Gene Polymorphism and Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation after Catheter Ablation: A Comprehensive Review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias, but its pathogenesis is still poorly understood. Catheter ablation is one of the most effective treatments for AF, but recurrence after ablation remains a challenge. There has been much research into the association of AF recurrence with several factors, including genetics. Over the past decade or so, significant advances have been made in the genetic architecture of atrial fibrillation. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 100 loci for genetic variants associated with atrial fibrillation. However, there is relatively little information on the systematic assessment of the genes related to AF recurrence after ablation. In this review article, we highlight the value of genetic polymorphisms in atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation and their potential mechanisms in the recurrence process to enhance our understanding of atrial fibrillation recurrence and contribute to individualized treatment strategies for patients with AF.

Impacts of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease on Acute Coronary Syndrome: Evidence and Controversies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are two clinically common disease entities that share numerous risk factors. This review aimed to discuss the impacts of NAFLD on ACS. RECENT FINDINGS: In an era of improved control of traditional risk factors, the substantial burden of cardiometabolic abnormalities has caused widespread concern. NAFLD is considered the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome, which can exert an impact on human health beyond the liver. Accumulating studies have demonstrated that NAFLD is closely related to cardiovascular disease, especially coronary artery disease. Interestingly, although recent data have suggested an association between NAFLD and the incidence and outcomes of ACS, the results are not consistent. In this review, we comprehensively summarized evidence and controversies regarding whether NAFLD is a contributor to either the development of ACS or worse outcomes in patients with ACS. The potential pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms involved in the impacts of NAFLD on ACS were also elucidated.

Size Regulation of Polydopamine Nanoparticles by Boronic Acid and Lewis Base.

Size regulation of polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) is vital to melanin-inspired materials. The general strategy usually focuses on tuning of the reaction parameters which could affect the dopamine (DA) monomer polymerization process, such as pH, temperature, monomer concentration, etc. The reaction between boronic acids and catechols to form boronic esters has been widely applied in many fields, but little attention has been paid in the size regulation of PDA NPs. Here, it is speculated that the fine size regulation of PDA NPs can be directly achieved by using boronic acids and Lewis base molecules. It is found that these issues could indeed significantly affect the stability of the boronic esters formed by boronic acids and DA, which may further inhibit the monomer polymerization kinetics and tune the particle size of the resulting PDA NPs. It is also found that the several intrinsic properties of PDA NPs such as the free radical scavenging ability, UV spectral absorption, photothermal behavior, and structural color all change with the particle size. It is believed that this work can provide new opportunities for fabricating melanin-inspired PDA NPs with well controlled size and properties.

Opening a door to the spatiotemporal history of plants from the tropical Indochina Peninsula to subtropical China.

The complexity of global biodiversity in the tropical Indochina Peninsula and subtropical China bioregions has fascinated biologists for decades, but little is known about the spatiotemporal patterns in these regions. Accordingly, the aims of present study were to investigate the evolutionary and distribution patterns of Engelhardia in these regions and establish a model for examining biogeographic patterns and geological events throughout the tropical Indochina Peninsula and subtropical China. The effects of geological events occurring in the area between the Indochina Peninsula and subtropical China bioregions on the two trees species (i.e., E. roxburghiana and E. fenzelii) were evaluated. A robust phylogenetic framework of 884 individuals from 79 populations was used to generate time-calibrated cytoplasmic and nuclear phylogenetic frameworks based on cpDNA, nrDNA, and nSSR data, respectively. When considered along with ancestral area reconstructions, the genetic data were also used to assess and reconstruct the species' population genetic structure and diversity. These analyses yielded important information about the (1) historical distribution relationships between the tropical and subtropical flora of China; (2) effects of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) on the evolutionary history of Asia's plants; and (3) importance of biogeography in conservation planning. Although cytoplasmic-nuclear discordance indicated cpDNA and nrDNA were subject to distinct evolutionary mechanisms that reflected respective evolutionary histories of the plastid and nuclear genomes of prior demographic and biogeographic events. The tropical elements of Engelhardia occupied the Indochina Peninsula during the early Eocene, whereas the subtropical elements were transformed from the tropical elements during Miocene cooling and the onset of the EASM at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary, intensified during the late Miocene and Pliocene, facilitating the transformation of Engelhardia from the tropical Indochina Peninsula to subtropical China. Demographic history provided insights into prominent planning frameworks in conservation biology, namely that subtropical China functioned as a refugium during past climate oscillations and will continue to serve in this capacity in the future.

Calculation of high-order harmonic generation of atoms and molecules by combining time series prediction and neural networks.

High-order harmonic generation (HHG) from the interaction of ultra-intense laser pulses with atoms is an important tabletop short-wave coherent light source. Accurate quantum simulations of it present large computational difficulties due to multi-electron multidimensional effects. In this paper, the time-dependent response of hydrogen atoms is calculated using a time-series prediction scheme, the HHG spectrum is reconstructed very accurately. The accuracy of the forecasting is further improved by using a neural network scheme. This scheme is also applied to the simulation of the harmonic emission on multi-electron systems, and the applicability of the scheme is confirmed by the harmonic calculation of complex systems. This method is expected to simulate the nonlinear dynamic process of multi-electron atoms and molecules irradiated by intense laser pulses quickly and accurately.

Shining a light on species delimitation in the tree genus Engelhardia Leschenault ex Blume (Juglandaceae).

Enhanced efficacy in species delimitation is critically important in biology given the pending biodiversity crisis under global warming and anthropogenic activity. In particular, delineation of traditional classifications in view of the complexity of species requires an integrative approach to effectively define species boundaries, and this is a major focus of systematic biology. Here, we explored species delimitation of Engelhardia in tropical and subtropical Asia. In total, 716 individuals in 71 populations were genotyped using five chloroplast regions, one nuclear DNA region (nrITS), and 11 nuclear simple sequence repeats (nSSR). Phylogenetic trees were constructed and relationships among species were assessed. Molecular analyses were then combined with 14 morphological characteristics of 720 specimens to further explore the species boundaries of Engelhardia. Integrating phylogenetic and morphological clusters provided well-resolved relationships to delineate seven species. The results suggested that: first, that E. fenzelii, E. roxburghiana, E. hainanensis, E. apoensis, and E. serrata are distinct species; second, E. spicata var. spicata, E. spicata var. aceriflora, E. spicata var. colebrookeana, and E. rigida should be combined under E. spicata and treated as a species complex; third, E. serrata var. cambodica should be raised to species level and named E. villosa. We illuminated that bias thresholds determining the cluster number for delimiting species boundaries were substantially reduced when morphological data were incorporated. Our results urge caution when using the concepts of subspecies and varieties in order to prevent confusion, particularly with respect to species delimitation for tropical and subtropical species. In some cases, re-ranking or combining subspecies and/or varieties may enable more accurate species delimitation.

Bioactivity-Guided Isolation and Identification of New and Immunosuppressive Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids from Rauvolfia yunnanensis Tsiang.

Three new 11-hydroxyburnamine (1) and rauvoyunnanines A-B (2-3), and fourteen known (4-17) monoterpenoid indole alkaloids were isolated from the total alkaloids extract of Rauvolfia yunnanensis, which exhibited promising immunosuppressive activity on T cell proliferation in preliminary screening. Their structures were determined by analysis of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass (HRESIMS), ultraviolet (UV) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, and by comparison with the literature. All the alkaloids were evaluated for inhibitory activity on T cell proliferation. Among them, one new compound (1) and reserpine (6) exhibited moderate immunosuppressive activity, with IC50 values of 5.9 µM and 5.0 µM, respectively.

Correlation between pre-procedural plaque morphology and patterns of in-stent neointimal hyperplasia at 1-year follow-up in patients treated with new-generation drug-eluting stents: An optical coherence tomography based analysis.

INSTRUCTION: Several factors affect the in-stent intimal healing process after drug-eluting stents (DESs) implantation. We hope to investigate the influence of plaque characteristics on subsequent heterogeneous neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: The study population consisted 217 patients with single-vessel de novo lesions who underwent both pre-procedural OCT scan and 12-month follow-up OCT examination. NIH is defined as at least five consecutive cross-sectional images with no less than 100µm neointimal thickness. According to OCT follow-up, patients were divided into three groups: neointima-covered group, homogeneous, and heterogeneous NIH group. RESULTS: 102 patients were categorized in neointima-covered group, 91 and 24 patients in homogeneous and heterogeneous group, respectively. Time interval between OCT scans was similar (P = 0.55). No significant differences in the patients' age, gender, comorbidities, laboratory findings, procedural, and lesion-related findings were found among these three groups. Heterogeneous group tended to have more subjects presented as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (P = 0.04) and mean macrophage grade was higher in this group (P = 0.01). While no statistically significant difference concerning mean intimal thickness (P = 0.21) or neointimal burden (P = 0.73) was found between homogeneous and heterogeneous group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that mean macrophage grade (OR: 2.26, 95%CI: 1.12 to 4.53, P = 0.02) and initial clinical presentation of ACS (OR: 2.81, 95%CI: 1.03 to 7.72, P = 0.04) were significant independent risk factors for heterogeneous NIH. CONCLUSION: Mean macrophage grade measured by OCT as a semi-quantitative morphological risk factor, as well as clinical presentation of ACS, was associated with in-stent neointimal heterogeneity after DES implantation.

Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids from Kopsia officinalis and the Immunosuppressive Activity of Rhazinilam.

Six new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, kopsinidines C-E (1-3), 11,12-methylenedioxychanofruticosinic acid (4), 12-methoxychanofruticosinic acid (5), and N(4)-methylkopsininate (7), as well as chanofruticosinic acid (6, as a natural product) and 23 known alkaloids, were obtained from the twigs and leaves of Kopsia officinalis. Their structures were characterized by physical data analysis. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their immunosuppressive activity on human T cell proliferation. Rhazinilam (29) significantly inhibited human T cell proliferation activated by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies (IC50 = 1.0 µM) and alloantigen stimulation (IC50 = 1.1 µM) without obvious cytotoxicity for naïve human T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (0-320 µM). Although it did not affect T cell activation, it induced T cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and inhibited proinflammatory cytokine production in activated T cells.

Comparison between two-dimensional and three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography for the prediction of functional severity in true bifurcation lesions: Insights from the randomized DK-CRUSH II, III, and IV trials.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) compared with conventional 2D-QCA for predicting functional severity assessed by fractional flow reserve (FFR) for true bifurcation lesions. METHODS: Based on pooled data from the randomized DK-CRUSH II, III, and IV trials, we evaluated the patients with true bifurcation lesions who underwent coronary angiography together with functional evaluations using FFR in both the main vessel and the side branch. Off-line 2D- and 3D-QCA analyses were conducted using dedicated bifurcation QCA analysis software. Measurements of minimum lumen diameter (MLD), percentage diameter stenosis (% DS), and minimum lumen area (MLA) were compared between 2D- and 3D-QCA, and we evaluated their predictive values of functionally significant FFR. RESULTS: Ninety patients were eligible for enrollment in the present study. In the main vessel, MLA measured by 3D-QCA was the most accurate predictor of FFR <0.75 (C statistic 0.85, P < 0.001), while MLD measured by 2D-QCA was a similarly accurate predictor (C statistic 0.85, P < 0.001). In the side branch, the best metrics for predicting FFR <0.75 were % DS measured by 2D-QCA with a C statistic value of 0.91 (P < 0.001) and MLA measured by 3D-QCA with a C statistic value of 0.81 (P < 0.001). However, both 2D- and 3D-QCA metrics exhibited low accuracies for predicting FFR <0.75 in intermediate bifurcation lesions. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-QCA analysis for true bifurcation lesions did not improve the predictive accuracy of functionally significant FFR compared with 2D-QCA analysis. In lesions with intermediate stenosis, the diagnostic performance of both 2D- and 3D-QCA-derived measurements in differentiating functional severity is limited.

Comparison of intravascular ultrasound guided versus angiography guided drug eluting stent implantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can be a useful tool during drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation as it allows accurate assessment of lesion severity and optimal treatment planning. However, numerous reports have shown that IVUS guided percutaneous coronary intervention is not associated with improved clinical outcomes, especially in non-complex patients and lesions. METHODS: We searched the literature in Medline, the Cochrane Library, and other internet sources to identify studies that compare clinical outcomes between IVUS-guided and angiography-guided DES implantation. Random-effects model was used to assess treatment effect. RESULTS: Twenty eligible studies with a total of 29,068 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The use of IVUS was associated with significant reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, odds ratios [OR] 0.77, 95 % confidence intervals [CI] 0.71-0.83, P < 0.001), death (OR 0.62, 95 % CI 0.54-0.71, p < 0.001), and stent thrombosis (OR 0.59, 95 % CI: 0.47-0.73, P < 0.001). The benefit was also seen in the repeated analysis of matched and randomized studies. In stratified analysis, IVUS guidance appeared to be beneficial not only in patients with complex lesions or acute coronary syndromes (ACS) but also patients with mixed lesions or presentations (MACE: OR 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.60-0.79, p < 0.001, OR 0.81, 95 % CI 0.74-0.90, p < 0.001, respectively). By employing meta-regression analysis, the benefit of IVUS is significantly pronounced in patients with complex lesions or ACS with respect to death (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: IVUS guidance was associated with improved clinical outcomes, especially in patients with complex lesions admitted with ACS. Large, randomized clinical trials are warranted to identify populations and lesion characteristics where IVUS guidance would be associated with better outcomes.

[Optimization of method for determination of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the method in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for determining Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. METHOD: Tanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B were selected as the index in optimization of the sample preparation method of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Orthogonal test was used to optimize the extraction process of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and concentration of contents were detected by high performance liquid chromatography method. A detection of using methanol-water (85: 15) at wavelength of 270 nm was employed for tanshinone II(A) and a detection of using methanol-acetonitrile-formic acid-water (30:10:1: 59) at wavelength of 286 nm was employed for salvianolic acid B. RESULT: The optimized extraction process of tanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B was: extracted by 90% methanol and reflux twice (0.5 h each time) at 75 degrees C, extracted by 70% methanol and reflux twice (1.5 h each time) at 75 degrees C, respectively. CONCLUSION: Optimized extraction and determination methods could be used to reflect the content of tanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma more accurately and efficiently.

Inhibitory effect of baicalin on collagen-induced arthritis in rats through the nuclear factor-κB pathway.

This study focused on the potential therapeutic effect of baicalin on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats and the underlying mechanisms. The CIA rats were injected with baicalin (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) once daily for 30 days. The rats were monitored for clinical severity of arthritis, and joint tissues were used for radiographic assessment and histologic examination. We quantified tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in experimental animals and used Western blots to assess levels of protein abundance, phosphorylation, and acetylation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 and sirtuin 1 (sirt1) protein expression in joint tissues. Human fibroblast-like synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis (HFLS-RA) were adopted in further mechanistic investigations. Baicalin intraperitoneal injection for 30 days dose-dependently blocked clinical manifestations of CIA, such as functional impairment and swollen red paws. Meanwhile, it alleviated collagen-induced joint inflammation injury and inhibited the secretion of TNF-α and IL-1ß in both rat synovium and HFLS-RA. Further mechanistic investigations revealed that baicalin suppresses NF-κB p65 protein expression and phosphorylation in synovial tissue and human-derived synoviocytes. Moreover, the acetylation of NF-κB p65 was downregulated by baicalin, which negatively correlates with the baicalin-induced upregulation of sirt1 expression in the same conditions. The data indicate that CIA in rats can be alleviated by baicalin treatment via relieving joint inflammation, which is related to the suppression of synovial NF-κB p65 protein expression and the elevation of its deacetylation by sirt1.

Exploring the biotic and abiotic drivers influencing nata de coco production by Komagataeibacter nataicola in pre-fermented coconut water.

In China and Southeast Asia, pre-fermented coconut water is commonly used for the production of nata de coco, a jelly-like fermented food that consists of bacterial cellulose (BC). The inherent natural fermentation process of coconut water introduces uncontrollable variables, which can lead to unstable yields during BC production. This study involved the collection of spontaneously pre-fermented coconut water over a five-month production cycle. The aim was to evaluate the microbiota and metabolite profile, as well as determine its impact on BC synthesis by Komagataeibacter nataicola. Significant variations in the microbial community structure and metabolite profile of pre-fermented coconut water were observed across different production months, these variations had significant effects on BC synthesis by K. nataicola. A total of 52 different bacterial genera and 32 different fungal genera were identified as potential biotic factors that can influence BC production. Additionally, several abiotic factors, including lactate (VIP = 4.92), mannitol (VIP = 4.22), ethanol (VIP = 2.67), and ascorbate (VIP = 1.61), were found to be potential driving forces affecting BC synthesis by K. nataicola. Upon further analysis, the correlation network indicated that 14 biotic factors had a significant contribution to BC production in three strains of K. nataicola. These factors included 8 bacterial genera, such as Limosilactobacillus and Lactiplantibacillus, and 6 fungal genera, such as Meyerozyma and Ogataea. The abiotic factors lactate, mannitol, and ethanol showed a positive correlation with the BC yield. This study provides significant insights into controlling the fermentation processes of pre-fermented coconut water in industrial settings.

A Composite Hydrogel Functionalized by Borosilicate Bioactive Glasses and VEGF for Critical-Size Bone Regeneration.

Critical-size bone defects pose a formidable challenge in clinical treatment, prompting extensive research efforts to address this problem. In this study, an inorganic-organic multifunctional composite hydrogel denoted as PLG-g-TA/VEGF/Sr-BGNPs is developed, engineered for the synergistic management of bone defects. The composite hydrogel demonstrated the capacity for mineralization, hydroxyapatite formation, and gradual release of essential functional ions and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and also maintained an alkaline microenvironment. The composite hydrogel promoted the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), as indicated by increased expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins in vitro. Moreover, the composite hydrogel significantly enhanced the tube-forming capability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and effectively inhibited the process of osteoblastic differentiation of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-induced Raw264.7 cells and osteoclast bone resorption. After the implantation of the composite hydrogel into rat cranial bone defects, the expression of osteogenic and angiogenic biomarkers increased, substantiating its efficacy in promoting bone defect repair in vivo. The commendable attributes of the multifunctional composite hydrogel underscore its pivotal role in expediting hydrogel-associated bone growth and repairing critical bone defects, positioning it as a promising adjuvant therapy candidate for large-segment bone defects.

Molecular diagnosis and prognostic significance of lymph node micrometastasis in patients with histologically node-negative non-small cell lung cancer.

Lymph node metastasis is a major prognostic factor in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, 30-40 % rate of recurrence after performing complete resection in node-negative patients suggests that their nodal staging is suboptimal. We aimed to evaluate the molecular diagnosis and prognostic significance of lymph node micrometastasis in patients with node-negative NSCLC. Primary tumor samples from 62 patients with resected stage I-IIB NSCLC were screened for fragile histidine triad (FHIT) and CDKN2A mRNA deletion using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The molecular alternations were found in tumors of 49 patients. A total of 269 lymph nodes from these 49 NSCLC patients with FHIT or/and CDKN2A deletion tumors were examined. Fifteen positive-control nodes and ten negative-control nodes were also analyzed for FHIT and CDKN2A mRNA deletion. Thirty-nine (22 %) and 22 (18 %) lymph nodes from the 49 patients with FHIT and CDKN2A mRNA deletion in primary tumor had FHIT and CDKN2A mRNA deletion, respectively. The types of FHIT and CDKN2A mRNA deletion in lymph nodes were identical with those in their primary tumors. By combination of two markers, 16 patients (32.7 %) were found to have nodal micrometastasis. Survival analysis showed that patients with nodal micrometastasis had reduced disease-free survival (P = 0.001) and overall survival (P = 0.002) rates. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that nodal micrometastasis was an independent predictor for worse prognosis. Thus, the detection of lymph node micrometastasis by FHIT and CDKN2A mRNA deletion RT-PCR will be helpful to predict the recurrence and prognosis of patients with completely resected stage I-IIB NSCLC.

Numerical modeling of nitrogen removal processes in biofilters with simultaneous nitritation and anammox.

This study developed a simple numerical model for nitrogen removal in biofilters, which was designed to enhance simultaneous nitritation and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). It is the first attempt to simulate anammox together with two-step nitrification in natural treatment systems, which may have different kinetic parameters and temperature effects from conventional bioreactors. Prediction accuracy was improved by adjusting kinetic coefficients over the startup period of the biofilters. The maximum rates of nitritation and nitrite oxidation increased linearly over time during the startup period. Simulations confirmed successful enhancement of simultaneous nitritation and anammox (SNA) in the biofilters, with anammox contributing 35% of ammonium removal. Effluent ammonium concentration was affected by influent ammonium concentration and the maximum nitritation rate, and was insensitive to the maximum nitrite oxidation rate and anammox substrate factor. Ammonium removal via SNA was likely limited by biomass of aerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria in the biofilters. The developed model is a promising tool for studying the dynamics of nitrogen removal processes including SNA in natural treatment systems.

Insight into the role of PCSK9 in glucose metabolism.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is strongly associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) was recently identified as an important regulator of circulating low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels via degradation of the LDL receptor, proving to be a valid target to improve lipoprotein profiles and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ASCVD. Beyond LDL receptor processing and cholesterol homeostasis, the PCSK9 protein has recently been verified to be associated with glucose metabolism. Importantly, clinical trials suggest that treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors for patients with DM is more effective. Hence, in this review, we summarize the current findings derived from experimental, preclinical, and clinical studies regarding the association between PCSK9 and glucose metabolism, including the relationship of PCSK9 genetic mutations to glucose metabolism and diabetes, the link between plasma PCSK9 concentrations and glucose metabolic parameters, the effects of glucose-lowering drugs on plasma PCSK9 levels and the impacts of PCSK9 inhibitors on cardiovascular outcomes of patients with DM. Clinically, exploring this field may improve our understanding regarding the roles of PCSK9 in glucose metabolism and may offer an in-depth interpretation of how PCSK9 inhibitors exert effects on the treatment of patients with DM.

Effect of Polymer Topology and Residue Chirality on Biodegradability of Polypeptide Hydrogels.

Polypeptide-based injectable hydrogels have attracted the attention of biomedical researchers due to their unique biocompatibility and biodegradability, tunable residue chirality, and secondary conformation of polypeptide chains. In the present study, four types of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(glutamic acid)s with different topological structures and residue chirality of polypeptide segments were developed, which were grafted with tyramine side groups for further cross-linking. The results demonstrated that the covalent conjugation between the tyramine groups in the presence of horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide could form porous hydrogels rapidly. Additionally, the gelation time and mechanical strength of the hydrogels were measured. All the polymer precursors and hydrogels exhibited good cytocompatibility in vitro. Further assessment of the enzymatic degradability of the hydrogels and copolymers in vitro revealed that the degradation rate was influenced by the adjustment of polymer topology or residue chirality of polypeptide copolymers. Subsequently, the effect of copolymer topology and polypeptide chirality on in vivo biodegradability and biocompatibility was assessed. This study will provide insights into the relationship between copolymer structures and hydrogel properties and benefit future polypeptide-based hydrogel studies in biomedical applications.