Anticardiolipin Antibody Plays a More Important Role Than Anti-ß2-Glycoprotein I Antibody in Activating Complement in Patients with Lupus Nephritis.

Objective: This research aimed to explore the correlation between antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and complement activation in lupus nephritis (LN) patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on patients diagnosed with LN based on renal biopsy from June 2019 to June 2022. The study assessed levels of IgM, IgA, and IgG subtypes of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLs) and anti-ß2-glycoprotein I (anti-ß2-GPI) antibodies. Pathological and clinical data were collected concurrently with the renal biopsy. Results: The analysis included 76 LN patients, with 44.7% testing positive for aPLs. LN patients with positive aPLs exhibited increased hematuria, higher SLEDAI scores, reduced serum C3 and C4 levels, and more C1q deposits in the glomerulus compared to those with negative aPLs (P<0.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated the inverse relationships between IgG-aCL levels and serum C3 and C4 levels (r=-0.29, P=0.005; r=-0.24, P=0.016, respectively), as well as a positive correlation with C4 deposits in the glomerulus (r=0.20, P=0.041). Conclusion: This investigation suggests that aPLs, particularly IgG-aCLs, may be associated with the severity of LN and could contribute to the activation of classical complement pathways.

Dihydroxyacetone phosphate accumulation leads to podocyte pyroptosis in diabetic kidney disease.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) can lead to accumulation of glucose upstream metabolites due to dysfunctional glycolysis. But the effects of accumulated glycolysis metabolites on podocytes in DKD remain unknown. The present study examined the effect of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) on high glucose induced podocyte pyroptosis. By metabolomics, levels of DHAP, GAP, glucose-6-phosphate and fructose 1, 6-bisphosphate were significantly increased in glomeruli of db/db mice. Furthermore, the expression of LDHA and PKM2 were decreased. mRNA sequencing showed upregulation of pyroptosis-related genes (Nlrp3, Casp1, etc.). Targeted metabolomics demonstrated higher level of DHAP in HG-treated podocytes. In vitro, ALDOB expression in HG-treated podocytes was significantly increased. siALDOB-transfected podocytes showed less DHAP level, mTORC1 activation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and pyroptosis, while overexpression of ALDOB had opposite effects. Furthermore, GAP had no effect on mTORC1 activation, and mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin alleviated ROS production and pyroptosis in HG-stimulated podocytes. Our findings demonstrate that DHAP represents a critical metabolic product for pyroptosis in HG-stimulated podocytes through regulation of mTORC1 pathway. In addition, the results provide evidence that podocyte injury in DKD may be treated by reducing DHAP.

A Review of the Complex Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics in Microchannels.

Continuously improving heat transfer efficiency is one of the important goals in the field of energy. Compact heat exchangers characterized by microscale flow and heat transfer have successfully provided solutions for this purpose. However, as the characteristic scale of the channels decreases, the flow and heat transfer characteristics may differ from those at the conventional scale. When considering the influence of scale effects and changes in special fluid properties, the flow and heat transfer process becomes more complex. The conclusions of the relevant studies have not been unified, and there are even disagreements on some aspects. Therefore, further research is needed to obtain a sufficient understanding of flow structure and heat transfer mechanisms in microchannels. This article systematically reviews the research about microscale flow and heat transfer, focusing on the flow and heat transfer mechanisms in microchannels, which is elaborated in the following two perspectives: one is the microscale single-phase flow and heat transfer that only considers the influence of scale effects, the other is the special heat transfer phenomena brought about by the coupling of microscale flow with special fluids (fluid with phase change (pseudophase change)). The microscale flow and heat transfer mechanisms under the influence of multiple factors, including scale effects (such as rarefaction, surface roughness, axial heat conduction, and compressibility) and special fluids, are investigated, which can meet the specific needs for the design of various microscale heat exchangers.

Large-Eddy Simulation on the Aerodynamic and Thermal Characteristics in a Micropipe of the Hypersonic Engine Precooler.

The precooling air-breathing technique has become a study focus in the aerospace field. Research on the internal flow and heat-transfer mechanism of the precooler is important for design and optimization. A large-eddy simulation was used to study the aerodynamic and thermal characteristics in a micropipe of the hypersonic engine precooler with supercritical methane as coolant and fuel. Under the effect of buoyancy, the high-temperature and low-density fluid near the wall in the circumferential direction gradually accumulate to the top wall. The accumulation of low-density fluid enhances the thermal acceleration effect at the top wall, which intensifies the local turbulent relaminarization and forms an M-shaped velocity distribution, resulting in the weakening of the heat transfer. On the other hand, the high-density fluid gathers to the bottom wall under the influence of gravity, the local thermal acceleration effect is weakened, and the flow heat transfer is enhanced. The influence of the relationship between the turbulent burst and the turbulent heat transfer under the effect of buoyancy is analyzed. It is found that the low-speed ejection events and high-speed sweep events are strengthened at the bottom wall, especially the low-speed ejection. However, the occurrence of these events at the top wall is restrained to a certain extent.

Association of urate deposition shown by ultrasound and frequent gout attacks.

BACKGROUND: There are few data demonstrating the association between urate burden assessed by ultrasound (US) and gout flares. The aim of this study was to determine the association of urate deposition shown by US and frequent gout attacks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with gout were divided into two groups according to the frequency of gout attacks in the previous 12 months: frequent (>2 attacks) and infrequent (0-2 attacks). Urate deposition in the hands, knees, and feet was assessed by US. RESULTS: Overall, 106 patients were enrolled in this study, of whom 32 (30.1%) had had frequent gout attacks (>2 attacks) in the previous 12 months (the average number of gout attacks was 4.7, range 3-12). Those with frequent gout attacks had significantly longer gout duration, a higher serum urate level, and more urate deposition shown by US than those with infrequent gout attacks (P < 0.05). In both univariate and logistic regression analyses, frequent gout attacks were correlated with gout duration, serum urate level, and urate deposition as shown by US (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that urate deposition shown by US is independently associated with frequent gout attacks. Special attention should be given to the prevention of flares in patients with an initially high urate burden as assessed by US.

Gout of ankle and foot: DECT versus US for crystal detection.

OBJECTIVE: To compare dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) and ultrasound (US) in detecting monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the ankle and foot in patients with acute gouty arthritis. METHODS: Bilateral ankle and foot were examined by DECT and US and the differences between the findings were compared. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients underwent DECT and US examinations. At the patient level, the overall positivity of crystal deposition detected by DECT was higher than that by US (92% vs 68%, P = 0.005). The agreement of detecting crystal deposition between DECT and US was not very strong (К = 0.44, P = 0.003). At different joint/area levels, there were significant differences between the two examinations in the area of the dorsum (36% vs 12%, P = 0.009) and metatarsal bone (34% vs 12%, P = 0.017), but the sensitivity of DECT and US was similar in the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP) and ankle areas (P>0.05). Agreement between the two examinations in the ankle and first MTP was very strong (К = 0.86, P < 0.001; К = 0.79, P < 0.001, respectively). However, agreement between the two examinations in other joints/areas was poor. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that DECT should be the first choice for acute gouty arthritis in patients with ankle and foot involvement. Key Points • There is little data regarding DECT and US in detecting MSU crystals in the ankle and foot in patients with acute gouty arthritis. • The overall positivity of crystal deposition detected by DECT was higher than that by US, but the sensitivity of DECT and US was similar in the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP) and ankle areas. • Agreement between the two examinations in the ankle and first MTP was very strong; however, agreement between the two examinations in other joints/areas was poor.

Hypolipidemic activity of low-cholesterol ovum oil of Rana chensinensis and phytosterol (stigmasterol) in rats.

The ovum oil of forest frog has various health beneficial functions. In the current research, we evaluated the hypolipidemic effects of the low-cholesterol ovum oil from the forest frog and its combination with stigmasterol in rats.

Extended self-similarity and hierarchical structure in turbulence.

We show that a generalization of the She-Leveque hierarchical structure [Z.S. She and E. Leveque, Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 336 (1994)] together with a constant maximum magnitude of the velocity difference give rise to the extended self-similarity (ESS) [R. Benzi et al., Phy. Rev. E 48, R29 (1993)]. Our analysis thus suggests that the ESS measured in turbulent flows is an indication of the most intense structures being shocklike. Analyses of velocity measurements in a turbulent pipe flow support our conjecture.