Impact of Microbubble Degradation and Flow Velocity on Subharmonic-aided Pressure Estimation (SHAPE): An Experimental Investigation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of microbubble degradation and flow velocity on Sub-Harmonic Aided Pressure Estimation (SHAPE), and to explore the correlation between subharmonic amplitude and pressure as a single factor. METHODS: We develop an open-loop vascular phantom platform system and utilize a commercial ultrasound machine and microbubbles for subharmonic imaging. Subharmonic amplitude was measured continuously at constant pressure and flow velocity to assess the impact of microbubble degradation. Flow velocity was varied within a range of 4-14 cm/s at constant pressure to investigate its relationship to subharmonic amplitude. Furthermore, pressure was varied within a range of 10-110 mm Hg at constant flow velocity to assess its isolated effect on subharmonic amplitude. RESULTS: Under constant pressure and flow velocity, subharmonic amplitude exhibited a continuous decrease at an average rate of 0.221 dB/min, signifying ongoing microbubble degradation during the experimental procedures. Subharmonic amplitude demonstrated a positive correlation with flow velocity, with a variation ratio of 0.423 dB/(cm/s). Under controlled conditions of microbubble degradation and flow velocity, a strong negative linear correlation was observed between pressure and subharmonic amplitude across different Mechanical Index (MI) settings (all R2 > 0.90). The sensitivity of SHAPE was determined to be 0.025 dB/mmHg at an MI of 0.04. CONCLUSION: The assessment of SHAPE sensitivity is affected by microbubble degradation and flow velocity. Excluding the aforementioned influencing factors, a strong linear negative correlation between pressure and subharmonic amplitude was still evident, albeit with a sensitivity coefficient lower than previously reported values.

Two zinc finger proteins, VdZFP1 and VdZFP2, interact with VdCmr1 to promote melanized microsclerotia development and stress tolerance in Verticillium dahliae.

BACKGROUND: Melanin plays important roles in morphological development, survival, host-pathogen interactions and in the virulence of phytopathogenic fungi. In Verticillum dahliae, increases in melanin are recognized as markers of maturation of microsclerotia which ensures the long-term survival and stress tolerance, while decreases in melanin are correlated with increased hyphal growth in the host. The conserved upstream components of the VdCmr1-regulated pathway controlling melanin production in V. dahliae have been extensively identified, but the direct activators of this pathway are still unclear. RESULTS: We identified two genes encoding conserved C2H2-type zinc finger proteins VdZFP1 and VdZFP2 adjacent to VdPKS9, a gene encoding a negative regulator of both melanin biosynthesis and microsclerotia formation in V. dahliae. Both VdZFP1 and VdZFP2 were induced during microsclerotia development and were involved in melanin deposition. Their localization changed from cytoplasmic to nuclear in response to osmotic pressure. VdZFP1 and VdZFP2 act as modulators of microsclerotia melanization in V. dahliae, as confirmed by melanin biosynthesis inhibition and supplementation with the melanin pathway intermediate scytalone in albino strains. The results indicate that VdZFP1 and VdZFP2 participate in melanin biosynthesis by positively regulating VdCmr1. Based on the results obtained with yeast one- and two-hybrid (Y1H and Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) systems, we determined the melanin biosynthesis relies on the direct interactions among VdZFP1, VdZFP2 and VdCmr1, and these interactions occur on the cell walls of microsclerotia. Additionally, VdZFP1 and/or VdZFP2 mutants displayed increased sensitivity to stress factors rather than alterations in pathogenicity, reflecting the importance of melanin in stress tolerance of V. dahliae. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that VdZFP1 and VdZFP2 positively regulate VdCmr1 to promote melanin deposition during microsclerotia development, providing novel insight into the regulation of melanin biosynthesis in V. dahliae.

Vibration-enhanced disposable electroanalytical platform for selective analysis of tryptophan in fruits based on molecular imprinting.

Although electrochemical detection based on molecular imprinting polymers (MIP) could dramatically improve the selectivity, the procedure is time-consuming because of the essential incubation step. In addition, current MIP electrochemical detections were not suitable for analysis of microliter-level sample solutions, limiting their applications for real samples. This investigation aims at applying vibration to enhance efficiency of MIP electrochemical detection of 20 µL sample solutions. MIP analysis of Tryptophan (Trp) was used as the model with disposable MIP electrodes prepared by electrochemical polymerization of o-phenylenediamine on carbon ink coated on stainless steel sheets. The MIP electrode was integrated in a 3D-printed analytical device for vibration-enhanced electrochemical detection of Trp. Our results showed that this vibration-enhanced strategy could significantly increase electrochemical responses of Trp at the same incubation time. Such improvement might be attributed to the enhanced mass transfer at the surface of the working electrode brought by vibration. It needs to be emphasized that this strategy is suitable for analysis of sample solutions with the volume of microliters, which is superior to normal stirring in MIP electrochemical detection. Our approach could be successfully utilized for differentiation of Trp in different fruits, opening more opportunities for MIP electrochemical detection of real samples. The enhanced efficiency by vibration could pave foundation for extensive practical MIP detection of sample solutions at the level of microliters.

Vibration for enhancement of electrochemical analysis of biomolecules in a droplet on the rough surface of a disposable working electrode.

Although electrochemical detection of microliters-level solutions is attractive for analysis of low-amount biological samples, its performance could be weakened by limited mass transfer due to low Reynolds number and laminar flow. Herein we designed a 3D-printed electroanalytical device to apply vibration for improvement of mass transfer during electrochemical detection. In our approach, the droplet-size sample solution containing Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, as a model) was directly applied on the effective surface of a disposable working electrode. We demonstrated that vibration could enhance electrochemical responses of IAA more on the rough surface than on the smooth surface of the working electrodes. After optimization, the sensitivity for electrochemical detection of a 20-µL droplet under vibration with the voltage of 7 V increased more than 100% compared with the static condition. The enhanced electrochemical responses brought by vibration could be achieved reproducibly, which could be ascribed to improved mass transfer. Our strategy could be practically applied for differentiation of IAA in different tissues of Marchantia polymorpha with enhanced responses. This study suggested that vibration might become a simple and effective method to improve mass transfer in analysis of microliter-volume solutions, which might be extended for more biochemical assays.

A 3D-printed analytical device seamlessly integrating sample treatment for electrochemical detection of IAA in Marchantia polymorpha.

Because of the pivotal point of Marchantia polymorpha (M. polymorpha) in plant evolution, its auxin (mainly indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) levels could provide useful evidence for the study of the evolution of IAA. However, M. polymorpha could not be easily pretreated for electrochemical detection because they are at the entry level of land plants. Herein, we designed a three-dimensional (3D)-printed analytical device for seamless integration of sample treatment and electrochemical detection. Specifically, the electrochemical cell could be used as a mortar in which a tiny plant sample could be ground with a 3D-printed pestle, followed by mixing with the buffer solution under vibration for electrochemical detection of IAA with a disposable working electrode at the bottom of the cell. Using our strategy, the limits of quantification could reach 0.05 µmol L-1 after optimization of parameters. We were able to demonstrate that IAA in different tissues of wild-type and mutant M. polymorpha could be successfully differentiated after they were treated with the 3D-printed analytical device. The obtained results were comparable to the samples blended with zirconium beads while the differences of IAA levels in different tissues of M. polymorpha agreed well with previous reports. This study suggested the potential of sample treatment integrated with electrochemical detection for analysis of IAA using the 3D printing techniques and their possible applications in the research of plants and other fields.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the intervention effect of curcumin on rodent models of myocardial infarction.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the intervention effect of curcumin in myocardial infarction rodent models. Methods: A systematic retrieval of relevant studies on curcumin intervention in rats or mice myocardial infarction models was conducted, and the data were extracted. The outcome indicators included biochemical blood indicators, such as creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as cardiac tissue structure indicators, such as left ventricular weight to body weight ratio (LVW/BW), apoptosis index, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and myocardial infarction area, and hemodynamic indexes, such as systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise (+dp/dtmax), and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure decline (-dp/dtmax). These results were then analyzed by meta-analysis. Studies were evaluated for methodological quality using the syrcle's bias risk tool. Results: A total of 24 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The quality assessment of included studies revealed that the evidence was low quality and none of studies was judged as having a low risk of bias across all domains. The results revealed that curcumin could reduce CK-MB, CK, LDH, and MDA levels. They also revealed that it could lower SBP, DBP, LVEDP, LVW/BW, apoptosis index, LVEDD, LVESD, and myocardial infarction area and increase LVEF, LVFS, +dp/dtmax, and-dp/dtmax. However, it had no significant impact on the heart rate and the levels of SOD in the models. Conclusion: Curcumin alleviates myocardial injury and oxidative stress in myocardial infarction rodent models in terms of blood biochemistry indicators, improves the diastolic and systolic capacity of the ventricle in terms of hemodynamic indexes, and reduces the necrosis and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in terms of tissue structure. The methodological quality of the studies was low and additional research is warranted.

Identification of a small molecule SR9009 that activates NRF2 to counteract cellular senescence.

The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) is a striking characteristic of senescence. Accumulation of SASP factors causes a pro-inflammatory response linked to chronic disease. Suppressing senescence and SASP represents a strategy to prevent or control senescence-associated diseases. Here, we identified a small molecule SR9009 as a potent SASP suppressor in therapy-induced senescence (TIS) and oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). The mechanism studies revealed that SR9009 inhibits the SASP and full DNA damage response (DDR) activation through the activation of the NRF2 pathway, thereby decreasing the ROS level by regulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes. We further identified that SR9009 effectively prevents cellular senescence and suppresses the SASP in the livers of both radiation-induced and oncogene-induced senescence mouse models, leading to alleviation of immune cell infiltration. Taken together, our findings suggested that SR9009 prevents cellular senescence via the NRF2 pathway in vitro and in vivo, and activation of NRF2 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing cellular senescence.

The competitive effect of different chlorination disinfection methods and additional inorganic nitrogen on nitrosamine formation from aromatic and heterocyclic amine-containing pharmaceuticals.

Amine-containing pharmaceuticals formed nitrosamines that are nitrogenous disinfection byproducts of public concerns due to their carcinogenicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the co-effect of additional inorganic nitrogen in different forms (ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate) and different disinfection approaches (chlorination, monochloramination, dichloramination, and two-step chlorination) on eight nitrosamine formation from four widely used pharmaceuticals. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) was the main species formed. The presence of N-nitrosomethylethylamine (NMEA), nitrosomorpholine (NMor), and N-nitrosopiperidine (NPip) was found in certain experiments. For one-step chlorination, the influential factors, in decreasing order of importance, were the molecular structural characteristics of the pharmaceutical, oxidation method, and presence and form of additional nitrogen. In four pharmaceuticals with comparative structures, the availability of amine intermediates during degradation was the key to higher nitrosamine yields. Monochloramine significantly enhanced nitrosamine formation from four pharmaceuticals. NDMA formation by adding hypochlorous acid and ammonium separately were lower than those during monochloramination. During two-step chlorination, NDMA formation was enhanced at certain pre-chlorine doses (e.g., a Cl/N molar ratio of 20 or 4). The pre-chlorine dose changed the Cl/N ratio. As the ratio was increased, the combined chlorine residual was formed and decreased. When the ratio was high, breakpoint chlorination possibly occurred enhancing NDMA formation. While NDMA formation was successfully inhibited by two-step chlorination, ammonium brought the NDMA yields of these pharmaceuticals back to the range observed in chloramination, suggesting the importance of ammonium control for limiting NDMA formation from pharmaceuticals during two-step chlorination.

Lithium-induced overexpression of ß-catenin delays murine palatal shelf elevation by Cdc-42 mediated F-actin remodeling in mesenchymal cells.

BACKGROUND: Lithium chloride (LiCl) is widely used for the treatment of manic and other psychotic disorders, but the administration of lithium can result in several congenital defects in the fetus, including cleft palate (Meng, Wang, Torensma, Jw & Bian, 2015) (Szabo, 1970). However, the mechanism of Lithium's action as a developmental toxicant in palatogenesis is not well known. METHODS: In this study, hematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescence staining were employed to evaluate the phenotypes and the expression of related markers in the LiCl-treated mice model. The palatal mesenchymal cells were cultured in vitro, and stimulated with LiCl or SKL2000, and co-treated with CASIN. ß-catenin protein and other cytoskeleton associated markers were evaluated by Western blotting. RESULTS: We found that Lithium disrupted palate elevation by increasing the expression of ß-catenin in C57BL/6J mice with the high incidence of cleft palate (62.5%). LiCl disturbed the F-actin responsible for cytoskeletal remodeling in mesenchymal cells, which proved to be essential in generating the elevating force during palatal elevation. Additionally, our Western blotting analysis revealed that the overexpression of ß-catenin resulted in up-regulation of Cdc42, which mediated the downstream F-actin synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded the LiCl-induced ß-catenin overexpression delayed murine palatal shelf elevation by disturbing Cdc42 mediated F-actin cytoskeleton synthesis in the palatal mesenchyme.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for evaluating arteritis activity in Takayasu arteritis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was recently used to evaluate vascularization within the carotid artery wall, and this process of vascularization was correlated with arteritis activity. We aimed to use CEUS to evaluate disease activity in Takayasu arteritis (TAK) patients. METHOD: We used CEUS to analyze 28 consecutive TAK patients. Disease activity was assessed according to the NIH criteria. We measured CEUS grades and assessed the correlation between contrast features and disease activity. RESULTS: Higher erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs) were found (35 ± 28.7 vs. 13 ± 7.4 mm/h, p < 0.01), and CEUS carotid wall enhancement was more frequently (100% vs. 36.6%, p < 0.01) seen in TAK patients in the active phase than in those in the inactive phase. With increasing CEUS grades, both the artery wall thickness and ESR increased, and patients were more likely to be in the active phase (0 in grade 0, 42.9% in grade 1, and 75% in grade 2). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that CEUS had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.872 (95% CI 0.785-0.959, p < 0.01), demonstrating good diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Higher CEUS grades reliably identify patients with active TAK.Key Points• No CEUS vascularization is obviously relative with the inactive disease of TAK patients.• Obvious CEUS vascularization is obviously relative with the active disease of TAK patients.

A multicentre study on the effect of moderate perineal protection technique: a new technique for perineal management in labour.

We conducted a large-sample study in six midwifery centres to estimate the effectiveness of Moderate Perineal Protection technique during spontaneous delivery. 31,249 women accepted the traditional technique were selected as control group, and 57,056 women accepted the Moderate Perineal Protection technique as the observation group. There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics between the two groups. The perineal episiotomy rate decreased (22.913% vs. 32.161%, p < .05), the perineal integrity significantly increased (43.505% vs. 36.384%, p < .05) and perineal trauma reduced in the observation group when compared to the control group (54.630% vs. 61.239% in first degree tears, and 1.826% vs. 2.340% in second degree tears, p < .05). The neonatal asphyxia rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (p < .05). The observation group also had a higher rate of total satisfaction, lower VAS score for perineal pain, shorter postpartum hospitalisation days, lower rate of postpartum urinary retention and postpartum incontinence (p < .05). We concluded that the Moderate Perineal Protection technique is safe, effective and worth promoting widely.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? In order to reduce the episiotomy rate and reduce perineal injury, some researches have been carried out and some perineal techniques have been evaluated, but there are still many aspects to improve.What the results of this study add? Moderate Perineal Protection technique can effectively reduce episiotomy rate, protect perineal integrity, improve neonatal outcomes and increase maternal satisfaction.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The Moderate Perineal Protection technique is an effective and safe technique worth clinical promoting widely. Further research could focus on the long-term effects of Moderate Perineal Protection technique, such as pelvic floor injury and long-term mother-child outcomes.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the Great Saphenous Vein:Report of One Case and Meta-analysis].

Leiomyosarcoma(LMS)of the great saphenous vein(GSV)is a rare condition that is often misdiagnosed due to the lack of typical clinical manifestations.This article reported a GSV-LMS case diagnosed and treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Meta-analysis of the current case and 41 cases derived from CNKI,WANFANG DATA,and MEDLINE database was also conducted,which revealed that the male to female ratio of GSV-LMS was 11:10;the median age of disease onset was 59.5 years;the most commonly affected region was thigh.Due to lack of specific clinical features,42.9% of GSV-LMS patients were misdiagnosed at presentation.Radical resection is the most effective therapy,and the indications,effectiveness and protocols of adjuvant radiochemotherapy remain unclear.The 3-and 5-year overall survival rate was 86.1% and 77.5%,respectively.Recurrence and metastasis occurred in 31.0% of patients after surgery.

[Extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation enhanced energy metabolism and induced oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans].

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on energy metabolism and oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Worms in three adult stages (young adult stage, egg-laying stage and peak egg-laying stage) were investigated under 50 Hz, 3 mT ELF-EMF exposure. ATP levels, ATP synthase activity in vivo, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, and changes of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were detected, and worms' oxidative stress responses were also evaluated under ELF-EMF exposure. The results showed that ATP levels were significantly increased under this ELF-EMF exposure, and mitochondrial ATP synthase activity was upregulated simultaneously. In young adult stage, worms' ROS level was significantly elevated, together with upregulated TAC but with a decreased ROS-TAC score indicated by principal component analysis. ROS level and TAC of worms had no significant changes in egg-laying and peak egg-laying stages. Based on these results, we concluded that ELF-EMF can enhance worm energy metabolism and elicit oxidative stress, mainly manifesting as ATP and ROS level elevation together with ATP synthase upregulation and ROS-TAC score decrease in young adult C. elegans.

Resveratrol inhibits the growth of gastric cancer via the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

The inhibitory effect of resveratrol on the growth of gastric cancer cells through downregulation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway were studied. First we determined the effective concentration of resveratrol on the growth and proliferation of MGC-803 gastric cancer cells. Methylthiazolyl tetrazolium assay showed that resveratrol significantly inhibited the proliferation of MGC-803 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Resveratrol induced apoptotic morphological changes in MGC-803 cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis showed that resveratrol downregulated the expression of three important components of the Wnt signaling pathway, ß-catenin, c-myc, and cyclin D1, at the mRNA and protein levels. Overall, resveratrol inhibits the growth of MGC-803 cells by inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway. This study provides a new idea and direction for the antitumor mechanism of resveratrol.

A highly significant association between Cathepsin S gene polymorphisms rs12068264 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease susceptibility in Han Chinese population.

Cathepsin S (CTSS) and Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) played crucial roles in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the associations between the polymorphisms of CTSS as well as SIRT1 and COPD in Asian population remain elusive. In the present study, one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in rs12068264 was discovered (in 385 individuals) to be associated with the susceptibility of COPD in a Chinese Han population. The genotyping was performed using improved multiplex ligase detection reaction (iMLDR) technique. Subjects with T allele of rs12068264 in CTSS gene had an increased risk of COPD (T compared with C: odds ratio (OR) = 1.351, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.008-1.811, P=0.044) compared with C allele. Subjects with TT genotype at rs12068264 had a higher risk of COPD in a recessive model (TT compared with TC + CC: OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.06-4.989, P=0.035). Compared with the C variant of rs12068264, the homozygous carriers of the TT genotype had higher procalcitonin (PCT) levels. Finally, haplotype analysis demonstrated that the SNPs in the CTSS and SIRT1 gene had no statistical differences between patients with COPD and the controls. In conclusion, the genetic polymorphisms of CTSS were associated with the susceptibility of COPD in a Chinese Han population, which may be helpful in understanding genetic mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of COPD.

Case Report: III° atrioventricular block due to fulminant myocarditis managed with non-invasive transcutaneous pacing.

Fulminant myocarditis is a life-threatening clinical condition. It is the inflammation of myocardium leading to acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrhythmias. Incidence of fulminant myocarditis is low and mortality is high. Most grievous complications of fulminant myocarditis is mainly cardiac arrhythmias; if there is delay on active management of the patient, it may be fatal. Here, we describe a case of III° atrioventricular block due to fulminant myocarditis that was managed with non-invasive transcutaneous cardiac pacing in the absence of ECMO. The non-invasive transcutaneous pacemaker is a safe, effective and convenient device to revert arrhythmias.

MiR-5100 targets TOB2 to drive epithelial-mesenchymal transition associated with activating smad2/3 in lung epithelial cells.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease and the pathogenesis of IPF remains unclear. Our previous study indicated that miR-5100 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of lung epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism of miR-5100 on bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse lung fibrosis and transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß1) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) induced EMT-model in A549 and Beas-2B cells. The elevated level of miR-5100 was observed in both the mouse lung fibrosis tissues and EMT cell model. Furthermore, the exogenous expression of miR-5100 promoted the EMT-related changes, enhanced TGF-ß1 or EGF-induced EMT and activated the smad2/3 in lung epithelial cells, while silencing miR-5100 had the converse effects. In addition, transwell assay showed that miR-5100 can enhance cell migration. Using target prediction software and luciferase reporter assays, we identified TOB2 as a specific target of miR-5100 and miR-5100 can decrease the accumulation of endogenous TOB2 in A549 and Beas-2B cells. Moreover, the exogenous expression of TOB2 relieves the promotion of miR-5100 on EMT process and migration ability. Taken together, our results indicate that miR-5100 promotes the EMT process by targeting TOB2 associated with activating smad2/3 in lung epithlium cells. Our findings may provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of IPF.

MiR-4673 Modulates Paclitaxel-Induced Oxidative Stress and Loss of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential by Targeting 8-Oxoguanine-DNA Glycosylase-1.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study identified a novel microRNA, miR-4673, which is upregulated in A549 cells exposed to paclitaxel (PTX). In this study, we investigated the role of miR-4673 in PTX-induced cytotoxicity. METHODS: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, apoptosis assay, 5,5',6,6'-Tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) staining and 2',7'-Dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) staining were used to evaluate cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in A549 and H1299 cells. Bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase reporter assay were used to explore whether 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1) is a target gene of miR-4673. RESULTS: Enforced expression of miR-4673 decreased cell viability and increased PTX-induced apoptosis, MMP loss and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in A549 and H1299 cells. Bioinformatics analysis, which was used to identify potential target of miR-4673, revealed a binding site of miR-4673 in 3'UTR of OGG1. Luciferase reporters assays showed that miR-4673 specifically binds to 'CUGUUGA' in 3'UTR of OGG1. Enforced expression of miR-4673 decreased accumulation of OGG1. In addition, silencing OGG1 enhanced inhibitory effects of PTX on apoptosis, MMP loss and ROS generation, which is similar to effects of miR-4673. Moreover, enforced expression of OGG1 compromised promoting effects of miR-4673 on PTX-induced apoptosis, MMP loss and ROS generation. CONCLUSION: miR-4673 modulates PTX-induced apoptosis, MMP loss and ROS generation by targeting OGG1.

Role of Superb Micro-Vascular Imaging in the Preoperative Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules: Comparison With Power Doppler Flow Imaging.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether Superb Micro-Vascular Imaging (SMI; Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, Tochigi, Japan) is superior to power Doppler flow imaging (PDFI) in depicting thyroid nodular vascularity and to primarily explore the diagnostic performance of vascularity on SMI integrated with grayscale sonographic features for diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules. METHODS: Ninety-two resident patients with 113 nodules for surgery were included in the study. Thirty-four nodules were benign, and 79 nodules were malignant. Vascularity was classified as none, peripheral, mixed, and intranodular. Grayscale features, including calcifications, echogenicity, margins, shape, and internal components, were evaluated. The distribution of vascular patterns was compared between PDFI and SMI to determine the superior technique for diagnosing malignancy. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the accuracy of SMI combined with grayscale sonography for thyroid malignancy. RESULTS: The 92 patients had a male-to-female ratio of 12:11 and a median age of 42 years (range, 20-75 years). Intranodular vascularity on SMI had 91.2% specificity and 75.9% sensitivity, which were superior to PDFI, at 82.3% and 41.8%, respectively (P < .01). We attribute this finding to the fact that peripheral vessels of many nodules on PDFI were actually intense small penetrating vessels around the lesion on SMI. A taller-than-wide shape, microcalcifications, and SMI intranodular vascularity were independent risk factors for thyroid malignancy. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the logistic regression model was 0.92, which was higher than that for a single suspicious sonographic feature (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Intranodular vascularity on SMI is useful for determining thyroid carcinoma. Furthermore, a combination of SMI and grayscale features performs better than any single sonographic feature alone.

The Effect of Tai Chi on Cardiorespiratory Fitness for Coronary Disease Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Tai Chi that originated in China as a martial art is an aerobic exercise with low-to-moderate intensity and may play a role in cardiac rehabilitation. Aim: To systematically review the effect of Tai Chi on cardiorespiratory fitness for coronary disease rehabilitation. Methods: We performed a search for Chinese and English studies in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Wanfang Data, and China Science and Technology Journal Database. The search strategy included terms relating to or describing Tai Chi and coronary disease, and there were no exclusion criteria for other types of diseases or disorders. Further, bibliographies of the related published systematic reviews were also reviewed. The searches, data extraction, and risk of bias (ROB) assessments were conducted by two independent investigators. Differences were resolved by consensus. RevMan 5.3.0 was used to analyze the study results. We used quantitative synthesis if the included studies were sufficiently homogeneous and performed subgroup analyses for studies with different control groups. To minimize bias in our findings, we used GRADEpro to grade the available evidence. Results: Five studies were enrolled-two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three nonrandomized controlled trials (N-RCTs)-that included 291 patients. All patients had coronary disease. ROB assessments showed a relatively high selection and detection bias. Meta-analyses showed that compared to other types of low- or moderate-intensity exercise, Tai Chi could significantly improve VO2max [MD = 4.71, 95% CI (3.58, 5.84), P < 0.00001], but it seemed less effective at improving VO2max as compared to high-intensity exercise. This difference, however, was not statistically significant [MD = -1.10, 95% CI (-2.46, 0.26), P = 0.11]. The GRADEpro showed a low level of the available evidence. Conclusion: Compared to no exercise or other types of exercise with low-to-moderate intensity, Tai Chi seems a good choice for coronary disease rehabilitation in improving cardiorespiratory fitness. However, owing to the poor methodology quality, more clinical trials with large sample size, strict randomization, and clear description about detection and reporting processes are needed to further verify the evidence.