Intrinsic and external active sites of single-atom catalysts.

Active components with suitable supports are the common paradigm for industrial catalysis, and the catalytic activity usually increases with minimizing the active component size, generating a new frontier in catalysis, single-atom catalysts (SACs). However, further improvement of SACs activity is limited by the relatively low loading of single atoms (SAs, which are heteroatoms for most SACs, i.e., external active sites) because of the highly favorable aggregation of single heteroatoms during preparation. Research interest should be shifted to investigate SACs with intrinsic SAs, which could circumvent the aggregation of external SAs and consequently increase the SAs loading while maintaining them individual to further improve the activity. In this review, SACs with external or intrinsic SAs are discussed and, at last, the perspectives and challenges for obtaining high-loading SACs with intrinsic SAs are outlined.

NLRP3 Susceptible Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Primary Gouty Arthritis and Hyperuricemia.

Polymorphisms have been identified to predispose to primary gouty arthritis (GA) and hyperuricemia (HUA). Here, we accessed the five polymorphisms of rs10754558, rs35829419, rs3738448, rs3806268, and rs7525979 in NLRP3 on GA and HUA susceptibility. We collected 1198 samples (314 GA, 377 HUA, and 507 controls) for this case-control study. Our data detected that the rs3806268 (GA vs. AA: OR = 0.65, p = 0.012) was significantly associated with the susceptibility to GA. The rs3738448 (TT vs. GG: OR = 2.05, p = 0.024) and rs7525979 (TT vs. CC: OR = 1.96, p = 0.037) were significantly associated with the susceptibility to HUA. The rs3806268 AG genotype presented decreased risk of GA among the hypertension (OR = 0.54, p = 0.0093), smoking (OR = 0.59, p = 0.018), and no obesity (OR = 0.60, p = 0.0097) subjects compared to the GG genotype group. The rs3738448 TT genotype demonstrated increased risk of HUA among the hypertension (OR = 4.10, p = 0.0056) and no drinking population (OR = 3.56, p = 0.016) compared to the GG genotype group. The rs7525979 TT genotype demonstrated increased risk of HUA among the hypertension (OR = 4.01, p = 0.0064) and no drinking population (OR = 3.24, p = 0.034) compared to the CC genotype group. Furthermore, a significant haplotype effect of rs10754558/C-rs35829419/C-rs3738448/G-rs3806268/A-rs7525979/C was found (OR = 1.60, p = 0.0046) compared with GCGAC haplotype. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that rs3738448, rs3806268, and rs7525979 might influence the gene regulation, while the T-allele of rs3738448 increased the stability of NLRP3-mRNA. Collectively, our case-control study confirms NLRP3 polymorphisms might participate in regulating immune and inflammation responses in GA and HUA.

[Influence factors of salt-sensitive hypertension and responses of blood pressure and urinary sodium and potassium excretion to acute oral saline loading among essential hypertensive patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence factors of salt-sensitive hypertension and to observe changes of blood pressures and urinary sodium and potassium excretion in response to acute oral saline loading among essential hypertensive patients in China. METHODS: Essential hypertensive patients from Beijing Jinzhan second community were included in this study. Salt-sensitivity was determined via the improved Sullivan's acute oral saline loading and furosemide volume-depletion tests. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to explore influence factors of salt-sensitive hypertension. Acute oral saline loading induced changes on blood pressures and urinary sodium and potassium excretion were observed. RESULTS: Sixty-three salt-sensitive hypertensive patients were classified out of a total of 342(18.4%) essential hypertensive patients. Salt-sensitive patients were elder than the non-salt-sensitive patients (P < 0.05) . Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 1.744, 95%CI:0.922-3.300, P > 0.05) , gender (OR = 0.728, 95%CI:0.374-1.415, P > 0.05) , total cholesterol level (OR = 1.168, 95%CI:0.882-1.547, P > 0.05) and 24-hour urinary sodium (OR = 0.998, 95%CI:0.995-1.002, P > 0.05) were not influencing factors of salt-sensitivity among essential hypertensive patients. Bivariate general linear models for repeated measures showed that there were significant statistical differences on blood pressures and urinary electrolytes concentrations between the beginning of trials, 2 hours after acute saline loading and 2 hours after furosemide volume-depletion(all P < 0.01). There was a greater blood pressures change in salt-sensitive patients than in non-salt-sensitive patients(all P < 0.01) while urinary electrolytes concentrations change was similar between two groups(all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender, total cholesterol level and 24-hour urinary sodium are not influencing factors of salt-sensitivity among essential hypertensive patients in this study. Impaired pressure natriuresis during acute oral saline loading and furosemide volume-depletion tests is presented in salt-sensitive essential hypertensive patients.