Simultaneous Trapping of C2 H2 and C2 H6 from a Ternary Mixture of C2 H2 /C2 H4 /C2 H6 in a Robust Metal-Organic Framework for the Purification of C2 H4.

The removal of C2 H2 and C2 H6 from C2 H4 streams is of great significance for feedstock purification to produce polyethylene and other commodity chemicals but the simultaneous adsorption of C2 H6 and C2 H2 over C2 H4 from a ternary mixture has never been realized. Herein, a robust metal-organic framework, TJT-100, was designed and synthesized, which demonstrates remarkably selective adsorption of C2 H2 and C2 H6 over C2 H4 . Breakthrough experiments show that TJT-100 can be used as an adsorbent for high-performance purification of C2 H4 from a ternary mixture of C2 H2 /C2 H4 /C2 H6 (0.5:99:0.5) to afford a C2 H4 purity greater than 99.997 %, beyond that required for ethylene polymerization. Computational studies reveal that the uncoordinated carboxylate oxygen atoms and coordinated water molecules pointing towards the pore can trap C2 H2 and C2 H6 through the formation of multiple C-H⋅⋅⋅O electrostatic interactions, while the corresponding C2 H4 -framework interaction is unfavorable.

A 12-month follow-up study on the preventive effect of oral lansoprazole on acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of oral administration of lansoprazole on acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD in groups C and D in the stable phase were stratified into a group with neither gastroesophageal reflux nor lansoprazole therapy (group A) and a group subjected to oral lansoprazole therapy (group B1 ) and a group not subjected to oral lansoprazole therapy (group B2 ). The frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG) questionnaire, COPD assessment test (CAT) questionnaire, pulmonary function test and the 6-minute walk test were applied; in addition, arterial blood gas, white blood cell (WBC), hs-CRP, liver function and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and GM-CSF in sputum were monitored during follow-up. In the 12-month follow-up period, the frequency of exacerbation in group B2 was statistically higher than that in groups A and B1 (P < 0.05). After a 3-month follow-up, the score of groups A and B1 in the FSSG questionnaire was significantly lower than that of group B2 (P < 0.05). After the 1-year follow-up, the CAT score, FEV1 , 6-min walk test, the total number of WBC, hs-CRP, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, pH of the arterial blood, PaO2 , PaCO2 and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and GM-CSF in the sputum were statistically different in group B2 compared with groups A and B1 (P < 0.05). Oral lansoprazole therapy decreased the frequency of acute exacerbation of COPD by alleviating gastroesophageal reflux and lowering the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and GM-CSF in the sputum.

Rapid and Sensitive Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassay for the Determination of Neomycin Residues in Milk.

Immunoassays greatly contribute to veterinary drug residue analysis. However, there are few reports on detecting neomycin residues by immunoassay. Here, a rapid and sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLIEA) was successfully developed for neomycin residue analysis. CLIEA demonstrated good cross-reactivity for neomycin, and the IC50 value was 2.4 ng/mL in buffer. The average recovery range was 88.5%-105.4% for spiked samples (10, 50, and 100 µg/kg), and the coefficient of variation was in the range of 7.5%-14.5%. The limit of detection of CLEIA was 9.4 µg/kg, and this method was compared with the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method using naturally contaminated samples, producing a correlation coefficient of >0.95. We demonstrate a reliable CLIEA for the rapid screening of neomycin in milk.

Ampelopsin sodium induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma SPC-A-1 cell line.

Ampelopsin is a well-known flavonoid which has variety of biological and pharmacological actions including anticancer effects and induction of apoptosis on the several cancer cell lines. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of ampelopsin sodium (Amp-Na) in the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis of human lung adenocarcionma SPC-A-1 cells. The analysis of cell proliferation and ultrastructure were performed. Furthermore, to clarify its action mechanism by determining the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration, mitochondrial nitric oxide (NO) level and total ATPase activity. The results showed that Amp-Na markedly inhibited the SPC-A-1 cell proliferation and caused ultrastructural apoptosis feature in SPC-A-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Amp-Na led to a rapid and sustained Ca2+ elevation and Δψm reduction, and induced the mitochondrial NO production and decreased the total ATPase activity in SPC-A-1 cells. The results enhance the potential of Amp-Na as a therapeutic drug for treating lung cancer, and provide new information for mechanism of Amp-Na which induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in tumor cells.

The Benefit Risk Assessment of Consumption of Marine Species Based on Benefit-Risk Analysis for Foods (BRAFO)-tiered Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the net health effect caused by the consumption of specific marine species based on Benefit-Risk Analysis for Foods (BRAFO)-tiered approach. METHODS: Twenty species were collected from the Zhoushan Archipelago, China. Concentrations of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, methyl mercury (MeHg), and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) in the samples were analyzed for benefit risk assessment based on BRAFO-tiered approach. RESULTS: Based on the BRAFO-tiered approach, reference scenario (no intake) and alternative scenario (intake of specific species of 200 g/week) were determined. The exposure to MeHg/DLCs via alternative scenario of all studied species did not exceed provisional tolerable weekly/monthly intake. However, the adult population with high DLCs exposure in China would significantly exceed the upper limit of DLCs via an additional alternative scenario of some species such as Auxis thazard. The results of deterministic computation showed that alternative scenario of all studied species generated clear net beneficial effects on death prevention and child IQ gain. CONCLUSION: The alternative scenario of all studied species could be recommended to population with average DLCs exposure, and the reference scenario of species with relatively high DLCs concentration could be recommended to population exposed to high DLCs.

Role of Angptl4 in vascular permeability and inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Angptl4 is a secreted protein involved in the regulation of vascular permeability, angiogenesis, and inflammatory responses in different kinds of tissues. Increases of vascular permeability and abnormality changes in angiogenesis contribute to the pathogenesis of tumor metastasis, ischemic-reperfusion injury. Inflammatory response associated with Angptl4 also leads to minimal change glomerulonephritis, wound healing. However, the role of Angptl4 in vascular permeability, angiogenesis, and inflammation is controversy. Hence, an underlying mechanism of Angptl4 in different kind of tissues needs to be further clarified. METHODS: Keywords such as angptl4, vascular permeability, angiogenesis, inflammation, and endothelial cells were used in search tool of PUBMED, and then the literatures associated with Angptl4 were founded and read. RESULTS: Data have established Angptl4 as the key modulator of both vascular permeability and angiogenesis; furthermore, it may also be related to the progression of metastatic tumors, cardiovascular events, and inflammatory diseases. This view focuses on the recent advances in our understanding of the role of Angptl4 in vascular permeability, angiogenesis, inflammatory signaling and the link between Angptl4 and multiple diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetic retinopathy, and kidney diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, Angptl4 modulates vascular permeability, angiogenesis, inflammatory signaling, and associated diseases. The use of Angptl4-modulating agents such as certain drugs, food constituents (such as fatty acids), nuclear factor (such as PPARα), and bacteria may treat associated diseases such as tumor metastasis, ischemic-reperfusion injury, inflammation, and chronic low-grade inflammation. However, the diverse physiological functions of Angptl4 in different tissues can lead to potentially deleterious side effects when used as a therapeutic target. In this regard, a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms for Angptl4 in different tissues is necessary.

[Determination of enantiomeric impurity in levocetirizine tablets by capillary electrophoresis].

OBJECTIVE: To determine enantiomeric impurity in levocetirizine tablets by using capillary electrophoresis. METHODS: The effects of pH and the concentrations of sulfated-Β-cyclodextrin (S-Β-CD) and buffer salt on chiral resolution were examined with S-Β-CD as chiral selector. RESULTS: A good enantioseparation of cetirizine was achieved with 30 mmol/L NaH2PO4 buffer solution (pH 7.0) containing 20 g/L of S-Β-CD. CONCLUSION: The method developed in the study is sensitive and reliable for determination of enantiomeric impurity in levocetirizine tablets.

Frailty and psychiatric disorders: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: The association between frailty and psychiatric disorders has been reported in observational studies. However, it is unclear whether frailty facilitates the appearance of psychiatric disorders or vice versa. Therefore, we conducted a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study to evaluate the causality. METHODS: Independent genetic variants associated with frailty index (FI) and psychiatric disorders were obtained from large genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The inverse variance weighted method was utilized as the primary method to estimate causal effects, followed by various sensitivity analyses. Multivariable analyses were performed to further adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS: The present MR study revealed that genetically predicted FI was significantly and positively associated with the risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) (odds ratio [OR] 1.79, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.48-2.15, P = 1.06 × 10-9), anxiety disorder (OR 1.61, 95 % CI 1.19-2.18, P = 0.002) and neuroticism (OR 1.38, 95 % CI 1.18-1.61, P = 3.73 × 10-5). In the reverse MR test, genetic liability to MDD (beta 0.232, 95 % CI 0.189-0.274, P = 1.00 × 10-26) and neuroticism (beta 0.128, 95 % CI 0.081-0.175, P = 8.61 × 10-8) were significantly associated with higher FI. Multivariable analyses results supported the causal association between FI and MDD and neuroticism. LIMITATIONS: Restriction to European populations, and sample selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested a bidirectional causal association between frailty and MDD neuroticism, and a positive correlation of genetically predicted frailty on the risk of anxiety disorder. Developing a deeper understanding of these associations is essential to effectively manage frailty and optimize mental health in older adults.

Dietary exposure of the Chinese population to acrylamide.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the current status of the acrylamide in the Chinese food supply, the dietary acrylamide exposure in the Chinese population and to estimate the public health risks of the current consumption. METHODS: The acrylamide content in the total diet study (TDS) food samples was analyzed using an LC-MS/MS method. Based on the analytical results, the dietary exposure calculations were performed using a deterministic method, combining mean acrylamide concentrations from the food group composite with their associated food consumptions. RESULTS: Acrylamide was detected in 43.7% of all samples collected and acrylamide concentration varied from ND to 526.6 µg/kg. The estimated dietary intakes of acrylamide among Chinese general population given as the mean and the 95th percentile (P95) were 0.286 and 0.490 µg•kg(-1) bw•day(-1), respectively. The margins of exposure (MOEs) for the population calculated using both benchmark dose lower confidence limit for a 10% extra risk of tumors in animals (BMDL10) 0.31 and 0.18 µg•kg(-1) bw•day(-1), were 1069 and 621 for the mean dietary exposure, and 633 and 367 for the high dietary exposure respectively. CONCLUSION: These MOE values might indicate a human health concern on acrylamide for Chinese population. Efforts should continue to reduce acrylamide levels in food in order to reduce the dietary risks to the human health.

[The human body burden of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in residents' human breast milk from Beijing in 2007].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate contamination levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) in human breast milk from Beijing residents, and evaluate the human body burden of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs of general population. METHODS: A total of 110 human milk samples were collected from 11 regions in Beijing in 2007. After 11 pooled samples were made, concentrations of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in breast milk pooled samples were measured by a high resolution gas chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry (HRCG-HRMS) with isotope dilution. RESULTS: For congeners of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in human breast milk from Beijing, the highest content of congeners was octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-118, and PCB-105 with the median of 20.6 pg/g fat, 4.07 ng/g fat and 1.63 ng/g fat, respectively. The concentration median of total dioxins in 11 pooled human milk samples from Beijing was 7.4 pg TEQ/g fat. The highest was 13.5 pg TEQ/g fat from Tongzhou, and the lowest was 4.3 pg TEQ/g fat from Pinggu. CONCLUSION: The contamination level of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in human milk from Beijing is relatively low. However, with the rapid industrialization in China, the human body burden of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs will be likely to rise. Thus, further studies should be conducted to continuously monitor the trend of contamination level.

[The value of coexisting pneumonia and British Thoracic Society CURB-65 score in predicting early mortality rate in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of coexisting pneumonia and British Thoracic Society CURB-65 score in predicting early mortality in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). METHODS: In this prospective study, 483 consecutive in-patients with AECOPD were recruited between January 2010 and September 2012, including 295 males and 188 females. The patients were aged 45 to 92 years. They were divided into 2 groups: non-pneumonia (npAECOPD) and with pneumonia (pAECOPD). The start point of this study was the date when the patients were admitted into the respiratory ward, and the endpoint was the 30 day mortality. Clinical and demographic data were collected for all the patients, and the value of coexisting pneumonia and CURB-65 in predicting in-hospital mortality and 30 day mortality were assessed and compared. RESULTS: According to the inclusion/exclusion criteria, eventually 457 patients were included in this research, with 278 males and 179 females, and an average age of (75 ± 9) years. Of the 457 patients, 120 (26.3%) patients were in the pAECOPD group and 337 (73.7%) patients in the npAECOPD group. The in-hospital mortality, the 30 day mortality and the assisted ventilation rate were significantly higher in the pAECOPD group as compared to the npAECOPD group 18.3% (22/120) vs 4.7% (16/337), 21.7% (26/120) vs 7.4% (25/337); 49.2% (59/120) vs 27.0% (91/337), χ(2) = 18.1 - 21.4, all P < 0.05, respectively. Furthermore, the in-hospital mortality of the pAECOPD patients with CURB-65 score < 2, = 2 and > 2 was 4.4% (2/45), 15.2% (7/46) and 44.8% (13/29), respectively, while that of the npAECOPD patients was 0.9% (1/113), 3.4% (4/119) and 10.5% (11/105), respectively. The 30 day mortality of the pAECOPD patients with CURB-65 score < 2, = 2 and > 2 was 4.4% (2/45), 19.6% (9/46) and 51.7% (15/29), respectively, while that of the npAECOPD patients was 0.9% (1/113), 5.0% (6/119) and 17.1% (18/105), respectively. Stratified by CURB-65 Score, the in-hospital and 30 day mortality were both significantly higher in the pAECOPD group than in the npAECOPD group when CURB-65 was ≥ 2 (χ(2) = 5.8 - 10.1, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). The AUROC analysis of CURB-65 as a predictor for early mortality resulted in an area under curve of 0.744. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AECOPD, coexisting pneumonia is not only a risk factor for in-hospital mortality, but also a predictor for the treatment of assisted ventilation. CURB-65 score may be a good predictor for early mortality in patients with AECOPD.

Water evaporation induced in-situ interfacial compatibilization for all-natural and high-strength straw-fiber/starch composites.

In this paper, we proposed a novel and green strategy based on water evaporation induced in-situ interfacial compatibilization (WEIC) mechanism for fabricating high-strength and all-natural lignocellulose/starch composites. This mechanism exploits the natural compatibility of the lignocellulose and starch and was tested through an internal mixing process with regulated water evaporation. Specifically, we revealed that a restrained layer was in-situ formed at the interface of the lignocellulose and starch during the internal mixing process; a faster water evaporation rate thickens this restrained layer, restricts the starch's molecular movement and significantly increases the composite's mechanical properties. The highest tensile strength and Young's modulus of the composites achieved are 21.7 ± 0.8 MPa and 2.2 ± 0.1 GPa, respectively, superior to many existing starch/lignocellulose composites. Thus, this work provides new insight into the compatibilization of various hydrophilic polysaccharides and paves new avenues for developing greener and more facile methods to fabricate all-polysaccharide composites.

Causal effects of gut microbiota on sepsis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Recent studies had provided evidence that the gut microbiota is associated with sepsis. However, the potential causal relationship remained unclear. Methods: The present study aimed to explore the causal effects between gut microbiota and sepsis by performing Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis utilizing publicly accessible genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary-level data. Gut microbiota GWAS (N = 18,340) were obtained from the MiBioGen study and GWAS-summary-level data for sepsis were gained from the UK Biobank (sepsis, 10,154 cases; 452,764 controls). Two strategies were used to select genetic variants, i.e., single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) below the locus-wide significance level (1 × 10-5) and the genome-wide statistical significance threshold (5 × 10-8) were chosen as instrumental variables (IVs). The inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used as the primary method for MR study, supplemented by a series of other methods. Additionally, a set of sensitivity analysis methods, including the MR-Egger intercept test, Mendelian randomized polymorphism residual and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test, Cochran's Q test, and leave-one-out test, were carried out to assess the robustness of our findings. Results: Our study suggested that increased abundance of Deltaproteobacteria, Desulfovibrionales, Catenibacterium, and Hungatella were negatively associated with sepsis risk, while Clostridiaceae1, Alloprevotella, LachnospiraceaeND3007group, and Terrisporobacter were positively correlated with the risk of sepsis. Sensitivity analysis revealed no evidence of heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Conclusion: This study firstly found suggestive evidence of beneficial or detrimental causal associations of gut microbiota on sepsis risk by applying MR approach, which may provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of microbiota-mediated sepsis and strategies for sepsis prevention and treatment.

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of the furaltadone etabolite, 3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidinone (AMOZ) in animal tissues.

OBJECTIVE: To determine 3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidinone (AMOZ) residues released from protein bound AMOZ in animal tissues. METHODS: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were produced in this study. A rapid, sensitive, and specific competitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cdELISA) was developed. RESULTS: Rabbit polyclonal antibodies were used in the optimized cdELISA method, and exhibited negligible cross-reactivity with other compounds structurally related to AMOZ. The IC(50) of the polyclonal antibody was 0.16 ng/mL. The method limit of detection in four different types of animal and fish tissues was less than 0.06 µg/kg. Recoveries ranged from 80% to 120% for fortified samples with the coefficient of variation values less than 15%. The results of the cdELISA method were in good agreement with the results from an established liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry confirmatory method used for AMOZ residues. CONCLUSION: The cdELISA method developed in the present study is a convenient practical tool for screening large numbers of animal and fish tissue samples for the the detection of released protein bound AMOZ residues.

[Advances in functional studies of nonstructural proteins and development of antiviral agents for enterovirus 71].

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is one of the major etiological agents for the hand, foot, and month disease (HFMD) and is causing frequent, widespread occurrence in the mainland of China. The single positive-stranded RNA genome of EV71 is translated into a single polyprotein which is autocleavaged into structural and nonstructural proteins. The functions of many nonstructural proteins characterized in the life cycle of virus are potential targets for blocking viral replication. This article reviews the studies of the structures and functions of nonstructural proteins of EV71 and the anti-enterovirus 71 drugs targeting on these nonstructural proteins.

[Polybrominated diphenyl ethers load in human serum of Taiyuan city in 2010].

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to characterize polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) load in human serum of Taiyuan city in 2010. METHODS: A total of 42 blood samples were collected in Taiyuan city, 2010. Solid-phase extraction (SPE)-gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization-mass spectrometry method was used to measure the concentration of brominated diphenyl ethers (BDE)-17, BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-66, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183 and BDE-209 and ΣPBDEs was calculated. RESULTS: Of the tested serum samples, ΣPBDEs ranged from 2.09 to 66.74 ng/g of lipid weight (lw), the median and mean was 6.32 ng/g lw and 9.84 ng/g lw, respectively. BDE-209 was the main source of ΣPBDEs and its concentration ranged from no detection to 64.99 ng/g lw, the median was 4.11 ng/g lw, accounting for 67.6% of ΣPBDEs. Second source was BDE-153 and its concentration ranged from 0.29 to 4.92 ng/g lw, the median was 0.62 ng/g lw accounting for 10.1% of ΣPBDEs. CONCLUSION: The overall load of PBDEs in the serum of local residents was low in 2010.

MMPT: a thiazolidin compound inhibits the growth of lung cancer H1792 cells via Fas-mediated and caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway.

MMPT, a thiazolidin compound, was identified in our laboratory as a novel antineoplastic agent with a broad spectrum of antitumor activity against many human cancer cells. However, the related mechanism has yet not been revealed. In this study, we investigated the cellular and molecular events underlying the antitumor function of this compound in human lung adenocarcinoma H1792 cells, focusing on the early cytotoxic effect. Treatment of H1792 cancer cells with MMPT (0.1-100 microM for 24-72 h) resulted in a growth inhibition in a dose and time-dependent manner, determined by MTT assay. This effect was accompanied by apoptosis, evidenced by Nucleosome ELISA, H33258 stained assay, and Sub-G1 analysis. Our data showed that MMPT caused activation of caspase-3, caspase-6 and caspase-8, but not caspase-9. The finding that MMPT induced apoptosis through a membrane-mediated mechanism was supported by the up-regulated expression of Fas (CD95/APO-1), and Fas ligand. Overall, our results demonstrated that MMPT induced growth inhibition of H1792 cells through a Fas-mediated and caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway, which suggested that MMPT might be used as a Fas/FasL and caspases promoter to initiate lung cancer cell apoptosis.

Fast analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in eggs using selective pressurized liquid extraction coupled with online GPC-GC/MS.

This article reports the applicability of online gel permeation chromatography (GPC)-GC/MS for the determination of seven predominant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in eggs to effectively eliminate matrix interference. Selective pressurized liquid extraction using acidic alumina as a fat retainer was used for cleanup of the PBDEs in eggs. It was selected because of its advantages: simpler operation, minimum time spent on sample handing to get fat-free extracts, and low volume of solvent consumption. After concentration, the extract was directly injected for online GC/MS operated in the negative ion chemical ionization mode with a 15 m capillary column. Recoveries of spiked samples were between 75.1 and 102.0%, with RSDs (n=3) ranging from 3.69-11.47% when spiked at levels of 2 and 20 ng/g, dry mass. The LOD varied from 0.25-34 ng/g, dry mass. The proposed method was proven to be rapid, efficient, and reliable for the trace determination of PBDEs in eggs.

[Clinical significance of early lactate clearance rate in patients with respiratory failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of early lactate clearance rate in patients with respiratory failure. METHODS: A prospective clinical trial was carried out.A hundred and ten patients with respiratory failure, including 59 males and 51 females, with mean age (59 +/- 22) yrs were admitted into the respiratory ward in affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University from August 2005 to April 2009. There were 50 cases of type I respiratory failure and 60 cases of type II respiratory failure. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score was evaluated, 6 h arterial blood lactate and arterial blood gas analysis were measured before and after the treatment, and then 6 h lactate clearance rate were calculated in all the 110 patients. Patients were divided into the survival group (80 cases) and the death group (28 cases) from hospital admission to the study end of discharging or death of the patients. The high lactate clearance rate group (68 cases) was defined as a lactate clearance rate > or = 10%, and the low lactate clearance rate group (42 cases) with a lactate clearance rate < 10%. Data were compared between the survival group and the death group, the high lactate clearance rate group and the low lactate clearance group. T test was used in the comparison between groups, group paired t test was used in the comparison between before and after the treatment, and chi-square test was used in the comparison between rates. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in arterial blood lactate, APACHE II score, pH value, PaO2, PaCO2 and oxygenation index between the survival group and the death group or between the high lactate clearance rate group and the low lactate clearance rate group before the treatment. There were statistical differences in arterial blood lactate, PaO2, PaCO2 and oxygenation index between groups 6 h after the treatment (P < 0.05) except for pH values and APACHE II score. The 6 h lactate clearance rate of the survival group (31% +/- 11%) was significantly higher than that of the death group (14% +/- 6%) (chi2 = 161.2, P < 0.01). Mortality of the high lactate clearance rate group (15%) was significantly lower than that of the low lactate clearance rate group (43%) (chi2 = 178.4, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Early lactate clearance rate could be used as a marker for prognosis of patients with respiratory failure.

Synthesis and plasmon-induced charge-transfer properties of monodisperse gold-doped titania microspheres.

Monodisperse gold-doped titania microspheres have been synthesized under high concentration of a titanium precursor (9.34 mM) by introducing a trace amount of chloroauric acid (CA) into the reaction system; the size of the microspheres can be easily tuned (from approximately 587 to approximately 392 nm) by varying the amount of the CA added. The plausible formation mechanism has been discussed in detail. Chloroauric acid was found to act as the stabilizing agent to induce the formation of monodisperse colloidal spheres. Gold-doped anatase titania spheres with approximately 7 nm gold nanodots on the surface were synthesized by calcination. Interestingly, results from surface photocurrent, surface photovoltage, and transient photovoltage measurements indicate that the gold nanodots exhibit different electronic properties when the gold-doped anatase titania spheres were illuminated by different wavelengths of light: one is an electron acceptor in the UV region, while the other is an electron donor in the visible region. Furthermore, the decay time of the injected plasmon-induced electrons was found to be on the millisecond timescale and increased with increasing amounts of gold doped.