Sitagliptin inhibits EndMT in vitro and improves cardiac function of diabetic rats through the SDF-1α/PKA pathway

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper was to study sitagliptin in improving the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and cardiac function of rats with diabetes mellitus (DM) and its possible pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control group, DM group and sitagliptin group. The myocardial contraction and relaxation functions of rats in each group were observed via echocardiography. The changes in cardiac structure and fiber were observed via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining and Sirius red staining. The immunohistochemical assay was performed to observe the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and VE-cadherin in HAECs; the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HAECs was detected using the fluorescence probe. Moreover, the expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), phosphorylated-protein kinase A (p-PKA), PKA and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were observed via Western blotting.

RESULTS

Sitagliptin could improve the myocardial contraction and relaxation functions in diabetic rats and EndMT and ROS production in HAECs. In the DM group, the expression of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) was decreased, while the expression of stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) was decreased and the expressions of downstream PKA/ERK pathway and TGF-β1 were increased. The above changes could be reversed by sitagliptin.

CONCLUSIONS

Sitagliptin can reverse the EndMT in HAECs as well as the cardiac function in diabetic rats through the SDF-1α/PKA pathway.

Management and population dynamics of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella): planting regimes, crop hygiene, biological control and timing of interventions

Using an age-structured process-based simulation model for diamondback moth (DBM), we model the population dynamics of this major Brassica pest using the cropping practices and climate of Guangdong, China. The model simulates two interacting sub-populations (demes), each representing a short season crop. The simulated DBM abundance, and hence pest problems, depend on planting regime, crop hygiene and biological control. A continuous supply of hosts, a low proportion of crop harvested and long residue times between harvest and replanting each exacerbate pest levels. Biological control provided by a larval parasitoid can reduce pest problems, but not eliminate them when climate is suitable for DBM and under certain planting practices. The classic Integrated Pest Management (IPM) method of insecticide application, when pest threshold is reached, proved effective and halved the number of insecticide sprays when compared with the typical practice of weekly insecticide application.

Dexmedetomidine attenuation of renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury requires sirtuin 3 activation

BACKGROUND

Dexmedetomidine attenuates renal ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, but its mechanism of action is unclear. As sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) activation can alleviate acute kidney injury, we investigated whether dexmedetomidine acts through SIRT3 to reduce renal I/R injury.

METHODS

The potential involvement of SIRT3 in dexmedetomidine attenuation of renal I/R injury was tested in HK2 cells subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation and C57BL/6J mice subjected to renal I/R. A short interfering RNA targeting SIRT3 was used in some experiments to examine the potential role of SIRT3. Cell death and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) were analysed in cultured cells. Mitochondrial damage in mice was assessed using electron microscopy and markers for renal function. Expression of cyclophilin D, cytochrome c, and SIRT3, and the level of cyclophilin D acetylation were determined.

RESULTS

Hypoxia/reoxygenation of HK2 cells increased cell death, cytochrome C expression, and cyclophilin D acetylation, and decreased Δψm and SIRT3 expression (P<0.05). Dexmedetomidine attenuated these changes. The dexmedetomidine effects were enhanced by SIRT3 overexpression and eliminated by SIRT3 knockdown. I/R in mice damaged renal function, and increased histological lesions, mitochondrial damage, cytochrome c expression, and cyclophilin D acetylation, while SIRT3 activity was decreased by 51% (P<0.05). Dexmedetomidine inhibited these changes in mice expressing normal levels of SIRT3, but not in SIRT3-knockdown mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine appears to act, at least in part, by up-regulating SIRT3 to inhibit mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis and thereby protect against renal I/R injury.

Predicted final spinal height in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can be achieved by surgery regardless of maturity status

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of maturity status at the time of surgery on final spinal height in patients with an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using the spine-pelvic index (SPI). The SPI is a self-control ratio that is independent of age and maturity status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study recruited 152 female patients with a Lenke 1 AIS. The additional inclusion criteria were a thoracic Cobb angle between 45° and 70°, Risser 0 to 1 or 3 to 4 at the time of surgery, and follow-up until 18 years of age or Risser stage 5. The patients were stratified into four groups: Risser 0 to 1 and selective fusion surgery (Group 1), Risser 0 to 1 and non-selective fusion (Group 2), Risser 3 to 4 and selective fusion surgery (Group 3), and Risser 3 to 4 and non-selective fusion (Group 4). The height of spine at follow-up (HOS_f) and height of pelvis at follow-up (HOP_f) were measured and the predicted HOS (pHOS) was calculated as 2.22 (SPI) × HOP_f. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 152 patients, there were 32 patients in Group 1, 27 patients in Group 2, 48 patients in Group 3, and 45 patients in Group 4. Significantly greater HOS_f was observed in Group 3 compared with Group 1 (p = 0.03) and in Group 4 compared with Group 2 (p = 0.02), with similar HOP_f (p = 0.75 and p = 0.83, respectively), suggesting that patients who undergo surgery at Risser grade of 0 to 1 have a shorter spinal height at follow-up than those who have surgery at Risser 4 to 5. HOS_f was similar to pHOS in both Group 1 and Group 2 (p = 0.62 and p = 0.45, respectively), indicating that undergoing surgery at Risser 0 to 1 does not necessarily affect final spinal height.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that fusion surgery at Risser 0 may result in growth restriction unlike fusion surgery at Risser 3 to 4. Despite such growth restriction, AIS patients could reach their predicted or 'normal' spinal height after surgery regardless of baseline maturity status due to the longer baseline spinal length in AIS patients and the remaining growth potential at the non-fusion levels. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1372-6.

Molecular characterization and expression patterns of ghrelin in the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Ghrelin is a novel growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide, which has been identified as an endogenous ligand for the GH-sretagogue receptor. The sequence and expression of ghrelin has been determined in many species. In this study, to reveal the molecular characterization and expression patterns of ghrelin in the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), the full-length DNA and cDNA encoding ghrelin were cloned from reindeer stomach using genome walking and rapid amplification of complementary deoxyribonucleic acid ends (RACE). The expression of ghrelin in almost all tissues was examined by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The 4076 bp amplicon of the ghrelin gene consisting of 4 exons and 3 introns was cloned from reindeer. Results of cDNA cloning and sequence analysis revealed that the full-length ghrelin cDNA was composed of 539 bp that included a 5'-untranslated region (46 bp), an open reading frame (ORF) (351 bp), and a 3'-untranslated region (142 bp). In addition, ghrelin was expressed in the all tissues examined, with the expression in the abomasum significantly higher than that in other tissues (p<0.05), followed by the pancreas, duodenum, testis and oesophagus. The results show that the expression of ghrelin in the reindeer gastrointestinal tract is extensive, suggesting its may have a role in regulating the digestive function.

Two-billion-year-old evaporites capture Earth's great oxidation

Major changes in atmospheric and ocean chemistry occurred in the Paleoproterozoic era (2.5 to 1.6 billion years ago). Increasing oxidation dramatically changed Earth's surface, but few quantitative constraints exist on this important transition. This study describes the sedimentology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of a 2-billion-year-old, ~800-meter-thick evaporite succession from the Onega Basin in Russian Karelia. The deposit consists of a basal unit dominated by halite (~100 meters) followed by units dominated by anhydrite-magnesite (~500 meters) and dolomite-magnesite (~200 meters). The evaporite minerals robustly constrain marine sulfate concentrations to at least 10 millimoles per kilogram of water, representing an oxidant reservoir equivalent to more than 20% of the modern ocean-atmosphere oxidizing capacity. These results show that substantial amounts of surface oxidant accumulated during this critical transition in Earth's oxygenation.

Non-Linear Transform-Based Robust Adaptive Latency Change Estimation of Evoked Potentials

Objectives: To improve the latency change estimation of evoked potentials (EP) under the lower order -stable noise conditions by proposing and analyzing a new adaptive EP latency change detection algorithm (referred to as the NLST).

Methods: The NLST algorithm is based on the fractional lower order moment and the nonlinear transform for the error function. The computer simulation and data analysis verify the robustness of the new algorithm.

Results: The theoretical analysis shows that the iteration equation of the NLST transforms the lower order α-stable process en (k) into a second order moment process by a nonlinear transform. The simulations and the data analysis showed the robustness of the NLST under the lower order α-stable noise conditions.

Conclusions: The new algorithm is robust under the lower order -stable noise conditions, and it also provides a better performance than the DLMS, DLMP and SDA algorithms without the need to estimate thevalue of the EP signals and noises.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of porcine peripheral blood reveals differentially expressed genes from the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway related to health status

While some research has looked into the host genetic response in pigs challenged with specific viruses or bacteria, few studies have explored the expression changes of transcripts in the peripheral blood of sick pigs that may be infected with multiple pathogens on farms. In this study, the architecture of the peripheral blood transcriptome of 64 Duroc sired commercial pigs, including 18 healthy animals at entry to a growing facility (set as a control) and 23 pairs of samples from healthy and sick pen mates, was generated using RNA-Seq technology. In total, 246 differentially expressed genes were identified to be specific to the sick animals. Functional enrichment analysis for those genes revealed that the over-represented gene ontology terms for the biological processes category were exclusively immune activity related. The cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway was significantly enriched. Nine functional genes from this pathway encoding members (as well as their receptors) of the interleukins, chemokines, tumor necrosis factors, colony stimulating factors, activins, and interferons exhibited significant transcriptional alteration in sick animals. Our results suggest a subset of novel marker genes that may be useful candidate genes in the evaluation and prediction of health status in pigs under commercial production conditions.

Coronal imbalance in degenerative lumbar scoliosis: Prevalence and influence on surgical decision-making for spinal osteotomy

AIMS

There is a paucity of information on the pre-operative coronal imbalance in patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) and its influence on surgical outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 284 DLS patients were recruited into this study, among whom 69 patients were treated surgically and the remaining 215 patients conservatively Patients were classified based on the coronal balance distance (CBD): Type A, CBD < 3 cm; Type B, CBD > 3 cm and C7 Plumb Line (C7PL) shifted to the concave side of the curve; Type C, CBD > 3 cm and C7PL shifted to the convex side.

RESULTS

A total of 99 of the 284 (34.8%) patient presented with a pre-operative coronal imbalance (mean CBD: 48.5, standard deviation 18.7 mm). More patients with a Type B malalignment were observed than with a Type C malalignment (62 versus 37). A total of 21 pf the 69 (30.4%) surgically treated patients had a post-operative coronal imbalance, which was found to be more prevalent in Type C patients (p < 0.001). At follow-up, less improvement was observed in terms of Short Form-36 Physical Component Score and visual analogue score for back pain (p = 0.034 and 0.025, respectively) in Type C patients.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that patients with Type C coronal malalignment may be at greater risk of post-operative coronal imbalance following posterior osteotomy. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1227-33.

Clinical outcomes of extended versus intermittent administration of piperacillin/tazobactam for the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia: a randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics, clinical efficiency, and pharmacoeconomic parameters of piperacillin/tazobactam administered by extended infusion (EI) or intermittent infusion (II) in the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in critically ill patients with low illness severity in China. Fifty patients completed the study, with 25 patients receiving 4/0.5 g piperacillin/tazobactam over 30 min as the II group and 25 patients receiving 4/0.5 g piperacillin/tazobactam over 3 h every 6 h as the EI group. Drug assay was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The percentage of the dosing interval for which the free piperacillin concentration (%fT) exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was calculated. The patients' therapy cost, clinical efficiency, and adverse effects were also recorded. %fT>MIC was about 100, 98.73, and 93.04 % in the EI arm versus 81.48, 53.29, and 42.15 % in the II arm, respectively, when the microorganism responsible for HAP had an MIC of 4, 8, and 16 mg/L. The therapy cost in the EI group was lower than that of the II group ($1351.72 ± 120.39 vs. $1782.04 ± 164.51, p = 0.001). However, the clinical success rate, clinical failure rate, and drug-related adverse events did not significantly differ between groups. EI treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam was a cost-effective approach to the management of HAP, being equally clinically effective to conventional II.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance neurography for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: a pilot study

AIM

To investigate the applicability of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance neurography (DW-MRN) in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total, 47 patients with CTS (69 wrists) and 19 normal participants (38 wrists) was included in this study. Cross-sectional area (CSA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the median nerves in the carpal tunnel were determined using DW-MRN. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed.

RESULTS

No significant differences in age or body mass index (BMI) were observed between the control and CTS groups. DW-MRN imaging showed obvious hyperintensity in the lesions in CTS wrists, while other nerve regions were related to slight hyperintensity. Interobserver variability analysis indicated excellent agreement regarding both the CSA and ADC measurements for the control and CTS groups. Both the mean CSA and ADC values of the median nerves in carpal tunnel in the CTS group were significantly higher than the control group. According to the ROC analysis, the CSA cut-off value was 11.7 mm², and sensitivity and specificity were 66.7% and 89.5%, respectively. Conversely, the median nerve ADC cut-off value was 1.047×10^-3 mm²/s. The sensitivity and specificity were 91.3% and 76.3.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

DW-MRN represents a highly reproducible diagnostic technique for CTS. The ADC value of median nerves in the carpal tunnel is significantly higher in CTS patients, which provides a potential powerful tool for the disease diagnosis.