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To evaluate the consistency on the target heart rate for exercise determined by simple target heart rate (sTHR) based on resting heart rate (HRrest) and heart rate at anaerobic threshold (HRAT) in cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) for patients with chronic heart failure. This is a retrospective cohort study, in which CHF patients who underwent CPET in Tongji Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Center Affiliated to Tongji University from March 2007 to December 2018 were enrolled. The clinical data of the patients from the electronic medical record system, HRrest and HRAT measured by CPET were collected. Patients were further divided into subgroups according to gender, age (<60 years group and ≥ 60 years group), with or without beta-blocker therapy and subgroup of heart failure (heart failure with reduced, mid-range and preserved ejection fraction). The sTHR (HRrest plus 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 bpm) and HRAT were all calculated in each patient. Paired t- test was used for the difference between the two methods, correlation analysis was shown by pearson analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for consistency test. A total of 547 CHF patients were enrolled, including 447 males (81.7%), aged 63 (56,69) years, with BMI of 25.2 (23.5,26.4) kg/m2 and LVEF of 45.0 (36.0, 52.0) %. The target heart rate determined by HRAT method was (93.59 ± 13.95) bpm, and its counterpart determined by HRrest plus 20 bpm (HRrest +20) was (93.16 ± 7.69) bpm. There was no significant difference between the two methods (P >0.05). However, it was statistically different between HRrest plus 10, 15, 25, 30 bpm and HRAT respectively (P <0.001). And HRrest +20 was positively correlated with HRAT (r = 0.418, P <0.001). Therefore, HRrest +20 below was regarded as sTHR. The ICC of the consistency test between sTHR and HRAT was 0.523,95%CI 0.435–0.596 (P < 0.001) in all patients (n = 547). In patients with beta-blocker therapy (n = 464), the ICC of sTHR and HRAT consistency test was 0.534,95%CI 0.441–0.612, P < 0.001; The ICC of the consistency test between sTHR and HRAT of patients without beta-blocker therapy (n = 83) was 0.407,95%CI 0.083–0.616, P < 0.05. In the sinus rhythm group (n = 466), the ICC of sTHR and HRAT consistency test was 0.527,95%CI 0.433–0.606, P < 0.001; The ICC of the consistency test between sTHR and HRAT of atrial fibrillation patients in group (n = 81) was 0.482,95%CI 0.195–0.667, P < 0.05.The ICC of the consistency test between sTHR and HRAT was 0.501,95%CI 0.338–0.623 (P < 0.001) in patients under 60 years old (n = 195); The ICC of the consistency test between sTHR and HRAT in patients ≥60 years old (n = 352) was 0.533,95%CI 0.424–0.621, P < 0.001. In the male group (n = 447), the ICC of sTHR and HRAT consistency test was 0.577,95%CI 0.491–0.649, P < 0.001; The ICC of the consistency test between sTHR and HRAT of female patients in group (n = 100) was 0.344,95%CI 0.025–0.559, P < 0.05. The ICC of sTHR and HRAT consistency test in HFrEF group (n = 170) was 0.395,95%CI 0.181–0.553, P < 0.01; The ICC values of the consistency test between sTHR and HRAT was 0.543, 95%CI 0.405–0.649 (P < 0.001) in patients with HFmrEF (n = 222); In HFpEF group (n = 155), the ICC of sTHR and HRAT consistency test was 0.620,95%CI 0.478–0.723, P < 0.001. The exercise target heart rate calculated by HRrest is consistent with that determined by HRAT in patients with CHF. For primary hospitals without CPET, exercise prescription equivalent to AT intensity for patients with CHF can be determined by HRrest. However, the target heart rate calculated by HRrest can't replace that determined by HRAT in this patient cohort completely. • In patients with CHF, the exercise target heart rate determined by HRrest plus 20 bpm is consistent with by AT. • It's feasible to develop exercise prescription equivalent to AT intensity for CHF patients by HRrest without CPET. • HRrest plus 20 bpm can be of clinical value in exercise therapy for CHF patients in primary hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article summarized our recent progress in theoretical designs for achieving super absorption in ultra-thin organic photovoltaic (OPV) films based on various planar OPV-on-metal and metal-OPV-metal structures. Three different structures were numerically simulated to demonstrate strongly enhanced optical absorption in ultra-thin OPV layers, which is polarization-independent and occurs over a wide range of incident angles in visible regime. Physical mechanisms associated with these super absorptive ultra-thin layers are analyzed and validated using numerical and analytical modeling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Systemic vasculitis is a heterogeneous group of multisystem autoimmune disorders characterized by inflammation of blood vessels. Although many progresses in diagnosis and immunotherapies have been achieved over the past decades, there are still many unanswered questions about vasculitis from pathological understanding to more advanced therapies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are double-layer phospholipid membrane vesicles harboring various cargoes. EVs can be classified into exosomes, microvesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies depending on their size and origin of cellular compartment. EVs can be released by almost all cell types and may be involved in physical and pathological processes including inflammation and autoimmune responses. In systemic vasculitis, EVs may have pathogenic involvement in inflammation, autoimmune responses, thrombosis, endothelium injury, angiogenesis and intimal hyperplasia. EV-associated redox reaction may also be involved in vasculitis pathogenesis by inducing inflammation, endothelial injury and thrombosis. Additionally, EVs may serve as specific biomarkers for diagnosis or monitoring of disease activity and therapeutic efficacy, i.e. AAV-associated renal involvement. In this review, we have discussed the recent advances of EVs, especially their roles in pathogenesis and clinical involvements in vasculitis. [Display omitted] • EVs can be released from activated or aging cells, and cells undergoing different types of programmed cell death. • Redox reactions may be involved in modulation of the release and biological functions of EVs. • EVs contribute to vasculitis through different pathogenic effects. • EVs may serve as biomarkers for diagnosis or monitoring of disease activity and therapeutic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously we identified four Tocilizumab mimotopes and antibodies induced by these mimotopes could bind to IL-6R (interleukin-6 receptor) and regulate the downstream signaling pathways. On the basis of obtained research data, we sought to investigate whether the therapeutic strategies by Tocilizumab mimotope vaccination could be effective in the renal fibrosis model and show the desired activity by inhibiting IL-6 signaling in current study. We immunized the mice with the Tocilizumab mimotope and then performed the unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) surgery. Masson-trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the renal fibrosis. The activations and differentiations of F4/80+ cells in the spleens and kidneys were detected by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Signaling pathways involved IL-6, pro-fibrotic and ferroptosis were analyzed by immunoblot assay. The free iron and lipid oxidation end product were performed by Prussian blue staining and immunohistochemistry. The injury and apoptosis in the kidneys were evaluated by immunofluorescence. The results showed the mimotope vaccination could reduce the level of fibrosis, injury and apoptosis by down-regulating the pro-fibrotic proteins, alleviating the activations and differentiations of macrophage F4/80+ cells in UUO models. IL-6/ERK signaling pathway was inhibited with the mimotope vaccination. The ferroptosis inhibited proteins significantly increased after the mimotope vaccination. On the contrary, the levels of free iron and lipid oxidation end product were observed to decrease in the mimotope treatment group. Our results suggested that the Tocilizumab mimotope vaccination might be an alternative therapy to against renal fibrosis. • The Tocilizumab mimotope can ameliorate renal fibrosis in the animal model. • The levels of fibrotic proteins decreased with the mimotope immunization. • The mimotope can reduce the macrophages in the kidney and spleen. • The mimotope can inhibit ERK but not STAT3 signaling. • The mimotope can inhibit ferroptosis in the kidney tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a disease with a high mortality and morbidity rate, and the pathogenesis of PE remains still unclear. We aimed to investigate the gene expression differences of the complement system in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with symptomatic PE and controls. Methods: Twenty cases of PE patients and twenty sex and age matched controls were recruited into the study. Human cDNA microarray analysis was used to detect the gene expression difference of the complement system between the two groups. Results: 1). Expression of twenty-one genes encoding complement components was detected. In PE patients, expression of the genes encoding C1qα, C1qβ, C4b, C5 and Factor P was significantly greater (P<0.05) than controls, while C6, C7, C9, mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and mannan-binding lectin serine peptidase 1 (MASP1) mRNAs were lower (P<0.05) than controls. 2). Expression of seven genes encoding complement receptors was examined. In PE patients, CR1, integrin αM, integrin αX and C5aR mRNAs were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01) compared with controls. 3). Seven genes encoding complement regulators were examined. The mRNA expression of CD59 and CD55 was significantly up-regulated (P<0.05), whereas Factor I mRNA was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05) in PE patients than controls. Conclusions: In PE patients, the mRNA expressions of complement components, receptors and regulators were unbalanced, suggesting dysfunction and/or deficiency of the complement system, which leads to decreased function of MAC-induced cell lysis in PE patients finally. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]