[Evaluation of the efficacy of a new variable frequency stimulation sacral neuromodulation in the treatment of detrusor hyperactivity with impaired contractility]

A total of 16 detrusor hyperactivity with impaired contractility (DHIC) patients who received 12 weeks remote variable frequency stimulation (VFS) were enrolled at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2020 to February 2021. The voiding diary, symptom score scales and incidence of complications were completed and recorded at baseline, constant frequency stimulation (CFS) and VFS phases. Compared with the CFS phase, voiding times, urge incontinence times and daily catheterization volume were reduced; average voiding amount and functional bladder capacity increased; and the quality of life score and mental health questionnaire assessment were improved in the VFS phase(all P<0.05). In the end, among all 16 patients, there were 14 whose symptoms had improved, and there were no new complications such as pain or infection at the implantation site, electrode displacement, and electric shock sensation in the stimulation area. VFS-SNM can not only improve the DHIC patients' lower urinary tract symptoms during storage and urination period, but also improve the patients' quality of life and satisfaction of the therapy.

Cannabinoid receptors promote chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced breast cancer metastasis via IGF-1R/AKT/GSK-3β

The progression of breast cancer is closely related to obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Low concentrations of cannabinoids promote tumor proliferation. However, the role of cannabinoid receptors (CBs) in chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced breast cancer has not been reported. The migration and invasion of breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and T47D) were measured by scratch assay and transwell assay. Gene and protein expressions were analyzed by qPCR and western blotting. Tumor xenograft mice model were established to evaluate the function of CBs. We observed that chronic hypoxia (CH) and CIH increased CBs expression and promoted migration and invasion in breast cancer. Mice grafted with MCF-7 exhibited obvious tumor growth, angiogenesis, and lung metastasis in CIH compared with CH and control. In addition, CIH induced CBs expression, which subsequently activated insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R)/AKT/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) axis. Knockdown of CBs alleviated CIH-induced migration and invasion of breast cancer in vitro. Furthermore, CIH exaggerated the malignancy of breast cancer and silencing of CBs suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Our study contributed to understanding the role of CIH in breast cancer development modulation.

Prediction of marker genes associated with hypertension by bioinformatics analyses

This study aimed to explore the underlying marker genes associated with hypertension by bioinformatics analyses. A gene expression profile (GSE54015) was downloaded. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the normotensive female (NF) and hypertensive female (HF), and between the normotensive male (NM) and hypertensive male (HM) groups were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses were performed, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. The transcription factors (TFs), and the common DEGs between the HF and HM groups were then analyzed. In total, 411 DEGs were identified between the HF and NF groups, and 418 DEGs were identified between the HM and NM groups. The upregulated DEGs in the HF and HM groups were enriched in 9 GO terms, including oxidation reduction, such as cytochrome P450, family 4, subfamily b, polypeptide 1 (Cyp4b1) and cytochrome P450, family 4, subfamily a, polypeptide 31 Cyp4a31). The downregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in GO terms related to hormone metabolic processes. In the PPI network, cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily e, polypeptide 1 (Cyp2e1) had the highest degree in all 3 analysis methods in the HF group. Additionally, 4 TFs were indentified from the 2 groups of data, including sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (Srebf1), estrogen receptor 1 (Esr1), retinoid X receptor gamma (Rxrg) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg). The intersection genes were mainly enriched in GO terms related to the extracellular region. On the whole, our data indicate that the DEGs, Cyp4b1, Cyp4a31 and Loxl2, and the TFs, Esr1, Pparg and Rxrg, are associated with the progression of hypertension, and may thus serve as potential therapeutic targets in this disease.

[Research on the association between different levels of serum iron and essential hypertension]

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between serum iron(SI) and essential hypertension (EHT) based on population-based samples.

METHODS

Using clustering multistage sampling method, all the people above 18 years old in the target population were investigated. Blood pressure was measured and the questionnaire was used to find out related factors. Five milliliters fast vein blood were drawn and the serum were used for testing on serum iron (SI) and other elements such as blood sugar, cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), serum sodium, serum potassium, serum calcium etc. A case control study was carried out with EHT patients from the selected population as case group, and the other healthy peoples as controls. Database was created by Fox Pro and SPSS 10.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The concentrations of SI, with (17.75 +/- 7.66) micromol/ L in EHT group and (17.23 +/- 7.83) micromol/L in control group, showed statistical difference (P < 0.05) between the two groups. The concentrations of SI also showed statistical difference (P < 0.05) between the high DBP and normal group with the average level as (17.84 +/- 7.58) micromol/L in high DBP group and (17.26 +/- 7.85) micromol/L in normal group. Data from monovariate analysis showed that the increase of SI was a risk factor for EHT, DBP and SBP. By multivariate analysis for EHT, while SI still existed in the model (OR = 1.296, 95% CI: 1.057-1.590), but for SBP the results almost remained the same (OR = 1.285, 95% CI:1.102-1.498).

CONCLUSION

Data from the results showed that SI was probably a risk factor for EHT.