VEGF mimetic peptide-conjugated nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging and therapy of myocardial infarction.

To reduce the mortality of myocardial infarction (MI), accurate detection of the infarct and appropriate prevention against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced cardiac dysfunction are highly desired. Considering that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors are overexpressed in the infarcted heart and VEGF mimetic peptide QK binds specifically to VEGF receptors and activates vascularization, the PEG-QK-modified, gadolinium-doped carbon dots (GCD-PEG-QK) were formulated. This research aims to investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capability of GCD-PEG-QK on myocardial infarct and their therapeutic effect on I/R-induced myocardial injury. These multifunctional nanoparticles exhibited good colloidal stability, excellent fluorescent and magnetic property, and satisfactory biocompatibility. Intravenous injection of GCD-PEG-QK nanoparticles post myocardial I/R displayed accurate MRI of the infarct, enhanced efficacy of QK peptide on pro-angiogenesis, and amelioration of cardiac fibrosis, remodeling and dysfunction, probably via the improvement on QK's in vivo stability and MI-targeting. Collectively, the data suggested that this theranostic nanomedicine can realize precise MRI and effective therapy for acute MI in a non-invasive manner.

Effects of bariatric surgery on serum uric acid in people with obesity with or without hyperuricaemia and gout: a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Weight reduction may reduce serum uric acid (SUA). This study aimed to examine the changes of SUA before and after bariatric surgery in patients with obesity with or without hyperuricaemia and gout. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 147 routinely collected data on hospital patients with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery. The body weight and SUA were measured at baseline and after surgery at 1-7 days, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: The mean (95% CI) weight reduction of 147 patients was 30.7 (28.7, 32.7) kg 1 year after surgery (P < 0.001). SUA decreased rapidly from 419.0 (400.1, 437.8) µmol/l at baseline to 308.4 (289.6, 327.2) µmol/l at 1-7 days, flared up to 444.8 (423.9, 465.6) µmol/l at 1 month, then decreased again to 383.8 (361.5, 406.1) µmol/l at 3 months, 348.9 (326.3, 371.5) µmol/l at 6 months and 327.9 (305.3, 350.5) µmol/l at 12 months (P < 0.001). Similar trends but more rapid reductions were observed in 55 hyperuricaemia patients and 25 gout patients. All 25 gout patients had an elevated SUA above the therapeutic target (≥360µmmol/l) at baseline, but in 10 patients it was reduced below this target at 12 months. The mean reduction (95% CI) of SUA in all patients and gout patients was 84.3 (63.1-105.4) and 163.6 (103.9, 223.3) µmmol/l, respectively. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery significantly reduces body weight and SUA for obese patients with hyperuricaemia and gout. Gout may be considered as an indicator for this surgical treatment in people with severe obesity.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy combined with single-anastomosis duodenal-jejunal bypass in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus of patients with body mass index higher than 27.5 kg/m2 but lower than 32.5 kg/m2.

This study aimed to introduce this surgical technique laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy combined with single-anastomosis duodenal-jejunal bypass (LDJB-LSG), and to confirm this new surgical technique was safe in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) of patients with body mass index (BMI) higher than 27.5 kg/m but lower than 32.5 kg/m.A total of 34 T2DM patients with (BMI) higher than 27.5 kg/m but lower than 32.5 kg/m were admitted to our department between January 2014 and October 2016, of whom 25 received laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery (LRYGB) and 9 received LDJB-LSG. The efficacy and safety were compared between the 2 groups.None in both groups died and had severe postoperative complications. All the surgeries were performed by laparoscopy, and none received switching to open surgery. Patients received regular follow-up after surgery and none were lost to follow-up.Our study indicates LDJB-LSG is similar to LRYGB in the improvements of the body weight, blood glucose, insulin resistance, islet ß cell function, blood lipid profile and serum uric acid, and thus LDJB-LSG is applicable in T2DM patients with 27.5 kg/m ≤ BMI ≤ 32.5 kg/m and risk for gastric cancer. However, long-term therapeutic effects need to be evaluated by studies with multicenter, large sample size, and long-term follow-ups.