Correlations of Hepatic Hemodynamics,Liver Function,and Fibrosis Markers in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Comparison with Chronic Hepatitis Related to Hepatitis C Virus

The progression of chronic liver disease differs by etiology. The aim of this study was to elucidate the difference in disease progression between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by means of fibrosis markers, liver function, and hepatic tissue blood flow (TBF). Xenon computed tomography (Xe-CT) was performed in 139 patients with NAFLD and 152 patients with CHC (including liver cirrhosis (LC)). The cutoff values for fibrosis markers were compared between NAFLD and CHC, and correlations between hepatic TBF and liver function tests were examined at each fibrosis stage. The cutoff values for detection of the advanced fibrosis stage were lower in NAFLD than in CHC. Although portal venous TBF (PVTBF) correlated with liver function tests, PVTBF in initial LC caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH-LC) was significantly lower than that in hepatitis C virus (C-LC) (p = 0.014). Conversely, the liver function tests in NASH-LC were higher than those in C-LC (p < 0.05). It is important to recognize the difference between NAFLD and CHC. We concluded that changes in hepatic blood flow occurred during the earliest stage of hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD; therefore, patients with NAFLD need to be followed carefully.     

Impact of Wisteria floribunda Agglutinin-Positive Mac-2-Binding Protein in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus-Related Compensated Liver Cirrhosis

We aimed to examine the effect of Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2-binding protein (WFA⁺-M2BP) level on survival comparing with other laboratory liver fibrosis markers in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related compensated liver cirrhosis (LC) (n = 165). For assessing prognostic performance of continuous fibrosis markers, we adapted time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves for clinical outcome. In time-dependent ROC analysis, annual area under the ROCs (AUROCs) were plotted. We also calculated the total sum of AUROCs in all time-points (TAAT score) in each fibrosis marker. WFA⁺-M2BP value ranged from 0.66 cutoff index (COI) to 19.95 COI (median value, 5.29 COI). Using ROC analysis for survival, the optimal cutoff point for WFA⁺-M2BP was 6.15 COI (AUROC = 0.79348, sensitivity = 80.0%, specificity = 74.78%). The cumulative five-year survival rate in patients with WFA⁺-M2BP ≥ 6.15 COI (n = 69) was 43.99%, while that in patients with WFA⁺-M2BP < 6.15 COI (n = 96) was 88.40% (p < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, absence of hepatocellular carcinoma (p = 0.0008), WFA⁺-M2BP < 6.15 COI (p = 0.0132), achievement of sustained virological response (p < 0.0001) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin < 41 mAU/mL (p = 0.0018) were significant favorable predictors linked to survival. In time-dependent ROC analysis in all cases, WFA⁺-M2BP had the highest TAAT score among liver fibrosis markers. In conclusion, WFA⁺-M2BP can be a useful predictor in HCV-related compensated LC.     

6. Ammonium dynamics of puddled soils in relation to growth and yield of lowland rice

The release of non-exchangeable (fixed) NH ₄ ⁺ and the importance of exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ at transplanting (initial exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ ) for rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth was studied in representative lowland rice soils of the Philippines.The experiments showed that initial exchangeable ammonium behaved like fertilizer N and thus may serve as a valuable guideline for nitrogen fertilizer application rates when calculated on a hectare basis. By using the¹⁵N tracer technique it was found that nonexchangeable ammonium in soil may contribute to the nitrogen supplying capacity of lowland rice soils. Fixation and release of NH ₄ ⁺ seem to be more dependent on the form of clay minerals than on clay content. In soils rich in vermiculite non-exchangeable ammonium should be considered together with other available N sources such as exchangeable ammonium for N fertilizer recommendations for lowland rice.     

Importance of soil type on the release of nonexchangeable NH 4 + and availability of fertilizer NH 4 + and fertilizer NO 3 -

Nitrogen uptake from non-exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ byLolium multiflorum and availability of fertilizer NH ₄ ⁺ and fertilizer NO ₃ ^- were studied in pot experiments with three different soil types. The luvisol derived from loess released considerable amounts of non-exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ when cropped. In this soil fertilizer NH ₄ ⁺ was only weakly fixed and was as available to the crop as fertilizer NO ₃ ^- . The recovery of fertilizer NH ₄ ⁺ was even higher than the recovery of fertilizer NO ₃ ^- . In the fluvisol (alluvial soil) and in the cambisol (brown earth from basalt) N recovery was higher from NO ₃ ^- fertilizer than from NH ₄ ⁺ fertilizer. In these soils NH ₄ ⁺ fertilizer was strongly fixed by 2:1 clay minerals and thus less available to the grass. Particularly in the basaltic soil the content of non-exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ was low and so was the release of nonexchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ . At the same time this soil showed the strongest fixation of fertilizer NH ₄ ⁺ . Release and refixation of fertilizer NH ₄ ⁺ in the loess soil appears to be an important feature of this soil type with a beneficial effect on soil nitrogen turnover and availability.     

Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subsets (CD4+, CD8+ T Cells,NK Cells) in Patients with Cardiovascular and Neurological Complications after Carotid Endarterectomy

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the differences in the circulating immune cells’ subgroups after the atherosclerotic plaque removal in patients presenting with postoperative complications as compared to the patients without complications after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: Patients with significant carotid atherosclerosis (n = 124, age range: 44 to 87 years) who underwent CEA were enrolled in a prospective study. The immunology study using flow cytometry was performed to determine the percentages of peripheral blood T cells (CD4⁺, CD8⁺, Treg—CD4⁺/CD25⁺) and NK (natural killer) cells before and after the procedure. The data were expressed as the percentage of total lymphocytes ± the standard error of mean. Results: The mean percentage of lymphocytes (61.54% ± 17.50% vs. 71.82% ± 9.68%, p = 0.030) and CD4 T lymphocytes (T helper, 38.13% ± 13.78% vs. 48.39% ± 10.24%, p = 0.027) was significantly lower six hours after CEA in patients with postoperative 30-day cardiovascular and neurological complications as compared to the group without complications. On the other hand the mean NK level in the group with complications was significantly higher (21.61% ± 9.00% vs. 15.80% ± 9.31%, p = 0.048). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that after carotid endarterectomy the percentages of circulating immune cells subsets differ in patients with and without postoperative complications.     

Luminescence of the BΣ–XΣ band system of AlO during plasma electrolytic oxidation of aluminum

Two broad luminescence peaks with clearly pronounced structure, extending from roughly 18,200 to 18,800 cm⁻¹ and from 19,000 to 19,700 cm⁻¹ with the maxima at approximately 18,500 and 19,500 cm⁻¹, respectively, are obtained during plasma electrolytic oxidation of aluminum. They are assigned to the v′–v″ = −1 and −2 band sequences of the B²Σ⁺–X²Σ⁺ emission transition of AlO. The measured intensity distributions are employed to estimate the population of vibrational levels of the upper electronic state, and consequently the mean plasma temperature. The composition of plasma containing aluminum and oxygen under assumption of thermodynamic equilibrium is calculated in the temperature up to 11,000 K in order to explain the appearance of the observed spectral features.     

Studies on promising cell performance with H2SO4 as the catholyte for electrogeneration of Ag2+ from Ag+ in HNO3 anolyte in mediated electrochemical oxidation process

Electrochemical performance of a divided cell with electrogeneration of Ag²⁺ from Ag⁺ in 6 M HNO₃ anolyte has been studied with 6 M HNO₃ or 3 M H₂SO₄ as the catholyte. This work arose because in mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) processes with Ag(II)/Ag(I) redox mediator, HNO₃ is generally used as catholyte, which, however, produces NO _x gases in the cathode compartment. The performance of the cell with 6 M HNO₃ or 3 M H₂SO₄ as the catholyte has been compared in terms of (i) the acid concentration in the cathode compartment, (ii) the Ag⁺ to Ag²⁺ conversion efficiency in the anolyte, (iii) the migration of Ag⁺ from anolyte to catholyte across the membrane separator, and (iv) the cell voltage. Studies with various concentrations of H₂SO₄ catholyte have been carried-out, and the cathode surfaces have been analyzed by SEM and EDXA; similarly, the precipitated material collected in the cathode compartment at higher H₂SO₄ concentrations has been analyzed by XRD to understand the underlying processes. The various beneficial effects in using H₂SO₄ as catholyte have been presented. A simple cathode surface renewal method relatively free from Ag deposit has been suggested.     

NiFe2O4-M金属陶瓷惰性阳极成分设计的热力学分析

NiFe2O4-M金属陶瓷惰性阳极由氧化物陶瓷相和金属相组成.多数美国专利认为Fe,Ni,Cu,Co,Ti,Cr,Mn,Al,Pd,Ag,V,Zr,Y,La,Ta,Nb,Sc,Hf,Ca,Sn,Zn等21种金属均适合作为上述阳极的金属相成分.但文中的热力学详细分析计算结果表明:在上述前8种金属中,仅有Cu,Ni 2种适...     

Laboratory study of soil acidification and leaching of nutrients from a soil amended with various surface-incorporated acidifying agents

Granular S, finely-ground S, iron sulphate and aluminium sulphate were added at two rates to the surface (0–6 cm) of a soil and acidification and leaching of nutrients were measured over 12 months in a laboratory study. Iron and aluminium sulphate both rapidly lowered soil pH in the top 0–6 cm of the soil. There was little difference in soil pH after 3 and 12 months reaction of these two amendments. In contrast, for granular S and finely-ground S there were clear decreases in soil pH between 3 and 12 months reaction with the soil. Finely-ground S was oxidized in the soil faster than granular S and therefore had a more acidifying effect. The top 0–6 cm of the soil was acidified by all the agents used but the deeper soil was less affected. The only treatments which lowered the pH of the 12–18 cm layer below pH 6 were the high rates of iron and aluminium sulphate. Soil acidification resulted in a decrease in exchangeable Ca, Mg and K, an increase in exchangeable Al and a decrease in effective CEC in the acidified soil layers.At both levels of addition, total ionic strength of percolates from the soil followed the order: aluminium sulphate = iron sulphate > finely gound S > granular S > control and was higher at the higher rate of addition. The pH values of percolates followed the order: control > granular S > finely ground S > iron sulphate = aluminium sulphate and were lower at the higher rate of addition. For the amended soils there was a very close relationship between the pattern and total amounts of SO ₄ ^2- and Ca²⁺ leached.It was concluded that granular S is not an effective acidifying agent since it is oxidized very slowly in the soil and that acidfying agents should be incorporated to the depth that acidification is required.     

Antiarrhythmic and Inotropic Effects of Selective Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger Inhibition: What Can We Learn from the Pharmacological Studies?

Life-long stable heart function requires a critical balance of intracellular Ca²⁺. Several ion channels and pumps cooperate in a complex machinery that controls the influx, release, and efflux of Ca²⁺. Probably one of the most interesting and most complex players of this crosstalk is the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger, which represents the main Ca²⁺ efflux mechanism; however, under some circumstances, it can also bring Ca²⁺ into the cell. Therefore, the inhibition of the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger has emerged as one of the most promising possible pharmacological targets to increase Ca²⁺ levels, to decrease arrhythmogenic depolarizations, and to reduce excessive Ca²⁺ influx. In line with this, as a response to increasing demand, several more or less selective Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger inhibitor compounds have been developed. In the past 20 years, several results have been published regarding the effect of Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger inhibition under various circumstances, e.g., species, inhibitor compounds, and experimental conditions; however, the results are often controversial. Does selective Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger inhibition have any future in clinical pharmacological practice? In this review, the experimental results of Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger inhibition are summarized focusing on the data obtained by novel highly selective inhibitors.