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Herein, we develop cost-efficient superhigh-performance of engineering carbonaceous adsorbent from cigarette butts using combined wet-impregnated and re-dispersed method of KOH, which optimizes the implant approach of activator, breaking the restriction of selective capture of toluene using traditional activated carbon. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and pore volume of targeted adsorbent can attain 3088 m2·g−1 and 1.61 cm3·g−1, respectively, by optimizing the temperature-dependent synthetic factor effect of the adsorbent. The adsorption capacity of resultant adsorbent for presenting volatile benzene and toluene shows a positive correlation with increasing carbonization temperature of carbon precursor. Besides, we demonstrated the unsmoked and smoked butts derived adsorbents afford feeble difference in saturated adsorbed capacity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The highest adsorption capacity of sample CF-800 for benzene and toluene in CF group is as high as 1268.1 and 1181.6 mg·g−1 respectively, slightly higher than that of sample UF-800, but far outperforming reported other adsorbents. The predicted adsorption selectivity of CF-800 and UF-800 for C7H8/H2O (g) using the DIH (Difference of Isosteric Heats) equation reach up to ca. 3800 and 7500 respectively, indicating the weak adsorbability of water vapor on the developed adsorbent and greater superiority of the smoked butts derived adsorbents in selective capture of VOCs at low relative humidity in the competitive adsorption process for practical mixed VOCs.

Background Previous studies suggested that adiponectin (APN) could ameliorate ischemia/reperfusion injury and endothelial dysfunction in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, the relationship between serum APN level and coronary flow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in patients with ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unclear. Methods A total of 144 patients with STEMI treated by PPCI were enrolled and divided into two groups based on the mean serum APN level on admission. The data on coronary angiograms and laboratory examinations were collected and compared between groups. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was evaluated in all enrolled patients. Results The prevalence of Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade

This work developed a super-high performance of engineering carbonaceous adsorbents from waste banana-peel via an optimized KOH-impregnated approach, which affords outstanding structural property (SBET = 3746.5 m2 g−1, Vtotal = 2.50 cm3 g−1), far outperforming KOH-grinding method-induced counterpart and other known banana peel-derived those. Thereby, this triggers a record-high capture value of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) specific to benzene (27.55 mmol g−1) and toluene (23.82 mmol g−1) in the all known results. The structural expression characters were accurately correlated with excellent adsorption efficiency of VOCs by investigating the synthetic factor-controlling comparative samples. Ulteriorly, the adsorption selectivity prediction at different relative humidity was demonstrated through the DIH (difference of the isosteric heats), highlighting the good superiority in selective adsorption of toluene compared to benzene even under humid atmosphere. Our findings provide the possibility for the practical application and fabrication of waste biomass (banana peel)-derived functional biochar adsorbent in the environmental treatment of threatening VOCs pollutants.

BACKGROUND Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-g (PPAR-g) exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties, and is protective against cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the effects of a PPAR-g agonist pioglitazone on atherogenesis in an ApoE knockout mouse (ApoE-/-) diabetic mouse model and in a cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) model. MATERIAL AND METHODS Male ApoE-/- mice were rendered diabetic by 5 daily intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin. Pioglitazone (20 mg/kg/d) or PPAR-γ inhibitor GW9662 (1 mg/kg/d) were administered for 12 weeks. At the end of treatment, mice were killed and the aortae were isolated. Oil Red O staining was used to evaluate atherosclerotic plaque area. H&E staining was used to evaluate the number of complicated plaques. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expression of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) and PPAR-γ. The effects of pioglitazone and GW9662 on RAGE and PPAR-g expression were examined in cultured primary mouse VSMCs in hyperglycemic conditions. RESULTS Administration of pioglitazone in diabetic ApoE-/- mice successfully reduced atherosclerotic plaque area and the number of complicated plaques. Moreover, pioglitazone inhibited RAGE and stimulated PPAR-γ protein expression in atherosclerotic plaques of diabetic ApoE-/- mice. In cultured VSMCs upon high-glucose challenge, pioglitazone downregulated RAGE mRNA and protein expression. Blockade of PPAR-γ activity by GW9662 remarkably attenuated the inhibitory actions of pioglitazone on atherogenesis, both in diabetic ApoE-/- mice and in cultured VSMCs, upon high-glucose challenge. CONCLUSIONS Pioglitazone has a therapeutic effect on atherosclerosis in diabetes, and inhibition of RAGE signaling plays a critical role in mediating the beneficial effects of pioglitazone.

The effects of telmisartan on insulin-resistant properties and expression of adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs) were investigated. A diabetic rat model was established using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (25mg/kg) and primary rat coronary vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The diabetic rats were insulin-resistant and exhibited weight gain, elevated blood pressures, and increased plasma triglyceride levels. These manifestations were ameliorated by elmisartan treatment. Four-week telmisartan therapy increased plasma adiponectin and decreased TNF-α expression in the coronary artery. Moreover, telmisartan significantly decreased AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression. Using high glucose-treated rat coronary VSMCs, telmisartan and PPAR-γ agonist GW1929 prominently stimulated PPAR-γ and decreased TNF-α expression. Interestingly, telmisartan or GW1929 also prevented hyperglycemia-induced downregulation of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression. Additionally, GW9662 (PPAR-γ antagonist) significantly decreased the effects of telmisartan on AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression. These results demonstrated that telmisartan effectively ameliorated coronary insulin resistance and inflammation in diabetic rats and upregulated AdipoR1/R2 expression via activation of PPAR-γ in the coronary artery and VSMCs.

Background Diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction may arise from reduced nitric oxide (NO) availability, following interaction with superoxide to form peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite can induce formation of 3-nitrotyrosine-modified proteins. RhoA/ROCK signaling is also involved in diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction. The study aimed to investigate possible links between Rho/ROCK signaling, hyperglycemia, and peroxynitrite in small coronary arteries. Methods Rat small coronary arteries were exposed to normal (NG; 5.5 mM) or high (HG; 23 mM) D-glucose. Vascular ring constriction to 3 mM 4-aminopyridine and dilation to 1 μM forskolin were measured. Protein expression (immunohistochemistry and western blot), mRNA expression (real-time PCR), and protein activity (luminescence-based G-LISA and kinase activity spectroscopy assays) of RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 were determined. Results Vascular ring constriction and dilation were smaller in the HG group than in the NG group (P

BACKGROUND: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) can resist conventional mapping strategies. Studies regarding optimal mapping and ablation methods for patients with noninducible RVOT‐PVCs are limited. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of a novel mapping strategy for these cases: voltage mapping combined with pace mapping. HYPOTHESIS: METHODS: We retrospectively included symptomatic patients (n = 148; 76 males; age, 44.5 ± 1.4 years) with drug‐refractory PVCs originating from the RVOT, who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA), and stratified them as Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 patients had noninducible RVOT‐PVCs, determined after programmed stimulation, burst pacing, and isoproterenol infusion (n = 21; 12 males; age, 39.5 ± 10.8 years). Group 2 patients had inducible PVCs. Group 1 patients were subjected to voltage mapping combined with pace mapping; Group 2 underwent conventional mapping. In all patients prior to RFCA, detailed 3‐dimensional electroanatomic voltage maps of the RVOT were obtained during sinus rhythm using the CARTO system. RESULTS: Patients from both groups had similar success and complication rates associated with the RFCA. In Group 2, 89% (113/127) experienced the earliest and the successful ablation points in the voltage transitional zone. During the follow‐up (36 ± 8 months), patients from both groups suffered similar rates of PVC relapse (2/21 and 7/127, respectively; P = 0.826). CONCLUSIONS: Voltage mapping combined with pace mapping is effective and safe for patients with noninducible RVOT‐PVCs determined by conventional methods.

Telmisartan increases plasma adiponectin levels and improves insulin resistance. Although the mechanisms remained unclear, PRAP activation has been shown to prevent type 2 diabetes. However, it still remains to be investigated the mechanisms whereby telmisartan regulates AdipoR expression.In this

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone on atherogenesis in a ApoE knockout mice (ApoE-/-) diabetic mice model and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) model. At the same time, the study explore the mechanism to the beneficial effects of PIO is

Adiponectin receptors play an important role in inflammatory diseases like diabetes and atherosclerosis. Former studies revealed that the regulation of adiponectin receptors expression differs in the receptor responses to pioglitazone. However, expression of AdipoRs has not been investigated in the coronary arteries or the coronary vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In the present study we investigated the effect of pioglitazone on the adiponectin receptors both in vitro and in vivo.Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided in three groups. One of them fed with regular chow (the Control group) and two of them fed with high-fat diet and then received low-dose Streptozotocin once by intraperitoneal injection (the DM groups). Rats in one of the DM groups were further treated with pioglitazone (the PIO group). Blood pressure, serum adiponectin, fasting blood glucose, fasting serum insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression, and TNF-α expression in coronary arteries of these groups were investigated. For the in vitro study, the rat coronary VSMCs maintained under defined in vitro conditions were treated with either PIO or the PIO+ GW9662 (PPAR-γ antagonist), and then stimulated with high glucose. AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression, TNF-α expression and PPAR-γ expression were investigated.Compared to the DM group, treatment with PIO in vivo significantly attenuated cholesterol level, triglyceride level, fasting serum insulin and TNF-α overexpression (p0.05). PIO also increased AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression in coronary arteries, which were reduced notably in the DM group (p0.05). Consistently, in the study with rat coronary VSMCs, PIO prominently downregulated TNF-α expression and induced PPAR-γ expression, as well as prevented hyperglycemia induced decrease of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression (p0.05). And pretreatment of PIO+GW9662 did not manifest the prevention effect.In this study, we showed that treatment with PIO could ameliorate coronary insulin resistant and upregulate the expression of AdipoR1/R2. PIO showed an anti-atherogenic property via the activation of PPAR-γ, suppression of TNF-α overexpression in coronary and coronary VSMCs.