Predictive value of atherogenic index of plasma and atherogenic index of plasma combined with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for the risk of acute myocardial infarction.

Background and aims: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a prevalent medical condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. The principal underlying factor leading to myocardial infarction is atherosclerosis, with dyslipidemia being a key risk factor. Nonetheless, relying solely on a single lipid level is insufficient for accurately predicting the onset and progression of AMI. The present investigation aims to assess established clinical indicators in China, to identify practical, precise, and effective tools for predicting AMI. Methods: The study enrolled 267 patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction as the experimental group, while the control group consisted of 73 hospitalized patients with normal coronary angiography. The investigators collected general clinical data and relevant laboratory test results and computed the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) for each participant. Using acute myocardial infarction status as the dependent variable and controlling for confounding factors such as smoking history, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), blood pressure at admission, and diabetes history, the researchers conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis with AIP as an independent variable. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to determine the predictive value of AIP and AIP combined with LDL-C for acute myocardial infarction. Result: The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the AIP was an independent predictor of acute myocardial infarction. The optimal cut-off value for AIP to predict AMI was -0.06142, with a sensitivity of 81.3%, a specificity of 65.8%, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.801 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.743-0.859, P < 0.001). When AIP was combined with LDL-C, the best cut-off value for predicting acute myocardial infarction was 0.756107, with a sensitivity of 79%, a specificity of 74%, and an AUC of 0.819 (95% CI: 0.759-0.879, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The AIP is considered an autonomous determinant of risk for AMI. Utilizing the AIP index alone, as well as in conjunction with LDL-C, can serve as effective predictors of AMI.

Danshensu protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury and inhibits the apoptosis of H9c2 cells by reducing the calcium overload through the p-JNK-NF-κB-TRPC6 pathway.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) plays an important role in myocardial injury. In the present study, we aimed to examine the protective effects of Danshensu (DSS) against I/R injury and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. For this purpose, H9c2 cells were cultured in hypoxic solution in a hypoxic incubator for 2 h, and then cultured in a high oxygen incubator for various periods of time and pre-treated with or without DSS, ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or SP600125 [a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor]. Cell apoptosis and cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) levels were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of JNK, phosphorylated (p-)JNK, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 6 (TRPC6) were measured by western blot analysis. The mRNA expression levels of JNK were measured by RT-qPCR. The results revealed that TRPC6 protein expression, the cell apoptotic rate and the [Ca2+]i levels increased in a time-dependent manner in the H9c2 cells following the induction of I/R injury. The apoptotic rate and TRPC6 protein expression decreased when the cells were treated with DSS prior to the induction of I/R injury. The knockdown of JNK expression by siRNA decreased the p-JNK and TRPC6 protein expression levels in the H9c2 cells subjected to I/R injury. The protein expression levels of p-JNK and NF-κB in the nucleus increased significantly when the H9c2 cells were subjected to I/R injury, whereas NF-κB expression in the cytoplasm decreased in a time­dependent manner. However, p-JNK, NF-κB and TRPC6 protein expression, the [Ca2+]i level and cell apoptosis decreased when the H9c2 cells were pre-treated with DSS or SP600125. Therefore, our data suggest that DSS prevents myocardial I/R injury by inhibiting p-JNK activation and NF-κB translocation, which potentially upregulate TRPC6 expression, increase the [Ca2+]i level, and result in the apoptosis of H9c2 cells.

[Species diversity and colony characteristics of bumblebees in the Hebei region of North China].

Based on the 1893 specimens collected from Hebei Province, Beijing City, and Tianjin City in 2005-2009, and the specimens deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, this paper analyzed the species diversity and colony characteristics of bumblebees in the Hebei region of North China. A total of 32 species belonging to 8 subgenera of Bombus were recorded, with 32 species in Hebei Province, 18 species in Beijing, and 5 species in Tianjin. The bumblebee in Taihang Mountains, Yanshan Mountains, and Bashang Plateau had the highest richness and abundance, and its food-plant included 80 species of 21 families, among which, Compositae, Leguminosae, and Labiatae were most important. Five bumblebee species, i. e., Bombus hypocrita, B. ignitus, B. patagiatus, B. pyrosoma, and B. picipes, had the largest colony, with more than 110 workers, 160 drones, and 30 young queens produced per colony. The success in rearing colonies of each of the 5 species by queens was > 50%, demonstrating that these 5 species had the potential to be mass-reared, with important applied value for crop pollination.