The effects of laparoscopic and laparotomy extensive hysterectomy on the safety of ureterovaginal fistula infection in patients with cervical cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of laparoscopic and laparotomy extensive hysterectomy on the safety of ureterovaginal fistula infection in patients with cervical cancer. For this purpose, a total of 90 patients with early cervical cancer admitted to Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from February 2021 to May 2022 were randomly divided into laparoscopy group and laparotomy group, with 45 cases in each group. The laparoscopy group was treated with laparoscopic extensive hysterectomy, while the laparotomy group was treated with laparotomy extensive hysterectomy. The KPS score, adverse reactions, as well as serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were compared between the two groups. Results showed that after surgery, the KPS score in both groups was higher than before treatment, and the KPS score in laparoscopy group was higher than that in laparotomy group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After operation, the incidence of adverse reactions in laparotomy group was higher than that in the laparoscopy group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Moreover, after operation, the levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen in laparoscopy group were significantly lower than those in laparotomy group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, both laparoscopic and laparotomy extensive hysterectomy may lead to ureterovaginal fistula infection in patients with cervical cancer. However, compared with laparotomy extensive hysterectomy, laparoscopic extensive hysterectomy had higher safety and significantly improved the quality of life of patients, which was worthy of popularization and application in clinical practice.

Influence of lymphadenectomy on survival and recurrence in patients with early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of lymphadenectomy on survival and recurrence in patients with early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (eEOC). METHODS: Relevant studies were searched from four online databases. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) or risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs were used to evaluate the effects of lymphadenectomy on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and recurrence rates. A subgroup analysis was performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity, followed by sensitivity and publication bias assessments. RESULTS: Fourteen articles involving 22,178 subjects were included. Meta-analysis revealed that lymphadenectomy was significantly associated with improved OS (HR = 0.72; 95% CI:0.61, 0.84; P < 0.001), improved PFS (HR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.80; P < 0.001), and reduced recurrence rates (RR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.85; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that factors including area, histology, and source of the control group were significantly related to improved OS and PFS in patients with eEOC. Sensitivity analysis showed that the combined results were stable and reliable, and no significant publication bias was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with eEOC can benefit from lymphadenectomy, with improved survival outcomes (OS and PFS) and a lower recurrence rate.

Endometriosis decreases female sexual function and increases pain severity: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the effects of endometriosis on female sexual function. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to analyze the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) or visual analog scale (VAS) scores between women with and without endometriosis. Data from publications were generated, and the sexual function of women with and without endometriosis was systematically evaluated. RESULTS: A total of six publications were included in the study. The FSFI total score and its six domains were significantly lower in women with endometriosis: FSFI total score (P < 0.001), desire (P = 0.045), arousal (P = 0.039), pain domains (P < 0.001), lubrication (P < 0.001), orgasm (P = 0.001), and satisfaction (P < 0.001). Women with endometriosis exhibited more severity in terms of VAS scores for dyspareunia (P = 0.008) and chronic pelvic pain (P < 0.001); however, no significant severity for dysmenorrhea was observed (P = 0.118). Subgroup analysis showed that the region was not a source of heterogeneity. Publication bias was not noted in all included studies, and most results of the sensitivity analysis for the included indexes were stable, which implied that our results were relatively reliable. CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis provided evidence that endometriosis decreased female sexual function and increased the pain severity of dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain.

Does Circular RNA Exert Significant Effects in Ovarian Cancer?

Circular RNA, also called circRNA, is a type of widespread RNA that is mainly derived from the spliceosome, from which DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA). CircRNAs are characterized by the formation of a covalently closed continuous loop, and they play a variety of gene regulatory roles. CircRNAs were initially thought to represent splicing errors, but an increasing amount of evidence indicates that they may play significant roles in a variety of human diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and pre-eclampsia. Studies have suggested that circRNAs regulate miRNA activity that arises from miRNA-mediated sponge effects. It has been shown that CDR1as acts as a sponge for miR-7 and that a testis-specific circRNA within the sex-determining region of Y (SRY) acts as a sponge for miR-138. Because miR-7 and miR-138 modulate several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, the interactions between ciRS-7 and miR-7 and between SRY and miR-138 may play important roles in cancer-related pathways. Hence, currently available data suggest that circRNAs may exert significant effects on diagnoses, prognoses, and therapies in ovarian cancer.

Comparison of efficacy of robotic surgery, laparoscopy, and laparotomy in the treatment of ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We intended to compare the clinical effect of robotic surgery with laparoscopy and laparotomy in ovarian cancer treatment. METHODS: The included studies were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) was used to evaluate the study quality. Effect measures were presented with weighted mean difference (WMD)/odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity test was assessed using Q test and I2 statistics to determine the use of the random effects model or fixed effects model. Egger's test was used to assess the publication bias. RESULTS: A total of eight studies was included in this meta-analysis with a MINORS score of 16-18. In the random effects model, estimated blood loss (EBL) of robotic surgery was significantly less compared with laparotomy (WMD = - 521.7027, 95% CI - 809.7816; - 233.6238). In the fixed effects model, length of hospital stay (LHS) (WMD = - 5.2225, 95% CI - 6.1485; - 4.2965) and postoperative complication (PC) (OR = 0.4710, 95% CI 0.2537; 0.8747) of robotic surgery were significantly less, and overall survival (OS) rate (OR = 6.4355, 95% CI 1.6722; 24.7678, P = 0.0070) of robotic surgery was significantly higher compared with laparotomy. There was no difference in the effect size of all variables between robotic surgery and laparoscopy. Meanwhile, a publication bias (t = 6.8290, P = 0.002405) was only identified for PC in robotic surgery and laparotomy groups; no publication bias was identified for the other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the above results, it failed to show oncological safety and recurrence by pathological stages or histologic types in this meta-analysis, and those confounding factors might affect the clinical outcome. Future meta-analyses with a larger number of eligible randomized controlled trial studies were needed to determine the most suitable treatment method for patients with different stages and types of ovarian cancer.

Identifying Molecular Markers of Cervical Cancer Based on Competing Endogenous RNA Network Analysis.

AIM: Recurrence being a major challenge for the treatment of cervical cancer, we aimed at identifying novel molecular markers of cervical cancer to improve recurrence prediction. METHODS: Cervical cancer samples were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas. Prognosis-associated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs between recurrent and nonrecurrent samples were acquired using expression analysis. Regulatory relationships among these prognosis-associated RNAs were predicted and used to construct a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. Key prognostic lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were identified using the ceRNA network, followed by the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to reveal the influence of these key prognostic RNAs on prognosis. RESULTS: In total, 15 lncRNAs, 10 miRNAs, and 348 mRNAs were identified as significant prognosis-associated molecules. The cervical cancer-related ceRNA network contained 13 prognosis-associated lncRNAs, 5 prognosis-associated miRNAs, and 120 prognosis-associated mRNAs. Key prognostic lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were further identified using the ceRNA network. The key prognostic lncRNAs included H19 and HOTAIR, those for miRNAs included hsa-miR-133b, hsa-miR-138, and hsa-miR-301b, and those for mRNAs included Wnt family member 2, fibroblast growth factor 7, fibronectin 1, synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A, and bone morphogenetic protein 7. CONCLUSION: The key prognostic lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs may serve as potential molecular markers for recurrence prediction and may contribute to the treatment of cervical cancer.

miR-761 inhibits tumor progression by targeting MSI1 in ovarian carcinoma.

Increasing evidences have revealed that microRNAs regulate various biological processes. However, the roles of miR-761 have not been investigated in ovarian cancer. Here, we found that miR-761 expression was significantly lower in ovarian cancer tissues than in their paired noncancerous tissues. Further study revealed that miR-761 overexpression inhibited the ovarian cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that the oncogenic properties of miR-761 in ovarian cancer were mediated in part by regulating MSI1 expression. miR-761 and MSI1 are inversely expressed in ovarian cancer tissues. In conclusion, we demonstrated that miR-761 repressed ovarian cancer proliferation and invasion by targeting MSI1.

The prognostic value of the miR-200 family in ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: To assess the association between miR-200 family expression and overall survival/progression-free survival in women with ovarian cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic literature search, up to September 2015, in PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library was performed to identify articles that assessed the association between miR-200 family expression and the survival of women with ovarian cancer. Summary hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval were calculated to estimate the effect. RESULTS: A total of seven articles, consisting of 553 women, were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, significantly improved overall survival/progression-free survival were observed with higher expression of the miR-200 family in women with ovarian cancer (overall survival, hazard ratio = 0.34, 95% confidence interval 0.20-0.58; progression-free survival, hazard ratio = 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.50-0.82). Subgroup analysis revealed that there was a significant association between enhanced expression of the miR-200c and improved overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.20, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.42) and progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 0.30, 95% confidence interval 0.11-0.81). Moreover, in the Asian population, a significant association was found between higher expression of the miR-200 family and improved overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.20, 95% confidence interval 0.09-0.45). CONCLUSION: High expression of miR-200c may predict improved survival in women with ovarian cancer and high expression of the miR-200 family significantly improves overall survival for Asian women.

[Retracted] MicroRNA­362 is downregulated in cervical cancer and inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion by directly targeting SIX1.

Following the publication of the above article, a concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that the Transwell cell migration and invasion assay data featured in Fig. 2C were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles written by different authors at different research institutes that had either already been published elsewhere prior to the submission of this paper to Oncology Reports, or were under consideration for publication at around the same time (some of which have been retracted). Furthermore, a number of overlapping data panels were identified comparing the migration and invasion assay data in Figs. 5C and 6C, such that data which were intended to show the results from differently performed experiments appeared to have been derived from the same original source(s). In view of the fact that certain of these data had already apparently been published previously, and given the lack of rigour on the part of the authors in assembling the data in Figs. 5 and 6, the Editor of Oncology Reports has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a satisfactory reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 37: 501­509, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.5242].

Comparison of clinical outcomes among patients with isolated axial vs muscular calf vein thrombosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Thrombi in the axial calf veins have quite different anatomical and physiological characteristics from that in the muscular calf veins, but their treatment was usually addressed in the same manner. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized and cohort studies to compare clinical outcomes among patients with isolated axial vs muscular calf deep vein thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: Recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) was selected as the primary outcome. Resolution, proximal propagation of calf DVT, pulmonary embolism (PE), major bleeds, and clinically relevant non-major bleeds were separately analyzed as secondary outcomes. Data were pooled and compared with risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Thirteen studies, consisting of 4889 patients, met the inclusion criteria and were included for analysis. A greater rate of recurrent VTE (FE model: RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.00-1.53; I2 = 29%), resolution (FE model: RR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.01-1.72; I2 = 31%), proximal propagation (FE model: RR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.10-2.41; I2 = 40%), and PE (FE model: RR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.31-5.95; I2 = 0%) in the axial group compared with the muscular group. There was no difference in the pooled estimates for major bleeds (FE model: RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.61-1.95; I2 = 0%), and clinically relevant non-major bleeds (FE model: RR, 1.80; 95% CI, 0.93-3.48) in the axial and muscular arms. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with calf DVT limited to muscular veins might have a lower rate of recurrent VTE, resolution, proximal propagation, and PE vs those with axial calf vein involvement and exhibited similar safety outcomes.

Association of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy with the Prevalence and Severity of Vascular Calcification among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Cohort Study.

Many patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) requiring long-term use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) are at high risk for vascular calcification and anticoagulation therapy with warfarin exacerbate vascular calcification. However, the effect of nonvitamin K agonists on vascular calcification has not been clearly investigated. This study explored the effects of dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban, and warfarin on vascular calcification among 1527 patients with AF. Demographics, comorbidities, laboratory test data, medications, and the prevalence and severity of vascular calcification in different vascular beds were compared. After propensity score matching, the incidence of vascular calcification in the rivaroxaban and warfarin group was significantly higher than that in the nonanticoagulant group, while there was no difference between the dabigatran etexilate group and the nonanticoagulant group. Similarly, we found that the rivaroxaban group had more severe calcification in the overall vascular level (P < 0.001), thoracic aorta (P < 0.001), aortic arch (P = 0.001), and left common carotid artery (P = 0.005) than the nonanticoagulant group. In addition, in the left common carotid artery, there was more severe calcification in the rivaroxaban group than that in the dabigatran group (P = 0.005). Our results suggest that rivaroxaban can significantly increase both the incidence and severity of vascular calcification among patients with AF, while dabigatran etexilate has no such effect. Many patients with AF requiring long-term use of OACs are at high risk for vascular calcification. This is the first study to conduct a head-to-head comparison of the effects of dabigatran etexilate and rivaroxaban on vascular calcification. Rivaroxaban, rather than dabigatran etexilate, promotes vascular calcification in patients with AF, providing important implications to aid clinicians in their choice for OAC selection, especially those at high risk for vascular calcification.

A new isopimarane-type diterpene with anti-inflammatory activity from the Clinacanthus nutans.

A new isopimarane-type diterpene clinacanoid A (1) together with seven known terpenoids (2-8) were obtained from the Clinacanthus nutans. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis (NMR, HR-ESI-MS), and the absolute configuration of 1 was established based on single crystal X-ray diffraction. The inhibitory activity of all the compounds on NO production in lipopolysaccharide-induced (LPS) mouse leukemic monocyte macrophage RAW264.7 cells was evaluated. Among them, compounds 1 and 3 showed potential anti-inflammatory activities, with IC50 values of 13.3 ± 0.3 and 12.4 ± 0.4 µM, respectively.

Critical role for Syk in responses to vascular injury.

Although current antiplatelet therapies provide potent antithrombotic effects, their efficacy is limited by a heightened risk of bleeding and failure to affect vascular remodeling after injury. New lines of research suggest that thrombosis and hemorrhage may be uncoupled at the interface of pathways controlling thrombosis and inflammation. Here, as one remarkable example, studies using a novel and highly selective pharmacologic inhibitor of the spleen tyrosine kinase Syk [PRT060318; 2-((1R,2S)-2-aminocyclohexylamino)-4-(m-tolylamino)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide] coupled with genetic experiments, demonstrate that Syk inhibition ameliorates both the acute and chronic responses to vascular injury without affecting hemostasis. Specifically, lack of Syk (murine radiation chimeras) attenuated shear-induced thrombus formation ex vivo, and PRT060318 strongly inhibited arterial thrombosis in vivo in multiple animal species while having minimal impact on bleeding. Furthermore, leukocyte-platelet-dependent responses to vascular injury, including inflammatory cell recruitment and neointima formation, were markedly inhibited by PRT060318. Thus, Syk controls acute and long-term responses to arterial vascular injury. The therapeutic potential of Syk may be exemplary of a new class of antiatherothrombotic agents that target the interface between thrombosis and inflammation.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension in patients with pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension (LUSLS) for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) using a meta-analysis method. METHODS: All articles about LUSLS published in English from Jan. 2010 to Jan. 2020 were retrieved using a computer from search engines, including PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Chinese Medical Journals. Meta-analysis was performed by two evaluators using RevMan 5.3 software according to the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: A total of five studies were finally included, with 361 LUSLS cases and 361 control cases. LUSLS group showed a shorter operation duration (SMD-1.96; 95% CI = -3.90- -0.03; P = 0.05), more POP-quantification system (Q) (I) (SMD1.64; 95% CI = 1.05-2.56; P = 0.03), than the control group, with significant differences. There was no difference in the complication incidence, hospital stay, POP-Q>=II between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: LUSLS was a safe and effective treatment for POP. Patients had higher postoperative satisfaction, shorter operation duration and satisfactory outcome. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are required in the future to make the results of the meta-analysis more accurate.

Identification and validation of M2 macrophage-related genes in endometriosis.

Aims: M2 macrophage is believed to play an important role in the development of endometriosis. This study aimed to identify several key genes related to the M2 macrophage in endometriosis. Method: Differential expressed genes between endometriosis and non-endometriosis were identified based on three microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Gene modules significantly associated with M2 macrophage were identified from the weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Furthermore, by intersecting the differential expressed genes and M2 macrophage-associated module genes, M2 macrophage-related genes in endometriosis were identified. Functional analyses of the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes for these genes were then performed. Following, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, random forest, and receiver operating characteristic curves were further conducted to identify the key M2 macrophage-related genes in endometriosis. Finally, the expressions of key genes in endometriosis, as well as their correlations with M2 macrophages were verified in an independent validation cohort. Results: Totally, 185 M2 macrophage-related genes were identified, and they were mainly enriched in functions associated with the cell cycle, oocyte maturation, and immune response. Following machine learning algorithms, eight key genes were selected in the endometriosis: PGR, OLFM4, PIP5K1B, CCNA1, BRIP1, CADM1, PRAME, and GCNT1. The eight key genes were confirmed to be negative with M2 macrophage infiltration levels. Furthermore, the expression levels of these genes were significantly lower in the middle secretory stage while relevantly higher in the proliferative stage. The validation analysis also showed similar outcomes with the above results. Conclusion: Eight M2 macrophage-related genes were identified as potential biomarkers of endometriosis, providing novel understanding of immune cells in the endometriosis.

MoS2/Au Heterojunction Catalyst for SERS Monitoring of a Fenton-like Reaction.

Fenton technology is one of advanced oxidation process (AOP) methods to treat wastewater through chemical oxidation. Due to the limitations of classical iron-based catalysts, it is still challenging to find suitable catalysts for Fenton-like reactions. Here, MoS2/Au heterojunctions were successfully synthesized by reduction of chloroauric acid in the solution of layered MoS2 prepared by hydrothermal method. As a model molecule, methylene blue (MB) was used as the species to be degraded to evaluate the performance of the catalyst. It was determined by UV-visible spectra that the optimal catalyst can be obtained when MoS2 (mg): HAuCl4 (wt. % mL) is 2:2. The Fenton-like reaction process was monitored by introducing highly sensitive surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The results show that MB can be degraded by 83% in the first 10 min of the reaction, indicating that MoS2/Au has good catalytic performance. In addition, as a fingerprint spectrum, SERS was used to preliminarily analyze the molecular structure changes during the degradation process. The result showed that C-N-C bond was easier to break than the C-S-C bond. NH2 group and the fused ring were destroyed at the comparable speed at the first 30 min. In terms of application applicability, it was showed that MB degradation had exceeded 95% at all the three pH values of 1.4, 5.0, and 11.1 after the reaction was carried out for 20 min. The test and analysis of the light environment showed that the catalytic efficiency was significantly improved in the natural light of the laboratory compared to dark conditions. The possible mechanism based on ·OH and ·O2- from ESR data was proposed. In addition, it was demonstrated to be a first-order reaction from the perspective of kinetics. This study made a positive contribution to broaden of the applicable conditions and scope of Fenton-like reaction catalysts. It is expected to be used as a non-iron catalyst in practical industrial applications. From the perspective of detection method, we expect to develop SERS as a powerful tool for the in situ monitoring of Fenton-like reactions, and to further deepen our understanding of the mechanism.

New insight into enhanced transport of multi-component porous covalent-organic polymers with alkyl chains as injection agents for levofloxacin removal in saturated sand columns.

Levofloxacin (LEV) is prone to be retained in aquifers due to its strong adsorption affinity onto sand, thus posing a threat to groundwater quality. In-situ injection technology for remediating LEV-contaminated soil and groundwater is still challenging owing to the lack of appropriate remedial agents. Herein, two novel multi-component porous covalent-organic polymers (namely, SLEL-1 and SLEL-2) with alkyl chains were constructed through Schiff-base reactions to adsorb LEV from an aqueous solution, in which the kinetics, isotherms, influenced factors were investigated. Plausible adsorption mechanisms were proposed through characterization and experimental analysis, including pore filling effect, π-π electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) interaction, hydrogen bonding force, hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction as well as electrostatic force. In addition, response surface methodology (RSM) revealed the treatment optimization and reciprocal relationship within multi-variables. Furthermore, taking advantage of favorable dispersion and outstanding competitive behavior, SLEL-1 was established as an in-situ adsorptive agent in dynamic saturated columns on a laboratory scale to investigate the removal of LEV from water-bearing stratum. Overall, the findings of this work provided an insight into the fabrication of SLELs as long-term mobile and reusable adsorptive agents for practical in-situ applications in the future.

Three porous shapeable three-component hydrogen-bonded covalent-organic aerogels as backfill materials in a simulated permeable reactive barrier (PRB) for trapping levofloxacin.

Levofloxacin (LEV) infiltrated in groundwater has threatened the safety of drinking water. For in-situ remediation of LEV-contaminated groundwater, there exists a main challenge of exploiting proper high efficient backfill medium in utilizing charming permeable reactive barriers (PRBs). Herein, three porous shapeable three-component hydrogen-bonded covalent organic aerogels (HCOA-1, HCOA-2 and HCOA-3) were fabricated based on a multiple-linking-site strategy to evaluate for adsorptive removal of LEV. The three HCOAs exhibited satisfactory performance in LEV adsorption that could integrate high adsorption capacity, good antiion interference, excellent recyclability and wide pH tolerance. The different regularity of kinetics and isotherms of three HCOAs signified that electrostatic effect, pore preservation, hydrogen bonding probably govern the adsorption process in combination, coupling with π-π electron-donor-acceptor (EDA), dipole-dipole and hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction besides. In addition, the response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for studying the single and synergetic effects of selected variables and optimizing operation conditions. Furthermore, a laboratory PRB column packed with processable HCOA-2 was set up to investigate the LEV removal, and the breakthrough data was explained by Adams-Bohart, Thomas, BDST and Yoon-Nelson models. We believe could hopefully bring HCOAs into the real in-situ remediation of such challenging and persistent LEV-polluted groundwater with further massive-scale efficiently.

The intrinsic complement regulator decay-accelerating factor modulates the biological response to vascular injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the presence of decay-accelerating factor (or CD55), an intrinsic complement regulator, protects against the development of vascular disease, given that complement activation can affect leukocytes and platelets. METHODS AND RESULTS: Leukocyte-platelet complexes are critical for the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and restenosis; however, the mechanism by which these processes promote vascular injury is incompletely defined. We performed femoral artery wire injury in Daf1(-/-) mice and their wild-type controls. Leukocyte accumulation, cellular proliferation, and neointimal thickening were enhanced in Daf1(-/-) mice versus wild-type mice. Deficiency of either the C3a or the C5a receptor, respectively, reversed the increased vascular inflammation, cellular proliferation, and neointimal formation in Daf1(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: Decay-accelerating factor control of C3a and C5a generation and prevention of the binding of these activation fragments to the C3a and C5a receptors are critical for the biological response to vascular injury. Targeting the C3a and C5a receptors may be useful for the prevention of neointimal hyperplasia.

Myeloid-related protein-8/14 is critical for the biological response to vascular injury.

BACKGROUND: Myeloid-related protein (MRP)-8 (S100A8) and MRP-14 (S100A9) are members of the S100 family of calcium-modulated proteins that regulate myeloid cell function and control inflammation, in part, through activation of Toll-like receptor-4 and the receptor for advanced glycation end products. A transcriptional profiling approach in patients with acute coronary syndromes identified MRP-14 as a novel predictor of myocardial infarction. Further studies demonstrated that elevated plasma levels of MRP-8/14 heterodimer predict increased risk of first and recurrent cardiovascular events. Beyond its serving as a risk marker, whether MRP-8/14 participates directly in vascular inflammation and disease remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated vascular inflammation in wild-type and MRP-14-deficient (MRP-14(-/-)) mice that lack MRP-8/14 complexes with experimental arterial injury, vasculitis, or atherosclerosis. After femoral artery wire injury, MRP-14(-/-) mice had significant reductions in leukocyte accumulation, cellular proliferation, and neointimal formation compared with wild-type mice. In a cytokine-induced local Shwartzman-like reaction that produces thrombohemorrhagic vasculitis, MRP-14(-/-) mice had significant reductions in neutrophil accumulation, lesion severity, and hemorrhagic area. In response to high-fat feeding, mice doubly deficient in apolipoprotein E and MRP-8/14 complexes had attenuation in atherosclerotic lesion area and in macrophage accumulation in plaques compared with mice deficient in apolipoprotein E alone. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that MRP-8/14 broadly regulates vascular inflammation and contributes to the biological response to vascular injury by promoting leukocyte recruitment.