Tg Values Research Articles

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for newborns dried blood spot thyroglobulin.

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a biomarker of iodine status. Newborn Tg is a more sensitive marker than neonatal TSH in detecting variations in iodine intake. This study aims to validate a Tg enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Tg determination on dried blood spots (DBS) in newborns. This study also set out to assess the stability of Tg and the influence of newborns' hematocrit on Tg determination. A commercially available ELISA Tg assay was adapted for use on DBS. DBS-Tg in cord blood were measured in 209 newborns delivered from healthy euthyroid pregnant women. Sensitivity, linearity, repeatability, and intermediate fidelity were determined using the appropriate standards and quality control materials. The limit of detection (LoD) of the DBS-Tg assay was 2.4 µg/L, and the limit of quantification (LoQ) was 5.8 µg/L. Repeatability and intermediate fidelity were 7.7-8.3% and 11.0-11.2%, respectively. The median cord plasma Tg and DBS-Tg values in newborns were not significantly different, 30.2 (21.3-44.4) µg/L and 31.6 (19.3-48.7) µg/L (p=0.48) with the ELISA respectively, and 76.5 (40.0-101.5) µg/L with the Elecsys assay with an R=0.88. DBS-Tg concentrations decrease with increasing hematocrit values (p<0.05). DBS-Tg values were stable at a concentration of 25 µg/L for 12 months at -20ºC and 4ºC. This DBS-Tg assay demonstrated good analytical performances over a wide range of Tg concentrations, suggesting it is well suited to detecting variations in Tg concentrations. Studies comparing populations with different prevalence of anemia should consider the effect of hematocrit on DBS-Tg determination. The availability of a DBS-Tg assay for newborns makes it possible to integrate iodine status monitoring with newborn screening for inherited metabolic diseases.

Assessment of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A 6-Month Follow-Up Study

Background/Objectives: The association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common one, with long-term therapeutic and prognostic impact. In view of the high pulmonary and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, self-management contributes to decreasing the risk of an acute cardiac event or pulmonary decompensation. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on 100 patients admitted to Iasi Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital who were divided into two groups according to the presence (67 patients) or absence (33 patients) of MetS. All patients benefited from multidisciplinary counseling sessions on their active role in improving modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and thus increasing quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of metabolic syndrome on lung function and the role of self-management in a 6-month follow-up period. The demographic, anthropometric, cardiovascular risk factors, and respiratory function were analyzed at baseline and at 6 months. Results: The presence of MetS was associated with higher fasting blood glucose (p = 0.004) and triglycerides (p = 0.003) but not with higher levels of interleukins or TNF-alpha. At the 6-month follow-up, abdominal circumference, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), dyspnea severity, and blood pressure values improved in male patients with COPD. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased in the COPD group as a whole, but especially in male patients with and without associated MetS. BMI was positively correlated with FEV1 (r = 0.389, p = 0.001) and the FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (r = 0.508, p &lt; 0.001) in all COPD patients and in the MetS subgroup. In the COPD group as a whole. the six-minute walk test (6MWT) results (m) were positively correlated with FEV1 and FVC. The correlation remained significant for FVC in COPD patients with and without MetS. An increase in BMI by one unit led to an increase in TG values by 3.358 mg/dL, and the presence of metabolic syndrome led to an increase in TG values by 17.433 mg/dL. Conclusions: In our study, MetS is a common comorbidity in patients with COPD and is associated with higher BMI, fasting glucose, and triglycerides but not with the inflammatory parameters. A mixed pulmonary–cardiovascular rehabilitation intervention leads to improvement in various parameters in both female and male COPD patients.

Investigation on the Association of Maternal Serum Visfatin Concentration with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication that can have adverse effects on both the mother and the child. Visfatin, an adipokine, has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of GDM. Still, the association between maternal serum visfatin concentration and GDM remains unclear, particularly in the Bangladeshi female population. This study investigated the association between maternal serum visfatin concentration and GDM in the Bangladeshi female population. Methods: A total of 69 patients participated in this study, including 34 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM, cases) and 35 patients without GDM (non-GDM, controls). Maternal age, gravida, pre-pregnancy BMI, family history of diabetes, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and lipid profile were assessed. Serum visfatin concentrations were measured and compared between the two groups. Results: The GDM group had significantly lower serum visfatin concentrations compared to the non-GDM group (0.72±0.38 ng/ml vs 1.12±0.7 ng/ml, p&lt;0.001). The Mean±SD of fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR were 5.83±0.61, 15.77±3.95, and 4.07±1.09 respectively which were significantly higher in the GDM group. In the serum lipid profile study, the Mean±SD value of TG and HDL (3.05±0.82 and 1.63±0.32) in the GDM group were also significantly higher than that of the non-GDM group (2.45±0.88 and 1.49±0.36) (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: This study suggests that lower maternal serum visfatin concentrations are associated with GDM and visfatin levels are inversely related to insulin resistance in women with GDM. Consequently, a potential role of visfatin in the pathogenesis and management of GDM is associated with the Bangladeshi population and thus visfatin may represent a novel diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for GDM. Therefore, further research will be valuable to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore the clinical implications of these associations.

Thyroglobulin measurement is the most powerful outcome predictor in differentiated thyroid cancer: a decision tree analysis in a European multicenter series.

An accurate prognostic assessment is pivotal to adequately inform and individualize follow-up and management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). We aimed to develop a predictive model for recurrent disease in DTC patients treated by surgery and 131I by adopting a decision tree model. Age, sex, histology, T stage, N stage, risk classes, remnant estimation, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin (Tg), administered 131I activities and post-therapy whole body scintigraphy (PT-WBS) were identified as potential predictors and put into regression algorithm (conditional inference tree, c-tree) to develop a risk stratification model for predicting persistent/recurrent disease over time. The PT-WBS pattern identified a partition of the population into two subgroups (PT-WBS positive or negative for distant metastases). Patients with distant metastases exhibited lower disease-free survival (either structural, DFS-SD, and biochemical, DFS-BD, disease) compared to those without metastases. Meanwhile, the latter were further stratified into three risk subgroups based on their Tg values. Notably, Tg values >63.1 ng/mL predicted a shorter survival time, with increased DFS-SD for Tg values <63.1 and <8.9 ng/mL, respectively. A comparable model was generated for biochemical disease (BD), albeit different DFS were predicted by slightly different Tg cutoff values (41.2 and 8.8 ng/mL) compared to DFS-SD. We developed a simple, accurate and reproducible decision tree model able to provide reliable information on the probability of structurally and/or biochemically persistent/relapsed DTC after a TTA. In turn, the provided information is highly relevant to refine the initial risk stratification, identify patients at higher risk of reduced structural and biochemical DFS, and modulate additional therapies and the relative follow-up.

Diphenylphosphine oxide derivative with a symmetrical structure as an efficient flame retardant for application in epoxy resin

AbstractA fresh phosphorus‐containing fireproofing agent (oxybis(4,1‐phenylene))bis((2,5‐dihydroxyphenyl)(phenyl)phosphine oxide) (ODDPO‐HQ) was synthesized by a simple two‐step reaction. The effect of ODDPO‐HQ on the glass transition temperature (Tg), crosslinking density, thermal stability, fire resistance, dielectric performances, hydrophobicity, and water absorption of epoxy resin (EP) was studied. EP/ODDPO‐HQ containing 1.2 wt% phosphorus not only achieved the vertical burning V‐0 grade with a limited oxygen index of 28.9% but also maintained good thermal stability. Compared to unmodified EP, its Tg value has only decreased by 7.2°C. Detailed studies revealed that the excellent flame resistance of ODDPO‐HQ for epoxies was ascribed to the flame suppression both in the gaseous phase and condensed phase, especially the obvious barrier effect. Although the water uptake of the modified epoxies slightly rose with the content of ODDPO‐HQ caused by the reduction of the crosslinking density within the matrix, it did not adversely affect the properties of the polymer. The modified epoxies showed reduced dielectric constant and dielectric loss values, and the contact angle of EP/ODDPO‐HQ samples increased as the flame retardant content rose, which might be due to the symmetrical structure of ODDPO‐HQ reducing the polarity. Our study presents an easy approach for producing high‐performance epoxies.

Serum Lipid Profile and Electrolytes Reference Intervals for Apparently Healthy Children and Adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Accurate reference intervals generated from an apparently healthy population and stratified by crucial variables such as age and gender are required to guarantee appropriate interpretation of test results. Since there were no local reference intervals in the study area, the present study aimed to establish reference intervals on serum lipid profiles and electrolytes for children and adolescents in Addis Ababa. This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to October 2019. Laboratory analysis was performed using the automatic biochemical analyzer Cobas 6000 (c501) from Roche. According to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines, reference intervals for lipid profile and electrolyte tests for apparently healthy children and adolescents were established. We used a non-parametric method to calculate the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles with a 90% confidence interval. In children, the reference intervals for serum potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate in mmol/L were 4.37-5.20, 137-145.50, 101.90-107.90, 2.34-2.70, 0.74-0.97, and 1.42-1.85, respectively; and for total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein, the respective values were 100.76-171.70, 44.16-126.36, 60.60-105.60, and 31.60-53.70 in mg/dL, for both genders. For adolescents, the reference intervals were 4.03-5.58, 137-146, 98.90-120.90, 2.39-2.70, 0.73-0.96, and 0.96-1.80 for serum potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate in mmol/L, respectively; and 97.20-189.10, 40.50-143.60, 41.70-120.90, and 21.30-57.0 in mg/dL for total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein, respectively, for both genders. The established reference intervals in the current study revealed that both the lower and upper limits contradicted the manufacturer values as well as the available literature. The study also discovered significant gender differences in reference values for TC, TG, LDL-C, potassium, phosphate, and chloride in the adolescent age groups.

Assessment of compatibility of dextran/PEMA blends by thermal, topologic and viscoelastic analysis

In this study, the compatibility of polymer blends of dextran (DEX) and poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PEMA) was evaluated with their enhanced thermal and dynamic mechanical properties as well as structural and topological properties. Blends were prepared in various ratios via solution casting method. The effects of composition and dispersion on interactions, thermal, viscoelastic and topological properties of the blends were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. TGA results indicated that blends exhibited higher thermal stability than the individual polymers, with residue percentages increasing from 13.57 % and 11.43 % for DEX and PEMA, respectively, to 27.42 %–16.86 % for the blends at 605 °C. DMA results showed that all blends remained intact at higher temperatures compared to the polymers, with higher Tg values due to the H-bonding interactions confirmed by ATR-FTIR. AFM phase imaging enabled the visualization of miscibility distinctions, revealing that the 30/70 DEX/PEMA blend had a uniform phase distribution and minimal phase shifts, suggesting improved miscibility. In contrast, other blends exhibited more heterogeneous miscibility. These findings highlight that DEX/PEMA blends, with their enhanced thermal and dynamic mechanical properties, have significant potential for various applications.

Synthesis of New polymers of Triazole Derivatives

Thiatriazole is an important monomer, whereby it have two types of functional groups, amine and thiol. Within the frame of this work the triazole monomer have been prepared from its oxadiazole. Two type of polymers were prepared from this monomer via condensation with terephthaldehyde and succinyl chloride, whereby the binding units of the resulted polymers are differs, azomethine and amide respectively. Infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis were used to identified the polymers. DTA, TGA and DSC analysis indicate the thermal history of the polymers. It was shown that polymer (1) was more flexibility than polymer (2) due to the lower Tg value due to the presence of azomethene group. The Tg are (138oC) and (190oC) respectively. Also the DTA, TGA indicates that polymer (2) have high thermal stability than polymer 1 due the presence of the amide group.

8549 A Pre-ablative Stimulated Thyroglobulin Value That Predicts ATA High Risk Patients and Their Treatment Response

Abstract Disclosure: H. Gondaliya: None. N. Nangadda: None. D. Bhat: None. K.S. Khadilkar: None. S. Kumbenahalli Siddegowda: None. B.G. Sooragonda: None. A. Shetty: None. S. Kannan: None. In ATA risk stratification system for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), one of the variables placing patients in ATA high risk category is thyroglobulin (Tg) suggestive of distant metastases. However there is no defined cut-off Tg level for guiding the clinicians. We aimed to determine pre-ablative stimulated Tg (psTg) value that predicts ATA high risk patients (based on non-Tg parameters) and their treatment response on follow up. This was an ambispective observational study of 285 patients with DTC treated at our centre from April 2017 to November 2022. psTg was measured in all patients 3-4 weeks after surgery and they were subjected to RAIA depending on clinician’s discretion and followed up using the ATA dynamic risk stratification every 6 months. The cohort was divided into two groups: ATA high risk and ATA non-high risk (Low and intermediate risk). Patients among high risk group were divided based on response to treatment into structural incomplete group and non-structural incomplete group (Excellent, Indeterminate and Biochemically incomplete response). The mean age of the study population was 41±15 years and 68% (n=194) were female and 87% (n=249) were papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and 13% (n=36) were Follicular Thyroid Cancer (FTC). Median duration of follow up was 2.95 years (IQR: 1.42 - 5.12). Among those with PTC, 75% were Classic, 15% Follicular variant and 10% aggressive variants that included tall cell, hobnail, diffuse sclerosing and columnar variant. On ATA risk stratification, 81.75% (n=233) patients were in non-high risk group with median psTg 3.4 ng/ml (IQR 0.5-12.2) and 18.25% (n=52) were in high-risk group with median psTg 150.5 ng/ml (IQR 7.15-439.5). On ROC analysis of all the patients, a psTg value &amp;gt;53.3 ng/ml was predictive of ATA high risk group with PPV of 64%; NPV of 93.5% and AUC 0.81. In ATA high-risk group, there were 73% (n=38) of patients with structural incomplete response on follow up and their median psTg was 287 ng/ml (IQR 95-500) and there were 27% (n=14) with non-structural incomplete response and their median psTg level of 6.2 ng/ml (IQR 2.3-110). A psTg value &amp;gt;53 ng/ml discriminated structural incomplete from non-structural incomplete response with PPV of 77%; NPV 87% and AUC 0.83. A psTg value &amp;gt;53 ng/ml not only predicts ATA high risk patients but also indicates those who are likely to remain with structural residual disease at follow up of 3 years. Presentation: 6/1/2024

7771 Surveillance Role in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Through Ultrasensitive Thyroglobulin IRMA with High Negative Prediction Value

Abstract Disclosure: J. Jang: None. H. Kim: None. S. Ha: None. K. Jung: None. G. Jung: None. S. Cho: None. D. Park: None. G. Cheon: None. Y. Park: None. TSH-stimulated serum thyroglobulin (s-Tg) is a well-established marker for monitoring differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) following remnant ablation therapy. The 2nd-generation immunoradiometric assay for Tg (ultrasensitive Tg, uTg) was developed to detect Tg with higher sensitivity compared with the 1st generation (conventional Tg, cTg). This study aimed to compare efficacy of both methods, cTg and uTg, to determine whether unstimulated Tg (us-Tg) could predict s-Tg levels. Paired serum samples were collected from 274 DTC patients before (us-Tg) and after (s-Tg) TSH stimulation for 1st radioiodine therapy after surgery (1st Tg) or both 1st therapy and 2nd therapy/diagnostic test (1st and 2nd Tg, respectively). Both cTg (Dynotest Tg-plus, BRAHMS Gmbh, Germany, LOD 0.1 ng/mL and functional sensitivity (FS) 0.2 ng/mL) and uTg (RIAKEY, Shinjin Medics, South Korea; LOD 0.01 ng/mL and FS 0.06 ng/mL) were measured. For analysis, samples with inadequate TSH stimulation (&amp;lt;30 μIU/mL) or with anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels &amp;gt; 60 U/mL were excluded. Ultimately, the included samples consisted of 296 for us-Tg and 352 for s-Tg.. Among these, paired samples for us-Tg and s-Tg were available in 260 cases (189 for 1st Tg and 71 for 2nd Tg). Comparing all Tg values, cTg and uTg levels had a correlation (Intraclass correlation coefficient r=0.752, P &amp;lt; 0.001), with no significant difference between us-Tg (r=0.803, P &amp;lt; 0.001) and s-Tg (r= 0.752, P &amp;lt; 0.001). The optimal cut-off level for predicting s-cTg at 1 ng/mL was 0.12 ng/mL in uTg or 0.16 ng/mL in cTg tests using AUC-ROC curve analysis. Considering the FS for cTg, diagnostic performance was assessed with a cut-off level of 0.2 ng/mL for cTg and 0.16 ng/mL for uTg. For s-cTg positivity as ≥ 1 ng/mL, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of uTg were 72.1%, 59.8%. 52.0%, and 78.0%, respectively, while for cTg, they were 33.3%, 95.3%, 78.4%, and 73.9%, respectively. Similar trends were observed for s-cTg ≥ 2 ng/mL (69.0%, 71.4%, 35.0%, and 91.2% for uTg, respectively; 49.0%, 93.8%, 64.9%, and 88.7% for cTg, respectively). In essence, uTg demonstrated higher sensitivity than cTg, while having lower specificity and PPV, with a similar NPV. Of the 71 patients with paired 2nd Tg levels, 7 (9.8%) had biochemical disease (BCD) by s-cTg (1 ng/mL), whereas only 1 (1.4%) showed BCD using us-cTg ≥ 0.2 ng/mL. Conversely, 40 (56.0%) were classified as BCD using us-uTg ≥ 0.16 ng/mL. During the 6.48 years of follow-up, 4 patients developed structural recurrence; all had positive us-Tg levels with uTg tests, while only 1 patient demonstrated positivity with cTg tests. Although, the ultrasensitive Tg is sensitive in predicting positive stimulated Tg and recurrence, the specificity is very low resulting high frequency of BCD cases without clinical significance. Therefore, the clinical utility of uTg appears to be limited. Presentation: 6/2/2024

B-310 Freezing and thawing serum without mixing prior to analysis causes false low Thyroglobulin results

Abstract Background Thyroglobulin (Tg), a glycoprotein that is synthesized in follicular cells of the thyroid gland, is the precursor of Thyroxin (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). Tg is a biomarker used for many clinical conditions, including monitoring for recurrence in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Typically, Tg levels drop to very low or undetectable levels after surgical excision and/or radioiodine ablation of the thyroid, with post-operative levels greater than 1-2 ng/ml indicating potential disease recurrence. Discordant Tg results in a patient sample were identified during a quality check of Tg results. This study investigates the root of cause of the discrepant Tg results. Given that: 1) Tg analyses were performed twice a week at our laboratory due to low daily test volume and patients’ samples received on an unanalytical day were stored at -20°C until analysis; 2) Tg analyses were performed by various medical technologists; 3) sample mixation prior to analysis was not routine practice for our automated laboratory, we hypothesized that the discrepancy was due to inconsistent sample handling, e.g., mixation vs unmixation prior to analysis. Methods Analysis of the daily QC and PT results in the period of the incident occurence ruled out causes in analytical phase. We split 52 de-identified patient serum samples into two equal aliquots and subsequently stored both aliquots at -20°C for 48 hours. Both aliquots of each sample were thawed at room temperature for 1 hour. One of the aliquots was analyzed for Tg without mixing, and the other was analyzed after mixing using a Vortexer for 4 seconds at 250 xg. To investigate if Tg concentrations form a gradient from the top to the bottom of a red-top vacutainer tube, five patient samples with Tg at 2.59, 2.79, 2.92, 52.37 and 144.12 ng/mL were thawed without mixing following storage at -20°C for 48 hours. Five layer (600 μl/layer) aliquots were carefully and sequentially taken from top to bottom for each specimen, and the Tg concentration in the aliquot of each layer was determined using the Beckman Coulter Access-2 Immunoassay. Results Of the 52 patients samples, 14 Tg results were excluded from statistical analysis due to exceeding the assay dynamic range (2 above and 12 below the upper and low limits, respectively). Analysis of the remaining 38 patient samples showed the mean of Tg concentrations was 22.8% (SD 18%) higher in mixed samples than the un-mixed samples. Regression analysis showed an R2 = 0.9976 (Mixed Tg = 1.1523 x Un-mixed + 0.4174, range 0.1 - 275.7 ng/mL, intercept 95%CI -0.721 to 1.556, slop 95%CI 1.1331 to 1.1715, p-value &amp;lt;0.001). Results of Tg gradient analysis showed significant higher Tg values in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th than the 1st layer by 26% (SD 11%), 63% (26%), 112% (57%), and 160% (76%), respectively. Conclusions False Tg values were found in samples without mixing before analysis after thawing from frozen state, due to formation of Tg concentration gradient in test tube. For obtaining reliable results, samples must be mixed before analysis when thawed from frozen storage.

Machine learning analysis of a large set of homopolymers to predict glass transition temperatures

Glass transition temperature of polymers, Tg, is an important thermophysical property, which sometimes can be difficult to measure experimentally. In this regard, data-driven machine learning approaches are important alternatives to assess Tg values, in a high-throughput way. In this study, a large dataset of more than 900 polymers with reported glass transition temperature (Tg) was assembled from various public sources in order to develop a predictive model depicting the structure-property relationships. The collected dataset was curated, explored via cluster analysis, and then split into training and test sets for validation purposes and then polymer structures characterized by molecular descriptors. To find the models, several machine learning techniques, including multiple linear regression (MLR), k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), gaussian processes for regression (GPR), and multi-layer perceptron (MLP) were explored. As result, a model with the subset of 15 descriptors accurately predicting the glass transition temperatures was developed. The electronic effect indices were determined to be important properties that positively contribute to the Tg values. The SVM-based model showed the best performance with determination coefficients (R2) of 0.813 and 0.770, for training and test sets, respectively. Also, the SVM model showed the lowest estimation error, RMSE = 0.062. In addition, the developed structure-property model was implemented as a web app to be used as an online computational tool to design and evaluate new homopolymers with desired glass transition profiles.

Bio-derived gel polymer electrolytes from zein and honey blends integrated with ammonium nitrate for electrical double layer capacitors

Although electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) are known to exhibit impressive power density, rapid charging/discharging, and long cycle life, their energy density remains a hurdle for broader use. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) offer an interesting approach to improve the energy density of EDLCs while maintaining their other desirable characteristics. This study investigates the development of novel GPEs based on zein, honey, and ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) for EDLC applications. The GPEs are prepared by incorporating zein, honey, and NH4NO3 in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent system through a solution casting method. The degree of crystallinity of zein successfully reduced from 33.0 % to 15.71 % with the addition of 20 wt% NH4NO3. The interaction between zein, honey and NH4NO3 is confirmed by observing the shifting of the hydroxyl band. The ambient ionic conductivity of zein-honey increases from (4.86 ± 0.36) × 10−4 S cm−1 to (4.19 ± 0.40) × 10−3 S cm−1 with the incorporation of 20 wt% NH4NO3 (ZH20), exhibiting the significantly lowest Tg value (77.53 °C). Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) demonstrates high electrochemical stability up to 2.6 V of ZH20. Additionally, the transference number (tion) of 0.989 indicates a dominant role of ionic charge carriers in this work. Finally, the ZH20-based GPE is used as both an electrolyte and separator to fabricate EDLC. Its electrochemical behavior has demonstrated stable results in terms of specific capacitance, energy, and power density, with fast rate performance observed through cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge techniques.

CYP2C19 Poor Metabolizer Status and High System Inflammation Response Index are Independent Risk Factors for Premature Myocardial Infarction: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Study.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a sustained chronic vascular inflammatory response caused by lipid metabolism disorders and immune response disorders and is the main cause of premature (men ≤ 55 years old, women ≤ 65 years old) myocardial infarction (PMI). Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) (related to vascular function and lipid metabolism) and peripheral immune cell levels and plays an important role in the course of AS. The association CYP2C19 polymorphisms, comprehensive immunoinflammatory indices with PMI susceptibility is unclear. This study included 485 PMI patients, and 639 age-matched non-PMI individuals as controls, from January 2019 to March 2024. The relationship between CYP2C19 polymorphisms, peripheral immunoinflammatory indices (pan-immune inflammation value (PIV), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and system inflammation response index (SIRI)) and PMI risk were analyzed. The inflammatory indices levels in PMI patients were higher than those in controls (all p<0.05). The frequencies of the CYP2C19 *1/*2 and *2/*2 genotypes were higher, while the frequency of the *1/*1 genotype was lower in the PMI patients than those in controls. The cut-off values of TC, TG, LDL-C, PIV, SII, and SIRI were 5.065, 1.305, 2.805, 410.485, 869.645, and 1.495 for distinguishing PMI, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that male (odds ratio (OR): 1.607, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.134-2.277, p=0.008), history of smoking (OR: 7.108, 95% CI: 4.351-11.614, p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR: 4.906, 95% CI: 3.333-7.223, p<0.001), CYP2C19 poor metabolizer (PM) (*2/*2, *2/*3, and *3/*3) (OR: 2.147, 95% CI: 1.279-3.603, p=0.004), and high TG (≥1.305 vs <1.305, OR: 2.598, 95% CI: 1.864-3.623, p<0.001) and SIRI level (≥1.495 vs <1.495, OR: 2.495, 95% CI: 1.432-4.349, p=0.001) were independent risk factors for PMI. CYP2C19 PM phenotype, high SIRI level (≥1.495) and TG level (≥1.305), male, history of smoking, and diabetes mellitus were independently associated with PMI susceptibility.

A new methacrylate-chitosan based blend and its ZnO containing nanocomposites: Investigation of thermal and biological properties.

Biobased materials are an important step towards a sustainable future. The need for these materials, which stand out in terms of their environmental and economic benefits, is increasing daily. This study includes the production of new bio based nanocomposites containing a blend of biopolymer chitosan (CS) and synthetic polymethacrylate derivative poly(2-oxo-2-(3,4,5-trifluoroanilino)ethyl-2-methylprop-2-enoate)(POTFAMA) and biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) by hydrothermal method. POTFAMA, POTFAMA-CS blend, and POTFAMA-CS/ZnO nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, and TEM techniques. The thermal properties of the materials were determined by TGA and DSC. While POTFAMA reduced the thermal stability of CS, ZnO NPs incorporated into POTFAMA-CS blend increased the thermal stability. POTFAMA-CS blend had a single glass transition temperature (Tg) value at 116°C. The Tg of CS, which was 93°C, increased by 23°C after blending with POTFAMA, and by 34°C with the incorporation of 7% ZnO NPs. The biological properties of the prepared materials have been meticulously investigated. The inhibition zone of CS against C. albicans was 10.66±1.19mm, while that of the POTFAMA-CS blend was 13.70±1.54mm. After standard BHT at a concentration of 120μg/mL, the highest DPPH inhibition percentages belonged to POTFAMA (60.56%) and POTFAMA-CS (52.99%). It was detected that the wound closure rates of POTFAMA (17.51±0.75%) and POTFAMA-CS (15.51±2.52%) were better than the characteristics of CS wound closure (13.61±2.01%). The results suggest that POTFAMA-CS may be a good alternative as a wound-healing agent. Furthermore, nanocomposites containing 5% and 7% ZnO NPs can be an alternative material in healthcare due to their higher antimicrobial activity.

Thyroid Dysfunction In Metabolic Syndrome In Patients: An Observational Study

Objective: To assess the clinico-demographic profile thyroid dysfunction (TD in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: Research was done at the Medical Department. We included 200 MetS patients in this investigation. Demographics, anthropometric measurements, significant medical (including FPG, serum TG, and HDL-C values from patients' medical records) and surgical history, family history, lifestyle parameters, history of obesogenic medicine use, vital signs, and physical examination details were collected in case report forms at the screening visit. Results: We included 200 MetS patients in this investigation. The baseline demographics of these patients are presented. Of the recruited patients, 60 (30%) had TD, with women being more likely than males. Overt hypothyroidism was detected in 36 of 200 MetS patients and hyperthyroidism in 4. High waist circumference, lowered HDL-C, elevated HOMA-IR, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting hyperglycemia, and TG were seen in TD patients in this research. More women than men had waist circumferences exceeding 80 cm. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome complications include thyroid problems. High frequency of TD in MetS patients suggests a thyroid-MetS interaction. This investigation will help link TD and MetS in Indian patients. Early identification of TD in MetS may help change disease course with lifestyle modifications.

The Role of Silanization of Barium Strontium Titanate Nanopowders on the Dielectric Constant and Thermal Stability of Epoxy Nanocomposites

AbstractThis paper reports polymer composites′ microstructure and dielectric properties based on an epoxy resin matrix containing different amounts (from 2–10 wt. %) of barium strontium titanate nanoparticles. (Ba,Sr)TiO3 was prepared using the hydrothermal method, showing an average particle size of 100 nm. The composites′ thermal properties and morphology were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. Our studies show that the (Ba,Sr)TiO3 nanoparticles were well dispersed in the epoxy resin matrix thanks to controlled silane functionalization. Accordingly, the glass transition temperature (Tg) value of the nanocomposites was found to be 159.0 °C at 10 wt. % (Ba,Sr)TiO3 loading and is higher than the neat epoxy resin Tg (Tg=154.7 °C). Moreover, the dielectric composite properties were investigated comprehensively via a wide range of frequencies from 10 Hz to 100 kHz. The results indicate that (Ba,Sr)TiO3 nanopowders and the surface modifying filler play a crucial role in the significant increase of the dielectric constants, approximately 1.5 times at the optimum added amount (Ba,Sr)TiO3. The limited functionalization of (Ba,Sr)TiO3 nanoparticles by the silane affords to control the nanocomposite dielectric loss. Furthermore, the nanocomposites also exhibited good thermal stability.

Catechol- and Phenolic Hydroxyl-Functionalized Partially Bio-Based (Co)poly(ether sulfone)s with Multifarious Applicability

A largely bio-based new bisphenol, namely, 4,4′-((3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methylene)-bis(2-methoxyphenol) (DMBM) was synthesized by the reaction of veratraldehyde with guaiacol. DMBM and varying compositions of DMBM and bisphenol A were polycondensed with bis(4-fluorophenyl) sulfone to afford reasonably high molecular weight film-forming (co)poly(ether sulfone)s possessing built-in methoxyl groups. T10 and Tg values of (co)poly(ether sulfone)s were in the range 382–478 °C and 171–187 °C, respectively indicating their good thermal stability and the values decreased with increase in mol % incorporation of DMBM. The methoxyl groups present in (co)poly (ether sulfone)s were quantitatively de-blocked resulting in the formation of corresponding polymers possessing pendant catechol moieties and free phenolic hydroxyl groups. By virtue of the presence of these functional moieties, (co)poly(ether sulfone)s are amenable for post-polymerization modifications, and exhibited properties such as antimicrobial (23 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 18 mm against Escherichia coli)), antioxidant (72 % scavenger of free radicals), adhesive (2.24 MPa lap shear strength) and usefulness as redox-active agent in zinc-ion batteries. These data underscore the promise of DMBM as a versatile monomer of wider utility for the synthesis of functional (co)poly(ether sulfone)s capable of expanding their applicability beyond the conventional ones.

Association of maternal thyroglobulin with gestational thyroid function and offspring IQ and brain morphology.

Low maternal urinary iodine concentration (UIC) during pregnancy is associated with adverse offspring neurodevelopment. Thyroglobulin (Tg) has been suggested as a more sensitive biomarker than UIC of long-term iodine status, but associations of Tg with neurodevelopment and the possible mediating role of thyroid function remain unknown. To study whether maternal Tg is associated with i) maternal and newborn thyroid function and ii) offspring IQ and brain morphology. Participants were selected from two population-based prospective cohorts: Generation R (the Netherlands, iodine-sufficient) and INfancia y Medio Ambiente (Spain, mildly iodine-deficient) with maternal Tg and thyroid function data in the first half of pregnancy or in cord blood, early childhood IQ (age 4.5 and 6 years), late childhood IQ (age 9 and 13), or brain morphology at 10 years. Associations of Tg with TSH, FT4, IQ and brain morphology were studied with multivariable linear regression. i) Tg was associated with lower TSH (-0.12[-0.16; -0.08]) and higher FT4 (0.08[0.05;0.12]) in pregnancy (N=4,367), but not with cord blood TSH or FT4 (N=2,008). ii) Tg was associated with lower IQ in early childhood (β[95% CI]:-0.06 [-0.10; -0.01], N=2,919), but not with IQ (N=2,503) or brain morphology (N=1,180) in later childhood. None of the associations of Tg with the studied outcomes differed by the iodine-to-creatinine ratio (i.e. effect modification) or changed when adjusted for thyroid function. Higher Tg is associated with lower IQ in early childhood and higher thyroid function during pregnancy, but not with IQ or brain morphology in later childhood. Further research should determine the value of Tg in addition to UIC for defining iodine status.

Facile Synthesis of Bis-Diphenylphosphine Oxide as a Flame Retardant for Epoxy Resins.

A phosphorus-containing compound, (oxybis(4,1-phenylene))bis(phenylphosphine oxide) (ODDPO), was successfully synthesized and used as a flame retardant for epoxy resin (EP). The results demonstrated that EP/ODDPO, containing 1.2 wt% phosphorus, achieved a vertical burning V-0 rating, with a limited oxygen index value of 29.2%, indicating excellent flame retardancy. Comprehensive evaluations revealed that ODDPO exhibited both gas-phase and condensed-phase flame-retardant effects on EP, with a particularly notable barrier effect. In addition, the incorporation of ODDPO had a minimal negative impact on the glass transition temperature (Tg) and thermal stability of the EP matrix. Compared to unmodified EP (EP-0), the Tg value and initial decomposition temperature of EP/ODDPO-1.2 decreased by only 7.6 °C and 10.0 °C, respectively. Moreover, the introduction of ODDPO significantly improved the hydrophobicity and water absorption resistance of epoxy materials, which is attributed to ODDPO's rigidity and symmetric structure, reducing water molecule permeation. Furthermore, the dielectric properties of ODDPO-modified EP samples were strengthened compared to EP-0, due to the ODDPO's symmetric structure reducing the polarity of the matrix. The above results indicated that ODDPO serves as an excellent flame retardant while enhancing other properties of the EP matrix, thereby contributing to the preparation and application of high-performance epoxy materials.