Association between baseline ldl-c and prognosis among patients with coronary artery disease and advanced kidney disease

Background

Lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is significantly associated with improved prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, LDL-C reduction does not decrease all-cause mortality among CAD patients when renal function impairs. There are currently no studies examining the association of low baseline LDL-C concentration (<1.8 mmol/L) with mortality among patients with CAD and advanced kidney disease (AKD). We aimed to evaluate prognostic value of low baseline LDL-C level for all-cause death in these patients.

Methods

In this observational study, 803 CAD patients complicated with AKD (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m 2) were enrolled between January 2008 to December 2018. Patients were divided into two groups (LDL-C <1.8 mmol/L, n=138; LDL-C ≥1.8 mmol/L, n=665). We used Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression analyses to assess the association between baseline low LDL-C levels and long-term all-cause mortality.

Results

Among 803 participants (mean age 67.4 years; 68.5% male), there were 315 incidents of all-cause death during a median follow-up of 2.7 years. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that low LDL-C levels were associated with worse prognosis. After adjusting for full 24 confounders (e.g., age, diabetes, heart failure, and dialysis, etc.), multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that lower LDL-C level (<1.8mmol/L) was significantly associated with higher risk of all-cause death (adjusted HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.01–1.89).

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated that among patients with CAD and AKD, a lower baseline LDLC level (<1.8mmol/L) did not present a higher survival rate but was related to a worse prognosis, suggesting a cautiousness of too low LDL-C levels among patients with CAD and AKD.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81670339 and Grant No. 81970311), Cardiovascular Research Foundation Project of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association (SCRFCMDA201216) and Beijing Lisheng Cardiovascular Health Foundation (LHJJ20141751).

[The effects of posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation on accommodative function in high myopia]

Objective: To investigate the effects of implantable Collamer lens (ICL) with a central hole on the accommodative function of patients with high myopia at different ages after implantation. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 75 patients (150 eyes, 23 men and 52 women) with high myopia who underwent ICL implantation in Department of Ophthalmology of First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2017 to December 2018. The age was (28.99±7.26) years (range, 18-48 years). Forty patients (80 eyes) aged 18-34 years were included in the younger group and 35 patients (70 eyes) aged 35-48 years were included in the elderly group. To compare the changes and differences of accommodative function between the two groups, the uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, spherical equivalent error, amplitude of accommodation (AMP), negative relative accommodation (NRA), positive relative accommodation, single and both eyes' accommodation of facility (AF), fused cross cylinder, near and far distance horizontal phoria, accommodative convergence/accommodation and visual satisfaction questionnaire before surgery and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery were analyzed. ANOVA for repeated design, LSD, unpaired sample t-test, Paired t-test, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for data analyses. Results: At each time point before and after operation, there were significant differences between the two groups in the AMP (F=16.511, P<0.05). The AMP of the younger group increased from (8.88±2.27) D at baseline to (9.51±1.34) D at 12 months, while it was decreased in the elderly group from (7.67±2.36) D at baseline to (6.56±2.63) D at 12 months. The trend of changes was significantly different (F=15.044,P<0.05). The AMP of the elderly group was significantly lower than that of the younger group at all time points (F=47.678, P<0.05). The NRA of the younger group was better than that of the elderly group (F=13.459, P<0.05), but the NRA had no significant changes in both groups postoperatively (F=1.788, P=0.141). We could not find any significant changes of positive relative accommodation between two groups (F=1.447, P=0.233). The monocular and binocular AF of two groups was increased significantly after surgery (F=34.296, 21.839, P<0.05). The AF of the younger group was better than that of the elderly group (F=80.327, 43.08, P<0.05). The fused cross cylinder was improved from baseline (0.12±0.32) D to (0.38±0.49) D at 12 months (F=4.752, P<0.05), while the difference was not found in the younger group (F=2.110, P=0.151). We could not find any significant changes of accommodative convergence/accommodation between two groups (F=0.389, P=0.505) or in each group (F=1.049, P=0.309) preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Conclusions: ICL implantation is effective in the treatment of high myopia. The visual acuity, AMP, monocular and binocular AF may increase obviously. Big improvements in the accommodative function and high satisfaction of vision can be achieved, especially in younger patients. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 113-121).

Research Note: Responses of growth performance, immune traits, and small intestinal morphology to dietary supplementation of chromium propionate in heat-stressed broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the dose responses of growth performance, immune traits, and small intestinal morphology to dietary supplementation of chromium propionate (CrPro) in heat-stressed broilers. A total of 252 1-day-old Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly assigned to 6 treatments with 7 replicate cages of 6 birds per cage. The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg/kg Cr in the form of CrPro. The birds had ad libitum access to feed and tap water for an experimental period of 42 D. For induction of heat stress, the house temperature was set at 35°C ± 2°C from 22 to 42 D of age. No differences were detected among treatments in growth performance during the experimental period (P > 0.05). Serum IgA concentrations were not affected by treatment (P > 0.05). However, a quadratic response was detected for serum IgG (P < 0.01) and IgM (P < 0.01) concentration as dietary Cr supplementation was increased. The highest response of IgG and IgM in serum was observed for broilers fed a diet supplemented with 0.2 mg of Cr/kg. Dietary supplementation of Cr had no impacts on villus height, crypt depth, or the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum. A quadratic response of villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth and a linear response of crypt depth to increased dietary Cr supplementation were observed in the duodenum (P < 0.01). The results indicate that CrPro supplementation could modify the intestinal morphology of the duodenum and influence serum IgG and IgM concentrations in heat-stressed broiler chickens. Based on the results of this experiment, the 0.2-mg Cr/kg diet from CrPro increases immune response and intestinal health in heat-stressed broilers.

Role of spinal cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 in fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia in rats

BACKGROUND

Accumulated evidence suggests that spinal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) may be implicated in the development of opioid-induced hyperalgesia.

METHODS

Rats received subcutaneous fentanyl injections at different doses (20-80 μg kg^-1), four separate times at 15-min intervals. Some rats only received fentanyl (60 μg kg^-1 × 4 doses) with or without surgical incision. Fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia was evaluated via a tail-pressure or paw-withdrawal test. The concentrations of spinal COX-2, EP-1 receptor (EP-1R) mRNA, and PGE2 were measured. The effects of the COX-2 inhibitor, parecoxib (intraperitoneal 10 mg kg^-1), or the EP-1R antagonist, SC51089 (intraperitoneal 100 μg kg^-1), on hyperalgesia and spinal PGE2 were examined.

RESULTS

Acute repeated injections of fentanyl dose-dependently induced mechanical hyperalgesia, which reached a peak at the 1^st day and persisted for 1-4 days postinjection. This hyperalgesia could be partly or totally prevented by the pretreatment of either parecoxib or SC51089. Consistently, the levels of spinal COX-2 mRNA and PGE2 were also dose-dependently increased, reaching a peak at the first day and persisting for 2 days postinjection. Pretreatment with parecoxib could block the increase in spinal PGE2 and had no effects on spinal COX-2 and EP-1R mRNA. Fentanyl injection enhanced incision-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute repeated fentanyl administration dose-dependently produced mechanical hyperalgesia and augmented surgery induced postoperative hyperalgesia. This behavioural change was paralleled with an increase in spinal COX-2 mRNA and PGE2 after fentanyl administration. Inhibition of COX-2 or blockade of EP-1R can partly or totally prevent hyperalgesia.

Functional characterization and analysis of the Arabidopsis UGT71C5 promoter region

In the present study, we isolated an Arabidopsis promoter, UGT71C5, and analyzed its role in the regulation of the light response mechanism. We constructed a fusion vector pBI121-pU-GUS by integrating the UGT71C5 promoter upstream of the GUS reporter gene in pBI121, and then transferred this vector into Arabidopsis plants. The GUS activity of the transgenic plants was detected using a spectrophotometer under normal growth conditions as well as under light, drought, and ABA stress-treatments. The obtained results indicated that the GUS activity of transgenic plants ranged in between the activities observed in wild-type and 35S transgenic plants, which were used as positive control. Light stress for 8 and 12 h increased the GUS activity in transgenic plants by 3 and 4 times, respectively, compared to the activity in these plants under normal conditions. No such change in the GUS activity was observed under drought and ABA-treated conditions. This suggests that the UGT71C5 promoter is light inducible. Our study provides helpful insights into the elucidation of inducible promoters in Arabidopsis and the molecular mechanisms of light response.

Effects of destrin pathway mutations on the gene expression profile

This study aimed to explore the interaction and crosstalk between pathways in response to destrin mutations. All the pathways from the MINT database were downloaded, a protein-protein interaction network was then constructed, and the crosstalk between pathways was investigated, in particular, the overlap of 2 significant pathway analysis results. As expected, the results showed that regulation of the actin cytoskeleton was the significant pathway of destrin mutations in mice. Further analysis indicated that 28 significant pathways cross-talked with the pathway regulating the actin cytoskeleton. Importantly, 3 pathways, including regulation of actin cytoskeleton pathway, pathways in cancer, and the B cell receptor signaling pathway were linked by inositol phosphate metabolism based on crosstalk analysis of Gene Ontology relationships among pathways. All of these pathways have been demonstrated to participate in cytoskeleton dynamics. These findings might provide valuable insights into cytoskeleton dynamic abnormalities in destrin mutations of corneal diseases.

Efficacy study and field application of an inactivated new type gosling viral enteritis virus vaccine for domestic geese

New type gosling viral enteritis virus (NGVEV) caused a serious disease in naive juvenile goslings. In the described studies the performance of 2 vaccines was analyzed: a vaccine containing adjuvanted inactivated NGVEV and a vaccine containing adjuvanted inactivated NGVEV and recombinant goose IL-2. Breeder geese were subcutaneously vaccinated at the beginning of the egg production period with the vaccines. Breeder geese sham vaccinated with PBS served as control. The cellular and humoral immune responses of the vaccinated breeder geese, as well as the presence of maternally derived antibody to NGVEV, were investigated by ELISA, virus neutralization test, and lymphocyte proliferation assay, respectively. A significantly higher immunogenicity (P < 0.05) was induced by the inactivated NGVEV-recombinant goose IL-2 adjuvant vaccine compared with the inactivated NGVEV vaccine. The offspring of the vaccinated birds were challenged with virulent NGVEV (100 50% lethal dose) and the protective efficacy of the vaccines was determined. Furthermore, in a field trial the efficacy of the inactivated NGVEV vaccine was recorded from years 2003 to 2007. No clinical signs or abnormal health status were observed in the vaccinated breeder geese and the progeny. After a single application, >80% protection was shown in the progeny of geese vaccinated against NGVEV challenge for approximately 5 mo. The extensive field trials further demonstrated that vaccination of breeder geese with the inactivated NGVEV vaccine could be a safe and efficacious means to control NGVE disease. Moreover, the level of maternally derived NGVEV antibody titer in the egg yolk reflected the level of NGVEV antibodies in the breeder geese, suggesting that the egg yolk could be used to monitor the vaccination efficacy in commercial goose breeder flocks.

Humoral and cellular immune responses in adult geese induced by an inactivated vaccine against new type gosling viral enteritis virus

To assess the immunogenicity of an inactivated new type gosling viral enteritis virus (NGVEV) vaccine, we investigated 3 different doses of the inactivated vaccine and the inactivated vaccine in conjunction with 3 different doses of recombinant goose interleukin-2 (rGoIL-2) adjuvant. A virus concentration of 10(5) 50% embryo infective dose/mL was subcutaneously inoculated into adult geese divided into 6 groups. The dynamic changes of the humoral and cellular immunity responses elicited by the vaccines in the adult geese postvaccination (PV) were investigated using ELISA, virus neutralization test, and lymphocyte proliferation assay. The clearance of virus from the intestines of geese (175 d PV) was studied by histopathological examination and indirect immunofluorescence assay after virulent NGVEV challenge. This study showed that the inactivated NGVEV vaccine elicits strong humoral and cellular responses in the vaccinated adult geese. The absorbance values of specific anti-NGVEV antibodies, the neutralization antibody titer, and the lymphocyte proliferation index rapidly increased, peaked at about 28 d PV, progressed to the plateau stage, and then decreased slightly. The rGoIL-2 adjuvant enhanced the immune response, and this adjuvant in conjunction with the inactivated NGVEV vaccine induces a significantly higher specific anti-NGVEV antibody absorbance value, neutralization antibody titer, and lymphocyte proliferation index than the non-adjuvant-inactivated NGVEV vaccine (P < 0.05). The inactivated NGVEV vaccine conferred adequate efficient ability to clear NGVEV in vaccinated geese even in the last phase of the vaccination period (175 d PV). The inactivated NGVEV vaccine (0.5 mL/goose) with 1,000 units of rGoIL-2 adjuvant/goose is the most effective dose, thereby eliciting the strongest humoral and cellular immunity responses and providing the most efficacious clearance of NGVEV in vivo.

Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of a new dinuclear manganese(III) complex: a mimic for catalase

A new dinuclear manganese (III) complex [(ac)Mn(bbml)(2)Mn(ac)] x (BF(4))(2) x 3.5H(2)O (Hbbml=[bis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amino]ethanol, Hac=acetic acid) was synthesized and characterized by several physical methods. X-ray structure analysis shows that the complex has a dimeric unit and the two Mn(III) atoms are bridged by the oxygen atoms of the two ligands, forming a bis (micro-alkoxo)dimanganese core. The Mn-Mn distance is 3.2103 A. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS) experiment shows that the complex cation may easily have lost one or two ac(-) and leave unoccupied coordination site which would favor the coordination and activation of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, its catalytic activity for the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide and the effect of added heterocyclic base were also investigated. The complex has some similarities to manganese catalase in structure and activity.

Coordination of rare-earth elements in complexes with monovacant Wells-Dawson polyoxoanions

The alpha-1 and alpha-2 isomers of the monovacant Wells-Dawson heteropolyoxoanion [P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) are complexants of trivalent rare-earth (RE) ions and serve to stabilize otherwise reactive tetravalent lanthanide (Ln) and actinide (An) ions in aqueous solution. Aspects of the bonding of Ln ions with alpha-1-[P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) and alpha-2-[P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) were investigated to address issues of complex formation and stability. We present structural insights about the Ln(III) coordination environment and hydration in two types of stoichiometric complexes, [Ln(alpha-1-P(2)W(17)O(61))](7-) and [Ln(alpha-2-X(2)W(17)O(61))(2)](17-) (for Ln identical with Sm, Eu, Lu; X identical with P, As). The crystal and molecular structures of [(H(2)O)(4)Lu(alpha-1-P(2)W(17)O(61))](7-) (1) and [Lu(alpha-2-P(2)W(17)O(61))(2)](17-) (2) were solved and refined through use of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystallographic results are supported with corresponding insights from XAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure) for a series of nine solid-state complexes as well as from optical luminescence spectroscopy of the Eu(III) analogues in aqueous solution. All the Ln ions are eight-coordinate with oxygen atoms in a square antiprism arrangement. For the 1:1 stoichiometric Ln/alpha-1-[P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) complexes, the Ln ions are bound to four O atoms of the lacunary polyoxometalate framework in addition to four O atoms from solvent (water) molecules as [(H(2)O)(4)Ln(alpha-1-P(2)W(17)O(61))](7-). This structure (1) is the first of its kind for any metal complex of alpha-1-[P(2)W(17)O(61)](10-), and the data indicate that the general stoichiometry [(H(2)O)(4)Ln(alpha-1-P(2)W(17)O(61))](7-) is maintained throughout the lanthanide series. For the 1:2 stoichiometric Ln/alpha-2-[X(2)W(17)O(61)](10-) complexes, no water molecules are in the Ln-O(8) coordination sphere. The Ln ions are bound to eight O atoms-four from each of two heteropolyanions-as [Ln(alpha-2-X(2)W(17)O(61))(2)](17-). The average Ln-O interatomic distances decrease across the lanthanide series, consistent with the decreasing Ln ionic radius.

NMR observation of hydrolysis of acetonitrile to acetamide catalyzed by binuclear silver cryptate

NMR analyses (TOCSY, HMQC and DOSY) indicate that, in the presence of water, acetonitrile is exclusively hydrolyzed to acetamide catalyzed by bisilver cryptate complex, which contains coordinating acetonitrile molecule.

Cardiovascular effects of injection of argipressin into lateral septal nuclei in rats

AIM

To determine whether argipressin (Arg) plays a role in central neural control of cardiovascular function by acting on the lateral septal nuclei (LSN).

METHODS

Measuring mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) responses followed microinjection of Arg into the LSN of rats anesthetized with urethane.

RESULTS

Arg (100, 200, and 400 ng) injected into the LSN produced a dose-dependent hypertension and tachycardia. Maximal changes of MAP were 0.9 +/- 0.6, 2.3 +/- 1.3, 4.0 +/- 1.4 kPa, respectively; maximal changes of HR were 12 +/- 27, 50 +/- 33, and 89 +/- 27 bpm, respectively. Pretreatment of the LSN with a vasopressin 1 type antagonist d (CH2)5Tyr(Me) Arg abolished the MAP and HR responses produced by injection of Arg. Peripheral alpha-adrenergic blockade with phentolamine blocked the hypertension responses to injection of Arg into the LSN.

CONCLUSION

Arg acts in the region of the LSN to exert a central action on the cardiovascular system that is mediates by stimulation of sympathetic outflow.

A chimera antibody erythroimmunoassay for detecting HBsAg in human sera

A highly efficient chimera antibody, a monoclonal anti-hepatitis-B-surface (anti-HBs) antibody coupled with polyclonal anti-sheep-red-blood-cell (anti-SRBC) antibody was prepared using a heterobifunctional reagent, N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithiopropionate) (SPDP). Using SRBC as a marker, we established a sensitive solid-phase chimera antibody erythroimmunoassay (CAEIA) according to Guesdon's method. The sensitivity of this assay was 2-20 times higher than the reverse passive haemagglutination assay (RPHA) for detecting HBsAg in serially diluted sera from 10 hepatitis B patients. The weakest quantity of HBsAg detected by this assay was 4.5 ng/ml, while RPHA was unable to detect less than 75 ng/ml of HBsAg. The assay was as sensitive as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gave more accurate, reproducible and stable results than ELISA; specificity was also satisfactory.