Mounting evidence has shown that periodontitis is associated with diabetes. However, a causal relationship remains to be determined. Recent studies reported that periodontitis may be associated with gut microbiota, which plays an important role in the development of diabetes. Therefore, we hypothesized that gut microbiota might mediate the link between periodontitis and diabetes. Periodontitis was induced by ligatures. Glycemic homeostasis was evaluated through fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. Micro–computed tomography and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate periodontal destruction. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics. Serum endotoxin, interleukin (IL) 6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and IL-1β were measured to evaluate the systemic inflammation burden. We found that the levels of FBG, HbA1c, and glucose intolerance were higher in the periodontitis (PD) group than in the control (Con) group ( P < 0.05). When periodontitis was eliminated, the FBG significantly decreased ( P < 0.05). Several butyrate-producing bacteria were decreased in the gut microbiota of the PD group, including Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Eubacterium_fissicatena_group, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 ( P < 0.05), which were negatively correlated with serum HbA1c ( P < 0.05). Subsequently, the gut microbiota was depleted using antibiotics or transplanted through cohousing. Compared with the PD group, the levels of HbA1c and glucose intolerance were decreased in the gut microbiota-depleted mice with periodontitis (PD + Abx) ( P < 0.05), as well as the serum levels of endotoxin and IL-6 ( P < 0.05). The serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the PD + Abx group were higher than those of the Con group ( P < 0.05). Antibiotics exerted a limited impact on the periodontal microbiota. When the PD mice were cohoused with healthy ones, the elevated FBG and HbA1c significantly recovered ( P < 0.05), as well as the aforementioned butyrate producers ( P < 0.05). Thus, within the limitations of this study, our data indicated that the gut microbiota may mediate the influence of periodontitis on prediabetes.

An extended vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) growth method, which is the reaction of a mixture of nitrogen and ammonia gas over nanoscale Fe–B ‘catalyst’ particles at 1100 °C, has been developed. With this method, BN nanotubes of diameter about 20 nm have been prepared and well characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. In contrast to traditional VLS growth, the boron component in the BN nanotubes comes from the Fe–B ‘catalyst’ itself, rather than from the vapour precursor. A growing mechanism has been discussed accordingly.

We extend the phase modulation method by in-plane diffractions from plane wave incidence to point source of surface plasmon polariton (SPP). A well-defined SPP focus is successfully realized from a point source under the diffraction by a carefully designed nanohole array, which is easy to layout in the future integrated optical circuits. With this method, the SPP Airy beam and finite plane wave are demonstrated as well, proving a general applicability of this modulation method. The proposed method and realized functions are expected of benefits for the future integration optics.

Aim The molecular adsorbent recirculating system (M.A.R.S.) is widely used as liver support therapy in patients with hepatic dysfunction. The goal of this study was to measure changes in dialysate albumin and bilirubin concentrations during clinical MARS treatments. Methods Eight patients with acute liver dysfunction and hyperbilirubinemia were enrolled in this study. Five of them received a total of 10 treatments with MARS, in which 600 mL of 20% human albumin was used as dialysate, continuously regenerated by two adsorbent columns in the circuit. Three patients received 4 treatments of a modified MARS, in which the two adsorbent columns were bypassed in the first course for 4 h, and then connected to the circuit in the second course for another 4 h. The total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin (TB, CB, UCB) and albumin concentrations in serum and albumin dialysate were dynamically measured, and the adsorbent column inlet pressures were recorded during each session. In one session, dialysate albumin levels were measured during the priming process, at the time points prior to the priming process, immediately after priming, and at the end of the treatment. Results During MARS therapies, the reduction ratio of serum TB, CB and UCB was 26.6±9.0%, 29.5±9.6% and 14.8±12.3%, respectively. The molar ratio of TB/albumin in serum was approximately 20-fold higher than dialysate at all time points. A significant albumin concentration decrease from baseline in the dialysate was found (mean±SD, 34.6±16.6%). For the first four hours of modified treatments, in which only albumin dialysis without albumin regeneration by adsorbent columns was performed, the dialysate albumin decrease was substantially smaller (mean, 8.3±1.5%). After switching to standard MARS, there was a further decrease in the dialysate albumin concentration of 35.1±14.5%. In one session, dialysate albumin concentrations were measured during the priming process, and levels decreased from 196.9 g/L to 144.4 g/L. Adsorber inlet pressure increased from 40±10mmHg at the start of priming to 150±50mmHg at the end of priming, and further increased to 340±100mmHg at the end of treatment. Conclusion There is a significant reduction in dialysate albumin concentration during MARS therapy. Binding of albumin to the adsorbent columns used for albumin regeneration is largely responsible for this decrease.