Secondary metabolites from the fungus Cladosporium xylophilum.

A new cladosporol derivative xylophilum A (1), together with 10 known compounds (2-11), were isolated from the rice fermentation of the fungus Cladosporium xylophilum. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic methods and comparison of their NMR data with literatures. The antimicrobial activity of compound 1 against 11 kinds of pathogenic microbial was evaluated, but no significant activity was found (MIC >100 µg/ml).

Adsorption Mechanism and Regeneration Performance of Calcined Zeolites for Hydrogen Sulfide and Its Application.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a very toxic, acidic, and odorous gas. In this study, a calcined zeolite was used to investigate the adsorption performance of H2S. Among particle size, calcination temperature and time calcination temperature and time had significant effects on the adsorption capacity of H2S on the zeolite. The optimal calcination conditions for the zeolite were 332 °C, 1.8 h, and 10-20 mm size, and the maximum adsorption capacity of H2S was approximately 6219 mg kg-1. Calcination could broaden the channels, remove the adsorbed gases and impurities on the surface of zeolites, and increase the average pore size and point of zero net charge. As the zeolite adsorbed to saturation, it could be regenerated at the temperatures between 200 and 350 °C for 0.5 h. Compared with the natural zeolite, the adsorption capacities of dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl sulfide, toluene, CH3SH, CS2, CO2, and H2S were significantly higher on the calcined zeolite, while the adsorption capacity of CH4 was lower on the calcined zeolite. A gas treatment system by a temperature swing adsorption-regeneration process on honeycomb rotors with calcined zeolites was proposed. These findings are helpful for developing techniques for removing gas pollutants such as volatile sulfur compounds and volatile organic compounds to purify biogas and to limited toxic concentrations in the working environment.

A new illudane sesquiterpene from the edible fungus Pholiota nameko.

Fungi have different genetic expression abilities and biosynthetic pathways under different cultivation conditions, which can produce various secondary metabolites. The "one strain many compounds" strategy is used to activate silent biosynthetic genes of fungi to produce various compounds, which is an effective method. In order to discover various new compounds in the edible fungus Pholiota nameko, a fermentation strategy involving precursor feeding and enzyme inhibitor addition has been employed. A new illudane sesquiterpene (1), along with one known indole diterpenoid alkaloid, cladosporine A (2) were isolated from the extracts of liquid culture of P. nameko. The new compound was identified by combination of 1D and 2D NMR, MS, optical rotation, and ECD calculations. We conducted experiments on the cytotoxicity of all isolated compounds on three cancer cell lines, but we did not observe any significant cytotoxicity (IC50 > 40 µM).

Correlation Between Intracoronary Vascular Ultrasound Indexes in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease.

Background: Coronary atherosclerosis is a serious and progressive condition characterized by the accumulation of plaques, consisting of fat, cholesterol, and other substances, within the arteries that supply blood to the heart. These plaques can harden and narrow the arteries, leading to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between specific cardiovascular parameters and intracoronary vascular ultrasound indexes in patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease. This investigation aims to explore the relationships between intracoronary vascular ultrasound measurements and three key cardiovascular parameters: epicardial fat pad thickness, mono-platelet polymer levels, and small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) levels. Methods: In this investigation, we applied a comprehensive method to evaluate atherosclerotic plaque characteristics in patients with diverse stages of coronary heart disease (CHD), contrasting these profiles with those of healthy individuals. Our study included 80 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients, 145 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 175 with stable angina pectoris (SAP), and 100 controls. We utilized intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), an advanced imaging technique that surpasses traditional angiography by providing detailed, high-resolution images of both the coronary artery lumen and wall, including plaque composition. This approach is pivotal for assessing plaque stability, a key factor in the risk of rupture and subsequent cardiovascular events, indicated by features like lipid-rich cores and thin fibrous caps. During IVUS, we quantified parameters such as plaque area, load, and the remodeling index, the latter offering insights into vascular adaptation to plaque buildup. Additionally, we conducted a correlation analysis between IVUS indices and three cardiovascular markers: epicardial fat pad thickness, monocyte-platelet aggregates, and sdLDL-C levels. The goal was to ascertain the predictive value of these markers in tandem with IVUS for determining the stability of coronary artery atherosclerotic plaques. This integrative approach enhances understanding of plaque formation and destabilization, potentially informing more effective CHD prevention and management strategies. Results: Our study revealed distinct variations in key parameters across patient groups with different forms of CHD and healthy controls. Notably, we observed significant differences in gender distribution, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus prevalence among these groups. In terms of IVUS indexes and cardiovascular parameters, the SAP group exhibited markedly different results compared to the AMI and UAP groups. Specifically, the SAP patients showed the lowest values for EMMA, plaque area, plaque burden, reconstruction index, and positive remodeling. Additionally, they exhibited the thickest fibrous caps. In contrast, the AMI and UAP groups presented similar outcomes in these aspects. Regarding the epicardial fat pad thickness, the positive rate of monocyte-platelet aggregates, and the levels of sdLDL-C, there were no significant differences between the AMI and UAP groups. However, these parameters were notably higher in the AMI and UAP groups compared to the SAP group. Crucially, we established a significant correlation between the thickness of the epicardial fat pad, the positive rate of monocyte-platelet aggregates, and the sdLDL-C levels with plaque loading rate and remodeling index. These correlations underscore the potential utility of these parameters as indicators of plaque stability and cardiovascular risk in patients with CHD. This highlights the complexity of atherosclerotic disease progression and underscores the importance of a multifaceted approach to assessing and managing CHD. Conclusion: Our research delineates the critical role of the remodeling index, epicardial fat pad thickness, monocyte-platelet aggregates, and sdLDL-C levels as key prognostic tools for assessing coronary plaque stability in coronary artery disease (CAD). These biomarkers collectively provide an enhanced perspective on plaque vulnerability, an essential aspect in the genesis of acute coronary events. Clinically, these findings are pivotal. They offer a refined approach to CAD management and risk evaluation, allowing for the precise identification of patients at increased risk of plaque rupture, a precursor to acute coronary syndromes. This precision facilitates the adoption of more individualized treatment strategies, focusing on aggressive interventions for high-risk patients and more conservative management for those with stable plaques.

The effect of dapagliflozin on anemia in elderly patients with heart failure by bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: Anemia associated with heart failure is frequent and can exacerbate the symptoms of heart failure. Dapagliflozin is the first SGLT-2 inhibitor with significant cardiovascular protection. However, the effect of dapagliflozin on anemia in elderly patients with heart failure is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study the effect of dapagliflozin on anemia in elderly patients with heart failure by bioinformatics analysis. METHODS: The target genes were determined, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and modules were constructed. The dapagliflozin-targets network in anemia and heart failure was constructed. Molecular docking experiments between dapagliflozin and its key target AKT1 were performed. RESULTS: We found 1 dapagliflozin related target gene and 2 disease related genes. Totally, 134 target genes of dapagliflozin on anemia in elderly patients with heart failure were determined. The pathways may involve lipid and atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, hepatitis B, insulin signaling pathway, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, neurotrophin signaling pathway, insulin resistance, toxoplasmosis, colorectal cancer, and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance. The hub genes in network were AKT1, TP53, GAPDH, TNF, CASP3, EGFR, and MAPK3. The structure of dapagliflozin and AKT1 molecular docking was exhibited. CONCLUSIONS: The hub genes in network were AKT1, TP53, GAPDH, TNF, CASP3, EGFR, and MAPK3. The structure of dapagliflozin and AKT1 molecular docking was exhibited.

Prognostic effect of atrial fibrillation on survival in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS: The Chinese and English databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database were systematically searched to include observational studies on the prognosis of AF in cardiovascular events or death in patients with HCM; these were evaluated using Revman 5.3. RESULTS: After systematic search and screening, a total of 11 studies with a high study quality were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed that patients with HCM accompanied by AF had a higher risk of all-cause death (odds ratio [OR] = 2.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.18-3.47; P < 0.001), heart-related death (OR = 2.62; 95%CI: 2.02-3.40; P < 0.001), sudden cardiac death (OR = 7.09; 95%CI: 5.77-8.70; P < 0.001), heart-failure-related death (OR = 2.04; 95%CI: 1.24-3.36; P = 0.005), and stroke death (OR = 17.05; 95%CI: 6.99-41.58; P < 0.001) compared with patients with HCM without AF. CONCLUSION: Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for adverse survival outcomes in patients with HCM, and aggressive interventions are needed in this population to avoid the occurrence of adverse outcomes.

Evaluation of ABC Bleeding Score and SAMe-TT2R2 Score on the Risk of Bleeding after Anticoagulation in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Complicated with Coronary Heart Disease.

Objective: To explore the predictive value of ABC bleeding score and SAMe-TT2R2 score on the risk of bleeding in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) complicated with coronary heart disease (CHD) after anticoagulation. Methods: 149 patients with NVAF complicated with CHD were followed up in our hospital for one year. The bleeding events during the follow-up period were observed, the ABC bleeding score and SAMe-TT2R2 score were calculated, the predictive value of the two scoring methods for the main bleeding risk was analyzed by the ROC curve, and the AUC area under the ROC curve of the two scoring methods was compared by the Delong test. Results: There were 32 bleeding events during the follow-up period. The AUC of ABC bleeding score and SAMe-TT2R2 score were 0.775 (P < 0.01) and 0.624 (P < 0.05), respectively. The Delong test showed that the AUC of ABC bleeding score was significantly higher than that of SAMe-TT2R2 score (d = 2.177, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Both the ABC bleeding score and SAMe-TT2R2 score can predict the risk of bleeding after anticoagulation in patients with NVAF and CHD. The critical value of the SAMe-TT2R2 score for predicting bleeding events in patients with NVAF and CHD may need to be increased to 4 or 5, and the prediction ability of ABC bleeding score is significantly better than that of the SAMe-TT2R2 score.

Association between T-tau protein and Aß42 in plasma neuronal-derived exosomes and cognitive impairment in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and the role of anticoagulant therapy and inflammatory mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: This study explores whether the differences in cognitive performance among individuals with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) are attributable to the duration of AF and anticoagulant therapy and explores the possible inflammatory mechanism of cognitive dysfunction related to AF. METHODS: A total of 260 patients aged 50-75 years without previous cerebrovascular events were enrolled in this study. These 260 patients had been divided into the AF group (140 patients) and sinus rhythm group (120 patients). In the AF group, we divided participants into cognitive impairment (CI) group (90 patients) and cognitive normal (CN) group (50 patients). In the sinus rhythm group, we also divided participants into CI group (61 patients) and CN group (59 patients). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess the cognitive function of all participants. Neuronal-derived exosomes were enriched in peripheral blood by immunoprecipitation and were confirmed by a transmission electron microscope, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blot. Alzheimer's disease-pathogenic exosomal proteins and inflammatory cytokines were quantified. The association between AF and cognitive function was estimated by logistic regression analysis. ANOVA or Welch's t-test compared the difference in protein concentrations between groups. RESULTS: Non-anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF was significantly associated with CI (OR = 13.99, 95% CI: 2.67-73.36, p < .01). The incidence of dementia in patients with AF > 3 years was significantly higher than in patients with AF ≤ 3 years, but there was no significant difference in total cognitive dysfunction (mild cognitive impairment [MCI] + dementia) (p = .126). The adjusted exosome concentrations of T-tau and amyloid-ß protein 42 (Aß42) in the CI group were significantly higher than in the CN group (p < .001). The serum concentrations of IL-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in patients with AF were higher than those in patients with sinus rhythm (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Aß42 and T-tau in peripheral blood neuronal-derived exosomes maybe be associated with the early diagnosis of CI in patients with permanent AF. However, the value of Aß42 and T-tau for CI in patients with permanent AF still needs to be confirmed in future randomized control trials.

IVUS plus multivariate analysis for evaluating the stability of coronary artery plaque in coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) plus multivariate analysis in evaluating the stability of coronary artery plaque in coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on ninety-five patients with CHD admitted to our hospital from February 2020 to February 2021. Patients with CHD were examined by IVUS and assigned to a stable plaque group (n=60) and an unstable plaque group (n=35) according to their characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors affecting the stability of coronary artery plaque. RESULTS: Of 95 patients, 35 cases with unstable plaque were determined by IVUS, with a detection rate of 36.84%; notable differences were found in HDL-C, hs-CRP, and homocysteine (Hcy) between the two groups (P<0.05). The eccentricity index and reconstruction index of the two groups were statistically different (P<0.05). Moreover, 17 cases were diagnosed by IVUS as mild coronary stenosis, 28 cases as moderate stenosis, and 50 cases as severe stenosis. In addition, compared with the stable plaque group, the unstable plaque group yielded a much higher stenosis rate (P<0.05) and a higher level of plaque thickness and plaque area (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed eccentricity index, remodeling index, plaque thickness, and plaque area, stenosis rate, HDL-C, Hcy, and hs-CRP were independent risk factors for unstable plaque (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: IVUS plus multivariate analysis can accurately assess plaque stability.

Plasma miR-22-5p, miR-132-5p, and miR-150-3p Are Associated with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases. Our study aimed to determine whether miR-22-5p, miR-132-5p, and miR-150-3p represent novel biomarkers for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Plasma samples were isolated from 35 AMI patients and 55 matched controls. Total RNA was extracted, and quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA were performed to investigate the expressions of miRNAs and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), respectively. We found that plasma levels of miR-22-5p and miR-150-3p were significantly higher during the early stage of AMI and their expression levels peaked earlier than cTnI. Conversely, circulating miR-132-5p was sustained at a low level during the early phase of AMI. All three circulating miRNAs were correlated with plasma cTnI levels. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis suggested that each single miRNA had considerable diagnostic efficacy for AMI. Moreover, combining the three miRNAs improved their diagnostic efficacy. Furthermore, neither heparin nor medications for coronary heart disease (CHD) affected plasma levels of miR-22-5p and miR-132-5p, but circulating miR-150-3p was downregulated by medications for CHD. We concluded that plasma miR-22-5p, miR-132-5p, and miR-150-3p may serve as candidate diagnostic biomarkers for early diagnosis of AMI. Moreover, a panel consisting of these three miRNAs may achieve a higher diagnostic value.