Objective To explore the impact of different moving patterns during the dip-coating process on thickness distributions of polymer heart valves.Methods Based on the volume of fluid(VOF)multiphase flow model,the Eulerian wall-film(EWF)model,and dynamic mesh technology,the dip-coating manufacturing process of polymer heart valves were numerically simulated.The effects of vertical,horizontal,and circular moving patterns on flow characteristics of the surface impregnation liquid and liquid film distributions under self-rotation conditions of the models were mainly studied.Subsequently,seven identical test points were set on each valve leaflet to collect thickness data,and the coefficient of variation(CV)was calculated to evaluate the uniformity of the liquid film thickness.Given that the vertical and horizontal patterns had fewer moving planes,limiting the optimization space,the circular pattern(45°)with richer moving planes was selected as the basis for optimization,and comparative analysis of numerical simulation was conducted.Results In the vertical pattern,the peak CV was 0.461 3;in the horizontal pattern,the CV was 0.060 8;and in the circular pattern,the CV at 30°,45° and 60° were 0.457 5,0.272 8,and 0.255 6,respectively.After optimization,the CV for the circular pattern(45°)decreased to 0.052 5,representing an 80.7％reduction compared to the pre-optimization value.Conclusions The moving patterns significantly affect the uniformity of dip-coating thickness distributions.The horizontal pattern demonstrates the best uniformity,while the vertical pattern shows the poorest uniformity.The CV for the circular pattern decreases as the angle increases,with its uniformity between that of the vertical and horizontal patterns.Optimization of moving pattern parameters based on simulation results has improved the uniformity of thickness distributions.

Objective To explore the impact of different moving patterns during the dip-coating process on thickness distributions of polymer heart valves.Methods Based on the volume of fluid(VOF)multiphase flow model,the Eulerian wall-film(EWF)model,and dynamic mesh technology,the dip-coating manufacturing process of polymer heart valves were numerically simulated.The effects of vertical,horizontal,and circular moving patterns on flow characteristics of the surface impregnation liquid and liquid film distributions under self-rotation conditions of the models were mainly studied.Subsequently,seven identical test points were set on each valve leaflet to collect thickness data,and the coefficient of variation(CV)was calculated to evaluate the uniformity of the liquid film thickness.Given that the vertical and horizontal patterns had fewer moving planes,limiting the optimization space,the circular pattern(45°)with richer moving planes was selected as the basis for optimization,and comparative analysis of numerical simulation was conducted.Results In the vertical pattern,the peak CV was 0.461 3;in the horizontal pattern,the CV was 0.060 8;and in the circular pattern,the CV at 30°,45° and 60° were 0.457 5,0.272 8,and 0.255 6,respectively.After optimization,the CV for the circular pattern(45°)decreased to 0.052 5,representing an 80.7％reduction compared to the pre-optimization value.Conclusions The moving patterns significantly affect the uniformity of dip-coating thickness distributions.The horizontal pattern demonstrates the best uniformity,while the vertical pattern shows the poorest uniformity.The CV for the circular pattern decreases as the angle increases,with its uniformity between that of the vertical and horizontal patterns.Optimization of moving pattern parameters based on simulation results has improved the uniformity of thickness distributions.

A 2-year-old boy was admitted to Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in Nov 30^th, 2018, due to polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria accompanied with increased glucose levels for more than 2 weeks. He presented with symmetrical short stature [height 81 cm (－2.2 SD), weight 9.8 kg (－2.1 SD), body mass index 14.94 kg/m² (P₁₀-P₁₅)], and with no special facial or physical features. Laboratory results showed that the glycated hemoglobin A1c was 14%, the fasting C-peptide was 0.3 ng/mL, and the islet autoantibodies were all negative. Oral glucose tolerance test showed significant increases in both fasting and postprandial glucose, but partial islet functions remained (post-load C-peptide increased 1.43 times compared to baseline). A heterozygous variant c.1366C>T (p.R456C) was detected in GATA6 gene, thereby the boy was diagnosed with a specific type of diabetes mellitus. The boy had congenital heart disease and suffered from transient hyperosmolar hyperglycemia after a patent ductus arteriosus surgery at 11 months of age. Insulin replacement therapy was prescribed, but without regular follow-up thereafter. The latest follow-up was about 3.5 years after the diagnosis of diabetes when the child was 5 years and 11 months old, with the fasting blood glucose of 6.0-10.0 mmol/L, and the 2 h postprandial glucose of 17.0-20.0 mmol/L.
Male ; Child ; Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications* ; Mutation, Missense ; C-Peptide/genetics* ; China ; Insulin/genetics* ; Glucose ; Blood Glucose ; GATA6 Transcription Factor/genetics*

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4B (eIF4B) plays an important role in mRNA translation initiation, cell survival and proliferation in vitro, but the in vivo function is poorly understood. In this study, via various experimental techniques such as hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, we investigated the role of eIF4B in mouse embryo development using an eIF4B knockout (KO) mouse model and explored the mechanism. We found that the livers, but not lungs, brain, stomach, or pancreas, derived from eIF4B KO mouse embryos displayed severe pathological changes characterized by enhanced apoptosis and necrosis. Accordingly, high expression of cleaved-caspase 3, and excessive activation of mTOR signaling as evidenced by increased expression and phosphorylation of p70S6K and enhanced phosphorylation of 4EBP1, were observed in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and fetal livers from eIF4B KO mice. These results uncover a critical role of eIF4B in mouse embryo development and provide important insights into the biological functions of eIF4B in vivo.
Animals ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Caspase 3 ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factors/metabolism* ; Fibroblasts ; Hematoxylin ; Liver/metabolism* ; Mice ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa/genetics* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Objective:To investigate the clinical and pathogenic characteristics of community acquired pyogenic liver abscess (PLA).Methods:The clinical data of 172 patients in First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University with community acquired PLA from March 2013 to September 2018 were retrospectively collected, including clinical characteristics, distribution of the causative pathogens, treatment regimens and outcomes. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:There were 158(91.9%) cases with fever, 69(40.1%) cases with abdominal pain among 172 PLA cases. One hundred and forty-three (83.1%) were solitary, and 141(82.0%) cases localized in right hepatic lobe. One hundred and six (61.6%) cases were PLA of cryptogenic origin. There were 156 cases underwent etiology detection, with the positive etiology detection of 99(63.5%) cases. Ninety-two (92.9%) cases were infected with a single strain, and seven (7.1%) cases were infected with mixed strains. A total of 115 strains of bacteria were isolated. The main strains included 71 (61.7%) Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), 21 (18.3%) Escherichia coli (EC), among which 17 were extended spectrum β lactamase, and two carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Among the 61 KP-PLA patients, 42(68.9%) cases were diagnosed with diabetes, 16(26.2%) cases with biliary diseases, and one (1.6%) case with malignant tumor. Among the 15 EC-PLA patients, six cases were diagnosed with diabetes, nine cases with biliary diseases, and four cases with malignant tumors. There were statistically significant differences ( χ2=4.307, 4.784 and 8.536, respectively, all P<0.05). After admission, the patients were treated with antibiotics alone or combined with drainage. One-hundred and sixty-seven (97.1%) cases got improved. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of PLA are atypical, and the dominant pathogens are KP and EC. The risk factors of PLA are diabetes mellitus, biliary diseases and malignant tumors.

Objective To explore the effects of astragalus polysaccharide on paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats by regulating TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway. Methods Rats were divided into control group, APS, PQ and PQ + APS groups. Paraquat was used to establish the rat model of pulmonary fibrosis. Lung wet/dry weight ratio and hydroxyproline content were measured; the pathological changes were observed by HE staining. The fibrosis in lung tissues was observed by Masson staining, and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interleukin 1β(IL-1β), and IL-6 were measured by ELISA kits. RT-PCR was used to detect the gene expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Vimentin, TGF-β1, Smad3, p-Smad3, and Smad7. Results Compared with the control group, in the PQ group the lung wet weight/dry weight ratio increased (t=12.922, P<0.001) and the hydroxyproline content increased (t=20.920, P<0.001). There were pathological changes and collagen deposition in lung tissues. TNF-α (t=23.932, P<0.001), IL-1β (t=34.826, P<0.001), and IL-6 (t=17.985, P<0.001) in alveolar lavage fluid all increased in concentration. TGF-β1 (t=20.934, P<0.001), collagen Ⅰ (t=26.853, P<0.001), and collagen Ⅲ (t=18.493, P<0.001) gene expressions increased. E-cadherin (t=25.456, P<0.001) protein expression decreased; α-SMA (t=26.980, P<0.001), Vimentin (t=23.862, P<0.001), and TGF-β1 (t=39.836, P<0.001) protein expressions increased. p-Smad3/Smad3 ratio (t=19.606, P<0.001) increased, Smad7 (t=30.904, P<0.001) protein expression decreased. Compared with PQ group, in PQ+APS group lung wet weight/dry weight ratio decreased (t=9.174, P<0.001), hydroxyl amino acid content (t=10.999, P<0.001) decreased, and lung tissue pathology and collagen deposition reduced. TNF-α (t=8.654, P<0.001), IL-1β (t=18.164, P<0.001), and IL-6 (t=7.573, P<0.001) concentrations in alveolar lavage fluid decreased. TGF-β1 (t=8.879, P<0.001), collagen Ⅰ (t=12.687, P<0.001) and collagen Ⅲ (t=11.333, P<0.001) gene expressions reduced. E-cadherin (t=14.255, P<0.001) protein expression increased; α-SMA (t=16.866, P<0.001), Vimentin (t=18.439, P<0.001), and TGF-β1 (t=14.688, P<0.001) protein expressions as well as p-Smad3/Smad3 ratio (t=11.384, P<0.001) were down-regulated; Smad7 (t=13.131, P<0.001) protein expression increased. Conclusion Astragalus polysaccharide can alleviate paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smads signal pathway.

Objective　Visfatin, a newly identified pro-inflammatory adipokine, has been related to atherosclerosis,therefore we explore the association between the visfatin rs61330082 and ischemic stroke risk. The -1535 polymorphism (rs61330082) located in the visfatin gene promoter is reportedly associated with inflammatory related atherosclerosis. Method　A total of 368 ischemic stroke patients and 381 healthy controls were enrolled for the study. The rs61330082 polymorphism was genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) sequencing method. Results　No significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies between ischemic stroke patients and healthy controls were observed even when the OR was adjusted for the clinical variables. We also did not find any significant association from sex subtypes. Conclusion　Visfatin rs61330082 polymorphism is not associated with ischemic stroke risk in the northern Chinese Han population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between alcohol drinking and all-cause death in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: Between January, 2010 and July, 2018, consecutive patients with first-episode ischemic stroke admitted in the West China Hospital, Sichuan University were enrolled, and all the patients were followed up every 3 months.Chi-square test was used to compare the differences in the baseline characteristics between the pre-stroke drinkers and the nondrinkers.The Cox regression model was used to analyze the effects of drinking status, drinking years, drinking frequency, average single alcohol intake before stroke and drinking status during the follow-up period on the mortality of patients after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 855 patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled, and deaths occurred in 140 of these patients.Chi-square test showed significant differences in gender ( < 0.001), weekly physical exercise time (=0.035), smoking ( < 0.001), and heart disease ( < 0.001) between the pre-stroke drinkers and nondrinkers.Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that drinking during the follow-up period (=0.001), drinking for less than 28 years before stroke (=0.035) and a moderate drinking frequency (5 to 20 times per month for males and 4 to 9 times per month for females; =0.030) were associated with a lowered risk of death after discharge.No significant effects of pre-stroke drinking status or average single alcohol intake were found on death after ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS The drinking years and drinking frequency before stroke and drinking status during the follow-up period are related to the all-cause mortality in patients with ischemic stroke.Investigations of the more specific variables of drinking behaviors during the follow-up period are needed to further clarify the association between drinking and death after ischemic stroke.
Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Brain Ischemia ; etiology ; China ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; etiology

Objective To evaluate three different peritoneal dialysis fluid collection methods for pathogenic bacteria culture in peritonitis dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP), and provide clinical basis for the use of simple and effective peritoneal dialysis fluid collection method in primary hospital. Methods A total of 32 cases of PDAP patients treated in Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital from June 2016 to July 2017 were included in the study using convenient sampling method. A number of 43 peritoneal dialysis fluid specimens were collected respectively using the traditional method, modified method and centrifugal method, and then were cultured for bacterial identification. Positive rate of bacteria, distribution of bacterial pathogens and reported time were compared among three groups. Results The positive rate of pathogenic bacteria showed that traditional method was 53.5%, modified method was 76.7% and centrifugal method was 83.7%. Compared with the traditional method, the positive rate of modified method and centrifugal method increased significantly (P<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference between the modified method and centrifugal method (P> 0.05). Three main species were epidermis staphylococcus, escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus in three collection methods. In the modified method and centrifugal method, the positive rate of gram negative bacteria were higher than the traditional method (P<0.05); but there was no obvious difference on the positive rate of gram positive bacteria culture (P>0.05). The average reporting time of traditional culture was longer than the modified method and centrifugal method (P< 0.05). Conclusions Compared with traditional collection method, both modified method and centrifugal method could increase positive rate of bacteria culture in PDAP patients, especially gram negative bacteria, and had the advantage of rapid detection, which could provide clinical guidance for early treatment of peritonitis. Compared with centrifugal method, the modified method is simple, and worthy of promoting in primary hospital.