MiR-30b-5p and miR-22-3p restrain the fibrogenesis of post-myocardial infarction in mice via targeting PTAFR

OBJECTIVE

Cardiac fibrosis of post-myocardial infarction (MI) is a precipitating factor of diverse cardiac diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be implicated in the progression of cardiac fibrosis, but the functions and mechanisms of miR-30b-5p and miR-22-3p remain to be investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were isolated form mice hearts and treated with Angiotensin II (Ang II) for establishing the cardiac fibrosis model of post-MI. The expression of miRNA and mRNA was examined through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Associated protein levels were measured by Western blot. Cell viability was detected via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was administered to analyze the target correlation.

RESULTS

The down-regulation of miR-30b-5p and miR-22-3p while the up-regulation of platelet activating factor receptor (PTAFR) were found in Ang II-treated CFs. Cell proliferation and collagen deposition were refrained by miR-30b-5p and miR-22-3p overexpression and knockdown of PTAFR. MiR-30b-5p and miR-22-3p directly targeted PTAFR. MiR-30b-5p and miR-22-3p inhibitors alleviated the effects on Ang II-treated CFs induced by PTAFR knockdown through promoting PTAFR.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-30b-5p and miR-22-3p exerted the suppression of fibrogenesis in Ang II-treated CFs via targeting PTAFR, insinuating the indicative roles of miR-30b-5p and miR-22-3p in the fibrogenesis process.

[Research progress on lung tissue damage caused by artificial quartz stone dust]

Artificial quartz stone is a new type of decorative building material, there are serious dust exposure hazards during the production and processing. Due to the lack of effective health protection for practitioners, silicosis caused by artificial quartz stone dust has been widely reported worldwide in recent years, which seriously affect the health of practitioners. This article summarizes the use status of artificial quartz stone, the exposure of practitioners and the lung tissue damage caused by dust, analyzes its pathogenic characteristics, and provides a basis for protecting the occupational population and improving occupational health.

Validation of the bag-mediated filtration system for environmental surveillance of poliovirus in Nairobi, Kenya

AIMS

This study compared the bag-mediated filtration system (BMFS) and standard WHO two-phase separation methods for poliovirus (PV) environmental surveillance, examined factors impacting PV detection and monitored Sabin-like (SL) PV type 2 presence with withdrawal of oral polio vaccine type 2 (OPV2) in April 2016.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Environmental samples were collected in Nairobi, Kenya (Sept 2015-Feb 2017), concentrated via BMFS and two-phase separation methods, then assayed using the WHO PV isolation algorithm and intratypic differentiation diagnostic screening kit. SL1, SL2 and SL3 were detected at higher rates in BMFS than two-phase samples (P < 0·05). In BMFS samples, SL PV detection did not significantly differ with volume filtered, filtration time or filter shipment time (P > 0·05), while SL3 was detected less frequently with higher shipment temperatures (P = 0·027). SL2 was detected more frequently before OPV2 withdrawal in BMFS and two-phase samples (P < 1 × 10-5 ).

CONCLUSIONS

Poliovirus was detected at higher rates with the BMFS, a method that includes a secondary concentration step, than using the standard WHO two-phase method. SL2 disappearance from the environment was commensurate with OPV2 withdrawal.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The BMFS offers comparable or improved PV detection under the conditions in this study, relative to the two-phase method.

Integrated package of electron cyclotron emission imaging data processing and forward modeling in OMFIT

An Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging (ECEI) data analysis module has been developed for the OMFIT platform to accommodate the needs of users at the DIII-D tokamak for physics applications. The user can easily access the ECEI spatial observation windows in the plasma that are calculated based on the automatically retrieved hardware setup and available DIII-D equilibria, perform spectral analysis, and obtain 2D electron temperature fluctuation images. The module provides a powerful data post-processing package for extracting important physics parameters from the 2D measurements, including the radial structure and poloidal mode number of Alfven eigenmodes, as well as the frequency-vs-wavenumber dispersion relationship of broadband MHD. The module propagates characterized synthetic fluctuations for the user, so one can perform forward modeling tasks with simple analytical fluctuations.

Isolation and characterization of a Pseudomonas poae JSU-Y1 with patulin degradation ability and biocontrol potential against Penicillium expansum

Patulin, one of the most common mycotoxins produced primarily by the Penicillium, Aspergillus and Byssochlamys species, is often associated with fruits and fruit-based products. Biodegradation by microbes is an effective method to remove or detoxify mycotoxins. In this study, a bacterial strain with patulin degradation capability was selectively isolated using oxindole, an analogue to patulin, as the sole carbon source, and identified as Pseudomonas poae JSU-Y1 by phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA sequence. This isolated bacterium could inhibit the growth of Penicillium expansum both on plate medium and apple fruit with inhibition ratio of 30.3% and 44.9%, respectively. Up to 87.7% of the initial patulin (2.5 μg/mL) was removed after incubation with Pseudomonas poae JSU-Y1 in liquid medium at 30 °C for 72 h. When challenged with apple juice, 79% of patulin could be degraded by this isolated strain. Additionally, ascladiol was tentatively identified as the patulin degradation intermediate by LC-MS analysis. Taken together, the experiment results indicated that the isolated Pseudomonas poae JSU-Y1 would be a promising bacterial resource to control patulin contamination and toxigenic fungal growth in agricultural products.

[Predictive value of platelet aggregation rate in hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants]

Objective: To explore the predictive value of platelet aggregation rate in patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants. Methods: This prospective nested case-control study enrolled 72 preterm infants with gestational age<32 weeks, who were admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Xuzhou Central Hospital from August 2017 to October 2019. The echocardiography was performed on the 4^th to 5^th day after birth, and the preterm infants who met the diagnostic criteria of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) were included into hsPDA group, and the control group was comprised of matched preterm infants with non-hsPDA according to the proportion of 1∶2. The basic characteristics of the preterm infants were recorded, and their complete blood counts and platelet aggregation function were examined. Clinical data were compared by student's t test and chi-square test between the two groups. The risk factors and their predictive values were analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: There were 24 preterm infants (16 boys) in the hsPDA group, and 48 (30 boys) in the control group. The incidence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) grade II-IV in the hsPDA group was higher than that in the control group (67% (16/24) vs. 27% (13/48), χ²=10.422, P=0.001). The thrombocytocrit and adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation rate in the hsPDA group were lower than those in the control group (0.002 1±0.000 9 vs. 0.002 8±0.000 9, 0.21±0.10 vs. 0.32±0.07, t=-3.043 and -5.093, P=0.004 and <0.01, respectively); while the platelet volume in the hsPDA group was greater than that in the control group ((10.3±2.4) vs. (9.2±2.0) fl, t = 2.713, P = 0.033). The other platelet parameters (platelet count, platelet distribution width, and large platelet ratio) and platelet aggregation rate induced by other inducers (collagen, epinephrine and arachidonic acid) were not significantly different between the two groups (all P>0.05). The low platelet aggregation rate induced by adenosine diphosphate and low thrombocytocrit were independent risk factors for hsPDA in preterm infants (OR=4.525 and 3.994, 95%CI: 1.305-15.689 and 1.143-13.958, respectively). And the adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation rate had moderate predictive value for hsPDA in preterm infants, as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.809, and the cutoff value was 0.245 with 0.67 sensitivity and 0.86 specificity. Conclusions: Poor platelet aggregation function and low thrombocytocrit are independent risk factors for hsPDA in preterm infants with gestational age<32 weeks. Low platelet aggregation rate induced by adenosine diphosphate has moderate predictive value for hsPDA patency.

Selective right middle and lower lobar blockade for minimally invasive cardiac surgery: a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled study

Background

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) is increasingly performed due to faster recovery time and lower postoperative complications when compared with the traditional open surgery. However, hypoxemia in lung isolation duration after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery has been the focus of anesthesiologists' attention. In the present study, we designed a novel lung isolation strategy to improve oxygenation using a bronchial blocker (BB) to isolate the right middle and lower lobes and preserve the ventilated right upper lobe without affecting the surgical field.

Methods

Patients who had undergone right lateral mini-thoracotomy, a MICS, between August 2018 and February 2019, were enrolled in this randomized controlled study. Patients were randomly divided into a modified lung isolation group (group M) and a conventional lung isolation group (group C). In group M, BBs were used to block the bronchus intermedius, while left-sided double lumen endotracheal tubes were used in group C to isolate the right lung. The primary outcome was to determine the number of patients who required an increase in ventilation volume due to hypoxemia during lung isolation after CPB.

Results

Sixty-one patients (30 in group C and 31 in group M) were enrolled. Five patients in group M were converted to right lung isolation due to poor surgical field exposure. During lung isolation after CPB, the number of patients with hypoxemia was lower in group M than group C (5/31 vs. 15/30, P=0.005).

Conclusions

The novel modified lung isolation strategy reduced the incidence of hypoxemia after CPB.

[Analysis of pregnancy outcome after fertility-preserving treatment among women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial carcinoma]

Objective: To analyze the pregnancy outcome, influencing factors and recurrence of fertility-preserving therapy for women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) or endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods: The multi-center retrospective study included 107 women with AEH or EC for fertility-preserving therapy in 10 hospitals from January 1st, 2009 to December 31st, 2018. The clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate and recurrence of 66 patients with urgent child-bearing requirements after fertility-preserving treatment were analyzed. Results: (1) Among the 66 AEH and EC women with urgent child bearing requirements, 24 women chose spontaneous pregnancy, the clinical pregnancy rate was 54.2% (13/24) and the live birth rate was 41.7% (10/24), the median time from fertility-preserving therapy withdrawal to clinical pregnancy was 5.5 months. Forty-two women chose assisted reproductive technology (ART), the clinical pregnancy rate was 59.5% (25/42) and the live birth rate was 35.7% (15/42), the median time from fertility-preserving therapy withdrawal to clinical pregnancy was 19.5 months. The time from fertility-preserving therapy withdrawal to pregnancy in women receiving ART was significantly longer than that in women with spontaneous pregnancy (P=0.048). (2) Age and intrauterine adhesions were independent factors affecting the clinical pregnancy rate (P<0.05). (3) Among 107 patients with AEH or EC, the recurrence rate was 27.1% (29/107). Among the 42 cases who chose ART, 9 of them recurred before ART treatment, who received the fertility-preserving therapy again and then ART treatment, 8 women got clinical pregnancy,5 of them delivered at least a live birth. Conclusions: Women with AEH or EC could achieved satisfactory clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate after fertility-preserving therapy. Age and intrauterine adhesions are independent factors affecting clinical pregnancy rate. The women with recurrent AEH or EC could be treated with fertility-preserving therapy again and get a satisfactory pregnancy outcome.

Retinal Neurovascular Impairment in Non-diabetic and Non-dialytic Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background: Widespread neural and microvascular injuries are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), increasing risks of neurovascular complications and mortality. Early detection of such changes helps assess the risks of neurovascular complications for CKD patients. As an extension of central nervous system, the retina provides a characteristic window to observe neurovascular alterations in CKD. This study aimed to determine the presence of retinal neurovascular impairment in different stages of CKD. Methods: One hundred fifteen non-diabetic and non-dialytic CKD patients of all stages and a control group of 35 healthy subjects were included. Retinal neural and microvascular parameters were obtained by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) examination. Results: CKD 1-2 group (versus control group) had greater odds of having decreased retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness (GC-IPLt) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86-0.98), increased ganglion cell complex-focal loss volume (GCC-FLV) (OR: 3.51; 95% CI: 1.27-9.67), and GCC-global loss volume (GCC-GLV) (OR: 2.48; 95% CI: 1.27-4.82). The presence of advanced stages of CKD (CKD 3-5 group versus CKD 1-2 group) had greater odds of having decreased retinal vessel density in superficial vascular plexus (SVP)-WholeImage (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63-0.92), SVP-ParaFovea (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.71-0.97), SVP-ParaFovea (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63-0.91), deep vascular plexus (DVP)-WholeImage (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81-0.98), DVP-ParaFovea (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.78-0.99), and DVP-PeriFovea (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83-0.98). Besides, stepwise multivariate linear regression among CKD patients showed that β2-microglobulin was negatively associated with GC-IPLt (β: -0.294; 95% CI: -0.469 ∼ -0.118), and parathyroid hormone was positively associated with increased GCC-FLV (β: 0.004; 95% CI: 0.002∼0.006) and GCC-GLV (β: 0.007; 95% CI: 0.004∼0.01). Urine protein to creatinine ratio was positively associated with increased GCC-FLV (β: 0.003; 95% CI: 0.001∼0.004) and GCC-GLV (β: 0.003; 95% CI: 0.001∼0.006). Conclusion: Retinal neuronal impairment is present in early stages of CKD (stages 1-2), and it is associated with accumulation of uremic toxins and higher UACR, while retinal microvascular hypoperfusion, which is associated with worse eGFR, was only observed in relatively advanced stages of CKD (stages 3-5). The results highlight the importance of monitoring retinal neurovascular impairment in different stages of CKD.

Hemoperfusion with HA380 in acute type A aortic dissection patients undergoing aortic arch operation (HPAO): a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial

Background

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is an important cause of significant systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in the surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). In patients with arch vessel involvement, extensive surgical repairs often necessitate prolonged use of CPB and results in extensive inflammatory responses. Cytokines and chemokines released during CPB contribute to the progression of SIRS, increase perioperative complications, and negatively impact surgical outcomes. A cytokine adsorber (HA380) is expected to reduce the level of cytokines during CPB, which may decrease both intraoperative and postoperative inflammation. The purpose of this study is to investigate if HA380 is able to reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines and decrease perioperative complications in ATAAD patients undergoing CPB and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA).

Methods

This study is a single-center, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial. The study aims to recruit 88 patients with ATAAD and aortic arch involvement who will undergo CPB and DHCA to repair the dissected aorta. Patients will be randomized equally into the CPB/DHCA only group (control group) and the CPB/DHCA + HA380 hemoperfusion group (intervention group), with 44 patients each. Patients in the control group will undergo CPB and DHCA only, while patients in the intervention group will undergo continuous hemoperfusion with HA380, in addition to CPB and DHCA. The primary outcome is a composite of major perioperative complications. The secondary outcomes include related inflammatory markers, coagulation parameters, and minor perioperative complications. To comprehensively evaluate the effect of hemoperfusion on the perioperative outcomes, we will also determine if there are differences in perioperative all-cause mortality, length of ICU stay, and total hospitalization costs.

Discussion

In the current trial, hemoperfusion will be applied in patients undergoing CPB and DHCA for repair of the aorta involving the aortic arch. This trial aims to test the safety and efficacy of our hemoperfusion device (HA380) in such settings. Upon completion of the trial, we will determine if HA380 is effective in reducing perioperative proinflammatory cytokine levels. Further, we will also verify if reduction in the proinflammatory cytokine levels, if present, translates to improvement in patient outcomes.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04007484. Registered on 1 July 2019 (retrospectively registered).

[Analysis of mutation site characteristics of Gilbert syndrome and Crigler--Najjar syndrome in relation to uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase A1 gene]

Objective: To investigate the mutation characteristics and clinical relevance of Gilbert syndrome (GS) and Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CNS) in relation to uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase A1 (UGT1A1) gene. Methods: The characteristics of UGT1A1 gene mutation and their clinical relevance were analyzed by searching PubMed and Human Gene Mutation Databases. Results: A total of 163 mutation sites were found in the UGT1A1 gene since November 16, 2018. The following patterns existed at the above sites: (1) the numbers of gene mutations occurring between different exons of UGT1A1 was related to GS or CNS phenotypes, and were positively correlated with the length of the exon; (2) nonsense point mutations was mainly occurred in type I of CNS; (3) GS, Crigler-Najjar syndrome type II compound heterozygous mutation sites had a certain combination and distribution, among which - 3279t > G mutation was found in all four GS complex heterozygous compositions; (4) UGT1A1 gene mutation sites reported in Asia had marked aggregation in c.211-c.558. Conclusion: UGT1A1 gene mutation characteristics and clinical relevance varies with different mutation sites, reporting areas and populations. This study has reference value for basic research and clinical diagnosis and treatment of GS and CNS.

Ulinastatin reduces myocardial injury induced by doxorubicin in SD rats

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to observe the protective effect of Ulinastatin on myocardial injury induced by doxorubicin (DOX) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

30 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control group, DOX group, and Ulinastatin group by random number table method. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with saline, while the DOX group and the Ulinastatin group were injected intraperitoneally with DOX (2 mg/kg) once every other day to establish an acute myocardial injury (AMI) model. In the Ulinastatin group, Ulinastatin (1500 IU/100 mg) was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 2 weeks after the model was established. The changes in cardiac structure were observed with a light microscope, the changes in cardiac function in rats were detected with biochemical kits, and expression of oxidative stress and inflammatory response-related factors were detected by Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

Myocardial tissues in the control group were neatly arranged and dense, with complete and clear structure. The myocardial tissues in the DOX group were disorderly arranged, the interstitial fibrosis was evident, and the myocardial transverse striations broke and disappeared. The structure of tissues in Ulinastatin group was dramatically relieved compared with DOX group. The serum SOD and GSH-Px levels of the DOX groups were significantly lower than those of the control group, while the levels of MDA and ROS were dramatically higher than those of the control group. The serum SOD and GSH-Px level of Ulinastatin group were higher than that of DOX group, and the levels of MDA and ROS were lower than those of DOX group. LDH, AST, ALT, and CK levels were dramatically higher than those in the control group, while the above-mentioned serum myocardial zymogram levels in the Ulinastatin group were decreased. The expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS in the DOX and Ulinastatin groups were dramatically higher than those in the control group, while the expressions of the above inflammatory factors in the Ulinastatin group were all inhibited.

CONCLUSIONS

Ulinastatin intervention can reduce myocardial injury in rats with DOX. The protective effect may be due to the elimination of oxygen free radicals, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced lipid peroxidation and inflammatory responses, and thus repaired myocardial injury.

Regulatory Effects of Toll-like Receptor 4 Knockout on CD4+ and CD8+ T Lymphocytes and Interleukin-17 During Myocardial Ischemia

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an important cellular transmembrane receptor and pattern-recognition signaling molecule for pathogens in the immune system. High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) plays an important role in myocardial ischemia (MI) and reperfusion through a TLR4-mediated inflammatory response. T lymphocytes are involved in MI injury; however, the specific mechanisms underlying this role remain unclear. In this study, C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice and TLR4 knockout mice were divided into three groups, including a normal control group, an MI group that was generated using high doses of isoproterenol (ISO), and an ISO+rHMGB1 group that was generated using a combination of ISO and recombinant HMGB1 (rHMGB1). Echocardiography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and flow cytometry were used to examine each group. The results showed that rHMGB1 could further aggravate myocardial injury and increase the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio and the expression level of interleukin-17 (IL-17) (p<0.05) in vivo After the TLR4 gene was knocked out, myocardial ischemic injury in mice was alleviated, and the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio and IL-17 expression level were both reduced (p<0.05) in vivo. Therefore, TLR4 knockout has a protective effect against MI in mice, which may involve the regulation of the ratio between CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and of the IL-17 expression level through the HMGB1-TLR4 signaling pathway.

Chinese herbal compound combined with western medicine therapy in the treatment of plasma cell mastitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Plasma cell mastitis (PCM) is a benign suppurative disease of the breast based on the expansion of mammary ducts and infiltration of plasma cells. It is relatively rare clinically, and its main manifestations include nonperiodic breast pain, nipple discharge, areola lump, nipple depression, nipple fistula, among others. Modern medicine is mainly surgical treatment, which is easy to recur. The clinical practice shows that the overall treatment of patients with TCM syndrome differentiation using oral medicine combined with western medicine therapy, combined internal and external treatment, can significantly improve the curative effect, prevent recurrence, has a certain therapeutic advantage, but lack of evidence of evidence-based medicine. The purpose of this study is to study the efficacy and safety of oral traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with western medicine therapy in the treatment of PCM.

METHODS

Use computer to retrieve English databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library) and Chinese databases (CNKI, Wan Fang, VIP, Chinese biomedical database), from the establishment of database to September 2020, for randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of oral TCM combined with western medicine therapy in the treatment of PCM, two researchers independently extracted the data and evaluated the quality of the included research, and meta-analysis was conducted on the included literatures using RevMan5.3 software.

RESULTS

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral TCM combined with western medicine therapy in the treatment of PCM from the aspects of effective rate, symptom score, recurrence rate, adverse reaction rate, and patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

This study will provide reliable evidence-based evidence for the clinical application of oral TCM combined with western medicine therapy in the treatment of PCM.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The purpose of this study is to sort out and analyze the literature. This systematic review also does not involve endangering participant rights. Ethical approval was not required. The results may be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated at relevant conferences. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER:: doi 10.17605/OSF.IO/K9A78.

[Correlation between modified Oxford grading scale and pelvic floor surface electromyography in assessment of pelvic floor muscle function in female patients with stress urinary incontinence]

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of modified Oxford grading scale (MOS) and pelvic floor surface electromyography (sEMG) based on Glazer protocol in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and analyze the correlation between the two methods. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey. A total of 212 subjects in May 2019 were enrolled and divided into SUI group (n=61) and non-SUI group (n=151) based on the commonly used 3 incontinence questions (3IQ). MOS test and sEMG parameters were measured by the same rehabilitator. The sEMG parameters included the mean and variation coefficient in the prerest phase, the maximum and relaxation time of 5 rapid contractions, the mean and variability of EMG in 10 s tonic contraction phase, the mean and variability of EMG in 60 s endurance contraction phase, and the mean and variability of EMG in postrest phase. The differences of the above parameters between SUI group and non-SUI group were compared, the logistic regression and Spearman method were used to analyze the correlation between MOS and sEMG parameters. Results: The prevalence of SUI was 28.8%(61/212) in community, body mass index and delivery mode were the risk factors (all P<0.05). The MOS of the SUI group and the non-SUI group were 3 (2,3) and 3 (3,4), respectively, with significant difference (Z=-2.58, P=0.010). Among the sEMG parameters of SUI group and non-SUI group, the maximum values of phasic contractions were 23.12 (13.65, 37.89), 30.68 (20.28, 47.02) μV, the mean of tonic contractions were 14.32 (9.62, 21.49), 17.65 (12.05, 26.35) μV, and the mean of endurance contractions were 12.78(7.88, 18.76), 16.55(11.13, 22.40) μV, respectively, with statistical significance (Z=-2.34, -2.37, -3.20, all P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression revealed that both the variation coefficient of tonic contractions (OR=157.86, 95%CI: 1.99-12 595.51, P<0.05) and the amplitude of endurance contractions(OR=1.11, 95%CI: 1.03-1.19, P<0.05) were correlated with SUI. The tonic contractions amplitude had the tendency to be related to SUI (OR=0.95, 95%CI: 0.09-1.00, P<0.05). In all subjects, MOS was correlated with the maximum value of rapid contractions, average value of tonic contractions and average value of endurance contractions (r=0.516, 0.503, 0.464, all P<0.05). In SUI group (r=0.510, 0.442, 0.385, all P<0.05), and non-SUI group (r=0.495, 0.524, 0.488, all P<0.05), MOS was correlated with the above parameters. Conclusions: MOS and sEMG based on Glazer protocol indicate that the contractility of pelvic floor muscle decreases in SUI patients. The results of sEMG and MOS are consistent, which can be used for quantitative evaluation of pelvic floor muscle function in SUI patients.

Nicotinamide protects chronic hypoxic myocardial cells through regulating mTOR pathway and inducing autophagy

OBJECTIVE

To determine the protective effect of nicotinamide on chronic hypoxic myocardial cells and its underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The H9C2 cell lines were taken as objects of study, and were divided into blank group, hypoxia group and nicotinamide treatment group. The cell viability, apoptosis level, autophagy level and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway activity in each group were detected via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay, Hoechst staining, immunofluorescence staining, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

Nicotinamide could protect the viability of normoxic and chronic hypoxic myocardial cells. Besides, it could also inhibit the expression of caspase3 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in chronic hypoxic myocardial cells, and reduce the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Furthermore, it could induce the mRNA expression of autophagy-associated gene 5 (ATG5) and increase the expression of autophagy-related proteins. Further study on the mechanism of nicotinamide showed that nicotinamide could inhibit the activity of the mTOR pathway, thus regulating the autophagy.

CONCLUSIONS

Nicotinamide induces the autophagy of chronic hypoxic myocardial cells by regulating the mTOR pathway, thereby protecting cells from apoptosis.

Novel homozygous mutation in the FBXL4 gene is associated with mitochondria DNA depletion syndrome-13

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome-13 (MTDPS13) is caused by mutations in FBXL4 (F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 4), a nuclear gene encoding an F-box protein that plays a role in maintaining mtDNA integrity and stability.

METHODS

We identified a novel homozygous FBXL4 gene mutation, c.993dupA (p.L332Tfs*3), in a 1-year-old girl of Han Chinese descent. We performed three-dimensional protein structural analysis and targeted mtDNA next-generation sequencing. We analysed FBXL4 expression and mitochondrial DNA level, and reviewed mutations reported in FBXL4-related literature.

RESULTS

This mutation resulted in premature termination of translation and loss of 288 amino acids from C-terminus. A three-dimensional structural analysis revealed that conserved LRR domains were lost in mutant FBXL4 protein, which likely affected its ability to form protein-protein interactions. There were no differences in FBXL4 mRNA expression levels between the patient and her parents. There were no mtDNA mutations in either the patient or her parents. However, ND1/GAPDH ratio in lymphocytes and urine, which represents mtDNA/nuclear DNA ratio, showed that the number of mitochondrial genomes was significantly lower in the patient than in her parents or wild-type subjects.

CONCLUSION

Homozygous FBXL4 gene mutation, c.993dupA, can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, and LRR region is especially important for FBXL4 protein function.

W-band system-on-chip electron cyclotron emission imaging system on DIII-D

Monolithic, millimeter-wave "system-on-chip" (SoC) technology has been employed in heterodyne receiver integrated circuit radiometers in a newly developed Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging (ECEI) system on the DIII-D tokamak for 2D electron temperature profile and fluctuation evolution diagnostics. A prototype module operating in the E-band (72 GHz-80 GHz) was first employed in a 2 × 10 element array that demonstrated significant improvements over the previous quasi-optical Schottky diode mixer arrays during the 2018 operational campaign of the DIII-D tokamak. For compatibility with International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor relevant scenarios on DIII-D, the SoC ECEI system was upgraded with 20 horn-waveguide receiver modules. Each individual module contains a University of California Davis designed W-band (75 GHz-110 GHz) receiver die that integrates a broadband low noise amplifier, a double balanced down-converting mixer, and a ×4 multiplier on the local oscillator (LO) chain. A ×2 multiplier and two IF amplifiers are packaged and selected to further boost the signal strength and downconvert the signal frequency. The upgraded W-band array exhibits >30 dB additional gain and 20× improvement in noise temperature compared with the previous Schottky diode radio frequency mixer input systems; an internal 8 times multiplier chain is used to bring down the LO frequency below 12 GHz, thereby obviating the need for a large aperture for quasi-optical LO coupling and replacing it with coaxial connectors. Horn-waveguide shielding housing avoids out-of-band noise interference on each individual module. The upgraded ECEI system plays an important role for absolute electron temperature evolution and fluctuation measurements for edge and core region transport physics studies.

[Analysis of the relationship between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and sex hormone levels of female sanitation workers in Urumqi]

From June 2017 to June 2018, female sanitation workers engaged in road cleaning in a district of Urumqi City, as well as government and logistics women participating in national health examination in the same community were recruited as particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) exposure group and control group respectively. The contents of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the PM_2.5 exposed group were lower than those in the control group (all P values < 0.05). Further analysis showed that the content of FSH in the exposure group at the age of 35-39, 40-44 and 45-49 years old was lower than that of the control group (all P values < 0.05). The content of LH in the exposed group at the age of 35-39 and 45-49 years old was lower than that of the control group (all P values < 0.05). The content of FSH in the exposed group with the length of service less than 5, about 5-9 and more than 10 years was lower than that of the control group (all P values < 0.05). The content of LH in the exposed group with the length of service about 5-9 and more than 10 year was lower than that of the control group (all P values < 0.05).