BACKGROUND: Long-term safety of treatment with hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase inhibitors is a concern. Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and/or interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) therapies have previously been associated with impairment of renal function. Limited data are available on the safety of combination therapy with nucleos (t)ide analogues (NAs) and IFN-alpha. The aim of this analysis was to assess the renal function during combined therapy with pegylated interferon alpha-2b (PEG-IFN-alpha-2b) and ADV versus PEG-IFN-alpha-2b alone in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).; METHODS: We performed a multicenter, prospective, open-label, randomized-controlled trial of renal function data to investigate the efficacy of 48 weeks of therapy with PEG-IFN-alpha-2b and ADV versus PEG-IFN-alpha-2b alone in 102 patients with CHB in Anhui, China. Glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) were calculated by Cockcroft-Gault (CG), abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study, and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, and were tested by repeated-measures 1-way analysis of variance within groups. A linear mixed effects model for repeated measures was also used to evaluate the association between baseline information and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) changes overtime in all enrolled patients. The model considered the baseline age, sex, HBV DNA, aminotransferase, treatment group, time, and group-by-time interaction as fixed effects and incorporated random effects for individual subjects.; RESULTS: After 48 weeks of therapy and further 24 weeks of follow-up, the eGFR decreased both in patients given PEG-IFN-alpha-2b single therapy and combined therapy. Age, HBV DNA, and combined therapy were significant negative predictive factors for eGFR changes.; CONCLUSION: The incidence of renal adverse events in both groups was low, and the combination therapy may have delayed, but reversible renal impairment.=20

Background: The computer/mobile devices usage time (CMD-UT) is closely related to a sedentary lifestyle, which is an important risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). But their direct relationship remains unclear.Aims: We aimed to examine the relationship between CMD-UT and newly diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Chinese adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 7516 adults in Tianjin, China. The CMD-UT was collected via a questionnaire included five categories. NAFLD [with normal or elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) levels] was diagnosed by at least twice liver ultrasonography examinations and serum ALT concentrations (>41U/L in males and>33U/L in females).Results: The prevalence of overall NAFLD, NAFLD with normal or elevated ALT levels was 18.2, 14.2, and 4.0%, respectively. After adjustments for potential confounding factors, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of having overall NAFLD by increasing CMD-UT levels were 1.00 for<1h/d, 1.58 (1.22-2.05) for 1-3h/d, 1.58 (1.18-2.11) for 3-5h/d, 1.65 (1.21-2.27) for 5-10h/d, and 1.99 (1.29-3.05) for 10h/d (P-trend for CMD-UT levels =3D 0.02), respectively. Similar relations were observed with the use of NAFLD with normal or elevated ALT levels.Conclusions: The present study is the first to find that CMD-UT levels are independently associated with NAFLD.Key MessagesThe computer/mobile devices usage time levels are independently associated with the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Newborn irritability could be an unique and special status and/or adverse neurobehavioral outcomes which was independent of serious disease. To determine whether maternal perinatal anxiety symptoms was associated with newborn irritability, and whether the alteration of serum prolactin in newborns were involved in newborn irritability.; METHODS: 205 pregnant women were recruited: normal group (n=E2=80=AF=3D=E2=80=AF100), and anxiety group (n=E2=80=AF=3D=E2=80=AF105), which was randomly divided to Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO)+anxiety group(n=E2=80=AF=3D=E2=80=AF65) and control+anxiety group(n=E2=80=AF=3D=E2=80=AF40). Newborn Irritability was assessed by Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale(NBAS). Serum prolactin, cortisol and 5-HT in mothers and infants were measured.; RESULTS: 1. The scores of irritability items in the newborns of anxiety group were higher than that of the normal group (p=E2=80=AF<=E2=80=AF0.05). 2. Lower serum PRL, 5-HT and higher serum cortisol were found in the newborns of anxiety group compared with that of the control group both postpartum 2d and 15 (p=E2=80=AF<=E2=80=AF0.05). 3. The level of serum PRL in newborn infants were significantly and negatively correlated to the scores of irritability items (p=E2=80=AF<=E2=80=AF0.05). 4. After 7 rounds of NBO interventions, the anxiety scores of mothers and the scores of irritability items of newborns in the NBO intervention group were all lower than those of the control group (p=E2=80=AF<=E2=80=AF0.05) .; LIMITATIONS: In future experiments, we should explore the effect of PRL in the breast milk on newborn infant serum PRL.; CONCLUSIONS: Prolactin could be a potential mediator in newborn irritability following maternal perinatal anxiety symptoms. Copyright =C2=A9 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Phase fraction of oil-water two-phase flow is important to the process control and optimization. In this paper, a prediction model based on the mechanism of ultrasound attenuations in oil-water mixture is presented to estimate the phase fraction. This model consists of physical parameters of the two-phase flow and ultrasound frequency, by incorporating the scattering and attenuation of ultrasound in different flow patterns of the oil-water two-phase flow. The nonlinear relationship between ultrasound attenuation coefficient and phase fraction is corrected. An array of 16 ultrasonic transducers with 1-MHz center frequency and 20-Vpp sine acoustic signal is presented to implement this method, and a measuring system was designed and tested on a multiphase flow loop with actual flow experiments. The proposed prediction model showed a good agreement with the online phase fraction calibration in the flow experiments. The average error is 2.3% in water continuous flow, while in 2.8% in oil continuous flow. These findings and the mechanism prediction model provide basic foundations for the phase fraction estimation of oil-water two-phase flow by using the ultrasound attenuation technique.

Copper is susceptible to producing corrosion problems in corrosive environments, which leads to serious safety problems. Thus, investigating the corrosion behavior of copper is of great significance. The effects of rotating electromagnetic field on corrosion behavior of T2 copper in 3.5% sodium chloride solution with electrochemical measurements were investigated. The results showed that rotating electromagnetic field changed properties of 3.5% sodium chloride solution by increasing the values of temperature and pH and decreasing the values of conductivity and dissolved oxygen. The rotating electromagnetic field improved the corrosion resistance of T2 copper. The corrosion products of T2 copper in treated 3.5% sodium chloride solution were composed of Cu2O and CuCl. The low corrosion rate of T2 copper was resulted from the decrease of dissolved oxygen in 3.5% sodium chloride solution treated by rotating electromagnetic field.

To recover erased data from iOS devices, specialists first decrypt passwords, then extract data images directly from low-level NAND storage and analyze the redundancy caused by its file translation layer (FTL) behavior.

Stressor acting upon the organism during pregnancy can produce distinct and long lasting effects on the offspring. However, the essential mechanism remains unclear. Neurogranin (Ng) is a postsynaptic brain-specific protein involved in the regulation of calcium signaling and neuronal plasticity. Our purpose was to investigate whether Ng plays a regulating role in the effects of prenatal restraint stress (PS) and prenatal pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) on the hippocampus of rat offspring. Sprague Dawley female rats at gestational days 14-20 were given restraint stress or pulsed magnetic fields. The male and female offspring rats were sacrificed at the age of 1 month. The expression of Ng in the offspring hippocampus was determined using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The results showed that PS induces a significantly inhibitory effect on the expression of Ng, especially in female offspring. The 0.11 T of prenatal PMFs could increase the expression of Ng in offspring hippocampus. There was no significant difference between female and male offspring in PMFs group. The prenatal restraint stress-induced decrease in Ng expression in offspring hippocampus might be associated with the deficit in spatial learning and memory reported previously. The 0.11 T of prenatal PMFs induced a significant stimulatory effect on protein expression of Ng. It was believed that PMFs stress might enhance the synaptic growth and remodeling. Copyright =C2=A9 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This review presents the synergistic effect in the catalytic system of ionic liquids (ILs) for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate from carbon dioxide and epoxide. The emphasis of this review is on three aspects: the catalytic system of metal-based ionic liquids, the catalytic system of hydrogen bond-promoted ionic liquids and supported ionic liquids. Metal and ionic liquids show a synergistic effect on the cycloaddition reactions of epoxides. The cations and anions of ionic liquids show a synergistic effect on the cycloaddition reactions. The functional groups in cations or supports combined with the anions have a synergistic effect on the cycloaddition reactions. Synergistic catalytic effects of ILs play an important role of promoting the cycloaddition reactions of epoxides. The design of catalytic system of ionic liquids will be possible if the synergistic effect on a molecular level is understood.

BACKGROUND: Relatively few studies have been made on neurobehavioral outcomes of prenatal maternal stress during the newborn period, and little research has focused on umbilical cord stress hormones including cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Our objective was to investigate the effects of prenatal maternal life stressors on neonatal birth outcomes, neurobehavioral development, and stress-related hormones levels.; METHODS: Participants were 142 mothers and their infants; 71 were selected as the prenatal life stressor exposed group and 71 as the control group matched on maternal age, gestational week, delivery type, socioeconomic and education status, and newborns' sex. Maternal life stressors during pregnancy were determined using the Life Events Scale for Pregnant Women. Neonatal neurobehavioral development was assessed with the Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment. Umbilical cord plasma stress-related hormones, including ACTH, cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.; RESULTS: In the prenatal life stressors exposed group, newborns had significantly lower birth weight, smaller head circumference (p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). Scores of Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment were significantly reduced (p<0.001). Cord plasma ACTH, norepinephrine, and epinephrine levels were significantly increased (p<0.001), but cortisol levels were reduced (p<0.001).; CONCLUSION: Prenatal maternal stress may negatively affect fetal birth outcomes, neurobehavioral development and affect neonates' cord plasma ACTH, cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Copyright =C2=A9 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

In this study, we first characterized the complete mitogenome of Pygathrix nigripes, and analysed its phylogenetic status. The circular mitogenome was 16,534bp in length, and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and one non-coding control region (D-loop). These genes except ND6 and 8 tRNA genes were encoded on the H-strand. The phylogenetic analysis exhibited that our sequence formed a sister branch with P. cinereal and P. nemaeus of genus Pygathrix, which showed a closer genetic relationship of the three species. These information contribute to molecular, phylogenetic studies and genetic diversity conservation for this species.

Purpose Excessive consumption of soft drinks is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the association between soft drinks consumption and NAFLD is unclear in non-Caucasian adults with relatively low soft drinks consumption. The aim of this study was to assess the association between soft drinks consumption and NAFLD in Chinese adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 26,790 adults living in Tianjin, China. NAFLD (with elevated alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) was diagnosed by the liver ultrasonography and serum ALT concentrations. Soft drinks consumption was assessed using a validated self-administered food frequency questionnaire, and it was summarized as three categories for analysis: almost never reference), < 1 cup/week, and >=3D 1 cups/week. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was defined according to the criteria of the American Heart Association scientific statements of 2009. The association between soft drinks consumption and NAFLD was assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The prevalence of NAFLD and NAFLD with elevated ALT was 27.1 and 6.5%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounding variables (including MetS), the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD or NAFLD with elevated ALT across soft drinks consumption were 1.00 (reference) for almost never, 1.14 (1.02-1.27) or 1.16 (0.98-1.37) for < 1 cup/week, and 1.26 (1.14-1.40) or 1.32 (1.13-1.53) for >=3D 1 cups/week (both P for trend <0.001), respectively. Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate that soft drinks consumption is associated with NAFLD independent of MetS in Chinese adults with relatively low soft drinks consumption. These results suggest that reducing soft drinks consumption might be beneficial to the prevention of NAFLD.

Malus hupehensis Rehd. is often used as rootstock of apple trees. Vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE) is one type of cysteine protease with substrate specificity to residues of asparagine and aspartic acid. The VPE activity, MhVPE gamma gene (GenBank number: FJ891065) expression and the amount of cell death in seedlings of M. hupehensis Rehd. all gradually increased with the increase of temperature from 26 to 42 degrees C. To explore the function of VPE response to temperature stress, the overexpressing vector of MhVPE gamma was constructed and transformed into wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana Columbia. The responses of VPE, MhVPE gamma and apoptosis to high temperature stress were determined in the Arabidopsis seedlings of wild-type, MhVPE gamma-overexpressing lines and the VPE-null mutant. The leaves of MhVPE gamma-overexpressing lines were smaller and VPE activity and MhVPE gamma expression level were both obviously higher than the levels found in the wild-type and VPE-null mutant seedlings. Under high temperature treatment, VPE activity and MhVPE gamma expression level significantly increased accompanied by leaf withering, shorter roots, lipid peroxidation and increased cell death and apoptosis rate in all types of plants. The changes of these indicators were highest in MhVPE gamma-overexpressing transgenic plants, followed by the wild-type and were lowest in VPE-null mutant plants. These results suggest that MhVPE gamma overexpression in Arabidopsis accelerated cell membrane lipid peroxidation, promoted cell death and reduced the tolerance to high temperature stress compared with wild-type plants.

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) plays a crucial role in the melanogenesis and proliferation of melanocytes that is dependent on its abundance and modification. Here, we report that epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces senescence and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) expression that is related to MITF. We found that MITF could bind TP53 to regulate CDKN1A. Furthermore, the interaction between MITF and TP53 is dependent on AKT activity. We found that AKT phosphorylates MITF at S510. Phosphorylated MITF S510 enhances its affinity to TP53 and promotes CDKN1A expression. Meanwhile, the unphosphorylative MITF promotes TYR expression. The levels of p-MITF-S510 are low in 90% human melanoma samples. Thus the level of p-MITF-S510 could be a possible diagnostic marker for melanoma. Our findings reveal a mechanism for regulating MITF functions in response to EGF stimulation and suggest a possible implementation for preventing the over proliferation of melanoma cells. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.