Effects of miR-26a-5p on neuropathic pain development by targeting MAPK6 in in CCI rat models

MicroRNA are emerging as significant regulators of neuropathic pain progression. In addition, neuroinflammation contributes a lot to neuropathic pain. miR-26a-5p has been identified as an inflammation-associated miRNA in multiple pathological processes. However, little is known about the biological role of miR-26a-5p in neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain development. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the function of miR-26a-5p in neuropathic pain by establishing a rat model using chronic sciatic nerve injury (CCI). A significant decrease of miR-26a-5p expression was observed in the spinal cord tissues form the CCI rats compared to the control group. Moreover, overexpression of miR-26a-5p significantly repressed neuropathic pain and neuroinflammation in CCI rats. MAPK6 was identified as a direct downstream target gene of miR-26a-5p and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assays. As displayed, overexpression of miR-26a-5p greatly reduced MAPK6 levels in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, MAPK6 expression and miR-26a-5p were oppositely correlated in CCI rats. Furthermore, up-regulation of MAPK6 obviously reversed the suppressive effect of miR-26a-5p on neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain progression. Taken these together, our results implied that miR-26a-5p could act as a negative regulator of neuropathic pain development through targeting MAPK6, which indicated that miR-26a-5p might serve as a potential therapeutic target for neuropathic pain.

TRAF6 mediates high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction

To investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) in high glucose-induced endothelial cell dysfunction. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were cultured in high glucose medium, and TRAF6 expression was assayed by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and western blotting. The effect of TRAF6 on in vitro endothelial cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and endothelial-monocyte adhesion was investigated by gene knockdown. The expression of TRAF6 and related adhesion molecules was assayed in a mouse streptozotocin-induced type I diabetes model. The signaling pathways associated with TRAF6 effects on endothelial cells were investigated in high glucose HAEC cultures. Culture of HAECs in high glucose medium significantly increased TRAF6 mRNA and protein expression in a time dependent manner. High glucose markedly reduced HAEC viability, apoptosis, and migration, and these effects was significantly reversed by TRAF6 knockdown. High glucose significantly increased intercellular adhesion of THP-1 monocytic cells and HAECs via upregulation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, and TRAF6 knockdown attenuated the effect on THP-1 cell adhesion. TRAF6, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 expression were increased in aorta tissue of mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The free radical scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine attenuated TRAF6 expression in HAECs cultured in high glucose medium, and TRAF6 knockdown inhibited high glucose-induced IκB-α degradation and JNK phosphorylation. TRAF6 mediated high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction via NF-κB- and AP-1-dependent signaling. Targeting TRAF6 may delay progression of vascular diseases during diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis.

Impact of Bone Fracture on Ischemic Stroke Recovery

Stroke is one of the most devastating complications of bone fracture, occurring in up to 4% of patients after surgical repair for hip fracture. Bone fracture and ischemic stroke have many common risk factors. The impact of bone fracture on stroke recovery has not drawn much attention in the research field. Bone fracture could occur in stroke patients at different times during the recovery phase, which steepens the trajectory of cognitive decline, greatly affects the quality of life, and causes a heavy burden on healthcare resources. In this paper, we reviewed the growing information on the pathophysiological mechanisms by which bone fracture may affect ischemic stroke recovery process.

Metabolite Profiling of Feces and Serum in Hemodialysis Patients and the Effect of Medicinal Charcoal Tablets

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Recently, the colon has been recognized as an important source of various uremic toxins in patients with end stage renal disease. Medicinal charcoal tablets are an oral adsorbent that are widely used in patients with chronic kidney disease in China to remove creatinine and urea from the colon. A parallel fecal and serum metabolomics study was performed to determine comprehensive metabolic profiles of patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). The effects of medicinal charcoal tablets on the fecal and serum metabolomes of HD patients were also investigated.

METHODS

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to investigate the fecal and serum metabolic profiles of 20 healthy controls and 31 HD patients before and after taking medicinal charcoal tablets for 3 months.

RESULTS

There were distinct metabolic variations between the HD patients and healthy controls both in the feces and serum according to multivariate data analysis. Metabolic disturbances of alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism figured prominently in the serum. However, in the feces, alterations of tryptophan metabolism, lysine degradation and beta-alanine metabolism were pronounced, and the levels of several amino acids (leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, histidine, methionine, tyrosine, and tryptophan) were increased dramatically. Nineteen fecal metabolites and 21 serum metabolites were also identified as biomarkers that contributed to the metabolic differences. Additionally, medicinal charcoal treatment generally enabled the serum and fecal metabolomes of the HD patients to draw close to those of the control subjects, especially the serum metabolic profile.

CONCLUSION

Parallel fecal and serum metabolomics uncovered the systematic metabolic variations of HD patients, especially disturbances in amino acid metabolism in the colon. Medicinal charcoal tablets had an impact on the serum and fecal metabolomes of HD patients, but their exact effects still need to be studied further.

Bile acid profiles within the enterohepatic circulation in a diabetic rat model after bariatric surgeries

Bile acids (BAs), which are synthesized in the liver and cycled in the enterohepatic circulation, have been recognized as signaling molecules by activating their receptors in the intestine and liver. Serum taurine-conjugated BAs have been shown to be elevated after bariatric surgeries although the postoperative BA profiles within the enterohepatic circulation have not been investigated. Clarification of these profiles could help explain the mechanisms by which bariatric surgery leads to BA profile alterations and subsequent metabolic effects. We performed duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and sham procedures in an obese diabetic rat model induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin. The weight loss and antidiabetic effects were evaluated postsurgery. BA profiles in the systemic serum and within the enterohepatic circulation were analyzed, together with the expression of related BA transporters and enzymes at week 12 after surgery. Compared with sham, SG induced sustained weight loss, and both DJB and SG significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity with enhanced glucagon-like peptide 1 secretion. Similar to changes in the serum, BAs, especially taurine-conjugated species, were also elevated in the enterohepatic circulation (bile and portal vein) after DJB and SG. In addition, the expression of key BA transporters and conjugational enzymes was elevated postoperatively, whereas the enzymes responsible for BA synthesis were decreased. In conclusion, DJB and SG elevated BA levels in the systemic serum and enterohepatic circulation, especially taurine-conjugated species, which likely indicates increased ileal reabsorption and hepatic conjugation rather than synthesis. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Bile acids (BAs) have been implicated as potential mediators of the weight-independent effects of bariatric surgery. For the first time, we discovered that duodenal-jejunal bypass and sleeve gastrectomy elevated BAs, particularly the taurine-conjugated species in the enterohepatic circulation, likely through the promotion of ileal reabsorption and hepatic conjugation rather than BA synthesis. These findings will improve our understanding of BA metabolism after bariatric surgery and their subsequent metabolic effects.

Alleviation of Arsenic-Induced Pulmonary Oxidative Damage by GSPE as Shown during In vivo and In vitro Experiments

A long-term exposure to arsenic may lead to lung damage due to oxidative stress. In this context, GSPE can play a major role as a strong antioxidant. Our study attempted to reveal the connection between arsenic-induced lung injury and the antagonistic effect of GSPE. For this purpose, BEAS-2B cells and Kunming mice were exposed to different dosages of As₂O₃ and GSPE. Oxidative stress indicators were detected both in vivo and in vitro. Cell survival rate and morphological changes in the lung tissue (H&E staining) were evaluated as well. It was exhibited that As₂O₃ increased oxidative stress both in vivo and in vitro and decreased cells viability. In contrast, higher cell survival rate was revealed in the group treated with arsenic plus GSPE after 24 h as compared to that in the arsenic group. GSPE effectively reduced oxidative stress levels, along with increasing antioxidant capacity. In vivo experiments in arsenic-exposed group showed alveolar septum to be significantly thickened with considerable capillary congestion and invasion by inflammatory cells. After the intervention with GSPE, there seemed to be a dramatic reversal of morphology with thinning of the alveolar septum, decrease in capillary congestion, and number of inflammatory cells. This had shown that GSPE can effectively reduce the levels of oxidative stress, induced by arsenic in mice lung tissue. Conversely, antioxidant enzymes or products were increased. The experiment proved that GSPE can protect the lungs from oxidative damage induced by arsenic, and it may also be used as an antagonist against arsenic injuries.

Cardiac-Specific Overexpression of Silent Information Regulator 1 Protects Against Heart and Kidney Deterioration in Cardiorenal Syndrome via Inhibition of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contributes to development of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS), and Silent Information Regulator 1 (SIRT1), a class III histone deacetylase, may have protective effects on heart and renal disease, by reducing ER stress. We aimed to determine if SIRT1 alleviates CRS through ER stress reduction.

METHODS

Wild type mice (n=37), mice with cardiac-specific SIRT1 knockout (n=29), or overexpression (n=29), and corresponding controls, were randomized into four groups: sham MI (myocardial infarction) +sham STNx (subtotal nephrectomy); MI+sham STNx; sham MI+STNx; and MI+STNx. To establish the CRS model, subtotal nephrectomy (5/6 nephrectomy, SNTx) and myocardial infarction (MI) (induced by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery) were performed successively to establish CRS model. At week 8, the mice were sacrificed after sequential echocardiographic and hemodynamic studies, and then pathology and Western-blot analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Neither MI nor STNx alone significantly influenced the other healthy organ. However, in MI groups, STNx led to more severe cardiac structural and functional deterioration, with increased remodeling, increased BNP levels, and decreased EF, Max +dp/dt, and Max -dp/dt values than in sham MI +STNx groups. Conversely, in STNx groups, MI led to renal structural and functional deterioration, with more severe morphologic changes, augmented desmin and decreased nephrin expression, and increased BUN, SCr and UCAR levels. In MI+STNx groups, SIRT1 knockout led to more severe cardiac structural and functional deterioration, with higher Masson-staining score and BNP levels, and lower EF, FS, Max +dp/dt, and Max -dp/dt values; while SIRT1 overexpression had the opposite attenuating effects. In kidney, SIRT1 knockout resulted in greater structural and functional deterioration, as evidenced by more severe morphologic changes, higher levels of UACR, BUN and SCr, and increased desmin and TGF-β expression, while SIRT1 overexpression resulted in less severe morphologic changes and increased nephrin expression without significant influence on BUN or SCr levels. The SIRT1 knockout but not overexpression resulted in increased myocardial expression of CHOP and GRP78. Cardiac-specific SIRT1 knockout or overexpression resulted in increased or decreased renal expression of CHOP, Bax, and p53 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Myocardial SIRT1 activation appears protective to both heart and kidney in CRS models, probably through modulation of ER stress.

Natural History of Untreated Coronary Total Occlusions Revealed with Follow-Up Semi-Automated Quantitative Coronary CT Angiography: The Morphological Characteristics of Initial CT Predict Occlusion Shortening

Objective

To investigate the morphological changes of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) as determined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) follow-up using semi-automated quantitative analysis.

Materials and Methods

Thirty patients with 31 CTO lesions confirmed by invasive coronary angiography and baseline/follow-up CCTA were retrospectively included. CTOs were quantitatively analyzed by a semi-automated coronary plaque analysis software (Coronary Plaque Analysis, version 2.0, Siemens) after manually determining the lesion border. Recanalized lumen was defined as the linear-like enhanced opacity traversing the non-opacified occluded segment. Other parameters, such as total occlusion length, total occlusion volume, volume with low attenuation component (< 30 Hounsfield unit [HU]), volume with middle to high attenuation component (30–190 HU) as well as the calcification volume, were also recorded.

Results

Recanalized lumen was found within 48.4% (15/31) occlusions on the follow-up CCTA, compared to 45.2% (14/31) occlusions on the baseline CCTA. Eleven of 14 lesions (78.6%) with CT-visible recanalized lumen within CTOs had a shorter occlusion length on follow-up compared to only 3 of 17 lesions (17.6%) without CT-visible recanalized lumen (odds ratio, 17.1, p < 0.001). The percentage of low attenuation component of occlusions was smaller on follow-up CCTA compared to baseline value (18.1 ± 20.1% vs. 22.6 ± 19.6%, p = 0.033).

Conclusion

Coronary computed tomography angiography enables non-invasive characterization of natural progression of untreated CTO lesions. Recanalized lumen within CTOs observed at baseline CCTA was associated with shortening of occlusion length on follow-up. Compared to their earlier stage, occlusions of later stage were presented with higher density of non-calcified components.

Coronary plaque characteristics on baseline CT predict the need for late revascularization in symptomatic patients after percutaneous intervention

OBJECTIVES

To assess pre-procedural plaque characteristics as determined by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and their associations with late revascularization in symptomatic post-procedural patients.

METHODS

Symptomatic patients with pre-procedural CCTA were prospectively enrolled and referred for invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Plaque characterization was performed on the basis of baseline CCTA data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with a stepwise selection method was performed to identify independent predictors of late revascularization.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients with 134 lesions were included. Late revascularization was performed to treat 15 ISRs and 22 de novo lesions. Lesions with late revascularization showed higher prevalence rates of low-attenuation plaque (LAP) and positive remodelling (PR) (70.3% vs. 23.7% and 86.5% vs. 30.9%; both p < 0.001) at baseline CCTA. However, the incidence of spotty calcification or napkin-ring sign (NRS) was not significantly different between the subgroups. According to ROC curve analysis, PR and LAP showed the largest AUC values for diagnosing lesions with late revascularization (AUC = 0.78 and 0.73, both p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, LAP and PR (odds ratio = 6.30 and 13.94; both p < 0.05) were revealed to be independent predictors for late revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS

LAP and PR observed by baseline CCTA independently predict late revascularization caused by ISR or progression of de novo lesions.

KEY POINTS

• LAP and PR observed by baseline CT are predictors of late revascularization. • NRS and spotty calcification are not associated with late revascularization. • CT plaque characterization is useful in identifying lesions at high risk of late revascularization.

Combining Various Methods to Assess Insulin Sensitivity in Nonobese Rat after Sleeve Gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) procedure has been proved to improve insulin sensitivity and sustain anti-diabetic effects. Our aim is to co-use several methods to measure insulin sensitivity and investigate the effect of SG on hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity at early and long-term stages of postoperation.

METHODS

Thirty 11-week-old male Goto-Kakizaki rats were divided into SG, sham-operated SG (SOSG), and control groups. They were observed before operation and for 36 weeks of postoperation. Insulin tolerance test (ITT) and homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR)were used to measure insulin resistance before operations and at 2 and 36 weeks of postoperation; Pyruvate challenge test (PCT) was administrated to assess the gluconeogenesis capability in order to reflect hepatic insulin sensitivity before operation and at 2 and 36 weeks of postoperation; Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps (HIEC) was conducted before operation and at 2 and 36 weeks of postoperation to calculate the endogenous hepatic glucose production (HGP) at the basal and steady-state for evaluation of hepatic insulin sensitivity, and calculate the exogenous glucose infusion rate (GIR) at the steady-state for evaluation of peripheral insulin sensitivity.

RESULTS

The data showed that compared with rats in the sham and control groups, rats in SG group had 1) significantly lower AUC_ITT, HOMA-IR and AUC _PCT values at 2 and 36 weeks of postoperation, 2) lower basal state HGP, but not steady-state GIR at 2 weeks of postoperation, and 3) significantly different basal and steady-state HGP and steady-state GIR at 36 weeks of postoperation. In addition, the basal and steady-state HGP and the steady-state GIR were significantly different between rats in SG group at 2 and 36 weeks of postoperation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study explored insulin sensitivity of rats after SG by jointly using a variety of techniques. The results showed that SG time-dependently improved the hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity.

Testosterone to estrogen conversion is not responsible for the vasodilating effects of testosterone ex vivo

Men have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, but poorer vasodilatation than women. However, testosterone exerts vasodilating actions ex vivo. We aimed to determine if reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in vivo could cause 'eNOS uncoupling' that accounts for the disparity between in vivo and ex vivo results. Ovariectomized SHR and WKY rats were divided into 3 groups: untreated, estradiol benzoate (EB) treated, and testosterone propionate (TP) treated. EB and TP rats were treated for 8 weeks, and blood pressure, serum estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone were measured. Rats were euthanized and aorta samples were taken for examination of nitric oxide, phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS), H2O2, gr91phos, and pAkt. Mesenteric arterial rings were used in myographic studies of endothelium dependent and independent vasorelaxation. The influence of testosterone added to the bathing solution of rings from testosterone-supplemented rats with/without an eNOS inhibitor, with/without blockade of androgen or estrogen receptors, and with/without an inhibitor of gp91phox was examined. Treatment with testosterone for 8 weeks did not change endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine in the presence or absence of the eNOS inhibitor L-NAME, or in the presence or absence of blockade of the androgen receptors, estrogen receptors, or gp91phox. No change in nitric oxide, p-eNOS, pAkt, or gp91phos of the aorta was noted. A significant increase in H2O2 was seen in testosterone-supplemented SHR rats, but this was not accompanied by eNOS uncoupling. These results suggest that conversion of testosterone to estrogen is not responsible for its vasodilating effects seen ex vivo.

Abstract TP111: Tibia Fracture Caused Long-lasting Cognitive Impairment of Stroke Mice Accompanied With Microglia Accumulation in the Hippocampal Stratum Lacunosum Moleculare

Background and purpose: Accumulation of macrophages and microglia is evidenced in the lesions of human and mouse brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) with or without hemorrhage, suggesting that these cells play an active role in bAVM pathogenesis. We hypothesize that transient depletion of microglia reduces bAVM severity.

Methods: Brain AVM was induced in adult mice that have activin-like kinase 1 ( Alk1, an AVM causative gene) gene exons 4-6 floxed by co-injection of an adenoviral vectors expressing Cre-recombinase and an adeno-associated viral vectors expressing vascular endothelial growth factor into the basal ganglia. Brain microglia were depleted transiently by administration of an inhibitor of colony stimulating factor receptor (PLX5622 (Plexxikon Inc.), 1200 PPM chow) for 7 days starting 1- (when angiogenesis occurred) or 8-weeks (when bAVMs had formed) after model induction. Brain AVM severity was analyzed through quantification of abnormal vessels, macrophage/microglia and hemorrhage (Prussian blue staining) in the lesion (n=6).

Results: Administration of PLX5622 to wild-type mice for 7 days depleted 93% of microglia in their brains. PLX5622 treatment starting at 1-week after model induction inhibited bAVM formation. There were less abnormal vessels in the treated group (14±0.9 vessels/mm 2 ) compared to that in the control group (23±0.9 vessels/mm 2 , P =0.001) at 8 weeks after model induction. Administration of PLX5622 starting 8-weeks after the model induction when bAVMs were fully formed also reduced the number of abnormal vessels (control: 25±1.4 vessels/mm2 vs. treated: 14.±0.8 vessels/mm2, P <0.001) analyzed at 9-weeks after model induction when the treatment stopped. PLX5622 treatment has also reduced the number of microglia in bAVM lesion ( P =0.03 for 1-week-group and P =0.003 for 8-week-group), which was correlated with the reduction of abnormal vessels ( R 2 =0.63, P =0.0001) and hemorrhage.

Conclusion: Transient depletion of microglia could be developed into a new therapy for reduction of bAVM severity.

Third generation dual-source CT enables accurate diagnosis of coronary restenosis in all size stents with low radiation dose and preserved image quality

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the diagnostic performance of low dose stent imaging in patients with large (≥ 3 mm) and small (< 3 mm) calibre stents by third-generation dual-source CT.

METHODS

Symptomatic patients suspected of having in-stent restenosis (ISR) were prospectively enrolled. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) were performed within 1 month for correlation. Binary ISR was defined as an in-stent neointimal proliferation with diameter stenosis ≥ 50%. The radiation dose and image quality of CCTA were also assessed.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients with 140 stents were ultimately included for analysis. The mean total radiation dose of CCTA was 1.3 ± 0.72 mSv in all patients and 0.95 ± 0.17 mSv in patients with high pitch acquisition. The overall diagnostic accuracy of CCTA stent imaging of patient-based, lesion-based and stent-based analysis was 95.7%, 94.1% and 94.3%, respectively. Further, the diagnostic accuracy of CCTA in the small calibre stent group (diameter < 3 mm) was slightly lower than that of the large calibre stent group (diameter ≥ 3 mm) (88.5% versus 98.7%, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Third-generation dual-source CT enables accurate diagnosis of coronary ISR of both large and small calibre stents. Low radiation dose could be achieved with preserved image quality.

KEY POINTS

• Third-generation DSCT enables accurate diagnosis of coronary ISR of all size stents. • Low radiation dose could be achieved with preserved image quality. • The diagnostic accuracy of CCTA of small calibre stents was 88.5%.

An enhanced power factor via multilayer growth of Ag-doped skutterudite CoSb3 thin films

The Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity of the CoSb₃ thin films are enhanced after Ag doping, leading to substantial enhancement of the power factor.

Molecular dynamics simulation on the mechanical properties of natural-rubber-graft-rigid-polymer/rigid-polymer systems

Explanation of the experimental phenomenon of modified natural-rubber using a MD method.

Interactive relations of type 2 diabetes and abdominal obesity to cognitive impairment: A cross-sectional study in rural area of Xi'an in China

AIMS

Type 2 diabetes and obesity, which are frequently comorbid, have been associated with cognitive impairment. We aim to examine the potential modulating effect between obesity and diabetes on cognitive impairment.

METHODS

We recruited 865 adults (aged ≥55years) lived in a village of Xi'an in China from October 2014 to March 2015. All participants underwent biomedical and neuropsychological assessment. Relations of diabetes and abdominal obesity to cognitive impairment were examined in multiple regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 155 participants (17.9%) presented with the diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Diabetes or obesity alone wasn't significantly associated with cognitive impairment. Interaction analysis showed a significant interaction between abdominal obesity and diabetes on cognitive impairment. Stratified multivariate analysis revealed that the association between diabetes and cognitive impairment was positive in participants with abdominal obesity (OR 2.436, 95% CI 1.345-4.411, p=0.003, in diabetics with high WC, and OR 2.348, 95% CI 1.373-4.014, p=0.002, in diabetics with high WHR), but negative in those without abdominal obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

Type 2 diabetes interacts with abdominal obesity to be associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment by more than two times.

MicroRNA‑33 regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in macrophages

The nucleotide binding domain and leucine-rich repeat pyrin 3 domain (NLRP3) inflammasome/interleukin (IL)-1β axis serves an essential role in regulating the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The dysregulation of cellular metabolism, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, results in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. microRNA (miR)‑33 has previously been identified to be a regulator of lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function. However, whether miR‑33 regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome/IL‑1β axis remains unknown. In the present study, it was observed that an miR‑33 mimic or anti‑miR‑33 markedly stimulated or inhibited, respectively, IL‑1β protein expression levels in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Mechanistically, miR‑33 upregulated the expression of NLRP3 mRNA and protein as well as caspase‑1 activity in primary macrophages. In addition, the results demonstrated that miR‑33 impaired mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates, resulting in the accumulation of cellular reactive oxygen species, which stimulated NLRP3 expression, caspase‑1 activity and IL‑1β secretion. The results of the present study demonstrated that miR‑33 levels and NLRP3 inflammasome activity were increased in peripheral blood monocytes from patients with RA patients compared with healthy donors. In conclusion, the present study identified miR‑33 to be a positive regulator of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. The miR‑33/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway may therefore be involved in RA development.

NT-proBNP test with improved accuracy for the diagnosis of chronic heart failure

The circulating concentration of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been shown to be a diagnostic tool for the detection of heart failure. Several factors influence NT-proBNP levels including age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Therefore, the diagnostic sensitivity of NT-proBNP level for heart failure is relatively higher, but its specificity is low. This study aims to improve the diagnostic accuracy rate of this test by including multiple variables in the diagnostic test.The suspected chronic heart failure outpatients were divided into heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and normal heart function groups. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, cut-off value, and logistic regression analysis were used to select the model variables, sensitivity and specificity.In all, 436 subjects enrolled into this study were divided in 2 groups: model establishment (n = 300) and model validation (n = 136). In the model establishment group, the area under the curve (AUC) and cut-off value of NT-proBNP was 0.926 and 257.4 pg/mL, respectively. When age, glomerular filtration rate, BMI, atrial fibrillation, and sex were entered into the diagnosis model, AUC, sensitivity, and specificity further increased to 0.955 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.934, 0.976), 94.2% (from 93.0%), and 86.7% (from 74.2%). The ROC curve of corrected NT-proBNP diagnostic formula for heart failure was also significantly higher (P = .037).The corrected NT-proBNP diagnostic formula was found to improve the diagnostic accuracy of chronic heart failure.

Optimization analysis of separation conditions of washed water containing a lead complex and characterization of the precipitation products

Presently, the large amount of industrial leaded wastewater creates a great challenge to both environmental governance and wastewater recycling. Lead complexes in washed water must be removed mostly before the washed water can be recycled. This paper reports the mechanism and factors of removing Pb complexes in simulated washed water by the sulfide precipitation method. The reaction time, sodium sulfide dosage, pH, and polymeric aluminum chloride (PAC) dosage were analyzed and the optimal conditions were explored. The composition of the reaction products was also verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, the kinetics of the precipitation reaction of sodium sulfide and Pb-EDTA were studied. These results showed that the Pb removal efficiency reached 91.7% under the optimal process conditions which were as follows: the dosages of Na₂S and PAC were 188 mg/L (Na₂S/Pb²⁺ molar ratio of 5:1) and 30 mg/L, respectively, the reaction time was 40 min, and the pH was 9. It was demonstrated using SEM and XRD that the reaction product in the separation process was PbS and the precipitation process was fitted to the following first-order reaction kinetics equation: C_t = 89.1e^-0.1047t + 10.1 (R² = 0.9929; C_t is Pb concentration at reaction time t).

Improvement of High-Temperature Stability of Al₂O₃/Pt/ZnO/Al₂O₃ Film Electrode for SAW Devices by Using Al₂O₃ Barrier Layer

In order to develop film electrodes for the surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices operating in harsh high-temperature environments, novel Al₂O₃/Pt/ZnO/Al₂O₃ multilayered film electrodes were prepared by laser molecular beam epitaxy (LMBE) at 150 °C. The first Al₂O₃ layer was used as a barrier layer to prevent the diffusion of Ga, La, and Si atoms from the La₃Ga₅SiO₁₄ (LGS) substrate to the film electrode and thus improved the crystalline quality of ZnO and Pt films. It was found that the resistance of the Al₂O₃/Pt/ZnO/Al₂O₃ electrode did not vary up to a temperature of 1150 °C, suggesting a high reliability of electrode under harsh high-temperature environments. The mechanism of the stable resistance of the Al₂O₃/Pt/ZnO/Al₂O₃ film electrodes at high temperature was investigated by analyzing its microstructure. The proposed Al₂O₃/Pt/ZnO/Al₂O₃ film electrode has great potential for application in high-temperature SAW devices.

A new algorithm to predict warfarin dose from polymorphisms of CYP4F2, CYP2C9 and VKORC1 and clinical variables: Derivation in Han Chinese patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation

Few pharmacogenomic dosing regimens of warfarin have been developed for Chinese patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The objective of this study was to develop a new algorithm by polymorphisms of CYP2C9, VKORC1 and CYP4F2 to predict the daily stable dose of warfarin in Chinese patients with NVAF. A total of 325 Chinese NVAF patients on stable dose of warfarin with a target international normalised ratio of 1.5 to 3.0 were recruited and divided randomly into two cohorts. CYP2C9*3, VKORC1 –1639, VKORC1 1173 and CYP4F2 were detected by ligase detection reaction method. The new algorithm was developed with multivariate linear regression in cohort 1 (260 patients) and assessed with Pearson Correlation Analysis (PCA) in cohort 2 (65 patients). From 260 enrolled patients, the model (R2 = 51.7%) was developed as: Dose = 3.47 − 0.022 (AGE) + 0.017 (WT) + 0.189 (PTE) − 0.283 (β-blocker) − 0.471 (AMIO) − 0.586 (CYP2C9 *1/*3) − 0.296 (VKORC1 CT) – 0.648 (VKORC1 TT) + 0.219 (CYP4F2 TT). PCA displayed that the algorithm was good (r = 0.658). The residual plots revealed that the predicted doses by the algorithm tend to be overestimated when lower doses were administered to patients and to be underestimated in higher doses. The algorithm developed by us might predict warfarin dose used by Chinese NVAF patients.