[Predictive value of left ventricular ejection fraction reserve assessed by SPECT G-MPI for major adverse cardiovascular event in patients with coronary artery disease].

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reserve assessed by gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT G-MPI) for major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. From January 2017 to December 2019, patients with coronary artery disease and confirmed myocardial ischemia by stress and rest SPECT G-MPI, and underwent coronary angiography within 3 months were enrolled. The sum stress score (SSS) and sum resting score (SRS) were analyzed by the standard 17-segment model, and the sum difference score (SDS, SDS=SSS-SRS) was calculated. The LVEF at stress and rest were analyzed by 4DM software. The LVEF reserve (ΔLVEF) was calculated (ΔLVEF=stress LVEF-rest LVEF). The primary endpoint was MACE, which was obtained by reviewing the medical record system or by telephone follow-up once every twelve months. Patients were divided into MACE-free and MACE groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between ΔLVEF and all MPI parameters. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the independent factors of MACE, and the optimal SDS cutoff value for predicting MACE was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted to compare the difference in the incidence of MACE between different SDS groups and different ΔLVEF groups. Results: A total of 164 patients with coronary artery disease [120 male; age (58.6±10.7) years] were included. The average follow-up time was (26.5±10.4) months, and a total of 30 MACE were recorded during follow-up. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that SDS (HR=1.069, 95%CI: 1.005-1.137, P=0.035) and ΔLVEF (HR=0.935, 95%CI: 0.878-0.995, P=0.034) were independent predictors of MACE. According to ROC curve analysis, the optimal cut-off to predict MACE was a SDS of 5.5 with an area under the curve of 0.63 (P=0.022). Survival analysis showed that the incidence of MACE was significantly higher in the SDS≥5.5 group than in the SDS<5.5 group (27.6% vs. 13.2%, P=0.019), but the incidence of MACE was significantly lower in the ΔLVEF≥0 group than in theΔLVEF<0 group (11.0% vs. 25.6%, P=0.022). Conclusions: LVEF reserve (ΔLVEF) assessed by SPECT G-MPI serves as an independent protective factor for MACE, while SDS is an independent risk predictor in patients with coronary artery disease. SPECT G-MPI is valuable for risk stratification by assessing myocardial ischemia and LVEF.

Effects of zinc application on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of pecan at the seedling stage.

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is sensitive to Zn, which is involved in basic physiological and biochemical processes. To explore the growth and physiology of pecan in response to Zn application, we used 1-year-old annual grafted seedlings (Pawnee) and applied four concentrations of Zn fertilizer (0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.40 g·plant-1 ); a control (CK; no Zn fertilization) was also included. The growth characteristics, anatomical structure of the leaves and photosynthesis were assessed. Compared with the CK, photosynthesis and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters, leaf area and leaf structure significantly increased at Zn concentrations of 0.05 and 0.10 g·plant-1 . In addition, growth of pecan at the seedling stage increased in response to moderate Zn application. In contrast, treatment with 0.20 and 0.40 g·Zn·plant-1 dramatically decreased these physiological indices and inhibited pecan growth. The results show that moderate soil Zn application promotes pecan growth and development by increasing photosynthesis. However excess Zn concentrations were not conducive to seedling growth. The concentration of 0.1 g·Zn·plant-1 was best when considering long-term soil Zn applications, providing a theoretical foundation for microelement management of pecan.

[Effect of hemocoagulase agkistrodon on coagulation status in patients with traumatic brain injury in vitro].

Objective: To analyze the effects of hemocoagulase agkistrodon (HCA) on the coagulation status of healthy people and traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients in vitro. Methods: A total of 10 TBI patients were enrolled from December 2018 to June 2019,and 24 age and sex matched healthy controls were also enrolled. Clinical and pathological data, blood samples of all subjects were collected. Different gradient concentrations of HCA were added to the blood samples which were detected by thromboelastography, and the R value, K value, α angle and MA value of thromboelastography parameters between the two groups were analyzed to explore the effect of HCA on the coagulation status of patients with TBI. Results: With the increase of HCA concentration in blood samples, the R and K values gradually increased, and the α angles and MA values gradually decreased in both TBI patients group which included 7 males and 3 females, with an median age of 33 (28-39) years old and healthy control group which included 11 males and 13 females, with an median age of 33 (23-49) years old. The differences in the R values, K values, α angles, and MA values of different concentration gradients were statistically significant in both healthy control group and TBI patients group (χ2 were 109.80, 131.28, 185.47, 165.97 and 54.92, 75.60, 80.12, 59.25, respectively, all P<0.001). The differences between R values after adding HCA of 0-0.105 U/ml in the healthy group were statistically significant (P=0.025), but K values, α angles and MA values were not statistically significant (P values were 0.275, 0.206 and 0.330, respectively); the R values of the TBI patients group were not statistically significant after adding HCA of 0 to 0.105 U/ml (P=0.976), and the K values, α angles, and MA values were statistically significant (P values were 0.047, 0.041, and 0.034, respectively).The R values of the healthy control group, the TBI patients group, and the overall data were significantly positively correlated with the HCA dose (r values were 0.552、0.700、0.420, respectively, P<0.001), the K values were significantly positively correlated with the HCA dose (r values were 0.726、0.861、0.750, respectively, P<0.001), the α angles were significantly negatively correlated with the HCA dose (r values were -0.815、-0.876、-0.807, respectively, P<0.001) and the MA values were significantly negatively correlated with the HCA dose (r values were -0.757、-0.710、-0.729, respectively, P<0.001). Conclusions: HCA does not aggravate the procoagulant state of blood in healthy people and TBI patients, and with the increase of HCA concentration in blood, the blood samples of both groups show a tendency to decrease the coagulation ability.

[Association between apolipoprotein E-containing HDL-C and coronary heart disease risk: a community-based cohort study].

Objective: To assess whether apolipoprotein E-containing HDL-C (APOE-HDL-C) is causally associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Methods: In total, 5 417 cardiovascular disease-free participants at baseline were followed up for up to 10 years in the Chinese Multi-provincial Cohort Study. APOE-HDL-C and HDL-C were measured in all participants. APOE-HDL-C/total HDL-C ratio was calculated. Multivariate Cox regression was employed to assess the association between HDL-C related biomarkers and 10-year CHD incident risk. Results: A total of 100 incident CHD events occurred during a mean 6.8 years follow-up. High levels of baseline HDL-C related biomarkers were significantly negatively associated with incident CHD risk. Comparison with participant with lowest level of APOE-HDL-C/total HDL-C ratio, those with highest level of APOE-HDL-C/total HDL-C ratio had 74% decreased risk of CHD (HR=0.26, 95%CI: 0.12-0.71). The individual with the highest level of APOE-HDL-C/total HDL-C ratio had the lowest absolute risk[0.48% (0.44%-0.52%)] of CHD, which was significantly lower than that [0.83% (0.78%-0.88%)] of the individual with the highest level of HDL-C. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that the APOE-HDL-C/total HDL-C ratio was significantly related to a 10-year increased risk of incident CHD, even beyond HDL-C. It seemed that APOE-HDL-C could serve as a new indicator of the anti-atherosclerotic function of HDL.

LncRNA MALAT1 knockdown inhibits cell migration and invasion by suppressing autophagy through miR-384/GOLM1 axis in glioma.

OBJECTIVE: Glioma is characterized by high metastasis with poor outcomes. Long non-coding RNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) was well-explored in numerous human cancers, including glioma. This study aimed to provide a novel action mechanism of MALAT1 in glioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of MALAT1, microRNA-384 (miR-384) and Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) was detected by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein levels of GOLM1, light chain3 (LC3-II/LC3-I), p62, Vimentin and E-cadherin were proved by Western blot. Cell migration and invasion were monitored using the transwell assay. Bioinformatics tool starBase was used to predict target genes and associated binding sites. RNA immunoprecipitation assay (RIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assay were utilized to verify the relationship between miR-384 and MALAT1 or GOLM1. Tumor formation analysis in nude mice was conducted to ascertain the role of MALAT1 in vivo. RESULTS: MALAT1 was highly expressed in glioma tissues and cells. MALAT1 knockdown inhibited autophagy, migration and invasion of glioma cells. MiR-384 was a target of MALAT1, and miR-384 inhibition reversed the effects of MALAT1 knockdown in glioma cells. GOLM1 was a target of miR-384, and miR-384 inhibition eliminated the function of GOLM1 downregulation in glioma cells. In addition, GOLM1 was regulated by MALAT1 through miR-384. Moreover, MALAT1 knockdown blocked tumor growth and development in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: MALAT1 knockdown depleted migration and invasion by inhibiting autophagy through MALAT1/miR-384/GOLM1 axis in glioma in vitro and in vivo. The MALAT1/miR-384/GOLM1 axis was first proposed in our report, enriching the action mechanism of MALAT1 in glioma.

Circular RNA TTBK2 regulates cell proliferation, invasion and ferroptosis via miR-761/ITGB8 axis in glioma.

OBJECTIVE: Glioma is a primary intracranial tumor with an unfavorable prognosis. Evolving evidence indicates that circular RNA Tau tubulin kinase 2 (circ-TTBK2) is a cancer-associated gene. Therefore, this study was to explore the potential role of circ-TTBK2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Levels of circ-TTBK2, microRNA (miR)-761, and integrin subunit beta 8 (ITGB8) were determined by adopting quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or Western blot. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to detect cell viability, and the invaded cells were distinguished utilizing transwell assay. Iron and lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays were implemented to examine the iron (total iron and ferrous iron) and lipid-based ROS in glioma cells, respectively. Besides, dual-luciferase reporter assay was administrated to illustrate the interaction between miR-761 and circ-TTBK2 or ITGB8. The role of circ-TTBK2 was identified via xenograft tumor model. RESULTS: Levels of circ-TTBK2 and ITGB8 were upregulated, whereas miR-761 level was low-expressed in glioma tissues and cells. Circ-TTBK2 was a sponge of miR-761 to modulate ITGB8. Additionally, circ-TTBK2 knockdown or miR-761 increase could retard cell proliferation, invasion, and promote ferroptosis in glioma cells. Interestingly, miR-761 inhibitor could abolish the repressive impact of circ-TTBK2 silencing on cell growth in vitro. Also, the influence of miR-761 mimic on cell phenotypes was regained after ITGB8 upregulation. Meanwhile, circ-TTBK2 deficiency caused the decrease of tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: Circ-TTBK2 regulated cell proliferation, invasion and ferroptosis via targeting ITGB8 by sponging miR-761 in glioma, providing a promising biomarker for the clinical therapy of human glioma.

[The association between plasma levels of 20 amino acids and risk of diabetes].

Objective: To investigate the association between the plasma levels of 20 amino acids and the risk of diabetes in middle-aged and elderly population. Methods: This study was a part of the Chinese multi-provincial cohort study conducted in communities of Shougang. In 2007 and 2012, the population was investigated for diabetes and other risk factors. Blood samples collected from 475 people were tested for various amino acid levels by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between plasma amino acid levels and diabetes risk. Results: The age of the selected population at baseline was (58.7±6.3) years, and the blood glucose level at baseline was (5.68±1.34) mmol/L. Among them, 56 (11.79%) subjects were diabetes. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure and dyslipidemia, individuals with plasma branched-chain amino acid (valine, leucine and isoleucine) and cysteine in the highest tertile levels were at high risk of diabetes with the ORs of 3.61 (95% CI 1.48-8.80), 3.27 (95% CI 1.34-7.99), 2.46 (95% CI 1.04-5.84) and 2.09 (95% CI 1.02-4.27), respectively. After 5 years' followed up, 5.73% (24/419) subjects developed diabetes. Compared with those in the lowest tertile, individuals with plasma branched-chain amino acid (total concentration), phenylalanine, and tyrosine levels at baseline in the highest tertile had 3.69 times, 3.61 times and 4.14 times higher risk to develop new diabetes, respectively. In contrast, individuals with plasma glycine level in the highest tertile had only 76% (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.06-0.91) risk for the development of diabetes compared with those with plasma glycine level in the lowest tertile. Conclusions: The increase in plasma branched-chain amino acid and cysteine levels is significantly associated with an increase in incident diabetes. Subjects with higher levels of branched-chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine) had a significantly higher risk of developing new-onset diabetes, while those with higher glycine levels had a significantly lower risk of developing diabetes in 5 years.

White matter integrity deficit in treatment-naïve adult patients with major depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVES: The fronto-limbic system plays critical roles in cognitive functions, including emotion. This is supported by recent reports in the studies of major depressive disorder using diffusion tensor imaging of the brain. This study examined white matter integrity and correlations to cognitive function in treatment-naive adult patients with major depressive disorder. METHODS: Fractional anisotropy values, derived from diffusion tensor imaging, were compared in 18 treatment-naïve adult patients with major depressive disorder and 18 well-matched healthy controls by voxel-based analysis. Correlation of fractional anisotropy with performance of cognitive tests was also analysed. RESULTS: Lower fractional anisotropy values in the bilateral medial frontal gyri, right subgyral frontal and temporal lobes, and left middle frontal and cingulate gyri were observed in patients than in controls. However, no correlation between mean fractional anisotropy values and cognitive scores was found. CONCLUSION: These findings support the notion that deficit of white matter integrity in the fronto-limbic system may be the neural substrate of major depressive disorder.

Diagnosis of tertian malaria by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A method of ELISA diagnosis of tertian malaria based on detecting Plasmodium vivax antigen in red blood cells (RBC) was developed, using 0.16 ml of packed, washed, and sonicated RBC. 68 blood samples from tertian malaria cases were examined; 67 (98.5%) were positive. 104 normal persons were all negative by this test. The lowest parasite number detected was 3 parasites/10(5) RBC on a thin film, or 1-2 parasites per thick film of usual size.