bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor reduces heart ischaemia/reperfusion injury via inflammation and Akt signalling in rats
Authors: Song Zhao-feng , Chen Dong-yu , Du Bo , Ji Xiao-ping
Published: January 2024

Background

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) has been proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of heart ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)butoxy]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone (DPQ), a potent PARP inhibitor, has cardiac protective effects. Because the underlying mechanisms are not understood, we investigated the effect of DPQ on heart I/R injury and its mechanisms.

Methods

Studies were performed with I/R rats' hearts. DPQ was used to inhibit the activation of PARP. Cardiac function and cellular apoptosis were assessed. The activation of PARP, transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were evaluated. We also evaluated expression of Akt and two of its downstream targets, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and forkhead transcription factor FOXO3a.

Results

Administration of DPQ significantly decreased the activation of PARP and cellular apoptosis from (35±5)% to (20±4)% and simultaneously improved the cardiac function. DPQ reduced the expressions of NF-κB, ICAM-1, COX-2 and MMP-9 in rat heart and facilitated the activations of phosphor-Akt, phosphor-GSK-3β and phosphor-FOXO3a.

Conclusion

The protective effects of DPQ were associated with the suppression of inflammation and the activation of the Akt signalling pathways suggesting that the inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase reduced heart I/R injury in rats.
Transmission of extensively drug-resistant and multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in families identified by genotyping
Authors: YAN Li-ping , QIN Lian-hua , ZHANG Qing , SUN Hua , HAN Min , XIAO He-ping
Published: January 2024

Background

Diagnosis and appropriate treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remain major challenges. We sought to elucidate that persons who share a household with drug resistance tuberculosis patients are at high risk for primary drug resistance tuberculosis and how to prevent these outbreaks.

Methods

We used 12-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit and 7-locus variable-number tandem repeat to identify household transmission of extensively drug resistant and multiple drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in three families admitted in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital affiliated with Tongji University. Drug susceptibility tests were done by the modified proportion method in the MGIT 960 system in the same time. Clinical data were also obtained from the subjects' medical records.

Results

All of the six strains were defined as Beijing genotype by the deletion-targeted multiplex PCR (DTM-PCR) identification on the genomic deletion RD105. Strains from family-1 had the same minisatellite interspersed repetitive unit (MIRU) pattern (232225172531) and the same MIRU pattern (3677235). Strains from family-2 had the same MIRU pattern (2212261553323) and the same MIRU pattern (3685134). Strains from family-3 did not have the same MIRU pattern and they differed at only one locus (223326173533, 223325173533), and did not have the same VNTR pattern with two locus differed (3667233, 3677234).

Conclusions

Household transmission exists in the three families. A clear chain of tuberculosis transmission within family exists. Tuberculosis susceptibility should be considered when there is more than one tuberculosis patients in a family. Household tuberculosis transmission could be prevented with adequate treatment of source patients.
Peer reviewing of screening mammography in Taiwan: its reliability and the improvement
Authors: PAN Huay-ben , HSU Giu-cheng , YANG Tsung-lung , HUANG Jer-shyung , CHOU Chen-pin , LIANG Huei-lung , LEE San-kan , CHOU Yi-hong , LI Hung-ju , WONG Kam-fai
Published: January 2024

Background

Early detection with screening mammography can potentially reduce breast cancer mortality rates. To achieve an efficient screening, a peer review system provides a compensatory double-check reviewing, will hopefully to prevent the omission of detectable lesions and reduce unnecessary recall.

Methods

In 2009, 4643 initial mammographic screenings reported by 74 screening radiologists had negative results with a recall rate of less than 5%. In the same year, 2538 initial positives screened by 18 screening radiologists had a recall rate higher than 15%. Those 7181 randomized screenings were evenly distributed for reassessment by 39 reviewing radiologists. The disagreement of assessments between the reviewers and screening radiologists was recorded. The differential rate was defined as the number of the disagreements divided by the number of audited films reviewed by a screening radiologist. The equality of the differential rates for each screening radiologists with negative and positive assessments was compared by a Chi-square test. The performance of the 39 auditors was measured by the Kendall's tau statistic. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

The mean differential rate for screening radiologists of negative assessments was 6.7% (P=0.588), while 35.0% for positive assessments were significant (P <0.001). The result indicated that most of the initial negative assessments reported by the screening radiologists were generally accepted by the reviewers but not the positive assessments. With respect to the 39 reviewers, there was no significant evidence for the association of the difference rates between negative and positive assessments. Nine reviewers were found to have their differential rate for negative and positive assessments larger than the average of the population. Eleven reviewers were found to have their differential rates smaller than the average for both. Thirteen reviewers had their differential rates smaller than the average for negative assessments but larger than the average for positive assessments. The opposite condition was found for six reviewers. The Kendall's tau statistic was 0.038 (P=0.735).

Conclusions

Reviewers usually agreed with the opinion of the initial screening doctors who reported negative findings. Therefore, a 5% recall rate as the lower range of reviewing negatives may be still too high. The recall rate of more than 15% was significantly related to improper interpretation, especially when the differential rate is 25% or higher, a warning to the underperforming screening radiologist is recommended. An ideal reviewer should interpret films independently. Reviewers with tendencies to be followers or contrarians should not be enrolled in the reviewing system.
Impact of depressed left ventricular function on outcomes in patients with three-vessel coronary disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: GAO Zhan , XU Bo , Kirtane Ajay J. , YANG Yue-jin , YUAN Jin-qing , CHEN Ji-lin , QIAO Shu-bin , WU Yong-jian , QIN Xue-wen , YAN Hong-bin , YAO Min , LIU Hai-bo , CHEN Jue , YOU Shi-jie , GAO Run-lin
Published: January 2024

Background

Patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) represent a high risk group of patients for coronary revascularization. There are limited data on percutaneous coronary intervention treatment in this population.

Methods

Among a cohort of 4335 patients with three-vessel disease with or without left main disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, 191 patients had LVEF <40% (low ejection fraction (EF)) and 4144 patients had LVEF ≥40%. In-hospital and long-term outcomes were examined according to LVEF.

Results

The estimated two-year rates of major adverse cardiac events, cardiac death, and myocardial infarction were significantly higher in the low EF group (19.64% vs. 8.73%, Log-rank test: P <0.01; 10.30% vs. 1.33%, Log-rank test: P <0.01, and 10.32% vs. 2.28%, Log-rank test: P <0.01 respectively), but there was no difference in the rates of target vessel revascularization (6.18% vs. 6.11%, Log-rank test: P=0.96). Using the Cox proportional hazard models, LVEF <40% was a significant risk factor for cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and major adverse cardiac events (OR (95% CI): 4.779 (2.369-9.637), 2.673 (1.353-5.282), and 1.827 (1.187-2.813) respectively), but was not a statistically significant risk factor for target vessel revascularization (OR (95% CI): 1.094 (0.558-2.147)).

Conclusion

Among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for multivessel coronary artery disease, left ventricular dysfunction remains associated with further risk of cardiac death in-hospital and during long-term follow-up.
Does human papillomavirus infection do harm to in-vitro fertilization outcomes and subsequent pregnancy outcomes?
Authors: YANG Rui , WANG Ying , QIAO Jie , LIU Ping , GENG Li , GUO Yan-li
Published: January 2024

Background

Some studies suggested that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection could reduce the clinical pregnancy rate and double the spontaneous abortion rate compared with non-infected women after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). But some other studies showed there was no difference between HPV infected and non-infected groups of ART outcomes. The role of HPV infection in infertile women undergoing IVF treatments has been a controversial issue which this article attempts to investigate.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of 3880 infertile women undergoing IVF treatment at Peking University Third hospital reproductive medical center in 2008. Patients with abnormal thin-layer preparation cytologic test (TCT) results who underwent fresh cycle embryo transfer were divided into an HPV positive group (n=56) and an HPV negative group (n=56). The clinical parameters were compared (using Student's t-test and chi-squared test). Univariate and multivariate analyses were taken to see if HPV infection affects the clinical pregnancy rate.

Results

Of the 3880 cases 157 had TCT abnormality (4.0%). Of the 149 patients who had HPV test results, 112 women (81.2%) received a fresh cycle embryo transfer. Each group had 56 cases. The patients were of similar age and BMI, basic hormone levels, and infertile factors were similar. The gonadotropin use, oocyte retrieval number, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate and newborn condition were all similar between groups. Analyses showed neither HPV infection nor HPV hybrid capture (HC) II results affected clinical pregnancy rate after IVF treatments, but the FSH level did.

Conclusion

HPV positivity did not appear to impact assisted reproductive technology (ART) success. “Extensive treatment” for HPV before IVF was not recommended because treatment time will increase age and reduce ovarian function, which will lead to inferior IVF outcomes.
Effect of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation on weaning success in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation: a meta-analysis
Authors: ZHU Fen , LIU Zi-long , LONG Xuan , WU Xiao-dan , ZHOU Jing , BAI Chun-xue , LI Shan-qun
Published: January 2024

Background

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) has been proposed to shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation in intubated patients, especially those who fail initial weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). However, there are also some discrepancies in terms of weaning success or failure, incidence of re-intubation, complications observed during study and patient outcomes. The primary objective of this update was to specifically investigate the role of NIPPV on facilitating weaning and avoiding re-intubation in patients intubated for different etiologies of acute respiratory failure, by comparing with conventional invasive weaning approach.

Methods

We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing noninvasive weaning of early extubation and immediate application of NIPPV with invasive weaning in intubated patients from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Knowledge and Springerlink databases. Records from conference proceedings and reference lists of relevant studies were also identified.

Results

A total of 11 RCTs with 623 patients were available for the present analysis. Compared with IMV, NIPPV significantly increased weaning success rates (odds ratio (OR): 2.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46-4.30, P=0.0009), decreased mortality (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.20-0.75, P=0.005), and reduced the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) (OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.08-0.37, P <0.00001) and complications (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07-0.72, P=0.01). However, effect of NIPPV on re-intubation did not reach statistical difference (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.33-1.11, P=0.11).

Conclusions

Early extubation and immediate application of NIPPV is superior to conventional invasive weaning approach in increasing weaning success rates, decreasing the risk of mortality and reducing the incidence of VAP and complications, in patients who need weaning from IMV. However, it should be applied with caution, as there is insufficient beneficial evidence to definitely recommend it in terms of avoiding re-intubation.
Completely thoracoscopic lobectomy for the surgical management of bronchiectasis
Authors: ZHOU Zu-li , ZHAO Hui , LI Yun , LI Jian-feng , JIANG Guan-chao , WANG Jun
Published: January 2024

Background

The feasibility of completing a lobectomy by completely video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (cVATS) in the management of bronchiectasis is unclear. By retrospectively comparing the outcomes from the lobectomies that used thoracotomy vs. cVATS, we determined the appropriateness of the minimally invasive cVATS approach in the management of bronchiectasis.

Methods

Between June 2001 and October 2010, 60 patients with bronchiectasis underwent surgery, of which 56 lobectomies were performed. All lobectomies were carried out by either thoracotomy or cVATS approach. Pulmonary vessels and bronchi were manipulated by ligation or stapler in the thoracotomy group, while they were dissected by endo-cutters in the cVATS group.

Results

There were 21 patients in the thoracotomy group and 35 patients in the cVATS group. Two cVATS patients (5.7%) converted. The difference in operation time, chest tube duration, lengths of hospitalization, and morbidity were not significantly different between the two groups (P >0.05). The blood loss was less in the cVATS group (P=0.015). A total of 52.4% and 62.9% of patients were postoperatively asymptomatic in the thoracotomy and cVATS groups respectively, and symptomatic improvement was obtained in 38.1% patients by thoracotomy vs. 31.4% patients by cVATS.

Conclusion

cVATS lobectomy is safe and effective for the management of bronchiectasis, especially for the patients with localized lesions.
Fish consumption and incidence of heart failure: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
Authors: LI Yue-hua , ZHOU Cheng-hui , PEI Han-jun , ZHOU Xian-liang , LI Li-huan , WU Yong-jian , HUI Ru-tai
Published: January 2024

Background

The association between fish consumption and heart failure (HF) incidence is inconsistent.

Methods

We performed a systematic search of Pubmed and Embase (from 1953 to June 2012) using key words related to fish and HF. Studies with at least three categories of fish consumption reporting both relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for HF incidence were included. The pooled RR and 95%CI were calculated using a fixed or random-effects model. The generalized least squares regression model was used to quantify the dose-response relationship between fish consumption and HF incidence.

Results

Five prospective cohort studies including 4750 HF events of 170 231 participants with an average of 9.7-year follow-up were selected and identified. Compared with those who never ate fish, individuals with higher fish consumption had a lower HF incidence. The pooled RRs for HF incidence was 0.99 (95%CI, 0.91 to 1.08) for fish consumption 1 to 3 times per month, 0.91 (95%CI, 0.84 to 0.99) for once a week, 0.87 (95%CI, 0.81 to 0.95) for 2 to 4 times per week, and 0.86 (95%CI, 0.84 to 0.99) for 5 or more times per week. An increment of 20 g of daily fish intake was related to a 6% lower risk of HF (RR: 0.94, 95% CI, 0.90 to 0.97; P for trend = 0.001).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis suggests that there is a dose-dependent inverse relationship between fish consumption and HF incidence. Fish intake once or more times a week could reduce HF incidence.
Perinatal risk factors and neonatal complications in discordant twins admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: ZHANG Xiao-rui , LIU Jie , ZENG Chao-mei
Published: January 2024

Background

Many studies have shown a relationship between birth weight discordance and adverse perinatal outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the perinatal risk factors and neonatal complications of discordant twins who are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods

A total of 87 sets of twins were enrolled in this retrospective study, of which 22 sets were discordant twins and 65 sets were concordant twins. Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of discordant twins. The common neonatal complications of discordant twins were also investigated.

Results

Multivariate analysis showed that the use of assisted reproductive techniques, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and unequal placental sharing were risk factors for the occurrence of discordant twins. The incidence of small for gestational age infants and very low birth weight infants of discordant twins was significantly higher, while the birth weight of discordant twins was significantly lower than those of concordant twins. The duration of hospitalization of discordant twins was longer than that of concordant twins. The incidence of several neonatal complications, such as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and intracranial hemorrhage, was higher in discordant twins than that in concordant twins. The percentage of those requiring pulmonary surfactant and mechanical ventilation was significantly higher in discordant twins than that in concordant twins.

Conclusions

Use of assisted reproductive techniques, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and unequal placental sharing are perinatal risk factors of discordant twins who are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. These infants are also much more likely to suffer from various neonatal complications, especially respiratory and central nervous system diseases. It is important to prevent the occurrence of discordant twins by decreasing these risk factors and timely treatment should be given to discordant twins.
Hybrid procedures for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and dissections
Authors: ZHANG Hong-peng , GUO Wei , LIU Xiao-ping , JIA Xin , XIONG Jiang , MA Xiao-hui
Published: January 2024

Background

Hybrid procedures including debranching of visceral and renal arteries followed by endovascular exclusion of the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) have recently been proposed as a less invasive alternative to conventional TAAA surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate and long-term outcomes of hybrid procedures for TAAA in high-risk patients.

Methods

Between September 1998 and May 2012, 32 high-risk TAAA patients (five females, median age 61.5 years) underwent hybrid procedures at a single institution. Simultaneous approach and staged approach were performed on the basis of patients' conditions. Follow-up computed tomography angiography (CTA) was routinely performed before discharge and at 6, 12 months and annually thereafter.

Results

Procedural success was achieved in all cases. The median hospital stay was (21.5P2.3) days, and the median procedure time was (420231) minutes. Blood loss averaged (21003261) ml. A total of 124 visceral artery bypasses was performed. Two patients (6.3%) died within 30 days. One patient exhibited complete paraplegia (3.1%). The visceral graft patency was 96.1% at 3 years. All-cause survival rates were 93.8%, 87.5%, 81.3% and 53.1% at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years, respectively. No patient died due to aortic events. The freedom rates from aortic events were 96.9%, 93.6%, 87.5%, 68.8% at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years, respectively.

Conclusions

The results of visceral hybrid repair for high-risk patients with complex TAAAs are encouraging. However, the procedure is still a significant physiological insult to patients. Until branched and fenestrated endovascular repair become more common, hybrid procedure will continue to have a role in high-risk patients.
Decompression alone versus decompression with instrumented fusion for young patients with single-level lumbar disc herniation: a short-term prospective comparative study
Authors: Sun Zhuoran , Li Weishi , Chen Zhongqiang , Guo Zhaoqing , Qi Qiang , Zeng Yan , Sun Chuiguo , Liu Ning
Published: January 2024

Background

For young patients, the surgical method for lumbar disc herniation remains controversial. The aim of this study was to prospectively determine the short-term clinical outcome after surgery for young patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Methods

In this prospective comparative study between April 2010 and August 2011, a total of 80 patients underwent primary surgery at a single level for lumbar disc herniation. The patients were divided into two groups: decompression alone and decompression with instrumented fusion. An independent examiner clinically evaluated the patients at preoperation and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The patients filled out the instruments for back and leg pain using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODI), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores. The differences between the two groups were analyzed.

Results

The mean age of all the patients at the time of surgery was 33.7 years. Of the 80 patients, 38 patients underwent decompression alone and 42 patients underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Increasing complexity of surgery was associated with a longer surgery time, greater blood loss, and a longer hospital stay after surgery. Both methods of surgery independently improved outcomes compared with baseline status based on VAS, ODI, and JOA scores (P <0.05), and no significant differences were found between the two groups at most of the measuring points in time, although patients with decompression alone had a higher JOA score (P=0.016) and higher JOA recovery rate (P=0.010) at the 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions

The short-term results of our study showed that both methods of surgery obtained effective clinical outcomes, but decompression alone had some advantages (shorter surgery time, less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and lower cost) compared with decompression with instrumented fusion. Young patients with decompression alone could achieve great physical function earlier.
A meta-analysis of carotid endarterectomy versus stenting in the treatment of symptomatic carotid stenosis
Authors: WANG Liang , LIU Xiao-zhi , LIU Zhen-lin , LAN Feng-ming , SHI Wan-chao , LIU Jun , ZHANG Jian-ning
Published: January 2024

Background

Carotid stenosis is one of the common reasons for patients with ischemic stroke, and the two invasive options carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are the most popular treatments. But the relative efficacy and safety of the methods are not clear.

Methods

About 521 articles related to CAS and CEA for carotid stenosis published in 1995-2011 were retrieved from MEDLINE, Cochrane Library (CL), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) China Journal Full-Test database. Of them, eight articles were chosen. Meta-analysis was used to assess the relative risks.

Results

The eight studies included 3873 patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, including 1941 cases in the carotid stent angioplasty group, and 1932 cases in the carotid endarterectomy group. Fixed effect model analysis showed that within 30 days of incidence of all types of strokes, surgery was significantly highly preferred in CAS patients (CAS group) than the CEA patients (CEA group), and the difference was statistically significant (relative ratio (RR)=1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.380-2.401, P<0.0001). But the incidence of death in the two groups is not showed and is not statistically significant after 30 days (RR=1.52, 95% CI: 0.82-2.82, P=0.18). The rate of cranial nerve injury in the CAS group is lower than the CEA group (RR=0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.43, P=0.0005). The incidence of CAS patients with myocardial infarction is lower than the CEA group after 30 days, but statistically meaningless (RR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.05-1.02, P=0.05). The stroke or death in CAS patients were higher than the CEA group after 1 year of treatment ((RR=2.58, 95% CI: 1.03-6.48, P=0.04).

Conclusions

Compared to CAS, carotid endarterectomy is still the preferred treatment methodology of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Future meta-analyses should then be performed in long-term follow-up to support this treatment recommendation.
Clinical and histopathological characteristics of basal cell carcinoma in Chinese patients
Authors: CHANG Jian-min , GAO Xiao-man
Published: January 2024

Background

The clinical and histopathological characteristics of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) have been relatively well studied in Caucasian population. To characterize BCC in Chinese population, we analyzed the association of the histopathological subtypes with gender, age and anatomical location in this study.

Methods

The clinical and histopathological data of 243 BCC cases diagnosed at three hospitals in Beijing from January 2000 to April 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Gender, age, location and histopathological subtype were analyzed.

Results

Among 243 patients enrolled, 118 were males and 125 were females. The male/female ratio was 0.94:1. The mean age was (65.16±12.62) years old. The head and neck were the most common sites of BCC (77.4%). Of the BCCs, 53.9% were nodular, 18.9% superficial and 18.5% infiltrative-morphoeic. The nodular, infiltrative-morphoeic and micronodular subtypes were predominant located on the head and neck, whereas the trunk was the most common location for the superficial subtype (P <0.05). The age at first presentation for females was lower than that for males (P <0.05). The age at first presentation for the superficial BCCs was younger than the non-superficial subtypes (P <0.05). Women with superficial BCC subtype visited hospital earlier than men (P <0.05).

Conclusions

Consistent with previous reports in Caucasian patient, our study find that different histopathological subtypes of BCC has distinct clinical features. It is speculated that the mechanisms underlining the pathogenesis of the superficial BCC may be different than those of non-superficial subtypes of BCC.
Construction and identification of an RNA interference lentivirus vector targeting the Ras homology C gene of melanoma cells
Authors: Wang Qiying , Wang Ximei , Zhai Xiaomei , Zhang Jianwen , Chen Minjing , Liu Linbo
Published: January 2024

Background

Melanoma has the highest mortality among all superficial malignant tumors. The poor prognosis is due to its high metastasis rate and the lack of therapeutic targets. As a molecular switch that controls tumor metastasis, Ras homology C (RhoC) has been correlated with tumor progression, especially tumor invasion and metastasis. However, little research has been done about the effects of RNA interference (RNAi) targeting RhoC on the invasion and metastasis of melanoma. In this study, we constructed an RNAi lentivirus vector targeting the RhoC gene of melanoma cells and identified its silencing effects on the RhoC gene.

Methods

Based on the RhoC gene encoding information, three pGPU6/GFP/Neo-short hairpin (shRNA) plasmids were constructed. After detecting their silencing effects on the RhoC gene of A375 cells, the most effective pGPU6/GFP/ Neo-shRNA plasmid was packed with lentivirus to construct the recombinant pLenti6.3-EGFP-453 targeting RhoC. The lentivirus vector was used to infect A375 cells, and then the expression of RhoC mRNA and protein were determined with real-time PCR and Western blotting.

Results

The plasmids pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA 336, pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA 453, and pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA 680 were constructed. After they were transfected into A375 cells, the expressions of RhoC mRNA and protein were 1.47±0.26, 1.13±0.16, 1.39±0.11 and 70.98±9.21, 50.67±6.06, 65.77±4.06, respectively. pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA 453 was the most effective sequence, and was used to successfully construct the pLenti6.3-EGFP-453 lentiviral vector targeting RhoC. pLenti6.3-EGFP-453 was used to infect A375 cells. The expression of RhoC mRNA and protein were 1.05±0.05 and 62.04±15.86 in the lentivirus group, 4.21±0.24 and 220.86±24.07 in the negative lentivirus control group, and 4.63±0.32 and 257.39±12.30 in the normal control group respectively with the difference between the lentivirus group and the control groups being statistically significant (P <0.05).

Conclusion

The successfully constructed pLenti6.3-EGFP-453 vector targeting the RhoC can effectively infect human melanoma A375 cells in vitro, and significantly inhibit the RhoC mRNA and protein expression.
Liraglutide prevents high glucose level induced insulinoma cells apoptosis by targeting autophagy
Authors: CHEN Ze-fang , LI Yan-bo , HAN Jun-yong , YIN Jia-jing , WANG Yang , ZHU Li-bo , XIE Guang-ying
Published: January 2024

Background

The pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes is progressive pancreatic beta cell failure with consequential reduced insulin secretion. Glucotoxicity results in the reduction of beta cell mass in type 2 diabetes by inducing apoptosis. Autophagy is essential for the maintenance of normal islet architecture and plays a crucial role in maintaining the intracellular insulin content by accelerating the insulin degradation rate in beta cells. Recently more attention has been paid to the effect of autophagy in type 2 diabetes. The regulatory pathway of autophagy in controlling pancreatic beta cells is still not clear. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether liraglutide can inhibit apoptosis and modulate autophagy in vitro in insulinoma cells (INS-1 cells).

Methods

INS-1 cells were incubated for 24 hours in the presence or absence of high levels of glucose, liraglutide (a long-acting human glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue), or 3-methyadenine (3-MA). Cell viability was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) viability assay. Autophagy of INS-1 cells was tested by monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, an autophagy fluorescent compound used for the labeling of autophagic vacuoles, and by Western blotting of microtubule-associated protein I light chain 3 (LC3), a biochemical markers of autophagic initiation.

Results

The viability of INS-1 cells was reduced after treatment with high levels of glucose. The viability of INS-1 cells was reduced and apoptosis was increased when autophagy was inhibited. The viability of INS-1 cells was significantly increased by adding liraglutide to supplement high glucose level medium compared with the cells treated with high glucose levels alone.

Conclusions

Apoptosis and autophagy were increased in rat INS-1 cells when treated with high level of glucose, and the viability of INS-1 cells was significantly reduced by inhibiting autophagy. Liraglutide protected INS-1 cells from high glucose level-induced apoptosis that is accompanied by a significant increase of autophagy, suggesting that liraglutide plays a role in beta cell apoptosis by targeting autophagy. Thus, autophagy may be a new target for the prevention or treatment of diabetes.
Inhibition of neovascularization and expression shift of pro-/anti-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor isoforms after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in oxygen-induced- retinopathy mouse model
Authors: SHI Xuan , ZHAO Min , XIE Wan-kun , LIANG Jian-hong , MIAO Yi-fei , DU Wei , LI Xiao-xin
Published: January 2024

Background

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has become one of the leading causes of visual loss in children. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is the principal stimulator of angiogenesis. VEGF was differentially spliced from exon 8 to exons 8a and 8b to form two families: the pro-angiogenic VEGFxxx family and the anti-angiogenic VEGFxxxb family. Previous research has shown variable effeteness of bevacizumab in inhibiting retinal neovascularization in ROP. This study aimed to investigate whether the effectiveness of this inhibition depends on the relative ratio of the two VEGF isoforms.

Methods

Intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) was performed in the oxygen-induced-retinopathy (OIR) mice on postnatal day 12 (P12) (intravitreal phosphate buffered saline (PBS) injection as control). The Evans blue perfused retina were used to test the retinal neovascularization-leakage (NVL) area and non-perfusion (NP) area.

Results

The retinal NVL and NP area in the IVB group were significantly smaller than the intravitreal PBS injection group (IVP group). On P17, the protein level of total VEGF isoforms was significantly inhibited compared to IVP group (P <0.05) while VEGF165b isoform was slight reduced (P >0.05). The switch from pro-angiogenic isoforms to anti-angiogenic isoforms after IVB could be found. The relative protein expression of VEGF165b isoform was significantly higher in IVB group than in IVP group (P <0.05) on P17 which was correlated with the reduced ischemia-induced angiogenesis in OIR mice after IVB.

Conclusions

The anti-angiogenic effectiveness might depend on the relative high expression of VEGF165b after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Anti-angiogenic therapy is a more effective therapy for ROP.
Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms and wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis in Chinese population
Authors: Cai Pei-pei , Yin Jia
Published: January 2024

Background

Wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA) is a complex disease resulting from interaction of environmental and genetic factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (IL-4-C590T, IL-4RA A1727G and IL-10-A627C) with WDEIA.

Methods

SNP genotyping was conducted among the case subset composing 51 patients with WDEIA and four control subsets by sequencing DNA yielded from polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical analysis of genotype/allele’s frequencies between cases and controls were carried out through Fisher’s exact test with the software of SPSS16.0.

Results

For IL-4-C590T, there were statistically significant differences of genotype frequencies in case-control 1 (P=0.03) and case-control 4 (P=0.001) and statistically significant differences of allele frequencies in three case-control models (case-control 1: OR=4.27 (95% CI=1.40-13.07), P=0.009; case-control 3: OR=1.99 (95% CI=1.13-3.50), P=0.02; case-control 4: OR=2.39 (95% CI=1.49-3.84), P=0.001). All other association studies showed no statistically significant (P >0.05).

Conclusions

IL-4-C590T may be related to the susceptibility of WDEIA, and the minor allele C might be a potential risk factor accounting for WDEIA. IL-4RA A1727G and IL-10-A627C might not be involved in the occurrence of WDEIA.
Hydrogen sulfide is endogenously generated in rat skeletal muscle and exerts a protective effect against oxidative stress
Authors: DU Jian-tong , LI Wei , YANG Jin-yan , TANG Chao-shu , LI Qi , JIN Hong-fang
Published: January 2024

Background

Skeletal muscle has recently been recognized as an endocrine organ that can express, synthesize and secrete a variety of bioactive molecules which exert significant regulatory effects. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is endogenously produced in mammalian tissues and participates in a number of physiological and pathophysiological processes. We aimed to verify whether H2S could be endogenously generated and released by rat skeletal muscle, and determine the biological effects of H2S in rat skeletal muscle.

Methods

The study was divided into two parts: detection of endogenous H2S generation and release in rat skeletal muscle and determination of antioxidative activity of skeletal muscle-derived H2S. H2S content and production in tissues were detected by sensitive sulfur electrode method. The expressions of H2S producing enzymes cystathionine β-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase and mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase were detected by real-time PCR and western blotting and their tissue distributions were observed by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent analysis. Rat skeletal muscular ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury model was created and evaluated by histological analysis under microscope. The malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, hydrogen peroxide levels, superoxide anion and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were detected using spectrophotometer.

Results

H2S could be endogenously generated and released by skeletal muscle of Sprague-Dawley rats (H2S content: (2.06±0.43) nmol/mg; H2S production: (0.17±0.06) nmol·min-1·mg-1). Gene and protein expressions of the three H2S producing enzymes were detected in skeletal muscle, as well as the liver and kidney. Endogenous H2S content and production were decreased in skeletal muscles of rats with I-R skeletal muscle injury (P <0.05). Furthermore, H2S significantly protected rat skeletal muscle against I-R injury and resulted in decreased MDA content, reduced hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion levels, but increased SOD activity and protein expression in skeletal muscles (all P <0.01).

Conclusion

H2S generation pathway exists in rat skeletal muscle and it acts as an antioxidant in skeletal muscle.
Responsiveness of stroke volume variation and central venous pressure during acute normovolemic and hypervolemic hemodilution
Authors: Ji Fu-hai , Li Wen-jing , Li Jiang , Peng Ke , Yang Jian-ping , Liu Hong
Published: January 2024

Background

Stroke volume variation (SVV) is a robust indicator of fluid responsiveness during volume change. We compared the sensibility of SVV by Vigileo/Flotrac to central venous pressure (CVP) when volume changes in patients undergoing intraoperative acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) and acute hypervolemic hemodilution (AHH).

Methods

Forty patients were randomly divided into an ANH group (n=20) and an AHH group (n=20). All patients received general anesthesia and were mechanically ventilated. Data were collected from 7 different time-points in the ANH group: baseline, after withdrawal of 5%, 10%, and 15% of the estimated blood volume (EBV) and after replacement with an equal volume of 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (HES) in 5% EBV increments to baseline. There were four time points in the AHH group: baseline, after 5%, 10%, and 15% expansion of the EBV with 6% HES. At each time-point, CVP, SVV and other hemodynamic parameters measurements were obtained.

Results

After removal of 10% and 15% EBV, SVV significantly increased from 10.9±3.0 to 14.1±3.4 and 10.9±3.0 to16.0±3.3 (P <0.01), and returned to a final value of 10.6±3.4 after volume replacement. The CVP value was unchanged after removal and replacement of 15% of the EBV. There were no significant changes in SVV after 5%, 10% whereas there was a significant reduction after 15% (8.2±1.7) expansion of the EBV compared with baseline (9.9±1.8) (P=0.033). However, there was a significant increase in CVP after10% (10.3±2.4), 15% (11.3±2.2) expansion of the EBV compared with baseline (8.2±2.7) (P <0.01).

Conclusion

SVV is a more sensitive parameter for volume than CVP during hypovolemia, on the contrary CVP is more sensitive than SVV during hypervolemia.
Collagen membrane alleviates peritendinous adhesion in the rat Achilles tendon injury model
Authors: ZHAO Huan , GUAN Hong-geng , GU Jun , LUO Zong-ping , ZHANG Wen , CHEN Bing , GU Qiao-li , YANG Hui-lin , SHI Qin
Published: January 2024

Background

Tendon adhesion is one of the most common causes of disability following tendon surgery. Therefore, prevention of peritendinous adhesion after surgical repair of tendon is a major challenge. The aim of this study was to explore the possible application of a collagen membrane for the prevention or attenuation of peritendinous adhesions.

Methods

Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat Achilles tendon was cut and sutured by a modified Kessler's technique with or without the collagen membrane wrapped. Macroscopic, morphological and biomechanical evaluations were applied to examine the recovery of the injured tendon at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery.

Results

The surgery group wrapped by collagen membranes had a better outcome than the group with surgery repair only. In the collagen membrane-treated group, less adhesion appeared, stronger tensile strength was detected, and more tendon fibers and collagen I expression were observed morphologically.

Conclusion

Wrapping the tendon with a collagen membrane may be an efficient approach for tendon repair and preventing tendon adhesion after its ruptures.
Decreased and dysfunctional circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: YANG Yue , GAN Ye , CAO Jun , CHEN Yan , HE Zhi-hui , LUO Hong , CAI Shan , XIANG Xu-dong , ZHOU Rui , CHEN Ping
Published: January 2024

Background

It has been widely demonstrated that endothelial progenitor cells are involved in several diseases and that they have therapeutic implications. In order to define the altered pulmonary vascular homeostasis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we sought to observe the level and functions of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Methods

The total study population included 20 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 20 control subjects. The number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CD34+/CD133+/VEGFR-2+ cells) was counted by flow cytometry. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells were also cultured in vitro and characterized by uptake of DiIacLDL, combining with UEA-I, and expression of von Willebrand factor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Adhesion, proliferation, production of nitric oxide, and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and phosphorylated-endothelial nitric oxide synthase were detected to determine functions of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Results

The number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease group was lower than in the control group: (0.54±0.16)% vs. (1.15±0.57)%, P <0.05. About 80% of adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured in vitro were double labeled with Dil-acLDL and UEA-1. The 92% and 91% of them were positive for von Willebrand factor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, respectively. Compared with the control, there were significantly fewer adhering endothelial progenitor cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: 18.7±4.8/field vs. 45.0±5.9/field, P <0.05. The proliferation assay showed that the proliferative capacity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients was significantly impaired: 0.135±0.038 vs. 0.224±0.042, P <0.05. Furthermore, nitric oxide synthase (112.06±10.00 vs. 135.41±5.38, P <0.05), phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression (88.89±4.98 vs. 117.98±16.49, P <0.05) and nitric oxide production ((25.11±5.27) μmol/L vs. (37.72±7.10) μmol/L, P <0.05) were remarkably lower in endothelial cells from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease group than the control.

Conclusion

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells were decreased and functionally impaired in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Gender differences associated with orienting attentional networks in healthy subjects
Authors: LIU Gang , HU Pan-pan , FAN Jin , WANG Kai
Published: January 2024

Background

Selective attention is considered one of the main components of cognitive functioning. A number of studies have demonstrated gender differences in cognition. This study aimed to investigate the gender differences in selective attention in healthy subjects.

Methods

The present experiment examined the gender differences associated with the efficiency of three attentional networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control attention in 73 healthy subjects (38 males). All participants performed a modified version of the Attention Network Test (ANT).

Results

Females had higher orienting scores than males (t=2.172, P <0.05). Specifically, females were faster at covert orienting of attention to a spatially cued location. There were no gender differences between males and females in alerting (t=0.813, P >0.05) and executive control (t=0.945, P >0.05) attention networks.

Conclusions

There was a significant gender difference between males and females associated with the orienting network. Enhanced orienting attention in females may function to motivate females to direct their attention to a spatially cued location.
Effect of pre-procedural statin therapy on myocardial no-reflow following percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta analysis
Authors: LI Xiang-dong , YANG Yue-jin , HAO Yong-chen , YANG Ying , ZHAO Jing-lin , DOU Ke-fei , GU Dong-feng
Published: January 2024

Background

Successful revascularization of coronary artery disease, especially ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), does not always mean optimal myocardial reperfusion in a portion of patients because of no-reflow phenomenon. We hypothesized that statins might attenuate the incidence of myocardial no-reflow when used before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The purpose of this study was to summarize the evidence of pre-procedural statin therapy to reduce myocardial no-reflow after PCI.

Methods

We searched the MEDLINE, Cochrane, and clinicaltrials.gov databases from inception to October 2012 for clinical trials that examined statin therapy before PCI. We required that studies initiated statins before PCI and reported myocardial no-reflow. A DerSimonian-Laird model was used to construct random-effects summary risk ratios.

Results

In all, 7 studies with 3086 patients met our selection criteria. The use of pre-procedural statins significantly reduced post-procedural no-reflow by 4.2% in all PCI patients (risk ratio (RR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35 to 0.90, P=0.016), and attenuated by 5.0% in non-STEMI patients (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.94, P=0.035). This benefit was mainly observed in the early or acute intensive statin therapy populations (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.71, P=0.001).

Conclusions

Acute intensive statin therapy before PCI significantly reduces the hazard of post-procedural no-reflow phenomenon. The routine use of statins before PCI should be considered.