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It is unknown whether the sex difference whereby female transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) candidates had a lower risk profile, a higher incidence of in-hospital complications, but more favorable short- and long-term survival observed in tricuspid cohorts undergoing TAVR would persist in patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs). The aim of this study was to reexamine the impact of sex on outcomes following TAVR in patients with BAVs. In this single-center study, patients with BAVs undergoing TAVR for severe aortic stenosis from 2012 to 2021 were retrospectively included. Baseline characteristics, aortic root anatomy, and in-hospital and 1-year valve hemodynamic status and survival were compared between sexes. A total of 510 patients with BAVs were included. At baseline, women presented with fewer comorbidities. Men had a greater proportion of Sievers type 1 BAV, higher calcium volumes (549.2 ± 408.4 mm3 vs 920.8 ± 654.3 mm3; P < 0.001), and larger aortic root structures. Women experienced more vascular complications (12.9% vs 4.9%; P = 0.002) and bleeding (11.1% vs 5.3%; P = 0.019) and higher residual gradients (16.9 ± 7.7 mm Hg vs 13.2 ± 6.4 mm Hg; P < 0.001), while men were more likely to undergo second valve implantations during index TAVR (6.3% vs 15.9%; P = 0.001). Death at 1 year was not significantly different between sexes (HR: 1.15; 95% CI: 0.56-2.35; P = 0.70). Bleeding (adjusted HR: 4.62; 95% CI: 1.51-14.12; P = 0.007) was the single independent predictor of 1-year death for women. In patients with BAVs undergoing TAVR, women presented with fewer comorbidities, while men had a greater proportion of type 1 BAV, more calcification, and larger aortic roots. In-hospital outcomes favored men, with fewer complications except for the need for second valve implantation, but 1-year survival was comparable between sexes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Molasses-based distilleries are one of the most vulnerable to pollution industries, which always generate large volumes of high strength vinasse. Recently, one of the most effective re-applications/reuse of vinasse is concentrating the molasses vinasse to prepare as fodder additive for animal food. However, the dosage of molasses vinasse to be added as animal feed is always limited because of the unexpectedly high potassium content in molasses vinasse. In present study, potassium ions were firstly extracted from molasses vinasses using a strong acid–cation exchange resin, and then desorbed from the resin and dissolved into the eluate by H2SO4 solution as the strong acid–cation exchange resin was regenerated. Finally, evaluation to recycle and reuse the mother liquor (once-used eluant), after extracting K2SO4 crystals from the eluant, was investigated. Results indicated that using the mother liquor to elute the resin column which absorbing K+ from molasses vinasse was a potential means for industrial production of potassium salt. Meanwhile, the molasses vinasse which has removed most potassium ions might be used as animal feed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Six betacyanins were extracted and identified from red beetroot. • XPS and FT-IR spectrum showed the presence of betacyanin on the surface of SeNPs. • Betacyanin enhanced the stability and bioactivity of SeNPs. • Bc@SeNPs-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells was mediated through mitochondrial pathway. Over the past few years, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs)-mediated chemotherapy has aroused extensive attention for its low toxicity and high anti-tumor properties. However, the stability and anti-tumor properties of SeNPs require further improvement. In this study, betacyanin (Bc), a natural bioactive compound, was designed to decorate SeNPs with substantial anticancer efficacy. As revealed from the results, Bc-modified SeNPs (Bc@SeNPs) exhibited an average size of 133 nm and remained in a stable state for at least 1 month. Besides, the Bc@SeNPs exhibited a higher antioxidant activity and bioavailability compared with those of naked SeNPs. Moreover, Bc@SeNPs potentiated chemotherapy was demonstrated to exhibit superior in vitro anti-tumor efficacy against HepG2 hepatoma carcinoma cells, which could activate caspase cascade and induce mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Overall, this study developed a novel strategy to increase the added value of red beet, and it was proved that Bc-functionalized SeNPs can act as potential chemotherapeutic agents for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Despite strong evidence linking decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to worse cardiovascular outcome, the impact of eGFR on mortality in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with different left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) is not well defined. Methods A retrospective cohort study. From Jul. 2008 to Jan. 2012, consecutive patients with CAD of West China Hospital were enrolled and were grouped into 3 eGFR categories: ≥ 90, 60–90, and < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Patients with EF ≥ 50% or < 50% were defined as preserved EF or reduced EF, respectively. The endpoints were all-cause mortality and cardiac mortality. Results There are 2161 patients according to the inclusion criteria and follow-up requirement. The mean follow-up time was 30.97 ± 11.70 months. Cumulative survival curves showed that in patients with reduced EF, renal insufficiency significantly increases all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in a graded fashion (mortality rate, moderate or severe vs. normal: 29.3% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.001; cardiac mortality rate, moderate or severe vs. normal: 18.2% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.001, respectively). Cox regression analysis showed that in CAD patients with reduced EF, moderate to severe renal insufficiency increased all-cause mortality by 6.10-fold (HR 6.10, 95% CI 2.50 to 14.87) and cardiac mortality by 4.10-fold (HR 4.10, 95% CI 1.51 to 11.13). Use of beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and statins was associated with decreased risk of mortality, but the use was lower in renal insufficiency patients, especially in combination of reduced EF. Conclusion This study has found that the effect of renal function on prognosis in patients with CAD is closely related to cardiac function. In patients with reduced EF, renal insufficiency accompanies the higher risks of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. A higher number of treatments from beta-blocker, ACEIs or ARBs, and statin therapy were associated with decreased risk of mortality, even in the combination of renal insufficiency or declining cardiac function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure heterogeneity of emulsion films impaired their physical performances. This work attempted to fabricate novel high-barrier chitosan (CH) emulsion films by manipulating emulsion's interface architecture via Pickering stabilization approach. Some selected physical properties, including tensile property, water vapor permeability (WVP), and oxygen permeability (OP) as well as the microstructure of the films were evaluated. Film-forming emulsions (FFEs) based on zein/chitosan colloid particles-stabilized Pickering emulsions (ZCCPEs) were extremely stable, evidenced by the similar droplets size and size distribution in the FFEs and film matrix, endowing the films with homogeneous distributions of lipid droplets over their 3D network matrix. Interestingly, emulsion films exhibited excellent oxygen-barrier efficiency, and the OP of the films was decreased by 1−4 orders of magnitude when compared with CH films. This phenomenon may be associated with the novel interfacial architecture of ZCCPEs as well as film microstructure morphology based on ordered assembles of CH matrix and ZCCPEs. A schematic diagram for the formation pathway of ZCCPEs-loaded CH emulsion films was proposed to establish structure-function relationships of the films. This study opens a promising pathway for producing emulsion films with excellent oxygen-barrier capability via Pickering stabilization principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for simultaneous determination of 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI), 2-methylimidazole (2-MeI) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in beverages was developed using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and amino trap column coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (AMTC-PAD). A single amino trap column (P/N: 046122) was first applied to separate the targeted analytes in samples after SPE pretreatment. This method demonstrated low limit of quantification (0.030 mg/L for methylimidazoles and 0.300 mg/L for HMF) and excellent linearity with correlation of determination ( R 2 = 0.999 for 2-MeI, 0.997 for 4-MeI and 0.998 for HMF). Nearly no 2-MeI was found in all soft drinks. However, 4-MeI could be detected in cola drinks and soft drinks containing caramel colour (ranging from 0.13 to 0.34 mg/L), whereas HMF were only found in cola drinks (ranging from 1.07 to 4.47 mg/L). Thus, AMTC-PAD technique would be a valid and inexpensive alternative to analysis of 4-MeI, 2-MeI and HMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 plays a key role in clopidogrel activation and thus impacts the clinical outcome of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the majority of patients with CAD gradually discontinue clopidogrel after one year of discharge. This study explored whether the CYP2C19 gene polymorphism was associated with clinical events in patients with CAD after one year of discharge. Method: Between July 2008 and July 2009, 506 patients with CAD that was confirmed by coronary angiography were enrolled in this study, and their CYP2C19 genotype was determined. The primary endpoint events included cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and nonfatal stroke. The secondary endpoint events included the components of the primary endpoint events, all-cause mortality and recurrent revascularisation. Result: The baseline clinical characteristics of CYP2C19*2-mutation carriers (homozygous *2/*2, n = 49; heterozygous *1/*2, n = 222) and non-carriers (wild-type allele *1/*1, n = 235) were comparable. The follow-up results showed that the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events within one year of discharge was significantly higher in carriers of the CYP2C19*2 homozygous genotype (*2/*2) than non-carriers (12.24% vs. 3.83%, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 4.651, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.566–13.814, p = 0.006). However, the follow-up results after one year of discharge showed that the risk of the CYP2C19*2 homozygous genotype were significantly reduced. New primary endpoint events during the second year after discharge had no significant correlation with the CYP2C19 genotype. Conclusion: The risk of cardiovascular events in CAD patients with a homozygous CYP2C19*2 mutation was significantly higher than in other patients within the first year after discharge. However, the adverse impact of the CYP2C19*2 polymorphism was significantly reduced after one year of discharge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]