[Research progress of botulinum toxin A in the therapeutic applications of oral diseases].

Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is a powerful neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, which can relieve muscle spasm or limit gland secretion by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular/glandular junction. In addition, BTX-A can also play a role in the sensory feedback loop, which can ease pain. Currently, dentists are paying more attention to the cosmetic applications of BTX-A in the oral and maxillofacial region, while their understanding of BTX-A's non-cosmetic applications is still insufficient. Although the specific molecular mechanism of BTX-A in oral diseases has not been fully clarified, with the development of evidence-based medicine, more and more clinical evidence has began to support the effectiveness of BTX-A in the therapeutic applications of oral diseases. This article will briefly review the main molecular mechanisms of BTX-A, the latest clinical research progress of BTX-A at home and abroad in the treatment of oral diseases, clinical contraindications and adverse reactions of BTX-A, providing a new idea for the treatment of oral diseases.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis analysis of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma].

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) in order to improve clinicians' understanding of this disease. Methods: The clinical data of patients diagnosed with PSC in our hospital from January 1, 2015 to November 30, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether radical resection was performed, the patients were divided into resectable group and unresectable group. The characteristics and treatments of PSC in different groups were compared. The survival curves were drawn by Kaplan-Meier method to compare the prognosis of different groups of patients. Results: A total of 43 PSC patients were included, including 32 males, with an average age of (62.79±9.59) years, and 31 smokers. Peripheral-type tumors were more common, with imaging showing predominantly solid soft tissue masses, and the maximum diameter of the tumor was more than 5 cm in 14 patients. Among the 23 patients who underwent NGS gene testing, the KRAS mutation rate was 43.5%, the TP53 mutation rate was 30.4%, and the MET mutation rate was 8.7%, all of which were MET-14 exon skipping mutations. PD-L1 expression was detected in 13 patients, 10 of whom showed high expression. The median overall survival (mOS) of the 43 patients with PSC was 24.6 months (13.0-52.7 months). Among them, 22 patients underwent radical lobectomy plus mediastinal lymph node dissection, 13 patients had postoperative recurrence, and 7 patients died during follow-up. The median disease-free survival (mDFS) was 12.3 months, the mOS was not achieved and the 1-year OS rate was 77.3 %. Twenty-one patients had unresectable locally advanced or advanced stage, and 15 patients died. The mDFS was 2.5 months, the mOS was 6.2 months, and the 1-year OS rate was 42.9 %. Seventeen patients received immunotherapy, and 1 patient received targeted therapy with the MET inhibitor glumetinib. Conclusions: PSC has a higher incidence in the elderly, smokers, and males, is highly malignant and has a poor prognosis. Based on its molecular biological characteristics, PD-L1 expression and tumor molecular detection can be performed to guide treatment options.

[Clinical efficacy of modified Yokoyama procedure with extraocular muscle transposition for high myopic eyes with restrictive esotropia].

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of the modified Yokoyama procedure with extraocular muscle transposition for high myopic eyes with restrictive esotropia. Methods: A retrospective case series study was conducted. Clinical data were collected from patients who underwent the modified Yokoyama procedure with extraocular muscle transposition for high myopic eyes with restrictive esotropia at Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from February 2017 to February 2022. During the procedure, the superior rectus and lateral rectus muscles were fully separated. A longitudinal blunt incision was made in the central muscle belly extending posteriorly to 12-14 mm from the muscle insertion. The temporal half of the superior rectus muscle and the upper half of the lateral rectus muscle belly were transposed and secured to the contralateral muscle insertion. Simultaneously, medial rectus muscle recession was performed. Follow-up visits were conducted at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Patients' ocular alignment, eye movements, improvement in compensatory head posture, objective degrees of strabismus using synoptophore, changes in extraocular muscles and globe position on orbital CT scan were recorded. Surgical complications were also documented. Results: Five patients (8 eyes) were included in this study, including 4 females (7 eyes) and 1 male (1 eye), with an average age of (63±11) years and an average axial length of (34.58±2.25) mm. The medial rectus muscle recession during surgery was (7.6±2.3) mm. Preoperatively, all patients had esotropia with a horizontal range of+15°to+45° and a vertical range of+15°to+45°. Significant limitations in lateral and upward gaze were observed, with a degree of restriction ranging from-3 (-4 to-1). Three patients with bilateral involvement and one patient with unilateral involvement exhibited significant compensatory head postures. One patient with unilateral involvement had no compensatory head posture. Preoperative orbital CT scans indicated nasal displacement of the superior rectus muscle and inferior displacement of the lateral rectus muscle, with the eyeball herniating from the muscle cone. At the 6-month follow-up, all patients achieved nearly orthophoric alignment. Objective degrees of horizontal strabismus ranged from-4°to+7°, and vertical strabismus ranged from 0°to +6°, as determined by synoptophore examination. Eye movements significantly improved, with a degree of restriction of-1 (-2 to-1) for lateral gaze and-2 (-3 to-1) for upward gaze. Compensatory head postures disappeared, and orbital CT scans indicated the eyeball was located within the muscle cone. There were no severe complications such as anterior segment ischemia, muscle adhesions, disease recurrence, secondary glaucoma, or globe penetration. Conclusion: The preliminary clinical outcomes of the modified Yokoyama procedure with extraocular muscle transposition for high myopic eyes with restrictive esotropia are promising.

[Similarities and differences of myocardial metabolic characteristics between HFpEF and HFrEF mice based on LC-MS/MS metabolomics].

Objective: To reveal the similarities and differences in myocardial metabolic characteristics between heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) mice using metabolomics. Methods: The experimental mice were divided into 4 groups, including control, HFpEF, sham and HFrEF groups (10 mice in each group). High fat diet and Nω-nitroarginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) were applied to construct a"two-hit"HFpEF mouse model. Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery was used to construct the HFrEF mouse model. The differential expression of metabolites in the myocardium of HFpEF and HFrEF mice was detected by untargeted metabolomics (UHPLC-QE-MS). Variable importance in projection>1 and P<0.05 were used as criteria to screen and classify the differentially expressed metabolites between the mice models. KEGG functional enrichment and pathway impact analysis demonstrated significantly altered metabolic pathways in both HFpEF and HFrEF mice. Results: One hundred and nine differentially expressed metabolites were detected in HFpEF mice, and 270 differentially expressed metabolites were detected in HFrEF mice. Compared with the control group, the most significantly changed metabolite in HFpEF mice was glycerophospholipids, while HFrEF mice presented with the largest proportion of carboxylic acids and their derivatives. KEGG enrichment and pathway impact analysis showed that the differentially expressed metabolites in HFpEF mice were mainly enriched in pathways such as biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, ether lipid metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism. The differentially expressed metabolites in HFrEF mice were mainly enriched in arginine and proline metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism, etc. Conclusions: HFpEF mice have a significantly different myocardial metabolite expression profile compared with HFrEF mice. In addition, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism are significantly altered in both HFpEF and HFrEF mice, suggesting that these metabolic pathways may play an important role in disease progression in both types of heart failure.

Observation of Spin Splitting Torque in a Collinear Antiferromagnet RuO_{2}.

Current-induced spin torques provide efficient data writing approaches for magnetic memories. Recently, the spin splitting torque (SST) was theoretically predicted, which combines advantages of conventional spin transfer torque (STT) and spin-orbit torque (SOT) as well as enables controllable spin polarization. Here we provide the experimental evidence of SST in collinear antiferromagnet RuO_{2} films. The spin current direction is found to be correlated to the crystal orientation of RuO_{2} and the spin polarization direction is dependent on (parallel to) the Néel vector. These features are quite characteristic for the predicted SST. Our finding not only presents a new member for the spin torques besides traditional STT and SOT, but also proposes a promising spin source RuO_{2} for spintronics.

[Identification, molecular structure and expression characteristics of Torso like gene in Anopheles dirus].

OBJECTIVE: To characterize Torso-like (tsl) gene and investigate its expression characteristics in Anopheles dirus, so as to provide a theoretical basis for subsequent functional studies of the tsl gene. METHODS: According to the coding sequences of Drosophila melanogaster and An. gambiae tsl genes, the complete genome of An. dirus was retrieved and the An. dirus tsl gene was characterized. Specific primers were designed and the target gene was amplified using PCR and reverse-transcription PCR assays. The physicochemical properties, signal peptide, transmembrane structure, secondary structure and tertiary structure of the encoded protein TSL were analyzed using bioinformatics tools, and a phylogenetic analysis was performed. In addition, the specific expression of the tls gene was detected in various tissues of An. dirus using a quantitative real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: The An. dirus tsl gene was 16 751 bp in length with a CDS region of 1 134 bp, encoding 377 amino acids, and the encoded TSL protein was a stably hydrophilic protein. The TSL protein was predicted to be a secretory protein that was located in extra-membrane regions containing signal peptides. The secondary structure of the TSL protein contained α-helix (51.72%), extended strand (12.20%), ß-bridge (4.78%) and random coil (31.30%) in the secondary structure, and a 3D homology model was generated using 5cj9.1.A as a template. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close genetic relationship in the TSL protein between An. dirus and An. farauti. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR assay detected the tsl gene expression in the head, chest, abdomen and foot of An. dirus, with the highest expression in the head and low expression in the foot. CONCLUSIONS: The tsl gene is characterized in An. dirus at a genomic level, and the prediction of the TSL protein structure and the elucidation of the tissue-specific tsl gene expression in An. dirus provide a basis for the further studies on the gene functions.

Antimethanogenic effects of nitrate supplementation in cattle: A meta-analysis.

Supplementing a diet with nitrate is regarded as an effective and promising methane (CH4) mitigation strategy by competing with methanogens for available hydrogen through its reduction of ammonia in the rumen. Studies have shown major reductions in CH4 emissions with nitrate supplementation, but with large variation in response. The objective of this study was to quantitatively investigate the effect of dietary nitrate on enteric CH4 production and yield and evaluate the variables with high potential to explain the heterogeneity of between-study variability using meta-analytical models. A data set containing 56 treatments from 24 studies was developed to conduct a meta-analysis. Dry matter (DM) intake, nitrate dose (g/kg of DM), animal body weight, roughage proportion of diet, dietary crude protein and neutral detergent fiber content, CH4 measurement technique, and type of cattle (beef or dairy) were considered as explanatory variables. Average DM intake and CH4 production for dairy cows (16.2 ± 2.93 kg/d; 311 ± 58.8 g/d) were much higher than for beef cattle (8.1 ± 1.57 kg/d; 146 ± 50.9 g/d). Therefore, a relative mean difference was calculated and used to conduct random-effect and mixed-effect model analysis to eliminate the large variations between types of animal due to intake. The final mixed-effect model for CH4 production (g of CH4/d) had 3 explanatory variables and included nitrate dose, type of cattle, and DM intake. The final mixed-effect model for CH4 yield (g of CH4/kg of DM intake) had 2 explanatory variables and included nitrate dose and type of cattle. Nitrate effect sizes on CH4 production (dairy: -20.4 ± 1.89%; beef: -10.1 ± 1.52%) and yield (dairy: -15.5 ± 1.15%; beef: -8.95 ± 1.764%) were significantly different between the 2 types of cattle. When data from slow-release nitrate sources were removed from the analysis, there was no significant difference in type of cattle anymore for CH4 production and yield. Nitrate dose enhanced the mitigating effect of nitrate on CH4 production and yield by 0.911 ± 0.1407% and 0.728 ± 0.2034%, respectively, for every 1 g/kg of DM increase from its mean dietary inclusion (16.7 g/kg of DM). An increase of 1 kg of DM/d in DM intake from its mean dietary intake (11.1 kg of DM/d) decreased the effect of nitrate on CH4 production by 0.691 ± 0.2944%. Overall, this meta-analysis demonstrated that nitrate supplementation reduces CH4 production and yield in a dose-dependent manner, and that elevated DM intake decreases the effect of nitrate supplementation on CH4 production. Furthermore, the stronger antimethanogenic effect on CH4 production and yield in dairy cows than in beef steers could be related to use of slow-release nitrate in beef cattle.

[Application of pulmonary ultrasound in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia in neonates].

Objective: To investigate the application of pulmonary ultrasound in the diagnosis of neonatal COVID-19. Methods: In this retrospective study, the clinical data of 5 infants, who were admitted to the Department of Neonatology in Wuhan Children's Hospital from 31(st) January to 25(th) February 2020, were collected. Bedsides pulmondary ultrasound was conducted on admission, during the hospitalization, and before discharge, the result were compared with the chest X-ray or CT done at the same time. Results: Among the 5 cases who aged 1-18 days, 3 were male. The main clinical manifestations were respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. The pulmonary ultrasonography on admission showed abnormal pleural line and pulmonary edema of different severity in all 5 cases, presented as increase and fusion of B-line, and pulmonary interstitial syndrome; among them, one case also had a small-range consolidation. The chest CT on admission showed no obvious parenchymal infiltration in 2 cases, small strip or patchy high-density shadow in 2 cases, and ground glass change in one case. The re-examination of ultrosound during the hospitalization and at discharge showed improvement in all cases and were consistent with the chest X-ray taken at the same time. Conclusions: The main changes on the pulmonary ultrasonography in neonates with COVID-19 pneumonia are increase and fusion of B-line, abnormal pleural line, and alveolar interstitial syndrome, and may coexist with small range of pulmonary consolidation. The sensitivity of pulmonary ultrasound is higher than that of chest X-ray and CT in the diagnosis of pulmonary edema, and could be used in monitoring and evaluation of the disease.

[Feasibility and safety of the medial approach "four-step method" in the laparoscopic mobilization of splenic flexure].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of the medial approach "four-step method" in the laparoscopic mobilization of splenic flexure. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Clinical data of 157 colorectal cancer patients undergoing the medial approach "four-step method" in the laparoscopic mobilization of splenic flexure at Gastrointestinal Surgical Department of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from July 2015 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Of 157 cases, 17 were transverse colon cancer, 94 were descending colon cancer, 25 were sigmoid cancer and 21 were rectal cancer; 89 were male and 68 were female; mean age was (61.8±10.3) years and mean body mass index was (23.2±3.7) kg/m(2). The medial approach "four-step method" in the laparoscopic mobilization of splenic flexure was performed as follows: (1) The root vessels were treated with the "provocation" technique to expand the Toldt's gap. This expansion was extended from the lateral side to the peritoneum reflex of left colonic sulcus, from the caudal side to the posterior rectal space, and from the cephalad side to the lower edge of pancreas. (2) The left colonic sulcus was mobilized, converging with the posterior Toldt's gap. Mobilization was carried out from cephalad side to descending colon flexure, freeing and cutting phrenicocolic ligament and splenocolic ligament, and from caudal side to peritoneal reflex. (3) Gastrocolic ligament was moblized. Whether to enter the great curvature of stomach omentum arch when the gastrocolic ligament was cut, that was, whether to clean the fourth group of lymph nodes, should be according to the tumor site and whether serosal layer was invaded. (4) Transverse mesocolon was moblized and transected at the lower edge of the pancreatic surface, merging with the posterior Toldt's gap, and from lateral side to lower edge of the pancreatic body, merging with the lateral left paracolonic sulcus. Safety and short-term clinical efficacy of this surgical procedure was summarized. Results: All the patients completed this procedure. During operation, 3 cases were complicated with organ injury, including 1 case of colon injury, 1 case of spleen injury and 1 case of pancreas injury. No operative death and conversion to open surgery was found. The average operation time was (147.5±35.1) minutes, the average intra-operative blood loss was (40.8±32.7) ml and the average number of harvested lymph node was (16.1±5.8), including (4.0±2.3) of positive lymph nodes. The first exhaust time after surgery was (41.3±20.6) hours, the fluid intake time was (1.5±1.3) days, the postoperative hospital stay was (5.2±2.3) days. Eight (5.1%) cases developed postoperative complications, and all were improved and discharged after conservative treatments. According to the TNM classification system, postoperative pathology revealed that 31 patients were stage I, 51 were stage II, 53 were stage III, 22 were stage IV. Conclusion: The medial approach "four-step method" is safe and feasible, which can effectively decrease the operation difficulty of the laparoscopic mobilization of the splenic flexure.

Increased CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells in Chinese systemic lupus erythematosus: correlate with disease activity and organ involvement.

OBJECTIVE: The increment of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+T cells has been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. However, the exact identity of this T cell subset is still unclear. Thus, we analyzed CD4+CD25-Foxp3+T cells and Treg cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells) in a large sample of Chinese SLE patients in different disease states. METHODS: A total of 280 SLE patients and 38 healthy volunteers were enrolled, which included 21 patients with untreated new-onset lupus (UNOL), 13 patients with drug withdrawal more than 6 months and 246 patients with treatments. Phenotypic and functional analysis of peripheral blood CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and Treg cells were performed by flow cytometry. The correlation of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+T cells and Treg cells with disease activity, clinical indicators and organ involvement were analyzed. RESULTS: CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and Treg cells were significantly increased in SLE patients and showed significantly positive correlations with disease activity. CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells were significantly increased in patients with skin and hematologic involvement as well as arthritis. Diverse changes between CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and Treg cells when faced with different medications, especially HCQ and MMF. CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells expressed more IFN-γ and less CTLA-4 than CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells, which were similar to CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells, and expressed similar IL-17, ICOS and Helios to CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells. The synthesis capacity of IL-10 of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and the expression of GITR on CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells were between CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that increased CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells in lupus patients, which combined the features of suppression and pro-inflammatory, may serve as a biomarker for disease activity and organ involvement in SLE.

Biological function of microRNA-30c/SOX9 in pediatric osteosarcoma cell growth and metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteosarcoma is one of the commonest malignant bone tumors, which frequently occurs in children all over the world. To find out methods to improve the therapeutic effect of osteosarcoma, it is necessary to detect the functioning mechanism of miR-30c to regulate the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cell. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In order to reveal the expression level of miR-30c, quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method was chosen. To evaluate cell viability and proliferation rates, colony formation and cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay were introduced. Based on cell migration and invasion assay, metastasis capacity of breast cancer cells was studied. Protein levels were measured by Western blotting assay and cell cycle distribution was identified by flow cytometry. Bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase assay were used to predict and verify the target gene. RESULTS: Compared with pericarcinomatous tissues (n=38), miR-30c in osteosarcoma tissues was significantly suppressed. Overexpressed miR-30c could weaken osteosarcoma cell's abilities of viability, proliferation, migration and invasion. Moreover, it could also encourage osteosarcoma cell apoptosis and block cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. According to bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase reporter assay, SOX9 was recognized as the target gene of miR-30c. Restoration of SOX9 could make miR-30c regain the ability of suppression on tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-30c could play an important role in tumor suppression for pediatric osteosarcoma development and metastasis by targeting SOX9 in vitro. Thus, a creative and potential target was provided for diagnosis and treatment of osteosarcoma.

[Treatment of patients with different degree of acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by inhalation of white smoke].

Objective: To summarize the treatment experience of patients with different degree of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by inhalation of white smoke from burning smoke bomb. Methods: A batch of 13 patients with different degree of ARDS caused by inhalation of white smoke from burning smoke bomb, including 2 patients complicated by pulmonary fibrosis at the late stage, were admitted to our unit in February 2016. Patients were divided into mild (9 cases), moderate (2 cases), and serious (2 cases) degree according to the ARDS Berlin diagnostic criteria. Patients with mild and moderate ARDS were conventionally treated with glucocorticoid. Patients with severe ARDS were sequentially treated with glucocorticoid and pirfenidone, and ventilator-assisted breathing, etc. were applied. The vital signs, arterial oxygenation index, changes of lung imaging, pulmonary ventilation function, general condition, and the other important organs/systems function were timely monitored according to the condition of patients. The above indexes were also monitored during the follow-up time of 10-15 months post injury. Data were processed with SPSS 18.0 statistical software. Results: (1) The symptoms of respiratory system of patients with mild and moderate ARDS almost disappeared after 3 days' treatment. Their arterial oxygenation index was decreased from post injury day 1 to 4, which almost recovered on post injury day 7 and completely recovered one month post injury. The symptoms of respiratory system of patients with severe ARDS almost disappeared at tranquillization condition 1-3 month (s) post injury. Their arterial oxygenation index was decreased from post injury day 3 to 21, which gradually recovered 1-3 month (s) post injury and was normal 15 months post injury. (2) Within 24 hours post injury, there was no obvious abnormality or only a little texture enlargement of lung in image of chest CT or X-rays of patients with mild and moderate ARDS. One patient with moderate ARDS had diffuse patchy and ground-glass like increased density shadow (pulmonary exudation for short) at post injury hour 96. Chest iconography of all patients with mild and moderate ARDS showed no abnormalities 10 months post injury. Both lungs of each of the two patients with severe ARDS showed obvious pulmonary exudation at post injury hours 45 and 75, respectively. One patient with severe ARDS showed no abnormality in chest image 10 months post injury, but there was still a small mesh-like increased density shadow in double lobes with slight adhesion of pleura in the other patient with severe ARDS 15 months post injury. (3) All patients showed severe restrictive hypoventilation when admitted to hospital. Pulmonary ventilation function of patients with mild and moderate ARDS recovered to normal one month post injury, and they could do exercises like running, etc. Pulmonary ventilation function of one patient with severe ARDS recovered to normal 6 months post injury, and the patient could do exercises like running, etc. The other patient with severe ARDS showed mild restrictive hypoventilation 15 months post injury and could do exercises like rapid walking, etc. (4) The condition of all mild and one moderate ARDS patients was better on post injury day 3, and they were transferred to the local hospital for subsequent treatment and left hospital on post injury day 21. One patient with moderate ARDS healed and left hospital on post injury day 29. Patients with severe ARDS healed and left hospital on post injury day 81. During the follow-up time of 10-15 months post injury, the other important organs/systems of all patients showed no abnormality, and there was no adverse reaction of glucocorticoid like osteoporosis, femoral head necrosis, or metabolic disorder. Two patients with severe ARDS did not have any adverse reaction of pirfenidone like liver function damage, photosensitivity, anorexia, or lethargy. Conclusions: Early enough and uninterrupted application of glucocorticoid can significantly reduce the ARDS of patients caused by inhalation of white smoke from burning smoke bomb. Sequential application of glucocorticoid and pirfenidone can effectively treat pulmonary fibrosis at the late stage.

[Impact of symptom onset to first medical contact time on the prognosis of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction].

Objective: To investigate the impact of symptom onset to first medical contact (SO-to-FMC)time on the prognosis of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI). Methods: The clinical data of 341 consecutive STEMI patients, who were hospitalized to our hospital and received primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) from August 2011 to April 2016, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into ≤90 min group (201 cases) and >90 min group (140 cases) according to the SO-to-FMC time. The treatment time, mortality and incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebro-vascular events(MACCE) were analyzed. The risk factor of 1-year mortality after PCI and 1-year incidence of MACCE during the post-discharge follow-up period were analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. The predictor of 4.5-year mortality after PCI was analyzed by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Methods The door to balloon time (104(88, 125) min vs. 111(92, 144)min, P=0.023), first medical contact to balloon time(146(119, 197) min vs. 177(125, 237)min, P=0.005), and symptom onset-to-balloon time(200(170, 257) min vs. 338(270, 474)min, P<0.001)were all significantly shorter in the ≤90 min group than in>90 min group. The 30-day mortality (2.99% (6/201) vs. 7.86%(11/140), P=0.042), 1-year mortality (2.89 (5/173) vs. 9.57(11/115), P=0.015), 1-year incidence of MACCE during the post-discharge follow-up period(1.16%(2/173) vs. 6.96%(8/115), P=0.021), and 4.5-year cumulative mortality(3.00% vs. 11.20%, P=0.007) after PCI were significantly lower in the ≤90 min group than in the >90 min group. Moreover, the 4.5-year incidence with free of MACCE (97.20% vs. 88.80%, P=0.025) during the post-discharge follow-up period was significantly higher in the ≤90 min group than in the >90 min group. In-hospital mortality was similar between the two groups (2.49%(5/201) vs. 6.43%(9/140), P=0.071). Results: The door to balloon time (104(88, 125) min vs. 111(92, 144)min, P=0.023) , first medical contact to balloon time(146(119, 197) min vs. 177(125, 237)min, P=0.005), and symptom onset-to-balloon time(200(170, 257) min vs. 338(270, 474)min, P<0.001) were all significantly shorter in the ≤90 min group than in >90 min group. The 30-day mortality(2.99% (6/201) vs. 7.86%(11/140), P=0.042), 1-year mortality (2.89(5/173) vs. 9.57(11/115), P=0.015), 1-year incidence of MACCE during the post-discharge follow-up period (1.16%(2/173) vs. 6.96%(8/115), P=0.021), and 4.5-year cumulative mortality (3.00% vs. 11.20%, P=0.007) after PCI were significantly lower in the ≤90 min group than in the >90 min group. Moreover, the 4.5-year incidence with free of MACCE (97.20% vs. 88.80%, P=0.025) during the post-discharge follow-up period was significantly higher in the ≤90 min group than in the >90 min group. In-hospital mortality was similar between the two groups (2.49%(5/201) vs. 6.43%(9/140), P=0.071). Results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that the SO-to-FMC time >90 min was the risk factor of 1-year mortality(OR=2.90, 95%CI 1.22-6.92, P=0.016) and 1-year incidence of MACCE (OR=5.19, 95%CI 1.21-22.20, P=0.026) during the post-discharge follow-up period. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the SO-to-FMC time >90 min was the risk factor of 4.5-year mortality after PCI in patients with STEMI (HR=2.88, 95%CI 1.10-7.53, P=0.031). Conclusion: Shorting the SO-to-FMC time can significantly reduce the treatment time of STEMI patients, short and long-term mortalities and the incidence of MACCE, and improve the prognosis of patients with STEMI.

Dopamine enhances duodenal epithelial permeability via the dopamine D5 receptor in rodent.

AIM: The intestinal barrier is made up of epithelial cells and intercellular junctional complexes to regulate epithelial ion transport and permeability. Dopamine (DA) is able to promote duodenal epithelial ion transport through D1-like receptors, which includes subtypes of D1 (D1 R) and D5 (D5 R), but whether D1-like receptors influence the duodenal permeability is unclear. METHODS: FITC-dextran permeability, short-circuit current (ISC ), Western blot, immunohistochemistry and ELISA were used in human D5 R transgenic mice and hyperendogenous enteric DA (HEnD) rats in this study. RESULTS: Dopamine induced a downward deflection in ISC and an increase in FITC-dextran permeability of control rat duodenum, which were inhibited by the D1-like receptor antagonist, SCH-23390. However, DA decreased duodenal transepithelial resistance (TER), an effect also reversed by SCH-23390. A strong immunofluorescence signal for D5 R, but not D1 R, was observed in the duodenum of control rat. In human D5 R knock-in transgenic mice, duodenal mucosa displayed an increased basal ISC with high FITC-dextran permeability and decreased TER with a lowered expression of tight junction proteins, suggesting attenuated duodenal barrier function in these transgenic mice. D5 R knock-down transgenic mice manifested a decreased basal ISC with lowered FITC-dextran permeability. Moreover, an increased FITC-dextran permeability combined with decreased TER and tight junction protein expression in duodenal mucosa were also observed in HEnD rats. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates, for the first time, that DA enhances duodenal permeability of control rat via D5 R, which provides new experimental and theoretical evidence for the influence of DA on duodenal epithelial barrier function.

Prognostic factor from MR spectroscopy in rat with astrocytic tumour during radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the tumour volume and metabolic rates of astrocytic tumours using MR spectroscopy (MRS) during radiation therapy (RT). METHODS: 12 healthy male Sprague-Dawley® rats (Sprague-Dawley Animal Company, Madison, WI) were used, and a tumour model was created through injecting C6 tumour cells into the right caudate nuclei of the rats. Tumours grew for 18 days after the injection and before the imaging study and radiation treatment. MRS was performed with two-dimensional multivoxel point-resolved spectroscopy sequence using a GE Signa VH/i 3.0-T MR scanner (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI) equipped with rat-special coil. RT was given on the 19th day with a dose of 4 Gy in one single fraction. The image examinations were performed before RT, and on the 4th, 10th, 14th and 20th days after treatment, respectively. GE FuncTool software package (GE Healthcare) was used for post-processing of spectrum. RESULTS: Metabolic ratios of serial MRS decrease progressively with time after RT. Choline-containing components (Cho)/creatine and creatine phosphate (Cr) ratios immediately prior to RT differed significantly from those on the 10th, 14th and 20th days after RT; both Cho/N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) ratios and NAA/Cr ratios immediately prior to RT differed significantly from those on the 14th and 20th days after RT. A positive correlation between changes of tumour volume and changes of Cho/Cr, lipid and lactate/Cr and glutamate plus glutamine/Cr ratio was observed on the 4th day after RT. CONCLUSION: MRS provides potential in monitoring tumour response during RT, and the imaging biomarkers predict the response of astrocytic tumours to treatment. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: MRS is combined with both tumour size and Ki-67 labelling index to access tumour response to radiation.