Pheochromocytoma with acute heart failure as a complication-emphasis on the etiology of acute heart failure for diagnosis and treatment: a case report.

Background: The primary causes of heart failure include myocardial damage and structural abnormalities. In addition to cardiovascular disease, noncardiovascular disease can also lead to heart failure. Identifying these etiologies is critical for accurate diagnosis and timely, targeted treatment.

Construction of Organic-Inorganic Solid Electrolyte Interphase by Gas-Liquid Plasma for High Performance Lithium Metal Anodes.

The construction of high-quality solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Li metal is one of the key strategies to improve the performance of Li metal anodes. Herein, we propose a novel gas-liquid hybrid source plasma technology to construct composite SEI consisting of organic lithium methyl carbonate (LMC) and inorganic lithium nitride (LiN) and lithium oxide (LiO) on the lithium metal. Supported by the theoretical calculation, the inorganic LiN and LiO phases possess low diffusion barrier potentials, favorable for fast Li transportation, and enhanced lithophilicity.

Achieving High-Rate and Stable Sodium-Ion Storage by Constructing Okra-Like NiS/FeS@Multichannel Carbon Nanofibers.

Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) are considered as promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high theoretical capacities. However, the relatively low electrical conductivity, large volume variation, and easy aggregation/pulverization of active materials seriously hinder their practical application. Herein, okra-like NiS/FeS particles encapsulated in multichannel N-doped carbon nanofibers (NiS/FeS@MCNFs) are fabricated by a coprecipitation, electrospinning, and carbonization/sulfurization strategy.

Juice Vesicles Bioreactors Technology for Constructing Advanced Carbon-Based Energy Storage.

The construction of high-quality carbon-based energy materials through biotechnology has always been an eager goal of the scientific community. Herein, juice vesicles bioreactors (JVBs) bio-technology based on hesperidium (e.g.

Alisma Shugan Decoction attenuates hepatic fibrosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis.

Background: Over the years, Alisma Shugan Decoction (ASD), because of its potent anti-inflammation activity, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treatment of many inflammation-associated disorders including those of the heart, blood vessel and brain.

Methods: Herein, we examined the probable therapeutic effect of ASD in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury and fibrosis mice models.

Results: Our results demonstrate that ASD dose-dependently reduced the fibrosis-related increased collagen deposition secondary to liver tissue exposure to CCl4.

Effect of Cobalt on Lifetime of SbOCl-Graphene Anode in Chloride-Ion Batteries.

Anode materials based on metal oxychlorides hold promise in addressing electrode dissolution challenges in aqueous-based chloride ion batteries (CIBs). However, their structural instability following chloride ion deintercalation can lead to rapid degradation and capacity fading. This paper investigates a cobalt-doped SbOCl-graphene (Co-SbOCl@GO) composite anode for aqueous-based CIBs.

An Advanced Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

All-solid-state lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are regarded as one of the most viable energy storage devices and their comprehensive properties are mainly controlled by solid electrolytes and interface compatibility. This work proposes an advanced poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) based gel polymer electrolyte (AP-GPEs) via functional superposition strategy, which involves incorporating butyl acrylate and polyethylene glycol diacrylate as elastic optimization framework, triethyl phosphate and fluoroethylene carbonate as flameproof liquid plasticizers, and LiLaZrO nanowires (LLZO-w) as ion-conductive fillers, endowing the designed AP-GPEs/LLZO-w membrane with high mechanical strength, excellent flexibility, low flammability, low activation energy (0.137 eV), and improved ionic conductivity (0.

Spatially Confined FeS Nanoparticles Anchored on a Porous Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanosheet Skeleton for High-Rate and Durable Sodium Storage.

Iron sulfides are widely explored as anodes of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to high theoretical capacities and low cost, but their practical application is still impeded by poor rate capability and fast capacity decay. Herein, for the first time, we construct highly dispersed FeS nanoparticles anchored on a porous N-doped carbon nanosheet (CN) skeleton (denoted as FeS/NC) with high conductivity and numerous active sites facile ion adsorption and thermal evaporation combined procedures coupled with a gas sulfurization treatment. Nanoscale design coupled with a conductive carbon skeleton can simultaneously mitigate the above obstacles to obtain enhanced structural stability and faster electrode reaction kinetics.

Solid-State Electrolytes in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Latest Progresses and Prospects.

Solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries (SSLSBs) have attracted tremendous research interest due to their large theoretical energy density and high safety, which are highly important indicators for the development of next-generation energy storage devices. Particularly, safety and "shuttle effect" issues originating from volatile and flammable liquid organic electrolytes can be fully mitigated by switching to a solid-state configuration. However, their road to thecommercial application is still plagued with numerous challenges, most notably the intrinsic electrochemical instability of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) materials and their interfacial compatibility with electrodes and electrolytes.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel small molecules acting as Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction inhibitors.

Direct interference with Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction (PPI) has recently been introduced as an attractive approach to control life-threatening diseases like myocarditis. The present study aimed to investigate the potential application in myocarditis of a series of novel non-naphthalene derivatives as potential Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitors. Our results indicated that the optimal compound displayed the highest metabolic stability and showed notable Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitory activities .

Spatially Confined Synthesis of SnSe Spheres Encapsulated in N, Se Dual-Doped Carbon Networks toward Fast and Durable Sodium Storage.

On account of the high theoretical capacity and preferable electrochemical reversibility, tin selenides have emerged as potential anode materials in the field of sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Unfortunately, the large volume changes, low electrical conductivity, and shuttling effect of polyselenides have impeded their real application. In this work, we present a spatially confined reaction approach for controllable fabrication of SnSe spheres, which are embedded in polydopamine (PDA)-derived N, Se dual-doped carbon networks (SnSe@NSC) through a one-step carbonization and selenization method.

Multifunctional Hyphae Carbon Powering Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Biotechnology can bring new breakthroughs on design and fabrication of energy materials and devices. In this work, a novel and facile biological self-assembly technology to fabricate multifunctional Rhizopus hyphae carbon fiber (RHCF) and its derivatives on a large scale for electrochemical energy storage is proposed. Crosslinked hollow carbon fibers are successfully prepared by conversion of Rhizopus hyphae, and macroscopic production of centimeter-level carbon balls consisting of hollow RHCFs is further realized.

A Powerful One-Step Puffing Carbonization Method for Construction of Versatile Carbon Composites with High-Efficiency Energy Storage.

Carbon materials play a critical role in the advancement of electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Currently, it is still a great challenge to fabricate versatile carbon-based composites with controlled morphology, adjustable dimension, and tunable composition by a one-step synthesis process. In this work, a powerful one-step maltose-based puffing carbonization technology is reported to construct multiscale carbon-based composites on large scale.

Association of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level with adverse outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A meta-analysis.

Background: Studies evaluating the association of blood level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with adverse prognosis have yielded conflicting results in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This meta-analysis sought to evaluate the prognostic value of blood level of NT-proBNP in patients with AMI.

Methods: Two authors independently searched articles in PubMed and Embase databases up to June 13, 2021.

Alisma Shugan Decoction (ASD) Ameliorates Hepatotoxicity and Associated Liver Dysfunction by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and p65/Nrf2/JunD Signaling Dysregulation In Vivo.

BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis, defined as the aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagen in the liver, is a common feature of chronic liver disease, and often culminates in portal hypertension, liver cirrhosis, and hepatic failure. Though therapeutically manageable, fibrosis is not always successfully treated by conventional antifibrotic agents. While the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Alisma Shugan Decoction (ASD) has several health benefits, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and limitation of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, it remains unclear if it has any hepato-protective potential.

Boosting fast energy storage by synergistic engineering of carbon and deficiency.

Exploring advanced battery materials with fast charging/discharging capability is of great significance to the development of modern electric transportation. Herein we report a powerful synergistic engineering of carbon and deficiency to construct high-quality three/two-dimensional cross-linked TiNbO@C composites at primary grain level with conformal and thickness-adjustable boundary carbon. Such exquisite boundary architecture is demonstrated to be capable of regulating the mechanical stress and concentration of oxygen deficiency for desired performance.

Atomic Layer Deposition-Assisted Construction of Binder-Free Ni@N-Doped Carbon Nanospheres Films as Advanced Host for Sulfur Cathode.

Rational design of hybrid carbon host with high electrical conductivity and strong adsorption toward soluble lithium polysulfides is the main challenge for achieving high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Herein, novel binder-free Ni@N-doped carbon nanospheres (N-CNSs) films as sulfur host are firstly synthesized via a facile combined hydrothermal-atomic layer deposition method. The cross-linked multilayer N-CNSs films can effectively enhance the electrical conductivity of electrode and provide physical blocking "dams" toward the soluble long-chain polysulfides.

Implanting Niobium Carbide into Trichoderma Spore Carbon: a New Advanced Host for Sulfur Cathodes.

Tailored construction of advanced carbon hosts is playing a great role in the development of high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Herein, a novel N,P-codoped trichoderma spore carbon (TSC) with a bowl structure, prepared by a "trichoderma bioreactor" and annealing process is reported. Moreover, TSC shows excellent compatibility with conductive niobium carbide (NbC), which is in situ implanted into the TSC matrix in the form of nanoparticles forming a highly porous TSC/NbC host.

Spore Carbon from Aspergillus Oryzae for Advanced Electrochemical Energy Storage.

Development of novel advanced carbon materials is playing a critical role in the innovation of electrochemical energy storage technology. Hierarchical porous spore carbon produced by Aspergillus oryzae is reported, which acts as a biofactory. Interestingly, the spore carbon not only shows a porous maze structure consisting of crosslinked nanofolds, but also is intrinsically N and P dual doped.

[Effect of combination of Chinese and Western medicines on sinus rhythm maintenance in patients with auricular fibrillation after conversion].

Objective: To investigate the curative effects of irbesartan, amiodarone and Wenxin Granule (WG), applied alone or in combination, on sinus rhythm maintenance in patients with auricular fibrillation (AF) after conversion.

Methods: Forty-one patients of persistent AF, after their fibrillation being converted, were divided into three groups randomly, and treated with amiodarone (group A, n=14), irbesartan and amiodarone (group B, n=15), and WG plus irbesartan and amiodarone (group C, n=12) respectively for 6 months.

Results: Compared with that before treatment, the inner diameter of atria sinistrum reduced in group B and C, and the reduction in the latter was superior to that in the former (P < 0.