[Clinical application of a quantitative method of atlantoaxial reduction angle in basilar invagination]

Objectives: To investigate the clinical application effect of a quantitative method of atlantoaxial reduction angle in basilar invagination. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical and radiographic data was conducted of 38 patients with complicated atlantoaxial dislocation and basilar invagination admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from May 2020 to May 2022. There were 5 males and 33 females, aged (53.5±9.9) years (range: 38 to 80 years). All patients underwent C_1-2 interarticular fusion cage implantation+occipital-cervical fixation by pressing rob with the cantilever technique. The atlantoaxial reduction model of previous studies by our team was used to calculate the reduction angles before surgery. Then titanium rods of prebending angle were prepared according to the calculation before the operation. After that quantitative reduction of angle was performed during the operation. The paired t-test was used to compare the difference between the theoretical and actual reset value. Results: The theoretical reduction angle of all patients was (10.62±1.78)° (range: 6.40° to 13.20°), the actual reduction angle was (10.53±1.63)° (range: 6.70° to 13.30°) and there was no statistical difference between them (t=1.688, P=0.100). The theoretical posterior occipitocervical angle after the operation of all patients was (117.37±5.88)° (range: 107.00° to 133.00°), the actual posterior occipitocervical angle after the operation was (118.25±6.77)° (range: 105.40° to 135.80°) and there was no statistical difference between them (t=-0.737, P=0.466). The postoperative follow-up time of the patients was more than 6 months and the symptoms of all patients were relieved. All patients had satisfactory fusion between small joints without incision infection, internal fixation fracture, displacement, atlantoaxial redislocation, and other long-term complications. Conclusion: The quantitative method of atlantoaxial reduction angle in basilar invagination can calculate the theoretical reduction angle of the clivus axis angle and guide the preparation of the pre-bending titanium rod before surgery, so as to realize the quantification of the atlantoaxial reduction angle.

Safety and efficacy of cobimetinib plus atezolizumab in patients with solid tumors: a phase II, open-label, multicenter, multicohort study

BACKGROUND

Although introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment of cancer, their response rates are generally low. Preclinical and early phase clinical data suggest that MEK inhibition may sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint inhibitors by upregulating tumor antigen expression, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, and tumor T-cell infiltration. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of cobimetinib plus atezolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors in the open-label, multicohort phase II COTEST study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This analysis of the COTEST trial included patients from cohorts 1-4 [1-3: anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 treatment-naive patients; 4: patients with disease progression on anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 treatment] who received cobimetinib 60 mg once daily for the first 21 days and intravenous infusions of atezolizumab 840 mg on days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle. Efficacy endpoints included objective response rate, overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS), and disease control rate.

RESULTS

Overall, 77 patients were enrolled in cohorts 1-4 (78% male; median age 62.8 years). Objective response rate was 20% in cohort 1 [squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN)], 30% in cohort 2 (urothelial carcinoma), and 18% in cohort 3 (renal cell carcinoma); there were no responders among 20 patients in cohort 4 (SCCHN). The disease control rates in cohorts 1-4 were 50%, 40%, 24%, and 25%, respectively. The median PFS was 5.5, 3.4, 3.4, and 3.6 months in cohorts 1-4, respectively, and the median overall survival was 16.8, 18.7, 21.7, and 7.7 months, respectively. Most adverse events were of grade 1/2 and were manageable.

CONCLUSIONS

Cobimetinib plus atezolizumab had moderate activity in patients with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment-naive SCCHN and urothelial carcinoma, and weak activity in anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment-naive renal cell carcinoma, and no activity in checkpoint inhibitor-treated patients.

Multifunctional magnesium-organic framework doped biodegradable bone cement for antibacterial growth, inflammatory regulation and osteogenic differentiation

Degradable bone cement has superior osteoconductivity and plasticity and is commonly used to treat defects greater than the critical-size. Magnesium gallate metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) (Mg-MOF), with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, are doped into a composite cement composed of calcium sulfate, calcium citrate, and dicalcium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous (CS/CC/DCPA). The doping of the Mg-MOF slightly influences the microstructure and curing properties of the composite cement, with the mechanical strength of the cement displaying a significant increase from 27 to 32 MPa. Antibacterial tests reveal that the Mg-MOF bone cement has excellent antibacterial characteristics and can effectively inhibit bacterial growth in 4 h (Staphyloccocus aureus survival rate <10%). Herein, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage models are used to investigate the anti-inflammatory characteristics of composite cement. The Mg-MOF bone cement can regulate the inflammatory factors and polarization of macrophages (M1 and M2). In addition, the composite cement promotes cell proliferation and osteo-differentiation of mBMSCs, and the activity of alkaline phosphatase and calcium nodules are increased. The bone related transcription factor and specific proteins, such as runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone morphogenetic protein 2, osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), and collagen type 1 (COL1), were highly expressed by the Mg-MOF bone cements. Therefore, Mg-MOF doped CS/CC/DCPA bone cement is multifunctional for bone repair, which will promote bone formation and avoid the infection of wounds, and it is suitable for use with non-load-bearing bone defects.

A combined study on Vallisneria spiralis and lanthanum modified bentonite to immobilize arsenic in sediments

Submerged plants and lanthanum-modified bentonite (LMB) have important applications for the remediation of contaminated sediments; however, their combined effect on arsenic (As) removal has not been comprehensively evaluated. In this study, the physicochemical properties and changes in soluble As in sediments treated with LMB, Vallisneria spiralis (V. spiralis), and LMB + V. spiralis were observed at three time points (days 15, 35, and 66), and the changes in microbial and As species in sediments on day 66 were analyzed. LMB + V. spiralis treatment was the most effective for As removal. On day 66, the average concentrations of soluble As at a depth of 0-100 mm decreased by 12.71%, 48.81%, and 59.73% following treatment with LMB, V. spiralis, and LMB + V. spiralis, respectively. Further analysis showed that LMB is more effective at removing As(V) than V. spiralis, while V. spiralis is more effective at removing As(III), and the combination of LMB + V. spiralis is more effective for removing both As(III) and As(V) than individual LMB and V. spiralis treatments. LMB + V. spiralis enhanced the transformation of mobile As to Fe₂O₃/oxyhydroxide-bound As in sediments and the activity of As-oxidizing microorganisms. LMB promoted the growth of V. spiralis and enhanced the removal of As. This study indicates that this combination is an effective method for removing mobile As from sediments, and could effectively inhibit the release of As from sediments to overlying water.

Author Correction: Experimental study on thioredoxin redox inhibitor 1-methylpropyl 2-imidazolyl disulfide promoting apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells in vitro and in vivo

Correction to: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2022; 26 (4): 1283-1292. DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202202_28121-PMID: 35253185-published online on December 15, 2022. After publication, the authors corrected the order of the author's affiliations as follows: Q.-D. Lin1,2,3,4, L.-N. Liu1,2,3,4, X.-Y. Liu1,2, Y. Yan1,2, B.-J. Fang1,2,3,4, Y.-L. Zhang1,2,3,4, J. Zhou1,2,3,4, Y.-F. Li1,2,3,4, W.-L. Zuo1,2,3,4, Y.-P. Song1,2,3,4 1Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China 2Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China 3Henan Key Lab of Experimental Hematology, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China 4Henan Institute of Hematology, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/28121.

Evaluation of a computer-aided diagnostic model for corneal diseases by analyzing in vivo confocal microscopy images

Objective

In order to automatically and rapidly recognize the layers of corneal images using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and classify them into normal and abnormal images, a computer-aided diagnostic model was developed and tested based on deep learning to reduce physicians' workload.

Methods

A total of 19,612 corneal images were retrospectively collected from 423 patients who underwent IVCM between January 2021 and August 2022 from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (Wuhan, China) and Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University (Wuhan, China). Images were then reviewed and categorized by three corneal specialists before training and testing the models, including the layer recognition model (epithelium, bowman's membrane, stroma, and endothelium) and diagnostic model, to identify the layers of corneal images and distinguish normal images from abnormal images. Totally, 580 database-independent IVCM images were used in a human-machine competition to assess the speed and accuracy of image recognition by 4 ophthalmologists and artificial intelligence (AI). To evaluate the efficacy of the model, 8 trainees were employed to recognize these 580 images both with and without model assistance, and the results of the two evaluations were analyzed to explore the effects of model assistance.

Results

The accuracy of the model reached 0.914, 0.957, 0.967, and 0.950 for the recognition of 4 layers of epithelium, bowman's membrane, stroma, and endothelium in the internal test dataset, respectively, and it was 0.961, 0.932, 0.945, and 0.959 for the recognition of normal/abnormal images at each layer, respectively. In the external test dataset, the accuracy of the recognition of corneal layers was 0.960, 0.965, 0.966, and 0.964, respectively, and the accuracy of normal/abnormal image recognition was 0.983, 0.972, 0.940, and 0.982, respectively. In the human-machine competition, the model achieved an accuracy of 0.929, which was similar to that of specialists and higher than that of senior physicians, and the recognition speed was 237 times faster than that of specialists. With model assistance, the accuracy of trainees increased from 0.712 to 0.886.

Conclusion

A computer-aided diagnostic model was developed for IVCM images based on deep learning, which rapidly recognized the layers of corneal images and classified them as normal and abnormal. This model can increase the efficacy of clinical diagnosis and assist physicians in training and learning for clinical purposes.

BCL11B Upregulates the Expression of RelA in T Cells Stimulated with Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A

We explored the potential link between RelA and BCL11B transcription factors. To this end, Jurkat and Raji cells (Jurkat:Raji 10:1), as well as normal human peripheral blood T cells, were activated by staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and the expressions of both BCL11B and RelA mRNA and proteins were detected. BCL11B small interfering RNA was then transduced into Jurkat cells. Under the effect of SEA stimulation, the expression of BCL11B and RelA mRNA increased in two types of T cell lines over time, and the results were comparable with the levels of expression of BCL11B and RelA proteins. In the BCL11B-knockdown cells, the expression of RelA protein did not increase. These findings suggest that BCL11B regulates RelA expression in Jurkat cells and human peripheral blood T cells from healthy donors via the T-cell receptor signaling pathway.

[Surgical treatment strategy for difficult-reducible atlantoaxial dislocation]

Objective: To discuss the surgical strategy for difficult-reducible atlantoaxial dislocation. Methods: Clinical data of 82 patients with difficult-reducible atlantoaxial dislocation underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital from January 2018 to February 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Total of 32 men and 50 women were included, with a mean age of (41.8±12.9) years. Most cases (n=80) were treated with one-staged posterior atlantoaxial joint distraction and cage implantation, a few (n=2) underwent ventral decompression. All cases were followed up, postoperative improvement of clinical symptoms and radiology parameters were analyzed. Results: Of the patients, 80 cases (97.6%) received one-staged posterior atlantoaxial joint distraction and cage implantation; lateral facet joint bony fusion was found in 4 patients and was cut off with an osteotome. Transoral odontoidectomy was performed in 2 cases (2.4%) with fused atlanto-odontoid joint. All the patients were followed-up for (18.6±7.3) months. Postoperative CT showed complete reduction of ADI was achieved in 60 patients (75.0%). The ADI decreased significantly after the operation [(2.1±1.4) mm vs (5.0±1.5) mm, P<0.05]. The postoperative vertical distance between odontoid process and the Chamberlain line decreased significantly when compared with that before the operation [(3.9±3.8) mm vs (10.2±5.2) mm, P<0.05]. The mean JOA score at 6 months post operation improved significantly than that before the operation (13.7±1.5 vs 11.2±1.7, P<0.05). Seventy-five patients (93.8%) had atlantoaxial intra-articular bony fusion at 1 year follow-up. Conclusion: Most difficult-reducible atlantoaxial dislocations can be managed well by posterior one-staged atlantoaxial joint distraction and Cage implantation.

Hospitalist System under the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Perspective of Value Co-creation

Background

The core spirit of the Hospitalist system aims to set up dedicated wards, integrate physician manpower, focus on whole-person care, in order to cope with the aging population and Covid-19 pandemic, and to ensure that both parties, the medical personnel and patients, can provide or receive complete medical care. As the Taiwan medical system is facing a paradigm shift, the Taiwan hospitalist system will play an essential role in the transition as moving forward to provide professional care for inpatients.

Methods

Hospitalists from 12 hospitals across Taiwan completed a cross-sectional survey. The target population was identified through Taiwan Doctors and Nurses. Survey questionnaire was accessed by 342, incomplete response (18) were excluded and 324 completed responses were analysed.

Results

That the higher the cognition of medical staff on whole-person care, the higher the motivation to participate in cross-team cooperation (F = 35.914, p < 0.001); when the motivation to participate in cross-team cooperation was higher, the behavior of participating in whole-person care also increased. Will be higher (F = 36.483, p < 0.001); whole-person care behavior participation behavior has a significant impact on value creation (F = 21.068, p < 0.001)

Conclusions

As the Taiwan medical system is facing a paradigm shift, the Taiwan hospitalist system will play an essential role in the transition as moving forward to provide professional care for inpatients. This change will make possible the improvement of patient safety and quality medical care. The research results can be provided for reference in European and American countries.

Key messages

• A hospitalist support system is essential for establishing an efficient medical environment and reducing administrative work, which can help hospitals introduce a hospitalist system.

• To build a more stable and sustainable system, it is necessary to create a systemic operational foundation for proceeding with this new hospitalist system.

Comparative effectiveness of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure: a Bayesian network analysis of 44 randomized trials and 5896 patients

Introduction

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing nowadays. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces mortality and further improves the outcome of patients with HF. However, the effect of different types of CR on HF remains unclear. Data comparing these CR have not been synthesized. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the relative efficacy of different types of exercise-based CR for individuals with HF using a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Methods

We followed a pre-specified protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42021278351). We conducted a systematic literature review of any randomized controlled trials which evaluated exercise-based CR for patients with HF. Databases including Embase, Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were screened up to 31 December 2021. The primary outcomes focus on functional capacity (peak oxygen uptake and 6-minute walk distance) and health-related quality of life (hr-QOL). The main analysis was complemented by network subanalysis, standard pairwise comparisons, and subgroup and sensitivity analyses. The pooled estimates were quantified as mean differences (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD)where appropriate, at 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

We identified 44 randomized controlled trials with a total of 5896 HF participants. Among 23 studies that compared exercise-based CR and usual care, participants in center-based CR (CBCR) had improvement of peak oxygen uptake (MD: 2.30 mL/kg per minute; 95% CI, 0.43–4.40) and 6-minute walk distance (MD: 33 meters; 95% CI, 11.00–58.00).18 studies that compared exercise-based CR with usual care showed that CBCR and cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) had greater improvements in hr-QOL (SMD: −0.38; 95% CI, −0.49 to −0.15 and SMD: −0.18,95% CI, −0.36 to −0.00 respectively). Treatment ranking indicated CTR has the highest probability (46.0%, 50.2%) of being the most effective CR for peak oxygen uptake and hr-QOL elevation respectively. CBCR was similarly indicated as the most effective treatment for 6-min walk distance (38.7%).

Conclusion

Exercise-based CR programs provide broader cardiovascular benefits compared with UC. CBCR significantly improved functional capacity. CBCR and CTR have favorable effects on hr-QOL.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): China Scholarship Council

Ameliorating effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) extract tablet on exhaustive exercise-induced fatigue in rats by suppressing mitophagy in skeletal muscle

OBJECTIVE

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) is widely used as a leafy vegetable and spice in China and North Africa. Recent studies have reported that fenugreek can reduce fatigue; however, its antifatigue mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential antifatigue effects of fenugreek extract (FE) on mitophagy and the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the potential effects of FE tablet on an exhaustive exercise-induced fatigue (EEF) rat model. Oxidative stress indicators and fatigue biomarkers in the serum and skeletal muscle were detected. Mitophagy and mitochondrial morphology were observed using transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of mitochondrial autophagy-related proteins were detected using western blot and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Compared with the model group, FE enhanced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase as well as total antioxidant capacity; however, it decreased the level of malondialdehyde in the serum and skeletal muscle after a 7-day treatment. Moreover, certain indicators of mitochondrial function, such as reactive oxygen species levels, ATP levels, cellular and mitochondrial Ca2+ levels, and ATPase activity, were significantly improved in the FE group compared with the model group. Finally, we found that mitophagy was induced by exhaustive exercise and inhibited by FE. Regarding mitochondrial autophagy-related proteins, the expression levels of LC3B, FUNDC1, PGAM5, PARKIN, and PINK1 in the skeletal muscle tissue were increased in the EEF group compared with the control group. After administration of FE and a positive control drug, a significant reversal in the expression of the above-mentioned proteins was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that FE exerted antifatigue effects in the EEF rat model by regulating the mitophagy-related FUNDC1/LC3B signaling pathway rather than the PINK1/PARKIN signaling pathway.

[The value of CMR high-risk attributes in predicting ventricular remodeling in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction]

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of a multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) approach for ventricular remodeling in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with mildly reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study. STEMI patients with acute LVEF>40% after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from October 2019 to September 2021 were enrolled. All patients received acute (3-7 days) and follow-up (3 months) CMR post-PCI. According to absence or presence of ventricular remodeling, patients were divided into ventricular remodeling group and non-ventricular remodeling group. Basic clinical characteristics and CMR indicators were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to explore the predictive performance of CMR high-risk attributes for ventricular remodeling in STEMI patients with mildly reduced or preserved LVEF. The predictive value of combining multiple high-risk characteristics of CMR for ventricular remodeling was analyzed and compared with the traditional clinical risk factor model. Results: A total of 123 STEMI patients were enrolled (aged (57.1±11.1) years, 102 (82.9%) males). There were 97 cases (78.9%) patients in the non-ventricular remodeling group and 26 cases (21.1%) in the ventricular remodeling group. After adjustment for clinical risk factors, stroke volume<51.6 ml, global circumferential strain>-13.7%, infarct size>39.2%, microvascular obstruction>0.5%, and myocardial salvage index<43.9 were independently associated with ventricular remodeling in STEMI patients with mildly reduced or preserved LVEF. The incidence of ventricular remodeling increased with the increasing number of CMR high-risk attributes (P<0.01). The number of CMR high-risk attributes ≥3 was an independent predictor of adverse remodeling (adjusted OR=5.95, 95 CI%: 2.25-15.72, P<0.01) in STEMI patients with mildly reduced or preserved LVEF. Furthermore, the number of CMR high-risk attributes had incremental predictive value over baseline clinical risk factors (area under curve: 0.843 vs. 0.696, P<0.01). Conclusions: In STEMI patients with mild reduced or preserved LVEF, 5 CMR characteristics are associated with ventricular remodeling. The combination of ≥3 CMR high-risk characteristics is an independent predictor of ventricular remodeling, which has incremental predictive value beyond traditional risk factors in this patient cohort.

[Outcomes at discharge of preterm infants born <34 weeks' gestation]

Objective: To investigate the incidence and trend of short-term outcomes among preterm infants born <34 weeks' gestation. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the standardized database established by a multicenter cluster-randomized controlled study "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) using the evidence-based practice for improving quality (REIN-EPIQ) study". This study was conducted in 25 tertiary NICU. A total of 27 192 infants with gestational age <34 weeks at birth and admitted to NICU within the first 7 days of life from May 2015 to April 2018 were enrolled. Infants with severe congenital malformation were excluded. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the mortality and major morbidities of preterm infants by gestational age groups and different admission year groups. Cochran-Armitage test and Jonckheere-Terpstra test were used to analyze the trend of incidences of mortality and morbidities in 3 study-years. Multiple Logistic regression model was constructed to analyze the differences of outcomes in 3 study-years adjusting for confounders. Results: A total of 27 192 preterm infants were enrolled with gestational age of (31.3±2.0) weeks at birth and weight of (1 617±415) g at birth. Overall, 9.5% (2 594/27 192) of infants were discharged against medical advice, and the overall mortality rate was 10.7% (2 907/27 192). Mortality for infants who received complete care was 4.7% (1 147/24 598), and mortality or any major morbidity was 26.2% (6 452/24 598). The incidences of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, severe intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia, proven necrotizing enterocolitis, and severe retinopathy of prematurity were 16.0% (4 342/27 192), 11.9% (3 225/27 192), 6.8% (1 641/24 206), 3.6% (939/25 762) and 1.5% (214/13 868), respectively. There was a decreasing of the overall mortality (P<0.001) during the 3 years. Also, the incidences for sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity both decreased (both P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the major morbidity in preterm infants who received complete care during the 3-year study period (P=0.230). After adjusting for confounders, infants admitted during the third study year showed significantly lower risk of overall mortality (adjust OR=0.62, 95%CI 0.55-0.69, P<0.001), mortality or major morbidity, moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity, compared to those admitted in the first study year (all P<0.05). Conclusions: From 2015 to 2018, the mortality and major morbidities among preterm infants in Chinese NICU decreased, but there is still space for further efforts. Further targeted quality improvement is needed to improve the overall outcome of preterm infants.

Micromanaging atherosclerosis: myeloid cell-specific microRNA-26b attenuates atherosclerosis development

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Increasing evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRs) are fundamental players in atherosclerosis, but the exact role of various miRs remains elusive. Preliminary data showed that, with a 5-fold increase, miR-26b was the most highly expressed miR in human atherosclerotic plaques compared to healthy vessels. Therefore, we aimed to determine its cell-specific effects on atherosclerosis development.

We examined the role of miR-26b in atherosclerosis by using full-body knockout (KO) mice on a 4 weeks and 12 weeks Western type diet (WTD) and myeloid cell-specific miR-26b KO (LysM-Cre) mice on 12 weeks WTD on an apolipoprotein E-deficient background. Atherosclerotic plaque size and phenotype were analyzed via immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent stainings. The phenotype and function of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from full body KO mice were analyzed via PCR, ELISA and gelatinase assays. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) served as vehicles for miR-26b mimics to restore miR-26b levels in knockout BMDMs.

A full-body miR-26b-KO on a 12 weeks WTD resulted in a striking 3.5-fold increase in atherosclerotic lesion size, compared to control. Consistent with a more advanced plaque phenotype, collagen content, smooth muscle cell percentage and relative necrotic core area were all significantly increased in plaques from miR-26b KO mice whilst the relative macrophage content was significantly reduced. Interestingly, the full-body KO mice on a 4 weeks WTD showed a remarkable 10-fold increase in plaque size and the respective plaques also had a reduced macrophage percentage, showing that miR-26b has very strong effects on both atherogenesis as well as atherosclerosis progression. Intriguingly, relative plaque size in the arches of miR-26b LysM-Cre mice were increased by 3-fold and collagen content was also increased significantly, suggesting a role for myeloid-specific miR-26b in atherosclerosis development. Further highlighting its myeloid-specific effects, miR-26b KO BMDMs showed an increase in IL-6 and TNFα secretion, which could be rescued by LNPs containing miR-26b mimics. Additionally, these miR-26b KO BMDMs showed a reduction in collagen breakdown.

Overall, our results clearly demonstrate an atheroprotective role of myeloid cell-specific miR-26b by attenuating lesion initiation as well as progression, mainly by suppressing inflammation and stimulating collagen breakdown. Our study leads to exciting new insights into the role of miR-26b in atherosclerosis development, providing an important back-bone for future research and potential new treatment options.

Features of addictive beliefs with different types of addictions

Introduction

Today, a number of researchers consider the problem of addictive behavior as one of the most global problems for Kazakhstan and Russia. Some scientists consider CBT to be the most effective way to work with addictions. In our country there are no scientific works devoted to the study of addictive beliefs, so we decided to conduct such a study.

Objectives

The Objective of the study was to identify the characteristic addictive beliefs of drug addicts with different type of addiction: opioids and synthetic cathinones (designer drugs called “salts”, “bath salts”).

Methods

Questionnaire of addictive beliefs by A, Beck, questionnaire of beliefs about cravings by A. Beck and F. Wright, clinical interview. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used for data processing.

Results

People with opioid addiction are more likely to believe that their lives will become more depressive if they stop using drugs (p= 0.0347); that drug use is the only way to cope with pain in their life (p= 0.0347) and that they cannot cope with anxiety without drugs (p=0.009). Respondents who use synthetic psychostimulants endorse to believe that addiction is not a problrm for them (p= 0.0358).

Conclusions

Having categorized these beliefs in accordance with A. Beck’s classification, we came to the conclusion that “relief-oriented beliefs” are more typical for people who use opiates. The motive for use is often the desire to alleviate a negative emotional or physical state. For people using psychostimulants “salt”, “anticipatory beliefs” are more characteristic - the desire to experience euphoria and pleasant experiences.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.