Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increases risk of carotid atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke: An updated meta-analysis with 135,602 individuals

Ansel Shao Pin Tang,Kai En Chan,Jingxuan Quek,Jieling Xiao,Phoebe Tay,Margaret Teng,Keng Siang Lee,Snow Yunni Lin,May Zin Myint,Benjamin Tan,Vijay K Sharma,Darren Jun Hao Tan,Wen Hui Lim,Apichat Kaewd 대한간학회 2022 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.28 No.3

Background/Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. While existing studies have examined cardiac remodeling in NAFLD, there has been less emphasis on the development of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke. We sought to conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the prevalence, risk factors, and degree of risk increment of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke in NAFLD. Methods: Embase and Medline were searched for articles relating to NAFLD, carotid atherosclerosis, and stroke. Proportional data was analysed using a generalized linear mixed model. Pairwise meta-analysis was conducted to obtain odds ratio or weighted mean difference for comparison between patients with and without NAFLD. Results: From pooled analysis of 30 studies involving 7,951 patients with NAFLD, 35.02% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.36–43.53%) had carotid atherosclerosis with an odds ratio of 3.20 (95% CI, 2.37–4.32; P<0.0001). Pooled analysis of 25,839 patients with NAFLD found the prevalence of stroke to be 5.04% (95% CI, 2.74–9.09%) with an odds ratio of 1.88 (95% CI, 1.23–2.88; P=0.02) compared to non-NAFLD. The degree of steatosis assessed by ultrasonography in NAFLD was closely associated with risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke. Older age significantly increased the risk of developing carotid atherosclerosis, but not stroke in NAFLD. Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that a stepwise increment of steatosis of NAFLD can significantly increase the risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke development in NAFLD. Patients more than a third sufferred from carotid atherosclerosis and routine assessment of carotid atherosclerosis is quintessential in NAFLD.

Combination of Tumor Volume and Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Improved Prognostic Stratification of Stage II Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in the Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Era: A Large-Scale Cohort Study

Qiu-Yan Chen,Shao-Yan Guo,Lin-Quan Tang,Tong-Yu Lu,Bo-Lin Chen,Qi-Yu Zhong,Meng-Sha Zou,Qing-Nan Tang,Wen-Hui Chen,Shan-Shan Guo,Li-Ting Liu,Yang Li,Ling Guo,Hao-Yuan Mo,Rui Sun,Dong-Hua Luo,Chong Zha 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.3

Purpose Little is known about combination of the circulating Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) DNA and tumor volume in prognosis of stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in the intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era. We conducted this cohort study to evaluate the prognostic values of combining these two factors. Materials and Methods By Kaplan-Meier, we compare the differences of survival curves between 385 patients with different EBV DNA or tumor volume levels, or with the combination of two biomarkers mentioned above. Results Gross tumor volume of cervical lymph nodes (GTVnd, p < 0.001) and total tumor volume (GTVtotal, p < 0.001) were both closely related to pretreatment EBV DNA, while gross tumor volume of nasopharynx (GTVnx, p=0.047) was weakly related to EBV DNA. EBV DNA was significantly correlated with progress-free survival (PFS, p=0.005), locoregional-free survival (LRFS, p=0.039), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, p=0.017), while GTVtotal, regardless of GTVnx and GTVnd, had a significant correlation with PFS and LRFS. The p-values of GTVtotal for PFS and LRFS were 0.008 and 0.001, respectively. According to GTVtotal and pretreatment EBV DNA level, patients were divided into a low-risk group (EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm3; EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal  30 cm3; or EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm3) and a high-risk group (EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal  30 cm3). When patients in the low-risk group were compared with those in the high-risk group, 3-year PFS (p=0.003), LRFS (p=0.010), and DMFS (p=0.031) rates were statistically significant. Conclusion Pretreatment plasma EBV DNA and tumor volume were both closely correlated with prognosis of stage II NPC patients in the IMRT era. Combination of EBV DNA and tumor volume can refine prognosis and indicate for clinical therapy.

Syntheses, Structures and Luminescent Properties of Two Novel M(II)-Phen-SIP Supramolecular Compounds (M = Co, Ni)

Zhu, Yu-Lan,Shao, Shuai,Ma, Kui-Rong,Tang, Xue-Ling,Cao, Li,Zhao, Hui-Chao Korean Chemical Society 2012 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.33 No.4

Two metal compounds, $[Co(phen)_2(H_2O)_2]{\cdot}2H_2SIP{\cdot}2H_2O$ 1 and $[Ni(phen)_3]{\cdot}2H_2SIP{\cdot}3H_2O$ 2, have been obtained by incorporating 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 5-sulfoisophthalic acid monosodium salt ($NaH_2SIP$) ligands under hydrothermal conditions. Meanwhile, the two compounds were characterized by element analysis, IR, XRD, TG-DTA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both 1 and 2 present 3D supramolecular structures via O-H${\cdots}$O hydrogen bond interactions. Luminescent properties for 1 and 2 were also studied. The compound 1 has two fluorescence emission peaks centered at 398 nm attributed to the intraligand emission from the SIP ligand and at 438 nm assigned to the combined interaction of intraligand ${\pi}^*-{\pi}$ transitions of the phen ligand and ligand-to-metal-charge-transfer (LMCT) transitions (${\lambda}_{ex}$ = 233 nm). The compound 2 shows one emission band centered at 423 nm with a shoulder peak at 434 nm which may be originated from the intraligand ${\pi}^*-{\pi}$ transitions of the phen ligand (${\lambda}_{ex}$ = 266 nm).

Syntheses, Structures and Luminescent Properties of Two Novel M(II)-Phen-SIP Supramolecular Compounds (M = Co, Ni)

Yu-Lan Zhu,Shuai Shao,Kui-Rong Ma,Xue-Ling Tang,Li Cao,Hui-Chao Zhao 대한화학회 2012 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.33 No.4

Two metal compounds, [Co(phen)2(H2O)2]·2H2SIP·2H2O 1 and [Ni(phen)3]·2H2SIP·3H2O 2, have been obtained by incorporating 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 5-sulfoisophthalic acid monosodium salt (NaH2SIP) ligands under hydrothermal conditions. Meanwhile, the two compounds were characterized by element analysis, IR, XRD, TG-DTA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both 1 and 2 present 3D supramolecular structures via O–H···O hydrogen bond interactions. Luminescent properties for 1 and 2 were also studied. The compound 1 has two fluorescence emission peaks centered at 398 nm attributed to the intraligand emission from the SIP ligand and at 438 nm assigned to the combined interaction of intraligand π*-π transitions of the phen ligand and ligand-to-metal-charge-transfer (LMCT) transitions (λex = 233 nm). The compound 2 shows one emission band centered at 423 nm with a shoulder peak at 434 nm which may be originated from the intraligand π*-π transitions of the phen ligand (λex = 266 nm).

A new strategy for stem cells therapy for erectile dysfunction: Adipose-derived stem cells transfect Neuregulin-1 gene through superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

Jianxing Cheng,Zhongjie Zheng,Wenhao Tang,Jichun Shao,Hui Jiang,Haocheng Lin 대한비뇨의학회 2022 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.63 No.3

Purpose: Our previous studies showed that nanotechnology improves derived adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED). In this study, the Neuregulin-1(NRG1) gene was transfected into ADSCs with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) further to improve the therapeutic effect of ADSCs on ED. Materials and Methods: ADSCs were isolated from epididymal adipose tissue of Sprague–Dawley rats. The optimal concentration of PEI-SPION (SPION modified with polyethyleneimine) was selected to construct the gene complex. After electrostatic binding of PEI-SPION and DNA, a PEI layer was wrapped to make the PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI gene transfection complex. Different groups were set up for transfection tests. Lipo2000 transfection reagent was used as the control. PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI in the experimental group was transfected under an external magnetic field. Results: When the concentration of PEI-SPION was 10 µg/mL, it had little cytotoxicity, and cell activity was not significantly affected. PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI forms positively charged nanocomposites with a particle size of 72.6±14.9 nm when N/P ≥8. The PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI gene complex can significantly improve the transfection efficiency of ADSCs, reaching 26.74%±4.62%, under the action of the external magnetic field. PCR and Western blot showed that the expression level of the NRG1 gene increased significantly, which proved that the transfection was effective. Conclusions: PEI-SPION can be used as a vector for NRG1 gene transfection into ADSCs. PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI packaging has the highest transfection efficiency under the external magnetic field than the other groups. These findings may provide a new strategy for ADSCs therapy for ED.

Numerical Study of the Effect of Grout Material Properties on Ground Deformation during Shallow TBM Tunneling

Qi Zhang,Xiao-Ping Zhang,Hao-Jie Wang,Quan-Sheng Liu,Dan Xu,Shao-Hui Tang 대한토목학회 2022 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.26 No.8

The full-face shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) has been widely used to build tunnels in urban area. Ground deformations usually occur during tunnelling processes, which is closely related to engineering geological property. A large ground deformation may lead to large-scale surface settlement or ground collapse, especially for shallow buried tunnels. In general, synchronous grouting is adopted to reduce the ground deformation. The temporal and spatial distribution of the grout pressure and consolidation processes of grouting have a significant influence on the deformation. For a better understanding the relationship between the grout material type and the ground deformation, the present study models a complex numerical model in FLAC3D based on the Guangzhou Metro line 18. A numerical method is proposed to reproduce the tunnelling process and the consolidation process of grout material. The effect of grouting material on ground deformation is discussed, i.e., immediately solidified type, quick hardening type, and good mobility type. The ground deformation of the numerical simulation are compared to those monitored in the field. The results indicate that the immediately solidified type grout can reduce the ground settlement effectively and is mainly applicable to secondary grouting. The quick hardening type can make the ground upheaval, which is smaller than that induced by immediately solidified type. The good mobility type can reduce the ground settlement and well control the ground deformation. The good mobility type recommends using in the numerical study for simulating the synchronous grouting.