A nomogram to predict major adverse cardiovascular events of patients with acute chest pain, Non-ST-segment deviation, and normal troponin concentrations.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential indicators including patients' characteristics, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, and serological assay in predicting the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 1 year for patients with low-risk chest pain with a nomogram. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The detected indicators of patients with low-risk chest pain were obtained as the alternative predictors for MACE. After the 1-year follow-up, patients with MACE were enrolled in the MACE group while the remained patients were in the non-MACE group. A nomogram was constructed based on the multivariable Cox regression to link the independent predictors and the MACE within 1 year for patients with low-risk chest pain. RESULTS: The incidence of MACE within 1 year was 6.94% according to the follow-up result. Multivariate analysis revealed that risk factors of CAD, P-terminal force in lead V1 (PTFV1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and transmitral inflow early diastolic peak velocity (E wave) /peak early diastolic velocity (Em) (E/Em) were the independent predictors for the MACE. A nomogram incorporating these independent predictors with a good discrimination (0.79 in C-index) and calibration was constructed to predict the incidence of MACE within 1 year. It could be used to help select the patients with a high risk of MACE and develop preventive treatment strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors of CAD, PTFV1, CRP, and E/Em were the independent predictors for the MACE within 1 year in patients with low-risk chest pain. The present nomogram provides a user friendly tool in the prediction of MACE for these patients.

Response characteristics of Scirpus trioueter and its rhizosphere to pyrene contaminated soils at different growth stages.

Scirpus triqueter (Triangular club-rush), a typical wetland species, is used to study the response characteristics to pyrene. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the growth parameters (height, diameter, shoot number, total volume, underground biomass, above-ground biomass and total biomass), and enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) of S. triqueter. The characteristics of soil enzymes (catalase and polyphenol oxidase) and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) were also assessed after pyrene treatment. Elevated pyrene concentration (80 mgkg(-1)) in the soil reduced the shoot number and biomass significantly, especially at the early growth stage. In root tissue, the enzyme catalase was activated at 80 mgkg(-1) of pyrene. Compared to roots, shoots had higher enzyme activities. Catalase activities in the rhizosphere increased throughout the growth period of S. triqueter. Polyphenol oxidase activities in the rhizosphere were higher than those in the bulk soil and unplanted soil. The populations of bacteria (total bacteria, pyrene-tolerant bacteria, and actinomyces) and fungi decreased under the stress of high pyrene concentration, while that of pyrene-tolerant bacteria increased with the increasing pyrene concentration. The presence of pyrene did not benefit the growth of S. triqueter. S. triqueter and soil enzymes varied within the growth stages. The presence of S. triqueter could improve the activity of soil enzymes and facilitate the propagation of microorganisms which could help eliminate pyrene contamination.

Succinoylation of sugarcane bagasse under ultrasound irradiation.

The chemical modification of sugarcane bagasse with succinic anhydride using pyridine as solvent after ultrasound irradiation was studied. The optimized parameters included ultrasound irradiating time 0-50 min, reaction time 30-120 min, succinic anhydride concentration by the ratio of dried sugarcane bagasse to succinic anhydride from 1:0.25 to 1:1.50, and reaction temperature 75-115 degrees C are required in the process. The extent of succinoylation was measured by the weight percent gain (WPG), which increased with increments of reaction time, succinic anhydride concentration, and reaction temperature. The ultrasound irradiation has a positive effect on bagasse succinoylation process. On the other hand, the ultrasonic pre-treatment application broke down the cell wall polymers, resulting in, therefore, a negative effect on the WPG. Evidences of succinoylation were also provided by FT-IR and CP MAS (13)C NMR and the results showed that the succinoylation at C-2 and C-3 occurred. The thermal stability of the succinylated bagasse decreased upon chemical modification.

[Determination of trace Sn in geosamples by flow injection on-line co-precipitation hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry].

It is reported that a FI on-line co-precipitation technique for the pre-concentration of trace amount of Sn with the precipitate of Mg(OH)2 as carrier is hyphenated with AFS determination. The co-precipitation is carried out in NaOH medium and the precipitate is collected in a precipitation collector. The precipitate is then dissolved by HCl and reacted with NaBH4, the hydride is transferred directly into the atomizer. The relative standard deviation is 5.15% for 10 determinations of 30 ng.mL-1 Sn and the detection limit of 0.21 ng.g-1 is obtained. The developed method has been applied to the determination of trace Sn in geosamples with satisfactory results.