Temporomandibular disorder patients with excessive daytime sleepiness present greater pain intensity and reduced jaw function.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders are associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Limited studies have focused on excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and its impact on jaw functions in TMD patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present investigation was to identify the impact of EDS on pain and jaw function in TMD patients. METHODS: A total of 338 TMD patients (50 males and 288 females) was included. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to classify patients into EDS group (score ≥ 10) and non-EDS group (score < 10). The Jaw Functional Limitation Scale 8-item (JFLS-8) was used to assess the severity of jaw dysfunction. Pain intensity was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9). All included patients were diagnosed with pain-related TMD (PT), intra-articular TMD (IT) or combined TMD (CT). RESULTS: Compared with non-EDS patients, EDS patients exhibited more severe jaw dysfunction, greater pain intensity and higher PHQ-9 scores (p < .05). Multivariate analyses showed that EDS (B = 3.69), female gender (B = 3.69), and elevated GAD-7 score (B = 0.73) were significantly associated with an increased score on the JFLS-8 (p < .05). Moreover, bivariate logistic regression analysis indicated a significant relationship between EDS and PT (OR = 2.70, p = .007). CONCLUSION: The presence of EDS was more closely related to PT, but the causal relationship between them needs to be further confirmed. More concern and intervention to alleviate poor sleep quality might be highlighted during the treatment of TMD, especially PT subtype.

[Effect of Lipoteichoic Acid Synthesis-Related Gene dltD on Acid Tolerance of Highly Cariogenic Strains of Streptococcus mutans].

Objective: To study the role and possible mechanism of dltD in the acid tolerance of Streptococcus mutans 593 (SM593), and to provide a theoretical basis for the ecological prevention and control of dental caries by constructing the dltD gene deletion strain of SM593 (SM593-ΔdltD). Methods: 1) SM593-Δ dltD was constructed by homologous recombination. 2) The growth curve of SM593 dltD and SM593-Δ dltD under different pH culture conditions was drawn by the automatic growth curve analyzer to compare their acid tolerance. Colony forming unit (CFU) at different time points was used to calculate the survival rate and to compare the acid tolerance response (ATR) of SM593 and SM593-Δ dltD. 3) Under different pH conditions, glycolysis experiments, proton permeability test and H +-ATPase activity test were conducted to make preliminary exploration into the mechanisms of how dltD gene deletion may affect acid tolerance. Results: 1) PCR and sequencing results showed that the SM593-Δ dltD was constructed successfully. 2) With decreasing pH value of the culture medium, the growth of SM593-Δ dltD slowed down. When the pH value of the culture medium was 5.0, SM593-Δ dltD was not allowed to grow, and its acid tolerance was lower than that of SM593. Compared with SM593, the ATR capability of SM593-Δ dltD was decreased. 3) SM593 dltD and SM593-Δ dltD did not show obvious difference in their glycolysis ability under different pH conditions. Compared with SM593 dltD, the proton permeability of SM593-Δ dltD under different pH conditions was increased significantly (P<0.05), and H +-ATPase activity decreased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with SM593 dltD, SM593-Δ dltD showed obvious decrease in acid tolerance, which may be caused by the significant increase in proton permeability and significant decrease in the H +-ATPase activity induced by the deletion of the dltD gene, hence reducing its ability to maintain intracellular pH homeostasis.

A randomised controlled study on the effects of hernial sac stump fenestration on ultrasound seroma prevention in laparoscopic Type III inguinal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of ultrasound seromas has significantly increased after large hernial sac surgery. Several methods are available for preventing ultrasound seromas, but the clinical results are poor. It has also been demonstrated that hernial sac stump fenestration during laparoscopic incisional hernia repair surgery can significantly decrease the incidence of ultrasound seromas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients aged 18-75 years who were treated in our hospital for primary Type III indirect inguinal hernia from March 2017 to March 2018 were randomised to a preventive fenestration group and a control group. All patients underwent transabdominal preperitoneal repair. The number of ultrasound seromas in the inguinal regions and ultrasound seroma volume on day 6 and months 1 and 3 after surgery in the two groups were compared. The secondary outcomes included length of surgery, urinary retention, acute pain, chronic pain, length of hospitalisation, recurrence rate and other complications. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics. Ultrasound seroma incidence and ultrasound seroma volume on day 6 and months 1 and 3 after surgery were significantly lower in the preventive fenestration group than that in the control group. There were no significant differences in the length of hospitalisation or incidence of acute pain or urinary retention between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hernial sac stump fenestration after hernial sac transection in inguinal hernia repair surgery is a simple method that can effectively reduce post-operative ultrasound seromas.

First case of COVID-19 complicated with fulminant myocarditis: a case report and insights.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been demonstrated to be the cause of pneumonia. Nevertheless, it has not been reported as the cause of acute myocarditis or fulminant myocarditis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old male was admitted with pneumonia and cardiac symptoms. He was genetically confirmed as having COVID-19 according to sputum testing on the day of admission. He also had elevated troponin I (Trop I) level (up to 11.37 g/L) and diffuse myocardial dyskinesia along with a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on echocardiography. The highest level of interleukin-6 was 272.40 pg/ml. Bedside chest radiographs showed typical ground-glass changes indicative of viral pneumonia. Laboratory test results for viruses that cause myocarditis were all negative. The patient conformed to the diagnostic criteria of the Chinese expert consensus statement for fulminant myocarditis. After receiving antiviral therapy and mechanical life support, Trop I was reduced to 0.10 g/L, and interleukin-6 was reduced to 7.63 pg/mL. Moreover, the LVEF of the patient gradually recovered to 68%. The patient died of aggravation of secondary infection on the 33rd day of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients may develop severe cardiac complications such as myocarditis and heart failure. This is the first report of COVID-19 complicated with fulminant myocarditis. The mechanism of cardiac pathology caused by COVID-19 needs further study.

Characterization of heparan sulfate N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase isoform 4 using synthetic oligosaccharide substrates.

BACKGROUND: The final structure of heparan sulfate chains is strictly regulated in vivo, though the biosynthesis is not guided by a template process. N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase (NDST) is the first modification enzyme in the HS biosynthetic pathway. The N-sulfo groups introduced by NDST are reportedly involved in determination of the susceptibility to subsequent processes catalyzed by C5-epimerse and 3-O-sulfotransferases. Understanding the substrate specificities of the four human NDST isoforms has become central to uncovering the regulatory mechanism of HS biosynthesis. METHODS: Highly-purified recombinant NDST-4 (rNDST-4) and a selective library of structurally-defined oligosaccharides were employed to determine the substrate specificity of rNDST-4. RESULTS: Full-length rNDST-4 lacks obvious N-deacetylase activity, and displays only N-sulfotransferase activity. Unlike NDST-1, NDST-4 did not show directional N-sulfotransferase activity while the N-deacetylase domain was inactive. CONCLUSION AND GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Individual NDST-4 could not effectively assume the key role in the distribution of N-S domains and N-Ac domains in HS biosynthesis in vivo.

KfoA, the UDP-glucose-4-epimerase of Escherichia coli strain O5:K4:H4, shows preference for acetylated substrates.

Capsule of Escherichia coli O5:K4:H4 is formed of a chondroitin-repeat disaccharide unit of glucuronic acid (GlcA)-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). This polysaccharide, commonly referred to as K4CP, is a potentially important source of precursors for chemoenzymatic or bioengineering synthesis of chondroitin sulfate. KfoA, encoded by a gene from region 2 of the K4 capsular gene cluster, shows high homology to the UDP-glucose-4-epimerase (GalE) from E. coli. KfoA is reputed to be responsible for uridine 5'-diphosphate-N-acetylgalactosamine (UDP-GalNAc) supply for K4CP biosynthesis in vivo, but it has not been biochemically characterized. Here, we probed the substrate specificity of KfoA by a capillary electrophoresis (CE)-based method. KfoA could epimerize both acetylated and non-acetylated substrates, but its k cat/K m value for UDP-GlcNAc was approximately 1300-fold that for UDP-Glc. Recombinant KfoA showed a strong preference for acetylated substrates in vitro. The conclusion that KfoA is a higher efficiency UDP-GalNAc provider than GalE was supported by a coupled assay developed based on the donor-acceptor combination specificity of E. coli K4 chondroitin polymerase (KfoC). Furthermore, residue Ser-301, located near the UDP-GlcNAc binding pocket, plays an important role in the determination of the conversion ratio of UDP-GlcNAc to UDP-GalNAc by KfoA. Our results deepen the understanding of the mechanism of KfoA and will assist in the research into the metabolic engineering for chondroitin sulfate production.

Identification and characterization of a chondroitin synthase from Avibacterium paragallinarum.

Avibacterium paragallinarum is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes infectious coryza in chicken. It was reported that the capsule polysaccharides extracted from Av. paragallinarum genotype A contained chondroitin. Chondroitin synthase of Av. paragallinarum (ApCS) encoded by one gene within the presumed capsule biosynthesis gene cluster exhibited considerable homology to identified bacterial chondroitin synthases. Herein, we report the identification and characterization of ApCS. This enzyme indeed displays chondroitin synthase activity involved in the biosynthesis of the capsule. ApCS is a bifunctional protein catalyzing the elongation of the chondroitin chain by alternatively transferring the glucuronic acid (GlcA) and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) residues from their nucleotide forms to the non-reducing ends of the saccharide chains. GlcA with a para-nitrophenyl group (pNP) could serve as the acceptor for ApCS; this enzyme shows a stringent donor tolerance when the acceptor is as small as this monosaccharide. Then, UDP-GalNAc and GlcA-pNP were injected sequentially through the chip-immobilized chondroitin synthases, and the surface plasmon resonance data demonstrated that the up-regulated extent caused by the binding of the donor is one possibly essential factor in successful polymerization reaction. This conclusion will, therefore, enhance the understanding of the mode of action of glycosyltransferase. Surprisingly, high activity at near-zero temperature as well as weak temperature dependence of this novel bacterial chondroitin synthase indicate that ApCS was a cold-active enzyme. From all accounts, ApCS becomes the fourth known bacterial chondroitin synthase, and the potential applications in artificial chondroitin sulfate and glycosaminoglycan synthetic approaches make it an attractive glycosyltransferase for further investigation.

Is there any difference between open and arthroscopic treatment for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the humeral capitellum: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: We present a systematic review of the recent literatures regarding the arthroscopic and open technique in fragment fixation for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the humeral capitellum and an analysis of the subjective and objective outcomes between these two procedures. METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE were reviewed for suitable articles relating to fragment fixation for OCD, both open and arthroscopic. We included all studies reporting on the clinical outcomes of these two procedures that were published in the English language. Data extracted from each study included level of evidence, number of patients, surgical techniques, length of follow-up, clinical outcome measures including outcome scores, range of motion (ROM), return to sports, osseous union and complications. We analyzed each study to determine the primary outcome measurement. RESULTS: A total of ten studies met our inclusion criteria. Among all studies, 35 arthroscopic procedures and 107 open procedures were performed. After the procedure, 70 patients (86.4%) in the open group returned to their sports, and 32 patients (91.4%) in the arthroscopic group returned to their sports. In the arthroscopic group, patients gained 14.1 degrees of flexion and 9.5 degrees of extension after surgery. In the open group, patients gained 8 degrees of flexion and 5.7 degrees of extension. Five patients (4.7%) had complications in the open group. No complication was found in the arthroscopic group. CONCLUSIONS: Both open and arthroscopic lesion debridement with fragment fixation are successful in treating unstable OCD. The arthroscopic technique may be a better choice than the open procedure, but we need high-level evidence to determine the superiority of the open or arthroscopic techniques in treating elbow OCD. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Comparison of multi-modal early oral nutrition for the tolerance of oral nutrition with conventional care after major abdominal surgery: a prospective, randomized, single-blind trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Early oral nutrition (EON) has been shown to improve recovery of gastrointestinal function, length of stay and mortality after abdominal surgery; however, early oral nutrition often fails during the first week after surgery. Here, a multi-modal early oral nutrition program is introduced to promote recovery of gastrointestinal function and tolerance of oral nutrition. METHODS: Consecutive patients scheduled for abdominal surgery were randomized to the multimodal EON group or a group receiving conventional care. The primary endpoint was the time of first defecation. The secondary endpoints were outcomes and the cost-effectiveness ratio in treating infectious complications. The rate of infectious-free patients was regarded as the index of effectiveness. RESULTS: One hundred seven patients were randomly assigned to groups. Baseline characteristics were similar for both groups. In intention-to-treat analysis, the success rate of oral nutrition during the first week after surgery in the multimodal EON group was 44 (83.0%) versus 31 (57.4%) in the conventional care group (P = 0.004). Time to first defecation, time to flatus, recovery time of bowel sounds, and prolonged postoperative ileus were all less in the multimodal EON group (P < 0.05). The median postoperative length of stay in the multimodal EON group was 8 days (6, 12) versus 10 days (7, 18) in the conventional care group (P < 0.001). The total cost of treatment and nutritional support were also less in the multi-modal early oral nutrition group (P < 0.001). The effectiveness was 84.9 and 79.9% in the multimodal EON and conventional care group, respectively (P = 0.475). However, the cost-effectiveness ratio was USD 537.6 (506.1, 589.3) and USD 637.8 (593.9, 710.3), respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The multi-modal early oral nutrition program was an effective way to improve tolerance of oral nutrition during the first week after surgery, decrease the length of stay and improve cost-effectiveness after abdominal surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-14004395 . Registered 15 March 2014.

Type B insulin resistance syndrome with Scleroderma successfully treated with multiple immune suppressants after eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Type B insulin resistance is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against the insulin receptor. Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection may play a causative role in the autoimmune diseases. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we present a rare case of a 48-year old female patient, who had type B insulin resistance with systemic scleroderma and was successfully treated with multiple immune suppressants after eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection. CONCLUSION: The present case suggests H pylori infection-related pathological mechanism may contribute to type B insulin resistance syndrome and autoimmune disorders. Treatment toward H pylori may be helpful to relieve syndrome of type B insulin resistance for H pylori positive patients.

Impact of nutritional support that does and does not meet guideline standards on clinical outcome in surgical patients at nutritional risk: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of nutritional support on clinical outcomes in patients at nutritional risk who receive nutritional support that meets guideline standards and those who do not. METHODS: This prospective cohort study enrolled hospitalized patients from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from February 2010 to June 2012. The research protocols were approved by the university's ethics committee, and the patients signed informed consent forms. The clinical data were collected based on nutritional risk screening, administration of enteral and parenteral nutrition, surgical information, complications, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: During the study period, 525 patients at nutritional risk were enrolled in the cohorts. Among patients who received nutritional support that met the guideline standards (Cohort 1), the incidence of infectious complications was lower than that in patients who did not meet guideline standards (Cohort 2) (17.1 % vs. 26.9 %, P = 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that individuals who received a combination of parenteral nutrition (PN) and enteral nutrition (EN) for 7 or more days had a significantly lower incidence of infectious complications (P = 0.001) than those who received only PN for 7 or more days or those who received nutritional support for less than 7 days or at less than 10 kcal/kg/d. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for confounding factors, nutritional support that met guideline standards for patients with nutritional risk was a protective factor for complications (OR: 0.870, P < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In patients at nutritional risk after abdominal surgery, nutritional support that meets recommended nutrient guidelines (especially regimens involving PN + EN ≥ 7 days) might decrease the incidence of infectious complications and is worth recommending; however, well-designed trials are needed to confirm our findings. Nutritional support that does not meet the guideline standards is considered clinically undesirable.

[Preparation and characterization of salvianolic acids-tanshinones composite powder for inhalation via co-micronized method].

Salvianolic acids and tanshinones are main hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts from Salvia Miltiorrhiza with significant anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects. The aim of this study was to prepare a co-micronized salvianolic acids-tanshinones composite powder for inhalation using a planetary ball mill. The micronization process parameters were optimized by central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM). Treatment time, rotation speed and the ball/sample weight ratio were selected as the independent variables, and the volume fraction of particle size in 1-5 µm was taken as the dependent variable. The powder properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The powder flow and hygroscopicity were determined with repose angle, compressibility index and critical relative humidity(CRH). According to the results, the salvianolic acids-tanshinones composite powder produced in optimal conditions had a narrow and unimodal particle size distribution and a smaller D50 of 2.33 µm. The volume fraction of particle size in 1-5 µm was 80.82%. The repose angle was (50.60±1.13) °, and the critical relative humidity is about 77%. After being micronized, the particle size significantly reduced, and the number of amorphous substances slightly increased, with no significant changes in powder flow and hygroscopicity. These findings indicate that the grinding method with a planetary ball mill can be used to co-micronize various components with different properties and prepare composite drug powders for dry powder inhalation.

Clinical Characteristics and Fatality Risk Factors for Patients with Listeria monocytogenes Infection: A 12-Year Hospital-Based Study in Xi'an, China.

INTRODUCTION: Listeriosis is a severe food-borne disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes infection. The data of listeriosis in Xi'an population are limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical features and fatality risk factors for listeriosis in three tertiary-care hospitals in Xi'an, China METHODS: The characteristics of demographic data, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, laboratory indicators, cranial imaging examination, antibiotics therapeutic schemes, and clinical outcomes were collected between 2011 and 2023. Logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Seventy-one etiologically confirmed listeriosis patients were enrolled, including 12 neonatal and 59 non-neonatal cases. The majority of neonatal listeriosis presented as preterm (50%) and fetal distress (75%). The main clinical manifestations of non-neonatal listeriosis included fever (88%), headache (32%), disorder of consciousness (25%), vomiting (17%), abdominal pain (12%), and convulsions (8%). The fatality rate in neonatal cases was higher than in non-neonatal listeriosis (42 vs. 17%). Although no deaths were reported in maternal listeriosis, only two of 23 patients had an uneventful obstetrical outcome. Five maternal listeriosis delivered culture-positive neonates, three of whom decreased within 1 week post-gestation due to severe complications. Twenty-eight cases were neurolisteriosis and 43 cases were bacteremia. Neurolisteriosis had a higher fatality rate compared with bacteremia listeriosis (36 vs. 12%). The main neuroradiological images were cerebral edema/hydrocephalus, intracranial infection, and cerebral hernia. Listeria monocytogenes showed extremely low resistance to ampicillin (two isolates) and penicillin (one isolate). The fatality risk factors were the involvement of the central nervous system, hyperbilirubinemia, and hyponatremia for all enrolled subjects. Hyperuricemia contributed to the elevation of fatality risk in non-neonatal listeriosis. CONCLUSIONS: When the patients suffered with symptoms of fever and central nervous system infection, they should be alert to the possibility of listeriosis. Early administration of ampicillin- or penicillin-based therapy might be beneficial for recovery of listeriosis.

SceneFusion: Room-Scale Environmental Fusion for Efficient Traveling Between Separate Virtual Environments.

Traveling between scenes has become a major requirement for navigation in numerous virtual reality (VR) social platforms and game applications, allowing users to efficiently explore multiple virtual environments (VEs). To facilitate scene transition, prevalent techniques such as instant teleportation and virtual portals have been extensively adopted. However, these techniques exhibit limitations when there is a need for frequent travel between separate VEs, particularly within indoor environments, resulting in low efficiency. In this paper, we first analyze the design rationale for a novel navigation method supporting efficient travel between virtual indoor scenes. Based on the analysis, we introduce the SceneFusion technique that fuses separate virtual rooms into an integrated environment. SceneFusion enables users to perceive rich visual information from both rooms simultaneously, achieving high visual continuity and spatial awareness. While existing teleportation techniques passively transport users, SceneFusion allows users to actively access the fused environment using short-range locomotion techniques. User experiments confirmed that SceneFusion outperforms instant teleportation and virtual portal techniques in terms of efficiency, workload, and preference for both single-user exploration and multi-user collaboration tasks in separate VEs. Thus, SceneFusion presents an effective solution for seamless traveling between virtual indoor scenes.

[Different establishing conditions of hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique among different groups].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the different establishing conditions of hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique among the groups of normal glucose tolerance (NGT), hyperinsulinemia with normal glucose (HINS) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). METHODS: The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique was applied to the study of methodology in 10 NGT, 11 HINS and 10 IGT subjects. Different establishing conditions were compared through variance analysis (ANOVA) among three groups. And the influencing factors resulting in these differences were analyzed through stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: The serum insulin concentration of three groups were acutely raised and maintained at above 100 mU/L. During the steady stage, the blood glucose level remained stable and all coefficient variations were under 5%. The secretion of endogenous insulin and hepatic glucose production were completely inhibited during the test. Under these steady-state hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic conditions, the glucose infusion rate (M value) was equal to glucose disposal rate by all tissues in body, M value of three groups were as follows: (11.6 ± 1.7), (6.1 ± 1.9) and (6.0 ± 1.5) mg×kg(-1)×min(-1). During clamping, the peak and steady-state serum insulin concentrations of IGT and HINS groups were significantly higher than those of NGT group. Although the peak and steady-state serum insulin concentration of HINS group were higher than those of IGT group, the differences had no statistical significance (P = 0.34, 0.11). The independent influencing factor of peak serum insulin concentration was waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) while the independent influencing factors of steady-state serum insulin concentration included insulin metabolic clearance rate (MCR) and body mass index (BMI). The peak and steady-state serum insulin concentrations were not the independent influencing factors of M value. CONCLUSION: During the establishment of hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique, the differences in peak and steady-state serum insulin concentrations existed among NGT, HINS and IGT groups. But the differences do not influence the use of M value in the evaluation of insulin resistance.

MSC Promotes the Secretion of Exosomal miR-34a-5p and Improve Intestinal Barrier Function Through METTL3-Mediated Pre-miR-34A m6A Modification.

Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (IIRI) is associated with high prevalence and mortality rate. Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy attracted more attentions. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of MSC-derived exosomal miRNAs during IIRI remain largely uninvestigated. The in vitro and in vivo IIRI models were established. MSC were characterized by immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry. Purified exosomes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), flow cytometry, and western blot. The expression of key molecules was detected by western blot and qRT-PCR. CCK-8, TUNEL, and transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) assays were employed to assess cell viability, apoptosis, and intestinal integrity, respectively. Pre-miR-34A m6 modification was evaluated by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP)-qPCR. RNA pull-down and RIP were used to validate the direct association between pre-miR-34A and IGF2BP3. MSC-derived exosomal miR-34a-5p alleviated OGD/R-induced injury. In addition, MSC ameliorated OGD/R-induced injury through METTL3 pathway. Mechanistic study revealed that miR-34a-5p was modulated by METTL3/IGF2BP3-mediated m6A modification in MSC. The in vitro and in vivo functional experiments revealed that MSC secreted exosomal miR-34a-5p and ameliorated IIRI through METTL3/IGF2BP3-mediated m6A modification of pre-miR-34A. MSC promoted the secretion of exosomal miR-34a-5p and improved intestinal barrier function through METTL3/IGF2BP3-mediated pre-miR-34A m6A modification.

Rational Design of High-Performance Cationic Organic Network Adsorbents.

Development of high-performance ionic organic network (ION) adsorbents is of great importance for water remediation. However, the research on IONs is still nascent, especially, the design philosophy regarding contaminant adsorption has rarely been explored. In this contribution, we optimized the adsorption efficiency of IONs by increasing the density of charged sites and improving their accessibility. We first produced a new cationic organic network (CON), CON-LDU4, with a high density of positive sites via synthesis from tetra(4-pyridyl)ethene. Compared to the analogue CON-LDU2 that synthesized from tetra(4-(4-pyridyl)phenyl)ethene, CON-LDU4 exhibited higher efficiency in adsorption of methyl blue, indicating that the higher ionic density results in the higher adsorption efficiency. To further improve the accessibility of the active sites, another new CON material (CON-LDU5) was synthesized by employing a hard template. CON-LDU5 exhibited a larger specific surface area than CON-LDU4, with clearly enhanced adsorption efficiency. Finally, CON-LDU5 was used to capture CrO42- ions in water with fast adsorption kinetics (k2 = 0.0328 g mg-1 min-1) and high adsorption capacity (369 mg g-1).

[Histone H3 acetylation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cyclooxygenase-2 in patients with type 2 diabetes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and evaluate the status of histone H3 acetylation at TNF-α and COX-2 promoter in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from type 2 diabetics. METHODS: The PBMCs from 12 type 2 diabetics and 12 healthy controls were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. The differential expression of TNF-α and COX-2 mRNA was measured by real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis was used to detect the status of H3 acetylation at TNF-α and COX-2 promoter region. RESULTS: TNF-α and COX-2 mRNA were overexpressed in PBMCs from Type 2 diabetics as compared with normal controls (2.28 ± 0.09 fold and 2.78 ± 0.26 fold).(P < 0.05). Compared with normal controls, H3 acetylation at the TNF-α (1.54 ± 0.43 vs 0.97 ± 0.39, P = 0.0094) and COX-2 (1.20 ± 0.58 vs 0.64 ± 0.21, P = 0.0161) gene promoter region was elevated in PBMCs from Type 2 diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: Increased H3 acetylation at TNF-α and COX-2 promoter in PBMCs from type 2 diabetics may contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes through the elevated expressions of TNF-α and COX-2.

Investigation of the incidence of pancreatic cancer-related depression and its relationship with the quality of life of patients.

AIM: To investigate the incidence of pancreatic cancer-related depression and the relationship between symptoms of depression and the quality of life (QoL) of patients. METHODS: 262 inpatients with cancer of the digestive system (pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer) from four Guangzhou hospitals were enrolled into the study between June 2007 and June 2009. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-24 questionnaire was used to assess the degree of depression. QoL of all patients was evaluated by EORTC QLQ-C30. Additionally, EORTC QLQ-PAN-26 was used for patients with pancreatic cancer. RESULTS: The incidence of depression among pancreatic cancer patients was significantly higher than among other digestive cancers. More pancreatic cancer patients suffered severe depression than those with liver cancer and gastric cancer. Compared with other groups with depression, QoL of pancreatic cancer patients in each functioning scale was significantly worse, while the symptoms of fatigue and pain were significantly severe. QoL of pancreatic cancer patients with depression in role, emotional, and social functioning were sharply poorer than those without depression. The symptoms of fatigue, pain and appetite loss in cancer patients with depression were significantly more frequent than those without depression. CONCLUSION: Compared with other cancers of the digestive system, depressive symptoms are common psychological disturbances in pancreatic cancer patients. Moreover, depression significantly lowers QoL in pancreatic cancer patients.

[The effect and mechanism of transient continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy on beta cell function, insulin resistance and vascular endothelial injury in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes].

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of transient continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) on ß cell function, insulin resistance and vascular endothelial injury in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients and its potential mechanism. METHODS: Ten patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accepted CSII for two weeks. Intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and hyperinsulinemia euglycemia clamp test were performed before and after CSII. Serum soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) was used to evaluate the injury of vascular endothelial cell, while serum high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) were both used to assess inflammatory condition. RESULTS: (1) Compared with those before treatment, the blood glucose levels of IVGTT, the area under the curve of the blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, TC and LDL-C in the patients were decreased after CSII (P < 0.05 or 0.01). (2) Compared with those before treatment, the insulin levels of IVGTT (except the fasting insulin), the area under the curve of insulin and acute insulin response were all increased after CSII (P < 0.05 or 0.01). (3) Compared with that before treatment, the glucose infusion ratio in the clamp test [(3.46 ± 1.66) mg x kg⁻¹ x min⁻¹ increased to (7.14 ± 2.37) mg x kg⁻¹ x min⁻¹] and HOMA-beta elevated, while HOMA-IR declined (P < 0.05 or 0.01 in all). (4) Compared with those before treatment, the levels of serum sE-selectin, sCD14 and hsCRP were decreased (P < 0.01, except for hsCRP). CONCLUSION: Transient intensive insulin therapy in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM is useful to restore beta cell function, attenuate insulin resistance, repair vascular endothelial injury and improve the disorder of blood sugar and lipid. The mechanism may be related with the inhibition of inflammation in patients.