Role of alveolar nitric oxide in gastroesophageal reflux-associated cough: prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measured at multiple exhalation flow rates can be used as a biomarker to differentiate central and peripheral airway inflammation. However, the role of alveolar nitric oxide (CaNO) indicating peripheral airway inflammation remains unclear in gastroesophageal reflux-associated cough (GERC). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to characterize the changes in alveolar nitric oxide (CaNO) and determine its clinical implication in GERC. DESIGN: This is a single-center prospective observational study. METHODS: FeNOs at exhalation flow rates of 50 and 200 ml/s were measured in 102 patients with GERC and 134 patients with other causes of chronic cough (non-GERC). CaNO was calculated based on a two-compartment model and the factors associated with CaNO were analyzed. The effect of anti-reflux therapy on CaNO was examined in 26 GERC patients with elevated CaNO. RESULTS: CaNO was significantly elevated in GERC compared with that in non-GERC (4.6 ± 4.4 ppb versus 2.8 ± 2.3 ppb, p < 0.001). GERC patients with high CaNO (>5 ppb) had more proximal reflux events (24 ± 15 versus 9 ± 9 episodes, p = 0.001) and a higher level of pepsin (984.8 ± 492.5 versus 634.5 ± 626.4 pg/ml, p = 0.002) in sputum supernatant than those with normal CaNO. More GERC patients with high CaNO required intensified anti-reflux therapy (χ2 = 3.963, p = 0.046), as predicted by a sensitivity of 41.7% and specificity of 83.3%. Cough relief paralleled a significant improvement in CaNO (8.3 ± 3.0 versus 4.8 ± 2.6 ppb, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Peripheral airway inflammation can be assessed by CaNO measurement in GERC. High CaNO indicates potential micro-aspiration and may predict a necessity for intensified anti-reflux therapy.

Role of CaNO in GERCWhy was the study done? This study aimed to investigate the role of concentration of alveolar nitric oxide (CaNO) as a biomarker for peripheral airway inflammation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux-associated cough (GERC). The evaluation of airway inflammation in GERC has not been widely practiced in clinical settings, and the potential of CaNO as a biomarker remained unclear.What did the researchers do? The researchers conducted a prospective study involving patients diagnosed with GERC and compared the changes in CaNO levels between GERC patients and those with cough due to other causes. The study also identified potential factors contributing to elevated CaNO levels in GERC patients relative to the normal range. Additionally, CaNO level changes were evaluated in a subgroup of GERC patients with initially elevated CaNO levels (n = 26).What did the researchers find? The study found that CaNO levels were significantly increased in GERC patients. Using a reference value for normal CaNO, the GERC patients were divided into a high CaNO cohort and a normal CaNO cohort. More proximal reflux episodes and higher level of pepsin in sputum supernatant were observed in the high CaNO cohort. Moreover, CaNO demonstrated moderate predictive value for the therapeutic efficacy of intensified anti-reflux therapy in GERC patients. After several weeks of anti-reflux therapy, CaNO levels significantly decreased along with the resolution of cough. These findings further confirmed the predictive value of CaNO for anti-reflux therapy.What do the findings mean? The findings suggest that CaNO may have the potential to be used as a non-invasive biomarker for detecting peripheral airway inflammation in GERC patients. Increased CaNO may be associated with potential micro-aspiration. Furthermore, high CaNO may predict the need for intensified anti-reflux therapy.

A method for measuring soil water content based on principal component analysis.

Principal component analysis (PCA) has been applied in many aspects. To address the problem of measuring water content in soil, this paper proposes a method to measure soil water content based on the PCA. We used PCA to reduce the dimension of the data and processed the soil amplitude ratio frequency response spectra. First, we designed the measuring device and measured the soil amplitude ratio frequency response data of different water content, then we used the PCA to extract features from the frequency response spectra of different water contents, established a relationship model of soil water content, and finally, we solved the model, the maximum error between the calculation results and the actual water content was no more than 0.85%. Subsequently, we carried out experimental verification, and we measured six kinds of soil with known water content by this method. The experimental results showed that the maximum error did not exceed 1.16%, and the average error was 0.71%. Thus, the proposed method can provide a useful way of measuring soil water content.

Early tirofiban versus heparin for bridging dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing coronary endarterectomy combined with coronary artery bypass grafting: a multicenter randomized controlled trial protocol (the THACE-CABG trial).

BACKGROUND: For complete revascularization, patients with diffuse coronary artery disease should have a coronary endarterectomy and a coronary artery bypass graft (CE-CABG). Sadly, CE can lead to a lack of endothelium, which raises the risk of thrombotic events. Even though daily dual antiplatelet therapies (DAPT) have been shown to reduce thrombotic events, the risk of perioperative thrombotic events is high during the high-risk period after CE-CABG, and there is no consistent protocol to bridge DAPT. This trial aims to compare safety and efficacy between tirofiban and heparin as DAPT bridging strategies after CE-CABG. METHODS: In phase I, 266 patients undergoing CE-CABG will be randomly assigned to tirofiban and heparin treatment groups to compare the two treatments in terms of the primary safety endpoint, chest tube drainage in the first 24 h. If the phase I trial shows tirofiban non-inferiority, phase II will commence, in which an additional 464 patients will be randomly assigned. All 730 patients will be studied to compare major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) between the groups in the first 30 days after surgery. DISCUSSION: Given the possible benefits of tirofiban administration after CE-CABG, this trial has the potential to advance the field of adult coronary heart surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2200055697. Registered 6 January 2022. https://www.chictr.org.cn/com/25/showproj.aspx?proj=149451 . Current version: 20,220,620.

Cultivated alien plants with high invasion potential are more likely to be traded online in China.

Biological invasions have become a worldwide problem, and measures to efficiently prevent and control invasions are still in development. Like many other parts of the world, China is undergoing a dramatic increase in plant invasions. Most of the currently 933 established (i.e., naturalized) plant species, of which 214 are categorized as invasive, have been introduced into China for cultivation. It is likely that many of those species are still being traded, particularly online, by plant nurseries. However, studies assessing whether naturalized and invasive species are currently being traded more or less than nonnaturalized aliens are rare. We extracted online-trade information for 13,718 cultivated alien plant taxa on 1688.com, the largest website for domestic B2B in China. We analyzed how the presence in online-nursery catalogs, the number of online nurseries that offerred the species for sale, and the product type (i.e., seeds, live plants and vegetative organs) differed among nonnaturalized, naturalized noninvasive, and invasive species. Compared to nonnaturalized taxa, naturalized noninvasive and invasive taxa were 3.7-5.2 times more likely to be available for purchase. Naturalized noninvasive and invasive taxa were more frequently offered as seeds by online nurseries, whereas nonnaturalized taxa were more frequently offered as live plants. Based on these findings, we propose that, to reduce the further spread of invasive and potentially invasive plants, implementation of plant-trade regulations and a monitoring system of the online horticultural supply chain will be essential.

miR-148a and miR-551b-5p regulate inflammatory responses via regulating autophagy in acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common inflammatory response that occurs in the pancreas with mortality rates as high as 30 %. However, there is still no consistent and effective treatment for AP now. MicroRNA-148 was reported to be involved in AP through IL-6 signaling pathway. Therefore, we aimed to further explore the detailed mechanisms of AP, to develop more therapeutic approach for AP. Exosomes were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 20 AP patients and 20 healthy volunteers to evaluate the abnormally expressed miRNA. Then pancreatic acinar cells (PACs) were transfected with retrovirus to overexpress miR-148a/miR-551b-5p to evaluate their function. Both miR-148a and miR-551b-5p were highly expressed in AP patients than these in healthy cases. Then overexpressing miR-551b-5p in PACs could regulate autophagy through directly binding to Baculoviral IAP Repeat Containing 6, leading to the increased secretions of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) through interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling pathway. Moreover, overexpressing miR-148a in PACs could decrease the secretions of IL-1ß and IL-18 to modulate autophagy. The exosomal miRNA-148a and miRNA-551b-5p derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of AP patients may two-way mediate autophagy damage through IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway, which participated in the AP pathogenesis. Our findings may provide new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of AP.

Myocardial infarct size for predicting improvements in cardiac function in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy following coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: This study used late gadolinium enhancement-cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) to assess myocardial infarct size, with the data being employed to predict whether patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) would experience improvements in left ventricular function at 6 months following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: The data of patients with ICM with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% who underwent CABG were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent preoperative LGE-CMR imaging. Echocardiography results from 6 months post-CABG were used to assess improvements in LVEF, with improvement being defined as ΔLVEF ≥5%. The value of myocardial infarction segments and infarct size as predictors of improved cardiac function following CABG was analyzed. Results: Of the included patients, 66.7% (52/78) exhibited improved cardiac function at 6 months post-CABG. LGE-CMR imaging data revealed that compared to improved group, the improved group had significantly more myocardial infarct segments [improved group: median 1.0, interquartile range (IQR) 0-3; nonimproved group: median 4.0, IQR 3.0-6.0; P<0.001] and significantly greater myocardial infarct size (improved group: 22.4%±8.2%; nonimproved group: 34.7%±5.9%; P<0.001). The area under the receive operating characteristic curve values for myocardial infarct size in predicting cardiac function improvement were significantly higher than those of myocardial infarct segments (0.88 vs. 0.81; P=0.041). The respective sensitivity and specificity values for using a myocardial infarct size cutoff of 26.4% in differentiating between these 2 patient groups were 92.3% and 71.2%, respectively. According to logistic regression analysis, myocardial infarct size was an independent predictor of nonimprovement in cardiac function [odds ratio (OR) =1.244; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.114-1.389; P<0.001]. A median 1.6-year follow-up interval (range, 0.5-4.1 years) revealed that the incidences of major adverse cerebrovascular events and cardiovascular events were significantly higher in the nonimproved group (5.8% vs. 26.9%; P<0.001), with these individuals having a higher New York Heart Association grading than patients with improved cardiac function (P=0.019). Conclusions: Myocardial infarct size can be measured to reliably predict improvements in cardiac function in patients with ICM following CABG. These results can guide clinicians in their efforts to identify those patients most likely to achieve positive outcomes following CABG.

Comparison of ventilation techniques for compensation of mask leakage using a ventilator and a regular full-face mask: A bench study.

Background: The use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) during and after extubation is common. We designed this study to determine the optimal strategy to compensate for mask leaks and achieve effective ventilation during NIV by comparing commonly used operating room ventilator systems and a regular facemask. Methods: We tested four operating room ventilator systems (Dägger Zeus, Dägger Apollo, Dägger Fabius Tiro, and General Electric Healthcare Carestation 650) on a lung model with normal compliance and airway resistance and evaluated pressure control ventilation (PCV), volume control ventilation (VCV), and AutoFlow mode (VAF). We set the O2 flow at 10 L/min and the maximal flow at 13, 16, or 26 L/min. We simulated five leak levels, from no leak to over 40 L/min (I to V levels), using customized T-pieces placed between the lung model and the breathing circuit. We recorded the expired tidal volume (Vte) from the lung model and peak inspiratory pressure via two flow/pressure sensors that were placed distally and proximally to the T-pieces. Results: 1. Comparison of four ventilators: with any given ventilation mode, an increase in leak level caused a decrease in Vte. With PCV, only Zeus produced Vte larger than 150 ml at leak level V. 2. Effect of ventilation mode on Vte: across all four ventilators, PCV resulted in a higher Vte than VCV and VAF (P < 0.01). PCV mode with all ventilators at leak level II provided Vte values that were equal to or greater than those obtained with no leak. 3. Effect of O2 flow on Vte Using PCV mode: only Carestation 650 Vte at leak level II during PCV were significantly greater with 16 L/min O2 flow compared with 10 L/min O2 flow (P < 0.01). 4. Actual leak: increasing the O2 flow from 10 L/min to the maximum O2 flow dramatically increased the real leak with all 4 ventilators at any fixed leak level (P < 0.01). 5. Preset PIP vs. actual PIP with PCV: at low preset PIP and leak levels such as leak II and III, the discrepancy between preset PIP and actual PIP was small. The disparity between the preset and actual PIP grew when the target PIP and the leak level were raised. Conclusion: For NIV using a mask, the ventilator is preferred whose Pressure generator is Turbine, the PCV mode is preferred in the ventilation mode and the oxygen flow is set to 10 L/min or maximum oxygen flow.

Facile fabrication of reusable starch sponge with adjustable crosslinked networks for efficient nest-trap and in situ photodegrade methylene blue.

The fabrication of reusable natural polysaccharide sponges with nanoscale dispersed photocatalysts to achieve robust photocatalytic efficiency is desirable yet challenging. Herein, inspired by the nesting behavior when fishing, we designed reusable starch sponge with chemically anchored nano-ZnO into carboxylated starch matrix by thermoplastic interfacial reactions and solvent replacement for absorbing and photodegrading methylene blue (MB) in situ. The plasticization and interfacial reactions promoted a simultaneous increase in the reactivity of the starch hydroxyl/carboxyl groups and the specific surface area of ZnO. Meanwhile, the crosslinked networks of starch sponge could be adjusted by varying the ZnO and carboxylic groups contents. The results of photodegradation experiments revealed the recyclable closed-loop process of attraction-trapping-photodegradation of MB was successfully realized, achieving the effect of killing three birds with one stone. The reusable starch sponge with homogeneous dispersion of nano-ZnO by constructing three-dimensional porous channels possessed the high enrichment capacity and the remarkable photocatalysis efficiency with 150 mg/L ZnO. Under UV irradiation, the starch sponge degraded 97 % of MB with 1.67 × 10-3 min-1 photodegradation rate constant even after five cycles, which exceeded most existing photocatalytic systems. Overall, the reusable starch sponge with adjustable structure provided new insights for multifunctional bio-based photocatalyst loading systems.

Biomechanical Analysis of Golf Swing Motion Using Hilbert-Huang Transform.

In golf swing analysis, high-speed cameras and Trackman devices are traditionally used to collect data about the club, ball, and putt. However, these tools are costly and often inaccessible to golfers. This research proposes an alternative solution, employing an affordable inertial motion capture system to record golf swing movements accurately. The focus is discerning the differences between motions producing straight and slice trajectories. Commonly, the opening motion of the body's left half and the head-up motion are associated with a slice trajectory. We employ the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) to examine these motions in detail to conduct a biomechanical analysis. The gathered data are then processed through HHT, calculating their instantaneous frequency and amplitude. The research found discernible differences between straight and slice trajectories in the golf swing's moment of impact within the instantaneous frequency domain. An average golfer, a single handicapper, and three beginner golfers were selected as the subjects in this study and analyzed using the proposed method, respectively. For the average golfer, the head and the left leg amplitudes of the swing motions increase at the moment of impact of the swings, resulting in the slice trajectory. These results indicate that an opening of the legs and head-up movements have been detected and extracted as non-linear frequency components, reviewing the biomechanical meaning in slice trajectory motion. For the single handicapper, the hip and left arm joints could be the target joints to detect the biomechanical motion that triggered the slice trajectory. For the beginners, since their golf swing forms were not finalized, the biomechanical motions regarding slice trajectory were different from each swing, indicating that beginner golfers need more practice to fix their golf swing form first. These results revealed that our proposed framework applied to different golf levels and could help golfers to improve their golf swing skills to achieve straight trajectories.

Mismatch of systematic and local inflammatory activity in Takayasu arteritis with coronary involvement: a case report.

Background: Accurate evaluation of the activity stage in Takayasu arteritis (TA) is important for the revascularization of TA with coronary artery involvement (TA-CAD). Here, we report the case of a patient with a mismatch of systemic and local inflammatory activity, leading to 13 times the need for recurrent coronary revascularization. Case summary: A 31-year-old woman with a family history of coronary artery disease underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for critical ostial lesions. This patient was identified with Numano Type V TA and she underwent optimal medical therapy and PCIs. Her clinical inflammatory markers were quickly normalized. However, in-stent restenosis events recurred every 3 months. Virtual-histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) confirmed local vascular inflammation. A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was also conducted. Before this procedure, both the CABG grafts and the anastomotic areas were accurately assessed with 18FDG-PET/CT. Eventually, this patient remained both angina- and event-free for 2 years post-CABG. Discussion: The persistence of TA activity despite normal clinical inflammatory markers is uncommon as is the need for recurrent revascularization after appropriate PCI management. Intracoronary imaging and 18FDG-PET/CT play a critical role in assessing TA activity as well as precisely guiding CABG grafts and anastomosis sites to prevent graft failure.

The lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS1/miR-185-5p/KAT7 ceRNA network inhibits cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is a well-recognized inherited cardiac disease. This study was conducted to explore the role of lncRNA ADAMTS9 antisense RNA 1 (ADAMTS9-AS1) in HOCM-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The serum of HOCM patients was collected. AC16 cells were treated with isoproterenol (ISO) and transfected with oe-ADAMTS9-AS1 vector, miR-185-5p mimic, and lysine acetyltransferase 7 (KAT7) specific small interfering RNA. lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS1, miR-185-5p, KAT7, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the serum or cells were determine by qRT-PCR or Western blot assay. Cell surface area was observed by Texas Red-Phalloidin staining. Subcellular localization of lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS1 was tested by nuclear/cytoplasmic fractionation assay, with RNA pull-down and dual-luciferase assay to validate gene interactions. lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS1 was downregulated in the serum of HOCM patients and ISO-treated AC16 cells. lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS1 overexpression inhibited ISO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and reduced levels of ANP and BNP. lncRNA ADAMTS9- AS1 was located in cytoplasm and inhibited miR-185-5p expression through targeted binding. miR-185-5p bound to KAT7 3'UTR and inhibited KAT7 expression. miR-185-5p overexpression and KAT7 knockdown both neutralized the inhibitory role of lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS1 in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Overall, lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS competitively bound to miR-185-5p to up-regulate KAT7 and thus inhibited cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

DNA methylome and transcriptome profiling reveal key electrophysiology and immune dysregulation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited heart disease. However, a detailed DNA methylation (DNAme) landscape has not yet been elucidated. Our study combined DNAme and transcriptome profiles for HCM myocardium and identify aberrant DNAme associated with altered myocardial function in HCM. The transcription of methylation-related genes did not significantly differ between HCM and normal myocardium. Nevertheless, the former had an altered DNAme profile compared with the latter. The hypermethylated and hypomethylated sites in HCM tissues had chromosomal distributions and functional enrichment of correlated genes differing from those of their normal tissue counterparts. The GO analysis of network underlying the genes correlated with DNAme alteration and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) shows functional clusters centred on immune cell function and muscle system processes. In KEGG analysis, only the calcium signalling pathway was enriched either by the genes correlated with changes in DNAme or DEGs. The protein-protein interactions (PPI) underlying the genes altered at both the DNAme and transcriptional highlighted two important functional clusters. One of these was related to the immune response and had the estrogen receptor-encoding ESR1 gene as its node. The other cluster comprised cardiac electrophysiology-related genes. Intelliectin-1 (ITLN1), a component of the innate immune system, was transcriptionally downregulated in HCM and had a hypermethylated site within 1500 bp upstream of the ITLN1 transcription start site. Estimates of immune infiltration demonstrated a relative decline in immune cell population diversity in HCM. A combination of DNAme and transcriptome profiles may help identify and develop new therapeutic targets for HCM.

Transgenerational Herbivory Effects on Performance of Clonal Offspring of the Invasive Plant Alternanthera philoxeroides.

Interactions between alien plants and local enemies in introduced ranges may determine plant invasion success. However, little is known about whether herbivory-induced responses are transmitted across vegetative generations of plants and whether epigenetic changes are involved during this process. In a greenhouse experiment, we examined the effects of herbivory by the generalist herbivore Spodoptera litura on the growth, physiology, biomass allocation and DNA methylation level of the invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides in the first- (G1), second- (G2) and third-generation (G3). We also tested the effects of root fragments with different branching orders (i.e., the primary- or secondary-root fragments of taproots) of G1 on offspring performance. Our results showed that G1 herbivory promoted the growth of the plants in G2 that sprouted from the secondary-root fragments of G1 but had a neutral or negative effect on the growth of the plants in G2 from the primary-root fragments. The growth of plants in G3 was significantly reduced by G3 herbivory but not affected by G1 herbivory. Plants in G1 exhibited a higher level of DNA methylation when they were damaged by herbivores than when they were not, while neither plants in G2 nor G3 showed herbivory-induced changes in DNA methylation. Overall, the herbivory-induced growth response within one vegetative generation may represent the rapid acclimatization of A. philoxeroides to the unpredictable generalist herbivores in the introduced ranges. Herbivory-induced trans-generational effects may be transient for clonal offspring of A. philoxeroides, which can be influenced by the branching order of taproots, but be less characterized by DNA methylation.

Differential Expression of LOXL1-AS1 in Coronary Heart Disease and its Regulatory Mechanism in ox-LDL-Induced Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cell Pyroptosis.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a notable contributor to the burden of human health. Dysregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of CHD. This study investigated the expression pattern of lncRNA LOXL1-AS1 in CHD and its regulatory mechanism in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced human coronary artery endothelial cell (HCAEC) pyroptosis. METHODS: Serum was collected from 62 CHD patients and 62 healthy volunteers for the detection of LOXL1-AS1 expression. The value of LOXL1-AS1 in CHD diagnosis and major cardiovascular adverse event (MACE) prediction was analyzed using the ROC curve. LOXL1-AS1, miR-16-5p, and SNX16 expressions in ox-LDL-treated HCAECs were determined using RT-qPCR. NLPR3, cleaved-caspase-1, and GSDMD-N protein levels were measured using Western blot. IL-1ß and IL-18 concentrations were measured using ELISA. The binding relationships between LOXL1-AS1 and miR-16-5p and miR-16-5p and SNX16 were verified. Functional rescue experiment was performed to verify the role of miR-16-5p in HCAEC pyroptosis. RESULTS: LOXL1-AS1 was highly expressed in CHD patients. LOXL1-AS1 had diagnostic value for CHD and predictive value for MACE occurrence. ox-LDL-treated HCAECs showed reduced viability, increased IL-1ß and IL-18 concentrations, and elevated NLPR3, cleaved-caspase-1, and GSDMD-N levels. LOXL1-AS1 silencing promoted cell viability and reduced pyroptosis. LOXL1-AS1 bound to miR-16-5p and miR-16-5p targeted SNX16. Inhibition of miR-16-5p reversed the inhibitory effect of LOXL1-AS1 silencing on HCAEC pyroptosis. CONCLUSION: LOXL1-AS1 was elevated in CHD patients with a good diagnostic value for CHD and predictive value for MACE. LOXL1-AS1 downregulated miR-16-5p expression by binding to miR-16-5p to enhance ox-LDL-induced HCAEC pyroptosis, which may be associated with upregulation of SNX16 transcription.

Characteristics of B cells and immunoglobulin profile in Takayasu's arteritis.

OBJECTIVES: Disorders of humoral immunity in Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) have not been well explored. This study describes the characteristics of B cells and immunoglobulin (Ig) profile in patients with TAK. METHODS: Peripheral B cell populations assessed using flow cytometry and serum Ig levels assessed using a biochemical analyser in 98 newly diagnosed patients with TAK were analysed and compared with those of 31 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 60 healthy controls (HCs). CD19+ B cell and IgG infiltration to the aortic tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The proportion of peripheral CD3-CD19+ B cells and levels of serum IgG in TAK were lower than those in SLE, but higher than those in HCs. CD3-CD19+ B cell counts were higher in TAK than in HCs. Serum IgG and IgG1 levels were higher in active TAK than in non-active TAK. In TAK, positive correlations of serum IgG levels with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, Kerr score, and Indian Takayasu Clinical Activity Score (ITAS2010, ITAS-A) were observed before immunotherapy. After 6 months of immunotherapy, serum Ig levels significantly decreased. Positive correlations between the changes in IgG levels and values of ESR, CRP, Kerr score, and ITAS-A were detected. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed CD19+ B cell and IgG infiltration to the aortic wall in patients with TAK. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced B cells might contribute to the pathogenesis of TAK, and serum IgG levels could serve as a simple, useful biomarker to assess disease activity and monitor treatment response in TAK.

Prediction of left ventricular ejection fraction improvement in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy after coronary artery bypass grafting based on cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: To investigate the risk factors of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to construct a model that predicts LVEF improvement. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 106 ICM patients who received CABG and underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2017 to June 2022. Patients were divided into two groups with improved LVEF and no improved LVEF based on the results of postoperative 6-month transthoracic echocardiography. To analyze the risk factors affecting the LVEF non-improvement after CABG and establish a prediction model. Results: There was LVEF non-improvement in 30.2% (32/106) of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the number of transmural scar segments and left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) were independent risk factors in LVEF non-improvement after CABG [odds ratio (OR) =2.398, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.607-3.579, P<0.001; OR =1.036, 95% CI: 1.009-1.063, P=0.008]. The model is built and internally verified. ROC showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.866 (95% CI: 0.792-0.940), calibration curve showed that the probability predicted by the model matched well with the clinical results, and decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the model had good clinical applicability. During the mean follow-up time of 1.5 years, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in the LVEF non-improvement group was higher (5.4% vs. 25.0%, P=0.009), and the NYHA grading was higher (P=0.016), when compared to the LVEF improvement group. Conclusions: The prediction model based on the number of transmural scar segments and LVESVI has good diagnostic efficacy. Our findings help to identify patients with improved LVEF and thus guide the selection of clinical treatment strategies.

Retrospective, observational analysis of cardiac function associated with global preoperative myocardial scar in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Drawing on accumulated patient data from a hospital database, the goal of this retrospective study was to analyze cardiac function associated with global preoperative myocardial scarring assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance with late gadolinium enhancement (CMR-LGE) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: A total of 57 patients diagnosed with ICM who underwent isolated CABG at Beijing Anzhen Hospital between September 2017 and September 2019 were enrolled in this retrospective study. All these patients underwent a preoperative CMR-LGE examination. Based on postoperative echocardiography results at 6 months, cases were divided into the following 2 groups: improved cardiac function [a difference of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than or equal to 5%] and unimproved cardiac function. The factors contributing to these patients' unimproved cardiac function were investigated. Results: At 6 months after surgery, 64.9% (37/57) of cases had improved cardiac function, and 35.1% (20/57) had no improvement. There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in the Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (41.7±7.6 vs. 42.8±8.3; P=0.603), but compared to the improved group, preoperative myocardial scarring was significantly enlarged in the unimproved group (41.9%±6.4% vs. 27.8%±8.5%; P<0.001). In regression analysis, only preoperative myocardial scarring [odds ratio (OR) =1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-1.83; P=0.003] was associated with no change in cardiac function evaluated by echocardiography after CABG. The median follow-up of 1.6 years (range, 0.6-4.1 years) found that the unimproved group had a higher incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) (8.1% vs. 25.0%; P=0.044), and that the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification of the unimproved group was higher than that of the improved group (P=0.018). Conclusions: In ICM patients, a greater amount of preoperative myocardial scarring is associated with unimproved cardiac function after CABG. The measurement of preoperative myocardial scarring may aid clinicians in identifying patients who would benefit from CABG.

The regulation of plant lignin biosynthesis under boron deficiency conditions.

Boron (B) is a required micronutrient that is crucial for the growth and development of vascular plants. A deficiency in B is generally regarded as a limiting factor affecting agricultural production in many parts of the world. Boron is involved in the metabolism of plant lignin and additionally, B deficiency can lead to the excessive accumulation of lignin in plant leaves/roots, resulting in corking symptoms and inhibited growth. However, the effect of B on lignin biosynthesis is not as well characterized as the specific function of B in the cell wall. In this article, recent studies on the regulation of lignin biosynthesis in plants under low-B stress conditions are reviewed. Moreover, the following possible mechanisms underlying the lignin synthesis promoted by B deficiency are discussed: (1) the accumulation of phenolic substances during B deficiency directly enhances lignin synthesis; (2) excess H2 O2 has a dual function to the enhancement of lignin under boron deficiency conditions, serving as a substrate and a signaling molecule; and (3) B deficiency regulates lignin synthesis through the expression of genes encoding transcription factors such as MYBs. Finally, future studies regarding physiology, molecules, and transcriptional regulation may reveal the mechanism(s) mediating the relationship between lignin synthesis and B deficiency. This review provides new insights and important references for future research and the enhancement of plant B nutrition.

The mechanism analysis of exogenous melatonin in limiting pear fruit aroma decrease under low temperature storage.

Exogenous melatonin (MT) is widely used in fruit preservation, and can increase the storage time and delay the quality deterioration. Firstly, it was found that 150 µM MT was the optimal concentration to treat 'Xinli No.7' under storage at 4 °C for 60 days. MT could significantly improve oxidase activity and inhibit the reduction of physiological indexes, including pulp hardness, weight loss, titratable acid and soluble solid content. MT could also reduce ethylene release and limit the reduction of fruit aroma. The average content of fruit aroma substance increased by 43.53%. A relevant RNA-Seq database was built to further explore the regulation mechanism of MT. A total of 2,761 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. DEGs were enriched in 64 functional groups and 191 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. DEGs were mainly enriched in alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and plant hormone signal transduction pathway. The gene pycom09g05270 belonging to long chain acyl-CoA synthetase family and participating in fatty acid metabolism pathway was identified, and its expression level was consistent with fragments per kilobase per million mapped reads (FPKM) values, implying that pycom09g05270 might play a vital role in maintaining quality during the storage process.

A Retrospective Study of the Relationship Between Blood Transfusion and 30-Day Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Isolated Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

ABSTRACT Introduction: The objective of this single-center study it to retrospectively analyze the relationship between transfusion and 30-day postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods: Perioperative data of 2,178 patients who underwent isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting from 2018 to 2019 were collected. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to control for potential biases between patients who received blood transfusion and those who did not. After propensity score matching, we analyzed the clinical outcomes of transfusion and non-transfusion patients. Postoperative complications and the survival of patients within 30 days after surgery in both groups were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used for survival analysis. Results: The total blood transfusion rate of all patients was 29%, including red blood cell (27.6%), plasma (7.3%), and platelet (1.9%). Four hundred and forty patients in each group were compared after propensity score matching. There were no significant differences in the incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, acute kidney function injury, and sternal wound infection of both groups (P>0.05). However, higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection and more mechanical ventilation time and days of stay in the intensive care unit and postoperative in-hospital stay were associated with blood transfusion (P<0.05). The 30-day cumulative survival rate of the transfusion group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Perioperative blood transfusion increases the risks of postoperative pulmonary infection and short-term mortality in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting patients.