We investigated continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence and its association with the blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate changes in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) ...and hypertension.
In a single-blind trial, patients were randomly assigned to CPAP or sham CPAP treatment for 3 months. We performed clinic, ambulatory and home BP measurements at baseline and during follow-up. CPAP adherence was assessed as the CPAP frequency per week and time per night. Non-adherence was defined as a CPAP use for <5 days/week or <4 h/night.
In the CPAP (n = 26) and sham CPAP groups (n = 21), the CPAP frequency was 5.5 and 4.8 days/week (p = 0.17), respectively, and the CPAP time was 5.0 and 4.1 h/night (p = 0.03), respectively. The corresponding prevalence of non-adherence was 46.2% and 66.7% (p = 0.16), respectively. The CPAP frequency but not time tended to be associated with the changes in BP and pulse rate at 3 months of follow-up, especially home systolic/diastolic BP in the CPAP group (3.2/1.3 mmHg greater reductions per 1 day increment, p ≤ 0.01). Adherent, compared with non-adherent patients, had greater reductions in BP or pulse rate at 3 months of follow-up. In the CPAP and sham CPAP groups combined, statistical significance was achieved for the adjusted between adherence and non-adherence differences in home systolic/diastolic BP (-5.0/-3.8 mmHg) and 24-h, daytime and night-time ambulatory pulse rate (-6.2, −7.8 and −4.4 beats/min, respectively, p ≤ 0.04).
CPAP adherence was associated with the BP lowering and pulse rate slowing effects, especially the CPAP frequency.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
492.
High Capacity Pouch-Type Li–Air Batteries Wang, Deyu; Xiao, Jie; Xu, Wu ...
Journal of the Electrochemical Society,
01/2010, Letnik:
157, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The pouch-type Li-air batteries operated in ambient condition are reported in this work. The battery used a heat sealable plastic membrane as package material, O2¬ diffusion membrane and moisture ...barrier. The large variation in internal resistance of the batteries is minimized by a modified separator which can bind the cell stack together. The cells using the modified separators show improved and repeatable discharge performances. It is also found that addition of about 20% of 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) in PC:EC (1:1) based electrolyte solvent improves can improve the wetability of carbon electrode and the discharge capacities of Li-air batteries, but further increase in DME amount lead to a decreased capacity due to increase electrolyte loss during discharge process. The pouch-type Li-air batteries with the modified separator and optimized electrolyte has demonstrated a specific capacity of 2711 mAh g-1 based on carbon and a specific energy of 344 Wh kg-1 based on the complete batteries including package.
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common, costly and potentially lethal disease with characteristics of alveolar‑capillary membrane disruption, pulmonary edema and impaired gas exchange due to increased ...apoptosis and pulmonary inflammation. There is no effective and specific therapy for ALI; however, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated to be a potential option. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a highly proinflammatory molecule that is used to mimic an in vivo inflammatory and damaged state in vitro. The present study investigated the effect of bone marrow‑derived MSCs on an LPS‑induced alveolar epithelial cell (A549 cell line) injury and its underlying mechanisms by a Transwell system. It was identified that a high LPS concentration caused a decrease in cell viability, increases in apoptosis, inflammatory cytokine release and NF‑κB activity, disruption of the caspase‑3/Bcl‑2 ratio, upregulation of Toll‑like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and toll‑interleukin‑1 receptor domain‑containing adaptor inducing interferon (TRIF) expression, and facilitation of TLR4/MyD88 and TLR4/TRIF complex formation in A549 cells. Coculture with MSCs attenuated all of these activities induced by LPS in A549 cells. In addition, an increased level of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and angiopoietin‑1 (ANGPT1) secretion from MSCs was observed under inflammatory stimulation. KGF and/or ANGPT1 neutralizing antibodies diminished the beneficial effect of MSC conditioned medium. These data suggest that MSCs alleviate inflammatory damage and cellular apoptosis induced by LPS in A549 cells by modulating TLR4 signals. These changes may be partly associated with an increased secretion of KGF and ANGPT1 from MSCs under inflammatory conditions. These data provide the basis for development of MSC‑based therapies for ALI.
We present a comparative investigation on structural, elastic, dynamical and thermodynamic properties of Weyl semimetals MX (M = Ta or Nb; X = As or P) using density functional theory (DFT) within ...the generalized gradient approximation. The elastic properties of NbAs, TaP and NbP are obtained for the first time, then we compared them with each other and with some well-studied materials. Among four Weyl semimetals, TaP and NbAs possess the largest and smallest bulk modulus B, shear modulus G, and Young's modulus E, respectively, while NbP and TaAs own the maximum and minimum elastic Debye temperature. Through the analysis of three dimensional (3D) representations and two dimensional (2D) projections of Young's modulus, MX series exhibit distinct elastic anisotropy, especially for TaAs and NbAs. The calculated phonon dispersions of four Weyl semimetals show no imaginary frequency throughout the Brillouin zone, indicating they are dynamically stable. In addition, compared with other theoretical results, our calculated Brillouin-zone-center frequencies of MX series are more in line with experimental data. Furthermore, Phonon velocities are obtained using phonon spectra, and anisotropic phonon group velocities are responsible for their anisotropic lattice thermal conductivity. Additionally, thermodynamic properties are also predicted using the calculated phonon density of states. The results are in good agreement with available experimental values. We expect our work can provide more information for further experimental studies.
•The calculated elastic properties for NbAs, TaP and NbP are obtained for the first time.•MX (M = Ta or Nb; X = As or P) exhibit distinct elastic anisotropy, especially for TaAs and NbAs.•Their phonon frequencies at gamma point, main atomic displacement patterns, phonon velocities, and thermodynamic properties are also presented.
Cognitive impairment (CI) is frequently a comorbid condition in heart failure (HF) patients, and is associated with increased cardiovascular events and death. Numerous factors contribute to CI in HF ...patients. Decreased cerebral blood flow, inflammation, and activation of neurohumoral factors are all thought to be factors that exacerbate CI. Hypoperfusion of the brain due to decreased systemic blood flow, cerebral venous congestion, and atherosclerosis are the main mechanism of CI in HF patients. Abnormal circadian BP rhythm is one of the other conditions associated with CI. The conditions in which BP does not decrease sufficiently or increases during the night are called non-dipper or riser BP patterns. Abnormal circadian BP rhythm worsens CI in HF patients through cerebral congestion during sleep and atherosclerosis due to pressure overload. Interventions for CI in HF patients include treatment for HF itself using cardiovascular drugs, and treatment for fluid retention, one of the causes of abnormal circadian rhythms. Proposed pathways of cognitive impairment in heart failure through abnormal circadian blood pressure rhythm.
•A twin-roll strip casting was applied to process non-oriented electrical steel.•The effect of hot band annealing on microstructure and precipitates were studied.•The effect of precipitation behavior ...on texture development was investigated.•The formation mechanism of cube and {4 1 1}〈1 4 8〉 textures were discussed.•Hot rolled band annealing is a suitable route to improve the magnetic properties.
In the present study, an as-cast strip of Fe-3.2Si wt% non-oriented electrical steel was processed successfully by a new compact and low cost twin-roll strip casting process. After hot rolling, both the hot rolled bands with and without annealing were subjected to cold rolling and final annealing. The aim of the study is to elucidate the effect of hot band annealing on the microstructure, texture and magnetic properties of non-oriented electrical steel processed by twin-roll strip casting using a combination of optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The study indicated that the AlN and MnS particles precipitated during hot band annealing process affected crystal rotation of the cold rolled sheet. {1 0 0}〈0 1 1〉 texture with a higher intensity and {1 1 0}〈1 1 0〉 texture with a lower intensity was observed after cold rolling compared to the cold rolled sheet without hot band annealing. The recrystallization and growth behavior of grains was impeded because of the precipitation during final annealing, and a strong λ-fiber texture with a smaller average grain size was obtained in the annealed sheet without hot band annealing process. However, the recrystallization texture in the final annealed specimen subjected to the hot band annealing process was characterized by pronounced {4 1 1}〈1 4 8〉 texture and the average grain size was significantly larger than without hot band annealing. The results suggested that hot band annealing is a suitable route to remarkably improve the magnetic properties of non-oriented electrical steel.
This study aimed to evaluate left ventricular deformation in relation to the geometric pattern in hypertensive patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction using speckle tracking ...echocardiography (STE).Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 80 hypertensive patients and 50 age- and gender-matched normotensive subjects. Left ventricular geometric pattern was defined according to left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness as normal geometry, concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy, respectively. Quantitative measurements of longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain were performed for endocardial, middle, and epicardial layers of the left ventricular wall at each segment.The longitudinal strain in hypertension was lower for all 3 layers in concentric (n = 20) and eccentric hypertrophy (n = 20) than normotensive subjects (n = 50, P < .01). It was also significantly lower for the endocardial layer in concentric remodeling (n = 20, P = .04 vs normotensive subjects). The circumferential strain in hypertension was higher in normal geometry or concentric remodeling, lower in concentric hypertrophy, and at similar level in eccentric hypertrophy, in comparison with normotensive subjects. The difference from normotensive subjects was statistically significant for the endocardial and middle layers in normal geometry (P < .03), for the endocardial layer in concentric remodeling (P < .02), and for the middle and epicardial layers in concentric hypertrophy (P≤.001). The radial strain and twist did not differ between normotensive and hypertensive subjects (P > .08).Left ventricular deformation in hypertension occurs with various geometric patterns disproportionately in the endocardial, middle and epicardial layers and differently in the longitudinal and circumferential orientations.
Although aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been accepted as gold standard of arterial stiffness, characteristics of PWVs in other arteries have never been reported.
We measured carotid-femoral, ...carotid-pedis, carotid-radial, and femoral-pedis PWVs by a validated tonometry PulsePen, and assessed body fat percentage by bioelectrical impedance analyzer, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) by ultrasonograph, and other cardiovascular risk factors, in 198 patients from our ambulatory cardiovascular department.
Carotid-femoral and carotid-pedis PWVs increased significantly and progressively with age in both men and women (P ≤ 0.03), whereas only in men, a slight increase and decrease in carotid-radial and femoral-pedis PWVs, respectively, were detected with aging (P ≤ 0.006). Carotid-femoral and carotid-pedis PWVs, but not carotid-radial and femoral-pedis PWVs, were significantly associated with age, body height and body fat percentage, brachial mean blood pressure (MBP), and pulse pressure (PP), carotid PP, PP amplification, carotid IMT, plasma glucose and taking antihypertensive agent (P ≤ 0.047). In full adjustment models, carotid-femoral PWV increased by 0.89 ± 0.21, 0.38 ± 0.13, 0.74 ± 0.26, 0.40 ± 0.16, 0.51 ± 0.23 m/s, with an increase of 10 years in age, of 1 mmol/l in plasma glucose, of 10 mmHg in brachial PP, of 100 μm in IMT, and of 10 mmHg in brachial MBP, respectively, whereas carotid-pedis PWV increased by 0.31 ± 0.11 and 0.33 ± 0.12 m/s with an increase of 10 years in age and of 10 mmHg in brachial MBP, respectively.
Arterial stiffness in elastic arteries, but not in muscular arteries, increased significantly and progressively with age, and was more closely correlated to BP, plasma glucose and arterial thickness.
Anhydrous hydroxide sulfates Ln
(OH)
SO
(Ln=Eu-Lu, Y) were hydrothermally synthesized as a new family of layered rare earth metal hydroxides (LRHs). They crystallize in the monoclinic system (space ...group C2/m) with structures built up by alternate stacking of interlayer SO
and the two-dimensional host layer composed of tricapped LnO
trigonal prisms along the a axis. In distinct contrast to the recently discovered hydrated LRHs Ln
(OH)
SO
⋅2 H
O, which only exist for Ln=La-Dy, the host layers of the anhydrous phase are linked together by sharing edges instead of an O node of the SO
tetrahedron. Rietveld refinement showed that the cell dimension tends to decrease for smaller Ln
, while the axis angle (β=98.78-100.31°) behaves oppositely. Comparative thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis in air revealed that the dehydroxylation and desulfurization temperatures become gradually higher and lower, respectively, for smaller Ln
, and thus the temperature range of Ln
O
SO
existence is narrowed. The newly discovered Ln
(OH)
SO
, together with their hydrated counterparts, allow for the first time green synthesis of Ln
O
SO
with water as the only exhaust for the full spectrum of lanthanides. Calcining Ln
(OH)
SO
in H
yielded phase-pure Ln
O
S for Eu and Gd and a mixture of Ln
O
S and Ln
O
for the other Ln. The effects of the lanthanide contraction were clearly revealed, and photoluminescence was found for the anhydrous LRHs of Eu and Tb.
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are widely prescribed for the management of hypertension in Eastern Asians. In this study, the Asian Pacific Heart Association's Writing Committee ...reviewed randomized controlled trials that were conducted in the Eastern Asian region and compared a CCB with an antihypertensive drug of another class. These trials studied ambulatory blood pressure, measures of target organ damage and cardiovascular events as outcomes. Eleven trials studied ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive patients and demonstrated that the 24-h blood pressure reduction with CCBs was greater than with other classes of antihypertensive drugs, with a weighted mean difference of 5 mm Hg systolic and 3 mm Hg diastolic. Twelve trials that studied various measurements of target organ damage in hypertensive patients produced inconsistent results when comparing CCBs and other classes of antihypertensive drugs. Four trials that studied the hard outcomes had limited power, but confirmed the findings of previous placebo-controlled trials in the region and actively controlled trials in Europe and North America; they suggested that CCBs provided superior protection against stroke and that some agents, such as amlodipine, also provided similar protection against myocardial infarction. In conclusion, CCBs should be recommended as a preferred drug for the management of hypertension in the Eastern Asian region to improve blood pressure control and to confront the aggravating epidemic of stroke and coronary heart disease.
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