Assessing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Progression by Using Perivascular Adipose Tissue Attenuation on Computed Tomography Angiography

Zhang Shuai,Gu Hui,Chang Na,Li Sha,Xu Tianqi,Liu Menghan,Wang Ximing 대한영상의학회 2023 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.24 No.10

Objective: Recent studies have highlighted the active and potential role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in atherosclerosis and aneurysm progression, respectively. This study explored the link between PVAT attenuation and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression using computed tomography angiography (CTA). Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study analyzed patients with AAA who underwent CTA at baseline and follow-up between March 2015 and July 2022. The following parameters were obtained: maximum diameter and total volume of the AAA, presence or absence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT), maximum diameter and volume of the ILT, and PVAT attenuation of the aortic aneurysm at baseline CTA. PVAT attenuation was divided into high (> -73.4 Hounsfield units [HU]) and low (≤ -73.4 HU). Patients who had or did not have AAA progression during the follow-up, defined as an increase in the aneurysm volume > 10 mL from baseline, were identified. Kaplan–Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the association between PVAT attenuation and AAA progression. Results: Our study included 167 participants (148 males; median age: 70.0 years; interquartile range: 63.0–76.0 years), of which 145 (86.8%) were diagnosed with AAA accompanied by ILT. Over a median period of 11.3 months (range: 6.0–85.0 months), AAA progression was observed in 67 patients (40.1%). Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that high baseline PVAT attenuation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–4.32; P = 0.017) was independently associated with AAA progression. This association was demonstrated within the patients of AAA with ILT subcohort, where a high baseline PVAT attenuation (aHR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.08–4.60; P = 0.030) was consistently independently associated with AAA progression. Conclusion: Elevated PVAT attenuation is independently associated with AAA progression, including patients of AAA with ILT, suggesting the potential of PVAT attenuation as a predictive imaging marker for AAA expansion.

Improved oral bioavailability of capsaicin via liposomal nanoformulation: preparation, in vitro drug release and pharmacokinetics in rats

Yuan Zhu,Miaomiao Wang,Jiajia Zhang,Wei Peng,Caleb Kesse Firempong,Wenwen Deng,Qilong Wang,Shicheng Wang,Feng Shi,Jiangnan Yu,Ximing Xu,Weiming Zhang 대한약학회 2015 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.38 No.4

This study innovatively prepared an effectivecapsaicin-loaded liposome, a nanoformulation with fewerirritants, for oral administration. The in vitro and in vivoproperties of the liposomal encapsulation were investigatedand the potential possibility of oral administration evaluated. The liposomal agent composed of phospholipid, cholesterol,sodium cholate and isopropyl myristate was prepared usingfilm-dispersion method. A level A in vitro–in vivo correlation(IVIVC) was established for the first time, which demonstratedan excellent IVIVC of both formulated and freecapsaicin in oral administration. Physicochemical characterizationsincluding mean particle size, zeta (f) potentialand average encapsulation efficiency of capsaicin-loadedliposome were found to be 52.2 ± 1.3 nm, -41.5 ±2.71 mv and 81.9 ± 2.43 %, respectively. In vivo, liposomalencapsulation allowed a 3.34-fold increase in relativebioavailability compared to free capsaicin. The gastricmucosa irritation studies indicated that the liposomal systemwas a safe carrier for oral administration. These resultssupport the fact that capsaicin, an effective drug for thetreatment of neuropathic pain, could be encapsulated inliposome for improved oral bioavailability. The excellentIVIVC of capsaicin-loaded liposome could also be a promisingtool in liposomal formulation development with anadded advantage of reduced animal testing.

Synthesis of sulfonated catalyst from bituminous coal to catalyze esterification for biodiesel production with promoted mechanism analysis

Tang Xincheng,Niu Shengli,Zhao Shuang,Zhang Xiangyu,Li Ximing,Yu Hewei,Lu Chunmei,Han Kuihua 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.77 No.-

The carbon-based heterogeneous acid catalyst is synthesized from bituminous coal through the partialcarbonization and sulfonation method and applied to catalyze the esterification of oleic acid withmethanol for biodiesel production. Various characterization methods are used to explain catalyticfeatures and molecular simulation is conducted to analyze the promoted mechanism of acid catalyst inesterification. Carbon catalyst, prepared by partially carbonized at 350 C and sulfonated at 105 C,catalyzes esterification with biodiesel yield of 98.70%. Transition state analysis implies that acid catalystreduces the activation energy through providing proton to promote esterification.

Flexible Cu2O/Cu film self-powered photodetector for high visible light selection and fast response

Liu Yonghao,Zhao Dawei,Sun Ximing,Cui Feng,Zhang Shan,Shang Xue,Xuan Zhen,Xiao Juqing,Wang Jiapeng,Ren Yandong 한국물리학회 2024 Current Applied Physics Vol.58 No.-

Spectral selection is one of the key performance parameters for visible light photodetectors (VLPD). However, as the absorbing layer of the VLPD, the semiconductor has strong ultraviolet light absorption, leading to poor visible light selectivity of the VLPD. This work fabricated a flexible photovoltaic VLPD based on Cu2O/Cu Schottky junction by annealing Cu foil. Under zero bias, the Cu2O/Cu VLPD showed the responsivity of 14 mA/W, the response time of 1 ms, and the detectivity of 8.8 × 1011 Jones to 620 nm light. Moreover, the detection band of the device is in the range of 500–640 nm, indicating excellent visible light selectivity. Optical and electrical characterization shows that the high visible selectivity of the device is mainly attributed to the fact that the penetration depth of visible light in Cu2O film matches the position of the Cu2O/Cu Schottky junction. This, in turn, induces the effective separation of the photogenerated carriers excited by the visible light. In addition, the bend detection performance of the device is demonstrated. This work provides a reference for improving the spectral selectivity of visible photodetectors.

Clinical evaluation of suture materials for transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tear

( Takaaki Hiranaka ),( Takayuki Furumatsu ),( Yuki Okazaki ),( Keisuke Kintaka ),( Yusuke Kamatsuki ),( Ximing Zhang ),( Haowei Xue ),( Masanori Hamada ),( Toshifumi Ozaki ) 대한슬관절학회 2022 대한슬관절학회지 Vol.34 No.-

Background: There are no recommendations for specific suture materials in transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears using ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene sutures and suture tape. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 36 patients (27 women and 9 men, mean age 64.1 years) who had undergone transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears between November 2018 and December 2019. Two groups of 18 patients each received either two different cord-like sutures or suture tape. Clinical parameters were assessed preoperatively and on second-look arthroscopy (mean postoperative period 12 months). The meniscal healing status was assessed using a previously published scoring system (ranging from 0 to 10), and the incidence rate of suture cut-out was assessed on second-look arthroscopy. Results: All clinical scores significantly improved in both groups, with no significant between-group differences on second-look arthroscopy. The arthroscopic meniscal healing scores significantly differed between sutures (mean 6.7 points) and suture tape (mean 7.4 points; p = 0.044). No significant between-group difference in the suture cutout rate was observed. Conclusions: This study found no significant differences in the clinical outcomes between ultrahigh-molecularweight polyethylene sutures and suture tape. Favorable clinical outcomes were obtained using both types of suture; however, the usefulness of suture tape appears to be limited.