Intrinsically reactive hyperbranched interface governs graphene oxide dispersion and crosslinking in epoxy for enhanced flame retardancy.

Enhancing the flame retardancy of epoxy (EP) resins typically entailed a trade-off with other physical properties. Herein, hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) (HPAA) and phytic acid (PA) were used to functionalize graphene oxide (GO) via electrostatic self-assembly in water to prepare a phosphorus-nitrogen functionalized graphene oxide nanosheet (PN-GOs), which could be utilized as high efficient flame-retardant additive of epoxy resin without sacrificing other properties. The PN-GOs demonstrated improved dispersion and compatibility within the EP matrix, which resulted in significant concurrent enhancements in both the mechanical performance and flame-retardant properties of the PN-GOs/EP nanocomposites over virgin EP.

Effectiveness and safety of ivabradine in Chinese patients with chronic heart failure: an observational study.

Aims: A therapeutic strategy for chronic heart failure (HF) is to lower resting heart rate (HR). Ivabradine is a well-known HR-lowering agent, but limited prospective data exist regarding its use in Chinese patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ivabradine in Chinese patients with chronic HF.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy combined with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Brugada-pattern electrocardiographic changes: A case report.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a rare X-linked recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the excessive expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine repeat sequences in the androgen receptor gene encoded on the Xq11-12 chromosome. SBMA primarily affects adult males and is characterized by weakness and atrophy of the proximal limb muscles, often involving the bulbar muscles. In addition to neuromuscular deficits, nonneuronal symptoms such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and liver dysfunction are often observed in patients with SBMA.

Multiple interactions steered high affinity toward PFAS on ultrathin layered rare-earth hydroxide nanosheets: Remediation performance and molecular-level insights.

The global occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic systems has raised concerns about their adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. Adsorption is a promising technique for the remediation of PFAS, yet effective adsorbents with rapid uptake kinetics and high adsorption capacity are still in high demand, and molecular-level understanding of the interfacial adsorption mechanisms is lacking. In this study, we developed a superior layered rare-earth hydroxide (LRH) adsorbent, ultrathin Y(OH)Cl·1·07HO (namely YOHCl) nanosheets, to achieve the effective removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

Globular adiponectin-mediated vascular remodeling by affecting the secretion of adventitial-derived tumor necrosis factor-α induced by urotensin II.

Objectives: In this study, we explored how adiponectin mediated urotensin II (UII)‍-induced tumor necrosis factor-‍α (TNF-‍α) and α‍-smooth muscle actin (α‍-SMA) expression and ensuing intracellular signaling pathways in adventitial fibroblasts (AFs).

Methods: Growth-arrested AFs and rat tunica adventitia of vessels were incubated with UII and inhibitors of signal transduction pathways for 1‍‒‍24 h. The cells were then harvested for TNF-α receptor (TNF-‍α-R) messenger RNA (mRNA) and TNF-‍α protein expression determination by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

PCSK9 inhibitors in a renal transplant patient complicated with hepatitis B: A case report and literature review.

Lipid metabolism disorders are recognized to be one of the most frequent complications of renal transplantation, while dyslipidemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are strong risk factors for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) are novel lipid-lowering drugs, the safety and efficacy of which are yet to be confirmed in transplanted patients. There have been several small-sample studies using PCSK9i in patients after heart transplantation, while fewer cases use PCSK9i after kidney transplantation.

Real-World Effectiveness of Ivabradine in Chinese Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Interim Analysis of the POSITIVE Study.

Background: Ivabradine improves cardiac function and clinical outcomes in chronic heart failure (HF) by reducing heart rate (HR), but there is a lack of real-world data on its effectiveness and safety in Chinese patients.

Methods: We designed a prospective, multicenter, observational study of Chinese adults with HF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, resting HR ≥ 75 beats per minute (bpm), and an indication for ivabradine treatment. An interim analysis was performed using a cut-off date of 31 October 2019.

Combining CHADS-VASc score into RCRI for prediction perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery: a retrospective pilot study.

Background: Treatment decisions in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery are based on clinical assessment. The Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) is pragmatic and widely used but has only moderate discrimination. We aimed to test the efficacy of the CHADS-VASc score and the combination of CHADS-VASc and RCRI to predict perioperative risks for non-cardiac surgery.

Molecular-Level Insights on the Facet-Dependent Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has raised significant health concerns due to its high ecotoxicological risks and difficulties in removal by conventional water treatment process. Previous studies have demonstrated that photocatalytic techniques exhibit great potential in PFOA removal. However, the underlying mechanism of the degradation process has not been fully understood, particularly the contribution of the facet effects of catalysts.

Differences in perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in elderly male and female patients undergoing intra-abdominal surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Perioperative cardiovascular events constitute the majority of complications in noncardiac surgery. Older and female patients have been less investigated. We aimed to evaluate differences in perioperative cardiovascular outcomes by age and sex.

circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Network in Oxidized, Low-Density, Lipoprotein-Induced Foam Cells.

Although long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been suggested to play important roles in the pathogenesis of diseases, atherosclerosis-related lncRNAs and circRNAs remain rarely reported. This study aimed to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis based on the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory hypothesis of lncRNAs and circRNAs. The expression profiles of circRNAs, lncRNAs, and mRNAs in human THP-1 macrophages treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (an atherosclerosis model), or not, were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database under accession numbers GSE107522, GSE54666, and GSE54039, respectively.

Catestatin in defense of oxidative-stress-induced apoptosis: A novel mechanism by activating the beta2 adrenergic receptor and PKB/Akt pathway in ischemic-reperfused myocardium.

Apoptosis induced by oxidative stress is one of the most important cardiomyocytes losses during ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Catestatin (CST) has been demonstrated to have the anti-oxidative capacity in vitro. We hypothesized that CST intervention could reduce apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by oxidative stress in I/R.

Urotensin II promotes secretion of LTB through 5-lipoxygenase via the UT-ROS-Akt pathway in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Introduction: Urotensin II (UII) is an important vasoactive peptide involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Monocytes/macrophages play important roles in every step of atherosclerosis. Although UII has a chemoattractant effect on monocytes, it is unclear whether UII regulates inflammatory responses in macrophages.

Distribution and availability of heavy metals in soils near electroplating factories.

Comprehensive understanding of the influence of soil properties on the potential availability of heavy metals could facilitate soil environment management. This study investigated the distribution of heavy metals and their potential availability in paddy and vegetable fields around electroplating factory outlets and irrigated with its wastewater. The potential availability was assessed using secondary phase fraction (SPF) of heavy metals, including acid-soluble, reducible, and oxidizable fractions resulting from BCR sequential extraction procedure.

Propafenone-associated Gross Hematuria: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Purpose: Propafenone hydrochloride has been widely used for the treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. We present a case report of an 81-year-old patient with propafenone-associated gross hematuria.

Methods: The Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale was used to assess causality.

Influence of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 mutations and glomerular filtration rate on trough serum digoxin concentration in the Chinese population: A prospective cohort study.

Polymorphisms of organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) have been reported to affect trough serum digoxin concentration (SDC). However, the association of these polymorphisms with trough SDC in Chinese heart failure patients has not been studied. We aim to explore whether OATP1B1 388A>G, OATP1B1 521T>C, and OATP1B3 699G>A influence trough SDC in Chinese heart failure patients and to make clinical recommendations.

Pulmonary hypertension with massive megalosplenia: A case report.

Rationale: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complicated disease which has complex causes and poor outcome. Many factors are involved in the increase of pulmonary artery pressure. It is often difficult to identify the specific cause of a particular patient.

Silica Aerogel Monoliths Derived from Silica Hydrosol with Various Surfactants.

Owing to their ultra-low thermal conductivity, silica aerogels are promising thermal insulators; however, their extensive application is limited by their high production cost. Thus, scientists have started to explore low-cost and easy preparation processes of silica aerogels. In this work, a low-cost method was proposed to prepare silica aerogels with industrial silica hydrosol and a subsequent ambient pressure drying (APD) process.

Efficient preparation of crack-free, low-density and transparent polymethylsilsesquioxane aerogels ambient pressure drying and surface modification.

Polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) aerogels have gained considerable attention due to their high transparency, good mechanical properties and low thermal conductivity. However, low-density PMSQ aerogels are difficult to obtain by ambient pressure drying due to irreversible shrinkage. Inspired by previous research, we speculate that reducing surface silanol groups could reduce irreversible shrinkage along with the skeleton-strengthening effect.

Cast-In-Situ, Large-Sized Monolithic Silica Xerogel Prepared in Aqueous System.

This paper reports the preparation of cast-in-situ, large-sized monolithic silica xerogels by a two-step acid⁻base catalyzed approach under ambient pressure drying. Low-cost industrial silica sol and deionized water were used as the silicon source and the solvent, respectively. Hexadecetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a modification agent.

Genetic polymorphisms of rs2890565 Ser89Asn in coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction in Chinese population.

Objective: Atherosclerosis plays a key role in the inducibility and persistence of coronary heart disease. Clinical evidence, in vitro and in vivo studies have implicated Urotensin II (U-II/UTS2) in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, contributing to the (patho) physiological regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis in humans. Increased U-II plasma levels have been reported in patients with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

Abnormal glucose regulation in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease: A cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation (AGR) in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD), and the association of AGR and acute coronary events in Chinese patients.A total of 3441 hospitalized patients with established diagnosis of CAD were recruited from 41 centers in 25 cities of China. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 2112 patients without known diabetes.