The aging lung: microenvironment, mechanisms, and diseases

With the development of global social economy and the deepening of the aging population, diseases related to aging have received increasing attention. The pathogenesis of many respiratory diseases remains unclear, and lung aging is an independent risk factor for respiratory diseases. The aging mechanism of the lung may be involved in the occurrence and development of respiratory diseases. Aging-induced immune, oxidative stress, inflammation, and telomere changes can directly induce and promote the occurrence and development of lung aging. Meanwhile, the occurrence of lung aging also further aggravates the immune stress and inflammatory response of respiratory diseases; the two mutually affect each other and promote the development of respiratory diseases. Explaining the mechanism and treatment direction of these respiratory diseases from the perspective of lung aging will be a new idea and research field. This review summarizes the changes in pulmonary microenvironment, metabolic mechanisms, and the progression of respiratory diseases associated with aging.

Predicting the cognitive impairment with multimodal ophthalmic imaging and artificial neural network for community screening

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To investigate the comprehensive prediction ability for cognitive impairment in a general elder population using the combination of the multimodal ophthalmic imaging and artificial neural networks.

METHODS

Patients with cognitive impairment and cognitively healthy individuals were recruited. All subjects underwent medical history, blood pressure measurement, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, medical optometry, intraocular pressure and custom-built multimodal ophthalmic imaging, which integrated pupillary light reaction, multispectral imaging, laser speckle contrast imaging and retinal oximetry. Multidimensional parameters were analysed by Student's t-test. Logistic regression analysis and back-propagation neural network (BPNN) were used to identify the predictive capability for cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

This study included 104 cognitive impairment patients (61.5% female; mean (SD) age, 68.3 (9.4) years), and 94 cognitively healthy age-matched and sex-matched subjects (56.4% female; mean (SD) age, 65.9 (7.6) years). The variation of most parameters including decreased pupil constriction amplitude (CA), relative CA, average constriction velocity, venous diameter, venous blood flow and increased centred retinal reflectance in 548 nm (RC548) in cognitive impairment was consistent with previous studies while the reduced flow acceleration index and oxygen metabolism were reported for the first time. Compared with the logistic regression model, BPNN had better predictive performance (accuracy: 0.91 vs 0.69; sensitivity: 93.3% vs 61.70%; specificity: 90.0% vs 68.66%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates retinal spectral signature alteration, neurodegeneration and angiopathy occur concurrently in cognitive impairment. The combination of multimodal ophthalmic imaging and BPNN can be a useful tool for predicting cognitive impairment with high performance for community screening.

The retinal oxygen metabolism and hemodynamics as a substitute for biochemical tests to predict nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy

Predicting the occurrence of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) using biochemical parameters is invasive, which limits large-scale clinical application. Noninvasive retinal oxygen metabolism and hemodynamics of 215 eyes from 73 age-matched healthy subjects, 90 diabetic patients without DR, 40 NPDR, and 12 DR with postpanretinal photocoagulation were measured with a custom-built multimodal retinal imaging device. Diabetic patients underwent biochemical examinations. Two logistic regression models were developed to predict NPDR using retinal and biochemical metrics, respectively. The predictive model 1 using retinal metrics incorporated male gender, insulin treatment condition, diastolic duration, resistance index, and oxygen extraction fraction presented a similar predictive power with model 2 using biochemical metrics incorporated diabetic duration, diastolic blood pressure, and glycated hemoglobin A1c (area under curve: 0.73 vs. 0.70; sensitivity: 76% vs. 68%; specificity: 64% vs. 62%). These results suggest that retinal oxygen metabolic and hemodynamic biomarkers may replace biochemical parameters to predict the occurrence of NPDR .

From gut to brain: understanding the role of microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease

With the proposal of the "biological-psychological-social" model, clinical decision-makers and researchers have paid more attention to the bidirectional interactive effects between psychological factors and diseases. The brain-gut-microbiota axis, as an important pathway for communication between the brain and the gut, plays an important role in the occurrence and development of inflammatory bowel disease. This article reviews the mechanism by which psychological disorders mediate inflammatory bowel disease by affecting the brain-gut-microbiota axis. Research progress on inflammatory bowel disease causing "comorbidities of mind and body" through the microbiota-gut-brain axis is also described. In addition, to meet the needs of individualized treatment, this article describes some nontraditional and easily overlooked treatment strategies that have led to new ideas for "psychosomatic treatment".

Toxicity of leachate from smoked cigarette butts to terrestrial animals: A case study on the earthworm Eisenia fetida

Cigarette butts, as easily overlooked littered wastes, have been evaluated for toxicity in various researches. In this study, we investigated the toxic effects of smoked cigarette butt leachate (SCBL) on the earthworm Eisenia fetida. The results showed the following: 1) E. fetida avoided SCBL in artificial soil, and the avoidance rate was positively correlated with the concentration of SCBL but negatively correlated with the exposure time; 2) the LD50 of SCBL on earthworms at 36 and 48 h of exposure were 3.71 × 10-4 and 2.67 × 10-4 butts/cm2, respectively. Moreover, both the body surface and intestinal tissues of E. fetida were damaged after exposure to SCBL; 3) the survival rates of E. fetida exposed to artificial soil with an SCBL of 3.6 butts/kg for 7 and 14 days were 80.00 ± 7.07 % and 68.00 ± 4.47 %, respectively; and 4) the mean biomass of the surviving E. fetida in all treated groups decreased with increasing SCBL concentration and exposure time. We concluded that SCBL exerted significant negative effects on soil animals, and suggested that SCBs should be collected, detoxified, and reused before entering the natural environment.

Morin protects chicks with T-2 toxin poisoning by decreasing heterophil extracellular traps, oxidative stress and inflammatory response

1. Fusarium tritici widely exists in a variety of grain feeds. The T-2 toxin is the main hazardous component produced by Fusarium tritici, making a serious hazard to poultry industry. Morin, belonging to the flavonoid family, can be extracted from mulberry plants and possesses anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, but whether morin protects chicks with T-2 toxin poisoning remains unclear. This experiment firstly established a chick model of T-2 toxin poisoning and then investigated the protective effects and mechanism of morin against T-2 toxin in chicks.2. The function of liver and kidney was measured by corresponding alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre) and uric acid (UA) kits. Histopathological changes were observed by haematoxylin-eosin staining. The status of oxidative stress was measured by MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH-PX kits. The mRNA levels of TNF-α, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-11 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Heterophil extracellular trap (HET) release was analysed by immunofluorescence and fluorescence microplate.3. The model with T-2 toxin poisoning in chicks was successfully established. Morin significantly decreased T-2 toxin-induced ALT, AST, ALP, BUN, Cre and UA, and improved T-2 toxin-induced liver cell rupture, liver cord disorder and kidney interstitial oedema. Oxidative stress analysis showed that morin ameliorated T-2 toxin-induced damage by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA), increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). The qRT-PCR analysis showed that morin reduced T-2 toxin-induced mRNA expressions of TNF-α, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-11. Moreover, morin significantly reduced the release of T-2 toxin-induced HET in vitro and in vivo.4. Morin can protect chicks from T-2 toxin poisoning by decreasing HETs, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which make it a useful compound against T-2 toxin poisoning in poultry feed.

Response of cardiovascular environment to sulfonated hyaluronic acid with higher sulfur content

Sulfonated hyaluronic acid (S-HA) has been shown to promote endothelialization in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases according to amounts of investigations. In this study, two kinds of S-HA with higher sulfur content were obtained successfully. Through a series of cell experiments, it was found that the S-HA with higher sulfur content not only possessed stronger ability of promoting the growth and migration of endothelial cells, regulating the phenotype of smooth muscle cells, but also had stronger anti-inflammatory function. Furthermore, all the S-HA molecules are very compatible with blood.

SGLSA: Sphygmus gated laser speckle angiography for microcirculation hemodynamics imaging

Hemodynamics imaging of the retinal microcirculation has been demonstrated to be potential access to evaluating ophthalmic diseases, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, and metabolic diseases. However, existing structural and functional imaging techniques are insufficient in spatial or temporal resolution. The sphygmus gated laser speckle angiography (SGLSA) is proposed for structural and functional imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution. Compared with classic LSCI algorithms, SGLSA presents a much clearer perfusion image and higher signal-to-noise ratio pulsatility. The SGLSA algorithm also shows better performance on patients than traditional LSCI methods. The high spatiotemporal resolution provided by the SGLSA algorithm greatly enhances the ability of retinal microcirculation analysis, which makes up for the deficiency of the LSCI technology, and attaches great significance to retinal hemodynamic imaging, biomarker research, and clinical diagnosis.

Roles of growth factors in eye development and ophthalmic diseases

Growth factors are active substances secreted by a variety of cells, which act as messengers to regulate cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. Many growth factors are involved in the eye development or the pathophysiological processes of eye diseases. Growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor mediate the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy, choroidal neovascularization, cataract, diabetic macular edema, and other retinal diseases. On the other hand, growth factors like nerve growth factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, pigment epithelial-derived factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor are known to promote optic nerve injury repair. Growth factors are also related to the pathogenesis of myopia. Fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, and insulin-like growth factor regulate scleral thickness and influence the occurrence and development of myopia. This article reviews growth factors involved in ocular development and ocular pathophysiology, discusses the relationship between growth factors and ocular diseases, to provide reference for the application of growth factors in ophthalmology.

Progress on the application of growth factor-related drugs in ophthalmology

Vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）, fibroblast growth factor（FGF）, nerve growth factor（NGF）, epidermal growth factor and interferon are important endogenous proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and regeneration. Biological products targeting growth factors are used in the treatment of ocular diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration, corneal injury and neurotrophic keratitis. Anti-VEGF drugs can regulate the proliferation of vascular endothelia, reduce the edema and exudation of retinal tissue，which are the main therapeutic agents for wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. The basic FGF (b-FGF) can promote the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of corneal epithelial cells, accelerating the healing of the corneal injury and reduces corneal inflammation；and bovine b-FGF has been approved for the treatment of corneal injuries. The NGF promotes the growth, development, and differentiation of central and peripheral neurons, thus accelerating the repair of nerve damage；and the European Medicines Agency approved the use of nerve growth factor for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis in 2017. Recent clinical studies show that patients with moderate or severe neurotrophic keratitis achieved complete corneal healing following 8 weeks of NGF therapy. Epidermal growth factor derivative eye drops have been approved for the treatment of corneal epithelial injuries. Recombinant human interferon has been clinically used in the treatment of ocular viral infections. This article reviews the research progress in the development of new cell growth factor drugs for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, to provide insights for expanding the application of cell growth factors in ophthalmology.

Retraction Note: Combination therapy with metformin and IL-12 to inhibit the growth of hepatic carcinoma by promoting apoptosis and autophagy in HepG2-bearing mice

The article "Combination therapy with metformin and IL-12 to inhibit the growth of hepatic carcinoma by promoting apoptosis and autophagy in HepG2-bearing mice, by Z. Jin, B.-X. Jia, L.-D. Tan, Q.-M. Chen, Y.-H. Liu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (23): 12368-12379-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202012_24031-PMID: 33336757" has been retracted by the authors as they cannot ensure the reliability of the manuscript due to inaccuracies in the conclusions and in the experiment (the cell migration and invasion assay along with the cell cycle arrest assay are missing). The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause https://www.europeanreview.org/article/24031.

Retinal oxygen kinetics imaging and analysis (ROKIA) based on the integration and fusion of structural-functional imaging

The retina is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body. The dysfunction of oxygen kinetics in the retina is closely related to the disease and has important clinical value. Dynamic imaging and comprehensive analyses of oxygen kinetics in the retina depend on the fusion of structural and functional imaging and high spatiotemporal resolution. But it's currently not clinically available, particularly via a single imaging device. Therefore, this work aims to develop a retinal oxygen kinetics imaging and analysis (ROKIA) technology by integrating dual-wavelength imaging with laser speckle contrast imaging modalities, which achieves structural and functional analysis with high spatial resolution and dynamic measurement, taking both external and lumen vessel diameters into account. The ROKIA systematically evaluated eight vascular metrics, four blood flow metrics, and fifteen oxygenation metrics. The single device scheme overcomes the incompatibility of optical design, harmonizes the field of view and resolution of different modalities, and reduces the difficulty of registration and image processing algorithms. More importantly, many of the metrics (such as oxygen delivery, oxygen metabolism, vessel wall thickness, etc.) derived from the fusion of structural and functional information, are unique to ROKIA. The oxygen kinetic analysis technology proposed in this paper, to our knowledge, is the first demonstration of the vascular metrics, blood flow metrics, and oxygenation metrics via a single system, which will potentially become a powerful tool for disease diagnosis and clinical research.

Functional imaging of human retina using integrated multispectral and laser speckle contrast imaging

A novel integration of retinal multispectral imaging (MSI), retinal oximetry and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is presented for functional imaging of retinal blood vessels that could potentially allow early detection or monitoring of functional changes. We designed and built a cost-effective, scalable, retinal imaging instrument that integrates structural and functional retinal imaging techniques, including MSI, retinal oximetry and LSCI. Color fundus imaging was performed with 470 nm, 550 nm and 600 nm wavelength light emitting diode (LED) illumination. Retinal oximetry was performed using 550 nm and 600 nm LED illumination. LSCI of blood flow was performed using 850 nm laser diode illumination at 82 frames per second. LSCI can visualize retinal and choroidal vasculature without requiring exogenous contrast agents and can provide time-resolved information on blood flow, generating a cardiac pulse waveform from retinal vasculature. The technology can rapidly acquire structural MSI images, retinal oximetry and LSCI blood flow information in a simplified clinical workflow without requiring patients to move between instruments. Results from multiple modalities can be combined and registered to provide structural as well as functional information on the retina. These advances can reduce barriers for clinical adoption, accelerating research using MSI, retinal oximetry and LSCI of blood flow for diagnosis, monitoring and elucidating disease pathogenesis.

Protectin DX promotes the inflammatory resolution via activating COX-2/L-PGDS-PGD2 and DP1 receptor in acute respiratory distress syndrome

PURPOSE

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by uncontrollable inflammation. Cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and its metabolite prostaglandins are known to promote the inflammatory resolution of ARDS. Recently, a newly discovered endogenous lipid mediator, Protectin DX (PDX), was also shown to mediate the resolution of inflammation. However, the regulatory of PDX on the pro-resolving COX-2 in ARDS remains unknown.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

PDX (5 μg/kg) was injected into rats intravenously 12 h after the lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 3 mg/kg) challenge. Primary rat lung fibroblasts were incubated with LPS (1 μg/ml) and/or PDX (100 nM). Lung pathological changes examined using H&E staining. Protein levels of COX-2, PGDS and PGES were evaluated using western blot. Inflammatory cytokines were tested by qPCR, and the concentration of prostaglandins measured by using ELISA.

RESULTS

Our study revealed that, COX-2 and L-PGDS has biphasic activation characteristics that LPS could induce induced by LPS both in vivo and in vitro.. The secondary peak of COX-2, L-PGDS-PGD2 promoted the inflammatory resolution in ARDS model with the DP1 receptor being activated and PDX up-regulated the inflammatory resolutionvia enhancing the secondary peak of COX-2/L-PGDS-PGD2 and activating the DP1 receptor.

CONCLUSION

PDX promoted the resolution of inflammation of ARDS model via enhancing the expression of secondary peak of COX-2/L-PGDS-PGD2 and activating the DP1 receptor. PDX shows promising therapeutic potential in the clinical management of ARDS.

Identification of Novel Drug Candidate for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer via In Silico Investigation and In Vitro Validation

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has a poor prognosis and high mortality rate; patients are easy to relapse with standard therapies. So, there is an urgent need to develop novel drugs. In this study, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of EOC were identified in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Enrichment and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analyses were performed. The drug candidate which has the possibility to treat EOC was predicted by Connectivity Map (CMAP) databases. Moreover, molecular docking was selected to calculate the binding affinity between drug candidate and hub genes. The cytotoxicity of drug candidates was assessed by MTT and colony formation analysis, the proteins coded by hub genes were detected by Western blots, and apoptosis analysis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Finally, 296 overlapping DEGs (|log 2 fold change|>1; q-value <0.05), which were principally involved in the cell cycle (p < 0.05), and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) were screened as the significant hub gene from the PPI network. Furthermore, the 21 drugs were extracted from CMAPs; among them, piperlongumine (PL) showed a lower CMAP score (-0.80, -62.92) and was regarded as the drug candidate. Furthermore, molecular docking results between PL and CDK1 with a docking score of –8.121 kcal/mol were close to the known CDK1 inhibitor (–8.24 kcal/mol). Additionally, in vitro experiments showed that PL inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis via targeting CDK1 in EOC SKOV3 cells. Our results reveal that PL may be a novel drug candidate for EOC by inhibiting cell cycle.

The application effects of personalized nursing on the perioperative period of hepatobiliary surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nursing during the perioperative period of hepatobiliary surgery is essential in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients. Personalized nursing gives full consideration to the personal characteristics of patients and encourages patients to participate in making decisions. However, compared to traditional nursing, there is insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of personalized nursing. This review sought to evaluate the effects of personalized nursing during the perioperative period of hepatobiliary surgery.

METHODS

A meta-analysis was conducted of articles published from 2010 to 2021. To identify the relevant electronic publications, the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched for articles comparing the clinical efficacy of personalized nursing with that of traditional nursing. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to calculate the aggregated effect index.

RESULTS

Of the 286 records retrieved from the search of the databases, 12 studies, comprising 1,039 patients, met the screening criteria. The meta-analysis showed that personalized nursing improved patients' levels of satisfaction with nursing (OR =6.871; 95% CI: 3.708-12.734), and decreased the incidence of adverse reactions significantly (OR =0.234; 95% CI: 0.153-0.357). Compared to traditional nursing, personalized nursing reduced patients' average hospitalization time, the time it took to get out of bed for the first time after surgery, the time it took to first eat after surgery, and the time it took to first exhaust after surgery. Additionally, patients who received personalized nursing had significantly reduced Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores than patients who received traditional nursing.

DISCUSSION

The application of personalized nursing to patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery during the perioperative period improved patients' level of satisfaction with nursing, effectively reduced the incidence of adverse reactions, accelerated the recovery of hepatobiliary function after surgery, and relieved anxiety and depression; thus, personalized nursing is worthy of clinical application.

Toxicity Evaluation of Long-Term Topical Application of Recombinant Human Keratinocyte Growth Factor-2 Eye Drops on Macaca Fascicularis

Recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor-2 (rhKGF-2), an effective agent for the regeneration of epithelial tissue, was found to have great potential for use in treatments of corneal diseases that involve corneal epithelial defects. Furthermore, the safety of long-term and high-dose external use of KGF-2 eye drops in rabbits has been well established previously. The aim of this study is to determine the safe dose range and target organs for toxicity of rhKGF-2 eye drops in Macaca fascicularis (M. fascicularis). The M. fascicularis animals were administered with different doses of rhKGF-2 eye drops (125, 500, and 2000 μg/ml) for four consecutive weeks, followed by a 2 week recovery period. No significant differences in weight, electrocardiogram characteristics, blood and urine indexes, pathology, and bone marrow cells were detected among the animals in different groups. The corneas of some animals in the middle- and high-dose groups showed fluorescence when stained with sodium fluorescein, and then the staining disappeared on days 28 and 42. Anti-rhKGF-2 antibodies were detected in a small number of animals in the high-dose group, and their level decreased after rhKGF-2 withdrawal. No neutralizing antibodies were detected. The result demonstrated that there was no obvious adverse reaction when topical application of rhKGF-2 eye drops at the dosage of 125 or 500 μg/ml on the M. fascicularis. This study is of great significance for the future clinical transformation of rhKGF-2 eye drops.

Diurnal variation of corneal elasticity in healthy young human using air-puff optical coherence elastography

Due to the disruption of intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT), diurnal variation in normal young human corneal elasticity is not clear. Using the custom-built air-puff optical coherence elastography, one eye of 21 normal subjects is enrolled randomly to measure the central corneal elasticity, IOP, and CCT in different time points within a day. Based on the multi-level model, the corneal elastic modulus is found to have a linear positive relation with IOP (P < .01) but not CCT (P = .175) and time point (P = .174-.686). A new indicator, corneal elasticity change rate, is proposed to present the magnitude of corneal elasticity change caused by 1 mmHg IOP, which can correct the interference effect of IOP. The results show that the corneal elasticity in the normal young human does not have the characteristics of diurnal variation under IOP control. Furthermore, IOP plays an important role in the corneal elasticity, and corneal elasticity change rate can increase the comparability of results between individuals.

Combining tumor deposits with the number of lymph node metastases to improve the prognostic accuracy in stage III colon cancer: a post hoc analysis of the CALGB/SWOG 80702 phase III study (Alliance)☆

BACKGROUND

In colon cancer, tumor deposits (TD) are considered in assigning prognosis and staging only in the absence of lymph node metastasis (i.e. stage III pN1c tumors). We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the presence and the number of TD in patients with stage III, node-positive colon cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All participants from the CALGB/SWOG 80702 phase III trial were included in this post hoc analysis. Pathology reports were reviewed for the presence and the number of TD, lymphovascular and perineural invasion. Associations with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated by multivariable Cox models adjusting for sex, treatment arm, T-stage, N-stage, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion and lymph node ratio.

RESULTS

Overall, 2028 patients were included with 524 (26%) TD-positive and 1504 (74%) TD-negative tumors. Of the TD-positive patients, 80 (15.4%) were node negative (i.e. pN1c), 239 (46.1%) were pN1a/b (<4 positive lymph nodes) and 200 (38.5%) were pN2 (≥4 positive lymph nodes). The presence of TD was associated with poorer DFS [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.63, 95% CI 1.33-1.98] and OS (aHR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.24-2.04). The negative effect of TD was observed for both pN1a/b and pN2 groups. Among TD-positive patients, the number of TD had a linear negative effect on DFS and OS. Combining TD and the number of lymph node metastases, 104 of 1470 (7.1%) pN1 patients were re-staged as pN2, with worse outcomes than patients confirmed as pN1 (3-year DFS rate: 65.4% versus 80.5%, P = 0.0003; 5-year OS rate: 87.9% versus 69.1%, P = <0.0001). DFS was not different between patients re-staged as pN2 and those initially staged as pN2 (3-year DFS rate: 65.4% versus 62.3%, P = 0.4895).

CONCLUSION

Combining the number of TD and the number of lymph node metastases improved the prognostication accuracy of tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging.

Notoginsenoside R1 protects hypoxia-reoxygenation deprivation-induced injury by upregulation of miR-132 in H9c2 cells

BACKGROUND

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common perioperative complication of heart and great vessels surgery, aggravating the original myocardial damage and seriously affecting the postoperative recovery of cardiac function. The aim of this study was to reveal the functional effects and potential mechanisms of notoginsenoside R1 (NG-R1) in myocardial cells injured by hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R).

METHODS

The rat cardiomyocyte line H9c2 was subjected to H/R with or without NG-R1 treatment. The levels of miR-132 and HBEGF in the cell were altered by microRNA or short-hairpin RNA transfection. Cell viability, apoptosis, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were monitored. Dual luciferin was used to detect the relationship between miR-132 and HBEGF.

RESULTS

NG-R1 (20 μM) had no impact on H9c2 cells, but cell viability was significantly reduced at 80 μM. NG-R1 (20 μM) protected H9c2 cells against H/R-induced cell damage, accompanied by increased cell viability, reduced cell apoptosis, and downregulation of LDH and MDA. Furthermore, the level of miR-132 was decreased in response to H/R exposure but then increased after NG-R1 treatment. When miR-132 was overexpressed, H/R-induced cell damage could be recovered. Downregulation of miR-132 limited the protective effect of NG-R1 on H/R damage. We also found that HBEGF was a direct target of miR-132. The expression of HBEGF was increased upon H/R damage, and this increase was reversed after NG-R1 treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that NG-R1 markedly protected H9c2 cells against H/R-induced damage via upregulation of miR-132 and downregulation of its target protein HBEGF.

Long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) promotes glioblastoma multiforme progression via regulating miR-1301-3p/TMBIM6 axis

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) could regulate glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) progression via microRNA-1301-3p (miR-1301-3p) and transmembrane BAX inhibitor motif containing 6 (TMBIM6) axis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Expression patterns of PVT1 and RMBIM6 in GBM patients were analyzed using GEPIA, an online gene expression analysis tool. Levels of PVT1 in GBM cells and normal cells were analyzed with quantitative real-time PCR method. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell invasion assay, and flow cytometry assay were applied to detect cell viability and apoptosis. Connections of PVT1 or TMBIM6 with miR-1301-3p were validated with bioinformatic tool and luciferase activity reporter assay.

RESULTS

PVT1 was significantly expressed in GBM tissues and cells. PVT1 promotes GBM cell proliferation and invasion but inhibits apoptosis in vitro. TMBIM6 was significantly expressed in GBM tissues. The knockdown of TMBIM6 reversed the stimulation effects of PVT1 on GBM cell malignancy behaviors with miR-1301-3p as a bridge.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, we showed PVT1 elevated TMBIM6 expression mediated by miR-1301-3p and thus to promote GBM progression.

Assessment of Choroidal Vascularity and Choriocapillaris Blood Perfusion in Anisomyopic Adults by SS-OCT/OCTA

Purpose

To explore the association of choroidal vascularity and choriocapillaris blood perfusion with myopic severity in anisomyopes.

Methods

Refractive error, axial length (AL), and other biometric parameters were measured in 34 anisomyopic young adults. Macular choroidal thickness (ChT) and choroidal vascularity, including total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and choroidal vascularity index (CVI), were determined from swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) vertical and horizontal B-scans. The percentage of choriocapillaris flow voids (FV%) was obtained from en face SS-OCT-angiography.

Results

The spherical equivalent refraction (SER) was –3.35 ± 1.25 diopters in the more myopic eyes and –1.25 ± 1.17 diopters in the less myopic eyes (P < 0.001). The interocular difference in SER was highly correlated with that in AL (P < 0.001). The macular ChT, TCA, LA, and SA were smaller in the more myopic eyes than in the less myopic eyes in both vertical and horizontal scans (all P < 0.001). Importantly, the CVIs in vertical and horizontal scans were smaller and the FV% was greater in the more myopic eyes (P < 0.05). In vertical scans, the interocular difference in CVIs was correlated with that in the SER, AL, and ChT (all P < 0.05). The interocular difference in FV% was correlated with that in SER, AL, and vertical and horizontal ChTs (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Choroidal vascularity and choriocapillaris blood perfusion were lower in the more myopic eyes of anisomyopic adults. These changes were correlated with the severity of myopia and choroidal thinning, indicating that choroidal blood flow is disturbed in human myopia.

Identification of peripheral anterior synechia with anterior segment optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE

To generate a model that evaluates the presence and extent of peripheral anterior synechia (PAS) based on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

METHODS

The extent of PAS involvement in the eyes of patients with angle closure was assessed by indentation gonioscopy, and the part of non-PAS and PAS were assigned into two groups (NPAS and PAS). Anterior chamber angles were then imaged by AS-OCT with light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation directly into the pupils, leading to pupillary constriction and increasing anterior chamber angle width. Parameters including the angle opening distance at 750 μm anterior to the scleral spur (AOD750) and trabecular-iris space area at 750 μm anterior to the scleral spur (TISA750) were then obtained. The differences before and after LED irradiation of AOD750 and TISA750 were calculated and used to generate a PAS model based on binary logistic regression. Validation data were then tested.

RESULTS

A total of 258 AS-OCT images in 14 eyes were assigned to the modeling data, and 120 were assigned to the validation data. There were no differences in AOD750 and TISA750 in the dark between NPAS and PAS (P_AOD750 = 0.258, P_TISA750 = 0.486), whereas after LED light exposure, TISA750_light was larger in NPAS than in PAS (P = 0.047). The light-dark differences of both parameters showed significant differences between the two groups (P_AOD750dif = 0.019, P_TISA750dif < 0.001). The area under the curve of the model performance was 0.841, and the overall correct rate was 80.8% based on the validation data.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates that the AS-OCT-based PAS model could be useful in the identifying of the presence of synechial angle closure and evaluating the extent of PAS in a single eye.

SK2 channel deletion reduces susceptibility to bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity in mouse

Bupivacaine is frequently used for regional anesthesia and postoperative analgesia. However, an inadvertent intravenous injection can cause severe cardiotoxicity, manifesting as arrhythmia, hypotension, and even cardiac asystole. The mechanism of bupivacaine-mediated cardiotoxicity remains unclear. SK2 knockout mice (SK) and wild-type mice (WT) were divided into four groups, with 12 mice per group. We determined the difference in bupivacaine cardiotoxicity between SK2 knockout and WT mice by measuring the time to the first arrhythmia (T_arrhythmia) and the time to asystole (T_asystole). Secondary indicators of cardiotoxicity were the time from the beginning of bupivacaine infusion to 20% prolongation of the QT interval (T_QT) and the time to 20% widening of the QRS complex (T_QRS). T_arrhythmia and T_asystole were significantly longer in the SK-bupi group than in the WT-bupi group (both P < 0.05). T_QT and T_QRS were longer in the SK-bupi group than in the WT-bupi group (all P < 0.05). The time to 25%, 50%, and 75% reduction in HR in the SK-bupi group was significantly longer than in the WT-bupi group (all P < 0.05). Knocking out the SK2 channel can reduce bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity in the mouse.

MiR-219-5p inhibits prostate cancer cell growth and metastasis by targeting HMGA2

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-219-5p in prostate cancer (PCa), its influences on the biological functions of PCa, and its mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression differences of miR-219-5p and high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) in 30 pairs of PCa tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were detected via quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), and the difference in miR-219-5p expression in PCa cell lines and normal prostatic epithelial cells was also determined via qRT-PCR. The human PC-3 cells were divided into negative control group and miR-219-5p overexpression group. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and colony formation assays were adopted to detect the cell proliferative ability, and flow cytometry was applied to determine the cell apoptosis. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was measured via Western blotting, and the invasive and migratory abilities of the cells were examined through wound-healing and transwell assays. Bioinformatics prediction software and luciferase reporter assay were employed to verify the targets that might be controlled by miR-219-5p. Rescue experiment was conducted to clarify whether the inhibitory effects of miR-219-5p on the growth and metastasis of PC-3 cells depend on the inhibition of HMGA2.

RESULTS

It was shown in qRT-PCR results that the expression level of miR-219-5p was downregulated remarkably in PCa tissues and cell lines, but overexpressed miR-219-5p could repress the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of PC-3 cells notably. The results of wound-healing and transwell assays indicated that overexpressed miR-219-5p was able to suppress the invasion and metastasis of PC-3 cells. According to Western blotting results, overexpressed miR-219-5p could up-regulate the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins [Bax, cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase (PARP)] and reverse the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PCa cells. It was predicted via the bioinformatics software that HMGA2 gene might be a target gene of miR-219-5p. The Dual-Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that there was a direct regulatory relationship between miR-219-5p and HMGA2. The rescue experiment manifested that overexpressed HMGA2 could reverse the inhibition of miR-219-5p on the growth and metastasis of PC-3 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-219-5p suppresses the growth and metastasis abilities of prostate cancer cells by directly repressing the expression of HMGA2.

Apelin-13 protects the lungs from ischemia-reperfusion injury by attenuating inflammatory and oxidative stress

Apelin has been reported to regulate mitochondrial function in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the role of apelin-13 in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) remains unclear. This study established an experimental rat model to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of apelin-13 on LIRI. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided to sham operation group (group SM), ischemia/reperfusion group (group IR), and apelin-13 treatment group (group APL). The effects of apelin-13 on LIRI were determined histologically using H&E staining, while the wet/dry weight ratio was used to assess lung edema caused by LIRI. Inflammatory cytokines were also detected in Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid by ELISA. The protein expression of UCP2 and the morphological changes of mitochondria were determined by western blotting and electromicroscopy, respectively. The results demonstrated the structural damage of lung tissues and lung edema in group IR. An increased level of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α was observed in rats with LIRI using ELISA. After that, oxidative stress and morphological damage of mitochondria were also shown in group IR. Yet, the application of apelin-13 reversed all these deleterious effects in group APL. The protective effects of apelin-13 were indicated by decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and elevated UCP2 expression levels in rats. In conclusion, this study revealed that apelin-13 had protective effects against LIRI via attenuating lung edema, the production of inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Predictive Analysis of the Neutralization Activity in Convalescent Plasmas From COVID-19 Recovered Patients in Zhejiang Province, China, January-March, 2020

Background

Convalescent plasma (CP) transfusion is considered to be the priority therapeutic option for COVID-19 inpatients when no specific drugs are available for emerging infections. An alternative, simple, and sensitive method is urgently needed for clinical use to detect neutralization activity of the CP to avoid the use of inconvenient micro-neutralization assay.

Method

This study aims to explore optimal index in predicting the COVID-19 CP neutralization activity (neutralizing antibody titers, NAb titers) in an indirect ELISA format. Fifty-seven COVID-19-recovered patients plasma samples were subjected to anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD, S1, and N protein IgG antibody by indirect ELISA.

Results

ELISA-RBD exhibited high specificity (96.2%) and ELISA-N had high sensitivity (100%); while ELISA-S1 had low sensitivity (86.0%) and specificity (73.1%). Furthermore, ELISA-RBD IgG titers and pseudovirus-based NAb titers correlated significantly, with R² of 0.2564 (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

ELISA-RBD could be a substitute for the neutralization assay in resource-limited situations to screen potential plasma donors for further plasma infusion therapy.

Pan-Cancer Analysis of NOS3 Identifies Its Expression and Clinical Relevance in Gastric Cancer

Background:NOS3 (endothelial NOS, eNOS) is a member of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme family, mainly participating in nitric oxide (NO) generation. NOS3 has been reported to inhibit apoptosis and promote angiogenesis, proliferation, and invasiveness. However, the expression pattern of NOS3 and its diagnostic and prognostic potential has not been investigated in a pan-cancer perspective.

Methods: Data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), and the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal (CTRP) were employed and NOS3 expression was comprehensively analyzed in normal tissues, cancer tissues, and cell lines. Immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections were used to validate the prognostic role of NOS3 in gastric cancer patients. GSVA and GSEA analyses were performed to investigate signaling pathways related to NOS3 expression.

Results: In normal tissues, NOS3 was expressed highest in the spleen and lowest in the blood. NOS3 expression was increased in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and significantly associated with poor prognosis of patients. Immunohistochemical staining validated that NOS3 was an independent prognostic factor of gastric cancer. Several canonical cancer-related pathways were found to be correlated with NOS3 expression in STAD. The expression of NOS3 was related to the response to QS-11 and brivinib in STAD.

Conclusions:NOS3 was an independent prognostic factor for patients with STAD. Increased expression of NOS3 influenced occurrence and development of STAD through several canonical cancer-related pathways. Drug response analysis reported drugs to suppress NOS3. NOS3 might be a novel target for gastric cancer treatment.

Ablation of small conductance calcium-activated potassium type-2 channel (SK2) delays occurrence of bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity in isolated mouse hearts

Bupivacaine is frequently used for conducting regional anesthesia. When accidentally injected or excessively absorbed into circulation, bupivacaine can induce severe arrhythmia and potentially lead to cardiac arrest. The specific mechanisms underlying this cardiotoxicity, however, remain to be clarified. We transfected HEK-293 cells to express the small conductance calcium-activated potassium type-2 channel (SK2), and used a whole-cell patch clamp method in order to explore how bupivacaine affected these channels. We subsequently used SK2 knockout mice to explore the relevance of SK2 channels in bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity in isolating mouse hearts, mounting them on a Langendorff apparatus, and perfusing them with bupivacaine. Using this system, arrhythmia, asystole, and cardiac functions were monitored. We observed dose-dependent inhibition of SK2 channels by bupivacaine: half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value = 18.6 μM (95% CI 10.8-32.1). When SK2 knockout (SK2 -/-) or wild-type (WT) mice were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer (KHB), we did not observe any instances of arrhythmia. When SK2 -/- mice or WT were perfused with KHB containing bupivacaine (40 μM), the time to arrhythmia (Tarrhythmia) and time to asystole (Tasystole) were both significantly longer in SK2 -/- mice relative to WT mice (P < 0.001). Similarly, SK2 -/- mice exhibited a significantly longer time to 25%, 50%, and 75% reductions in heart rate (HR) and rate-pressure product (RPP) relative to WT mice following bupivacaine perfusion (P < 0.001). These results reveal that bupivacaine was able to mediate a dose-dependent inhibition of SK2 channels in HEK-293 cells, and deletion of SK2 channels can delay bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity in isolated mouse hearts.

The prognostic value of quantitating and localizing F-18 FDG uptake in cardiac sarcoidosis

BACKGROUND

There is no identified level of FDG uptake in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) associated with increased risk of arrhythmias, conduction disease, heart failure, or death. We aim to utilize standardized uptake value (SUV) quantitation and localization to identify patients at increased risk of cardiac events.

METHODS AND RESULTS

F18-FDG PET/CT with MPI was used in CS diagnosis (N = 67). Mean and max SUV were measured and grouped as basal, mid, and apical disease. Post-scan ventricular tachycardia, AICD placement, complete heart block, pacemaker placement, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and cardiac-related hospital admissions were recorded (mean follow up 2.98 ± 2 years). Poisson regression analysis revealed that max SUV, mean SUV, as well as mean basal SUV, and LVEF were significantly associated with total cardiac events. Max SUV odds ratio (OR) = 1.068 (95% CI 1.024-1.114, P = 0.002), mean SUV OR = 1.059 (95% CI 1.008-1.113, P = 0.023), mean SUV OR = 1.061 (95% CI 1.012-1.112, P = 0.014), scan LVEF OR = 0.731 (95% CI 0.664-0.805, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SUV at time of CS diagnosis has significant associations with future cardiac events. Patients with higher SUV, particularly in basal segments, are at increased risk of events. Further studies are needed to identify treatment methods utilizing risk stratification of CS.

Combination therapy with metformin and IL-12 to inhibit the growth of hepatic carcinoma by promoting apoptosis and autophagy in HepG2-bearing mice

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects and mechanism of metformin (Met) combined the interleukin-12 (IL-12) on inhibiting hepatoma HepG2 cell proliferation via in vitro and in vivo assays.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MTT assay was used to detect inhibitory effects of Met, IL-12 alone or combination on HepG2 cells proliferation. Half inhibitory concentration (IC50) and combination index (CI) were also calculated. Anti-tumor effects of combination or monotherapy on the HepG2-bearing mice were investigated and protein expression levels of apoptosis, as well as the Akt/mTOR/STAT3 signaling pathway-related factors were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

MTT results showed that the inhibitory effect of Met combined with IL-12 on HepG2 cell proliferation was significantly enhanced (both p<0.01) compared with monomer therapy group with a significant synergistic effect (CI<1). The apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells treated with Met combined with IL-12 were 88.12±7.15% and significantly higher than the others (all p<0.01). Moreover, combination treatment significantly suppressed hepatoma growth and increased the survival rate of HepG2-bearing mice without evident body weight loss. Western blot analysis showed that Met combined with IL-12 significantly increased the expression of autophagy-related marker proteins, downregulated the protein expression levels of Bcl-2, p-Akt, p-mTOR, p-STAT3, upregulated the expression level of BAX in both HepG2 cells and tumor tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Met combined with IL-12 exhibited a synergistic antitumor effect on hepatoma HepG2 cells, and the mechanism may be related to its common inhibition of Akt/mTOR/STAT3 signaling pathway and increase of autophagy in HepG2-bearing mice.

Frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in older adults: findings from the subclinical atrial fibrillation and risk of ischemic stroke (SAFARIS) study

Background

Prolonged monitoring of cardiac rhythm has been used in patients with symptomatic arrhythmias and to assess for atrial fibrillation (AF) after cryptogenic stroke, but not in the general population and especially in older adults.

Purpose

To evaluate the frequency of arrhythmias in a community-based cohort of older adults through 14-days continuous cardiac monitoring using a patch-based device.

Methods

Cardiac rhythm was analyzed in 533 participants free of AF and congestive heart failure (CHF) from the tri-ethnic (white, black, Hispanic) Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke (SAFARIS) study. AF, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT, defined as 4 beats or more), premature atrial (PACs) and ventricular (PVCs) contractions, ventricular tachycardia (VT, defined as 4 beats or more), sinus pauses (SP) and atrio-ventricular blocks (AVB) were analyzed. Gender, age and race-ethnic differences were examined.

Results

Mean age was 77.2±6.8 years (198 men, 335 women). Recording duration was over 10 days in 91%, and over 13 days in 84%. AF was present in 10 participants (1.9%), atrial flutter in 1 (0.2%). Other arrhythmias are reported in the Table. SP (1.9%) and high-degree AVB (Mobitz II: 0.6%; 3rd degree: 0.9%) were rare. No significant race-ethnic differences were observed.

Conclusion

In older adults without history of stroke or CHF, prolonged rhythm monitoring revealed moderate frequency of AF, but higher than expected frequencies of AF-predisposing conditions such as SVT and frequent PACs. VT episodes were relatively frequent, whereas SP and AVB were less frequent than commonly believed. Most arrhythmias were more frequent in the oldest; ventricular arrhythmias were more common in men than in women.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): NINDS R01 NS083874

Phase transitions in the classical exchange-anisotropic Kitaev-Heisenberg model

The Kitaev model on the honeycomb lattice has been receiving substantial attention due to the discovery of quantum spin liquid state associated with this model. Consequently, its classical partners such as the Kitaev-Heisenberg (KH) model and associated phase transitions become concerned. Specifically, an intermediate Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) phase engaged in the transition from the high-temperature (T) disordered state to the low-T sixfold degenerate state is predicted in the isotropic KH model [Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 187201 (2012)10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.187201], but so far no sufficient experimental proof has been reported. In this work, we consider an essential extension of this KH model on the honeycomb lattice by including the Kitaev exchange anisotropy that is non-negligible in realistic materials. The associated phase transitions are thus investigated using the Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that such an anisotropy will result in a degradation of the sixfold degeneracy of the ground state in the isotropic KH model down to the fourfold or twofold degenerate ground state, and the finite-T phase transitions will also be modified remarkably. Interestingly, the intermediate KT phase can be suppressed by this Kitaev exchange anisotropy. This work thus provides a more realistic description of the physics ingredient with the KH model and presents a possible explanation on absence of the intermediate phase in real materials where the Kitaev exchange anisotropy can be more or less available.

[Construction of urban scale-free network model and its epidemiological significance in the prevention and control of COVID-19]

COVID-19 is a public health emergency currently. In this study, a scale-free network model is established based on the Spring Migration data in 2020.The cities is clustered into three different modules. The epidemic of the cities in the black module was the most serious, followed by the red and the cyan. The black module contains 9 cities in Zhejiang province and 8 cities in Guangdong province, most of them located in the southeast coastal economic belt. These cities should be the key cities for epidemic prevention and control.

Cerebral Microbleeds Are Associated with Loss of White Matter Integrity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Previous studies have shown that diffusion tensor imaging suggests a diffuse loss of white matter integrity in people with white matter hyperintensities or lacunes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the presence of cerebral microbleeds and their distribution are related to the integrity of white matter microstructures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study comprised 982 participants who underwent brain MR imaging to determine microbleed status. The cross-sectional relation between microbleeds and the microstructural integrity of the white matter was assessed by 2 statistical methods: a multilinear regression model based on the average DTI parameters of normal-appearing white matter and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analysis, a tract-based voxelwise analysis. Fiber tractography was used to spatially describe the microstructural abnormalities along WM tracts containing a cerebral microbleed.

RESULTS

The presence of cerebral microbleeds was associated with lower mean fractional anisotropy and higher mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity, and the association remained when cardiovascular risk factors and cerebral small-vessel disease markers were further adjusted. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analysis indicated strictly lobar cerebral microbleeds associated with lower fractional anisotropy, higher mean diffusivity, and higher radial diffusivity in the internal capsule and corpus callosum after adjusting other cerebral small-vessel disease markers, while only a few voxels remained associated with deep cerebral microbleeds. Diffusion abnormalities gradients along WM tracts containing a cerebral microbleed were not found in fiber tractography analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebral microbleeds are associated with widely distributed changes in white matter, despite their focal appearance on SWI.

In vivo noninvasive measurement of spatially resolved corneal elasticity in human eyes using Lamb wave optical coherence elastography

Current elastography techniques are limited in application to accurately assess spatially resolved corneal elasticity in vivo for human eyes. The air-puff optical coherence elastography (OCE) with an eye motion artifacts correction algorithm is developed to distinguish the in vivo cornea vibration from the eye motion and visualize the Lamb wave propagation clearly in healthy subjects. Based on the Lamb wave model, the phase velocity dispersion curve in the high-frequency is calculated to obtain spatially resolved corneal elasticity accurately with high repeatability. It is found that the corneal elasticity has regional variations and is correlated with intraocular pressure, which suggests that the method has the potential to provide noninvasive measurement of spatially resolved corneal elasticity in clinical practice.

Validation of a Double-Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay for Pharmacokinetic Study of an rh-aFGF Hydrogel in Rat Skin and Serum

In this study, we validated a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to investigate the pharmacokinetics of a recombinant human acidic fibroblast growth factor (rh-aFGF) hydrogel in rat skin and serum. A total of 130 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control group, rh-aFGF hydrogel group, and a positive-control group (commercial rh-aFGF-Ai). We first determined the dilution ratio of skin homogenate and then validated the quantitative range, specificity, precision, and accuracy of our double-sandwich ELISA method, as well as the stability of our rh-aFGF hydrogel. For our pharmacokinetic study, skin and serum samples were collected at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10 h after rh-aFGF administration, and the concentration of rh-aFGF was measured by ELISA. The results showed that a 10-fold dilution of the skin tissue homogenate circumvented non-specific interference with endogenous proteins. The quantitative scope of the rh-aFGF calibration curve ranged from 62.5 to 4,000 pg/mL. The precision and accuracy of rh-aFGF quality-control samples were below 20%. Furthermore, bFGF, FGF21, KGF-2, and insulin did not interfere with the detection of aFGF, confirming that our method was specific. Rh-aFGF was stable under normal storage conditions. The maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to peak (Tmax) of the rh-aFGF hydrogel were 909.2 pg/cm2 and 0.5 h, respectively. The relative bioavailability (F) of the rh-aFGF hydrogel was 120% compared with that of rh-aFGF-Ai. The serum concentration of rh-aFGF was too low to be detected. Taken together, the pharmacokinetics of this rh-aFGF hydrogel provide further support for clinical research on rh-aFGF, and our double-sandwich ELISA method may be useful for pharmacokinetic studies of other protein-based drugs.