Risk factors analysis and prediction model construction for severe pneumonia in older adult patients.

Objective: Pneumonia is a common and serious infectious disease that affects the older adult population. Severe pneumonia can lead to high mortality and morbidity in this group. Therefore, it is important to identify the risk factors and develop a prediction model for severe pneumonia in older adult patients. Method: In this study, we collected data from 1,000 older adult patients who were diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a tertiary hospital. We used logistic regression and machine learning methods to analyze the risk factors and construct a prediction model for severe pneumonia in older adult patients. We evaluated the performance of the model using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and calibration plot. Result: We found that age, comorbidities, vital signs, laboratory tests, and radiological findings were associated with severe pneumonia in older adult patients. The prediction model had an accuracy of 0.85, a sensitivity of 0.80, a specificity of 0.88, and an AUC of 0.90. The calibration plot showed good agreement between the predicted and observed probabilities of severe pneumonia. Conclusion: The prediction model can help clinicians to stratify the risk of severe pneumonia in older adult patients and provide timely and appropriate interventions.

Cushing's Syndrome in Pregnancy Secondary to Adrenocortical Adenoma: A Case Series and Review.

PURPOSE: To present a case series of Cushing's syndrome (CS) during pregnancy caused by adrenocortical adenomas, highlighting clinical features, hormonal assessments and outcomes. METHODS: We describe five pregnant women with CS, detailing clinical presentations and laboratory findings. RESULTS: Common clinical features included a full moon face, buffalo back and severe hypertension. Elevated blood cortisol levels with circadian rhythm disruption and suppressed adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) levels were observed. Imaging revealed unilateral adrenal tumours. Two cases underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomies during the second trimester, while three had postpartum surgery. All required hormone replacement therapy, with postoperative pathological confirmation of adrenocortical adenomas. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of CS during pregnancy is challenging due to overlapping features with normal pregnancy: elevated blood cortisol levels and abnormal diurnal rhythm of blood cortisol, suppressed aid diagnosis. Treatment should be individualised due to a lack of explicit optimum therapeutic approaches. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy may be an optimal choice, along with multidisciplinary management including hormone replacement therapy.

Suppression of circular RNA serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 elevates antioxidant molecules and angiogenesis in trophoblast cells to attenuate preeclampsia via microRNA-508-3p to target and restrain PUM homolog 1.

AIM: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific syndrome characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Recently, multiple circular RNAs (circRNAs) were considered latent clinical diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets. This study was to explore the impact of circRNA serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1) on PE via influencing the microRNA (miR)-508-3p/PUM homolog 1 (PUM1) axis. METHODS: Placental tissues of 34 pregnant women with PE and 34 normal pregnant women were collected to measure circRNA SGK1 (circSGK1), miR-508-3p, and PUM1. Human placental trophoblasts HTR-8/SVneo were transfected with plasmids, thereafter to observe proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, analyze antioxidant molecules Troxerutin (TXN), Glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), NAD (P) H-quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and determine angiogenesis. After the construction of the PE rat model, antioxidant molecules TXN, GCLC, and NQO1, vascular-associated factor vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and histopathological conditions were tested. Examination of the binding of circSGK1 and miR-508-3p with PUM1 was performed. RESULTS: Our data showed that circSGK1 expression was elevated in the placenta of patients with PE. Silenced circSGK1 or elevated miR-508-3p promoted the growth and antioxidant molecules and angiogenesis in trophoblast cells; CircSGK1 combined with miR-508-3p, and miR-508-3p targeted PUM1. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, suppression of circSGK1 augments antioxidant molecules and angiogenesis in trophoblast cells to attenuate PE via miR-508-3p to target PUM1.

Development and validation of prognostic dynamic nomograms for hepatitis B Virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion after curative resection.

Background and Aim: The prediction models of postoperative survival for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) with microvascular invasion (MVI) have not been well established. The study objective was the development of nomograms to predict disease recurrence and overall survival (OS) in these patients. Methods: Data were obtained from 1046 HBV-related MVI-positive HCC patients who had undergone curative resection from January 2014 to December 2017. The study was approved by the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital and Jinling Hospital ethics committee, and patients provided informed consent for the use of their data. Nomograms for recurrence and OS were created by Cox regression model in the training cohort (n=530). The modes were verified in an internal validation cohort (n= 265) and an external validation cohort (n= 251). Results: The nomograms of recurrence and OS based on preoperative serological indicators (HBV-DNA, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, a-fetoprotein), tumor clinicopathologic features (diameter, number), surgical margin and postoperative adjuvant TACE achieved high C-indexes of 0.722 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.711-0.732) and 0.759 (95% CI, 0.747-0.771) in the training cohort, respectively, which were significantly higher than conventional HCC staging systems (BCLC, CNLC, HKLC).The nomograms were validated in the internal validation cohort (0.747 for recurrence, 0.758 for OS) and external validation cohort(0.719 for recurrence, 0.714 for OS) had well-fitted calibration curves. Our nomograms accurately stratified patients with HBV-HCC with MVI into low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups of postsurgical recurrence and mortality. Prediction models for recurrence-free survival (https://baishileiehbh.shinyapps.io/HBV-MVI-HCC-RFS/) and OS (https://baishileiehbh.shinyapps.io/HBV-MVI-HCC-OS/) were constructed. Conclusions: The two nomograms showed good predictive performance and accurately distinguished different recurrence and OS by the nomograms scores for HBV-HCC patients with MVI after resection.

The Comparison of Surgical Margins and Type of Hepatic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Microvascular Invasion.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of surgical margin and hepatic resection on prognosis and compare their importance on prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The clinical data of 906 patients with HCC who underwent hepatic resection in our hospital from January 2013 to January 2015 were collected retrospectively. All patients were divided into anatomical resection (AR) (n = 234) and nonanatomical resection (NAR) group (n = 672) according to type of hepatic resection. The effects of AR and NAR and wide and narrow margins on overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) were analyzed. RESULTS: In all patients, narrow margin (1.560, 1.278-1.904; 1.387, 1.174-1.639) is an independent risk factor for OS and TTR, and NAR is not. Subgroup analysis showed that narrow margins (2.307, 1.699-3.132; 1.884, 1.439-2.468), and NAR (1.481, 1.047-2.095; 1.372, 1.012-1.860) are independent risk factors for OS and TTR in patients with microvascular invasion (MVI)-positive. Further analysis showed that for patients with MVI-positive HCC, NAR with wide margins was a protective factor for OS and TTR compared to AR with narrow margins (0.618, 0.396-0.965; 0.662, 0.448-0.978). The 1, 3, and 5 years OS and TTR rate of the two group were 81%, 49%, 29% versus 89%, 64%, 49% (P = .008) and 42%, 79%, 89% versus 32%, 58%, 74% (P = .024), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with MVI-positive HCC, AR and wide margins were protective factors for prognosis. However, wide margins are more important than AR on prognosis. In the clinical setting, if the wide margins and AR cannot be ensured at the same time, the wide margins should be ensured first.

Efficacy of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta for hemorrhage control in patients with abnormally invasive placenta: a historical cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with abnormally invasive placenta (AIP) are at high risk of massive postpartum hemorrhage. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA), as an adjunct therapeutic strategy for hemostasis, offers the obstetrician an alternative for treating patients with AIP. This study aimed to evaluate the role of REBOA in hemorrhage control in patients with AIP. METHODS: This was a historical cohort study with prospectively collected data between January 2014 to July 2021 at a single tertiary center. According to delivery management, 364 singleton pregnant AIP patients desiring uterus preservation were separated into two groups. The study group (balloon group, n = 278) underwent REBOA during cesarean section, whereas the reference group (n = 86) did not undergo REBOA. Surgical details and maternal outcomes were collected. The primary outcome was estimated blood loss and the rate of uterine preservation. RESULTS: A total of 278 (76.4%) participants experienced REBOA during cesarean section. The patients in the balloon group had a smaller blood loss during cesarean Sect. (1370.5 [752.0] ml vs. 3536.8 [1383.2] ml; P < .001) and had their uterus salvaged more often (264 [95.0%] vs. 23 [26.7%]; P < .001). These patients were also less likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit after delivery (168 [60.4%] vs. 67 [77.9%]; P = .003) and had a shorter operating time (96.3 [37.6] min vs. 160.6 [45.5] min; P < .001). The rate of neonatal intensive care unit admission (176 [63.3%] vs. 52 [60.4%]; P = .70) and total maternal medical costs ($4925.4 [1740.7] vs. $5083.2 [1705.1]; P = .13) did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: As a robust hemorrhage-control technique, REBOA can reduce intraoperative hemorrhage in patients with AIP. The next step is identifying associated risk factors and defining REBOA inclusion criteria to identify the subgroups of AIP patients who may benefit more.

Effects of Chinese provincial CDCs WeChat official account article features on user engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: WeChat has become a potent medium for disseminating public health information, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. WeChat is important for public health organizations when considering users' information needs and preferences to further explore factors that affect user engagement. Methods: We collected data from WeChat official accounts (WOAs) of the Chinese provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify factors affecting and predicting the behavior of user engagement as measured by the level of reading and re-sharing during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to identify features of articles with higher reading and re-sharing levels from 31 Chinese provincial CDCs. We developed a nomogram to predict the effect on user engagement. Results: We collected a total of 26 302 articles. Release position, title type, article content, article type, communication skills, marketing elements, article length, and video length were key determinants of user engagement. Although the feature patterns also varied between different pandemic stages, the article content, release position, and article type were still the most prominent features driving user engagement. Regarding article content, the COVID-19 pandemic report and guidance for public protection were more likely to obtain high-level reading (normalization: odds ratio (OR) = 12.340, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 9.357-16.274) and re-sharing (normalization: OR = 7.254, 95% CI = 5.554-9.473) than other contents throughout the pandemic. When we compared release position with secondary push, users who used main push were more likely to exhibit high-level reading and re-sharing during any period, especially during normalization (OR = 6.169, 95% CI = 5.554-6.851; OR = 4.230, 95% CI = 3.833-4.669). For article type, a combination of text, links and pictures was associated with a higher rate of reading (normalization: OR = 4.262, 95% CI = 3.509-5.176) and re-sharing level (normalization: OR = 4.480, 95% CI = 3.635-5.522) compared to text only. Simultaneously, the prediction model showed good discriminatory power and calibration. Conclusions: Discrepancies exist in article features between different pandemic stages. Public health agencies should make full use of official WOAs and consider the information needs and preferences of users in order to better carry out health education and health communication with the public when public health events occur.

Molecular Characterization and Function of the Nogo-66 Receptor (NgR1) Gene in the Chinese Tree Shrew.

BACKGROUND: Nogo-66 receptor (NgR1) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked cell surface receptor with high affinity for Nogo-66. The binding of Nogo-66 to NgR1 plays a key role in inhibiting neurite growth, limiting synaptic plasticity and mediating Mammalian Reovirus (MRV) infection. The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is, a new and valuable experimental animal that is widely used in biomedical research. Although susceptible to MRV, little is known about tree shrew NgR1 and its role in MRV infection. METHODS: In this study, we cloned NgR1 form the Chinese tree shrew by RACE technology and analyzed its characteristics, spatial structure and its tissue expression. We also examined the expression pattern of NgR1 in the response of tree shrew primary nerve cells (tNC) to MRV1/TS/2011 infection. RESULTS: Tree shrew NgR1 was found to have a closer relationship to human NgR1 (90.34%) than to mouse NgR1. Similar to the protein structure of human NgR1, the tree shrew NgR1 has the same leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain structure that is capped by C-terminal and N-terminal cysteine-rich modules. The tree shrew NgR1 mRNAs were predominantly detected in the central nervous system (CNS), and tree shrew NgR1 can mediate infection by MRV1/TS/2011. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results help to elucidate the function of NgR1 and provide a basis for using the tree shrew as an animal model for studies of the nervous system and infectious diseases.

A Cadaveric Limb Analysis of the Posterior Tibial Musculotendinous Junction to determine the feasibility of Interosseous Membrane Tendon Transfer.

The transfer of the posterior tibial tendon through the interosseous membrane is potentially an effective treatment to correct the deformity of the foot and ankle. Our study aimed to evaluate the anatomical feasibility of anterior transfer of the posterior tibial tendon through the interosseous membrane route using the musculotendinous junction (MTJ). Eighteen adult cadavers were used. The width and thickness of the tibial posterior MTJ, width of the interosseous membrane at the corresponding level, and the window size of the interosseous membrane were measured. Additionally, the distance between the distal end of the MTJ and the tip of the medial malleolus were recorded. The mean length of the posterior tibial tendon was 83.60 mm, the mean distance of the posterior tibial MTJ to medial malleolus tip was 45.48 mm and the mean length of MTJ was 31.74 mm. The mean width of distal end of MTJ was 7.76 mm, thickness of distal end of MTJ was 4.07 mm and the mean width of the interosseous membrane at the distal end of MTJ was 4.76 mm. We found the mean width of the proximal end of MTJ was 20.68 mm, the mean thickness of proximal end of MTJ was 5.52 mm, and mean width of interosseous membrane at the proximal end of MTJ was 8.76 mm. Our study has demonstrated that a 31 mm length incision made at approximately 45 mm from the proximal end of the medial malleolus can safely reach the MTJ. We recommend an opening length of the interosseous membrane of at least 20 mm.

Surgical Strategies Affect the Long-Term Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Adjacent to the Left Branch of the Portal Vein.

Purpose: When hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is closely associated with the left branch of the portal vein, there is still controversy regarding the surgical approach. Methods: This study enrolled 330 HCC patients with tumors adjacent to the left branch of the portal vein. Among them, 85 patients underwent left hemihepatectomy (LH), while the remaining 235 underwent liver lobectomy (LL), which included left medial segmentectomy or left lateral sectionectomy. Perioperative complications, time to recurrence and overall survival (OS) were compared using propensity score matching. Results: LH resulted in a lower 5-year recurrence rate and higher 5-year OS rate than LL (56.5% vs 74.0%, p=0.002; 67.4% vs 53.5%, p=0.029). The LL group showed a higher tendency for early recurrence (ER) and intrahepatic recurrence (IR). The cumulative IR rates at 1- 3-, and 5-years for the LH group and the LL group were 17.0%, 36.7%, 45.1% and 33.8%, 57.1%, 63.7%, respectively, with a p-value of 0.007. There was no statistically significant difference in the cumulative ER rates between the two groups at 1-, 3-, and 5- years. Furthermore, the LH group and the LL group had similar perioperative complications, and no cases of liver failure occurred. Conclusion: LH, compared to LL, reduced the IR rate and ER rate in HCC patients with tumor adjacent to the left branch of the portal vein. It improved the OS outcome of the patients, and there was no significant difference in perioperative complications between the two groups.

Elevated serum neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is associated with worse long-term survival in patients with HBV-related intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma undergoing resection.

Background: This study aimed to examine the influence of serum inflammatory marker levels on long-term outcomes after liver resection in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Methods: Data from 1189 consecutive ICC patients who underwent liver resection were reviewed. The serum neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were measured before surgery. Overall survival (OS) and tumour recurrence were analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Independent risk factors for OS and tumour recurrence were analysed using the Cox hazard regression model. Results: We identified elevated serum NLR (≥ 2.15) as an independent risk factor for both OS and tumour recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.327, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.105-1.593; HR: 1.274, 95% CI: 1.074-1.510) among the three inflammatory markers assessed. Elevated NLR was associated with higher carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, larger tumour size, multiple tumours, lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion, and more advanced tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage (III/IV). Subgroup analysis showed that elevated NLR was an independent risk factor for OS and tumour recurrence in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection compared with patients without HBV infection (HR: 1.347, 95% CI: 1.073-1.690; HR: 1.386, 95% CI: 1.112-1.726). Conclusions: Elevated serum NLR was associated with worse prognosis among ICC patients who underwent liver resection, especially in patients with HBV infection.

miR-204-3p downregulates KRT16 and promotes corneal repair in tree shrew fungal keratitis model.

OBJECTIVES: Corneal repair is critical for the treatment and recovery of corneal injuries. However, the molecular mechanism underlying corneal repair remains unclear. METHODS: A tree shrew model of corneal fungal infection was established by injecting Fusarium solani into the corneal stroma to study the role of miR-204-3p in repairing corneal injury induced by fungal keratitis and to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the repair process. RESULTS: miR-204-3p expression was significantly downregulated, while KRT16 expression was significantly upregulated after F. solani infection in the cornea of tree shrews. Moreover, miR-204-3p injection promoted corneal injury repair post-infection, potentially by downregulating KRT16 expression. Results of a luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-204-3p had a targeted relationship with KRT16. KRT16 protein expression levels decreased after miR-204-3p injection into the cornea with fungal keratitis, reducing the degree of corneal injury. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we report for the first time that miR-204-3p and KRT16 influence the repair of corneal injury. In addition, their effects on the repair of corneal injury were studied in a tree shrew model, providing an experimental basis for the study of pathogenesis of human fungal keratitis.

RNA-Sequence Reveals the Regulatory Mechanism of miR-149 on Osteoblast Skeleton under Mechanical Tension.

Objective: Based on RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), the regulation of miRNAs differentially expressed in dental, periodontal, and alveolar bone tissue of orthodontic tree shrews on osteoblast skeleton under tension was investigated. Methods: Tree shrews were used to construct orthodontic models. We used RNA-seq to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in periodontal tissues of the treatment group and control group tree shrews. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used for enrichment analysis. Human osteoblast MG63 was treated with 5000 U mechanical tension. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) detected the expression of miR-149 and ARFGAP with SH3 domain, Ankyrin repeat, and Ph domain 3 (ASAP3) mRNA. Western blot detected the protein levels of ASAP3, F-actin, osteogenic markers bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). Rhodamine phalloidin was used to observe the fluorescence intensity of F-actin. Validation of the targeting relationship between miR-149 and ASAP3 by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Results: By performing miRNA-seq analysis on the dental and periodontal tissue of tree shrews in the treatment group and control group, we identified 51 upregulated miRNAs and 13 downregulated miRNAs. The expression of miR-149 in the dental and periodontal tissue of tree shrew and MG63 cells treated with mechanical tension was decreased, and miR-149 targeted ASAP3. Knockdown of ASAP3 inhibited the fluorescence intensity of F-actin in MG63 cells treated with 5000 U tension for 36 h, and overexpression of ASAP3 promoted the expression of F-actin and osteogenic markers BMP2 and RUNX2. Conclusions: These findings revealed that miR-149 could modulate osteoblast differentiation under orthodontics mechanical tension through targeting ASAP3.

Identification of SEC14 like lipid binding 2(SEC14L2) sequence and expression profiles in the Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis).

BACKGROUND: The product of the SEC14L2 (SEC14 Like Lipid Binding 2) gene belongs to a family of lipid-binding proteins including Sec14p, alpha-tocopherol transfer protein, and cellular retinol-binding protein. SEC14L2 expression enables replication of clinical hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolates in several hepatoma cell lines, and mutations in SEC14L2 may enhance HCV replication in vitro. The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is a potential animal model for studying HCV replication, however, the cDNA sequence, protein structure, and expression of the Chinese tree shrew SEC14L2 gene have yet to be characterized. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present study, we cloned the full-length cDNA sequence of the SEC14L2 in the Chinese tree shrew by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends technology. This led us to determine that, this is 2539 base pairs (bp) in length, the open reading frame sequence is 1212 bp, and encodes 403 amino acids. Following this, we constructed a phylogenetic tree based on SEC14L2 molecules from various species and compared SEC14L2 amino acid sequence with other species. This analysis indicated that the Chinese tree shrew SEC14L2 protein (tsSEC14L2) has 96.28% amino acid similarity to the human protein, and is more closely related to the human protein than either mouse or rat protein. The Chinese tree shrew SEC14L2 mRNA was detected in all tissues, and showed highest expression levels in the pancreas, small intestine and trachea, however the tsSEC14L2 protein abundance was highest in the liver and small intestine. CONCLUSION: The Chinese tree shrew SEC14L2 gene was closer in evolutionary relation to humans and non-human primates and expression of the tsSEC14L2 protein was highest in the liver and small intestine. These results may provide useful information for tsSEC14L2 function in HCV infection.

Oncostatin M promotes the ox-LDL-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes via the NF-κB pathway in THP-1 macrophages and promotes the progression of atherosclerosis.

Background: Oncostatin M (OSM) is reported to be involved in many stages of atherosclerosis, including endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and smooth muscle cell migration. This study explored the effects of OSM on foam cell formation and its corresponding molecular mechanisms. Methods: THP-1 cells were treated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) to induce macrophage differentiation and were then exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). OSM expression was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). OSM-specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were transfected into THP-1 macrophages. The effects of OSM silencing were evaluated by Oil Red O staining, ELISA, and Western blotting. Moreover, the activation of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes was detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Results: OSM was highly expressed in THP-1 macrophages in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Silencing OSM significantly reduced the total cholesterol content and Oil Red O staining levels in ox-LDL-treated macrophages. Silencing OSM significantly inhibited ox-LDL-induced cytokine release, including TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-18. Ox-LDL activated p65 and NLRP3, which further induced caspase-1 cleavage, apoptosis-associated, speck-like protein containing a caspase-1 recruitment domain (ASC) upregulation, and gasdermin-D (GSDMD)-N fragmentation. Overexpression of NLRP3 significantly reversed the effects of OSM silencing on ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation and inflammation. Conclusions: OSM was highly expressed in the cell model of atherosclerosis. OSM has a promoting role in ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation and inflammation via the activation of p65-NLRP3 signaling pathways. Silencing OSM may be has benefit in treating atherosclerosis.

Efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon versus non-drug-coated balloon combined with bare metal stent implantation in treatment of patients with occlusions of the superficial femoral artery: a retrospective study in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon and non-drug-coated balloon combined with bare metal stent implantation for the treatment of patients with occlusions of the superficial femoral artery. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 83 patients with occlusions of the superficial femoral artery were included. Among them, 41 patients received paclitaxel drug coated balloon treatment combined with bare metal stent implantation treatment (experimental group), the remaining 42 received non-drug-coated balloon treatment (control group). Patients were followed up at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The primary clinical assessments, including ankle brachial index (ABI), RutherFord grade, Doppler ultrasound, or CT angiography (CTA), were used to observe the patency of target vessels, perioperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: All the diseased vessels were successfully opened. There were no serious intraoperative complications such as vascular rupture or acute thrombosis. There was no significant difference in ankle brachial index, RutherFord grade, and total score between the two groups at one month and six months after operation (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in mortality, amputation rate, or thrombosis between the two groups (P>0.05). Twelve months after the operation, the ankle brachial index, Rutherford grade and total score of the experimental group were better than those of the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in mortality, amputation rate, or thrombosis between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel coated balloon is safe and effective in the treatment of superficial femoral arteriosclerosis occlusion. It can significantly improve the ABI and Rutherford grades of patients, and it had a higher patency rate and lower reconstruction rate, but it may affect the healing ability of foot ulcer.

CTHRC1 promotes growth, migration and invasion of trophoblasts via reciprocal Wnt/ß-catenin regulation.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication that is characterized by high blood pressure and is associated with high maternal and fetal morbidities. At a mechanistic level, PE is characterized by reduced invasion ability of trophoblasts. Collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1) is a well-known tumor-promoting factor in several malignant tumors, but its role in trophoblasts remains unknown. In this study, we characterized the expression of CTHRC1 in placenta tissue samples from PE pregnancies and from normal pregnancies. We used the trophoblasts cell lines HTR-8/SVneo and JEG-3 to investigate the role of CTHRC1 in cell migration, invasion and proliferation. Western blot, PCR and TOP/FOP luciferase activity assays were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these cell behaviors. Placenta tissue samples obtained from pregnant women with PE expressed lower levels of CTHRC1 than those of placenta tissues from women with normal pregnancies. Down-regulation of CTHRC1 impaired cell proliferation, migration and invasion of trophoblasts, while CTHRC1 overexpression promoted nuclear translocation of ß-catenin, a result that was further confirmed by TOP/FOP luciferase activity assay. Our findings suggest that CTHRC1 promotes migration and invasion of trophoblasts via reciprocal Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Down-regulation of CTHRC1 may be a potential mechanism underpinning the development of preeclampsia.

Molecular cloning and characterization of NPC1L1 in the Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis).

BACKGROUND: The Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 protein, a multi-transmembrane domain molecule, is critical for intestinal cholesterol absorption, and is the entry factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV). The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is closer to primates in terms of genetic evolution than rodents. Previous studies indicated that the tree shrew was suitable for HCV research; however, little is known about tree shrew NPC1L1. METHODS AND RESULTS: TsNPC1L1 cDNA was amplified by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technology. The cDNA sequence, its encoded protein structure, and expression profile were analyzed. Results indicated that the tsNPC1L1 mRNA is 4948 bp in length and encodes a 1326 amino acid protein. TsNPC1L1 possesses 84.97% identity in homology to human NPC1L1 which is higher than both mouse (80.37%) and rat (81.80%). The protein structure was also similar to human with 13 conserved transmembrane helices, and a sterol-sensing domain (SSD). Like human NPC1L1, the tsNPC1L1 mRNA transcript is highly expressed in small intestine, but it was also well-expressed in the lung and pancreas of the tree shrew. CONCLUSION: The homology of tree shrew NPC1L1 was closer to human than that of rodent NPC1L1. The expression of tsNPC1L1 was the highest in small intestine, and was detectable in lung and pancreas. These results may be useful in the study of tsNPC1L1 function in cholesterol absorption and HCV infection.