Molecular characterization and induced changes of histone acetyltransferases in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis in response to cold stress.

BACKGROUND: Epigenetic modifications of histones play important roles in the response of eukaryotic organisms to environmental stress. However, many histone acetyltransferases (HATs), which are responsible for histone acetylation, and their roles in mediating the tick response to cold stress have yet to be identified. In the present study, HATs were molecularly characterized and their associations with the cold response of the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis explored. METHODS: HATs were characterized by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on published genome sequences, followed by multiple bioinformatic analyses. The differential expression of genes in H. longicornis under different cold treatment conditions was evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). RNA interference was used to explore the association of HATs with the cold response of H. longicornis. RESULTS: Two HAT genes were identified in H. longicornis (Hl), a GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (henceforth HlGNAT) and a type B histone acetyltransferase (henceforth HlHAT-B), which are respectively 960 base pairs (bp) and 1239 bp in length. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that HlGNAT and HlHAT-B are unstable hydrophilic proteins characterized by the presence of the acetyltransferase 16 domain and Hat1_N domain, respectively. RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of HlGNAT and HlHAT-B decreased after 3 days of cold treatment, but gradually increased with a longer period of cold treatment. The mortality rate following knockdown of HlGNAT or HlHAT-B by RNA interference, which was confirmed by RT-qPCR, significantly increased (P < 0.05) when H. longicornis was treated at the lowest lethal temperature (- 14 °C) for 2 h. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that HATs may play a crucial role in the cold response of H. longicornis. Thus further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying the epigenetic regulation of the cold response in ticks.

Clinical observation on treatment of Alzheimer's disease with Sun's scalp-abdominal acupuncture combined with donepezil hydrochloride. / å­™æ°å¤´é’ˆè ¹é’ˆè”åˆç›é ¸å¤šå¥ˆå“Œé½æ²»ç–—é˜¿å°”èŒ¨æµ·é»˜ç— çš„ä¸´åºŠè§‚å¯Ÿ.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of scalp-abdominal acupuncture combined with donepezil hydrochloride on cognition and life ability of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), so as to evaluate its clinical efficacy. METHODS: Sixty AD patients were collected and randomly divided into control group (30 cases) and observation group (30 cases). Patients in the control group were treated with oral donepezil hydrochloride (5 mg, once daily). Patients in the observation group were treated with scalp-abdominal acupuncture at Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV24+), Sishencong (EX-HN1), "emotional area", Shenting (GV24), "abdominal area 1""abdominal area 8", and bilateral Fengchi (GB20), Taixi (KI3), Xuanzhong (GB39), Zusanli (ST36) on the basis of control group, and electroacupuncture (10 Hz/50 Hz, 0.5 to 5.0 mA) was applied to EX-HN1, "emotional area""abdominal area 1" and "abdominal area 8", once daily, 30 min each time. Four weeks as a course of treatment, both the two groups were treated for two consecutive courses. Before and after treatment, the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), AD assessmennt scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) and activity of daily living scale (ADL) were evaluated. The clinical efficacy index was calculated and safety was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the MMSE and ADL scores were higher (P<0.05) and the ADAS-Cog score was lower (P<0.05) than those before treatment in both groups. Compared with the control group, the MMSE and ADL scores were increased (P<0.05) and ADAS-Cog score was decreased (P<0.05) in the observation group. The total effective rate of the observation group (26/30, 86.67%) was higher (P<0.05) than that of the control group (23/30, 76.67%). No adverse reactions occurred in both groups during the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Scalp-abdominal acupuncture combined with donepezil hydrochloride can effectively improve the cognitive ability and daily living ability of AD patients, and the efficacy is better than that of oral donepezil hydrochloride alone.

Sulfated Chitosan-Modified CuS Nanocluster: A Versatile Nanoformulation for Simultaneous Antibacterial and Bone Regenerative Therapy in Periodontitis.

Periodontitis, a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease worldwide, is triggered by periodontopathogenic bacteria, resulting in the progressive destruction of periodontal tissue, particularly the alveolar bone. To effectively address periodontitis, this study proposed a nanoformulation known as CuS@MSN-SCS. This formulation involves coating citrate-grafted copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles with mesoporous silica (MSNs), followed by surface modification using amino groups and sulfated chitosan (SCS) through electrostatic interactions. The objective of this formulation is to achieve efficient bacteria removal by inducing ROS signaling pathways mediated by Cu2+ ions. Additionally, it aims to promote alveolar bone regeneration through Cu2+-induced pro-angiogenesis and SCS-mediated bone regeneration. As anticipated, by regulating the surface charges, the negatively charged CuS nanoparticles capped with sodium citrate were successfully coated with MSNs, and the subsequent introduction of amine groups using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane was followed by the incorporation of SCS through electrostatic interactions, resulting in the formation of CuS@MSN-SCS. The developed nanoformulation was verified to not only significantly exacerbate the oxidative stress of Fusobacterium nucleatum, thereby suppressing bacteria growth and biofilm formation in vitro, but also effectively alleviate the inflammatory response and promote alveolar bone regeneration without evident biotoxicity in an in vivo rat periodontitis model. These findings contribute to the therapeutic effect on periodontitis. Overall, this study successfully developed a nanoformulation for combating bacteria and facilitating alveolar bone regeneration, demonstrating the promising potential for clinical treatment of periodontitis.

Gel-confined fabrication of fully bio-based filtration membrane for green capture and rapid detection of airborne microbes.

Air filtration has become a desirable route for collecting airborne microbes. However, the potential biotoxicity and sterilization of current air filtration membranes often lead to undesired inactivation of captured microbes, which greatly limits microbial non-traumatic transfer and recovery. Herein, we report a gel-confined phase separation strategy to rationally fabricate a fully bio-based filtration membrane (SGFM) using soluble soybean polysaccharide and gelatin. The versatile SGFM features fascinating honeycomb micro-nano architecture and hierarchical interconnected porous structures for microbial capture, and achieves a lower pressure drop, higher interception efficiency (99.3%), and superior microbial survivability than commercial gelatin filtration membranes. Particularly, the water-dissolvable SGFM can greatly simplify the elution and extraction process after bioaerosol sampling, thereby bringing about maximum sample transfer and vigorous recovery of collected microbes. Meanwhile, green capture coupled with ATP bioluminescence endows the SGFM with rapid and quantitative detection capability for airborne microbes. This work may pave the way for designing green protocols for the detection of bioaerosols.

Diagnostic implications of ubiquitination-related gene signatures in Alzheimer's disease.

The purpose of this study was to explore the diagnostic implications of ubiquitination-related gene signatures in Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we first collected 161 samples from the GEO database (including 87 in the AD group and 74 in the normal group). Subsequently, through differential expression analysis and the iUUCD 2.0 database, we obtained 3450 Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) and 806 Ubiquitin-related genes (UbRGs). After taking the intersection, we obtained 128 UbR-DEGs. Secondly, by conducting GO and KEGG enrichment analysis on these 128 UbR-DEGs, we identified the main molecular functions and biological pathways related to AD. Furthermore, through the utilization of GSEA analysis, we have gained insight into the enrichment of functions and pathways within both the AD and normal groups. Further, using lasso regression analysis and cross-validation techniques, we identified 22 characteristic genes associated with AD. Subsequently, we constructed a logistic regression model and optimized it, resulting in the identification of 6 RUbR-DEGs: KLHL21, WDR82, DTX3L, UBTD2, CISH, and ATXN3L. In addition, the ROC result showed that the diagnostic model we built has excellent accuracy and reliability in identifying AD patients. Finally, we constructed a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA (competing endogenous RNA, ceRNA) regulatory network for AD based on six RUbR-DEGs, further elucidating the interaction between UbRGs and lncRNA, miRNA. In conclusion, our findings will contribute to further understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of AD and provide a new perspective for AD risk prediction, early diagnosis and targeted therapy in the population.

Dissecting causal relationships between primary biliary cholangitis and extrahepatic autoimmune diseases based on Mendelian randomization.

As an autoimmune disease, up to 73% of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) have a combination of extrahepatic autoimmune diseases (EHAIDs); however, the causal relationship between PBC and EHAIDs is unclear. The genome-wide association analyses provided 14 GWAS data for PBC and EHAIDs, and bidirectional, two-sample MR analyses were performed to examine the relationship between PBC and EHAIDs. The analysis using MR provides a strong and meaningful estimation of the bidirectional correlation between PBC and 7 EHAIDs: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, autoimmune hypothyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis of its types. In addition, PBC increases the risk of autoimmune thyroid diseases such as autoimmune hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease, as well as multiple sclerosis and psoriasis. Additionally, PBC is identified as a risk factor for Crohn's disease and Celiac disease. Based on genetic evidence, there may be connections between PBC and specific EHAIDs: not all coexisting EHAIDs induce PBC, and vice versa. This underscores the significance of prioritizing PBC in clinical practice. Additionally, if any liver function abnormalities are observed during treatment or with EHAIDs, it is crucial to consider the possibility of comorbid PBC.

Correction: Innovative wound management: creating dynamic Alg-Mg/SF hydrogels for controlled Mg2+ release in wound healing.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D4RA00793J.].

Synergistic Catalytic Performance of Pt-Au Bimetallic Catalysts on High-Crystallinity ZSM-23 Zeolite for Hexadecane Hydroisomerization: Metal-Acid Balance and Enhanced Isomerization Selectivity.

Highly crystalline ZSM-23 zeolite, exhibiting a distinctive dumbbell morphology, was synthesized via a hydrothermal method. Bifunctional catalysts, comprising single metals (Pt or Au) and bimetals (Pt-Au), were successfully prepared by using a positional precipitation method. The hydroisomerization of hexadecane served as a model reaction to assess the catalytic performance arising from the synergistic effects of bimetallic active sites. In comparison to single-metal catalysts, 0.3Au0.7Pt/ZSM-23 demonstrated increased n-C16 conversion, while 0.5Au0.5Pt/ZSM-23 exhibited enhanced i-C16 selectivity, achieving the highest i-C16 yield. The bimetallic catalyst not only finely tuned the metal site activity through bimetallic synergy but also achieved a superior balance between metal and acid catalysis, resulting in improved catalytic performance in the n-C16 hydroisomerization. The Pt-Au bimetallic catalyst approached the ideal requirements for a hydroisomerization catalyst, achieving a harmonious balance of metal and acid catalysis.

Effects of Narrative Exposure Therapy for Treating Depressive and Anxious Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Narrative exposure therapy (NET) has been used in various contexts for the treatment of the effects of trauma, with promising results in clinical trials. However, its effects on anxiety and depression are still unclear. The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of NET on depression and anxiety. METHODS: The Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Web of Science core collection, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Database, and Wangfang databases were searched from the earliest records to March 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, evaluated the risk of bias, and cross-checked the data. Meta-analysis was performed using the program RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: Eleven randomized controlled trials with a total of 754 participants were included in the study. The results showed that NET reduced both the depression (standard mean difference [SMD]=-0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.73--0.29, p<0.00001) and anxiety (SMD=-0.65, 95% CI -1.13--0.18, p=0.007) scores of the patients. Furthermore, NET was found to alleviate negative emotions associated with guilt (mean difference [MD]=-3.60, 95% CI -5.52--1.68, p=0.0005) and negative change (MD=-5.80, 95% CI -9.76--1.83, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: This analysis showed that NET can alleviate depression and anxiety. It may thus be used in clinical settings to alleviate patients' negative feelings and aid their overall recovery.

A non-canonical role of the inner kinetochore in regulating sister-chromatid cohesion at centromeres.

The 16-subunit Constitutive Centromere-associated Network (CCAN)-based inner kinetochore is well-known for connecting centromeric chromatin to the spindle-binding outer kinetochore. Here, we report a non-canonical role for the inner kinetochore in directly regulating sister-chromatid cohesion at centromeres. We provide biochemical, X-ray crystal structure, and intracellular ectopic localization evidence that the inner kinetochore directly binds cohesin, a ring-shaped multi-subunit complex that holds sister chromatids together from S-phase until anaphase onset. This interaction is mediated by binding of the 5-subunit CENP-OPQUR sub-complex of CCAN to the Scc1-SA2 sub-complex of cohesin. Mutation in the CENP-U subunit of the CENP-OPQUR complex that abolishes its binding to the composite interface between Scc1 and SA2 weakens centromeric cohesion, leading to premature separation of sister chromatids during delayed metaphase. We further show that CENP-U competes with the cohesin release factor Wapl for binding the interface of Scc1-SA2, and that the cohesion-protecting role for CENP-U can be bypassed by depleting Wapl. Taken together, this study reveals an inner kinetochore-bound pool of cohesin, which strengthens centromeric sister-chromatid cohesion to resist metaphase spindle pulling forces.

Optimization of tracheoesophageal fistula model established with T-shaped magnet system based on magnetic compression technique.

BACKGROUND: The magnetic compression technique has been used to establish an animal model of tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), but the commonly shaped magnets present limitations of poor homogeneity of TEF and poor model control. We designed a T-shaped magnet system to overcome these problems and verified its effectiveness via animal experiments. AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of a T-shaped magnet system for establishing a TEF model in beagle dogs. METHODS: Twelve beagles were randomly assigned to groups in which magnets of the T-shaped scheme (study group, n = 6) or normal magnets (control group, n = 6) were implanted into the trachea and esophagus separately under gastroscopy. Operation time, operation success rate, and accidental injury were recorded. After operation, the presence and timing of cough and the time of magnet shedding were observed. Dogs in the control group were euthanized after X-ray and gastroscopy to confirm establishment of TEFs after coughing, and gross specimens of TEFs were obtained. Dogs in the study group were euthanized after X-ray and gastroscopy 2 wk after surgery, and gross specimens were obtained. Fistula size was measured in all animals, and then harvested fistula specimens were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson trichrome staining. RESULTS: The operation success rate was 100% for both groups. Operation time did not differ between the study group (5.25 min ± 1.29 min) and the control group (4.75 min ± 1.70 min; P = 0.331). No bleeding, perforation, or unplanned magnet attraction occurred in any animal during the operation. In the early postoperative period, all dogs ate freely and were generally in good condition. Dogs in the control group had severe cough after drinking water at 6-9 d after surgery. X-ray indicated that the magnets had entered the stomach, and gastroscopy showed TEF formation. Gross specimens of TEFs from the control group showed the formation of fistulas with a diameter of 4.94 mm ± 1.29 mm (range, 3.52-6.56 mm). HE and Masson trichrome staining showed scar tissue formation and hierarchical structural disorder at the fistulas. Dogs in the study group did not exhibit obvious coughing after surgery. X-ray examination 2 wk after surgery indicated fixed magnet positioning, and gastroscopy showed no change in magnet positioning. The magnets were removed using a snare under endoscopy, and TEF was observed. Gross specimens showed well-formed fistulas with a diameter of 6.11 mm ± 0.16 mm (range, 5.92-6.36 mm), which exceeded that in the control group (P < 0.001). Scar formation was observed on the internal surface of fistulas by HE and Masson trichrome staining, and the structure was more regular than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: Use of the modified T-shaped magnet scheme is safe and feasible for establishing TEF and can achieve a more stable and uniform fistula size compared with ordinary magnets. Most importantly, this model offers better controllability, which improves the flexibility of follow-up studies.

Sirolimus is effective for refractory/relapsed idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease: A single-center, retrospective study.

Refractory/relapsed idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (R/R iMCD) has limited treatment options. With studies showing increased mTOR activation in iMCD patients, sirolimus becomes an attractive and promising therapy for R/R iMCD. Here we report the results of a retrospective study involving 26 R/R iMCD patients treated with sirolimus-containing regimen. The median age at sirolimus initiation was 40.5 years (23-60), with a median prior treatment line of 2 (1-5). 18 patients (69.2%) achieved symptomatic and biochemical response, with a median time to at least overall partial remission of 1.9 months (0.5-14.6). The median follow-up time from sirolimus initiation was 11.7 months (1.6-50.7) and the median time to next treatment (TTNT) was 46.2 months. No patients died at the end of follow-up. Most of the patients in the cohort are in ongoing responses and continue sirolimus therapy. Sirolimus is well tolerated with minor adverse effects. In conclusion, sirolimus is effective for R/R iMCD patients with good tolerance.

Identification of potential key lipid metabolism-related genes involved in tubular injury in diabetic kidney disease by bioinformatics analysis.

AIMS: Accumulating evidences indicate that abnormalities in tubular lipid metabolism play a crucial role in the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). We aim to identify novel lipid metabolism-related genes associated with tubular injury in DKD by utilizing bioinformatics approaches. METHODS: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between control and DKD tubular tissue samples were screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and then were intersected with lipid metabolism-related genes. Hub genes were further determined by combined weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. We performed enrichment analysis, immune analysis, clustering analysis, and constructed networks between hub genes and miRNAs, transcription factors and small molecule drugs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of hub genes. We validated the relationships between hub genes and DKD with external datasets and our own clinical samples. RESULTS: There were 5 of 37 lipid metabolism-related DEGs identified as hub genes. Enrichment analysis demonstrated that lipid metabolism-related DEGs were enriched in pathways such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling and pyruvate metabolism. Hub genes had potential regulatory relationships with a variety of miRNAs, transcription factors and small molecule drugs, and had high diagnostic efficacy. Immune infiltration analysis revealed that 13 immune cells were altered in DKD, and hub genes exhibited significant correlations with a variety of immune cells. Through clustering analysis, DKD patients could be classified into 3 immune subtypes and 2 lipid metabolism subtypes, respectively. The tubular expression of hub genes in DKD was further verified by other external datasets, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining showed that except ACACB, the other 4 hub genes (LPL, AHR, ME1 and ALOX5) exhibited the same results as the bioinformatics analysis. CONCLUSION: Our study identified several key lipid metabolism-related genes (LPL, AHR, ME1 and ALOX5) that might be involved in tubular injury in DKD, which provide new insights and perspectives for exploring the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of DKD.

Influence of different magnetic forces on the effect of colonic anastomosis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Despite much work having been conducted on magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) in the digestive tract, there are no reports on the influence of magnetic force on the anastomosis. AIM: To investigate the effect of different magnetic force magnets on the MCA of the digestive tract. METHODS: Two groups of magnets of the same sizes but different magnetic forces were designed and produced. A total of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into two groups (powerful magnet group and common magnet group), with 12 rats in each group. Two types of magnets were used to complete the colonic side-to-side anastomosis of the rats. The operation time and magnet discharge time were recorded. The anastomotic specimens were obtained 4 wk after the operation and then the burst pressure and diameter of the anastomosis were measured, and the anastomosis was observed via the naked eye and subjected to histological examination. RESULTS: The magnetic forces of the powerful and common magnet groups at zero distance were 8.26 N and 4.10 N, respectively. The colonic side-to-side anastomosis was completed in all 24 rats, and the operation success rate and postoperative survival rate were 100%. No significant difference was noted in the operation time between the two groups. The magnet discharge time of the powerful magnet group was slightly longer than that of the common magnet group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.513). Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in the burst pressure (P = 0.266) or diameter of magnetic anastomosis (P = 0.095) between the two groups. The gross specimens of the two groups showed good anastomotic healing, and histological observation indicated good mucosal continuity without differences on healing. CONCLUSION: In the rat colonic side-to-side MCA model, both the powerful magnet with 8.26 N and the common magnet with 4.10 N showed no significant impact on the anastomosis establishment process or its effect.

Case report: Successful treatment of acute generalized pustular psoriasis with multiple comorbidities with oral tacrolimus.

Acute generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a serious illness. Despite various treatment methods, there is still lack of effective treatment plans for refractory cases with multiple comorbidities. This case report presents a 67-year-old woman with acute GPP, stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD), type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, in whom skin symptom disappearance and kidney function improvement were observed after the use of oral tacrolimus as the sole therapy. This is the first report on the application of tacrolimus in the treatment of acute GPP, especially refractory acute GPP. The successful treatment indicates that there are shared immune pathways between acute GPP and CKD, and the pathways can be interdicted by tacrolimus. Further studies are needed to optimize the therapy to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity.

68Ga-NC-BCH Whole-Body PET Imaging Rapidly Targets Claudin18.2 in Lesions in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients.

68Ga-labeled nanobody (68Ga-NC-BCH) is a single-domain antibody-based PET imaging agent. We conducted a first-in-humans study of 68Ga-NC-BCH for PET to determine its in vivo biodistribution, metabolism, radiation dosimetry, safety, and potential for quantifying claudin-18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2) expression in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Methods: Initially, we synthesized the probe 68Ga-NC-BCH and performed preclinical evaluations on human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines and xenograft mouse models. Next, we performed a translational study with a pilot cohort of patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer on a total-body PET/CT scanner. Radiopharmaceutical biodistribution, radiation dosimetry, and the relationship between tumor uptake and CLDN18.2 expression were evaluated. Results: 68Ga-NC-BCH was stably prepared and demonstrated good radiochemical properties. According to preclinical evaluation,68Ga-NC-BCH exhibited rapid blood clearance, high affinity for CLDN18.2, and high specific uptake in CLDN18.2-positive cells and xenograft mouse models. 68Ga-NC-BCH displayed high uptake in the stomach and kidney and slight uptake in the pancreas. Compared with 18F-FDG, 68Ga-NC-BCH showed significant differences in uptake in lesions with different levels of CLDN18.2 expression. Conclusion: A clear correlation was detected between PET SUV and CLDN18.2 expression, suggesting that 68Ga-NC-BCH PET could be used as a companion diagnostic tool for optimizing treatments that target CLDN18.2 in tumors.

Atorvastatin-induced intracerebral hemorrhage is inhibited by berberine in zebrafish.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), for which there are currently no effective preventive or treatment methods, has a very high fatality rate. Statins, such as atorvastatin (ATV), are the first-line drugs for regulating blood lipids and treating hyperlipidemia-related cardiovascular diseases. However, ATV-associated ICH has been reported, although its incidence is rare. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective action and mechanisms of berberine (BBR) against ATV-induced brain hemorrhage. We established an ICH model in zebrafish induced by ATV (2 µM) and demonstrated the effects of BBR (10, 50, and 100 µM) on ICH via protecting the vascular network using hemocyte staining and three transgenic zebrafish. BBR was found to reduce brain inflammation and locomotion injury in ICH-zebrafish. Mechanism research showed that ATV increased the levels of VE-cadherin and occludin proteins but disturbed their localization at the cell membrane by abnormal phosphorylation, which decreased the number of intercellular junctions between vascular endothelial cells (VECs), disrupting the integrity of vascular walls. BBR reversed the effects of ATV by promoting autophagic degradation of phosphorylated VE-cadherin and occludin in ATV-induced VECs examined by co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP). These findings provide crucial insights into understanding the BBR mechanisms involved in the maintenance of vascular integrity and in mitigating adverse reactions to ATV.

Efficacy of Weflow Embedded Branch Stents in the Treatment of Stanford Type B Dissection Involving Left Subclavian Artery.

Objective: Weflow embedded branch stent was used in the treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD) involving the left subclavian artery (LSA), and the effectiveness of the stent in the short and medium and term was observed. Methods: The clinical data of 22 patients with TBAD involving LSA treated with Weflow embedded branch stent from the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from December 2020 to October 2021were retrospectively analyzed. The changes in systolic blood pressure of the left upper limb at the onset and postoperative period, the patency rate of left subclavian artery stent at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery, the change of true and false lumen diameters, and the occurrence of complications were evaluated. Results: The patency rate of the left subclavian artery (LSA) branch stent was 100% at 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. With the extension of postoperative time, the diameter of the aortic true lumen gradually increased. One month after surgery, the remodeling indexes of the aorta were improved, and with the extension of postoperative time, the diameter of the aortic false lumen decreased gradually. In the perioperative period, 1 case of vision, 1 case of insomnia, 1 case of retrograde type A dissection, 2 cases of type Ia endoleak, and no other new complications. During the follow-up, 2 patients with disappeared endoleak and 1 patient with retrograde dissection was in good condition after treatment. Conclusions: 1. Weflow embedded branch stent has good safety and reliability in the treatment of TBAD; 2. When LSA is involved, it can effectively improve the blood pressure of the patient's left upper limb, and the patency rate of the branch stent is good within 1 year; 3. Weflow embedded branch stent has a good short-term effect in aortic remodeling, and the medium- and long-term effect needs to be evaluated; 4. Weflow embedded branch stent had no obvious complications during the 1-year follow-up.

Association of vitamin D deficiency and subclinical diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patients.

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) contributes to disability and imposes heavy burdens, while subclinical DPN is lack of attention so far. We aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and distinct subtypes of subclinical DPN in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 3629 T2DM inpatients who undertook nerve conduction study to detect subclinical DPN in Zhongshan Hospital between March 2012 and December 2019. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level < 50 nmol/L. Results: 1620 (44.6%) patients had subclinical DPN and they were further divided into subgroups: distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) (n=685), mononeuropathy (n=679) and radiculopathy (n=256). Compared with non-DPN, DPN group had significantly lower level of 25(OH)D (P < 0.05). In DPN subtypes, only DSPN patients had significantly lower levels of 25(OH)D (36.18 ± 19.47 vs. 41.03 ± 18.47 nmol/L, P < 0.001) and higher proportion of vitamin D deficiency (78.54% vs. 72.18%, P < 0.001) than non-DPN. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with the increased prevalence of subclinical DPN [odds ratio (OR) 1.276, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.086-1.501, P = 0.003] and DSPN [OR 1. 646, 95% CI 1.31-2.078, P < 0.001], independent of sex, age, weight, blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin, T2DM duration, calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, lipids and renal function. The association between vitamin D deficiency and mononeuropathy or radiculopathy was not statistically significant. A negative linear association was observed between 25(OH)D and subclinical DSPN. Vitamin D deficiency maintained its significant association with subclinical DSPN in all age groups. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with subclinical DSPN, rather than other DPN subtypes.