generally, the solubility responds to strain "monotonically," increasing (decreasing) with the tensile (compressive) strain if the impurity induces a compressive stress or vice versa. Using first-principles calculations, however, we discovered that the H solubility can be enhanced by anisotropic strain in some bcc metals, almost independent of the sign of strain. This anomalous behavior is found to be caused by a continuous change of H location induced by anisotropic strain. Our finding suggests a cascading effect of H bubble formation in bcc metals: the H solution leads to H bubble formation that induces anisotropic strain that in turn enhances H solubility to further facilitate bubble growth.

[Comparative study on the content of chlorogenic acid in Solanum torvum from different origin, different harvest time and different part].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a HPLC method for determination of chlorogenic acid in Solanum torvum and provide a scientific basis for evaluating the quality and reasonable utilization of the herb. METHODS: HPLC was used to quantitatively determine the chlorogenic acid content in Solanum torvum from different origin, different harvest time and different part. The assay was performed on a Agela Promosil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column and eluted with a mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile -0.1% phosphoric acid solution at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The column temperature was set at 35 degrees C. The detection wavelength was 327 nm. RESULTS: The calibration curve was linear within the range of 0.1000 - 200.0 microg/mL (r = 0.9999). The average recoveries were 99.8% (RSD = 0.71%). The contents of chlorogenic acid in Solanum torvum were different from different origin, different harvest time and different part. CONCLUSION: The method is reliable, accurate and specific. It can be used for quality control of Solanum torvum and reasonable utilization of the herb.

[The acceleration of titanium implant osseointegration by low intensity pulsed ultrasound: an experimental study in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model of titanium implant and to investigate the effects of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the implant osseointegration. METHODS: Twenty-four female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used. Titanium implants were inserted into tibia metaphysis bilaterally in each SD rat. Since the second day following implant surgery, LIPUS stimulation were carried out around the implant on the right side for 20 minutes per day, and implants on the left side remain untouched as self-control. Eight rats were sacrificed and tibiae specimens were harvested on the end of the 4th, 8th, and 12th week respectively. X-ray picture, micro-CT analysis and histological sections were performed to evaluate the effects of LIPUS on the implant osseointegration. RESULTS: Osseointegration at the interface between the implant and bone tissue was observed bilaterally. In the micro-CT histomorphometry analysis, the percentage of osseointegration (%OI) of experiment side were (45.708 ± 3.316)%, (46.231 ± 1.954)%, and (46.807 ± 1.451)% on the end of the 4th, 8th, and 12th week. Meanwhile, the %OI of control side were (43.021 ± 3.558)%, (44.272 ± 3.023)%, and (44.894 ± 4.215)% respectively. The %OI on the 4th weekend, bone volume ratio (BV/TV) on the 4th and 8th weekend, trabecular thickness (Tb. Th) and degree of anisotropy (DA) on the 8th and 12th weekend of the experiment side tibia were significantly greater than those on the control side (P < 0.05). The histological examination showed that the thickness of new bone around the implant and the bone-implant contact area was obviously greater in the LIPUS treated side compared to the control side. CONCLUSIONS: The LIPUS therapy may accelerate the bone healing and osseointegration at the interface between titanium implant and bone, and promote remodeling of bone trabecula on the early stage.

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of three 1D chain complexes based on high-spin metal-cyanide clusters: [Mn(III)6M(III)] (M = Cr, Fe, Co).

On the basis of high-spin metal-cyanide clusters of Mn(III)(6)M(III) (M = Cr, Fe, Co), three one-dimensional (1D) chain complexes, [Mn(salen)](6)[Cr(CN)(6)](2)·6CH(3)OH·H(2)O (1), [Mn(5-CH(3))salen)](6)[Fe(CN)(6)](2)·2CH(3)CN·10H(2)O (2), and [Mn(5-CH(3))salen)](6)[Co(CN)(6)](2)·2CH(3)CN·10H(2)O (3) [salen = N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato) dianion], have been synthesized and characterized structurally as well as magnetically. Complexes 2 and 3 are isomorphic but slightly different from complex 1. All three complexes contain a 1D chain structure which is comprised of alternating high-spin metal-cyanide clusters of [Mn(6)M](3+) and a bridging group [M(CN)(6)](3-) in the trans mode. Furthermore, the three complexes all exhibit extended 3D supramolecular networks originating from short intermolecular contacts. Magnetic investigation indicates that the coupling mechanisms are intrachain antiferromagnetic interactions for 1 and ferromagnetic interactions for 2, respectively. Complex 3 is a magnetic dilute system due to the diamagnetic nature of Co(III). Further magnetic investigations show that complexes 1 and 2 are dominated by the 3D antiferromagnetic ordering with T(N) = 7.2 K for 1 and 9.5 K for 2. It is worth noting that the weak frequency-dependent phenomenon of AC susceptibilities was observed in the low-temperature region in both 1 and 2, suggesting the presence of slow magnetic relaxations.

A thermotolerant and cold-active mannan endo-1,4-ß-mannosidase from Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88: Constitutive overexpression and high-density fermentation in Pichia pastoris.

The mannan endo-1,4-ß-mannosidase gene man26A from Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88 was optimized according to the codon usage bias in Pichia pastoris and synthesized by splicing overlap extension PCR. It was successfully expressed in P. pastoris using constitutive expression vector pGAPzαA. The recombinant endo-beta-1,4-mannanase could work in an extremely board temperature range and over 30% relative activity were retained in the temperature range of 5-60°C. The optimal pH value and temperature for activity were 5.0 and 45°C, respectively. It was highly thermotolerant with a half-life time of 15min at 90°C. A novel fed-batch strategy was developed successfully for high cell-density fermentation and mannanase activity reached 5069U/mL after cultivation for 56h in 50L fermenter. The broad working temperature range, high thermotolerance and efficient expression made this enzyme possible to be applied in food, animal feed and the production of biofuels.

Effects of O in a binary-phase TiAl-Ti3Al alloy: from site occupancy to interfacial energetics.

We have investigated site occupancy and interfacial energetics of a TiAl-Ti(3)Al binary-phase system with O using a first-principles method. Oxygen is shown to energetically occupy the Ti-rich octahedral interstitial site, because O prefers to bond with Ti rather than Al. The occupancy tendency of O in TiAl alloy from high to low is α(2)-Ti(3)Al to the γ-α(2) interface and γ-TiAl. We demonstrate that O can largely affect the mechanical properties of the TiAl-Ti(3)Al system. Oxygen at the TiAl-Ti(3)Al interface reduces both the cleavage energy and the interface energy, and thus weakens the interface strength but strongly stabilizes the TiAl/Ti(3)Al interface with the O(2) molecule as a reference. Consequently, the mechanical property variation of TiAl alloy due to the presence of O not only depends on the number of TiAl/Ti(3)Al interfaces but also is related to the O concentration in the alloy.