In this work, a ruthenium catalyst was prepared for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis reaction of an alkaline sodium borohydride solution. The reactions were carried out in a batch reactor at ...temperatures of 10, 30, 40 and 60
°C for at least 70% conversion or 500
min, whichever came first. The experimental data was fitted to the following three kinetic models: zero-order, first-order, and Langmuir–Hinshelwood. The results indicate that the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model gives a reasonable description of the hydrogen generation rate over the entire temperature range studied as well as the time spans of the experiments. The zero-order model gives good behavior description only at relatively low temperature, i.e. 10
°C. The first-order model works fairly well for a temperature range up to 30
°C.
Polymer template-Ru composite (Ru/IR-120) catalyst was prepared using a simple and fast method for generating hydrogen from an aqueous alkaline NaBH sub(4 solution. The hydrogen generation rate was ...determined as a function of solution temperature, NaBH) sub(4) concentration, and NaOH (a base-stabilizer) concentration. The maximum hydrogen generation rate reached 132 ml minsuper-1 gsuper-1 catalyst at 298 K, using a Ru/IR-120 catalyst that contained only 1 wt.% Ru. The catalyst exhibits a quick response and good durability during the hydrolysis of alkaline NaBH sub(4 solution. The activation energy for the hydrogen generation reaction was determined to be 49.72 kJ molsuper-1.)
Polymer template-Ru composite (Ru/IR-120) catalyst was prepared using a simple and fast method for generating hydrogen from an aqueous alkaline NaBH
4 solution. The hydrogen generation rate was ...determined as a function of solution temperature, NaBH
4 concentration, and NaOH (a base-stabilizer) concentration. The maximum hydrogen generation rate reached 132
ml
min
−1
g
−1 catalyst at 298
K, using a Ru/IR-120 catalyst that contained only 1
wt.% Ru. The catalyst exhibits a quick response and good durability during the hydrolysis of alkaline NaBH
4 solution. The activation energy for the hydrogen generation reaction was determined to be 49.72
kJ
mol
−1.
Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a member of the beta-galactoside binding protein family, is associated with inflammation and chronic kidney disease. However, the effect of Gal-1 on mortality and acute kidney ...injury (AKI) in critically-ill patients remain unclear. From May 2018 to March 2020, 350 patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, a tertiary medical center, were enrolled in this study. Forty-one patients receiving long-term renal replacement therapy were excluded. Serum Gal-1 levels were determined within 24 h of ICU admission. The patients were divided into tertiles according to their serum Gal-1 levels (low, serum Gal-1 < 39 ng/ml; median, 39-70 ng/ml; high, greater than or equal to71 ng/ml). All patients were followed for 90 days or until death. Mortality in the ICU and at 90 days was greater among patients with elevated serum Gal-1 levels. In analyses adjusted for the body mass index, malignancy, sepsis, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and serum lactate level, the serum Gal-1 level remained an independent predictor of 90-day mortality median vs. low: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24-3.60, p = 0.006; high vs. low: aHR 3.21, 95% CI 1.90-5.42, p < 0.001. Higher serum Gal-1 levels were also associated with a higher incidence of AKI within 48 h after ICU admission, independent of the SOFA score and renal function (median vs. low: aHR 2.77, 95% CI 1.21-6.34, p = 0.016; high vs. low: aHR 2.88, 95% CI 1.20-6.88, p = 0.017). The results were consistent among different subgroups with high and low Gal-1 levels. Serum Gal-1 elevation at the time of ICU admission were associated with an increased risk of mortality at 90 days, and an increased incidence of AKI within 48 h after ICU admission.
Chinese have a higher stroke incidence and a different distribution of ischemic stroke (IS) subtypes as compared with Caucasians. Herein we aimed to investigate the prevalence and associations of ...major risk factors in IS and its subtypes in Chinese patients. From 2006 to 2011, we included 4953 acute IS patients consecutively recruited in National Taiwan University Hospital Stroke Registry (mean age 68 years; male 59%). For each risk factor, we accessed the proportion in all IS patients, and calculated odds ratios for each main IS subtype versus other subtypes. Multiple logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounders, and to examine the associations of risk factors with IS subtypes. Compared with other ischemic subtypes, large artery atherosclerotic and lacunar strokes were associated with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia, while cardioembolic strokes were associated with ischemic heart disease. Furthermore, the associations with hypertension and diabetes became stronger in lacunar strokes after adjusting for confounders, but not in other ischemic subtypes. Here we report the variable effects of risk factors on different IS subtypes in Chinese patients in Taiwan. Our findings could help shed light on different mechanisms of IS subtypes and provide targets to make more effective strategies for IS prevention.
A real‐world association between direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) concentration and clinical outcomes among Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is reported herein. Patients with AF aged ≥ 20 ...years who used DOAC for ≥ 3 days were enrolled. Trough and peak DOAC concentrations were measured and compared with the expected range reported in clinical trials. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the association between concentration and outcomes. From January 2016 to July 2022, a total of 859 patients were enrolled. Among them, 22.5%, 24.7%, 36.4%, and 16.4% were on dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, respectively. Compared with clinical trials, the proportion of DOAC concentrations higher or lower than the expected range were 9.0% and 14.6% for trough, respectively, and 20.9% and 12.1% for peak, respectively. The average follow‐up duration was 2.4 ± 1.6 years. The incidence of stroke and systemic thromboembolism (SSE) was 1.31 per 100‐person years, and low trough concentration predicted SSE (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.78 (1.20, 6.46)). The incidence of major bleeding was 1.64 per 100‐person years, and high trough was associated with major bleeding (HR = 2.63 (1.09, 6.39)). The association between peak concentration and SSE or major bleeding was nonsignificant. Off‐label underdosing (odds ratio (OR) = 2.69 (1.70, 4.26)), once daily DOAC dosing (OR = 3.22 (2.07, 5.01)), and high creatinine clearance (OR = 1.02 (1.01, 1.03)) caused low trough concentration. Contrarily, congestive heart failure was significantly associated with high trough concentration (OR = 1.71 (1.01, 2.92)). In conclusion, trough DOAC concentration measurements should be considered among patients at risk of out‐of‐expected range DOAC concentrations.
This study aims to measure the plasma levels of rivaroxaban and apixaban among Asian patients with atrial fibrillation and compare the results with expected drug levels from clinical studies. A total ...of 73 patients taking rivaroxaban and 105 patients taking apixaban were enrolled. Peak and trough levels were measured using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The percentage of those with drug levels within the expected range reported in clinical studies was significantly higher in the apixaban group than in the rivaroxaban group, both for trough (84.8% vs. 64.4%; P = 0.002) and peak levels (76.9% vs. 33.8%; P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, kidney function, appropriate dose, and adherence, patients taking rivaroxaban were still less likely to have peak and trough levels within the expected drug levels. Our real‐world data suggests that Asian patients taking rivaroxaban are more likely to have out‐of‐expected drug levels than those taking apixaban.
Background Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a microbiota-derived metabolite, which is linked to vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis in cardiovascular (CV) diseases. But its effect in infectious ...diseases remains unclear. We conducted a single-center prospective study to investigate association of TMAO with in-hospital mortality in septic patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods Totally 95 septic, mechanically ventilated patients were enrolled. Blood samples were obtained within 24 h after ICU admission, and plasma TMAO concentrations were determined. Septic patients were grouped into tertiles according to TMAO concentration. The primary outcome was in-hospital death, which further classified as CV and non-CV death. Besides, we also compared the TMAO concentrations of septic patients with 129 non-septic patients who were admitted for elective coronary angiography (CAG). Results Septic patients had significantly lower plasma TMAO levels than did subjects admitted for CAG (1.0 vs. 3.0 mumol/L, p < 0.001). Septic patients in the lowest TMAO tertile (< 0.4 mumol/L) had poorer nutrition status and were given longer antibiotic courses before ICU admission. Circulating TMAO levels correlated positively with daily energy intake, the albumin and prealbumin concentration. Compared with those in the highest TMAO tertile, septic patients in the lowest TMAO tertile were at greater risk of non-CV death (hazard ratio 2.51, 95% confidence interval 1.21-5.24, p = 0.014). However, TMAO concentration was no longer an independent predictor for non-CV death after adjustment for disease severity and nutritional status. Conclusion Plasma TMAO concentration was inversely associated with non-CV death among extremely ill septic patients, which could be characterized as TMAO paradox. For septic patients, the impact of malnutrition reflected by circulating TMAO levels was greater than its pro-inflammatory nature. Keywords: Trimethylamine N-oxide, Gut microbiota, Sepsis, Nutrition, Inflammation
BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis and restenosis are inflammatory responses involving free radicals and lipid peroxidation and may be prevented/cured by antioxidant‐mediated lipid peroxidation inhibition. ...Salvianolic acid (Sal B), a water‐soluble antioxidant obtained from a Chinese medicinal herb, is believed to have multiple preventive and therapeutic effects against human vascular diseases. In this study the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of Sal B on oxidative stress were determined. RESULTS: In human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), Sal B reduced oxidative stress, inhibited low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and reduced oxidised LDL‐induced cytotoxicity. Sal B inhibited Cu²⁺‐induced LDL oxidation in vitro (with a potency 16.3 times that of probucol) and attenuated HAEC‐mediated LDL oxidation as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In cholesterol‐fed New Zealand White rabbits (with probucol as positive control), Sal B intake reduced Cu²⁺‐induced LDL oxidation, lipid deposition in the thoracic aorta, intimal thickness of the aortic arch and thoracic aorta and neointimal formation in the abdominal aorta. CONCLUSION: The data obtained in this study suggest that Sal B protects HAECs from oxidative injury‐mediated cell death via inhibition of ROS production. The antioxidant activity of Sal B may help explain its efficacy in the treatment of vascular diseases. Copyright
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