N-doped graphitic carbon shell-encapsulated FeCo alloy derived from metal-polyphenol network and melamine sponge for oxygen reduction, oxygen evolution, and hydrogen evolution reactions in alkaline media.

Exploiting low cost and durable electrocatalysts with high efficiency for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of great significance for energy conversion and storage applications. Herein, a hybrid electrocatalyst of FeCo alloy nanoparticles embedded in a porous N-doped carbon was prepared via a pyrolysis process of low-cost melamine sponge and mass-produced metal-polyphenol network. Benefting from the metal coordination of metal-polyphenol network and abundant N source of melamine sponge, the metal-N moiety and FeCo alloy nanoparticles (wtih a diameter around 50 nm) encapsulated in a N-doped graphene-like carbon layer were formed in-situ. Such intimate integration of graphene-like carbon-encapsulated FeCo alloys, metal-N active species, and porous structure is conducive to improve the catalytic activity and increase the catalytic durability in alkaline media. As a consequence, the as-prepared electrocatalyst exhibits the pronounced activity toward ORR, OER, and HER simultaneously under alkaline condition, particularly on the performances of potential, stability, and methanol tolerance.

Relationship between ADP-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength and anti-platelet responsiveness in ticagrelor treated ACS patients.

BACKGROUND: Ticagrelor provides enhanced antiplatelet efficacy but increased risk of bleeding and dyspnea. This study aimed to display the relationship between ADP-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (MAADP) and clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated by ticagrelor. METHODS: Consecutive Chinese-Han patients with ACS who received maintenance dose of ticagrelor on top of aspirin were recruited. After 5-day ticagrelor maintenance treatment, MAADP measured by thrombelastography (TEG) were recorded for the evaluation of ticagrelor anti-platelet reactivity. Pre-specified cutoffs of MAADP > 47 mm for high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) and MAADP < 31 mm for low on-treatment platelet reactivity (LTPR) were applied for evaluation. The occurrences of primary ischemic cardiovascular events (including a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke), the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) defined bleeding events, and ticagrelor related dyspnea were recorded after a follow-up of three months. RESULTS: Overall, 176 ACS patients (Male: 79.55%, Age: 59.91 ± 10.54 years) under ticagrelor maintenance treatment were recruited. The value of MAADP ranged from 4.80% to 72.90% (21.27% ± 12.07% on average), with the distribution higher skewed towards the lower values. Using the pre-specific cutoffs for HTPR and LTPR, seven patients (3.98%) were identified as HTPR and 144 patients (81.82%) as LTPR. After a follow-up of three months in 172 patients, major cardiovascular events occurred in no patient, but TIMI bleeding events in 81 (47.09%) with major bleedings in three patients. All patients with major bleedings were classified as LTPR. Ticagrelor related dyspnea occurred in 31 (18.02%) patients, with 30 (21.28%) classified as LTPR and no one as HTPR (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In ticagrelor treated ACS patients, MAADP measured by TEG might be valuable for the prediction of major bleeding and ticagrelor related dyspnea. Due to the small number of patients with HTPR after ticagrelor maintenance treatment, larger scale study should be warranted to verify the relationship between MAADP defined HTPR and ticagrelor related ischemic events.