The effect of serum triglyceride levels and different lipid-lowering methods on the prognosis of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis: a single-center 12-year retrospective study by propensity score matching.

AIM: To investigate the impact of triglyceride on hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) and different lipid-lowering methods on triglyceride-lowering efficiency and HTG-AP. METHODS: The patients with HTG-AP from January 2012 to December 2023 in Civil Aviation General Hospital were analyzed, retrospectively. Patients were divided and compared according to whether their triglycerides were below 5.56 mmol/L at 48 and 72 h of admission. The patients were divided into control group, insulin group, and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH)+bezafibrate group based on the different methods of lipid-lowering. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to balance the baseline characteristics. RESULTS: There was no correlation between the severity of HTG-AP and the triglyceride at admission. The incidence of severity, local complications, and persistent organ failure (POF) were significantly decreased in patients with 48-h and 72-h triglyceride attainment. Following PSM, the incidence of infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) (3.3% vs. 13.3%) was significantly reduced in insulin group compared with control group (p < .05). Compared with control group, LMWH + bezafibrate group had higher lipid reduction efficiency, and the incidence of IPN (0.9% vs. 10.1%) and POF (8.3% vs. 19.3%) was significantly decreased (p < .05). There was no significant difference in the efficiency of lipid-lowering, complications, and POF between LMWH + bezafibrate group and insulin group (p > .05). CONCLUSION: The severity of HTG-AP is not associated with the triglyceride levels at admission. However, rapid reduction of triglyceride levels can lower the incidence of local complications and respiratory failure. Compared with conservative treatment, insulin and LMWH + bezafibrate can both reduce the incidence of IPN in patients with HTG-AP.

Coix lacryma-jobi chymotrypsin inhibitor displays antifungal activity.

A novel chymotrypsin inhibitor, named ClCI, was purified from coix seed (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) by aqueous two-phase extraction, chymotrypsin-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography and centrifugal ultrafiltration. ClCI was a 7.9 kDa competitive inhibitor with pI 6.54. The inhibition constants (Ki) for bovine pancreatic chymotrypsin and bacterial subtilisin were 1.27 × 10-10 M and 1.57 × 10-9 M respectively. ClCI had no inhibitory activity against bovine trypsin and porcine elastase. ClCI had wide pH stability and good heat resistance. It can maintain >90% inhibition activity against chymotrypsin at 20-80 °C for 1 h. The primary structure of ClCI was highly similar (57%-92%) to those of several inhibitors belonging to the Gramineae crop potato protease inhibitor- I superfamily and showed the typical sequence motif of the protease inhibitor of the seed storage protein group. ClCI (12.5 mg) inhibited mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic fungi Mycosphaerella melonis, Helminthosporium turcicum, Alternaria solani, Phytophthora capsici, Isariopsis griseola, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and caused 89% inhibition of the proteases from spore germination of plant-pathogenic fungi. The results of the present study indicate that ClCI had biotechnological potential as an alternative agent to combat the important phytopathogenic fungi.

Serum levels of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

BACKGROUND: The influence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) with subclinical hypothyroidism or euthyroid status on the alteration of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 levels remains uncertain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four untreated HT patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, 24 euthyroid HT patients, and 24 age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled in the study. The levels of GLP-1, GLP-2, glucose, glycated albumin, insulin, thyroid hormone, and thyroid autoantibodies were measured and evaluated. RESULTS: The levels of GLP-1, blood glucose, and triglyceride were higher in HT patients with subclinical hypothyroidism than in controls (all P < 0.05, respectively). However, the above variables, including GLP-2, were similar in euthyroid patients and controls. Neither GLP-1 nor GLP-2 was correlated with thyroid hormone, thyroid autoantibodies or metabolic parameters. CONCLUSION: The serum levels of GLP-1, not GLP-2, were increased in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Our data suggest that subclinical hypothyroidism affects circulating GLP-1 levels.

[Detection and clinical value of epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) mRNA positive circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To test for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) relying on epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression in metastatic breast cancer by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR. METHODS: In the study,47 metastatic breast cancer patients were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR for detecting EpCAM mRNA. In addition, analyses were carried out for their correlation with patients' clinicopathologic features, response, and the time to progression (TTP). RESULTS: The sensitivity of EpCAM mRNA in the metastatic breast cancer patients was about 40%. However, the specificity of EpCAM mRNA for 20 healthy controls was 100%. TTP was calculated, and compared with that between EpCAM mRNA-positive and EpCAM mRNA-negative groups. For the retrospective study, the median TTP was 7.1 months and 11.1 months (P=0.013) for patients with EpCAM mRNA-positive and EpCAM mRNA-negative, respectively, after the first cycle chemotherapy. Moreover, a statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between EpCAM mRNA and TTP in patients who underwent the first or the second-line chemotherapy (P=0.018), but there was no significance in the patients pretreated with two or more previous chemotherapy lines (P=0.471). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of the presence of EpCAM mRNA in approximately 40% of patients with metastatic breast cancer. There is a strong correlation between EpCAM mRNA results after the first cycle therapy and TTP in metastatic breast cancer patients, and EpCAM mRNA positive after chemotherapy may predict shorter TTP.

MUC1-positive circulating tumor cells and MUC1 protein predict chemotherapeutic efficacy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Chemotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. It is important to monitor chemotherapeutic efficacy, to find a simple and efficient tool to guide treatment, and to predict the efficacy of treatment in a timely and accurate manner. This study aimed to detect mucin-1 (MUC1)-positive circulating tumor cells and MUC1 protein in the peripheral blood of patients with metastatic breast cancer and to investigate their relationship to chemotherapeutic efficacy. MUC1 mRNA was detected in the peripheral blood of 34 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The positive rates of MUC1 mRNA were 88.2% before chemotherapy and 70.6% after chemotherapy, without a significant difference (P=0.564); MUC1 mRNA expression before chemotherapy had no correlation with treatment effectiveness (P=0.281). The response rate of MUC1 mRNA-negative patients after first-cycle chemotherapy was significantly higher (P=0.009) and the progression-free survival (PFS) was clearly longer than those of MUC1 mRNA-positive patients (P=0.095). MUC1 protein in peripheral blood plasma was detected by an ELISA competitive inhibition assay. The patients with decreased MUC1 protein after chemotherapy had a significantly longer PFS than those with elevated MUC1 protein (P=0.044). These results indicate that the outcomes of MUC1 mRNA-negative patients after chemotherapy are better than those of MUC1 mRNA-positive patients. In addition, patients with decreased expression of MUC1 protein have a better PFS.

Genome-wide identification and phylogenetic relationships of the Hsp70 gene family of Aegilops tauschii, wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides) and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum).

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) plays an important role in plant development. It is closely related to the physiological process of cell development and the response to abiotic and biological stress. However, the classification and evolution of Hsp70 genes in bread wheat, wild emmer wheat and Aegilops tauschii are still unclear. Therefore, this study conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of Hsp70 gene in three species. Among these three species, 113, 79 and 36 Hsp70 genes were identified. They are divided into six subfamilies. Group vi-1 is different from Arabidopsis thaliana. It may be the result of early evolutionary segregation. The number of exons in different subfamilies (from 1 to 13) was different, but the distribution patterns of exons / introns in the same subfamily were similar. The results of Hsp70 promoter region analysis showed that the cis-regulatory elements of A. tauschii and wild emmer wheat were different from those of wheat. In addition, CpG island proportion of wild emmer Hsp70 was higher than that of wheat, which may be the molecular basis of heat resistance of wild wheat relative to cultivated wheat. Further comprehensive analysis of chromosome location and repeat events of Hsp70 gene showed that whole-genome duplication and tandem duplication events contributed to the evolution and expansion of Hsp70 gene in wheat. The results of non-synonymous substitution and synonymous substitution analysis showed that Hsp70 genes of three species had undergone purification selection. The expression profile analysis showed that Hsp70 gene was highly expressed in the roots during the vegetative growth period. In addition, TaHsp70 gene was highly expressed under various stress. The identification, classification and evolution of Hsp70 in wheat and its relatives provided a basis for further research on its evolution and its molecular mechanism in response to stress. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02639-5.

Synthesis, characterization, DNA-binding and antiproliferative activity of Nd(III) complexes with N-(nitrogen heterocyclic) norcantharidin acylamide acid.

Three novel complexes [Nd(L)(NO3)(H2O)2].NO(3).2H2O (HL1 = N-pyrimidine norcantharidin acylamide acid, C12H13N3O4; HL2 = N-pyridine norcantharidin acylamide acid, C13H14N2O4; HL3 = N-phenyl norcantharidin acylamide acid, C14H15NO4) were synthesized. HL1, HL2 and HL3 are the ligand of complex(1), complex(2) and complex(3), respectively. Their structures were characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurement, infrared spectra and thermogravimetric analysis. The DNA-binding properties of the complexes have been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that the complexes can bind to DNA by partial intercalation. The liner Stern-Volmer quenching constant Ksq values are 3.3(+/-0.21)(1), 1.7(+/-0.19)(2) and 0.9(+/-0.04)(3), respectively. Complex (1) and (2) have been found to cleave pBR322 plasmid DNA at physiological pH and temperature. The test of antiproliferation activity indicates that complex(1) has strong antiproliferative ability against the SMMC7721 (IC50 = 131.7 +/- 23.4 micromol x L(-1)) and A549 (IC50 = 128.4 +/- 19.9 micromol x L(-1)) cell lines. The inhibition rates of complex(2) (IC50 = 86.3 +/- 11.3 micromol x L(-1)) are much higher than that of NCTD (IC50 = 115.5 +/- 9.5 micromol x L(-1)) and HL2 (111.0 +/- 5.7 micromol x L(-1)) against SMMC7721 cell lines.

Tris(1H-imidazole-κN)(7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxyl-ato-κO,O,O)cobalt(II) 3.35-hydrate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Co(C(8)H(8)O(5))(C(3)H(4)N(2))(3)]·3.35H(2)O, the central Co(II) ion is in a slightly distorted octa-hedral environment, coordinated by the bridg-ing O atom from the bicyclo-[2.2.1]heptane ligand, by two carboxyl-ate O atoms from two different carboxyl-ate groups and by three N atoms from imidazole ligands. Uncoordinated water mol-ecules, some of them disordered, are present in the crystal structure. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O, N-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen-bonding inter-actions.

Apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer cells induced by Triptolide.

AIM: To investigate apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells induced by Triptolide (TL), and the relationship between this apoptosis and expression of caspase-3' bcl-2 and bax. METHODS: Human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 was cultured in DMEM media for this study. MTT assay was used to determine the cell growth inhibitory rate in vitro. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assay were used to detect the apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer cells before and after TL treatment. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-associated gene caspase-3' bcl-2 and bax. RESULTS: TL inhibited the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. TL induced human pancreatic cancer cells to undergo apoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics. TUNEL assay showed that after the treatment of human pancreatic cancer cells with 40 ng/mL TL for 12 h and 24 h, the apoptotic rates of human pancreatic cancer cells increased significantly. RT-PCR demonstrated that caspase-3 and bax were significantly up-regulated in SW1990 cells treated with TL while bcl-2 mRNA was not. CONCLUSION: TL is able to induce the apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells. This apoptosis may be mediated by up-regulating the expression of apoptosis-associated caspase-3 and bax gene.

Effect of polymer additives on heat transport and large-scale circulation in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection.

The present paper presents direct numerical simulations of Rayleigh-Bénard convection (RBC) in an enclosed cell filled with the polymer solution in order to investigate the viscoelastic effect on the characteristics of heat transport and large-scale circulation (LSC) of RBC. To overcome the difficulties in numerically solving a high Weissenberg number (Wi) problem of viscoelastic fluid flow with strong elastic effect, the log-conformation reformulation method was implemented. Numerical results showed that the addition of polymers reduced the heat flux and the amount of heat transfer reduction (HTR) behaves nonmonotonically, which firstly increases but then decreases with Wi. The maximum HTR reaches around 8.7% at the critical Wi. The nonmonotonic behavior of HTR as a function of Wi was then corroborated with the modifications of the period of LSC and turbulent energy as well as viscous boundary layer thickness. Finally, a standard turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget analysis was done for the whole domain, the boundary layer region, and the bulk region. It showed that the role change of elastic stress contributions to TKE is mainly responsible for this nonmonotonic behavior of HTR.

Underground measurements of artificial radioactivity in squids from the western Pacific Ocean.

To investigate the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident's radiological effect on marine ecosystem, ash samples of squids from the western Pacific Ocean were collected in May 2014 and measured using an underground gamma-ray spectrometer in the underground laboratory JinPing. Low levels of 108mAg, 110mAg, 134Cs and 137Cs were detected, which indicates that the influence of the FDNPP accident on marine ecosystem is lasting but decreasing.

Compton suppression in BEGe detectors by digital pulse shape analysis.

A new method of pulse shape discrimination (PSD) for BEGe detectors is developed to suppress Compton-continuum by digital pulse shape analysis (PSA), which helps reduce the Compton background level in gamma ray spectrometry. A decision parameter related to the rise time of a pulse shape was presented. The method was verified by experiments using 60Co and 137Cs sources. The result indicated that the 60Co Peak to Compton ratio and the Cs-Peak to Co-Compton ratio could be improved by more than two and three times, respectively.

[Determination of LF-VD refining furnace slag by X ray fluorescence spectrometry].

Eight components, i.e. TFe, CaO, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, MnO and P2O5 in refining furnace slag were determined by X ray fluorescence spectrometer. Because the content of CaO was high, the authors selected 12 national and departmental grade slag standard samples and prepared a series of synthetic standard samples by adding spectrally pure reagents to them. The calibration curve is suitable to the sample analysis of CaO, MgO and SiO2 with widely varying range. Meanwhile, the points on the curve are even. The samples were prepared at high temperature by adding Li2B4O7 as flux. The experiments for the selection of the sample preparation conditions about strip reagents, melting temperature and dulition ratio were carried out. The matrix effects on absorption and enhancement were corrected by means of PH model and theoretical alpha coefficient. Moreover, the precision and accuracy experiments were performed. In comparison with chemical analysis method, the quantitative analytical results for each component are satisfactory. The method has proven rapid, precise and simple.

Synthesis, interaction with DNA and antiproliferative activities of two novel Cu(II) complexes with Schiff base of benzimidazole.

Two novel copper(II) complexes with Schiff base of benzimidazole [Cu(L)Cl]2·CH3OH have been synthesized. HL(1) (N-(benzimidazol-2-ymethyl)-5-chlorosalicylideneimine, C15H11ClN3O) and HL(2) (N-(benzimidazol-2-ymethyl)-salicylideneimine, C15H12N3O) are ligands of complex (1) and complex (2), respectively. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, TGA and X-ray diffraction. Within the complexes, Cu(II) ions were four coordinated by two nitrogen atom of azomethine and imine, one phenolic oxygen atom from HL and one chloride atom. A distorted quadrilateral structure was formed. Complex (1) crystallized in the triclinic crystal system. Results showed that π-π stacking effect occurred due to the existence of aromatic ring from Schiff base and hydrogen bonding between methanol and adjacent atoms. The DNA binding properties of the complexes were investigated by electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and viscosity measurements. Results indicated that complexes bound to DNA via partial intercalation mode. The DNA binding constants Kb/(L mol(-1)) were 1.81×10(4) (1), 1.37×10(4) (2), 6.27×10(3) (HL(1)) and 3.14×10(3) (HL(2)) at 298 K. The title complexes could quench the emission intensities of EB-DNA system significantly. The results of agarose gel electrophoresis indicated complex (1) could cleave supercoiled DNA through the oxidative mechanism. The inhibition ratios revealed that complex (1) and HL(1) had strong antiproliferative activities against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) lines and human colorectal cancer cells (COLO205) lines in vitro. The antiproliferative activities of complex (1) against MCF-7 lines (IC50=16.9±1.5 µmol L(-1)) and against COLO205 lines (IC50=16.5±3.4 µmol L(-1)) is much stronger than that of HL(1), which had the potential to develop anti-cancer drug.

Fasting glucagon-like peptide-1 in patients with overt hyperthyroidism and euthyroid congenital hypothyroidism.

AIM: To investigate the influence of overt hyperthyroidism and euthyroid congenital hypothyroidism on fasting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels. METHODS: A total of 30 untreated overt hyperthyroidism patients, 17 euthyroid congenital hypothyroidism children, and age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Levels of GLP-1, insulin, glucose, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) were measured and evaluated. RESULTS: Fasting GLP-1, blood glucose, insulin, and HOMR-IR levels were higher in patients with overt hyperthyroidism than in controls (p=0.030, p=0.008, p=0.004, p=0.037, respectively). These parameters in euthyroid hypothyroidism were similar to the controls. In euthyroid congenital hypothyroidism and overt hyperthyroidism patients, serum GLP-1 levels were not correlated with thyroid hormone, blood glucose, insulin, and HOMR-IR. CONCLUSIONS: Fasting GLP-1 levels in the peripheral circulation were significantly increased in overt hyperthyroidism, however, they were no different in euthyroid congenital hypothyroidism.

The impact of hyperglycemic emergencies on the kidney and liver.

Studies on the alterations of liver and kidney function parameters in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and diabetic ketosis (DK) were limited. Participants with DKA, DK, non-DK, and healthy controls were enrolled in the current study. Parameters of liver and kidney function were measured and evaluated. The patients with DKA had higher levels of plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), uric acid, and creatinine but lower levels of transferases and protein compared with the other three groups (P < 0.05 for all). The patients with DK had higher levels of plasma glucose and HbA1c but lower levels of glutamyl transpeptidase and protein compared with the non-DK and control groups (P < 0.05). Prealbumin levels were significantly reduced in the severe DKA patients compared with the mild/moderate DKA patients. Serum prealbumin levels were correlated with albumin levels (r = 0.401, P = 0.010), HCO3 (r = 0.350, P = 0.027), and arterial pH (r = 0.597, P < 0.001) in the DKA patients. A diagnostic analysis showed that lower prealbumin levels significantly reflected the presence of hyperglycemic emergencies (P < 0.001). Liver and kidney function parameters deteriorated, especially in DKA. Prealbumin levels can be of value in detecting the presence of hyperglycemic crisis. This clinical trial is registered with ChiCTR-OCH-12003077.