Fasting insulin and uric acid levels but not indices of iron metabolism are independent predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A case-control study

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common reason for hepatological consultation and may herald severe hepatic and extra-hepatic disease. The aetiopathogenesis of this condition is an area of increasing interest. AIM: To evaluate anthropometric and biochemical factors associated to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a case-control study. Methods. Demographic and biochemical data of 60 consecutive patients with bright liver absent-to-low alcohol consumption, no evidence of viral, genetic and autoimmune diseases, were compared to those of 60 age- and gender-matched historical controls without fatty liver by univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients were more often hypertriglyceridaemic, obese and diabetic than controls (p<.01). Mean values of alanine transaminase, gammaglutamyltranspeptidase, triglycerides, uric acid, fasting and log insulin, transferrin percent saturation and ferritin were significantly higher in the patients, while transferrin and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, a quantitative insulin sensitivity index, were lower. No iron storage was found in those who underwent liver biopsy At univariate analysis the relative risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease significantly increased (p<0. 05) with increasing body mass index, fasting insulin, alanine transaminase, uric acid, triglycerides and gammaglutamyltranspeptidase; it decreased with increasing transferrin and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. Multiple logistic regression analysis disclosed only fasting insulin and uric acid to be independent predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Fasting insulin and serum uric acid levels indicating insulin resistance, but not indices of iron overload, are independent predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.     

Molecularly engineered electroplex emission for an efficient near-infrared light-emitting electrochemical cell (NIR-LEC)

Electroplex emission is rarely seen in ruthenium polypyridyl complexes, and there have been no reports from light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) to date. Here, for the first time, near-infrared (NIR) emission via the electroplex mechanism in a LEC based on a new blend of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes is described. The key factor in the design of the new complexes is the 0.4 V decrease in the oxidation half-potential of Ru(ii)/Ru(iii) in [Ru(DPCO)(bpy)₂]ClO₄ (DPCO = diphenylcarbazone, bpy = 2,2 bipyridine), which is about one-third of the value for benchmark [Ru(bpy)₃](ClO₄)₂, as well as the long lifetime of excited states of 350–450 ns. The LEC based on the new blend with a narrow band gap (≈1.0 eV) of a Ru(DPCO) complex and Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ can produce an electroluminescence spectrum centred at about 700 nm, which extends to the NIR region with a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 0.93% at a very low turn-on voltage of 2.6 V. In particular, the very simple LEC structure was constructed from indium tin oxide (anode)/Ru(DPCO):Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/Ga:In (cathode), avoiding any polymer or transporting materials, as well as replacing Al or Au by a molten alloy cathode. This system has promising applications in the production of LECs via microcontact or inkjet printing.

Electroplex emission is rarely seen in ruthenium polypyridyl complexes, and there have been no reports from light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) to date. Here, near-infrared (NIR) emission via the electroplex mechanism in a LEC was reported.     

Neuropeptide Y Attenuates Stress‐Induced Bone Loss Through Suppression of Noradrenaline Circuits

Chronic stress and depression have adverse consequences on many organ systems, including the skeleton, but the mechanisms underlying stress‐induced bone loss remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that neuropeptide Y (NPY), centrally and peripherally, plays a critical role in protecting against stress‐induced bone loss. Mice lacking the anxiolytic factor NPY exhibit more anxious behavior and elevated corticosterone levels. Additionally, following a 6‐week restraint, or cold‐stress protocol, Npy‐null mice exhibit three‐fold greater bone loss compared to wild‐type mice, owing to suppression of osteoblast activity. This stress‐protective NPY pathway acts specifically through Y2 receptors. Centrally, Y2 receptors suppress corticotropin‐releasing factor expression and inhibit activation of noradrenergic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus. In the periphery, they act to control noradrenaline release from sympathetic neurons. Specific deletion of arcuate Y2 receptors recapitulates the Npy‐null stress response, coincident with elevated serum noradrenaline. Importantly, specific reintroduction of NPY solely in noradrenergic neurons of otherwise Npy‐null mice blocks the increase in circulating noradrenaline and the stress‐induced bone loss. Thus, NPY protects against excessive stress‐induced bone loss, through Y2 receptor‐mediated modulation of central and peripheral noradrenergic neurons. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

Fabrication and performance evaluation of new nanocomposite membranes based on sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) for PEM fuel cells

The purpose of this work is to enhance the proton conductivity and fuel cell performance of sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) (SPPEK) as a proton exchange membrane through the application of SrTiO₃ perovskite nanoparticles. Nanocomposite membranes based on SPPEK and SrTiO₃ perovskite nanoparticles were prepared via a casting method. The highest proton conductivity of nanocomposite membranes obtained was 120 mS cm⁻¹ at 90 °C and 95% RH. These enhancements could be related to the hygroscopic structure of SrTiO₃ perovskite nanoparticles and the formation of hydrogen bonds between nanoparticles and water molecules. The satisfactory power density, 0.41 W cm⁻² at 0.5 V and 85 °C, of the nanocomposite membrane (5 wt% content of nanoparticles) confirms their potential for application in the PEM fuel cells.

The purpose of this work is to enhance the proton conductivity and fuel cell performance of sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) (SPPEK) as a proton exchange membrane through the application of SrTiO₃ perovskite nanoparticles.