Prevalence, diagnostic utility, and clinical characteristics of ZnT8 antibody in children with type 1 diabetes in Northern Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The ZnT8 autoantibody is used to independently diagnose type 1 diabetes (T1D) and as a prediction factor in high-risk populations. This is the first report in Taiwan on the prevalence, diagnostic utility, and clinical characteristics of zinc transporter 8 autoantibody (ZnT8A) in children with T1D. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 268 children (130 boys, 138 girls) newly diagnosed with T1D at three hospitals in North Taiwan from February 1994 to August 2021. RESULTS: ZnT8A was detected in 117 patients (43.7 %). The combined diagnostic rate of the four antibodies, including glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody (GADA), islet antigen 2 autoantibody (IA2A), insulin autoantibody (IAA), and ZnT8A, can reach 86.19 % while that of the original three antibodies is 84.3 %. IA2A (64.9 %) showed the highest positive rate, followed by GADA (64.2 %), ZnT8A (43.7 %), and IAA (22.0 %). Of the 268 patients, five (1.9 %) were only ZnT8A+. All antibodies were positive in 19 (7.1 %) people, whereas 37 others (13.8 %) had all antibodies negative. ZnT8A has the strongest relationship with IA2A. 5 patients had ZnT8A positive only. 5/(37 + 5) (about 12 %) T1D patients were diagnosed by ZnT8A testing. CONCLUSIONS: ZnT8A testing can diagnose up to 12 % more patients with T1D along with three other antibodies. Furthermore, since the ZnT8A titer decreased over time, it should be tested within six months of onset in Taiwanese patients with T1D.

Influencing factors for treatment escalation from metformin monotherapy in youth-onset type 2 diabetes in Northern Taiwan.

With the increasing prevalence of obesity, childhood type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing concern in Taiwan. Unlike its adult counterpart, T2D in children exhibits a more aggressive nature and earlier onset of complications. Metformin represents the first line of drug, but if blood sugar levels do not improve, other drugs are used. This retrospective cohort study endeavors to scrutinize and assess the pattern of treatment modification and associate factors among 79 young people with T2D in Taiwan. The study categorized participants into three distinct groups based on their treatment trajectory and outcomes: (1) those maintaining metformin (n = 34); (2) cases achieving remission (n = 7); and (3) individuals experiencing escalation through oral drugs or insulin (n = 38). The average follow-up period spanned 3.48 years. Findings from univariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model and propensity score weighting revealed that HbA1c and weight gain correlated with elevated risk of treatment escalation. Conversely, factors such as hypertension, high weight or body mass index (BMI) SDS, leptin levels, c-peptide concentrations, peak c-peptide values during glucagon stimulation test and LDL-cholesterol levels were associated with reduced risk of escalation. However, in multivariate analyses employing stepwise selection, the sole predictive factor for treatment escalation emerged as weight gain one year post-therapy (HR: 1.06, p < 0.001). This study underscores the interconnectedness between weight management and the trajectory toward either treatment escalation or disease remission. Furthermore, it highlights the cost-effective potential of intervening in younger populations. Ultimately, these insights accentuate the considerable opportunity for enhancing health care management strategies concerning pediatric T2D in Taiwan.

Efficient Cu removal from CuEDTA complex-containing wastewater using electrochemically controlled sacrificial iron anode.

In this study, an electro-replacement/precipitation/deposition/direct reduction (ERPDD) process with scrap iron packed in a Ti mesh cage as a sacrificial anode was investigated for the treatment of wastewater containing CuEDTA complexes. The ERPDD mechanisms were responsible for the removal of Cu from CuEDTA complexes and were verified by a series of experiments using either iron or carbon plates as anodes for the Cu-containing solutions with and without EDTA. A complete Cu removal was achieved with electrical current density applied (1.18-2.36 mA/cm2), whereas only 60% of the Cu was removed without electricity. Dissolved oxygen (DO) was found to have a significant impact on Cu removal. Aeration reduced Cu removal (i.e., only 60% of the Cu was removed), whereas complete Cu removal was achieved with negligible DO concentration under mechanical mixing and N2 purging conditions. Compared to chemical replacement/precipitation (CRP) process, the ERPDD was able to save approximately 60-75% of the total operational costs during the treatment of CuEDTA-containing wastewater, due to the electrochemically controlled dosing of inexpensive sacrificial scrap iron and additional removal mechanisms not found in the CRP process.

Risk stratification for gastric cancer after Helicobacter pylori eradication: A population-based study on Matsu Islands.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The reliable method to stratify the gastric cancer risk after Helicobacter pylori eradication remains an elusive goal. METHODS: Mass eradication of H. pylori began in 2004 in a high-risk population. After eradication, a screening program involving first-stage serological tests (pepsinogen-I, pepsinogen-II, H. pylori immunoglobin G, and gastrin-17) and second-stage endoscopic examination was launched in 2015-2018. Index lesions included gastric cancer or extensive premalignant lesions. We evaluated the performance of the serological tests to "rule in" and "rule out" the risk based on positive and negative likelihood ratios, respectively. The methylation levels of microRNA-124a-3 in the stomach were measured to indicate genetic damage. RESULTS: Among 6512 invited subjects, 3895 (59.6%) participated. Both gastrin-17 and pepsinogen tests were normal in 3560 (91.4%) subjects; 206 (5.3%) gastrin-17 and 129 (3.3%) pepsinogen tests were abnormal. Years after eradication, the severity of gastritis had fallen greatly, and extensive premalignant lesions or gastric cancer frequently occurred in newly non-atrophic-appearing mucosa. Pepsinogen testing could moderately predict atrophic gastritis (positive likelihood ratio: 4.11 [95% confidence interval: 2.92-5.77]; negative likelihood ratio: 0.14 [0.10-0.19]). Gastrin-17 was not useful (0.66 and 1.20, respectively). However, pepsinogen testing poorly predicted the index lesions (2.04 [1.21-3.42] and 0.57 [0.34-0.95]). DNA methylation levels in the post-eradication mucosa were more discriminative for predicting index lesions (3.89 [2.32-6.54] and 0.25 [0.15-0.42]). CONCLUSIONS: After eradication, pepsinogen false-negative results become more frequent because histology is improved but genetic damage may persist. Direct testing for genetic damage offers better discrimination.

Colonization With Multidrug-Resistant Organisms Among Healthy Adults in the Community Setting: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Composition of Gut Microbiome.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) among healthy adults in the community is largely unknown. This study investigated the colonization rate of multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in the community in Taiwan, and compared the gut microbiota between MDRO carriers and non-carriers. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted from March 2017 to February 2018 at the Hsin-Chu and Jin-Shan branches of National Taiwan University Hospital. Nasal swabs and stool samples were obtained from healthy adults attending a health examination to screen for MDROs. Bacteria isolates of MDROs were tested for antibiotic susceptibility and resistant genes. Relevant data were collected using a standardized questionnaire to evaluate the risk factors for MDROs carriage, and 16S rRNA metagenomics sequencing was performed to analyze gut microbiota. RESULTS: Among 187 participants, 4.6% (8/174) carried MRSA and 41.4% (77/186) carried third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GC-R) Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae. The carriage rate of AmpC beta-lactamases and ESBL-producing strains were 16.1 and 27.4%, respectively. No carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) or VRE were detected. The dominant resistant gene of E. coli isolates was CTX-M-type (73%), while that of K. pneumoniae was AmpC beta-lactamases (80%). In the multivariate analysis, the significant risk factors for carrying 3GC-R E. coli or K. pneumoniae were being an employee of technology company A [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.127; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.824-9.336; p = 0.001], and traveling to Southeast Asia in the past year (aOR 6.545; 95% CI 1.071-40.001; p = 0.042). The gut microbiota analysis showed that the phylum Proteobacteria and the family Enterobacteriaceae were significantly more abundant in 3GC-R E. coli and K. pneumoniae carriers. CONCLUSION: A high rate of Taiwanese adults in the community carried 3GC-R Enterobacteriaceae, while no CRE or VRE colonization was noted. Compared with non-carriers, an expansion of Enterobacteriaceae in gut microbiota was found among 3GC-R Enterobacteriaceae carriers.

Cryolite (Na3AlF6) crystallization for fluoride recovery using an electrolytic process equipped with a sacrificial aluminum anode.

An electro-crystallization process equipped with a sacrificial aluminum anode was operated under an optimum condition to promote the formation of crystalline cryolite for the recovery of fluoride from synthetic F-containing wastewater. The effects of pH, Al/F molar ratio, initial F concentration, and electrolytes were investigated experimentally, and the results were compared with data obtained from chemical equilibrium modeling. Cryolite was successfully produced under optimum pH values of 5 to 6 and Al/F molar ratios of less than 1/6. The F removal increased with increasing Al/F molar ratio until reaching the molar ratio of 1/6 and decreased thereafter due to the formation of AlFn3-n species. The adsorption of AlFn3-n by Al(OH)3 precipitates contributed part of F removal. The removal efficiency reached 100% when the initial fluoride concentration was high while it was around 90% with the low initial fluoride concentration. XRD and SEM/EDX analysis showed that the obtained solids matched well to the commercial cryolite. Finally, the operating costs of chemical-crystallization (the process with Al ions added chemically) and electro-crystallization were compared, and the cost of the former was less than the latter. Energy consumption was the main contributor to the operating cost of the electro-crystallization process.

Ni removal from aqueous solutions by chemical reduction: Impact of pH and pe in the presence of citrate.

The chemical precipitation of Ni ions from industrial wastewater at alkaline pH values creates waste chemical sludge (e.g., Ni(OH)2). We herein focused on Ni removal via chemical reduction using dithionite, by converting Ni(II) to its elemental or other valuable forms. Without the presence of a chelator (e.g., citrate), the nickel reduction efficiency increased with increasing dithionite:Ni molar ratio, reaching ∼99% at ratios above 3:1. The effect of pH on Ni reduction was in agreement with the standard redox potentials (pe0) of dithionite, which became more negative with an increase in pH leading to greater Ni reduction efficiencies. With the formation of Ni-citrate chelates, however, the Ni reduction deteriorated. Elevated pH and temperature improved nickel reduction, due to the greater reducing power of dithionite. The optimal pH value for Ni(II) reduction was found to be ∼8. Injecting Cu seed particles enhanced the rate and amount of Ni reduced. NiS and Ni3S2 were identified in the crystal of the resulting solids by X-ray crystallography, and the presence of elemental Ni was explained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The chemical reduction of actual printed circuit board wastewater with the dithionite:Ni(II) molar ratio dose of 12:1 retrieved ∼99% nickel after 30-min reaction at 40°C.

Recovery of Cu(II) by chemical reduction using sodium dithionite: effect of pH and ligands.

Wastewaters containing Cu(II) and ligands are ubiquitous in various industrial sectors, and efficacy of copper removal processes, especially precipitation, is greatly compromised by ligands. Chemical reduction, being commonly employed for production of metal nanoparticles, is also effective for metal removal. Adjustment of pH and addition of ligands are important to control the particle size in metallic nanoparticle production. Exploiting the fact that ligands and metals coexist in many wastewaters, chemical reduction was employed to treat ligand-containing wastewater in this study. The experimental result shows that depending on pH, type of ligands, and copper:ligand molar ratio, copper could be removed by either the reduction or precipitation mechanism. Almost complete copper removal could be achieved by the reduction mechanism under optimal condition for solutions containing either EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) or citrate ligands. For solutions containing ammonia, depending on pH and Cu:ammonia molar ratio, copper was removed by both precipitation and reduction mechanisms. At pH of 9.0, formation of nano-sized particles, which readily pass through a 0.45 µm filter used for sample pretreatment before residual copper analysis, results in the lowest copper removal efficiency. Both cuprous oxide and metallic copper are identified in the solids produced, and the possible explanations are provided.

Integration of polyelectrolyte enhanced ultrafiltration and chemical reduction for metal-containing wastewater treatment and metal recovery.

Chemical reduction was firstly employed to treat synthetic wastewaters of various compositions prepared to simulate the retentate stream of polyelectrolyte enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF). With fixed Cu:polyethylenimine (PEI) monomer:dithionite molar ratio, increasing copper concentration increases copper removal efficiency. Under fixed Cu:dithionite molar ratio and fixed Cu concentration, increasing PEI monomer:copper molar ratio decreases copper removal efficiency. The formation of nano-sized copper particles, which readily pass through 0.45 µm filter used for sample pretreatment before residual copper analysis, might be the reason behind the decreasing copper removal efficiency observed. Particle size analysis shows that the size of copper particles, which are formed through reduction reaction, increases with decreasing pH value and increasing reaction time. As ultrafiltration is capable of removing these nano-sized particles, integration of chemical reduction and PEUF is proposed to simultaneously achieve regeneration of polyelectrolyte and recovery of copper in one process. Results show that the proposed process could achieve almost complete copper removal without being affected by reaction pH.

Recovery of Cu(II) by chemical reduction using sodium dithionite.

Wastewaters containing Cu(II) along with ligands are ubiquitous in various industrial sectors. Efficacy of treatment processes for copper removal, especially precipitation, is greatly debilitated by ligands. Chemical reduction being commonly employed for production of metal nanoparticles has also been used for removing copper. Addition of ammonia was reported to be essential for improving copper reduction efficiency by increasing copper solubility at alkaline pH values. In this study, chemical reduction was employed to treat ligand-containing wastewater, exploiting the fact that ligands and metals are coexisted in many wastewaters. Result shows that copper ions were removed by either reduction or precipitation mechanisms depending on pH, type of ligands, and mixing condition. Complete copper reduction/removal was achieved under optimal condition. The lowest removal efficiency observed at pH 9.0 for ammonia system is due to formation of nano-sized particles, which are readily to pass through 0.45µm filter used for sample pretreatment before copper analysis. Instead of producing metallic copper, cuprous and copper oxide are identified in the samples collected from ammonia system and EDTA system, respectively. Re-oxidation of metallic copper particles by atmospheric oxygen during sample handling or incomplete reduction of Cu(II) ions during reduction process might be the cause. Finally, reduction process was applied to treat real wastewater, achieving complete removal of copper but only 10% of nickel.

Functional dissection of lysine deacetylases reveals that HDAC1 and p300 regulate AMPK.

First identified as histone-modifying proteins, lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) and deacetylases (KDACs) antagonize each other through modification of the side chains of lysine residues in histone proteins. Acetylation of many non-histone proteins involved in chromatin, metabolism or cytoskeleton regulation were further identified in eukaryotic organisms, but the corresponding enzymes and substrate-specific functions of the modifications are unclear. Moreover, mechanisms underlying functional specificity of individual KDACs remain enigmatic, and the substrate spectra of each KDAC lack comprehensive definition. Here we dissect the functional specificity of 12 critical human KDACs using a genome-wide synthetic lethality screen in cultured human cells. The genetic interaction profiles revealed enzyme-substrate relationships between individual KDACs and many important substrates governing a wide array of biological processes including metabolism, development and cell cycle progression. We further confirmed that acetylation and deacetylation of the catalytic subunit of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a critical cellular energy-sensing protein kinase complex, is controlled by the opposing catalytic activities of HDAC1 and p300. Deacetylation of AMPK enhances physical interaction with the upstream kinase LKB1, leading to AMPK phosphorylation and activation, and resulting in lipid breakdown in human liver cells. These findings provide new insights into previously underappreciated metabolic regulatory roles of HDAC1 in coordinating nutrient availability and cellular responses upstream of AMPK, and demonstrate the importance of high-throughput genetic interaction profiling to elucidate functional specificity and critical substrates of individual human KDACs potentially valuable for therapeutic applications.

2-Thienylcarboxylato and 2-thienylthiocarboxylato ligands bonded to MM quadruple bonds (M = Mo or W): a comparison of ground state, spectroscopic and photoexcited state properties.

The compounds M(2)(TiPB)(2)(OSC-2-Th)(2) have been prepared from the reactions between M(2)(TiPB)(4) and Th-2-COSH (2 equiv) in toluene solution, where M = Mo (Mo(2)ThCOS) or W (W(2)ThCOS), TiPB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate and Th = thienyl. The molybdenum and tungsten compounds are pink and blue, air-sensitive, ether soluble solids that show M(+) ions in the mass spectrometer and metal and ligand based reversible oxidation and reduction waves, respectively, by cyclic voltammetry. Electronic structure calculations on the model compounds M(2)(O(2)CH)(2)(OSC-2-Th)(2) indicate that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) is principally M(2)delta and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is thienylthiocarboxylate pi* but with significant metal-sulfur mixing. The intense visible absorptions arise from (1)MLCT, M(2)delta to thienylthiocarboxylate. The photoexcited states of these molecules have been studied by transient absorption spectroscopy and steady state emission. These properties are compared with those of previously reported thienylcarboxylate compounds, M(2)(TiPB)(2)(O(2)C-2-Th)(2), where M = Mo (Mo(2)ThCO(2)) or W (W(2)ThCO(2)).

Quadruply bonded dimetal units supported by 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoates MM(TiPB)(4) (MM = Mo(2), MoW, and W(2)): preparation and photophysical properties.

The preparation and characterization (elemental analysis, (1)H NMR, and cyclic voltammetry) of the new compounds MM(TiPB)(4), where MM = MoW and W(2) and TiPB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate, are reported. Together with Mo(2)(TiPB)(4), previously reported by Cotton et al. (Inorg. Chem. 2002, 41, 1639), the new compounds have been studied by electronic absorption, steady-state emission, and transient absorption spectroscopy (femtosecond and nanosecond). The compounds show strong absorptions in the visible region of the spectrum that are assigned to MMdelta to arylcarboxylate pi* transitions, (1)MLCT. Each compound also shows luminescence from two excited states, assigned as the (1)MLCT and (3)MMdeltadelta* states. The energy of the emission from the (1)MLCT state follows the energy ordering MM = Mo(2) > MoW > W(2), but the emission from the (3)MMdeltadelta* state follows the inverse order: MM = W(2) > MoW > Mo(2). Evidence is presented to support the view that the lower energy emission in each case arises from the (3)MMdeltadelta* state. Lifetimes of the (1)MLCT states in these systems are approximately 0.4-6 ps, whereas phosphorescence is dependent on the MM center: Mo(2) approximately 40 micros, MoW approximately 30 micros, and W(2) approximately 1 micros.

Preparations and photophysical properties of fused and nonfused thienyl bridged MM (M = Mo or W) quadruply bonded complexes.

A series of metal-metal quadruply bonded compounds [(tBuCO2)3M2]2(mu-TT) where TT = thienothiophenedicarboxylate and M = Mo, 1A, and M = W, 1B and [(tBuCO2)3M2]2(mu-DTT) where DTT = dithienothiophenedicarboxylate and M = Mo, 2A, and M = W, 2B, has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, ESI- and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Their photophysical properties have also been investigated by steady-state absorption as well as transient absorption and emission spectroscopy. The optimized structures and the predicted low energy electronic transitions were obtained by DFT and time-dependent DFT calculations, respectively, on model compounds. These results, in combination with the respective properties of the compounds [(tBuCO2)3M2]2(mu-BTh) (BTh = 2,5'-bithienyldicarboxylate, M = Mo, 3A, and M = W, 3B), allow us to make a comprehensive comparison of the fused (compounds 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B) and the nonfused thienyl (compounds 3A and 3B) dicarboxylate bridged compounds of molybdenum and tungsten. The electrochemical studies show singly oxidized radical cations that are valence trapped on the EPR time-scale and are classified as Class 1 (M = Mo) or Class 2 (M = W) on the Robin and Day scale for mixed valence compounds. The new compounds exhibit intense metal to bridge ligand charge transfer absorption bands in the far visible and near IR (NIR) region. Both molybdenum and tungsten complexes show dual emission, but for molybdenum, the phosphorescence is dominant while for tungsten the emission is primarily fluorescence. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy shows that the relaxation dynamics of the S1 states which have lifetimes of approximately 10 ps is dominated by intersystem crossing (ISC), leading to T1 states that in turn possess long lifetimes, approximately 70 micros (M = Mo) or 3 micros (M = W). These properties are contrasted with the photophysical properties of conjugated organic systems incorporating metal ions of the later transition elements.

Potassium ion recognition by 15-crown-5 functionalized CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in H2O.

Based on 15-crown-5 functionalized CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs), we report a novel fluorogenic sensor to probe K+ ions in H2O; recognition of K+ can be achieved via the Förster type of energy transfer between two different color QDs, so that [K+] of the order of 10(-6) M can be promptly detected.

Spectroscopy and femtosecond dynamics of type-II CdTe/CdSe core-shell quantum dots.

Syntheses of CdTe/CdSe type-II quantum dots (QDs) using CdO and CdCl2 as precursors for core and shell, respectively, are reported. Characterization was made via near-IR interband emission, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Femtosecond fluorescence upconversion measurements on the relaxation dynamics of the CdTe core (in CdTe/CdSe) emission and CdTe/CdSe interband emission reveal that as the size of the core increases from 5.3, 6.1 to 6.9 nm, the rate of photoinduced electron separation decreases from 1.96, 1.44 to 1.07 x10(12) s(-1). The finite rates of the initial charge separation are tentatively rationalized by the small electron-phonon coupling, causing weak coupling between the initial and charge-separated states.

Type-II CdSe/CdTe/ZnTe (core-shell-shell) quantum dots with cascade band edges: the separation of electron (at CdSe) and hole (at ZnTe) by the CdTe layer.

The rational design and synthesis of CdSe/CdTe/ZnTe (core-shell-shell) type-II quantum dots are reported. Their photophysical properties are investigated via the interband CdSe-->ZnTe emission and its associated relaxation dynamics. In comparison to the strong CdSe (core only) emission (lambda(max) approximately 550 nm, Phi(f) approximately 0.28), a moderate CdSe-->CdTe emission (lambda(max) approximately 1026 nm, Phi(f) approximately 1.2 x 10(-3)) and rather weak CdSe-->ZnTe interband emission (lambda(max) approximately 1415 nm, Phi(f) approximately 1.1 x 10(-5)) are resolved for the CdSe/CdTe/ZnTe structure (3.4/1.8/1.3 nm). Capping CdSe/CdTe with ZnTe results in a distant electron-hole separation between CdSe (electron) and ZnTe (hole) via an intermediate CdTe layer. In the case of the CdSe/CdTe/ZnTe structure, a lifetime as long as 150 ns is observed for the CdSe-->ZnTe (1415 nm) emission. This result further indicates an enormously long radiative lifetime of approximately 10 ms. Upon excitation of the CdSe/CdTe/ZnTe structure, the long-lived charge separation may further serve as an excellent hole carrier for catalyzing the redox oxidation reaction.