Tunable odd-frequency triplet pairing states and skyrmion modes in chiral p-wave superconductor.

Bogliubov-de Gennes equations are solved self-consistently to investigate the properties of bound states in chiral p-wave superconductive disks. It shows that either an s-wave or the mixed d- and s-wave state with odd-frequency and spin-triplet symmetry is induced at the vortex core, depending both on the chirality of the pairing states and on the vortex topology. It is also found that the odd-frequency triplet even parity (OTE) bound state can be manipulated with a local non-magnetic potential. Interestingly, with an appropriate potential amplitude, the zero-energy OTE bound state can be stabilized at a distance from the vortex core and from the local potential. Possible existences of the Majorana fermion modes are expected if the particle-hole symmetry property is applied to the zero-energy OTE bound state. Moreover, skyrmion modes with an integer topological charge have been found to exist.

Serum galectin-3: a risk factor for vascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Plasma galectin-3, a mediator of fibrogenesis and inflammation, its potential to associate with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is poorly investigated. Here, we explored its interaction with the serum galectin-3 and vascular complications. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey in Zhejiang, China involving 165 men and 119 women (age range, 43 - 84 years), investigating the relationship between serum galectin-3 and vascular disease in patients with T2DM. RESULTS: Serum galectin-3 was higher in subjects with T2DM than that in control participants (27.4 vs. 17.6 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Compared with subjects with galectin-3 values in the lowest quartile, those with values in the highest quartile had an increased likelihood of vascular complications (4th quartile odds ratio (OR) 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25 - 4.07). Increased risk of micro- or macrovascular complications correlated with serum galectin-3 concentration (ORs 11.4 and 8.5, respectively). An increased number of vascular complications was associated with high serum galectin-3 levels (P < 0.05). Patients with serum galectin-3 levels > 25 ng/ml had an elevated risk of diabetes relative to patients with levels < 10 ng/ml (OR for any vascular complication 2.64, for heart failure 3.97, for nephropathy 4.09, for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) 4.18; all P < 0.05). Complication risk was higher in patients with neurogenic, stroke, or retinopathy complications, but this difference was not significant after risk factor adjustment. Serum galectin-3 levels correlated with diabetes duration, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and albuminuria. CONCLUSION: High galectin-3 values were associated with increased odds of developing heart failure, nephropathy, and peripheral arterial disease in patients with T2DM.

Changes in peripheral T-lymphocyte subsets in acute-on-chronic liver failure patients with artificial liver support system.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF) is associated with a high mortality rate. An artificial liver support system (ALSS) is a newly emerging therapeutic option, which can be implemented in routine patient care. In order to determine if any pretreatment immunological parameter could be an indicator to evaluate immune states for the outcome of the AoCLF patients, we analyzed the relationship between the level of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD8+, CD4/CD8 ratio) and its therapeutic effect and prognosis. METHODOLOGY: Sixty-three patients with AoCLF were enrolled in 2 groups (ALSS plus routine-care, n=29 and routine-care only, n=34). In the ALSS group, there were 17 survivors (17/29), while in the routine-care group there were 11 survivors (11/34), both after 30 days of treatment. Twenty-three healthy donors were used as the control group. The number of CD4 and CD8 T cells was detected by flow cytometry and the ratio of CD4/ CD8 was calculated on admission and on days 7, 14, 21 and 30, during hospitalization. RESULTS: More dramatic increased CD4/CD8 ratio in the ALSS survivors (form 0.92±0.18 to 1.26±0.24, p<0.01) than the medical survivors (form 0.86±0.16 to 1.09±0.16, p<0.05) after 30 days of treatment. A declined tendency was observed in nonsurvivors. CONCLUSIONS: T-lymphocyte subsets may be important in the pathogenesis of the AoCLF and ALSS may represent a reliable hepatic support device for Ao- CLF.

Changes in peripheral CD4+CD25(high) regulatory T cells in the acute-on-chronic liver failure patients with plasma exchange treatment.

The prevalence of CD4+CD25(high) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF) who received plasma exchange (PE) and/or medical treatment was investigated. One hundred five patients with AoCLF in two groups (PE plus routine-care, n = 48 and routine-care, n = 57) were enrolled in our study. In the PE group, there were 27 survivors (27/48) while, in the routine-care group, there were 18 survivors (18/57), both after 30 days treatment. Twenty-three healthy donors were used as the control group. Tregs were determined by flow cytometry serially. In the survivors, Tregs frequency were lower compared with the normal controls on admission and showed an up and down tendency; moreover, this frequency turned to the level as that in healthy subjects and was faster in the PE compared with the medical group while, among the nonsurvivors, Tregs stayed at a high level throughout the examination period. Importantly, an increased quantity of Tregs was associated with high mortality and reduced survival time of AoCLF patients. These data suggest that Tregs play a role in determining the patient's fate toward either a favorable or unfavorable clinical course of disease, and PE may represent a reliable hepatic support device for AoCLF.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus with extension to the right heart.

A 42-year-old woman admitted with debilitation and engorgement both lower extremities. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound and computerized tomography revealed a lobulated pelvic mass, a mass within right internal iliac vein, both common iliac vein, as well as the inferior vena cava, extending into the right atrium. In addition, echocardiography and abdominal ultrasound showed the tumor of right atrium and inferior vena cave has no stalk and has well-demarcated borders with the wall of right atrium and inferior vena cave. Hence, the presumptive diagnosis of IVL was made by echocardiography and abdominal ultrasound and the presumptive diagnosis of sarcoma with invasion in right internal iliac vein, both common iliac vein, the inferior vena cava, as well as the right atrium was made by multi-detector-row computerized tomography. The patient underwent a one-stage combined multidisciplinary thoraco-abdominal operation under general anaesthetic. Subsequently the pathologic report confirmed IVL.

Mineralization mechanism of calcium phosphates under three kinds of Langmuir monolayers.

Three kinds of Langmuir monolayers formed by dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), arachidic acid (AA), and octadecylamine (ODA) were used as templates to study the initial stage of nucleation and crystallization of calcium phosphates. It was demonstrated that the combination of calcium ions (or phosphates) to the monolayer/subphase interface is a prerequisite for subsequent nucleation. It was found that calcium phosphate dihydrate (DPCD) formed at 25.0 degrees C for 12 h has a biphasic structure containing both amorphous and crystalline phases. These results showed that calcium phosphates were formed through a multistage assembly process, during which an initial amorphous phase DPCD was followed by a phase transformation into a crystalline phase and then the most stable hydroxyapatite (HAp). This provided new insights into the template-biomineral interaction and a mechanism for biomineralization.