Astrocyte polarization in glaucoma: a new opportunity.

Astrocyte polarization is a new concept which is similar to microglia polarization and in which astrocytes are classified as A1 (neurotoxic) and A2 (neuroprotective). Several studies on astrocyte polarization have focused mainly on neurodegenerative diseases, trauma, and infections. However, the role of astrocyte polarization in glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disease, has not been fully explored. In this review, we first describe the characteristics of astrocyte astrogliosis in glaucoma, including morphological, molecular, proliferative and functional changes. We then summarize understanding of astrocyte polarization in other diseases, and show that A1 astrocytes are involved in the death of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma, and that their neurotoxins kill only damaged retinal ganglion cells. Based on this, we propose new interesting conjecture on astrocyte polarization in glaucoma: (1) That the neurotoxin from A1 astrocytes is a product of the complement system (membrane-attacking complex), since this system is known to mediate synaptic elimination and the C3 expression is clearly increased in A1 astrocytes; (2) that reactive scar-forming astrocytes in the optic nerve head may be classified as A2 astrocytes since their ablation leads to a worse prognosis in glaucoma. Finally, current therapeutic research progress on astrocyte polarization in other diseases is also addressed. Regulation of astrocyte polarization can be achieved by extracellular microglia-related and intracellular pathways. Reduced A1 or increased A2 astrocytes can rescue the nerve. For example, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist rescues retinal ganglion cells by reducing A1 astrocytes via the extracellular microglia-related pathway in an ocular hypertension model, suggesting that regulation of astrocyte polarization as a therapeutic target in glaucoma is feasible.

Interleukin-4 promotes microglial polarization toward a neuroprotective phenotype after retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Glaucoma results from irreversible loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) through an unclear mechanism. Microglial polarization and neuroinflammation play an important role in retinal degeneration. Our study aimed to explore the function of microglial polarization during glaucoma progression and identify a strategy to alleviate retinal neuroinflammation. Retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced in C57BL/6 mice. In a separate cohort of animals, interleukin (IL)-4 (50 ng/mL, 2 µL per injection) or vehicle was intravitreally injected after retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. RGC loss was assessed by counting cells that were positive for the RGC marker RNA binding protein, mRNA processing factor in retinal flat mounts. The expression of classically activated (M1) and alternatively activated (M2) microglial markers were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. The results showed that progressive RGC loss was accompanied by a continuous decrease in M2 microglia during the late phase of the 28-day period after retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. IL-4 was undetectable in the retina at all time points, and intravitreal IL-4 administration markedly improved M2 microglial marker expression and ameliorated RGC loss in the late phase post-retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. In summary, we observed that IL-4 treatment maintained a high number of M2 microglia after RIR and promoted RGC survival.

Postoperative Onset and Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Surgically Resected Specimens From Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients With Pre/Asymptomatic COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiologic features and clinical courses of gastrointestinal cancer patients with pre/asymptomatic COVID-19 and to explore evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in the surgically resected specimens. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The advisory of postponing or canceling elective surgeries escalated a worldwide debate regarding the safety and feasibility of performing elective surgical procedures during this pandemic. Limited data are available on gastrointestinal cancer patients with pre/asymptomatic COVID-19 undergoing surgery. METHODS: Clinical data were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Surgically resected specimens of the cases with confirmed COVID-19 were obtained to detect the expression of ACE2 and the presence of SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients (male, 34) with a median age 62.5 years were enrolled. All the patients presented no respiratory symptoms or abnormalities on chest computed tomography before surgery. Six patients (11.5%) experienced symptom onset and were confirmed to be COVID-19. All were identified to be preoperatively pre/asymptomatic, as 5 were with SARS-CoV-2 presenting in cytoplasm of enterocytes or macrophages from the colorectal tissues and 1 had symptom onset immediately after surgery. The case fatality rate in patients with COVID-19 was 16.7%, much higher than those without COVID-19 (2.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal cancer patients with pre/asymptomatic COVID-19 were at high risk of postoperative onset and death. At current pandemic, elective surgery should be postponed or canceled. It highlights the need for investigating the full clinical spectrum and natural history of this infection. The early colorectal tropism of SARS-CoV-2 may have major implications on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19.

Inhibition of macrophage migration inhibitory factor prevents thyroid dysfunction in pregnant rats with acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis during pregnancy (APIP) rarely occurs but may lead to preterm delivery and be associated with high fetal mortality. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) participates in various inflammatory diseases as a pro-inflammatory cytokine. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of (S, R)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4, 5dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic methyl ester (ISO-1), an inhibitor of MIF, on maternal thyroid injury associated with APIP and its potential mechanisms in a pregnant rat model. APIP model was induced by retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate. ISO-1 was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before model establishment. The severity of pancreatitis was assessed by levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­α, interleukin (IL)­1ß, IL-6 of maternal serum as well as histopathological score. Thyroid injury was determined by free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4) and thyroid histopathological score. Levels of MIF in maternal serum and the expression of MIF, CD68, CD3 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as well as oxidative stress status in maternal thyroid tissues were detected. Ultrastructure of maternal thyroid tissues was observed by transmission electron microscope. Thyroid injuries occurred in APIP and the lesions were attenuated with the pretreatment of ISO-1. Moreover, ISO-1 reduced the expression of MIF, attenuated the activations of CD68, CD3, ICAM-1 while improved oxidative stress status in maternal thyroid. Our research suggested a protective role of ISO-1 on thyroid injury and endocrine disorder during APIP, which may be associated with the inhibition of biological functions of MIF.

Efficacy of low-energy selective laser trabeculoplasty on the treatment of primary open angle glaucoma.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of low-energy selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) on the treatment of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. METHODS: Outpatients with POAG who underwent 360-degree SLT using an initial energy of 0.3 mJ (total energy of 30-40 mJ) were reviewed retrospectively from September 2011 to January 2018. RESULTS: Eight-six eyes of 44 POAG patients underwent 360-degree SLT using initial energy of 0.3 mJ and were followed up regularly. The total energy used was 32.5±2.5 mJ (23-40 mJ, 105±6 spots). The average pretreatment intraocular pressure (IOP) was 19.8±3.9 mm Hg. At 1, 3, 6mo, 1, and 2y, the post-SLT IOPs (mm Hg) were 16.9±3.3, 16.5±3.3, 17.1±3.4, 16.6±3.5, 16.5±2.8, which were significantly lower than that before treatment (P<0.001). The patients in the SLT success group were found to be younger than those in the SLT failure group. After SLT, 59 eyes that maintained pretreatment medications were defined as the drug retention group. The pre-SLT IOP was 20.1±3.7 mm Hg. At 1, 3, 6mo, 1, and 2y, the post-SLT IOPs (mm Hg) were 17.3±3.6, 16.6±3.5, 17.2±3.6, 16.9±3.8 and 16.5±2.9, respectively. Twenty-seven eyes that required reduced drugs were defined as the drug reduction group. The pre-SLT IOP was 19.2±4.4 mm Hg. At 1, 3, 6mo, 1, and 2y, the post-SLT IOPs (mm Hg) were 16.1±2.6, 16.5±3.1, 16.8±2.9, 16.0±2.6 and 16.3±2.4, respectively. Compared with the pretreatment IOPs, the post-SLT IOPs were significantly lower in drug retention group and drug reduction group. The patients in the drug reduction group were found to be younger than those in the drug retention group. CONCLUSION: Low-energy SLT is safe and effective for POAG patients during a 2-year follow-up. Younger POAG patients may obtain better results after low-energy SLT treatment.

12-Month clinical results of drug-coated balloons for de novo coronary lesion in vessels exceeding 3.0 mm.

The purpose of this observational study was to investigate the feasibility, initial safety, and efficacy of the SeQuent® Please DCB (B. Braun Melsungen, Germany) for patients with de novo coronary lesions in vessels exceeding 3.0 mm in a consecutive series of all comer percutaneous coronary intervention. A total of 120 patients (135 lesions) with de novo coronary lesions in vessels ≥ 3.0 mm treated with DCB were enrolled in this single-centre prospective observational study. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF), a composite endpoint of cardiac death, target vessel-myocardial infarction (TV-MI), and clinically driven target vessel revascularization (TLR) at 12 months. Safety endpoints included cardiac death, TV-MI, and definite target vessel thrombosis. 45.9% of the lesions were classified as complex (type B2/C). The reference vessel diameter was 3.09 ± 0.31 mm measured via quantitative coronary angiography analysis. Coronary dissections occurred in 42 patients (35.0%; Type A-B 14.1%; Type C 19.1%; Type D: 1.6%), two of which [1.6%; (type D dissection)] underwent bail-out stent implantation. 12-month follow-up was completed in 100% patients. The 12-month incidence of TLF was 3.4%. The clinically driven TLR occurred in four patients (3.4%). The incidence of TLR was low in patients without any detectable dissections, similar to those with dissections (3.8% vs. 2.5%; p = 0.146). No patient suffered cardiac death, TV-MI, or target vessel thrombosis. The study shows the feasibility, initial safety, and efficacy of coronary intervention using SeQuent® Please DCB for the treatment of patients with de novo lesion in vessels exceeding 3 mm. The study highlights that the coronary dissection (Type A-C) post DCB treatment occurs frequently but is safe at follow up.

4-Phenylbutyric Acid Attenuates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Intestinal Epithelial Cell Apoptosis in Rats with Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to determine whether intestinal epithelial cell (IECs) apoptosis could be induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and the role of chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) in SAP-associated intestinal barrier injury. METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: the sham operation group, the SAP group, and the SAP model plus 4-PBA treatment group (4-PBA group). A rat model of SAP was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate (STC) into the biliopancreatic duct; in the 4-PBA group, 4-PBA was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight for 3 days before modeling. RESULTS: The results indicated that 4-PBA attenuated the following: (1) pancreas and intestinal pathological injuries, (2) serum TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6, (3) serum DAO level, serum endotoxin level, (4) the apoptosis of IECs, (5) ER stress markers (caspase-12, CHOP, GRP78, PERK, IRE1α, ATF6) and caspase-3 expression in intestinal. However, the serum AMY, LIPA levels, and the expression of caspase-9, caspase-8 were just slightly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: ERS may be considered a predominant pathway, which is involved in the apoptosis of IECs during SAP. Furthermore, 4-PBA protects IECs against apoptosis in STC-induced SAP by attenuating the severity of ERS.

Corrigendum to "4-Phenylbutyric Acid Attenuates Pancreatic Beta-Cell Injury in Rats with Experimental Severe Acute Pancreatitis".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2016/4592346.].

Serum thyroid hormones levels are significantly decreased in pregnant rats with acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy (APIP), which was thought to be a rare but severe disease, with a high perinatal mortality among maternal-fetuses. Our research aimed to study and assess thyroid injury in a rat model of APIP and its possible mechanisms. The APIP model was established by retrograde injection with sodium taurocholate. Sham-operated (SO) and APIP groups were performed at 3 time-points. Histological changes in the maternal thyroid and pancreas were assessed. The activities of serum amylase, lipase and levels of FT3, FT4, MDA, TNF-α and IL-1ß were detected in maternal rats, and the expression of MIF, ICAM-1 and CD68 in the maternal thyroids were determined. In this study, maternal thyroid injury as well as pancreas injury occurred in a time-dependent manner. The activities of serum amylase, lipase and levels of MDA, TNF-α and IL-1ß were markedly increased in acute pancreatitis rats, the levels of serum FT3 and FT4 were obviously decreased in APIP groups, and the expressions of MIF, ICAM-1 and CD68 were significantly increased in the thyroid of the APIP group. Ultrastructural thyroid injuries were observed in the APIP group. Our research suggests that thyroid injury is involved in the rat experimental model of APIP. The degree of thyroid dysfunction is associated with APIP, which may affect the prognosis of acute pancreatitis.

Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress by 4-phenylbutyric acid prevents vital organ injury in rat acute pancreatitis.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) on vital organ injury following sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) in rats and the pertinent mechanism. The serum biochemical indicators and key inflammatory cytokines, histopathological damage and apoptosis of vital organs in rat AP, were evaluated in the presence or absence of 4-PBA. Moreover, mRNA and protein levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) markers were assessed. 4-PBA significantly attenuated the structural and functional damage of vital organs, including serum pancreatic enzymes, hepatic enzymes, creatinine, and urea. The morphological changes and infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages were reduced as well. These effects were accompanied by decreased serum levels of proinflammatory TNF-α and IL-1ß. Furthermore, 4-PBA diminished the expression of ERS markers (glucose-regulated protein 78, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein, protein kinase R-like ER kinase, activated transcription factor 6, and type-1 inositol requiring enzyme) in vital organs of AP rats. 4-PBA also reduced AP-induced apoptosis in lung, liver, and kidney tissues as shown by TUNEL assay. The present study demonstrated that 4-PBA protected pancreas, lung, liver, and kidney from injury in rat AP by regulating ERS and mitigating inflammatory response to restrain cell death and further suggested that 4-PBA may have potential therapeutic implications in the disease. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study, we suggest that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is an important player in the development of acute pancreatitis-induced multiorgan injury, providing additional evidence for the proinflammatory role of ERS. Because 4-phenylbutyric acid has been suggested to inhibit ERS in many pathological conditions, it is possible that this effect can be involved in alleviating inflammatory response and cell death to ameliorate vital organ damage following acute pancreatitis induced by sodium taurocholate in rats.

Glaucoma in Patients with Eyes Close to Areas Affected by Port-wine Stain has Lateral and Gender Predilection.

BACKGROUND: The location of facial port-wine stain (PWS) may be helpful for predicting some associated anomalies; high glaucoma incidence is found in patients with eyes close to PWS-affected areas (V1, ophthalmic branch area of the trigeminal nerve). This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of glaucoma in V1-affected PWS. METHODS: A total of 569 patients with V1 area-affected PWS were reviewed in the study. The large series was based on the referral system between the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Department of Ophthalmology. All patients were screened for glaucoma with assessments of intraocular pressure, cup-to-disc ratio, corneal diameter (only for infants), and axial length. RESULTS: Of the 569 patients, 110 (19.3%) patients had glaucoma. Among the patients, 18.1% (76/420) had early-onset glaucoma (under 4-year-old group). In the 4 to 18-year-old age group, 29.3% (29/99) of the patients had glaucoma. Compared with right lateral and bilateral PWS, left-sided PWS had a lower risk of glaucoma in this study (odds ratio = 0.432 [95% confidence interval, 0.264-0.706], P = 0.01). The under 4-year-old group showed a slight predominance of males (61.8%) in glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: High glaucoma incidence was observed in patients with eyes close to PWS. More attention should be paid to glaucoma screening for right lateral and bilateral PWS patients. The predominance of males in Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) early-onset glaucoma patients might be due to the limitation of the case number; however, it might also provide us a new clue of potential relationship between SWS and PCG.

Association between peripheral blood cells mitochondrial DNA content and severity of coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Leukocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content reflects the oxidant-induced cell damage, which has been observed in a wide range of cardiovascular diseases. However, whether it correlates with coronary heart disease (CHD), which closely relates to oxidative stress, has never been elucidated before. The aim of this study was to explore association between mtDNA content and the presence and severity of CHD. METHODS: The study population consisted of 400 individuals (290 with CHD and 110 controls). A quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure the relative content of mtDNA in peripheral blood cells (PBCs). Gensini score was used to evaluate the severity of coronary stenotic lesions. An unconditional multivariate logistic regression was developed to estimate the association between CHD risk and mtDNA content by using odds ratio (OR). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02500823. RESULTS: CHD patients, compared to controls, had lower mtDNA content (median, 0.78 vs. 0.83, p < 0.001), and mtDNA levels significantly decreased following an increasing Gensini score (p < 0.001). By using the first (highest mtDNA content) quartile of mtDNA content of controls as reference, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for individuals in the second, third and highest quartile of mtDNA content were 1.78 (95% CI, 1.15-3.51), 2.21 (95% CI, 1.65-3.74) and 4.83 (95% CI, 2.67-8.64), respectively (p for trend <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that expression of mtDNA may be associated with atherogenesis. The level of peripheral blood mtDNA in predicting the severity of coronary atherosclerosis may have a relatively certain value.

Effects of Castanospermine on Inflammatory Response in a Rat Model of Experimental Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory disorder characterized by autodigestion of pancreatic tissue resulting in local pancreatic injury or systemic inflammatory response. Castanospermine (CAST) is an alkaloid from the Castanospermum australe, known as an anti-inflammatory agent and immunosuppressant in animal experiments. However, whether CAST can attenuate AP remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of CAST on sodium taurocholate (STC)-induced severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats and the pertinent mechanism. METHODS: SAP was induced in rats by a retrograde infusion of 5% STC (1 mL/kg) into the biliopancreatic duct. CAST (10, 50, 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg body weight) was then administered via intraperitoneal injection. Measurement of serum amylase, lipase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and pancreas pathological grading was used to estimate the severity of pancreatitis. Serum levels of interleukin (IL) -1ß, IL-6 and IL-10 were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Nuclear factor (NF) -κB, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expression in pancreas was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Administration of CAST following SAP was found to ameliorate the acute pancreatic tissue injury and exhibit a more appropriately protective effect at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. In addition, it decreased the interleukin production in serum and NF-κB activation, TNF-α, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 up-regulation in pancreatic tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that CAST exerts a protective effect on SAP in rats.

4-Phenylbutyric Acid Attenuates Pancreatic Beta-Cell Injury in Rats with Experimental Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a particular process with an imbalance of homeostasis, which plays an important role in pancreatitis, but little is known about how ER stress is implicated in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) induced pancreatic beta-cell injury. To investigate the effect of 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) on the beta-cell injury following SAP and the underlying mechanism, twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operation (SO) group, SAP model group, and 4-PBA treatment group. SAP model was induced by infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct. 4-PBA or normal saline was injected intraperitoneally for 3 days in respective group before successful modeling. Results showed that 4-PBA attenuated the following: (1) pancreas and islet pathological injuries, (2) serum TNF-α and IL-1ß, (3) serum insulin and glucose, (4) beta-cell ultrastructural changes, (5) ER stress markers (BiP, ORP150, and CHOP), Caspase-3, and insulin expression in islet. These results suggested that 4-PBA mitigates pancreatic beta-cell injury and endocrine disorder in SAP, presumably because of its role in inhibiting excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress. This may serve as a new therapeutic target for reducing pancreatic beta-cell injury and endocrine disorder in SAP upon 4-PBA treatment.

Esomeprazole and rabeprazole did not reduce antiplatelet effects of aspirin/clopidogrel dual therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a prospective, randomized, case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Controversy has been prompted based on drug interaction between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and aspirin/clopidogrel leading to weakened effects. However, whether such interaction was drug-specific or class effect remains controversial. This study predicted the impact of esomeprazole and rabeprazole on efficacy of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). METHODS: This study, involving 150 patients, evaluated the efficacy of DAPT upon concomitant use of esomeprazole (40 mg/d) or rabeprazole (20 mg/d). Platelet reactivity was assessed by value of ADP-induced light transmittance aggregometry (LTA) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation-platelet reactivity index (VASP-PRI) at day 1, day 3 and day 30 end points after initiation of DAPT. RESULTS: No significance were observed by post-hoc analysis of treatment-by-period interaction in LTA value and VASP-PRI value when compared with non-PPI users, which suggests no carryover effect in both PPIs over the 30-day treatment period. Moreover, no statistical differences was in LTA or VASP-PRI value in esomeprazole group while rabeprazole group showed decreased in antiplatelet function of DAPT at the day 3 and day 30 end points. CONCLUSION: Although antiplatelet effect of DAPT were not affected upon concomitant use of both PPIs over the 30-day treatment period, esomeprazole exerts much more stable impact on antiplatelet effect than rabeprazole among respective end points.

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Are Activated in Placental Injury in Rat Model of Acute Pancreatitis in Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a rat model of acute pancreatitis in pregnancy (APIP) and evaluate its general presentations, assess placental injury, and discuss possible mechanisms. METHODS: The APIP rat model was induced by sodium taurocholate in Sprague-Dawley rats of later gestation. Normal and sham-operated (SO) rats in later gestation were set as controls, 3 time points were set in SO and APIP groups to determine optimal modeling time. Histological changes of pancreas and placenta were assessed. Placental injury was determined by immunohistochemistry stain of caspase-3. Serum levels of amylase, lipase, and Ca; proinflammatory cytokines as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; mitogen-activated protein kinases and their phosphorylated forms by Western blotting. RESULTS: Pancreatic necrotizing and placental injury occurred in time-dependent patterns. Serum levels of amylase and lipase significantly increased but Ca decreased; tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10 were all increased in the APIP group; c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, and ERK1/2 were activated but with different distributing patterns in the placenta. CONCLUSIONS: Placental injury is involved in the rat model of APIP, and a modeling time of 6 hours is optimal and conducive to further studies; c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 may play important roles in placental injury during APIP.

Hydrogen-rich saline attenuates acute renal injury in sodium taurocholate-induced severe acute pancreatitis by inhibiting ROS and NF-κB pathway.

Hydrogen (H2), a new antioxidant, was reported to reduce (•)OH and ONOO(-) selectively and inhibit certain proinflammatory mediators to product, without disturbing metabolic redox reactions or ROS involved in cell signaling. We herein aim to explore its protective effects on acute renal injury in sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis and its possible mechanisms. Rats were injected with hydrogen-rich saline (HRS group) or normal saline (SO and SAP group) through tail intravenously (6 mL/kg) and compensated subcutaneously (20 mL/kg) after successful modeling. Results showed that hydrogen-rich saline attenuated the following: (1) serum Cr and BUN, (2) pancreatic and renal pathological injuries, (3) renal MDA, (4) renal MPO, (5) serum IL-1ß, IL-6, and renal TNF-α, HMGB1, and (6) tyrosine nitration, IκB degradation, and NF-κB activation in renal tissues. In addition, it increased the level of IL-10 and SOD activity in renal tissues. These results proved that hydrogen-rich saline attenuates acute renal injury in sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis, presumably because of its detoxification activity against excessive ROS, and inhibits the activation of NF-κB by affecting IκB nitration and degradation. Our findings highlight the potential value of hydrogen-rich saline as a new therapeutic method on acute renal injury in severe acute pancreatitis clinically.

Serum apelin level predicts the major adverse cardiac events in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction receiving percutaneous coronary intervention.

The cardiovascular profile of the apelin makes it a promising therapeutic target for heart failure and ischemic heart disease. However, it remains unknown whether apelin affect the clinical outcome of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We enrolled a total of 120 patients with acute STEMI who underwent primary PCI. Serum apelin was detected. After PCI procedure, all patients were followed for 12 months. The follow-up end-point was occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Lower serum apelin levels (<0.54 ng/mL) was significantly associated with higher serum low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, higher peak creatine kinase MB fraction (CK-MB) and peak troponin-I (TNI) levels, the number of obstructed vessels, and need for inotropic support. The incidence of MACE was significantly higher in the low apelin group (23 patients out of 67) than in the high apelin group (10 patients out of 75, P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the MACE-free rate was significantly lower in the patients with low apelin than those with high apelin (P < 0.001, log rank test). The multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis adjusted with the clinical and angiographic characteristic reveals that the serum low apelin is a predictor for MACE incidence (hazard ratio = 2.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.83-3.87, P = 0.004). The finding of this study suggests that the serum apelin may be used as a marker to predict the MACE after PCI in patients with STEMI.

CYP2C19 polymorphisms and coronary heart disease risk factors synergistically impact clopidogrel response variety after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Platelet inhibition by clopidogrel is highly variable and the elevated platelet activity will increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). CYP2C19 loss-of-function (LOF) alleles and risk factors of coronary heart disease (CAD) were reported to be associated with the low response of clopidogrel. PURPOSE: This study was carried out to analyze the contributions of CYP2C19 polymorphisms and risk factors to the various clopidogrel responses in Chinese patients with stable CAD after PCI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The platelet reactivity index (PRI) was measured in 145 patients who underwent PCI using the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein assay. Gene chip hybrid tests were used to analyze the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C19. RESULTS: With a cutoff value of 50% in PRI, 20.67% (31/145) of the patients were defined to be clopidogrel resistant. With respect to the normal *1, *2, and *3 LOF CYP2C19 alleles, patients were classified into three metabolism phenotypes: 39.31% were extensive, 47.59% were intermediate, and 13.10% were poor metabolizers (PMs). Of the enrolled patients, 53.82 and 9.66%, respectively, were carriers of *2 and *3 alleles. There was a significant difference in PRI between PM and either extensive or intermediate metabolizers (P<0.05). In all, 36.84% of the patients with the PM phenotype were clopidogrel resistant. Carriers of two CYP2C19 LOF alleles, BMI, and the presence of type 2 diabetes were three independent risk factors for clopidogrel resistance. CONCLUSION: Genetic CYP2C19 polymorphisms and CAD risk factors - type 2 diabetes mellitus and BMI - synergistically affect the antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events after PCI.

[Expression of PARP/NF-κB and intervention effect of 5-AIQ/PDTC in SAP rats with adrenal damage].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase/nuclear factor-κB (PARP/NF-κB) and intervention effect of 5-aminoisoquinolinone/pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (5-AIQ/PDTC) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rats with adrenal damage. METHODS: The primarily cultured adrenocortical cells were quantitatively divided into control group (SO), pancreatitis group (SAP), PDTC drug control group (SO+PDTC), PDTC intervention group (SAP+PDTC), 5-AIQ drug control group (SO+ 5-AIQ) and 5-AIQ intervention group (SAP+5-AIQ). The SAP and 2 intervention groups were stimulated with the sera of SAP rats. Then corresponding drugs were added and culture continued for 12 hours. The corticosterone levels and PARP/NF-κB expression were observed for each group. RESULTS: Adrenal cells in vitro cultured were round or oval, had secretory granules and could be stained by 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase antibody. The adherence rate was 60% after 48-hour culturing. The corticosterone level of SAP group was significantly lower than that of SO group [ (216.4 ± 15.7) vs (294.8 ± 16.3) µg/L, P < 0.05]. The 2 intervention groups were (258.6 ± 19.0) and (264.3 ± 18.2) µg/L respectively. These two values were higher than those of SAP group (P < 0.05), but lower than those of SO group (P < 0.05). With regards to the expression of PARP-1, the SAP and PDTC intervention groups were higher than SO group while 5-AIQ intervention group was significantly lower than SAP and PDTC intervention groups, but higher than SO and drug control groups. The expression of NF-κB in SAP group was higher than that in SO group. Two intervention groups were lower than SAP group, but higher than SO and drug control groups. CONCLUSION: The pathway of PARP/NF-κB participates in adrenal damage of SAP rats. To a certain extent, the uses of 5-AIQ and PDTC may alleviate adrenal damage.