Syringe-assisted test-aspiration with mechanical aspiration thrombectomy results in good safety and short-term outcomes in the treatment of patients with deep venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term outcomes and safety of syringe-assisted test-aspiration with mechanical aspiration thrombectomy in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective study of hospitalized patients with iliofemoral and/or inferior vena caval deep venous thrombosis, excluding those with pulmonary embolism. We collected the following patient data from the electronic medical records: age, sex, provoked/unprovoked deep venous thrombosis, symptom duration, thrombosed segments, and the presence of a tumor, thrombophilia, diabetes, and/or iliac vein compression syndrome. Venography and computed tomographic venography were performed in all patients before the procedure. All patients underwent syringe-assisted test-aspiration with mechanical aspiration thrombectomy under local anesthesia and sedation, and all received low-molecular-weight heparin peri-operatively. All patients underwent implantation of an inferior vena caval filter. Rivaroxaban was administered post-procedure, instead of heparin, for 3-6 months, with lower extremity compression. RESULTS: Overall, 29 patients with deep venous thrombosis underwent syringe-assisted test-aspiration with mechanical aspiration thrombectomy from January 2022 to October 2022 in our institution. Technical success (>70% thrombus resolution) was achieved in all patients, and using a single procedure in 25/29 patients (86%). Concomitant stenting was performed in 18/29 (62%) of the patients, and 21/29 (69%) underwent angioplasty. The median (interquartile range) procedure time was 110 min (100-122), the median intra-operative bleeding volume was 150 mL (120-180), and the median decrease in the hemoglobin concentration from pre- to post-operative was 7 g/L (4-14). The median follow-up duration was 7 months (5-9). All patients obtained symptomatic relief, and 27/29 achieved near-remission or full remission (combined total). No patients experienced peri-operative bleeding complications, or symptom recurrence or post-thrombectomy syndrome during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The short-term outcomes following syringe-assisted test-aspiration with mechanical aspiration thrombectomy in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis were excellent, and the procedure was safe.

Dihydroartemisinin Protects Mice from CUMS-induced Depression-like Behaviors by Regulating Gut Microbes.

Depression is one of the most common forms of psychopathology, which is associated with gut microbiota dysfunction. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been shown to regulate gut microbiota and ameliorate neuropathies, but whether it can be used to treat depression remains unclear. Our study found that DHA treatment raised the preference for sugar water in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced mice and reduced the immobility time in open field, forced swimming and tail suspension experiments, and promoted doublecortin expression. Additionally, DHA up-regulated the diversity and richness of intestinal microbiota in depression-like mice, and restored the abnormal abundance of microbiota induced by CUMS, such as Turicibacter, Lachnospiraceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Erysipelatoclostridium, Eubacterium, Psychrobacter, Atopostipes, Ileibacterium, Coriobacteriacea, Alistipes, Roseburia, Rikenella, Eggerthellaceae, Ruminococcus, Tyzzerella, and Clostridia. Furthermore, KEGG pathway analysis revealed that gut microbiota involved in the process of depression may be related to glucose metabolism, energy absorption and transport, and AMPK signaling pathway. These results indicated that DHA may play a protective role in CUMS-induced depression by mediating gut-microbiome.

Inhibition of ferroptosis alleviates chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression in mice via tsRNA-3029b.

Depression is a common mental illness. Ferroptosis is a form of cell death that may be responsible for neurological disease, but the role of ferroptosis in depression remains unclear. tRNA-derived small RNA (tsRNA) is an emerging non-coding small RNA, making it an important medium for studying neurological diseases. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to construct the depression model in mice, which was treated with ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). Classical behavioral test, immunofluorescence and small RNA sequencing were used to detect depression-like behaviors, neuronal proliferation and the expression profile of tsRNAs in mice, respectively. The primary neuronal cell damage model was constructed by corticosterone (CORT), and the function of key tsRNA was investigated by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot and CCK-8 assays. Here, Fer-1 reduced the depression-like behavior of CUMS-induced mice and promoted neuronal growth. In addition, CUMS caused the disorder of tsRNA expression profile in hippocampal tissues of mice, and Fer-1 alleviated the abnormal tsRNA expression, among which tsRNA-3029b was an effective target. In vitro experiments manifested that ROS accumulation and decreased expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 were found in CORT-induced depression-like cell model, suggesting that ferroptosis was involved in neuronal injury. However, inhibition of tsRNA-3029b suppressed neuronal cell ferroptosis and facilitated neuronal regeneration. In conclusion, Fer-1 showed an antidepressant effect in CUMS-induced mice and alleviated the abnormal expression profile of tsRNA. tsRNA-3029b was a key target in depression, and silencing of tsRNA-3029b reduced the occurrence of ferroptosis and protected neurons from injury, which may provide novel target for the treatment of depression.

Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu Capsule Alleviated the Pyroptosis of Vascular Endothelial Cells Induced by ox-LDL through miR-30b-5p/NLRP3.

BACKGROUND: Our previous studies have demonstrated a protective role of Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu capsule in atherosclerosis (AS); however, the molecular mechanisms are unclear. METHODS: Human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) were induced with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to obtain cellular AS models. Then, the medicated serum of Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu capsule was obtained and used for treatment with ox-LDL-induced HCAECs. The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Besides, the binding between miR-30b-5p and NLRP3 was determined by the dual-luciferase reporter gene system assay. Furthermore, ox-LDL-induced HCAECs were transfected with miR-30b-5p mimic or miR-30b-5p inhibitor. The pyroptosis of HCAECs was assessed by flow cytometry, LDH content detection, and qRT-PCR assays. RESULTS: 10% medicated serum of Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu capsule was the maximum nontoxic concentration and it was used in subsequent assays. The rate of pyroptosis, LDH content, and the mRNA expression level of pyroptosis-related genes including NLRP3, ASC, Caspase 1, IL-1ß, and IL-18 were prominently enhanced after HCAECs were induced by ox-LDL, which were markedly rescued with medicated serum of Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu capsule. In addition, the medicated serum of Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu capsule significantly enhanced the ox-LDL-induced reduction of miR-30b-5p level. NLRP3 could bind to miR-30b-5p and was negatively corrected with miR-30b-5p. Moreover, all the rates of pyroptosis, LDH content, and the mRNA expression levels of pyroptosis-related genes including NLRP3, ASC, Caspase 1, IL-1ß, and IL-18 were further observably decreased after ox-LDL-induced HCAECs treated with medicated serum were transfected with miR-30b-5p mimic, while these were significantly rescued with transfection of miR-30b-5p inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu capsule alleviated the pyroptosis of vascular endothelial cells induced by ox-LDL through miR-30b-5p/NLRP3.

Comprehensive Analysis and Identification of Prognostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets Among FAM83 Family Members for Gastric Cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and poor prognosis malignancy in the world. The Family with sequence similarity 83 (FAM83) comprises of eight members of A-H. Accumulating evidence confirmed important roles for FAM83 family in tumorigenesis and progression. However, the prognostic values of FAM83 family in GC still have not been clarified. Methods: ONCOMINE, UALCAN, GEPIA, THE HUMAN PROTEIN ATLAS, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, cBioPortal, DAVID, STRING and TIMER databases and R software were adopted in this study. Results: In this study, we demonstrated that the mRNA levels of FAM83 B/C/D/H were significantly up-regulated in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD), but the protein level of FAM83G/H were remarkable lowly in STAD. Next, FAM83C/D/G/H were significantly associated with tumor stages in STAD patients. Then, the mutation rate of FAM83 family members in STAD patients was 46%, and the highest mutation rate was FAM83H (23%). Furthermore, the functions of FAM83 family and their 259 co-expression genes were primarily related to Shigellosis, RNA degradation and Ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes pathway. Besides, we have established the prognostic model of FAM83 family in STAD, including the prognostic model of STAD patients (FAM83C/D/G), STAD with lymph node metastasis (FAM83C/D/G/H) and STAD with ERBB2 high expression (FAM83G/H). FAM83C/D high expression with a poor prognosis, while FAM83G/H high expression with a favorable prognosis of STAD. Additionally, we found that the expression of FAM83C/D/G/H were significantly correlated with the infiltration of six types of immune cells [B cells, CD8+T cells, CD4+T cells, macrophages and Myeloid dendritic cells (DC)], whereas CD4+T cells and Macrophage cells have higher risk scores (HR > 1) when FAM83C lowly expression and FAM83D highly expression. The risk score of NK cells was significantly reduced when FAM83G lowly expression and FAM83H highly expression (HR < 1). Conclusion: These findings suggested that FAM83C/D/G/H might play key roles in STAD tumorigenesis and progression, and FAM83C/D might be risk factors but FAM83G/H might be favorable prognostic factors for STAD patients. In addition, CD4+T cells and Macrophage cells may be the promoters of FAM83D in progression of STAD, while NK cells may promote the protective effect of FAM83H on STAD patients.

DFT studies on Ni-catalyzed intermolecular cycloaddition of diynes with methyleneaziridines.

The mechanisms of nickel-catalyzed intermolecular cycloaddition of diynes with methyleneaziridines to form substituted pyrroles have been investigated with DFT calculations. The DFT results don't support the originally proposed mechanisms, which involve ß-C elimination or α-C elimination. Detailed calculations revealed that the preferred catalytic cycle is a combination of the cod dissociative mechanism and the cod associative mechanism, which is comprised of four stages: oxidative addition, ligand substitution of the diyne by cod, alkyne insertion and reductive elimination. Each of the alkyne moieties of the diyne substrate has an important role: one alkyne moiety acts as the reactant and inserts into the Ni-C bond to form the cycle expansion complex; the other free alkyne moiety has an effect as a ligand coordinated to the Ni center to promote the oxidative addition step (rate-determining step). Since there is no free alkyne in the monoalkyne substrate to coordinate to the Ni center, the monoalkyne catalytic cycle is unfavorable because of the high energy barrier for the oxidative addition step.

Distribution characteristics of drug resistance mutations of HIV CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC and CRF08_BC from patients under ART in Ganzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Drug resistance mutation (DRM)-associated virological failure has become a critical issue for ART and the elimination of HIV. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution characteristics of DRMs of HIV CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC and CRF08_BC, the predominant subtypes in China. METHODS: Patients receiving ART up to 31 August 2020 in Ganzhou in China were recruited. Full-length sequences of the HIV pol gene were amplified from patients with virological failure. DRMs and antiretroviral susceptibility were explored using the Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database HIVdb Program. RESULTS: Overall, 279 of 2204 patients under ART were found to have virological failure. Nine HIV subtypes were identified among 211 sequences that were amplified successfully and CRF08_BC (37.0%), CRF01_AE (26.1%) and CRF07_BC (25.6%) were the most prevalent, with mutation frequencies of 44.9% (35/78), 52.7% (29/55) and 35.2% (19/54), respectively. The most common DRMs of these three subtypes were K103N and M184V, while the mutation frequencies of M41L, D67N, K70R, K101E, V106M, Y181C, K219E, H221Y and N348I were obviously different among subtypes. The resistance levels and frequencies for antiretroviral drugs for these three subtypes were similar and resistances to nevirapine, efavirenz, lamivudine and emtricitabine were the most frequently observed. Compared with CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC, CRF08_BC had higher proportions of DRMs for NRTIs and lower frequencies of resistance to NRTIs and NNRTIs. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution characteristics of DRMs of HIV CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC and CRF08_BC were inconsistent and should be considered when selecting antiretroviral strategies, developing new drugs and controlling HIV strains containing DRMs.

Safe Sexual Behavior Intentions among College Students: The Construction of an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior.

Sexual health education is an essential part of quality-oriented education for college students. It aims to help these students to acquire knowledge of sexual physiology, sexual psychology, and sexual social norms that is consistent with the maturity of the students. Along with college students'attitudes toward sex, their perceptions regarding sexual behavior have also undergone profound changes. The importance of safe sexual behavior, sexual taboos, and sexual autonomy are gaining increasing attention as Chinese society is becoming more open. For college students who have just reached adulthood and have full autonomy of themselves, however, are they really going to have sexual behavior without careful consideration? Or is it something they have planned to do in the first place? To answer the above questions, this study was conducted to understand the relationship between college students' attitudes toward sex, subjective norms, and behavioral control of their sexual behavior intentions by applying the Theory of Planned Behavior. In this study, 460 valid questionnaires were collected from Chinese college students and analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). This study analyzes the relationship of multiple factors, including those influencing college students' sexual behavior intentions. Meanwhile, it also compares the differences in factors affecting sexual behavior intentions between college students with or without sexual experience and those of different genders. Based on the results of the study, it was found that, first, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control of college students had a significant effect on safe sexual behavior intentions, while attitudes did not have a significant effect on safe sexual behavior intentions. Second, the gender and sexual experience of college students had a significant effect on safe sexual behavior intentions. Third, non-sexually experienced college students were more likely to be influenced by external factors. Relevant future research suggestions will be proposed based on the results of this study. Finally, this study helps to provide substantive suggestions for enhancing safe sexual behavior among college students in the context of universal higher education, as well as strengthening the self-protection of college students and providing practical advice for the development of sex education in China.

Synergistic Effect of Pendant N Moieties for Proton Shuttling in the Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid Catalyzed by Biomimetic IrIII Complexes.

Formic acid (FA) is among the most promising hydrogen storage materials. The development of efficient catalysts for the dehydrogenation of FA via molecular-level control and precise tuning remains challenging. A series of biomimetic Ir complexes was developed for the efficient dehydrogenation of FA in an aqueous solution without base addition. A high turnover frequency of 46510 h-1 was achieved at 90 °C in 1 m FA solution with complex 1 bearing pendant pyridine. Experimental and mechanistic studies revealed that the integrated pendant pyridine and pyrazole moieties of complex 1 could act as proton relay and facilitate proton shuttling in the outer coordination sphere. This study provides a new strategy to control proton transfer accurately and a new principle for the design of efficient catalysts for FA dehydrogenation.

[Clinical efficacy of different waves of electroacupuncture on knee osteoarthritis and its effect on TGF-ß1 in joint fluid].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects of different waves of electroacupuncture (EA) on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to explore the mechanism of different waves of EA on promoting cartilage repair. METHODS: Ninety- seven patients with KOA were randomly divided into a dilatational wave group (32 cases, 2 cases dropped off), a continuous wave group (32 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a discontinuous wave group (33 cases, 3 cases dropped off). The same acupoints of Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34), Dubi (ST 35) and Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) were selected in the three groups. The dilatational wave (frequency of 2 Hz/10 Hz) was used in the dilatational wave group, the continuous wave (frequency of 10 Hz) was used in the continuous wave group, and the discontinuous wave (frequency of 10 Hz) was used in the discontinuous wave group. All the needles were retained for 30 min. All the treatment was given 3 times a week (on Monday, Wednesday and Friday) for 4 weeks. Lysholm knees scoring scale (LKSS) was used to evaluate the knee joint function before and after treatment, and the content of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) in the joint effusion before and after treatment was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the total score and each score of LKSS were increased after treatment in the three groups (all P<0.05). The improvements of total score, pain score, instability score, swelling score of LKSS in the continuous wave group and the dilatational wave group were superior to those in the discontinuous wave group (all P<0.05). The content of TGF-ß1 in the joint effusion in each group was increased after treatment (P<0.05), and the improvement in dilatational wave group was superior to thoes in the continuous wave group and the discontinuous wave group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The three different waves of EA could all improve the clinical symptoms of KOA, which may promote cartilage repair by increasing TGF-ß1 content. The dilatational wave had the best overall effect, which can be used as a clinical optimal treatment.

Highly active rare-earth metal catalysts for heteroselective ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide.

Rare-earth metal complexes usually exhibit high activities in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide, yet only a few scandium complexes have shown satisfactory activity. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of chiral anilido-oxazoline-supported scandium and yttrium complexes that exhibit high activity in the ROP of racemic lactide (rac-LA). Complexes La-f-Ln(CH2SiMe3)2THF (La-f = 2-(2,6-R2PhN)-phenyl-4-(S)-R'-oxazoline; for 1a-f: L = La-f, Ln = Sc; for 2a-d: L = La-d, Ln = Y) were synthesized via the convenient one-pot reaction of Ln(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2 (Ln = Sc, Y) with the corresponding proligands. The crystal structures of 1a, 1d, 1e, and 1f were isostructural, adopting a distorted trigonal bipyramidal configuration. Sc complexes 1 showed outstanding activity in the ROP of rac-LA with heteroselectivity. TOFs of up to 720 h-1 and 2910 h-1 were obtained in THF at room temperature and toluene at 60 °C, respectively. To our knowledge, these are the highest activities reported for Sc systems. Y complexes 2 showed higher activity and heteroselectivity than the Sc complexes, with TOFs of up to 1176 h-1 in THF at room temperature. Compared with the ortho-substituent on the anilido moiety, the bulky substituent at the chiral center of the oxazoline ring had a greater effect on controlling the heteroselectivity.