Aspirin Protects against Acinar Cells Necrosis in Severe Acute Pancreatitis in Mice

Algal Oil Mitigates Sodium Taurocholate-Induced Pancreatitis by Alleviating Calcium Overload, Oxidative Stress, and NF-κB Activation in Pancreatic Acinar Cells

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is characterized by elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentrations, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress in pancreatic acinar cells. Algal oil (AO) has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to explore the effects of algal oil on the microenvironment of AP. Rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells were pretreated with AO containing 0, 50, 100, or 150 μM of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 2 h prior to AP induction using sodium taurocholate (STC). After 1 h of STC treatment, AR42J cells exhibited a significant increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and the production of amylase, lipase, reactive oxygen species, and pro-inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. These STC-induced increases were markedly reduced in cells pretreated with AO. In comparison to cells without AO, those treated with a high dose of AO before STC exposure demonstrated a significant increase in mitochondrial membrane potential and a decrease in lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, STC-activated nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) was attenuated in AO-pretreated cells, as evidenced by a significant decrease in activated NF-κB. In conclusion, AO may prevent damage to pancreatic acinar cells by alleviating intracellular Ca2+ overload, mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction, reducing oxidative stress, and attenuating NF-κB-targeted inflammation.

Epigenetic disruption of histone deacetylase-2 accelerated apoptotic signaling and retarded malignancy in gastric cells

Background: The objective of this research was to determine whether HDAC2 function is associated with gastric cancer progression. Methods: HDAC2 was knocked out in EPG85.257 cells using CRISPR/Cas9 and tumorigenesis pathways were evaluated. Results: Cell proliferation, colony formation, wound healing and transwell invasion were inhibited in ΔHDAC2:EPG85.257 cells. Quantitative analyses revealed a significant downregulation of MMP1, p53, Bax, MAPK1, MAPK3, pro-Caspase3, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, AKT1/2/3, p-AKT1/2/3, p-NF-κB (p65), Twist, Snail and p-FAK transcripts/proteins, while SIRT1, PTEN, p21 and Caspase3 were upregulated in ΔHDAC2:EPG85.257 cells. Conclusion: These results indicated that HDAC2 enhanced migration, colony formation and transmigration ability. HDAC2 inhibition may improve gastric cancer chemotherapy pathways.

KAN0438757, a novel PFKFB3 inhibitor, prevent the progression of severe acute pancreatitis via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in infiltrated macrophage

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a non-infectious pancreatic enzyme-induced disorder, a life-threatening inflammatory condition that can cause multi-organ dysfunction, characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Several therapies have been employed to target this disorder; however, few happen to be effectively employable even in the early phase. PFKFB3(6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase-3) is a critical regulator of glycolysis and is upregulated under inflammatory, mitogenic, and hypoxia conditions. Essential information on the targeting of the inflammatory pathway will present the termination of the disorder and recovery. Herein we investigated the protective function of KAN0438757, a potent inhibitor of PFKFB3, and its mechanism of impeding AP induced in mice. KAN0438757 was confirmed to activate the Nrf2/HO-1 inflammatory signaling pathways in response to caerulein induced acute pancreatitis (CAE-AP) and fatty acid ethyl ester induced severe acute pancreatitis (FAEE-SAP). Additionally, KAN0438757 alleviated the inflammatory process in infiltrated macrophage via the Nrf2/HO-1 inflammatory signaling pathway and demonstrated a significant effect on the growth of mice with induced AP. And more importantly, KAN0438757 displayed negligible toxicity in vivo. Taken together our data suggest KAN0438757 directly suppresses the inflammatory role of PFKFB3 and induces a protective role via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which could prove as an excellent therapeutic platform for SAP amelioration.

Effect of aspirin on the TNF-α-mediated cell survival and death pathways in breast cancer

OBJECTIVES

Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory drug commonly used as an analgesic and in cardiovascular disorders. However, many studies have highlighted its anti-cancer properties, especially in colorectal, lung, head and neck, and breast cancers. In this work, we tried to study the effect of aspirin on the TNF-α-mediated cell survival and death pathways in two cell lines representing two different subtypes of breast cancer. TNF-α-mediated stimulation of a cell can result in its proliferation via the NF-κB pathway or its death via either apoptosis or a programmed form of necrosis called necroptosis. The latter is believed to come into the picture only when apoptosis is inhibited.

METHODS

In this work, we studied the effect of aspirin on the TNF-α-mediated cell survival pathway and observed a decrease in expression of the NF-κB pathway regulators, its nuclear translocation, and phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of aspirin on the TNF-α-mediated cell death showed significant cytotoxicity at the higher doses (5-20 mM) of aspirin in both the breast cancer cell lines. The effect of aspirin on necroptosis was investigated after stimulating the cells with TNF-α and inhibiting apoptosis using Z-VAD-FMK.

RESULTS

Though no significant effect was noted in breast cancer cell lines, the above protocol successfully induced necroptosis in L929, i.e., a positive control cell line for necroptosis having an intact necroptosis machinery. Even when combined with the chemotherapeutic drugs, the above regime failed to induce any significant necroptosis in breast cancer cells but was found effective in L929.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the findings show that while aspirin has the potential to inhibit the TNF-α-mediated cell survival pathway, it does not help sensitize breast cancer cells to necroptotic cell death induction.

Gabexate Mesylate-Poloxamer 407 Conjugate Alleviates Sodium Taurocholate-Induced Severe Acute Pancreatitis in an Optimized Rat Model

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We have previously shown that gabexate mesylate-poloxamer 407 conjugate (GMTI) alleviates traumatic pancreatitis in rats. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of GMTI on sodium taurocholate-induced severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in an optimized rat model.

METHODS

An SAP rat model was established via microinjection of 3.5% sodium taurocholate and retention in the bile duct for 1 min. SAP rats were administered GMTI via tail vein injection (i.v.) or tail vein injection + intraperitoneal injection (i.v. + i.p.). All rats were sacrificed at 12 h after treatment. Biochemical approach and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to measure the serum levels of amylase (AMY), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Hematoxylin and eosin staining and TUNEL assay were conducted to examine histopathology and acinar cell apoptosis in the rat pancreas.

RESULTS

SAP was successfully induced in all model rats, as evidenced by progressively aggravating SAP symptoms and signs, pancreatic histopathological abnormalities, as well as elevated serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and AMY. The mortality rates at 1 h, 6 h, and 12 h were 0%, 0%, and 25%, respectively. GMTI therapy via i.v. or i.v. + i.p. significantly reduced pancreatic wet weights, ascites amounts, pathological scores, and circulating levels of TNF-α and IL-6 while promoting acinar cell apoptosis in SAP rats. GMTI therapy via i.v. + i.p. outperformed i.v. in improving pancreatic histology and reducing TNF-α and IL-6 serum levels in SAP rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Our optimized SAP rat model is reliable and reproducible. GMTI therapy is a promising approach against SAP.

A Prospective Study of Using Chaihu Shugan Powder Combined with Zu San Li Acupoint Stimulation to Improve the Prognosis of Liver Stagnation and Qi Stagnation Syndrome in Acute Pancreatitis

Background

This study aimed to explore the clinical efficacy of Chaihu Shugan powder combined with Zu San Li acupoint stimulation on the acute pancreatitis of liver and qi stagnation syndromes, the protection of intestinal barrier function, the prevention of severe tendency, and safety evaluation.

Method

Data were collected from October 2019-June 2021 at Xinhua Hospital, which is affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Emergency Department. Eighty patients with acute pancreatitis were randomly divided into a control treatment group (40 people) and a combined traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment group (40 people). Detailed records of hospitalised patients were obtained, including the general situation of patients' clinical diagnosis and clinical examination before and after treatment. The changes in inflammatory and immune indexes before and after treatment were recorded.

Result

Compared with the standard treatment group, the relief time of abdominal pain in the TCM treatment group was significantly shortened with statistically significant differences. Compared with the standard treatment group, the levels of WBC, ALT, CA, hemodiastase, lipase, TG, and other factors in the TCM treatment group decreased, whereas the levels of DB, SCR, cholesterol, K⁺, and other factors increased. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Chaihu Shugan powder combined with Zu San Li acupoint stimulation can reduce the clinical manifestations of liver and qi stagnation syndromes of acute pancreatitis, protect the intestinal barrier function, prevent the tendency of severe illness and improve the prognosis.

Aspirin Ameliorates Pancreatic Inflammation and Fibrosis by Inhibiting COX-2 Expression in Experimental Chronic Pancreatitis

Aim

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a complex and intractable disease mainly manifested as chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Aspirin(acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) has been reported to be used in the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP), but its effectiveness on CP is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of ASA in CP mice.

Methods

A murine model of CP was induced by intraperitoneal injection with 20% L-arginine. After one week of L-arginine administration, mice in the ASA treatment group were administered aspirin (100mg/kg/d) by intragastric gavage. At two, four, and six weeks after the first injection of L-arginine, mice were euthanized and the pancreas was collected for histological and molecular analysis. A second model of CP (caeruelin-induced) was used as a validation experiment to test the effect of ASA.

Results

L-arginine-induced CP resulted in over-expression of the inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. COX-2 expression decreased after ASA treatment. Pancreatic-injury inflammatory response (measured by changes in amylase, CK-19, F4/80, CD3, MCP-1, IL-6) and fibrosis degree (measured by expression of COL1A1, MMP-1 and TIMP-1) was reduce in ASA -treated mice model. The therapeutic effect of ASA was also observed in caeruelin-induced CP.

Conclusion

ASA has an ameliorating effect in murine models of CP through inhibition of pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis, which may be a promising option for clinical treatment.

Mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of cognitive impairment caused by neurological diseases

Patients with neurological diseases often have cognitive impairment, which creates a substantial emotional and economic burden for patients and their families. This issue urgently needs to be addressed. The pathological mechanism of this cognitive impairment is a complicated process that involves a variety of cells and molecules, central nervous system inflammatory reactions, oxidative stress, free radical damage and nerve protection factor-related metabolic disorders. Traditional treatments include neuroprotective agents and analgesic therapy. However, analgesic therapy cannot improve cognitive function, and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) largely blocks neuroprotective agents from entering the central nervous system; therefore, it is very important to find a more effective treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and immunomodulatory properties and have been proven to play an important role in the treatment of many neurodegenerative diseases. Most importantly, MSCs are likely to cross the BBB. Therefore, MSC therapy is regarded as an important means of ameliorating neurological impairment. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent researches on the treatment of cognitive dysfunction caused by neurological diseases with MSCs.

MICROBIAL isoprene production: an overview

Isoprene, a volatile C5 hydrocarbon, is a precursor of synthetic rubber and an important building block for a variety of natural products, solely being produced by petrochemical routes. To mitigate the ever-increasing contribution of petrochemical industry to global warming through significant carbon (CO₂) evolution, bio-based process for isoprene production using microbial cell factories have been explored. Highly efficient fermentation-based processes have been studied for little over a decade now with extensive research on the rational strain development for creating robust strains for commercial isoprene production. Most of these studies involved sugars as feedstocks and using naturally occurring isoprene pathways viz., mevalonate and methyl erythritol pathway in E. coli. Recent advances, driven by efforts in reducing environmental pollution, have focused on utilization of inorganic CO₂ by cyanobacteria or syngas from waste gases by acetogens for isoprene production. This review endeavors to capture the latest relevant progress made in rational strain development, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology strategies used, challenges in fermentation process development at lab and commercial scale production of isoprene along with a future perspective pertaining to this area of research.

Prior Exposure to Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Reduces the Rate of Organ Failure and In-Hospital Mortality in Acute Pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been linked recently to a lower expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in humans with acute pancreatitis. Because it is unclear if this effect results in clinical benefits, the aim of this study was to determine if prior NSAID exposure improves immediate clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Retrospective medical record review of adult patients admitted with acute pancreatitis. Cases were extracted from a national Veterans Affairs database using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Prior NSAIDs use was determined through pharmacy data claims. The rates of acute kidney injury, respiratory failure, cardiovascular failure, and in-hospital mortality were compared between those with prior NSAID use (AP+NSAID) and those without it (AP-NSAID) using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 31,340 patients were identified: 28,364 AP+NSAID and 2976 AP-NSAID. The median age was 60 years, 68% were white, and the median hospital stay was 4 days. Approximately 2% of patients died during the hospitalization. After adjusting for demographics and other covariates, patients in the AP+NSAID arm had lower rates of acute kidney injury, P = .0002), cardiovascular failure (P = .025), any organ failure (P ≤ .0001), and in-hospital mortality (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Prior use of NSAIDs is associated with a lower incidence of organ failure and in-hospital mortality in adult patients with acute pancreatitis. The role of NSAIDs as therapeutic agents in this condition should be evaluated in interventional trials.

Sialadenitis as a complication of radioiodine therapy in patients with thyroid cancer: where do we stand?

PURPOSE

This study aims to elaborate on the current knowledge concerning the mechanism, frequency, clinical manifestations, diagnostic procedures, prevention, and management of radioactive iodine (RAI)-induced sialadenitis in patients receiving treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

METHODS

A review of the literature was carried out through the " www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed " database focusing on the results of the past decade.

RESULTS

The high concentration of RAI in the salivary glands results in high beta radiation exposure of the striated duct cells and stem cells. This exposure leads to acute and/or chronic sialadenitis with obstructive symptoms and progressive loss of salivary gland function and xerostomia, with severe impact on patients' quality of life. No standard diagnostic method has been established. As far as prevention is concerned, many approaches have been proposed, such as sialogogues, local massage, vitamin E, and amifostine administration. Although there is no unanimity as to their effectiveness, the use of sialogogues is recommended. Treatment includes conservative drug therapy and sialendoscopy when necessary.

CONCLUSION

RAI-induced sialadenitis has a major impact on patients' quality of life. Due to the good prognosis of DTC, the reduction of sialadenitis and its prognosis, prevention, and treatment constitute a priority for the overall treatment of these patients. Further studies that will establish a coherent treatment protocol for this condition are necessary.

CaMK II Inhibition Attenuates ROS Dependent Necroptosis in Acinar Cells and Protects against Acute Pancreatitis in Mice

As a calcium-regulated protein, CaMK II is closely related to cell death, and it participates in the development of pathological processes such as reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, and oligodendrocyte death. The function of CaMK II activation in acute pancreatitis (AP) remains unclear. In our study, we confirmed that the expression of p-CaMK II was increased significantly and consistently in injured pancreatic tissues after caerulein-induced AP. Then, we found that KN93, an inhibitor of CaMK II, could mitigate the histopathological manifestations in pancreatic tissues, reduce serum levels of enzymology, and decrease oxidative stress products. Accordingly, we elucidated the effect of KN93 in vitro and found that KN93 had a protective effect on the pancreatic acinar cell necroptosis pathway by inhibiting the production of ROS and decreasing the expression of RIP3 and p-MLKL. In addition, we identified the protective effect of KN93 on AP through another mouse model induced by pancreatic duct ligation (PDL). Together, these data demonstrated that CaMK II participates in the development of AP and that inhibiting CaMK II activation could protect against AP by reducing acinar cell necroptosis, which may provide a new idea target for the prevention and treatment of AP in the clinic.

Finite element analysis of the influence of cyclic strain on cells anchored to substrates with varying properties

The response of cytoskeleton to mechanical cues plays a pivotal role in understanding several aspects of cellular growth, migration, and cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions under normal and diseased conditions. Finite element analysis (FEA) has become a powerful computational technique to study the response of cytoskeleton in the maintenance of overall cellular mechanics. With the revelation of role of external mechanical microenvironment on cell mechanics, FEA models have also been developed to simulate the effect of substrate stiffness on the mechanical properties of cancer cells. However, the models developed so far model cellular response under static mode, whereas in physiological condition, cells always experience dynamic loading conditions. To develop a more accurate model of cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, this paper models the cytoskeleton and other parts of the cell by beam and solid elements respectively, assuming spherical morphology of the cell. The stiffness and roughness of extracellular matrix were varied. Furthermore, static and dynamic sinusoidal loads were applied through a flat plate indenter on the cell along with providing sinusoidal strain at the substrate. It is observed that due to axial loading, cell reaches a plastic region, and when the sinusoidal loading is added to the axial load, the cell experiences permanent deformation. Degradation of the cytoskeleton elements and a physiologically more relevant spherical cap shape of the cell were also considered during the analysis. This study suggests that asperity topology of the substrate and indirect cyclic load can play a significant role in the shape alterations and motion of a cell.

Differences between radioactive iodine-induced sialadenitis and chronic obstructive parotitis

The purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in the diagnosis and treatment outcomes between radioactive iodine-induced sialadenitis (RAIS) and chronic obstructive parotitis (COP). The study cohort comprised 47 consecutive patients diagnosed with RAIS and 50 patients with COP. All patients were treated by interventional endoscopy. Clinical, sialography, and endoscopy characteristics and treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups. Compared with the COP group, the RAIS group included more females (male:female ratio 1:8.4 vs 1:2.1; P = 0.011) and had a younger onset age (42 vs 50 years; P = 0.001) and shorter disease duration prior to hospital visit (5.4 vs 34.8 months; P < 0.001). In the RAIS group, sialography revealed obliteration of the main duct (20.4% vs 0%; P < 0.001), non-visualization of the main gland (23.7% vs 0%; P < 0.001), and incomplete contrast filling of the main gland (19.4% vs 6.4%; P = 0.008), which were scarcely observed in the COP group. Endoscopy revealed a higher percentage of duct atresia in RAIS compared to COP (20.4% vs 0%; P < 0.001). During follow-up, a higher percentage of RAIS patients had duct atresia and gland atrophy (49.5% vs 1.1%, P < 0.001). Compared with COP, RAIS more commonly involves younger females and has a shorter disease duration. Atresia of the main duct and atrophy of the gland parenchyma occur more often despite the use of interventional endoscopy.

The neural foundation of associative memory: a dynamic functional connectivity study for right-handed young adults

The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is the core neural construction related to associative memory. This study sought to explore the dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) between the subdivisions of MTL and other regions in the whole brain. Additionally, it sought to determine relationships between connectivity stability and associative memory function, to elucidate the neural foundation of associative memory from the perspectives of dFC. A Wechsler Memory Scale China revised edition (WMS-RC) measurement and a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were conducted to clarify adults' function of associative memory and dFC patterns in subdivisions of the MTL. A multiple regression analysis was carried out to analyze the relationships described above. The results demonstrated that (i) connectivity in the left brain included the anterior hippocampus (aHIP) and right fusiform (Fusiform_R), middle hippocampus (mHIP) and right inferior parietal lobule (IPL_R), posterior hippocampus (pHIP) and left inferior parietal lobule (IPL_L), perirhinal cortex (PRC) and left supramarginal gyrus (SMG_L), entorhinal cortex (ERC) and [left middle temporal gyrus (MTG_L), left superior parietal lobule (SPL_L), right fusiform (Fusiform_R)], anterior parahippocampal cortex (aPHC) and right precentral gyrus (PCG_R); (ii) connectivity in the right brain included the aHIP and right supramarginal gyrus (SMG_R), mHIP and left paracentral lobule (PCL_L), pHIP and left superior occipital gyrus (SOG_L), PRC and left middle occipital gyrus (MOG_L), ERC and right middle occipital gyrus (MOG_R); (iii) for most connectivity patterns, the more stable the dFC, the better are the associative memory functions. This study elucidates the neural foundations of associative memory in terms of dFC patterns.

Genotyping of interleukins-18 promoters and their correlation with coronary artery stenosis in Saudi population

BACKGROUND

Complex coronary atherosclerotic lesions often lead to coronary occlusion, clinically represented as a single-vessel disease (SVD) and multivessel disease (MVD). These occlusions could hinder the blood flow in coronary arteries that affects appropriate management of the CVD. The current study intended to genotype interleukin (IL)-18 promoter's hotspots (rs187238, rs1946518, and rs1946519) and their possible association with coronary artery stenosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The IL-18 promoter genotyping was performed by the Sanger method along with the examination of biochemical parameters in 125 study subjects categorized into three groups, viz. controls, SVD and MVD.

RESULTS

The current study observed a significant association of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia between the studied group's viz. healthy controls, SVD, and MVD. Fasting blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C) were also significantly enhanced from 4.82 vs. 8.01 and 4.33 vs. 8.27, in SVD, and MVD respectively. Despite the visible differences in the pattern of genotypic and allelic expressions, the current study did not show any statistically significant correlation with IL-18 promoter polymorphism at its hotspots with controls, SVD, and MVD subjects. The only exception of the above results was the distribution of allelic frequency at the rs1946519 hotspot, where a significant change (P < 0.05) was observed.

CONCLUSION

This study is of additional value to our previous reports, revealing the pattern of genotypes and allelic frequency of IL-18 promoters in a small cohort of Saudi ethnicity. Further investigations on larger sample size are recommended to envisage the presence of functional mutations in the IL-18 gene that could establish or rule out the possible association of IL-18 polymorphism with SVD and MVD.

Aspergillus Section Flavi from Four Agricultural Products and Association of Mycotoxin and Sclerotia Production with Isolation Source

Many agricultural products are susceptible to contamination by aflatoxin-producing species from Aspergillus section Flavi. The objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence of Aspergillus section Flavi in four agricultural products, such as pistachio, walnut, hazelnut, and dried fruits, collected from market and retail shops in various areas of Kerman County and obtain information on the relationships between isolation source and ability to produce sclerotia and potential for aflatoxin production. Aspergillus species were identified based on morphological characteristics as well as subsequent sequencing of the parts of the β-tubulin and calmodulin genes. From 207 isolated strains, the following species were identified: A. flavus, A. tamarii A. nomius, A. parasiticus, A. arachidicola, A. caelatus, A. pseudotamarii, and A. leporis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of A. pseudotamarii and A. arachidicola with the potential to produce aflatoxins from dried apricots and hazelnuts, respectively. Sclerotial type was significantly different between isolates from different isolation sources. From 192 tested isolates, 38% were aflatoxin producer from which 5% were scored as strong aflatoxin producers and 33% as average aflatoxin producers. A significant difference in the population of aflatoxin-producing strains across the isolation sources was observed which may reflect host adaptation and thereby different vulnerabilities to aflatoxin-producing species among the examined products.

Aspirin alleviates skin inflammation and angiogenesis in rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease featured by abnormal activation of immune responses, vascular dysfunction and prominent permeability barrier alterations. Aspirin, as the first nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is widely used for various inflammatory conditions due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties. However, its effects on rosacea are unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that aspirin dramatically improved pathological phenotypes in LL37-induced rosacea-like mice. The RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that aspirin alleviated rosacea-like skin dermatitis mainly via modulating immune responses. Mechanically, we showed that aspirin decreased the production of chemokines and cytokines associated with rosacea, and suppressed the Th1- and Th17-polarized immune responses in LL37-induced rosacea-like mice. Besides, aspirin administration decreased the microvessels density and the VEGF expression in rosacea-like skin. We further demonstrated that aspirin inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling and the release of its downstream pro-inflammatory cytokines. Collectively we showed that aspirin exerts a curative effect on rosacea by attenuating skin inflammation and angiogenesis, suggesting a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of rosacea.

Safety and feasibility of same-day discharge after elective percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy: a prospective, single-center registry in India

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PBMV) is an alternative to surgery for patients with severe mitral valve (MV) stenosis. However, the safety and feasibility of same-day discharge (SDD) in patients undergoing elective PBMV for severe MV stenosis is yet to be investigated. This study aimed to assess safety and feasibility of SDD in patients undergoing elective PBMV because of severe MV stenosis in a tertiary-care hospital in India.

METHODS

From January 2018 to November 2018, patients with a diagnosis of severe MV stenosis were treated with PBMV at our institution. Among these patients, those suitable for SDD were prospectively included in this registry. Vascular access was achieved in forearm arteries and femoral veins. Clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic features were collected before and after PBMV. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. The secondary outcome was incidence of in-hospital complications. Other outcomes of interest were arterial spasm and forearm haematoma.

RESULTS

A total of 98 patients scheduled for SDD after elective PBMV were included in the registry. Mean MV area increased from 0.8 ± 0.1 to 1.6 ± 0.2 cm² (p < .001). Severe MV regurgitation after PBMV occurred in 3 patients, and 1 patient developed pericardial tamponade. Severe arterial spasm occurred in 2 patients. None of the included patients developed a clinically relevant haematoma of forearm. A total of 94 (96%) were discharged on the same day. No patient died up to 30-day follow-up.

CONCLUSION

PBMV from the venous access site can reduce the hospital stay of patients to less than a day with less local site complications.

Abdominal paracentesis drainage attenuates severe acute pancreatitis by enhancing cell apoptosis via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Our previous studies have shown that abdominal paracentesis drainage (APD) is a safe and effective strategy for patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). However, the underlying mechanisms behind APD treatment remain poorly understood. Given that apoptosis is a critical pathological response of SAP, we here aim to investigate the effect of APD on cell apoptosis in pancreatic tissues during SAP and to explore its potential molecular mechanism. SAP was induced by 5% sodium-taurocholate retrograde while APD group was inserted a drainage tube into the right lower abdomen of rats immediately after SAP induction. Histopathological staining, serum amylase, endotoxin and inflammatory mediators were measured. Cell apoptosis, apoptosis-related proteins and signaling pathway were also evaluated. Our results demonstrated that APD treatment significantly attenuated pancreatic damage and decreased the serum levels of amylase, endotoxin, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 in rats with SAP. Notably, APD treatment enhanced cell apoptosis and reduced necrosis in pancreatic tissues, as evidenced by Tunnel staining, the increased pro-apoptosis proteins (Cleaved-caspase-3 and bax) and decreased anti-apoptosis protein (Bcl-2). Moreover, the effect of APD on cell apoptosis was further confirmed by the regulatory pathway of PI3K/AKT and NF-kB signaling pathway. These results suggest that APD attenuates the severity of SAP by enhancing cell apoptosis via suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our findings provide new insights for understanding the effectiveness of APD in patients with SAP.

Biochemical Evaluation of the Antioxidant Effects of Hydroxytyrosol on Pancreatitis-Associated Gut Injury

Acute pancreatitis is a severe abdominal pathology often associated with several complications including gut dysfunction. Oxidative stress is one of the most important pathways involved in this pathology. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a phenolic compound obtained from olive oil, has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We evaluated the effects of HT administration on pancreatic and intestinal injury induced by caerulein administration. CD1 female mice were administered caerulein (50 μg/kg) for 10 h. HT treatment (5 mg/kg) was performed 30 min after the first caerulein injection and for two consecutive hours afterwards. One hour after the last caerulein injection, mice were sacrificed and serum, colon and pancreatic tissue samples were collected. HT was able to reduce the serum hallmarks of pancreatitis (amylase and lipase), histological damage score in both pancreas and colon tissue, inflammatory cells recruitment (mast cells) in both injured tissues, intrapancreatic trypsin activity and overexpression of the adhesion molecules (Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and P-selectin) in colon. Additionally, HT reduced cytokine (interleukin 1 beta (IL- 1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) levels in serum, pancreas and colon tissue and chemokine release (monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1/CCL2)) in pancreas and colon tissue. HT decreased lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity) by enhancing the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in both injured tissues. Moreover, HT preserved intestinal barrier integrity, as shown by the diamine oxidase (DAO) serum levels and tight junction (zonula occludens (ZO) and occludin) expression in pancreas and colon. Our findings demonstrated that HT would be an important therapeutic tool against pancreatitis-induced injuries in the pancreas and gut.

Aplysin Retards Pancreatic Necrosis and Inflammatory Responses in NOD Mice by Stabilizing Intestinal Barriers and Regulating Gut Microbial Composition

Aplysin is a brominated sesquiterpene with an isoprene skeleton and has biological activities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of aplysin on spontaneous pancreatic necrosis in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice and its potential mechanisms. Results showed that NOD mice at 12 weeks of age showed obvious spontaneous pancreatic necrosis, damaged tight junctions of intestinal epithelia, and widened gaps in tight and adherens junctions. Aplysin intervention was able to alleviate spontaneous pancreatic necrosis in NOD mice, accompanied with decreased serum endotoxin levels and downregulated expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 and its related molecules MyD88, TRAF-6, NF-κB p65, TRIF, TRAM, and IRF-3, as well as protein levels of interleukin-1β and interferon-β in pancreatic tissues. In addition, we observed obvious improvements of intestinal mucosal barrier function and changes of gut microbiota in the relative abundance at the phylum level and the genus level in aplysin-treated mice compared with control mice. Together, these data suggested that aplysin could retard spontaneous pancreatic necrosis and inflammatory responses in NOD mice through the stabilization of intestinal barriers and regulation of gut microbial composition.

Salivary side effects after radioiodine treatment for differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma: Long-term study

BACKGROUND

Although many studies focus on short-term side effects of radioiodine therapy, almost none studied long-term side effects. We assessed radioiodine long-term salivary side effects after radioiodine treatment for differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma and compared it to short-term morbidity within the same population.

METHODS

A standardized self-administrated questionnaire was submitted in 2019 by patients treated with radioiodine between January 2011 and December 2012. These patients had already answered the same questionnaire 6 years before.

RESULTS

Our study showed a significant reduction for salivary side effects: discomfort in submandibular or parotid area, swelling, pain, a bad or salty taste in the mouth, allowing to get back to a "normal" diet.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that a significant rate of patients will recover from I¹³¹ therapy salivary side effects. As almost 30% of these remissions happened during our late stage follow-up, we highlight the necessity of a long-term follow-up in these patients.

The possible protective effect of Nano-Selenium on the endocrine and exocrine pancreatic functions in a rat model of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis is a serious condition with multi-factorial etiology. The negative impact of acute pancreatitis on the exocrine pancreatic function is well documented; however, its impact on the endocrine function needs more elucidation. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of Nano-Selenium (Nano-Se) on both pancreatic functions in acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

l-arginine induced acute pancreatitis in rats was used as a model. Fifty adult male albino rats were separated into groups: 1- control group (C), 2- C+ Nano-Se, 3-acute pancreatitis group (AP) and 4- AP+ Nano-Se. Nano-Se was administered before induction of acute pancreatitis. Serum levels of amylase, lipase, selenium, glucose, insulin and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured. Homeostatic model assessment of beta cell function (HOMA-β) was also calculated. Oxidative stress markers, selenium content and the anti-apoptotic factor, B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) were assayed in pancreatic tissue along with immuno-expression of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB).

RESULTS

Acute pancreatitis negatively affected both pancreatic functions. Nano-Se administration lessened the developed pancreatic injury and improved both pancreatic functions.

CONCLUSION

Nano-Se could improve the deteriorated pancreatic functions in acute pancreatitis via its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and pro-apoptotic actions. Thus, it may be used in prevention of acute pancreatitis and the associated hyperglycemia in vulnerable individuals such as patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography.

Elevated triglycerides level in hospital stay as a risk factor of mortality in patients with severe acute pancreatitis

Hypertriglyceridaemia is one of the most common causes of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). However, the association between elevated triglycerides (TG) level in hospital stay and outcome in SAP patients with normal TG level at admission has not been clearly demonstrated. This retrospective study assessed the serum TG levels of patients with SAP admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in 2017. Variables with a statistically significant association with the incidence of in-hospital TG elevation, as determined by univariate analysis, were analysed using a logistic regression model to predictors. Of the 99 patients included in the study, TG levels were within the normal range in 59 (59.59%) patients at admission. Among patients with normal TG level when admitted to ICU, 28 (47.46%) experienced at least one episode of TG level elevation during their ICU stay. Elevated TG level in hospitalization is associated with an increased length of ICU stay, as well as increased mortality. In addition to other factors, propofol usage was independently associated with the occurrence of in-hospital-TG elevation. To conclude, we retrospectively investigated the incidence, outcome, and risk factors for in-hospital TG elevation events in SAP patients admitted to the ICU. We found a high incidence of both preexisting and in-hospital-acquired TG elevation in SAP patients admitted to the ICU. The TG elevation that occurred during the ICU stay was associated with worse outcomes and long-term hospitalization of the ICU. Propofol usage was independently associated with the TG elevation occurrence in the ICU.

Emodin attenuated severe acute pancreatitis via the P2X ligand‑gated ion channel 7/NOD‑like receptor protein 3 signaling pathway

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an aseptic inflammation characterized with an annual incidence rate, and ~20% patients progressing to severe AP (SAP) with a high mortality rate. Although Qingyi decoction has been frequently used for SAP treatment over the past 3 decades in clinic, the actual mechanism of its protective effects remains unknown. As the major active ingredient of Qingyi decoction, emodin was selected in the present study to investigate the effect of emodin against severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats through NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes. The rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, an SAP model group induced by a standard retrograde infusion of 5.0% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct, and low-dose (30 mg/kg) and high-dose (60 mg/kg) emodin-treated groups. At 12 h after the event, the plasma amylase, lipase, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities were examined. Furthermore, the pathological scores of pancreases were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression levels of P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7), NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a C-terminal caspase recruitment domain and caspase-1 were also analyzed by western blot analysis. The data demonstrated that, compared with the SAP group, emodin could significantly relieve the pancreatic histopathology and acinar cellular structure injury, and notably downregulate the plasma amylase and lipase levels, as well as the MPO activities in pancreatic tissues, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, emodin inhibited the P2X7/NLRP3 signaling pathway followed by the decrease of pro-inflammatory factors, and the latter is beneficial for the recovery of SAP. Collectively, the data indicated that emodin may be an efficient candidate natural product for SAP treatment.

Diabetes aggravates acute pancreatitis possibly via activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in db/db mice

Clinical studies have confirmed that patients with diabetes had an elevated risk of acute pancreatitis (AP) and diabetes was associated with increased severity and mortality in patients with AP. However, these studies failed to prove a cause-and-effect relationship between diabetes and AP. In the present study, we for the first time have evaluated the effects of diabetes on AP by adopting a type 2 diabetes animal model db/db mice and investigated the possible underlying mechanisms. The results showed that in comparison to wide type (WT) mice, db/db mice showed exacerbated pancreatic and pulmonary injuries, elevated serum amylase and lipase levels, increased myeloperoxidase (MPO) expressions in pancreatic and pulmonary tissues as well as increased apoptotic acinar cells after AP induction. Furthermore, we observed that NLRP3 inflammasome in pancreatic tissues was remarkably activated in db/db mice compared with WT mice. In addition, we also found that diabetes could increase the susceptibility of mice to AP. Taken together, our results indicated that diabetes could predispose and aggravate the disease severity of AP potentially via promoting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

MicroRNA-1297 contributes to the progression of human cervical carcinoma through PTEN

BACKGROUND

The human cervical carcinoma oncogenic mechanisms still remain elusive. Thus, we proposed to understand the biological role of a newly discovered therapeutic miRNA.

METHODS

MiR-1297 related to human cervical carcinoma was selected for this study. TaqMan qRT- PCR assay was used to profile miRNA, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression in randomly chosen tumour with non-tumour tissues, and the apoptosis factors expression. Cell proliferation was monitored by CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Protein level was determined by western blotting. 3'UTR was performed to validate the direct binding sites of miR-1297 on PTEN. SPSS was used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

MiR-1297 is repressed and PTEN activated in human cervical cancer tissues. After miR-1297 overexpression, HeLa cells had an increase in cell proliferation and decrease in apoptosis. PTEN expression is negatively correlation with miR-1297. PTEN silencing display the similar pattern as miRNA-1297 overexpression to inhibit HeLa cell growth and apoptosis in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that miR-1297 contribute to the human cervical carcinoma through PTEN. miR-1297 could be a reasonable miRNA for future studies.

Isoliquiritigenin Ameliorates Acute Pancreatitis in Mice via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a flavonoid monomer with confirmed antioxidant activity. However, the specific effects of ISL on AP have not been determined. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of ISL on AP using two mouse models. In the caerulein-induced mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) model, dynamic changes in oxidative stress injury of the pancreatic tissue were observed after AP onset. We found that ISL administration reduced serum amylase and lipase levels and alleviated the histopathological manifestations of pancreatic tissue in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, ISL decreased the oxidative stress injury and increased the protein expression of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. In addition, after administering a Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385) or HO-1 inhibitor (zinc protoporphyrin) to block the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, we failed to observe the protective effects of ISL on AP in mice. Furthermore, we found that ISL mitigated the severity of pancreatic tissue injury and pancreatitis-associated lung injury in a severe acute pancreatitis model induced by L-arginine. Taken together, our data for the first time confirmed the protective effects of ISL on AP in mice via inhibition of oxidative stress and modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Anti-tumour effects of beta-sitosterol are mediated by AMPK/PTEN/HSP90 axis in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and xenograft mouse models

We investigated the anti-cancer effects of beta-sitosterol (BS), a plant-derived sterol in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and xenograft mouse models. BS significantly reduced cell viability by inducing apoptosis in AGS adenocarcinoma cells. This was accompanied by the formation of apoptotic bodies, as detected by Annexin V, caspase 3/7 activity, and MitoPotential assay. BS stimulated phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) expression. Pharmacological inhibitors or siRNA were used to further analyse the relationship between the two proteins. AMPK was found to represent a likely upstream regulator of PTEN. Additionally, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to identify related proteins in the treatment of BS. The decrease of Hsp90 protein by BS was observed. Induction of PTEN protein and reduction of Hsp90 was mediated by AICAR, an AMPK activator, indicating that AMPK is necessary for PTEN and Hsp90 expression. Additionally, BS was found to be effective through the regulation of cancer biomarker. Furthermore, BS suppressed tumour growth without toxicity in the AGS xenograft mouse models-. Taken together, the present results demonstrate that BS exerts anti-cancer effects in AGS cells and xenograft mouse models by mediating AMPK, PTEN, and Hsp90.

Formononetin Administration Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Acute Colitis by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway

Formononetin is a kind of isoflavone compound and has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. In this present study, we aimed to explore the protective effects of formononetin on dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced acute colitis. By intraperitoneal injection of formononetin in mice, the disease severity of colitis was attenuated in a dose-dependent manner, mainly manifesting as relieved clinical symptoms of colitis, mitigated colonic epithelial cell injury, and upregulations of colonic tight junction proteins levels (ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin). Meanwhile, our study found that formononetin significantly prevented acute injury of colonic cells induced by TNF-α in vitro, specifically manifesting as the increased expressions of colonic tight junction proteins (ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin). In addition, the result showed that formononetin could reduce the NLRP3 pathway protein levels (NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β) in vivo and vitro, and MCC950, the NLRP3 specific inhibitor, could alleviate the DSS-induced mice acute colitis. Furthermore, in the foundation of administrating MCC950 to inhibit activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, we failed to observe the protective effects of formononetin on acute colitis in mice. Collectively, our study for the first time confirmed the protective effects of formononetin on DSS-induced acute colitis via inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation.

Protective Role of TNIP2 in Myocardial Injury Induced by Acute Pancreatitis and Its Mechanism

BACKGROUND Aberrant regulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the signaling pathways that regulate its activity have been found to be involved in various pathologies, particularly cancers, as well as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a complex pathological process, depending on autodigestion caused by premature activation of zymogens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of high expression of TNIP2 gene on AP and AP-induced myocardial injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS To investigate the effect of TNIP2 on AP and AP-induced myocardial injury, we established an AP cell model and rat model. HE staining was applied for histological examination. ELISA was used to determine the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and myocardial injury markers (LDH and CK-MB). QRT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the mRNA and protein level of related genes, respectively. RESULTS We found that the protein level of TNIP2 was relatively higher in the normal AR42J cells. At 4 h after stimulating with cerulein, the protein level of TNIP2 decreased, reached a minimum at 8 h, and then gradually increased. We also found that TNIP2 was correlated with the activation of NF-κB in cerulein-stimulated AR42J cells, and TNIP2 over-expression inhibited the inflammatory response caused by cerulein. Moreover, our results suggest that TNIP2 over-expression relieved the cerulein-triggered inflammatory response and AP-induced myocardial injury in mice. CONCLUSIONS TNIP2 was shown to exert a protective effect on AP and AP-induced myocardial injury.

Adenovirus-mediated artificial miRNA targetting fibrinogen-like protein 2 attenuates the severity of acute pancreatitis in mice

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) remains to be challenging for its unpredictable inflammatory progression from acute pancreatitis to SAP. Apoptosis is an important pathology of SAP. Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (FGL2) has been reported to be involved in apoptosis. The present study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of an adenovirus-mediated artificial miRNA targetting FGL2 (Ad-FGL2-miRNA) in taurocholate-induced murine pancreatitis models. Sodium taurocholate was retrogradely injected into the biliopancreatic ducts of the C57/BL mice to induce SAP. FGL2 expression was measured with reverse transcription-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. ELISA was used to detect the activity of amylase and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). In addition, the mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were also detected. Finally, apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method and Western blotting. Ad-FGL2-miRNA significantly suppressed FGL2 expression and alleviated pancreatic injury. Also, Ad-FGL2-miRNA markedly inhibited a post-SAP increase in the activation of TNF-α and IL-1β. Finally, pretreatment with Ad-FGL2-miRNA ameliorated apoptosis at the early stage of SAP by modulating cleaved caspase-3 and therefore played a protective role. These results indicated that FGL2 might be a promising target for attenuating the severity of SAP and adenovirus-mediated artificial miRNAs targetting FGL2 represented a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of SAP.