Angiotensin II promotes differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells to smooth muscle cells through PI3-kinase signaling pathway and NF-κB.

Embryonic stem cells (ES cells), the pluripotent derivatives of the inner cell mass from blastocysts, have the capacity for unlimited growth, self-renewal and differentiation toward all types of somatic cells. Angiotensin II (Ang II), the most important effector peptide of the renin-angiotensin system, is also an angiogenesis factor. However, the potential impact of Ang II on ES cell differentiation is still unknown. In the present study, we have successfully induced the differentiation of ES cells into smooth muscle cells (SMCs) on collagen IV. Interestingly, incubation of ES cells with Ang II further promoted SMC differentiation from ES cells, which was abolished by prior treatment with Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist losartan, but not Ang II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonist PD123319. Moreover, we found that, in parallel with SMC specific-marker induction, the expression levels of phosphoAkt and NF-Kappa B (NF-κB) p50 were up-regulated by Ang II. Importantly, addition of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 led to a marked inhibition of Ang II induced SMC specific markers, phosphoAkt and NF-κB p50 expression. Furthermore, NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7082 can inhibit Ang II induced expression of SMC specific markers. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that Ang II plays a promotive role in the stage of ES cell differentiation to SMCs through AT1 receptor. We further confirmed that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and NF-κB play key roles in this process.

Construction of "De-Capacity Reduction" financial performance index for Chinese coal industry enterprises --based on Fisher discriminant analysis.

In February 2016, the Chinese government focused on removing excess capacity in coal industry enterprises, and the research goal of the paper was to determine how much impact this will have on the financial performance of coal industry enterprises. The paper collected the financial performance indicators of Chinese state-owned coal industry enterprises from 2011 to 2021, and discriminant analysis was used to calculate the financial performance index evaluation system. The conclusions are: (1) From 2011 to 2016, the financial performance index of Chinese state-owned coal industry enterprises before De-Capacity continued to decline, from 2.062 in 2011 to 1.639 in 2016; In 2017-2021, the financial performance index of Chinese state-owned coal industry enterprises after De-Capacity continued to rise, from 1.482 in 2017 to 1.515 in 2021. (2) From 2011 to 2020, the cumulative financial performance index for the whole trade of state-owned coal industry in the past decade was 18.340, with state-owned large coal industry enterprises having the best financial performance, with a 10-year cumulative index of 20.618, followed by state-owned medium-sized coal industry enterprises, with a 10-year cumulative index of 17.944, and the worst among state-owned small coal industry enterprises, with a 10-year cumulative index of 17.271. (3) If the market adjustment started in 2012 is also considered as a component of "De-Capacity", two pressures from the market and the government have prompted the transformation of state-owned coal industry enterprises. The industry wide financial performance index has increased from 1.554 in 2012 to 1.559 in 2020, with an average annual increase of 0.04 %.

Efficacy and safety of modified Valsalva maneuver for treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of the modified versus standard Valsalva maneuver in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP electronic databases were searched to identify studies comparing the modified and standard Valsalva maneuvers in the treatment of PSVT from database inception to 1 May 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias of all included studies. RESULTS: Nineteen randomized controlled trials involving 2527 patients with PSVT were included. The overall rate of cardioversion was higher in the modified than standard Valsalva group (risk ratio [RR] = 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.61-2.01), as was the success rate of cardioversion after a single Valsalva maneuver (RR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.74-2.41). There was no statistically significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups (RR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.82-1.38). CONCLUSION: Current evidence suggests that the modified Valsalva maneuver can significantly improve the success rate of cardioversion in patients with PSVT without increasing adverse reactions. The modified Valsalva maneuver is therefore worth promoting and should be considered as a routine first treatment.INPLASY registration number: 2023100092.

Low molecular weight heparin inhibits circulating fibrocytes differentiation by modulating neuronal nitric oxide synthase and TGF-ß1/Smad pathway.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Circulating fibrocytes (CFs) have been placed at the center of a number of fibrosing conditions. Recently, attention has been drawn to the non-anticoagulant activities of low molecular weight heparin (LH), especially its anti-fibrotic effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of LH on CFs differentiation and possible underlying mechanisms. METHODS/RESULTS: CFs were cultured from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and identified by dual-immunofluorescence staining. Incubation with LH inhibited CFs trans-differentiation by upregulating CD34 and downregulating pro-Collagen I and a-SMA in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, all of which were detected by flow cytometry. Similar effects were observed after incubation with L-NAME, an inhibitor of NOS. NO production was measured by Griess methods and markedly decreased in CFs treated with LH. Three NOS isoforms were assessed by western blot and nNOS was the predominant isoform involved in this process. Additionally, LH and L-NAME had similar down-regulating effects on the expression of TGF-ß1 and pSmad2/3, which indicated that TGF-ß/Smad pathway might be a downstream signaling of nNOS/NO during LH treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that LH could exhibit anti-fibrotic effects by inhibiting CFs transdifferentiation, in which the involvement of nNOS/NO and TGF-ß/Smad pathway were identified.

Fish bone-induced myocardial injury leading to a misdiagnosis of acute myocardial infarction: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Acute chest pain (ACP) is very common among patients presenting to emergency departments. Nevertheless, ACP caused by esophageal foreign body is relatively rarely reported. CASE SUMMARY: A 56-year-old man suffering from chest pain (increased pain for the last 9 h) was admitted to our hospital on October 25, 2015. After undergoing physical examination and laboratory blood testing, he was diagnosed with acute anterior myocardial infarction. Consequently, the patient underwent emergency percutaneous coronary angiography; however, no myocardial infarction signs were observed. Later on, the patient experienced respiration failure and therefore was transferred to intensive care unit. Cardiac ultrasound showed pericardial effusion, which was considered as the cause of shock. He then underwent pericardium puncture drainage and the circulation temporarily improved. Nevertheless, persistent pericardial bleeding, unclear bleeding causes, and clot formation induced poor drainage led to worsening of cardiac tamponade symptoms. Consequently, the patient underwent emergency exploratory thoracotomy, which revealed a fish bone causing pericardial bleeding. The bone was removed, and the damaged blood vessels were mended. Eventually, the patient was discharged in good clinical condition. CONCLUSION: For patients with chest pain, it is necessary to consider the possibility of foreign body in the esophagus or even in the heart. Careful history taking and the corresponding inspection can help to avoid unnecessary damage and safeguard patients from unnecessary pain.