Search

Rivaroxaban is a direct factor Xa inhibitor used for the management of thromboembolic disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic profile, and bioequivalence of a generic and a branded rivaroxaban formulation (Xarelto) under fasted and fed conditions in healthy Chinese volunteers. An open‐label, randomized, single‐dose, 4‐period complete, and replicate crossover study in healthy Chinese volunteers was performed. A single oral dose of 20 mg of 2 rivaroxaban formulations was administered to 72 healthy volunteers, with 36 in the fasted group and 36 consuming a high‐fat diet. The evaluated pharmacokinetic parameters, including maximum rivaroxaban concentration, the area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC) from time 0 to the last measurable concentration, and AUC from time 0 to infinity, were assessed for BE. The plasma concentrations of rivaroxaban were measured by a validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. The geometric mean ratios with 90% confidence intervals of the maximum rivaroxaban concentration, AUC from time 0 to the last measurable concentration, and AUC from time 0 to infinity were all within the range of 80% to 125% under fasted and fed conditions. The within‐subject variability of the test and reference products was compared, and the upper limit of the 90% confidence intervals for the test‐to‐reference ratio of the within‐subject variability was <2.5, which indicated that the rivaroxaban test and the rivaroxaban reference formulation were bioequivalent. No serious adverse events were reported during either fasted or fed conditions of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although previous studies have reported the significant associations of sleep quality with gait speed and falls, the mechanisms underlying these associations are unclear. We aimed to examine the gender-specific associations of sleep quality with gait speed and falls among older adults and to explore the possible mediating effect of muscle strength on these relationships. Methods: Data were taken from wave 6 (2012–2013) of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA), including 7,664 participants aged 60 years and older. Sleep quality and falls were assessed by self-report. Gait speed was measured by the "timed walking test" and then adjusted by height. As an indicator of overall muscle strength, grip strength was measured by using the Smedley dynamometer. Baron and Kenny's causal steps and the Karlson/Holm/Breen method were used to examine the mediating effect. Results: Higher sleep quality was associated with the higher level of gait speed (β = 0.008, p = 0.031 in men; β = 0.008, p = 0.017 in women) and with lower prevalence of falls (OR = 0.878, 95% CI: 0.773, 0.998 in men; OR = 0.874, 95% CI: 0.792, 0.965 in women). Grip strength mediated these associations in men but not in women, and the mediating effects of grip strength can explain 23.74 and 11.01% of the total effect of sleep quality on gait speed and falls, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings help explain the mechanism underlying the associations of sleep quality with gait speed and falls. Effort to maintain the mobility of the older men should focus on improving both sleep quality and muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Synthetic ammonia is not only the basis of the fertilizer industry in China but also has the highest energy consumption and pollution emissions in the chemical industry. The objective of this study was to conduct a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of ammonia production based on different raw materials to identify the crucial processes and parameters and to provide suggestions for clean and sustainable development of the ammonia industry in China. Methods: Based on actual industrial data, this study comprehensively evaluated the resource consumption and pollution emissions caused by different raw material routes and coal-to-ammonia technologies from a life cycle perspective according to the LCA standards ISO 14040 series and using the CML 2001 method and identified the key environmental impact categories and stage contributions. In addition, the effects of various input parameters on the environmental burden were specified through sensitivity analysis. Accordingly, suggestions for improving the environmental performance of ammonia production are proposed. Results: The environmental burdens of the coal-based and coke oven gas-based routes were 1.43 and 1.7 times higher than that of the natural gas-based route, respectively. The significant differences were mainly reflected in the greenhouse effect, acidification, and fossil energy depletion. Advanced coal-to-ammonia technology, represented by coal water slurry gasification, showed a lower environmental burden than the traditional intermittent gasification technology, especially in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption. The GHG emissions involved in producing ammonia decreased from 3.88 to 2.18 kg per 1 kg of ammonia, and energy consumption decreased by approximately 17%, from 5.69 to 4.71 MJ. Conclusions: Coal is the main raw material used for ammonia production in China, and the results showed that the application of advanced coal gasification with energy-saving technologies can effectively improve the environmental performance of synthetic ammonia production in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]