Analysis of the genetic contribution to thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection in a prospective cohort of patients with familial and sporadic cases in East China.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissections (TAADs) represent a group of life-threatening diseases. Genetic aetiology can affect the age of onset, clinical phenotype, and timing of intervention. We conducted a prospective trial to determine the prevalence of pathogenic variants in TAAD patients and to elucidate the traits related to harbouring the pathogenic variants. One hundred and one unrelated TAAD patients underwent genetic sequencing and analysis for 23 TAAD-associated genes using a targeted PCR and next-generation sequencing-based panel. RESULTS: A total of 47 variants were identified in 52 TAAD patients (51.5%), including 5 pathogenic, 1 likely pathogenic and 41 variants of uncertain significance. The pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in 4 disease-causing genes were carried by 1 patient with familial and 5 patients with sporadic TAAD (5.9%). In addition to harbouring one variant causing familial TAAD, the FBN1 gene harboured half of the P/LP variants causing sporadic TAAD. Individuals with an age of onset less than 50 years or normotension had a significantly increased genetic risk. CONCLUSIONS: TAAD patients with a younger age at diagnosis or normotension were more likely to carry a P/LP variant; thus, routine genetic testing will be beneficial to a better prognosis through genetically personalized care prior to acute rupture or dissection.

Study on the Minimum Fire-Extinguishing Concentration of Several Commonly Used Extinguishing Agents to Suppress Pyrolysis Gas of Red Pine Wood.

The suppression of forest wood burning has been one of the important research directions in the field of solid combustible fire safety. The process of forest wood flame propagation is a coupled process of solid-phase pyrolysis and gas-phase combustion chemical reactions; therefore, as long as the solid-phase pyrolysis or gas-phase combustion can be suppressed, the forest wood flame propagation can be suppressed and an important contribution can be made to the subsequent suppression of forest wood fires. Previous studies have focused on the inhibition of solid-phase pyrolysis of forest wood, so this paper examines the effectiveness of several common fire suppressants for suppressing forest wood gas-phase flames, starting with the inhibition of forest wood gas-phase combustion. In this paper, for the convenience of the study, we narrowed the scope of the research object to the previous research ideas for gas fires, established a simplified small-scale flame model for forest wood fire suppression, took red pine wood as the research object, analyzed the pyrolysis gas components after high-temperature pyrolysis, and constructed a Cup burner suitable for N2, CO2, fine water mist, and NH4H2PO4 powder to extinguish the pyrolysis gas flame of red pine wood, respectively. The experimental system, together with the 9306 fogging system and the improved powder delivery control system, shows the process of extinguishing fuel flames such as red pine pyrolysis gas at 350, 450, and 550 °C with various types of fire-extinguishing agents on this device. It was found that the flame morphology was related to the composition of the gas and the type of extinguishing agent. At the same time, NH4H2PO4 powder appeared to burn above the cup mouth when pyrolysis gas interacted with it at 450 °C, but this phenomenon did not occur when other extinguishing agents interacted with it and only appeared when pyrolysis gas interacted with it at 450 °C, so it was judged that this phenomenon was related to the CO2 content of the gas component and the type of extinguishing agent. The study found that the four extinguishing agents extinguish red pine pyrolysis gas flame MEC value. There's a big difference. The worst performance is N2. Compared with N2 suppression of red pine pyrolysis gas flame, CO2 suppression effectiveness is 60% higher, but compared to the suppression effectiveness of fine water mist and far away, the suppression effectiveness of fine water mist is much higher than the suppression effectiveness of CO2. However, the difference in effectiveness between fine water mist and NH4H2PO4 powder is almost double. In summary, in the suppression of red pine gas-phase flame, four kinds of fire-extinguishing agents are ranked as follows: N2 < CO2 < fine water mist < NH4H2PO4 powder. Finally, the suppression mechanism of each type of extinguishing agent was analyzed. The study of this paper can provide some data to support the extinguishing of open fires in forest fires or suppressing the rate of forest fire spread.

Combining clinical examination with exome sequencing for the diagnosis and treatment of Marfan syndrome: a case series of 6 families from China.

BACKGROUND: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a rare autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder. Diagnosing MFS can be challenging as the disease's severity and clinical manifestations differ between pathogenic variants, and because a lack of published information currently exists on phenotype-genotype correlations. This report aims to underline the clinical manifestations associated with fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene mutations by assessing MFS in 6 families from China. METHODS: We diagnosed 6 patients and their relatives with MFS by combining a clinical examination (based on the 2010 revised Ghent nosology criteria) with a targeted next-generation sequencing analysis. The functional analysis of the causal mutations and clinical details of the affected patients were then assessed. RESULTS: We identified 6 pathogenic mutations in FBN1, including 1 novel frameshift, 1 nonsense, and 4 missense mutations. Most uniquely, mitral valve prolapses (MVP) and ectopia lentis (EL) were found in the cysteine-related mutations. Typically, facial symptoms of MFS are observed in frameshift or nonsense mutants, not in cysteine-related ones. Furthermore, the patients with premature terminal codons had a more serious skin condition than patients with missense mutations, partly indicating the important effect FBN1 has on skin. CONCLUSIONS: This study expands the mutation spectrum of MFS and highlights possible genotype-phenotype correlations, thereby improving the early diagnosis and symptomatic treatment of the disease.

miR-666-3p Mediates the Protective Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Exosomes Against Oxygen-glucose Deprivation and Reoxygenation- induced Cell Injury in Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells via Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)- derived exosomes can protect primary rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) against oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced injury. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to identify the key factors mediating the protective effects of MSC-derived exosomes. METHODS: Primary rat BMECs were either pretreated or not pretreated with MSC-derived exosomes before exposure to OGD/R. Naïve cells were used as a control. After performing small RNA deep sequencing, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate microRNA (miRNA) expression. The effects of rno-miR-666-3p on cell viability, apoptosis, and inflammation in OGD/R-exposed cells were assessed by performing the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Moreover, the role of rno-miR-666-3p in regulating gene expression in OGD/R-exposed cells was studied using mRNA deep sequencing. Lastly, to evaluate whether mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) was the target of rno-miR-666-3p, western blotting and the dual-luciferase assay were performed. RESULTS: MSC-derived exosomes altered the miRNA expression patterns in OGD/R-exposed BMECs. In particular, the expression levels of rno-miR-666-3p, rno-miR-92a-2-5p, and rnomiR- 219a-2-3p decreased in OGD/R-exposed cells compared with those in the control; however, MSC-derived exosomes restored the expression levels of these miRNAs under OGD/R conditions. rno-miR-666-3p overexpression enhanced cell viability and alleviated the apoptosis of OGD/R-exposed cells. Moreover, rno-miR-666-3p suppressed OGD/R-induced inflammation. mRNA deep sequencing revealed that rno-miR-666-3p is closely associated with the MAPK signaling pathway. Western blotting and the dual-luciferase assay confirmed that MAPK1 is the target of rnomiR- 666-3p. CONCLUSION: MSC-derived exosomes restore rno-miR-666-3p expression in OGD/R-exposed BMECs. Moreover, this specific miRNA exerts protective effects against OGD/R by suppressing the MAPK signaling pathway.

A comparative analysis on thermal runaway behavior of Li (NixCoyMnz) O2 battery with different nickel contents at cell and module level.

The problem of thermal runaway (TR) propagation challenges the safety design of battery packs, because it aggravates the thermal hazards to accidents. There are many unsolved scientific questions in understanding the mechanisms of TR and its propagation behavior for large format lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). LiNixCoyMnzO2(NCM) is considered as one of the most promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries LIBs, given its higher energy design and lower cost. However, higher Nickel (Ni) content of cathode material worsens the thermal stability of LIBs. This paper provides a comparative analysis on the TR propagation behavior of NCM battery with different Ni ratios. Results have shown that when the characteristic temperatures of TR {T1, T2, T3}and the specific electrochemical energy of the cell are similar, TR propagation behavior will be similar, no matter what kinds of chemistry the cell has. Observation suggests that the average propagation time within a large format cell is 7-10 s in module tests. Besides, the internal temperature of the cell has an order of NCM622 ≥ NCM523 ≥ NCM111,whereas the mass is ordered by NCM622 > NCM523 > NCM111.This work firstly reports the TR feature in large format LIBs with different Ni ratios, both at cell and module level, providing the guidelines for engineering practice and further theoretical researches.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Exosomes Rescue Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation-induced Injury in Endothelial Cells.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes on brain microvascular endothelial cells under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), which mimic cells in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) in vitro, are yet to be studied. METHODS: MSCs were co-cultured with primary rat brain endothelial cells, which were then exposed to OGD. Cell viability, apoptosis, the inflammatory factors (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α), and the activation of inflammation-associated TLR4-mediated pyroptosis and the NF-κB signaling pathway were determined. Furthermore, exosomes derived from MSCs were isolated and incubated with endothelial cells to investigate whether the effect of MSCs is associated with MSCderived exosomes. Apoptosis, cell viability, and the inflammatory response were also analyzed in OGD-induced endothelial cells incubated with MSC-derived exosomes. RESULTS: OGD treatment promoted endothelial cell apoptosis, induced the release of inflammatory factors IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, and inhibited cell viability. Western blot analysis showed that OGD treatment-induced TLR4, and NF-κB p65 subunit phosphorylation and caspase-1 upregulation, while co-culture with MSCs could reduce the effect of OGD treatment on endothelial cells. As expected, the effect of MSC-derived exosomes on OGD-treated endothelial cells was similar to that of MSCs. MSC-derived exosomes alleviated the OGD-induced decrease in the viability of endothelial cells, and increased levels of apoptosis, inflammatory factors, and the activation of inflammatory and inflammatory focal pathways. CONCLUSION: Both MSCs and MSC-derived exosomes attenuated OGD-induced rat primary brain endothelial cell injury. These findings suggest that MSC-derived exosomes mediate at least some of the protective effects of MSCs on endothelial cells.

A novel environmental-friendly and safe unpacking powder without magnesium, aluminum and sulphur for fireworks.

A novel environmental-friendly unpacking powder for fireworks which has no sulfur, no magnesium, no aluminum or their alloys has been prepared in this study: potassium perchlorate (75%), potassium hydrogen terephthalate (13%), micronano porous silicon (9%), carbon (2%), ferrocene (1%). The PM2.5 and PM10 were collected by the ambient air particulate sampler, and the gas product was tested with a smoke analyzer and gas chromatograph to investigate its environmental-friendly performance. The detonation radius was measured by similar triangulation method, and p-t curves were measured in a closed bomb to investigate its practicality. The heat of combustion, sensitivity and hygroscopicity of the formula were measured according to China fireworks industry standard to verify the safety of the novel unpacking powder. The test results suggest that new unpacking powder using micronano porous silicon can effectively reduce the PM content and the product does not contain SO2, so it can be applied to export.

Efficacy and safety of Zhibitai in combination with atorvastatin for lipid lowering in patients with coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Zhibitai, a natural lipid-lowering Chinese medicine, is well tolerated in patients and has low incidence of adverse events. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy, safety, and side effects of Zhibitai in combination with low dose Atorvastatin compared to high dose Atorvastatin in patients with coronary heart disease or at high risk of coronary heart disease. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, multi-center clinical trial on 720 patients with coronary heart disease or at high risk of coronary heart disease. The patients were randomly assigned to a Zhibitai-Atorvastatin group (480 mg Zhibitai twice daily plus 10 mg atorvastatin once daily) or Monotherapy group (40 mg Atorvastatin once daily). Blood samples were obtained at baseline, week 4, and week 8 after a minimum 8-hour fast. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of the changes in the following parameters: lipoprotein profiles [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)]. Safety was assessed throughout the study by clinical laboratory tests including liver function [alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase] and renal function [blood urea nitrogen], and creatine kinase; physical examination; and adverse events monitoring. RESULTS: TC, TG, LDL-C levels were significantly decreased andHDL-C levels were significantly increased at week 4 and week 8 (all P < 0.05) in both groups but had no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). In subgroup analyses, Zhibitai-Atorvastatin Group produced significantly greater reduction in TG compared with Monotherapy Group at week 8 in patients with TG > 203.72mg/dL (P < 0.01). Among patients with LDL-C levels > 131.48 mg/dL, Zhibitai-Atorvastatin Group produced a greater reduction of LDL-C levels compared with the Monotherapy Group at week 4 (P < 0.05). The incidence of liver dysfunction, headache, or gastrointestinal intolerance was significantly lower in the Zhibitai-Atorvastatin Group compared with Monotherapy Group during the 8-week study peroid (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in renal function, myopathy, and other adverse events between the groups. CONCLUSION: Overall the two groups have similar lipid regulation efficacy. Zhibitai plus low dose Atorvastatin is more efficacious in lowering TG in patients with TG > 203.72 mg/dL at week 8. There are fewer side effects in Zhibitai plus low dose Atorvastatin group. Long term follow up is required to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes.

3-Nitro-4-(tetrazol-5-yl) furazan: theoretical calculations, synthesis and performance.

The synthesis mechanism of 3-nitro-4-(tetrazol-5-yl)furazan (NTZF) was calculated by Gaussian 09 for the first time, and NTZF was successfully synthesized based on the theoretical design. Its ionic salts (RbNTZF and CsNTZF) were synthesized and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction firstly. The thermal stability of NTZF was investigated by TG-DSC and the kinetic data of thermal decomposition were calculated. The sensitivity of NTZF was measured. The formation heat, detonation velocity (D) and detonation pressure (P) of NTZF were calculated. NTZF is insensitive to impact and friction (impact > 40 J, friction > 360 J) and has higher detonation velocity and pressure (D = 7.838 km s-1, P = 27.32 GPa) compared to TNT (D = 6881 m s-1, P = 19.5 GPa). NTZF has appropriate sensitivity and detonation performance, so it can be used as a low explosive and gas generant.

Dipstick proteinuria is a prognostic indicator of short-term mortality in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Proteinuria is common in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). This study investigated the relationship between proteinuria and short-term mortality among patients hospitalized for AHF at two university hospitals. METHODS: Adult hospitalized patients with AHF were retrospectively studied. Proteinuria was defined based on the first urine dipstick test within 48 h after the AHF diagnosis. The death risk was assessed using an Enhanced Feedback for Effective Cardiac Treatment (EFFECT) 30-day mortality risk score. RESULTS: Of the 1,058 eligible patients with AHF, 583 (55.1%) exhibited proteinuria. The degree of proteinuria was positively correlated with poor AHF prognostic indicators (C-reactive protein and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) and negatively correlated with protective indicators (basal estimated glomerular filtration rate, haemoglobin, and serum albumin). The EFFECT mortality risk score and the in-hospital mortality rate of patients with proteinuria were significantly higher than that of the patients without proteinuria. According to different multivariate logistic regression models, proteinuria increased the risk of in-hospital mortality after correcting for multiple variables, including the EFFECT mortality risk score, diabetes, RASI, NT-proBNP, albumin and chronic kidney disease stages. Compared with the NT-proBNP, proteinuria and degree of proteinuria yielded higher areas under the ROC curve for predicting in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that proteinuria correlates with the short-term mortality rate of patients hospitalized for AHF. Dipstick proteinuria testing might represent a promising prognostic indicator for these patients.

Acetyl salicylic acid attenuates cardiac hypertrophy through Wnt signaling.

Ventricular hypertrophy is a powerful and independent predictor of cardiovascular morbid events. The vascular properties of low-dose acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) provide cardiovascular benefits through the irreversible inhibition of platelet cyclooxygenase 1; however, the possible anti-hypertrophic properties and potential mechanism of aspirin have not been investigated in detail. In this study, healthy wild-type male mice were randomly divided into three groups and subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or sham operation. The TAC-operated mice were treated with the human equivalent of low-dose aspirin (10 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)); the remaining mice received an equal amount of phosphate buffered saline with 0.65% ethanol, which was used as a vehicle. A cardiomyocyte hypertrophy model induced by angiotensin II (10 nmol·L(-1)) was treated with the human equivalent of low (10 or 100 µmol·L(-1)) and high (1000 µmol·L(-1)) aspirin concentrations in plasma. Changes in the cardiac structure and function were assessed through echocardiography and transmission electron microscopy. Gene expression was determined through RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Results indicated that aspirin treatment abrogated the increased thickness of the left ventricular anterior and posterior walls, the swelling of mitochondria, and the increased surface area in in vivo and in vitro hypertrophy models. Aspirin also normalized the upregulated hypertrophic biomarkers, ß-myosin heavy chain (ß-MHC), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Aspirin efficiently reversed the upregulation of ß-catenin and P-Akt expression and the TAC- or ANG II-induced downregulation of GSK-3ß. Therefore, low-dose aspirin possesses significant anti-hypertrophic properties at clinically relevant concentrations for anti-thrombotic therapy. The downregulation of ß-catenin and Akt may be the underlying signaling mechanism of the effects of aspirin.

Identification and predicting short-term prognosis of early cardiorenal syndrome type 1: KDIGO is superior to RIFLE or AKIN.

OBJECTIVE: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF) is usually type 1 of the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of AKI is critical. This study was to determine if the new KDIGO criteria (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) for identification and short-term prognosis of early CRS type 1 was superior to the previous RIFLE and AKIN criteria. METHODS: The association between AKI diagnosed by KDIGO but not by RIFLE or AKIN and in-hospital mortality was retrospectively evaluated in 1005 Chinese adult patients with AHF between July 2008 and May 2012. AKI was defined as RIFLE, AKIN and KDIGO criteria, respectively. Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis of in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Within 7 days on admission, the incidence of CRS type 1 was 38.9% by KDIGO criteria, 34.7% by AKIN, and 32.1% by RIFLE. A total of 110 (10.9%) cases were additional diagnosed by KDIGO criteria but not by RIFLE or AKIN. 89.1% of them were in Stage 1 (AKIN) or Stage Risk (RIFLE). They accounted for 18.4% (25 cases) of the overall death. After adjustment, this proportion remained an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality [odds ratios (OR)3.24, 95% confidence interval(95%CI) 1.97-5.35]. Kaplan-Meier curve showed AKI patients by RIFLE, AKIN, KDIGO and [K(+)R(-)+K(+)A(-)] had lower hospital survival than non-AKI patients (Log Rank P<0.001). CONCLUSION: KDIGO criteria identified significantly more CRS type 1 episodes than RIFLE or AKIN. AKI missed diagnosed by RIFLE or AKIN criteria was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality, indicating the new KDIGO criteria was superior to RIFLE and AKIN in predicting short-term outcomes in early CRS type 1.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose clopidogrel after 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy for patients having drug-eluting stent implantation.

BACKGROUND: To prevent stent thrombosis (ST) after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DESs) in patients with coronary heart disease, 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is recommended. However, the optimal long-term antiplatelet regimen is not clear for the patients who have completed the 12-month DAPT. METHODS: We reviewed the data of 755 consecutive patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) three years ago and completed 12-month DAPT. They were divided into three groups according to the antiplatelet medication they had used for two years after 12-month DAPT [low-dose clopidogrel (Talcom(®), 25mg/d), clopidogrel (Plavix(®), 75mg/d) and aspirin (100 mg/d)]. The efficacy (a composite incidence of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization) and safety (incidences of bleeding, gastrointestinal trouble and drug discontinuation) were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: The rates of multi-vessel lesions, prior MI, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher in the clopidogrel (75 mg/day) group than in the other two groups (P>0.05 for both comparisons). There was no significant difference in the overall composite incidence of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization in the three groups at three years after PCI. The rates of bleeding (especially minor bleeding), gastrointestinal trouble, drug discontinuation and any blood transfusion were markedly lower in the low-dose clopidogrel (25 mg/d) group than in the other two treatment groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 25-mg maintenance dose of clopidogrel after 12-month DAPT may be more preferable to Chinese patients who have undergone DES implantation, because of its lower cost but no less efficacy and safety.

1,5-Diamino-tetra-zolium chloride.

The title compound, CH(5)N(6) (+)·Cl(-), crystallized with two indepedent 1,5-diamino-tetra-zolium cations and two independent chloride anions in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal, there are a number of N-H⋯Cl hydrogen-bonding inter-actions, which generate a three-dimensional network.

Change in high-sensitive C-reactive protein during abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

OBJECTIVES: We try to clear the relationship between high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) release and abdominal aortic aneurysm formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: A rabbit abdominal aortic aneurysm model was created by elastase perfusion. At days 10, 20, and 30 after elastase perfusion, mean serum hsCRP levels detected by ELISA increased over 200% over their basal level (n = 11, P < 0.05). Serum hsCRP levels were significantly higher in the aneurysm groups than in the sham controls by day 5 (n = 11, P < 0.05) and were positively correlated with percentage vessel diameter changes in the aneurysm group by day 10 (r = 0.8012, n = 33, P < 0.05). In the aneurysm group, increased serum CRP was derived from the liver in early stages, yet from dilated vessels in the later stages, as shown by immunostaining, western blot, and reverse transcriptase-PCR. Similar increased hsCRP levels were also observed in dissected rabbit aortic ring explants from the aneurysm model. Pretreatment with the stretch-activated channel blockers gadolinium or streptomycin, as well as nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitor SN50, blocked hsCRP production in the dilated aortic rings. Stretch-activated channel blockers also inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB. CONCLUSION: During abdominal aortic aneurysm formation, increased serum hsCRP levels derive from aneurysmal arteries with degenerating elastic lamina. This process is mediated by mechanical stretch-activated channel-dependent nuclear factor-kappaB translocation to the nucleus.

Mechanical strain induces expression of C-reactive protein in human blood vessels.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a powerful independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Elevated mechanical strain on vessels induces the local expression of proinflammatory cytokines. We hypothesized that mechanical strain on vessels may induce local CRP expression. Human saphenous vein and internal mammary artery (IMA) rings were stretched in vitro with a mechanical strength of 1, 3, or 5 g. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that mechanical stretching significantly induced CRP mRNA and protein expression in the saphenous vein and IMA rings in a strength-dependent manner reaching a maximum at a mechanical strength of 3 g, but CRP expression returned at strengths of >5 g. In vessels, mechanical strain-induced CRP expression was blocked by two stretch-activated ion channel (SAC) blockers: GdCl(3) and streptomycin. Mechanical strain also increased activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), which was detected with a nonradioactive NF-kappaB p50/p65 EZ-TFA transcription factor assay. Mechanical strain-induced NF-kappaB activation was blocked by SAC blockers and the NF-kappaB inhibitor (SN50, H-Ala-Ala-Val-Ala-Leu-Leu-Pro-Ala-Val-Leu-Leu-Ala-Leu-Leu-Ala-Pro-Val-Gln-Arg-Lys-Arg-Gln-Lys-Leu-Met-Pro-OH). SN50 also blocked mechanical strain-induced CRP expression in vessels. In conclusion, mechanical strain induces CRP expression in IMAs and saphenous veins by activating the SAC-induced NF-kappaB pathway.

(5Z,7Z)-6,8-Dimethyl-9H-tetra-zolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazepine.

The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(6)H(8)N(6), is approximately planar, with a maximum deviation from planarity of 0.099 (1) Å. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked to each other via pairs of N-H⋯N hydrogen bonding, forming inversion dimers. The crystal structure is further stabilized by π-π stacking inter-actions, with a centroid-centroid distance of 3.419 (1) Å.

N-(5-Amino-1H-tetra-zol-1-yl)formamide.

In the title compound, C(2)H(4)N(6)O, the planar [maximum deviation = 0.006 (2) Å] amino-tetra-zole group makes a dihedral angle of 83.65 (8)° with the formamide unit. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular N-H⋯N, N-H⋯O and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds are responsible for the formation of a three-dimensional network.

1-Isopropyl-ideneamino-1H-tetra-zol-5-amine.

The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(4)H(8)N(6), assumes an approximately planar structure, the methyl C atoms and the C atom to which they are bonded being out of the mean tetrazole ring plane by 0.108 and 0.139, and 0.144 Å, respectively. π-π stacking between parallel tetra-zole rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.4663 (11) Å] is observed in the crystal structure. Inter-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bonding further helps to stabilize the crystal structure.

N-(1-Diacetyl-amino-1H-tetra-zol-5-yl)acetamide.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(7)H(10)N(6)O(3), there are N-H⋯O, N-H⋯N and C-H⋯O inter-actions, generating a three-dimensional supra-molecular network structure. A short intermolecular O⋯C contact of 2.8994 (18) Šis alsopresent in the crystal structure, but no π-π contacts are observed.