Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Imaging of Atherosclerotic Intracranial Disease.

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is one of the most common causes of stroke worldwide. Among people with stroke, those of East Asia descent and non-White populations in the United States have a higher burden of ICAD-related stroke compared with Whites of European descent. Disparities in the prevalence of asymptomatic ICAD are less marked than with symptomatic ICAD. In addition to stroke, ICAD increases the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, magnifying ICAD societal burden. The risk of stroke recurrence among patients with ICAD-related stroke is the highest among those with confirmed stroke and stenosis ≥70%. In fact, the 1-year recurrent stroke rate of >20% among those with stenosis >70% is one of the highest rates among common causes of stroke. The mechanisms by which ICAD causes stroke include plaque rupture with in situ thrombosis and occlusion or artery-to-artery embolization, hemodynamic injury, and branch occlusive disease. The risk of stroke recurrence varies by the presumed underlying mechanism of stroke, but whether techniques such as quantitative magnetic resonance angiography, computed tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance perfusion, or transcranial Doppler can help with risk stratification beyond the degree of stenosis is less clear. The diagnosis of ICAD is heavily reliant on lumen-based studies, such as computed tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, or digital subtraction angiography, but newer technologies, such as high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging, can help distinguish ICAD from stenosing arteriopathies.

Preparation of Magnetic Spongy Porous Carbon Skeleton Materials for Efficient Removal of BTEX.

Magnetic polymer microspheres have been extensively utilized as separable and highly efficient adsorbents in wastewater treatment. In this study, a series of novel magnetic spongy porous carbon skeleton materials (Mag-SPCS) have been designed and synthesized by acetonitrile suspension precipitation polymerization, which combines the advantages of the acetonitrile precipitation method and the suspension polymerization method. It was demonstrated that the transformation of the material morphology from microspheres to a porous sponge was achieved by a gradual decrease in the usage amount of ethylene glycol. After N,N-dimethyloctadecylamine (C18) was grafted onto the Mag-SPCS materials, the C18-Mag-SPCS materials with a superhigh saturation adsorption capacity and superfast adsorption efficiency were used for the removal of BTEX (toluene, benzene, and para-xylene) in wastewater. Subsequently, the adsorption properties of the composites with different morphologies were evaluated, and the effect of the usage amount of C18 on the adsorption properties of the C18-Mag-SPCS was further investigated. The maximum adsorption capacities of C18-Mag-SPCS for benzene, toluene, and para-xylene were 714.84, 564.32, and 394.48 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption process was conducted in accordance with the proposed secondary and Langmuir models. Finally, the FTIR, XPS, and XRD characterization results before and after adsorption demonstrated that the adsorption mechanism of toluene onto C18-Mag-SPCS was primarily hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and van der Waals forces. These findings of the study indicate that the composite material exhibits an ultrahigh saturation adsorption capacity and ultrafast adsorption efficiency, thereby confirming its considerable potential for application in wastewater treatment.

Preparation and modification of polymer microspheres, application in wastewater treatment: A review.

The removal of various pollutants from water is necessary due to the increasing requirements for the removal of various pollutants from wastewater and the quality of drinking water. Polymer microspheres are regarded as exemplary adsorbent materials due to their high adsorption efficiency, excellent adsorption performance, and ease of handling. Herein, the advantages and disadvantages of different preparation methods, modifications, applications and the current research status of polymer microspheres are summarized at large. Furthermore, the enhanced performance of modified composite microspheres is emphasized, including adsorption efficiency, thermal stability, and significant improvements in physical and chemical properties. Subsequently, the current applications and potential of polymeric microspheres for wastewater treatment, including the removal of inorganic and organic pollutants, heavy metal ions, and other contaminants are summarized. Finally, future research directions for polymer microspheres are proposed, outlining the challenges and solutions associated with the application of polymer microspheres in wastewater treatment.

Prophylactic drainage versus non-drainage following gastric cancer surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies.

BACKGROUND: The role of prophylactic drainage (PD) in gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC) is not well-established. The purpose of this study is to compare the perioperative outcomes between the PD and non-drainage (ND) in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy. METHODS: A systematic review of electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure was performed up to December 2022. All eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies were included and meta-analyzed separately. The registration number of this protocol is PROSPERO CRD42022371102. RESULTS: Overall, 7 RCTs (783 patients) and 14 observational studies (4359 patients) were ultimately included. Data from RCTs indicated that patients in the ND group had a lower total complications rate (OR = 0.68; 95%CI:0.47-0.98; P = 0.04; I2 = 0%), earlier time to soft diet (MD = - 0.27; 95%CI: - 0.55 to 0.00; P = 0.05; I2 = 0%) and shorter length of hospital stay (MD = - 0.98; 95%CI: - 1.71 to - 0.26; P = 0.007; I2 = 40%). While other outcomes including anastomotic leakage, duodenal stump leakage, pancreatic leakage, intra-abdominal abscess, surgical-site infection, pulmonary infection, need for additional drainage, reoperation rate, readmission rate, and mortality were not significantly different between the two groups. Meta-analyses on observational studies showed good agreement with the pooled results from RCTs, with higher statistical power. CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis suggests that routine use of PD may not be necessary and even harmful in GC patients following gastrectomy. However, well-designed RCTs with risk-stratified randomization are still needed to validate the results of our study.

Dynamic Detection of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia: A Study in 3 Centers.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage negatively impacts long-term recovery but is often detected too late to prevent damage. We aim to develop hourly risk scores using routinely collected clinical data to detect DCI. METHODS: A DCI classification model was trained using vital sign measurements (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation) and demographics routinely collected for clinical care. Twenty-two time-varying physiological measures were computed including mean, SD, and cross-correlation of heart rate time series with each of the other vitals. Classification was achieved using an ensemble approach with L2-regularized logistic regression, random forest, and support vector machines models. Classifier performance was determined by area under the receiver operating characteristic curves and confusion matrices. Hourly DCI risk scores were generated as the posterior probability at time t using the Ensemble classifier on cohorts recruited at 2 external institutions (n=38 and 40). RESULTS: Three hundred ten patients were included in the training model (median, 54 years old [interquartile range, 45-65]; 80.2% women, 28.4% Hunt and Hess scale 4-5, 38.7% Modified Fisher Scale 3-4); 101 (33%) developed DCI with a median onset day 6 (interquartile range, 5-8). Classification accuracy before DCI onset was 0.83 (interquartile range, 0.76-0.83) area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Risk scores applied to external institution datasets correctly predicted 64% and 91% of DCI events as early as 12 hours before clinical detection, with 2.7 and 1.6 true alerts for every false alert. CONCLUSIONS: An hourly risk score for DCI derived from routine vital signs may have the potential to alert clinicians to DCI, which could reduce neurological injury.

Recycled ancient ghost carbonate in the Pitcairn mantle plume.

The extreme Sr, Nd, Hf, and Pb isotopic compositions found in Pitcairn Island basalts have been labeled enriched mantle 1 (EM1), characterizing them as one of the isotopic mantle end members. The EM1 origin has been vigorously debated for over 25 years, with interpretations ranging from delaminated subcontinental lithosphere, to recycled lower continental crust, to recycled oceanic crust carrying ancient pelagic sediments, all of which may potentially generate the requisite radiogenic isotopic composition. Here we find that δ26Mg ratios in Pitcairn EM1 basalts are significantly lower than in normal mantle and are the lowest values so far recorded in oceanic basalts. A global survey of Mg isotopic compositions of potentially recycled components shows that marine carbonates constitute the most common and typical reservoir invariably characterized by extremely low δ26Mg values. We therefore infer that the subnormal δ26Mg of the Pitcairn EM1 component originates from subducted marine carbonates. This, combined with previously published evidence showing exceptionally unradiogenic Pb as well as sulfur isotopes affected by mass-independent fractionation, suggests that the Pitcairn EM1 component is most likely derived from late Archean subducted carbonate-bearing sediments. However, the low Ca/Al ratios of Pitcairn lavas are inconsistent with experimental evidence showing high Ca/Al ratios in melts derived from carbonate-bearing mantle sources. We suggest that carbonate-silicate reactions in the late Archean subducted sediments exhausted the carbonates, but the isotopically light magnesium of the carbonate was incorporated in the silicates, which then entered the lower mantle and ultimately became the Pitcairn plume source.

The inhibition by human MSCs-derived miRNA-124a overexpression exosomes in the proliferation and migration of rheumatoid arthritis-related fibroblast-like synoviocyte cell.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term, progressive autoimmune disease. It is characterized by synovial hyperplasia leading to swelling, stiffness, and joint deformity in more than one joint. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes are the major cell types that make up the synovial intima structure, which is one of the decisive factors in the development and course of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: The potential therapeutic effects of MSCs-derived miRNA-124a overexpression exosomes were evaluated in vitro by the method including MTT assay and cell cycle test for cell proliferation, scratch wound closure and transwell for cell migration, flow cytometry and western for the apoptosis detection. RESULTS: Exosomes derived from human MSCs that overexpression miRNA-124a were prepared and characterized. We found that the pretreatment of this exosome was able to inhibit the proliferation and migration of fibroblast-like synoviocyte cell line and promote the apoptosis of this cell during the co-incubation. CONCLUSIONS: Exosomes derived from MSCs were proved to be a suitable vector for the delivery of therapeutic miRNA-124a, and such miRNA-124a overexpression exosomes were expected to provide a new medicine and strategy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Associations of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase gene single nucleotide polymorphisms with sport performance and relative maximal oxygen uptake.

To observe the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) gene and sport performance and to analyse genotype associations of the associated SNPs with sport performance and relative maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]). Participants were selected from 685 Chinese Han male college students. The completion times of a 1000-m run and a 50-m run were used to reflect sport performance, respectively. Nineteen tagSNPs were genotyped with Polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction. Relative [Formula: see text] was directly determined with a cardiopulmonary function analyser. A significant association was found between rs2256292 and 1000-m run performance, but no significant association was found between any tagSNPs and 50-m run performance. The genotype associations of rs2256292 with 1000-m run performance and with relative [Formula: see text] were both significant under the recessive model (CC vs. CG + GG). No tagSNP in NNMT is significantly associated with 50-m run performance but rs2256292 is significantly associated with 1000-m run performance. The genotype associations of rs2256292 with sport performance are significant under recessive model, and a higher relative [Formula: see text] may be the physiological reason for minor homozygote CC carriers being of the better 1000-m runners.

The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Plasma Adiponectin Level and Adiponectin-related Protein Expression in Myocardial Tissue of ApoE(-/-) Mice.

Numerous reports have confirmed the effect of ApoE knockout in the induction of cardiovascular diseases and the protective effect of adiponectin against the progression of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to reveal the roles of adiponectin signaling in the progression of cardiovascular diseases induced by ApoE knockout and to analyze the healthy effects of aerobic exercise on ApoE knockout mice (ApoE(-/-) mice) through observing the changes of adiponectin signaling caused by ApoE knockout and aerobic exercise. A twelve-week aerobic exercise program was carried out on the male ApoE(-/-) mice and the C57BL / 6J mice (C57 mice) of the same strain. Results show that the body weights, blood lipid level, plasma adiponectin level and adiponectin-related proteins in myocardial tissue were all significantly changed by ApoE knockout. A twelve-week aerobic exercise program exerted only minimal effects on the body weights, blood lipid levels, and plasma adiponectin levels of ApoE(-/-) mice, but increased the expressions of four adiponectin-related proteins, AdipoR1, PPARα, AMPK and P-AMPK, in the myocardial tissue of the ApoE(-/-) mice. In summary, adiponectin signaling may play an import role in the progression of cardiovascular diseases induced by ApoE knockout, and the beneficial health effects of aerobic exercise on ApoE(-/-) mice may be mainly from the increased adiponectin-related protein expression in myocardial tissue. Key pointsA twelve-week aerobic exercise program exerted only limited effects on the body weights and the plasma adiponectin levels of both the normal mice and the ApoE(-/-) mice but did effectively regulate the blood lipid levels of the normal mice (but not the ApoE(-/-) mice).After 12 weeks of aerobic exercise, expression of the adiponectin-related proteins in the myocardial tissue of the ApoE(-/-) and normal mice was increased, but the increased amplitudes of these proteins in the ApoE(-/-) mice were much larger in the ApoE(-/-) mice than in the normal mice.Aerobic exercise might not alter the plasma adiponectin levels and blood lipid levels of ApoE(-/-) mice, but improve myocardial energy metabolism and relieve cardiovascular disease symptoms by increasing adiponectin-related protein expression in myocardial tissue.

Food-related choking deaths among the elderly.

During 2007-2010 in the USA, 2214 deaths among people aged ≥65 were attributed to choking on food. The death rate for this cause is higher among the elderly than among any other age group. Using data from the US National Vital Statistics System, we examined the relationship between food suffocation and other causes of death listed on the death certificate. Among decedents aged ≥65, the three most common additional conditions listed on the death certificate were heart disease, dementia and diabetes. However, after estimating the expected joint frequency of other causes based on the overall distribution of all causes of death, we find that three causes-dementia (including Alzheimer's disease), Parkinson's disease and pneumonitis-are most strongly associated with deaths from choking on food among older people.

Effect of short neuropeptide F signaling on larval feeding in Mythimna separata.

Mythimna separata is a notorious phytophagous pest which poses serious threats to cereal crops owing to the gluttony of the larvae. Because short neuropeptide F (sNPF) and its receptor sNPFR are involved in a diversity of physiological functions, especially in functions related to feeding in insects, it is a molecular target for pest control. Herein, an sNPF and 2 sNPFRs were identified and cloned from M. separata. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the sNPF and its receptors had a highly conserved RLRFamide C-terminus and 7 transmembrane domains, respectively. The sNPF and its receptor genes were distributed across larval periods and tissues, but 2 receptors had distinct expression patterns. The starvation-induced assay elucidated that sNPF and sNPFR expression levels were downregulated under food deprivation and recovered with subsequent re-feeding. RNA interference knockdown of sNPF, sNPFR1, and sNPFR2 by injection of double-stranded RNA into larvae not only suppressed food consumption and increased body size and weight, but also led to decrease of glycogen and total lipid contents, and increase of trehalose compared with double-stranded green fluorescent protein injection. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed on the interaction mode between sNPFR protein and its ligand sNPF based on the 3-dimensional models constructed by AlphaFold; the results indicated that both receptors were presumably activated by the mature peptide sNPF-2. These results revealed that sNPF signaling played a considerably vital role in the feeding regulation of M. separata and represents a potential control target for this pest.

[Application of bionic technology to speciation analysis and bioavailability assessment of nickel in transgenic soybean].

The safety of transgenic food has been paid the most attention to by the public and scientists. Trace metal bioavailability could provide information for safety assessment of transgenic food. The critical functional digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract were simulated by bionic gastrointestinal digestion, metabolism of gut microbiota, and bionic biomembrane adsorption with liposome and then used for the pretreatment of transgenic and general soybeans. Ni speciation in the chyme was defined as affinity-liposome and water soluble Ni. Nickel bioavailability was assessed by the content of affinity-liposome Ni. Water soluble Ni was the main species of nickel complex in the chyme. Nickel bioavailability was 4.1% for transgenic soybean and 3.3% for general soybean, which could be enhanced by gastrointestinal digestion and metabolism of gut microbiota. After transgene, nickel bioavailability was increased 24% but the content of affinity-liposome Ni was 122.3 ng x g(-1) for transgenic soybean, just as 36% as that of general soybean.

Two decades of nonfatal injury data: a scoping review of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program, 2001-2021.

BACKGROUND: Injury is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the USA. Ongoing surveillance is needed to understand changing injury patterns to effectively target prevention efforts. Launched jointly in 2000 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) provides national-level estimates of US emergency department visits for nonfatal injuries. A scoping review of peer-reviewed articles was conducted to characterize how NEISS-AIP data have been used for injury surveillance in the USA. MAIN BODY: This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Three bibliographic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were systematically searched for English language peer-reviewed articles that used NEISS-AIP data as the primary data source during 2001-2021. Key article characteristics from included articles were abstracted to generate descriptive summary statistics to understand the use and limitations of NEISS-AIP for injury surveillance. Database queries returned 6944 citations; 594 citations were manually reviewed, and 167 non-duplicate journal articles were identified. An average of 8.0 articles (range: 1-14) were published annually during 2001-2021. Articles appeared in 72 different journals representing a diverse audience with the majority of articles written by CDC authors. Starting in 2013, a higher proportion of articles were published by non-CDC authors. The largest number of articles examined injury among all age groups (n = 71); however, the pediatric population was the specific age group of greatest interest (n = 48), followed by older adults (n = 23). Falls (n = 20) and motor-vehicle-related injuries (n = 10) were the most studied injury mechanisms. The most commonly identified limitation identified by authors of reviewed articles was that NEISS-AIP only produces national estimates and therefore, cannot be used for state- or county-level injury surveillance (n = 38). CONCLUSIONS: NEISS-AIP has contributed to nonfatal injury surveillance in the USA. CDC and CPSC continue to work together to expand and enhance NEISS-AIP data collection. Researchers are encouraged to continue using this publicly available dataset for injury surveillance.

Clinical significance of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index in gastrointestinal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) has been identified as a scientific and clinical priority in multiple malignancies. The aim of this study is to investigate the value of the ALI before treatment in evaluating postoperative complications (POCs) and survival outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were comprehensively reviewed up to June 2022. The endpoints were POCs and survival outcomes. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were also performed. Results: Eleven studies including 4417 participants were included. A significant heterogeneity in the ALI cut-off value among studies was observed. Patients in the low ALI group showed increased incidence of POCs (OR=2.02; 95%CI:1.60-2.57; P<0.001; I2 = 0%). In addition, a low ALI was also significantly associated with worse overall survival (HR=1.96; 95%CI: 1.58-2.43; P<0.001; I2 = 64%), which remained consistent in all subgroups based on country, sample size, tumor site, tumor stage, selection method and Newcastle Ottawa Scale score. Moreover, patients in the low ALI group had an obviously decreased disease-free survival compared to these in the high ALI group (HR=1.47; 95%CI: 1.28-1.68; P<0.001; I2 = 0%). Conclusion: Based on existing evidence, the ALI could act as a valuable predictor of POCs and long-term outcomes in patients with GI cancer. However, the heterogeneity in the ALI cut-off value among studies should be considered when interpreting these findings.

Comparisons of perioperative and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant therapy: an updated pooled analysis of eighteen studies.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in advanced gastric cancer patients who received neoadjuvant therapy represent a controversial issue. We performed an updated meta-analysis to evaluate the perioperative and long-term survival outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) versus conventional open gastrectomy (OG) in this subset of patients. METHODS: Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were comprehensively searched up to May 2023. The short-term and long-term outcomes of LG versus OG in advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy were evaluated. Effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals were always assessed using random-effects model. The prospective protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022359126). RESULTS: Eighteen studies (2 randomized controlled trials and 16 cohort studies) involving 2096 patients were included. In total, 933 patients were treated with LG and 1163 patients were treated with OG. In perioperative outcomes, LG was associated with less estimated blood loss (MD = - 65.15; P < 0.0001), faster time to flatus (MD = - 0.56; P < 0.0001) and liquid intake (MD = - 0.42; P = 0.02), reduced hospital stay (MD = - 2.26; P < 0.0001), lower overall complication rate (OR = 0.70; P = 0.002) and lower minor complication rate (OR = 0.69; P = 0.006), while longer operative time (MD = 25.98; P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of proximal margin, distal margin, R1/R2 resection rate, retrieved lymph nodes, time to remove gastric tube and drainage tube, major complications and other specific complications. In survival outcomes, LG and OG were not significantly different in overall survival, disease-free survival and recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: LG can be a safe and feasible technique for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. However, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are still needed to further validate the results of our study.

Probing recycled carbonate in the lower mantle.

Whether surficial carbonates can be carried into the Earth's lower mantle is key to global deep carbon cycles but remains poorly understood. New clues from magnesium and zinc isotopic systematics on rocks from deep-rooted mantle plumes are presented and discussed in this Perspective.

Detection of asymptomatic recurrence following curative surgery improves survival in patients with gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To date, there is no evidence that intensive follow-up provides survival benefit in gastric cancer patients undergoing curative gastrectomy. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of detection of asymptomatic recurrence using intensive surveillance strategy in long-term survival after curative gastric cancer surgery. Methods: A systematic review of electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Clinical Trials Registry and Google Scholar was performed up to April 2022. The primary outcomes were survival outcomes: overall survival, recurrence-free survival and post-recurrence survival. The secondary endpoints were clinicopathological features, recurrence patterns and treatment after recurrence. The registration number of this protocol is PROSPERO CRD42022327370. Results: A total of 11 studies including 1898 participants were included. In the pooled analysis, the detection of asymptomatic recurrence was significantly associated with an improved overall survival compared to patients showing symptoms of recurrence (HR=0.67; 95%CI: 0.57-0.79; P<0.001), which was primarily driven by the prolongation of post-recurrence survival (HR=0.51; 95%CI: 0.42-0.61; P<0.001), since there was no significant difference observed in recurrence-free survival (HR=1.12; 95%CI: 0.81-1.55; P=0.48) between the two groups. Meanwhile, male sex and advanced T stage were more frequently observed in the symptomatic recurrence group. Furthermore, patients in the symptomatic recurrence group had a higher proportion of peritoneal relapse but lower proportion of distant lymph node metastasis. Additionally, patients in the symptomatic recurrence group were less likely to receive surgery treatment and post-recurrence chemotherapy. Conclusion: The detection of asymptomatic recurrence using intensive follow-up was associated with an appreciable improvement in overall survival. However, more robust data from high-quality studies are still required to verify this issue. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=327370, identifier CRD42022327370.

Zinc isotopic evidence for recycled carbonate in the deep mantle.

Carbonate, the major carbon reservoir on Earth's surface, can enter into the mantle by subduction. However, evidence for recycled surficial carbonates in the deep mantle is still scarce. Ocean island basalts from Cook-Austral islands and St. Helena Island, widely called HIMU basalts because of their high µ = 238U/204Pb sources, are thought to be fed by mantle plumes originating in the lower mantle. Here we report exceptionally high δ66Zn values (δ66Zn = 0.38 ± 0.03‰) of these HIMU lavas relative to most published data for oceanic basalts (δ66Zn = 0.31 ± 0.10‰), which requires a source contributed by isotopically heavy recycled surficial carbonates. During subduction of the oceanic lithosphere, melting of mixed surficial carbonates and basaltic crust in the deep mantle generates carbonatite melts, which metasomatizes the nearby mantle and the resultant carbonated mantle ultimately evolves into a high-δ66Zn HIMU source. High-δ66Zn signatures of HIMU basalts, therefore, demonstrate that carbonates can be transported into Earth's deep mantle.

[Expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3B in pancreatic tissue of acute edematous pancreatitis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of apoptosis related gene glycogen synthase kinase-3B (GSK-3B) in acute edematous pancreatitis (AEP), and the relationship between GSK-3B and AEP. METHODS: The AEP rat model was established by the injection of caerulein [50 microg/(kg x h)] intraperitoneally per hour for 4 times. There were total 36 rats, every 6 rats were sacrificed at 0 h, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 18 h after the injection of caerulein. Blood samples were taken from portal vein for ELISA examination of pancreatic amylase and lipase, pancreatic mRNA was extracted for RT-PCR analysis of GSK-3B, caspase-3, 9. The expression of GSK-3B protein was examed by Western blot, and acinar cell apoptosis was measured by TUNEL assay. RESULTS: AEP was successfully induced and pancreatic lesions were most severe at 6 h after the injection of caerulein. Immunohistochemistry assay showed that GSK-3B protein located in cytoplasm of pancreatic acinar cells and endothelial cells, but not in islet cells. The mRNA levels of GSK-3B, caspase-3, 9, the protein level of GSK-3B, as well as cell apoptotic index in AEP rats were significantly increased when compared with the control rats received normal saline. Acinar cell apoptosis index was positively correlated with serum amylase, lipase, ratio of dry/wet of pancreas and GSK-3B mRNA expression, while GSK-3B mRNA level was positively correlated with caspase-3, 9 mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: The expression levels of GSK-3B mRNA and protein were related to the severity of AEP and acinar cell apoptotic index.