Aqueous organic redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising for grid-scale energy storage. However, identifying stable and inexpensive organic redox couples suitable for practical applications has been challenging. Herein, we report a robust anolyte species, dextrosil-viologen (Dex-Vi), that demonstrates record overall RFB performance for anolyte redox species in neutral aqueous media, including ultralow anion-exchange membrane permeability, high volumetric capacity capability, and outstanding chemical stability. Remarkably, at a high concentration of 1.5 M (40.2 Ah·L–1 theoretical anolyte volumetric capacity), Dex-Vi shows extremely stable cycling performance without observable capacity decay over one month of cycling. We present a high-yield hydrothermal synthetic approach for this viologen chloride salt with a low-cost precursor. These results not only establish a new benchmark organic anolyte species that is promising for practical RFB applications but also show that the properties of organic redox species can be enhanced with minute performance trade-offs through rationalized structural and synthetic design.

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Background: Conflicting data have been reported related to the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on outcomes after transcatheter mitral valve repair with MitraClip (MC) implantation. In this study, we assessed the prognosis of MC-treated patients according to the presence of pre-existing AF. Methods: Randomized and observational studies reporting outcomes of pre-existing AF or sinus rhythm in patients undergoing MC treatment were identified with an electronic search. Outcomes of interest were short-and long-term mortality, stroke, bleeding, rehospitalization, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock, acute procedure success, the hospital stay, and the number of Clips implanted. Results: Eight studies (8466 individuals) were eligible. Compared to sinus rhythm, long-term mortality, the risk of bleeding, rehospitalization, and longer hospital stay were significantly higher in AF groups, whereas similar correlations were found in the analysis of other outcomes. Conclusion: AF may be related with worse outcomes in patients undergoing MC implantation, including long-term mortality, major bleeding, and rehospitalization. AF should be taken into account when referring a patient for MC treatment.

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IntroductionThis meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate efficacy and safety in patients treated with sorafenib vs other tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsElectronic databases were systematically reviewed for randomized Phase III trials comparing sorafenib with other TKIs or SIRT in advanced HCC. Sorafenib was defined as the control arm. Other TKIs or SIRT was defined as the experimental arm. Overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), objective response rate (ORR), disease-control rate (DCR), and adverse events (AEs) were reviewed. Four trials in the other-TKI group (n=4,218) and two in the SIRT group (n=819) were eligible.ResultsCompared with sorafenib, other TKIs showed similar benefit on OS (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.93–1.24; P=0.31) and TTP (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.66–1.12; P=0.26) for advanced HCC. A significant increase in ORR (RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.15–2.43; P=0.008) was found with other TKIs, but no increase in DCR (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.98–1.26; P=0.11) was observed. Other TKIs were associated with more frequent grade 3/4 AEs than sorafenib, including hypertension (P<0.00001), thrombocytopenia (P=0.002), fatigue (P<0.00001), decreased appetite (P<0.00001), and vomiting (P<0.0001). For locally advanced HCC, neither OS (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.98–1.32; P=0.09) nor TTP (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.74–1.02; P=0.10) differed significantly in SIRT and sorafenib. There was an increase in ORR (RR 2.60, 95% CI 1.69–4.00; P<0.0001), but no improvement in DCR (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.81–1.02; P=0.11) in the SIRT group. Fewer patients treated with SIRT had grade 3/4 AEs than those treated with sorafenib, including diarrhea (P<0.0001), fatigue (P=0.0006), and hand–foot syndrome (P=0.0002). Other TKIs were noninferior to sorafenib in OS and TTP in advanced HCC, but with increased risk of toxicities.ConclusionPatients with locally advanced HCC treated with SIRT got similar efficacy with less toxicity to those treated with sorafenib.