Emerging trends and research hotspots in the relationship between mast cells and atopic dermatitis based on the literature from 2001 to 2024: A bibliometric and visualized analysis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory and highly pruritic skin condition characterized by the infiltration of immune cells, notably eosinophils and mast cells. Mast cells (MCs) critically participate in the complex pathogenesis of AD through multiple pathways and have recently garnered growing attention in research. Despite the abundance of related studies published over the years, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on this topic remains lacking. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to perform an up-to-date bibliometric analysis of the literature focusing on the relationship between MCs and AD. This analysis would provide valuable insights through a thorough bibliometric review, enabling a clearer understanding of the current research landscape, pinpointing key studies, and detecting emerging trends within this field. METHODS: We searched the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database on 15 July 2024. The data retrieval strategy was structured as follows: #1: TS = ("mast cells") OR TS = ("mast cell") OR TS = ("mastocyte"); #2: TS = ("atopic dermatitis") OR TS = ("atopic eczema") Final data: (#1 AND #2). A total of 2272 items published between 2001 and 2024 were included. Several scientometric visualization tools, including VOSviewer, R-bibliometrix, CiteSpace and an online analytical platform, were utilized to conduct text mining and to visualize the bibliometric data, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of research trends and patterns. RESULTS: Out of the initial 2272 articles retrieved, 2168 were selected for analysis after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria based on publication type. The findings indicate a steady and substantial exponential growth in the annual number of publications focused on the relationship between over the years. The South Korea (547/2168), USA (465/2168) and Japan (436/2168) were the major contributors within this field, collectively constituting more than half of the total publications. To clarify the underlying mechanisms and role of MCs in the pathogenesis of AD and to make MCs prime targets for therapeutic intervention have garnered the most attention in this field. According to references analysis, the research emphasis has shifted to developing MC-related therapeutics and intervention and regulating the immune system of AD patients through modulating the activity of various immune cells. On the basis of keywords analysis, we outlined the following research frontiers and hotpots in the future: the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis; imbalance in the different types of T helper (Th) cells during immune response; skin barrier and barrier dysfunction; improving quality of life; sensory neurons; biological agents and small-molecule drugs. Furthermore, IL-13, IL-4, NFKB1, BCGF-1 and CD4 ranked as the top five genes that have received the most investigative attention in the intersection of MCs and AD. CONCLUSION: In a word, this analysis would greatly benefit from a thorough bibliometric review to gain a deeper understanding of the current research landscape, identify pivotal studies and pinpoint emerging trends in the field of MCs and AD. Meanwhile, our findings offered researchers a holistic perspective of ongoing developments, serving as a valuable resource for guiding future research and informing decision-making for both researchers and policymakers in this area.

Relationship between urban green space and mental health in older adults: mediating role of relative deprivation, physical activity, and social trust.

Introduction: The importance of improving older adults' mental health is increasing worldwide with the rapid development of the aging process. Green space is an important part of the urban built environment, demonstrates a deep connection with the mental health of older adults, and its internal mechanisms have been widely studied. This study analyzed the influence of urban green spaces on the mental health of older adults via three factors: relative deprivation, physical activity, and social trust. Methods: Based on the 2018 China Labor Dynamics Survey, a multi-level structural equation model was used to explore the mediating roles of relative deprivation, physical activity, social trust in urban green spaces, and the mental health of older adults. Results: Urban green space was positively correlated with the mental health of older adults. Relative deprivation and physical activities played a mediating role between urban green space and the mental health of older adults. Discussion: An increase in urban green spaces can help increase the number of older adults obtaining green space resources, and help them maintain good mental health. Secondly, older adults with a relatively homogeneous environment have more equal opportunities to obtain urban green space resources, which helps to reduce the comparison of older adults in access to green space resources and reduce the adverse impact of relative deprivation on their mental health. Additionally, increasing urban green spaces can encourage older adults to engage in physical activities and improve their mental health. Finally, we suggest improving the accessibility, fairness, and quality of green spaces, paying attention to the psychological needs of older adults, encouraging older adults to engage in physical activities in green spaces, and taking various measures to enhance the positive role of green space on the mental health of older adults.

Lipid-conjugated nucleoside monophosphate and monophosphonate prodrugs: A versatile drug delivery paradigm.

Integrating lipid conjugation strategies into the design of nucleoside monophosphate and monophosphonate prodrugs is a well-established approach for discovering potential therapeutics. The unique prodrug design endows nucleoside analogues with strong lipophilicity and structures resembling lysoglycerophospholipids, which improve cellular uptake, oral bioavailability and pharmacological activity. In addition, the metabolic stability, pharmacological activity, pharmacokinetic profiles and biodistribution of lipid prodrugs can be finely optimized by adding biostable caps, incorporating transporter-targeted groups, inserting stimulus-responsive bonds, adjusting chain lengths, and applying proper isosteric replacements. This review summarizes recent advances in the structural features and application fields of lipid-conjugated nucleoside monophosphate and monophosphonate prodrugs. This collection provides deep insights into the increasing repertoire of lipid prodrug development strategies and offers design inspirations for medicinal chemists for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents.

PagWOX11/12a from hybrid poplar enhances drought tolerance by modulating reactive oxygen species.

WOX11/12 is a homeobox gene of WOX11 and WOX12 in Arabidopsis that plays important roles in crown root development and growth. It has been reported that WOX11/12 participates in adventitious root (AR) formation and different abiotic stress responses, but the downstream regulatory network of WOX11/12 in poplar remains to be further investigated. In this study, we found that PagWOX11/12a is strongly induced by PEG-simulated drought stress. PagWOX11/12a-overexpressing poplar plantlets showed lower oxidative damage levels, greater antioxidant enzyme activities and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity than non-transgenic poplar plants, whereas PagWOX11/12a dominant repression weakened root biomass accumulation and drought tolerance in poplar. RNA-seq analysis revealed that several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) regulated by PagWOX11/12a are involved in redox metabolism and drought stress response. We used RT-qPCR and yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays to validate the downstream target genes of PagWOX11/12a. These results provide new insights into the biological function and molecular regulatory mechanism of WOX11/12 in the abiotic resistance processes of poplar.

How does mobility and urban environment affect the migrants' settlement intention? A perspective from the intergenerational differences.

Introduction: With China embracing a new people-centered urbanization stage, the problem of migrants "flowing without moving" has become increasingly prominent, and settlement intention has gradually garnered attention. Methods: Our research, based on questionnaire data from the China Labor Force Dynamic Survey 2016, uses a multilevel linear regression model to explore the influence of mobility, social environment, built environment, and demographics characteristics on settlement intention in the migrants and discusses differences between settlement intention of new and old generations and their internal influence mechanism. Results: The findings are as follows: (1) Compared to the old generation, the new migrant generation generally has higher settlement intention. (2) The migrants' settlement intention is influenced mainly by mobility, social environment, built environment, and demographic characteristics. (3) For the new migrant generation, social and demographic characteristics significantly influence their settlement intention. (4) The floating and built environment of the old generation significantly influence their settlement intention. Discussion: Finally, this paper argues that there are differences in the influence mechanism of the same factors on the settlement intention of the new and old generations of migrants. It proposes differentiated policy suggestions for the migrants to promote city social integration. Finally, this paper argues that there are differences in the influence mechanism of the same factors on the settlement intention of the new and old generations of migrants. It proposes differentiated policy suggestions for the migrants to promote city social integration.

Rational and trial design of FASCINATE-N: a prospective, randomized, precision-based umbrella trial.

Background: With our growing insight into the molecular heterogeneity and biological characteristics of breast cancer, individualized treatment is the future of cancer treatment. In this prospective Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Breast Cancer Precision Platform Series study - neoadjuvant therapy (FASCINATE-N) trial, we classify breast cancer patients using multiomic characteristics into different subtypes to evaluate the efficacy of precision-based targeted therapies compared to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods and design: The FASCINATE-N trial is a prospective, randomized, precision-based umbrella trial that plans to enroll 716 women with early breast cancer. After enrollment, patients will first be divided into three groups: hormone receptor (HR)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-, HER2+, and HR-/HER2-. The HR+/HER2- patients are further stratified using fusion and clustering of similarity network fusion (SNF) algorithm into four subtypes; HER2+ patients are divided into HR+/HER2+ and HR-/HER2+ subtypes; and HR-/HER2- patients are stratified using the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center classification. For the assignment of drugs to patients, Bayesian methods of adaptive randomization will be used. The primary endpoint is pathological complete response rate; secondary endpoints include 3-year invasive disease-free survival, overall response rate, and toxicities according to common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE) scale version 4.0 and the ratio of patients with complete cell cycle arrest (Ki67 < 2.7%) in HR+/HER2+ breast cancer. Discussion: The goal of our trial is to test the efficacy of our subtyping-based treatment in a neoadjuvant setting and to conduct a pilot study into the efficacy of targeted therapies within each precision-based subtype. The precision-based treatment arm can be updated with the refinement of our subtyping method, the discovery of new targets, and the development of novel targeted drugs. Our trial offers a unique opportunity to provide patients with individualized neoadjuvant therapy and test promising novel treatments that may further benefit patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05582499 (https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05582499).

Rational and trial design of FASCINATE-N (Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Breast Cancer Precision Platform Series study- neoadjuvant therapy): a prospective, randomized, precision-based umbrella trial Our FASCINATE-N trial is a prospective, randomized, precision-based umbrella trial that plans to enroll 716 women with early breast cancer. We will first divide patients into three groups: hormone receptor (HR)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)−, HER2+, and HR−/HER2−. Then, we will further classify patients using multiomic characteristics into different subtypes to evaluate the efficacy of precision-based targeted therapies compared to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The goal of our trial is to test the efficacy of our subtyping-based treatment in a neoadjuvant setting and to conduct a pilot study into the efficacy of targeted therapies within each precision-based subtype. The precision-based treatment arm can be updated with the refinement of our subtyping method, the discovery of new targets and the development of novel targeted drugs. Our trial offers a unique opportunity to provide patients with individualized neoadjuvant therapy and test promising novel treatments that may further benefit patients.

Self-Rectifying Memristors for Three-Dimensional In-Memory Computing.

Costly data movement in terms of time and energy in traditional von Neumann systems is exacerbated by emerging information technologies related to artificial intelligence. In-memory computing (IMC) architecture aims to address this problem. Although the IMC hardware prototype represented by a memristor is developed rapidly and performs well, the sneak path issue is a critical and unavoidable challenge prevalent in large-scale and high-density crossbar arrays, particularly in three-dimensional (3D) integration. As a perfect solution to the sneak-path issue, a self-rectifying memristor (SRM) is proposed for 3D integration because of its superior integration density. To date, SRMs have performed well in terms of power consumption (aJ level) and scalability (>102  Mbit). Moreover, SRM-configured 3D integration is considered an ideal hardware platform for 3D IMC. This review focuses on the progress in SRMs and their applications in 3D memory, IMC, neuromorphic computing, and hardware security. The advantages, disadvantages, and optimization strategies of SRMs in diverse application scenarios are illustrated. Challenges posed by physical mechanisms, fabrication processes, and peripheral circuits, as well as potential solutions at the device and system levels, are also discussed.

Batroxobin can improve the efficacy of combination therapy for profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss greater than but not less than 100 dB HL.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combination therapy with and without batroxobin, and the frequency of batroxobin use on the prognosis of profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss. METHODS: Hearing recovery in the batroxobin group (231 patients) and non-batroxobin group (56 patients) was compared. The correlation between the number of times batroxobin was used and hearing recovery was analysed. RESULTS: The decrease in hearing threshold and overall improvement rate in the batroxobin group with hearing loss exceeding 100 dB HL was significantly higher than that in the non-batroxobin group. There was no linear correlation between the number of times batroxobin was used and the overall improvement rate. Using batroxobin two to three times achieved a therapeutic effectiveness plateau. CONCLUSION: Batroxobin can improve the efficacy of combination therapy for profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss exceeding 100 dB HL, and using batroxobin two to three times yields the maximum overall improvement rate.

Oxoaporphine Pr(III) complex inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis by disrupting tumor cell-macrophage crosstalk.

Tumor cells and macrophages communicate through the secretion of various cytokines to jointly promote the malignant development of cancers. We synthesized and characterized an oxoaporphine Pr(III) complex (PrL3(NO3)3) and found that it inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and metastasis by disrupting HCC cell-macrophage crosstalk. PrL3(NO3)3 treatment upregulated CD86, TNF-α, and IL-1ß and downregulated CD163, CD206, CCL2, and VEGFA in macrophages. Our mRNA-Seq results demonstrated that PrL3(NO3)3 inhibited macrophage M2-like polarization by inhibiting the AMPK pathway and activating the NF-κB pathway by upregulating RelA/p65 Ser536 phosphorylation. This kind of macrophage polarization significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, PrL3(NO3)3 inhibited the migration, invasion, and chemotaxis of HCC cells by downregulating the expression of EMT-related markers and CCL2. hTFtarget database analysis revealed that PrL3(NO3)3 inhibited NF-κB nuclear translocation by upregulating RelA/p65 Ser536 phosphorylation in HCC cells, thereby downregulating the expression of Snail and CCL2. HCC tissue microarray analysis revealed that downregulation of RelA/p65 Ser536 phosphorylation is a driving event in HCC malignant progression. In conclusion, PrL3(NO3)3 effectively inhibits HCC cell-macrophage crosstalk by upregulating RelA/p65 Ser536 phosphorylation. This is the first report of a lanthanide complex exerting regulatory effects on both tumors and tumor-associated macrophages, providing a new strategy for the development of effective antitumor drugs.

The contribution of inner electron excitation to the electronic stopping power of palladium for protons.

The electronic stopping power of palladium (Pd) for protons is investigated based on time-dependent density functional theory combined with Ehrenfest molecular dynamics simulations. The electronic stopping power of Pd with explicitly considering inner electrons for protons is calculated and the excitation mechanism for the inner electrons of Pd is revealed. The velocity proportionality of the low-energy stopping power of Pd is reproduced. Our study verified that the inner electron excitation contributes significantly to the electronic stopping power of Pd in the high energy range, which is strongly dependent on the impact parameter. The electronic stopping power obtained from the off-channeling geometry is in quantitative agreement with the experimental data in a wide velocity range, and the discrepancy around the stopping maximum is further reduced by considering the relativistic correction on the binding energy of inner electrons. The velocity dependence of the mean steady-state charge of protons is quantified, and the results showed that the participation of 4p-electrons reduces the mean steady-state charge of protons, and consequently decreases the electronic stopping power of Pd in the low energy range.

Subtyping-based platform guides precision medicine for heavily pretreated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: The FUTURE phase II umbrella clinical trial.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease and lacks effective treatment. Our previous study classified TNBCs into four subtypes with putative therapeutic targets. Here, we report the final results of FUTURE, a phase II umbrella trial designed to explore whether the subtyping-based strategy may improve the outcomes in metastatic TNBC patients. A total of 141 patients with a median of three previous lines of therapies in the metastatic setting were enrolled in seven parallel arms. Confirmed objective responses were achieved in 42 patients (29.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 22.4-38.1). The median values of progression-free survival and overall survival were 3.4 (95% CI: 2.7-4.2) and 10.7 (95% CI: 9.1-12.3) months, respectively. Given Bayesian predictive probability, efficacy boundaries were achieved in four arms. Furthermore, integrated genomic and clinicopathological profiling illustrated associations of clinical and genomic parameters with treatment efficacy, and the efficacy of novel antibody-drug conjugates was explored in preclinical TNBC models of subtypes for which treatment was futile. In general, the FUTURE strategy recruits patients efficiently and provides promising efficacy with manageable toxicities, outlining a direction for further clinical exploration.

Bi-C monolayer as a promising 2D anode material for Li, Na, and K-ion batteries.

Electrode materials with high electrochemical efficiency are required for battery technology that can be used to store renewable energy. Bismuth (Bi) has shown great potential as an electrode material for metal ion batteries due to its large volumetric capacity and reasonable operating potential. However, the cycling performance deteriorates due to the drastic volume changes that occur during alloying and dealloying. Herein, we design a 2D Bi-C metal sheet using density functional theory and investigate the feasibility of this nanosheet for alkali metal ion batteries. The predicted metallic Bi-C monolayer (ML) are highly stable and show sound electrode performance. Moreover, alkali metal atoms exhibit high diffusivities on both sides (Bi and C sides) with low energy barriers of 0.252/0.201, 0.217/0.169, and 0.179/0.136 eV for Li, Na, and K ions, respectively. Furthermore, the Bi-C ML shows high theoretical storage capacities of (485 mA h g-1) for Li and Na and (364 mA h g-1) for K and low open-circuit voltage of 0.12, 0.24, and 0.32 V for Li, Na, and K ions, respectively. These exciting findings show that the predicted Bi-C ML can be used as an anode material for Li-, Na- and K-ion batteries.

Assessment of Systemic Immune-inflammation Index Levels in Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion.

PURPOSE: To assess the predictive value of inflammatory markers calculated from complete blood counts in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study with a total of 56 RVO patients and 56 age- and gender-matched controls involved. All subjects went through a routine ocular examination, and the peripheral venous blood samples were collected to analyze the differences in inflammatory markers between groups. RESULTS: The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values were significantly higher in RVO patients than those in the controls (p=0.002, p=0.004, respectively). According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the areas under the curve (AUC) of SII was 0.666. The AUC of NLR was 0.657. CONCLUSION: As a novel inflammatory indicator, SII is a more promising indicator than NLR and PLR in the prediction of RVO development.

Discovery of 2-Amino-7-sulfonyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine Derivatives as Potent Reversible FGFR Inhibitors with Gatekeeper Mutation Tolerance: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) play key roles in promoting cancer cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. However, acquired resistance to FGFR inhibitors has become an emerging challenge in long-term cancer therapies, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gatekeeper (GK) mutations are the main mechanism of resistance. Herein, we describe the discovery of a series of reversible FGFR inhibitors, particularly for GK mutations with the 2-amino-7-sulfonyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine scaffold. Rational design, optimization, and pharmacokinetic screening provided representative compound 19 with potent FGFR inhibition in vitro, high bioavailability, and an acceptable half-life. GK mutation tolerance was supported by assays against FGFR4V550L and Ba/F3-TEL-FGFR4V550L cells. Moreover, compound 19 exhibited potent antitumor potency in HUH7 xenograft mouse models with no obvious toxicity observed. Compound 19 was identified as a potential candidate for overcoming GK mutations for HCC treatment.

Evaluation of Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio and Mean Platelet Volume-to-Platelet Ratio in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

Purpose: To assess the predictive value of inflammatory blood biomarkers in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) patients and its correlation with proliferative retinopathy (PVR) grade. Methods: 82 RRD patients and 1 : 1 age- and gender-randomly matched cataract patients as the control group were included. The clinical features and laboratory parameters of all participants were collected and recorded, and the comprehensive index of inflammatory blood and its correlation with PVR were calculated. Results: Monocytes and monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) were significantly lower (P=0.005, P=0.044), while mean platelet volume (MPV), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and MPV-to-platelet ratio (MPR) were significantly higher in RRD patients as compared with the control group (P=0.013, P=0.019, P=0.037). LMR and MPR might be the predictors of RRD. The receiver operating characteristics analysis showed that the values of MPV, LMR, and MPR in RRD patients were 0.612, 0.606, and 0.594, respectively. PVR grade was not associated with inflammatory blood biomarkers. Conclusion: The increase in MPV, LMR, and MPR were associated with increased odds of RRD. LMR and MPR may be useful as inexpensive and effortless biomarkers for assessing the occurrence of RRD.

PagWOX11/12a positively regulates the PagSAUR36 gene that enhances adventitious root development in poplar.

Adventitious root (AR) development is an extremely complex biological process that is affected by many intrinsic factors and extrinsic stimuli. Some WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors have been reported to play important roles in AR development, but their functional relationships with auxin signaling are poorly understood, especially the developmental plasticity of roots in response to adversity stress. Here, we identified that the WOX11/12a-SMALL AUXIN UP RNA36 (SAUR36) module mediates AR development through the auxin pathway in poplar, as well as under salt stress. PagWOX11/12a displayed inducible expression during AR development, and overexpression of PagWOX11/12a significantly promoted AR development and increased salt tolerance in poplar, whereas dominant repression of PagWOX11/12a produced the opposite phenotype. PagWOX11/12a proteins directly bind to the SAUR36 promoter to regulate SAUR36 transcription, and this binding was enhanced during salt stress. Genetic modification of PagWOX11/12a-PagSAUR36 expression revealed that the PagWOX11/12a-PagSAUR36 module is crucial for controlling AR development via the auxin pathway. Overall, our results indicate that a novel WOX11-SAUR-auxin signaling regulatory module is required for AR development in poplar. These findings provide key insights and a better understanding of the involvement of WOX11 in root developmental plasticity in saline environments.

Changes of retinal ganglion cell complex after vitrectomy in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment patients and its correlation with inflammatory blood biomarkers.

PURPOSE: To compare retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC) parameters between rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) eyes and normal contralateral eyes after vitrectomy and to evaluate their correlation with inflammatory blood markers. METHODS: We investigated 25 eyes that underwent vitrectomy due to RRD. Venous blood samples were collected from all participants before 08:00 a.m. on the second day of admission after a 12-hour fast for blood counts. The differences of retinal structure between RRD and contralateral eyes were compared 1 week postoperatively. RESULTS: Focal loss volume (FLV) (2.009 ± 1.286)% was significantly increased compared with the contralateral eyes (p <  0.001). Monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein was significantly positively correlated with GCC thickness parameters, and negatively correlated with FLV and global loss volume (GLV). Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was negatively correlated with GLV (p = 0.039, R2 = 0.172). CONCLUSION: Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) loss might present early postoperatively in RRD eyes, and was associated with systemic inflammation. RGCs loss might affect postoperative vision.

Comparison and correlation study of synovial ultrasound indices and serum VEGF in rheumatoid wrist arthritis before and after treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid wrist arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease, resulting in joint deformity and functional impairment. We aimed to compare the wrist synovial ultrasound indices and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in patients with RA before and after treatment, and to explore the correlation between the two. METHODS: Forty patients with RA in wrist underwent ultrasound examination to determine wrist synovial thickness, synovial blood flow grade, and synovial artery resistive index (RI) before and after treatment. The serum level of VEGF was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlation between synovial ultrasound indices and serum VEGF level was assessed. RESULTS: Pre-treatment synovial thickness, synovial artery RI, and serum VEGF level were 8.60 ± 2.82 mm, 0.62 ± 0.07, and 419.49 ± 19.27 pg/mL, respectively. The corresponding post-treatment levels were 4.05 ± 1.89 mm, 0.83 ± 0.10, and 199.30 ± 16.18 pg/mL. Pre-treatment distribution of synovial blood flow grades was as follows: grade 0, nil; grade I, 1 case; grade II, 17 cases; grade III, 22 cases. The post-treatment distribution was as follows: grade 0, 6 cases; grade I, 23 cases; grade II, 11 cases; and grade III, nil. There were significant differences between pre- and post-treatment wrist synovial thickness, artery RI, and blood flow grading. Wrist synovial thickness and synovial blood flow grade showed a strong positive correlation with serum VEGF level (P < 0.01). There was strong negative correlation between wrist synovial artery RI and serum VEGF level (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The strong correlation between wrist synovial ultrasound indicators and serum VEGF may be clinically useful for diagnosis and therapy.

Age-Related Utilization of Thrombus Aspiration in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Findings From the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China Project.

Background: There are some controversies on the utilization and benefits of thrombus aspiration in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, a few studies investigated this issue and the age-associated effects among the large population in China. Hence, we aimed to figure out the age-associated utilization and in-hospital outcomes of thrombus aspiration to improve therapeutic decisions in clinical routine. Methods: We retrospectively recruited 13,655 eligible STEMI patients from the database of the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome project. These subjects were allocated into primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI)-only group and thrombus aspiration group after being subdivided into three age groups (G21-50, G51-75, and G76-95). After 1:1 propensity score matching for PPCI-only and thrombus aspiration groups, a total of 8,815 matched patients were enrolled for the subsequent analysis. The primary outcome was in-hospital cardiovascular death, and the key safety outcome was in-hospital stroke. Results: We observed that the ratio of STEMI patients undergoing thrombus aspiration to PPCI-only reduced with aging. For patients ≤ 75 years, the culprit lesion suffered from thrombus aspiration was mainly located in the left anterior descending branch, and left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was lower (G21-50: 54.9 ± 8.9 vs. 56.0 ± 8.7%, P = 0.01; G51-75: 53.9 ± 9.6 vs. 54.8 ± 9.0%, P = 0.001) and the rate of regional wall motion abnormality was higher (G21-50: 75.7 vs. 66.5%, P < 0.001; G51-75: 75.4 vs. 69.1%, P < 0.001) in the thrombus aspiration group. By contrast, for patients > 75 years, the right coronary artery was the predominant culprit lesion undergoing thrombus aspiration, LVEF (63.1 ± 10.5 vs. 53.1 ± 9.5%, P = 0.985) and the regional wall motion abnormality (79.2 vs. 74.2%, P = 0.089) were comparable between the two treatment groups. Thrombus aspiration neither reduced the in-hospital risk of cardiovascular death, all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction, acute stent thrombosis, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and sudden cardiac arrest nor increased stroke risk compared with the PPCI-only group. However, after adjustment for age, thrombus aspiration presented the tendency to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (4.9 vs. 2.5%, P = 0.06) and in-hospital cardiovascular death at 3 days (hazard ratio 0.46; 95% CI, 0.20-1.06; log-rank P = 0.08) in G76-95 group and tended to increase the incidence of heart failure in G51-75 (5.7 vs. 6.9%, P = 0.07). Conclusion: The thrombus aspiration neither significantly reduced the in-hospital incidence of major adverse cardiac events nor increased stroke risk. However, it might play a protective role in reducing in-hospital sudden cardiac arrest and increasing survival from cardiovascular death at 3 days for the elderly.

[Endogenous protective effects of arachidonic acid epoxygenase metabolites, epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, in cardiovascular system].

The morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases are increasing annually, which is one of the primary causes of human death. Recent studies have shown that epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), endogenous metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) via CYP450 epoxygenase, possess a spectrum of protective properties in cardiovascular system. EETs not only alleviate cardiac remodeling and injury in different pathological models, but also improve subsequent hemodynamic disturbances and cardiac dysfunction. Meanwhile, various studies have demonstrated that EETs, as endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factors, regulate vascular tone by activating various ion channels on endothelium and smooth muscle, which in turn can lower blood pressure, improve coronary blood flow and regulate pulmonary artery pressure. In addition, EETs are protective in endothelium, including inhibiting inflammation and adhesion of endothelial cells, attenuating platelet aggregation, promoting fibrinolysis and revascularization. EETs can also prevent aortic remodeling, including attenuating atherosclerosis, adventitial remodeling, and aortic calcification. Therefore, it is clinically important to study the physiological and pathophysiological effects of EETs in the cardiovascular system to further elucidate the mechanisms, as well as provide new strategy for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This review summarizes the endogenous cardioprotective effects and mechanisms of EETs in order to provide a new insight for research in this field.