Highly Efficient Electric-Field Control of Giant Rashba Spin-Orbit Coupling in Lattice-Matched InSb/CdTe Heterostructures.

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC), the relativistic effect describing the interaction between the orbital and spin degrees of freedom, provides an effective way to tailor the spin/magnetic orders using electrical means. Here, we report the manipulation of the spin-orbit interaction in the lattice-matched InSb/CdTe heterostructures. Owing to the energy band bending at the heterointerface, the strong Rashba effect is introduced to drive the spin precession where pronounced weak antilocalization cusps are observed up to 100 K. With effective quantum confinement and suppressed bulk conduction, the SOC strength is found to be enhanced by 75% in the ultrathin InSb/CdTe film. Most importantly, we realize the electric-field control of the interfacial Rashba effect using a field-effect transistor structure and demonstrate the gate-tuning capability which is 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than other materials. The adoption of the InSb/CdTe integration strategy may set up a general framework for the design of strongly spin-orbit coupled systems that are essential for CMOS-compatible low-power spintronics.

Protective effect of hydrogen-rich saline on pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophyin rats: possible role of JAK-STAT signaling.

BACKGROUND: Molecular hydrogen has been shown to have antioxidant effect and have been used to prevent oxidative stress-related diseases. The goal of this study was to explore if hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) plays a cardioprotective effect on abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. 60adult Sprague-Dawley rats received surgically the AAC for 6-week. After the surgery, the rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (15 for each):1: sham-operated (sham); 2: AAC-model; 3: AAC + Low HRS (LHRS); and 4: AAC + High HRS (HHRS). The rats in sham and AAC-model groups were treated with normal saline intraperitoneally, while rats in LHRS and HHRS groups were intraperitoneally treated with 3 or 6 mL/kg HRS daily, respectively, for 6-week. RESULTS: The ratios of HW/BW and LVW/BW were shown in an order of Model > LHRS > HHRS > SHAM groups. The cardiac hypertrophy was also manifested with increased expressions of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptides (BNP) and fibrosis of cardiac tissues in AAC-model group, which could likewise be restrained in LHRS and HHRS groups. Moreover, the JAK-STAT (Janus Kinase-Signal transducers and activators of transcription) signaling molecule expressions were decreased with HRS treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed a protective effect of HRS on pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats, which may be associated to a decreasing in JAK-STAT signaling pathway.

Atorvastatin Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation Reduces Serum High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels.

We investigated whether serum hs-CRP levels predict the efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with atorvastatin. Bibliographic databases were exhaustively searched for studies relevant to the research topic. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) criteria, combined with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS), were applied for study quality assessment. Our meta-analysis identified seven cohort studies (2006~2013), providing information on the change in serum hs-CRP levels in AF patients receiving atorvastatin therapy. After atorvastatin treatment, hs-CRP level in AF patients decreased significantly (SMD = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.58-1.47, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis by country and hs-CRP detection methods suggested a negative relationship between atorvastatin treatment and hs-CRP levels among Chinese AF patients (SMD = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.00-1.69, P < 0.001) and by using ELISA method (SMD = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.51-1.71, P < 0.001), but not among Turkish population and using INA method (all P > 0.05). Egger's test showed no publication bias (P = 0.450). hs-CRP was clearly lowered in AF patients treated with atorvastatin, which may be helpful in the choice of statin agents for AF treatment. However, longer follow-ups are necessary to assess the clinical value of lowering hs-CRP in the clinical setting of AF treatment outcomes.

[Relationship between plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration and clinical prognosis in patients of acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in estimating risk stratification in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to determine the relationship between BNP and adverse cardiac events after AMI. METHODS: The 135 subjects were selected into the study, including 25 healthy subjects and 110 patients with a first AMI. The plasma concentrations of BNP were measured at two to four days after infarction in patients and healthy controls. Left ventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography with the parameters of left ventricular ejection function (LVEF) after 3 months. Patients were followed up at 12 months. The main outcome measures were heart failure, left remodeling, mortality and other adverse cardiac events at one year. RESULTS: Plasma BNP concentrations in patients with AMI were much higher than those in the health control people (416.7 +/- 208.0 ng/L versus 61.8 +/- 34.1 ng/L, P < 0.01). The BNP count ranged from 5 to 2500 ng/L in AMI patients. There was no association between the BNP count and mortality rate. The development of new congestive heart failure (CHF) was associated with a higher BNP count (P = 0.02). The development of any of the clinical end points (death/CHF/shock) occurred more frequently in patients with a higher BNP count (13.8% for BNP count of < 100 ng/L, 39.1% for BNP count of 100 - 200 ng/L, 43.3% for BNP count of 200 - 400 ng/L, 46.4% for BNP count of > 400 ng/L; P = 0.019). Plasma BNP concentrations remained independently associated with the development of clinical end points in multivariable model that adjusted for potential confounding variables. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study confirm that the elevated BNP count related to the risk stratification and prognosis in patients with AMI. Elevations in BNP count are associated with a higher incidence of new CHF and adverse clinical outcomes after AMI. It could serve as a strong predictor for the subsequent development of poor outcomes in AMI patients.

[Evaluation of right ventricular function by tissue Doppler echocardiography and Tei index in right ventricular myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: With tissue Doppler imaging and right ventricular Tei index, right ventricular function in patients with right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI) was assessed. METHOD: 51 patients admitted to coronary care units and diagnosed as acute inferior myocardial infarction were further studied with the ECG criterion of ST segment elevation >or= 1mm in V(4R) to establish the diagnosis of RVMI. 23 patients were thus diagnosed as RVMI and 28 patients not. 20 healthy subjects served as controls. Clinical and echocardiography index were recorded. Peak systolic and peak early and late diastolic velocities (Sm, Em, Am) and Em/Am were acquired from the apical four-chamber view at the lateralside of tricuspid annulus, the septal side of the tricuspid annulus and the RV free mid-wall using DTI. Interval between tricuspid closing and reopening and ejection time (ET) from parasternal short-axis view were recorded by pulse-wave Doppler. RV Tei index was calculated. RESULTS: Sm and Em at the lateral side of tricuspid annulus and the RV free mid-wall reduced significantly in patients with RVMI as compared with those without RVMI and healthy individuals (Sm at the lateral (7.0 +/- 2.0) cm/s vs (8.7 +/- 1.9) cm/s and (10.6 +/- 2.1) cm/s, P < 0.01; Em at the lateral (6.3 +/- 1.9) cm/s vs (7.9 +/- 1.8) cm/s and (9.6 +/- 1.9) cm/s, P < 0.01; Sm at the RV free mid-wall (6.4 +/- 1.9) cm/s vs (8.0 +/- 1.9) cm/s and (9.4 +/- 2.0) cm/s, P < 0.05; Em at the RV free mid-wall (6.1 +/- 2.0) cm/s vs (7.6 +/- 2.0) cm/s and (9.2 +/- 2.3) cm/s, P < 0.05). RV Tei index in patients with RVMI also increased as compared with that in the other two groups (0.65 +/- 0.19 vs 0.40 +/- 0.15 and 0.26 +/- 0.10; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of velocities at the lateral side of tricuspid annulus and the RV free mid-wall using DTI and RV Tei index provides a noninvasive and rapid method for assessing right ventricular function in patients with RVMI.