The relationship of hs-CRP, vitronectin and NT-proBNP serum levels with the extent and severity of cardiac complications in patients with organophosphate pesticide poisoning.

Acute organophosphate poisoning kills tens of thousands of people annually around the world. These substances are widely used as insecticides in homes, industry, and agricultural environments. Due to the ease of access, they can cause accidental or intentional risks of exposure through the skin or respiratory contact. This study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of hs-CRP, Vitronectin, and NT-proBNP and their relationship with the extent and severity of cardiac complications in patients with organophosphate pesticide poisoning. In this descriptive-comparative study, 160 patients were studied with acute organophosphate poisoning. Also, for better comparison, 40 healthy individuals participated in this study. Diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning was based on clinical findings of serum butyrylcholinesterase levels. The hs-CRP measurement was performed by an autoanalyzer (Abbott, model Alcyon 300, USA) with the ELISA hs-CRP kit (The apDia Company, Belgium). Vitronectin (VN) measurements were performed by ELISA method and Glory science human VN kit with Catalog No: 11668. NT-ProBNP serum levels were analyzed by ProBNP assay kit (Roche, Germany) by ECLIA method using Elecsys 2010 Analyzer. The most important variables studied in this study were the electrical activity and conduction system of the heart, PR distance, QTC interval, and T-wave changes. In this study, most of the patients were women and girls (60.78%). The highest percentage of organophosphate poisoning was in the age group of 15-24 years (37.25%). In most cases (78.43%), poisoning was intentional or suicidal. Evaluation of electrophysiological abnormalities of the heart showed that 89 patients (55.62%) had long QTC interval (>450 msec), 43 cases (26.87%) had possible long QTC (431-450 msec), and 28 cases (17.5%) had normal QTC (<430 msec). Only 9.37% of cases (n = 15) showed an increase in P-R distance, which is characteristic of the first-degree ventricular atrial block. Sinus bradycardia occurred in 57 cases (35.62%) and sinus tachycardia in 43 cases (26.87%); in 60 cases (37.5%), the pulse rate was normal. Smooth T-wave changes were observed in 9.8% of patients and reverse T-wave was observed in 17.6%. A long T-wave was not reported in any case. In only two cases (1.25%) was grade 1 ventricular atrial block and grade 2 and 3 blocks were not observed. In general, there was a significant difference in the hs-CRP, vitronectin, and NT-proBNP serum levels between the patient and control groups in all studied variables. These parameters were also related to the extent and severity of the disease.

miR-495 mediates metabolic shift in glioma cells via targeting Glut1.

Cancer cell metabolism is often characterized by a shift from an oxidative to a glycolytic bioenergetics pathway, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Whether the deregulation of microRNAs contributes to the Warburg effect remains largely unknown. Here, we show that miR-495 expression is decreased and thus induces a metabolic shift in glioma cells. miR-495 performs this function by increasing the expression of Glut1, leading to the increase of glucose uptake and lactate production. The altered metabolism induced by miR-495 results in the rapid growth of cancer cells. These results identify miR-495 as a molecular switch involved in the orchestration of the Warburg effect in glioma cells via targeting the expression of Glut1.

Comparative effect of electroacupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the impacts of electroacu puncture (EA) and moxibustion (Mox) on the prima ry gastrointestinal symptoms and the expressions of colonic mucosa-associated neuropeptide substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in patients with either diarrhea-predominant or constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D and IBS-C, respectively). METHODS: Eighty-five IBS patients were randomly allocated to the EA and Mox groups. Zusanli (ST 36) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) were selected as acupoints for electroacupuncture or warm moxibustion treatment once a day for 14 consecutive days. Before and after the treatment sessions, a Visual Analog Pain Scale and the Bristol Stool Form Scale were used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms. There were four dropout cases, leaving 81 participants (41 with IBS-D and 40 with IBS-C) who volunteered to undergo colonoscopy before and after the treatment sessions. During colonoscopy, sigmoid mucosa were collected to detect SP and VIP expression using immunohistochemistry assay. RESULTS: Both EA and Mox treatments were effective at relieving abdominal pain in IBS-D and IBS-C patients. However, Mox was more effective at reducing diarrhea in IBS-D patients, whereas EA was more effective at improving constipation in IBS-C patients. EA and Mox treatments both down-regulated the abnormally increased SP and VIP expression in the colonic mucosa, with no significant difference shown between the two treatments. CONCLUSION: Both EA and Mox treatments are effective at ameliorating gastrointestinal symptoms by reducing SP and VIP expression in the colonic mucosa of IBS patients.

Genetic, Clinical, and Pathologic Backgrounds of Children With X-Linked Alport Syndrome in China: A Monocenter Study.

Background. Characteristics of X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS) in a cohort of Chinese children. Methods. This work is a retrospective study covering the clinical information, pathological data, and gene sequencing results of 32 cases with XLAS from 2011 to 2022. Results. Among these 32 patients, the youngest age of onset was 3 months. Renal biopsy was performed on 29 children. The lamellated glomerular basement membrane was observed in 19 children using electron microscopy (65.5%). Of the 26 samples tested, 73.1% were found to be negative for collagen-a5 under immunohistochemical staining, showing clinical significance. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) detected 27 pathogenic gene mutations. A total of 15.4% of patients carried de novo mutations. Conclusions. The boys with XLAS showed more typical pathological performance than the girls. Patients with severe mutation were more likely to have proteinuria and hearing impairment. Renal pathology combined with NSG is an important means of diagnosis of AS.

Efficacy of suspended moxibustion stimulating Shenshu (BL23) and Guanyuan (CV4) on the amygdala-HPA axis in rats with kidney-deficiency symptom pattern induced by hydrocortisone.

OBJECTIVE: To investigated the effects of suspended moxibustion stimulating Shenshu (BL23) and Guanyuan (CV4) acupoints on the amygdala and HPA axis in our rat model and elucidated the possible molecular mechanisms of moxibustion on kidney- deficiency symptom pattern (KYDS). METHODS: Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group ( 12) and an experimental group ( 48). Rats in the experimental group were given intramuscular injections of hydrocortisone to establish a KYDS model. The 48 rats successfully modeled were then randomly divided into a model group (model, 12), a carbenoxolone intraperitoneal injection group (CBX, 12), a moxibustion group (moxi, 12), and a moxi + CBX group ( 12). In the moxi, the Shenshu (BL23) and Guanyuan (CV 4) acupoints were treated with moxibustion for 14 d. After treatment, measures were taken of serum levels of corticosterone (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). The expression of mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), glucocorticoid receptors (GRs), 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11ß-HSD1), CRH, and ACTH in the rats' amygdala, hypothalamus, or pituitary (as appropriate) was detected. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Compared with those of the control group, the serum levels of CRH, ACTH, and CORT; the mRNA and protein expressions of MR, GR, and 11ß-HSD1 in the amygdala; the mRNA and protein expressions of 11ß-HSD1 in the hypothalamus; the CRH mRNA expression in the amygdala and hypothalamus; and the ACTH mRNA expression in the pituitary of the rats in the model group were all significantly decreased (0.05 or 0.01). After treatment with moxibustion, all the aforementioned observation indices except for 11ß-HSD1 mRNA expression were ameliorated compared with those in the model group (0.05 or 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Suspended moxibustion can effectively improve the serum levels of ACTH, CRH, and CORT and can up-regulate the mRNA and protein expressions of MR, GR, 11ß-HSD1, CRH, and ACTH in the amygdala and hypothalamus of KYDS rats. This may be one of the molecular mechanisms with which moxibustion alleviates KYDS.

Mechanism governing reversal of multidrug resistance in human breast carcinoma cells by chelerythrine.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism governing the reversal of multidrug resistance in human breast carcinoma cells by chelerythrine. METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to determine the expressions of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) and multidrug resistance-related genes ABCG2, ABCC1, MDR1, and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in MCF-7Taxol cells after treatment with chelerythrine and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). Also, the antitumor effect of PMA or chelerythrine and effects of PKCα activator or inhibitor in combination with paclitaxel or adriamycin on multidrug resistance in MCF-7Taxol cells were evaluated by MTT. RESULTS: RT-PCR or Western blot showed that the expressions of MDR1 and P-gp were significantly higher in MCF-7Taxol cells exposed to PMA stimuli (both P0.05). CONCLUSION: PKCα inhibitor chelerythrine can reverse multidrug resistance in breast carcinoma cells by inhibiting the expressions of MDR1 and P-gp expression in vitro.

The effect of amiodarone on cardiac rhythm after cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The intraoperative use of amiodarone in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing valvular heart surgery was unclear. Hence, a randomized clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effect of amiodarone on cardiac recovery and rhythm following mitral valve surgery. METHODS: A total of 120 elective mitral valve replacement patients with AF received either amiodarone (5 mg/kg) or the same volume of saline during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), in a randomized manner. Cardiac recovery was assessed by the heart auto re-beat ratio, the time from reperfusion to heart beat, the post-reperfusion rhythm, pacemaker use, and vasoactive drug use. RESULTS: A higher heart auto re-beat ratio, higher sinus rhythm ratio, lower electric defibrillation ratio and less dopamine usage were found in the amiodarone treatment group. However, the proportion of temporary pacemaker use was lower in the control group. CONCLUSION: Amiodarone had a good effect on cardiac recovery and the rhythm of AF patients after CPB.

Modular synthesis of oxazolines and their derivatives.

A class of modular oxazolines and their derivatives 1-5 were synthesized with moderate to excellent yields using a simple one-pot method; 4 x 3 bis-oxazolines were obtained, as expected, from each of the three reactions of 1,4-dicyanobenzene, 1,3-dicyanobenzene, and 1,2-dicyanobenzene with optically active amino alcohols in chlorobenzene under dry, anaerobic conditions. ZnCl(2) was used as a Lewis acid catalyst. Direct condensation of 1, 2-bis(cyanomethyl) benzene or 2-cyanophenylacetonitrile did not yield the target products, but two series of novel compounds (4 and 5) were isolated and their structures were confirmed by X-Ray analysis. All products (1-5) were characterized by NMR, IR, and MS.

N-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-1,8-naphthalimide.

In the title compound, C(18)H(10)ClNO(2), the naphthalimide ring system is almost planar, the rings forming dihedral angles of 2.05 (3), 2.26 (3) and 0.80 (3)°. The attached benzene ring of the 4-chloro-phenyl substituent is inclined to the mean plane of the naphthalimide ring system by 75.77 (11)°. In the crystal structure, symmetry-related mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O inter-actions. There are also weak π-π contacts between the naphthalimide rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.732 (3) Å].

Analysis of effect of oil and S2- impurities on corrosion behavior of 16Mn steel for storage tanks by electrochemical method.

Corrosion is a common problem of storage tanks, and different storage media and impurities have different effects on the corrosion behavior of steel used for tanks. In this paper, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization curves were used to study the corrosion behavior of 16Mn steel in 3.5% sodium chloride solution after immersion in heavy oil, diesel oil and gasoline, considering the influence of the main impurities, S2-, on the corrosion process. The results showed that the self-corrosion current density of 16Mn steel in the solution after the immersion in gasoline was higher than that in heavy oil and diesel oil, due to the higher dissolved oxygen concentration promoting the cathodic reaction. The comparison of blank sample in 3.5% sodium chloride solution and the immersed samples showed that the corrosion rate of the 16Mn steel decreased in the presence of an oil film on the surface of the steel. With the increase of S2- concentration in the oil, the corrosion rate of 16Mn steel tended to be stable after it gradually increased. This was mainly related to the composition of FeS and FeS1-x in the sulfide film formed on the surface of the steel as well as the change of the lattice structure.

[Analysis of soil components along water channel of east route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the soil components along the areas of the east route of the Southto-North Water Diversion Project and the survival situation of Oncomelania hupensis snails. METHODS: Four study sites were selected along the project, and soil samples were collected to analyze the components. The amounts of components among the different study sites were compared statistically. RESULTS: Except zinc, sodium, and phosphorus, the contents of the soil components where the snails survived were different from those where snails were dead (t = -19.150 to 12.810, all P < 0.01). However, the logistic regression analysis did not obtain a model with statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: O. hupensis snails live in the soil with adequate organic matter and neutral pH value. Along with the global warming and the operation of the South-toNorth Water Diversion Project, O. hupensis snails may survive in the northern area, and therefore, the surveillance work should be strengthened.

Pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies with vitamin D-loaded nanoemulsions in asthma model.

Vitamin D (VD) was studied for its anti-inflammatory activities with prepared VD-loaded nanoemulsions (VDNM) in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice in this paper. In this study, we prepared VDNM for the delivery of VD from the established composition of solid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (sSEDDS) by spray-drying technique and evaluated its bioavailability (BA) and anti-inflammatory activities in experimental allergic asthma. After the mice were treated orally with VD or VDNM, the plasma 25(OH) D levels, polymorphonuclear cells, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), total antioxidant activity, and C3 and C4 complement protein levels were studied, respectively. Treatment with VDNM reduced MPO activity, oxidative stress, C3 protein level, O2(-) level as well as the production of IL-1ß and TNF-α. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that a significant increase in the maximum concentration (Cmax) and AUC0→24 h were observed in VDNM group when compared with VD group (P < 0.01). The result revealed that VDNM led to an improvement in oral BA of VD in a murine ovalbumin-induced asthma model. These data provided an important proof that VDNM might be a new potential therapy for the management of asthma in humans.

Effects of Selenium-Enriched Protein from Ganoderma lucidum on the Levels of IL-1 ß and TNF- α , Oxidative Stress, and NF- κ B Activation in Ovalbumin-Induced Asthmatic Mice.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect and toxicity of organic selenium (Pro-Se) with inorganic selenium (IOSe) in preventing asthma in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice. After the mice were treated orally with Pro-Se and IOSe, respectively, the plasma Se levels, Se accumulation in liver and kidney, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- α ), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 ß ), oxidative stress, and NF- κ B activation in lung were examined. The results showed that the serumal Se levels in the mice fed the Pro-Se were significant (P < 0.01) elevations. It results in restoration of the level of endogenous antioxidant enzyme, lower levels of TNF- α and IL-1 ß , and activated NF- κ B in the asthmatic mice. Our experiments have demonstrated profound differences between the activities of organic selenium and inorganic selenium in experimental conditions. These data provide an important proof of the concept that organic selenium might be a new potential therapy for the management of childhood asthma in humans.

Relationship between serum aminotransferase levels and metabolic disorders in northern China.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Increasing evidence suggests an association between elevated serum aminotransferase levels and metabolic disorders (metabolic syndrome, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus). However, the significance of relatively low levels of aminotransferases in relation to metabolic disorders has not been fully investigated in the general population. We investigated the association between serum aminotransferase levels and metabolic disorders using data from a survey in Jilin Province, China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2007, a prospective survey was conducted throughout Jilin, China, covering both urban and rural areas. A total of 3835 people, 18-79 years old, were undergoing real-time ultrasonography, blood tests, and interviews with a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Serum aminotransferase levels within the normal range were associated with metabolic syndrome independent of age, occupation, cultural and educational level, income, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, and alcohol intake. Compared with the lowest level (< 20 IU/L), the adjusted odds ratios for alanine aminotransferase levels of 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and >50 IU/L were 1.92, 2.50, 2.97, and 3.52 in men, and 1.38, 1.54, 3.06, and 2.62 in women, respectively. Near-normal serum aminotransferase levels associated with hyperlipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes mellitus were also found in the study. CONCLUSIONS: Normal to near-normal serum aminotransferase levels are associated with metabolic disorders. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels of 21-25 IU/L for men and 17-22 IU/L for women are suggested as cut-off levels that detect metabolic disorders affecting the liver.

Identification of a TRAP transporter for malonate transport and its expression regulated by GtrA from Sinorhizobium meliloti.

Sinorhizobium meliloti can live as a saprophyte in soil or as a nitrogen-fixing symbiont inside the root nodule cells of alfalfa and related legumes by utilizing different organic compounds as its carbon source. Here we have identified the matPQMAB operon in S. meliloti 1021. Within this operon, matP, matQ and the M region of the fused gene matMA encode an extracytoplasmic solute receptor, a small transmembrane protein and a large transmembrane protein, consisting of three components of the tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic (TRAP) transporter for malonate transport. The A region of the fused gene matMA and matB encode malonate-metabolizing enzymes, malonyl-CoA decarboxylase and malonyl-CoA synthetase. The null mutant of each matPQMAB gene is unable to grow on M9 minimal medium containing malonate as the sole carbon source. However, these mutants can induce the formation of efficient nitrogen-fixing root nodules on alfalfa. The matPQMAB operon is expressed in free-living bacterial cells and symbiotic bacterial cells from infection threads and root nodules. The GntR family transcriptional regulator, GtrA, specifically binds the promoter of the matPQMAB operon, positively regulating its expression. Moreover, the matPQMAB can be transcriptionally induced by malonate. These results suggested that a C(3)-dicarboxylic acid TRAP transporter is responsible for malonate transport in S. meliloti.