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BackgroundComplete vessel reconstruction (CVR) with incorporation of side branches is essential for accurate evaluation of wall shear stress (WSS) distribution. However, CVR is time consuming and blood flow simulation is computationally expensive, while there is no evidence that WSS computed by CVR, enables better prediction of disease progression compared to WSS derived from the conventional single vessel reconstruction (SVR). We aim to compare the WSS in models reconstructed using the CVR and SVR methods and examine its ability to predict disease progression.MethodsPatients who had baseline and 13-months follow-up intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging (n=19 vessels), and with neoatherosclerotic lesions (n=13 vessels) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) were included in the present analysis. All the studied vessels had at least one side branch with diameter >1mm. 3-dimensional (3D) CVR and SVR were performed and time averaged (TAWSS) and multidirectional WSS were computed using pulsatile blood flow simulation and the performance of both methods in predicting disease progression in IVUS and OCT models were assessed.ResultsThe incorporation of side branches in 3D geometry resulted in lower TAWSS in the IVUS (0.821 vs 1.698Pa, pConclusionsThe incorporation of side branches in vessel reconstruction influences WSS distribution and enables more accurate prediction of disease progression in native and stented segments than SVR modelling.HighlightsComplete vessel reconstruction (CVR) with incorporation of vessel side branches has been proposed for accurate evaluation of wall shear stress (WSS) distribution compared to the traditional single vessel reconstruction (SVR) method; however, there are no studies comparing the performance of the WSS metrics derived by these methods in predicting atherosclerotic evolution.In vessels with large side branches, the incorporation of the side branches in the vessel geometry reconstructed from angiographic and intravascular imaging data resulted in lower time averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) and influenced the multidirectional WSS estimations compared to the models reconstructed without the side branches.The WSS metrics estimated in the CVR models enabled better prediction of atherosclerotic disease progression at 13-months follow-up on IVUS than the WSS derived by the SVR.In stented vessels, all the WSS metrics in the CVR and the multidirectional WSS in SVR were associated with neointima tissue development; however, both approaches showed limited efficacy in predicting neointima proliferation.

Supplementary Figure from PIM2 Expression Induced by Proinflammatory Macrophages Suppresses Immunotherapy Efficacy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancer immunotherapy restores or enhances the effector function of T cells in the tumor microenvironment, but the efficacy of immunotherapy has been hindered by therapeutic resistance. Here, we identify the proto-oncogene serine/threonine protein kinase PIM2 as a novel negative feedback regulator of IFNγ-elicited tumor inflammation, thus endowing cancer cells with aggressive features. Mechanistically, IL1β derived from IFNγ-polarized tumor macrophages triggered PIM2 expression in cancer cells via the p38 MAPK/Erk and NF-κB signaling pathways. PIM2+ cancer cells generated by proinflammatory macrophages acquired the capability to survive, metastasize, and resist T-cell cytotoxicity and immunotherapy. A therapeutic strategy combining immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) with IL1β blockade or PIM2 kinase inhibition in vivo effectively and successfully elicited tumor regression. These results provide insight into the regulatory and functional features of PIM2+ tumors and suggest that strategies to influence the functional activities of inflammatory cells or PIM2 kinase may improve the efficacy of immunotherapy.Significance:Cross-talk between T cells and macrophages regulates cancer cell PIM2 expression to promote cancer aggressiveness, revealing translational approaches to improve response to ICB in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Supplementary Data from PIM2 Expression Induced by Proinflammatory Macrophages Suppresses Immunotherapy Efficacy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Circulating fluidized bed fly ash (CFBFA), the solid waste discharged from thermal power plants using circulating fluidized bed boilers, has significantly different properties to the fly ash produced in pulverized coal boiler (PCFA) units because of the relatively low combustion temperature used. Thus, CFBFA cannot be used as a direct replacement for PCFAs. Nevertheless, the use of CFBFA in construction materials is the most promising method for the large-scale waste-to-resource transformation and disposal of CFBFA. In this review, the CFBFA is classified according to the desulfurization process used in the CFB boiler, and we also summarize the physicochemical properties and hazards of CFBFA, and discuss its potential applications in the construction industry, In particular, we focus on the preparation of aerated or roller-compacted concrete and zero-cement binders, which are ideal methods for recycling CFBFA. Finally, suggestions for future research and the prospects of recycling CFBFA in the construction industry are proposed.

In this study, the powdery solid waste fly ash cenospheres (FACs) was used to synthesize zeolite nano-ABW, which maintained the initial hollow microsphere shape of the FACs. The synthetic nano-ABW zeolite was applied to remove direct fast bordeaux (DFB) dye. The coupling effects of adsorption and photocatalysis (adsorption/photocatalysis) were investigated in the degradation process. The removal rate was effectively increased from 1.4% of FACs to 72% of ABW, which may be due to the broad pore structure of synthesized hollow zeolite ABW, providing more active adsorption sites. Moreover, nano-Co3O4 semiconductor was supported on hollow ABW to further improve degradation efficiency. The results demonstrated that the removal of DFB over 6Co3O4/ABW zeolite was 66% under dark conditions, while enhanced to 90% under sunlight. Moreover, the removal rate of DFB only dropped by 4.5% after 5 cycles. It indicated that the Co3O4/ABW catalysts have high stability, and the photocatalysis enabled to degrade the dyes adsorbed on catalysts, thereby restoring the adsorption capacity of catalysts.

Well recent study confirmed that surface Bronsted acid sites could evidently improve the formation of free hydroxyl radicals of semiconductors and thus enhanced the photocatalytic degradation activ...

This study proposed a novel electroconductive carbon fiber/circulating fluidized bed fly ash based-geopolymer (CF/CFBFAG) composite, which possessed adjustable electrical conductivity and showed a ...

To develop a new way of renewable utilization of ground granular blast furnace slag (GGBFS), a novel ZnO-loaded graphene-reinforced alkali-activated slag-based geopolymer (ZnO/GASG) nanocomposite was originally prepared. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO/GASG was evaluated by solar hydrogen production and wastewater treatment of dyeing pollutant. The mechanical strength results indicated that the lamellate graphene inserted in the substrate of alkali-activated slag-based geopolymer (ASG) has played a critical role in crack-arresting extension so as to lead the significant increases of compressive and flexural strengthens of GASG test block. The XRD, FESEM and XPS results revealed that ZnO in the form of amorphous state dispersed on the surface of GASG when the loading approached to 2 wt%, and ZnO existed in the form of zincite when the loading was greater than 10 wt%. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra demonstrated that the absorption edge all of ZnO/GASG nanocomposites were blue-shifted due to the quantum size effect. The highest photocatalytic activities for H2 production (2281.3 μmol/g) and wastewater degradation (95.7%, solar light) over 15ZnO/GASG composite were ascribed to the efficient separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. The hole and hydroxyl radical play significant role in photocatalytic degradation of dyeing pollutant.

Aims Facial features were associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). We developed and validated a deep learning algorithm for detecting CAD based on facial photos. Methods and results We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study of patients undergoing coronary angiography or computed tomography angiography at nine Chinese sites to train and validate a deep convolutional neural network for the detection of CAD (at least one ≥50% stenosis) from patient facial photos. Between July 2017 and March 2019, 5796 patients from eight sites were consecutively enrolled and randomly divided into training (90%, n = 5216) and validation (10%, n = 580) groups for algorithm development. Between April 2019 and July 2019, 1013 patients from nine sites were enrolled in test group for algorithm test. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated using radiologist diagnosis as the reference standard. Using an operating cut point with high sensitivity, the CAD detection algorithm had sensitivity of 0.80 and specificity of 0.54 in the test group; the AUC was 0.730 (95% confidence interval, 0.699–0.761). The AUC for the algorithm was higher than that for the Diamond–Forrester model (0.730 vs. 0.623, P Conclusion Our results suggested that a deep learning algorithm based on facial photos can assist in CAD detection in this Chinese cohort. This technique may hold promise for pre-test CAD probability assessment in outpatient clinics or CAD screening in community. Further studies to develop a clinical available tool are warranted.

Solid wastes exhibit excellent prospects in the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water. However, raw solid waste materials usually show mediocre uptake efficiency, it is imperative to func...

Based on the density functional theory (DFT), the distribution of Al and Bronsted acid sites in zeolite ECR-1 were studied by utilization of SIESTA (Spanish Initiative for Electronic Simulations wi...

The disposal of powdery silica fume waste has become an urgent environmental problem, the synthesis of zeolitic materials using silica fume is a commendable remedy to this crisis. In this study, a cost-effective and facile one-step strategy was proposed for the first time for hydrothermal synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite using silica fume waste with the aid of inexpensive metakaolin in the absence of organic templates. This method allowed the total transformation of silica fume into ZSM-5 which exhibited similar characteristics to those obtained from conventional chemical reagents. The as-synthesized ZSM-5 under the optimized condition was used to prepare Ni, Cu and Zn/ZSM-5 catalysts by means of ion exchange and calcination treatments for NOx removal by NH3-SCR, and they exhibited high NO conversion of 92, 100, and 95%, respectively. This study would be a promising candidate for cost-effective and environment friendly synthesis of zeolite using silica fume waste in large scale.

Objectives We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Nano+™ (Lepu Medical, Beijing, China) stent implantation in all-comer patients at the 1-year follow-up. Background The Nano+™ stent is a novel polymer-free sirolimus-eluting stent polymer that employs nanoporous stent surface technology to control drug-delivery. The Nano+™ stent is one of the most widely used drug-eluting stent (DES) in China. Methods A total of 2,481 consecutive patients were included in the multicenter and prospective NANO registry. In this study, the primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF) at 1-year follow-up, defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel nonfatal myocardial infarction (TV-MI), and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR). The safety endpoint was the occurrence of definite or probable stent thrombosis (ST). Results Up to 40.2% of patients presented with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A total of 63.9% of the 2,904 lesions were American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) type B2 or C lesions. One-year follow-up data were available for 98.4% of patients. The 1-year rate of TLF was 3.1% with rates of 1.3, 1.8, and 0.4% for clinically driven TLR, cardiac death, and TV-MI, respectively. ST occurred in 0.4% of patients. Diabetes mellitus, AMI, left ventricular ejection fraction 40 mm) were independent predictors of 1-year TLF. Conclusions The 1-year clinical outcomes were excellent for Nano+™ polymer-free SES implantation in an all-comer patient population. Follow-up will be extended up to 5 years, to further elucidate the potential long-term clinical benefits. Clinical trial registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT02929030.

Cancer immunotherapy restores or enhances the effector function of T cells in the tumor microenvironment, but the efficacy of immunotherapy has been hindered by therapeutic resistance. Here, we identify the proto-oncogene serine/threonine protein kinase PIM2 as a novel negative feedback regulator of IFNγ-elicited tumor inflammation, thus endowing cancer cells with aggressive features. Mechanistically, IL1β derived from IFNγ-polarized tumor macrophages triggered PIM2 expression in cancer cells via the p38 MAPK/Erk and NF-κB signaling pathways. PIM2+ cancer cells generated by proinflammatory macrophages acquired the capability to survive, metastasize, and resist T-cell cytotoxicity and immunotherapy. A therapeutic strategy combining immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) with IL1β blockade or PIM2 kinase inhibition in vivo effectively and successfully elicited tumor regression. These results provide insight into the regulatory and functional features of PIM2+ tumors and suggest that strategies to influence the functional activities of inflammatory cells or PIM2 kinase may improve the efficacy of immunotherapy. Significance: Cross-talk between T cells and macrophages regulates cancer cell PIM2 expression to promote cancer aggressiveness, revealing translational approaches to improve response to ICB in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives To evaluate the 3-year clinical outcomes of a polymer-free sirolimus-eluting, Nano plus stent for the treatment of coronary artery disease in the NANO multicenter Registry. Background The long-term clinical data evaluating the safety and efficacy of the novel polymer-free sirolimus-eluting Nano plus stent (Lepu Medical, Beijing, China) is limited. Methods The NANO all-comers Registry trial was a prospective, multicenter clinical registry conducted in 26 centers in China between August 2016 and January 2017. A total of 2481 consecutive patients were exclusively treated with the Nano plus stent. The primary clinical endpoint, target lesion failure (TLF, defined as cardiac death, target vessel nonfatal myocardial infarction, and clinically driven target lesion revascularization [CD-TLR]), was analyzed at 3 years. Results At 3 years, 2295 patients (92.5%) were followed. The incidence of TLF was 6.8% (168/2481). The rate of cardiac death was 3.8% (94/2481), target vessel nonfatal myocardial infarction 0.7% (18/2481), and CD-TLR 2.9% (68/2481). The rate of definite/probable stent thrombosis was 0.5% (13/2481). The risk factors of diabetes mellitus, acute myocardial infarction, age, chronic renal failure, in-stent restenosis, chronic total occlusion, and left ventricular ejection fraction Conclusions At three years, the rate of TLF was relatively low in patients treated with the polymer-free Nano plus stent. The polymer-free Nano plus stent showed a favorable safety and efficacy profile in real-world patients. Clinical trial registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT02929030.

Summary Background Compared with visual angiographic assessment, pressure wire-based physiological measurement more accurately identifies flow-limiting lesions in patients with coronary artery disease. Nonetheless, angiography remains the most widely used method to guide percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In FAVOR III China, we aimed to establish whether clinical outcomes might be improved by lesion selection for PCI using the quantitative flow ratio (QFR), a novel angiography-based approach to estimate the fractional flow reserve. Methods FAVOR III China is a multicentre, blinded, randomised, sham-controlled trial done at 26 hospitals in China. Patients aged 18 years or older, with stable or unstable angina pectoris or patients who had a myocardial infarction at least 72 h before screening, who had at least one lesion with a diameter stenosis of 50–90% in a coronary artery with a reference vessel of at least 2·5 mm diameter by visual assessment were eligible. Patients were randomly assigned to a QFR-guided strategy (PCI performed only if QFR ≤0·80) or an angiography-guided strategy (PCI based on standard visual angiographic assessment). Participants and clinical assessors were masked to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was the 1-year rate of major adverse cardiac events, a composite of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, or ischaemia-driven revascularisation. The primary analysis was done in the intention-to-treat population. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03656848 ). Findings Between Dec 25, 2018, and Jan 19, 2020, 3847 patients were enrolled. After exclusion of 22 patients who elected not to undergo PCI or who were withdrawn by their physicians, 3825 participants were included in the intention-to-treat population (1913 in the QFR-guided group and 1912 in the angiography-guided group). The mean age was 62·7 years (SD 10·1), 2699 (70·6%) were men and 1126 (29·4%) were women, 1295 (33·9%) had diabetes, and 2428 (63·5%) presented with an acute coronary syndrome. The 1-year primary endpoint occurred in 110 (Kaplan-Meier estimated rate 5·8%) participants in the QFR-guided group and in 167 (8·8%) participants in the angiography-guided group (difference, –3·0% [95% CI –4·7 to –1·4]; hazard ratio 0·65 [95% CI 0·51 to 0·83]; p=0·0004), driven by fewer myocardial infarctions and ischaemia-driven revascularisations in the QFR-guided group than in the angiography-guided group. Interpretation In FAVOR III China, among patients undergoing PCI, a QFR-guided strategy of lesion selection improved 1-year clinical outcomes compared with standard angiography guidance. Funding Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and the National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital.

Entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are recommended as first-line choices regarding the treatment of chronic hepatits B. The impact of the two antiviral agents on prognosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative liver resection remains to be explored. We aimed to assess the effect of antiviral therapy with ETV or TDF after curative resection on the prognosis of patients with HBV-related HCC.A total of 1173 consecutive patients who were treated with ETV or TDF after curative liver resection for HCC were enrolled in the study. HCC recurrence, overall survival, postoperative liver function reserve, and early virologic (VR) and biochemical responses (BR) of patients were compared between the ETV and TDF groups by propensity score matching (PSM) from the date of liver resection for HCC.No difference was observed with recurrence-free survival between TDF and ETV in the PSM cohort (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70-1.17; P = 0.45). No difference was observed with early VR and BR between TDF and ETV in the PSM cohort. Compared with ETV, TDF therapy was associated with significantly better protection of liver function and higher overall survival rates in the PSM cohort (HR, 0.37; 95% CI 0.20-0.71; P = 0.002). After PSM, 69 (40.8%) patients in the ETV group and 63 (57.3%) patients in the TDF group had single tumor recurrence, while the TDF group had significantly more patients with single tumor recurrence in the PSM cohort (P = 0.007).For patients who underwent curative resection for HBV-related HCC, TDF treatment had a significantly better overall survival and better protection of liver function, but no difference in the incidences of HCC recurrence than ETV treatment.

The present work demonstrates an effective and eco-friendly procedure for seed-assisted synthesis of monolithic mordenite via the conversion of silica fume and metakaolin based geopolymer into nano...

In this study, rod-shaped phillipsite was prepared using circulating fluidized bed fly ash by one-step synthesis and applied to adsorption of heavy metal Ni2+ ions for the first time. The X...

Zeolites exhibit the highest performance metrics among the second generation of post-combustion CO2 capture materials; however, conventional synthetic zeolite powders are relatively expensive and need to be shaped by binding agents for end use. In this study, cost-effective monolithic Na/ZSM-5 was successfully prepared for the first time using metakaolin and industrial silica fume waste as starting materials via polycondensation and seed-induced hydrothermal crystallization. The synthesised Na/ZSM-5 exhibited an adsorption capacity of 1.79 mmol/g CO2. To further enhance the CO2 adsorption capacity, the Ni/ZSM-5 was modified by ion-exchange of Na+ with Ni2+, revealing an improved adsorption capacity of 2.38 mmol/g CO2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to explain the adsorption mechanism and the superior CO2 adsorption performance of Ni/ZSM-5 compared to Na/ZSM-5. The results show that the sorption of CO2 in both Na/ZSM-5 and Ni/ZSM-5 is physisorption by ion–dipole interaction, and the energy emission using Ni/ZSM-5 is higher than that using Na/ZSM-5 for the same CO2 capture efficiency. This research demonstrates a new method of preparing cost-effective shape-controllable zeolites with excellent CO2 capture capacity. Furthermore, it enables the high value-added utilization of the industrial waste of silica fume.

The purpose of this observational study was to investigate the feasibility, initial safety, and efficacy of the SeQuent® Please DCB (B. Braun Melsungen, Germany) for patients with de novo coronary lesions in vessels exceeding 3.0 mm in a consecutive series of all comer percutaneous coronary intervention. A total of 120 patients (135 lesions) with de novo coronary lesions in vessels ≥ 3.0 mm treated with DCB were enrolled in this single-centre prospective observational study. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF), a composite endpoint of cardiac death, target vessel-myocardial infarction (TV-MI), and clinically driven target vessel revascularization (TLR) at 12 months. Safety endpoints included cardiac death, TV-MI, and definite target vessel thrombosis. 45.9% of the lesions were classified as complex (type B2/C). The reference vessel diameter was 3.09 ± 0.31 mm measured via quantitative coronary angiography analysis. Coronary dissections occurred in 42 patients (35.0%; Type A-B 14.1%; Type C 19.1%; Type D: 1.6%), two of which [1.6%; (type D dissection)] underwent bail-out stent implantation. 12-month follow-up was completed in 100% patients. The 12-month incidence of TLF was 3.4%. The clinically driven TLR occurred in four patients (3.4%). The incidence of TLR was low in patients without any detectable dissections, similar to those with dissections (3.8% vs. 2.5%; p = 0.146). No patient suffered cardiac death, TV-MI, or target vessel thrombosis. The study shows the feasibility, initial safety, and efficacy of coronary intervention using SeQuent® Please DCB for the treatment of patients with de novo lesion in vessels exceeding 3 mm. The study highlights that the coronary dissection (Type A-C) post DCB treatment occurs frequently but is safe at follow up.

A low-cost self-supported ECR-1 zeolite membrane was synthesized by utilization of silica fume waste as stating material adjusted Si/Al molar ratio with metakaolin for the first time. XRD patterns confirmed that the amorphous geopolymer was entirely converted into self-supported ECR-1 zeolite membrane. FESEM microphoto indicated that the ECR-1 showed wheat-sheaf crystalline morphology with average aspect ratio of 5. The as-synthesized self-supported ECR-1 zeolite membrane exhibited an excellent seawater desalination performance. When the system was kept up the negative pressure of 0.08 MPa, the rejections for mixed Na+, K+, Mg2+ Ca2+ and Cl− ions in simulated seawater averagely approached to 99.99%, 97.32%, 100%, 100% and 96.82%, respectively.

A novel and eco-efficient CaMoO4/electroconductive geopolymer composite (CaMoO4/EGC) was synthesized for the first time to realize double goals of high-value recycling of silicomanganese slag (SS) and effective treatment of dye wastewater by photocatalytic degradation. The XRD and XPS results demonstrated that the CaMoO4 active phase was formed by the reaction between silicomanganese slag-based geopolymer and (NH4)6Mo7O24⋅4H2O. The BET specific surface areas of CaMoO4/EGC samples increased with increasing content of CaMoO4. The FESEM results indicated that the elements of S, Mn, Mo and Ca evenly distributed in the matrix of 4CaMoO4/EGC. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum showed that 4CaMoO4/EGC possessed the lowest PL peak at 469 nm and could have the highest photocatalytic activity. The response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate the main influence factors on the degradation rate of Basic Violet 5BN (BV5) dye and to predict the optimal condition of photocatalytic degradation. The variance analysis results of F-value (75.33), p-value (

Background: Both stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are effective local treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but whether RFA is superior to SBRT is still controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to compare the treatment outcomes of SBRT with RFA as curable or bridge intention. Methods: We searched online databases for studies that compared treatment outcomes for SBRT and RFA. Eligibility criteria included evaluation of local control, overall survival (OS), transplant rate, and post-transplant pathological necrosis. Results: As no randomized clinical trials met the criteria, 10 retrospective studies with a total of 2,732 patients were included. Two studies were in favor of SBRT in local control, two studies preferred RFA in OS, and others reported comparable outcomes for both. SBRT demonstrated significantly higher 1- and 3-year local control than RFA [odds ratio (OR) 0.42, 95% CI 0.24-0.74, P = 0.003; and OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.37-0.80, P = 0.002, respectively]. However, SBRT reported significantly shorter 1- and 2-year OS (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.21-1.90, P = 0.0003; and OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.38-2.01, P < 0.00001, respectively). As bridge treatment, no significant difference was shown in transplant rate and post-transplant pathological necrosis rate (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.32-1.03, P = 0.060; and OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.13-1.82, P = 0.290, respectively). Conclusions: This study demonstrates SBRT is able to complete a better local control for HCC than RFA, though the OS is inferior to RFA because of tumor burden or liver profiles of the enrolled studies. Well-designed, randomized, multicenter trials will be required to further investigate the conclusion.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is regarded as the gold standard for the physiological assessment of intermediate coronary artery stenoses. However, FFR does not allow assessment of plaque morphology and lesion geometry. Intracoronary imaging techniques such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) can help treatment planning by optimising stent implantation, which can improve patient outcomes. The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy of IVUS and OCT-derived metrics in detecting flow limiting stenoses in non-left main stem lesions.A systematic review of PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane databases was performed and identified studies examining the diagnostic accuracy of IVUS and OCT in detecting significant stenoses when compared to FFR.A total of 33 (7537 lesions) studies (24 IVUS, 7 OCT and 2 IVUSOCT studies) were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed that IVUS- and OCT-derived minimum lumen area (MLA) had a similar sensitivity in predicting haemodynamically significant lesions (IVUS-MLA: 0.747 vs OCT-MLA 0.732, p = 0.519). However, OCT-MLA had a higher specificity (0.763 vs 0.665, p 0.001) and diagnostic accuracy in detecting flow-limiting stenoses than IVUS-MLA (AUC 0.810 vs 0.754, p = 0.045). Sub-analysis of the studies with the clinically significant FFR cut-off value of 0.80 yielded similar results demonstrating that OCT-MLA has a better accuracy than IVUS-MLA in detecting haemodynamically significant stenoses (AUC 0.809 vs 0.750, p = 0.034).OCT with its superior image resolution appears to be the preferable intravascular imaging modality for the detection of haemodynamically significant stenoses in non-left main stem lesions.

Amine functionalized solid sorbents exhibit promising prospects for post-combustion CO2 capture. One of the most significant challenges at present is the development of cost-effective supports with excellent pore structure and surface texture for amine loading. In this study, geopolymer was treated with nitric acid to suitable degrees. Changes in the porosity, surface silanol density, and degree of polymerization of the geopolymer matrix were systematically evaluated using various spectroscopic techniques, and a mechanism for such regulation was proposed. Moreover, these changes were compared with the variation in the amine grafting amounts and CO2 capture capabilities. Geopolymers treated under an appropriate acid condition exhibits an unexpectedly large specifical surface area of 412 m2/g with a superior silanol density of 4.25 mmol/g being achieved, which facilitate a high (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) grafting amount of 3.5 mmol N/g. The as-prepared amine functionalized solid sorbent showed a CO2 adsorption capacity of 1.82 mmol/g at 1 atm and 60 ℃, with fast adsorption kinetics and low energy requirement for regeneration, which are competitive with sorbents prepared using traditional silica supports, despite its simple and robust fabrication route. The superior amine grafting capability of the support and CO2 capture performance of the resultant sorbent are related to the special Si-O(Na)-Al network parent structure of the geopolymer matrix, which allows the formation of abundant pore structures and reserved Si-OH groups that are conveniently achieved via the release of Na and Al during acid regulation. Beyond the confines of this study, the present work would provide new opportunities for cost-effective and efficient preparation of materials that require matrices of high porosity and silanol density.

Excessive emission of CO2 is the main reason for the greenhouse effect. Amine-functionalized solid sorbents are promising candidates for reducing CO2 emissions, while sorbent quality depends greatly on the support. Herein, a new type of aluminosilicate solid acid support with a high specifical surface area of 412 m2/g and an acid amount of 7.88 mmol/g was fabricated using a low-energy hydrothermal free method. The fabricated aluminosilicate support and a benchmark MCM-41 porous silicate were then functionalized through chemical grafting of (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), and subsequently applied for CO2 capture. The results revealed that the amine loading and CO2 adsorption capacity of the fabricated aluminosilicate support were comparable with those of the benchmark MCM-41 porous silicate. Moreover, the fabricated sorbent exhibited low adsorption and desorption activation energy of 14.47 and 51.05 kJ/mol, which were 32% and 20% lower, respectively, than those of the benchmark one. The lower adsorption activation energy was found to be associated with the lower CO2 transfer resistance, whereas the lower desorption activation energy was attributed to the unique catalytic effect induced by the protons and Al atoms of the support. Our results indicate new possibilities in energy saving preparation of amine-based solid sorbent for energy efficient CO2 capture.

Background Tremendous efforts have been made to establish the concept of vascular restoration therapy with a fully bioresorbable scaffold for coronary artery disease. With an improved scaffold design and technologies, the novel NeoVas scaffold has shown promising clinical performance at 6 months follow-up. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the 1 year clinical outcomes and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) angiographic results after implantation of the NeoVas scaffold in patients with single de novo coronary artery lesions. Methods The NeoVas first-in-man study was a prospective, two-center, single-arm study enrolling 31 patients who were eligible for the treatment. The composite endpoint of target lesion failure (TLF)-defined as cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization (TLR)-was assessed. Of the 31 patients scheduled for 1 year clinical follow-up, 29 patients received MSCT examinations. Results At 1 year follow-up, there was only 1 (3.2%) TLF, attributed to 1 patient who suffered ischemia-driven TLR at 181 days postprocedure. No cardiac deaths or scaffold thrombosis were observed. MSCT analysis demonstrated excellent vessel patency, with a median in-scaffold lumen area of 10.6 mm2 (interquartile range [IQR]: 8.2-11.7 mm2 ) and a minimal lumen diameter of 2.7 mm (IQR: 2.4-3.0 mm). Conclusions This study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the NeoVas scaffold for patients with single de novo coronary artery lesions at 1 year of follow-up. Noninvasive MSCT data confirmed vessel patency and the maintenance of vessel dimensions following implantation of the NeoVas bioresorbable sirolimus-eluting scaffold.