Built-in Electric Field Triggered Interfacial Accumulation Effect for Efficient Nitrate Removal at Ultra-Low Concentration and Electroreduction to Ammonia.

A built-in electric field in electrocatalyst can significantly accumulate higher concentration of NO ions near electrocatalyst surface region, thus facilitating mass transfer for efficient nitrate removal at ultra-low concentration and electroreduction reaction (NO RR). A model electrocatalyst is created by stacking CuCl (111) and rutile TiO (110) layers together, in which a built-in electric field induced from the electron transfer from TiO to CuCl (CuCl_BEF) is successfully formed . This built-in electric field effectively triggers interfacial accumulation of NO ions around the electrocatalyst.

Serum salusin-α levels are inversely correlated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.

We sought to measure serum salusin-α levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and to assess their correlation with the severity of the disease. We enrolled 172 patients with CAD and 91 controls. We assessed the angiographic severity of CAD by coronary atherosclerosis index (CAI) and detected serum salusin-α levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

[Evaluation of ultramicroporous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mitral valve under pulsatile flow condition in vitro].

Objective: To test 25# and 27# ultramicroporous expanded polytetrafluo-roethylene mitral valve (UPMV) under pulsatile flow condition in vitro.

Methods: Six 25# and six 27#UPMV were tested using TH-1200 HV Prosthesis Pulsatile Flow Tester in vitro at the cycling rate of 70 cycle/min, with the systolic pressure maintained at about 16 kPa (120 mmHg), diastolic pressure at 10.7 kPa (80 mmHg), and the percentage of mean forward flow at 35%.

[Accelerated fatigue test in vitro of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene artificial heart valve].

Objective: To study the durability of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene artificial heart valve (ePTFE AHV).

Methods: Six ePTFE AHVs were tested for 400 million times against accelerated fatigue using TH-2200 artificial heart valve exosomatic accelerated fatigue instrument. Hydromechanical parameters of fore-and-aft accelerated fatigue test of the 6 AHVs were obtained by TH-1200 artificial heart valve exosomatic pulsatile stream instrument.

[Calcification and biomechanics in vivo of ultra-microporous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in rabbits].

Objective: To study in vivo calcification and biomechanics of the ultra-microporous expanded polytetrafluo- roethylene (UePTFE) in rabbits in comparison with glutaral-treated bovine pericardium (BP), so as to assess the potential of UePTFE as a material for cardiac valve prosthesis.

Methods: Factorial analysis was adopted in the experiment. UePTFE and glutaral-treated BP of appropriate sizes were embedded beneath skin of young New Zealand rabbits, and at 0, 1, 3 and 6 months following the implantation, the materials were measured for the content of calcium and biomechanics properties.

[Surgical treatment of ascending aortic aneurysm by Bentall's procedure: report of 14 cases].

Objective: To review our experience in surgical treatment of ascending aortic aneurysm (AAA) with aortic insufficiency in 14 cases of by Bentall's procedure.

Methods And Results: All the patients underwent replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with composite valved vascular prosthesis and received direct implantation of the aortic graft of the coronary orifices (Bentall's procedure) with satisfactory results. Five patients had ascending aortic dissection and 4 had typical Marfan's syndrome.