Longitudinal Piezoelectricity and Polarization-Insensitive Oxidation in Janus vdWs NbSeI.

As a newly discovered Janus van der Waals (vdW) material, semiconducting NbSeI offers several notable advantages, including spontaneous out-of-plane polarization, facile exfoliation to the monolayer limit, and significant out-of-plane emission dipole in second harmonic generation. These properties make it a promising candidate for piezoelectric and piezophototronic applications in highly efficient energy conversion. However, NbSeI is prone to oxidation when exposed to oxygen, which can severely limit the exploration and utilization of these intriguing physical properties.

Patient Preference for Catheter-Based Hypertension Therapy and Subgroup Analysis: A Pilot Study Based on Taiwan Consensus on Renal Denervation.

Ojective: To understand hypertensive patients' preference for catheter-based therapy to manage hypertension.

Methods: Survey data regarding catheter-based therapies performed at MacKay Memorial Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, between 2019-2020 were analyzed. The questionnaire was circulated either in the clinics or during admission.

Optimal Heart Rate Control Improves Long-Term Prognosis of Decompensated Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

An elevated heart rate is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, the relationship between heart rate control and the long-term outcomes of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains unclear. This study explored the long-term prognostic importance of heart rate control in patients hospitalized with HFrEF. : We retrieved the records of patients admitted for decompensated heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤40%, from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2019.

The Removal, Excision, Sterilization, and Quarantine (RESQ) Method is a Feasible Alternative Treatment for Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infections.

Background: Current guidelines recommend that all infected cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) should be removed. However, financial or anatomical concerns can lead to management of infection with simple debridement, as opposed to complete removal. In this observational study, we report the outcomes of our modified procedure for this real-world dilemma.

Synthesis of Anion Exchange Membranes Containing PVDF/PES and Either PEI or Fumion.

In this work, the preparation of dense blended membranes, from blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), poly(ether sulfone) (PES) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) or Fumion, with possible applications in alkaline fuel cell (AEMFC) is reported. The blended PEI/Fumion membranes were prepared under a controlled air atmosphere by a solvent evaporation method, and were characterized regarding water uptake, swelling ratio, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ion exchange capacity (IEC), OH conductivity and novel hydroxide ion exchange rate (HIER), which is related to the mass transport capacity of the OH ions through the membrane. The effect of the chemical composition on its morphological and anion exchange properties was evaluated.

CDC6 is a prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in glioma.

Background: Cell division cycle 6 (CDC6) has been proven to be associated with the initiation and progression of human multiple tumors. However, it's role in glioma, which is ranked as one of the common primary malignant tumor in the central nervous system and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, is unclear.

Methods: In this study, we explored CDC6 gene expression level in pan-cancer.

Preprocedural features of patients under antihypertensive drugs may help identify responders to renal denervation: a hypothesis-generating study.

Background: Renal denervation (RDN) is effective to lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) in essential hypertension. However, patient selection under medications remains an important unmet clinical need.

Methods: This multicenter study aimed at observing whether preprocedural features associated with increased renin-angiotensin-aldosterone activity influence RDN response.

DNA-free CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of wild tetraploid tomato Solanum peruvianum using protoplast regeneration.

Wild tomatoes (Solanum peruvianum) are important genomic resources for tomato research and breeding. Development of a foreign DNA-free clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas delivery system has potential to mitigate public concern about genetically modified organisms. Here, we established a DNA-free CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system based on an optimized protoplast regeneration protocol of S.

A Ping Pong Thrombus in the Left Atrium.

In this illustrative case, a transesophageal echocardiographic examination in a 69-year-old woman revealed normally functioning mechanical mitral prosthesis and a 4 cm left atrial heterogenous thrombus moving around her left atrium like a ping pong ball. Also visible was a thrombus within the left atrial appendage; the left atrial thrombus moved toward the mitral orifice and was bounced away by the mitral regurgitant jet.

Ultra-Low Pt Loading in PtCo Catalysts for the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction: What Role Do Co Nanoparticles Play?

The effect of the nature of the catalyst on the performance and mechanism of the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) is discussed for the first time in this work. HOR is an anodic reaction that takes place in anionic exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) and hydrogen pumps (HPs). Among the investigated catalysts, Pt exhibited the best performance in the HOR.

The germline/somatic DNA damage repair gene mutations modulate the therapeutic response in Chinese patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal disease with molecular heterogeneity, inducing differences in biological behavior, and therapeutic strategy. NGS profiles of pathogenic alterations in the Chinese PDAC population are limited. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the predictive role of DNA damage repair (DDR) mutations in precision medicine.

Preparation of Thin-Film Composite Nanofiltration Membranes Doped with N- and Cl-Functionalized Graphene Oxide for Water Desalination.

In the present work, chemically modified graphene oxide (GO) was incorporated as a crosslinking agent into thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes for water desalination applications, which were prepared by the interfacial polymerization (IP) method, where the monomers were piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC). GO was functionalized with monomer-containing groups to promote covalent interactions with the polymeric film. The composite GO/polyamide (PA) was prepared by incorporating amine and acyl chloride groups into the structure of GO and then adding these chemical modified nanomaterial during IP.

Effect of Reducing Heart Rate on Outcomes in Patients With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Since 1953, sinus tachycardia has been defined as a heart rate (HR) in sinus rhythm of >100 beats per minute (bpm). However, this number has never been formally evaluated, and no established threshold values for special groups, such as those with heart failure (HF) accompanied by a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Herein, we provided evidence that lowering the HR of patients with HFrEF to <70 bpm with medications such as ivabradine improves outcomes.

The Era of Radiogenomics in Precision Medicine: An Emerging Approach to Support Diagnosis, Treatment Decisions, and Prognostication in Oncology.

With the rapid development of new technologies, including artificial intelligence and genome sequencing, radiogenomics has emerged as a state-of-the-art science in the field of individualized medicine. Radiogenomics combines a large volume of quantitative data extracted from medical images with individual genomic phenotypes and constructs a prediction model through deep learning to stratify patients, guide therapeutic strategies, and evaluate clinical outcomes. Recent studies of various types of tumors demonstrate the predictive value of radiogenomics.

Corrigendum to: Intraventricular Conduction Disturbances After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.15420/icr.2020.

Relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) content and prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma before and after radiochemotherapy.

Purpose: To identify new effective prognostic indicators for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: The immunohistochemical staining method was used to detect cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in tumor tissues of 100 patients before and after chemoradiation. All the patients had stage III poorly differentiated NPC.

Which is the Best Option in Calcified Leaflets? MitraClip NTR or XTR?

In the current era of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, deciding clip size in each case is still a challenge. We demonstrate that the XTR clip can achieve a better outcome than the NTR clip in a calcified leaflet.

Long-Term Results of Partial Breast Irradiation After Breast-Conserving Surgery for Early Stage Breast Cancer: A Prospective Phase II Trial in China.

Background: Partial breast radiotherapy (PBI) has emerged as an option after breast-conserving surgery for early stage breast cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 55 patients with early stage breast cancer between 2009 and 2013 were enrolled in this single-institutional phase II prospective clinical trial. All patients received adjuvant PBI-IMRT after lumpectomy, with the prescription of 48 Gy in 12 fractions at 4 Gy per fraction, 5 days a week.

Intraventricular Conduction Disturbances After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Despite significant improvements in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) outcomes, periprocedural conduction disturbances, such as new-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) and new pacemaker implantation (PMI), remain relatively frequent concerns. The development of periprocedural conduction disturbances can be explained by the proximity between the aortic valve and the conduction system. Although prior studies reported heterogeneity in PMI rates after TAVI, current evidence supports the potentially deleterious consequence of LBBB and PMI, and several predisposing factors have been reported.

Synergies of Antiangiogenic Therapy and Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Renal Cell Carcinoma: From Theoretical Background to Clinical Reality.

The hallmarks of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are angiogenesis and immunogenic tumor microenvironment. Over the past decades, treatment options for metastatic RCC (mRCC) have been expanding, from the inhibition of vessel formation via antiangiogenic agents (AAs) to the stimulation of immune system by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Since 2005, the introduction of antiangiogenic agents targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), its receptors (VEGFRs), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway have experienced moderate success in the therapeutics of mRCC, but patient outcomes remain suboptimal.