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Objective: To investigate the potential function of GSDMD in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute lung injury (ALI) during the inflammatory reaction and lung tissue damage. Methods: Twenty wild-type C57BL/6 mice and twenty GSDMD knockout C57BL/6 mice were randomized into the WT-sham group, WT-ALI group, Knockout (KO)-sham group and KOALI group. The ALI was induced by intratracheal injection of LPS (1 mg/kg), using PBS as the treatment control. To examine the inflammatory reaction and tissue damage in the lung, the lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected. HE staining of lung tissue and the semi-quantitative score of lung injury were performed. The wet/dry ratio of lung tissue and the total protein concentration in BALF were measured by BCA. The levels of TNF-a, IL-1β, and IL-6 in BALF were detected by ELISA. The expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in BALF and lung tissues were detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the WT-ALI group, the lung injury pathological score, wet/dry ratio, and total protein concentration were all significantly lower in KO-ALI group (P<0.01). Furthermore, the total protein level, TNF-a, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in BALF were significantly lower in KO-ALI group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There was no GSDMD and GSDMD-NT expression in the KO mice. After LPS stimulation, the expression levels of caspase-1 and caspase-11 were up-regulated in both wild-type and knockout mice (P<0.01). Conclusions: The expression and activation of GSDMD protein in the lung tissue of mice could be induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS and knockout of GSDMD can inhibit the inflammation level of the lung tissue and reduce its damage degree in mice.
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@#Objective To compare long-term outcomes following mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) for native valve endocarditis (NVE). Methods Between November 1993 and August 2016, consecutive 101 patients with NVE underwent mitral surgery in our department, MVP for 52 patients and MVR for 49 patients. There were 69 males and 32 females at age of 38.1±14.9 years. The mean follow-up was 99.4±75.8 months. Results There was no statistical difference in cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, in-hospital mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay or hospital stay after surgery between the two groups. Survival rate at 1, 5, 10, 20 years after surgery was 100.0%, 97.6%, 97.6%, 97.6% for MVP, and 93.5%, 84.3%, 84.3%, 66.2% for MVR with a statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.018). There was no stroke in the patients with MVP during follow-up periods. However, stroke-free survival rate at 1, 5, 10, 20 years after surgery was 100.0%, 93.9%, 89.4%, 70.2% for MVR patients with a statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.023). There was no statistical difference in recurrence of infection, perivalvular leakage and reoperation between the two groups. Composite endpoint-free survival rate at 1, 5, 10, 20 years after surgery was 100.0%, 97.6%, 92.9%, 92.9% for MVP, and 91.3%, 79.6%, 75.8%, 51.0% for MVR with a statistical difference (P=0.006). Conclusion MVP is associated with better outcomes than MVR in the patients with NVE; generalizing MVP technique in the patients with NVE is needed.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the diagnostic value of arterial spin labeling (ASL) technology in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Seven full-term newborn infants without any history of asphyxia and other nervous system diseases were selected as the control and 33 full-term newborn infants were assigned into HIE group. The patients in HIE group were further divided into three subgroups (19 cases of mild, 6 cases of moderate and 8 cases of severe HIE) based on their clinical diagnosis. The control group and HIE group were examined with GE Signa EXCITE HD 3.0T superconducting MRI scanner with a head phase array coil. Both groups were scanned with conventional axial MRI (T1FLAIR, T2WI and T2FLAIR), 1HMRS (PRESS sequence) and ASL (FAIR). Original images of 1HMRS and ASL were processed by Functool software of ADW 4.3 workstation. ASL perfusion images were observed and the signal intensity values of the region of interest (bilateral gray, white matter and basal ganglia) of the two groups were quantitatively measured, and mean value were calculated and compared between groups. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0 software, and statistically significant difference was set at P < 0.05.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The perfusion images of two groups were obtained perfectly. The signal intensity values of bilateral gray, white matter and basal ganglia of control group were 125.34 ± 11.76, 73.42 ± 11.67 and 173.65 ± 15.49, respectively and there was a statistically significant difference between the different areas. The signal intensity values of bilateral gray, white matter and basal ganglia of HIE group were 153.47 ± 11.72, 71.35 ± 10.37 and 217.13 ± 12.51, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in the average signal intensity value of gray matter and basal ganglia, but there were no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in white matter between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ASL Perfusion technique can assess HIE comprehensively and accurately. Furthermore, it can evaluate the brain damage of hypoxic ischemia. The results provide a strong basis for clinical treatment.</p>