Significantly Reduced Blood Pressure Measurement Variability for Both Normotensive and Hypertensive Subjects: Effect of Polynomial Curve Fitting of Oscillometric Pulses

This study aimed to compare within-subject blood pressure (BP) variabilities from different measurement techniques. Cuff pressures from three repeated BP measurements were obtained from 30 normotensive and 30 hypertensive subjects. Automatic BPs were determined from the pulses with normalised peak amplitude larger than a threshold (0.5 for SBP, 0.7 for DBP, and 1.0 for MAP). They were also determined from cuff pressures associated with the above thresholds on a fitted curve polynomial curve of the oscillometric pulse peaks. Finally, the standard deviation (SD) of three repeats and its coefficient of variability (CV) were compared between the two automatic techniques. For the normotensive group, polynomial curve fitting significantly reduced SD of repeats from 3.6 to 2.5 mmHg for SBP and from 3.7 to 2.1 mmHg for MAP and reduced CV from 3.0% to 2.2% for SBP and from 4.3% to 2.4% for MAP (all P<0.01). For the hypertensive group, SD of repeats decreased from 6.5 to 5.5 mmHg for SBP and from 6.7 to 4.2 mmHg for MAP, and CV decreased from 4.2% to 3.6% for SBP and from 5.8% to 3.8% for MAP (all P<0.05). In conclusion, polynomial curve fitting of oscillometric pulses had the ability to reduce automatic BP measurement variability

Associations between microstructural tissue changes, white matter hyperintensity severity, and cognitive impairment: an intravoxel incoherent motion imaging study

IntroductionWhite matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are a common age- and vascular risk factor-related disease and have been recognized to play an important role in cognitive impairment. However, it is still unclear what the mechanism of this effect is. In this study, intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) was employed to assess the microvasculature and parenchymal microstructure changes of WMHs and explore their relationship with cognitive function.MethodsForty-nine WMH patients and thirty-one healthy controls underwent IVIM imaging, a diffusion technique that provides parenchymal diffusivity D, intravascular diffusivity D*, and perfusion fraction f . The IVIM dual exponential model parameters were obtained in specific regions of interest, including deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMHs), periventricular white matter hyperintensities (PWMHs), and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). The independent-sample t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test was utilized to compare IVIM parameters between patients and controls. The Kruskal–Wallis test or one-way analysis of variance was used to compare IVIM parameters among DWMH, PWMH, and NAWM for patients. The Wilcoxon two-sample test or independent-sample t-test was used to assess the differences in IVIM parameters based on the severity of WMH. The multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to explore the factors influencing cognitive scores.ResultsWMH patients exhibited significantly higher parenchymal diffusivity D than controls in DWMH, PWMH, and NAWM (all p &lt; 0.05). IVIM parameters in the three groups (DWMH, PWMH, and NAWM) were significantly different for patients (all p &lt; 0.001). The severe WMH group had a significantly higher parenchymal diffusivity D (DWMH and PWMH) than mild WMH (both p &lt; 0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis identified D in DWMH and PWMH as influencing cognitive function scores (all p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionIVIM has the potential to provide a quantitative marker of parenchymal diffusivity for assessing the severity of WMH and may serve as a quantitative marker of cognitive dysfunction in WMH patients

The value of coordinated analysis of multimodal atherosclerotic plaque imaging in the assessment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events

BackgroundAlthough atherosclerosis (AS) can affect multiple vascular beds, previous studies have focused on the analysis of single-site AS plaques.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to explore the differences or similarities in the characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque found in the internal carotid artery, cerebral artery, and coronary artery between patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and those without events.MethodsPatients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent both high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) were retrospectively collected and categorized into the ASCVD group and the non-event group. The plaques were then categorized into culprit plaques, non-culprit plaques, and non-event plaques. Plaque morphological data such as stenosis, stenosis grades, plaque length (PL), plaque volume (PV), minimal lumen area (MLA), enhancement grade, and plaque composition data such as calcified plaque volume (CPV), fibrotic plaque volume (FPV), fibro-lipid plaque volume (FLPV), lipid plaque volume (LPV), calcified plaque volume ratio (CPR), fibrotic plaque volume ratio (FPR), fibro-lipid plaque ratio (FLPR), lipid plaque volume ratio (LPR), intraplaque hemorrhage volume (IPHV), and intraplaque hemorrhage volume ratio (IPHR)were recorded and analyzed.ResultsA total of 44 patients (mean age 66 years, SD 9 years, 28 men) were included. In cervicocephalic plaques, the ASCVD group had more severe stenosis grades (p = 0.030) and demonstrated significant differences in LPV, LPR, and CPV (p = 0.044, 0.030, 0.020) compared with the non-event group. In coronary plaques, the ASCVD group had plaques with greater stenosis (p &lt; 0.001), more severe stenosis grades (p &lt; 0.001), larger volumes (p = 0.001), longer length (p = 0.008), larger FLPV (p = 0.012), larger FPV (p = 0.002), and higher FPR (p = 0.043) compared with the non-event group. There were significant differences observed in stenosis (HR-VWI, CCTA: p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.001), stenosis grades (HR-VWI, CCTA: p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.001), plaque length (HR-VWI, CCTA: p = 0.028, p &lt; 0.001), and plaque volume (HR-VWI, CCTA: p = 0.013, p = 0.018) between the non-event plaque, non-culprit plaque, and culprit plaque. In the image analysis of HR-VWI, there were differences observed between IPHR (p &lt; 0.001), LPR (p = 0.001), FPV (p = 0.011), and CPV (p = 0.015) among the three groups of plaques. FLPV and FPV were significantly different among the three different plaque types from the coronary artery (p = 0.043, p = 0.022).ConclusionThere is a consistent pattern of change in plaque characteristics between the cervicocephalic and coronary arteries in the same patient

Polyvinyl butyral composites containing halloysite nanotubes/reduced graphene oxide with high dielectric constant and low loss

Polymer-based composites with high dielectric constant and low loss are highly desirable due to their inherent advantages of easy processability, flexibility, and lightweight. Herein, a functional nanofillers, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid microstructures (HNTs@rGO) was successfully prepared via controllable electrostatic self-assembly and in-situ heat reduction method. These hybrid microstructures combine characteristics of natural 1D ceramic nanotubes with large aspect ratio and high electric conductivity of rGO micro-sheets, which provided ideal material collocation in the construction of microcapacitors. The HNTs not only effectively prevented direct contact between the rGO micro-sheets in the composites but also played an important role in forming dielectric interface within microcapacitors. Consequently, an HNTs@rGO/polyvinyl butyral (PVB) composites containing a very low content of 5wt% rGO exhibited an ultra-high dielectric constant of 150 and an extremely low loss of 0.12 at 103 Hz. It is believed that the unique characteristics and facile fabrication process of HNTs@rGO/PVB composite make it a potentially excellent candidate for flexible polymer-based dielectric materials applied in the capacitor fields

Table1_The value of coordinated analysis of multimodal atherosclerotic plaque imaging in the assessment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.docx

BackgroundAlthough atherosclerosis (AS) can affect multiple vascular beds, previous studies have focused on the analysis of single-site AS plaques.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to explore the differences or similarities in the characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque found in the internal carotid artery, cerebral artery, and coronary artery between patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and those without events.MethodsPatients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent both high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) were retrospectively collected and categorized into the ASCVD group and the non-event group. The plaques were then categorized into culprit plaques, non-culprit plaques, and non-event plaques. Plaque morphological data such as stenosis, stenosis grades, plaque length (PL), plaque volume (PV), minimal lumen area (MLA), enhancement grade, and plaque composition data such as calcified plaque volume (CPV), fibrotic plaque volume (FPV), fibro-lipid plaque volume (FLPV), lipid plaque volume (LPV), calcified plaque volume ratio (CPR), fibrotic plaque volume ratio (FPR), fibro-lipid plaque ratio (FLPR), lipid plaque volume ratio (LPR), intraplaque hemorrhage volume (IPHV), and intraplaque hemorrhage volume ratio (IPHR)were recorded and analyzed.ResultsA total of 44 patients (mean age 66 years, SD 9 years, 28 men) were included. In cervicocephalic plaques, the ASCVD group had more severe stenosis grades (p = 0.030) and demonstrated significant differences in LPV, LPR, and CPV (p = 0.044, 0.030, 0.020) compared with the non-event group. In coronary plaques, the ASCVD group had plaques with greater stenosis (p ConclusionThere is a consistent pattern of change in plaque characteristics between the cervicocephalic and coronary arteries in the same patient.</p

DataSheet_1_Citrus Huanglongbing correlated with incidence of Diaphorina citri carrying Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and citrus phyllosphere microbiome.docx

In China, citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease is caused by the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus bacterium, which is carried by the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. It was hypothesized that the epidemic of the HLB may related with the rate of bacterium presence in the insect vector and bacterium content in plant tissues, as well as the phyllosphere microbe communities changes. This study systematically analyzed the presence or absence of Ca. L. asiaticus in citrus tree leaves and in the insect vector D. citri over a 6-year period using real-time PCR. In addition, changes in the number of bacteria carried by D. citri over 12 months were quantified, as well as the relationship between the proportion of D. citri carrying Ca. L. asiaticus and the proportion of plants infected with Ca. L. asiaticus were analyzed. Results showed that the proportion of D. citri carrying bacteria was stable and relatively low from January to September. The bacteria in citrus leaves relatively low in spring and summer, then peaked in December. The proportion of D. citri carrying bacteria gradually declined from 2014 to 2019. The proportion of D. citri carrying Ca. L. asiaticus showed a significant positive correlation with the proportion of diseased citrus. The phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities on the healthy citrus leaf were significantly different with the disease leaf in April and December. Pathogenic invasions change the citrus phyllosphere microbial community structure. It could be summarized that citrus Huanglongbing correlated with incidence of Diaphorina citri carrying Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and citrus phyllosphere microbiome.</p