Effect of C-type natriuretic peptide and amiodarone in Chinese patients with arrhythmia

Purpose: To compare the effect of C-type natriuretic peptide and amiodarone in Chinese patients with arrhythmia. Method: Chinese men and women aged 18 to 65 years with premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), were administered C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) - test group or amiodarone (study group) in ratio of 1:1 for 96 h. Patients in CNP group received infusion of synthetic human CNP (10 pmol/kg/min) for an initial 2 h, and then for 30 min every day until discharge. Patients in amiodarone group received initial dose of 1000 mg over the first 24 h. Change in PVCs from baseline was the primary efficacy endpoint. Secondary efficacy endpoint includes: change in PVCs-related symptom scores from baseline, change in ejection fraction of left ventricle (LV), end‑diastolic diameter of LV, and cardiac events as composite outcome (CCE). The effect of both treatments on hemodynamic and electrocardiography parameters, and safety were evaluated. Data from 200 patients were analyzed. Results: The CNP showed significantly greater decrease in the number of PVCs when compared to amiodarone (p < 0.005). Moreover, CNP was superior in alleviating PVCs- related symptoms when compared to amiodarone (p < 0.005). A similar trend of favorable effect of CNP was observed for other endpoints. Conclusion: The C-type natriuretic peptide offers significantly greater benefits of suppressing PVCs and related symptoms, and demonstrates significantly greater improvement of cardiac function and clinical outcome. Thus, CNP can be considered for further investigation as a suitable alternative in the management of ventricular arrhythmia with PVC among Chinese patients

One-Step Reinforcement and Deacidification of Paper Documents: Application of Lewis Base—Chitosan Nanoparticle Coatings and Analytical Characterization

To delay acidification and deterioration during natural aging, deacidification and reinforcement of paper manuscripts have been the most important technologies to prolong the life of objects. Herein, a novel approach for the conservation of paper manuscripts is proposed using chitosan nanoparticles as Lewis base that leads to both deacidification and strengthening of paper in one-step. Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared through physical ball grinding method and characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), laser particle size analyzer (LPSA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and atomic force microscope (AFM). To evaluate the resistance of chitosan nanoparticle coating, the mechanical properties of paper after artificial aging were evaluated using dry heat and hygrothermal accelerated aging methods. The SEM, EDX, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyze the interaction mechanism between chitosan and Shuxuan paper. The results show that the coated paper had superior durability with respect to pH, tensile strength, and folding endurance. There was a presence of protonated amines in the form of ammonium salts due to ionic bindings with free H+ in the acidified paper, and the remaining –NH2 could be used as a base reserve. Finally, the resulting coated papers displayed good antibacterial properties

Study on the relationships between the accumulation and translocation of dry matter and nitrogen and flower/pod development into seeds and seed yields in Chinese milk vetch

Further improvements to the yield potential of Chinese milk vetch seed are essential for the planting demand of green manure. Flower and pod development directly determines the number of seeds and the seed yield of Chinese milk vetch. However, the accumulation and translocation of dry matter and nitrogen between plant organs directly affects flower and pod development and morphological formation. There are few studies that analyse the relationship between the accumulation and transport of dry matter and nitrogen and the number of flowers, pods, grains and seed yield during Chinese milk vetch’s critical development period. This study aimed to determine the seed yield response to dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and translocation during the Chinese milk vetch growth period and to quantify the relationship between these factors to predict Chinese milk vetch seed yield. Experiments were performed during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 growing seasons at the Dayuzhuang experimental field. The first experiment involved five foliar application stages (late wintering stage, returning green stage, squaring stage, pre-flowering stage, and 5 days after flowering) and six foliar application concentrations of borate solution (0, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 6000 mg L-1). Experiment 2 included five foliar application stages (late wintering stage, returning green stage, squaring stage, pre-flowering stage, and 5 days after flowering) and six foliar application concentrations of paclobutrazol (0, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 mg L-1). When the dry matter mass in the full flowering stage was 3500–4500 kg hm-2, the seed yield reached more than 800 kg hm-2. When the translocated assimilates were stored in the vegetative organs before flowering, the assimilate translocation rate and their contributions to seed yield were 1500–1800 kg hm-2, 30–35%, and 28–38%, respectively, and the Chinese milk vetch seed yield was predicted to reach 800–1000 kg hm-2 at maturity. When the nitrogen translocation amount in the vegetative organs before flowering, the nitrogen translocation rate, and the contribution rate to the seed yield were 68–78 kg hm-2, 65–75%, and 75–85%, respectively, the Chinese milk vetch seed yield was predicted to reach 800–1000 kg hm-2 at maturity. If the accumulation and translocation index values of dry matter and nitrogen were lower or higher than the above ranges, the seed yield was lower than 800 kg hm-2. The results of this study revealed the mechanism by which dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and translocation affect the Chinese milk vetch seed yield. These findings enrich the seed yield formation theory of Chinese milk vetch. They provide an early determination and quantitative regulation of high and stable seed yield for Chinese milk vetch in the field and aid researchers to integrate multiple production technologies for the sustainable production of Chinese milk vetch

Study on the relationships between the accumulation and translocation of dry matter and nitrogen and flower/pod development into seeds and seed yields in Chinese milk vetch.

Further improvements to the yield potential of Chinese milk vetch seed are essential for the planting demand of green manure. Flower and pod development directly determines the number of seeds and the seed yield of Chinese milk vetch. However, the accumulation and translocation of dry matter and nitrogen between plant organs directly affects flower and pod development and morphological formation. There are few studies that analyse the relationship between the accumulation and transport of dry matter and nitrogen and the number of flowers, pods, grains and seed yield during Chinese milk vetch's critical development period. This study aimed to determine the seed yield response to dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and translocation during the Chinese milk vetch growth period and to quantify the relationship between these factors to predict Chinese milk vetch seed yield. Experiments were performed during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 growing seasons at the Dayuzhuang experimental field. The first experiment involved five foliar application stages (late wintering stage, returning green stage, squaring stage, pre-flowering stage, and 5 days after flowering) and six foliar application concentrations of borate solution (0, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 6000 mg L-1). Experiment 2 included five foliar application stages (late wintering stage, returning green stage, squaring stage, pre-flowering stage, and 5 days after flowering) and six foliar application concentrations of paclobutrazol (0, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 mg L-1). When the dry matter mass in the full flowering stage was 3500-4500 kg hm-2, the seed yield reached more than 800 kg hm-2. When the translocated assimilates were stored in the vegetative organs before flowering, the assimilate translocation rate and their contributions to seed yield were 1500-1800 kg hm-2, 30-35%, and 28-38%, respectively, and the Chinese milk vetch seed yield was predicted to reach 800-1000 kg hm-2 at maturity. When the nitrogen translocation amount in the vegetative organs before flowering, the nitrogen translocation rate, and the contribution rate to the seed yield were 68-78 kg hm-2, 65-75%, and 75-85%, respectively, the Chinese milk vetch seed yield was predicted to reach 800-1000 kg hm-2 at maturity. If the accumulation and translocation index values of dry matter and nitrogen were lower or higher than the above ranges, the seed yield was lower than 800 kg hm-2. The results of this study revealed the mechanism by which dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and translocation affect the Chinese milk vetch seed yield. These findings enrich the seed yield formation theory of Chinese milk vetch. They provide an early determination and quantitative regulation of high and stable seed yield for Chinese milk vetch in the field and aid researchers to integrate multiple production technologies for the sustainable production of Chinese milk vetch