Predictors of plaque erosion in current smokers and non-current smokers presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: an optical coherence tomography study

Background

Plaque erosion with subsequent coronary thrombosis is considered as an important cause of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Smoking is a major risk factor for acute coronary thrombosis. However, the relationship between current smoking status and plaque erosion has not been systematically investigated.

Purpose

The present study aimed to investigate predictors of plaque erosion in current smokers and non-current smokers with STEMI by using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods

Between January 2015 to December 2017, a total of 1313 STEMI patients underwent pre-intervention OCT of culprit lesion were enrolled and divided into two groups based on current smoking status: current smoking group (n=713) and non-current smoking group (n=600). Using established criteria, quantitative and qualitative underlying plaque characteristics were assessed by OCT. Clinical, angiographic and OCT characteristics of all enrolled patients were recorded. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of plaque erosion in two groups.

Results

Plaque erosion were found in 30.9% (220/713) culprit lesions in current smoking group and 20.8% (125/600) of those in non-current smoking group detected by OCT. In multivariate regression analysis, the predictors that strongly related to plaque erosion in the current smoking group were nearby bifurcation (OR: 4.84; 95% CI:2.38–9.87; p<0.001); the minimum fiber cap thickness (FCT, OR:1.05; 95% CI:1.03–1.08; p<0.001); thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA, OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07–0.67; p=0.007) and lipid core length (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84–0.97; p=0.007). The predictors in the non-current smoking group were nearby bifurcation (OR: 4.84; 95% CI: 2.38–9.87; p=0.006); the minimal FCT (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.06–1.13; p<0.001); multi-vessel disease (MVD, OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.19–0.97; p=0.042) and dyslipidemia (OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.14–0.84; p=0.020).

Conclusions

Predictors of plaque erosion causing STEMI onset are different between current smokers and non-current smoker, with nearby bifurcation and thicker minimal FCT both predicting plaque erosion in two groups of patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China.

PHACTR1, a pro-atherosclerotic mechanosensitive PPARgamma corepressor in endothelial cells

Background

Numerous genome-wide association studies revealed that SNPs at phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) locus are strongly correlated with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the mechanism linking these variants to CAD remains uncertain.

Purpose

We studied the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of PHACTR1 in atherosclerosis.

Methods and results

Analysis of GTEx database showed that CAD-related SNPs in PHACTR1 are cis-eQTLs for PHACTR1 in arteries. Therefore, we generated Phactr1 knockout mice and crossed them with apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice to induce atherosclerosis by high-fat/high-cholesterol (HF-HC) diet. Phactr1 deficiency significantly inhibited atherosclerosis with decreased inflammatory cell infiltration. Western blot showed that PHACTR1 was restricted to endothelial cells (ECs) in mice. Mechanistically, RNAseq of aortic ECs revealed that the major molecular function of PHACTR1 was transcriptional regulation. PPARγ/RXRα was the top transcription factor, and PPARγ target gene expression substantially increased in Phactr1−/− mice. Moreover, we generated endothelial cell specific Phactr1−/−, ApoE−/− mice and found decreased atherosclerotic plaque area in aortic sinus. In vitro, PHACTR1 associated with PPARγ and inhibited PPARγ transcriptional activity. The inhibitory effect of PHACTR1 on PPARγ required its shuttling from cytosol to nucleus triggered by disturbed flow, a well-established pro-atherosclerotic stimulus.

Conclusion

Our results identified PHACTR1 as a mechanosensitive corepressor of PPARγ in ECs to promote atherosclerosis. Endothelial PHACTR1 is a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis treatment.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (CPSF)

Contrasting Regional Carbon Cycle Responses to Seasonal Climate Anomalies Across the East-West Divide of Temperate North America

Across temperate North America, interannual variability (IAV) in gross primary production (GPP) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and their relationship with environmental drivers are poorly understood. Here, we examine IAV in GPP and NEE and their relationship to environmental drivers using two state-of-the-science flux products: NEE constrained by surface and space-based atmospheric CO2 measurements over 2010-2015 and satellite up-scaled GPP from FluxSat over 2001-2017. We show that the arid western half of temperate North America provides a larger contribution to IAV in GPP (104% of east) and NEE (127% of east) than the eastern half, in spite of smaller magnitude of annual mean GPP and NEE. This occurs because anomalies in western ecosystems are temporally coherent across the growing season leading to an amplification of GPP and NEE. In contrast, IAV in GPP and NEE in eastern ecosystems is dominated by seasonal compensation effects, associated with opposite responses to temperature anomalies in spring and summer. Terrestrial biosphere models in the MsTMIP ensemble generally capture these differences between eastern and western temperate North America, although there is considerable spread between models.

[Clinical diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor: matching technological breakthrough with patient care]

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the digestive tract. Although GIST has only been recognized as a separate entity for several decades, management strategies for GIST have changed dramatically over time. Advances in treatment have yielded dramatic successes in improving prognosis of patients with GIST. However, the meaningful progress also brings escalating social and economic burdens. There is a long distance between technological breakthroughs and its real benefits of society. Due to the rapid development in a short period, successful experience in disease diagnosis and treatment and the accompanying problems have appeared in a more concentrated and obvious manner. Any medical science exploration and practice initially aim to have the essence of humanism. As practitioners of medical technology, doctors should treat patients as a whole "human" in the process of diagnosis and treatment instead of just focusing on the technology itself. Moreover, doctors should comprehensively consider patients' physical, psychological and social attributes, pay attention to their physical, mental and social needs, find and try to solve problems, so as to promote the developement of medical science in the correct direction.

Long noncoding RNA TPTE2P1 promotes the migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor that poses a serious threat to human health and life. Metastasis is one of the reasons for high rate of relapse. Due to the lack of effective treatment, the prognosis of HCC patients is far from satisfactory. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-TPTE2P1 in HCC development. Moreover, we aimed to search for new biomarkers which could predict the metastasis and provide novel therapeutic strategies for HCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate the expression level of lncRNA-TPTE2P1 in both HCC tissues and cell lines. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay were applied to determine the ability of cell migration. Meanwhile, transwell matrigel assay was applied to detect the invasion of HCC cells. The protein expressions of E-cadherin, Vimentin and N-cadherin in chosen cell lines were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Results found that lncRNA-TPTE2P1 was overexpressed in both HCC tissues and cell lines. Further analysis revealed that overexpression of lncRNA-TPTE2P1 was correlated with tumor size, distant metastasis, differentiation degree, as well as tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage of HCC patients. Subsequent wound-healing assay, transwell assay and Matrigel assay confirmed that down-regulated lncRNA-TPTE2P1 could significantly suppress the invasion and migration of cells. However, up-regulation of lncRNA-TPTE2P1 showed the opposite results. Moreover, lowly expressed lncRNA-TPTE2P1 significantly decreased the protein levels of E-cadherin, Vimentin and N-cadherin. These results indicated that lncRNA-TPTE2P1 might stimulate the migration and invasion of HCC cells by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our results suggested that lncRNA-TPTE2P1 functioned as an oncogene in HCC. Meanwhile, lncRNA-TPTE2P1 stimulated HCC cell migration and invasion by promoting EMT. LncRNA-TPTE2P1 might play a vital role in the development and progression of HCC. Our findings demonstrated that lncRNA-TPTE2P1 could serve as an early biomarker of metastasis and therapeutic target for HCC.

[The role of large-scale testing platform in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic: an empirical study based on a novel numerical model]

Objective: China adopted an unprecedented province-scale quarantine since January 23rd 2020, after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) broke out in Wuhan in December 2019. Responding to the challenge of limited testing capacity, large-scale (>20 000 tests per day) standardized and fully-automated laboratory (Huo-Yan) was built as an ad-hoc measure. There is so far no empirical data or mathematical model to reveal the impact of the testing capacity improvement since quarantine. Methods: Based on the suspected case data released by the Health Commission of Hubei Province and the daily testing data of Huo-Yan Laboratory, the impact of detection capabilities on the realization of "clearing" and "clearing the day" of supected cases was simulated by establishing a novel non-linear and competitive compartments differential model. Results: Without the establishment of Huo-Yan, the suspected cases would increase by 47% to 33 700, the corresponding cost of quarantine would be doubled, the turning point of the increment of suspected cases and the achievement of "daily settlement" (all newly discovered suspected cases are diagnosed according to the nucleic acid testing result) would be delayed for a whole week and 11 days. If the Huo-Yan Laboratory could ran at its full capacity, the number of suspected cases could start to decrease at least a week earlier, the peak of suspected cases would be reduced by at least 44%, and the quarantine cost could be reduced by more than 72%. Ideally, if a daily testing capacity of 10 500 tests was achieved immediately after the Hubei lockdown, "daily settlement" for all suspected cases could be achieved. Conclusions: Large-scale, standardized clinical testing platform, with nucleic acid testing, high-throughput sequencing, and immunoprotein assessment capabilities, need to be implemented simultaneously in order to maximize the effect of quarantine and minimize the duration and cost of the quarantine. Such infrastructure, for both common times and emergencies, is of great significance for the early prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Growth and saturation of stimulated Raman scattering in two overlapping laser beams

Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are presented of the linear and nonlinear developments of stimulated Raman scattering in two overlapping laser beams. The development of the most unstable mode in the linear stage is consistent with a previous paper [C. Z. Xiao et al., Phys. Plasmas 26, 062109 (2019)PHPAEN1070-664X10.1063/1.5096850] where SL mode (two beams share a common scattered light) is dominant in the overlapping region. This mode is enhanced with plasma density and correlation of beam polarizations. When lasers are cross-polarized, it backs to the single-beam Raman backscattering with weak intensity. Trapping-induced nonlinear frequency shift leads to the saturation of SL mode by detuning the coupling and broadening the spectrum. An interesting result that SL mode becomes stronger as the incidence angle increases is contrary to the theoretical prediction and it is a consequence of less efficient saturation in the nonlinear stage.

Dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis DSM 32315 alters the intestinal microbiota and metabolites in weaned piglets

AIM

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis (BS) DSM 32315 on the intestinal microbiota composition and metabolites of weaned pigs.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sixty-four piglets were allocated to two groups (control and BS), each group including eight replicates with four piglets. Dietary BS DSM 32315 increased (P < 0·05) the abundances of jejunal Leucobacter and Cupriavidus, ileal Thermus, Coprococcus and Bifidobacterium, as well as colonic Succiniclasticum; and increased the concentrations of ileal straight-chain fatty acids, colonic propionate, branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs), and tyramine, but decreased (P < .05) the colonic indole concentration. The ileal and colonic microbial community structure tended to cluster into two groups. LEfSe analysis identified five microbial biomarkers in jejunum and eight biomarkers in ileum in the BS group, and three biomarkers in colon in the control group. The ileal Bifidobacterium abundance was positively correlated (P < 0·05) with isovalerate concentration, while the colonic Actinobacteria and Lactobacillus abundances were negatively correlated (P < 0·05) with indole concentration.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with BS DSM 32315 could alter the diversity, composition, and metabolites of intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Weaned piglets are often accompanied with impaired gastrointestinal tract and intestinal disorder affecting their growth. This study demonstrated that dietary BS DSM 32315 presented a beneficial role in gut health via regulating intestinal microbiota composition and metabolites.

Temperature-Induced Lifshitz Transition and Possible Excitonic Instability in ZrSiSe

The nodal-line semimetals have attracted immense interest due to the unique electronic structures such as the linear dispersion and the vanishing density of states as the Fermi energy approaching the nodes. Here, we report temperature-dependent transport and scanning tunneling microscopy (spectroscopy) [STM(S)] measurements on nodal-line semimetal ZrSiSe. Our experimental results and theoretical analyses consistently demonstrate that the temperature induces Lifshitz transitions at 80 and 106 K in ZrSiSe, which results in the transport anomalies at the same temperatures. More strikingly, we observe a V-shaped dip structure around Fermi energy from the STS spectrum at low temperature, which can be attributed to co-effect of the spin-orbit coupling and excitonic instability. Our observations indicate the correlation interaction may play an important role in ZrSiSe, which owns the quasi-two-dimensional electronic structures.

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with early breast cancer: a KSMO-ESMO initiative endorsed by CSCO, ISMPO, JSMO, MOS, SSO and TOS

In view of the planned new edition of the most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of primary breast cancer published in 2015, it was decided at the ESMO Asia Meeting in November 2018, by both the ESMO and the Korean Society of Medical Oncology (KSMO), to convene a special face-to-face guidelines meeting in 2019 in Seoul. The aim was to adapt the latest ESMO 2019 guidelines to take into account the ethnic and geographical differences associated with the treatment of early breast cancer in Asian patients. These guidelines represent the consensus opinions reached by experts in the treatment of patients with early breast cancer representing the oncology societies of Korea (KSMO), China (CSCO), India (ISMPO) Japan (JSMO), Malaysia (MOS), Singapore (SSO) and Taiwan (TOS). The voting was based on scientific evidence, and was independent of both the current treatment practices, and the drug availability and reimbursement situations, in the individual participating Asian countries.

The Dopaminergic Polymorphisms in Psychomotor Retardation of Depression: A Pathway-based Imaging Genetics Association Study

Introduction

Several lines of evidence implicate dopamine is involved in the psychomotor retardation (PMR) in major depressive disorder (MDD). Besides, abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF) of PMR was also found in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical (CBTC) circuitry. We hypothesize that the polymorphisms of the dopaminergic pathway should be associated the abnormal CBF in the CBTC circuitry.

Objective

To investigate the association of the polymorphisms throughout the dopaminergic pathway with the cerebral blood flow (CBF) of PMR in MDD.

Methods

The blood sample of 63 patients (23 PMR, 40 NPMR) were collected for genotyping the dopaminergic polymorphisms (92 SNPs from10 genes). After quality controlling, 15 SNPs in 8 candidate genes were entered into the mass univariate modeling analysis. For the statistical analysis, patients with unqualified fMRI image and unmatched demographic data were ruled out. Consequently 56 patients (23 PMR, 33 NPMR) were taken into the statistical analysis.

Results

Genotype-by PMR associations with the CBF differences predominately distributed in bilateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), temporal cortex, and striatum, the left thalamus, the right primary motor cortex, insular cortex, fusiform gyri, and lingual gyri. There were significant negative correlation between the CBF of the PFC and the PMR severity. However, the CBF of the striatum and the thalamus were positively correlated with the PMR severity.

Conclusions

The polymorphisms of dopaminergic pathway are associated with not only CSTC circuitry, but also some other brain regions involving in cognition and emotion controlling. While the increased CBF of PFC might suppress PMR, the increased CBF of striatum and thalamus adversely aggravate PMR.

Rapid isolation of non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strains

In the present study, a method for screening non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus in soil samples collected from major peanut-growing regions of China was developed. The single colonies were picked and cultured on Aspergillus flavus and parasiticus agar (AFPA). If the reverse side of the colony on AFPA was orange-coloured, it was considered A. flavus or Aspergillus parasiticus. After the genomic DNA of each strain was extracted, 28S rRNA and calmodulin were amplified and sequenced to determine the species. The key gene, aflR, was amplified and digested via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The aflatoxigenic A. flavus and the non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus and A. parasiticus were distinguished by enzyme digestion of aflR. 156 strains of A. flavus were screened, which consisted of 135 aflatoxigenic and 21 non-aflatoxigenic strains. The aflatoxin producing ability of each strain was confirmed using solid-state fermentation experiments. Using the method developed in the present study, we confirmed that the non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus strains isolated lost their capacity to produce aflatoxins. Considering there could be some alterations in other functional genes, some non-aflatoxigenic strains could be identified inaccurately as aflatoxigenic strains, although that did not occur in the present study. The growth of non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus was observed, and the most rapidly growing non-aflatoxigenic strain was selected for plate confrontation assays and toxic mixed culture experiments. The inhibition rate of non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus against aflatoxigenic A. flavus was 55.4 and 72.6% in potato dextrose agar (PDA) plate and natural soybean medium, respectively. The screened non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus strains provide a microbial resource for biological control of aflatoxin contamination.

Experimental and numerical study of SO2 removal from a CO2/SO2 gas mixture in a Cu-BTC metal organic framework

The mechanism of SO₂ removal from a CO₂/SO₂ gas mixture in a copper benzene-1, 3, 5-tricarboxylate (Cu-BTC) material is investigated at the molecular level by the grand canonical Monte Carlo method. The effects of seven kinds of force-field relationships among CO₂, SO₂ and Cu-BTC on the selectivity for a SO₂/CO₂ gas mixture at different temperatures are studied in detail. The accuracy of the simulation model is validated by the experimental data. The results show that more SO₂ molecules are adsorbed than CO₂, and the electrostatic interactions involving SO₂ are more sensitive to temperature than CO₂ is. The multilayer desorption for SO₂ and CO₂ occurs in large-square channels. The effect of the electrostatic interactions involving SO₂ is stronger than the interactions of CO₂. The forms of CO₂ and SO₂ adsorption in Cu-BTC with electrostatic interactions are Cu²⁺∙∙∙OCO and Cu²⁺∙∙∙OSO, respectively.

Lowering the Schottky barrier height of G/WSSe van der Waals heterostructures by changing the interlayer coupling and applying external biaxial strain

Graphene-based van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures composed of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and graphene show great potential in the design and manufacture of field effect transistors.

A complex structure of arrestin-2 bound to a G protein-coupled receptor

Arrestins comprise a family of signal regulators of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which include arrestins 1 to 4. While arrestins 1 and 4 are visual arrestins dedicated to rhodopsin, arrestins 2 and 3 (Arr2 and Arr3) are β-arrestins known to regulate many nonvisual GPCRs. The dynamic and promiscuous coupling of Arr2 to nonvisual GPCRs has posed technical challenges to tackle the basis of arrestin binding to GPCRs. Here we report the structure of Arr2 in complex with neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), which reveals an overall assembly that is strikingly different from the visual arrestin-rhodopsin complex by a 90° rotation of Arr2 relative to the receptor. In this new configuration, intracellular loop 3 (ICL3) and transmembrane helix 6 (TM6) of the receptor are oriented toward the N-terminal domain of the arrestin, making it possible for GPCRs that lack the C-terminal tail to couple Arr2 through their ICL3. Molecular dynamics simulation and crosslinking data further support the assembly of the Arr2‒NTSR1 complex. Sequence analysis and homology modeling suggest that the Arr2‒NTSR1 complex structure may provide an alternative template for modeling arrestin-GPCR interactions.

[Expression and mechanism of mast cell activating molecules and their antibodies in allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps]

Objective:To analyze the relationship and mechanism of mast cell with allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps. Method:From January 2018 to June 2018, all the inpatients in Otolaryngology Department were examined by nasal endoscopy and CT before operation. They were divided into three groups: 30 patients with allergic rhinitis（AR group） and 30 patients with nasal polyps（NP group） as the experimental group; 30 patients with nasal septum correction after partial inferior turbinectomy alone as the control group（N group）. Clinical data, peripheral blood and nasal mucosa were collected. The percentage of eosinophils in peripheral blood was detected by automatic hematology analyzer. The levels of anti-IgE antibody, FcεRIα and anti-FcεRIα antibody in serum were detected by ELISA. The levels of serum IgE were detected by velocity scattering turbidimetry. HE was used to observe the histopathological changes in the three groups. Immunohistochemical method was used to analyze the expression of tryptase and FcεRIα in the experimental group and the control group. Result:The percentage of eosinophils, IgE, anti-IgE antibody, FcεRIα and anti-FcεRIα antibodies in AR group were significantly higher than those in control group（P<0.05）; the percentage of eosinophils, FcεRIα and anti-FcεRIα antibodies in NP group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group（P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in IgE and anti-IgE antibodies among three groups（P>0.05）. The eosinophil percentage, IgE and anti-IgE antibody levels in AR group were significantly higher than that in NP group（P<0.05）; there were no differences in FcεRIα and anti-FcεRIα antibody levels between AR group and NP group（P>0.05）; There was no significant difference in eosinophil infiltration between the two groups; The brown tryptase-positive mast cells and FcεRIα-positive mast cells were found in the submucosa and interstitium of nasal mucosa. Conclusion:The high expression of FcεRIα and its antibody in the serum of patients with allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps indicated that this antibody system was involved in the occurrence and development of allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps. Local allergy with mast cells as the core might play an important role in the occurrence and development of nasal polyps. The possible role of mast cells in the formation of nasal polyps and the specific mechanism deserve further study.

2400Early and late effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy in adult congenital heart disease

Background

There are limited data regarding cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD).

Purpose

We aimed to assess early and late outcomes of CRT amongst patients with ACHD.

Methods

We retrospectively studied ACHD patients receiving CRT (2004–2017). Clinical and echocardiographic data were analyzed at baseline, early (1.8±0.8 years) and late (4.7±0.8 years) follow-up after CRT.

Results

Fifty-four ACHD patients (median age 46 years, range 18–73 years, 74% male) had CRT (biventricular paced >90%) and were followed for 5.7±3.0 years. Thirty-nine (72%) patients had a systemic left ventricle (LV). Underlying cardiac anatomy included left ventricular outflow tract lesions (n=17; 32%), tetralogy of Fallot (n=11; 20%), right ventricular outflow tract lesions (n=5; 9%), atrioventricular septal defects (n=5; 9%) and atrial septal defect with right aortic arch (n=1; 2%). Fifteen (28%) patients had a systemic right ventricle (RV): 13 (24%) with congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries, and 2 (4%) with transposition of the great arteries after Mustard repair.

Compared to baseline, CRT was associated with significant improvement at early follow-up in NYHA functional class, QRS duration, cardiothoracic ratio, left and right atrial volume index (P<0.05 for all) in the overall population; improvement in NYHA class was sustained at late follow-up. Amongst patients with a systemic LV, there was significant increase in LV ejection fraction and reduction in LV end-systolic volume at early and late follow up (P<0.05 for both). There is trend in improvement of RV fractional area change in the patients with a systemic RV but not met statistical significance (P=0.070). Findings were summarized in Figure 1.

Eleven patients died and 2 had heart transplantation unrelated to systemic ventricular morphology. Thirty-five (65%) patients responded positively to CRT but only baseline QRS duration was a predictor of the positive response.

Conclusion

CRT results in sustained improvement in functional class, systemic LV size and function. QRS duration but not QRS morphology was a predictor of the positive response seen at early follow-up in 2/3 of ACHD patients.

Knockdown of long non-coding RNA LUCAT1 reverses high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte injury via targeting CYP11B2

OBJECTIVE

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the major complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been well concerned for their roles in the progression of multiple diseases, including DCM. In this research, we aimed to explore the role of lncRNA LUCAT1 in cardiomyocyte injury and apoptosis induced by high glucose (HG) in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

High glucose-induced (HG-induced) AC16 cardiomyocytes transfected with LUCAT1 shRNA were constructed. LUCAT1 expression was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Subsequently, cell proliferation and cell apoptosis were detected after LUCAT1 knockdown in HG-induced AC16 cells. Moreover, RT-qPCR and Western blot assay were performed to explore the potential underlying mechanism of LUCAT1 in DCM.

RESULTS

The expression of LUCAT1 was significantly upregulated in HG-treated AC16 cardiomyocytes. Moreover, knockdown of LUCAT1 could reverse cardiomyocyte injury and apoptosis through downregulating CYP11B2.

CONCLUSIONS

We first demonstrated that knockdown of LUCAT1 could reverse HG-induced cardiomyocyte injury by down-regulating CYP11B2. Our findings might offer a new direction for interpreting the mechanism of DCM development.