Long-term high-risk drinking does not change effective doses of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope in Chinese male patients.

BACKGROUND: Available literature indicates that long-term drinkers demand a higher dose of propofol for induction of anesthesia than non-drinkers. However, there is no study having assessed the influence of long-term high-risk drinking (LTHRD) on the effective doses of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope with sedation. This study was designed to compare the effective doses of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope between LTHRD and non-drinking (ND) Chinese male patients. METHODS: Thirty-one LTHRD patients and 29 ND male patients undergoing elective gastroscopy with propofol sedation were enrolled. The modified Dixon's up-and-down method was applied to determine the calculated median effective dose (ED50) of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope. Furthermore, the isotonic regression analysis was used to establish the dose-response curve of propofol and assess the effective doses of propofol where 50% (ED50) and 95% (ED95) of gastroscope insertions were successful. RESULTS: The calculated ED50 of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope was 1.55 ± 0.10 mg/kg and 1.44 ± 0.11 mg/kg in the LTHRD and ND patients. The isotonic regression analysis further showed that ED50 and ED95 of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope was 1.50 mg/kg (95%CI, 1.40-1.63) and 1.80 mg/kg (95%CI, 1.74-1.90) in the LTHRD patients, respectively; 1.40 mg/kg (95% CI, 1.27-1.57) and 1.60 mg/kg (95%CI, 1.56-1.65) in the ND patients. The ED50 of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope was not significantly different between LTHRD and ND patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the difference in the estimated ED50 of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope between LTHRD and ND Chinese male patients was not statistically significant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on November 28, 2020 ( ChiCTR2000040382 ) in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.

Circadian disruption during fetal development promotes pathological cardiac remodeling in male mice.

Disruption of circadian rhythms during fetal development may predispose mice to developing heart disease later in life. Here, we report that male, but not female, mice that had experienced chronic circadian disturbance (CCD) in utero were more susceptible to pathological cardiac remodeling compared with mice that had developed under normal intrauterine conditions. CCD-treated males showed ventricular chamber dilatation, enhanced myocardial fibrosis, decreased contractility, higher rates of induced tachyarrhythmia, and elevated expression of biomarkers for heart failure and myocardial remodeling. In utero CCD exposure also triggered sex-dependent changes in cardiac gene expression, including upregulation of the secretoglobin gene, Scgb1a1, in males. Importantly, cardiac overexpression of Scgb1a1 was sufficient to induce myocardial hypertrophy in otherwise naive male mice. Our findings reveal that in utero CCD exposure predisposes male mice to pathological remodeling of the heart later in life, likely as a consequence of SCGB1A1 upregulation.

[Effects of Short-term Nitrogen Addition on Soil Organic Carbon Components in Robinia pseudoacacia L. Plantation].

Nitrogen (N) deposition in the context of human activities continuously affects the carbon cycle of ecosystems. The effect of N deposition on soil organic carbon is related to the differential responses of different carbon fractions. To investigate the changes in soil organic carbon fraction and its influencing factors in the context of short-term N deposition, four N addition gradients:0 (CK), 1.5 (N1), 3 (N2), and 6 (N3) g·(m2·a)-1 were set up in acacia plantations based on field N addition experiments, and the soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities were measured in June and September. The results showed that:① exogenous N input reduced soil pH, promoted the increase in soluble organic carbon content, and increased soil nitrogen effectiveness. ② Short-term N addition significantly reduced soil organic carbon content, and the response of each component of organic carbon to N addition was different. Among them, the content of easily oxidized organic carbon was significantly reduced and reached the lowest value under the N2 treatment, with 54.4% and 48.2% reduction compared with that of the control, respectively, and the content of inert organic carbon increased, although the increase was not significant. Nitrogen addition reduced the soil carbon pool activity and improved the stability of the soil carbon pool. Soil carbon pool activity reached its lowest under the N3 and N2 treatments, with a decrease of 53.3% and 52.80%, respectively, compared to that of the control. ③Random forest modeling indicated that the soil microbial biomass stoichiometry ratio, microbial biomass carbon, and AP were the key factors driving the changes in soil organic carbon activity under short-term N addition, explaining 65.96% and 66.68% of the changes in oxidizable organic carbon and inert organic carbon, respectively. Structural equation modeling validated the results of the random forest modeling, and soil microbial biomass stoichiometric ratios significantly influenced carbon pool activity. Short-term nitrogen addition changed soil microbial biomass and its stoichiometric ratio in the acacia plantation forest mainly through two pathways, i.e., increasing soil nitrogen effectiveness and promoting soil acidification and inhibiting extracellular carbon hydrolase activity, thus changing the soil carbon fraction ratio and participating in the soil organic carbon cycling process.

Dexmedetomidine postconditioning attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating the Nrf2/Sirt3/SOD2 signaling pathway in the rats.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the protective effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) postconditioning on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and to explore its potential molecular mechanisms. METHODS: One-hundred forty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups receiving the different treatments: Sham, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), Dex, Brusatol, Dex + Brusatol. By the in vivo rat model of myocardial IRI, cardioprotective effects of Dex postconditioning were evaluated by assessing serum CK-MB and cTnI levels, myocardial HE and Tunel staining and infarct size. Furthermore, the oxidative stress-related markers including intracellular ROS level, myocardial tissue MDA level, SOD and GSH-PX activities were determined. RESULTS: Dex postconditioning significantly alleviated myocardial IRI, decreased intracellular ROS and myocardial tissue MDA level, increased SOD and GSH-PX activities. Dex postconditioning significantly up-regulated myocardial expression of Bcl-2, down-regulated Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and decreased cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate. furthermores, Dex postconditioning promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation, increased myocardial expression of Sirt3 and SOD2 and decreased Ac-SOD2. However, brusatol reversed cardioprotective benefits of Dex postconditioning, significantly decreased Dex-induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation and reduced myocardial expression of Sirt3 and SOD2. CONCLUSIONS: Dex postconditioning can alleviate myocardial IRI by suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis, and these beneficial effects are at least partly mediated by activating the Nrf2/Sirt3/SOD2 signaling pathway.

[Mineralization Characteristics of Soil Organic Carbon and Its Relationship with Organic Carbon Components in Artificial Robinia pseudoacacia Forest in Loess Hilly Region].

In order to explore the characteristics of organic carbon mineralization and the variation law of organic carbon components of an artificial forest in a loess hilly area, an artificial Robinia pseudoacacia forest restored for 13 years and the adjacent slope farmland were selected as the research objects, and indoor culture experiments under three different temperature treatments (15, 25, and 35℃) were carried out. The results indicated that the mineralization rate of soil organic carbon decreased sharply at first and then stabilized. The cumulative release of organic carbon increased rapidly in the initial stage of culture and gradually slowed in the later stage. Soil organic carbon mineralization in sloping farmland was more sensitive to temperature change, and its temperature sensitivity coefficient Q10 was 1.52, whereas that in R. pseudoacacia forest land was only 1.38. According to the fitting of the single reservoir first-order dynamic equation, the soil mineralization potential Cp of R. pseudoacacia forest land and slope farmland was between 2.02-4.32 g·kg-1 and 1.25-3.17 g·kg-1, respectively, that is, the mineralization potential of the R. pseudoacacia forest was higher. During the cultivation period, the content of various active organic carbon components decreased with time, and that in the R. pseudoacacia forest land was greater than that in the slope land. The cumulative carbon release of soil was significantly positively correlated with the contents of MBC and DOC (P<0.05), and Q10 (15-25℃) was negatively correlated with the contents of SOC, EOC, and SWC (P<0.05). These results could provide some reference for the study of soil carbon sequestration in loess hilly regions under climate change.

Severe pneumonia and acute myocardial infarction complicated with pericarditis after percutaneous coronary intervention: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Cases of severe pneumonia complicated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with good prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are rare, especially those with postoperative pericarditis and intestinal obstruction. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department of our hospital because of paroxysmal chest tightness for 4 d, aggravated with chest pain for 12 h. The symptoms, electrocardiography, biochemical parameters, echocardiography and chest computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis of severe pneumonia complicated with AMI. The patient was treated with antiplatelet aggregation, anticoagulation, lipid regulation, vasodilation, anti-infective agents and direct PCI. The patient was discharged after 3 wk of treatment. Follow-up showed that the patient was asymptomatic without recurrence. CONCLUSION: For patients with severe pneumonia complicated with AMI, PCI and antibiotic therapy is a life-saving strategy.

The Protective Effect of Sevoflurane Conditionings Against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Trials in in-vivo Models.

Objective: Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common and serious complication in clinical practice. Sevoflurane conditionings have been identified to provide a protection against myocardial IRI in animal experiments, but their true clinical benefits remain controversial. Here, we aimed to analyze the preclinical evidences obtained in animal models of myocardial IRI and explore the possible reasons for controversial clinical benefits. Methods: Our primary outcome was the difference in mean infarct size between the sevoflurane and control groups in animal models of myocardial IRI. After searching the databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, a systematic review retrieved 37 eligible studies, from which 28 studies controlled comparisons of sevoflurane preconditioning (SPreC) and 40 studies controlled comparisons of sevoflurane postconditioning (SPostC) that were made in a pooled random-effects meta-analysis. In total, this analysis included data from 313 control animals and 536 animals subject to sevoflurane conditionings. Results: Pooled estimates for primary outcome demonstrated that sevoflurane could significantly reduce the infarct size after myocardial IRI whether preconditioning [weighted mean difference (WMD): -18.56, 95% CI: -23.27 to -13.85, P < 0.01; I 2 = 94.1%, P < 0.01] or postconditioning (WMD: -18.35, 95% CI: -20.88 to -15.83, P < 0.01; I 2 = 90.5%, P < 0.01) was performed. Interestingly, there was significant heterogeneity in effect size that could not be explained by any of the prespecified variables by meta-regression and stratified analysis. However, sensitivity analysis still identified the cardioprotective benefits of sevoflurane conditionings with robust results. Conclusion: Sevoflurane conditionings can significantly reduce infarct size in in-vivo models of myocardial IRI. Given the fact that there is a lack of consistency in the quality and design of included studies, more well-performed in-vivo studies with the detailed characterization of sevoflurane protocols, especially studies in larger animals regarding cardioprotection effects of sevoflurane, are still required.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for congenital absence of the right coronary artery with acute myocardial infarction: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Congenital absence of the right coronary artery with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a rare clinical situation that may lead to death. We report a case of successful percutaneous coronary intervention for congenital absence of the right coronary artery with AMI. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 53-year-old woman had a 7-day history of chest discomfort that had worsened over 10 hours. She was diagnosed as having myocardial infarction and was admitted to hospital. DIAGNOSIS: Coronary angiography showed absence of the right coronary artery; the left anterior descending (LAD) branch sent out the right ventricular branch and the posterior descending branch. The LAD branch was occluded and there was diffuse stenosis of the middle right ventricular branch and severe stenosis of the distal circumflex branch. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed. One stent was implanted in the LAD branch and another implanted in the right ventricular branch. OUTCOMES: The patient was discharged 3 weeks after surgery. The follow-up showed that the patient was asymptomatic without recurrence. LESSONS: Although absence of the right coronary artery with AMI is a fatal condition, percutaneous coronary intervention remains an effective treatment.

Tubeimoside I attenuates inflammation and oxidative damage in a mice model of PM2.5-induced pulmonary injury.

In the present study, the effects of tubeimoside I (TBMS1) on particulate matter <2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5)-induced pulmonary injury and its mechanisms of action were investigated. Male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into five groups (n=10/group): Control, PM2.5, PM2.5 + TBMS1 45 mg/kg, PM2.5 + TBMS1 90 mg/kg and PM2.5 + TBMS1 180 mg/kg. The dose of the PM2.5 suspension administered to the mice was 40 mg/kg via nasal instillation. The PM2.5 + TBMS1 groups received TBMS1 daily orally for 21 consecutive days, while the mice in the control and PM2.5 groups received equivalent volumes of PBS. Subsequently, lactic dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined. Oxidative stress was evaluated by detecting the protein levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and the level of nitric oxide in lung tissue. Lastly, histopathological images of lung sections were obtained to observe changes in the lung tissue with treatment. The results indicated that exposure to PM2.5 induced pathological pulmonary changes, and biofilm and parenchymal cell damage, and promoted inflammation and oxidative stress. Treatment with TBMS1 attenuated the development of PM2.5-induced pulmonary injury. Its mechanisms of action were associated with reducing cytotoxic effects, levels of inflammatory mediators and oxidative damage. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that TBMS1 is a potential therapeutic drug for treating PM2.5-induced pulmonary injury.

[Responses mechanism of C:N:P stoichiometry of soil microbial biomass and soil enzymes to climate change.] / åœŸå£¤å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©ç”Ÿç‰©é‡ç¢³æ°®ç£·ä¸ŽåœŸå£¤é ¶åŒ–å­¦è®¡é‡å¯¹æ°”å€™å˜åŒ–çš„å“åº”æœºåˆ¶.

Microorganisms and soil enzymes are important drivers for biogeochemical cycles in terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding the role of microorganisms in the regulation of ecosystems and the response mechanisms of microbial biomass and soil enzymes to climate change are important topic in ecology. From the perspective of climatic factors, this review introduced the roles of microorganisms and soil enzymes in the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles of terrestrial ecosystems based on the theory of ecological stoichiometry. Moreover, we synthesized the responses mechanisms of soil microbial and soil enzyme stoichiometry, i.e., changes of microbial metabolic rate, enzymatic acti-vity, microbial community structure, ecological stoichiometry of soil microbial biomass and soil enzymes, and nutrient use efficiency. Finally, we analyzed the current research inadequacies and proposed the scientific problems in this field, i.e., to comprehensively elucidate the response mecha-nism of soil microbes and soil enzymes to climate change; to examine the nutrient coupling mechanism of soil microbes and extracellular enzymes; and to explore the adaptive strategies of C:N:P stoichiometry of soil microbial biomass and soil enzymes to climate change.

Photocatalytic discoloration of Methyl Orange by anatase/schorl composite: optimization using response surface method.

The anatase/schorl composites were prepared and employed for the photocatalytic discoloration of an azo dye, Methyl Orange (MO). X-ray diffraction results indicated that TiO2 existed in the form of anatase phase and no diffraction peaks of schorl could be observed for all the composite samples. Scanning electron micrographs showed that the particles of anatase were well deposited and dispersed on the surface of schorl. Photocatalytic experiments revealed that the anatase/schorl composites exhibited higher photocatalytic activity for MO discoloration than pure TiO2 and more than 90% discoloration ratio could be obtained within 60 min UV irradiation when the sample containing 3 wt.% of schorl as TiO2 support was used. Then, the central composite design (CCD) under the response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for the experiment design and process optimization. The significance of a second-order polynomial model for predicting the optimal values of MO discoloration was evaluated by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and 3D response surface plots for the interactions between two variables were constructed. Based on the model prediction, the optimum conditions for the photocatalytic discoloration of MO by TiO2/schorl composite were determined to be 15 × 10(-3) mM MO initial concentration, 2.7 g/l photocatalyst dosage, solution pH 6.6 and 43 min reaction time, with a maximum MO discoloration ratio of 98.6%. Finally, a discoloration ratio of 94.3% was achieved for the real sample under the optimum conditions, which was very close to the predicted value, implying that RSM is a powerful and satisfactory strategy for the process optimization.

Influence of As2O3 combined with ginsenosides Rg3 on inhibition of lung cancer NCI-H1299 cells and on subsistence of nude mice bearing hepatoma.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) combined with ginsenosides Rg3 on inhibiting the NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells and subsistence in nude mice bearing hepatoma. METHODS: MTT method was used to measure the inhibition effect of As2O3 combined Rg3 on NCI-H1299 cells, and the proliferation inhibiting effect was observed via establishing the transplanted tumor model in vitro. A total of 40 tumor-bearing nude mice were randomly divided into normal saline group, As2O3, Rg3 and As2O3+Rg3 group. Transplantation tumor model of lung cancer in nude mice was constructed, followed by injection of certain concentrations of normal saline, As2O3, ginseng saponin Rg3 and As2O3+Rg3 every day. The survival duration and the tumors size of the mice were recorded and the Kaplan-Meier curve was made; microscopic observation of apoptosis of tumor cells in vivo was done using TUNEL staining. RESULTS: After 72 h of injection, inhibition rate of tumor cell in normal saline group, As2O3 group, Rg3 group and As2O3+Rg3 group was (5.66±0.31)%, (65.58±4.75)%, (44.69±3.32)% and (82.67±5.43)%, respectively. Inhibition rate of tumor cell in As2O3 group, Rg3 group and As2O3+Rg3 group was significantly higher than that of normal saline group (P<0.01); inhibition rate of tumor cells of As2O3+Rg3 group was significantly higher than that of the two groups given As2O3 or Rg3 alone (P<0.01). The tumor volume of As2O3 group, Rg3 group and As2O3+Rg3 group shrank to (65.38±3.25)%, (77.68±3.43)% and (42.65±3.55)% of the original, tumor volume of saline group was 1.21 times of the original size (P<0.01); Median survival of saline group, Rg3 group, As2O3 group were significantly shorter than that of As2O3+Rg3 group (P<0.01); co-ordinated intervention ability of As2O3+Rg3 on NCI-H1299 cell was significantly higher than that of As2O3 or Rg3, separately. CONCLUSIONS: As2O3 combined with Rg3 can significantly inhibit proliferation of NCI-H1299 cells in lung cancer, prolong survival of tumor-bearing nude mice, and promote tumor cell apoptosis, and have significant effect on lung cancer treatment.

Effect of sevoflurane on tissue permeability of lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of sevoflurane on tissue permeability of lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) in rats. METHODS: A total of 45 wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups I, II, III. Modified Eppinger method was adopted to establish the rat lung ischemia-reperfusion injury model. Group I served as the control group, group III as ischemia reperfusion group, group III as sevoflurane ischemia-reperfusion group. Blood gas index, lung permeability index (LPI) change, lung tissue pathology change and lung water content were observed and compared between groups of rats at different time points. RESULTS: During ischemia reperfusion, all rats kept balance of the MAP during different time points, SPO2 of group II and III decreased significantly than I group (P<0.05); after reperfusion lung permeability index in Group II and III was higher than the control group significantly (P<0.05), 120 min after reperfusion LPI change and injury of group III was significantly lower than II group (P<0.05); interstitial and alveolar cavity effusion in of group III were lower than that of group II. CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane pretreatment can reduce the lung tissue permeability, and LIRI plays a protective role in LIRI.