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Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the association between baseline resting heart rate (RHR) and all‐cause death in the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT). A post hoc analysis was conducted using data from 20,648 hypertensive adults without cardiovascular disease in the CSPPT and with baseline RHR data available. Over a median follow‐up duration of 4.5 years, the baseline RHR and risk for all‐cause death had a nonlinear relationship. The risk of all‐cause death was higher in participants with an RHR ≥85 bpm (hazard ratio 1.42; 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.96, p = .031) than in those with a baseline RHR of 75–80 bpm. The effect of RHR on all‐cause death during the treatment period was modified by the folate level (p = .020) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) during treatment(p = .056). The effect of RHR on the risk of all‐cause death was stronger when the folate level was low than when it was high; the risk was higher when the RHR was

Here, a wide‐angle phase‐frequency scanning linear array composed of leaky‐wave antennas (LWAs) is proposed. The unit cell of the proposed LWA element consists of microstrip lines and grounded vias. By increasing the scanning rate based on theoretical analysis, wide scanning range with low gain fluctuation of the LWA element is achieved. For gain enhancement, the LWAs are arranged along their length to form a linear array. A method combining theoretical derivation and numerical calculation is used to obtain a high efficiency and low sidelobe level (SLL) of the array. To verify the design method, a 1×4 $1\times 4$ linear LWA array is designed, fabricated and measured. The main beam of the LWA array can scan from −60° $-60^\circ $ to 50° $50^\circ $ in frequency band of 9.3–11.6 GHz with gain fluctuation less than 2 dB and SLL less than −9 $-9$ dB. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a novel wide‐angle scanning array antenna composed of subarrays with variable radiation patterns is proposed. The subarray consists of two antenna units with tilted beams. With a specially designed feeding network, the phase difference between the antenna units of each subarray keeps the same as that between subarrays. Thus, the radiation pattern of the subarray automatically changes with the array factor. Theoretical analysis shows that the array scanning range can be expanded and the side lobe level (SLL) can be suppressed. A linear array is designed, fabricated, and measured to verify the presented method. The simulated and measured results agree well with each other. The results show that the array can scan from −70° $-70^\circ $ to 70° $70^\circ $ with gain fluctuation of less than 3 dB and SLL lower than −8 $-8$ dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene on oxygen saturation and cerebral perfusion in the early stages of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: This study included 136 consecutive TBI patients and 51 healthy individuals. The APOE genotypes of all subjects were determined using quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF‐PCR). Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) of patients with TBI and normal subjects was monitored using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Computed tomography (CT) perfusion was used to obtain cerebral perfusion in patients with TBI and normal subjects. Results: In the TBI group, the rScO2 of APOEε4 carriers (53.06 ± 6.87%) was significantly lower than that of non‐carriers (58.19 ± 5.83%, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the MTT of APOEε4 carriers (6.75 ± 1.30 s) was significantly longer than that of non‐carriers (5.87 ± 1.00 s, p < 0.05). Furthermore, correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between rSCO2 and MTT in patients with TBI. Both the univariate and multifactorial logistic regression analyses revealed that APOE ε4, hypoxia, MTT >5.75 s, Marshall CT Class, and GCS were independent risk factors for early poor prognosis in patients with TBI. Conclusion: Both cerebral perfusion and cerebral oxygen were significantly impaired after TBI, and low cerebral perfusion and hypoxia were related to poor prognosis of patients with TBI. Compared with APOE ε4 non‐carriers, APOE ε4 carriers not only had poorer cerebral perfusion and cerebral oxygen metabolism but also worse prognosis in the early stages of TBI. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between the rSCO2 and MTT levels. In addition, both CT perfusion scanning (CTP) and NIRS are reliable for monitoring the condition of patients with TBI in the neurological intensive care unit (NICU). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate polymer composites (PPCs) are widely applied under different elastic wave loading conditions in the automobile, aviation, and armor protection industries. This study investigates the elastic wave propagation behavior of a typical PPC, specifically a Cu/poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composite, with a wide range of particle contents (30–65 vol. %) and particle sizes (1–100 μm). The results demonstrate an inflection phenomenon in both the elastic wave velocity and attenuation coefficient with increasing volume content. In addition, the inflection point moves to the direction of low content with the increase in particle size. Notably, the elastic wave velocity, attenuation, and wavefront width significantly increased with the particle size. The inflection phenomenon of elastic wave propagation behavior in PPCs is demonstrated to have resulted from particle interaction using the classical scattering theory and finite element analysis. The particle interaction initially intensified and then reduced with increasing particle content. This study elucidates the underlying mechanism governing the elastic wave propagation behavior of high particle content PPCs and provides guidelines for the design and application of wave-absorbing composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To design a model to predict the early prognosis of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) based on parameters that can be quickly obtained in emergency conditions from medical history, physical examination, and supplementary examinations. Methods: The medical records of TBI patients who were hospitalized in two medical institutions between June 2015 and June 2021 were collected and analyzed. Patients were divided into the training set, validation set, and testing set. The possible predictive indicators were screened after analyzing the data of patients in the training set. Then prediction models were found based on the possible predictive indicators in the training set. Data of patients in the validation set and the testing set was provided to validate the predictive values of the models. Results: Age, Glasgow coma scale score, Apolipoprotein E genotype, damage area, serum C‐reactive protein, and interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) levels, and Marshall computed tomography score were found associated with early prognosis of TBI patients. The accuracy of the early prognosis prediction model (EPPM) was 80%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the EPPM were 78.8% and 80.8% in the training set. The accuracy of the EPPM was 79%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the EPPM were 66.7% and 86.2% in the validation set. The accuracy of the early EPPM was 69.1%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the EPPM were 67.9% and 77.8% in the testing set. Conclusion: Prediction models integrating general information, clinical manifestations, and auxiliary examination results may provide a reliable and rapid method to evaluate and predict the early prognosis of TBI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel embedded helix dielectric rod antenna is presented for high gain radiation with circular polarization (CP) and low side lobe levels for IoT Applications. Different from the conventional dielectric rod antennas, this proposed antenna is an integrated structure that combines the advantages of the helix and dielectric rod antennas. The presented antenna mainly consists of three parts: a tapered helix as primary feeding for CP, a dielectric rod with printed loops embedded for higher directivity, and a dielectric rod end for improving the gain further. After studying and analyzing the working principles of each part, an optimum design operating at 8–9.7 GHz is carried out as an example. A prototype is also fabricated and tested. The measured results show that the prototype can provide 18.41 dB maximum gain within the length of 7.7 λ. The side lobe level is below −20 dB, and the axial ratio is better than 1.14 dB in the whole frequency band. Compared with the traditional helix antenna and dielectric rod antenna with the same electric length, the presented antenna has a higher gain with a lower side lobe level and with good polarization purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the study was to explore a reliable way to automatically handle emergency cases, such as intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Therefore, an artificial intelligence (AI) system, named, H-system, was designed to automatically recognize medical text data of ICH patients and output the treatment plan. Furthermore, the efficiency and reliability of the H-system were tested and analyzed. The H-system, which is mainly based on a pretrained language model Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) and an expert module for logical judgment of extracted entities, was designed and founded by the neurosurgeon and AI experts together. All emergency medical text data were from the neurosurgery emergency electronic medical record database (N-eEMRD) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, and Chongqing First People's Hospital, and the treatment plans of these ICH cases were divided into two types. A total of 1,000 simulated ICH cases were randomly selected as training and validation sets. After training and validating on simulated cases, real cases from three medical centers were provided to test the efficiency of the H-system. Doctors with 1 and 5 years of working experience in neurosurgery (Doctor-1Y and Doctor-5Y) were included to compare with H-system. Furthermore, the data of the H-system, for instance, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), were calculated and compared with Doctor-1Y and Doctor-5Y. In the testing set, the time H-system spent on ICH cases was significantly shorter than that of doctors with Doctor-1Y and Doctor-5Y. In the testing set, the accuracy of the H-system's treatment plan was 88.55 (88.16–88.94)%, the specificity was 85.71 (84.99–86.43)%, and the sensitivity was 91.83 (91.01–92.65)%. The AUC value of the H-system in the testing set was 0.887 (0.884–0.891). Furthermore, the time H-system spent on ICH cases was significantly shorter than that of doctors with Doctor-1Y and Doctor-5Y. The accuracy and AUC of the H-system were significantly higher than that of Doctor-1Y. In addition, the accuracy of the H-system was more closed to that of Doctor-5Y. The H-system designed in the study can automatically recognize and analyze medical text data of patients with ICH and rapidly output accurate treatment plans with high efficiency. It may provide a reliable and novel way to automatically and rapidly handle emergency cases, such as ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To establish an artery and venous sinus occlusion image score (AVOIS) which is compatible in both cerebral arteries and venous system diseases. Methods: A total of 188 consecutive patients with the final diagnosis of anterior circulation infarct (ACI) and 56 consecutive patients with cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST) were retrospectively studied. The AVOIS was developed based on the severity of occlusive changes of main intracranial arteries and venous sinuses (present = 0, partial occlusion = 1, absent = 2), and divided into four groups (CVST group: 0, 1‐5, 6‐10, >10. ACI group: 0, 1‐5, 6‐10, >10) arbitrarily. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to discover the sensitivity and specificity of AVOIS. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Clot Burden Score (CBS) were set as the reference. Logistic regression models were developed to adjust for baseline clinical variables and AVOIS. Length of hospital stay (LOS) was also evaluated using the Kaplan‐Meier estimator. Results: For the CVST group, a positive correlation between AVOIS and NIHSS was discovered (Spearman's ρ = 0.54, p < 0.001). For the ACI group, ROC showed relatively high sensitivity (84.8%) and specificity (81.8%). Besides, the probability of time to discharge was significantly different among the AVOIS subgroups as well (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The AVOIS can be used to evaluate the treatment of patients with acute stroke caused by cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and anterior circulation large vessel occlusion. It is a reliable and convenient method that may help prompt prognosis and guide the treatment of individual patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a design method for the reflectionless absorber (RLA) is proposed based on the principle of the band-stop reflectionless filter (RLF). Compared with the traditional absorbing structures, the RLA can effectively absorb the electromagnetic (EM) waves within its operating band with small out-band reflection. Besides, the RLA has layer-independent characteristics due to its small reflection. Therefore, multiband and wideband RLAs can be achieved by simply stacking several single-band RLAs. After theoretical analysis and discussion of the single-band RLA, multiband and wideband RLAs are designed. Finally, two samples are fabricated to verify the presented design method. The theoretical calculated, simulated, and measured results agree well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, absorbers with open boundary condition are analyzed theoretically. First, a complex analysis method is used to obtain integrations of the reflection and transmission over the whole frequency band for slab with general boundary condition, which can be regarded as a general extension of Rozanov’s discussion. Second, integration relations with open boundary condition for single-layer slab and multilayer slab are obtained successively. Third, theoretical limitations for the absorbers with open boundary condition are deduced. As an application, complete analytic limitations between the reflection, transmission, operating band, and thickness are provided for single-layer nonmagnetic absorber with small reflection and transmission required. Finally, after presenting optimal design method for single-layer nonmagnetic slab, several absorbers are designed as examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sublingual mucosa (SLM) in the oral cavity is utilized as the site for sublingual immunotherapy to induce tolerance against allergens. We previously reported that CD206+ round-type macrophage-like cells were induced in the SLM after repeated antigen (e.g. cedar pollen or fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC))-painting. In this study, we examined the phenotypic and functional properties of CD206+ cells induced by repeated FITC-painting on the SLM. CD206+ cells after the repeated FITC-painting possessed a macrophage-like CD11b+Ly6C+ F4/80+CD64+ phenotype and expressed TIM-4, which was expressed in tolerogenic tissue-resident macrophages, at a high level. SLM CD206+ cells preferentially expressed molecules related to endocytosis and homeostatic processes, including the novel B7 family of immune checkpoint molecules, as assessed by microarray analyses. SLM CD206+ cells showed preferential expression of M2-related genes such as Fizz1 , Aldh1a1 and Aldh1a2 but not Ym-1 and Arginase-1. A CD206+ cell-rich status inhibited OVA-specific CD4+ T-cell responses but reciprocally enhanced the proportion of both IL-10+CD4+ cells and Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells in regional lymph nodes. Co-culture of CD206+ cells with dendritic cells (DCs) showed that IL-12 production was suppressed in DCs concurrent with the decline of the MHC class IIhiCD86+ population, which was restored by neutralization of IL-10. These results demonstrate SLM CD206+ cells show the feature of tolerogenic macrophages and down-regulate the antigen-presenting cell function of mature DCs resulting in the inhibition of CD4+ T-cell responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ellipsoidal Luneburg lens (LBL) binary array is proposed and implemented for wide-angle scanning. In order to solve the occlusion problem between the lens elements in the array, the spherical LBL is transformed into the ellipsoidal LBL based on the transformation optics. The permittivity distribution of the LBL is revised to increase the lens’ aperture efficiency when the lens is not particularly large compared with the feed. Further, by introducing the local-beam shifting method, the number of feeds under each lens and the mutual coupling between the feeds can be reduced with the scanning characteristics remained. To validate the proposed design, a ${1 \times 2}$ ellipsoidal LBL array has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Each ellipsoidal LBL with 110 mm long-axis radius and 88 mm short-axis radius is fabricated by means of 3-D printing technology. Patch antennas operating at 2.25 GHz are employed as feeds. The measured results show that the proposed ellipsoidal LBL binary array can realize the maximum gain of 15.5 dB at zenith direction and 13.3 dB at 62°. The maximum scanning angle of ±68° can be achieved with a 3 dB gain reduction and −8 dB sidelobe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was proven to be a prognostic indicator of cardiovascular events. However, the modifying effect of blood pressure (BP) on the longitudinal association between baPWV and new-onset hypertension is not well established. This study included 1849 non-hypertensive Chinese subjects from Shougang cohort study during December 2011 to July 2014. BaPWV was obtained using an Omron Colin BP-203RPE III device. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations of baPWV and outcomes. During a mean follow-up time of 2.36 years, 248 (13.41%) developed hypertension. BaPWV independently and gradably predicted the risk of incident hypertension and the SBP level at revisit (odds ratio or β (95% confidence interval) for participants with baPWV in quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: 2.72 (1.54, 4.78) for incident hypertension and 5.92 (4.26, 7.58) for SBP, P for trend: <0.001) after adjusting demonstrated risk factors. Besides, the effects of baseline baPWV on either incident hypertension or SBP at revisit were interactively modified by the level of baseline SBP; the effect size increased as the SBP level decreased. baPWV independently predicted the risk of hypertension and BP progression, modified by the level of SBP at baseline in this Chinese community-based population. The combination of baPWV and SBP can help differentiate the potential high-risk candidates who will develop hypertension quickly and benefit from early diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a nuclear-associated cytokine of the IL-1 family. IL-33 and its receptor ST2 axis exert conflicting anti-tumor and pro-tumor effects in various tumors. In this study, we examined the role of endogenously produced IL-33 in the colon-26 tumor model, in which involvement of the IL-33:ST2 pathway was negligible on the tumor side. We found that the generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD8+ T cells, and IFN-γ expression by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (T cell activation) were impaired in IL-33-deficient mice. Overall antitumor responses, assessed by tumor growth and IFN-γ expression by tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, were also impaired, even after Treg adjustment prior to tumor inoculation. These results indicate that endogenous IL-33 augmented CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor responses in this colon carcinoma model, with higher CD8+ T cell-infiltration and overcoming pro-tumor effects by increased Tregs. Exogenous application of IL-33 into the tumors did not enhance CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor responses despite marked elevation of innate responses showing upregulation of proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine expression, neutrophil recruitment, and dendritic cell activation. Our results suggest a dual role for endogenous IL-33 in antitumor responses and suggest that the balance of CD8+ T cells:Tregs in the tumor microenvironment is one of key factors for estimating the contribution of IL-33-mediated antitumor responses. Therefore, the development of IL-33-based cancer immunotherapy may require a target cell-specific approach. • IL-33 deficiency reduces generation of CD8+ T cells and regulatory T cells. • Antitumor responses to colon-26 tumor is impaired in IL-33 deficient mice. • Tumor-recruiting CD8+ T cells and Tregs are impaired in IL-33KO mice. • Endogenous IL-33 promotes CD8+ T cells and Tregs with opposite function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel antenna integrated the advantages of the Yagi–Uda and the dielectric rod antenna (DRA) is presented in this communication. The antenna mainly consists of a tapered printed Yagi–Uda, a tapered dielectric cover, and a periodic dielectric rod. First, a tapered printed Yagi is designed as the primary feeder and embedded inside a tapered dielectric rod to improve the directive gain, radiation efficiency, and sidelobe levels. The influence of the dielectric cover to the Yagi is discussed. Then, a dielectric rod with triangular periodic surface is also loaded to the end of the dielectric cover to obtain higher gain and better front-to-back ratio. Finally, a sample of the antenna working at 8.5–9.7 GHz with 18 dBi maximum gain and −23.37 dB sidelobe level is designed. A prototype is fabricated and tested; the measured results match well with the simulated. Compared with the traditional Yagi–Uda antenna and DRA with the same length, the presented integrated antenna has higher gain with lower sidelobe level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract The purpose of this study was to apply the phenomenon of liquid jet breakup to the preparation of sustained-release microspheres. The mechanisms of liquid jet breakup in different jet states were investigated and the single factor method was used to study the effect of each process parameter on the particle size and size distribution of microspheres. Meantime, the prepared microspheres were characterized by morphology, drug loading, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release. The results indicated that the process of liquid jet breakup could have 5 different states. The laminar flow state dominated when the Reynolds number (Re) was low, and the prepared microspheres had larger particle sizes. When the Re was high, the turbulent state was dominant and the microspheres had smaller particle sizes. And during the transition state from the laminar flow to the turbulence, the microspheres had a wide particle size distribution. Different process parameters could affect the particle size and distribution of microspheres by changing the Re , surface tension coefficient and viscosity. The microspheres prepared by liquid jet breakup were smooth and round with the drug loading of 35% and the encapsulation efficiency of 88%. In addition, when the polymeric carrier materials were different, the microspheres could have various drug release models such as sustained release with a lag phase, sustained release with no lag phase, pulsed release and so on, which could be applied widespread in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the photosensitivity of silicon, a novel optically controlled microwave phase shifter is proposed, which consists of a Xenon lamp and a rectangular waveguide inserted with a silicon slice. By altering the intensity of illumination, the presented structure can change the phase of transmission coefficient efficiently. The performance of the phase shifter is theoretically analyzed and simulated. Experiments are conducted at X band, and the results show that a phase shift of 44° can be obtained, and the insertion loss is 5.8 dB. Especially, the power capacity of the presented structure reaches to 460 MW under vacuum state according to the simulation, which is far greater than traditional microwave phase shifters. This novel structure is attractive for high power microwave (HPM) applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An X-band leaky waveguide antenna (LWA) with high aperture efficiency and high power capacity is investigated in this paper. The antenna is mainly composed of two parts: a sectorial waveguide power divider and an LWA array. First, in the design of the power divider, the magnitude uniformity and phase consistency are ensured by adjusting the channel central angles and introducing phase adjusting structures, respectively. Then, the analysis and design of the LWA array are carried out. New formulas and conditions have been proposed for realizing uniform radiation distribution and maximum aperture efficiency. Five supporting beams are introduced to increase the antenna gain and power capacity. An LWA array as a prototype is fabricated and tested to verify the analysis and simulation. Experimental results agree well with the simulation. The return loss is better than 17 dB at the center frequency 9.7 GHz, the gain is 38.75 dB, and the corresponding aperture efficiency is 80.7%. The power capacity of the LWA array reaches 1.5 GW. These characteristics demonstrate that the proposed LWA array is suitable for radiating high power microwaves. The analysis and design method proposed in this paper is a useful guide for designing the high-aperture efficiency antenna in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a full solid angle scanning cylindrical-and-conical (CYLCON) conformal phased array antenna (PAA) is designed. First, a microstrip Yagi antenna with low profile and small size is proposed and discussed. Second, a cylindrical conformal Yagi antenna array consisting of 24 aforementioned 8-element Yagi antennas is designed and optimized. Simulation results show that the Yagi antenna array can realize low-elevation beam scanning in the region of 0 ^\circ \le \theta \le 30 ^\circ , 30 ^\circ \le \varphi \le 150 ^\circ with low sidelobe levels and sharp beams. Third, CYLCON conformal microstrip antenna arrays are developed to realize the broadside beam scanning. Afterwards, an integrated PAA by combining the aforementioned conformal arrays along with feeding networks is constructed to achieve full solid angle scanning. Finally, a prototype is fabricated, the measured results show that it can realize beam scanning in the regions of 0 ^\circ \le \theta \le 30 ^\circ , 30 ^\circ \le \varphi \le 150 ^\circ , and 30 ^\circ \le \theta \le 180 ^\circ , 60 ^\circ \le \varphi \le 120 ^\circ , which meet well with those of the simulated. By arranging proper number of arrays along the perimeter accompanied with the switchable feeding configurations, a full solid angle scanning can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water holding ability of powder masses greatly influences their extrusion/spheronization performance during pellets preparation. To quantify this ability and explore its influence on pellets preparation, two characterized parameters were proposed. One was the maximum water content that could be retained by the mass (WHA max ), the other was the remaining water content in the mass subjected to certain extrusion force (WHA extrusion ). The methods to determine WHA were established by centrifugation. MCC, κ-carrageenan, mannitol were employed to investigate the relationship between WHA and their extrusion/spheronization performance. The results showed that the WHA max and WHA extrusion of MCC were 1.0 g/g and 0.85 g/g, which were less than that of κ-carrageenan (WHA max > 6.0 g/g, WHA extrusion = 3.0 g/g), accordingly. Since mannitol had the lowest parameter values (WHA max = 0.3 g/g, WHA extrusion = 0.25 g/g), it was hard to be extruded. Therefore, κ-carrageenan (≥ 10%) or mannitol (≥ 30%) were added to prepare satisfactory pellets by increasing the WHA values (≥ 0.53 g/g) of the mixed masses. In addition, the WHA of mixed masses could be predicted based on WHA of each mass. To obtain enough extrudates and non-agglomerated pellets, the water content added in the mass should be equal with WHA max . In conclusion, the established two parameters were useful to predict the extrusion/spheronization performance of masses, therefore, selecting the potential pelletization aids and determining the optimal water content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing of transition metal sulfides (TMS) enables the creation of complex 3D structures, significantly expanding their applications. However, preparing 3D‐structured TMS remains challenging due to difficulties in developing suitable inks. In this study, a supramolecular micelle hydrogel as the ink to fabricate 3D‐structured TMS is utilized. Initially, the hydrogels are printed and infused with metal salt solutions to stabilize the structures, which are then calcined to convert into miniaturized 3D‐TMS replicas. The micellar hydrogels crosslink via hydrophobic interactions, with sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) micelles providing both a hydrophobic environment and sulfur sources. During calcination, the decomposed sulfur precursors coordinate with metal ions to form various TMS, including FeS2, Cu2S, Ni3S2, and Co9S8, along with several metal sulfides like PbS and SnS. Additionally, the method also allows for the preparation of transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2 and WS2. The formation mechanism is demonstrated using Ni3S2 as an example which exhibits notable catalytic activity in oxygen evolution reactions (OER) and hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). Given its simplicity and versatility, this dynamic micellar hydrogel‐derived strategy offers a promising pathway for creating advanced TMS materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO 2) and quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) were significantly changed at the early stage of TBI patients. • The APOE ε4 allele may lead to deterioration of rScO 2 and QEEG at the early stage of TBI patients. • The relationships between APOE gene polymorphism and rScO 2 and QEEG at an early stage of TBI are important and worth further studying. To investigate the influence of apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene polymorphism on regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO 2) and quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) at the early phase of adult traumatic brain injury (TBI). clinical data of TBI patients who were admitted to the neurosurgery intensive care unit (NICU) were retrospectively evaluated and studied, and data of healthy volunteers were recruited as control. The APOE genotypes were genotyped by quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR). The rScO 2 and brain electrical activity of all the participants involved in this research were measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and QEEG respectively. The average rScO 2 of TBI patients was significantly lower than that of the normal controls (P < 0.0001). And the EEG of the TBI patients has showed more irregular slow-wave activities than that of the normal controls. Furthermore, the above changes were more significant in the APOE ε4 carriers in the early stage of TBI patients. The APOE ε4 allele may be associated with poor rScO 2 and more slow-wave activities at the early stage of TBI. To clarify the effect of APOE gene polymorphism on the condition of patients with TBI may be helpful for the design and management of individualized treatment programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CoPVP improves solubility and inhibits crystallization to prolong supersaturation. • HPMC prolongs supersaturation by inhibiting crystallization alone. • CoPVP and HPMC improve apatinib bioavailability by prolonging supersaturation. • BGIS provides bio-mimicking in vivo conditions to properly evaluate supersaturation. • BGIS supports an approach to develop a predictive IVIVC on supersaturation. This study aimed to develop an evaluation approach for supersaturation by employing an in vitro bio-mimicking apparatus designed to predict in vivo performance. The Biphasic Gastrointestinal Simulator (BGIS) is composed of three chambers with absorption phases that represent the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum, respectively. The concentration of apatinib in each chamber was detected by fiber optical probes in situ. The dissolution data and the pharmacokinetic data were correlated by GastroplusTM. The precipitates were characterized by polarizing microscope, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Powder X-ray diffraction and Differential scanning calorimetry. According to the results, Vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer (CoPVP) prolonged supersaturation by improving solubility and inhibiting crystallization, while Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) prolonged supersaturation by inhibiting crystallization alone. Furthermore, a predictive in vitro - in vivo correlation was established, which confirmed the anti-precipitation effect of CoPVP and HPMC on in vitro performance and in vivo behavior. In conclusion, CoPVP and HPMC increased and prolonged the supersaturation of apatinib, and then improved its bioavailability. Moreover, BGIS was demonstrated to be a significant approach for simulating in vivo conditions for in vitro - in vivo correlation in a supersaturation study. This study presents a promising approach for evaluating supersaturation, screening precipitation inhibitors in vitro , and predicting their performances in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: DT-678 is a novel antiplatelet prodrug, capable of releasing the antiplatelet active metabolite of clopidogrel (AM) upon exposure to glutathione. In this study, we investigated factors responsible for clopidogrel high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and evaluated the capacity of DT-678 to overcome HTPR., Experimental Approach: A total of 300 consecutive ACS patients naive to P2Y 12 receptor inhibitors were recruited and genotyped for CYP2C19 alleles. Blood samples were drawn before and after administration of 600-mg clopidogrel. Platelet reactivity index (PRI) and plasma AM concentrations were determined and grouped according to their CYP2C19 genotypes. DT-678 was applied ex vivo to whole blood samples to examine its inhibitory effects. To further examine the antiplatelet effectiveness of DT-678 in vivo, 20 healthy human subjects were recruited in a Phase I clinical trial, and each received a single dose of either 3-mg DT-678 or 75-mg clopidogrel. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in different CYP2C19 genotype groups were compared., Key Results: Statistical analyses revealed that CYP2C19 genotype, body mass index, hyperuricaemia, and baseline PRI were significantly associated with a higher risk of clopidogrel HTPR in ACS patients. The addition of DT-678 ex vivo decreased baseline PRI regardless of CYP2C19 genotypes, overcoming clopidogrel HTPR. This observation was further confirmed in healthy volunteers receiving 3 mg of DT-678., Conclusion and Implications: These results suggest that DT-678 effectively overcomes clopidogrel HTPR resulting from genetic and/or clinical factors in Chinese ACS patients, demonstrating its potential to improve antiplatelet therapy., (© 2024 The Author(s). British Journal of Pharmacology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Pharmacological Society.)

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients with heart failure (HF). Epidemiological data regarding HF in patients with AF are lacking. We describe the epidemiology, clinical features, treatment strategies, and in-hospital outcomes in patients with AF and HF., Methods and Results: Patients with HF and nonvalvular AF in the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-AF cohort from February 2015 to December 2019 were included. Patients were stratified by left ventricular ejection fraction into HF with reduced EF, HF with mildly reduced EF, and HF with preserved EF groups. The primary outcome was the occurrence of hospitalization for major adverse cardiovascular events, including death, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and stroke. Overall, 16 562 patients with AF and HF were included (mean age: 72.35±11.07 years; 46.1% female). HF with preserved EF (63.1%) accounted for the largest proportion, followed by HF with mildly reduced EF (19.0%) and HF with reduced EF (17.9%). Different HF subtypes in patients with AF had unique baseline demographic and clinical characteristics after multinomial logistic regression analysis. Compared with the HF with preserved EF group, hospitalization for major adverse cardiovascular events was increased in the HF with mildly reduced EF group (odds ratio=1.55 [95% CI, 1.18-2.03]) and HF with reduced EF group (odds ratio 1.60 [95% CI, 1.21-2.13]) after adjusting for confounders., Conclusions: In this large Chinese AF registry, the distribution of HF differed from the non-AF population. Patients with AF with different types of HF have unique demographic and clinical characteristics. Occurrence rates of in-hospital outcomes were higher in patients with HF with mildly reduced EF and patients with HF with reduced EF compared with the HF with preserved EF group., Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02309398.

Objectives: The optimal treatment strategy remains debatable in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure. Our objectives were to summarise in-hospital therapies and determine factors associated with treatment strategy selections., Design: A retrospective study analysing the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation (CCC-AF) project from 2015 to 2019., Setting: The CCC-AF project included patients from 151 tertiary and 85 secondary hospitals across 30 provinces in China., Participants: Patients with AF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD, defined as left ventricular ejection fraction<50%) were included, with 5560 patients in the study sample., Methods: Patients were classified by treatment strategies. In-hospital treatments and trends of therapies were analysed. Multiple logistic regression models were used to find determinants of treatment strategies., Results: Rhythm control therapies were used in 16.9% of patients with no significant trends ( p trend=0.175). Catheter ablation was used in 5.5% of patients, increasing from 3.3% in 2015 to 6.6% in 2019 ( p trend<0.001). Factors negatively associated with rhythm control included increased age (OR 0.973, 95% CI 0.967 to 0.980), valvular AF (OR 0.618, 95% CI 0.419 to 0.911), AF types (persistent: OR 0.546, 95% CI 0.462 to 0.645; long-standing persistent: OR 0.298, 95% CI 0.240 to 0.368), larger left atrial diameters (OR 0.966, 95% CI 0.957 to 0.976) and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores (CCI 1-2: OR 0.630, 95% CI 0.529 to 0.750; CCI≥3: OR 0.551, 95% CI 0.390 to 0.778). Higher platelet counts (OR 1.025, 95% CI 1.013 to 1.037) and prior rhythm control attempts (electrical cardioversion: OR 4.483, 95% CI 2.369 to 8.483; catheter ablation: OR 4.957, 95% CI 3.072 to 7.997) were positively associated with rhythm control strategies., Conclusion: In China, non-rhythm control strategy remained the dominant choice in patients with AF and LVSD. Age, AF types, prior treatments, left atrial diameters, platelet counts and comorbidities were major determinants of treatment strategies. Guideline-adherent therapies should be further promoted., Study Registration Number: NCT02309398., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)