An extensive analysis of mechanical, thermal and physical properties of jute fiber composites with different fiber orientations

The study is aimed to find the effect of orientation of the woven jute fiber on the composites with epoxy matrix on the mechanical properties, thermal properties with different orientations (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60° & 75°) of jute fiber. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength of the prepared composites are obtained with ASTM standard specimens. The composite prepared with 30° orientation fiber has shown better properties compared to the other orientation directions. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The work has been carried out to predict the thermal properties of the prepared jute fiber composite specimens. DSC analysis revealed volatilization of the molecules induced the endothermal reaction, and the charring development caused the exothermal reaction. TGA curve peaks showed the removal of hemicellulose, decomposition of cellulose and lignin.Scopu

Platelet inhibition with ticagrelor 60 mg versus 90 mg twice daily in the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 trial

Background The PEGASUS-TIMI 54 (Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Prior Heart Attack Using Ticagrelor Compared to Placebo on a Background of Aspirin–Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 54) trial studied 2 doses of ticagrelor, 90 mg twice a day (bid) and 60 mg bid, for long-term prevention of ischemic events in patients with prior myocardial infarction. Both doses similarly reduced the rate of ischemic events versus placebo. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ticagrelor 60 mg bid have not been studied. Objectives In this study, the authors sought to study the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for ticagrelor 60 mg compared with 90 mg bid. Methods A total of 180 patients who received >4 weeks of study medication had blood sampling in the morning pre-maintenance dose and again 2 h post-dose. All patients received aspirin. Plasma levels of ticagrelor and its active metabolite AR-C124910XX were determined. P2Y12 inhibition was assessed by the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay (Accumetrics, Inc., San Diego, California) (P2Y12 reaction units [PRU]), light transmittance aggregometry (adenosine diphosphate 5 and 20 μmol/l and arachidonic acid), and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation assays. VerifyNow Aspirin assays and serum thromboxane B2 measurements were performed. Results Mean pre- and post-dose plasma levels of ticagrelor were 35% and 38% lower, respectively, with 60 mg versus 90 mg. Both doses achieved high levels of platelet inhibition pre- and post-dose, with numerically slightly more variability with 60 mg: mean (SD) pre-dose PRU values were 59 ± 63 and 47 ± 43 for ticagrelor 60 and 90 mg, respectively (p = 0.34). High platelet reactivity, determined as PRU >208, was rare with the 60-mg pre-dose and was absent post-dose. Platelet reactivity pre- and post-dose, as measured by light transmittance aggregometry or vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein assays, was numerically but not significantly lower with 90 mg than with 60 mg. Aspirin response was not affected by either dose. Conclusions Ticagrelor 60 mg bid achieved high levels of peak and trough platelet inhibition in nearly all patients, similar to that with 90 mg bid, helping to explain the efficacy of the lower ticagrelor dose in PEGASUS-TIMI 54

Consistent platelet inhibition with ticagrelor 60 mg twice-daily following myocardial infarction regardless of diabetes status

SummaryDiabetes increases cardiovascular risk and reduces pharmacodynamic response to some oral antiplatelet drugs. This study aimed to determine whether ticagrelor 60 mg twice daily (bid) provided potent and consistent platelet inhibition in patients with vs without diabetes in the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 platelet function substudy. Out of 180 patients studied, 58 patients were randomised to and had received at least four weeks of ticagrelor 60 mg bid, with 20 (34 %) having diabetes, 58 patients received ticagrelor 90 mg bid, with 12 (21 %) having diabetes, and 64 patients received placebo, with 18 (28 %) having diabetes. Blood was sampled pre- and 2 hours post-maintenance dose. In patients treated with ticagrelor 60 mg bid, on-treatment platelet reactivity to ADP, as determined by light transmission aggregometry (LTA), VerifyNow and VASP, was similar in patients with vs without diabetes (LTA post-dose, ADP 20 ?M: 29 ± 14 vs 34 ± 10 %, respectively; p = 0.19). A consistent inhibitory effect of ticagrelor 60 mg bid was observed pre- and post-dose regardless of diabetes status, even in insulin-treated patients. Patients with diabetes did not have an increased incidence of high platelet reactivity in either ticagrelor group. Platelet reactivity was similar in patients with diabetes treated with ticagrelor 60 mg vs 90 mg bid. Pharmacokinetics of ticagrelor were not affected by diabetes status. In conclusion, ticagrelor 60 mg bid is equally effective at reducing platelet reactivity in patients with and without diabetes, yielding a consistently high level of platelet inhibition regardless of diabetes status.</jats:p

Dual Heteroatom-Doped Carbon Monoliths Derived from Catalyst-free Preparation of Porous Polyisocyanurate for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Tris­(4-isocyanatophenyl)­methane (TIPM) and <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>′-dimethylformamide react at room temperature with no externally added catalyst to yield polyisocyanurate (PIR) gels. The obtained PIR gels were converted to N- and S-doped porous carbon monoliths by thermal treatment at 1000 °C with elemental sulfur under inert conditions. The PIR linkage acts as precursor for carbon and nitrogen, and %S doping was varied by changing the concentrations of elemental sulfur during pyrolysis. The optimized concentration of sulfur (5.6%) into the carbon matrix displayed excellent oxygen reduction activity with direct four-electron transfer relative to its pristine counterparts by (1) introducing micro- and mesopores in addition to the already existing macropores by etching the carbon surface (confirmed by N₂ sorption isotherms and microscopic images) with the increase in the external surface area providing more active centers and efficient diffusion of electrolyte ions, (2) providing more – C–S–C– active species than oxidized sulfur species (confirmed by XPS and FT-IR) with more oxygen adsorption sites, and (3) filling the micropores of the carbon as a monolayer, affording increased electronic conductivity to the amorphous carbon. This simple and facile method of incorporating N- and S- together into the porous carbon matrix can be considered as an alternate for nonprecious metal catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Nrf2 deficiency promotes apoptosis and impairs PAX7/MyoD expression in aging skeletal muscle cells

Skeletal muscle redox homoeostasis is transcriptionally regulated by nuclear erythroid-2-p45-related factor-2 (Nrf2). We recently demonstrated that age-associated stress impairs Nrf2-ARE (antioxidant response element) transcriptional signaling. Here, we hypothesize that age-dependent decline or genetic ablation of Nrf2 leads to accelerated apoptosis and skeletal muscle degeneration. Under basal-physiological conditions, disruption of Nrf2 significantly down regulates antioxidants and causes oxidative stress. Surprisingly, Nrf2-null mice had enhanced antioxidant capacity identical to wild-type (WT) upon acute endurance exercise stress (AEES), suggesting activation of Nrf2-independent mechanisms (i.e. PGC1α) against oxidative stress. Analysis of pro-survival pathways under the basal state reveals decreased Akt levels, while pp53, a repressor of Akt, was increased in Nrf2-null versus WT mice. Upon AEES, Akt and p-Akt levels were significantly (p<0.001) increased (>10 fold) along with profound down regulation of pp53 (p<0.01) in Nrf2-null versus WT skeletal muscle, indicating the onset of pro-survival mechanisms to compensate the loss of Nrf2 signaling. However, we found a decreased stem cell population (Pax7) and MyoD expression (differentiation) along with profound activation of ubiquitin and apoptotic pathways in Nrf2- null versus WT mice upon AEES, suggesting that compensatory pro-survival mechanisms failed to overcome the programed cell death and degeneration in skeletal muscle. Further, the impaired regeneration was sustained in Nrf2-null vs. WT mice after 1 week of post-AEES recovery. In an age-associated oxidative stress condition, ablation of Nrf2 results in induction of apoptosis and impaired muscle regeneration