Construction and verification of machine vision algorithm model based on apple leaf disease images

Apple leaf diseases without timely control will affect fruit quality and yield, intelligent detection of apple leaf diseases was especially important. So this paper mainly focuses on apple leaf disease detection problem, proposes a machine vision algorithm model for fast apple leaf disease detection called LALNet (High-speed apple leaf network). First, an efficient sacked module for apple leaf detection, known as EALD (efficient apple leaf detection stacking module), was designed by utilizing the multi-branch structure and depth-separable modules. In the backbone network of LALNet, (High-speed apple leaf network) four layers of EALD modules were superimposed and an SE(Squeeze-and-Excitation) module was added in the last layer of the model to improve the attention of the model to important features. A structural reparameterization technique was used to combine the outputs of two layers of deeply separable convolutions in branch during the inference phase to improve the model's operational speed. The results show that in the test set, the detection accuracy of the model was 96.07%. The total precision was 95.79%, the total recall was 96.05%, the total F1 was 96.06%, the model size was 6.61 MB, and the detection speed of a single image was 6.68 ms. Therefore, the model ensures both high detection accuracy and fast execution speed, making it suitable for deployment on embedded devices. It supports precision spraying for the prevention and control of apple leaf disease.

Association between mild cognitive impairment and falls among Chinese older adults: the mediating roles of balance capacity and depressive symptoms

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to examine the association between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the follow-up risk of falls among Chinese older adults, exploring the mediating roles of balance capacity and depressive symptoms in the association between MCI and falls.

METHODS

A total of 5482 adults aged 60 years and above from waves 2015 and 2018 of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were included for analysis. Cognition was assessed by a global cognition score, which included three tests: episodic memory, figure drawing and Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between MCI and falls. Mediation analysis was employed to explore the potential mediating roles of balance capacity and depressive symptoms in the association between MCI and falls.

RESULTS

MCI was significantly associated with the risk of falls (OR 1.259, 95% CI 1.080 to 1.467). Balance capacity and depressive symptoms played parallel mediating roles in the association between MCI and falls, and the mediating effects were 0.004 (95% CI 0.003 to 0.024) and 0.010 (95% CI 0.004 to 0.016), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

It is necessary to screen for and recognise MCI in order to prevent falls among older adults. More efforts should be made to improve balance capacity and relieve depressive symptoms to reduce the risk of falls among older adults with MCI.

The association between financial support of adult children to their parents and informal care provision in China and its differences in household registration, residence arrangement and community-based care services: 2008 ~ 2018

BACKGROUND

The changes in demographic and family structures have weakened the traditional norms of filial piety and intergenerational relationships dramatically. This study aims to examine the dynamic association between financial support of adult children to their parents and informal care provision in China and its differences in household registration, residence arrangement and community-based care services.

METHODS

Data was derived from the 2008-2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), which is a longitudinal survey of a nationally representative sample of individuals aged 60 and over. Random effects model was used to assess the association between financial support and informal care provision of adult children to their parents.

RESULTS

It was found that financial support showed an upward trend while informal care provision showed a download trend from 2008 to 2018. The result indicated a significant and negative association between financial support and informal care provision of adult children to their parents (B = -0.500, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.761 to -0.239). And the association was significant among elderly people who were from urban areas (B = -0.628, 95% CI = -0.970 to -0.287), co-resided with adult children (B = -0.596, 95% CI = -0.939 to -0.253), and had community-based services (B = -0.659, 95% CI = -1.004 to -0.315).

CONCLUSION

Financial support was negatively associated with informal care provision of adult children to their parents in China, and the association has differences in household registration, residence arrangement and community-based care services. It is suggested that policymakers should prioritize planning interventions for elderly care services and establish a family caregiver support system.

Aortic Dissection Research in China: Analysis of Studies Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

OBJECTIVE

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has made great progress in promoting the development of aortic dissection research in recent years. This study aimed to examine the development and research status of aortic dissection research in China so as to provide references for future research.

METHODS

The NSFC projects data from 2008 to 2019 were collected from the Internet-based Science Information System and other websites utilized as search engines. The publications and citations were retrieved by Google Scholar, and the impact factors were checked by the InCite Journal Citation Reports database. The investigator's degree and department were identified from the institutional faculty profiles.

RESULTS

A total of 250 grant funds totaling 124.3 million Yuan and resulting in 747 publications were analyzed. The funds in economically developed and densely populated areas were more than those in underdeveloped and sparsely populated areas. There was no significant difference in the amount of funding per grant between different departments' investigators. However, the funding output ratios of the grants for cardiologists were higher than those for basic science investigators. The amount of funding for clinical researchers and basic scientific researchers in aortic dissection was also similar. Clinical researchers were better in terms of the funding output ratio.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the medical and scientific research level of aortic dissection in China has been greatly improved. However, there are still some problems that urgently need to be solved, such as the unreasonable regional allocation of medical and scientific research resources, and the slow transition from basic science to clinical practice.

Can community-based care moderate widowhood's health impact? -A longitudinal study among older Chinese adults

The plethora of pathways leading to health problems of later life has made the causal assessment of widowhood on the health of older adults difficult. This research aimed to assess the short-term impact of widowhood on the objective health of older adults and to the moderating role of community-based care (CBC) in improving the health outcomes of older adults. In this study, the activities of daily living (ADLs) and number of hospitalisations of older adults were measured, and PSM-DID models were conducted. Widowhood had a significant negative impact on the objective health of older adults. Widowed adults had higher ADL scores (B = 0.569, 95 percent CI: 0.295 to 0.844) and more hospitalisations (B = 2.551, 95 percent CI: 1.189 to 3.914) than nonwidowed adults. Meanwhile, CBC in urban areas can significantly reduce ADL scores (B = -0.154, SE = 0.082) and the number of hospitalisations (B = -1.402, SE = 0.348) in older adults, whereas CBC in rural areas can only significantly reduce ADL scores (B = -0.197, SE = 0.087). Taken together, there is an urgent need to focus on the health of widowed and older adults and to provide CBC in both urban and rural areas equally.

Understanding the effect of retirement on health behaviors in China: Causality, heterogeneity and time-varying effect

Retirement is an important turning point during the course of life, but few studies have examined the effects of retirement on a broad range of health behaviors in China. We use the longitudinal data of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) from 2004 to 2015 to conduct empirical analysis. Fuzzy discontinuity regression was used to assess the association between retirement and health behaviors in the entire sample and subgroups based on gender and education. A time-varying effect model was used to measure the anticipatory effect, immediate effect and lag effect of retirement. We observed that the transition to retirement was associated with healthier lifestyle habits, such as reduced smoking and alcohol consumption and increased exercise motivation. However, the transition was associated with worse sedentary behavior. No significant statistical association was found between retirement and sleep duration. Men and those with higher education levels are more likely to experience the impact of retirement. The anticipatory effect suggests that as the statutory pension age is predictable, workers adjust their behaviors 4 and 5 years before retirement. The lagged effect indicates that it takes time to develop new habits; thus, retirees change their behaviors 2-3 years after retirement. The paper discusses possible reasons for our findings and proposes several policy implications from the perspectives of the government and society to facilitate the realization of healthy aging.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Severe Hypoxemia After Cardiac Surgery

Background

Hypoxemia is common in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, however, few studies about severe hypoxemia (SH) after cardiac surgery exist. The objectives of this study were to clarify the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of SH after cardiac surgery.

Methods

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery from 2016 to 2019 in a single center were enrolled and were divided into two groups based on whether postoperative SH developed. Independent risk factors for SH were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis. Model selection statistics were applied to help determine the most parsimonious final model.

Results

Severe hypoxemia developed in 222 of the 5,323 included patients (4.2%), was associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Six independent risk factors for SH after cardiac surgery were identified by multivariate analysis, such as surgical types, white blood cell (WBC) count, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, and intraoperative transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs). After comprehensively considering the discrimination, calibration, and simplicity, the most appropriate and parsimonious model was finally established using four predictors, such as WBC count, BMI, CPB time, and intraoperative transfusion of RBCs. A nomogram and a web-based risk calculator based on the final model were constructed to facilitate clinical practice. Patients were stratified into three risk groups based on the nomogram and clinical practice.

Conclusion

Severe hypoxemia was common after cardiac surgery and was associated with poorer clinical outcomes. A parsimonious final model with good discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility was constructed, which may be helpful for personalized risk assessment and targeted intervention.

[Pituicytoma: a clinicopathological analysis of twenty-one cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features and treatment strategies of pituicytoma. Methods: Twenty-one cases of pituicytoma were collected at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Jinling Hospital, Nanjing, China from 2009 to 2020. The clinical data of 21 pituicytoma patients was retrospectively analyzed, and the relevant literature was reviewed. Results: Twenty-one patients aged 4 to 68 years, including 8 males and 13 females. All patients underwent surgical treatment. Histologically, the tumor was consisted almost entirely of elongate, bipolar spindle cells arranged in a fascicular or storiform pattern. Mitotic figures were rare. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were diffusely positive for S-100 protein (21/21), vimentin (15/15) and TTF1 (14/14), while they were weakly or focally positive for GFAP (13/16) and EMA (6/12). CKpan was negative in all cases and Ki-67 proliferation index was low (<5%). Among the 18 patients with follow-up, all survived and 2 relapsed after surgery. Conclusions: Pituicytoma is a rare low-grade glioma of the sellar area. It is easily confused with other sellar tumors. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult. It needs to be confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Microsurgery is the main treatment method at present.

Optimism and survival: health behaviors as a mediator-a ten-year follow-up study of Chinese elderly people

Background

Optimism—the generalized expectation that good things will happen—is a promising health asset. Mounting evidence indicates that there are specific associations between optimism and survival rates. However, for public health purposes, it is critical to consider whether the relationship between optimism and survival holds for older adults as a whole and to explore the role of health behaviors as potential mediators.

Methods

Prospective data were obtained from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Optimism was measured in 2008, and survival was measured by survival time of the interviewees during the whole observation period from 2008 to 2018. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to evaluate the association between optimism and survival among the elderly. The mediating effect analysis method was used to explore the potential mediating role of health behaviors on the association between optimism and survival.

Results

Compared to less optimistic older adults, optimistic individuals were associated with lower odds of mortality (HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.89 − 0.99). Health behaviors are key elements that play a positive role in survival (HR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.94 − 0.96). Health behaviors played an intermediary role in the relationship between optimism and mortality, and the mediating effect was -0.005.

Conclusions

Optimism and health behaviors were broadly and robustly associated with a lower risk of mortality. Health behaviors mediate the relationship between optimism and mortality. Appropriate intervention should be carried out on optimism and health behaviors among elderly people to improve the likelihood of health in aging.

The association between falls and anxiety among elderly Chinese individuals: The mediating roles of functional ability and social participation

BACKGROUND

Elderly individuals who experience falls suffer from higher levels of anxiety because of physical or mental injury. This study examined the association between falls and anxiety among elderly Chinese individuals. It also explored the mediating roles of functional ability and social participation in the link between falls and anxiety.

METHODS

The analytical sample included 8233 elderly people aged 60 and above, and prospective data were obtained from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Anxiety was evaluated by a 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, and falls were determined by self-report. The association between falls and anxiety was assessed by linear regression. Mediation analysis was used to explore the potential mediating roles of functional ability and social participation on the association between falls and anxiety.

RESULTS

Suffering falls predicted higher anxiety levels among elderly individuals (B = 0.608, 95% CI: 0.471, 0.746). Functional ability and social participation play partial mediating roles in the association between falls and anxiety, and the mediating effects were 0.036 (95% CI: 0.020, 0.058) and 0.005 (95% CI: 0.003, 0.014), respectively. The serial mediating effect of functional ability and social participation on the association between falls and anxiety was 0.003 (95% CI: 0.002, 0.005).

LIMITATIONS

This study is based upon cross-sectional data, which limit inferring causality.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that policy-makers should explore how to encourage elderly individuals who experience falls to restore functional ability and participate in appropriate social activities to alleviate anxiety.

Frequency of Thrombotic Risk Factors in Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension and Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Case-Control Study

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a serious complication of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) which remains underdiagnosed. A better understanding of risk factors for CTEPH would improve our ability to predict which PE survivors are at risk. Several medical conditions-including malignancy, splenectomy, thyroid hormone supplementation, the presence of an intravascular device, inflammatory bowel disease, osteomyelitis, and non-O blood group-have been associated with increased risk of CTEPH, primarily in studies comparing patients with CTEPH to individuals with non-thrombotic conditions. Because many of these conditions increase thrombosis risk, it remains unclear whether their association with CTEPH reflects a general effect on thrombosis risk, or a specific effect on the risk of developing CTEPH as an outcome of thrombosis. We performed a case-control study comparing the frequencies of these conditions in patients with CTEPH versus patients with acute PE who did not develop CTEPH. The conditions studied were equally frequent in the CTEPH and PE cohorts, although there was a trend towards an increased frequency of splenectomy and non-O blood group among the CTEPH cohort. Thus, other than the possible exceptions of splenectomy and non-O blood group, the investigated medical conditions do not appear likely to increase the risk of CTEPH as an outcome of acute PE, and thus are unlikely to be useful in predicting CTEPH risk among PE survivors.

During the COVID-19 Epidemic: Recommendations for the Admission and Treatment of Patients With Ovarian Cancer

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had become a health care event endangering humans globally. It takes up a large number of healthcare resources. We studied the impact of COVID-19 on patients with ovarian cancer by comprehensively analyzing their admissions before and after the epidemic, and made reasonable suggestions to improve their current situation.

Methods: We randomly divided the enrolled patients into three groups, PreCOVID-19 Group (PCG) (2019.8.20–2020.1.20), COVID-19 Group (CG) (2020.1.21–2020.6.14), and Secondary Outbreak COVID-19 Group (SOCG) (2020.6.15–2020.10.10). One-way ANOVA and chi-square test were used for analysis.

Results: The number of patients from other provinces decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The total hospital stay during the epidemic was substantially more extended (p < 0.05). Before the epidemic, our department performed more open surgery while during the epidemic outbreak, we tended to choose laparoscopy (p < 0.01). We took a longer surgery time (P < 0.05). Patients had significantly less post-operative fever during the epidemic (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: During the COVID-19 epidemic, no patient was infected with COVID-19, and no patient experienced severe post-operative complications. We recommend maintaining the admissions of patients with ovarian cancer during the epidemic following the rules: 1. The outpatients must complete a nucleic acid test and chest CT in the outpatient clinic; 2. Maintain full daily disinfection of the ward and insist that health care workers disinfect their hands after contact with patients; 3. Increase the use of minimally invasive procedures, including laparoscopy and robotics; 4. Disinfect the ward twice a day with UV light and sodium hypochlorite disinfectant; 5. Patients need to undergo at least three nucleic acid tests before entering the operating room.

Reproductive performance and semen characteristics of pond-reared and wild-caught large-sized male broodstock of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

There has been a recent emphasis on production of large-sized Eriocheir sinensis broodstock. In China, aquaculturists generally prefer wild-caught (WC) crabs from the Yangtze River as broodstock because offspring performance is superior to that of pond-reared (PR) broodstock. Currently, however, there is a ban on fishing in the Yangtze River, and effects on E. sinensis breeding have not been ascertained. There was comparison in the present study of reproductive performance and semen characteristics of male broodstock of PR and WC groups. After copulation, sperm quantity in the vas deferens of crabs in specimens of both groups was large, although there was a consistent decrease in vaso-somatic index. Although sperm density of PR crabs was less, that of WC specimens remained relatively constant. Specimens of neither group, however, had changes in the hepatopancreas index or condition factor, and sperm survival was close to 100%. Although the acrosome reaction was detected in response to cold-temperature induction, there were differences in extent of reaction to cold temperatures. Importantly, in as many as 98% of sperm from female spermathecae, the reaction was completed, which was considerably greater than 15% for sperm of males post-mating. It is concluded there was no difference between PR and WC crabs with respect to reproductive performance or semen characteristics, and, notably, sperm from PR crabs were of sufficient quality for use in E. sinensis aquaculture enterprises. Accordingly, it is predicted the Yangtze River fishing ban would only have a limited effect on supply of male E. sinensis broodstock.

Enhanced effects and mechanisms of Syngonium podophyllum-Peperomia tetraphylla co-planting on phytoremediation of low concentration uranium-bearing wastewater

To improve the remediation efficiency of plants on low concentration uranium-bearing wastewater and clarify its strengthening mechanism, Syngonium podophyllum-Peperomia tetraphylla co-planting system was established, the enhanced effects of plants interaction on uranium removal were investigated, the chemical forms, valence states, and subcellular distribution of uranium in plants were confirmed, and the mechanisms of alleviating uranium stress by plants interaction were revealed. In Syngonium podophyllum-Peperomia tetraphylla co-planting system, the total amount of ethanol-extracted uranium and deionized water-extracted uranium with higher toxicity in their roots were reduced by 10.30% and 7.17%, respectively, which reduced the toxicity of uranium to plants. Plants interaction can inhibit the reduction of U(VI) in the root of Peperomia tetraphylla, which is conducive to the transport of uranium from roots to shoots. In addition, uranium in plants mainly existed in the cell wall (54.44%-66.52%) and the soluble fraction (23.85%-32.89%). These results indicated that Syngonium podophyllum and Peperomia tetraphylla co-planting can enhance their effects of uranium removal by alleviating uranium stress with the cell wall immobilization and vacuole compartmentation, improving biomass of plants, increasing bioaccumulation factor and translocation factor of uranium.

Pharmacological Activities and Mechanisms of Hirudin and Its Derivatives - A Review

Hirudin, an acidic polypeptide secreted by the salivary glands of Hirudo medicinalis (also known as "Shuizhi" in traditional Chinese medicine), is the strongest natural specific inhibitor of thrombin found so far. Hirudin has been demonstrated to possess potent anti-thrombotic effect in previous studies. Recently, increasing researches have focused on the anti-thrombotic activity of the derivatives of hirudin, mainly because these derivatives have stronger antithrombotic activity and lower bleeding risk. Additionally, various bioactivities of hirudin have been reported as well, including wound repair effect, anti-fibrosis effect, effect on diabetic complications, anti-tumor effect, anti-hyperuricemia effect, effect on cerebral hemorrhage, and others. Therefore, by collecting and summarizing publications from the recent two decades, the pharmacological activities, pharmacokinetics, novel preparations and derivatives, as well as toxicity of hirudin were systematically reviewed in this paper. In addition, the clinical application, the underlying mechanisms of pharmacological effects, the dose-effect relationship, and the development potential in new drug research of hirudin were discussed on the purpose of providing new ideas for application of hirudin in treating related diseases.

A new transoral modality for the treatment of lingual thyroglossal duct cyst with suspension laryngoscopy by plasma coblation

INTRODUCTION

Lingual thyroglossal duct cysts (LTGDC) are a rare kind of thyroglossal duct cyst. However, Sistrunk surgery is not very suitable for this type of cyst. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of transoral excision of LTGDC by plasma coblation.

METHODS

The present study reviewed 11 patients, comprising seven males and four females, who had been diagnosed with LTGDC preoperatively by computed tomography (CT) and fibre-optic electronic laryngoscopy. Of those patients, two had recurrence after surgery of epiglottic cysts. All these patients underwent transoral excision by plasma coblation. Then, we collected preoperative data of the patients, observed the effect of surgery, and analysed factors relevant to LTGDC, including the estimated bleeding amount, postoperative hospitalisation, complications and recurrence rates.

RESULTS

The connection between LTGDC and hyoid was tapered on sagittal images of CT, which was vital evidence for the diagnosis of LTGDC. Surgery was performed successfully for all 11 patients, and all recovered without complication. There was no evidence of recurrence after surgery, during follow up for 3-43 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Transoral surgery for LTGDC can be performed successfully by plasma coblation, which is an effective and safe surgical treatment. Fibre-optic electronic laryngoscopy and CT are essential to the diagnosis of LTGDC in order to avoid missing detection and misdiagnosis.

[Research progress on chemical structures and pharmacological activities of Poria cocos polysaccharide and its derivatives]

Poria cocos is a both medicinal and edible Chinese herb variety, with the effects of diuretic, spleen-enhancing and tranquilizing. P. cocos polysaccharide(PCP) is one of the most important active substances of P. cocos. Pharmacological research shows that PCP has a variety of pharmacological activities such as regulating immunity, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, antitumor, and liver protection, with a huge development and utilization value. By consulting the relevant literature, we systematically summarized the chemical structures and the research progress on pharmacological activities of PCP and its derivatives in recent years to explore the chemical compositions and activities of PCP thoroughly. In addition, the current problems were discussed in this article to provide reference for further exploration of the structure-activity relationship of PCP and its further development and utilization.

Tissue Micro-channels Formed by Collagen Fibers and their Internal Components: Cellular Evidence of Proposed Meridian Conduits in Vertebrate Skin

In order to clarify fine structures of the hypothetical meridian conduits of Chinese traditional medicine (CTM) in the skin, the present study used light and transmission electron microscopy to examine fasciae in different vertebrate species. Collagen fiber bundles and layers were arranged in a crisscross pattern, which developed into a special tissue micro-channel (TMC) network, in a manner that was analogs to the proposed skin meridian conduits. It was further revealed that tissue fluid in lateral TMC branches drained into wide longitudinal channels, which were distinctly different from lymphatic capillary. Mast cells, macrophages, and extracellular vesicles such as ectosomes and exosomes were distributed around telocytes (TCs) and their long processes (Telopodes, Tps) within the TMC. Cell junctions between TCs developed, which could enable the communication between contiguous but distant Tps. On the other hand, winding free Tps without cell junctions were also uncovered inside the TMC. Tissue fluid, cell junctions of TCs, mast cells, macrophages, and extracellular vesicles within the TMC corresponded to the circulating "" ("Qi-Xue", i.e., information, message, and energy) of meridian conduits at the cytological level. These results could provide morphological evidence for the hypothesis that "meridians are the conduit for Qi-Xue circulation" in CTM.

gp130 Controls Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Heart Regeneration

Background:

A key cause of the high mortality of cardiovascular diseases is the cardiomyocyte inability to renew after cardiac injury. As a promising strategy to supplement functional myocytes for cardiac repair, there is a pressing need to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of heart regeneration.

Methods:

Seven genetic mouse lines were used: global OSM (oncostatin M) knockout, monocyte-/macrophage-specific OSM deletion, cardiomyocyte-specific lines, including OSM receptor deletion, gp130 (glycoprotein 130) deletion, gp130 activation, and Yap (yes-associated protein) ablation with gp130 activation mice. A series of molecular signaling experiments, including RNA sequencing, immunostaining, coimmunoprecipitation, and imaging flow cytometry, were conducted. Two models of cardiac injury, apical resection and myocardial infarction operation, were performed in neonatal, juvenile, and adult mice. Heart regeneration and cardiac function were evaluated by Masson staining and echocardiography, respectively. Gene recombinant adenovirus-associated virus was constructed and infected myocardial-infarcted mice as a gene therapy.

Results:

OSM was identified by RNA sequencing as a key upstream regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation during neonatal heart regeneration in mice. Cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration were suspended in neonatal mice after cardiac injury when OSM was conditionally knockout in macrophages. The cardiomyocyte-specific deficiency of the OSM receptor heterodimers, OSM receptor and gp130, individually in cardiomyocytes reduced myocyte proliferation and neonatal heart regeneration. Conditional activation of gp130 in cardiomyocytes promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration in juvenile and adult mice. Using RNA sequencing and functional screening, we found that Src mediated gp130-triggered cardiomyocyte proliferation by activating Yap (yes-associated protein) with Y357 phosphorylation independently of the Hippo pathway. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Yap in Myh6-gp130 ACT mice blocked the effect of gp130 activation–induced heart regeneration in juvenile mice. Gene therapy with adenovirus-associated virus encoding constitutively activated gp130 promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration in adult mice after myocardial infarction.

Conclusions:

Macrophage recruitment is essential for heart regeneration through the secretion of OSM, which promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation. As the coreceptor of OSM, gp130 activation is sufficient to promote cardiomyocyte proliferation by activating Yap through Src during heart regeneration. gp130 is a potential therapeutic target to improve heart regeneration after cardiac injury.

[Textual research on Sojae Semen Nigrum]

In this paper, the name, origin and producing area of Sojae Semen Nigrum were studied to provide the basis for the selection of medicinal varieties of Sojae Semen Nigrum. The textual research of this herbal was carried out through the textual research of ancient and modern literature and the comparative study of botany, combined with agricultural archaeology and the investigation of adulterant products. Before Qin Dynasty, the Sojae Semen Nigrums had not been selected, and the edible beans should only be Glycine soja. From Qin to the Northern and Southern dynasties, the Sojae Semen Nigrums G. max were selected,but the medicinal Sojae Semen Nigrum was G. soja. After Tang Dynasty, Sojae Semen Nigrums were recorded more, the medicinal Sojae Semen Nigrums referred to G. soja,G. max and G. gracilis. In modern times, G. soja was hardly to use as the medicine. The harvest time is August or September, and there are many processing methods, such as frying, making tofu, making Semen Sojae Praeparatum, boiling, boiling with auxiliary materials, germination, etc. The quality evaluation of Sojae Semen Nigrum was consistent in past dynasties, and it was considered that "it is better for those who are tight and small". Before Tang Dynasty, the better should only be G. soja. After the Qing Dynasty, the better should be green cotyledon varieties of G. max,which are recommended. In addition, there are many varieties of Sojae Semen Nigrum. It is hoped that that the scientific researchers of traditional Chinese medicine can use modern technology to distinguish the efficacy of Sojae Semen Nigrum with green and yellow cotyledon, and make a comparison between large and small Sojae Semen Nigrum. The results provide scientific basis for the selection of medicinal varieties of Sojae Semen Nigrum.

PDGFR-β Signaling Regulates Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Myocardial Regeneration

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling is involved in proliferation and survival in a wide array of cell types. The role of PDGFR signaling in heart regeneration is still unknown. We find that PDGFR-β signaling decreases in myocardium with age and that conditional activation PDGFR-β in cardiomyocytes promotes heart regeneration. Employing RNA sequencing, we show that the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2) can be upregulated by PDGFR-β signaling in primary cardiomyocytes. Conditional knockout of Ezh2 blocks cardiomyocyte proliferation and H3K27me3 modification during neonatal heart regeneration with Ink4a/Arf upregulation, even in mice with myocyte-specific conditional activation of PDGFR-β. We also show that PDGFR-β controls EZH2 expression via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/p-Akt pathway in cardiomyocytes. Gene therapy with adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) encoding activated PDGFR-β enhances adult heart regeneration and systolic function. Our data demonstrate that the PDGFR-β/EZH2 pathway is critical for promoting cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration, providing a potential target for cardiac repair.

How does social capital affect individual health among the elderly in rural China?-Mediating effect analysis of physical exercise and positive attitude

BACKGROUND

The elderly in rural areas comprise over half of the older population in China, and their health problems are a matter of great concern for the Chinese government and society. Among the many factors affecting health, social capital has generated much interest in academic research. Exploring the relationship between social capital and individual health among the elderly in rural China provides ways to improve the health of Chinese people, which has a positive impact on policy.

METHODS

We selected 3719 respondents from the 2016 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Structural and cognitive social capital were obtained via exponentiation of variables (mean of zero and a standard deviation of one) and by giving them equal weight. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimators were used to analyze the association between social capital and individual health. We explored the mechanism linking structural and cognitive social capital with individual health through a mediation effect analysis.

RESULTS

After correcting for endogeneity bias, structural social capital had a positive correlation with individual health among the elderly, with a coefficient of 0.062 (95% CI: 0.020-0.104). Cognitive social capital also had a positive correlation with individual health, with a coefficient of 0.097 (95% CI: 0.060-0.135). Physical exercise and positive attitude were two significant mediating variables of the relationship between social capital and individual health in the study group, with mediating effects of 0.018 and 0.054, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive social capital played a stronger role than structural social capital in promoting individual health among the elderly. Physical exercise and positive attitude mediated the relationship between social capital and individual health. Policymakers should not only build basic medical and health care systems but also consistently cultivate and strengthen structural and cognitive social capital among the elderly in rural China.

Silencing DSCAM-AS1 suppresses the growth and invasion of ER-positive breast cancer cells by downregulating both DCTPP1 and QPRT

Breast cancer (BC) remains a significant threat to the health of women; however, the mechanism underlying the initiation and progression of BC is poorly understood. We analyzed data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets to identify differentially expressed genes between BC and normal tissues. The roles of dCTP pyrophosphatase 1 (DCTPP1) and quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase (QPRT) in BC cells were investigated after knocking down or overexpressing the genes. The regulatory effects of Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule antisense RNA 1 (DSCAM-AS1) on DCTPP1 and QPRT expression were determined using luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and fluorescence in situ hybridization assays. DCTPP1 and QPRT were overexpressed in BC compared to normal tissues. Overexpression of DCTPP1 and QPRT was associated with poor BC progression and promoted growth, migration, and invasion of MCF7 and T47D cells but inhibited apoptosis. DSCAM-AS1 increased QPRT expression via competitively binding miRNA-150-5p and miRNA-2467-3p. DSCAM-AS1 promoted DCTPP1 gene transcription by affecting H3K27 acetylation and enhanced DCTPP1 mRNA stability by binding to the 3′ untranslated region, which collectively resulted in DCTPP1 overexpression. Overall, DSCAM-AS1 knockdown decreased both DCTPP1 and QPRT expression, inhibiting the growth, migration, and invasion of estrogen receptor-positive BC.

Interleukin-4 Restores Insulin Sensitivity in Insulin-Resistant Osteoblasts by Increasing the Expression of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1

Obesity and latent inflammation can give rise to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Here we established an insulin resistance model of osteoblasts to explore the restoration effect of anti-inflammatory interleukin-4 (IL-4) on insulin sensitivity and its mechanism. We found that IL-4 inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Insulation resistance significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1; Tyr612), Akt (Ser473), and AS160 (Ser318) proteins. The addition of IL-4 to the insulin resistance model led to a dose-dependent stimulation of the phosphorylation of IRS1, Akt, and AS160. IL-4 fully restored the activation of the insulin cascade in insulin-resistant cells at the concentration of 50 ng/ml. Additionally, IL-4 promoted the expression of IRS1 in a time-dependent manner. We conjecture that IL-4 restores insulin sensitivity in osteoblasts by upregulating the expression of IRS1. It was also found that IL-4 promoted the expression of osteoprotegerin depending on the time of exposure. This effect may play an important role in the regulation of the energy metabolism in the whole body.

Telocytes in Different Organs of Vertebrates: Potential Essence Cells of the Meridian in Chinese Traditional Medicine

Telocytes (TCs) are very long, non-neuronal, somatic cells whose function is widely believed to be involved in providing connections between different cells within the body. The cellular characteristics of TCs in various organs have been studied by immunohistochemistry, double immunofluorescence and electron microscopy in different vertebrate species, and here we investigate the proposed properties of these cells in the context of the "meridian" in Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM). The results show that TCs and their long extensions, telopodes (Tps) develop a complicated network by homo- and heterocellular junctions in the connective tissue throughout the body, which can connect the skin with distant organs. In concept, this is the analogue of ancient meridian maps connecting skin acupoints with the viscera. Various active cells and extracellular vesicles including exosomes move along Tps, which, along with developed mitochondria within the podoms of Tps, may account for the structural evidence for "Qi" (vital energy and signal communication) in CTM. Morphological associations of TCs with the nerve, vascular, endocrine, and immune systems are also compatible with previously proposed meridian theories in CTM. Close relationships exist between TCs and collagen fiber bundles and some structures in skin fascia provide the microanatomical support for acupuncture treatment based on the meridian principle. The dynamicity in the distribution and structure of TCs reflects the plasticity of the meridian at the cellular level. As the same attribute, both the meridian and the TC have been associated with various diseases. Here, we summarize structural analogues between the TC and the meridian, suggesting that TCs have the cytological characteristics of the CTM meridian. We, therefore, hypothesize that TCs are the "essence cells" of the CTM meridian, which can connect and integrate different cells and structures in the connective tissue.

CACCT: An Automated Tool of Detecting Complicated Cardiac Malformations in Mouse Models

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the major cause of morbidity/mortality in infancy and childhood. Using a mouse model to uncover the mechanism of CHD is essential to understand its pathogenesis. However, conventional 2D phenotyping methods cannot comprehensively exhibit and accurately distinguish various 3D cardiac malformations for the complicated structure of heart cavity. Here, a new automated tool based on microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) image data sets known as computer-assisted cardiac cavity tracking (CACCT) is presented, which can detect the connections between cardiac cavities and identify complicated cardiac malformations in mouse hearts automatically. With CACCT, researchers, even those without expert training or diagnostic experience of CHD, can identify complicated cardiac malformations in mice conveniently and precisely, including transposition of the great arteries, double-outlet right ventricle and atypical ventricular septal defect, whose accuracy is equivalent to senior fetal cardiologists. CACCT provides an effective approach to accurately identify heterogeneous cardiac malformations, which will facilitate the mechanistic studies into CHD and heart development.

In Vivo Multivesicular Body and Exosome Secretion in the Intestinal Epithelial Cells of Turtles During Hibernation

The present study was designed to investigate the in vivo biological processes of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and exosomes in mitochondria-rich cells (MRCs), goblet cells (GCs), and absorptive cells (ACs) in turtle intestines during hibernation. The exosome markers, cluster of differentiation 63 (CD63) and tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101), were positively expressed in intestinal villi during turtle hibernation. The distribution and formation processes of MVBs and exosomes in turtle MRCs, GCs, and ACs were further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. During hibernation, abundantly secreted early endosomes (ees) were localized in the luminal and basal cytoplasm of the MRCs and ACs, and late endosomes (les) were dispersed with the supranuclear parts of the MRCs and ACs. Many "heterogeneous" MVBs were identified throughout the cytoplasm of the MRCs and ACs. Interestingly, the ees, les, and MVBs were detected in the cytoplasm of the GCs during hibernation; however, they were absent during nonhibernation. Furthermore, the exocytosis pathways of exosomes and autophagic vacuoles were observed in the MRCs, GCs, and ACs during hibernation. In addition, the number of different MVBs with intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) and heterogeneous endosome-MVB-exosome complexes was significantly increased in the MRCs, GCs, and ACs during hibernation. All these findings indicate that intestinal epithelial cells potentially perform a role in the secretion of MVBs and exosomes, which are essential for mucosal immunity, during hibernation.

Differences in the health behaviors of elderly individuals and influencing factors: Evidence from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey

INTRODUCTION

Health behaviors play an important role in determining individual health status; thus, understanding differences in the health behaviors of elderly individuals and their influencing factors is a prerequisite for the formulation and implementation of health behavior promotion policies for elderly individuals. The objectives of this study were to explore differences in health behaviors among Chinese elderly people and their influencing factors.

METHODS

Based on data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) in 2014, this paper applied latent class analysis (LCA) to explore differences in the health behaviors of elderly individuals in China and employed a multinomial logit model to identify the influencing factors that cause these differences.

RESULTS

Results showed that there are five classes of health behaviors among elderly individuals in China: passive, relatively passive, general, relatively positive, and positive, the proportions of which were 31.07%, 15.86%, 24.06%, 17.24%, and 11.76%, respectively. Community medical and health services, pension, living arrangements, and family income were the primary factors explaining differences in the health behaviors of elderly individuals. In addition, there were significant demographic differences in the health behaviors of elderly individuals in China, including gender, age, education, marital status, census register, region, and others.

CONCLUSION

There are significant differences in the behaviors of elderly individuals in China, and the behaviors of the majority of elderly people are not healthy. China is expected to invest more medical and health resources to tackle health prevention and management and to provide targeted education, guidance, and intervention in elderly health behaviors, urging them to control and correct risky health behaviors with a focus on elderly individuals that are the oldest, are females, have low education levels, and live in the countryside and in towns.

A long noncoding RNA NR_045363 controls cardiomyocyte proliferation and cardiac repair

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the regulation of genes involved in cell proliferation. We have previously sought to more globally understand the differences of lncRNA expression between human fetal heart and adult heart to identify some functional lncRNAs which involve in the process of heart repair. We found that a highly conserved long noncoding RNA NR_045363 was mainly expressed in cardiomyocytes and rarely in non-cardiomyocytes. NR_045363 overexpression in 7-day-old mice heart could improve cardiac function and stimulate cardiomyocyte proliferation after myocardial infarction. Furthermore, NR_045363 knockdown inhibited proliferation of primary embryonic cardiomyocytes, while NR_045363 overexpression enhanced DNA synthesis and cytokinesis in neonatal cardiomyocytes in vitro. Mechanistic analysis revealed that NR_045363 promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation through interaction with miR-216a, which regulated the JAK2-STAT3 pathway. Our results showed that NR_045363 is a potent lncRNA modulator essential for cardiomyocyte proliferation.

Predictive Value of Head-Neck CTA Combined with ABCD2 Scale Score for Patients with Cerebral Infarction of Vertebrobasilar Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Background

The present study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of head-neck computed tomography angiography (CTA) combined with ABCD2 score scale for patients with cerebral infarction of vertebrobasilar transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Material/Methods

A total of 92 patients with TIA who were admitted to our hospital from January 2014 to June 2015 were enrolled in this study. ABCD2 score and CTA combined with ABCD2 score were assessed.

Results

The incidence of cerebral infarction was highest in the high-risk group, followed by the middle-risk group and low-risk group. The incidence of cerebral infarction was related to the degree of stenosis in head-neck CTA, which was highest in the severe stenosis group, followed by the moderate stenosis group and mild stenosis/normal group, with significant differences. The incidence of cerebral infarction in patients with cerebral artery stenosis was correlated with the incidence of cerebral infarction in the head and neck CTA, which was severe > medium > normal/low (P<0.05).

Conclusions

The ABCD2 score can accurately predict the early development from TIA to cerebral infarction. If it is used in combination with head-neck CTA; CTA combined ABCD2 score can further improve the accuracy of prediction, which makes it feasible for use in prediction of the development of vertebrobasilar TIA to cerebral infarction.

MicroRNA-155 promotes neointimal hyperplasia through smooth muscle-like cell-derived RANTES in arteriovenous fistulas

OBJECTIVE

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) suffers from a high number of failures caused by insufficient outward remodeling and venous neointimal hyperplasia formation. The aim was to investigate the exact mechanism by which microRNA-155 (miR-155) in the outflow vein of AVF is regulated.

METHODS

AVFs between the branch of the jugular vein and carotid artery in an end-to-end manner were created in C57BL/6 and miR-155^-/- mice with a C57BL/6 background. The venous segments were harvested at day 7, 14, 21, and 28, and the AVFs were analyzed histologically and at a messenger RNA level using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. The outflow vein of AVF and the normal great saphenous vein, collected from patients with chronic kidney disease and coronary artery bypass surgery, were analyzed by histologic and molecular biologic approaches.

RESULTS

Venous neointimal hyperplasia is significantly alleviated in miR-155^-/- mice, and the expression of several chemokines and cytokines in the vessel wall, including regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted factor (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor, was inhibited. miR-155 promoted the RANTES expression of smooth muscle-like cells, which in turn facilitated cell proliferation and extracellular matrix production.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-155 enhances venous neointima formation through the autocrine and paracrine effects of smooth muscle-like cell-derived RANTES in a nuclear factor κB-dependent manner during the entire AVF process, especially at the advanced stage.

Discovery of 4 exonic and 1 intergenic novel susceptibility loci for leprosy

Seven new risk coding variants have been identified through an exome-wide association study (EWAS), which studied the contributions of protein-coding variants to leprosy susceptibility. But some potential susceptibility loci were not studied in the previous EWAS study because of the project consideration. Seventeen unstudied potential susceptibility loci of the previous EWAS were validated in 3169 cases and 9814 controls in this study. Four disease-associated exonic loci were identified: rs671 in ALDH2 (P = 2.0 × 10^-20 , odds ratio [OR] = 1.35), rs13259978 in SLC7A2 (P = 1.74 × 10^-8 , OR = 1.28), rs925368 in GIT2 (P = 9.18 × 10^-17 , OR = 1.44), and rs75680863 in TCN2 (P = 8.37 × 10^-21 , OR = 0.74). Potentially implicating ZFP36L1 as a new susceptibility gene, 1 intergenic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs1465788 (P = 7.81 × 10^-6 , OR = 0.88), was also suggested to be associated with leprosy. A luciferase reporter assay showed that the rs1465788 risk allele notably decreased the transcription activity of the flanking sequence. These findings suggest the possible involvement of lipid metabolism, NF-κB homeostasis and macrophage antimicrobial pathways in leprosy pathogenesis.

MicroRNA-21 Knockout Exacerbates Angiotensin II–Induced Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection in Mice With Abnormal Transforming Growth Factor-β–SMAD3 Signaling

Objective—

Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) are severe vascular conditions. Dysfunctional transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells and elevated angiotensin II (AngII) levels are implicated in the development of TAAD. In this study, we investigated whether these 2 factors lead to TAAD in a mouse model and explored the possibility of using microRNA-21 ( miR-21 ) for the treatment of TAAD.

Approach and Results—

TAAD was developed in Smad3 (mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3) heterozygous (S3 +/− ) mice infused with AngII. We found that p-ERK (phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases)– and p-JNK (phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase)–associated miR-21 was higher in TAAD lesions. We hypothesize that downregulation of miR-21 mitigate TAAD formation. However, Smad3 +/− :miR-21 −/− (S3 +/− 21 −/− ) mice exhibited conspicuous TAAD formation after AngII infusion. The vascular wall was dilated, and aortic rupture occurred within 23 days during AngII infusion. We then examined canonical and noncanonical TGF-β signaling and found that miR-21 knockout in S3 +/− mice increased SMAD7 and suppressed canonical TGF-β signaling. Vascular smooth muscle cells lacking TGF-β signals tended to switch from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype. The silencing of Smad7 with lentivirus prevented AngII-induced TAAD formation in S3 +/− 21 −/− mice.

Conclusions—

Our study demonstrated that miR-21 knockout exacerbated AngII-induced TAAD formation in mice, which was associated with TGF-β signaling dysfunction. Therapeutic strategies targeting TAAD should consider unexpected side effects associated with alterations in TGF-β signaling.

NR4A1 is Involved in Fibrogenesis in Ovarian Endometriosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Excess fibrosis may lead to chronic pain, scarring, and infertility as endometriosis develops and progresses. The pathogenesis of endometriosis has been linked to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), the most potent promoter of fibrosis.

METHODS

Levels of NR4A1 and P-NR4A1 protein in human endometrial and endometriotic tissue were assessed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of fibrotic markers in stromal cells were evaluated by real-time PCR. The degree of fibrosis in mouse endometriotic lesions was detected by Masson trichrome and Sirius red staining.

RESULTS

The level of phosphorylated-NR4A1 was higher in ovarian endometriotic tissue than in normal endometrium, and long-term TGF-β1 stimulation phosphorylated NR4A1 in an AKT-dependent manner and then promoted the expression of fibrotic markers. Furthermore, inhibition of NR4A1 in stromal cells increased the TGF-β1-dependent elevated expression of fibrotic markers, and loss of NR4A1 stimulated fibrogenesis in mice with endometriosis. Additionally, Cytosporone B (Csn-B), an NR4A1 agonist, effectively decreased the TGF-β1-dependent elevated expression of fibrotic markers in vitro and significantly inhibited fibrogenesis in vivo.

CONCLUSION

NR4A1 can regulate fibrosis in endometriosis and may serve as a new target for the treatment of endometriosis.

Cytotoxic and Anti-inflammatory Constituents from Juncus effusus

<p>A new sesquilignan effususin E (1) and a new long chain fatty enamide effususin F (2), together with eight known compounds were isolated from the medullae of <em>Juncus effusus</em>. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis including 1H and 13C NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and HRMS, while the struc-tures of the known compounds were deduced from comparison of their spectral data with those in the literature. The new compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated against five human cancer cell lines (SHSY-5Y, SMMC-7721, HepG-2, Hela, and MCF-7) by CCK-8 assay, but only 1 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against SMMC-7721 with IC50 val-ue of 57.5 μM. Inhibitory effects of 1 and 2 on nitric oxide (NO) pro-duction in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 macrophages were also evaluated, and they were found to exhibit good inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 8.59 and 13.73 μM, respectively.</p>

Receptor-interacting Protein 140 represses Sirtuin 3 to facilitate hypertrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolic dysfunction in cardiomyocytes

AIM

The transcriptional cofactor receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140) is known as a deleterious regulator of cardiac mitochondrial function and energy metabolic homeostasis. This study revealed that RIP140 repressed Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a mitochondrial deacetylase that plays an important role in regulating cardiac function.

METHODS

RIP140 was overexpressed by adenovirus infection or was knocked down by RNA interference in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

RESULTS

RIP140 overexpression repressed, while RIP140 silencing elevated the expression and activity of SIRT3. Ad-RIP140 enhanced the expressions of the cardiac hypertrophic markers and increased cardiomyocyte surface area, whereas SIRT3 overexpression prevented the effect of Ad-RIP140. Additionally, SIRT3 overexpression reversed Ad-RIP140-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolic dysfunction, such as increase in oxidative stress, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production, as well as downregulation of mitochondrial DNA-encoded genes and genes related to mitochondrial genome replication and transcription, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid oxidation. In contrast, SIRT3 silencing exacerbated RIP140-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, the repression of SIRT3 by RIP140 was dependent on estrogen-related receptor-α (ERRα). The involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) was ruled out of SIRT3 suppression by RIP140. RIP140 and PGC-1α might act as functional antagonists on the regulation of SIRT3.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that suppression of SIRT3 by RIP140 facilitates the development of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolic dysfunction. Strategies targeting inhibition of RIP140 and upregulation of SIRT3 might improve cardiac energy metabolism and suggest therapeutic potential for heart diseases.

miR-205 mediates the inhibition of cervical cancer cell proliferation using olmesartan

OBJECTIVE

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has become known as a prerequisite for tumor angiogenesis that is now recognized as a crucial step in the development of tumors, including cervical cancer. The Ang II-AT1R pathway is known to play an important role in tumor angiogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, regulating RNAs that participate in tumor genesis, differentiation and proliferation. The current study focused on the anti-tumor mechanism of olmesartan, a novel angiotensin II antagonist, on cervical cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to demonstrate the effect of olmesartan on miR-205 and VEGF-A expression. miR-205 mimics and VEGF-A shRNA plasmid were separately transfected into HeLa and Siha cells to further validate the function of miR-205 and VEGF-A in cervical cancer cell proliferation.

RESULTS

It was found that olmesartan could upregulate miR-205 and inhibit VEGF-A expression in HeLa and Siha cells. In addition, VEGF-A was proven to be a target gene of miR-205.

CONCLUSION

This result provides a new idea on the anti-tumor mechanism of olmesartan, which may be used as a novel therapeutic target of cervical cancer.