Electron Manipulation and Surface Reconstruction of Bimetallic Iron-Nickel Phosphide Nanotubes for Enhanced Alkaline Water Electrolysis.

Developing high-efficiency and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts for water splitting remains a great challenge. Herein, NiMoO4 nanowires as sacrificial templates to synthesize Mo-doped NiFe Prussian blue analogs are employed, which can be easily phosphorized to Mo-doped Fe2xNi2(1-x)P nanotubes (Mo-FeNiP NTs). This synthesis method enables the controlled etching of NiMoO4 nanowires that results in a unique hollow nanotube architecture. As a bifunctional catalyst, the Mo-FeNiP NTs present lower overpotential and Tafel slope of 151.3 (232.6) mV at 100 mA cm-2 and 76.2 (64.7) mV dec-1 for HER (OER), respectively. Additionally, it only requires an ultralow cell voltage of 1.47 V to achieve 10 mA cm-2 for overall water splitting and can steadily operate for 200 h at 100 mA cm-2. First-principles calculations demonstrate that Mo doping can effectively adjust the electron redistribution of the Ni hollow sites to optimize the hydrogen adsorption-free energy for HER. Besides, in situ Raman characterization reveals the dissolving of doped Mo can promote a rapid surface reconstruction on Mo-FeNiP NTs to dynamically stable (Fe)Ni-oxyhydroxide layers, serving as the actual active species for OER. The work proposes a rational approach addressed by electron manipulation and surface reconstruction of bimetallic phosphides to regulate both the HER and OER activity.

High-Performance Zinc-Ion Hybrid Supercapacitor from Guilin Sanhua Liquor Lees-Derived Carbon Materials.

Aqueous zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs) have attracted considerable attention because they are inexpensive and safe. However, the inadequate energy densities, power densities, and cycling performance of current ZHSC energy-storage devices are impediments that need to be overcome to enable the further development and commercialization of this technology. To address these issues, in this study, we prepared carbon-based ZHSCs using a series of porous carbon materials derived from Sanhua liquor lees (SLPCs). Among them, the best performance was observed for SLPC-A13, which exhibited excellent properties and a high-surface-area structure (2667 m2 g-1) with abundant micropores. The Zn//SLPC-A13 device was assembled by using 2 mol L-1 ZnSO4, SLPC-A13, and Zn foil as the electrolyte, cathode, and anode, respectively. The Zn//SLPC-A13 device delivered an ultrahigh energy density of 137 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 462 W kg-1. Remarkably, Zn//SLPC-A13 retained 100% of its specific capacitance after 120,000 cycles of long-term charge/discharge testing, with 62% retained after 250,000 cycles. This outstanding performance is primarily attributed to the SLPC-A13 carbon material, which promotes the rapid adsorption and desorption of ions, and the charge-discharge process, which roughens the Zn anode in a manner that improves reversible Zn-ion plating/stripping efficiency. This study provides ideas for the preparation of ZHSC cathode materials.

Correlation between the serum FABP4, ANGPTL3, and ANGPTL4 levels and coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Lipid metabolism related factors, such as angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3), angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) are newly discovered factors that can affect coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between CAD and these lipid metabolism factors. HYPOTHESIS: ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, and FABP4 may provide a new method for the control of CAD risk factors and the prevention and treatment of CAD. METHODS: We enrolled 284 consecutive inpatients with suspected CAD and divided them into CAD and non-CAD groups based on the coronary angiography results. Serum ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, FABP4, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were estimated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors for CAD. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the cutoff and diagnostic values. RESULTS: The serum TNF-α, FABP4, ANGPTL3, and ANGPTL4 values showed a significant difference between the CAD and non-CAD groups (p < .05). After adjusting for confounding factors, the FABP4, ANGPTL3, and ANGPTL4 levels were independently associated with CAD (p < .05). The ANGPTL3 expression level was an independent risk factor for CAD in patients with hypertension, but not in those without hypertension. The ANGPTL3 > 67.53 ng/mL, ANGPTL4 > 29.95 ng/mL, and FABP4 > 1421.25 ng/L combination had the highest diagnostic value for CAD. CONCLUSION: ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, and FABP4 were identified as independent risk factors for CAD and have valuable clinical implications for the diagnosis and treatment of CAD.

Albumin combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio score and outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Evidence about the association between albumin combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio score (ANS) and survival outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is rare. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of ANS in patients with ACS undergoing PCI by propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with ACS undergoing PCI were consecutively enrolled in this prospective cohort study from January 2016 to December 2018. The albumin and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio cutoff values for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were calculated using receiver operating characteristic curves. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates, the Cox proportional hazard regression models and PSM. The study endpoint was the occurrence of a MACE, which included all-cause mortality and rehospitalization for severe heart failure during follow-up. RESULTS: Overall, 1549 patients with adequate specimens were identified and assigned into different groups for comparison. Before and after PSM, the Kaplan-Meier curves showed that a higher ANS value was associated with a higher risk of MACEs (all P  < 0.001). The multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that the ANS (per 1 score increase) [hazard ratio (HR), 2.016; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.329-3.057; P  = 0.001 vs. HR, 2.166; 95% CI, 1.344-3.492; P  = 0.002] was an independent predictor for MACEs. CONCLUSION: This study tentatively confirms that ANS may be a valuable clinical indicator to identify high-risk ACS patients after PCI. More high-quality prospective studies are needed in the future.

Unveiling the destabilization of sp3 and sp2 bonds in transition metal-modified borohydrides to improve reversible dehydrogenation and rehydrogenation.

Borohydrides offer promise as potential carriers for hydrogen storage due to their high hydrogen concentration. However, the strong chemical bonding within borohydrides poses challenges for efficient hydrogen release during usage and restricts the re-hydrogenation process when attempting to regenerate the material. These high thermodynamic and kinetic barriers present obstacles in achieving reversible de-hydrogenation and re-hydrogenation of borohydrides, impeding their practical application in hydrogen storage systems. Employing density functional theory calculations, we conduct a comprehensive investigation into the influence of transition metals on both the BH4 cluster, a fundamental building block of borohydrides, and pure boron, which is formed as the end product following hydrogen release. Our research reveals correlations among the d-band center, work function, and surface energy of 3d and 4d transition metals. These correlations are directly linked to the weakening of bonding within the BH4 cluster when adsorbed on catalyst surfaces. On the other hand, we also explore how various intrinsic properties of transition metals influence the formation of boron vacancies and the hydrogen bonding process. By establishing a comprehensive correlation between the weakening of sp3 hybridization in the BH4 cluster and the sp2 hybridization in boron, we facilitate the identification and screening of optimal candidates capable of achieving reversible de-hydrogenation and re-hydrogenation in borohydrides.

Highly sensitive determination of L-glutamic acid in pig serum with an enzyme-free molecularly imprinted polymer on a carbon-nanotube modified electrode.

Through electrochemical polymerization using L-glutamic acid (L-Glu) as a template and 4,6-diaminoresorcinol as a functional monomer, an enzyme-free molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based L-Glu sensor with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), namely G-MIP/MWCNTs/GCE, was developed in this work. The reaction conditions were optimized as follows: electrochemical polymerization of 23 cycles, pH of 3.0, molar ratio of template/monomer of 1 : 4, volume ratio of elution reagents of acetonitrile/formic acid of 1 : 1, and elution time of 2 min. The prepared materials and molecularly imprinted polymer were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as electrochemical methods. The electrochemical properties of different electrodes were investigated via differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), showing that the electrode of G-MIP/MWCNTs/GCE exhibited excellent catalytic oxidation activity towards L-Glu. A good linear relationship between peak-currents and L-Glu concentrations in a range from 1.00 × 10-8 to 1.00 × 10-5 mol L-1 was observed, with a detection limit of 5.13 × 10-9 mol L-1 (S/N = 3). The imprinted sensor possesses excellent selectivity, high sensitivity, and good stability, which have been successfully applied for the detection of L-Glu in pig serum samples with a recovery rate of 97.4-105.5%, being comparable to commercial high-performance liquid chromatography, demonstrating a simple, rapid, and accurate way for the determination of L-Glu in the fields of animal nutrition and biomedical engineering.

Hydrogen Peroxide Electrochemical Sensor Based on Ag/Cu Bimetallic Nanoparticles Modified on Polypyrrole.

Due to the strong oxidizing properties of H2O2, excessive discharge of H2O2 will cause great harm to the environment. Moreover, H2O2 is also an energetic material used as fuel, with specific attention given to its safety. Therefore, it is of great importance to explore and prepare good sensitive materials for the detection of H2O2 with a low detection limit and high selectivity. In this work, a kind of hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor has been fabricated. That is, polypyrrole (PPy) has been electropolymerized on the glass carbon electrode (GCE), and then Ag and Cu nanoparticles are modified together on the surface of polypyrrole by electrodeposition. SEM analysis shows that Cu and Ag nanoparticles are uniformly deposited on the surface of PPy. Electrochemical characterization results display that the sensor has a good response to H2O2 with two linear intervals. The first linear range is 0.1-1 mM (R2 = 0.9978, S = 265.06 µA/ (mM × cm2)), and the detection limit is 0.027 µM (S/N = 3). The second linear range is 1-35 mM (R2 = 0.9969, 445.78 µA/ (mM × cm2)), corresponding to 0.063 µM of detection limit (S/N = 3). The sensor reveals good reproducibility (σ = 2.104), repeatability (σ = 2.027), anti-interference, and stability. The recoveries of the electrode are 99.84-103.00% (for 0.1-1 mM of linear range) and 98.65-104.80% (for 1-35 mM linear range). Furthermore, the costs of the hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor proposed in this work are reduced largely by using non-precious metals without degradation of the sensing performance of H2O2. This study provides a facile way to develop nanocomposite electrochemical sensors.

Phase Equilibria of the V-Ti-Fe System and Its Applications in the Design of Novel Hydrogen Permeable Alloys.

The precise liquidus projection of the V-Ti-Fe system are crucial for designing high-performance hydrogen permeation alloys, but there are still many controversies in the research of this system. To this end, this article first uses the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) method to reconstruct the alloy phase diagram and compares and analyses existing experimental data, confirming that the newly constructed phase diagram in this article has good reliability and accuracy. Second, this obtained phase diagram was applied to the subsequent development process of hydrogen permeation alloys, and the (Ti65Fe35)100-xVx (x = 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 25) alloys with dual-phase {bcc-(V, Ti) + TiFe} structure were successfully explored. In particular, the alloys with x values equal to 2.5 at.% and 5 at.% exhibit relatively high hydrogen permeability. Third, to further increase the H2 flux permeation through the alloys, a 500-mm-long tubular (Ti65Fe35)95V5 membrane for hydrogen permeation was prepared for the first time. Hydrogen permeation testing showed that this membrane had a very high H2 flux (4.06 mL min-1), which is ca. 6.7 times greater than the plate-like counterpart (0.61 mL min-1) under the same test conditions. This work not only indicates the reliability of the obtained V-Ti-Fe phase diagram in developing new hydrogen permeation alloys, but also demonstrates that preparing tubular membranes is one of the most important means of improving H2 flux.

Phase Equilibria, Solidified Microstructure, and Hydrogen Transport Behaviour in the V-Ti-Co System.

At present, the V-Ti-Co phase diagram is not established, which seriously hinders the subsequent development of this potential hydrogen permeation alloy system. To this end, this article constructed the first phase diagram of the V-Ti-Co system by using the CALculation of PHAse Diagrams (CALPHAD) approach as well as relevant validation experiments. On this basis, hydrogen-permeable VxTi50Co50-x (x = 17.5, 20.5, …, 32.5) alloys were designed, and their microstructure characteristics and hydrogen transport behaviour were further studied by XRD, SEM, EDS, and so on. It was found that six ternary invariant reactions are located in the liquidus projection, and the phase diagram is divided into eight phase regions by their connecting lines. Among them, some alloys in the TiCo phase region were proven to be promising candidate materials for hydrogen permeation. Typically, VxTi50Co50-x (x = 17.5-23.5) alloys, which consist of the primary TiCo and the eutectic {bcc-(V, Ti) and TiCo} structure, show a high hydrogen permeability without hydrogen embrittlement. In particular, V23.5Ti50Co26.5 exhibit the highest permeability of 4.05 × 10-8 mol H2 m-1s-1Pa-0.5, which is the highest value known heretofore in the V-Ti-Co system. The high permeability of these alloys is due in large part to the simultaneous increment of hydrogen solubility and diffusivity, and is closely related to the composition of hydrogen permeable alloys, especially the Ti content in the (V, Ti) phase. The permeability of this alloy system is much higher than those of Nb-TiCo and/or Nb-TiNi alloys.

N-Octadecane Encapsulated by Assembled BN/GO Aerogels for Highly Improved Thermal Conductivity and Energy Storage Capacity.

The rapid development of industry has emphasized the importance of phase change materials (PCMs) with a high latent-heat storage capacity and good thermal stability in promoting sustainable energy solutions. However, the inherent low thermal conductivity and poor thermal-cycling stability of PCMs limit their application. In this study, we constructed three-dimensional (3D) hybrid graphene aerogels (GBA) based on synergistic assembly and cross-linking between GO and modified hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). Highly thermally conductive GBA was utilized as the supporting optimal matrix for encapsulating OD, and further implied that composite matrix n-octadecane (OD)/GBA composite PCMs were further prepared by encapsulating OD within the GBA structure. Due to the highly thermally conductive network of GBA, the latent heat of the composite PCMs improved to 208.3 J/g, with negligible changes after 100 thermal cycles. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the composite PCMs was significantly enhanced to 1.444 W/(m·k), increasing by 738% compared to OD. These results sufficiently confirmed that the novel GBA with a well-defined porous structure served as PCMs with excellent comprehensive performance offer great potential for thermal energy storage applications.

Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index for Predicting Prognostic Risk for Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Purpose: The decreased advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI), defined as body mass index (BMI) * albumin (Alb)/neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), is an independent prognostic risk factor for overall survival in gastric, lung, and colorectal cancers. This study aimed to investigate the value of ALI in predicting the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients and Methods: A total of 1624 patients with ACS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were consecutively enrolled between January 2016 and December 2018. Follow-up data were collected at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and annually thereafter. The primary endpoints were MACEs. All endpoints were defined as all-cause mortality, recurrent angina pectoris, restenosis/intra stent thrombosis, stroke, heart failure, and all-cause bleeding. Results: The MACEs group and non-MACEs group showed significant differences in patients with age >65 years (28 [50.0%] vs 319 [23.7%]), history of heart failure (16 [28.6%] vs 127 [9.4%]), history of ischemic stroke (14 [25.0%] vs 186 [13.8%]), history of cardiogenic shock (6 [10.71%] vs 16 [1.19%]), left ventricular ejection fraction <40% (8 [14.29%] vs 33 [2.46%]), and ALI <343.96 (44 [78.65%] vs 680 [50.60%]) (all p<0.001). The optimal cut-off value for ALI was 334.96. The area under the curve (AUC) of the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year was 0.560, 0.577, 0.665, and 0.749, respectively. The survival rate was significantly lower in the low ALI group than in the high ALI group (log-rank p<0.001). Low ALI was an independent risk factor for the long-term prognosis of patients with ACS after PCI, univariate HR: 3.671, 95% CI: 1.938-6.953, p<0.001; multivariate HR: 3.009, 95% CI: 1.57-5.769, p=0.001. Conclusion: ALI score less than 334.96 is an independent prognostic risk factor for patients with ACS undergoing PCI and may be a novel marker for clinical practice.

A UOF based on a cyclotriphosphazene skeleton: fluorescence sensing of different substituted aldehydes and NACs.

A novel uranyl organic framework (U-hdpcp) based on flexible cyclic triphosphazene polycarboxylate ligands was prepared, which possesses the ability to sense aromatic aldehyde solutions (benzaldehyde, salicylaldehyde and 2-bromobenzaldehyde) and nitro compounds (2,4,6-trinitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol and o-nitrophenol). A fluorescent thin film based on U-hdpcp@PVA with the ability to sense aldehyde vapors was prepared via a spin coating method. The work expands the library of UOF materials based on large-sized carboxylic acid ligands and demonstrates promising applications in the field of fluorescent sensors.

Synthesis of NiMoO4/NiMo@NiS Nanorods for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reactions in Electrocatalysts.

As traditional energy structures transition to new sources, hydrogen is receiving significant research attention owing to its potential as a clean energy source. The most significant problem with electrochemical hydrogen evolution is the need for highly efficient catalysts to drive the overpotential required to generate hydrogen gas by electrolyzing water. Experiments have shown that the addition of appropriate materials can reduce the energy required for hydrogen production by electrolysis of water and enable it to play a greater catalytic role in these evolution reactions. Therefore, more complex material compositions are required to obtain these high-performance materials. This study investigates the preparation of hydrogen production catalysts for cathodes. First, rod-like NiMoO4/NiMo is grown on NF (Nickel Foam) using a hydrothermal method. This is used as a core framework, and it provides a higher specific surface area and electron transfer channels. Next, spherical NiS is generated on the NF/NiMo4/NiMo, thus ultimately achieving efficient electrochemical hydrogen evolution. The NF/NiMo4/NiMo@NiS material exhibits a remarkably low overpotential of only 36 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at a current density of 10 mA·cm-2 in a potassium hydroxide solution, indicating its potential use in energy-related applications for HER processes.

Application of systemic inflammation indices and lipid metabolism-related factors in coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and systemic inflammation indices and lipid metabolism-related factors and subsequently, discuss the clinical application of these factors in CAD. METHODS: We enrolled 284 consecutive inpatients with suspected CAD and divided them into a CAD group and a non-CAD group according to coronary angiography results. Serum levels of angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3), angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were assessed using the ELISA and the systemic inflammation indices were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors of CAD. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the cutoff and diagnostic values. RESULTS: The neutrophil-to-high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (5.04 vs. 3.47), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (3.25 vs. 2.45), monocyte-to-high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) (0.46 vs. 0.36), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (0.31 vs. 0.26), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (696.00 vs. 544.82), serum TNF-α (398.15 ng/l vs. 350.65 ng/l), FABP4 (1644.00 ng/l vs. 1553.00 ng/l), ANGPTL3 (57.60 ng/ml vs. 52.85 ng/ml), and ANGPTL4 (37.35 ng/ml vs. 35.20 ng/ml) values showed a significant difference between the CAD and non-CAD groups ( P  < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, the following values were obtained: ANGPTL3 > 67.53 ng/ml [odds ratio (OR) = 8.108, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.022-65.620)]; ANGPTL4 > 29.95 ng/ml [OR = 5.599, 95% CI (1.809-17.334)]; MHR > 0.47 [OR = 4.872, 95% CI (1.715-13.835)]; SII > 589.12 [OR = 5.131, 95% CI (1.995-13.200)]. These factors were found to be independently associated with CAD ( P  < 0.05). Diabetes combined with MHR > 0.47, SII > 589.12, TNF-α >285.60 ng/l, ANGPTL3 > 67.53 ng/ml, and ANGPTL4 > 29.95 ng/l had the highest diagnostic value for CAD [area under the curve: 0.921, 95% CI, (0.881-0.960), Sensitivity: 88.9%, Specificity: 82.2%, P  < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: MHR > 0.47, SII > 589.12, TNF-α >285.60 ng/l, ANGPTL3 > 67.53 ng/ml, and ANGPTL4 > 29.95 ng/l were identified as independent CAD risk factors and have valuable clinical implications in the diagnosis and treatment of CAD.

One-Step Synthesis of a Non-Precious-Metal Tris (Fe/N/F)-Doped Carbon Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reactions.

Advancements in inexpensive, efficient, and durable oxygen reduction catalysts is important for maintaining the sustainable development of fuel cells. Although doping carbon materials with transition metals or heteroatomic doping is inexpensive and enhances the electrocatalytic performance of the catalyst, because the charge distribution on its surface is adjusted, the development of a simple method for the synthesis of doped carbon materials remains challenging. Here, a non-precious-metal tris (Fe/N/F)-doped particulate porous carbon material (21P2-Fe1-850) was synthesized by employing a one-step process, using 2-methylimidazole, polytetrafluoroethylene, and FeCl3 as raw materials. The synthesized catalyst exhibited a good oxygen reduction reaction performance with a half-wave potential of 0.85 V in an alkaline medium (compared with 0.84 V of commercial Pt/C). Moreover, it had better stability and methanol resistance than Pt/C. This was mainly attributed to the effect of the tris (Fe/N/F)-doped carbon material on the morphology and chemical composition of the catalyst, thereby enhancing the catalyst's oxygen reduction reaction properties. This work provides a versatile method for the gentle and rapid synthesis of highly electronegative heteroatoms and transition metal co-doped carbon materials.

In Situ Growth of Nickel-Cobalt Metal Organic Frameworks Guided by a Nickel-Molybdenum Layered Double Hydroxide with Two-Dimensional Nanosheets Forming Flower-Like Struc-Tures for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are a kind of porous coordination polymer supported by organic ligands with metal ions as connection points. They have a controlled structure and porosity and a significant specific surface area, and can be used as functional linkers or sacrificial templates. However, long diffusion pathways, low conductivity, low cycling stability, and the presence of few exposed active sites limit the direct application of MOFs in energy storage applications. The targeted design of MOFs has the potential to overcome these limitations. This study proposes a facile method to grow and immobilize MOFs on layered double hydroxides through an in situ design. The proposed method imparts not only enhanced conductivity and cycling stability, but also provides additional active sites with excellent specific capacitance properties due to the interconnectivity of MOF nanoparticles and layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets. Due to this favorable heterojunction hook, the NiMo-LDH@NiCo-MOF composite exhibits a large specific capacitance of 1536 F·g-1 at 1 A·g-1. In addition, the assembled NiMo-LDH@NiCo-MOF//AC asymmetric supercapacitor can achieve a high-energy density value of 60.2 Wh·kg-1 at a power density of 797 W·kg-1, indicating promising applications.

Inflammatory biomarkers, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in epicardial adipose tissue correlate with coronary artery disease.

In this study, we explored the relationship between inflammatory adipokine levels and coronary artery disease (CAD). We collected subcutaneous adipose tissues(SAT), pericardial adipose tissues(PAT), and epicardial adipose tissues (EAT) and serum samples from 26 inpatients with CAD undergone coronary artery bypass grafting and 20 control inpatients without CAD. Serum inflammatory adipokines were measured by ELISA. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were used to measure gene and protein expression. Adipocyte morphology was assessed by H&E staining. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to measure endothelial and inflammatory markers. Serum pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokine levels were higher and lower, respectively, in the CAD group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In CAD, the pro-inflammatory adipokine levels via ELISA in EAT and PAT were elevated. Pro-inflammatory adipokine mRNA expression was increased, while anti-inflammatory adipokine mRNA expression decreased, in CAD relative to NCAD in EAT and PAT rather than SAT. In EAT, adipocyte area and macrophage-specific staining were lower, while lymphatic vessel marker expression was higher in CAD. Additionally, the endothelial marker expression in EAT was higher than PAT in CAD. The three tissue types had different blood vessel amounts in CAD. The regulation and imbalance expression of the novel biomarkers, including inflammatory adipokine, macrophage infiltration, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis in EAT and PAT, may be related to the pathogenesis of CAD. The serum levels of inflammatory adipokines may correlate to CAD, which requires large sample size studies to get further validation before clinic practice.

Robust cellulose fiber/fibrous sepiolite coated RuO2-CoP aerogel as monolithic catalyst for hydrogen generation via NaBH4 hydrolysis.

Commercial carriers have been used to prepare monolithic NaBH4 hydrolytic catalysts, but the fixed structure and material limit the application scope and design freedom. Herein, the RuO2-CoP catalyst is coated on the surface of fibrous sepiolite (RuO2-CoP@aSep) by in-situ deposition, annealing in air and phosphating, which is constructed into the aerogel with cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by freeze drying process. The hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of RuO2-CoP@aSep increases from 3655 to 10713mLmin-1gcatalyst-1 by adjusting the mass ratio of cobalt to ruthenium in RuO2-CoP. Moreover, the optimized composite aerogel can get HGR (5268mLmin-1gcatalyst-1) by regulating its formulation, and the catalytic activity and mass loss rate of the aerogel maintains 76.6 and 0.92 % after five cycles of testing. The synergistic interaction between Ru and Co species, micro-nano porous structure, and structural coupling provide good catalytic activity and cycling performance, and show great potential in the design of controllable NaBH4 hydrolyzed monolithic catalysts.

Human epicardial adipose tissue inflammation correlates with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study investigates the expression of novel adipocytokines and inflammatory cells infiltration in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) between 27 coronary artery disease (CAD) and 21 non-CAD (NCAD) patients enrolled from September 2020 to September 2021. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum, gene, and protein expression levels of the novel adipocytokines were determined using ELISA, RT-qPCR, and western blot analyses. The number of blood vessels and adipocytes morphology were measured via hematoxylin-eosin staining, and inflammatory cells infiltration was examined via immunohistochemistry. Serum ANGPTL8, CTRP5, and Wnt5a levels were higher in the CAD than in the NCAD group, while serum CTRP3, Sfrp5, and ZAG levels were lower in the CAD than in the NCAD group. Compared to the EAT of NCAD and SAT of CAD patients, the EAT of CAD patients had higher mRNA levels of ANGPTL8, CTRP5, and Wnt5a while lower levels of CTRP3, Sfrp5, and ZAG; higher protein expression levels of ANGPTL8 and CTRP5 but lower levels of CTRP3; more blood vessels; and higher infiltration rates of macrophages (CD68 + ), pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages (CD11c + ), mast cells (Tryptase + ), T lymphocytes (CD3 + ), and B lymphocytes (CD20 + ) but lower infiltration rates of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages (CD206 + ). CONCLUSION: Novel adipocytokines and inflammatory cells infiltration are dysregulated in human EAT, and could be important pathophysiological mechanisms and novelly promising medicating targets of CAD.

Nomograms Based on the Albumin/Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Score for Predicting Coronary Artery Disease or Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease.

Purpose: To develop and validate two nomograms incorporating the albumin/neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio score (ANS) for predicting the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) or subclinical CAD. Patients and Methods: Four hundred fifty patients with suspected CAD who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography were consecutively enrolled between September 2015 and June 2017. Nomograms were established based on independent predictors of CAD or subclinical CAD. Results: In total, 437 patients with suspected CAD who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography were included. Male sex, age ≥65 years, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, ischemic stroke, and ANS were independent predictors of CAD and subclinical CAD. The areas under the curve of each nomogram were 0.799 (95% CI: 0.752-0.846) and 0.809 (95% CI: 0.762-0.856), respectively. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis showed good performance for the diagnostic nomograms. The prediction of CAD or subclinical CAD by the ANS was not modified by the independent predictors (all, p for interaction >0.05). Conclusion: Our ANS-based nomograms can provide accurate and individualized risk predictions for patients with suspected CAD or subclinical CAD.