The clinical pattern differentiates ANCA-positive infective endocarditis patients from ANCA-associated vasculitis patients: a 23 years’ retrospective cohort study in China and follow-ups

Clinical Rheumatology - Patients with infective endocarditis (IE) may present rheumatic manifestations concurrent with various autoantibodies and thus mimic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody...     

Synthesis of Novel Chain‐End‐Functionalized Polyethylenes via Thiol‐ene Click Chemistry

Chain‐end‐functionalized polyethylenes (Cef‐PEs: PE? S? SH (Cef₁), PE? S? furfuryl (Cef₂), PE? S? NH₂ (Cef₄), PE? S? NH₂?HCl (Cef₅), PE? S? COONa (Cef₆), PE? S? CHA(Cef₇), PE? S? SO₃Na (Cef₈), PE? S? OH (Cef₉) and PE? S? COOH (Cef₁₀)) are synthesized by thiol‐ene addition of vinyl‐terminated polyethylene (v‐PE) with 1,2‐ethanedithiol, furfurylmercaptan, cysteamine, cysteamine hydrochloride, sodium thioglycolate, L‐cysteine hydrochloride, sodium 2‐mercaptoethanesulfonate, mercaptoethanol, and thioglycolic acid, respectively. PE? S? t? NCO (Cef₃) is obtained by subsequent reaction of Cef₉ with anhydrous 4,4′‐MDI. Cef‐PE_1–8 are reported for the first time. The conversions of all the reactions are up to 95%–100%. All the Cef‐PEs are characterized by NMR, GPC, DSC, FT‐IR, and TGA. In the experiments, it is found that alkaline mercaptans and solvents are adverse to the thiol‐ene click reactions.

     

Inhibition of mouse hepatocyte apoptosis via anti-Fas ribozyme

AIM: To investigate the effects of anti-Fas ribozyme on Fas expression and apoptosis in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. METHODS: Mouse hepatocytes were isolated by using collagenase irrigation. A hammerhead ribozyme targeting the Fas mRNA was constructed, and transfected into mouse hepatocytes via Effectene. Then Fas expression in mouse hepatocytes was detected by RT-PCR and western blotting. After being treated with anti-Fas antibody (JO2), hepatocytes viability was measured with MTT assay. Caspase-3 proteolytic activity was detected, and cell apoptosis was measured according to Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit. RESULTS: Fas expressed in primary mouse hepatocytes. Fas expression in hepatocytes transfected with anti-Fas ribozyme was decreased remarkably and correlated with the resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis as determined by flow cytometry and caspase-3 proteolytic activity. CONCLUSION: Anti-Fas ribozyme can remarkably decrease the Fas expression in mouse hepatocytes, thus inhibit Fas-mediated apoptosis in hepatocytes. It is suggested that anti-Fas ribozyme could significantly increase the resistance of transplanted hepatocytes to apoptosis and improve the survival of transplanted hepatocytes.     

Hospital services for people with HIV infection in Flanders: patients' satisfaction

Two questionnaire surveys about satisfaction with hospital services were carried out among HIV-infected people in Flanders. In a first survey (CIRCA '93 study) between 1993 and 1995, before highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) was available, questionnaires were distributed by HIV treatment centres, general practitioners and HIV support organizations: 315 people with HIV infection completed the questionnaire. The level of patient satisfaction was generally higher with services at university hospitals than at general hospitals. Most patients preferred to be hospitalized in a ward specialized in HIV care. Contact with other HIV-infected patients was generally experienced as supportive. The second survey included 34 patients with HIV-infection and 83 patients with lung disease. They were admitted to the same ward at the Antwerp University Hospital, between July 1996 and July 1997. Patients with HIV infections were expecting more services than patients with lung disease. Both studies showed that HIV-infected patients wanted to be actively involved in diagnostic and treatment decisions. The multidisciplinary approach, offered by the Antwerp University Hospital, was widely appreciated by patients and could be used as an example for organizing patient care for other diseases.     

Glucose monitoring in living cells with single fluorescent protein-based sensors

Glucose is the main source of energy and carbon in organisms and plays a central role in metabolism and cellular homeostasis. However, the sensitive fluctuation of glucose in living cells is difficult to monitor. Thus, we developed a series of ratiometric, highly responsive, single fluorescent protein-based glucose sensors of wide dynamic range by combining a circularly permuted yellow fluorescent protein with a bacterial periplasmic glucose/galactose-binding protein. We used these sensors to monitor glucose transport in living Escherichia coli cells, and found that the cells take up glucose within 10 min to maintain physiological glucose levels, and observed the differences in glucose uptake and glucose metabolism between wild-type and Mlc knockout cells. These sensors can be specific and simple tools for glucose detection in vitro and non-invasive tools for real-time monitoring of glucose metabolism in vivo.

Glucose is the main source of energy and carbon in organisms and plays a central role in metabolism and cellular homeostasis.     

The surface chemical composition effect of a polyacrylic acid/polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber/quartz crystal microbalance sensor on ammonia sensing behavior

Polyacrylic acid (PAA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) ammonia sensors were fabricated by depositing composite PAA/PVA nanofibrous substrates onto QCM gold electrodes. Morphological analysis of the PAA/PVA substrates revealed a homogenous smooth surface and similar specific surface areas. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated their distinct chemical properties with different carboxyl group contents on the surface. The ammonia sensing tests demonstrated the significant effect of the surface chemical characteristics on ammonia-sensing sensitivity, and the sensing process was proven to be derive from a monolayer adsorption mechanism. Because of the inherent high specific surface areas (SSAs) and three-dimensional porous architecture, the prepared PAA/PVA nanofiber-based QCM sensors exhibited ultrahigh sensitivity (100 ppb) and rapid response (several seconds) with good selectivity and repeatability in terms of ammonia detection.

Polyacrylic acid (PAA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) ammonia sensors were fabricated by depositing composite PAA/PVA nanofibrous substrates onto QCM gold electrodes.     

A synthesis and performance evaluation of a highly efficient ecological dust depressor based on the sodium lignosulfonate–acrylic acid graft copolymer

In this paper, a highly efficient and environmentally-friendly dust depressor was developed based on the sodium lignosulfonate–acrylic acid graft copolymer. Using the grafting ratio as an index, a three-factor and four-level orthogonal experiment was conducted to optimize the fabrication conditions of the graft copolymer. At a reaction temperature of 60 °C, feed ratio m_SLS–AA of 1 : 3, and FeSO₄·7H₂O content of 2.5%, the prototype produced the highest grafting ratio. The microstructure of the graft copolymer was measured using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR). Furthermore, the influence of glycerol and the JFC penetrant on the contact angle between the compound solution and coal powder was investigated. Finally, four formulas of dust depressor were selected based on the experimental results. The dust-control performance of the four dust depressors was then tested on a large-scale spray dust suppression simulation platform. The results show that after applying formula 1 at various distances from the spray field, the average dust reduction rates of the total dust (respirable dust) at each point increased. Compared to the water-spraying dust suppression technique, the dust concentration is significantly reduced after the graft copolymer dust depressor is applied.

In this paper, a highly efficient and environmentally-friendly dust depressor was developed based on the sodium lignosulfonate–acrylic acid graft copolymer.