Interleukin-7 aggravates myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury by regulating macrophage infiltration and polarization.

Interleukin (IL)-7 is known to enhance the macrophages cytotoxic activity and that macrophages play a pivotal role in the development and progression of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the effects of IL-7 on macrophages infiltration and polarization in myocardial I/R injury are currently unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the IL-7 expression on myocardial I/R injury and their relationship with macrophages. The data showed that IL-7 expression in mouse heart tissue increases following I/R injury and that IL-7 knockout or anti-IL-7 antibody treatment significantly improve I/R injury, including reduction in myocardial infarction area, a serum troponin T level decreases and an improvement in cardiac function. On the other hand, recombinant IL-7 (rIL-7) supplementation induces opposite effects and the anti-IL-7 antibody significantly reduces the cardiomyocyte apoptosis and macrophage infiltration. rIL-7 cannot directly cause apoptosis, but it can induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis through macrophages, in addition to increase the macrophages migration in vitro. Anti-IL-7 antibody affects the cytokine production in T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells and also promotes the macrophages differentiation to M2 macrophages. However, anti-IL-7 antibody does not reduce the M1 macrophage number, and it only increases the ratio of M2/M1 macrophages in mice heart tissues after I/R injury. Taking together, these data reveal that IL-7 plays an intensifying role in myocardial I/R injury by promoting cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the regulation of macrophage infiltration and polarization.

Acylation of lysine residues in human plasma high density lipoprotein increases stability and plasma clearance in vivo.

Although human plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) concentrations negatively correlate with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, underlying mechanisms are unknown. Thus, there is continued interest in HDL structure and functionality. Numerous plasma factors disrupt HDL structure while inducing the release of lipid free apolipoprotein (apo) AI. Given that HDL is an unstable particle residing in a kinetic trap, we tested whether HDL could be stabilized by acylation with acetyl and hexanoyl anhydrides, giving AcHDL and HexHDL respectively. Lysine analysis with fluorescamine showed that AcHDL and HexHDL respectively contained 11 acetyl and 19 hexanoyl groups. Tests with biological and physicochemical perturbants showed that HexHDL was more stable than HDL to perturbant-induced lipid free apo AI formation. Like the reaction of streptococcal serum opacity factor against HDL, the interaction of HDL with its receptor, scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SR-B1), removes CE from HDL. Thus, we tested and validated the hypothesis that selective uptake of HexHDL-[3H]CE by Chinese Hamster Ovary cells expressing SR-B1 is less than that of HDL-[3H]CE; thus, selective SR-B1 uptake of HDL-CE depends on HDL instability. However, in mice, plasma clearance, hepatic uptake and sterol secretion into bile were faster from HexHDL-[3H]CE than from HDL-[3H]CE. Collectively, our data show that acylation increases HDL stability and that the reaction of plasma factors with HDL and SR-B1-mediated uptake are reduced by increased HDL stability. In vivo data suggest that HexHDL promotes charge-dependent reverse cholesterol transport, by a mechanism that increases hepatic sterol uptake via non SR-B1 receptors, thereby increasing bile acid output.

Apolipoprotein AI deficiency inhibits serum opacity factor activity against plasma high density lipoprotein via a stabilization mechanism.

The reaction of Streptococcal serum opacity factor (SOF) against plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDL) produces a large cholesteryl ester-rich microemulsion (CERM), a smaller neo HDL that is apolipoprotein (apo) AI-poor, and lipid-free apo AI. SOF is active versus both human and mouse plasma HDL. In vivo injection of SOF into mice reduces plasma cholesterol ∼40% in 3 h while forming the same products observed in vitro, but at different ratios. Previous studies supported the hypothesis that labile apo AI is required for the SOF reaction vs HDL. Here we further tested that hypothesis by studies of SOF against HDL from apo AI-null mice. When injected into apo AI-null mice, SOF reduced plasma cholesterol ∼35% in 3 h. The reaction of SOF vs apo AI-null HDL in vitro produced a CERM and neo HDL, but no lipid-free apo. Moreover, according to the rate of CERM formation, the extent and rate of the SOF reaction versus apo AI-null mouse HDL were less than that against wild-type (WT) mouse HDL. Chaotropic perturbation studies using guanidine hydrochloride showed that apo AI-null HDL was more stable than WT HDL. Human apo AI added to apo AI-null HDL was quantitatively incorporated, giving reconstituted HDL. Both SOF and guanidine hydrochloride displaced apo AI from the reconstituted HDL. These results support the conclusion that apo AI-null HDL is more stable than WT HDL because it lacks apo AI, a labile protein that is readily displaced by physicochemical and biochemical perturbations. Thus, apo AI-null HDL is less SOF-reactive than WT HDL. The properties of apo AI-null HDL can be partially restored to those of WT HDL by the spontaneous incorporation of human apo AI. It remains to be determined what other HDL functions are affected by apo AI deletion.

How enterprises' public welfare low-carbon behavior affects consumers' green purchase behavior.

The Chinese economy has undergone high-speed, high-quality growth, and the concept of low-carbon technology has gained popular support. Businesses and consumers must jointly endeavor to achieve low-carbon economic development. Moreover, it is important to investigate whether enterprises' low-carbon behavior is correlated with consumers' green consumption behavior. We built a theoretical model to depict the relationship between corporate public welfare low-carbon behavior, consumers' green purchase intention, and green purchase behavior. We then divided corporate public welfare low-carbon behavior into three dimensions. We proposed hypotheses, collected data through a questionnaire survey, and analyzed the data using statistical analysis software of SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0. Public welfare low-carbon behavior was significantly correlated with consumers' green purchase intention, and public welfare low-carbon participation and public welfare low-carbon motivation were significantly correlated with green purchase intention. Finally, we proposed suggestions from three perspectives: the public welfare low-carbon mechanism, public welfare low-carbon participation, and public welfare low-carbon motivation. The results provide theoretical support for research methods related to the low-carbon growth of enterprises and green consumption, as well as guidance and decision-making support for enterprises in carrying out cause marketing.

Advancing higher education and its implication towards sustainable development: Moderate role of green innovation in BRI economies.

Environmental deterioration is one of the major problems the globe is facing in the modern period. On the other hand, several groups around the world have endeavored to launch efforts to protect the planet, such as the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, the proposed objectives' primary duty is to strike a balance between development and environmental concerns. This study looked at 65 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) economies to see how factors, including the economic complexity index, urbanization, ICT, higher education, and green innovation, affected carbon emissions in the presence of sustainable development. Annual time series data from 2000 to 2020 have been used in the analysis. This study employs the CC-EMG to determine the durability of the association between the variables. AMG and quantile GMM regression estimations were used to test the robustness and reproducibility of the results. The results reveal that higher education and green innovation help lower carbon emissions, whereas the economic complexity index and urbanization are beneficial for increasing economic activity and advancing information and communication technologies. The economic complexity index, ICT, and higher education are all negatively impacted by green innovation. Important policy implications of the computed coefficients for the selected and other developing markets in planning a suitable path forward to a sustainable environment are also provided.

Design and rationale of the ATTRACTIVE trial: a randomised trial of intrAThrombus Thrombolysis versus aspiRAtion thrombeCTomy during prImary percutaneous coronary interVEntion in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with high thrombus burden.

INTRODUCTION: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with high thrombus burden is associated with a poor prognosis. Manual aspiration thrombectomy reduces coronary vessel distal embolisation, improves microvascular perfusion and reduces cardiovascular deaths, but it promotes more strokes and transient ischaemic attacks in the subgroup with high thrombus burden. Intrathrombus thrombolysis (ie, the local delivery of thrombolytics into the coronary thrombus) is a recently proposed treatment approach that theoretically reduces thrombus volume and the risk of microvascular dysfunction. However, the safety and efficacy of intrathrombus thrombolysis lack sufficient clinical evidence. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The intrAThrombus Thrombolysis versus aspiRAtion thrombeCTomy during prImary percutaneous coronary interVEntion trial is a multicentre, prospective, open-label, randomised controlled trial with the blinded assessment of outcomes. A total of 2500 STEMI patients with high thrombus burden who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention will be randomised 1:1 to intrathrombus thrombolysis with a pierced balloon or upfront routine manual aspiration thrombectomy. The primary outcome will be the composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, heart failure readmission, stent thrombosis and target-vessel revascularisation up to 180 days. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial was approved by Ethics Committees of China-Japan Friendship Hospital (2022-KY-013) and all other participating study centres. The results of this trial will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05554588.

Stimulating Brand Innovation Strategy via Knowledge Acquisition, Market Orientation, and Strategic Capability Using Social Media Within China's Online Technology Industry.

In the context of China's online technology business, this study explores the linkages between knowledge acquisition via social media, two modes of market orientation (proactive and responsive), social media strategic capability, and brand innovation strategy. Data were collected from 853 Chinese technology firms with the help of questionnaire. To analyze the collected data structure, equation modeling was applied using smart-PLS 3.3 version. Results indicate that knowledge acquisition from social media, market orientation (proactive and responsive), and strategic capability has significant impact on brand innovation in the context of social media. Furthermore, strategic capability on social media moderates the relationship between knowledge, market orientation (proactive and responsive), and brand innovation in the context of social media. This study offers new perspectives on market orientation and brand innovation strategy by extending the literature and testing key assumptions. Moreover, using social media knowledge in social media marketing and innovation management is a sensible approach for making changes and transforming an organization.

Mechanisms of Cardiovascular System Injury Induced by COVID-19 in Elderly Patients With Cardiovascular History.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), represents a great threat to healthcare and socioeconomics worldwide. In addition to respiratory manifestations, COVID-19 promotes cardiac injuries, particularly in elderly patients with cardiovascular history, leading to a higher risk of progression to critical conditions. The SARS-CoV-2 infection is initiated as virus binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is highly expressed in the heart, resulting in direct infection and dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Meanwhile, immune response and hyper-inflammation, as well as endothelial dysfunction and thrombosis implicate in COVID-19 infection. Herein, we provide an overview of the proposed mechanisms of cardiovascular injuries in COVID-19, particularly in elderly patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, aiming to set appropriate management and improve their clinical outcomes.

Data-driven analysis and evaluation of regional agriculture for high-quality development of Anhui Province in the Yangtze River Delta.

This study aims to promote the high-quality development of regional agriculture. This study proposes a data-driven method for regional agricultural analysis and evaluation. Based on the data collection and processing related to regional agricultural development, the location entropy index was used to analyze the industrial agglomeration level, and the shift-share model was constructed to evaluate the industrial structure and competitiveness. Based on the above analysis and evaluation, high-quality development policy suggestions for regional agriculture were provided. Taking the agricultural development of the Yangtze River Delta from 2010 to 2019 as an example, this study shows the implementation process of the method. From the perspective of high-quality agricultural development in the Anhui Province, this paper proposes policy suggestions on industrial structure adjustment and promoting competitiveness. This study provides theoretical and methodological support for the development of high-quality regional agriculture.