Acid Exposure Time > 6% Might Not Improve the Therapeutic Outcome in Chinese Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Patients

( Yuqing Lin ),( Yuwen Li ),( Mengya Liang ),( Niandi Tan ),( Mengyu Zhang ),( Songfeng Chen ),( Yinglian Xiao ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2021 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.27 No.1

Background/Aims There is less acid burden in Chinese gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients. However, the Lyon consensus proposed a higher threshold of acid exposure time (AET > 6%) for GERD. The aims are to apply the updated criteria in Chinese GERD patients and clarify its influence on clinical outcome. Methods Patients who were referred for both esophageal high-resolution manometry and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring due to reflux symptoms were retrospectively screened. Those patients with AET > 4% was included and grouped into either AET 4-6% or AET > 6%. Their manometric profile, reflux profile, and response to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were evaluated. Adjunctive evidence proposed in the Lyon consensus was added in patients with AET 4-6% for therapeutic gain. Another group of patients (n = 144) with AET < 4% were included as non-GERD patients. Results In total, 151 patients (102 males) were included with 113 patients AET > 6% (74.9%). GERD patients with AET > 4% were with more male, older patients, and higher body mass index compared with non-GERD patients. Meanwhile, GERD patients were less competent in esophagogastric junction pressure. However, the manometric and reflux profile were similar between patients with AET > 6% and 4-6%. The response rate of PPI therapy was 64.6% and 63.2%, respectively, in groups of AET > 6% and 4-6% (P > 0.05). When adjunctive evidence was added in patients with AET 4-6%, no therapeutic gain was obtained. Conclusions The efficacy of PPI therapy was similar in patients with AET > 6% and 4-6%. The increase of the AET threshold did not influence the clinical outcome of Chinese GERD patients. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2021;27:55-62)

Aging effects on chemical transformation and metal(loid) removal by entrapped nanoscale zero-valent iron for hydraulic fracturing wastewater treatment

Sun, Yuqing,Lei, Cheng,Khan, Eakalak,Chen, Season S.,Tsang, Daniel C.W.,Ok, Yong Sik,Lin, Daohui,Feng, Yujie,Li, Xiang-dong Elsevier 2018 Science of the Total Environment Vol.615 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this study, alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-alginate entrapped nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) was tested for structural evolution, chemical transformation, and metals/metalloids removal (Cu(II), Cr(VI), Zn(II), and As(V)) after 1–2month passivation in model saline wastewaters from hydraulic fracturing. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed successful prevention of Fe<SUP>0</SUP> corrosion by polymeric entrapment. Increasing ionic strength (<I>I</I>) from 0 to 4.10M (deionized water to Day-90 fracturing wastewater (FWW)) with prolonged aging time induced chemical instability of alginate due to dissociation of carboxyl groups and competition for hydrogen bonding with nZVI, which caused high Na (7.17%) and total organic carbon (24.6%) dissolution from PVA-alginate entrapped nZVI after 2-month immersion in Day-90 FWW. Compared to freshly-made beads, 2-month aging of PVA-alginate entrapped nZVI in Day-90 FWW promoted Cu(II) and Cr(VI) uptake in terms of the highest removal efficiency (84.2% and 70.8%), pseudo-second-order surface area-normalized rate coefficient <I>k</I> <SUB> <I>sa</I> </SUB> (2.09×10<SUP>−1</SUP> Lm<SUP>−2</SUP> h<SUP>−1</SUP> and 1.84×10<SUP>−1</SUP> Lm<SUP>−2</SUP> h<SUP>−1</SUP>), and Fe dissolution after 8-h reaction (13.9% and 8.45%). However, the same conditions inhibited Zn(II) and As(V) sequestration in terms of the lowest removal efficiency (31.2% and 39.8%) by PVA-alginate nZVI and <I>k</I> <SUB> <I>sa</I> </SUB> (4.74×10<SUP>−2</SUP> Lm<SUP>−2</SUP> h<SUP>−1</SUP> and 6.15×10<SUP>−2</SUP> Lm<SUP>−2</SUP> h<SUP>−1</SUP>) by alginate nZVI. The X-ray spectroscopic analysis and chemical speciation modelling demonstrated that the difference in metals/metalloids removal by entrapped nZVI after aging was attributed to distinctive removal mechanisms: (i) enhanced Cu(II) and Cr(VI) removal by nZVI reduction with accelerated electron transfer after pronounced dissolution of non-conductive polymeric immobilization matrix; (ii) suppressed Zn(II) and As(V) removal by nZVI adsorption due to restrained mass transfer after blockage of surface-active micropores. Entrapped nZVI was chemically fragile and should be properly stored and regularly replaced for good performance.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> nZVI entrapment successfully prevented Fe<SUP>0</SUP> corrosion in fracturing wastewaters. </LI> <LI> Entrapped nZVI was chemically fragile due to dissolution of Na and TOC. </LI> <LI> nZVI passivation promoted Cu(II) and Cr(VI) but inhibited Zn(II) and As(V) removal. </LI> <LI> Effects of nZVI aging on removal efficiency depended on interaction mechanisms. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Nanoscale zero-valent iron for metal/metalloid removal from model hydraulic fracturing wastewater

Sun, Yuqing,Lei, Cheng,Khan, Eakalak,Chen, Season S.,Tsang, Daniel C.W.,Ok, Yong Sik,Lin, Daohui,Feng, Yujie,Li, Xiang-dong Elsevier 2017 CHEMOSPHERE - Vol.176 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) was tested for the removal of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI), and As(V) in model saline wastewaters from hydraulic fracturing. Increasing ionic strength (<I>I</I>) from 0.35 to 4.10 M (Day-1 to Day-90 wastewaters) increased Cu(II) removal (25.4–80.0%), inhibited Zn(II) removal (58.7–42.9%), slightly increased and then reduced Cr(VI) removal (65.7–44.1%), and almost unaffected As(V) removal (66.7–75.1%) by 8-h reaction with nZVI at 1–2 g L<SUP>−1</SUP>. The removal kinetics conformed to pseudo-second-order model, and increasing <I>I</I> decreased the surface area-normalized rate coefficient (<I>k</I> <SUB> <I>sa</I> </SUB>) of Cu(II) and Cr(VI), probably because agglomeration of nZVI in saline wastewaters restricted diffusion of metal(loid)s to active surface sites. Increasing <I>I</I> induced severe Fe dissolution from 0.37 to 0.77% in DIW to 4.87–13.0% in Day-90 wastewater; and Fe dissolution showed a significant positive correlation with Cu(II) removal. With surface stabilization by alginate and polyvinyl alcohol, the performance of entrapped nZVI in Day-90 wastewater was improved for Zn(II) and Cr(VI), and Fe dissolution was restrained (3.20–7.36%). The X-ray spectroscopic analysis and chemical speciation modelling demonstrated that the difference in removal trends from Day-1 to Day-90 wastewaters was attributed to: (i) distinctive removal mechanisms of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) (adsorption, (co-)precipitation, and reduction), compared to Zn(II) (adsorption) and As(V) (bidentate inner-sphere complexation); and (ii) changes in solution speciation (e.g., from Zn<SUP>2+</SUP> to ZnCl<SUB>3</SUB> <SUP>−</SUP> and ZnCl<SUB>4</SUB> <SUP>2−</SUP>; from CrO<SUB>4</SUB> <SUP>2−</SUP> to CaCrO<SUB>4</SUB> complex). Bare nZVI was susceptible to variations in wastewater chemistry while entrapped nZVI was more stable and environmentally benign, which could be used to remove metals/metalloids before subsequent treatment for reuse/disposal.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> nZVI could remove Cu(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI), and As(V) from fracturing wastewaters. </LI> <LI> High salinity enhanced Fe dissolution and reduced removal rates except Cu(II). </LI> <LI> nZVI entrapment mitigated Fe dissolution and improved metal(loid) removal. </LI> <LI> Removal efficiency varied with interaction mechanisms and solution speciation. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Static behaviour of lying multi-stud connectors in cable-pylon anchorage zone

Zhaofei Lin,Yuqing Liu,Jun He 국제구조공학회 2015 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.18 No.6

In order to investigate the behaviour of lying multi-stud connectors in cable-pylon anchorage zone, twenty-four push-out tests are carried out with different stud numbers and diameters. The effect of concrete block width and tensile force on shear strength is investigated using the developed and verified finite element model. The results show that the shear strength of the lying multi-stud connectors is reduced in comparison with the lying single-stud connector. The reduction increases with the increasing of the number of studs in the vertical direction. The influence of the stud number on the strength reduction of the lying multi-stud connectors is decreased under combined shear and tension loads compared with under pure shear. Yet, due to multi-stud effect, they still can't be ignored. The concrete block width has a non-negligible effect on the shear strength of the lying multi-stud connectors and therefore should be chosen properly when designing push-out specimens. No obvious difference is observed between the strength reductions of the studs with 22 mm and 25 mm diameters. The shear strengths obtained from the tests are compared with those predicted by AASHTO LRFD and Eurocode 4. Eurocode 4 generally gives conservative predictions of the shear strength, while AASHTO LRFD overestimates the shear strength. In addition, the lying multi-stud connectors with the diameters of 22 m and 25 mm both exhibit adequate ductility according to Eurocode 4. An expression of load-slip curve is proposed for the lying multi-stud connectors and shows good agreement with the test results.

Shear behavior and analytical model of perfobond connectors

Shuangjie Zheng,Yuqing Liu,Teruhiko Yoda,Weiwei Lin 국제구조공학회 2016 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.20 No.1

In steel and concrete composite girders, the load transfer between the steel beam and the concrete slab is commonly ensured by installing shear connectors. In this paper, to investigate the nonlinear behavior of perfobond connectors, a total of 60 push-out specimens were fabricated and tested with the variables for the hole diameter, the concrete strength, the thickness of concrete slab, the diameter, strength and existence of perforating rebar, the thickness, height and distance of perfobond ribs. The failure mode and the load-slip behavior of perfobond connectors were obtained. A theoretical model was put forward to express the load-slip relationship. Analytical formulas of shear capacity and peak slip were also proposed considering the interaction between the concrete dowel and the perforating rebar. The calculation results of the proposals agreed well with the experimental values.

CT-Based Radiomics Signature for Preoperative Prediction of Coagulative Necrosis in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Xu Kai,Liu Lin,Li Wenhui,Sun Xiaoqing,Shen Tongxu,Pan Feng,Jiang Yuqing,Guo Yan,Ding Lei,Zhang Mengchao 대한영상의학회 2020 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.21 No.6

Objective: The presence of coagulative necrosis (CN) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) indicates a poor prognosis, while the absence of CN indicates a good prognosis. The purpose of this study was to build and validate a radiomics signature based on preoperative CT imaging data to estimate CN status in ccRCC. Materials and Methods: Altogether, 105 patients with pathologically confirmed ccRCC were retrospectively enrolled in this study and then divided into training (n = 72) and validation (n = 33) sets. Thereafter, 385 radiomics features were extracted from the three-dimensional volumes of interest of each tumor, and 10 traditional features were assessed by two experienced radiologists using triple-phase CT-enhanced images. A multivariate logistic regression algorithm was used to build the radiomics score and traditional predictors in the training set, and their performance was assessed and then tested in the validation set. The radiomics signature to distinguish CN status was then developed by incorporating the radiomics score and the selected traditional predictors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive performance. Results: The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the radiomics score, which consisted of 7 radiomics features, was 0.855 in the training set and 0.885 in the validation set. The AUC of the traditional predictor, which consisted of 2 traditional features, was 0.843 in the training set and 0.858 in the validation set. The radiomics signature showed the best performance with an AUC of 0.942 in the training set, which was then confirmed with an AUC of 0.969 in the validation set. Conclusion: The CT-based radiomics signature that incorporated radiomics and traditional features has the potential to be used as a non-invasive tool for preoperative prediction of CN in ccRCC.

Shear stiffness of headed studs on structural behaviors of steel-concrete composite girders

Jun He,Zhaofei Lin,Yuqing Liu,Xiaoqing Xu,Haohui Xin,Sihao Wang 국제구조공학회 2020 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.36 No.5

Steel-concrete composite structures have been extensively used in building, bridges, and other civil engineering infrastructure. Shear stud connectors between steel and concrete are essential in composite members to guarantee the effectiveness of their behavior in terms of strength and deformability. This study focuses on investigating the shear stiffness of headed studs embedded in several types of concrete with wide range of compressive strength, and their effects on the elastic behavior of steel-concrete composite girders were evaluated. Firstly, totally 206 monotonic push-out tests from the literature were reviewed to investigate the shear stiffness of headed studs embedded in various types of concrete (NC, HPC, UHPC etc.). Shear stiffness of studs is defined as the secant stiffness of the load-slip curve at 0.5Vu, and a formulation for predicting defined shear stiffness in elastic state was proposed, indicating that the stud diameter and the elastic modulus of steel and concrete are the main factors. And the shear stiffness predicted by the new formula agree well with test results for studs with a diameter ranging from 10 to 30 mm in the concrete with compressive strength ranging from 22.0 to 200.0MPa. Then, the effects of shear stiffness on the elastic behaviors of composite girders with different sizes and under different loading conditions were analyzed, the equations for calculating the stress and deformation of simply supported composite girders considering the influence of connection’s shear stiffness were derived under different loading conditions using classical linear partial-interaction theory. As the increasing of shear stiffness, the stress and deflection at the most unfavorable section under partial connected condition tend to be those under full connected condition, but the approaching speed decreases gradually. Finally, the connector’s shear stiffness was recommended for fully connection in composite girders with different dimensions under different loading conditions. The findings from present study may provide a reference for the prediction of shear stiffness for headed studs and the elastic design of steel-concrete composite girder.

Removal of chlorinated organic solvents from hydraulic fracturing wastewater by bare and entrapped nanoscale zero-valent iron

Lei, Cheng,Sun, Yuqing,Khan, Eakalak,Chen, Season S.,Tsang, Daniel C.W.,Graham, Nigel J.D.,Ok, Yong Sik,Yang, Xin,Lin, Daohui,Feng, Yujie,Li, Xiang-Dong Elsevier 2018 CHEMOSPHERE - Vol.196 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>With the increasing application of hydraulic fracturing, it is urgent to develop an effective and economically feasible method to treat the large volumes of fracturing wastewater. In this study, bare and entrapped nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) were introduced for the removal of carbon tetrachloride (CT) and 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCA) in model high-salinity fracturing wastewater. With increasing ionic strength (<I>I</I>) from Day-1 (<I>I</I> = 0.35 M) to Day-90 (<I>I</I> = 4.10 M) wastewaters, bare nZVI presented significantly lower removal efficiency of CT (from 53.5% to 38.7%) and 1,1,2-TCA (from 71.1% to 21.7%) and underwent more serious Fe dissolution from 1.31 ± 1.19% in Day-1 to 5.79 ± 0.32% in Day-90 wastewater. Particle aggregation induced by high ionic strength was primarily responsible for the lowered performance of nZVI due to less available reactive sites on nZVI surface. The immobilization of nZVI in alginate with/without polyvinyl alcohol provided resistance to particle aggregation and contributed to the superior performance of entrapped nZVI in Day-90 wastewater for 1,1,2-TCA removal (62.6–72.3%), which also mitigated Fe dissolution (4.00–4.69%). Both adsorption (by polymer matrix) and reduction (by immobilized nZVI) were involved in the 1,1,2-TCA removal by entrapped nZVI. However, after 1-month immersion in synthetic fracturing wastewater, a marked drop in the reactivity of entrapped nZVI for 1,1,2-TCA removal from Day-90 wastewater was observed with significant release of Na and total organic carbon. In summary, bare nZVI was sensitive to the nature of the fracturing wastewater, while the use of environmentally benign entrapped nZVI was more promising for wastewater treatment.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Increasing ionic strength decreased nZVI reactivity and increased Fe dissolution. </LI> <LI> Entrapping nZVI in polymer matrix improved reactivity and limited Fe dissolution. </LI> <LI> Entrapped nZVI removed model chlorinated organic via both adsorption and reduction. </LI> <LI> Aging process was mitigated by polymer matrix but still inhibited nZVI reactivity. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Inhibition of miR-146a-5p and miR-8114 in Insulin-Secreting Cells Contributes to the Protection of Melatonin against Stearic Acid-Induced Cellular Senescence by Targeting Mafa

Shenghan Su,Qingrui Zhao,Lingfeng Dan,Yuqing Lin,Xuebei Li,Yunjin Zhang,Chunxiao Yang,Yimeng Dong,Xiaohan Li,Romano Regazzi,Changhao Sun,Xia Chu,Huimin Lu 대한내분비학회 2022 Endocrinology and metabolism Vol.37 No.6

Background: Chronic exposure to elevated levels of saturated fatty acids results in pancreatic β-cell senescence. However, targets and effective agents for preventing stearic acid-induced β-cell senescence are still lacking. Although melatonin administration can protect β-cells against lipotoxicity through anti-senescence processes, the precise underlying mechanisms still need to be explored. Therefore, we investigated the anti-senescence effect of melatonin on stearic acid-treated mouse β-cells and elucidated the possible role of microRNAs in this process. Methods: β-Cell senescence was identified by measuring the expression of senescence-related genes and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining. Gain- and loss-of-function approaches were used to investigate the involvement of microRNAs in stearic acid-evoked β-cell senescence and dysfunction. Bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter activity assays were applied to predict the direct targets of microRNAs. Results: Long-term exposure to a high concentration of stearic acid-induced senescence and upregulated miR-146a-5p and miR-8114 expression in both mouse islets and β-TC6 cell lines. Melatonin effectively suppressed this process and reduced the levels of these two miRNAs. A remarkable reversibility of stearic acid-induced β-cell senescence and dysfunction was observed after silencing miR-146a-5p and miR-8114. Moreover, V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A (Mafa) was verified as a direct target of miR-146a-5p and miR-8114. Melatonin also significantly ameliorated senescence and dysfunction in miR-146a-5pand miR-8114-transfected β-cells. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that melatonin protects against stearic acid-induced β-cell senescence by inhibiting miR-146a-5p and miR-8114 and upregulating Mafa expression. This not only provides novel targets for preventing stearic acid-induced β-cell dysfunction, but also points to melatonin as a promising drug to combat type 2 diabetes progression.

Upright Integrated Relaxation Pressure Predicts Symptom Outcome for Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction

( Songfeng Chen ),( Mengya Liang ),( Niandi Tan ),( Mengyu Zhang ),( Yuqing Lin ),( Peixian Cao ),( Qianjun Zhuang ),( Yinglian Xiao ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2021 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.27 No.3

Background/Aims Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) is characterized by elevated integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) and preserved esophageal peristalsis. The clinical significance of EGJOO is uncertain. This study aim to describe the clinical characteristics of these patients and to find out potential parameters to predict patients’ symptom outcome. Methods Consecutive patients who received high-resolution manometry examination in our hospital in 2013-2019 and met the diagnostic criteria of EGJOO were retrospectively included. Motility and reflux parameters as well as endoscopy and barium esophagogram results were studied and compared. Patients were also followed up to record their treatment methods and symptom outcomes. Results A total of 138 EGJOO (accounting for 5.2% of total patients taking high-resolution manometry examination in our hospital) patients were included. Only 2.9% of these patients had persistent dysphagia. A total of 81.8% of EGJOO patients had symptom resolution during follow-up. Patients with persistent dysphagia had significantly higher upright IRP (16.6 [10.3, 19.8] vs 7.8 [3.2, 11.5]; P = 0.026) than those without. Upright IRP can effectively distinguished patients with persistent dysphagia (area under curve: 0.826; P = 0.026) using optimal cut-off value of 9.05 mmHg. Conclusion EGJOO patients with persistent dysphagia and higher upright IRP (median > 9.05 mmHg) needs further evaluation and aggressive management. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2021;27:363-369)