Predictive Value of Serum microRNA-29b-3p in Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation After Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia. This study explored serum miR-29b-3p expression in AF patients and its value in predicting AF recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods: Totally 100 AF patients who underwent RFCA were enrolled, with 100 individuals without AF as controls. Serum miR-29b-3p expression in participants was determined using RT-qPCR. The correlation between miR-29b-3p and atrial fibrosis markers (FGF-21/FGF-23) was assessed by Pearson analysis. The diagnostic efficacy of serum miR-29b-3p and FGF-21/FGF-23 in predicting AF recurrence after RFCA was analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The Kaplan-Meier method was adopted to evaluate the effect of miR-29b-3p expression on the incidence of AF recurrence after RFCA. The independent risk factors for AF recurrence after RFCA were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results: Serum miR-29b-3p was poorly expressed in AF patients. After RFCA, AF patients showed elevated serum miR-29b-3p expression. Serum miR-29b-3p expression in AF patients negatively correlated with serum FGF-21 and FGF-23 concentrations. The cut-off values of serum miR-29b-3p, FGF-21, and FGF-23 in identifying AF recurrence were 0.860 (sensitivity: 100.00%, specificity: 39.71%), 222.2 pg/mL (sensitivity: 96.88%, specificity: 32.35%) and 216.3 ng/mL (sensitivity: 53.13%, specificity: 70.59%), respectively. Patients with low miR-29b-3p expression had a significantly higher incidence of AF recurrence than patients with high miR-29b-3p expression. Serum miR-29b-3p expression was one of the independent risk factors for AF recurrence after RFCA. Conclusion: Low miR-29b-3p expression in AF patients has certain predictive values and is one of the independent risk factors for AF recurrence after RFCA.

A new intestinal supplement 'Synbiotics' therapeutically regulates gut microbiota and activates PPARs pathway to inhibit Alzheimer's disease progression in mouse models.

We aimed to investigate the role of Synbiotic preparations on the interaction of gut microbiota with AD development. APP/PS1 mice were randomized into APP/PS1 and Synbiotics groups, and C57BL/6J mice were used as wild type (WT) control group. The mice in the Synbiotics group and the APP/PS1 group were given Synbiotics and xylo-oligosaccharides for 3 months, respectively. The mice in the WT group were given the same amount of normal saline. Cognitive function was measured. Positron emission computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) was used to detect fasting blood glucose level. Immunohistochemical assay, ELISA, western blot and qRT-PCR were carried out to detect inflammatory factors. DNA extraction of fecal sample was performed to carry out sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis, metabolites sample preparation and Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (LC/MS) analysis were also performed. Synbiotics treatment can significantly ameliorate learning and memory competence by inhibiting Aß protein deposition. Different bacteria in the intestine were significantly improved and changes in gut microbiota can affect the intestinal metabolism to affect multiple potential pathways after Synbiotics treatment. Synbiotics treatment can activate peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPARs) signaling pathway and significantly reduce neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice brains. Synbiotics treatment can effectively reduce neuro-inflammatory response through the regulation of intestinal microflora to delay AD development.

Analyzing the value of delayed 18 F-FDG PET/CT images in diagnosing small colorectal cancer liver metastases in patients with hypothyroidism based on diagnostic accuracy and image standardized uptake value.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the value of delayed 18F fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) images in patients with small colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLMs) with hypothyroidism. METHOD: We performed a retrospective analysis of 66 small-CRLM patients with hypothyroidism and 66 small-CRLM patients with euthyroidism, all of whom underwent dual-time-point 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging. First, the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT early imaging and PET/CT delayed imaging on lesions was analyzed. Next, the correlation of metabolic parameters between PET/CT early imaging and PET/CT delayed imaging was analyzed according to the grouping of all lesions. Finally, PET/CT parameters were analyzed for correlation with thyroid hormones. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of delayed imaging in small-CRLM patients with hypothyroidism is not as good as that in small-CRLM patients with euthyroidism; PET/CT metabolic parameters are also unfavorable for the diagnosis of small-CRLM. For small-CRLM patients with hypothyroidism, the greater the thyroid-stimulating hormone level, the greater the uptake of 18 F-FDG in normal liver tissue, and the smaller the ratio of tumor lesion uptake to normal liver tissue uptake. CONCLUSION: PET/CT-delayed imaging has better performance than early imaging in small-CRLM patients with euthyroidism. However, the more severe the hypothyroidism, the worse the diagnostic delayed imaging performance. The scan time can be extended appropriately to optimize the imaging efficacy.