Is Takotsubo syndrome induced by patent ductus arteriosus occlusion?

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), commonly referred to as "broken heart syndrome," is a distinctive form of acute and reversible heart failure that primarily affects young to middle-aged individuals, particularly women. While emotional or physical stressors often trigger TTS, rare cases have been linked to interventional procedures for congenital heart disease (CHD). Despite its recognition, the exact causes of TTS remain elusive. Research indicates that dysregulation in autonomic nerve function, involving sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, plays a pivotal role. Genetic factors, hormonal influences like estrogen, and inflammatory processes also contribute, unveiling potential gender-specific differences in its occurrence. Understanding these multifaceted aspects of TTS is crucial for refining clinical approaches and therapies. Continued research efforts will not only deepen our understanding of this syndrome but also pave the way for more targeted and effective diagnostic and treatment strategies. In this report, we conduct an in-depth analysis of a case involving a TTS patient, examining the illness progression and treatment procedures. The aim of this analysis is to enhance the understanding of TTS among primary care physicians. By delving into this case, we aspire to prevent misdiagnosis of typical TTS cases that patients may present, thereby ensuring a more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Risks of Glaucoma among Individuals with Psoriasis: A Population-based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic systemic disorder with ocular involvement. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the risk of glaucoma among psoriatic patients. METHODS: Subjects of this cohort study were selected based on Chang Gung Research Database from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2012. Follow-up ended on December 31, 2017. The participants of the control group were matched with the psoriatic group by gender, age, and index date at a 4:1 ratio. The hazard ratios of glaucoma were estimated using Cox regression analysis. We also evaluated the relationship between the risk of glaucoma and systemic therapies as well as phototherapy and topical corticosteroid in patients with psoriasis. RESULTS: A total of 6,682 patients with psoriasis and 26,728 matched controls were enrolled. The study population is composed of mainly Males accounting for 64.2% of the study population. The psoriatic group had higher incidence rates than the control group for glaucoma (adjusted hazard ratio 1.405 [95% confidence interval, 1.051-1.879]). Psoriatic patients receiving psoralen and ultraviolet-A (PUVA) therapy for more than 200 sessions had an increased risk of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Psoriatic patients had an increased risk of glaucoma. Long-term PUVA therapy raised the risk of glaucoma in psoriatic populations.

Genome-Wide Identification and Abiotic Stress Expression Analysis of CKX and IPT Family Genes in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).

Cytokinins (CKs) are among the hormones that regulate plants' growth and development, and the CKX and IPT genes, which are CK degradation and biosynthesis genes, respectively, play important roles in fine-tuning plants' cytokinin levels. However, the current research on the function of IPT and CKX in cucumber's growth, development, and response to abiotic stress is not specific enough, and their regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we focused on the IPT and CKX genes in cucumber, analyzed the physiological and biochemical properties of their encoded proteins, and explored their expression patterns in different tissue parts and under low light, salt stress, and drought stress. Eight CsCKX and eight CsIPT genes were identified from the cucumber genome. We constructed a phylogenetic tree from the amino acid sequences and performed prediction analyses of the cis-acting elements of the CsCKX and CsIPT promoters to determine whether CsCKXs and CsIPTs are responsive to light, abiotic stress, and different hormones. We also performed expression analysis of these genes in different tissues, and we found that CsCKXs and CsIPTs were highly expressed in roots and male flowers. Thus, they are involved in the whole growth and development process of the plant. This paper provides a reference for further research on the biological functions of CsIPT and CsCKX in regulating the growth and development of cucumber and its response to abiotic stress.

Gibberellin-mediated far-red light-induced leaf expansion in cucumber seedlings.

Our experiments explored the effects of far-red (FR) light on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. 'Zhongnong No. 26') seedling growth. Our results indicated that FR light significantly promoted the growth of cucumber seedlings. Specifically, it promoted the accumulation of shoot biomass and the elongation of internodes and leaves (except the first leaf at the bottom). Further analysis showed that FR light had no effect on the accumulation contents of abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin (IAA) in seedling leaves. Still, it significantly caused the increase of the gibberellin (GA3, GA4, and GA7) contents and the decrease of GA1 content, which suggested that the leaf expansion progress under FR light may be primarily related to GA. Therefore, the cucumber seedling leaf expansion response to GA was evaluated under different light sources. The exogenous spraying of different GA4/7 contents significantly promoted the leaf expansion of cucumber seedlings under white light, while the GA biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol (PAC) significantly promoted the expression of GA hydrolytic genes (GA2ox2 and GA2ox4) and decreased the content of endogenous active GA, which inhibited the leaf expansion induced by FR light. As expected, the combination of exogenous GA4/7 and PAC restored the growth promotion effect of FR light on cucumber seedling leaves. It increased the contents of endogenous active GA (GA1, GA3, GA4, and GA7), and the expression trend in GA synthetic/hydrolytic-related genes was the opposite of that of PAC was applied alone. All of the above results indicated that FR light regulates leaf expansion progress in cucumber seedlings through GA.

Feasibility of using 8 mL of iodinated contrast media in cerebral computed tomographic angiography with a dual-layer spectral detector.

Background: Virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) at a low energy level can improve image quality when the amount of iodinated contrast media (CM) is reduced. The purpose was to evaluate the feasibility of using an extremely low CM volume and injection rate in cerebral computed tomography angiography (CTA) on a dual-layer spectral detector computed tomography (CT). Methods: Patients who were clinically suspected of intracranial aneurysm or cerebrovascular diseases were included in our study (from June to November 2022). In this prospective study, 80 patients were randomly enrolled into group A (8 mL of CM with a 1-mL/s flow rate) or group B (40 mL of CM with 4-mL/s flow rate). The VMIs at 40-70 keV in group A and polychromatic conventional images in the 2 groups were reconstructed. CT attenuation, image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were evaluated via the t-test or Mann-Whitney test (2 groups), while analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test (multiple groups). Subjective image quality was assessed on a 5-point scale. Results: In group A, the subjective image quality score, CT attenuation, and CNR of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) were the highest on VMIs at 40 keV. The image noise on VMIs at 40 keV was 5.08±0.84 Hounsfield units. The subjective image quality score, CT value of the ICA, MCA, and cerebral parenchyma on VMIs at 40 keV in group A were similar to those in group B (all P values >0.05). Compared to those in group B, the VMIs at 40 keV in group A demonstrated a significantly higher mean SNR and CNR of the ICA (mean SNR: 46.22±20.18 vs. 34.32±12.40, P=0.002; CNR: 55.47±13.43 vs. 46.18±12.30, P=0.002) and MCA [SNR: 13.66 (9.78, 20.29) vs. 9.99 (7.53, 14.00), P=0.003; CNR: 47.00±12.71 vs. 39.45±10.47, P=0.005]. Conclusions: Cerebral CTA on VMIs at 40 keV with 8 mL of CM and a 1-mL/s injection rate can provide diagnostic image quality.

The use of cardiac magnetic resonance in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy over the past 10 years [2013-2023]: a CiteSpace-based bibliometric analysis.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common genetic cardiac disorder characterized by the hypertrophy of a segment of the myocardium. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has been widely used in the assessment of HCM. However, no bibliometric assessment has been conducted on the progress of research in this field. This study thus aimed to examine the current state of research into the application of CMR in HCM and the hotspots and trends that have emerged in this field over the past decade. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on the Web of Science regarding CMR in the assessment of HCM. The databases were searched from 2013 to June 2023. CiteSpace is an application that can be used to characterize the underlying knowledge of the scientific literature in a given field. We used it to analyze the relationship between publication year and country, institution, journal, author, bibliography, and keywords in the field of CMR for the assessment of HCM. Results: A total of 1,427 articles were included in the analysis. In the assessment of HCM, the findings from the past decade have consistently demonstrated a progressive rise in the quantity of articles pertaining to CMR. The country with the largest number of publications was the United States [310], and the institution with the greatest number of publications was the University College London [45]. The analysis of keywords revealed the diagnosis and management of HCM with CMR to be the current research focus and emerging trend within this academic field. Conclusions: This study used a novel approach to visually analyze the use of CMR in HCM assessment. The current research trajectory in CMR consists of the diagnosis and management of patients with HCM. Although most studies confirmed the indispensability of CMR in the assessment of HCM, larger-scale cohorts are still needed to more comprehensively evaluate the role of CMR in the differential diagnosis, pre- and post-treatment assessment, and long-term management of patients with HCM.

The mechanism of melatonin promotion on cucumber seedling growth at different nitrogen levels.

The supply level of exogenous nitrogen has a very important influence on the growth and development of cucumber. Insufficient or excessive nitrogen application will lead to metabolic disorders in the body and affect the formation of yield. Therefore, it is of great scientific and practical significance to explore the corresponding mitigation measures. Melatonin (MT) is a multi-regulatory molecule with pleiotropic effects on plant growth and development. A large number of studies have shown that the appropriate amount of melatonin supplementation is beneficial to plant growth and development by promoting root development, delaying leaf senescence, and improving fruit yield. However, the study of MT function combined with a detailed physiological analysis of nitrogen (N) absorption and metabolism in cucumber plants needs further strengthening. We performed hydroponic tests at different nitrogen levels to determine the metabolic processes associated with the enhanced tolerance to nitrogen in melatonin-treated cucumber (Cucucumis sativus L.) seedlings. Cucumber seedlings were sprayed with 100 µM melatonin or water and treated with different nitrogen in the growth chamber for 7 days. Nitrogen deficiency significantly inhibited seedling growth, and this growth inhibition was partially alleviated by melatonin. The expression analysis of related carbon and nitrogen genes showed that the genes whose expression was significantly altered by melatonin were mainly related to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism. By enzyme activity and reactive oxygen content data analysis, melatonin-treated cucumber seedlings showed relatively stable carbon and nitrogen levels compared to untreated ones. In conclusion, MT can repair the impaired growth and development situation by regulating the nitrogen assimilation capacity and the balance between oxidation and oxidative metabolism and carbon metabolism in the cucumber under different nitrogen levels.

Utilization of Multi-Parametric Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Early Diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

BACKGROUND: It is challenging to diagnose suspected Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients in the very early stage of the disease. More evidence is needed to demonstrate the potential of quantitative MRI (qMRI) in precisely identifying patients before substantial physical decline occurs. PURPOSE: To assess the early diagnostic performance of multi-parametric qMRI for DMD patients, and the ability to identify DMD patients with mild functional decline. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. SUBJECTS: One hundred and forty DMD subjects (9.0 ± 2.2 years old), 24 male healthy controls (HCs) (9.2 ± 2.5 years old). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T/3-point Dixon, T1-mapping, and T2-mapping. ASSESSMENT: qMRI measurements (fat fraction [FF], T1, and T2) of 11 thigh muscles (rectus femoris [RF], vastus lateralis [VL], vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, gracilis, sartorius, adductor longus, adductor magnus [AM], semitendinosus, semimembranosus, biceps femoris long head [BFLH]) on the right side were conducted. NorthStar ambulatory assessment (NSAA) score used to evaluate the function of DMD patients and divided them into three subgroups: mild (76-100 score), moderate (51-75 score), and severe (0-50 score) functional decline. STATISTICAL TESTS: Independent t-test, ANOVA analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Compared with HCs, FF and T2 were significantly higher in the group of all DMD patients, while T1 was significantly lower. The combination of T1 and T2 in RF, VL, AM, and BFLH achieved excellent area under curve (AUCs) (0.967-0.992) in differentiating five DMD patients without abnormal fat infiltration from HCs. Overall, T2 reached higher AUCs than FF and T1 in distinguishing DMD with mild functional decline from HCs, whereas FF achieved higher AUCs than T1 and T2 in distinguishing three DMD subgroups with functional decline. DATA CONCLUSION: Multi-parametric qMRI demonstrate effective diagnostic capabilities for DMD patients in the early stage of the disease, and can identify patients with mild physical decline. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Application of medical imaging in ovarian cancer: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2022.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal tumor within the female reproductive system. Medical imaging plays a significant role in diagnosis and monitoring OC. This study aims to use bibliometric analysis to explore the current research hotspots and collaborative networks in the application of medical imaging in OC from 2000 to 2022. Methods: A systematica search for medical imaging in OC was conducted on the Web of Science Core Collection on August 9, 2023. All reviews and articles published from January 2000 to December 2022 were downloaded, and an analysis of countries, institutions, journals, keywords, and collaborative networks was perfomed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Results: A total of 5,958 publications were obtained, demonstrating a clear upward trend in annual publications over the study peroid. The USA led in productivity with 1,373 publications, and Harvard University emerged as the most prominent institution with 202 publications. Timmerman D was the most prolific contributor with 100 publications, and Gynecological Oncology led in the number of publications with 296. The top three keywords were "ovarian cancer" (1,256), "ultrasound" (725), and "diagnosis" (712). In addition, "pelvic masses" had the highest burst strength (25.5), followed by "magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)" (21.47). Recent emergent keywords such as "apoptosis", "nanoparticles", "features", "accuracy", and "human epididymal protein 4 (HE 4)" reflect research trends in this field and may become research hotspots in the future. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive summary of the key contributions of OC imaging to field's development over the past 23 years. Presently, primary areas of OC imaging research include MRI, targeted therapy of OC, novel biomarker (HE 4), and artificial intelligence. These areas are expected to influence future research endeavors in this field.

The predictive value of coronary microvascular dysfunction for left ventricular reverse remodelling in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aims: To evaluate the degree of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) first-pass perfusion parameters and to examine the correlation between myocardial perfusion and left ventricle reverse remodelling (LVRR). Methods: In this study, 94 DCM patients and 35 healthy controls matched for age and sex were included. Myocardial perfusion parameters, including upslope, time to maximum signal intensity (Timemax), maximum signal intensity (SImax), baseline signal intensity (SIbaseline), and the difference between maximum and baseline signal intensity (SImax-baseline) were measured. Additionally, left ventricular (LV) structure, function parameters, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were also recorded. The parameters were compared between healthy controls and DCM patients. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the predictors of LVRR. Results: With a median follow-up period of 12 months [interquartile range (IQR), 8-13], 41 DCM patients (44%) achieved LVRR. Compared with healthy controls, DCM patients presented CMD with reduced upslope, SIbaseline, and increased Timemax (all p < 0.01). Timemax, SImax, and SImax-baseline were further decreased in LVRR than non-LVRR group (Timemax: 60.35 [IQR, 51.46-74.71] vs. 72.41 [IQR, 59.68-97.70], p = 0.017; SImax: 723.52 [IQR, 209.76-909.27] vs. 810.92 [IQR, 581.30-996.89], p = 0.049; SImax-baseline: 462.99 [IQR, 152.25-580.43] vs. 551.13 [IQR, 402.57-675.36], p = 0.038). In the analysis of multivariate logistic regression, Timemax [odds ratio (OR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95-1.00; p = 0.032)], heart rate (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.08; p = 0.029), LV remodelling index (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.06-3.00; p = 0.038) and LGE extent (OR 0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.96; p = 0.021) were independent predictors of LVRR. Conclusions: CMD could be found in DCM patients and was more impaired in patients with non-LVRR than LVRR patients. Timemax at baseline was an independent predictor of LVRR in DCM.

Suboptimal Use of DOACs Post-Discharge for Geriatric Hip Fractures with Isolated Calf Deep Vein Thrombosis: Do Clinician Prescribing Preferences and Patient Compliance Alters Clinical Outcomes?

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the impacts of DOACs compliance and prescribing preferences on clinical outcomes in elderly hip fracture patients with isolated calf deep vein thrombosis (ICDVT). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study that evaluated 702 patients who underwent surgical treatment combined with ICDVT in an academic university hospital between January 2016 and October 2021. DOACs compliance was investigated through telephone and outpatient follow-up, and ICDVT clinical outcomes were collected 30 and 90 days post-discharge, respectively. Variables of interest were collected through the electronic medical record system, and data were analyzed after adjusting for predictors of non-completely dissolved (CD) of ICDVT. Results: The DOACs compliance survey revealed that 375 (53.42%) patients were fully adherent, 270 (38.46%) were fairly adherent, and 57 (8.12%) were poorly adherent. Approximately 62% of patients had ICDVT dissipation within 30 days after discharge, reaching 94% within 90 days. DOACs QD/BID regimen is often based on economic status, activity capacity, discharge destination and post-operative weight-bearing activities (p<0.05).The mechanism of injury, ASA classification, surgical technique and timing of ICDVT formation were significantly correlated with DOACs 14/28 days regimen (p<0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that rural patients [OR 1.518 (95% CI, 1.117-2.236)], pre-operative ICDVT[OR 2.816 (95% CI, 1.862-4.259)] and thrombus length [OR 1.157 (95% CI, 1.263-1.821)] were ICDVT risk factors for non-CD. Furthermore, DOACs fair compliance [OR 0.087 (95% CI, 0.042-0.178)], DOACs full compliance [OR 0.283 (95% CI, 0.139-0.579)], and hospitalization duration [OR 0.793 (95% CI, 0.694-0.907)] were ICDVT protective factors for CD. Conclusion: Better compliance with DOACs benefits early ICDVT dissipation, but final clinical outcomes have to be validated with longer follow-up periods. When managing elderly patients with hip fractures, indications for anticoagulation should be considered and individualized protocols should be used.

The potential predictive value of cardiac mechanics for left ventricular reverse remodelling in dilated cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: Left ventricular reverse remodelling (LVRR) is an important objective of optimal medical management for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients, as it is associated with favourable long-term outcomes. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can comprehensively assess cardiac structure and function. We aimed to assess the CMR parameters at baseline and investigate independent variables to predict LVRR in DCM patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nighty-eight initially diagnosed DCM patients who underwent CMR and echocardiography examinations at baseline were included. CMR parameters and feature tracking (FT) based left ventricular (LV) global strain (nStrain) and nStrain indexed to LV cardiac mass index (rStrain) were measured. The predictors of LVRR were determined by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of CMR parameters and were compared by the DeLong test. At a median follow-up time of 9 [interquartile range, 7-12] months, 35 DCM patients (36%) achieved LVRR. The patients with LVRR had lower LV volume, mass, LGE extent and stroke volume index (LVSVi) and higher left ventricular remodelling index (LVRI), nStrains, rStrains, and peak systolic strain rate (PSSR) in the longitudinal direction and rStrains in the circumferential direction at baseline (all P < 0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, LVRI [per SD, odds ratio (OR) 1.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-2.98; P = 0.024] and the ratio of global longitudinal peak strain (rGLPS) (per SD, OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.18-3.01; P = 0.008) were independent predictors of LVRR. The combination of LVSVi, LVRI, and rGLPS had a greater area under the curve (AUC) than the combination of LVSVi and LVRI (0.75 vs. 0.68), but not significantly (P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with LVRR had a lower LV volume index, lower LVSV index, lower LGE extent, higher LVRI, and preserved myocardial deformation in the longitudinal direction at baseline. LVRI and rGLPS at baseline were independent determinants of LVRR.

Transcription factor EB (TFEB) improves ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction by inhibiting Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Background: Adverse left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) compromises cardiac function and increases heart failure risk. Until now, comprehension of the role transcription factor EB (TFEB) plays after MI is limited. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of TFEB on fibroblasts differentiation and extracellular matrix expression after MI. Methods: AAV9 (adeno-associated virus) mediated up- and down-regulated TFEB expressions were generated in C57BL/6 mice two weeks before the MI modeling. Echocardiography, Masson, Sirius red staining immunofluorescence, and wheat germ agglutinin staining were performed at 3 days, and 1, 2, and 4 weeks after MI modeling. Fibroblasts collected from SD neonatal rats were transfected by adenovirus and siRNA, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), immunofluorescence, wound healing and Transwell assay were conducted. Myocardial fibrosis-related proteins were identified by Western blot. PNU-74654 (100 ng/mL) was used for 12 hours to inhibit ß-catenin-TCF/LEF1 complex. Results: The up-regulation of TFEB resulted in reduced fibroblasts proliferation and its differentiation into myofibroblasts in vitro studies. A significant up-regulation of EF and down-regulation of myocyte area was shown in the AAV9-TFEB group. Meanwhile, decreased protein level of α-SMA and collagen I were observed in vitro study. TFEB didn't affect the concentration of ß-catenin. Inhibition of TFEB, which promoted cell migration, proliferation and collagen I expression, was counteracted by PNU-74654. Conclusions: TFEB demonstrated potential in restraining fibrosis after MI by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Development and Validation of Small-Size Mechanism for RP-3 Aviation Fuel with High Precision.

In this study, a kerosene surrogate model fuel containing 73% n-dodecane, 14.7% 1,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, and 12.3% n-propylbenzene (percentage in mass) is developed by considering both the physical and chemical characteristics of practical aviation kerosene. By combining the small-size C0-C4 (carbon number) core mechanism and the large hydrocarbon submechanisms, a low- and high-temperature chemical kinetic mechanism including 43 species and 136 reactions is constructed for the kerosene surrogate model fuel. The performance of the 43-species mechanism is validated by examining various experimental ignition delay times and laminar flame speeds of single component of n-dodecane and practical kerosene. The predicted main species concentrations during the oxidation process in the jet-stirred reactor by this small-size mechanism exhibit generally acceptable performance with the corresponding experimental data of RP-3 kerosene. The results of brute force sensitivity analysis indicate that the mechanism retains key reaction paths. This relatively small size can be applied to the simulation of computational fluid dynamics to further explore the practical problems of aviation fuel application in engine.

Mitophagy-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to muscle wasting in cancer cachexia.

Cancer cachexia is commonly seen in patients with malignant tumors, which usually leads to poor life quality and negatively affects long-term prognosis and survival. Mitochondria dysfunction and enhanced autophagy are well-established to play an important role in skeletal muscle wasting. However, whether mitophagy is engaged in the pathogenesis of cancer cachexia requires further investigation. This study comprised a clinical study and animal experimentation. Clinical data such as CT images and laboratory results were obtained and analyzed. Then mice model of cancer cachexia and mitophagy inhibition were established. Data including skeletal muscle mass and function, mitochondria structure and function, inflammatory factors as well as ROS concentration. Mitophagy was enhanced in cancer cachexia patients with increased inflammatory factors. Greater disruption of skeletal muscle fiber and mitochondria structure were seen in cancer cachexia, with a higher level of inflammatory factors and ROS expression in skeletal muscle. Meanwhile, ATP production was undermined, indicating a close relationship with mitophagy, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle of cancer cachexia mice models. In conclusion, mitophagy is activated in cancer cachexia and may play a role in skeletal muscle atrophy, and inflammation and oxidative stress might participate in mitophagy-related skeletal muscle injury.

Development and application of the Cancer Cachexia Staging Index for the diagnosis and staging of cancer cachexia.

OBJECTIVE: The current tools for evaluating cancer cachexia are either too simple to reflect the far-reaching effects of cachexia or too complicated to be used in daily practice. This study aimed to develop a cancer cachexia staging index (CCSI) that is both practical and comprehensive. METHODS: Patients with gastrointestinal cancers were prospectively included in the study. Clinical data including weight change, body composition, systematic inflammation, nutrition, and function status were entered into regression models to determine the best variable combination as well as their respective cutoff values and score distribution in the CCSI. The CCSI's ability to predict outcomes and evaluate the consequences of cachexia for patients were then assessed. RESULTS: Clinical information and test results from 10 568 patients were used to develop a CCSI composed of subjective and objective measures. Subjective measures included body mass index-adjusted weight loss grade, rate of weight loss, inflammation (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein level), and prealbumin level. Objective measures included appetite status and physical status. Patients were diagnosed and stratified by the total CCSI score into 3 subgroups: no cachexia, mild or moderate cachexia, and severe cachexia. The CCSI grades showed good survival discrimination and were independently predictive of survival in multivariate analysis. Compared with the traditional Fearon criteria for diagnosing cancer cachexia, the CCSI was more accurate in predicting postoperative complications (net reclassification index [NRI], 2.8%; 95% CI, 0.0104-0.0456%), death (NRI, 10.68%; 95% CI, 0.0429-0.1708%), recurrence (NRI, 3.71%; 95% CI, 0.0082-0.0685%), and overall survival (NRI, 8.5%; 95% CI, 0.0219-0.1533%). The CCSI also had better discriminative ability than Fearon criteria in discriminating nutritional status, body composition, and systematic inflammation in patients with or without cachexia. A more detailed evaluation of a randomly selected subgroup (n = 1566) showed that CCSI grades had good discrimination of appetite and food intake status, physical function and muscle strength, symptom burden, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The CCSI is a comprehensive and practical evaluation tool for cancer cachexia. It can predict postoperative outcomes and survival. The CCSI stages showed good discrimination when evaluating patients with cancer in terms of nutritional status, physical function, systematic inflammation, body composition, symptom burden, and quality of life.

A combined proteomics and metabolomics analysis reveals the invisible regulation of plant root responses to oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) stress.

Oxybenzone, an environmental pollutant affecting both agriculture and aquatic ecological integrity, has been demonstrated to act as a physiological and metabolic inhibitor on plants, animals, and microorganisms. Research on oxybenzone in higher plants has focused on the above-ground anatomy (leaves), while research on the under-ground parts (roots) has been neglected. In this study, the changes in plant root protein expression and metabolic pathways under oxybenzone treatment were explored through a combined proteomics and metabolomics analysis. A total of 506 differential proteins and 96 differential metabolites were identified, which were mainly distributed in critical pathways such as those for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism, lipid metabolism, and antioxidation. Bioinformatics analysis shows that oxybenzone toxicity is predominantly reflected in alterations to root respiratory homeostasis and the manifestation of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane lipid peroxidation, changes to disease resistance-associated proteins, changes to normal C-flow distribution, and the inhibition of cell absorption and utilization of N sources. Plants respond to oxybenzone stress mainly by reconfiguring the mitochondrial electron-transport-chain to bypass oxidative-damage components; improving the efficiency of the antioxidant system to remove excessively accumulated ROS; promoting the detoxification of harmful membrane lipid peroxides; increasing osmotic adjustment substance (such as proline and raffinose) accumulation; adjusting C flow distribution to produce more nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) for the glutathione cycle; and accumulating free amino acids to increase plant stress tolerant. Our results are the first to map the changes in the physiological and metabolic regulatory network of higher plant roots under oxybenzone stress.

Targeted Activation of HNF4α by AMPK Inhibits Apoptosis and Ameliorates Neurological Injury Caused by Cardiac Arrest in Rats.

Previous studies have shown that AMPK plays an important role in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by participating in apoptosis, but the exact mechanism and target of action remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of AMPK activation on brain injury secondary to cardiac arrest. HE, Nills and TUNEL assays were used to evaluate neuronal damage and apoptosis. The relationships between AMPK, HNF4α and apoptotic genes were verified by ChIP-seq, dual-luciferase and WB assays. The results showed that AMPK improved the 7-day memory function of rats, and reduced neuronal cell injury and apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region after ROSC, while the use of HNF4α inhibitor weakened the protective effect of AMPK. Further research found that AMPK positively regulated the expression of HNF4α, and AMPK could promote the expression of Bcl-2 and inhibit the expression of Bax and Cleaved-Caspase 3. In vitro experiments showed that AMPK ameliorated neuronal injury by inhibiting apoptosis through the activation of HNF4α. Combined with ChIP-seq, JASPAR analysis and Dual-luciferase assay, the binding site of HNF4α to the upstream promoter of Bcl-2 was found. Taken together, AMPK attenuates brain injury after CA by activating HNF4α to target Bcl-2 to inhibit apoptosis.

Proteomics and Lysine Acetylation Modification Reveal the Responses of Pakchoi (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis) to Oxybenzone Stress.

The broad-spectrum UV filter oxybenzone is toxic to plants at environmentally relevant concentrations. Lysine acetylation (LysAc) is one of the essential post-translational modifications (PTMs) in plant signaling responses. The goal of this study was to uncover the LysAc regulatory mechanism in response to toxic exposures to oxybenzone as a first step in elucidating xenobiotic acclimatory reactions by using the model Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis. A total of 6124 sites on 2497 proteins were acetylated, 63 proteins were differentially abundant, and 162 proteins were differentially acetylated under oxybenzone treatment. Bioinformatics analysis showed that a large number of antioxidant proteins were significantly acetylated under oxybenzone treatment, implying that LysAc alleviated the adverse effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by inducing antioxidant systems and stress-related proteins; the significant changes in acetylation modification of enzymes involved in different branches of carbon metabolism in plants under oxybenzone treatment mean that plants can change the direction of carbon flow allocation by regulating the activities of carbon metabolism-related enzymes. Our results profile the protein LysAc under oxybenzone treatment and propose an adaptive mechanism at the post-translational level of vascular plants in response to pollutants, providing a dataset reference for future related research.