Equation-of-state-dependent surface free-energy density for wettability in lattice Boltzmann method.

In thermodynamic theory, the liquid-vapor fluids can be described by a single multiphase equation of state and the surface wettability is usually characterized by the surface free-energy density. In this work, we propose an equation-of-state-dependent surface free-energy density for the wettability of the liquid-vapor fluids on a solid surface, which can lead to a simple closed-form analytical expression for the contact angle. Meanwhile, the thermodynamically derived equilibrium condition is equivalent to the geometric formulation of the contact angle. To numerically validate the present surface free-energy density, the mesoscopic multiphase lattice Boltzmann model with self-tuning equation of state, which is strictly consistent with thermodynamic theory, is employed, and the two-dimensional wetting condition treatment is extended to the three-dimensional situation with flat and curved surfaces. Two- and three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann simulations of static droplets on flat and curved surfaces are first performed, and the obtained contact angles agree well with the closed-form analytical expression. Then, the three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann simulation of a moving droplet on an inclined wall, which is vertically and sinusoidally oscillated, is carried out. The dynamic contact angles well satisfy the Cox-Voinov law. The droplet movement regimes are consistent with previous experiments and two-dimensional simulations. The dependence of the droplet overall velocity with respect to the dimensionless oscillation strength is also discussed in detail.

Equations of state in multiphase lattice Boltzmann method revisited.

The single-component multiphase fluids can be described by a single equation of state (EOS), and various EOSs have been employed in the multiphase lattice Boltzmann (LB) method. In this work, we revisit five commonly used EOSs, including the van der Waals EOS, the Redlich-Kwong EOS, the Redlich-Kwong-Soave EOS, the Peng-Robinson EOS, and the Carnahan-Starling EOS. The recent multiphase LB model with self-tuning EOS is employed because of its thermodynamic consistency in a strict sense and clear physical picture at the microscopic level. First, the way to incorporate these multiphase EOSs is proposed. Two scaling factors are introduced to independently adjust the surface tension and interface thickness, and the lattice sound speed is EOS-dependent to ensure the numerical stability. Then, numerical tests are conducted to validate the incorporations of these EOSs and compare their numerical performances. The surface tension and interface thickness are set to the same values for different EOSs in the comparisons. The liquid and gas densities, surface tension, and interface thickness by the LB simulation agree well with the thermodynamic results. The maximum density ratios achieved with different EOSs are at the same level and could be very close to each other when the interface thickness is relatively small. The effects of multiphase EOS, density ratio, and dimensionless relaxation time on the spurious current are discussed in detail. It is interesting to find the van der Waals EOS shows the best numerical performance in reducing the spurious current.

Optimal timing of biliary drainage based on the severity of acute cholangitis: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Biliary decompression is well known to greatly decrease the risks of mortality in acute cholangitis (AC). Although early biliary drainage is recommended by the treatment guidelines for AC, the best time for performing this procedure is yet to be established. Furthermore, since the clinical outcomes of patients with severe AC vary dramatically, screening for patients that could benefit the most from early drainage would be more beneficial than the drainage performed based on the severity grade criteria. AIM: To investigate the optimal drainage timing for AC patients with each disease severity grade and organ dysfunction. METHODS: In this retrospective monocenter cohort analysis, we reviewed 1305 patients who were diagnosed with AC according to the Tokyo guidelines 2018 at a Chinese tertiary hospital between July 2016 and December 2020. Demographic characteristics including age and sex, clinical and laboratory characteristics, and imaging findings of each patient were obtained from electronic medical records. We investigated the all-cause in-hospital mortality (IHM), hospital length of stay (LOS), and hospitalization costs associated with the timing of biliary drainage according to the severity grading and different dysfunctioning organs and predictors [age, white blood cell (WBC) count, total bilirubin, albumin, lactate, malignant obstruction, and Charlton comorbidity index (CCI)]. RESULTS: Biliary drainage within 24 or 48 h in Grade III AC patients could dramatically decrease IHM (3.9% vs 9.0%, P = 0.041; 4% vs 9.9%, P = 0.018, respectively), while increasing LOS and hospitalization costs. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that neurological, respiratory, renal, and cardiovascular dysfunctions, hypoalbuminemia, and malignant obstruction were significantly associated with IHM (odds ratio = 5.32, 2.541, 6.356, 4.021, 5.655, and 7.522; P < 0.001, P = 0.016, P < 0.001, P = 0.012, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001; respectively). Biliary decompression performed within 12 h of admission significantly decreased the IHM in AC patients with neurological dysfunction (0% vs 17.3%, P = 0.041) or with serum lactate > 2 mmol/L (0% vs 5.4%, P = 0.016). In the subgroup of AC patients with renal dysfunction, abnormal WBC count, hyperbilirubinemia, or hypoalbuminemia, early drainage (< 24 h) reduced the IHM (3.6% vs 33.3%, P = 0.004; 1.9% vs 5.8%, P = 0.031; 1.7% vs 5.0%, P = 0.019; 0% vs 27%, P = 0.026; respectively). The IHM was lower in patients with AC combined with hepatic dysfunction, malignant obstruction, or a CCI > 3 who had undergone biliary drainage within 48 h (2.6% vs 20.5%, P = 0.016; 3.0% vs 13.5%, P = 0.006; 3.4% vs 9.6%, P = 0.021; respectively). CONCLUSION: Biliary drainage within 12 h is beneficial for AC patients with neurological or cardiovascular dysfunction, while complete biliary decompression within 24 h of admission is recommended for treating patients with Grade III AC.

Case Report: Disseminated Cysticercosis due to Intentional Ingestion of Parasitic Worm Eggs for Weight Loss.

A 20-year-old female resident of Beijing intended to consume the eggs of the parasitic worm, Taenia saginata, for weight loss; however, she apparently inadvertently ingested Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) eggs, which resulted in disseminated cysticercosis. Cysticerci developed in the brain, tongue, muscles, liver, peritoneum, and subcutaneous tissues. She was administered oral albendazole and praziquantel. After four 10-day courses of treatment, most of the cysts disappeared and she recovered. After 3 years, the patient remains in good health.

Prehospital statin use and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at admission in acute coronary syndrome patients with history of myocardial infarction or revascularization: Findings from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC) project.

BACKGROUND: Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by statins is a key strategy for secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few studies have examined prehospital statin use and admission LDL-C levels in ACS patients with history of myocardial infarction (MI) or revascularization. This study aimed to assess use of prehospital statins and LDL-C levels at admission in ACS patients with history of MI or revascularization. METHODS: Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China project was a nationwide registry, with 192 participating hospitals reporting details of clinical information of ACS patients from November 2014. By May 2018, 80,282 patients with ACS were included. LDL-C levels were obtained from the initial admission lipid testing. RESULTS: Of the 80,282 ACS patients, 6,523 with a history of MI or revascularization were enrolled. Among them, 50.8% were receiving lipid-lowering therapy before hospitalization (statin monotherapy in 98.4%, combination in 1.2%). A total of 30.1% of patients had LDL-C < 70 mg/dL at admission. In patients receiving prehospital statins, 36.1% had LDL-C < 70 mg/dL compared to 24.0% without prehospital statins (P < .001). At discharge, 91.8% of patients were treated with statin monotherapy, 90.7% at moderate doses irrespective of prehospital statin use and LDL-C levels at admission. CONCLUSIONS: Among ACS patients with history of MI or revascularization, half were not being treated with statin therapy prior to admission, and most had not attained LDL-C < 70 mg/dL despite prehospital statin use. There is an important opportunity to provide intensive statin or combination lipid-lowering therapy to these very high risk patients.

Performance on management strategies with Class I Recommendation and A Level of Evidence among hospitalized patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome in China: Findings from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome (CCC-ACS) project.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine hospital performance on evidence-based management strategies for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and variations across hospitals. METHODS: Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC)-ACS project is an ongoing registry and quality improvement project, with 150 tertiary hospitals recruited across China. We examined hospital performance on nine management strategies (Class I Recommendations with A Level of Evidence) based on established guidelines. We also evaluated the proportion of patients receiving defect-free care, which was defined as the care that included all the required management strategies for which the patient was eligible. The hospital-level variations in the performance were examined. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2018, 28,170 NSTE-ACS patients were included. Overall, 16% of patients received defect-free care. Higher-performing metrics were statin at discharge (93%), cardiac troponin measurement (92%), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) within 24 hours (90%), and DAPT at discharge (85%). These were followed by metrics of ß-blocker at discharge (69%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB) at discharge (59%), and risk stratification (56%). Lower-performing metrics were smoking cessation counseling (35%) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within recommended times (33%). The proportion of patients receiving defect-free care substantially varied across hospitals, ranging from 0% to 58% (Median (interquartile range):12% (7%-21%)). There were large variations across hospitals in performance on risk stratification, smoking cessation counseling, PCI within recommended times, ACEI/ARB at discharge and ß-blocker at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: About one in six NSTE-ACS patients received defect-free care, and the performance varied across hospitals.

Sex Differences in In-Hospital Management and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of mortality among women. Systematic evaluation of the quality of care and outcomes in women hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), an acute manifestation of coronary heart disease, remains lacking in China. METHODS: The CCC-ACS project (Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome) is an ongoing nationwide registry of the American Heart Association and the Chinese Society of Cardiology. Using data from the CCC-ACS project, we evaluated sex differences in acute management, medical therapies for secondary prevention, and in-hospital mortality in 82 196 patients admitted for ACS at 192 hospitals in China from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS: Women with ACS were older than men (69.0 versus 61.1 years, P<0.001) and had more comorbidities. After multivariable adjustment, eligible women were less likely to receive evidence-based acute treatments for ACS than men, including early dual antiplatelet therapy, heparins during hospitalization, and reperfusion therapy for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. With respect to strategies for secondary prevention, eligible women were less likely to receive dual antiplatelet therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, statins at discharge, and smoking cessation and cardiac rehabilitation counseling during hospitalization. In-hospital mortality rate was higher in women than in men (2.60% versus 1.50%, P<0.001). The sex difference in in-hospital mortality was no longer observed in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (adjusted odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.41; P=0.057) and non-ST-segment elevation ACS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.06; P=0.147) after adjustment for clinical characteristics and acute treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Women hospitalized for ACS in China received acute treatments and strategies for secondary prevention less frequently than men. The observed sex differences in in-hospital mortality were mainly attributable to worse clinical profiles and fewer evidence-based acute treatments provided to women with ACS. Specially targeted quality improvement programs may be warranted to narrow sex-related disparities in quality of care and outcomes in patients with ACS. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02306616.

Prevalence and in-hospital outcomes of diabetes among patients with acute coronary syndrome in China: findings from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome Project.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines have classified patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and diabetes as a special population, with specific sections presented for the management of these patients considering their extremely high risk. However, in China up-to-date information is lacking regarding the burden of diabetes in patients with ACS and the potential impact of diabetes status on the in-hospital outcomes of these patients. This study aims to provide updated estimation for the burden of diabetes in patients with ACS in China and to evaluate whether diabetes is still associated with excess risks of early mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) for ACS patients. METHODS: The Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-ACS Project was a collaborative study of the American Heart Association and the Chinese Society of Cardiology. A total of 63,450 inpatients with a definitive diagnosis of ACS were included. Prevalence of diabetes was evaluated in the overall study population and subgroups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine the association between diabetes and in-hospital outcomes, and a propensity-score-matched analysis was further conducted. RESULTS: Among these ACS patients, 23,880 (37.6%) had diabetes/possible diabetes. Both STEMI and NSTE-ACS patients had a high prevalence of diabetes/possible diabetes (36.8% versus 39.0%). The prevalence of diabetes/possible diabetes was higher in women (45.0% versus 35.2%, p < 0.001). Even in patients younger than 45 years, 26.9% had diabetes/possible diabetes. While receiving comparable treatments for ACS, diabetes/possible diabetes was associated with a twofold higher risk of all-cause death (adjusted odds ratio 2.04 [95% confidence interval 1.78-2.33]) and a 1.5-fold higher risk of MACCE (adjusted odds ratio 1.54 [95% confidence interval 1.39-1.72]). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes was highly prevalent in patients with ACS in China. Considerable excess risks for early mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events were found in these patients. Trial registration NCT02306616. Registered December 3, 2014.