Detection of ion cyclotron emission by using an ion cyclotron range of frequency antennas-based diagnostic system in experimental advanced superconducting tokamak.

In the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), a novel ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) antenna-based diagnostic system is designed to measure ion cyclotron emission (ICE) driven by high-energy ions. The diagnostic system includes ICRF antenna straps, a three-tune impedance matching system, a coaxial switching system, a direct current block, and a data acquisition and storage system. Using the coaxial switching system, the ICRF antenna can be switched from the heating mode to the coupling mode between two discharges. In the 2023 EAST experiment campaign, core ICE was observed using the ICRF antenna-based diagnostic system during neutron beam injection heating, and the obtained results agreed well with the signal detected by the previous high-frequency B-dot probe-based diagnostic system.

Clinical factors associated with arrhythmia and short-term prognosis following mitral valve repair: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Postoperative arrhythmia (POA) is one of the common and serious postoperative complications. This retrospective study was conducted to investigate the clinical factors associated with POA and its short-term prognosis following mitral valve repair. Methods: A total of 618 patients receiving mitral valve repair between January 2015 and November 2020 in our hospital were included in this retrospective study, including 318 males and 300 females and aged 53.9±9.3 years. The patients were grouped into arrhythmia and non-arrhythmia groups and investigated for risk factors associated with the prognosis of POA using multivariate logistic regression based on their clinical data. Results: POA was observed in 314 (50.8%) patients and atrial fibrillation (AF) was the most frequent (43.3%) type of POA. Compared with non-arrhythmia patients, arrhythmia patients had significantly longer time to use vasoactive drug use, longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay and longer hospital stay. In addition, the incidence of postoperative heart failure was significantly higher (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative arrhythmia [odds ratio (OR) =9.17; 95% confident interval (CI): 4.49-18.10], postoperative pain (OR =4.70; 95% CI: 1.55-6.12) and postoperative hypoxemia (OR =3.25; 95% CI: 1.04-6.28) were independently associated with POA. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the incidence of arrhythmia is relatively high after mitral valve repair and is associated with preoperative arrhythmia, postoperative pain and postoperative hypoxemia.

Gene-modified Exosomes Protect the Brain Against Prolonged Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Neurologic deficit remains a major complication after cardiovascular surgeries with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). We hypothesized that exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may conduct cerebral protection against prolonged DHCA in rats, and overexpressing microRNA-214 (miR-214) may further enhance the neuroprotection. METHODS: Cultured MSCs were transfected with lentivirus vectors containing pre-miR-214 or control vectors. Exosomes were isolated by centrifugation. The DHCA was conducted for 60 minutes when the pericranial temperature was cooled to 18°C. Exosomes from MSCs, MSCs transfected with control vectors, or pre-miR-214 were administered by intracerebroventricular injection 1 day before DHCA. RESULTS: Transfection of pre-miR-214 significantly enhanced the miR-214 expression in exosomes from MSCs. All exosome-pretreating groups exhibited lower levels of interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α, higher capillary density, more significant neurogenesis and angiogenesis, and more normal neurons in the hippocampus than those of the control group. Exosome pretreatment markedly improved the spatial learning and memory function and vestibulomotor function. Compared with exosomes from MSCs or MSCs transfected with control vectors, miR-214-enriched exosomes remarkably enhanced the miR-214 level and expressions of phosphor-protein kinase B and Bcl-2, inhibited expressions of phosphate and tension homology, Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death, Bcl-2-associated X protein, and cleaved Caspase-3, and increased the number of survival neurons. Significantly better neurologic functions were also detected in rats pretreated with miR-214-enriched exosomes. CONCLUSIONS: Exosomes from MSCs conduct powerful neuroprotection against cerebral injury induced by DHCA, which can be further enhanced by genetic modification of the exosomes to overexpress miR-214.

Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing microRNA-25 protect spinal cords against transient ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the neuroprotection of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing microRNA-25 on ischemic spinal cords. METHODS: Cultured mesenchymal stem cells were transfected with lentivirus vectors containing pre-microRNA-25 or control vectors. Exosomes were isolated and harvested by centrifugation. Spinal cord ischemia was induced in rats by crossclamping the descending aorta just distal to the left subclavian artery for 15 minutes. Exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells transfected with control vector, or pre-microRNA-25 were administered by intrathecal injection before ischemia. Hind-limb motor function was assessed with the motor deficit index. Contents of interleukin-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase activity were measured using commercial kits. Expressions of NADPH oxidase 2, NADPH oxidase 4, and microRNA-25 were detected by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Lumbar spinal cords were harvested for histologic examination. RESULTS: Transfection of pre-microRNA-25 significantly enhanced microRNA-25 levels in mesenchymal stem cells and their exosomes (P < .001). All exosome-pretreating groups exhibited lower levels of interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α (P < .001), more intact motor neurons (P < .001), and lower motor deficit index scores (P < .005) than those of controls. Compared with exosomes, microRNA-25-enriched exosomes markedly enhanced microRNA-25 level (P < .001), inhibited NADPH oxidase 4 expression (P = .012), but not NADPH oxidase 2 expression, decreased malondialdehyde content (P = .022), increased superoxide dismutase activity (P < .001) in spinal cords, and had additional neuroprotective effects as evidenced by lower motor deficit index scores (P < .005) and more survival neurons (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The neuroprotection of exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells on ischemic spinal cords can be enhanced by genetic modification of the exosomes to contain elevated microRNA-25.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion on fibromyalgia syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion combined with medication on fibromyalgia syndrome. METHODS: Sixty cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and an observation group, 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with oral administration of amitriptyline, and the treatment group with oral administration of amitriptyline and herb-partitioned moxibustion at Dazhui (GV 14), Zhiyang (GV 9), Mingmen (GV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenque (CV 8), and direct moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20). After treatment of one month, their clinical therapeutic effect, and changes of the number of pain points and the scores of VAS and the HAMD depression rating scale were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group and 56.7% in the observation group, the former being better than the latter (P<0.01). The scores of VAS and HAMD and the number of pain points after treatment in the treatment group were better than those before treatment (P<0.01); the score of HAMD and the number of pain points after treatment in the observation group were superior to those before treatment (P<0.01), and there was no significant difference in the score of VAS before and after treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, the score of HAMD and the number of pain points in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the observation group (P<0.01), and there was no significant difference between the two groups in the score of VAS (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The herb-partitioned moxibustion combined with medication is an effective therapy for fibromyalgia syndrome.