Resurrected and Tunable Conductivity and Ferromagnetism in the Secondary Growth La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 on Transferred SrTiO3 Membranes.

To avoid the epitaxy dilemma in various thin films, such as complex oxide, silicon, organic, metal/alloy, etc., their stacking at an atomic level and secondary growth are highly desired to maximize the functionality of a promising electronic device. The ceramic nature of complex oxides and the demand for accurate and long-range-ordered stoichiometry face severe challenges. Here, the transport and magnetic properties of the La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (LCMO) secondary growth on single-crystal freestanding SrTiO3 (STO) membranes are demonstrated. It has been experimentally found that on an only 10 nm thick STO membrane, the LCMO can offer a bulk-like Curie temperature (TC) of 253 K and negative magnetoresistance of -64%, with a weak dependence on the thickness. The resurrected conductivity and ferromagnetism in LCMO confirm the advantages of secondary growth, which benefits from the excellent flexibility and transferability. Additionally, this study explores the integration strategy of complex oxides with other functional materials.

Optimization of superior vena cava isolation with aid of ablation index guidance.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the optimal range of quantitative ablation index (AI) value during superior vena cava (SVC) electrical isolation by radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). METHODS: First, in a development cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the RFCA with 40 W was performed to complete SVC isolation guided by the conduction breakthrough point from the right atrium to SVC. Then, the range of AI value was calculated by offline analysis on different segments of SVC. Lastly, for the validation of AF patients, the safety and effectiveness of SVC isolation with the optimized target range of AI value were evaluated with an additional adenosine test. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients with AF were included in the study (44 patients in the development cohort/57 in the validation cohort). The segmental ablation strategy was applied in 70% of the patients. According to the offline analysis of the AI values in the development cohort, the target AI value range was set as 350-400. The success rate of SVC isolation in the validation cohort was significantly higher than that in the exploration cohort (100% vs. 90.9%, p = .02), and no complications occurred in the exploration cohort. During the adenosine test, the recovery rate of electrical conduction in SVC was significantly lower than that in the pulmonary vein (3.5% vs. 17.5%). CONCLUSION: The target AI value with a range from 350 to 400 is safe and effective for high-power RFCA to complete SVC isolation.

Performance of two tools for pulmonary vein occlusion assessment with a novel navigation system in cryoballoon ablation procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Optimal occlusion of pulmonary vein (PV) is essential for atrial fibrillation (AF) cryoballoon ablation (CBA). The aim of the study was to investigate the performance of two different tools for the assessment of PV occlusion with a novel navigation system in CBA procedure. METHODS: In consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF who underwent CBA procedure with the guidance of the novel 3-dimentional mapping system, the baseline tool, injection tool and pulmonary venography were all employed to assess the degree of PV occlusion, and the corresponding cryoablation parameters were recorded. RESULTS: In 23 patients (mean age 60.0 ± 13.9 years, 56.5% male), a total of 149 attempts of occlusion and 122 cryoablations in 92 PVs were performed. Using pulmonary venography as the gold standard, the overall sensitivity, specificity of the baseline tool was 96.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 90.0%-99.1%), and 40.5% (95% CI 26.0%-56.7%), respectively, while the corresponding value of the injection tool was 69.6% (95% CI 59.7%-78.1%), and 100.0% (95% CI 90.6%-100.0%), respectively. Cryoablation with optimal occlusion showed lower nadir temperature (baseline tool: -44.3 ± 8.4°C vs. -35.1 ± 6.5°C, p < .001; injection tool: -46.7 ± 6.4°C vs. -38.3 ± 9.2°C, p < .001) and longer total thaw time (baseline tool: 53.3 ± 17.0 s vs. 38.2 ± 14.9 s, p = .003; injection tool: 58.5 ± 15.5 s vs. 41.7 ± 15.2 s, p < .001) compared with those without. CONCLUSIONS: Both tools were able to accurately assess the degree of PV occlusion and predict the acute cryoablation effect, with the baseline tool being more sensitive and the injection tool more specific.

Prevalence, predictors and management of left atrial appendage thrombogenic milieu in atrial fibrillation with low thromboembolic risk.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence, predictors, and management of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombogenic milieu (TM) identified with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients with low to moderate thromboembolic (TE) risk. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the baseline clinical data and TEE findings in 391 NVAF patients (54.7 ± 8.9 years, 69.1% male) with low to moderate TE risk according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score. LAA TM was defined as LAA thrombus (LAAT), sludge or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC). Management of LAA TM was at the discretion of the treating physician. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients (11.0%) were detected with LAA TM, including 5 with LAAT (11.6%), 4 with LAAT + Sect. (9.3%), 3 with sludge (7.0%), and 31 with Sect. (72.1%). In multivariate model, non-paroxysmal AF (OR 3.121; 95% CI 1.205-8.083, p = 0.019), and a larger left atrial diameter (LAD) (OR 1.134; 95% CI 1.060-1.213, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the presence of LAA TM. All LAATs or sludges effectively resolved after mean duration of 117.5 ± 20.0 days for oral anticoagulant (OAC) medication. TE events occurred in 3 patients (18.8%) among those discontinuing OAC over a mean follow-up of 26.2 ± 8.8 months, while no TE events occurred in patients with continuous OAC. CONCLUSIONS: LAA TM could be identified in 11.0% in NVAF patients with low to moderate TE risk, especially in those with non-paroxysmal AF and enlarged LAD. Short-term OAC medication could effectively resolve the LAAT or sludge.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Acute Coronary Syndrome Clinical Practice Patterns: Findings from a Multicenter Clinician Survey in China.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has severely affected healthcare systems around the world. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of cardiologists regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the clinical practice patterns for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: A multicenter clinician survey was sent to 300 cardiologists working in 22 provinces in China. The survey collected demographic information and inquired about their perceptions of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected ACS clinical practice patterns. Results: The survey was completed by 211 (70.3%) cardiologists, 82.5% of whom were employed in tertiary hospitals, and 52.1% reported more than 10 years of clinical cardiology practice. Most respondents observed a reduction in ACS inpatients and outpatients in their hospitals during the pandemic. Only 29.9% of the respondents had access to a dedicated catheter room for the treatment of COVID-19-positive ACS patients. Most respondents stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had varying degrees of effect on the treatment of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and unstable angina. Compared with the assumed non-pandemic period, in the designed clinical questions, the selection of coronary interventional therapy for STEMI, NSTEMI, and unstable angina during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly decreased (all p < 0.05), and the selection of pharmacotherapy was increased (all p < 0.05). The selection of fibrinolytic therapy for STEMI during the pandemic was higher than in the assumed non-pandemic period (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected ACS clinical practice patterns. The use of invasive therapies significantly decreased during the pandemic period, whereas pharmacotherapy was more often prescribed by the cardiologists.

High-Efficient Generation of H2O2 by Aluminum-Graphite Composite through Selective Oxygen Reduction for Degradation of Organic Contaminants.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an effective green oxidant, which has been widely applied for environmental remediation. Here, we prepared a novel aluminum-graphite (Al-Gr) composite, which was capable of high-efficient production of H2O2 through selective O2 reduction via a two-electron pathway. We discovered the production of H2O2 at a wide pH range, which could be enhanced by optimizing Al-Gr synthesis conditions. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) addition could promote the formation of a welding interface and porous structure between Al and Gr in the Al-Gr composite, which enhanced the galvanic corrosion of Al0, the selectivity of oxygen reduction via the two-electron pathway, and the mass transfer of O2 in the Al-Gr/O2 system. The formation of Al4C3 could be regulated by sintering temperature and sintering time, which could promote the intergranular corrosion of Al0 and enhance the mass transfer of O2 by reaction with water to generate the porous structure in the Al-Gr composite. The concentration of H2O2 reached 777.5 mg/L at an initial pH of 9.0, an Al-Gr dosage of 8 g/L, and an O2 gas flow rate of 400 mL/min. The possible mechanisms of Al-Gr synthesis and H2O2 production in the Al-Gr/O2 system were proposed. The Al-Gr composite was effective for the in situ production of H2O2, which could be further decomposed into a hydroxyl radical (•OH) by Al0 in the Al-Gr composite. This composite could be used not only to decolorize the Rhodamine B dye but also to degrade various organic contaminants in different water matrices, indicating its environmental significance.

Regulation of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 silencing on myocardial fibrosis in mice with coronary atherosclerosis.

To explore the regulation of PLA2G7 silencing on myocardial fibrosis in mice with coronary atherosclerosis, we established model of atherosclerosis using ApoE knockout mice, and set up a normal group. The successfully modeled mice were assigned into the following three groups: PLA2G7 silencing (shRNA) group, negative control (NC) group and blank group. Peripheral blood and myocardial tissue of each group of mice were harvested. The expressions of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in mice were determine using Elisa, and the atherosclerosis index was calculated. The pathological changes of myocardial tissue were observed after HE staining. The collagen volume fraction in myocardium was determined with the use of Masson staining. The expression of PLA2G7 in myocardial tissue as well as myocardial fibrosis markers C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in each group were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The area of thoracic aorta injury was detected after oil red O staining. Compared with the normal group, the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C were increased, HDL-C levels were decreased, and atherosclerosis index was increased in the PLA2G7 shRNA group, NC group and blank group (all P < 0.05). The pathological state of myocardial tissue in the other three groups (except for the normal group) was obvious, but the PLA2G7 shRNA group showed certain improvement as compared with the blank group and the NC group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the NC group, the PLA2G7 shRNA group had significantly decreased collagen volume fraction, myocardial fibrosis and area of thoracic aorta injury (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, PLA2G7 silencing can improve the myocardial fibrosis in mice with coronary atherosclerosis, and PLA2G7 is expected to be a potential target for coronary atherosclerosis.

[Correlation between electrocardiogram, myocardial biomarkers and left ventricular dysfunction in acute anterior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between ST segment elevation, Q wave and peak biomarkers with left ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A total of 138 consecutive inpatients with acute anterior STEMI, left anterior descending branch as the convict vessel, from January 2009 to January 2012 in our hospital were enrolled in this study. They were divided into reperfusion (n = 92) and non-reperfusion group(n = 46). Clinical data, electrocardiogram, peak biomarkers, type B natriuretic peptide (BNP) were collected by physicians and the patients were followed up three months. RESULTS: The sum of the ST segments elevation, Q waves and Q wave leads in anterior STEMI were positive correlation with the Killip grades, myocardium biomarkers, BNP and left ventricle end diastolic diameters (LVEDD) [γ, 0.52-0.75, P < 0.01], while negative correlation with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) [γ, -0.63--0.95, P < 0.01]. The sum of R wave altitude was negative correlation with myocardium biomarkers, BNP and LVEDD in three months after the onset of STEMI [γ, -0.48--0.79, P < 0.01], while positive correlation with LVEF [γ, 0.73-0.82, P < 0.01]. BNP, one of the best markers of left heart dysfunction, was found to be strongly negative correlation with LVEF in acute stage and three months after the onset of STEMI [γ , -0.92, -0.80, P < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: There are close correlations between electrocardiogram, myocardial biomarkers and left ventricular dysfunction in acute anterior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, which may be strong predictors for the short-term prognosis.

[Multiple risk factors models of patients with acute coronary syndromes of different genders].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the multiple risk factors models for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) of different genders and quantitatively assess the pathopoiesis of all factors. METHODS: A total of 2 308 consecutive ACS inpatients and a control group of 256 cases with normal coronary artery from January 2010 to December 2012 were enrolled and divided into 4 groups of female ACS (n = 970), male ACS (n = 1 338), female control (n = 136) and male control (n = 120). All demographic and clinical data were collected by the physicians and master degree candidates in the division of cardiology. RESULTS: The Logistic regression models of multiple risk factors were established for ACS by different genders. More than 45 years of age, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and hypertension were all independent risk factors of ACS for different genders (P < 0.05). However, the same risk factors had different pathogenic effects on ACS between genders. The odds ratio (OR) was markedly different for females and males: per 5-year increase aged over 45 years (1.45 vs 1.13), dyslipidemia (3.45 vs 1.68), type 2 diabetes mellitus (4.06 vs 2.33), obesity (2.93 vs 1.91) and hypertension (1.78 vs 3.80) respectively (all P < 0.05). In addition, current smoking increased the risk of ACS attack in males by 5.49 (P < 0.05) while not statistically significant in females. Particularly cerebral ischemic stroke increased the risk of ACS attack by 5.49 folds in males other than females (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and obesity may present higher risks of ACS attack for females than males. And smoking and hypertension are much more dangerous for males. Males with cerebral infarction are more susceptible for ACS than females.

Left atrial appendage filling defect in exclusive early-phase scanning of dual-phase cardiac computed tomography: An indicator for elevated thromboembolic risk.

BACKGROUND: Dual-phase cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has been applied to detect left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombosis, which is characterized as the presence of left atrial appendage filling defects (LAADF) in both early- and delayed-phase scanning. However, the clinical implication of LAAFD in exclusive early-phase scanning (LAAFD-EEpS) of CCT in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. METHODS: The baseline clinical data and dual-phase CCT findings in 1183 AF patients (62.1 ± 11.6 years, 59.9% male) was collected and analyzed. A further analysis of CCT and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) data (within 5 days) in a subgroup of 687 patients was performed. LAAFD-EEpS was defined as LAAFD present in early-phase and absent in delayed-phase scanning of dual-phase CCT. RESULTS: A total of 133 (11.2%) patients were detected with LAAFD-EEpS. Patients with LAAFD-EEpS had a higher prevalence of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (p < 0.001) and a higher predefined thromboembolic risk (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a history of ischemic stroke or TIA was independently associated with LAAFD-EEpS (odds ratio [OR] 11.412, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.561-19.851, p < 0.001). When spontaneous echo contrast in TEE was used as the reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of LAAFD-EEpS was 77.0% (95% CI 66.5-87.6%), 89.0% (95% CI 86.5-91.4%), 40.5% (95% CI 31.6-49.5%), 97.5% (96.3-98.8%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In AF patients, LAAFD-EEpS is not an uncommon finding in dual-phase CCT scanning, and is associated with elevated thromboembolic risk.

Structural Design and Energy and Environmental Applications of Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks: A Systematic Review.

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are emerging porous materials that show high structural flexibility, mild synthetic conditions, good solution processability, easy healing and regeneration, and good recyclability. Although these properties give them many potential multifunctional applications, their frameworks are unstable due to the presence of only weak and reversible hydrogen bonds. In this work, the development history and synthesis methods of HOFs are reviewed, and categorize their structural design concepts and strategies to improve their stability. More importantly, due to the significant potential of the latest HOF-related research for addressing energy and environmental issues, this work discusses the latest advances in the methods of energy storage and conversion, energy substance generation and isolation, environmental detection and isolation, degradation and transformation, and biological applications. Furthermore, a discussion of the coupling orientation of HOF in the cross-cutting fields of energy and environment is presented for the first time. Finally, current challenges, opportunities, and strategies for the development of HOFs to advance their energy and environmental applications are discussed.

Ultralow Strain-Induced Emergent Polarization Structures in a Flexible Freestanding BaTiO3 Membrane.

The engineering of ferroic orders, which involves the evolution of atomic structure and local ferroic configuration in the development of next-generation electronic devices. Until now, diverse polarization structures and topological domains are obtained in ferroelectric thin films or heterostructures, and the polarization switching and subsequent domain nucleation are found to be more conducive to building energy-efficient and multifunctional polarization structures. In this work, a continuous and periodic strain in a flexible freestanding BaTiO3 membrane to achieve a zigzag morphology is introduced. The polar head/tail boundaries and vortex/anti-vortex domains are constructed by a compressive strain as low as ≈0.5%, which is extremely lower than that used in epitaxial rigid ferroelectrics. Overall, this study c efficient polarization structures, which is of both theoretical value and practical significance for the development of next-generation flexible multifunctional devices.

[Advance in studies on gut microbiota in de-glycosylation of traditional Chinese medicine glycosides].

Glycosides are important active components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Their pharmacological activity, pharmacokinetic characteristics and in vivo existence become hotspots of current studies. The metabolic pathways of these glycosides are de-glycosylation mainly mediated by gut microbiota. After glycosides were metabolized into aglycones, they could be absorbed more easily and show better pharmacological effects. In this article, we reviewed the main glycosidase in gut microbiota which helps metabolize TCM glycosides, relevant bacterial strains which generate glycosidase, as well as the de-glycosylated metabolic pathways of the representative glycosides, on the basis of gut microbiota's important roles in in vivo metabolism and efficacy of TCM glycosides. We also preliminarily solved problems in studies on de-glycosylation of TCM glycosides.

Dishevelled Segment Polarity Protein 3: A Novel Prognosis-related Marker in Pan-driver-gene-negative Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential prognostic molecular marker in patients with "pan-driver-gene-negative" lung adenocarcinoma (PDGN-LUAD). LUAD patients who were negative for mutations in EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, HER2, MET, ALK, RET and ROS1 were identified as PDGN-LUAD. Methods: In the screening phase, we profiled the mRNA expression levels in 52 paired PDGN-LUAD tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues using a genome-wide microarray, and the results revealed that the expression level of dishevelled segment polarity protein 3 (DVL3) was higher in PDGN-LUAD tumor tissues than in normal lung tissues. Then, we enrolled 626 PDGN-LUAD patients from three independent hospital centers and divided them into a training cohort, an internal validation cohort and two external validation cohorts. In the training cohort, tissue microarrays (TMAs) were used to confirm the protein expression level of DVL3. Statistical methods were applied to explore the prognostic role of DVL3. Results: The results indicated that the level of DVL3 could be used to classify patients with PDGN-LUAD in the training cohort into a high-risk group (high expression level of DVL3) and a low-risk group (low expression level of DVL3). In the training cohort, high-risk patients had shorter overall survival (OS) times (hazard ratio [HR] 2.27; 95% CI, 1.57-2.97; p<0.001) than low-risk patients. In the validation phase, the performance of DVL3 as a prognostic marker was successfully validated in the internal and external cohorts. Conclusions: In conclusion, DVL3 is an important prognostic indicator for PDGN-LUAD and may provide new insights into the treatment of PDGN-LUAD.

Integration of LC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS and Network Pharmacology to Analyze the Active Components of Sijunzi Decoction and their Mechanism of Action Against Cytotoxicity-associated Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.

INTRODUCTION: Sijunzi Decoction (SJZD) is a classical prescription in traditional Chinese medicine that enhances neuroimmune endocrine function to alleviate inflammatory aging, a key pathogenic mechanism underlying premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). However, the mechanism through which SJZD alleviates POI remains unknown. Hence, we aimed to identify the active components of SJZD and its mechanism of therapeutic action against POI. METHODS: We identified compounds in SJZD using liquid chromatography-linear trap quadrupole- Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (LC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS). Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems (TCMSP) and HERB databases were used to identify the ingredients and potential targets of SJZD. We analyzed Gene Ontology (GO) terms and enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways using RStudio and constructed a visual network using Cytoscape3.9.1. RESULTS: We identified 98 compounds using LC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS, among which 29 were bioactive. The screen outputted yielded 151 predicted targets of these compounds that were associated with POI. The results of the GO and KEGG analyses showed that these compounds play key roles in cell growth, division, migration, and survival signaling pathways. Therefore, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways might be closely associated with the pharmacological effects of SJZD on the pathological processes of POI. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide a scientific basis for rapidly analyzing bioactive compounds in SJZD and their pharmacological mechanisms.

Extreme Enhanced Curie Temperature and Perpendicular Exchange Bias in Freestanding Ferromagnetic Superlattices.

Most recently, the freestanding of an epitaxial single-crystal oxide has been greatly developed to its fundamental concerns and the possibility of integration with metal, two-dimensional, and organic materials for more promising functionalities. In an artificial ferromagnetic oxide heterostructure and superlattice, the release of the substrate constraint can induce a reasonable transformation of the magnetic structure because the change of the lattice field occurs. In this study, we have comprehensively investigated the evolution of magnetic properties of (La0.7Ca0.3MnO3/SrRuO3)n [(LCMO/SRO)n] ferromagnetic superlattices while they are epitaxially on SrTiO3 and freestanding. It is found that the Curie temperature and the perpendicular exchange bias of the freestanding superlattices exhibit extreme sensitivity to the interface number and the thickness of LCMO and SRO, which can maximumly reach ∼293 K and ∼1150 Oe. These enhanced and bulk-beyond magnetic behaviors originate from the interfacial magnetic transition from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic via the charge reconstruction with the assistance of strain. Our study provides not only a reference for designing a high-performance flexible ferromagnetic architectural superlattice but also a deep understanding of the interfacial effect in freestanding ferromagnetic heterostructures benefiting flexible spintronics.

Selective reduction of nitrate to nitrogen by Fe0-Cu0-CuFe2O4 composite coupled with carbon dioxide anion radical under UV irradiation.

Zero-valent iron (Fe0) has been widely used for the reduction of nitrate, but the end reduction product is mainly ammonium. Here, a novel strategy for selective reduction of nitrate (NO3-) to nitrogen gas (N2) with high efficiency and N2 selectivity was investigated using Fe-based material (Fe0-Cu0-CuFe2O4) combined with citric acid (CA) and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. In this strategy, the nitrate was firstly reduced to nitrite (NO2-) by Fe0-Cu0-CuFe2O4/UV process, and then the produced NO2- could be further reduced to N2 by carbon dioxide anion radicals (CO2•-) which was generated from CA that was added later. In this process, the selective reduction of NO3- to NO2- was a key step. For this purpose, we synthesized Fe0-Cu0-CuFe2O4 composite by simple chemical replacement and in-situ growth process, which made it have a delicate structure with good contact between Cu and Fe and CuFe2O4. The selective reduction of NO3- to NO2- in Fe0-Cu0-CuFe2O4/UV process was due to that the Cu0 was the electron enrichment center and the photo-generated hole could suppress the NO3- reduction to NH4+ by Fe2+. In this proposed strategy, 100% NO3- removal efficiency and 96.3% N2 selectivity were achieved when the initial NO3- concentration was 30 mg N/L and the reduction time was 60 min. The denitrification mechanism of the Fe0-Cu0-CuFe2O4/UV/CA system was proposed.

Long-Term prognosis of radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation with different subtypes of heart failure in the era of ablation index guidance.

Background: The long-term outcomes of ablation index (AI)-guided radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) on atrial fibrillation (AF) and different subtypes of heart failure (HF) remain unknown. The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term prognosis of AI-guided RFCA procedures in patients with AF and concomitant HF. Methods: We retrospectively included consecutive patients with AF and HF who underwent the initial RFCA procedure with AI guidance from March 2018 to June 2021 in our institution. The patients were categorized into two groups: HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) group and HF with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) +HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) group. Results: A total of 101 patients were included. HFpEF and HFmrEF + HFrEF groups consisted of 71 (70.3%) and 30 patients (29.7%), respectively. During a median follow-up of 32.0 (18.2, 37.6) months, no significant difference was detected in AF recurrence between groups (21.1 vs. 33.3%) after multiple procedures, whereas the incidence of the composite endpoint of all-cause death, thromboembolic events, and HF hospitalization was significantly lower in HFpEF group (9.9 vs. 25.0%, Log-rank p = 0.018). In multivariable analysis, a history of hypertension [hazard ratio (HR) 4.667, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.433-15.203, p = 0.011], left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% (HR 5.390, 95% CI 1.911-15.203, p = 0.001) and recurrent AF after multiple procedures (HR 7.542, 95% CI 2.355-24.148, p = 0.001) were independently associated with the incidence of the composite endpoint. Conclusion: Long-term success could be achieved in 75% of patients with AF and concomitant HF after AI-guided RFCA procedures, irrespective of different HF subtypes. Preserved LVEF was associated with a reduction in the composite endpoint compared with impaired LVEF. Patients with recurrent AF tend to have a poorer prognosis.

EBV-Induced CXCL8 Upregulation Promotes Vasculogenic Mimicry in Gastric Carcinoma via NF-κB Signaling.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) is a distinct entity with a conspicuous tumor microenvironment compared with EBV-negative gastric carcinoma. However, the exact role of EBV in gastric carcinogenesis remains elusive. In the present study, we found that EBV upregulated CXCL8 expression, and CXCL8 significantly promoted vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation of gastric carcinoma (GC) cells. In accordance with these observations, overexpression of CXCL8 increased cell proliferation and migration of AGS and BGC823 cells, while knockdown of CXCL8 with siRNA inhibited cell proliferation and migration of AGS-EBV cells. In addition, activation of NF-κB signaling was involved in VM formation induced by CXCL8, which was blocked by NF-κB inhibitors BAY 11-7082 and BMS345541. Furthermore, EBV-encoded lncRNA RPMS1 activated the NF-κB signaling cascade, which is responsible for EBV-induced VM formation. Both xenografts and clinical samples of EBVaGC exhibit VM histologically, which are correlated with CXCL8 overexpression. Finally, CXCL8 is positively correlated with overall survival in GC patients. In conclusion, EBV-upregulated CXCL8 expression promotes VM formation in GC via NF-κB signaling, and CXCL8 might serve as a novel anti-tumor target for EBVaGC.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Clinical Practice Patterns in Atrial Fibrillation: A Multicenter Clinician Survey in China.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted healthcare systems worldwide. This study investigated cardiologists' opinions on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted clinical practice patterns in atrial fibrillation (AF). A multicenter clinician survey, including demographic and clinical questions, was administered to 300 cardiologists from 22 provinces in China, in April 2022. The survey solicited information about their treatment recommendations for AF and their perceptions of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their clinical practice patterns for AF. The survey was completed by 213 cardiologists (71.0%) and included employees in tertiary hospitals (82.6%) and specialists with over 10 years of clinical cardiology practice (53.5%). Most respondents stated that there were reductions in the number of inpatients and outpatients with AF in their hospital during the pandemic. A majority of participants stated that the pandemic had impacted the treatment strategies for all types of AF, although to different extents. Compared with that during the assumed non-pandemic period in the hypothetical clinical questions, the selection of invasive interventional therapies (catheter ablation, percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion) was significantly decreased (all p < 0.05) during the pandemic. There was no significant difference in the selection of non-invasive therapeutic strategies (the management of cardiovascular risk factors and concomitant diseases, pharmacotherapy for stroke prevention, heart rate control, and rhythm control) between the pandemic and non-pandemic periods (all p > 0.05). The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the clinical practice patterns of AF. The selection of catheter ablation and percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion was significantly reduced, whereas pharmacotherapy was often stated as the preferred option by participating cardiologists.