Association of S100A8/A9 with Lipid-Rich Necrotic Core and Treatment with Biologic Therapy in Patients with Psoriasis: Results from an Observational Cohort Study.

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease with an increased risk of atherosclerotic events and premature cardiovascular disease. S100A7, A8/A9, and A12 are protein complexes that are produced by activated neutrophils, monocytes, and keratinocytes in psoriasis. Lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) is a high-risk coronary plaque feature previously found to be associated with cardiovascular risk factors and psoriasis severity. LRNC can decrease with biologic therapy, but how this occurs remains unknown. We investigated the relationship between S100 proteins, LRNC, and biologic therapy in psoriasis. S100A8/A9 associated with LRNC in fully adjusted models (ß = 0.27, P = 0.009; n = 125 patients with psoriasis with available coronary computed tomography angiography scans; LRNC analyses; and serum S100A7, S100A8, S100A9, S100A12, and S100A8/A9 levels). At 1 year, in patients receiving biologic therapy (36 of 73 patients had 1-year coronary computed tomography angiography scans available), a 79% reduction in S100A8/A9 levels (‒172 [‒291.7 to 26.4] vs. ‒29.9 [‒137.9 to 50.5]; P = 0.04) and a 0.6 mm2 reduction in average LRNC area (0.04 [‒0.48 to 0.77] vs. ‒0.56 [‒1.8 to 0.13]; P = 0.02) were noted. These results highlight the potential role of S100A8/A9 in the development of high-risk coronary plaque in psoriasis.

Updated Approaches against SARS-CoV-2.

Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lies behind the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is a growing understanding of SARS-CoV-2 in virology, epidemiology, and clinical management strategies. However, no anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug or vaccine has been officially approved due to the absence of adequate evidence. Scientists are racing to develop a treatment for COVID-19. Recent studies have revealed many attractive therapeutic options, even if some of them remain to be further confirmed in rigorous preclinical models and clinical trials. In this minireview, we aim to summarize the updated potential approaches against SARS-CoV-2. We emphasize that further efforts are warranted to develop the safest and most effective approach.

[Effects of acupuncture pre-conditioning on apoptosis in hippocampal neurons following ischemia-reperfusion injury in aged rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture pre-conditioning on apoptosis in hippocampal neurons following ischemia-reperfusion injury in aged rats. METHODS: A total of 120 senile male Wistar rats aged 19 - 21 months (corresponding to 60-year-old human being) weighting 550 - 710 g were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 30 each). Cerebral ischemic group: 4-vessel-block was conducted for 4 minutes to establish cerebral ischemic models; Acupuncture pre-conditioning group: electroacupuncture was applied at acupoint Baihui (GV20) with a frequency of 15 Hz and 2 mA for 30 minutes once daily for 5 days. Then the rats received 4-vessel-block for 4 minutes; Sham-operation group: 4 vessels were exposed; Sham-acupuncture group: only electroacupuncture for 5 days without operation. The rats were sacrificed at the end of predetermined duration of reperfusion 12 h, 1, 2, 3 and 7 d respectively. The brains were immediately harvested and hippocampal CA1 region was isolated for (1) light and electron microscopic examinations of hippocampal neurons; (2) detection of apoptotic neurons (TUNEL); (3) determination of caspase-3 protein expression with SABC (streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex) immuno-histochemical technique. RESULTS: There were apoptotic neurons in all groups. The numbers of apoptotic neurons and positive neurons of caspase-3 significantly increased in the acupuncture pre-conditioning and cerebral ischemic groups versus the sham-acupuncture and sham-operation groups (P < 0.01). And the numbers of apoptotic neurons and positive neurons of caspase-3 significantly decreased in the acupuncture pre-conditioning group versus the cerebral ischemic group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture pre-conditioning can decrease the neuronal apoptosis after ischemia-reperfusion injury through a lowered expression of caspase-3 protein in senile rats.