Low Shear Viscosity Research Articles

Clinical Effect of Mudan Granule on Peripheral Neuritis Caused by Chronic Renal Insufficiency.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of Mudan granule on peripheral neuritis caused by chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). Methods Sixty patients with peripheral neuritis caused by CRI treated in our hospital were included from February 2018 to April 2021 in this study. The patients were arbitrarily assigned into control group and study group. The former accepted routine treatment, while the latter accepted Mudan granule treatment. The clinical efficacy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical symptom score, nerve conduction velocity, hemorheology index, renal function index, and inflammatory factor index were compared. Results We firstly compared the clinical efficacy: the study group was clinically cured in 22 cases, obviously effective in 5 cases, effective in 3 cases, and ineffective in 1 case, with a total effective rate of 96.67%. The control group was clinically cured in 9 cases, obviously effective in 8 cases, effective in 7 cases, and ineffective in 6 cases, with a total effective rate of 80.00%. The total effective rate of the study group was higher compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Secondly, we compared the TCM clinical symptom scores; before treatment, there exhibited no significant difference (P > 0.05); after treatment, the TCM clinical symptom scores decreased. The clinical symptom score of TCM in the study group was lower compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the nerve conduction velocity of left MCV, right MCV, left SCV, and right SCV in the study group were remarkably higher. In terms of the hemorheological indexes, the high-shear whole blood viscosity, low-shear whole blood viscosity, and plasma viscosity in the study group were lower compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Before treatment, there existed no significant difference in renal function indexes, but after treatment, the renal function indexes decreased, and the levels of serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid (UA) in the study group were lower compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Finally, we compared the indexes of inflammatory factors; there existed no significant difference before treatment, but after treatment, the indexes of inflammatory factors decreased in both groups, and the levels of IL-6 and CRP in the study group were lower compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion For peripheral neuritis caused by CRI, Mudan granule can remarkably promote the clinical symptoms of TCM and reduce the syndrome score of TCM; moreover, it can remarkably increase the nerve conduction velocity of median nerve and common peroneal nerve and reduce blood viscosity, which is worth popularizing and developing in clinic.

Clinical Study of Clopidogrel Combined with Huoxue Tongluo Prescription in Improving Transient Ischemic Attack and the Effect on MMP-9, Hcy, and CRP.

Background This study aimed to explore the clinical study of clopidogrel combined with Huoxue Tongluo prescription in improving transient ischemic attack (TIA) and the effect on MMP-9, Hcy, and CRP. Methods A total of 84 patients with TIA admitted to our hospital from December 2019 to February 2021 were selected. The patients were divided into the control group (42 cases: not treated with Huoxue Tongluo prescription) and study group (42 cases: treatment with Huoxue Tongluo prescription). The clinical efficacy, adverse reactions, the levels of blood pressure and lipid, blood rheology and cerebral hemodynamics, neurological function-related indicators, MMP-9, Hcy, and CRP of the two groups were compared. Results The total effective rate in the study group was higher than the control group. Compared with before treatment, the levels of SBP and DBP in both groups decreased memorably after treatment, and those in the study group decreased more particularly than the control group. The levels of LDL, HDL, TC, and TG in the study group were significantly better than those in the control group. The plasma viscosity, whole blood high shear viscosity, whole blood low shear viscosity, and hematocrit of patients in the study group were lower than those in the control group, and the maximum blood flow velocity, minimum blood flow velocity, average blood flow velocity, and average blood flow were higher than those in the control group. The levels of NSE, MBP, and S100β in the study group were more memorably lower than those in the control group. After treatment, the levels of MMP-9, Hcy, and CRP in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group. There was no obvious difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the study group and control group. Conclusion Clopidogrel combined with Huoxue Tongluo prescription can significantly improve the therapeutic effect and reduce the levels of MMP-9, Hcy, and CRP in patients with TIA.

Novel Water-in-Oil Emulsions for Co-Loading Sialic Acid and Chitosan: Formulation, Characterization, and Stability Evaluation.

This study was designed to co-load sialic acid (SA) and chitosan in a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion and investigated its characterization and stability. Emulsions were prepared using two different oils (olive oil and maize oil) and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) alone or in combination with lecithin (LE) as emulsifiers. The results revealed that the aqueous phase of 5% (w/v) SA and 2% (w/v) chitosan could form a stable complex and make the aqueous phase into a transparent colloidal state. Increasing the concentration of PGPR and LE presented different effects on emulsion formation between olive oil-base and maize oil-base. Two stable W/O emulsions that were olive oil-based with 1.5% (w/v) PGPR+ 0.5% (w/v) LE and maize oil-based with 2% (w/v) PGPR+ 0% (w/v) LE were obtained. Initial droplet size distribution curves of the two stable emulsions displayed unimodal distribution, and the rheological curves displayed the characteristics of shear thinning and low static shear viscosity. Moreover, the storage stability showed that there was no significant change in droplet size distribution and Sauter mean diameter of the emulsions at room temperature (25 °C) for 30 days. These results indicated that the W/O emulsions could effectively co-load and protect sialic acid and chitosan and thus could be a novel method for increasing the stability of these water-soluble bioactive compounds.

Effects of Low-Dose Aspirin Combined with Vitamin E on the Incidence of Intrauterine Growth Restriction and Hemorheological Indexes of Pregnant Women in Patients with Gestational Hypertension.

Objective To investigate the effect of low-dose aspirin combined with vitamin E on the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction and hemorheological indexes of pregnant women in patients with gestational hypertension. Method 134 elderly patients with chronic urticaria treated in our hospital from November 2017 to November 2020 were studied. According to the treatment methods, they were randomly divided into observation and control groups. There were 67 patients in the observation group, aged 20-37 years, with an average of (25.7 ± 2.75) years. There were 67 patients in the control group, aged 21-35 years, with an average of (26.3 ± 3.17) years. No significant difference was observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). Results The number of cases with postpartum hemorrhage and intrauterine growth restriction in the observation group was less than that in the control group. The total incidence rate was lower than that in the control group. There were significant differences in the above results (P < 0.05). The number of patients with preterm birth in the observation group was less than that in the control group, but there was no significant difference in the results (P > 0.05). The head circumference, abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter, and femoral length diameter in the control and observation groups increased significantly after treatment (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the head circumference, abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter, and femoral diameter in the observation group increased more after treatment, and the results were statistically poor (P < 0.05). The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure in the control and observation groups decreased significantly after treatment, and the results were statistically different (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure in the observation group decreased more after treatment. The results were statistically different (P < 0.05). The plasma viscosity levels, whole blood high shear viscosity, and whole blood low shear viscosity in the control and observation groups decreased significantly after treatment, and the results were statistically different (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, plasma viscosity levels, whole blood high shear viscosity, and whole blood low shear viscosity in the observation group decreased more after treatment, and the results were statistically different (P < 0.05). The control and observation groups' fetal systolic/diastolic pressure and pulsatile index decreased significantly after treatment, and the results were statistically different (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the fetal systolic/diastolic blood pressure and pulsatile index in the observation group decreased more after treatment, and the results were statistically poor (P < 0.05). Conclusion Low-dose aspirin combined with vitamin E is effective in treating intrauterine growth restriction in patients with gestational hypertension. It can effectively control the blood pressure and blood flow of patients and newborns and improve pregnancy outcomes without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions. It is worthy of clinical promotion.

Effects of Transient Electrical Acupuncture Stimulation Combined With Rehabilitation Training on Hemorheology, Neurological Function and BDNF in Patients With Cerebral Infarction.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of transient electric acupuncture stimulation combined with rehabilitation training on hemorheology, neurological function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with cerebral infarction (CI).MethodsA total of 90 patients with CI were admitted to our hospital from March 2019 to March 2021. According to the random number table method, 90 patients were divided into a control group (was treated with transient electrical acupuncture stimulation intervention treatment) and a therapy group (was treated with rehabilitation training on the basis of the control group), with 45 cases in each group. NIHSS score to detect neurological deficit; FMA score to detect motor function recovery; the clinical efficacy of the two groups of patients were compared; blood rheology analyzer to detect whole blood high shear viscosity, whole blood low shear viscosity, platelet aggregation rate and fibrinogen indicators; ELISA detects the content of BDNF in serum.ResultsThere was no significant difference in NIHSS score, FMA score, clinical efficacy, hemorheology index, and BDNF content between the two groups of patients before treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, the NIHSS score, whole blood high shear visible, whole blood low shear visible, platelet aggregation rate and fibrinogen index of the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and the FMA score and BDNF content of the two groups were higher than those before treatment, and all the above indicators in the therapy group changed significantly compared with the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the clinical efficacy of the therapy group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe combination of transient electrical acupuncture stimulation and rehabilitation training can inhibit the blood flow index of patients with CI, improve the nerve function, increase the content of BDNF in the patient's serum, and restore the patient's nerve function.

Impact of small fractions of abnormal erythrocytes on blood rheology.

Red blood cell (RBC) populations are inherently heterogeneous, given mature RBC lack the transcriptional machinery to re-synthesize proteins affected during in vivo aging. Clearance of older, less functional cells thus aids in maintaining consistent hemorheological properties. Scenarios occur, however, where portions of mechanically impaired RBC are re-introduced into blood (e.g., damaged from circulatory support, blood transfusion) and may alter whole blood fluid behavior. Given such perturbations are associated with poor clinical outcomes, determining the tolerable level of abnormal RBC in blood is valuable. Thus, the current study aimed to define the critical threshold of blood fluid properties to re-infused physically-impaired RBC. Cell mechanics of RBC were impaired through membrane cross-linking (glutaraldehyde) or intracellular oxidation (phenazine methosulfate). Mechanically impaired RBC were progressively re-introduced into the native cell population. Negative alterations of cellular deformability and high shear blood viscosity were observed following additions of only 1-5% rigidified RBC. Low-shear blood viscosity was conversely decreased following addition of glutaraldehyde-treated cells; high-resolution microscopy of these mixed cell populations revealed decreased capacity to form reversible aggregates and decreased aggregate size. Mixed RBC populations, when exposed to supraphysiological shear, presented with compounded mechanical impairment. Collectively, key determinants of blood flow behavior are sensitive to mechanical perturbations in RBC, even when only 1-5% of the cell population is affected. Given this fraction is well-below the volume of rigidified RBC introduced during circulatory support or transfusion practice, it is plausible that some adverse events following surgery and/or transfusion may be related to impaired blood fluidity.

Continuous Lumbar Plexus Block under the Guidance of the "Shamrock Method" Ultrasound: Analgesic Effects and Hemodynamic Effects after Total Knee Arthroplasty in Elderly Patients.

Objective To explore the effect of continuous lumbar plexus block guided by the “Shamrock method” on postoperative analgesia and hemodynamics in elderly patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods From January 2020 to December 2020 in our hospital, 98 patients who underwent TKA were selected. Using the random number table method, the patients were divided into two groups: a continuous lumbar plexus block group (group L), with 49 patients, and a continuous femoral nerve block group (group F), with 49 patients. The onset time and maintenance time of motor and sensory nerve blocks in patients were recorded. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was applied to assess the pain severity at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after the operation. The VAS score (FVAS) was applied to evaluate the pain severity of the patients during 24 and 48 h after the operation and knee joint functional exercise. The levels of hemodynamic indexes such as heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and oxyhemoglobin saturation and the levels of hemorheological indexes such as plasma viscosity, high and low whole blood shear viscosity, fibrinogen, and hematocrit were detected and compared between the two groups immediately after the operation and at 12 h and 48 h after the operation, respectively. The incidence of adverse reactions induced by anesthesia was counted. Results The onset time of motor and sensory nerve blocks in group L was lower than that in group F, and the maintenance time was higher than that in group F (P < 0.05). The VAS scores of 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after operation in group L were significantly lower than those in group F (P < 0.05). The FVAS scores of group L at 24 and 48 h after operation were significantly lower than those of group F (P < 0.05). The heart rates of the patients in the two groups were higher at 12 h and 48 h after operation than those immediately after operation (P < 0.05). The heart rates at 12 h and 48 h after operation in group L were lower than those in group F (P < 0.05). The plasma viscosity, high whole blood shear viscosity, and low whole blood shear viscosity in the group L at 12 h and 48 h after operation were lower than those in group F (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of local anesthetic poisoning, nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, pruritus, and other adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion The “Shamrock method” ultrasound-guided continuous lumbar plexus block in elderly patients after TKA has good analgesic effect, stable hemodynamics, little influence on hemorheology, and good safety. It is of great value to enhance the surgical effect and promote postoperative rehabilitation.

Effect of Salvia Miltiorrhiza Polyphenolic Acid Combined with Salvia Miltiorrhiza Ligustrazine Injection on Cognitive Function in Patients with Cerebral Infarction

Objective: To investigate the effect of salvia miltiorrhiza polyphenolic acid combined with salvia miltiorrhiza ligustrazine injection on cognitive function in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods: 60 patients with cerebral infarction from December 2017 to December 2019 were randomly divided into control group (n = 30) and observation group (n = 30) by random number table method. The control group was treated with salvia miltiorrhiza ligustrazine injection, and the observation group was treated with salvia miltiorrhiza polyphenolic acid on the basis of the control group. After 4-week treatment, the effect of the patients was evaluated, and the hemorheological level, cognitive function and drug safety of the two groups were compared. Results: The levels of high blood and low shear viscosity, high whole blood and plasma viscosity in the observation group were lower than those in the control group 4 weeks after treatment (P&lt;0.05); the cognitive function scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group 2 and 4 weeks after treatment (P&lt;0.05); the incidence rates of liver and kidney function damage, mild diarrhea, dizziness and somnolence, nausea and vomiting, and blood pressure fluctuation in the treatment of the two groups had no statistical significance (P&gt;0.05). Conclusion: The combination of salvia miltiorrhiza polyphenolic acid and salvia miltiorrhiza ligustrazine injection can improve the hemorheology of patients with cerebral infarction. It is helpful to improve the cognitive function of patients. The drug is safe and worthy of being popularized.

Improved test method for determination of the equiviscous temperature of asphalt binders

ABSTRACT In CEN/TS 15324 (2008), the equiviscous temperature (EVT) of an asphalt binder was recognized as a potential rutting indicator. A test method, which consisted of temperature sweep and frequency sweep, was developed to determine the EVT based on the concept of low shear viscosity (LSV). In this study, this test method was firstly evaluated in terms of its applicability. Several deficiencies were identified, which suggested the importance of determining the EVT of asphalt binders based on the actual zero shear viscosity (ZSV). Given the shortcoming of the test method in CEN/TS 15324 (2008), the objective of this study was to develop an improved test method for the determination of EVT of asphalt binders. A new test method, named as ZSV-based test method, was then proposed based on the shear rate sweep test and the Arrhenius equation. The ZSV-based test method consisted of three steps: temperature sweep, shear rate sweep and temperature sweep. Two neat asphalt binders and two SBS-modified asphalt binders were tested using the proposed test method, and the EVT of each asphalt binder was estimated using the Arrhenius equation. The EVT values determined using the proposed test method were demonstrated to be reliable and repeatable.

The Effects of Aspirin With Combined Compound Danshen Dropping Pills on Hemorheology and Blood Lipids in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients With CHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common diseases in clinical cardiovascular practice, mainly afflicting the middle-aged and elderly. It will greatly affect elderly quality of life, and even affect their psychological and physical health. At present, CHD is treated with western drugs alone, but this can produce drug dependency. In recent years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) combine western drugs has been used as a complementary and alternative therapy, and its effectiveness and safety have been proven, attracting the attention of numerous researchers.Objective: Our study aimed to compare the efficacy of Aspirin with Combined Compound Danshen Dropping Pills had a superior effect on the treatment of Hemorheology and Blood Lipids in Middle-aged and Elderly Patients with CHD. Determine the effectiveness and safety of Aspirin with Combined Compound Danshen Dropping Pills in the treatment of CHD, and obtain high quality clinical evidence.Methods: Based on the PRISMA Statement, inclusion and exclusion criteria were formulated. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the Effects of Aspirin with Combined Compound Danshen Dropping Pills on Hemorheology and Blood Lipids in Middle-aged and Elderly Patients with CHD were found following a search of 4 mainstream medical databases. RCTs found to meet the study's requirement were included; data information was then extracted, and the quality assessed using the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool. Through RevMan software, Meta analysis was carried out for overall TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C hematocrit, high shear viscosity, low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, PAGM, and TXB2 effective rate. The relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated; heterogeneity was tested and its source found; publication bias was assessed through the Egger and Begg tests, and by means of funnel plots.Result: 22 RCTs were found, involving 1,987 cases. The results of the Meta analysis showed that, compared to drug therapy alone, Aspirin with Combined Compound Danshen Dropping Pills had a superior effect on the treatment of Hemorheology and Blood Lipids in Middle-aged and Elderly Patients with CHD. The meta analysis results show the effects on TC [MD = −0.91, 95% CI (−1.09, −0.73)], on TG [MD = −0.94, 95% CI (−1.22, −0.66)], on HDL-C [MD = 0.40, 95% CI (0.27, 0.53)], on LDL-C [MD = −0.99, 95% CI (−1.24, −0.74)], on hematocrit [MD = −2.69, 95% CI (−3.73, −1.65)], on high shear blood viscosity [MD = −1.11, 95% CI (−2.18, −0.05)], on low shear viscosity [MD = −0.79, 95% CI (−0.89, −0.68)], on plasma viscosity [MD = −0.26, 95% CI (−0.52, 0.01)], on PAMG [MD = −10.75, 95% CI (−16.84, −4.67)], and on TXB2 [MD = −11.84, 95% CI (−14.75, −8.92)]. The source of heterogeneity might be related to the state of patient, efficacy of drugs in the control group and difference in judgment criteria for efficacy. The Egger test and Begg test showed that publication bias did not occur in our study.Conclusions: The combination of compound dropping pill DSP with aspirin has some therapeutic effect on blood lipids and hemorheology in patients with CHD, ince some of the RCTs featured a very small sample size, the reliability and validity of our study's conclusion may have been affected as well; therefore, the explanation should be treated with some caution. In the future, a large number of higher-quality RCTs are still needed to confirm the results of our study.

The safety and effectiveness of salvianolate in preventing perioperative venous thromboembolism in China: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis based on RCTs.

Background:Salvianolate, a common drug for stabilizing heart disease and Angina Pectoris, is considered to be off-label for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) or anticoagulation at present. However, many clinical studies have showed that salvianolate can effectively inhibit the deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) incidence, and prevent VTE of perioperative patients in the real world in China.Objective:This analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of salvianolate in preventing VTE in perioperative patients.Methods:Databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP were searched until July 2019. Literature retrieval, data extraction and quality assessment were independently completed by two researchers and checked with each other. Review Manager 5.2 software was applied for meta-analysis.Results:A total of 429 studies were retrieved, including 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 1149 subjects. Compared with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) group alone, salvianolate combined LMWH group had lower DVT incidence in preventing perioperative thrombosis (2.75% and 14.23%, OR: 0.21, 95% CI:[0.08,0.53]; P = .0009). The incidence of adverse reactions of experimental group was similar to that of control group (1.79% and 2.31%, OR: 0.65, 95% CI:[0.18,2.35]. P = .51). Compared with the control group, D-dimer level (D-D), platelet count (PLT), fibrinogen (FIB), whole blood high shear viscosity (WBHSV), and whole blood low shear viscosity (WBLSV) were all significantly decreased (P < .01), and prothrombin time (PT) was significantly increased (P < .05).Conclusion:Salvianolate combined LMWH has better effectiveness and the same safety in preventing venous thromboembolism in perioperative patients. However, due to the small number of included literatures, large sample studies are still needed to further verify this conclusion.

Thermal, pasting, and rheological properties of potato starch dual-treated with CaCl2 and dry heat

Potato starch (PS) was treated separately and combinedly with 3% (w/v) CaCl2 solution at 25 °C for 5 h and dry heat (DH) at 130 °C for 1, 2, and 4 h CaCl2 treatment alone significantly increased thermal transition parameters, dynamic moduli, and shear viscosity of PS. It substantially decreased the peak viscosity and breakdown of PS during pasting, but the final paste viscosity was comparable to the control due to a higher setback. Overall, DH treatment alone reduced the thermal transition parameters, paste viscosity, dynamic moduli, and shear viscosity of PS, and prolonged heating generally caused more considerable reductions. Dual treatment with CaCl2 and DH caused the most substantial decreases in examined properties of PS. It led to a complete loss of both double–helical and crystalline order of starch granules. Therefore, cooked suspensions of dual–treated PS exhibited very weak viscoelastic or non–viscoelastic behavior and extremely low shear viscosity.

Influence of aging on rheology- and chemistry-based properties of high polymer-modified asphalt binders

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to assess the impact of aging on high polymer (HP)-modified asphalt binders when compared with conventional polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) binders on the basis of rheology- and chemistry-based parameters. An extended asphalt binder aging experiment that considered multiple combinations of PMA and HP binders from different sources was conducted. Long-term oven-aged asphalt binders at multiple temperatures and durations and asphalt binders aged in a pressure aging vessel (PAV) for multiple durations were tested using the dynamic shear rheometer. Several parameters were determined including low shear viscosity and Glover-Rowe parameters at various temperatures. The PAV-aged asphalt binders were further evaluated in terms of critical low temperature difference using the bending beam rheometer. All PMA and HP combinations were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for characterization of chemical composition and assessment of polymer degradation. Overall, the measures indicated reduced susceptibility to aging of HP binders when compared with PMA binders, shown by a flatter slope with respect to oxidation with the low shear viscosity measures and Glover-Rowe parameters. In addition, the potential of polymer degradation for HP binders when compared with PMA binders was minimal with aging, thus indicating an increased longevity from a chemical-characteristic standpoint.

Preparation and Characterization of Biodegradable Composited Films Based on Potato Starch/Glycerol/Gelatin

The use of plastics is resisted worldwide. Therefore, finding alternatives to plastic packaging products is an urgent issue. This work was dedicated to the preparation of biodegradable composited films with potato starch, glycerol, and gelatin. The formulation of the biodegradable film was first optimized via response surface methodology combined with the multi-index comprehensive evaluation method that considered physical properties (thickness, water solution (WS), tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (E%)) and barrier property (light transmittance (T%)). Results indicated that the optimal conditions were 2.5% starch, 2.0% glycerol, and 1.5% gelatin (based on water). The optimized film presented excellent properties with TS of 4.47 MPa, E% of 109.91%, WS of 43.64%, and T% of 41.21% at 500 nm, and the comprehensive evaluation score of the composite film was 28.68. Moreover, a model verification experiment was further conducted, which proved that the predicted value highly matched experimental values, indicting the credibility and accuracy of the model. The resulting films were further characterized on the basis of rheological measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The rheological measurements proved that the film-forming solution exhibited low shear viscosity and non-Newtonian fluid behavior. FTIR and SEM revealed excellent compatibility among starch, glycerol, and gelatin. Hence, the resulting optimized film may be expected to provide theoretical basis and technical support for the food packing industry.

A comparative study of blood rheology across species.

Recent advances in hemorheology are extended to study blood rheology across species, which has important clinical implications particularly in intravenous drug scaleup as drugs undergoing clinical trials are first tested in animals. Some of the first hemorheological measurements from seven different species under both steady and transient shear conditions are presented and modeled using a rheological model developed and validated on human blood rheology fit to 20 different donors. Despite similar physiological properties across the blood samples from different species, significant differences are observed, particularly at low shear rates. Blood from species that form rouleaux exhibit a yield-like behavior and enhanced viscoelasticity at low shear rates, while blood from species without rouleaux exhibit nearly Newtonian behavior at similar shear rates. Viscoelasticity due to blood cell deformation is evident for all species at high shear rates. Novel, unidirectional large amplitude oscillatory shear measurements differentiate species. Using the newly acquired data in combination with previous literature data, a new allometric scaling relation is suggested for the low-shear blood viscosity for various mammalian evolutionary orders. Using an established model for arterial branching across species, it is conjectured that the observed hemorheological scaling across species is driven by maintaining a constant wall shear stress in arterial vessels.

Dynamics of the sub-ambient gelation and shearing of solutions of P3HT and P3HT blends towards active layer formation in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) containing an active layer consisting of a nanostructured blend of a conjugated polymer like poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and an electron acceptor have the potential of competing against silicon-based photovoltaic panels. However, this potential is largely unfulfilled first due to interrelated production and stability issues of organic solar cells and second due to the unscalable nature of the generally employed spin coating process used for the fabrication of organic solar cells. Furthermore, alternatives to spin coating, especially relying on continuous polymer processing methods like extrusion and coating, cannot be readily applied due to the typically low shear viscosity and elasticity of polymer solutions making up the active layer. Recently, He et al. have reported that the gelation of P3HT with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) under sub-ambient conditions can provide a new route to the processing of the active layers of bulk heterojunction solar cells. Furthermore, increases in power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the P3HT/PC60BM active layer were determined to be possible under certain shearing and thermal histories of the P3HT/PC60BM gels. Here oscillatory and steady torsional flows were used to investigate the gel formation dynamics of P3HT with a recently proposed non-fullerene acceptor o-IDTBR under sub-ambient conditions and compared with the gelation behavior of P3HT/PC60BM blends. The rheological material functions as well as the gel strengths defined on the basis of linear viscoelastic material functions, characterized via small-amplitude oscillatory shearing, were observed to be functions of the P3HT and o-IDTBR concentrations, the solvent used and the shearing conditions. Overall, the P3HT gels which formed upon quenching to sub-zero temperatures were found to be stable during small-amplitude oscillatory shear (linear viscoelastic range) but broke down even at the relatively low shear rates associated with steady torsional flows, suggesting that the shearing conditions used during the processing of gels of P3HT and blends of P3HT with small molecule acceptors can alter the gel structure, possibly leading to changes in the resulting active layer performance.

Effects of Isovolumic Hemodilution and Platelet-Rich Plasma Separation on Platelet Activation State and Function, Complications, and Inflammation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

To explore the effects of isovolumic hemodilution and platelet-rich plasma separation on platelet activation state and function, complications, and inflammation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A total of 80 patients who needed cardiac surgery under extracorporeal circulation from February 2018 to December 2019 in our hospital were selected as research subjects and divided into observation group (n = 40) and control group (n = 40) according to the random number table method. The patients in the observation group underwent platelet-rich plasma separation, while those in control group received acute isovolumic hemodilution. Then the platelet activation state and functional indexes, hemorheological indexes, and the coagulation functional indexes were compared between the two groups of patients before operation. Next, the changes in the levels of hemoglobin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an inflammatory factor, during blood protection (before and at 6 hours and 12 hours after intervention) were analyzed. Moreover, the dosage of blood products during operation was compared between the two groups, and postoperative complications and recovery in the two groups were statistically assessed. Before operation, the platelet adherence rate and aggregation rate in the observation group were significantly higher than those in control group (p < 0.05), while R and K values in thromboelastograms in the former were notably smaller than those in the latter (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the whole blood low-shear viscosity, whole blood high-shear viscosity, and plasma viscosity in observation group were remarkably lower than those in control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the observation group exhibited shorter prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (p < 0.05) and a higher fibrinogen (Fib) level (p < 0.05) than the control group. At 6 hours and 12 hours after intervention and before operation, the hemoglobin level in observation group was markedly higher than that in control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the dosages of red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets among blood products during operation in the observation group were evidently lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05), and the number of cases of hemorrhage, pulmonary infection, coagulation dysfunction, and paraplegia after operation in the former was distinctly smaller than that in the latter (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the observation group had an obviously smaller postoperative 24 hours drainage volume (p < 0.05) as well as shorter postoperative mechanical ventilation time and ICU treatment time than control group (p < 0.05). For patients undergoing cardiac surgery under extracorporeal circulation, platelet-rich plasma separation and reinfusion technology can effectively ensure platelet activation state and function, reduce blood viscosity, ensure stable coagulation function, elevate hemoglobin level and decrease inflammatory reaction, and perioperative allogeneic blood infusion, with fewer adverse reactions in treatment, thus efficaciously facilitating the post-operative recovery of patients.

Experimental investigation into the effects of diesel dilution on engine lubrication

The dilution of lubricant due to contamination with diesel fuel is an increasingly prevalent, potentially important and poorly understood issue. This study addresses two fundamental questions: 1) How does the change in lubricant rheology due to diesel dilution affect engine lubrication? 2) How is the chemical performance of lubricant components (base oil and performance additives) impacted by diesel dilution under different lubrication regimes (boundary/full film, hydrodynamic/elastohydrodynamic). This is achieved by testing three lubricant samples: 1) neat fully formulated 0W-30 engine oil, 2) fully formulated 0W-30 oil diluted with diesel at a concentration of 15%, denoted “0W-30D”, and 3) neat, fully-formulated 0W-16, with the same base oil components and performance additives as the 0W-30, but blended to give a viscosity equal to that of the diluted an equivalent “0W-30D”. Tribometer tests, including 1) low pressure, low shear viscosity, 2) Ultra-high Shear Viscosity (USV), 3) elastohydrodynamic film thickness, 4) Stribeck friction and 5) boundary friction and wear, are then conducted. To further emulate engine lubrication conditions, Stribeck curve measurements are performed on the three lubricants using a journal bearing test rig, fitted with a connecting-rod and commercial diesel engine shells. Results suggest that diesel dilution only slightly affects chemical additive performance (with friction modifiers being more inhibited than anti-wear additives) but does reduce both viscosity and film thickness. However, care must be taken in using viscometrics to predict dilution behaviour because 1) the pressure viscosity coefficient is also affected by diesel dilution which has implications for elastohydrodynamically lubrication contacts, 2) shear thinning means that viscosity modifier additives effects lose their functions at high shear rates; whereas diesel contamination affects viscosity behaviour throughout the whole shear rate range.

Effects of Astragalus Polysaccharides Nanoparticles on Cerebral Thrombosis in SD Rats.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and improvement of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) and APS-nano on cerebral thrombosis in rats.MethodsA total of 72 SD rats were randomly divided into NC group, Model group, APS-Nano group, and APS group. The cerebral thrombosis Model of SD rats was established by injecting compound thrombus inducer into the internal carotid artery. After 14 days of different intervention treatments, the TTC staining of brain tissue were performed, and A/left brain wet weight ratio, left brain/right brain wet weight ratio, blood rheology indexes, and coagulation function indexes of cerebral thrombosis were measured. ELISA was used to measure the contents of thromboxane 2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-Keto-PGF1α), tissue factor (TF), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S-100β, catenin (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA). The binding specificity between miR-885-3p and TF was verified by the double-luciferin reporting experiment, and western blot was used to measure the expression level of TF protein.ResultsCompared with the Model group, after treatment with APS-nano or APS, the ratio of left brain/right brain wet weight decreased significantly. Whole blood low shear viscosity (WBLSV), whole blood high shear viscosity (WBHSV), plasma viscosity (PV), and erythrocyte aggregation index (Arbc) was all reduced. In addition, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were increased, and fibrinogen (FIB) content was decreased. The expression of TXB2, 6-Keto-PGF1α, and TF showed a downward trend. Similarly, the expression of TF protein was decreased. Furthermore, the contents of NSE and S-100β proteins were all decreased, whereas the contents of CAT and SOD were increased, and the contents of MDA was decreased. At the same dose, compared with APS treatment, APS-nano treatment had a significant inhibitory effect on cerebral thrombosis in rats. Finally, we found that TF is a target gene of miR-885-3p and specifically binds to miR-885-3p.ConclusionAPS has a significant inhibitory effect on the formation of cerebral thrombosis induced by compound thrombus inducers. Moreover, APS-nano has a more significant inhibitory effect on cerebral thrombosis. Meanwhile, the regulation of miR-885-3p regulating TF expression may be related to the occurrence of cerebral thrombosis.

감나무 부산물로부터 제조된 셀룰로오스 나노피브릴의 물성 평가

In this study, we evaluated the applicability of fruit by-products as raw materials for the production of cellulose nanofibril (CNF). The persimmon byproducts generated by pruning persimmon trees were collected and used for the manufacture of bleached kraft pulp and CNFs. The persimmon byproduct bleached kraft pulp (PB-BKP) was made at the optimum pulping and bleaching conditions reported in the previous study and the CNFs were made from PB-BKP and commercial hardwood bleached kraft pulp (Hw-BKP) by refining and micro-grinding processes. After micro-grinding, the particle size, viscosity, zeta potential, and fiber width were evaluated according to the pass number of fibrillation. The appearance of the CNF slurries showed no significant difference between PB-BKP and Hw-BKP. It was found that nanoization of PB-BKP and Hw-BKP proceeded sufficiently when the pass number was five or more. In addition, as the pass number increased, the low shear viscosity of CNF increased, the particle size decreased, and no significant change was observed in the zeta potential. Looking at each pulp, CNF made of PB-KBP had higher fiber width and particle size than Hw-BKP in the initial pass number, but the difference decreased when the pass number was nine. Therefore, CNF made with PB-BKP and CNF made with Hw-BKP showed similar characteristics after the sufficient pass number of micro-grinding. Based on the results, we concluded that persimmon tree by-products can be used as raw materials for the production of CNF.