Coagulation Mechanism Research Articles

Circulating Biomarkers in Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction is an underdiagnosed pathologic process that is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Biomarkers, molecules measurable in the blood, could inform the clinician by aiding in the diagnosis and management of coronary microvascular dysfunction. We present an updated review of circulating biomarkers in coronary microvascular dysfunction representing key pathologic processes, including inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, coagulation, and other mechanisms.

The coagulation behavior and removal efficiency of microplastics in drinking water treatment

As a kind of emerging contaminants, microplastics (MPs) have got great attention due to its worldwide distribution, ecotoxicology and difficult to remove. MPs have already been found in the drinking water because of its low removal efficiency during drinking water treatment. As an important process to remove the particles in water, the coagulation behavior of MPs with different characteristics is still not clear. Besides that, research about the removal of MPs by coagulation is on the initial stage and the results are not consistent. This article studied on the MPs which were hard to be removed during the coagulation by conventional coagulation methods during the drinking water treatment, aimed to found the influence of MPs characteristics on the coagulation behavior, explore the removal efficiency of MPs under optimal coagulation conditions and infer the coagulation mechanisms of MPs. According to the results of this article, size and concentration of MPs both had significant effect on the coagulation, but the size of MPs was the main impact factor, and the category of MPs had no significant effect on the coagulation. After operating condition optimization, the removal efficiency of MPs with size ≥13 μm could reach >70 % by PAC and PAM. During coagulation process, electrical neutralization of PAC played the most important role, the adsorption bridging and net sweeping of PAM could assistant the coagulation.

Cost-Effective FeIVO2+ Generation for Antibiotics Removal in Electrochlorination of Mariculture Wastewater

Organic decontamination in saline wastewater was limited in the·OH-dominated oxidation processes due to the inevitable emergence of chlorinated byproducts, and the electrochlorination process could degrade the contaminants utilizing the inherent Cl– ions but shared the same problem. To solve this problem, an iron electrode was integrated to the electrochlorination system as a second anode, and 100% organic pollutant removal can be achieved. In the iron-modified electrochlorination (IMEC) process, Fe2+ from the iron anode could react with the electrogenerated HClO, inducing the steady generation of iron-oxo (FeIVO2+) by a radical scavenger, probe experiments, and DFT calculation analyses. In comparison to the·OH-dominated processes, the majority of intermediates was biodegradable and moderately toxic for different aquatic organisms in the IMEC process, as indicated by in silico prediction. Furthermore, the coagulation mechanism could contribute to 23.3% removal of the total organic carbon in the pH adjustment process to the circumneutral level, and the coagulant aids further enhanced the coagulation efficiency to 41.4%. Finally, the system was found to be excellent for antibiotics removal in mariculture wastewater and costed an order of magnitude less than the most reported ferrate-based processes. Overall, the research pioneers an electrochemical FeIVO2+-dominated technology for efficient purification of saline water, and the ecofriendly and cost-effective properties endow it with a huge application potential in the saline wastewater.

Construction of a Reciprocal-Supporting Phenol-amine@CuNW Network for Antisedimentation Conductive Ink.

Homogeneously dispersed copper nanowire (CuNW) materials are the basis for practical applications in many types of electronic devices. At present, the dispersion of CuNWs in water is achieved through polymeric spatial site resistance effects primarily and the electrostatic dispersion mechanism in a few. However, the electrical conductivity of CuNWs could be weakened by the excessive addition of polymers; therefore, it is difficult to maintain a stable dispersion enduringly for surface charge modifiers. Based on the coagulation mechanism of colloids, a novel antisedimentation mechanism is refined by this work. Directed by this mechanism, a stable reciprocal-supporting antisedimentation conductive CuNW ink was achieved enduringly and a uniform conductive coating (1.81-5.65 Ω·sq-1) was successfully manufactured. The tannic acid-polyethylene imine (TA-PEI) could support copper nanowires to maintain a stable height of 61.4% after 15 days best, while CuNWs in other systems would settle completely in one day. Meanwhile, the TA-PEI composite cluster antisedimentation network not only provided massive spatial potential resistance for CuNWs but also modified the surface charge of CuNWs. CuNWs were dispersed stably in this phenol-amine@CuNW network. Furthermore, the CuNWs were crosslinked more tightly with each other relying on the vigorous adhesive properties of TA-PEI. With this antisedimentation mechanism and simple treatment process, CuNW ink will be utilized in more applications.

A novel titanium sulfate modified poly-magnesium-silicate coagulant with improved pH range for dye removal

Coagulation with inorganic Mg-based coagulants is an efficient technology for dyes removal. However, the promising poly-magnesium-silicate (PMS) coagulant with better aggregation abilities can only be used in a very limited pH range. In this study, poly-magnesium-titanium-silicate (PMTS) was prepared by using titanium sulfate modified PMS. For the treatment of Congo red dye wastewater, PMTS(S), PMTS(Cl) and PMTS(N) synthesized under different acid media (H2SO4, HCl and HNO3) were used. PMTSs had the highest coagulation efficiency at Ti/Mg molar ratio of 0.75 and B value of 1.5. PMTSs outperformed PMS in the initial pH range of 5.50–9.00, with a dye removal efficiency of over 90% at 17.1 mg/L. Under optimal conditions, PMTS(S) had higher coagulation efficiency than that of PMTS(Cl) and PMTS(N), and the settling rate of the four Mg-based coagulants followed an order of PMTS(S) > PMS > PMTS(Cl) > PMTS(N). The coagulation mechanisms of PMTSs on Congo red dye were elucidated by further analysis of coagulation precipitates using UV, FT-IR, SEM and EDS. These results showed that the basis mechanism for floc formation was charge neutralization, while the key to floc formation was chemical combination. Based on the SEM and FTIR results, PMTSs could be found to have special shapes and chain structures, such as Si–O–Ti, Si–O–Mg, Ti–O–Ti, Mg–OH and Ti–OH. Combined with the results of zeta potential, the dominant mechanisms of PMTSs were more likely to be adsorption-interparticle bridging and net-sweeping. In a word, this study provided a highly efficient coagulant with a wide range of applicable pH for the control of dye contamination, and shed light on the potential application of PMTS in the removal of dye pollutants.

Unusual Surface Coagulation Activation Patterns of Crystalline and Amorphous Silicate-Based Biominerals.

Activation of coagulation cascades, especially FX and prothrombin, prevents blood loss and reduces mortality from hemorrhagic shock. Inorganic salts are efficient but cannot stop bleeding completely in hemorrhagic events, and rebleeding carries a significant mortality risk. The coagulation mechanism of biominerals has been oversimplified in the past two decades, limiting the creation of novel hemostats. Here, at the interface, the affinity of proteins, the protease activity, fibrinolysis, hydration shell, and dynamic microenvironment are monitored at the protein level. Proteomic analysis reveals that fibrinogen and antithrombin III's affinity for kaolin's interface causes a weak thrombus and rebleeding during hemostasis. Inspiringly, amorphous bioactive glass (BG) with a transient-dynamic ion microenvironment breaches the hydration layer barrier and selectively and slightly captures procoagulant components of kiniogen-1, plasma kallikrein, FXII, and FXI proteins on its interface, concurrently generating a continuous biocatalytic interface to rapidly activate both intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways. Thus, prothrombin complexes are successfully hydrolyzed to thrombin without platelet membrane involvement, speeding production of high-strength clots. This study investigates how the interface of inorganic salts assists in coagulation cascades from a more comprehensive micro-perspective that may help elucidate the clinical application issues of kaolin-gauze and pave the way to new materials for managing hemorrhage.

Comparison analysis of cationic-polyacrylamide as flocculant aid in titanium salt coagulants

The combination of organic and inorganic coagulants is considered to be an effective strategy for Humic Acid (HA) removal. In this study, the performance of Titanium-based coagulants aided by Cationic-Polyacrylamide (CPAM) to HA molecules was compared. It was found that CPAM had a higher promotion effect in the TXC system. The reason for why CPAM was more suitable for the TXC system could be explained by analyzing Zeta potential, FTIR, and XPS. By comparing the coagulation mechanism of TiCl4 (TC) and Poly-Titanium Chloride (PTC), we found that complexation was the main mechanism of TC and PTC in acidic and neutral environments. The C-O-Ti Bond was formed by complexing the Ti-OH with the C-OH and -COOH functional groups of HA molecules. Sweeping was the most important removal mechanism of TXC in the neutral and alkaline environment, and CPAM bridged floc through hydrogen bond force for enhancing the sweeping effect. In addition, the role of CPAM in TXC system was further demonstrated by Zeta potential analysis. Both TC and PTC were positively charged in the measured pH range, so the removal of Humic acid was limited by increasing zeta potential. In both neutral and alkaline environments, TXC kept a negative surface charge and CPAM significantly enhanced the adsorption of HA on the TXC floc surface. This study provided clues for the interaction mechanism between titanium salt coagulants and HA, and it also provided a reference for the application of TXC coagulant combined with CPAM flocculant for the removal of HA molecules.

Rapid microfluidic-thromboelastography (μ-TEG) for evaluating whole blood coagulation and fibrinolysis at elevated shear rates

The assessment of hemostasis and fibrinolysis is essential in emergency settings to make timely medical decisions. While conventional thromboelastography (TEG) analyzers provide comprehensive information on blood clotting, their long test times are often unsuitable for emergency patients. In this study, we propose an innovative method of microfluidic thromboelastography (μ-TEG) that rapidly measures the viscoelastic properties of blood coagulation in oscillating flow through circular tubes. Our μ-TEG system moves a blood sample back and forth through a circular tube subjected to sinusoidal pressure, generating shear rates ranging from 1.2 to 20 s−1, higher than those of conventional TEGs. The movements are monitored by a pressure sensor and converted to a conventional TEG. Key parameters such as MA and Ly30 can be acquired within 10–12 min for normal samples. Our study showed that the increased shear rate in the μ-TEG system alters the coagulation mechanism, resulting in increased coagulation strength and rapid fibrinolysis. Despite the short test time, the μ-TEG showed good agreement with the TEG5000. The rapid measurement of μ-TEG makes it a useful tool for analyzing hemostasis and fibrinolysis in emergency and operating rooms.

COVID-19, Blood Lipid Changes, and Thrombosis

Although there is increasing evidence that oxidative stress and inflammation induced by COVID-19 may contribute to increased risk and severity of thromboses, the underlying mechanism(s) remain to be understood. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role of blood lipids in association with thrombosis events observed in COVID-19 patients. Among different types of phospholipases A2 that target cell membrane phospholipids, there is increasing focus on the inflammatory secretory phospholipase A2 IIA (sPLA2-IIA), which is associated with the severity of COVID-19. Analysis indicates increased sPLA2-IIA levels together with eicosanoids in the sera of COVID patients. sPLA2 could metabolise phospholipids in platelets, erythrocytes, and endothelial cells to produce arachidonic acid (ARA) and lysophospholipids. Arachidonic acid in platelets is metabolised to prostaglandin H2 and thromboxane A2, known for their pro-coagulation and vasoconstrictive properties. Lysophospholipids, such as lysophosphatidylcholine, could be metabolised by autotaxin (ATX) and further converted to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Increased ATX has been found in the serum of patients with COVID-19, and LPA has recently been found to induce NETosis, a clotting mechanism triggered by the release of extracellular fibres from neutrophils and a key feature of the COVID-19 hypercoagulable state. PLA2 could also catalyse the formation of platelet activating factor (PAF) from membrane ether phospholipids. Many of the above lipid mediators are increased in the blood of patients with COVID-19. Together, findings from analyses of blood lipids in COVID-19 patients suggest an important role for metabolites of sPLA2-IIA in COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC).

Removal behaviors and mechanism of polystyrene microplastics by coagulation/ultrafiltration process: Co-effects of humic acid

Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in drinking water, which could absorb or accumulate humic acid (HA) and threaten the water quality. Coagulation-ultrafiltration (CUF) is a common drinking water treatment technology, but its behavior and mechanism of removing MPs and MPs-HA remain unclear. In this study, the removal mechanism of polystyrene (PS)-MPs coagulated by Al- and Fe-based salts with or without HA was investigated to optimize the CUF process. The results showed that Al-based salt (92.7 %) was better than Fe-based salt (91.2 %) in the removal efficiency of PS or HA, and the optimal coagulants dosage of PS-HA composite system (12 mg·L−1) was higher than that of the individual PS system (9 mg·L−1). Moreover, the coagulation mechanism was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The oxygen group in PS and PS-HA was the main binding site of Al and Fe hydrolysate, and the effects of charge neutralization, adsorption bridging, and sweep flocculation became weaker in turn at the optimal dosage. In addition, the cake layer formed by coagulation and the presence of HA alleviated the irreversible membrane fouling by intercepting flow and re-adsorption. This study guides the improvement of the traditional drinking water treatment process to remove MPs.

Perioperative Management of Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation Therapy in Vascular Surgery

Treatment of patients taking anticoagulant therapy (ACT) and antiplatelet therapy (APT) is a daily challenge for doctors of all specialities, and a special problem is the adequate care of these patients in the immediate perioperative period during vascular surgical procedures. This paper presents the current findings and recommendations on the perioperative use of ACT and APT and considerations of therapeutic modalities in frequent clinical cases of vascular patients. An overview of the most commonly used anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs in clinical practice is also presented. Vascular surgical patients represent a population of patients in whom platelet coagulation and aggregation mechanism are dysregulated in many cases. There is still no broad consensus and unequivocal evidence that can direct the physician towards the right modality of therapy. The final decision rests with the physician, who should, based on the individual assessment of each patient, determine the risk and thus determine the modality of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy.

A Brief History of Hemostasis and Thrombosis at the Mayo Clinic.

Coagulation is a crucial biological mechanism in human bodies to prevent blood loss. Abnormal coagulation can cause bleeding diathesis or thrombosis, common pathologic conditions in our clinical practice. Many individuals and organizations have dedicated their efforts in the past decades to understanding the biological and pathological mechanisms of coagulation and developing laboratory testing tools and treatment options to help patients with bleeding or thrombotic conditions. Since 1926, the Mayo Clinic coagulation group has made significant contributions to the clinical and laboratory practice, basic and translational research on various hemostatic and thrombotic disorders, and the education and collaboration to share and advance our knowledge in coagulation through a highly integrated team and practice model. We would like to use this review to share our history and inspire medical professionals and trainees to join the efforts to advance our understanding of coagulation pathophysiology and improve our care for patients with coagulation disorders.

Coagulation Profile In Diabetes Mellitus And Its Association with Microvascular Complications in Uncontrolled and Controlled Diabetes at Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin-City, South-South, Nigeria

Diabetes mellitus induces coagulopathies by glycating haemoglobin, prothrombin, fibrinogen, and other proteins involved in the clotting mechanism. Shortened PTTK and PT represent a hypercoagulable state related to an elevated thrombotic risk and a negative cardiovascular effect, both of which can lead to the onset and progression of microvascular and macrovascular problems. The study aims to compare the coagulation profile in diabetes-related microvascular complications in clients with uncontrolled and controlled diabetes at an Edo specialty hospital in Benin City. A hospital-based case-control study was carried out at ESH in Benin City. Two hundred eighty individuals were recruited for the study, including 215 diabetes patients (55 type I diabetes, 160 type II diabetes, and 65 non-diabetics) attending the outpatient department of ESH in Benin City. Blood was drawn for coagulation and biochemical assays. Diabetes patients had significantly lower levels of PT and PTTK compared to non-diabetes controls (p<0.05). Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels were considerably higher (p<0.05). The PTTK level was much lower in type 2 diabetes than in type 1 diabetes, and there was a significant difference in platelet count between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Female diabetes patients had lower levels of PTTK and PT than male diabetic patients. Furthermore, in diabetes with complications, the levels of PTTK and platelet count were lower (p0.05). It was discovered that insulin treatment decreased platelet count, whereas sulfonylurea increased fibrinogen levels in people with diabetes. Diabetes may increase the risk of clotting, as indicated by shorter PTTK, PT, and higher fibrinogen and D-dimer levels compared to controls. The coagulation profile should be evaluated as a regular screening test in diabetes patients to reduce the incidence and prevalence of vascular burden and to improve quality of life.

Preparation and performance of multi-ionic composite coagulants based on coal gasification coarse slag by one-step acid leaching

Coal gasification coarse slag (CGCS) is a kind of solid waste generated from coal chemical industry. A series of CGCS based multi-ionic composite coagulants were achieved with one-step acid leaching process, optimizing by HCl concentration and acid leaching time. The results indicated that the optimal Coagulant-3.0 showed a remarkable performances on kaolin simulated wastewater with removal efficiency of 98.0% turbidity, 98.0% NH4-N, and 37.0% CODCr, which were of 91.8%, 77.4% and 69.9% for domestic sewage, respectively. Coagulant-3.0 was further characterized by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). It was found that Coagulant-3.0 was mainly occupied with Fe, Ca, and Al. The good fitting of the pseudo-second-order kinetic model revealed that the co-existence of multi-ions played a synergistic role in the improvement of coagulation performance. Furthermore, the coagulation mechanisms of charge neutralization, adsorption bridging, and sedimentation netting were basically investigated. The work was unique in developing a novel, cost-effective strategy for the production of coagulants based on the intrinsic constituents of CGCS, and providing a safe and efficient way to dispose of CGCS. Additionally, it is potential to offer an alternative pathway for increasing the additional value of the coal chemical industry.

Scanning Electron and Atomic Force Microscopic Analysis of Erythrocytes in a Cohort of Atopic Asthma Patients—A Pilot Study

Background: Non-communicable diseases are often associated with chronic inflammation, placing patients suffering from these conditions at a higher risk of thrombosis and other complications. The pathophysiology of asthma and/or atopic asthma is also linked to chronic inflammation, which consequently may alter blood parameters including erythrocyte structure and function. Methodology: The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in erythrocytes between patients with atopic asthma (n = 30) and healthy individuals (n = 30) by evaluating routine haematological parameters; structures and axial ratios of erythrocytes using light microscopy; erythrocyte membrane elasticity using atomic force microscopy; and erythrocyte ultrastructure using scanning electron microscopy. Results: The haematological findings of healthy participants and patients suffering from asthma were within normal clinical ranges together with significantly higher levels of circulating monocytes (p = 0.0066), erythrocytes (p = 0.0004), haemoglobin (p = 0.0057), and haematocrit (p = 0.0049) in asthma patients. The analysis of eosin-stained erythrocytes by light microscopy showed more echinocytes, acanthocytes, and ovalocytes compared to controls and a significant difference in axial ratios (p < 0.0001). Atomic force microscopy findings showed reduced erythrocyte membrane elasticity in asthmatic erythrocytes (p = 0.001). Ultrastructural differences in erythrocytes were visible in the asthma group compared to controls. Conclusion: Altered erythrocyte ultrastructural morphology and a significant change in the haematological profile are evident in atopic asthma and may influence common complications associated with asthma. The impact of these changes on the physiological mechanisms of coagulation and the pathophysiology of asthma needs to be further elucidated.

Hydrogel‐Based Artificial Mucosa Restores Local Immune and Microbial Homeostasis for Treating Ulcerative Colitis

AbstractUlcerative colitis (UC) is a common inflammatory bowel disease driven by the dyshomeostasis of intestinal immune system and microbiota, but its treatment options are limited due to impaired epithelial barrier integrity and function. Herein, a multifunctional biomimetic hydrogel is developed as artificial colonic mucosa, which can readily establish a bioadhesive barrier at the ulcer site and restore local immune and microbial homeostasis to exert potent anti‐inflammatory effect. The hydrogel framework is generated through the thrombin‐mediated activation and polymerization of fibrinogen that resembles natural blood coagulation mechanism. During this process, the antibacterial agent Ag+ is used for the crosslinking between the generated fibrin units and dopamine/thiol‐modified hyaluronic acid biopolymers via Ag+‐thiol coordination to convey enhanced bioadhesiveness, while the interconnected porous network is employed to encapsulate basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and alanyl‐glutamine (ALG) for mucosa regeneration. The hydrogel stably adheres to the ulcer site to protect and repair the damaged epithelium and establishes an anti‐inflammatory microenvironment by inducing locoregional M1‐to‐M2 macrophage repolarization while eliminating harmful gut flora, which can act in a cooperative manner to substantially alleviate UC symptoms. The biomimetic hydrogel here presents a promising approach for effective UC therapy in the clinics.

EFFICACY OF TOPICAL TRANEXAMIC ACID TO REDUCE BLOOD LOSS AFTER CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING (CABG)

Background: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass technique has a coagulopathy issue. Many factors act on the coagulation process such as heparin level, thrombocytopenia, increased fibrinolysis and acquired platelet dysfunction. The human body responds to stress with dramatic resilience. For example, bleeding diathesis is common with on pump, after injury clotting mechanisms are immediately activated to reduce blood loss, the blood volume is restored by shifting the fluids from extracellular compartment and redistribution of blood flow occurs. Fibrinolytic cascade is activated with CPB usage. Before it was thought that excessive bleeding after CPB was due to platelet dysfunction and depletion. Recently, it was suggested by many lines of information that fibrinolytic cascade activation leads to bleeding during postoperative period. Multiple agents like Tranexamic acid and Aminocaproic acid etc are anti-fibrinolytic agents that can be administered to minimize the bleeding postoperatively.
 Objectives: To compare the efficacy of topical application of Tranexamic acid to reduce blood loss after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG).
 Methods: It is randomized controlled trial. This research program was carried out at the Unit of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, Institute of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from December 6th, 2017 to December 5th, 2018. First patient evaluated on 11th December 2017. Seventy patients were enrolled, who were eligible for this study, achieving the inclusion criteria. Two groups of the selected population were made by randomization. Group A comprised 35 patients to whom 1 gm of diluted Tranexamic Acid using 100 ml normal saline solution is poured to the pericardial cavity. Group B involved 35 patients as well, whom were given standard of care treatment which in this case is 100 ml normal saline. Since 100ml normal saline did not contain any active ingredient for treatment, therefore it was considered as placebo. Intervention (Placebo or TXA) was considered efficacious if it resulted in blood loss of less than 500ml in 72 hours from immediately post-op to 72 hours post-op. The efficacy of drugs within groups is compared by the use of Chi-square test. Independent sample t-test was applied for data analysis of blood loss with p-value ≤0.05 being taken as significant.
 Results: In our study, total70patients were enrolled. Group-A (Tranexamic Acid) and Group-B (Placebo) were made. In group-A, there were 30 (85.7%) male and 5(14.3%) female patients. In group-B, 28(80.0%) were male and 7(20.0%) were female. In our study population, mean age of patients were 52.4±9.9 years and 53.6±10.1 years in group A&B respectively. In group-A, there were 22(62.9%) patients in which the intervention showed efficacy (blood loss <500ml), while only 09(25.7%) patients in group-B showed blood loss of <500ml, p-value of 0.002 being statistically significant.
 Conclusion: Topical application of Tranexamic Acid reduces blood loss after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG).

Prediction of a Stable Complex of Compounds in the Ethanol Extract of Celery Leaves (Apium graveolens L.) Function as a VKORC1 Antagonist

The vitamin K cycle, specifically the protein VKORC1 (Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1), is closely linked to coagulation mechanisms in the body. Disruptions in this cycle will be associated with vascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Warfarin is commonly used as an anticoagulant, but it still has side effects in interactions with numerous drug compounds; thus, it is necessary to search for safer candidate compounds. The ethanol extract of celery leaves (Apium graveolens L.) has potential anticoagulant activity, but the compound responsible for this activity has not been identified yet. The CADD method has been developed to predict in silico a compound's potential to interact with binding sites. This study aimed to predict interactions and obtain a stable complex of the compounds in the ethanol extract of celery leaves, which function as a VKORC1 antagonist. A total of 23 compounds were simulated using Autodock 4.2, and AMBER 18 was then used to simulate the stability of the five compounds with the best interactions. The docking simulation results of 17 test compounds (ligands) yielded five selected compounds, namely 6-isopentenyloxy-isobergapten (S1), Heratomin (S2), Apigenin (S3), Lanatin (S4), and Isoimperatorin (S5), with G values of −9.27, −9.26, −9.22, −9.13, and −8.94 kcal/mol, respectively. The MD simulation continued to produce 6-isopentenyloxy-isobergapten as the most effective ligand for stabilizing the complex for 100 ns from these five ligands. In conclusion, the 6-isopentenyloxy-isobergapten from celery leaf has the potential as a candidate anticoagulant, VKORC1.

Progress in the application of patch materials in cardiovascular surgery.

The cardiovascular patch, served as artificial graft materials to replace heart or vascular tissue defect, is still playing a key role in cardiovascular surgeries. The defects of traditional cardiovascular patch materials may determine its unsatisfactory long-term effect or fatal complications after surgery. Recent studies on many new materials (such as tissue engineered materials, three-dimensional printed materials, etc) are being developed. Patch materials have been widely used in clinical procedures of cardiovascular surgeries such as angioplasty, cardiac atrioventricular wall or atrioventricular septum repair, and valve replacement. The clinical demand for better cardiovascular patch materials is still urgent. However, the cardiovascular patch materials need to adapt to normal coagulation mechanism and durability, promote short-term endothelialization after surgery, and inhibit long-term postoperative intimal hyperplasia, its research and development process is relatively complicated. Understanding the characteristics of various cardiovascular patch materials and their application in cardiovascular surgeries is important for the selection of new clinical surgical materials and the development of cardiovascular patch materials.

Inorganic composite coagulant for wool scouring wastewater treatment: Performance, kinetics and coagulation mechanism

Wool is perceived to be a clean and green natural fibre. However, raw wool contains substantial amounts of contaminants that must be removed in a wool scouring process before the wool can be used as a textile fibre. Coagulation is the first step for scouring wastewater treatment. But the role of inorganic coagulants in increasing sludge density for scouring wastewater treatment remains unclear. This work systematically prepared a series of inorganic composite coagulants (polyaluminium ferric silicate (PAFS)) and investigated their efficiency for treating wool scouring wastewater. Compared with conventional coagulants, polyaluminium chloride (PAC) and polyferric sulfate (PFS), PAFS showed improved coagulation performance over a wider pH range (3–7), achieving higher removal rates of 97 % and 99 % for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity, respectively. In addition, PAFS showed its advantages for practical wastewater treatment, including fast floc settling rate, increased sludge density (with a reduced sludge volume) and low floc moisture content. This optimized PAFS was successfully obtained in a scaled-up process. Zeta potential tests revealed that PAFS coagulated colloidal particles by the synergistic action of electro-neutralization and adsorption bridging. This work has practical implications for increasing the efficiency of wastewater treatment and reducing the environmental impact of wool scouring.