N6-methyladenosine mRNA methylation positively regulated the response of poplar to salt stress.

As the most abundant form of methylation modification in messenger RNA (mRNA), the distribution of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been preliminarily revealed in herbaceous plants under salt stress, but its function and mechanism in woody plants were still unknown. Here, we showed that global m6A levels increased during poplar response to salt stress. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) revealed that m6A significantly enriched in the coding sequence region and 3'-untranslated regions in poplar, by recognising the conserved motifs, AGACU, GGACA and UGUAG. A large number of differential m6A transcripts have been identified, and some have been proved involving in salt response and plant growth and development. Further combined analysis of MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq revealed that the m6A hypermethylated and enrich in the CDS region preferred to positively regulate expression abundance. Writer inhibitor, 3-deazaneplanocin A treatment increased the sensitivity of poplar to salt stress by reducing mRNA stability to regulate the expression of salt-responsive transcripts PagMYB48, PagGT2, PagNAC2, PagGPX8 and PagARF2. Furthermore, we verified that the methyltransferase PagFIP37 plays a positively role in the response of poplar to salt stress, overexpressed lines have stronger salt tolerance, while RNAi lines were more sensitive to salt, which relied on regulating mRNA stability in an m6A manner of salt-responsive transcripts PagMYB48, PagGT2, PagNAC2, PagGPX8 and PagARF2. Collectively, these results revealed the regulatory role of m6A methylation in poplar response to salt stress, and revealed the importance and mechanism of m6A methylation in the response of woody plants to salt stress for the first time.

Bone and joint infection complicated with sepsis in neonates and infants under three months of age.

OBJECTIVE: Studies focusing on bone and joint infections (BJIs) in young infants are rare. Some cases of BJI are accompanied by sepsis. This study aimed to identify the clinical and bacteriological features of sepsis in neonates and young infants with BJIs. METHODS: Neonates and infants younger than 3 months diagnosed with BJI in the present institution from 2014 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics, clinical data, and outcomes were documented and compared between those with and without sepsis. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with a mean age of 34.8 days were included. Nine BJI cases had concomitant sepsis (group A), and 16 had BJI without sepsis (group B). Within group A, staphylococcus aureus was the major pathogenic germ (5 cases, of which 4 were of the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) type). There was no statistical difference in male-to-female ratio, age, history of hospitalization, anemia, birth asphyxia, peripheral leukocyte counts, C-reactive protein on admission, and sequelae between groups. Univariate analyses indicated a significant difference in the incidence of septic arthritis (SA) combined with osteomyelitis (OM) (88.9% vs 37.5%), congenital deformities (44.4% vs 0%), and mean duration of symptoms (2.83 days vs 9.21 days) in comparisons between groups A and B. CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus aureus is the main pathogenic bacteria in BJI cases complicated with sepsis in neonates and young infants. Among infants younger than 3 months diagnosed with BJI, those with concurrent SA and OM, MRSA infection, or congenital deformities are more likely to develop sepsis.

Efficient detection of flusilazole by an electrochemical sensor derived from MOF MIL-53(Fe) for food safety.

Flusilazole is a triazole fungicide with residues that are potentially toxic to humans. It enters the human body mainly through food, although its bactericidal activity is substantial. In this study, an electrochemical sensor Fe/Fe2O3@C with a core-shell structure was constructed to efficiently detect flusilazole by annealing MIL-53(Fe) which was prepared by a simple solvothermal method. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the apparent morphology of MIL-53(Fe) and Fe/Fe2O3@C, and their structures were further characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and the mapping of elements by energy dispersive spectroscopy. The electrochemical behavior of Fe/Fe2O3@C in the detection of flusilazole was evaluated by differential pulse voltammetry under optimal conditions. The results of the study indicate that the Fe/Fe2O3@C electrochemical sensor displayed excellent detection capabilities for flusilazole, where the sensor exhibited a wide detection range from 1.00 × 10-4 to 1.00 × 10-12 mol/L with an incredibly low LOD of 593 fM, making it highly sensitive to trace amounts of flusilazole. Moreover, Fe/Fe2O3@C demonstrated superior reproducibility, stability, and resistance to interference, highlighting its reliability in practical applications. The sensor was also successfully utilized to quantitatively detect flusilazole in various real samples, which suggests that Fe/Fe2O3@C has broad-spectrum environmental resistance and can effectively and rapidly detect flusilazole residues in different types of food items and environmental matrices. The study also delved into the mechanism of Fe/Fe2O3@C for the detection of flusilazole, providing a deeper understanding of the functionality of this sensor. Overall, these findings emphasize the practical significance of Fe/Fe2O3@C as an electrochemical sensor, showcasing its potential for real-world applications in food safety and environmental monitoring.

Association of quantitative computed tomography-based right atrial appendage and right atrium parameters with postradiofrequency ablation recurrence of atrial fibrillation.

Background: The significance of the right atrial appendage (RAA) and right atrium (RA) in the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) remains uncertain. This retrospective case-control study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the role of morphological parameters of the RAA and RA in the recurrence of AF after RFA based on 256-slice spiral computed tomography (CT). Methods: A total of 297 patients with AF who underwent RFA for the first time between January 1 and October 31, 2020, were enrolled in the study, and they were divided into a nonrecurrence group (n=214) and a recurrence group (n=83). The volume of the RA, RAA and left atrium (LA); height of the RAA; long and short diameter, perimeter, and area of the RAA base; right atrial anteroposterior diameter; tricuspid annulus diameter; crista terminalis thickness; and cavotricuspid isthmus (CVTI) were measured, and the clinical data of patients were collected. Results: (I) Multivariable logistic regression analysis followed by univariable logistic regression analysis showed that the height of the RAA [odds ratio (OR) =1.124; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.024-1.233; P=0.014], short diameter of the RAA base (OR =1.247; 95% CI: 1.118-1.391; P=0.001), crista terminalis thickness (OR =1.594; 95% CI: 1.052-2.415; P=0.028) and duration of AF (OR =1.009; 95% CI: 1.003-1.016; P=0.006) were independent predictors of postradiofrequency ablation AF recurrence. (II) Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the prediction model constructed according to the multivariate logistic regression analysis presented good accuracy [area under the curve (AUC) =0.840; P=0.001]. A short diameter of the RAA base >26.95 mm had the highest predictive value for AF recurrence, with a sensitivity of 0.614 and a specificity of 0.822 (AUC =0.786, P=0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between right atrial volume and left atrial volume (r=0.720, P<0.001). Conclusions: A significant increase in diameter and volume of the RAA and RA and tricuspid annulus diameter may correlate with postradiofrequency ablation AF recurrence. The height of the RAA, short diameter of the RAA base, crista terminalis thickness, and AF duration were independent predictors of recurrence. Among them, the short diameter of the RAA base had the highest predictive value for recurrence.

Retraction Notice to: MicroRNA-494 Inhibits the LRG1 Expression to Induce Proliferation and Migration of VECs in Rats following Myocardial Infarction.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.08.007.].

Left atrial appendage filling defects restricted to the early phase of cardiac computed tomography is significantly associated with ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between filling defects in the left atrial appendage restricted to the early phase of cardiac computed tomography (CCT), and ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 152 patients with non-valvular AF were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups according to the stroke history, as confirmed by brain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as the non-stroke group (n = 89) and stroke group (n = 63), respectively. The numbers of patients with filling defects in the early phase of CCT images without thrombi were recorded. Morphological parameters of the LAA were measured for all participants. All patients with early-phase filling defects (n = 44) were assigned to two groups according to ischemic stroke history: the filling defects with stroke group (n = 28) and the filling defects without stroke group (n = 16). The clinical characteristics and LAA morphological parameters were compared. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-stroke group，LAA volume index and age were higher in the stroke group, and the ratio of early phase filling defect in LAA, hypertension and diabetes were also higher, in the meanwhile the LVEF and BMI were lower (P < 0.05).After adjusting confounding factors by the multivariate logistic regression analysis, filling defect was significantly related with stroke [odds ratio (OR): 4.339, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.951-9.653, P = 0.000]. LAA morphological parameters were not significantly different between the filling defects with stroke group and the group without stroke. CONCLUSION: AF patients with LAA non-thrombotic filling defects in the early-phase of CCT had an increased risk of ischemic stroke compared to those without filling defects. This finding may help to optimize stroke risk stratification in patients with AF.

Prevalence of Eimeria Spp. Among Goats in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Eimeria spp. infection can cause weight loss in goats, and severe cases can lead to the death of lambs, resulting in economic losses to the goat industry. To explore the pooled prevalence of Eimeria spp. in goats in China, we obtained 70 related publications from five databases and conducted a meta-analysis. In China, the combined prevalence of Eimeria spp. in goats was 78.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 68.15-87.67). Among them, the most serious infections occurred in Northeast China (88.0%, 95% CI: 83.54-91.86). The main Eimeria species were E. alijevi (43.7%, 95% CI: 29.53-58.45), E. arloingi (49.7%, 95% CI: 34.83-64.49), E. christenseni (41.2%, 95% CI: 27.07-56.16), and E. ninakohlyakimovae (35.9%, 95% CI: 21.02-52.31). In the sampling year subgroup, 2006 or later presented a lower prevalence (75.3%, 95%CI: 58.72-88.72). In terms of age, the point estimate for young goats (≤ 1 year) was higher (89.9%, 95% CI: 80.82-96.48). The Float (NaCl) method showed the lowest prevalence of Eimeria spp. in goats (75.9%, 95%CI: 62.00-87.46). In the season subgroup, the highest prevalence was in summer (81.5%, 95%CI: 49.62-99.18). Female goats presented a higher prevalence of Eimeria spp. infection than male goats (70.7%, 95%CI: 27.90-98.96). The prevalence was lower in the intensive feeding model (77.4%, 95%CI: 66.56-86.67) and higher in free feeding goats (79.4%, 95%CI: 66.46-89.92). In addition, we also analyzed the potential relationship between geographical factors and the prevalence of Eimeria spp. infection in goats in China. Our findings suggested that Eimeria spp. infection in goats is widespread in China. Despite the overall downward trend, this infection cannot be ignored. We recommend that breeders use anticoccidial drugs to prevent and treat this disease, while improving the feeding conditions and managemental practices to reduce the economic losses caused by Eimeria infection to the goat industry.

A Meta-Analysis of Bovine Chlamydia Prevalence in Cattle in China from 1989 to 2020.

Chlamydia bovis is a widespread infection disease caused by the mixed infection of Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pecorum, Chlamydia abortus, and Chlamydia suis in cattle. Although many studies have investigated Chlamydia infection in cattle, there is no nationwide study on the prevalence of Chlamydia infection in cattle of China. We constructed the first meta-analysis to assess the infection rate and infection risk factors of Chlamydia in cattle in China, and we searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, Chinese Web of Knowledge, Wanfang, and VIP Chinese journal database for studies reporting Chlamydia infection in cattle from April 29, 2020. We collected a total of 563 publications from 1989 to 2019, and finally, 78 studies were eligible, which included 152,364 cattle from 27 provinces across the country. We estimated the pooled prevalence of Chlamydia in cattle was 14.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.2 to 16.4). The prevalence of bovine Chlamydia in China collected before 2000 (14.8%, 95% CI: 5.6 to 27.3) showed the highest prevalence rate. The highest prevalence was found in Central China (22.6%, 95% CI: 12.8 to 34.2). The prevalence of Chlamydia spp. between abortion cattle (39.1%, 95% CI: 24.6 to 54.6) and healthy cattle (8.3%, 95% CI: 3.1 to 15.2) showed significant variation (p < 0.05). In detection methods subgroup, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (30.5%, 95% CI: 21.5 to 40.3) showed the highest prevalence. In the age subgroup, the prevalence rate of age >1 year (16.6%, 95% CI: 12.6 to 20.9) was higher compared with age ≤1 year (9.8%, 95% CI: 6.7 to 13.3). Yaks (17.8%, 95% CI: 13.3 to 22.8) showed the highest Chlamydia prevalence among the varieties of bovine. We also estimated the potential risk factors such as feeding model, sample classification, sampling seasons, bovine gender, parity, and quality level of included studies. Our findings suggested that Chlamydia was prevalent in cattle in China. So we should pay attention to bovine Chlamydia and take necessary measures to prevent it.

Prevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Ovine and Caprine Flocks: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is the causative agent of bovine viral diarrhea. It can infect cattle, sheep, pigs, and other animals, causing diarrhea, miscarriage, and stillbirth, among other symptoms, and it can result in huge economic losses to animal husbandry. There are reports on BVDV infection rates in sheep and goat herds from all over the world and this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for BVDV in sheep and goats. Results: Using the data of 41,297 sheep and goats in 24 countries/regions to calculate a comprehensive prevalence rate for BVDV. The overall prevalence of BVDV infection in sheep and goats was estimated to be 8.6% (95% CI: 5.2-12.7) by immunological methods and 7.3% (95% CI: 2.7-13.7) by molecular methods. Analysis by national income level revealed that prevalence is higher in middle-income countries than in high-income countries (P < 0.05). The study also compared prevalence rates by species of BVDV, sampling year, and test species, but did not find significant differences. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis is the first to determine the global prevalence of BVDV in ovine and caprine flocks. The prevalence of BVDV in sheep and goat populations varies from region to region, and the situation is not optimistic in some countries.

Prevalence and risk factors of bluetongue virus infection in sheep and goats in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bluetongue is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of bloodsucking insects, which mainly occurs in sheep, goats, and cattle. Bluetongue is characterized by fever, leukopenia, and severe catarrhal inflammation of the oral and gastrointestinal mucosa. The present study aimed to evaluate and analyze the prevalence of bluetongue and its associated risk factors in sheep and goats in China. We collected 59 publications from 1988 to 2019 through searches at ScienceDirect, PubMed, the Chongqing VIP Chinese journal database, Wanfang database, and Chinese Web of knowledge. In these studies, a total of 123,982 sheep and goats across 7 regions of China were investigated, and the pooled prevalence of bluetongue in sheep and goats was 18.6%, as assessed using serological methods. The prevalence of bluetongue in Southern China was 30.3%, which was significantly higher than that in Northeastern China (4.7%). The prevalence of bluetongue between sheep (12.9%) and goats (28.1%) was significantly different (P < 0.05). Detection methods subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of bluetongue was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the others group (43.8%) than in the agar immunodiffusion (15.9%) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay groups (20.5%). In addition, different geographical factors (latitude range, longitude range, altitude range, average precipitation, and average temperature) could affect the prevalence. Our results suggested that bluetongue is widespread in sheep and goats, and sheep and goats in contact with insect media, such as Culicoides, or in a warm and humid environment, could have an increased prevalence of bluetongue disease. Animal disease prevention and control departments should focus on continuous monitoring of the bluetongue epidemic in sheep and goats to prevent and control outbreaks.

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis in Buffalo Worldwide and Associated Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp. Brucellosis is widely distributed in more than 160 or 170 countries around the world, where it poses a huge threat to animal husbandry and human health. About 150 million head of water buffalo, distributed across more than 40 countries worldwide, are kept for the purposes of service, milk, and meat. High incidence of Brucella spp. in buffalo has negatively affected dairy products and meat products. Results: We searched all research related to seroprevalence of brucellosis in water buffalo anywhere in the world in PubMed, Science Direct, SpringerLink, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and VIP Chinese Journal Databases. A total of 26 articles published from 1985 to 2020 met the final selection criteria. The overall seroprevalence of buffalo brucellosis worldwide was 9.7%. The seroprevalence before 2010 (20.8%) (95% CI: 5.6-42.2) was much higher than the seroprevalence rate from 2010 to 2020 (4.2%) (95% CI: 1.8-7.5). Subgroup analysis by feeding mode found that the point estimate of seroprevalence in stock buffalo (11.5%) (95% CI: 3.6-23.0) was higher than that in captive buffalo (10.6%) (95% CI: 4.9-18.1). Subgroup analysis by farming mode found that the seroprevalence was higher in captive-bred buffalo (10.7%) (95% CI: 6.6-15.7) than in intensively farmed buffalo (8.5) (95% CI: 0.9-22.2). The seroprevalence in buffalo living in dry lands (6.4%) (95% CI: 2.0-12.9) is greater than that in buffalo living in wetlands (5.1%) (95% CI: 1.8-10.4) (P < 0.05). The seroprevalence in female buffalo (10.1%) (95% CI: 3.4-19.7) was higher than that in male buffalo (4.4%) (95% CI: 2.0-7.4). The seroprevalence in lactating buffalo was higher than that in buffalo of other ages (26.9%) (95% CI: 1.8-66.5). Subgroup analysis by detection method found that the seroprevalence detected by the complement fixation test (27.3%) (95% CI: 0.7-70.8) was much higher than that detected by other methods. Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis showed that buffalo brucellosis infection is very common in buffalo herds around the world. Although the seroprevalence of brucellosis in buffalo and humans is relatively low, serious effects upon animal husbandry and public health make it necessary to take effective control and preventive measures to control the spread of this disease.

Global Comprehensive Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Brucella spp. in Swine Based on Publications From 2000 to 2020.

Background: Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease, infects various hosts, including swine and humans. It has reemerged in recent years as a public health concern, and current studies on brucellosis infection in swine have been conducted worldwide. However, no meta-analyses of global brucellosis infection in swine have been published. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of Brucella species (spp.) in swine worldwide and the factors associated with its persistence. Results: We searched seven databases for published epidemiological studies on brucellosis in pigs, including the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, the VIP Chinese Journal Database and PubMed. We selected 119 articles published from January 1, 2000 to January 3, 2020 for inclusion in the meta-analysis and analyzed the data using a random-effects model. Funnel plots and Egger's test showed significant publication bias in the included studies. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that our study was relatively stable and reliable. The prevalence of brucellosis in swine was 2.1% (95% CI: 1.6-2.6), of which the highest infection rate, which was found in Europe, was 17.4% (95% CI: 11.1-24.9). The prevalence in feral pigs (15.0%, 95% CI: 8.4-23.2) was higher than that in domestic pigs (1.1%, 95% CI 0.2-2.5). The prevalence in high-income countries (15.7%, 95% CI 8.0-25.3) was significantly higher than that in middle- (0.8%, 95% CI 0.5-1.1), and low-income countries (0.1%, 95% CI 0.0-0.2). The prevalence was highest in finishing pigs at 4.9% (95% CI 0.9-11.0), and lowest among suckling pigs at 0% (95% CI 0.0-0.5). Conclusion: The Brucella prevalence in pig herds currently is distributed widely throughout the world. In some countries, swine brucellosis may be a neglected zoonotic disease. We recommend long-term monitoring of the prevalence of brucellosis in domestic and wild pig herds. Attention should also be paid to animal welfare on intensive pig farms; controlling the breeding density may play an important role in reducing the spread of brucellosis among pigs.

Micron-Sized Zeolite Beta Single Crystals Featuring Intracrystal Interconnected Ordered Macro-Meso-Microporosity Displaying Superior Catalytic Performance.

Zeolite Beta single crystals with intracrystalline hierarchical porosity at macro-, meso-, and micro-length scales can effectively overcome the diffusion limitations in the conversion of bulky molecules. However, the construction of large zeolite Beta single crystals with such porosity is a challenge. We report herein the synthesis of hierarchically ordered macro-mesoporous single-crystalline zeolite Beta (OMMS-Beta) with a rare micron-scale crystal size by an in situ bottom-up confined zeolite crystallization strategy. The fully interconnected intracrystalline macro-meso-microporous hierarchy and the micron-sized single-crystalline nature of OMMS-Beta lead to improved accessibility to active sites and outstanding (hydro)thermal stability. Higher catalytic performances in gas-phase and liquid-phase acid-catalyzed reactions involving bulky molecules are obtained compared to commercial Beta and nanosized Beta zeolites. The strategy has been extended to the synthesis of other zeolitic materials, including ZSM-5, TS-1, and SAPO-34.

The activation of IL-17 signaling pathway promotes pyroptosis in pneumonia-induced sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Pyroptosis is closely relevant to sepsis. However, the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis in pneumonia-induced sepsis are still not fully understood. Thus, this study aimed to find the specific molecular pathways associated with pyroptosis and explore their relationship in pneumonia-induced sepsis. METHODS: First, significant signaling pathways related to pneumonia-induced sepsis were screened by bioinformatics analysis based on GSE48080. The peripheral blood samples from patients with pneumonia-induced sepsis and healthy subjects were collected. Pneumonia-induced sepsis rat models were also established. Then, inflammatory response, pyroptosis, and regulatory T cells (Tregs)/T-helper 17 (Th17), Th1/Th2, and M1/M2 cell ratios in pneumonia-induced sepsis were evaluated. RESULTS: IL-17 signaling pathway was significantly related to pneumonia-induced sepsis by bioinformatics analysis. Compared with healthy groups, the higher of Th17/Treg, Th1/Th2 and M1/M2 cell radios in the patients and sepsis rat model indicated that pneumonia-induced sepsis caused a severe inflammatory response. This result was confirmed by higher levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-18) and an inflammation indicator (LDH), as well as pyroptosis occurrence in sepsis. Additionally, the up-regulation of key molecules (HMGB1, RAGE, IL-17A, TRAF6 and NK-κB) in the IL-17 signaling pathway suggested the IL-17 pathway was activated. Moreover, the release of IL-1ß and IL-18 and the levels of the molecules (NLRP3, NLRC4, Cleaved caspase-1, and Cleaved GSDMD) associated with caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis were up-regulated in pneumonia-induced sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: As NK-κB activation can promote the development of caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis, these findings suggested that the activation of the IL-17 signaling pathway could promote pyroptosis in pneumonia-induced sepsis.

Ischemia/hypoxia inhibits cardiomyocyte autophagy and promotes apoptosis via the Egr-1/Bim/Beclin-1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial injury caused by microvascular obstruction (MVO) is characterized by persistent ischemia/hypoxia (IH) of cardiomyocytes after microembolization. Autophagy and Egr-1 were closely associated with various cardiovascular diseases, including MVO. Bim and Beclin-1 are the important genes for autophagy and apoptosis. We aimed to explore whether the Egr-1/Bim/Beclin-1 pathway is involved in regulating autophagy and apoptosis in IH-exposed cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes exposed to the IH environment in vitro were transfected with lentivirus expressing Egr-1 or Egr-1 shRNA, or further treated with 3-methyladenine (3-MA). The expressions of autophagy and apoptosis-associated genes were evaluated using RT-qPCR and Western blots assays. Autophagic vacuoles and autophagic flux were detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal microscope, respectively. Cell injury was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, and apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: IH exposure elevated Egr-1 and Bim expressions, and decreased Beclin-1 expression in rat cardiomyocytes. Egr-1 overexpression in IH-exposed cardiomyocytes significantly up-regulated the levels of Egr-1 and Bim, and down-regulated the level of Beclin-1. Egr-1 knockdown resulted in down-regulated expressions of Egr-1 and Bim, as well as up-regulated expression of Beclin-1. In addition, Egr-1 knockdown induced autophagy was suppressed by 3-MA treatments. TEM and autophagic flux experiments also confirmed that Egr-1 inhibited autophagy progression in IH-exposed cardiomyocytes. Egr-1 suppression protected cardiomyocytes from IH-induced injury, as evidenced by the positive correlations between Egr-1 expression and LDH leakage or apoptosis index in IH-exposed cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS: IH-induced cardiomyocyte autophagy and apoptosis are regulated by the Egr-1/Bim/Beclin-1 pathway, which is a potential target for treating cardiomyocyte injury caused by MVO in the IH environment.

Monocytes Undergo Functional Reprogramming to Generate Immunosuppression through HIF-1α Signaling Pathway in the Late Phase of Sepsis.

Severe pneumonia with sepsis is characterized by a dysregulated inflammatory response of endotoxin. In our study, we attempted to investigate the roles of the immune guardian cells (monocytes) in the immune-inflammatory response of severe pneumonia-induced sepsis. We performed analysis in the blood samples of human and animals with ELISA, western blot, flow cytometry (FCM) methods, etc. Results showed that the proinflammatory status shifted to hypoinflammatory phases during the sepsis process. In a clinical study, the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, etc., except for IL-10, were inhibited in the late phase of sepsis, while, in an animal study, the immune suppression status was attenuated with administration of the adenovirus Ade-HIF-1α. Conversely, the amount of IL-10 was lower in the adenovirus Ade-HIF-1α group compared with the sepsis model group and the Ade-control group. Moreover, in the clinical study, the programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was overexpressed in monocytes in the late phase of sepsis, while the expression of proteins HIF-1α and STAT3 was decreased in the late phase of sepsis. However, in the animal study, we found that the HIF-1α factor facilitated the inflammatory response. The expression of the proteins HIF-1α and STAT3 was increased, and the PD-L1 protein was decreased with the adenovirus Ade-HIF-1α administration compared with the rats without Ade-HIF-1α injection and with the Ade-control injection. Additionally, the proteins HIF-1α and STAT3 were coregulated at transcriptional levels during the inflammatory responses of sepsis. Taken together, monocytes undergo reprogramming to generate immunosuppression through the HIF-1α signaling pathway in the late phase of sepsis.

The impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on glycemic control in patients with gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

Background: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation shows some treatment efficacy for gestational diabetes. This systematic review and meta-analysis is conducted to investigate the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for glycemic control in patients with gestational diabetes.Methods: The databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases are systematically searched for collecting the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid versus placebo for gestational diabetes.Results: This meta-analysis has included seven RCTs. Compared with placebo group in patients with gestational diabetes, omega-3 fatty acids supplementation results in remarkably reduced fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (standard mean difference (std. MD) = -0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.87 to -0.24; p = .0005), homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (std. MD = -0.52; 95% CI = -0.83 to -0.21; p = .001), but has no statistical impact on macrosomia (risk ratio (RR) = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.22-1.02; p = .06), newborns' hyperbilirubinemia (RR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.19-1.10; p = .08), nitric oxide (NO) (std. MD = 0.17; 95% CI = -0.64-0.98; p = .68), preterm delivery (RR = 1.75; 95% CI = 0.08-3.80; p=.16) and preeclampsia (RR =0.74; 95% CI = 0.26-2.16; p = .59). However, notably decreased high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is revealed after omega-3 fatty acids supplementation (std. MD = -1.14; 95% CI = -2.0 to -0.29; p = .009).Conclusions: Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation can provide substantially beneficial effects on glycemic control and inflammatory response for gestational diabetes.

MicroRNA-494 Inhibits the LRG1 Expression to Induce Proliferation and Migration of VECs in Rats following Myocardial Infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a life-threatening cardiac event that results in extreme damage to the heart muscle. The Wnt signaling pathway has been implicated in the development of heart diseases. Hence, the current study aimed to investigate the role of microRNA (miRNA) in association with the Wnt signaling pathway to identify potential candidates for MI therapy. Differentially expressed miRNAs associated with MI occurrence were screened, and miR-494 was selected for subsequent experiments. Sprague-Dawley rats were included to establish a MI model via intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mg/kg atropine sulfate and 40 mg/kg pentobarbital sodium. Then, the interaction between miR-494 and LRG1 was identified. The effect of miR-494 on expression of the Wnt signaling pathway-related genes, proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells (VECs) was subsequently evaluated through a series of gain- and loss-of-function experiments. The results revealed that miR-494 was poorly expressed and LRG1 was highly expressed in MI rats. miR-494 targets and downregulates LRG1, which resulted in the inactivation of the Wnt signaling pathway and promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of fibroblasts and VECs. In conclusion, this study provided evidence suggesting that overexpressed miR-494 could potentially promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of fibroblasts and VECs in MI through the inactivation of the Wnt signaling pathway by binding to LRG1.

Factors affecting FiO2 and PEEP during high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy: A bench study.

INTRODUCTION: It is unknown if set-flow, peak inspiratory flow (PIF), tidal volume and set fraction of inspired O2 (FiO2 ) affect actual-FiO2 and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) during high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy. In addition, the extent of their influence is also unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of set-FiO2 , set-flow, PIF and tidal volume on the actual-FiO2 and PEEP during HFNC oxygen therapy. METHODS: A lung simulation model was used to study the factors that might affect FiO2 and PEEP during HFNC therapy in vitro. These factors included set-flow (20, 40, 60, 80 and 120 L/min), PIF (40, 80 and 120 L/min), tidal volume (400 and 600 mL), and set-FiO2 (30%, 50% and 70%). Actual-FiO2 and PEEP were recorded for 10 consecutive breaths. Actual-FiO2 and PEEP were compared under different conditions. Multivariate linear regressions were performed to investigate the effects of these factors on actual-FiO2 and PEEP. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Regression formula were: (a) actual-FiO2 as the dependent variable: actual FiO2  = 2.71 + 0.78 × set-FiO2  + 0.17 × set-flow - 0.09 × PIF (F test, F = 3866.62, P < 0.001, R2  = 0.94), (b) PEEP as the dependent variable: PEEP = 1.35 + 0.15 × set-flow - 0.02 × PIF + 0.01 × tidal volume (F test, F = 4082.39, P < 0.001, R2  = 0.95). The following factors were found to affect actual-FiO2 (in descending order): set-FiO2 , set-flow and PIF. Tidal volume had little effect on actual-FiO2 . Factors which affected PEEP were (in descending order): set-flow, peak inspiratory flow and tidal volume.

MicroRNA-486-5p targeting PTEN Protects Against Coronary Microembolization-Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis in Rats by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Coronary microembolization (CME) is responsible for a substantial fraction of microvascular obstruction (MVO), which are strongly associated with mortality and hospitalization for heart failure within 1 year after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the effect of miRNA on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in a CME model has been less well-studied. miRNA sequencing analysis was performed to examine differentially expressed miRNAs induced by CME in rats. Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) 3 'RACE and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm that PTEN is a direct target gene of miR-486-5p. miRNA-486-5p overexpression was established by injecting AAV into rats via the tail vein. The CME model was established by injecting microspheres into the left ventricle of rats. 6h after surgery, cardiac function, microinfarct area, and the apoptotic index were determined. RT-PCR was used to evaluate mRNA level and Western blotting was used to evaluate protein expression. miRNA sequencing data showed that there were 5 upregulated and 8 downregulated miRNAs, and the relative expression of miRNA-486-5p was significantly downregulated. PTEN 3'RACE and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-486-5p directly targets the rat PTEN gene. The expression of miR-486-5p gradually declined, however, the expression of PTEN mRNA rapidly increased at early time points after CME. Overexpression of miR-486-5p reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improved cardiac function through inhibition of PTEN and activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in rat CME models. Overexpression of miR-486-5p, which targets PTEN, protects against CME-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improves cardiac function in rats by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway.