COVID-19 immune features revealed by a large-scale single-cell transcriptome atlas.

A dysfunctional immune response in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is a recurrent theme impacting symptoms and mortality, yet a detailed understanding of pertinent immune cells is not complete. We applied single-cell RNA sequencing to 284 samples from 196 COVID-19 patients and controls and created a comprehensive immune landscape with 1.46 million cells. The large dataset enabled us to identify that different peripheral immune subtype changes are associated with distinct clinical features, including age, sex, severity, and disease stages of COVID-19. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA was found in diverse epithelial and immune cell types, accompanied by dramatic transcriptomic changes within virus-positive cells. Systemic upregulation of S100A8/A9, mainly by megakaryocytes and monocytes in the peripheral blood, may contribute to the cytokine storms frequently observed in severe patients. Our data provide a rich resource for understanding the pathogenesis of and developing effective therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.

Old role with new feature: T2SS ATPase as a cyclic-di-GMP receptor to regulate antibiotic production.

Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a crucial signaling molecule found extensively in bacteria, involved in the regulation of various physiological and biochemical processes such as biofilm formation, motility, and pathogenicity through binding to downstream receptors. However, the structural dissimilarity of c-di-GMP receptor proteins has hindered the discovery of many such proteins. In this study, we identified LspE, a homologous protein of the type II secretion system (T2SS) ATPase GspE in Lysobacter enzymogenes, as a receptor protein for c-di-GMP. We identified the more conservative c-di-GMP binding amino acid residues as K358 and T359, which differ from the previous reports, indicating that GspE proteins may represent a class of c-di-GMP receptor proteins. Additionally, we found that LspE in L. enzymogenes also possesses a novel role in regulating the production of the antifungal antibiotic HSAF. Further investigations revealed the critical involvement of both ATPase activity and c-di-GMP binding in LspE-mediated regulation of HSAF (Heat-Stable Antifungal Factor) production, with c-di-GMP binding having no impact on LspE's ATPase activity. This suggests that the control of HSAF production by LspE encompasses two distinct processes: c-di-GMP binding and the inherent ATPase activity of LspE. Overall, our study unraveled a new function for the conventional protein GspE of the T2SS as a c-di-GMP receptor protein and shed light on its role in regulating antibiotic production.IMPORTANCEThe c-di-GMP signaling pathway in bacteria is highly intricate. The identification and functional characterization of novel receptor proteins have posed a significant challenge in c-di-GMP research. The type II secretion system (T2SS) is a well-studied secretion system in bacteria. In this study, our findings revealed the ATPase GspE protein of the T2SS as a class of c-di-GMP receptor protein. Notably, we discovered its novel function in regulating the production of antifungal antibiotic HSAF in Lysobacter enzymogenes. Given that GspE may be a conserved c-di-GMP receptor protein, it is worthwhile for researchers to reevaluate its functional roles and mechanisms across diverse bacterial species.

Effects of preoperative oral enzyme-hydrolyzed rice flour solution on gastric emptying and insulin resistance in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The effect of preoperative oral carbohydrates (POC) on insulin resistance (IR) of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) remains debatable. Enzyme-hydrolyzed rice flour (EHR) is a kind of water-soluble micromolecular carbohydrates. This study aimed to investigate the impact of preoperative oral EHR solution on gastric emptying and IR in patients undergoing LC. METHODS: Patients (n = 100) undergoing LC were divided into oral-water group (group C) or oral-EHR solution (group E) randomly (n = 50 each), and the patients drank 300 ml water or EHR solution 2-3 h before surgery respectively. Gastric emptying which was quantized by gastric volume (GV) from antrum ultrasonography, IR indicators, subjective comfort indicators, handgrip strength, postoperative recovery indexes, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: There were no differences in GV between the two groups before oral administration (V0), immediately after oral administration (V1) and before anesthesia induction(V2). The GV at V2 (GV2) reduced to the level of V0 (GV0) in the two groups. Fasting glucose (FG), fasting insulin (FINS) and Homa-IR in the two groups increased at postoperative day 1 (Pos 1d) compared with those at preoperative day 1(Pre 1d). Homa-IS and Homa-ß in the two groups decreased at Pos 1d compared with those at Pre 1d. FG, FINS and Homa-IR in group E were lower than those in group C at Pos 1d, and Homa-IS and Homa-ß were higher in group E than those in group C at Pos 1d. Subjective comfort indictors (hunger, fatigue and anxiety) in group E were lower than those in group C at preoperative 15 min (Pre 15 min) and postoperative 1 h (Pos 1 h). Handgrip strength in group E was raised compared with that in group C at Pre 15 min, Pos 1 h and Pos 1d. There was a lower incidence of nausea and earlier exhaust time in group E. CONCLUSION: Oral 300 ml EHR solution 2-3 h before LC surgery did not increase the occurrence of reflux and aspiration during anesthesia induction with a normal gastric emptying, ameliorated postoperative IR, improved subjective comfort, and promoted postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospectively registered at the China Clinical Trial Registry, registration number: ChiCTR2000039939, date of registration:14/11/2020.

Biomechanical Effect of Different Graft Heights on Adjacent Segment and Graft Segment Following C4/C5 Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Finite Element Analysis.

BACKGROUND The finite element analysis (FEA) was used to explore the effect of different graft heights on adjacent segment and graft segment stress after C4/5 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). MATERIAL AND METHODS A detailed, geometrically accurate 3-dimensional cervical spine model was successfully built from computed tomography (CT) scanning of a healthy adult male. We changed the graft height in C4-C5 to be 90%, 150%, 175%, and 200% of the preoperative disc height and simulated the postoperative scenarios with different bone graft height, respectively. A stress analysis was conducted on the adjacent segment and graft segment. RESULTS The maximum von Mises stress on C3-C4 showed that when the graft height was 200%, the values were 0.99 MPa, 0.85 MPa, 0.91 MPa, and 0.89 MPa in different loading conditions. For C5-C6, the maximum von Mises stress was 0.77 MPa, 0.83 MPa, 0.91 MPa, and 0.81 MPa, observed when the graft height was 175%, except in extension condition. With regard to graft segment (C4-C5), the biggest von Mises stress was 1.25 MPa, 1.77 MPa, 1.75 MPa, and 1.81 MPa observed at 200% graft height. For these 3 segments, the smallest von Mises stress was found at 150% graft height under the 4 loading conditions. CONCLUSIONS The graft height makes an important difference on the stress on the adjacent segment and the graft segment after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. A 150% graft height was considered the proper graft height in C4/C5 ACDF, with the lowest stress on the adjacent segment and the graft segment.

Numerical Approximation of Elasticity Tensor Associated With Green-Naghdi Rate.

Objective stress rates are often used in commercial finite element (FE) programs. However, deriving a consistent tangent modulus tensor (also known as elasticity tensor or material Jacobian) associated with the objective stress rates is challenging when complex material models are utilized. In this paper, an approximation method for the tangent modulus tensor associated with the Green-Naghdi rate of the Kirchhoff stress is employed to simplify the evaluation process. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated through the implementation of two user-defined fiber-reinforced hyperelastic material models. Comparisons between the approximation method and the closed-form analytical method demonstrate that the former can simplify the material Jacobian evaluation with satisfactory accuracy while retaining its computational efficiency. Moreover, since the approximation method is independent of material models, it can facilitate the implementation of complex material models in FE analysis using shell/membrane elements in abaqus.

Measurement of Layer-Specific Mechanical Properties of Intact Blood Vessels Based on Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography.

PURPOSE: The biomechanical analysis of stress and strain state of multilayered blood vessels has shown great importance in vascular pathology and physiology. However, there is a lack of method in measuring the mechanical property of each layer of a vascular sample without splitting up the wall. METHODS: Here we develop a vascular inflation test method based on intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) imaging and inverse parametric estimation. We propose a three-step inverse parametric estimation method to solve the six constitutive parameters of the GOH models for the intima-media and adventitia of the coronaries simultaneously. A bilayer silicone vascular phantom inflation test and a virtual deformation test using finite element simulated data are conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method. RESULTS: The virtual deformation test demonstrates that the errors of the constitutive constants are less than 2.56% determined by the proposed inverse parametric estimation method. The stress-strain curves of a bilayer silicone vascular phantom obtained based on the parameters determined by the proposed method match well with those obtained by the uniaxial test. CONCLUSION: The proposed layer-specific vascular mechanical property measurement method provides a new experimental method for mechanical properties characterization of blood vessels. It also has the potential to be used for patient-specific mechanical properties estimation with IVOCT imaging in vivo.

Finite-element simulation of in-plane tear propagation in the dissected aorta: Implications for the propagation mechanism.

Computer modeling and numerical simulation are essential for understanding the progression of aortic dissection. However, tear propagation has not been properly modeled and simulated. The in-plane dissection propagation between concentrically distributed elastic lamellae is modeled using the cohesive zone method with a bilinear traction-separation law. The parameters of cohesive elements are calibrated for the three modes of interfacial damage in the media, enabling quantitative predictions of in-plane tear propagation. An idealized cylindrical tube-shaped bilayer thick-wall model of the aorta is employed to elucidate the influence of geometrical parameters, loading conditions and residual stress on the tear propagation. While the model is capable of replicating that deeper, larger tears are associated with lower critical pressure, new findings include: (i) Larger axial stretch leads to lower critical pressure; (ii) Increased magnitude of residual stress is associated with higher critical pressure; (iii) Pressure difference between true and false lumen alters the critical pressure; (iv) The interfacial damage is mostly opening mode in the axial direction, but shear-dominated in the circumferential direction; (v) Damage due to the opening mode is associated with smaller fracture energy, which makes it easier to propagate than the shear and the mixed modes. (vi) The deformed shape of the tear, which is related to its geometrical features and loading conditions, modulates the critical pressure via two pathways: (a) deformed shapes are associated with specific modes of damage, which influences the critical pressure, and (b) deformed shapes modulate the critical pressure directly via geometrical constraints.

Staged surgically created type B aortic dissection model with endovascular reintervention for different morphological features.

OBJECTIVES: Understanding morphology and how this relates to treatment strategy is critical for achieving remodelling in aortic dissection. A controllable and reproducible large animal model is required for investigating new therapeutic devices and interventions. METHODS: Our experimental protocol involved the development of surgically created type B aortic dissection (TBAD) and endovascular reintervention-induced TBAD porcine models. The sample was randomly divided into 2 groups: 1 underwent a secondary tear creation (STC) procedure and the other underwent a false lumen extension (FLE) procedure. Anatomical features were observed at 1 and 3 months, and 2 animals in each group were euthanized at 3 months after the procedures. The aorta and main branches were harvested en bloc, cross-sectioned and prepared for histological examination. RESULTS: All surgically created TBAD models were successfully generated, and no unintended complications occurred. The endovascular reintervention-induced TBAD model was successfully created in 11 of 12 animals, with 6 in the STC group and 5 in the FLE group. In the STC group, the intraoperative mean diameter of the new secondary tear was 7.23 mm, and a slight increase was observed at first 30 days (P = 0.0026). In the FLE group, the intraoperative new propagation length was (235.80 ± 84.94) mm. The FL propagation length at the 1-month follow-up was significantly longer than that measured intraoperatively (P = 0.0362). Histological evaluation demonstrated that the elastic fibres in the media layer of the aortic wall were disrupted and appeared to be significantly stretched on the adventitial side of the false lumen. CONCLUSIONS: Our endovascular reintervention is a reliable, minimally invasive approach for producing specific TBAD models with different morphologies.

Targeting ATAD3A-PINK1-mitophagy axis overcomes chemoimmunotherapy resistance by redirecting PD-L1 to mitochondria.

Only a small proportion of patients with triple-negative breast cancer benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) targeting PD-1/PD-L1 signaling in combination with chemotherapy. Here, we discovered that therapeutic response to ICI plus paclitaxel was associated with subcellular redistribution of PD-L1. In our immunotherapy cohort of ICI in combination with nab-paclitaxel, tumor samples from responders showed significant distribution of PD-L1 at mitochondria, while non-responders showed increased accumulation of PD-L1 on tumor cell membrane instead of mitochondria. Our results also revealed that the distribution pattern of PD-L1 was regulated by an ATAD3A-PINK1 axis. Mechanistically, PINK1 recruited PD-L1 to mitochondria for degradation via a mitophagy pathway. Importantly, paclitaxel increased ATAD3A expression to disrupt proteostasis of PD-L1 by restraining PINK1-dependent mitophagy. Clinically, patients with tumors exhibiting high expression of ATAD3A detected before the treatment with ICI in combination with paclitaxel had markedly shorter progression-free survival compared with those with ATAD3A-low tumors. Preclinical results further demonstrated that targeting ATAD3A reset a favorable antitumor immune microenvironment and increased the efficacy of combination therapy of ICI plus paclitaxel. In summary, our results indicate that ATAD3A serves not only as a resistant factor for the combination therapy of ICI plus paclitaxel through preventing PD-L1 mitochondrial distribution, but also as a promising target for increasing the therapeutic responses to chemoimmunotherapy.

Neutralizing IL-8 potentiates immune checkpoint blockade efficacy for glioma.

Malignant gliomas are largely refractory to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. To explore the underlying immune regulators, we examine the microenvironment in glioma and find that tumor-infiltrating T cells are mainly confined to the perivascular cuffs and express high levels of CCR5, CXCR3, and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Combined analysis of T cell clustering with T cell receptor (TCR) clone expansion shows that potential tumor-killing T cells are mainly categorized into pre-exhausted/exhausted and effector CD8+ T subsets, as well as cytotoxic CD4+ T subsets. Notably, a distinct subpopulation of CD4+ T cells exhibits innate-like features with preferential interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression. With IL-8-humanized mouse strain, we demonstrate that IL-8-producing CD4+ T, myeloid, and tumor cells orchestrate myeloid-derived suppressor cell infiltration and angiogenesis, which results in enhanced tumor growth but reduced ICB efficacy. Antibody-mediated IL-8 blockade or the inhibition of its receptor, CXCR1/2, unleashes anti-PD-1-mediated antitumor immunity. Our findings thus highlight IL-8 as a combinational immunotherapy target for glioma.

Using in vivo Cine and 3D multi-contrast MRI to determine human atherosclerotic carotid artery material properties and circumferential shrinkage rate and their impact on stress/strain predictions.

In vivo magnetic resonance image (MRI)-based computational models have been introduced to calculate atherosclerotic plaque stress and strain conditions for possible rupture predictions. However, patient-specific vessel material properties are lacking in those models, which affects the accuracy of their stress/strain predictions. A noninvasive approach of combining in vivo Cine MRI, multicontrast 3D MRI, and computational modeling was introduced to quantify patient-specific carotid artery material properties and the circumferential shrinkage rate between vessel in vivo and zero-pressure geometries. In vivo Cine and 3D multicontrast MRI carotid plaque data were acquired from 12 patients after informed consent. For each patient, one nearly-circular slice and an iterative procedure were used to quantify parameter values in the modified Mooney-Rivlin model for the vessel and the vessel circumferential shrinkage rate. A sample artery slice with and without a lipid core and three material parameter sets representing stiff, median, and soft materials from our patient data were used to demonstrate the effect of material stiffness and circumferential shrinkage process on stress/strain predictions. Parameter values of the Mooney-Rivlin models for the 12 patients were quantified. The effective Young's modulus (YM, unit: kPa) values varied from 137 (soft), 431 (median), to 1435 (stiff), and corresponding circumferential shrinkages were 32%, 12.6%, and 6%, respectively. Using the sample slice without the lipid core, the maximum plaque stress values (unit: kPa) from the soft and median materials were 153.3 and 96.2, which are 67.7% and 5% higher than that (91.4) from the stiff material, while the maximum plaque strain values from the soft and median materials were 0.71 and 0.293, which are about 700% and 230% higher than that (0.089) from the stiff material, respectively. Without circumferential shrinkages, the maximum plaque stress values (unit: kPa) from the soft, median, and stiff models were inflated to 330.7, 159.2, and 103.6, which were 116%, 65%, and 13% higher than those from models with proper shrinkage. The effective Young's modulus from the 12 human carotid arteries studied varied from 137 kPa to 1435 kPa. The vessel circumferential shrinkage to the zero-pressure condition varied from 6% to 32%. The inclusion of proper shrinkage in models based on in vivo geometry is necessary to avoid over-estimating the stresses and strains by up 100%. Material stiffness had a greater impact on strain (up to 700%) than on stress (up to 70%) predictions. Accurate patient-specific material properties and circumferential shrinkage could considerably improve the accuracy of in vivo MRI-based computational stress/strain predictions.

In Vivo Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (IVOCT) Structural and Blood Flow Imaging Based Mechanical Simulation Analysis of a Blood Vessel.

INTRODUCTION: Computer modelling of blood vessels based on biomedical imaging provides important hemodynamic and biomechanical information for vascular disease studies and diagnosis. However due to lacking well-defined physiological blood flow profiles, the accuracy of the simulation results is often not guaranteed. Flow velocity profiles of a specific cross section of a blood vessel were obtained by in vivo Doppler intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) lately. However due to the influence of the catheter, the velocity profile imaged by IVOCT can't be applied to simulation directly. METHODS: A simulation-experiment combined method to determine the inlet flow boundary based on in vivo porcine carotid Doppler IVOCT imaging is proposed. A single conduit carotid model was created from the 3D IVOCT structural images using an image processing-computer aided design combined method. RESULTS: With both high- resolution arterial model and near physiological blood flow profile, stress analysis by fluid-structure interaction and computational fluid dynamics were performed. The influence of the catheter to the wall shear stress, the hemodynamics and the stresses of the carotid wall under the measured inlet flow and various outlet pressure boundary conditions, are analyzed. CONCLUSION: This study provides a solution to the difficulty of getting inlet flow boundary for numerical simulation of arteries. It paves the way for developing IVOCT based vascular stress analysis and imaging methods for the studies and diagnosis of vascular diseases.

A novel framework for quantifying the subject-specific three-dimensional residual stress field in the aortic wall.

BACKGROUND: Quantification of subject-specific residual stress field remains a challenge that prohibits accurate stress analysis and refined understanding of the biomechanical behavior of the aortic wall. METHOD: This study presents a framework combining experiments, constitutive modeling, and computer simulation to quantify the subject-specific three-dimensional residual stress field of the aortic wall. The material properties and residual deformations were acquired from the same porcine aortic sample, so that the subject-specific residual stress field was quantified analytically. Consequently, a novel stress-driven tissue growth model was developed and incorporated in a finite element aortic model to recover the subject-specific residual stress with the help of analytical solution. We then evaluated the framework's efficacy by simulating the residual stress distribution in the aortic dissection (AD). RESULT: Subject-specific residual stress field of the aortic sample was quantified analytically. No appreciable discrepancy was observed between the numerically simulated and analytically derived residual stress distributions, indicating the effectiveness of the tissue growth model. Errors arising from the numerically simulated circumferential opening angle and axial bending angle were within 5% relative to experimental results, highlighting that the framework was accurate in terms of subject-specific residual stress estimation. Finally, numerical simulations recovered the buckling behavior of the intimal flap of the dissected aorta and revealed the expansion of the false lumen and compression of the true lumen as the tear propagates circumferentially. CONCLUSION: The proposed framework is effective in quantifying the three-dimensional subject-specific residual stress field and it is potentially applicable in more sophisticated scenarios involving residual stress.

CD127 imprints functional heterogeneity to diversify monocyte responses in inflammatory diseases.

Inflammatory monocytes are key mediators of acute and chronic inflammation; yet, their functional diversity remains obscure. Single-cell transcriptome analyses of human inflammatory monocytes from COVID-19 and rheumatoid arthritis patients revealed a subset of cells positive for CD127, an IL-7 receptor subunit, and such positivity rendered otherwise inert monocytes responsive to IL-7. Active IL-7 signaling engaged epigenetically coupled, STAT5-coordinated transcriptional programs to restrain inflammatory gene expression, resulting in inverse correlation between CD127 expression and inflammatory phenotypes in a seemingly homogeneous monocyte population. In COVID-19 and rheumatoid arthritis, CD127 marked a subset of monocytes/macrophages that retained hypoinflammatory phenotypes within the highly inflammatory tissue environments. Furthermore, generation of an integrated expression atlas revealed unified features of human inflammatory monocytes across different diseases and different tissues, exemplified by those of the CD127high subset. Overall, we phenotypically and molecularly characterized CD127-imprinted functional heterogeneity of human inflammatory monocytes with direct relevance for inflammatory diseases.

Danggui-Shaoyao-San improves cognitive impairment through inhibiting O-GlcNAc-modification of estrogen α receptor in female db/db mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The traditional Chinese medicine formula Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) has been reported to show therapeutic effect on dementia. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aims to investigate whether DSS treatment could alleviate diabetes-induced cognitive dysfunction, and explores its neuroprotective mechanism on db/db mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The female db/db mice were randomly divided into model group, DSS low-dose group and DSS high-dose group. Homologous female db/m mice were used as the control group. DSS was intragastric administrated for 15 weeks. Glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, blood glucose and blood lipid levels were measured. Morris water maze was used to measure spatial learning and memory ability in mice. Nissl staining and Tunel staining were used to measure the changes of brain neurons, and ELISA kits were used to measure levels of inflammatory mediators (PGE2, TXB2 and LTB4). The kits detected oxidative stress (MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH-PX), nitrosative stress (NO, iNOS, TNOS) and glucose metabolism (LDH, PK, HK) levels. Western blot and immunofluorescence detected neurotrophic factors (PSD95, BDNF, NGF and SYN), apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xl, Caspase-3) and changes of ERα, O-GlcNAc, OGT, OGA levels. RESULTS: Morris water maze results showed that DSS could improve the learning and memory abilities of female db/db mice. Nissl staining showed that DSS could relieve hippocampal neurons damage of db/db mice. In addition, the serological tests showed that DSS could improve the impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, while reduce hyperlipemia in db/db mice. Besides, DSS treatment increased the activities of SOD, GSH-PX, and CAT, and reduced MDA, NO, iNOs, tNOS, PGE2, TXB2 and LTB4 levels. Western blot and immunofluorescence results of PSD95, BDNF, NGF, and SYN showed that DSS could improve the expressions of neurotrophic factors. Meanwhile, Tunel staning and Western blot (Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xl, Caspase-3) results indicated that DSS could reduce neuronal apoptosis. Finally, Western blot (ERα, O-GlcNAc, OGA, and OGT) and immunofluorescence (ERα and O-GlcNAc) results indicated that DSS could increase the levels of ERα and OGA, decrease the levels of O-GlcNAc and OGT. CONCLUSION: DSS alleviate DE might be related to improve the abnormal O-GlcNAc-modification of ERα.

Hemodynamic Effects of Multiple Overlapping Uncovered Stents on Aortic Dissection: Surgical Strategies and Implications for False Lumen Thrombosis.

PURPOSE: Multiple overlapping uncovered stents (MOUS) are employed to promote false lumen thrombosis in the aortic dissections (AD), when the tears are in close vicinity to the branch vessels. However, the overall rate of false lumen thrombosis remains unsatisfactory. This study was performed to investigate the hemodynamic influence of MOUS on aortic dissection to shed some light on the mechanism of post-stenting false lumen thrombosis. METHODS: An anatomically accurate computational fluid dynamics model was developed to investigate the hemodynamics of AD. A parametric study was carried out to demonstrate the hemodynamic influence of MOUS in various post-surgery scenarios featuring the representative surgical strategies involving MOUS. RESULTS: The use of reduced-porosity MOUS slowed the blood flow in the false lumen and decreased the wall shear stress. MOUS depressed the false lumen and enlarged the true lumen, without significantly altering the blood outflow distribution among the branch vessels. Compared with MOUS-alone and stent graft-alone scenarios, the combination of MOUS and stent graft generated a substantially large region of stagnant flow. The active flow was confined to an area in close vicinity to the tears covered by the MOUS, which perfuse the right renal artery in the false lumen. CONCLUSIONS: MOUS helps to generate a favored hemodynamic environment for thrombus formation in the false lumen. Application of MOUS along with covered stent grafts may represent a more effective treatment for AD than utilizing MOUS or stent graft alone.

Carnosine ameliorates age-related dementia via improving mitochondrial dysfunction in SAMP8 mice.

Dementia is a kind of age-related neurodegenerative disease. Carnosine, an endogenous dipeptide consisting of ß-alanine and l-histidine, has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. However, the exact mechanism is still obscure. In this study, senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice, an age-related animal model, were used. Carnosine (100 and 200 mg kg-1 day-1) was orally administered to the mice once daily for six weeks. Behavioral tests, western blotting, and detection kits were used to evaluate the potential effects of carnosine on SAMP8 mice. Open-field and new object recognition experiments have shown that carnosine improved cognitive deficits in SAMP8 mice. Carnosine decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in SAMP8 mice. Concomitantly, western blotting results proved that carnosine increased the protein expressions of Mitofusin-1, Mitofusin-2, and Bcl-2 and reduced the protein expressions of P-Drp1, Bax, cleaved Caspase-3 and NLRP3 inflammasomes in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice. The present data provided evidence that carnosine might improve cognitive impairment in SAMP8 mice through modulating mitochondrial dysfunction.

Spermidine and spermine delay brain aging by inducing autophagy in SAMP8 mice.

The natural polyamine spermidine and spermine have been reported to ameliorate aging and aging-induced dementia. However, the mechanism is still confused. An aging model, the senescence accelerated mouse-8 (SAMP8), was used in this study. Novel object recognition and the open field test results showed that oral administration of spermidine, spermine and rapamycin increased discrimination index, modified number, inner squares distance and times. Spermidine and spermine increased the activity of SOD, and decreased the level of MDA in the aging brain. Spermidine and spermine phosphorylate AMPK and regulate autophagy proteins (LC3, Beclin 1 and p62). Spermidine and spermine balanced mitochondrial and maintain energy for neuron, with the regulation of MFN1, MFN2, DRP1, COX IV and ATP. In addition, western blot results (Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3, NLRP3, IL-18, IL-1ß) showed that spermidine and spermine prevented apoptosis and inflammation, and elevate the expression of neurotrophic factors, including NGF, PSD95and PSD93 and BDNF in neurons of SAMP8 mice. These results indicated that the effect of spermidine and spermine on anti-aging is related with improving autophagy and mitochondrial function.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate protects against Aß1-42-induced cellular toxicity by modulating Aß-degrading enzymes in HT22 cells.

ß-Amyloid (Aß) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is still no effective Aß-targeting drugs for AD treatment. In this study, we explored the effect and mechanism of Sodium Tanshinone IIA Sulfonate (STS) on AD. Aß-treated HT22 cells, an immortalized mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line, were employed. Different dosages of STS (0.1, 1 and 10 µM) were selected. STS improved cell viability and protected against Aß-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were decreased, while the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were significantly increased after STS treatment. STS decreased the levels of phosphorylate PKR-like (p-PERK), phosphorylate eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (p-eIF2α), phosphorylate inositol-requiring enzyme (p-IRE1α), X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) and binding immunoglobulin heavy chain protein (Bip), while increased protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) levels in Aß-treated HT22 cells. In addition, the levels of insulin degrading enzymes (IDE) and Nepterrilysin (NEP) (or call it CD10) were significantly increased after STS treatment. Taken together, these results indicated that STS might be effective in treating AD via increasing the levels of Aß-degrading enzymes.