[Clinical features and surgical treatment of right cardiac system tumors]

A total of 25 patients with right cardiac system tumors in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 2012 to October 2022 were retrospectively included in the study. The preoperative data, and information of surgical treatment and perioperative management on these patients were analyzed and summarized. One patient developed pulmonary embolism and died before surgery, and the other 24 patients (16 males and 8 females) received surgical treatment, with an average age of (44.7±10.2) years (24-74 years). Nine patients were diagnosed with malignant tumors. Among the 24 patients who received surgical treatment, two patients died during the perioperative period, in-situ tumor recurrence was seen in three patients within about 1 year after surgery (two patients died without surgery, and one patient died 3 months after surgery), two patients had distant metastasis, and 17 patients had a good prognosis. Right cardiac system tumors are rare, with a high malignant rate, and the clinical manifestations vary greatly. Active surgical intervention is found to be effective, and the prognosis is closely related to the pathological type and extent of tumor invasion.

[Advances in warfarin's anticoagulation therapy in Chinese population after mechanical valve replacement]

Warfarin is an irreplaceable oral anticoagulant for patients with mechanical heart valves, the stable pharmacogenetic-based warfarin dose prediction algorithms have improved the effectiveness and safety of warfarin anticoagulation therapy. Genetic factors are the main factors affecting the stable dose of warfarin. Single nucleotide polymorphisms such as VKORC1 and CYP2C9 affect the anticoagulation effect of warfarin through pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic pathways. Age, body surface area, combined use of drugs, and other nongenetic factors also affect the stable dose of warfarin. Previously published algorithms for warfarin dose prediction included mainly the white race, and most algorithms were constructed using traditional multiple linear regression. However, domestic studies have used machine learning methods to construct warfarin dose prediction algorithms based on the Chinese Han post-mechanical valve replacement population and have achieved better prediction efficiency. This article reviews the advances of warfarin anticoagulation influencing factors and the clinical application of stable dose prediction algorithms.

Modulation of the microRNA-6089/E2F transcription factor2 axis by querceting: implications for osteoblast viability, proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation in fracture healing

Quercetin is widely distributed in plants as a flavonol compound with multiple biological activities. It has been found that quercetin can regulate bone homeostasis through multiple pathways and targets. This study investigated the role and specific molecular mechanisms of quercetin in regulating osteoblast viability, proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation. A mouse model of traumatic fracture was established and then 100 mg/kg quercetin corn oil suspension was gavaged at the same time every day for 28 days. miR-6089 and E2F transcription factor 2 (E2F2) expression levels in mice were measured. Fracture healing in mice was observed. MC3T3-E1 cells were transfected with plasmids targeting miR-6089 and E2F2, and cell viability, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and osteogenic differentiation were determined. The targeting relationship between miR-6089 and E2F2 was verified. In vivo experiments showed that quercetin significantly increased osteocalcin (OCN) expression (P<0.05) and promoted fracture healing in traumatic fracture (TF) mice. miR-6089 expression was down-regulated (P<0.05) and E2F2 expression was up-regulated (P<0.05) in TF mice. Quercetin promoted miR-6089 expression and inhibited E2F2 expression (both P<0.05). In vitro results showed that quercetin promoted miR-6089 expression and inhibited E2F2 expression in a dose-dependent manner (both P<0.05). Quercetin dose-dependently promoted MC3T3-E1 cell viability, proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation, and inhibited MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis (all P<0.05). Up-regulating miR-6089 further promoted MC3T3-E1 cell viability, proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation, and inhibited MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis (all P<0.05). miR-6089 targeted and regulated E2F2 expression. Up-regulating E2F2 attenuated the promoting effect of up-regulated miR-6089 on MC3T3-E1 cell viability, proliferation, migration, osteogenic differentiation, and inhibition of apoptosis (all P<0.05). We conclude that quercetin enhances osteoblast viability, proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation by modulating the miR-6089/E2F2 axis, thereby promoting fracture healing.

Traditional herbal pair Portulacae Herba and Granati Pericarpium alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice through IL-6/STAT3/SOCS3 pathway

BACKGROUND

Portulacae Herba and Granati Pericarpium pair (PGP) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine treatment for colitis, clinically demonstrating a relatively favorable effect on relieving diarrhea and abnormal stools. However, the underlying mechanism remain uncertain.

PURPOSE

The present study intends to evaluate the efficacy of PGP in treating colitis in mice and investigate its underlying mechanism.

METHODS

The protective effect of PGP against colitis was determined by monitoring body weight, colon length, colon weight, and survival rate in mice. Colonic inflammation was assessed by serum cytokine levels, colonic H&E staining, and local neutrophil infiltration. The reversal of intestinal epithelial barrier damage by PGP was subsequently analyzed with Western blot and histological staining. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis and molecular docking were performed to identify potential pathways recruited by PGP. Following the hints of the transcriptomic results, the role of PGP through the IL-6/STAT3/SOCS3 pathway in DSS-induced colitis mice was verified by Western blot.

RESULTS

DSS-induced colitis in mice was significantly curbed by PGP treatment. PGP treatment significantly mitigated DSS-induced colitis in mice, as evidenced by improvements in body weight, DAI severity, survival rate, and inflammatory cytokines levels in serum and colon. Moreover, PGP treatment up-regulated the level of Slc26a3, thereby increasing the expressions of the tight junction/adherens junction proteins ZO-1, occludin and E-cadherin in the colon. RNA-seq analysis revealed that PGP inhibits the IL-6/STAT3/SOCS3 pathway at the transcriptional level. Molecular docking indicated that the major components of PGP could bind tightly to the proteins of IL-6 and SOCS3. Meanwhile, the result of Western blot revealed that the IL-6/STAT3/SOCS3 pathway was inhibited at the protein level after PGP administration.

CONCLUSION

PGP could alleviate colonic inflammation and reverse damage to the intestinal epithelial barrier in DSS-induced colitis mice. The underlying mechanism involves the inhibition of the IL-6/STAT3/SOCS3 pathway.

[Clinical features and management analysis of 11 cases of laryngocele]

Objective: To summarize clinical features and our experience of the diagnosis and treatment of laryngocele. Methods: Clinical data of 11 laryngocele patients in department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2012 to December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed, including 9 men and 2 women, aged from 12 to 75 years, with median age of 56 years. Electronic laryngoscope was performed in 10 of all patients, laryngeal CT in 10 and cervical color ultrasound in 5 before operation.All the operations were performed under general anesthesia, and the external cervical approach was used for external and combined laryngocele. The internal laryngocele was resected by low temperature plasma through transoral endoscopy. Patients were followed up regularly after operation to evaluate the effect. Clinical feature, types of lesions, imaging findings, surgical approaches and follow-up results were analyzed through descriptive statistical method. Results: Eleven laryngocele patients were divided into mixed type (n=6), internal type (n=4) and external type (n=1).Nine patients presented with hoarseness or dysphonia, 7 with cervical mass and 1 with airway obstruction. Surgical resections were done through external cervical approach (n=7)or transoral endoscopic approach (n=4). All the operations were successful and no complication occurred. All cases were followed up from 17 to 110 months. No recurrence was encountered. Conclusions: Laryngocele is a rare lesion with atypical clinical presentation. Preoperative imaging including CT scan and electronic laryngoscope is essential to evaluate the location, and extent of the lesion, and to make the surgical plan.Complete surgical excision is required. Surgical resection is the only effective method for the treatment of laryngocele.

Review on melanosis coli and anthraquinone-containing traditional Chinese herbs that cause melanosis coli

Backgrounds: The incidence of melanosis coli (MC) has gradually increased annually, attracting significant attention and efforts into this field. A potential risk for MC is the long-term use of anthraquinone laxatives in patients with constipation. Most traditional cathartic drugs are made from herbs containing anthraquinone compounds. This review aims to provide guidance for the application of traditional Chinese herbs containing anthraquinones for physicians and researchers. Materials and methods: We reviewed risk factors and pathogenesis of MC, and natural anthraquinones isolated from TCM herbs. We searched Pubmed and CNKI databases for literature related to MC with keywords such as"traditional Chinese medicine", "Chinese herbs", "anthraquinones", and "melanosis coli". The literature is current to January 2023 when the searches were last completed. After the literature retrieval, the TCM herbs containing anthraquinones (including component identification and anthraquinone content determination) applied in clinical were selected. According to the collected evidence, we provide a list of herbs containing anthraquinones that could cause MC. Results: We identified 20 herbs belonging to 7 families represented by Polygonaceae, Fabaceae, Rhamnaceae, and Rubiaceae, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of MC. Among these, the herbs most commonly used include Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizome), Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori), Huzhang (Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati), Juemingzi (Semen Cassiae), Luhui (Aloe) and Qiancao (Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma). Conclusion: Due to a lack of awareness of the chemical composition of TCM herbs, many patients with constipation and even some TCM physicians take cathartic herbal remedies containing abundant anthraquinones to relieve defecation disturbances, resulting in long-term dependence on these herbs, which is potentially associated with most cases of MC. When such treatments are prescribed, TCM physicians should avoid long-term use in large doses to reduce their harm on colonic health. Individuals who take healthcare products containing these herbs should also be under the supervision of a doctor.

11,12-EET suppressed LPS induced TF expression and thrombus formation by accelerating mRNA degradation rate via strengthening PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and inhibiting p38-TTP pathway

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which are synthesized from arachidonic acid by cytochrome P450 epoxygenases, function primarily as autocrine and paracrine effectors in the cardiovascular system. So far, most research has focused on the vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and mitogenic properties of EETs in the systemic circulation. However, whether EETs could suppress tissue factor (TF) expression and prevent thrombus formation remains unknown. Here we utilized in vivo and in vitro models to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of exogenously EETs on LPS induced TF expression and inferior vein cava ligation induced thrombosis. We observed that the thrombus formation rate and the size of the thrombus were greatly reduced in 11,12-EET treated mice，accompanied by decreased TF and inflammatory cytokines expression. Further in vitro studies showed that by enhancing p38 MAPK activation and subsequent tristetraprolin (TTP) phosphorylation, LPS strengthened the stability of TF mRNA and induced increased TF expression. However, by strengthening PI3K-dependent Akt phosphorylation, which acted as a negative regulator of p38-TTP signaling pathway，11,12-EET reduced LPS-induced TF expression in monocytes. In addition, 11,12-EET inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Further study indicated that the inhibitory effect of 11,12-EET on TF expression was mediated by antagonizing LPS-induced activation of thromboxane prostanoid receptor. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that 11,12-EET prevented thrombosis by reducing TF expression and targeting the CYP2J2 epoxygenase pathway may represent a novel approach to mitigate thrombosis related diseases.

[Predictive value of the proportion of hibernating myocardium in total perfusion defect on reverse remodeling in patients with HFrEF underwent coronary artery bypass graft]

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of the proportion of hibernating myocardium (HM) in total perfusion defect (TPD) on reverse left ventricle remodeling (RR) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) by ^99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) combined with ¹⁸F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) gated myocardial imaging positron emission computed tomography (PET). Methods: Inpatients diagnosed with HFrEF at the Cardiac Surgery Center, Anzhen Hospital of Capital Medical University from January 2016 to January 2022 were prospectively recruited. MPI combined with ¹⁸F-FDG gated PET was performed before surgery for viability assessment and the patients received follow-up MPI and ¹⁸F-FDG gated PET at different stages (3-12 months) after surgery. Δ indicated changes (post-pre). Left ventricular end-systolic volume (ESV) reduced at least 10% was defined as RR, patients were divided into reverse remodeling (RR+) group and the non-reverse group (RR-). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of RR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to assess the cut-off value for predicting RR. Additionally, we retrospectively enrolled inpatients with HFrEF at the Cardiac Surgery Center, Anzhen Hospital of Capital Medical University from January 2021 to January 2022 as the validation group, who underwent MPI and ¹⁸F-FDG gated PET before surgery. Echocardiography was performed before CABG and after CABG (3-12 months). In the validation group, the reliability of obtaining the cut-off value for the ROC curve was verified. Results: A total of 28 patients with HFrEF (26 males; age (56.9±8.7) years) were included in the prospective cohort. HM/TPD was significantly higher in the RR+ group than in the RR- group ((51.8%±17.9%) vs. (35.7%±13.9%), P=0.016). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that HM/TPD was an independent predictor of RR (Odds ratio=1.073, 95% Confidence interval: 1.005-1.145, P=0.035). ROC curve analysis revealed that HM/TPD=38.3% yielded the highest sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy (all 75%) for predicting RR and the AUC was 0.786 (P=0.011). Meanwhile, a total of 100 patients with HFrEF (90 males; age (59.7±9.6) years) were included in the validation group. In the validation group, HM/TPD=38.3% predicted RR in HFrEF patients after CABG with the highest sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (82%, 60% and 73% respectively). Compared with the HFrEF patients in the HM/TPD<38.3% group (n=36), RR and cardiac function improved more significantly in the HM/TPD≥38.3% group (n=64) (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative HM/TPD ratio is an independent factor for predicting RR in patients with HFrEF after CABG, and HM/TPD≥38.3% can accurately predict RR and the improvement of cardiac function after CABG.

Network Pharmacology Research Indicates that Wu-Mei-Wan Treats Obesity by Inhibiting Th17 Cell Differentiation and Alleviating Metabolic Inflammation

BACKGROUND

Wu-Mei-Wan (WMW), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has a good effect on the treatment of obesity and has been proven helpful to promote the metabolism of adipose tissue. However, its underlying mechanism remains to be studied. This study aims to explore the potential pharmacological mechanism of WMW in the treatment of obesity.

METHODS

Network pharmacology was used to sort out the relationship between WMW putative targets and obesity-related drug targets or disease targets, which indicated the mechanism of WMW in treating obesity from two aspects of clinical drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and obesity-related diseases. Databases such as Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP), PubChem, DrugBank, DisGeNET, and Genecards were used to collect information about targets. String platform was used to convert the data into gene symbol of "homo sapiens", and perform gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. With the Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD) as background data, Cytoscape 3.6.0 software was used to construct a new protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Mechanism diagrams of key pathways were obtained from the KEGG database. AutoDock Vina software was used to conduct molecular docking verification.

RESULTS

The number of targets in the overlap between WMW putative targets and obesity-related drug targets accounted for more than 50% of the latter, and HTR3A, SLC6A4, and CYP3A4 were core targets. In obesity-related disease targets-WMW putative targets PPI network, the Th17 cell differentiation pathway, and the IL-17 signaling pathway were key pathways, and the 1st module and the 7th module were central function modules that were highly associated with immunity and inflammation. Molecular docking verified that STAT3, TGFB1, MMP9, AHR, IL1B, and CCL2 were core targets in the treatment of WMW on obesity.

CONCLUSION

WMW has similar effects on lipid and drug metabolism as the current obesity-related drugs, and is likely to treat obesity by inhibiting Th17 cell differentiation and alleviating metabolic inflammation.

Recent advancement in conjugated polymers based photocatalytic technology for air pollutants abatement: Cases of CO2, NOx, and VOCs

According to World Health Organization (WHO) survey, air pollution has become the major reason of several fatal diseases, which had led to the death of 7 million peoples around the globe. The 9 people out of 10 breathe air, which exceeds WHO recommendations. Several strategies are in practice to reduce the emission of pollutants into the air, and also strict industrial, scientific, and health recommendations to use sustainable green technologies to reduce the emission of contaminants into the air. Photocatalysis technology recently has been raised as a green technology to be in practice towards the removal of air pollutants. The scientific community has passed a long pathway to develop such technology from the material, and reactor points of view. Many classes of photoactive materials have been suggested to achieve such a target. In this context, the contribution of conjugated polymers (CPs), and their modification with some common inorganic semiconductors as novel photocatalysts, has never been addressed in literature till now for said application, and is critically evaluated in this review. As we know that CPs have unique characteristics compared to inorganic semiconductors, because of their conductivity, excellent light response, good sorption ability, better redox charge generation, and separation along with a delocalized π-electrons system. The advances in photocatalytic removal/reduction of three primary air-polluting compounds such as CO₂, NO_X, and VOCs using CPs based photocatalysts are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the synergetic effects, obtained in CPs after combining with inorganic semiconductors are also comprehensively summarized in this review. However, such a combined system, on to better charges generation and separation, may make the Adsorb & Shuttle process into action, wherein, CPs may play the sorbing area. And, we hope that, the critical discussion on the further enhancement of photoactivity and future recommendations will open the doors for up-to-date technology transfer in modern research.

HuanglianGanjiang Tang alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting necroptosis through vitamin D receptor

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

HuanglianGanjiang Tang (HGT) is a classic prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recorded in Dan Xi Xin Fa, which was used to alleviate manifestations like diarrhea, abdominal pain and hemafecia. In current clinical practices, HGT is adopted for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and affords good curative effect. However, the underlying mechanism deserves further elucidation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

UC is a hard-to-curable and easy-to-recurrent inflammatory disease. This study is to evaluate the potential therapeutics and explore the molecular mechanism of HGT on UC in the mouse model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The components of HGT extracts were identified by HPLC. The colitis of mice was induced by 3% (w./v.) dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The HGT decoction was prepared through boiling and centrifuging. The mice were given HGT decoction via oral gavage (0.34 g/ml & 0.68 g/ml; 5 ml/kg b.w.). The protective role of HGT on colitis mice was evaluated by body weight change, colon length, disease activity index (DAI) and histological scores. The expressions of necroptosis-related and vitamin D receptor (VDR)-related proteins were measured by Western blot, RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

HGT could significantly reduce the loss of body weight and colon length in colitis mice, and alleviated the DAI and histological scores. Mechanically, HGT also promoted the expression of E-cadherin, Occludin, ZO-1 and VDR, and reduced the level of intestinal inflammatory cytokines, such as, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α. Besides, HGT downregulated the protein level of p-RIPK3, p-RIPK1 and p-MLKL while upregulated the protein level of Caspase-8 in colon tissue compared to the model group.

CONCLUSION

Our study addressed that HGT can alleviate DSS-induced colitis of mice through inhibiting colonic necroptosis by upregulating the level of VDR.

Inulin-type fructans change the gut microbiota and prevent the development of diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease, and few treatment options that prevent the progressive loss of renal function are available. Studies have shown that dietary fiber intake improves kidney diseases and metabolism-related diseases, most likely through short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The present study aimed to examine the protective effects of inulin-type fructans (ITFs) on DN through 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The results showed that ITFs supplementation protected against kidney damage in db/db mice and regulated the composition of the gut microbiota. Antibiotic treatment and FMT experiments further demonstrated a key role of the gut microbiota in mediating the beneficial effects of ITFs. The ITFs treatment-induced changes in the gut microbiota led to an enrichment of SCFA-producing bacteria, especially the genera Akkermansia and Candidatus Saccharimonas, which increased the fecal and serum acetate concentrations. Subsequently, acetate supplementation improved glomerular damage and renal fibrosis by attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction and reducing toxic glucose metabolite levels. In conclusion, ITFs play a renoprotective role by modulating the gut microbiota and increasing acetate production. Furthermore, acetate mediates renal protection by regulating glucose metabolism, decreasing glycotoxic product levels and improving mitochondrial function.

[Comparison of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting alone or combined with mitral valve plasty for coronary heart disease with moderate ischemic mitral insufficiency]

Objective: To compare the efficacy of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or CABG plus mitral valve plasty (MVP) in patients with coronary heart disease complicated with moderate ischemic mitral insufficiency. Methods: The clinical data of 1 050 patients with coronary heart disease complicated with moderate ischemic mitral insufficiency who underwent surgical procedures from January 2009 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 733 males and 317 females, aging (63.3±9.0) years (range: 31 to 83 years). Patients were divided into CABG+MVP group and CABG group according to surgical methods, and the two groups of patients were matched for 1∶4 by the propensity score matching method. There were 107 patients in the CABG+MVP group and 406 patients in the CABG group after matching. The t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, Fisher's exact probability method and repeated measures anova were used to compare the surgical outcomes and overall survival in the two groups. Results: There were no significant differences in perioperative death and postoperative complications between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with CABG group, CABG+MVP group had longer operation time ((5.6±1.2) hours vs. (4.2±1.0) hours, t=11.528, P<0.01), ICU stay(M(IQR))(43.0(47.3) hours vs. 25.0(33.6) hours, Z=2.483, P=0.013), and postoperative hospital stay (8(4) days vs. 7(5) days, Z=2.143, P=0.032). The amount of erythrocyte and platelet used in CABG+MVP group was significantly increased (2.0(6.5) U vs. 0(2.0) U, Z=7.084, P<0.01; 0(0.5) U vs. 0(0) U, Z=5.210, P<0.01). A total of 463 cases (93.9%) were followed up. Median follow-up was 32(31) months (range: 3 to 105 months). There was no significant difference in overall survival and no major adverse cardic and cerebrovascular events survival between CABG group and CABG+MVP group (P=0.196,P=0.305). Echocardiography showed that there was no significant difference in ejection fraction left ventricular end-diastolic diameter between the two groups (F=0.322, P=0.571; F=0.681, P=0.410). However, CABG+MVP improved mitral regurgitation better than CABG (F=160.222, P<0.01). Conclusions: For patients with coronary heart disease with moderate ischemic mitral insufficiency, the rates of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events are similar between the two surgeries. Although CABG+MVP improves mitral regurgitation better than CABG, it increases the duration of surgery, ICU stay, postoperative hospital stay, and blood transfusion requirement.

[Death-related risk factors analysis of surgical treatment of myocardial infarction combined with ventricular septal rupture]

Objective: To in vestigate the death-related risk factors of surgical treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) combined with ventricular septal rupture (VSR). Methods: The clinical data of patients (68 cases) with ventricular septal rupture after myocardial infarction (PI-VSR) from January 2008 to December 2020 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively selected and analyzed. We followed up the surviving patients and divided them into the survival group and the death group according to the perioperative and follow-up results. The univariate analysis was performed on various indicators, and the Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors related to postoperative death. Results: A total of 68 patients (42 were male and 26 were female, with age 44-82 (64.3±8.2) years after surgical treatment of myocardial infarction combined with ventricular septal rupture were enrolled, 9 patients died during the perioperative period, 59 surviving patients were followed up for 0.1-10.5 years(mean, 4 years), and 7 deaths during follow-up. Based on this, 52 patients were selected as the survival group while 16 patients as the death group. The results of univariate analysis showed that age, VSR to operation time less than 7 days, killip grade ≥ grade 3, cardiogenic shock, preoperative use of IABP, emergent surgery were related to postoperative death. The factors with P<0.2 factors in univariate analysis were selected into the multivariate Cox regression analysis. Age ([OR=1.110(1.012-1.217), P=0.026], platelet count [OR=0.990(0.981-0.999), P=0.031], D dimer (OR=1.002[1.001-1.003], P=0.003), cardiogenic shock (OR=6.084[1.729-21.405], P=0.005) were independent risk factors for postoperative death. All patients were followed up, the survival rate of 2-year, 4-year, 6-year, 8-year, and 10-year was 77.5%, 77.5%, 71.0%, 71.0%, and 71.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Age, platelet count, D-dimer, and cardiogenic shock are risk factors for death after surgical treatment of myocardial infarction combined with ventricular septal rupture. Surgery is an effective method for the treatment of myocardial infarction combined with ventricular septal rupture. Long-term prognosis of the surviving patients during perioperative are relatively better.

[m7G-lncRNAs are potential biomarkers for prognosis and tumor microenvironment in patients with colon cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of m⁷G-lncRNAs in predicting the prognosis and microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

We screened m⁷G-lncRNAs from TCGA to construct an m⁷G-lncRNAs risk model using multivariate Cox analysis, which was validated using ROC and C-index curves. Calibration and nomogram were used to predict the prognosis of CRC patients. Point-bar charts and K-M survival curves were used to assess the correlation of risk scores with the patients' clinical staging and prognosis. CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE were used to explore the association between the tumor microenvironment and immune cell infiltration in patients in high and low risk groups and the correlation of risk scores with microsatellite instability, stem cell index and immune checkpoint expression. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed, and the key targets regulated by m⁷G-lncRNAs were identified and validated in paired samples of CRC and adjacent tissues by immunoblotting.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 1722 m⁷G-lncRNAs from TCGA database, from which 12 lncRNAs were screened to construct the risk model. The AUCs of the risk model for predicting survival outcomes at 1, 3 and 5 years were 0.727, 0.747 and 0.794, respectively. The AUC of the nomogram for predicting prognosis was 0.794, and the predicted results were consistent with actual survival outcomes of the patients. The patients in the high-risk group showed more advanced tumor stages and a greater likelihood of high microsatellite instability than those in the low-risk group (P < 0.05). The tumor stemness index was negatively correlated with the risk score (r=-0.19; P=7.3e-05). Patients in the high-risk group had higher stromal cell scores (P=0.0028) and higher total scores (P=0.007) with lowered expressions of activated mast cells (r=-0.11; P=0.045) and resting CD4+ T cells (r=-0.14; P=0.01) and increased expressions of most immune checkpoints (P < 0.05). ATXN2 (P= 0.006) and G3BP1 (P=0.007) were identified as the key targets regulated by m⁷G-lncRNAs, and their expressions were both higher in CRC than in adjacent tissues.

CONCLUSION

The risk model based on 12 m⁷G-lncRNAs has important prognostic value for CRC and can reflect the microenvironment and the efficacy of immunotherapy in the patients.

6-gingerol ameliorates metabolic disorders by inhibiting hypertrophy and hyperplasia of adipocytes in high-fat-diet induced obese mice

OBJECTIVES

Accumulating studies revealed that 6-gingerol, a compound extracted mainly from ginger, treats obesity by preventing hyperlipidemia in vivo induced by high-fat-diet (HFD). The present study intends to further evaluate the efficacy of 6-gingerol in the treatment of obesity and investigate its potential mechanism.

METHODS

Obese mice were established by HFD induction. Bioinformatic analysis was used to predict the possible pathways enrolled by the application of 6-gingerol. Body weight and the levels of blood glucose and lipids were examined and analyzed for the evaluation of the therapeutic effect of 6-gingerol. The size and amounts as well as the status of adipocytes were determined by histological staining. The expression levels of related proteins in adipose tissue were assessed by immunohistochemical staining, immunofluorescent staining, and Western blot analysis. In addition, the expression levels of related mRNA were assessed by RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

HFD induced obesity was significantly curbed by 6-gingerol treatment. Here inhibition mechanism of 6-gingerol is demonstrated on excessive hypertrophy and hyperplasia of adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT), which may be related to the regulation of adipocytokines, such as PPARγ, C/EBPα, FABP4 and adiponectin, and the TLR3/IL-6/JAK1/STAT3 axis. Moreover, 6-gingerol treatment suppressed the expressions of IL-1β and CD68 in the liver and AKT/INSR/IRS-1 in epididymal WAT.

CONCLUSION

The results suggested that 6-gingerol could alleviate metabolic inflammation in the liver and insulin resistance to treat obesity. The mechanism is mainly involved in the inhibition of excessive hypertrophy and hyperplasia of adipocytes.

[Interpretation of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery expert consensus document: coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and heart failure in 2021]

An expert consensus on coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) was released by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery in May 2021, which contains a vast array of perioperative recommendations. During preoperative period, a comprehensive assessment on ICM including myocardial viability and valve function by a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach should be performed. In terms of intraoperative period, multiple arterial conduits and on-pump CABG using cold blood cardioplegia should be considered, meanwhile, other aspects involving concomitant management of mitral valve regurgitation and arrythmia, as well as active use of mechanical cardiac assist devices (e.g., intra-aortic balloon pump) should also be achieved. Finally, a range of postoperative interventions which includes standardized MDT management in intensive care unit (ICU), continuous use of cardiac assist devices, cardiac pacing, close follow-up within 90 days and drug treatment strictly guided by the guidelines after discharge from hospital should be conducted. The above-mentioned perioperative bundled care might reduce perioperative complications and operative mortality, and thus improve the prognosis of the patients with ICM.

Traditional herbal formula Wu-Mei-Wan alleviates TNBS-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting necroptosis through increasing RIPK3 O-GlcNAcylation

Background

Accumulating evidence indicated that necroptosis plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The O-linked β-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) of necroptotic signal molecule receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 3 (RIPK3) was reported to exert a protective effect in gut inflammation. Our recent study suggested traditional Chinese herbal formula Wu-Mei-Wan (WMW) as an effective prescription in mouse colitis. However, the potential mechanisms are not fully understood. Considering the crucial role of necroptosis in the pathogenesis of IBD, therefore, this study was designed to explain whether the anti-colitis effect of WMW is mediated by modulating necroptosis and its related mechanisms.

Methods

The protective effects of WMW on colitis have been determined by detecting colitis mice body weight, disease activity index (DAI), survival rate and colon length. Colonic inflammation was examined by inflammatory cells infiltration and local cytokines levels. After then, we measured the levels of necroptosis and O-GlcNAcylation. C O-immunoprecipitation experiments were used to address whether elevated O-GlcNAcylation can inhibit necroptotic signal transduction in the treatment of WMW. Finally, the key enzymes in O-GlcNAcylation: O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) were examined and molecular docking analysis was used to determine effective natural compounds in the regulation on OGT and OGA activities.

Results

Our results showed that WMW significantly improved mice body weight, survival rate and colon length, decreased DAI in TNBS-induced colitis. WMW obviously alleviated colonic inflammatory responses with reduced macrophages, neutrophils infiltration and local IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels. It was found that WMW increased colonic O-GlcNAcylation level and inhibited the activation of RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL. Then, further experiments revealed that WMW enhanced OGT activity and suppressed OGA activity, thereby increasing RIPK3 O-GlcNAcylation and inhibiting the binding of RIPK3 and MLKL, which led to the inhibition of necroptosis. Additionally, docking analysis demonstrated that hesperidin, coptisine and ginsenoside Rb1 may exert a major role in the regulation on OGT and OGA activities by WMW.

Conclusion

Our work demonstrated that WMW can alleviate TNBS-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting necroptosis through increasing RIPK3 O-GlcNAcylation.

Vibration modes of a transportable optical cavity

Many factors still need to be evaluated to fully understand the physical mechanisms determining optical cavity vibration, which are crucial for designing and constructing a transportable ultra-stable laser. Herein, a detailed dynamic analysis is used to characterize the vibration modes of a transportable optical cavity. The first five resonance modes are identified in the presence of a cavity support, and the guidelines to achieve a high first-order resonance frequency are proposed; thereby, high robustness is described using a 50 mm length optical cavity. The results demonstrate that the first-order resonance of up to 681 Hz with a gross weight of 2.51 kg can be achieved using an optimization strategy for given cavity support. The theoretical results are consistent with simulation and experiment. With the optimal group, a 1.34 Hz linewidth transportable ultra-stable laser at 1550 nm is established, and a linewidth of 1.5 Hz and frequency instability of 9.5×10^-15@1s are obtained after the test including 100 km actual road transportation and 34 min continuous vibration. The test condition is equivalent to ∼ 1000 km road transportation. Our method can be readily extended to other transportable optical cavities, providing a powerful tool for improving the robustness of vibration, particularly important for transportable environments.

Inhibition of microRNA-346 inhibits myocardial inflammation and apoptosis after myocardial infarction via targeting NFIB

OBJECTIVE

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a sudden cardiovascular event that endangers human life. MicroRNA is considered to be an important participant in the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction (MI). This article aim was to study the function and mechanisms of microRNA-346 (miR-346) on myocardium after MI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To study the role of miR-346 in MI, we established H2O2-induced H9c2 cell injury model and rat MI model. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect miR-346 expression. Western blot was utilized to measure the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, TNF-α, IL-6 and NFIB. Apoptosis of H9c2 cells was detected by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay was utilized to measure the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in supernatant. Assessment of left ventricular function in rats was performed using echocardiography.

RESULTS

MiR-346 was significantly upregulated in H2O2-treated H9c2 cells and ischemic myocardium. In the H9c2 cell injury model, the expressions of Bax, TNF-α, and IL-6 were greatly increased while Bcl-2 expression was decreased, and the number of TUNEL-positive cells and apoptosis rate were also significantly increased. At the same time, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the cell supernatant were markedly increased. However, after miR-346 expression was suppressed, these results were reversed. The expression of Bcl-2 increased, while the expression of Bax, TNF-α, and IL-6 decreased. The contents of TNF-α and IL-6 in the cell supernatant also decreased significantly. Both the number of TUNEL-positive cells and the apoptosis rate were markedly reduced. After injecting antagomir-346 into the myocardium of rats to silence miR-346, the cardiac function of MI rats was remarkably improved, and the LDH content in the serum of rats also decreased significantly. Using computational predictions tools, Western blotting and Luciferase activity assay, we found that nuclear factor I/B (NFIB) was targeted by miR-346.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of miR-346 was increased in H9c2 cells and ischemic myocardium of MI rats. Silencing miR-346 can significantly inhibit the inflammatory response and the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes by targeting NFIB.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase deletion attenuated nicotine-induced arterial stiffness via limiting the loss of SIRT1

Arterial stiffness, a consequence of smoking, is an underlying risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), hydrolyzed by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), have beneficial effects against vascular dysfunction. However, the role of sEH knockout in nicotine-induced arterial stiffness was not characterized. We hypothesized that sEH knockout could prevent nicotine-induced arterial stiffness. In the present study, Ephx2 (the gene encodes sEH enzyme) null (Ephx2^-/-) mice and wild-type (WT) littermate mice were infused with or without nicotine and administered with or without nicotinamide [NAM, sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) inhibitor] simultaneously for 4 wk. Nicotine treatment increased sEH expression and activity in the aortas of WT mice. Nicotine infusion significantly induced vascular remodeling, arterial stiffness, and SIRT1 deactivation in WT mice, which was attenuated in Ephx2 knockout mice (Ephx2^-/- mice) without NAM treatment. However, the arterial protective effects were gone in Ephx2^-/- mice with NAM treatment. In vitro, 11,12-EET treatment attenuated nicotine-induced matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) upregulation via SIRT1-mediated yes-associated protein (YAP) deacetylation. In conclusion, sEH knockout attenuated nicotine-induced arterial stiffness and vascular remodeling via SIRT1-induced YAP deacetylation.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We presently show that sEH knockout repressed nicotine-induced arterial stiffness and extracellular matrix remodeling via SIRT1-induced YAP deacetylation, which highlights that sEH is a potential therapeutic target in smoking-induced arterial stiffness and vascular remodeling.

Ameliorative Effects of Osthole on Experimental Renal Fibrosis in vivo and in vitro by Inhibiting IL-11/ERK1/2 Signaling

Objectives: Natural product, osthole, has been proven to have a protective effect on organ fibrosis, including renal fibrosis. All of these studies are mainly focused on the regulation of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. However, due to the pleiotropic roles of TGF-β/Smad signaling, direct TGF-β-targeted treatments are unlikely to be therapeutically feasible in clinic. Recently, the downstream IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling of TGF-β has become an attractive therapeutic target without upstream disadvantages. Based on that, this study was designed to identify the potential effects of osthole on IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling pathway in renal fibrosis.

Methods: The renal fibrosis model was established in vivo and in vitro, we investigated the effects of osthole on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis and TGF-β-induced HK-2 cells. After preliminarily confirming the antifibrogenic effects of osthole and the link between its antifibrogenic effects and the inhibition of IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling, we applied a direct IL-11-induced HK-2 cells fibrosis model to further explore the inhibitory effects of osthole on IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Results: Our results confirmed that osthole can decrease the secretion of fibrosis proteins, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and fibronectin, ameliorate experimental renal fibrosis in vivo and in vitro, and the effect was associated with suppressing TGF-β1/Smad signaling. More importantly, we found that IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling in UUO-induced renal fibrosis and TGF-β-induced HK-2 cell model was obviously upregulated, and osthole treatment also significantly inhibited the abnormal IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling activation. Given the direct link between TGF-β/Smad signaling and IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling pathway, we have verified that osthole has a direct inhibitory effect on IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling independent of TGF-β signaling by using an IL-11-induced HK-2 cells fibrosis model. Osthole treatment decreased the protein expression of α-SMA, collagen I and fibronectin without changing their mRNA levels in IL-11-induced HK-2 cells. Moreover, it was observed that the IL-11/ERK1/2 inhibitor, U0126, partly blocked the antifibrogenic effects of osthole.

Conclusion: In this study, we found that osthole has a previously unrecognized role in inhibiting IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Our work demonstrated that the antifibrogenic effect of osthole is not only mediated by TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling, but also directly mediated by IL-11/ERK1/2 signaling pathway independent of TGF-β1 signaling.

Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase alleviates insulin resistance and hypertension via downregulation of SGLT2 in the mouse kidney

The epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) exerts beneficial effects on insulin resistance and/or hypertension. EETs could be readily converted to less biological active diols by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). However, whether sEH inhibition can ameliorate the comorbidities of insulin resistance and hypertension and the underlying mechanisms of this relationship are unclear. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were rendered hypertensive and insulin resistant through a high-fat and high-salt (HF–HS) diet. The sEH inhibitor, 1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU), was used to treat mice (1 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks, followed by analysis of metabolic parameters. The expression of sEH and the sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) was markedly upregulated in the kidneys of mice fed an HF–HS diet. We found that TPPU administration increased kidney EET levels, improved insulin resistance, and reduced hypertension. Furthermore, TPPU treatment prevented upregulation of SGLT2 and the associated increased urine volume and the excretion of urine glucose and urine sodium. Importantly, TPPU alleviated renal inflammation. In vitro, human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) were used to further investigate the underlying mechanism. We observed that 14,15-EET or sEH knockdown or inhibition prevented the upregulation of SGLT2 upon treatment with palmitic acid or NaCl by inhibiting the inhibitory kappa B kinase α/β/NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, sEH inhibition by TPPU alleviated insulin resistance and hypertension induced by an HF–HS diet in mice. The increased urine excretion of glucose and sodium was mediated by decreased renal SGLT2 expression because of inactivation of the inhibitory kappa B kinase α/β/NF-κB–induced inflammatory response.

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids improve glucose homeostasis by preventing NF-κB-mediated transcription of SGLT2 in renal tubular epithelial cells

Studies have shown that epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) can regulate glucose homeostasis, but the specific mechanisms need further exploration. The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) is highly expressed in diabetic kidneys, which further promotes renal reabsorption of glucose to respond to the hyperglycemic state of diabetes. Herein, whether EETs can be a latent inhibitor of SGLT2 to regulate glucose homeostasis in diabetic state needs to be elucidated. Our study demonstrated that EETs attenuated the glucose reabsorption via renal tubular epithelial cells in diabetic mice, which partly accounted for the beneficial effects of EETs on glucose homeostasis. Moreover, 14,15-EET suppressed SGLT2 expression in both diabetic kidney and renal tubular epithelial cells. Further, inhibition of NF-κB with BAY 11-7082 decreased insulin-induced SGLT2 expression while NF-κB overexpression reversed the above effects. In addition, 14,15-EET attenuated SGLT2 expression via inactivating NF-κB. Mechanistically, 14,15-EET attenuated NF-κB mediated SGLT2 transcription at the -1821/-1812 P65-binding site. These results showed that EETs ameliorated glucose homeostasis via preventing NF-κB-mediated transcription of SGLT2 in renal tubular epithelial cells, providing a unique therapeutic strategy for insulin resistance and diabetes.

MiR-449 improves cardiac function by regulating HDAC1 and cTnI

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of microRNA-449 (miRNA-449) on cTnI and cardiac function and reveal the mechanism of Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1)-mediated histone deacetylation in cardiomyocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, we used biochemical analysis and Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay to confirm that HDAC1 and miR-449 having the binding site. Then, the effect of miR-449 inhibited HDAC1 on cTnI gene transcription was observed. In vivo, the effect of histone acetylation on cTnI expression and cardiac function in heart was observed in elderly mice with low expression of cTnI through miR-449 agomiR intervention.

RESULTS

This study revealed miR-449 can sponge with HDAC1. HDAC1-mediated histone deacetylation was involved in the regulation of cTnI gene expression by HDAC1-mediated acetylation of H3K4 and H3K9 in cTnI promoter regions. In addition, HDAC1-mediated histone deacetylation regulated the binding of the transcription factor GATA4 to the GATA element in the cTnI promoter region and improved cardiac function in elderly mice with low expression of cTnI CONCLUSIONS: MiR-449 can regulate the acetylation of the histones H3K4 and H3K9 of the GATA element in the cTnI promoter region, thereby recruiting the transcription factor GATA4 to the cTnI promoter region, upregulating the cTnI gene expression, and improving cardiac function in elderly mice with low expression of cTnI.

Berberine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: A possible pathway through Tuft cells

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with complex pathogenesis, which is affected by genetic factors, intestinal immune status and intestinal microbial homeostasis. Intestinal epithelial barrier defect is crucial to the development of UC. Berberine, extracted from Chinese medicine, can identify bitter taste receptor on intestinal Tuft cells and activate IL-25-ILC2-IL-13 immune pathway to impair damaged intestinal tract by promoting differentiation of intestinal stem cells, which might be a potential approach for the treatment of UC.

The potential association between common comorbidities and severity and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019: A pooled analysis

BACKGROUD

The association between underlying comorbidities and cardiac injury and the prognosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients was assessed in this study.

HYPOTHESIS

The underlying comorbidities and cardiac injury may be associated with the prognosis in COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and The Cochrane library from December 2019 to July 2020. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to estimate the probability of comorbidities and cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients with or without severe type, or in survivors vs nonsurvivors of COVID-19 patients.

RESULTS

A total of 124 studies were included in this analysis. A higher risk for severity was observed in COVID-19 patients with comorbidities. The pooled result in patients with hypertension (OR 2.57, 95% CI: 2.12-3.11), diabetes (OR 2.54, 95% CI: 1.89-3.41), cardiovascular diseases (OR 3.86, 95% CI: 2.70-5.52), chronic obstractive pulmonary disease (OR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.98-3.70), chronic kidney disease (OR 2.20, 95% CI: 1.27-3.80), and cancer (OR 2.42, 95% CI: 1.81-3.22) respectively. All the comorbidities presented a higher risk of mortality. Moreover, the prevalence of acute cardiac injury is higher in severe group than in nonsevere group, and acute cardiac injury is associated with an increased risk for in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSION

Comorbidities and acute cardiac injury are closely associated with poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients. It is necessary to continuously monitor related clinical indicators of organs injury and concern comorbidities in COVID-19 patients.

[Long-term outcome comparison of ostial/shaft lesions in unprotected left main coronary artery treated by PCI or CABG]

Objective: To evaluate long-term clinical outcomes of consecutive patients treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) with drug-eluting stents(DES) for ostial/shaft lesions in unprotected left main coronary artery(ULMCA). Method: A total of 259 patients with isolated ostial/midshaft lesions in unprotected left main coronary artery were enrolled consecutively who received DES implantation or underwent CABG between January 2003 and July 2009 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital. The endpoints of the study were death, repeat revascularization, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Time to the primary endpoint was evaluated according to the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was applied to compare the incidence of the endpoint. Adjusted risks for adverse outcomes were compared by multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. Results: A total of 259 patients were included, including 149 in PCI group and 110 in CABG group. And 193(74.5%) cases were males.The age was (61.4±9.8) years old. The median follow-up was 10.1 years (interquartile range 8.3 to 11.2 years) in the overall patients. There were no significant difference for the incidence of death [37.0% vs. 43.1% ，P=0.143] , MI [34.0% vs. 19.4% ，P=0.866], stroke [6.4% vs. 11.7% ， P=0.732], repeart revascularization [33.6% vs. 39.9% ，P=0.522] between PCI group and CABG group before multivariate adjusting，according to the incidence calculated with Kaplan-Meier. After adjusting covariates such as age, left ventricular ejection fraction（LVEF） and serum creatine with multivariate Cox hazard regression model, there was still no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: PCI with DES is as effective and safe as CABG in patients with left main ostium/shaft lesion during a median follow-up of 10.1 years.

Age‑related changes in mineralocorticoid receptors in rat hearts

Age-related alterations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) have been reported in the cardiovascular system; however, the detailed mechanism of the RAAS component mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) has not been elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between MR and cardiac aging in rats, as well as the regulatory effects of oxidative stress and mitochondrial abnormalities in the aging process. MR expression in the hearts of male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3 months (young rats) and 24 months (old rats) was evaluated in vivo. In addition, in vitro, H9C2 cells were treated with a specific MR antagonist, eplerenone, in order to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition of myocyte aging process. The results demonstrated that MR expression was significantly higher in 24-month-old rat hearts compared with in 3-month-old rat hearts. These changes were accompanied by increased p53 expression, decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α expression, decreased mitochondrial renewal as assessed by electron microscopy, increased oxidative stress and decreased superoxide dismutase. In vitro, selective antagonism of MR partially blocked H₂O₂-induced myocardial aging as assessed by p16, p21 and p53 expression levels and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. These results indicated that increased MR expression may drive age-related cardiac dysfunction via mitochondrial damage, increased ROS accumulation and an imbalanced redox state.

Wu-Mei-Wan ameliorates chronic colitis-associated intestinal fibrosis through inhibiting fibroblast activation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Wu-Mei-Wan (WMW), a classic traditional Chinese herb medicine, is one of the most important formulations to treat digestive diseases from ancient times to the present. Previous study showed that WMW has satisfactory curative effects on experimental colitis, which motivating the application of WMW on colitis-associated complications.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Intestinal fibrosis is usually considered to be a common complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn's disease (CD). Currently, no effective preventive measures or medical therapies are available for that. This work was designed to evaluate the effect and related mechanism of WMW on chronic colitis-associated intestinal fibrosis mice model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chronic colitis-associated intestinal fibrosis mice model was established by weekly intrarectal injection of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). The mice survival rate, disease activity index (DAI), colon length and histological score were examined to assess the therapeutic effect of WMW. Masson's trichrome staining, hydroxyproline assay, immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis were used to evaluate fibrosis level. Colon inflammation was determined by ELISA and immunofluorescence staining. Immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate fibroblasts proliferation and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the expression of key molecules in fibrosis was analyzed by western blot.

RESULTS

Here we showed that WMW alleviates chronic colitis with improved survival rate, DAI, colon length and histological score. WMW inhibited the progression of intestinal fibrosis, decreased the expression of various fibrosis markers, such as α-SMA, collagen I, MMP-9 and fibronectin. In addition, WMW treatment reduced cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ, and downregulated proinflammatory NF-κBp65 and STAT3 signaling pathways. Importantly, administration of WMW led to the inhibition of colon fibroblast proliferation and EMT, which are important mediators during fibrosis. Several key profibrotic pathways, including TGF-β/Smad and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, were downregulated by WMW treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our work demonstrated that WMW can prevent intestinal fibrosis and the mechanisms involved may be related to the inhibition of colon fibroblasts activation.

Comprehensive Analysis of Aberrantly Expressed Profiles of lncRNAs and miRNAs with Associated ceRNA Network in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Lung cancer (LC) continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and the prognosis remains poor worldwide. At present, the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) was considered as a part of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network act as natural microRNA (miRNA) sponges to regulate protein-coding gene expression. However, functional roles of lncRNA-mediated ceRNAs in LC are insufficiently understood. To classify the specific mechanism of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), we comprehensively compared the expression profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs and miRNAs obtained from 509 LUAD, 473 LUSC tissues and 49 adjacent non-cancerous lung tissues, based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). After screening for differently expressed (DE) mRNAs, DEmiRNAs, DElncRNAs and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) (|log2FC| > 2.0 and an adjusted p value <0.05), a total of 4478 DEmRNAs, 526 DElncRNAs and 75 DEmiRNAs in LUAD, while 6237 DEmRNAs, 843 DElncRNAs and 117 DEmiRNAs in LUSC were discovered. Interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed to identify 656 nodes and 2987 edges (minimum required interaction score > 0.9), as well as 8 different protein-protein interactions. Gene ontology (GO) analysis mainly associated with cell proliferation. KEGG pathway enrichment analyses most partly associated with metabolism pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Finally, the dysregulated lncRNA-miRNA-ceRNA network was constructed based on correlation analyses and a total of 62 dysregulated lncRNAs, 28 DEmRNAs and 18 DEmiRNAs were involved. The most significant lncRNAs included DElncRNAs, LINC00641 and AC004947.2, miRNAs included miR-6860, miR-1285-3p, miR-767-3p and miR-7974, mRNAs included MAP3K3, FGD3 and ATP1B2. Then we analyzed and described the potential characteristics of biological function and pathological roles of the LUAD and LUSC ceRNA co-regulatory network. Our findings revealed ceRNA network will be beneficial for promoting the understanding of lncRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of LUAD and LUSC.

[Short-term outcomes of sequential radial artery grafting in patients with coronary artery disease]

Objective: To explore the short-term outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with sequential radial artery graft. Methods: Clinical data of patients with CAD who underwent CABG with sequential radial artery graft from August to December 2018 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital was retrospectively analyzed. Computer tomography angiography was employed to evaluate the patency of grafts and the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events was followed up 3 months after surgery. Results: A total of thirty patients were included, with an average age of (60.2±7.3) years old, among whom 83.3% were male, and 93.3% had three-vessel disease detected by coronary angiography. All patients had left internal mammary artery (LIMA) anastomosed to the left anterior descending (LAD) and sequential radial artery graft. Among sequential radial artery grafts, the most frequent anastomosis of sequential radial artery graft was aortic artery (AO)-first diagonal branch (D1)-first obtuse marginal branch (OM1) (13 patients, 43.3%), followed by AO-OM1-second obtuse marginal branch (OM2) (9 patients, 30.0%), and 18 patients also underwent saphenous vein graft. None of 30 patients experienced adverse cardiovascular events during postoperative period in hospital. Three-months follow-up outcomes showed that LIMA-LAD in 1 patient (3.3%) occluded, 3 patients had occluded anastomosis of sequential radial artery graft, 1 patient (3.3%) had heart failure, and 1 patient (3.3%) had recurrent angina. Conclusion: The radial artery could be used as the second arterial graft for CAD patients undergoing CABG with a sequential anastomosis technique, and these patients need regular anti-arterial spasm drug treatment after CABG.

Histological study of intestinal goblet cells, IgA, and CD3+ lymphocyte distribution in Huang-huai white goat

BACKGROUND

Ten healthy adult Huang-huai white goats were selected and sacrificed by jugular vein bleeding after anaesthesia to observe the distribution characteristics of the histological structure of the intestinal mucosa, goblet cells, IgA, and CD3+ lymphocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three sections of the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum were immediately collected and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for 72 h to prepare tissue sections. After haematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid Schiff, and immunohistochemical staining was performed, the distribution characteristics of goblet cells, IgA-positive cells, and CD3+ lymphocytes were observed. Results showed high columnar epithelial cells in the duodenum and jejunum of Huang-huai white goat and low columnar epithelial cells in the ileum mucosa.

RESULTS

Mucopolysaccharides secreted by intestinal goblet cells were mainly neutral, and the number of ileum goblet cells was significantly higher than that of the duodenum and the jejunum (p < 0.05). IgA-positive cells were distributed in the lamina propria of the duodenum, and the number of cells was significantly higher than that in the jejunum and the ileum (p < 0.01). The significant difference was found between the jejunum and the ileum (p < 0.01). The CD3+ cells in the intestinal mucosa were distributed in the lamina propria mucosae, and some of the positive cells in the jejunum were distributed between epithelial cells. CD3+ cells had the largest number in the jejunal lamina propria but had the lowest number in the ileum.

CONCLUSIONS

The jejunum was significantly higher than the duodenum (p < 0.05), and the ileum was much less than the jejunum (p < 0.01).

Human kallikrein overexpression alleviates cardiac aging by alternatively regulating macrophage polarization in aged rats

Cardiac aging is characterized by myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction. Human kallikrein (hKLK1) protects against fibrosis in various pathogenic states. However, the effects of hKLK1 overexpression on cardiac aging-related fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Moreover, the role of hKLK1 in regulating macrophage function leading to cardiac fibrosis has not been investigated. Thus, in this study, we determined the effects of hKLK1 on cardiac aging and explored the mechanisms through which hKLK1 regulated aging-related fibrosis. Echocardiographic measurements showed that aging caused significant alternations in cardiac morphology, hypertrophy, and fibrosis in rats, and hKLK1 overexpression protected against aging-induced cardiac dysfunction. Compared with wild-type hearts, the hKLK1 transgene decreased the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and suppressed mitochondrial dysfunction and excess oxidative stress, leading to decreased recruitment and retention of alternatively activated (M2) macrophages and reduced secretion of profibrotic cytokines mediated by the TGF-β1-Smad3 signaling pathway in hearts of aging rats. Furthermore, these cardioprotective effects of hKLK1 overexpression were associated with the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway. H₂O₂-induced senescence promoted the differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into M2-type cells induced by IL-4 treatment. Bradykinin treatment relieved the migratory capacity of macrophages induced by H₂O₂. Thus, hKLK1 overexpression reduced cardiac fibrosis and improved aging-related cardiac dysfunction through reduced shift of macrophages to M2 macrophages, indicating that hKLK1 may alleviate aging-related cardiac dysfunction.-Hu, D., Dong, R., Yang, Y., Chen, Z., Tang, Y., Fu, M., Wang, D. W., Xu, X., Tu, L. Human kallikrein overexpression alleviates cardiac aging by alternatively regulating macrophage polarization in aged rats.

Gas spectroscopy through multimode self-mixing in a double-metal terahertz quantum cascade laser

A multimode self-mixing terahertz-frequency gas absorption spectroscopy is demonstrated based on a quantum cascade laser. A double-metal device configuration is used to expand the laser's frequency tuning range, and a precision-micromachined external waveguide module is used to enhance the optical feedback. Methanol spectra are measured using two laser modes at 3.362 and 3.428 THz, simultaneously, with more than eight absorption peaks resolved over a 17 GHz bandwidth, which provide the noise-equivalent absorption sensitivity of 1.20×10^-3  cm^-1 Hz^-1/2 and 2.08×10^-3  cm^-1 Hz^-1/2, respectively. In contrast to all previous self-mixing spectroscopy, our multimode technique expands the sensing bandwidth and duty cycle significantly.

[Metformin protects against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice]

Objective: To explore the effect of metformin on murine model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung injury and fibrosis. Methods: A total of 30 mice were divided into 3 groups: control, BLM, and BLM with metformin, in accordance with the random number table and each group had 10 mice. To induce the pulmonary fibrosis model, a concentration of 2 mg/ml bleomycin was intratracheally administered in the BLM group and BLM with metformin group with a volume of 1.75 μl/g, while the control group accepted saline with the same volume. Metformin (200 mg/kg) was given to the mice orally once a day from the day before intratracheal instillation of bleomycin to day 14. The daily survival condition of mice was recorded during 14 days. At day 14, HE-staining was used to assess the severity of fibrosis according to the method proposed by Ashcroft. Total lung collagen content was determined by hydroxyproline assay and Masson's trichrome staining. To examine the expression of fibronectin we used the method of immunohistochemistry staining. The changes of Transforming Growth Factor beta 1 (TGF-β(1)) in plasm, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung were measured by ELISA. Results: The survival rates of control group, BLM group and BLM with metformin group at day 14 were 10/10, 4/10 and 7/10 respectively. According to the method proposed by Ashcroft the score of metformin treated mice was significantly lower than that of the bleomycin model mice[(3.82±0.58) vs (7.79±0.06), (P<0.05)]. The hydroxyproline level in lung tissue were markedly attenuated in metformin treated mice compared with bleomycin model mice [(0.40±0.05) vs (0.73±0.10) μg/mg, (P<0.05)]. The level of TGF-β(1) in plasma, BALF and lung tissue were also decreased in mice treated with metformin compared with bleomycin model mice [(2.32±0.68) vs (4.59±0.45) ng/ml, (0.81±0.09) vs (1.40±0.06) ng/ml, (17.12±0.83) vs (21.25±0.69) ng/mg, all P<0.05]. Conclusion: Metformin can reduce the severity of pulmonary fibrosis in mice induced by bleomycin.

[Effect of water-soluble C(60) fullerenes on pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in mice]

Objective: To evaluate the role of water-soluble C(60) fullerenes in mice model of lung injury and fibrosis that induced by bleomycin. Methods: A total of 20 healthy C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control group, bleomycin group, high dose C(60) group, low dose C(60) group, each group with 5 mice. Mice were induced pulmonary fibrosis by intratracheal injection of bleomycin except the normal control group, which was induced by saline instead. In low dose C(60) group and high dose C(60) group, 1 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1) and 10 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1) water-soluble C(60) fullerenes was injected into mice intraperitoneally every day, which began from one day before intratracheal instillation of bleomycin until the end of observation. Saline was given to mice in the same way in normal control and bleomycin group. This study investigated the variation of weight and survival rate of mice for 14 d. HE-staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to assess the severity of fibrosis according to the method proposed by Ashcroft at 14th day. Total lung collagen content was determined by hydroxyproline assay. The changes of transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in plasma, bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). And, the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was tested by 2, 7-dichlorofuorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), and determined by the ratio of fluorescence intensity and protein content (OD/μg). Results: C(60) can protect mice that injured by bleomycin from weight loss. According the method proposed by Ashcroft et al.HE and Masson's trichrome staining showed that collagen deposition in lung tissue were markedly attenuated in C(60) (1 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1) and 10 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) treated mice compared with bleomycin model mice[(4.08±0.52), (3.00±0.41) vs (6.75±0.75) points, both P<0.01]. In low dose C(60) group and high dose C(60) group, the content of hydroxyproline in lung tissue were significantly lower than that in bleomycin group[(0.36±0.06), (0.35±0.08) vs (0.55±0.16) μg/mg, both P<0.05]. The level of TGF-β(1) in BALF and lung tissue were also decreased in mice treated with C(60) (10 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) compared with bleomycin model mice, but the difference had no statistical significance[(9.38±5.32) vs (23.60±8.96) pg/ml, (2.89±0.35) vs (6.44±2.95) pg/mg, both P>0.05]. Also, in high dose C(60) group, the content of TNF-α in plasma, BALF and lung tissue were significantly lower than those in bleomycin group[(4.56±0.73) vs (7.21±2.26) pg/ml, (34.58±23.30) vs (151.00±27.34) pg/ml, (22.99±5.83) vs (122.90±22.04) pg/mg, all P<0.05]. In addition, Compared with bleomycin group, ROS in lung tissue was significantly decreased after treatment with C(60) (10 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1))[(19.68±0.91) vs (22.92±1.71) OD/μg, P<0.05]. Conclusion: Water-soluble C(60) fullerenes reduce the severity of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in mice.

[Short-term clinical safety and efficacy of No-touch great saphenous vein harvesting technique for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting]

Objective: To evaluated early clinical outcomes of saphenous vein grafts harvested with a No-touch technique in off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCABG) surgery. Methods: A total of 124 patients with three-vessel disease undergoing OPCABG by No-touch technique between June and November 2017 in Beijing An Zhen Hospital were respectively reviewed. Results: The average age of patients was (60.7±10.3) years, and 80 cases (64.5%) were male, with the average body mass index (BMI)of (25.4±2.5) kg/m(2,) the mean preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of (58.0±7.0%). The operative time was (4.0±0.4) hours, and 16 cases (12.9%) were harvested for whole vein grafts. The number of vein grafts and venous anastomoses was 144 and 284, respectively. There were 16 cases of single bridge NTSVG-LAD, 4 cases of single bridge NTSVG-D, 99 cases of sequential bridge NTSVG-OM-PDA, 5 cases of sequential bridge NTSVG-OM-PLV, 4 cases of sequential bridge NTSVG-OM-RCA, 16 cases of sequential bridge NTSVG-D-OM-PDA. The mean flow volume of No-touch vein grafts was (51.9±2.4) ml/min. There was no death case in hospital. Postoperative re-exploration for hemorrhage of anastomosis happened in 1 case (0.8%), which was caused by pericardial tamponade due to insufficiency of hemostasis in internal mammary bed. There were 1 case of bad wound healing of lower extremity incision (0.8%). A total of 124 cases were followed up after operation, and the follow-up rate was 100%. There was one all-cause death (0.8%) 27 days after the operation. Conclusion: The short-term clinical observation of the application of No-touch great saphenous vein harvesting technique for OPCABG is safe and effective.

Endothelium-specific CYP2J2 overexpression attenuates age-related insulin resistance

Ample evidences demonstrate that cytochrome P450 epoxygenase‐derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) exert diverse biological activities, which include potent vasodilatory, anti‐inflammatory, and cardiovascular protective effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of endothelium‐specific CYP2J2 overexpression on age‐related insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. Endothelium‐specific targeting of the human CYP epoxygenase, CYP2J2, transgenic mice (Tie2‐CYP2J2‐Tr mice) was utilized. The effects of endothelium‐specific CYP2J2 overexpression on aging‐associated obesity, inflammation, and peripheral insulin resistance were evaluated by assessing metabolic parameters in young (3 months old) and aged (16 months old) adult male Tie2‐CYP2J2‐Tr mice. Decreased insulin sensitivity and attenuated insulin signaling in aged skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and liver were observed in aged adult male mice, and moreover, these effects were partly inhibited in 16‐month‐old CYP2J2‐Tr mice. In addition, CYP2J2 overexpression‐mediated insulin sensitization in aged mice was associated with the amelioration of inflammatory state. Notably, the aging‐associated increases in fat mass and adipocyte size were only observed in 16‐month‐old wild‐type mice, and CYP2J2 overexpression markedly prevented the increase in fat mass and adipocyte size in aged Tie2‐CYP2J2‐Tr mice, which was associated with increased energy expenditure and decreased lipogenic genes expression. Furthermore, these antiaging phenotypes of Tie2‐CYP2J2‐Tr mice were also associated with increased muscle blood flow, enhanced active‐phase locomotor activity, and improved mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle. Collectively, our findings indicated that endothelium‐specific CYP2J2 overexpression alleviated age‐related insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction, which highlighted CYP epoxygenase‐EET system as a potential target for combating aging‐related metabolic disorders.

Liver Kinase B1/AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway Activation Attenuated the Progression of Endotoxemia in the Diabetic Mice

Background/Aims: Sepsis is a common disease that continues to increase in prevalence worldwide, and diabetes mellitus may make the situation worse. This study was designed to determine the role of Liver Kinase B1 (LKB1)/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway in diabetic mice complicated with systemic endotoxemia. Methods: The effects of LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway activation on endotoxemia were investigated in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice (STZ-mice) and db/db diabetic mice. Primary peritoneal macrophages and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) monolayers were simultaneously stimulated by both high glucose and LPS and used as a model to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms in vitro. Results: After treatment with LPS, high glucose or both LPS and high glucose, phosphor-AMPK expression was decreased, and moreover, AMPK activation by metformin treatment alleviated the decrease in phosphor-AMPK expression in HUVECs and macrophages as well as in lung tissue. Furthermore, both LPS and high glucose co-treatment decreased LKB1 and phosphor-AMPK expression via enhanced oxidative stress response, and importantly, LKB1 overexpression mediated by adenovirus inhibited the decrease in phosphor-AMPK expression in macrophages and HUVECs. AMPK activation by metformin administration improved the survival of STZ-induced diabetic mice and db/db diabetic mice, which was associated with reduced lung endothelial hyperpermeability and systemic inflammatory response. Furthermore, the permeability of HUVECs monolayers induced by both high glucose and LPS stimulation was also alleviated by AMPK activation, which was partly via suppression of VE-cadherin phosphorylation. Conclusion: These data demonstrated that LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway activation improved the survival of diabetic mice complicated with endotoxemia. Thus, LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway may serve as a potentially useful therapeutic target for severe infection in diabetic patients.

[Short-term clinical outcomes and risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting]

Objective: To explore short-term clinical outcomes and risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) and establish a prediction model for in-hospital mortality. Methods: The clinical data of patients undergoing OPCABG in Beijing Anzhen Hospital between January 2014 and January 2016 was retrospectively studied. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were applied to determine the potential risk factors, and then a prediction model for mortality was confirmed. The calibration and discrimination of the prediction model was finally tested. Results: A total of 2 546 patients who underwent OPCABG were recruited. In-hospital mortality of OPCABG was 0.7% (17 cases). Seven variables: female, age, left main disease >50%, low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), acute myocardial infarction before surgery, operative status (selective or emergent), moderate concomitant mitral valve regurgitation were independently correlated with OPCABG mortality (all P<0.05). The result of Hosmer-Lemeshow test was χ(2)=5.912, P=0.676. The area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) was 0.881. Conclusions: OPCABG is safe and effective for myocardial revascularization in a short term. The following risk factors are associated with an increased operative mortality of OPCABG: male, age, left main disease >50%, low LVEF, acute myocardial infarction before surgery, operative status (selective or emergent), moderate concomitant mitral valve regurgitation. The prediction model established by above-mentioned potential risk factors was proven to perform well by statistical tests.

EETs reduces LPS-induced hyperpermeability by targeting GRP78 mediated Src activation and subsequent Rho/ROCK signaling pathway

Integrity of endothelial barrier is a determinant of the prognosis in the acute lung injury caused by sepsis. The epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), metabolites of arachidonic acid, exhibit protective effects in various pathogenic states, however, whether EETs play a role in endothelial barrier enhancement and the involved mechanisms remain to be investigated. Here, we show that increased EETs level by endothelial specific cytochrome P450 epoxygenase 2J2 over-expression and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor TPPU reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced endothelial hyper-permeability in vivo, accompanied by improved survival of septic mice. In addition, sEH inhibitor AUDA and 11,12-EET also decreased endothelial hyper-permeability in the in-vitro study. Importantly, the relative mechanisms were associated with reduced GRP78-Src interaction and ROS production, and subsequently reduced RhoA/ROCK activation, and eventually decreased VE-cadherin and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. Thus CYP2J2-EETs is crucial for RhoA-dependent regulation of cytoskeletal architecture leading to reversible changes in vascular permeability, which may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches for pulmonary edema and other diseases caused by abnormal vascular permeability.

[The 455th case: swollen leg, jaundice and mental disturbance]

A 17-year-old young man with a history of swollen leg and intermittent jaundice was presented to Peking Union Medical College Hospital with acute fever and mental disturbance. He developed deep venous thrombosis, acute myocardial infarction and plantar skin necrosis during the past four years, and was presented with an acute episode of fever, thrombocytopenia, acute kidney injury, acute myocardial infarction, mental disturbance, and obstructive jaundice. Laboratory tests showed schistocytes on peripheral blood smear.High titer of antiphospholipid antibodies was detected.Strikingly, the activity of a disintegrin and metalloprotease with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13)was significantly decreased without the production of inhibitors. Images indicated stenosis of the common bile duct, common hepatic duct, and cystic duct, which caused dilation of bile ducts and the gall bladder. Corticosteroids and anticoagulation therapy were effective at first, but the disease relapsedonce the corticosteroids tapered down. Plasma exchange was administrated for 17 times, which was effective temporarily during this episode. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab, anticoagulation therapy, and bile drainage, were all tried but still could not control the disease. The patient's family agreed to withdraw treatment after he developed septic shock.

Study on the synthesis and tribological properties of anti-corrosion benzotriazole ionic liquid

Anti-corrosion benzotriazole ionic liquid (IL, BTAP₄₄₄₄) was synthesized by neutralizing 1H-benzotriazole (BTAH) with terabutylphosphonium hydroxide (P₄₄₄₄OH).