Serum syndecan-4 is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVES: The accelerated shedding of extracellular domains of syndecan-4 (SDC4) is associated with central obesity and insulin resistance, while the association between serum SDC4 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. We aimed to examine the association between SDC4 and NAFLD. METHODS: Adults undergoing a health examination from 1 June 2019 to 31 December 2019 were enrolled. A diagnosis of NAFLD was made with an abdominal ultrasound. Logistic regression models and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the role of SDC4 in predicting NAFLD. RESULTS: In total, 533 eligible participants were finally enrolled, among them 157 (29.46%) had NAFLD. The proportion of patients with NAFLD increased with the increasing quartiles of serum SDC4. With the increase of serum SDC4 levels, metabolic features including waist circumference, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were significantly increased. SDC4 was an independent factor for NAFLD (odds ratio 1.963, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.628-2.367, P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve of SDC4 for predicting NAFLD was 0.934 (95% CI 0.910-0.959). The optimal cut-off value was 6.575 ng/mL at Youden's index of 0.767. SDC4 had the highest diagnostic sensitivity (84.1%), positive predictive value (82.5%), negative predictive value (93.3%) and positive likelihood ratio (11.356) among all the variables. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum SDC4 level is associated with metabolic disorders and the prevalence of NAFLD among general population. Serum SDC4 may serve as a biomarker of NAFLD.

Identification of genetic variants in a pedigree associated with epilepsy by using whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing.

Epilepsy is a common heterogeneous group of neurological disorders including electroencephalographic and brain imaging. We used whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing to identify variants in a pedigree associated with epilepsy. Cranium CT scan showed that the lateral right parietal lobe was hyperdense, and there were no clear boundaries with brain tissue in affected cases. Using WES, one exclusive nonsynonymous mutant in gene TSC2 (Chr16:2138307; c.5240 T > G; p.Ile1747Ser) was involved in this disease. Further analysis showed that de novo variant in TSC2 was high conserved across different species. Moreover, the two affected sisters and their father had the same compound heterozygous variants in TSC2, while the father had no epilepsy but depigmentation. These variants demonstrated that variant in TSC2 may result in epilepsy with incomplete penetrance in humans, and the CNV and SV variants we identified probably be involved in this disease.

Multi-band transmissions of chiral metamaterials based on Fabry-Perot like resonators.

In this paper, a multi-layered metallic structure is proposed, which consists of split-ring resonators on both sides of two dielectric substrates. Numerical results reveal that the structure realizes a high magnitude of 0.94, three bands and broadband (more than 8 GHz) asymmetric transmission for linearly polarized wave. These properties are not observed in previous works. In order to better know these transmission properties, the Fabry-Perot like resonance model has been introduced to analyze the enhancement mechanism of asymmetric transmission in the multi-layered structure. The physical mechanism of linearly polarized wave conversion and asymmetric transmission based on electric fields and currents distribution is also analyzed in detail, respectively.

Small metal soft tissue foreign body extraction by using 3D CT guidance: a reliable method.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a useful and accurate technique for the locating and removal of small metal foreign bodies in the soft tissues. METHODS: Eight patients presented with suspected small metal foreign bodies retained in the soft tissues of various body districts. Under local anesthesia, 3-6 pieces of 5 ml syringe needles or 1 ml syringe needles were induced through three different planes around the entry point of the foreign bodies. Using these finders, the small metal FBs were confirmed under 3D CT guidance. Based on the CT findings, the soft tissues were dissected along the path of the closest needle and the FBs were easily found and removed according to the relation with the closest needle finder. RESULTS: Eight metal foreign bodies (3 slices, 3 nails, 1 fish hook, 1 needlepoint) were successfully removed under 3D CT guidance in all patients. The procedures took between 35 min and 50 min and the operation times took between 15 min and 25 min. No complications arose after the treatment. CONCLUSION: 3D CT-guided technique is a good alternative for the removal of small metal foreign body retained in the soft tissues as it is relatively accurate, reliable, quick, carries a low risk of complications and can be a first-choice procedure for the extraction of small metal foreign body.

[Effects of costimulatory molecule VSIG4 exclusively expression in macrophage on renal interstitial fibrosis].

AIM: To investigate the relationship between costimulatory molecule VSIG4 expression in macrophage and mice renal interstitial fibrosis. METHODS: A total of 40 healthy male C57B6 mice (VSIG4(-/-); and VSIG4(+/+);) were divided into two groups, VSIG4(-/-); tubulointerstitial Nephritis (n=20) and VSIG4(+/+); tubulointerstitial Nephritis (n=20), mice received left urethral obstruction operation(UUO) then were killed at 7 d before operation, 3 d, 7 d and 14 d post operation for both groups.Blood SCr and BUN were detected. Renal interstitial fibrosis was measured by HE stain. The expression of TGF-beta1, MMP-2, in UUO mice(VSIG4(-/-); and VSIG4(+/+);) were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: SCr and BUN levels in the two groups have no significantly different. TGF-beta1 was significantly increased in the VSIG4(-/-); UUO mice group in comparison with the other group, while MMP-2 was reduced. CONCLUSION: The interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration and tubular lesion of VSIG4(-/-); UUO mice were increased, with the expression of TGF-beta1 increased and MMP-2 reduced. VSIG4 may play a role in inhibiting interstitial fibrosis.

Guided modes in fiber with left-handed materials.

The oscillating guided modes and surface modes in an optical fiber with left-handed material core and right-handed material cladding are discussed. Using the dispersion equations for TE, TM, EH, and HE guided modes, their dispersion curves are plotted under the consideration of material dispersion, which is based on an experimental model. Then the properties of the dispersion curves are discussed. For TE(TM) oscillating guided modes, their surface modes can connect with each other. However, the EH oscillating guided mode connects with that of the HE surface mode. Further, for the same frequency, the effective refractive index has two different values for oscillating guided modes and three different values for E(H)1surface mode. Double-value properties of guided modes in LHM slab waveguides are already known, but the three-value property of surface modes in LHM waveguides is found and reported here. We also investigate the normalized power fluxes of TE modes. New propagation characteristics for TE oscillating guided modes and surface modes are obtained.

[Smad7 instead of Smad6 blocks epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by TGF-beta in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells].

AIM: To investigate whether Smad6 and Smad7 can regulate TGF-beta-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells. METHODS: Two recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAV) expressing Smad6 and Smad7 genes were produced without helper virus and then they were delivered into human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (HKCs). The cells were randomly divided into normal controls, TGF-beta1-treated group, Smad7-infected control, LacZ-infected control, TGF-beta1+Smad7 group or TGF-beta1+Smad6 group, and TGF-beta1 + LacZ group. 10 microg/L of TGF-beta1 was added into the cell culture at the time of 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min and the third day. The levels of phospho-Smad2, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and E-cadherin proteins were measured by Western blot. The concentration of hydroxyproline excreted into the culture supernatant was determinated by ELISA. The morphological changes of the cells detected by inverted microscope. RESULTS: Compared with the cells in absence of TGF-beta1, the expression level of P-Smad2 in HKCs increased at 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min with the TGF-beta1 stimulation. It reached peak at 30 min. TGF-beta1 treatment for 72 hours resulted in significant up-regulation of alpha-SMA protein expression and hydroxyproline secretion, but a marked decrease in E-cadherin expression in the culture of HKCs. 10 microg/L of TGF-beta1 treatment for 72 hours also resulted in marked alteration in cell morphology. The cells lost their regular cuboidal appearance, and become elongated and spindle shaped. In the Smad7-infected cells, the overexpression of Smad7 resulted in a marked decrease of alpha-SMA protein and hydroxyproline synthesis, but a increase of E-cadherin protein, as well as the retainment of epithelial phenotypic appearance. These effects were associated with the inhibition of TGF-induced Smad2 activation, whereas the overexpression of Smad6 had no effect on the TGF-beta-induced changes in HKCs. CONCLUSION: The overexpression of Smad7 instead of Smad6 can efficiently inhibit TGF-beta-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition by blocking Smad2 activation in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells.

Dipropyl 4,8-dioxo-1H,5H-2,6-dioxa-3a,4a,7a,8a-tetra-azacyclo-penta-[def]fluorene-8b,8c-dicarboxyl-ate.

The title compound, C(16)H(22)N(4)O(8), is a glycoluril derivative with two propoxycarbonyl substituents on the convex face of the glycoluril system. The dihedral angle between the five-membered rings in the glycoluril unit is 72.70 (2)°. The oxadiazinane six-membered ring displays a normal chair conformation. One of the propyl groups is disordered over two positions with site occupancies of 0.557 (7) and 0.443 (7). Inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds are effective in the stabilization of the crystal structure.