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Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) have been shown to improve cardiovascular outcomes by reducing low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C). However, sex differences in the efficacy of evolocumab remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate sex differences in the efficacy of evolocumab using real‐world data. Method: Data were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. A total of 416 eligible patients were selected from 1463 patients treated with evolocumab for secondary prevention. Clinical data, including individual characteristics and lipids profiles, were recorded. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to control for potential confounders, with covariates including age, body mass index, smoking status, and diabetes. All eligible participants were propensity‐matched 1:1 for female versus male with a match tolerance of 0.02. The efficacy of evolocumab in females and males was compared by PSM‐adjusted analysis. Results: In the PSM analysis, a significant difference was found in the relative percentage reduction of LDL‐C between females and males (−42.7% vs. −54.4%, p < 0.001). In addition, the absolute LDL‐C reduction was lower in females compared to males (interquartile range: −1.5 [−2.2, −0.8] mmol/L vs. −1.9 [−2.5, −1.0] mmol/L, p = 0.018). The rate of target LDL‐C attainment was lower in females than in males after treatment with evolocumab (21.6% vs. 39.8%, p = 0.009). Conclusion: These results suggest that males have a better response to evolocumab in term of LDL‐C reduction compared to females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten and molybdenum ores have abundant paragenesis or associated elements. Detection of these elements is beneficial to the comprehensive utilization of mineral resources. At present, the contents of these elements are detected respectively by the national standard method of tungsten ore and molybdenum ore, which has a low efficiency. A method for the determination of trace elements in tungsten ore and molybdenum ore by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) is proposed. Tungsten ore and molybdenum ore samples were dissolved by HCl-HNO3-HF-HClO4 at normal pressure and extracted by hydrochloric acid (7% of HCl). The 10 trace elements of Bi, Co, Cu, Li, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, V and Zn were simultaneously measured by ICP-AES. Analytical wavelength and spectral level of elements were selected. The background interferences were eliminated with an off-peak background correction method，and the spectral overlapping interferences between elements were eliminated using an interference elements correction coefficients method．The detection limits were 1.43-18.8 μg/g and the recovery rates were 90%-110%. This method has been applied to the determination of tungsten ore and molybdenum ore national certified reference materials, and the results were in good agreement with the certified values with RSD (n=10) 1ess than 8%. The method avoided the influence of adding a large amount of alkali metal elements and probably foreign matter with alkali fusion, without precipitation processing of tungstic acid and molybdic acid. It can be used to rapidly determine paragenesis or associated elements in tungsten ore and molybdenum ore.

Periodically modulated systems with parity symmetry have been extensively investigated in recent years and exhibited various novel phenomena and potential applications in quantum technologies. In this study, a pump‐probe structure is used to observe the influence of generalized parity on the alignment spectra of magnetic resonance in a periodically biharmonic modulated warm atomic cesium ensemble. The alignment spectra are symmetric when the generalized parity of modulated Floquet atomic ensemble is present. The breaking of spectral symmetry is accompanied by the absence of generalized parity. The influence of generalized parity on atomic alignment polarization distribution is analyzed based on the perspective of the angular‐momentum probability surface. A necessary and sufficient condition for generalized parity to maintain spectral symmetry is verified experimentally and theoretically, providing a new perspective to investigative complex periodic modulation system. The results are universally applicable to atomic and solid‐state systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented renal clearance presents as super‐renal function with enhanced renal perfusion and glomerular hyperfiltration in many critically ill infants. This study was to compare vancomycin clearance (CL) between critically ill infants with augmented renal clearance and with normal renal function and to optimize the vancomycin dosage. Data were retrospectively obtained from infants treated in intensive care units. Population pharmacokinetics analysis was conducted using nonlinear mixed‐effects model software. A total of 66 critically ill infants were included: 47 infants with augmented renal clearance and 19 infants with normal renal function. The median doses of vancomycin for infants with augmented renal clearance and with normal renal function were 48 and 47 mg/kg/day (P >.05), respectively. The median CL in infants with augmented renal clearance was increased 1.96‐fold compared with infants who had normal renal function (0.98 versus 0.5 L/h, P <.001). Simulations indicated that the recommended dosage of 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 mg/kg/day would be appropriate in critically ill infants with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 130–149, 150–169, 170–189, 190–209, and >210 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Doses of 70 and 75 mg/kg/day were recommended for infants with augmented renal clearance and gestational ages of 27–32.9 and 33–39 weeks, respectively. Doses of 70, 75, 80, and 90 mg/kg/day were recommended for infants with augmented renal clearance and weights of 2.0–2.9, 3.0–3.9, 4.0–4.9, and 5.0–6.0 kg, respectively. In conclusion, the typical vancomycin dosage is insufficient for critically ill infants with augmented renal clearance. Premature infants and infants of low weight with augmented renal clearance need individualized dosing regimens to obtain an adequate area under the serum concentration time curve over 24 h/minimum inhibitory concentration ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a theoretical study of the optical-radio-frequency (rf) double resonance on hyperfine ground states of alkali-metal atoms in the geophysical magnetic-field range, in which resonance circularly polarized laser light is used in the optical pumping and detection processes. The analytical expressions of the rf resonance signals corresponding to two ground states are obtained based on atomic multipole moments, where the alignment effect is considered and that is responsible for the resonance shape and linewidth especially when the optical power is relatively strong. In addition, we also obtain the analytical expressions of the linewidths of two separated resonance peaks and one presenting the competition process of the optical pumping, rf field and spin-exchange collision. Two different types of light narrowing phenomena are investigated by comparing the longitudinal relaxation rates of atomic multipole moments for two ground states. Applied to rubidium and cesium atoms, we show a particularly close agreement of our analytical results with more elaborate calculations using density-matrix theory. Our theoretical model is relevant for optimizing the sensitivity of magnetometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore how to cultivate high-quality medical students with strong practical skills, and improve the qual i ty of cl i nical medical education the Second Cl i nical Medical School of Nanjing Medical University, a cl i nical skiil s training center was set up. The center carried on the reform of clinical practical teaching and innovated the training pattern of medical students, such as combining with clinic probation, clinical practice teaching and clinical skiils training. The center established the mode of clinical skiils training throughout the clinical medical education stage and designed a teaching platform for combination of self-regulated training and teachers " guidance. By all of methods it combined clinical theory and comprehensive evaluation system to explore the effective way to strengthen the training of clinical practice ability of medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor habits can worsen gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and reduce treatment efficacy. Few large-scale studies have examined lifestyle influences, particularly eating habits, on GERD in China, and research related to eating quickly, hyperphagia, and eating hot foods is quite limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between GERD pathogenesis and lifestyle factors to produce useful information for the development of a clinical reference guide through a national multicenter survey in China. Methods: Symptom and lifestyle/habit questionnaires included 19 items were designed. The questionnaire results were subjected to correlation analysis relative to GERD symptom onset. A standard proton pump inhibitor (PPI) was advised to correct patients with unhealthful lifestyle habits. Results: A total of 1518 subjects (832 GERD, 686 non-GERD) enrolled from six Chinese hospitals completed symptom and lifestyle/habit questionnaires. The top lifestyle factors related to GERD were fast eating, eating beyond fullness, and preference for spicy food. Univariate analysis showed that 21 factors, including male gender, a supra-normal body mass index (BMI), smoking, drinking alcohol, fast eating, eating beyond fullness, eating very hot foods, and drinking soup, among others, were associated with GERD (p < 0.05). Logistic multivariate regression analysis revealed the following risk factors for GERD [with odds ratios (ORs)]: fast eating (4.058), eating beyond fullness (2.849), wearing girdles or corsets (2.187), eating very hot foods (1.811), high BMI (1.805), lying down soon after eating (1.544), and smoking (1.521). Adjuvant lifestyle interventions improved outcomes over medication alone (z = –8.578, p < 0.001 Mann–Whitney rank sum test). Conclusions: Lifestyle interventions can improve medication efficacy in GERD patients. Numerous habits, including fast eating, eating beyond fullness, and eating very hot foods, were associated with GERD pathogenesis. The present results may be useful as a reference for preventive education and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]