Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Cardiac Function and Structure in Chinese Patients with Obesity.

Introduction: Obesity contributes to cardiac dysfunction and has an impact on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Bariatric surgery (BS) is being considered a therapeutic option for patients with obesity and also can improve cardiac function. Very few studies considered the Chinese population. This study aimed to examine the effect of BS on cardiac function and structure in Chinese subjects with obesity. Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis of 143 patients with obesity was included. To observe and analyze the short-term, midterm, and long-term effects of BS on cardiovascular function and structure, the study population was divided into three groups according to the time of review. Fifty-two patients in group T1 (re-examination within 12 months); 53 patients in group T2 (re-examination within 12 to 24 months); and 38 patients in group T3 (re-examination over 24 months). The effects of BS on the cardiac function and structure were evaluated by analyzing the echocardiographic parameters. Results: After BS, body mass index (BMI) decreased from 39.7 ± 8.0 to 28.4 ± 6.4 kg/m2 (P < 0.001). Blood pressure decreased significantly. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) decreased (43.7 ± 16.4 to 37.8 ± 13.4 g/m2.7, P < 0.001). The change in LVMI was correlated with the change in BMI (R2 = 0.14, P < 0.001). In subgroup analyses at different follow-ups, echocardiographic parameters showed varying degrees of change compared with the baseline. Conclusions: Significant weight loss by BS was associated with improved left ventricular structure and function in Chinese patients with obesity, suggesting potential favorable effects of BS on the cardiac function and structure.

Distribution and source of black carbon in coastal river sediments around Haizhou Bay, Eastern China: implications for anthropogenic inputs.

It is crucial to investigate the distribution and origin of black carbon (BC) in the environment for evaluating human inputs and developing pollution control strategies. This study analyzed BC in coastal river sediments from Haizhou Bay, Eastern China. The concentrations (dry weight) of the BC, char, soot, and total organic carbon (TOC) in coastal river sediments flowing into Haizhou Bay were 0.11-4.68, 0.06-4.24, 0.04-0.70, and 0.15-2.29 mg/g, respectively. Char and soot accounted for 38.54-90.70% and 9.30-61.46% of BC, with an average of 68.95% and 31.05%, respectively. The results show that the spatial variation of char was markedly presented in river sediment (108.27%), followed by that of BC (89.25%), TOC (58.69%), and soot (55.85%). The BC was mainly distributed in the Shawang River and the Shiliang River, soot was distributed primarily in the Shawang River, and char was mainly distributed in the Shiliang River. This finding supports the presence of anthropogenic activity sources in coastal rivers. The grey correlation analysis results show that industrial and agricultural activities greatly influenced BC emissions, as the influence degree of four socio-economic variables on BC contamination decreased as follows: regional total production value, population density, total agricultural production value, and total industrial production value. The char/soot ratio, an index to discriminate the source of BC contamination in sediments, was found to range from 0.63 to 9.75 with an average of 2.75. The result indicates that BC in Haizhou Bay was contributed from mixed sources including transportation emissions, fossil fuel combustion, and biomass combustion. The study demonstrates that BC could be an effective indicator for the degree and spatial distribution of organic pollutants in coastal river sediments.

The Correlation between Atrial Fibrillation and Prognosis and Hemorrhagic Transformation.

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the recognized risk factor for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in thrombolysis patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). But the impact of AF on prognosis is still controversial. In our study, we aimed to assess the relationship between AF and HT and prognosis. METHODS: We assessed 184 patients diagnosed with AIS and received thrombolysis from January 2016 to October 2017. Based on the imaging results during hospitalization, the patients were divided into HT and non-HT groups in which the HT was containing 40 patients. According to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), we divided the patients into favorable prognosis (mRS score of 0-2) and the poor (mRS score >2) after 3 and 6 months of follow-up. Our analysis included demographics, onset to treatment time, initial blood pressure, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, HT, anticoagulants, AF, smoking, and other past history. RESULTS: At baseline, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the HT and non-HT groups in the level of age, hyperlipidemia, AF, NIHSS, and the application of anticoagulants. After 3 and 6 months of follow-up, we found that only NIHSS (OR3 month 1.421, 95% CI 1.280-1.578, p < 0.001, and OR6 month 1.326, 95% CI 1.217-1.445, p < 0.001) was associated with prognosis instead of AF, HT, and anticoagulants. Meanwhile, patients with AF tended to be older, higher NIHSS score and less hyperlipidemia (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that there is no significant correlation between AF and prognosis, although there is some indeed related with HT. That was, the prognosis with AF had a similar response trend compared with the non-AF.

Generation of Cancer-Specific Cytotoxic PD-1- T Cells Using Liposome-Encapsulated CRISPR/Cas System with Dendritic/Tumor Fusion Cells.

T-cell immunotherapy is showing great promise and therefore undergoing intensive developments for cancer treatment. In this study, we applied liposome-encapsulated Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein-9 nuclease (Cas9) (CRISPR/Cas9) genome editing tool to specifically knock out the programmed death-1 (PD-1) gene from T cells (PD-1- T cells). We then activated these cells by dendritic/tumor fusion cells (FCs) and examined their anti-cancer potential. Results showed that, following the antigen presentation and activation by DC/HepG2 FCs, PD-1- T cells showed a significantly higher ability than PD-1+ T cells to proliferate, secrete pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ, and kill HepG2 cells in vitro. Consistently, in vitro activated PD-1- T cells inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HepG2 xenografts in vivo, leading to significantly suppressed tumor growth and improved mouse survival. Liposome-encapsulated CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology effectively knocked out PD-1 gene in T cells, stimulating T cell activation in response to DC/tumor FCs and affording T cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy. Our study provides evidence to target checkpoint receptors in adoptively transfected T cells, as a novel therapeutic modality for adoptive T cell transfer.

Magnetic Endoglin Aptamer Nanoprobe for Targeted Diagnosis of Solid Tumor.

Based on molecular targeting, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an ideal noninvasive approach for tumor diagnosis. Construction of targeting probes to enhance the MRI efficacy has become a research hotspot recently. In this study, magnetic endoglin aptamer (mEND) imaging nanoprobes based on mEND-modified magnetic carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) nanoparticles (denoted mEND-Fe3O4@CMCS) were developed. The mEND-Fe3O4@CMCS naoprobe was prepared using mEND as the recognition molecule and Fe3O4@CMCS as the carrier to enhance the MRI efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). On the one hand, the CMCS self-assembled on the surface of Fe3O4 improved the biocompatibility and nontoxicity of magnetic nanoparticles. On the other hand, chemical groups provided by CMCS contributed to the modification of more aptamers. More importantly, the assembled aptamers significantly improved the probe targeting ability, thus enhancing the diagnosis efficacy of MRI of HCC. As a result, the average diameter and zeta potential of the nanoprobe was 87.15±1.66 nm and -31.9±0.5 mV, respectively. The MRI imaging result indicated that this probe effectively targeted neovascularization of mouse HCC and improved the imaging contrast of subcutaneous tumor in mice. Cytotoxicity and histological tests confirmed that the constructed probe possessed low toxicity. In conclusion, the mEND-Fe3O4@CMCS nanoprobe showed high targeting affinity, enhanced MRI effect and good biocompatibility. This study provides new MRI probes to target CD105 positive cells and is a promising candidate for HCC early diagnosis.

Generation of a Graft versus Anticancer Immune Response Through Skin Allograft with Tumor.

Effector memory T cells (TEM) are a subset of memory T cells which play an important role in stimulation of adaptive immunity. Although they are associated with multiple immune responses, the antitumor effect of TEM is not clearly understood. In this research, generation of anti-tumor TEM was induced through skin allografts in C57BL/6 mice with B16 melanoma. We observed that the growth of tumor tissues in C57BL/6 mice treated with allografts was interrupted. Furthermore, the survival time for the treated mice was prolonged along with increased serum levels for CXCL9, CXCL10 and INF-γ. Additionally, the concentrations of TEM in the spleens, lymph nodes and tumor tissues were markedly elevated in allografts treated mice. The tumor cell proliferation and tissue growth were suppressed in C57BL/6 mice with B16 melanoma induced by allografts, upon tail vein injection of purified TEM. These results demonstrate that skin allografts promote the generation of anti-tumor TEM in C57BL/6 mice with B16 melanoma, which emphasize the strong promise of TEM stimulation using allografts transplants in effective tumor immunotherapy.

Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfonated Graphene Oxide Reinforced Sulfonated Poly (Ether Ether Ketone) (SPEEK) Composites for Proton Exchange Membrane Materials.

As a clean energy utilization device, full cell is gaining more and more attention. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) is a key component of the full cell. The commercial-sulfonated, tetrafluoroethylene-based fluoropolymer-copolymer (Nafion) membrane exhibits excellent proton conductivity under a fully humidified environment. However, it also has some disadvantages in practice, such as high fuel permeability, a complex synthesis process, and high cost. To overcome these disadvantages, a low-cost and novel membrane was developed. The sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) was selected as the base material of the proton exchange membrane. Sulfonated graphene (SG) was cross-linked with SPEEK through the elimination reaction of hydrogen bonds. It was found that the sulfonic acid groups and hydrophilic oxygen groups increased obviously in the resultant membrane. Compared with the pure SPEEK membrane, the SG-reinforced membrane exhibited better proton conductivity and methanol permeability prevention. The results indicate that the SG/SPEEK could be applied as a new proton exchange membrane in fuel cells.

A New Theranostic System Based on Endoglin Aptamer Conjugated Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles.

Background: Tumor vessels can potentially serve as diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets for solid tumors. Fluorescent dyes are commonly used as biological indicators, while photobleaching seriously hinders their application. In this study, we aim to generate a fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSiNPs) theranostic system marked by the mouse endgolin (mEND) aptamer, YQ26. Methods: A highly specific YQ26 was selected by using gene-modified cell line-based SELEX technique. FSiNPs were prepared via the reverse microemulsion method. The YQ26-FSiNPs theranostic system was developed by combining YQ26 with the FSiNPs for in vivo tumor imaging, treatment and monitoring. Results: Both in vitro experiments (i.e. cellular and tumor tissue targeting assays) and in vivo animal studies (i.e. in vivo imaging and antitumor efficacy of YQ26-FSiNPs) clearly demonstrated that YQ26-FSiNPs could achieve prominently high targeting efficiency and therapeutic effects via aptamer YQ26-mediated binding to endoglin (END) molecule. Conclusion: This simple, sensitive, and specific YQ26-FSiNPs theranostic system has a great potential for clinical tumor targeting imaging and treatment.

Collagen I enhances the efficiency and anti-tumor activity of dendritic-tumor fusion cells.

Low fusion efficiency and nominal activity of fusion cells (FCs) restrict the clinical application of dendritic cell (DC)/tumor fusion cells. Collagen I (Col I) is an interstitial collagen with a closely-knit structure used to repair damaged cell membranes. This study evaluated whether Col I could improve the fusion efficiency of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induction and enhance the immunogenicity of fusion vaccine. DC/B16 melanoma and controlled DC/H22 hepatoma cell fusions were induced by PEG with or without Col I. Col I/PEG treatment increased the levels of DC surface molecules and the secretion of lactate, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in fusion cells. Col I/PEG-treated FCs enhanced T-cell proliferation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. The Col I-prepared fusion vaccine obviously suppressed tumor growth and prolonged mice survival time. Thus Col I treatment could significantly improve the efficiency of PEG-induced DC/tumor fusion and enhance the anticancer activity of the fusion vaccine. This novel fusion strategy might promote the clinical application of DC/tumor fusion immunotherapy.

[Studies and reports of Chinese cut crude drugs dosage in clinical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (section of surgery)].

OBJECTIVE: Study the actual dosage of clinical prescription in surgery of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and offer the consummate data for formulating the dosage standard of Chinese cut crude drug. METHOD: We made use of the methods of stratified sampling and random sampling to investigate 84,759 broth prescriptions of surgery of TCM in 21 various hospitals, 18 provinces, and constructed the database, then applied Weka KDD software to analyze. RESULT: We identified the frequency and clinical dosage intervals of 300 drugs, and the practical dosage of 155 drugs which dose has difference between in the actuality and in the pharmacopoeia. Most of drug's dosage centralized the four intervals: (3-6], (9-12], (12-15], (18-21], and the concrete dosage were 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20 g, etc. CONCLUSION: The dosages in the pharmacopoeia are not coincided with the practical dosages in surgery, and demand to revise. This paper will offer the consummate data for formulating the new dosage standard.