Safety and efficacy of short-term dual antiplatelet therapy combined with intensive rosuvastatin in acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of short-term (7-day) Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) with intensive rosuvastatin in Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). METHODS: In this study, patients with AIS in the emergency department of the hospital from October 2016 to December 2019 were registered and divided into the control group (Single Antiplatelet Therapy [SAPT] + rosuvastatin) and the study group (7-day DAPT + intensive rosuvastatin) according to the therapy regimens. The generalized linear model was used to compare the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores between the two groups during the 21-day treatment. A Cox regression model was used to compare recurrent ischemic stroke, bleeding events, Statin-Induced Liver Injury (SILI), and Statin-Associated Myopathy (SAM) between the two groups during the 90-day follow-up. RESULTS: Comparison of NIHSS scores after 21-day treatment: NIHSS scores in the study group decreased significantly, 0.273-times as much as that in the control group (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.273; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 0.208-0.359; p < 0.001). Comparison of recurrent ischemic stroke during the 90-day follow-up: The therapy of the study group reduced the risk of recurrent stroke by 65% (7.76% vs. 22.82%, Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.350; 95% CI 0.167-0.730; p = 0.005). Comparison of bleeding events: There was no statistical difference between the two groups (7.79% vs. 6.71%, HR = 1.076; 95% CI 0.424-2.732; p = 0.878). No cases of SILI and SAM were found. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term DAPT with intensive rosuvastatin effectively relieved the clinical symptoms and significantly reduced the recurrent stroke for patients with mild-to-moderate AIS within 90 days, without increasing bleeding events, SILI and SAM.

Safety and efficacy of short-term dual antiplatelet therapy combined with intensive rosuvastatin in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of short-term (7-day) Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) with intensive rosuvastatin in Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). Methods: In this study, patients with AIS in the emergency department of the hospital from October 2016 to December 2019 were registered and divided into the control group (Single Antiplatelet Therapy [SAPT] + rosuvastatin) and the study group (7-day DAPT + intensive rosuvastatin) according to the therapy regimens. The generalized linear model was used to compare the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores between the two groups during the 21-day treatment. A Cox regression model was used to compare recurrent ischemic stroke, bleeding events, Statin-Induced Liver Injury (SILI), and Statin-Associated Myopathy (SAM) between the two groups during the 90-day follow-up. Results: Comparison of NIHSS scores after 21-day treatment: NIHSS scores in the study group decreased significantly, 0.273-times as much as that in the control group (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.273; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 0.208-0.359; p < 0.001). Comparison of recurrent ischemic stroke during the 90-day follow-up: The therapy of the study group reduced the risk of recurrent stroke by 65% (7.76% vs. 22.82%, Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.350; 95% CI 0.167-0.730; p = 0.005). Comparison of bleeding events: There was no statistical difference between the two groups (7.79% vs. 6.71%, HR = 1.076; 95% CI 0.424-2.732; p = 0.878). No cases of SILI and SAM were found. Conclusions: Short-term DAPT with intensive rosuvastatin effectively relieved the clinical symptoms and significantly reduced the recurrent stroke for patients with mild-to-moderate AIS within 90 days, without increasing bleeding events, SILI and SAM.

Correlation between the anatomical morphology of palatal rugae and sex / Correlación entre la morfología anatómica de las rugas palatinas y el sexo

SUMMARY: To investigate the correlation between the anatomical morphology of palatal rugae and sex. The study sample consisted of 120 students studying from Shanxi Medical University, of which 60 were females and 60 were males. The digital model of the palatal rugae was obtained by the 3 Shape TRIOS intraoral scanner. And the shapes of palatal rugae were recorded. Association between palatal rugae shape and sex were tested using Chi-square analysis. And logistic regression analysis (LRA) was carried out to calculate the accuracy of gender prediction using rugae shapes. There was a statistically significant difference between males and females in terms of the distribution of wavy and circular palate rugae. The use of logistic regression analysis obtained a sex predictive value of 65 % when all the rugae shapes were analyzed. Digital images of the palatal rugae morphology contribute to more accurate and convenient for data collection and transformation. It was found that rugae patterns can moderately identify the sex of the specific population when multivariate statistics such as LRA is applied. The palatal rugae morphology can be utilized as an assistant measure for sex identification.

RESUMEN: Investigar la correlación entre la morfología anatómica de las rugas palatinas y el sexo. En la muestra de este estudio se incluyeron 120 estudiantes de la Universidad Médica de Shanxi, (60 mujeres y 60 hombres). El modelo digital de las rugas palatinas se obtuvo mediante escáner intraoral 3 Shape TRIOS, y se registraron las formas de las rugas palatinas. La asociación entre la forma de las rugas palatinas y el sexo se evaluó mediante un análisis de Chi-cuadrado; para calcular la precisión de la predicción de sexo se llevó a cabo un análisis de regresión logística (ARL) Se observó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre hombres y mujeres en términos de la distribución de las rugas palatinas onduladas y circulares. El uso de análisis de regresión logística obtuvo un valor predictivo de sexo del 65 % cuando se analizaron todas las formas de las rugas. Las imágenes digitales de la morfología de las rugas palatinas contribuyen a una recopilación de datos más precisa. En este análisis se determinó que los patrones de rugas pueden identificar relativamente el sexo de una población específica, cuando se aplican estadísticas multivariadas como ARL. La morfología de las rugas palatinas se puede utilizar como medida de ayuda para la identificación de sexo.

A light-dependent molecular link between competition cues and defence responses in plants.

Growth responses to competition1 and defence responses to the attack of consumer organisms2 are two classic examples of adaptive phenotypic plasticity in plants. However, the mechanistic and functional links between these responses are not well understood. Jasmonates, a family of lipid-derived signals, are potent growth inhibitors and central regulators of plant immunity to herbivores and pathogens3,4, with both roles being evolutionarily conserved from bryophytes5 to angiosperms6. When shade-intolerant plants perceive the proximity of competitors using the photoreceptor phytochrome B, they activate the shade-avoidance syndrome and downregulate jasmonate responses7. Despite the central implications of this light-mediated change in the growth/defence balance for plant adaptation and crop yield8,9, the mechanisms by which photoreceptors relay light cues to the jasmonate signalling pathway remain poorly understood10. Here, we identify a sulfotransferase (ST2a) that is strongly upregulated by plant proximity perceived by phytochrome B via the phytochrome B-phytochrome interacting factor signalling module. By catalysing the formation of a sulfated jasmonate derivative, ST2a acts to reduce the pool of precursors of active forms of jasmonates and represents a direct molecular link between photoreceptors and hormone signalling in plants. The metabolic step defined by this enzyme provides a molecular mechanism for prioritizing shade avoidance over defence under intense plant competition.

Comprehensive multivariate correlations between climatic effect, metabolite-profile, antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity of Brazilian red propolis metabolites during seasonal study.

The standardization of apiceutical products like as propolis extracts has been widely debated worldwide and variations in the propolis chemical composition are still very relevant topics for use-standardized of different propolis-type as medication by much of the world's population. The present manuscript discuss important issues related to the climate effect and variations in propolis metabolite-profiling changes, antioxidant capacity and variations of the antibacterial activity of the Brazilian red propolis metabolites using comprehensive multivariate correlations. It was observed the increasing of guttiferones concentrations during the intense drought period and drastic decreasing in rainy period. The climate variation induced the high concentration of flavonoids in rainy period with pronounced dropped in some rainy months. The Pearson´s analysis demonstrated correlation between IC50 from DPPH and guttiferones and flavonoids concentrations. The PCA-X and Hotelling T2 test showed outliers during the months with lowest concentrations of formononetin and isoliquiritigenin was observed in antibacterial tests. The PLS-DA, OPLS-DA and VIP analysis demonstrate guttiferone E, guttiferone B, liquiritigenin, naringenin are considered important substances responsible by anti-staphylococcal activity in red propolis composition during the rainy season and drought period, but a synergistic effect with other flavonoids and isoflavonoids are not ruled out.

Prediction of Anti-inflammatory Plants and Discovery of Their Biomarkers by Machine Learning Algorithms and Metabolomic Studies.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most used anti-inflammatory medicines in the world. Side effects still occur, however, and some inflammatory pathologies lack efficient treatment. Cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways are of utmost importance in inflammatory processes; therefore, novel inhibitors are currently needed for both of them. Dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase are anti-inflammatory drugs with high efficacy and low side effects. In this work, 57 leaf extracts (EtOH-H2O 7 : 3, v/v) from Asteraceae species with in vitro dual inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution-ORBITRAP-mass spectrometry analysis and subjected to in silico studies using machine learning algorithms. The data from all samples were processed by employing differential expression analysis software coupled to the Dictionary of Natural Products for dereplication studies. The 6052 chromatographic peaks (ESI positive and negative modes) of the extracts were selected by a genetic algorithm according to their respective anti-inflammatory properties; after this procedure, 1241 of them remained. A study using a decision tree classifier was carried out, and 11 compounds were determined to be biomarkers due to their anti-inflammatory potential. Finally, a model to predict new biologically active extracts from Asteraceae species using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry information with no prior knowledge of their biological data was built using a multilayer perceptron (artificial neural networks) with the back-propagation algorithm using the biomarker data. As a result, a new and robust artificial neural network model for predicting the anti-inflammatory activity of natural compounds was obtained, resulting in a high percentage of correct predictions (81 %), high precision (100 %) for dual inhibition, and low error values (mean absolute error = 0.3), as also shown in the validation test. Thus, the biomarkers of the Asteraceae extracts were statistically correlated with their anti-inflammatory activities and can therefore be useful to predict new anti-inflammatory extracts and their anti-inflammatory compounds using only liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data.

Effects of female diet and age on offspring sex ratio of the solitary parasitoid Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae) / Efeitos da dieta e idade da fêmea em relação à prole e à razão sexual do parasitoide solitário Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae)

Effects of female diet and age on offspring sex ratio of the solitary parasitoid Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae). Theories predict that females of parasitoid wasps would adjust the offspring sex ratio to environmental conditions in the oviposition patch, but the diet and age of females would also affect the sex ratio adjustment. Our focus was to test the effects of female diet and age on offspring sex ratio of the solitary parasitoid wasp, Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani, 1875). Our results showed that females fed with honey had significantly less female biased offspring sex ratio than those fed only with water. Offspring sex ratio (male percentage) decreased with female age or female longevity at the beginning of oviposition but increased at the end. There should be a sperm limitation in P. vindemmiae females at the end of oviposition, and a higher frequency of unfertilized eggs were laid then. Females also laid more unfertilized eggs at the beginning of oviposition, which would be necessary to insure the mating among offspring. Male offspring developed faster and emerged earlier, which would also reduce the risk of virginity in offspring with female-biased sex ratio.

Efeitos da dieta e idade da fêmea em relação à prole e à razão sexual do parasitoide solitário Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae). As teorias predizem que as fêmeas parasitoides de vespas ajustam a relação razão sexual dos descendentes, de acordo com condições ambientais, em cada oviposição. Entretanto, a dieta e idade das fêmeas também podem afetar o ajuste da razão sexual. Nosso foco foi testar os efeitos da dieta e idade da fêmeas em relação a razão sexual da prole da vespa parasitoide Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani, 1875). Nossos resultados mostraram que as fêmeas alimentadas com mel apresentaram uma razão sexual significativa menor de fêmeas, do que aquelas alimentadas apenas com água. A razão sexual (percentagem dos machos) diminuiu com a idade ou longevidade das fêmeas no início da oviposição, mas com aumento no final. Deve haver uma limitação de esperma nas fêmeas de P. vindemmiae no final da oviposição e uma maior frequência de posturas de ovos infertilizados. As fêmeas também fazem posturas de um número maior de ovos infertilizados no início da oviposição, que seria necessário para assegurar o acasalamento entre os descendentes. A prole masculina desenvolverá mais rapidamente e emergirá mais cedo, o que também reduziria o risco de virgindade da prole, com a tendenciosa proporção de razão sexual maior das fêmeas.

Estimations of historical atmospheric mercury concentrations from mercury refining and present-day soil concentrations of total mercury in Huancavelica, Peru.

Detailed Spanish records of cinnabar mining and mercury production during the colonial period in Huancavelica, Peru were examined to estimate historical health risks to the community from exposure to elemental mercury (Hg) vapor resulting from cinnabar refining operations. Between 1564 and 1810, nearly 17,000 metric tons of Hg were released to the atmosphere in Huancavelica from Hg production. AERMOD was used with estimated emissions and source characteristics to approximate historic atmospheric concentrations of mercury vapor. Modeled 1-hour and long-term concentrations were compared with present-day inhalation reference values for elemental Hg. Estimated 1-hour maximum concentrations for the entire community exceeded present-day occupational inhalation reference values, while some areas closest to the smelters exceeded present-day emergency response guideline levels. Estimated long-term maximum concentrations for the entire community exceeded the EPA Reference Concentration (RfC) by a factor of 30 to 100, with areas closest to the smelters exceeding the RfC by a factor of 300 to 1000. Based on the estimated historical concentrations of Hg vapor in the community, the study also measured the extent of present-day contamination throughout the community through soil sampling and analysis. Total Hg in soils sampled from 20 locations ranged from 1.75 to 698 mg/kg and three adobe brick samples ranging from 47.4 to 284 mg/kg, consistent with other sites of mercury mining and use. The results of the soil sampling indicate that the present-day population of Huancavelica is exposed to levels of mercury from legacy contamination which is currently among the highest worldwide, consequently placing them at potential risk of adverse health outcomes.

Mycophenolate mofetil versus Rapamycin in Han: SPRD rats with Polycystic Kidney Disease.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the effect of Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on loss of renal function and cyst progression compared to rapamycin in Han: SPRD rats. We also sought to assess whether the effect of combination therapy of MMF plus rapamycin was better than that of monotherapy. METHODS: Sixty heterozygous (Cy/+) and littermate control (+/+) male Han: SPRD rats were weaned at 4 weeks of age, then divided into four groups randomly to receive different treatments by intragastric administration for 2 months: vehicle-treated group as control, MMF-treated group (20mg/kg/day), rapamycin-treated group (2mg/kg/day), and MMF+Rapa- treated group (MMF 20mg/kg/day plus Rapamycin 2mg/kg/day). RESULLS: After 2 months of treatment, rapamycin caused a 22 % decrease in body weight in comparison to the control group, whereas MMF had no significant effect on weight gain. The steady increase of BUN in Cy/+ rats was reduced by 15% in MMF-treated Cy/+ rats. However, rapamycin and combination therapy reduced BUN by 42% and 43%, respectively. CCr was 0.93+/-0.11ml/min in vehicle-treated Cy/+ rats, 1.67+/-0.23 ml/min in MMF-treated Cy/+ rats (P<0.05), 1.72+/-0.44 ml/min and 1.83+/-0.21 ml/min in rapamycin- and MMF+Rapa-treated Cy/+ rats, respectively (.P<0.01). Cyst volume density was 57.1 % in vehicle-treated Cy/+ rats, 45.2% in MMF-treated Cy/+ rats (P<0.05), 32.9% and 37.7% in rapamycin- and MMF+Rapa-treated Cy/+ rats, respectively (P<0.01). MMF markedly ameliorated interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. Rapamycin showed a similar effect on interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, but to a lesser degree. CONCLUSION: MMF is more tolerable than rapamycin and can retard deterioration of renal function in Han: SPRD rats, though its effect is weaker than that of rapamycin. Combination therapy does not exert more favorable effect than monotherapy.

Mycophenolate mofetil versus Rapamycin in Han: SPRD rats with Polycystic Kidney Disease

Objective: We aimed to explore the effect of Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on loss of renal function and cyst progression compared to rapamycin in Han: SPRD rats. We also sought to assess whether the effect of combination therapy of MMF plus rapamycin was better than that of monotherapy. Methods: Sixty heterozygous (Cy/+) and littermate control (+/+) male Han: SPRD rats were weaned at 4 weeks of age, then divided into four groups randomly to receive different treatments by intragastric administration for 2 months: vehicle-treated group as control, MMF-treated group (20mg/kg/day), rapamycin-treated group (2mg/kg/day), and MMF+Rapa- treated group (MMF 20mg/kg/day plus Rapamycin 2mg/kg/day). Resulls: After 2 months of treatment, rapamycin caused a 22 percent decrease in body weight in comparison to the control group, whereas MMF had no significant effect on weight gain. The steady increase of BUN in Cy/+ rats was reduced by 15 percent in MMF-treated Cy/+ rats. However, rapamycin and combination therapy reduced BUN by 42 percent and 43 percent, respectively. CCr was 0.93±0.11ml/min in vehicle-treated Cy/+ rats, 1.67±0.23 ml/min in MMF-treated Cy/+ rats (P<0.05), 1.72±0.44 ml/min and 1.83±0.21 ml/min in rapamycin- and MMF+Rapa-treated Cy/+ rats, respectively (.P<0.01). Cyst volume density was 57.1 percent in vehicle-treated Cy/+ rats, 45.2 percent in MMF-treated Cy/+ rats (P<0.05), 32.9 percent and 37.7 percent in rapamycin- and MMF+Rapa-treated Cy/+ rats, respectively (P<0.01). MMF markedly ameliorated interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. Rapamycin showed a similar effect on interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, but to a lesser degree. Conclusion : MMF is more tolerable than rapamycin and can retard deterioration of renal function in Han: SPRD rats, though its effect is weaker than that of rapamycin. Combination therapy does not exert more favorable effect than monotherapy.