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Background. Previous studies showed that nicorandil can reduce coronary events in patients with coronary artery disease. However, it is unclear whether oral nicorandil treatment may reduce mortality following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and Results. We examined the impact of oral nicorandil treatment on cardiovascular events in 1846 AMI patients who were hospitalized within 24 h after AMI onset, treated with emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and discharged alive. Patients were divided into those with (Group N, n = 535) and without (Group C, n = 1311) oral nicorandil treatment at discharge. No significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, prevalence of coronary risk factors, or history of myocardial infarction existed between the two groups; however, higher incidences of multi-vessel disease, and a lower rate of successful PCI were observed in Group N. During the median follow-up of 709 (340–1088) days, allcause mortality rate was 43% lower in Group N compared with Group C (2.4% vs. 4.2%, stratified log-rank test: p = 0.0358). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that nicorandil treatment was associated with all-cause death after discharge (Hazard ratio 0.495, 95% CI: 0.254–0.966, p = 0.0393), but not for other cardiovascular events such as re-infarction, admission for heart failure, stroke and arrhythmia. Conclusions. The results suggest that oral administration of nicorandil is associated with reduced incidence of death in the setting of secondary prevention after AMI.

Refractory organic compounds formed in molecular clouds are among the building blocks of the solar system objects and could be the precursors of organic matter found in primitive meteorites and cometary materials. However, little is known about the evolutionary pathways of molecular cloud organics from dense molecular clouds to planetary systems. In this study, we focus on the evolution of the morphological and viscoelastic properties of molecular cloud refractory organic matter. We found that the organic residue, experimentally synthesized at ∼10 K from UV-irradiated H2O-CH3OH-NH3 ice, changed significantly in terms of its nanometer- to micrometer-scale morphology and viscoelastic properties after UV irradiation at room temperature. The dose of this irradiation was equivalent to that experienced after short residence in diffuse clouds (≤104 years) or irradiation in outer protoplanetary disks. The irradiated organic residues became highly porous and more rigid and formed amorphous nanospherules. These nanospherules are morphologically similar to organic nanoglobules observed in the least-altered chondrites, chondritic porous interplanetary dust particles, and cometary samples, suggesting that irradiation of refractory organics could be a possible formation pathway for such nanoglobules. The storage modulus (elasticity) of photo-irradiated organic residues is ∼100 MPa irrespective of vibrational frequency, a value that is lower than the storage moduli of minerals and ice. Dust grains coated with such irradiated organics would therefore stick together efficiently, but growth to larger grains might be suppressed due to an increase in aggregate brittleness caused by the strong connections between grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroluminescence (EL) devices for printable electronics using coprecipitated ZnS:Mn nanocrystal (NC) ink are demonstrated. The EL properties of these devices were investigated along with the structural and optical properties of ZnS:Mn NCs with an emphasis on their dependence on crystal size. Transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction studies revealed that the NCs, with a crystal size of 3-4 nm, are nearly monodisperse; the crystal size can be controlled by the Zn2 concentration in the starting solution for coprecipitation. The results of optical studies indicate the presence of quantum confinement effects; in addition, the NC surfaces are well passivated, regardless of the crystal size. Finally, an increase in the luminance of EL devices with a decrease in crystal size is observed, which suggests the excitation mechanism of ZnS:Mn NC EL devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amelioration of neuropathic spinal cord injury (SCI) pain is a clinical challenge. Increasing the endocannabinoid anandamide and other fatty acid amides (FAA) by blocking fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) has been shown to be antinociceptive in a number of animal models of chronic pain. However, an antinociceptive effect of blocking FAAH has yet to be demonstrated in a rat model of neuropathic SCI pain. Four weeks following a SCI, rats developed significantly decreased hind paw withdrawal thresholds, indicative of below-level cutaneous hypersensitivity. A group of SCI rats were systemically treated (i.p.) with either the selective FAAH inhibitor URB597 or vehicle twice daily for seven days. A separate group of SCI rats received a single dose (p.o.) of either the selective FAAH inhibitor PF-3845 or vehicle. Following behavioral testing, levels of the FAA N-arachidonoylethanolamide, N-oleoyl ethanolamide and N-palmitoyl ethanolamide were quantified in brain and spinal cord from SCI rats. Four weeks following SCI, FAA levels were markedly reduced in spinal cord tissue. Although systemic treatment with URB597 significantly increased CNS FAA levels, no antinociceptive effect was observed. A significant elevation of CNS FAA levels was also observed following oral PF-3845 treatment, but only a modest antinociceptive effect was observed. Increasing CNS FAA levels alone does not lead to robust amelioration of below-level neuropathic SCI pain. Perhaps utilizing FAAH inhibition in conjunction with other analgesic mechanisms could be an effective analgesic therapy.

Objective: Liposomes are often used in cosmetics since they are naturally derived and have excellent texture enhancing capabilities. However, when preparing them by using phospholipids with unsaturated acyl groups, they easily suffer from oxidative degradation. Accordingly, hydrogenated phospholipids are preferred, however, it is difficult to prepare stable liposomes due to its high gel-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature. On the other hand, although dialkyl dimethyl ammonium type cationic surfactants are widely known to form vesicles, they have rarely been used for skincare products except for water-in-oil type emulsion creams stabilized by organically modified clay minerals. We decided to overcome all of the problems above through ionic complex vesicles formed by double-tailed cationic and anionic surfactants., Methods: Distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DSAC) and sodium dilauramidoglutamide lysine (DLGL) were selected as cationic and anionic surfactants, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS) measurements were performed to confirm the DSAC/DLGL/water ternary phase diagram. Newly developed ionic complex vesicle formation was confirmed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The adsorbed cosmetic film structure on the skin in vivo was evaluated through the polarized infrared external reflection (PIR-ER). Finally, a cosmetic lotion formula was developed and the vesicle size was determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS)., Results: DSC and SWAXS data indicated that stable vesicles could be obtained at a molar ratio of DLGL to DSAC = 6:4. At this molar ratio, multi lamellar vesicles with diameters less than 100 nm were observed through cryo-TEM. PIR-ER data revealed that the developed vesicles formed a highly perpendicular orientation to the human skin surface. We have succeeded in formulating a cosmetic lotion containing developed vesicles with a mean diameter of 63.2 nm, which was stable over 1 month at 0, 37, and 50°C., Conclusions: Our newly developed vesicles can be easily obtained through a coagulation process. Also, the adsorbed film structure supported by PIR-ER experiments implies that the developed lotion has an excellent texture that is the same as cosmetic lotions containing liposomes. Therefore, it's possible that this ionic complex vesicle could take the place of liposomes., (© 2024 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and Societe Francaise de Cosmetologie.)

Background: The post-insertion clinical course of esophageal self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) in initially frail patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC) with dysphagia remains unclear. This study aimed to assess dysphagia improvement and evaluate prognosis in initially frail patients with advanced EC following SEMS insertion., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed EC patients with EC who underwent esophageal SEMS insertion at our institution between January 2014 and March 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) ≥ 3 or ECOG PS 2 for individuals aged ≥ 75 years and recommendation for best supportive care by a multidisciplinary team., Results: Forty-six patients met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 37 patients (80.4%) were ≥ 75 years old, and 21 patients (45.7%) exhibited ECOG PS 3 or 4. Dysphagia score (DS) ≥ 3 was observed in 27 patients (58.7%). All esophageal SEMS insertions were successfully completed. Post-procedure, there were two fatal cases of aspiration pneumonia and one perforation incident. DS improved to ≤ 1 in 25 patients (54.3%), with multivariate analysis indicating DS 3-4 and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) 1-2 as negative predictive factors. The median overall survival was 4.1 months (95% confidence interval 1.8-6.5)., Conclusions: Esophageal SEMS insertion effectively alleviated dysphagia in initially frail EC patients, yet prognosis remained poor, with occurrences of some fatal adverse events. Careful selection of candidates for esophageal SEMS insertions is crucial in this demographic, particularly considering the challenges in improving dysphagia for patients with DS 3-4 and GPS 1-2., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The air-water interface (AWI) is a ubiquitous reaction field different from the bulk phase where unexpected reactions and physical processes often occur. The AWI is a region where air contacts cloud droplets, aerosol particles, the ocean surface, and biological surfaces such as fluids that line human epithelia. In Earth's atmosphere, short-lived intermediates are expected to be generated at the AWI during multiphase reactions. Recent experimental developments have enabled the direct detection of atmospherically relevant, short-lived intermediates at the AWI. For example, spray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of water microjets exposed to a gaseous mixture of ozone and water vapor combined with a 266 nm laser flash photolysis system (LFP-SIMS) has been used to directly probe organic peroxyl radicals (RO 2 ·) produced by interfacial hydroxyl radicals (OH·) + organic compound reactions. OH· emitted immediately after the laser flash photolysis of carboxylic acid at the gas-liquid interface have been directly detected by time-resolved, laser-induced florescence techniques that can be used to study atmospheric multiphase photoreactions. In this Featured Article, we show some recent experimental advances in the detection of atmospherically important intermediates at the AWI and the associated reaction mechanisms. We also discuss current challenges and future prospects for atmospheric multiphase chemistry.