Accelerated Sizing of a Power Split Electrified Powertrain

Component sizing generally represents a demanding and time-consuming task in the development process of electrified powertrains. A couple of processes are available in literature for sizing the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) components. These processes employ either time-consuming global optimization techniques like dynamic programming (DP) or near-optimal techniques that require iterative and uncertain tuning of evaluation parameters like the Pontryagin's minimum principle (PMP). Recently, a novel near-optimal technique has been devised for rapidly predicting the optimal fuel economy benchmark of design options for electrified powertrains. This method, named slope-weighted energy-based rapid control analysis (SERCA), has been demonstrated producing results comparable to DP, while limiting the associated computational time by near two orders of magnitude. In this paper, sizing parameters for a power split electrified powertrain are considered that include the internal combustion engine size, the two electric motor/generator sizes, the transmission ratios, and the final drive ratio. The SERCA approach is adopted to rapidly evaluate the fuel economy capabilities of each sizing option in various driving missions considering both type-approval drive cycles and real-world driving profiles. While screening out for optimal sizing options, the implemented methodology includes drivability criteria along with fuel economy potential. Obtained results will demonstrate the agility of the developed sizing tool in identifying optimal sizing options compared to state-of-the-art sizing tools for electrified powertrains

Electrocardiographic manifestations in acute methanol poisoning cannot predict mortality

The aim of this retrospective observational case series was to determine electrocardiographic (ECG) manifestations in patients poisoned with methanol and see whether they could predict mortality. We also wanted to see whether there was an association between ECG changes and time elapsed between ingestion and treatment, age, sex, seizure, coma (Glasgow Coma Scale �8), arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters, and serum potassium levels on hospital admission. The study included 42 patients aged 31.14±12.5 years. Twenty-five survived and 17 died. Almost all patients had one or more abnormal ECG findings, including heart rate, rhythm, and conduction abnormalities. However, we found no significant difference between survivors and non-survivors. QTc interval did not correlate with time elapsed between ingestion and treatment, age, sex, seizure and coma, HCO3 -, or serum potassium level. Similarly, T waves showed no correlation with serum potassium. ECG abnormalities did not correlate with coma or seizure. Even though cardiotoxicity in methanol poisoning is high, none of the ECG abnormalities found in our study predicted mortality. This however does not rule out the need to routinely run ECG for cardiotoxicity in every single patient poisoned by methanol

Are there any association between matrix Gla protein (MGP) as a calcium scavenger and coronary artery stenosis?

Background: Matrix Gla protein chelates calcium ions from subendothelial space of the vessels to the circulation and is known to be a calcium scavenger. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the association of rs1800801G>A polymorphism, serum MGP and stenosis of coronary artery. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-two subjects who underwent coronary angiography were recruited. The controls (n=70) had normal coronary arteries (up to 5 stenosis). The patients (n=112) subdivided into the three subgroups: single-vessel disease (SVD), two-vessel disease (2VD) and three-vessel disease (3VD). Genotyping was performed by ARMS-PCR and serum MGP measured by ELISA kit.Results: The serum MGP and genotype distributions showed no significant difference in the patients compared to the control group (P=0.432 and P=0.079, respectively). In addition, there was no significant difference between rs1800801G>A frequency and gender (P=0.404), and also patient subgroups (P=0.473). AA+AG versus GG showed no association with the severity of the disease. Conclusion: A (rs1800801) polymorphism within the MGP promoter and serum MGP are not related to the stenosis of coronary artery, and total serum MGP can not be used as a diagnostic factor of coronary stenosis

Postinfarction intramyocardial dissection, an interesting case report and systematic review

Intramyocardial dissection (IMD) with ventricular septal rupture (VSR) following myocardial infarction (MI) is a rare subacute form of cardiac rupture. The evidence available in this regard is scarce. We aimed to share our experience and conduct a systematic review of previous cases. We searched the literature and performed a systematic review of previous cases. A total of 37 cases of IMD with VSR were included (1 our original and 36 literature cases). Mean age was 68 ± 8 years and 20 (54.1) patients were male. Anterior and inferior MI were observed in 14 (37.8) and 23 (62.2) cases, respectively. The dissected area was the septum, RV, both septum and RV, or LV apex in 21 (56.8), 9 (24.3), 5 (13.5), and 2 (5.4), respectively. Apicoseptal and inferoseptal VSR were observed in 15 (40.5) and 22 (59.5) cases, respectively. At least one occluded artery was observed in 29 (90.6) of cases. Reperfusion therapy was done for 15 (40.5) cases before the VSR occurred. Surgery, percutaneous, and medical therapy were done for 26 (70.3), 3 (8.1), and 7 (18.9) cases, respectively. The mortality rate was significantly higher in the medical versus surgical-treated group (85.7 versus 42.3, P =.027). There was a trend to higher mortality in the group with dissection of both septum and RV (P =.15). We concluded that echocardiography has a critical role in diagnosing this complication. Surgery is mandatory in IMD with VSR. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Assessing predictive power of the abdominal volume index compared to other anthropometric indices and its association with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases

Background and Objectives: Obesity is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and may increase the prevalence of these factors. This study aimed to assess predictive power of the abdominal volume index compared to other anthropometric indices and its association with the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study hired 300 men and non-pregnant women. Anthropometric parameters of the participants undergoing coronary angiography were measured based on the standard methods. Fasting blood samples were collected to assess hematologic parameters. Based on the result of angiography, participants were divided into two major groups with or without cardiovascular diseases. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to show relationships and ROC curves for the sensitivity and specificity of the best cut off points were used. Results: From 300 participants, 231 patients had cardiovascular diseases and 68 patients with no stenosis in their arteries. Results revealed that the abdominal volume index included significant negative relationships with HDL-c and positively associated with the rates of TG/HDL-c, TC/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c. Moreover, results showed that the abdominal volume index included the highest area under the curve (0/722), while the level of the waist-to-hip ratio included the lowest value (0/528). Conclusion: This study suggests that abdominal obesity is a significant risk factor for the onset and development of the cardiovascular diseases, and use of the abdominal volume index to identify at-risk individuals is essential to prevent the disease progression. © 2021, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute. All rights reserved

The Increase of pFAK and THBS1 Protein and Gene Expression Levels in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Histamine-treated M1 Macrophages

Atherosclerosis is developed due to the formation of atheroma plaques in the coronary arteries. In this process, M1 macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the main functional cells. Inflammatory mediators such as histamine may inflame M1 macrophages. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of M1 macrophage secretion contents on the gene and protein expression levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), and thrombospondin1 (THBS1). Whole blood samples from the six healthy subjects (stenosis<5), and six patients (stenosis>70) were prepared and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated. Then monocytes were differentiated into M1 macrophages using 100 ng/mL granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The differentiated M1 macrophages were treated with histamine (10 -6 M), and their secretion contents were harvested and added to the culture medium of VSMCs. The FAK, VASP, and THBS1 gene expression and protein levels were measured using RT-qPCR and western blot techniques in VSMCs, respectively. The FAK and THBS1 gene expression levels significantly increased in VSMCs after adding secretion contents obtained from histamine-treated M1 macrophages (p=0.023 and 0.05, respectively), while significant results were not observed for VASP gene (p=0.45). In converse with the phosphorylated VASP (pVASP) (p<0.34), the phosphorylated FAK (pFAK) and THBS1 protein levels increased in VSMCs (p<0.001). We concluded that in inflammatory conditions, the immune events could affect the macrophages by histamine. The activated macrophages could locally activate signaling pathways via FAK and THBS1 genes that are effective in the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Copyright© February 2019, Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. All rights reserved

Heparin enhances the effects of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in a rabbit model of acute myocardial infarction

Stem cell transplantation in combination with administration of bioactive compounds has shown promising results in treating myocardial infraction (MI). In the current study, we investigated the effect of combining mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation with heparin into the infarcted heart rabbits. For this purpose, 35 male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: sham, MI, MI+ MSCs, MI+ heparin and MI+MSCs+ heparin. MI was induced by 30 min ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The animals of MSCs and MSCs +heparin groups were injected cell culture containing MSCs intramyocardially into the infarct area. Functional parameters of the left ventricle by echocardiography, serum levels of VEGF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, size of fibrotic area by Masson's trichrome staining, evaluation of morphology by Haematoxylin-Eosin and capillary density alkaline phosphatase staining were compared between groups. Ejection fraction, fractional shortening and levels of VEGF significantly improved in MSCs and MSCs + heparin group (P < 0.05). The fibrotic area was significantly reduced (p=0.009) in MSC + heparin treated animals in comparison with MSCs. Number of live cells and angiogenesis were increased significantly in MSCs + heparin groups in comparison with MSCs (p < 0.05). Although injection of MSCs significantly restored normal function of fibrotic area, we found that administration of heparin combined with MSCs to infarcted heart of animals could have better effects on LV functional parameters in fibrosis area and resulted in superior therapeutic outcome in enhancing neovascularization and improving cardiac fibrosis. © Physiological Society of Nigeria

Vitronectin and Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Gene Expression Levels Are Increased in Patients with Coronary Artery In-Stent Restenosis

Neointimal hyperplasia is known as a main factor contributing to in-stent restenosis (ISR). Monocytes may play a central role in vessel restenosis process after stent implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (PLAU) and vitronectin (Vtn) gene expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples isolated from whole blood of 66 patients undergoing coronary artery angiography (22 controls, stenosis 70). The Vtn and PLAU gene expression levels were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique. The age- and gender-independent increases in the expression levels of Vtn (17-fold; p < 0.001) and PLAU (27-fold; p < 0.0001) genes were found in the patients with ISR as compared with the control group. The results suggested that the Vtn and PLAU genes may be involved in the coronary artery ISR. © Copyright 2017 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc

miR-181b and miR-204 suppress the VSMC proliferation and migration by downregulation of HCK

Background: VSMC proliferation and migration pathways play important roles in plaque formation in the vessel stenosis and re-stenosis processes. The microRNAs affect the expression of many genes that regulate these cellular processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of miR-181b, miR-204, and miR-599 on the gene and protein expression levels of hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) in VSMCs. Methods: miR-181b, miR-204 were predicted for the suppression of HCK in the chemokine signaling pathway using bioinformatics tools. Then, the VSMCs were transfected by PEI-containing microRNAs. The HCK gene and protein expression levels were evaluated using RT-qPCR and Western blotting techniques, respectively. Moreover, the cellular proliferation and migration were evaluated by MTT and scratch assay methods. Results: The miR-181b and miR-204 decreased significantly the HCK gene and (total and phosphorylated) protein expression levels. Also, the miR-599 did not show any significant effects on the HCK gene and protein levels. The data also showed that miR-181b, miR-204, and miR-599 prevent significantly the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Conclusion: The downregulation of HCK by miR-181b and miR-204 suppressed the VSMC proliferation and migration. © 202

Protective Role of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Conditioned Medium in the Infarcted Myocardium: The Potential Role of Selected Cytokines

This study examines the protective effects of mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned (CM) medium on heart tissue after induced myocardial infarction (MI). New Zealand White Rabbits were divided: MI, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) (300 µl), CM(300 µl) and Control. Echocardiography was applied, and the levels ofIL-6, TGF-β and TNF-α were analyzed using ELISA. All tests were done 1, 4 and 8 weeks after the surgery. Histological studies were done 8 weeks after surgery. CM group showed a significant improvement in cardiac function. The level of IL-6 increased significantly in all weeks after surgery in CM. While the level of TNF-α increased remarkebly in CM group in 4th week. TGF-β decreased significantly in CM group at all the times. Histological findings confirmed the tissue protection effect of CM. In conclusion, our results support the protective role of CM through its paracrine effects on the MI-induced heart