Abnormal expression of fission and fusion genes and the morphology of mitochondria in eutopic and ectopic endometrium.

Mitochondria play a pivotal role in physiological and metabolic function of the cell. Mitochondrial dynamics orchestrate mitochondrial function and morphology, involving fission and fusion as well as ultrastructural remodeling. Mounting evidence unravels the close link between mitochondria and endometriosis. However, how mitochondrial architecture changes through fission and fusion in eutopic and ectopic tissues of women with ovarian endometriosis remains unknown. We detected the expression of fission and fusion genes and the morphology of mitochondria in eutopic and ectopic endometrium in ovarian endometriosis. The results showed that the expression of DRP1 and LCLAT1 was upregulated in eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), and the expression of DRP1, OPA1, MFN1, MFN2, and LCLAT1 was significantly downregulated in ectopic ESCs, and reduced number of mitochondria, wider cristae width and narrower cristae junction width was observed, but there was no difference in cell survival rate. The altered mitochondrial dynamics and morphology might, respectively, provide an advantage for migration and adhesion in eutopic ESCs and be the adaptive response in ectopic endometrial cells to survive under hypoxic and oxidative stress environment.

The Clinical Picture and Fecundity of Primary and Recurrent Ovarian Endometriosis with Family History: A Retrospective Analysis.

This study aims to evaluate the role of endometriosis family history on the clinical manifestation and fertility performance of primary and recurrent endometriosis. In total, 312 primary and 323 recurrent endometrioma patients with a histological diagnosis were included in this study. Family history was significantly correlated with recurrent endometriosis (adjusted OR: 3.52, 95% CI: 1.09-9.46, p = 0.008). Patients with a family history showed a significantly higher proportion of recurrent endometriosis (75.76% vs. 49.50%), higher rASRM scores, higher incidence of severe dysmenorrhea, and severe pelvic pain than the sporadic cases. Recurrent endometrioma showed statistical increase in rASRM scores, percentage of rASRM Stage IV, dysmenorrhea, dyschezia, those undergoing semi-radical surgery or unilateral oophorosalpingectomy, postoperative medical treatment, e with a positive family history, while a decrease in the incidence of asymptomatic phenomena and those undergoing ovarian cystectomy compared to those with primary endometriosis. The naturally conceived pregnancy rate was higher in primary endometriosis compared to recurrent endometriosis. Compared to recurrent endometriosis with a negative family history, recurrent endometriosis with a positive family history had a higher incidence of severe dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, a higher spontaneous abortion rate, and a lower natural pregnancy rate. Primary endometriosis with a family history presented a higher incidence of severe dysmenorrhea than those without a family history. In conclusion, endometriosis patients with a positive family history presented a higher pain severity and lower conception probability compared to the sporadic cases. Recurrent endometriosis showed further-exacerbated clinical manifestations, more pronounced familial tendency, and lower pregnancy rates than primary endometriosis.

The Prognostic Value of Serum Uric Acid in Hospitalized Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies reported that the level of serum uric acid (SUA) was an important risk factor for acute cerebral infarction (ACI). However, the prognostic value of SUA levels in hospitalized patients with ACI has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the SUA level on admission was associated with subsequent mortality in hospitalized patients with ACI. METHODS: The clinical data of ACI patients obtained from December 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. χ 2 and Kaplan-Meier methods were used to compare the clinical differences and overall survival between patients with or without hyperuricemia, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify independent prognoses. RESULTS: In the total population, the in-hospital mortality of the hyperuricemia group was significantly higher than that of the normal uric acid group (P = 0.006). In the abnormal renal function group, the in-hospital mortality among the hyperuricemia group was significantly higher than the normal uric acid group (P = 0.002). However, there was no statistical difference of in-hospital mortality between the two groups in the normal renal function group (P = 0.321). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that a previous history of diabetes (P = 0.018), hyperuricemia (P = 0.001), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission (P ≤ 0.001) were independent factors for all samples. The hyperuricemia (P = 0.003) on admission were independent factors for patients with abnormal renal function. CONCLUSIONS: In ACI patients with abnormal renal function, hyperuricemia may be associated with higher in-hospital mortality than patients with normal uric acid, and hyperuricemia may be an independent associated factor for in-hospital death in the subgroup patients.

NLRP3 inflammasome activation mediates sleep deprivation-induced pyroptosis in mice.

BACKGROUND: Sleep deprivation (SD) has many deleterious health effects, including cognitive decline, work ability decline, inadequate alertness, etc. Neuroinflammation plays an important role in sleep deprivation. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. METHODS: In the present study, we detected the activation of microglia and apoptosis of nerve cells in sleep deprivation (SD) mice model using IHC, HE staining and TUNEL apoptosis assay. RT-PCR array data were used to detect the expression of inflammatory bodies in hippocampal CA1 region after sleep deprivation, to explore how NLRP3 inflammasome regulates neuronal apoptosis and how specific signaling pathways are involved in SD-induced activation of NLRP3/pyrosis axis. RESULTS: We found the number of microglia significantly increased in SD mice, while this effect was blocked by sleep recovery. RT-PCR array data suggested that NLRP3 inflammasome, but not other inflammasomes, was obviously increased in hippocampus CA1 region after sleep deprivation. Mechanistically, we found that NLRP3 mediated the pyroptosis of neurocyte through GSDMD-dependent way , and P38 and ERK-MAPK signaling pathway is involved in SD-induced activation of NLRP3/pyroptosis axis. All these results suggested that MAPK/NLRP3 axis mediated SD-induced pyroptosis. CONCLUSION: NLRP3 plays an important role in SD-induced neuroinflammation. Thus, NLRP3 inflammasome is expected to be a potential therapeutic target for SD-induced neuroinflammation.

Changes of deceleration and acceleration capacity of heart rate in patients with acute hemispheric ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Autonomic dysfunction is common after stroke, which is correlated with unfavorable outcome. Phase-rectified signal averaging is a newly developed technique for assessing cardiac autonomic function, by detecting sympathetic and vagal nerve activity separately through calculating acceleration capacity (AC) and deceleration capacity (DC) of heart rate. In this study, we used this technique for the first time to investigate the cardiac autonomic function of patients with acute hemispheric ischemic stroke. METHODS: A 24-hour Holter monitoring was performed in 63 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke in hemisphere and sinus rhythm, as well as in 50 controls with high risk of stroke. DC, AC, heart rate variability parameters, standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), and square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD) were calculated. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess the severity of stroke. We analyzed the changes of DC, AC, SDNN, and RMSSD and also studied the correlations between these parameters and NIHSS scores. RESULTS: The R-R (R wave to R wave on electrocardiogram) intervals, DC, AC, and SDNN in the cerebral infarction group were lower than those in controls (P=0.003, P=0.002, P=0.006, and P=0.043), but the difference of RMSSD and the D-value and ratio between absolute value of AC (|AC|) and DC were not statistically significant compared with those in controls. The DC of the infarction group was significantly correlated with |AC|, SDNN, and RMSSD (r=0.857, r=0.619, and r=0.358; P=0.000, P=0.000, and P=0.004). Correlation analysis also showed that DC, |AC|, and SDNN were negatively correlated with NIHSS scores (r=-0.279, r=-0.266, and r=-0.319; P=0.027, P=0.035, and P=0.011). CONCLUSION: Both DC and AC of heart rate decreased in patients with hemispheric infarction, reflecting a decrease in both vagal and sympathetic modulation. Both DC and AC were correlated with the severity of stroke.