Palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of 2-iodobiphenyls with alkenyl bromides for the construction of 9-(diorganomethylidene)fluorenes.

An atom economical protocol for the construction of 9-(diorganomethylidene)fluorenes through palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of 2-iodobiphenyls with alkenyl bromides has been reported. The reaction proceeds through the C-H activation/oxidative addition/reduction elimination/intramolecular Heck coupling reaction to afford a series of 9-(diorganomethylidene)fluorenes with good yields. Control experiments demonstrate that a five-membered palladacycle acts as a key intermediate and ß-H elimination serves as the rate-limiting step.

Remnant lipoproteins play an important role of in-stent restenosis in type 2 diabetes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a single-centre observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence has suggested that the presence of remnant lipoproteins is a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis. Remnant lipoproteins are lipoproteins that are rich in triglycerides (TGs), and the main components include very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in the fasting state. Diabetic patients often have hypertriglyceridemia with elevated levels of VLDL cholesterol but normal levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the potential role of remnant lipoproteins-induced atherosclerosis in the occurrence and development of in-stent restenosis (ISR) in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: The present study enrolled 2312 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from January 2013 to December 2014 and who were followed up by angiography. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of ISR, and multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression modelling showed that remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) was an independent risk factor for ISR. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff point of the RLP-C was identified, and the patients were further divided into 2 groups. Propensity score matching analysis was performed, and 762 pairs were successfully matched. Log-rank tests were used to compare Kaplan-Meier curves for overall follow-up to assess ISR. RESULTS: The multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis showed that RLP-C was independently associated with ISR, and the baseline RLP-C level at 0.505 mmol/L was identified as the optimal cutoff point to predict ISR. Patients were divided into 2 groups by RLP levels. After propensity score matching analysis, a total of 762 pairs matched patients were generated. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the estimated cumulative rate of ISR was significantly higher in patients with RLP-C levels ≥ 0.505 mmol/L (log-rank P < 0.001; HR equal to 4.175, 95% CI = 3.045-5.723, P < 0.001) compared to patients with RLP-C levels < 0.505 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: The present study emphasized the importance of remnant-like particle cholesterol in cardiovascular pathology in diabetic patients. Physicians should take measures to control RLP-C below the level of 0.505 mmol/L to better prevent of in-stent restenosis in diabetic patients.

Impact of different color fiber sleeves on beam hazards of 532-nm laser and vaporization efficiency.

The 532-nm laser has become increasingly popular for the treatment of urologic diseases. However, laser beam will pose significant hazards for the health of surgeons. In order to reduce beam hazards during surgery, we compared the beam hazards of laser fiber with black sleeves to the traditional fiber with transparent sleeves, and the vaporization efficiency. A total of 18 porcine kidney specimens were vaporized in normal saline at a room temperature under 532-nm laser delivered through a 760-µm core diameter side firing fiber. Two groups were divided according to the color of fiber sleeves: the transparent and the black. Each group was then divided into another three subgroups by laser power: the 80 W group, the 120 W group, and the 160 W group. The beam hazard was evaluated by light intensity measured in a sector area at a distance of 0 m, 0.5 m, and 1 m from the irradiation center. The vaporization efficiency was measured by the vaporization groove depth under the working power of 80 W, 120 W, and 160 W with a working distance of 5 mm and irradiation time of 10 s. The light intensity measured in the black fiber sleeve group is significantly lower than that in the transparent one (P < 0.01), regardless of the measuring distance (0 m, 0.5 m, and 1.0 m) and laser power (80 W, 120 W, and 160 W). No statistical difference was found on the vaporization efficiency between the groups protected by fiber sleeves of different colors (transparent/black, p > 0.05). Compared to the traditional transparent fiber sleeves, more beam hazards will be reduced in the operative region with the protection of black fiber sleeves, especially those from the irradiation center. The vaporization efficiency is not affected by the color of fiber sleeves. Such findings may offer a completely new idea for the protection of surgeons in surgeries with 532-nm lasers.

Development of a paper-based microfluidic analytical device by a more facile hydrophobic substrate generation strategy.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) have a significant potential in developing portable and disposable point-of-care testing (POCT). Herein, a facile, rapid, cost-effective and environment friendly strategy for µPADs fabrication is proposed. Specifically, the substrate paper was hydrophobized by coating with trimethoxysilane (TOS), and then the selected area was hydrophilized by treating with surfactant. The whole fabrication process was implemented within 7 min, with no need for complex pre-treatment, high-temperature and special equipment. As a proof-of-concept application, the as-prepared µPAD was applied to determination of the glucose content in human serum samples. The results agreed well with those obtained by a glucometer. We believe that the µPADs fabrication method proposed here could provide a facile, rapid and low-cost reference for other related studies.

Nanoscale Fe(0) particles for pentachlorophenol removal from aqueous solution: temperature effect and particles transformation.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), as an important contaminant which was toxic and intractable, has received extensive attention. In this paper, the temperature effect during the transformation of PCP using nanoscale Fe(0) particles was studied, and the transformation processes of PCP and iron particles was explained. The results revealed that the removal processes of PCP followed pseudo first-order kinetics. The scale of dechlorination to the transformation of PCP increased with the increase of temperature, though the transformation rate decreased after reacting for 2 h under the experimental condition. However, the initial apparent transformation rate constants were calculated to be 0.312-0.536 h(-1) at the temperature of 20-50 degrees C, which showed an increase of transformation rate along with the increase of temperature. And the surface-area-normalized rate constants were calculated to be 9.50 x 10-3-1.63 x 10-2 L . h-1 . m-2. The experimental activation energy was calculated to be 15.0 kJ x mol(-1) from these rate constants using Arrhenius equation. A phenomenon observed at 50 degrees C indicated that more than one chlorine atom was removed from PCP and suggested ß-elimination might be the major pathway for transformation. Sorption experiments showed that the sorption process on the surface of particles could be ignored in the kinetics and thermodynamics models. The changes of morphologies of nanoparticles before and after reaction indicated the transformation process of iron particles, and could be used to explain the changes of activity of nanoparticles. Magnetite (Fe3O4) and/or maghemite (Fe2O3) and lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) were corrosion products of iron. And along with the increase of temperature, the increased intensity of XRD peaks revealed the related a better crystallizing.

Bioinformatics analysis and identification of potential key genes and pathways in the pathogenesis of nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

Nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) is a major cause of advanced heart failure, and the morbidity and mortality associated with NICM are serious medical problems. However, the etiology of NICM is complex and the related mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis remain unclear. The microarray datasets GSE1869 and GSE9128 retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between NICM and normal samples. The co-expressed genes were identified using Venn diagrams. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses and gene ontology enrichment were used to clarify biological functions and signaling pathways. Analysis of protein-protein interaction networks using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins online to define the hub genes associated with NICM pathogenesis. A total of 297 DEGs were identified from GSE1869, 261 of which were upregulated genes and 36 were downregulated genes. A total of 360 DEGs were identified from GSE9128, 243 of which were upregulated genes and 117 were downregulated genes. In the 2 datasets, the screening identified 36 co-expressed DEGs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway and gene ontology analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, beta-alanine metabolism, kinetochore, G-protein beta/gamma-subunit complex, and other related pathways. The PPI network analysis revealed that DUSP6, EGR1, ZEB2, and XPO1 are the 4 hub genes of interest in the 2 datasets. Bioinformatics analysis of hub genes and key signaling pathways is an effective way to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the development of NICM. The results will facilitate further studies on the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of NICM.

N-Methyl-4-nitro-anilinium chloride.

The asymmetric unit of the title salt, C(7)H(9)N(2)O(2) (+)·Cl(-), contains two independent cations and anions. In the crystal, each N-methyl-4-nitro-anilinium cation is linked to two Cl(-) anions via N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. π-π stacking is observed between the benzene rings of adjacent cations [centroid-to-centroid distances = 3.7684 (14) and 3.7917 (7) Å].

First-in-human evaluation of an independently developed Chinese robot-assisted system for percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have proved the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in reducing the occupational hazards of interventionists while achieving precision medicine. However, an independently developed robot-assisted system for PCI in China has not yet emerged. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of a robot-assisted system for elective PCI in China. METHODS: This preclinical trial included 22 experimental pigs and preliminarily supported the safety and feasibility of the ETcath200 robot-assisted system for PCI. Then, eleven patients with coronary heart disease who met the inclusion criteria and had clinical indications for elective PCI were enrolled. PCI was performed using a robot-assisted system. The primary outcomes were clinical success (defined as visual estimated residual stenosis < 30% after PCI and no major adverse cardiovascular events during hospitalization and within 30 days after PCI) and technical success (defined as the ability to use the robot-assisted system to complete PCI successfully without conversion to the traditional manual PCI). RESULTS: Eleven patients were included in this clinical trial. A drug-eluting stent with a diameter of 3 mm (interquartile range: 2.75-3.5 mm) and a length of 26 mm (interquartile range: 22-28 mm) was deployed in all patients. The clinical success rate was 100%, with no PCI-related complications and no in-hospital or 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events, and the technical success rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The results strongly suggest that the use of the independently developed robot-assisted system in China for elective PCI is feasible, safe, and effective.

3,4-Dinitro-1H-pyrazole benzene 0.25-solvate.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, 4C(3)H(2)N(2)O(4)·C(6)H(6), contains two independent dinitro-pyrazole mol-ecules and half a benzene solvent mol-ecule, which lies on a crystallographic inversion centre. Each pyrazole ring is essentially planar (mean deviations of 0.009 and 0.002 Å), with the two nitro groups rotated out of the plane [dihedral angles = 11.7 (2)/31.1 (1) and 21.8 (2)/25.0 (1)° for the two mol-ecules].

2-[2-(2,4-Dinitro-phen-yl)eth-yl]-1,3,5-trinitro-benzene.

In the title compound, C(14)H(9)N(5)O(10), the two benzene rings are inclined at a dihedral angle of 14.81 (5)°, and the nitro groups are twisted with respect to the benzene rings to which they are attached, making dihedral angles of 57.89 (7), 14.93 (7), 62.58 (7), 2.80 (12) and 22.38 (12)°. Weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

1,2-Bis(2,4,6-trinitro-phen-yl)ethane.

The title compound, C(14)H(8)N(6)O(12), is centrosymmetric, the mid-point of the central C-C bond being located on an inversion centre. Two of the three independent nitro groups are disordered over two sites, with a site-occupancy ratio of 0.513 (3):0.487 (3). Weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

1-Methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole.

In the title compound, C(4)H(5)N(3)O(2), the nitro group is twisted with respect to the imidazole ring by a dihedral angle of 5.60 (2)°. Weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

Minimally invasive thoracoscopic left atrial appendage occlusion compared with transcatheter left atrial appendage closure for stroke prevention in recurrent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients after radiofrequency ablation: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Tanscatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) closure and minimally invasive thoracoscopic LAA occlusion are local interventions of LAA for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, the safety and efficacy of these methods have not been compared. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of those two treatment approaches for stroke prevention in NVAF patients. METHODS: Two hundred and nine recurrent NVAF patients who received radiofrequency ablation were enrolled. These patients were treated with transcatheter LAA closure or thoracoscopic LAA occlusion. The patients were followed up from the first postoperative day and evaluated for efficacy endpoints (stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), systemic embolism (SE), and death) and a safety endpoint (bleeding events). Perioperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 1.8 years (383 patient-years), the overall rate of the composite efficacy endpoints was similar between the two groups (3.8 vs. 2.7 events per 100 patient-years; HR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.225-2.237; P = 0.559). However, regarding primary safety endpoint, there were 1.5 bleeding events per 100 patient-years in the thoracoscopic LAA occlusion group, compared with 6.4 in transcatheter LAA closure group (HR = 0.246; 95% CI: 0.074-0.819; P = 0.022). The incidence of operative complications was 3/138 (2.17%) in thoracoscopic LAA occlusion group and 1/71 (1.41%) in transcatheter LAA closure group. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic LAA occlusion and transcatheter LAA closure have similar efficacy in preventing stroke in NVAF patients. However, the thoracoscopic group had fewer bleeding events than the transcatheter group, but the former group required a longer hospital stay.

Using excess sludge as carbon source for enhanced nitrogen removal and sludge reduction with hydrolysis technology.

In order to improve the nitrogen removal efficiency and to achieve the sludge reduction in traditional wastewater treatment plants, a combined hydrolysis-anoxic-oxic (H-A-O) pilot-scaled reactor was used in this study to investigate the possibility and validity of using excess activated sludge (EAS) fermentation liquids to enhance the nitrogen removal. The results clearly showed that sludge acidification rate in fermentation reactor can reach to 43.2%. The percentages of acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid in the fermentation liquids were 68.4, 25.3 and 6.3%, respectively, while those in domestic wastewater were 73.0, 12.2 and 13.8%, respectively. Bioavailability of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) from fermentation liquids and domestic wastewater were investigated in batch reactors with nitrate as the electron accepter as well. The corresponding specific denitrification rates were 0.15 g NO3⁻-N/g VSS d⁻¹ and 0.09 g NO3⁻-N/g VSS d⁻¹. When the substances were enough, the denitrification reaction appeared to follow the zero-order kinetics. The results also showed that, when the H-A-O pilot-scaled reactor was operated continuously and sludge fermentation liquids were applied as additional carbon source in the A-O reactor, the removal efficiencies of SCOD, NH4+-N and total nitrogen (TN) were higher than 90, 95 and 79%, respectively. EAS reduction rate in this system was able to reach 40.4%, and the sludge VSS/SS ratio decreased from 0.82 to 0.59 after hydrolysis step.

[Randomized study on T stenting and small protrusion technique versus simple stenting for patients with coronary artery bifurcation lesions and with big size side branch].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and safety of T stenting and small protrusion (TAP) technique and compare the efficacy with simple stenting in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions and with big size side branch. METHODS: A total of 142 eligible patients were recruited and 127 patients completed the study (simple stenting group 58 and TAP technique group 69). RESULTS: Major adverse cardiovascular event rate was similar at 12 months follow up between the groups (TAP technique group 13.0% versus simple stenting group 12.1%, P > 0.05). The rate of procedural-related myocardial infarction, procedure and fluoroscopy time, contrast volumes were also similar between 2 groups (all P > 0.05). At 8 months, coronary angiography revealed that the restenosis rate of the ostium of side branch in TAP group was significantly lower than that of simple stenting group (17.1% versus 3.8%, P < 0.05). Overall restenosis rate was similar between the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both TAP technique and simple stenting are feasible and effective strategies for treating patients with bifurcation lesions.

[Effects of bandage compression and the specific radial hemostasis in patients undergoing transradial coronary intervention].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of elastic bandage compression with the specific hemostasis devices in patients undergoing transradial coronary intervention. METHODS: A total of 3000 consecutive patients were randomized to 3 groups and 2910 patients completed the study, 963 patients in elastic bandage group (ER), 976 in T band group (TB) and 971 in balloon group (TR). In-hospital vascular related complication was the primary study endpoint. The secondary endpoints included: risk factors of complications, compression time, fibroplasia conditions and the comfort feeling of patients. RESULTS: The overall incidence of vascular related complication in 3 groups was similar (P = 0.262). Female, low body weight, prolongation of procedure and multi-punctures were identified as the independent risk factors for complications. Moreover, the compression time and the fibroplasia condition in TB and TR group were superior to those in the ER group. Comfortable feeling of the patients was better in TR and TB group than in ER group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both conventional bandage device and specific radial device are feasible and associated with low incidence of vascular complication. However, the specific radial device has significant advantage over bandage strategy in compression time and quality of life.

Hydration and swelling: a theoretical investigation on the cooperativity effect of H-bonding interactions between p-hydroxy hydroxymethyl calix[4]/[5]arene and H2O by many-body interaction and density functional reactivity theory.

In order to explore the nature of the hydration and swelling of superabsorbent resin, a theoretical investigation into the cooperativity effect of the H-bonding interactions in the hydrates of four model compounds that can be regarded as the units of hydroquinone formaldehyde resin (HFR) (i.e., O-hydroxymethyl-1,4-dihydroxybenzene, methylene di-O-hydroxymethyl-1,4-dihydroxybenzene, p-hydroxy hydroxymethyl calix[4]arene and p-hydroxy hydroxymethyl calix[5]arene) was carried out by many-body interaction and density functional reactivity theory. The HFR···H2O···H2O complexes, in which the H2O···H2O moieties are bound with both the hydroxyl groups of HFR, are the most stable. For the HFR(H2O)n clusters, the interaction energy per building block is increased as the number of the size n increases, indicating the cooperativity effect. Therefore, a deduction is given that the cooperativity effects of the H-bonding interactions play an important role in the process of the hydration and swelling of HFR, and the swelling behavior is mainly attributed to the cooperativity effects which arised from the interactions between the H2O molecules. The origin of the cooperativity effect was examined employing several information-theoretic quantities in the density functional reactivity theory. The degree of swelling of HFR was quantitated using a measure of volume. Graphical abstract.

3-Chloro-5-meth-oxy-2,6-dinitro-pyridine.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(6)H(4)ClN(3)O(5), the two nitro groups are twisted with respect to the pyridine ring, making dihedral angles of 33.12 (13) and 63.66 (14)°.

(3,5-Dinitro-1,3,5-triazinan-1-yl)methanone.

In the title compound, C(5)H(9)N(5)O(5), prepared from hexa-mine by acetyl-ation and nitration, the triazine ring adopts a chair conformation with all three substituent groups lying on the same side of the ring.

1-Methyl-4,5-dinitro-1H-imidazole.

In the title compound, C(4)H(4)N(4)O(4), the two nitro groups are twisted with respect to the imidazole plane, making dihedral angles of 24.2 (3) and 33.4 (4)°. In the crystal structure, the mol-ecules are linked through non-classical inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.