Color Duplex Ultrasonography for the Evaluation of Innominate, Subclavian, and Common Carotid Artery Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to validate the efficiency of Doppler ultrasonography for predicting the innominate, subclavian, and common carotid artery stenosis. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study between 2013 and 2022 enrolled 636 patients who underwent carotid Doppler ultrasonography and subsequent digital subtraction angiography. And 58 innominate artery stenosis, 147 common carotid artery stenosis, and 154 subclavian artery stenosis were included. The peak systolic velocity at innominate, subclavian, and common carotid artery, and velocity ratios of innominate artery to common carotid artery, innominate artery to subclavian artery, and common carotid artery to internal carotid artery were measured or calculated. The threshold values were determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: The threshold values of innominate artery stenosis were peak systolic velocity >206 cm/s (sensitivity: 82.8%; specificity: 91.4%) to predict ≥50% stenosis and >285 cm/s (sensitivity: 89.2%; specificity: 94.9%) to predict ≥70% stenosis. The threshold values of common carotid artery stenosis were peak systolic velocity >175 cm/s (sensitivity: 78.2%; specificity: 91.9%) to predict ≥50% stenosis and >255 cm/s (sensitivity: 87.1%; specificity: 87.2%) to predict ≥70% stenosis. The threshold values of subclavian artery stenosis were peak systolic velocity >200 cm/s (sensitivity: 68.2%; specificity: 84.4%) to predict ≥50% stenosis and >305 cm/s (sensitivity: 57.9%; specificity: 91.4%) to predict ≥70% stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic patients with ultrasonic parameters of velocity at innominate artery ≥206 cm/s, velocity at common carotid artery ≥175 cm/s, or velocity at subclavian artery ≥200 cm/s need to be considered for further verification and whether revascularization is necessary.

Functional and structural investigation of a broadly neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibody.

Since its emergence, SARS-CoV-2 has been continuously evolving, hampering the effectiveness of current vaccines against COVID-19. mAbs can be used to treat patients at risk of severe COVID-19. Thus, the development of broadly protective mAbs and an understanding of the underlying protective mechanisms are of great importance. Here, we isolated mAbs from donors with breakthrough infection with Omicron subvariants using a single-B cell screening platform. We identified a mAb, O5C2, which possesses broad-spectrum neutralization and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic activities against SARS-CoV-2 variants, including EG.5.1. Single-particle analysis by cryo-electron microscopy revealed that O5C2 targeted an unusually large epitope within the receptor-binding domain of spike protein that overlapped with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 binding interface. Furthermore, O5C2 effectively protected against BA.5 Omicron infection in vivo by mediating changes in transcriptomes enriched in genes involved in apoptosis and interferon responses. Our findings provide insights into the development of pan-protective mAbs against SARS-CoV-2.

A two-center retrospective study: association of early caffeine administration and oxygen radical diseases in neonatology in Chinese preterm neonates.

Introduction: Since December 2012, the prophylactic use of caffeine to treat AOP in preterm infants has been approved in China. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between early caffeine treatment initiation and the incidence of oxygen radical diseases in neonatology (ORDIN) in Chinese preterm infants. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at two hospitals in South China, involving 452 preterm infants with gestational ages less than 37 weeks. The infants were divided into early (227 cases, initiating within 48 h after birth) and late (225 cases, initiating over 48 h after birth) caffeine treatment group. Logistic regression analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the association between early caffeine treatment and the incidence of ORDIN. Results: The results showed that extremely preterm infants in early treatment group had a lower incidence of PIVH and ROP compared to those in the late treatment group (PIVH, 20.1% versus 47.8%, P = 0.02; ROP, 70.8% versus 89.9%, P = 0.025). Very preterm infants in the early treatment group had a lower incidence of BPD and PIVH compared to those in the late treatment group (BPD, 43.8% versus 63.1%, P = 0.002; PIVH, 9.0% versus 22.3%, P = 0.001). Moreover, VLBW infants who received early caffeine treatment exhibited a decreased incidence of BPD (55.9% versus 80.9%, P = 0.000), PIVH (11.8% versus 33.1%, P = 0.000), and ROP (69.9% versus 79.8%, P = 0.043) compared to those in the late treatment group. Infants in the early caffeine treatment showed a reduced likelihood of PIVH (adjusted odds ratio, 0.407; 95%CI, 0.188-0.846) but did not exhibit a significant association with other terms of ORDIN. ROC analysis revealed that early initiation of caffeine treatment was associated with lower risk of BPD, PIVH, and ROP in preterm infants. Discussion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that early initiation of caffeine treatment is associated with a decreased incidence of PIVH in Chinese preterm infants. Further prospective investigations are necessary to verify and elucidate the precise effects of early caffeine treatment on complications in preterm Chinese infants.

Separator with Nitrogen-Phosphorus Flame-Retardant for LiNix Coy Mn1- x - y O2 Cathode-Based Lithium-Ion Batteries.

With the pursuit of high-energy-density for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the hidden safety problems of batteries have gradually emerged. LiNix Coy Mn1- x - y O2 (NCM) is considered as an ideal cathode material to meet the urgent needs of high-energy-density batteries. However, the oxygen precipitation reaction of NCM cathode at high temperature brings serious safety concerns. In order to promote high-safety lithium-ion batteries, herein, a new type of flame-retardant separator is prepared using flame-retardant (melamine pyrophosphate, MPP) and thermal stable Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP). MPP takes the advantage of nitrogen-phosphorus synergistic effect upon the increased internal temperature of LIBs, including the dilution effect of noncombustible gas and the rapidly suppression of undesirable thermal runaway. The developed flame-retardant separators show negligible shrinkage over 200 °C and it takes only 0.54 s to extinguish the flame in the ignition test, which are much superior to commercial polyolefin separators. Moreover, pouch cells are assembled to demonstrate the application potential of PVDF-HFP/MPP separators and further verify the safety performance. It is anticipated that the separator with nitrogen-phosphorus flame-retardant can be extensively applied to various high-energy-density devices owing to simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Extracellular Vesicles in Cardiovascular Diseases: Diagnosis and Therapy.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global mortality. Therapy of CVDs is still a great challenge since many advanced therapies have been developed. Multiple cell types produce nano-sized extracellular vesicles (EVs), including cardiovascular system-related cells and stem cells. Compelling evidence reveals that EVs are associated with the pathophysiological processes of CVDs. Recently researches focus on the clinical transformation in EVs-based diagnosis, prognosis, therapies, and drug delivery systems. In this review, we firstly discuss the current knowledge about the biophysical properties and biological components of EVs. Secondly, we will focus on the functions of EVs on CVDs, and outline the latest advances of EVs as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic agents. Finally, we will introduce the specific application of EVs as a novel drug delivery system and its application in CVDs therapy. Specific attention will be paid to summarize the perspectives, challenges, and applications on EVs' clinical and industrial transformation.

Effect of Particles Size on Dielectric Properties of Nano-ZnO/LDPE Composites.

The melt blending was used to prepare 3 wt% ZnO/low density polyethylene (ZnO/LDPE) nanocomposites in this article. The effect of different inorganic ZnO particles doping on the dielectrical property and crystal habit of LDPE matrix was explored. The nanoparticles size was 9 nm, 30 nm, 100 nm, and 200 nm respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to characterize ZnO nanoparticles whereas differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to make thermal characterization of the samples. Besides, the AC (alternating current), DC (direct current breakdown characteristics and electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites was studied in this article. The experimental results showed that nano-ZnO/LDPE composites had the advantages such as small crystal size, high crystallization rate and crystallinity owing to nano-ZnO particles doping, when doping nano-ZnO particles size was 30 nm, the ZnO/LDPE nanocomposite crystallinity crest value 39.77% appeared. At the mean time, the DC and AC breakdown field strength values of composites were 138.0 kV/mm and 340.4 kV/mm respectively. They were the maximal values which improved 8.24% and 13.85% than LDPE. The AC breakdown field strength of samples decreased with specimen thickness increase. The DC breakdown field strength of LDPE and ZnO/LDPE composites were greater than AC breakdown field strength. From the conductivity experimental result it could be seen that when the experimental temperature and electric field intensity rose, the current density and conductivity of ZnO/LDPE composites increased with the enlargement of ZnO particles size. But the values were less than which of LDPE.

Use of fly-ash slurry in backfill grouting in coal mines.

Cave backfill grouting implies grouting of the caving rock mass prior to it being compacted. The filling materials strengthen the caving rock and support the overlying strata to achieve the purpose of slowing down the surface subsidence. The broken roof will fail and collapse during mining operations performed without appropriate supporting measures being taken. It is difficult to perform continuous backfill mining on the working face of such roofs using the existing mining technology. In order to solve the above problems, fly ash and mine water are considered as filling materials, and flow characteristics of fly-ash slurry are investigated through laboratory experiments and theoretical analyses. Laws governing the diffusion of fly-ash slurry in the void of caving rock masses and in the void between a caving rock mass and a basic roof are obtained and verified. Based on the results obtained from the above analyses and actual conditions at the Zhaoguan coal mine, Shandong Province, China, a cave backfill grouting system of the hauling pipeline is developed and successfully tested at the 1703 working face in the Zhaoguan coal mine. The results demonstrate that a filling rate of 43.46% is achieved, and the surface subsidence coefficient of the grouting process is found to be 0.475. Compared to the total caving method, the proposed system is found to achieve a reduction rate of 40.63%. This effectively helps in lowering the value of the surface subsidence coefficient. Fly ash and mine water, considered as primary materials in this study, also play a significant role in improving the air quality and water environment.