Risk factors for instent restenosis of sirolimus-coated stents in coronary intervention for patients with unstable angina.

To investigate the instent restenosis rate of sirolimus-coated stents in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and risk factors for in-stent restenosis, patients with unstable angina (UA) caused by coronary artery stenosis were enrolled, and all clinical and imaging data were analyzed. Among 143 enrolled patients with UA aged 35-83 (mean 60.9 ± 10.0) years enrolled, there were 114 (79.7%) male and 29 (20.3%) female patients. Arterial stenosis was present in one coronary artery in 6 (4.2%) patients, in two coronary arteries in 20 (14.0%) patients, in three arteries in 116 (81.1%), and in four coronary arteries in 1 (0.7%) patient. Stenting was successfully performed in all (100%) patients, and 181 stents were deployed. The quantitative flow ratio (QFR) was 0.92 ± 0.03 (range 0.84-0.96) immediately after stenting, and the TIMI was grade 3 in all patients. The diameter of the stents deployed ranged 2.25-4 mm (mean 3.04 ± 0.44) with a length ranging 10 mm to 104 mm (mean 32.73 ± 15.5). Follow-up angiography was performed in all patients with a duration of 1-92 (mean 15.0 ± 18.8) months. Instent restenosis ≥ 50% occurred in 25 (17.5%) patients. In univariate logistic regression analysis, significant (P < 0.05) risk factors for instent restenosis ≥ 50% were QFR (OR 0.036, 95% CI 0.13-0.97), stent diameter (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.18-0.92), hypertension (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.02-9.82), smoking (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11-0.89), and neutrophil count (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.10-5.44). In multivariate analysis, QFR (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0.002-0.19), stent diameter (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.005-0.59), hypertension (OR 6.75, 95% CI 1.83-35.72) and neutrophil count (OR 276.07, 95% CI 12.32-10,959.95) were significant (P < 0.05) independent risk factors for instent restenosis ≥ 50%. In conclusion, certain instent restenosis rates occurs after the sirolimus-eluted coronary stent deployment for the treatment of coronary artery stenosis in patients with UA, and quantitative flow ratio after stenting, stent diameter, hypertension, and neutrophil count are significant risk factors for instent restenosis of the sirolimus-coated stents in coronary intervention.

Miniaturized and highly-sensitive fiber-optic photoacoustic gas sensor based on an integrated tuning fork by mechanical processing with dual-prong differential measurement.

A proof-of-concept gas sensor based on a miniaturized and integrated fiber-optic photoacoustic detection module was introduced and demonstrated for the purpose of developing a custom tuning-fork (TF)-enhanced photoacoustic gas sensor. Instead of piezoelectric quartz tuning fork (QTF) in conventional quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS), a low-cost custom aluminum alloy TF fabricated by mechanical processing was employed as a photoacoustic transducer and the vibration of TF was measured by fiber-optic Fabry-Pérot (FP) interferometer (FPI). The mechanical processing-based TF design scheme greatly increases the flexibility of the TF design with respect to the complex and expensive manufacture process of custom QTFs, and thus it can be better exploited to detect gases with slow vibrational-translational (V-T) relaxation rates and combine with light sources with poor beam quality. The resonance frequency and the quality factor of the designed custom TF at atmospheric pressure were experimentally determined to be 7.3 kHz and 4733, respectively. Dual-prong differential measurement method was proposed to double the photoacoustic signal and suppress the external same-direction noise. After detailed optimizing and investigating for the operating parameters by measuring H2O, the feasibility of the developed sensor for gas detection was demonstrated with a H2O minimum detection limit (MDL) of 1.2 ppm, corresponding to a normalized noise equivalent absorption (NNEA) coefficient of 3.8 × 10-8 cm-1 W/Hz1/2, which are better than the QTF-based photoacoustic sensors. The proposed gas sensing approach combined the advantages of QEPAS and fiber-optic sensing, which can greatly expand the application domains of PAS-based gas sensors.

Transcriptional Responses for Biosynthesis of Triterpenoids in Exogenous Inducers Treated Inonotus Hispidus Using RNA-Seq.

Inonotus hispidus is a traditional medicinal that grows in Northeast China and produces various economically important compounds, including polysaccharide compounds and terpenoids; triterpenoid saponins is the main bioactive component. Our research group has found that the accumulation of triterpenoid was affected by exogenous inducers. Experimental results showed that treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and oleic acid significantly increased the triterpenoid content of I. hispidus. However, how exogenous inducers enhance production of secondary metabolites in I. hispidus is not well understood. In this study, metabolite changes were further investigated with UPLC-TOF/MS following exogenous inducer treatment. As a result, a total of eight types of triterpenoids in I. hispidus were identified. The RNA-seq analysis was used to evaluate the effects of exogenous inducers on the expression of triterpenoid-synthesis-related genes in I. hispidus in liquid fermentation. This study is the first exploration to profile the transcriptome of I. hispidus after adding exogenous inducers; the generated data and gene will facilitate further molecular studies on the physiology and metabolism in this fungi. By comparative transcriptomic analysis, a series of candidate genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of triterpenoids are identified, providing new insights into their biosynthesis at the transcriptome level.

Microstructure, Interface and Strengthening Mechanism of Ni-CNTs/AZ91 Magnesium Matrix Composites.

Ni-CNTs/AZ91 magnesium matrix composites were fabricated by ultrasound treatment combined with a semi-solid stirred method for the first time. The agglomerated spherical Ni-CNTs transferred from spherical shape to clear tubular shape after pre-dispersion treatment. For the Ni-CNTs/AZ91 magnesium matrix composite prepared by semi-solid stirring followed by ultrasonic treatment, Ni-CNTs were evenly distributed in the magnesium matrix or wrapped on the ß (Mg17Al12) phase. Mg2Ni were formed at the interface of the magnesium matrix and CNTs by in-situ reaction, which significantly improved the interface bonding strength of CNTs and the Mg matrix. The tensile strength and elongation of 1.0wt.% Ni-CNTs/AZ91 magnesium matrix composites were improved by 36% and 86%, respectively, compared with those of AZ91 matrix alloy. After Ni-CNTs were added to AZ91 matrix alloy, more dimples were observed at the fracture surface. The fracture behavior of Ni-CNTs/AZ91 composite was transformed from a cleavage fracture of AZ91 matrix alloy to a quasi-cleavage fracture. Meanwhile, the CNTs dispersed near the fracture showed a "pull-out" state, which would effectively bear and transfer loads. The strengthening mechanism of CNTs was also discussed.

Effects of Compound Elicitors on the Biosynthesis of Triterpenoids and Activity of Defense Enzymes from Inonotus hispidus (Basidiomycetes).

Inonotus hispidus has various health-promoting activities, such as anticancer effects and immune-stimulating activity. The commercialization of valuable plant triterpenoids faces major challenges, including low abundance in natural hosts and costly downstream purification procedures. In this work, orthogonal design was used to compound methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), oleic acid, and Cu2+, and the effects of combinations on the total triterpenes biosynthesized were studied. The optimal combination was screened out and its effect on the activity of PAL, CAT, and SOD was studied. The optimal concentration of oleic acid was 2% when MeJA was 100 mol/L, and the total triterpenoid content and mycelia production were 3.918 g and 85.17 mg/g, respectively. MeJA treatment induced oxidative stress, and at the same time increased the activity of related defense enzymes. Oleic acid is thought to regulate cell permeability by recombining cell membranes. It promotes the material exchange process between cells and the environment without affecting cell growth. When oleic acid was used in combination with MeJA, a synergistic effect on triterpene production was observed. In conclusion, our findings provide a strategy for triterpenoid enrichment of I. hispidus.

Effect of prolonging interval time between coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention on X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks in blood lymphocytes.

BACKGROUND: It is desirable to minimize the risk of adverse radiation effects associated with percutaneous coronary intervention. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of prolonging the interval between coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention on X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks in blood lymphocytes using γ-H2AX immunofluorescence microscopy. METHODS: Blood samples of eight patients were taken before the first exposure to ionizing radiation, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours after the last exposure to determine the γ-H2AX foci repair kinetics. Fifty-eight patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were randomized to an intermittent radiation exposure group and a continuous radiation exposure group. Blood samples were taken before coronary angiography and 15 minutes after the last exposure. By enumerating γ-H2AX foci, the impact of prolonging the interval on DNA double-strand breaks was investigated. Student t-test was used to compare the difference in DNA double-strand breaks between the two groups. RESULTS: An increase in foci was found in all patients received percutaneous coronary intervention. The maximum number of γ-H2AX foci was found 10-20 minutes after the end of the last exposure. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in γ-H2AX foci at baseline. On average there were (0.79 ± 0.15) γ-H2AX foci induced by interventional X-rays per lymphocyte in the continuous radiation exposure group and (0.66 ± 0.21) in the intermittent radiation exposure group after exposure (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of γ-H2AX foci develop following the percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. The number of X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks may be decreased by prolonging the interval time between coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention to 30 minutes.

A study of neuroprotective and antioxidant activities of heteropolysaccharides from six Sargassum species.

Heteropolysaccharides were extracted from Sargassum integerrimum (S.I), Sargassum maclurei (S.M), Sargassum naozhouense (S.N), Spiraea thunbergii (S.T), Sargassum hemiphyllum (S.H) and Sargassum fusiforme (S.F), and their neuroprotective effects and antioxidant activities were investigated. It showed that S.I, S.N, S.T and S.F exhibited neuroprotective activities, whereas S.H and S.M did not. For this reason, they were separated by anion-exchange chromatography. It was apparent that the fraction 2 represented the principal difference between the active and non-active compounds. However, it did not correlate with neuroprotective effect. In addition, the results on antioxidant activities showed that the hydroxyl-radical scavenging effect contribute to the neuroprotective effect of S.T and S.N, and the DPPH-radical scavenging effect and reducing power contribute to S.T, S.F and S.I. However, the superoxide-radical scavenging effect did not correlate with neuroprotective activity. The conclusion was that the neuroprotective activity of the family of compounds investigated depended on a variety of factors.