COVID-19 pandemic amplified mortality rates among adolescents with bipolar disorder through family-related factors.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a growing number of adolescents have been afflicted with mental disorders, with annual morbidity rates on the rise. This trend has been exacerbated by the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, leading to a surge in suicide and self-harm rates among this demographic. AIM: To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent bipolar disorder (BD), along with the underlying factors contributing to heightened rates of suicide and self-harm among adolescents. METHODS: A comprehensive statistical analysis was conducted utilizing clinical interviews and self-reports obtained from patients or their guardians. Diagnostic criteria for BDs were based on the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, international classification of diseases-11, and the National institute of mental health research domain criteria. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0 software, with significance set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: A cohort of 171 adolescents diagnosed with BD between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, was included in the analysis. The gender distribution was 2.8:1 (female to male), with ages ranging from 11 to 18 years old. Major factors contributing to adolescent BDs included familial influences, academic stress, genetic predisposition and exposure to school-related violence. Notably, a significant increase in suicide attempts and self-harm incidents was observed among adolescents with BD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistical analysis indicated that the pandemic exacerbated familial discord and heightened academic stress, thereby amplifying the prevalence of suicidal behavior and self-harm among adolescents. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated familial tensions and intensified the incidence of suicide and self-harm among adolescents diagnosed with BD. This study underscores the urgent need for societal, familial and educational support systems to prioritize the well-being of adolescents and offers valuable insights and guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of adolescent BDs.

Impact of Everolimus Initiation and Corticosteroid Weaning During Acute Phase After Heart Transplantation on Clinical Outcome: Data from the Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY).

The effect of changes in immunosuppressive therapy during the acute phase post-heart transplantation (HTx) on clinical outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of changes in immunosuppressive therapy by corticosteroid (CS) weaning and everolimus (EVR) initiation during the first year post-HTx on clinical outcomes. We analyzed 622 recipients registered in the Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY) between January 2014 and December 2021. The median age at HTx was 56 years (interquartile range [IQR], 45-62), and the median follow-up time was 3.9 years (IQR 2.0-5.1). The early EVR initiation within the first year post-HTx and maintenance during the follow-up is associated with reduced the risk of primary composite outcome (all-cause mortality or re-transplantation) (HR, 0.24; 95% CI 0.09-0.68; p < 0.001) and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) (HR, 0.39; 95% CI 0.19-0.79; p = 0.009) compared with EVR-free or EVR intermittent treatment regimen, regardless of CS weaning. However, the early EVR initiation tends to increase the risk of acute allograft rejection compared with EVR-free or EVR intermittent treatment.

Multiscale Structural Engineering Boosts Piezoelectricity in Na0.5Bi2.5Nb2O9-Based High-Temperature Piezoceramics.

High-temperature piezoelectric materials, which enable the accurate and reliable sensing of physical parameters to guarantee the functional operation of various systems under harsh conditions, are highly demanded. To this end, both large piezoelectricity and high Curie temperature are pivotal figures of merit (FOMs) for high-temperature piezoceramics. Unfortunately, despite intensive pursuits, it remains a formidable challenge to unravel the inverse correlation between these FOMs. Herein, a conceptual material paradigm of multiscale structural engineering was proposed to address this dilemma. The synergistic effects of phase structure reminiscent of a polymorphic phase boundary and refined domain morphology simultaneously contribute to a large piezoelectric coefficient d33 of 30.3 pC/N and a high Curie temperature TC of 740 °C in (LiCeNd) codoped Na0.5Bi2.5Nb2O9 (NBN-LCN) ceramics. More encouragingly, the system has exceptional thermal stability and is nonsusceptible to mechanical loading. This study not only demonstrates that the high-performance and robust NBN-LCN high-temperature piezoceramics hold great potential for implements under harsh conditions but also opens an avenue for integrating antagonistic properties for the enhancement of the collective performance in functional materials.

Effect of pyrolysis temperature and molecular weight on characterization of biochar derived dissolved organic matter from invasive plant and binding behavior with the selected pharmaceuticals.

A comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of biochar released-dissolved organic matter (BDOM) derived from an invasive plant and its impact on the binding behavior of pharmaceuticals is essential for the application of biochar, yet has received less attention. In this study, the binding behavior of BDOM pyrolyzed at 300-700 °C with sulfathiazole, acetaminophen, chloramphenicol (CAP), and carbamazepine (CMZ) was investigated based on a multi-analytical approach. Generally, the pyrolysis temperature exhibited a more significant impact on the spectral properties of BDOM and pharmaceutical binding behavior than those of the molecular weight. With increased pyrolysis temperature, the dissolved organic carbon decreased while the proportion of the protein-like substance increased. The highest binding capacity towards the drugs was observed for the BDOM pyrolyzed at 500 °C with the molecular weight larger than 0.3 kDa. Moreover, the protein-like substance exhibited higher susceptive and released preferentially during the dialysis process and also showed more sensitivity and bound precedingly with the pharmaceuticals. The active binding points were the aliphatic C-OH, amide II N-H, carboxyl CO, and phenolic-OH on the tryptophan-like substance. Furthermore, the binding affinity of the BDOM pyrolyzed at 500 °C was relatively high with the stability constant (logKM) of 4.51 ± 0.52.

Dual Immunoglobulin Domain-Containing Cell Adhesion Molecule Increases Early in Renal Tubular Cell Injury and Plays Anti-Inflammatory Role.

Dual immunoglobulin domain-containing cell adhesion molecule (DICAM) is a type I transmembrane protein that presents in various cells including renal tubular cells. This study evaluated the expression and protective role of DICAM in renal tubular cell injury. HK-2 cells were incubated and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 30 µg/mL) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 100 µM) for 24 h. To investigate the effect of the gene silencing of DICAM, small interfering RNA of DICAM was used. Additionally, to explain its role in cellular response to injury, DICAM was overexpressed using an adenoviral vector. DICAM protein expression levels significantly increased following treatment with LPS or H2O2 in HK-2 cells. In response to oxidative stress, DICAM showed an earlier increase (2-4 h following treatment) than neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) (24 h following treatment). DICAM gene silencing increased the protein expression of inflammation-related markers, including IL-1ß, TNF-α, NOX4, integrin ß1, and integrin ß3, in H2O2-induced HK-2 cell injury. Likewise, in the LPS-induced HK-2 cell injury, DICAM knockdown led to a decrease in occludin levels and an increase in integrin ß3, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels. Furthermore, DICAM overexpression followed by LPS-induced HK-2 cell injury resulted in an increase in occludin levels and a decrease in integrin ß1, integrin ß3, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels, suggesting an alleviating effect on inflammatory responses. DICAM was elevated in the early stage of regular tubular cell injury and may protect against renal tubular injury through its anti-inflammatory properties. DICAM has a potential as an early diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for renal cell injury.

Nursing Care of a Child With Delirium Receiving Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Children receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are prone to delirium. This case report describes the nursing care of a child with delirium who received venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Relevant interventions and precautions are also discussed. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 6-year-old girl was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with a 2-day history of vomiting and fever. The child underwent cannulation for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. DIAGNOSIS: The child was diagnosed with acute fulminant myocarditis, cardiac shock, and ventricular arrhythmia. INTERVENTIONS: On the third day of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, bedside nurses began using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium to assess the child for delirium symptoms. The team of physicians and nurses incorporated a nonpharmacologic delirium management bundle into pediatric daily care. Delirium screening, analgesia and sedation management, sleep promotion, and family participation were implemented. OUTCOMES: During the 18 days of pediatric intensive care unit hospitalization, the child had 6 days of delirium: 1.5 days of hypoactive delirium, 1.5 days of hyperactive delirium, and 3 days of mixed delirium. The child was successfully discharged home on hospital day 22. CONCLUSION: Caring for a child with delirium receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation required multidimensional nursing capabilities to prevent and reduce delirium while ensuring safe extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. This report may assist critical care nurses caring for children under similar circumstances.

Tanshinone IIA induces ER stress and JNK activation to inhibit tumor growth and enhance anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains at the forefront of new cancer cases, and there is an urgent need to find new treatments or improve the efficacy of existing therapies. In addition to the application in the field of cerebrovascular diseases, recent studies have revealed that tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has anticancer activity in a variety of cancers. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential anticancer mechanism of Tan IIA and its impact on immunotherapy in NSCLC. METHODS: Cytotoxicity and colony formation assays were used to detect the Tan IIA inhibitory effect on NSCLC cells. This research clarified the mechanisms of Tan IIA in anti-tumor and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) regulation by using flow cytometry, transient transfection, western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods. Besides, IHC was also used to analyze the nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFAT2) expression in NSCLC clinical samples. Two animal models including xenograft mouse model and Lewis lung cancer model were used for evaluating tumor suppressive efficacy of Tan IIA. We also tested the efficacy of Tan IIA combined with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors in Lewis lung cancer model. RESULTS: Tan IIA exhibited good NSCLC inhibitory effect which was accompanied by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and increasing Ca2+ levels. Moreover, Tan IIA could suppress the NFAT2/ Myc proto oncogene protein (c-Myc) signaling, and it also was able to control the Jun Proto-Oncogene(c-Jun)/PD-L1 axis in NSCLC cells through the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. High NFAT2 levels were potential factors for poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. Finally, animal experiments data showed a stronger immune activation phenotype, when we performed treatment of Tan IIA combined with PD-1 monoclonal antibody. CONCLUSION: The findings of our research suggested a novel mechanism for Tan IIA to inhibit NSCLC, which could exert anti-cancer effects through the JNK/NFAT2/c-Myc pathway. Furthermore, Tan IIA could regulate tumor PD-L1 levels and has the potential to improve the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors.

Impaired binding affinity of YTHDC1 with METTL3/METTL14 results in R-loop accumulation in myelodysplastic neoplasms with DDX41 mutation.

DEAD box helicase 41 (DDX41) mutations are the most prevalent predisposition to familial myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, the precise roles of these variants in the pathogenesis of MDS have yet to be elucidated. Here, we discovered a novel mechanism by which DDX41 contributes to R-loop-induced DNA damage responses (DDR) in cooperation with the m6A-METTL complex (MAC) and YTHDC1 using DDX41 knockout (KO) and DDX41 knock-in (KI, R525H, Y259C) cell lines as well as primary samples from MDS patients. Compared to wild type (WT), DDX41 KO and KI led to increased levels of m6A RNA methylated R-loop. Interestingly, we found that DDX41 regulates m6A/R-loop levels by interacting with MAC components. Further, DDX41 promoted the recruitment of YTHDC1 to R-loops by promoting the binding between METTL3 and YTHDC1, which was dysregulated in DDX41-deficient cells, contributing to genomic instability. Collectively, we demonstrated that DDX41 plays a key role in the physiological control of R-loops in cooperation with MAC and YTHDC1. These findings provide novel insights into how defects in DDX41 influence MDS pathogenesis and suggest potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of MDS.

Hybrid operating room with ceiling mounted imaging system assisted pre-operative and intra-operative lung nodule localization for thoracoscopic resections: a 5-year case series.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lung resections are increasingly popular and localization techniques are necessary to aid resection. We describe our experience with hybrid operating room (OR) cone-beam computed tomography (CT) assisted pre-operative and intra-operative lesion localization of lung nodules for VATS wedge resections, including our novel workflow using the hybrid OR cone-beam CT to re-evaluate patients who have undergone pre-operative localization for those who are unsuitable for intra-operative localization. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with small (≤ 20 mm), deep (≥ 10 mm distance from pleura) and/or predominantly ground-glass nodules selected for lesion localization in the Interventional Radiology suite followed by re-evaluation with cone-beam CT in the hybrid OR (pre-operative), or in the hybrid OR alone (intra-operative), prior to intentional VATS wedge performed by a single surgeon at our centre from January 2017 to December 2021. RESULTS: 30 patients with 36 nodules underwent localization. All nodules were successfully resected with a VATS wedge resection, although 10% of localizations had hookwire or coil dislodgement. The median effective radiation dose in the pre-operative group was 10.4 mSV including a median additional radiation exposure of 0.9 mSV in the hybrid OR for reconfirmation of hookwire or coil position prior to surgery (p = 0.87). The median effective radiation dose in the intra-operative group was 3.2 mSV with a higher mean rank than the intra-operative group, suggesting a higher radiation dose (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that our multidisciplinary approach utilizing the hybrid OR is safe and effective. Intra-operative localization is associated with lower radiation doses. Routine use of cone-beam CT to confirm the position of the physical marker prior to surgery in the hybrid OR helps mitigate consequences of localization failure with only a modest increase in radiation exposure.

Composition Regulation of Potassium Sodium Niobate Thin Films through Post-Annealing under Alkali Element Atmospheres.

Amorphous potassium sodium niobate (KNN) films were synthesized at 300 °C through the radio frequency magnetron sputtering method and subsequently crystallized by post-annealing at 700 °C in various alkali element atmospheres (Na and K). The as-deposited film is notably deficient in alkali metal elements, particularly K, whereas the loss of alkali elements in the films can be replenished through annealing in an alkali element atmosphere. By adjusting the molar ratio of Na and K in the annealing atmosphere, the ratio of Na/K in the resultant film varied, consequently suggesting the efficiency of this method on composition regulation of KNN films. Meanwhile, we also found that the physical characteristics of the films also underwent differences with the change of an annealing atmosphere. The films annealed in a high Na atmosphere exhibit large dielectric losses with limited piezoelectric vibration behavior, while annealing in a high K atmosphere reduces the dielectric losses and enhances the piezoelectric behavior. Furthermore, the results of vibration measurement demonstrated that the film annealed in a mixed powder of 25% Na2CO3 and 75% K2CO3 exhibits an optimal vibration displacement of ~400 pm under the sinusoidal excitation voltage of 8 V. This approach of altering the composition of KNN films through post-annealing may introduce the new concept of property design of KNN as well as other similar films.

Previously Uncharacterized Variants, OCF-E-OCF-J, of the Antifungal Occidiofungin Produced by Burkholderia contaminans MS14.

The rise of multidrug resistant fungal infections highlights the need to identify and develop novel antifungal agents. Occidiofungin is a nonribosomally synthesized glycolipopeptide that has a unique mechanism of action, disrupting actin-mediated functions and inducing cellular apoptosis. Antifungal activity has been observed in vitro against various fungal species, including multidrug resistant Candida auris, and in vivo efficacy has been demonstrated in a murine vulvovaginal candidiasis model. Occidiofungin, a cyclic glycolipopeptide, is composed of eight amino acids and in previous studies, an asparagine residue was assigned at position 7 (ASN7). In this study, new structural variants of occidiofungin have been characterized which have aspartic acid (ASP7), glutamine (GLN7), or glutamic acid (GLU7) at position 7. The side chain of the ASP7 variant contains the only terminal carboxylic acid in the peptide and provides a useful site for selective chemical modifications. Analogues were synthesized at the ASP7 position and tested for antifungal activity. These analogues were shown to be more active as compared to the ASP7 variant against a panel of Candida species. The naturally occurring variants of occidiofungin with a side chain containing a carboxylic acid at the seventh amino acid position can be used to develop semisynthetic analogues with enhanced therapeutic properties.

Manganese and IL-12 treatment alters the ovarian tumor microenvironment.

Metal immunotherapy is a novel adjuvant immunotherapy. Mn2+ can activate STING-a type I IFN response protein-that promotes innate immunity and increases anti-tumor activity by promoting macrophage phagocytosis. IL-12, a cytokine that increases the antigen-presenting ability to promote effector T-cell activation, has potent antitumor activity, albeit with severe adverse effects. In this study, we observed that the combination of Mn2+ and IL-12 has a better antitumor effect and possibly reflects a better safety profile, providing a novel approach and theoretical basis for safe and rapid cancer treatment.

Nanoarchitectonics of MXene Derived TiO2 /Graphene with Vertical Alignment for Achieving the Enhanced Supercapacitor Performance.

Structural engineering and hybridization of heterogeneous 2D materials can be effective for advanced supercapacitor. Furthermore, architectural design of electrodes particularly with vertical construction of structurally anisotropic graphene nanosheets, can significantly enhance the electrochemical performance. Herein, MXene-derived TiO2 nanocomposites hybridized with vertical graphene is synthesized via CO2 laser irradiation on MXene/graphene oxide nanocomposite film. Instantaneous photon energy by laser irradiation enables the formation of vertical graphene structures on nanocomposite films, presenting the controlled anisotropy in free-standing film. This vertical structure enables improved supercapacitor performance by forming an open structure, increasing the electrolyte-electrode interface, and creating efficient electron transport path. In addition, the effective oxidation of MXene nanosheets by instantaneous photon energy leads to the formation of rutile TiO2 . TiO2 nanoparticles directly generated on graphene enables the effective current path, which compensates for the low conductivity of TiO2 and enables the functioning of an effective supercapacitor by utilizing its pseudocapacitive properties. The resulting film exhibits excellent specific areal capacitance of 662.9 mF cm-2 at a current density of 5 mA cm-2 . The film also shows superb cyclic stability during 40 000 repeating cycles, maintaining high capacitance. Also, the pseudocapacitive redox reaction kinetics is evaluated, showing fast redox kinetics with potential for high-performance supercapacitor applications.

[Chemical constituents from whole herb of Hedyotis scandens].

This study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents in the water extract of the whole herb of Hedyotis scandens by silica gel, ODS, and MCI column chromatographies together with preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The structures of isolated constituents were identified by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, etc. Thirteen compounds were isolated and identified as methyl 4-benzoyloxy-3-methoxybenzeneacetate(1), 4-benzoyloxy-3-methoxybenzeneacetic acid(2), 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-propanoic acid(3), salicylic acid(4), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxypyridine(5), syringic acid(6), hydroxycinnamic acid(7),(R)-6-methyl-4,6-bis(4-methylpent-3-enyl)cyclohexa-1,3-dienecarbaldehyde(8), 1,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanediol(9), 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde(10), isoscopoletin(11), syringaresinol(12), and pinoresinol(13). Among them, compounds 1 and 2 were new phenolic acid compounds, compounds 3-5, 8-11, and 13 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compounds 6, 7, and 12 were obtained from H. scandens for the first time. The activity test showed that compounds 1 and 10 had a certain inhibitory effect on Mycobacterium smegmatis, with MIC_(50) values of 58.5 and 33.3 µg·mL~(-1), respectively.

Direct Seawater Electrolysis: From Catalyst Design to Device Applications.

Direct seawater electrolysis (DSE) for hydrogen production, using earth-abundant seawater as the feedstock and renewable electricity as the driving source, paves a new opportunity for flexible energy conversion/storage and smooths the volatility of renewable energy. Unfortunately, the complex environments of seawater impose significant challenges on the design of DSE catalysts, and the practical performance of many current DSE catalysts remains unsatisfactory on the device level. However, many studies predominantly concentrate on the development of electrocatalysts for DSE without giving due consideration to the specific devices. To mitigate this gap, the most recent progress (mainly published within the year 2020-2023) of DSE electrocatalysts and devices are systematically evaluated. By discussing key bottlenecks, corresponding mitigation strategies, and various device designs and applications, the tremendous challenges in addressing the trade-off among activity, stability, and selectivity for DSE electrocatalysts by a single shot are emphasized. In addition, the rational design of the DSE electrocatalysts needs to align with the specific device configuration, which is more effective than attempting to comprehensively enhance all catalytic parameters. This work, featuring the first review of this kind to consider rational catalyst design in the framework of DSE devices, will facilitate practical DSE development.

Exposures to humidifier disinfectant and various health conditions in Korean based on personal exposure assessment data of claimants for compensation.

BACKGROUND: Humidifier disinfectants (HDs) were commonly used household chemicals to prevent microbial growth in a humidifier water tank in South Korea. A growing body of evidence has indicated that its airborne exposure can induce severe lung injury. However, there has been low awareness of other health outcomes in HD users. This study aimed to evaluate health conditions appealed by claimants for compensation in relation with an increased exposure to HD. METHODS: From survey data of personal HD exposure assessment of claimants for compensation in Korea, we included a total of 4,179 subjects [cases in each dataset were defined by nine reported health conditions, i.e., pneumonia, asthma, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, otorhinolaryngologic disease, brain disease (including cerebrovascular disease), dermatological disease, lung cancer, and all cancers]. HD exposures was considered as the following exposure criteria: exposure duration, exposure proximity, exposure direction, chemical type, cumulative exposure time, indoor air concentration, and cumulative exposure level. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between HD exposure and health conditions. RESULTS: After adjusting for sociodemographic and health behavioral factors and other chemical exposures (households, environmental, and occupational exposures), an increase in cumulative HD exposure time was significantly associated with risks of all nine diseases (all p-trends < 0.05). An increase in HD exposure duration was associated with asthma, respiratory disease, otorhinolaryngologic disease, dermatological disease, all cancers, and lung cancer (p-trends < 0.05). Indoor HD concentration was associated with only pneumonia (p-trend = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that cumulative exposures to airborne HD might potentially increase the risk of various reported health outcomes.

IL-17A/p38 Signaling Pathway Induces Alveolar Epithelial Cell Pyroptosis and Hyperpermeability in Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Activating NLRP3 Inflammasome.

Sepsis is a syndrome with poor prognosis. Nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and T helper 17 (Th17) cells are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. This study aims to explore their roles and underlying mechanisms in sepsis. The blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are collected from sepsis patients and healthy donors. A sepsis mice model is established by cecal ligation puncture (CLP). The contents of cytokines are detected by ELISA. The amounts of Th17 cells, IL-17A, IL-1ß, IL-18, and lipopolysaccharide is significantly elevated in sepsis patients. The increased differentiation of Th17 cells can promote lung cell pyroptosis and induce hyperpermeability via activating NLRP3 inflammasome and p38 pathway. The inhibitors targeting Th17 cells, NLRP3 inflammasome, and p38 pathway can significantly alleviate lung injury in sepsis mice. Th17 cells can secrete IL-17A to activate NLRP3 inflammasome via p38 signaling pathway, which contributes to the development of sepsis-induced acute lung injury.

Downregulation of circular RNA hsa_circ_0087856 sensitizes bladder cancer cells to cisplatin through targeting miR-1184/CITED2 signaling.

CircRNAs are considered as one of the potential therapeutic targets of multiple cancers. According to accumulating evidence, circRNA regulates cancer progression by acting as a miRNA sponge. In the current work, our data discovered that hsa_circ_0087856 and CITED2 expression was increased, while miR-1184 expression was decreased in BC cell lines and tissues. Hsa_circ_0087856 expression negatively correlated with miR-1184, whereas positively correlated with CITED2. Hsa_circ_0087856 silencing suppressed BC tumor growth, and contributed to the inhibition of cisplatin to tumor growth. In cellular experiments, hsa_circ_0087856 increasing promoted BC cells proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibited the cells apoptosis. Hsa_circ_0087856 increasing partly reversed the inhibition of cisplatin to BC cell proliferation and the promotion to cell apoptosis. Oppositely, hsa_circ_0087856 silencing could increase the sensitivity of BC cells to cisplatin. Hsa_circ_0087856 promoted CITED2 expression through binding with miR-1184 and inhibiting its expression. CITED2 increasing partly reversed the promotion of hsa_circ_0087856 silencing to cisplatin-induced BC cells apoptosis promotion and proliferation suppression. Overall, our results revealed the role of hsa_circ_0087856 that downregulation its expression could enhance the BC cells sensitivity to cisplatin by facilitating CITED expression via sponging miR-1184. Moreover, our research provided a potential therapeutic target for BC.

Intraprocedural, Intra-Arterial CT Foot Perfusion Examination for Assessment of Endovascular Therapy in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia: A Prospective Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Current techniques to evaluate computed tomography (CT) foot perfusion in patients with critical limb ischemia use high contrast doses and cannot be used during endovascular procedures. CT perfusion of the foot with intra-arterial contrast injection during endovascular treatment in a hybrid angiography CT suite might solve these problems. PURPOSE: The main objective of this study was to evaluate whether intra-arterial CT foot perfusion using a hybrid CT angiosystem is feasible during endovascular treatment for critical limb ischemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective pilot study investigated intraprocedural, intra-arterial CT perfusion of the foot using a hybrid CT angiosystem in 12 patients before and after endovascular treatment for critical limb ischemia. Time to peak (TTP) and arterial blood flow were measured before and after treatment and compared using a paired t test. RESULTS: All 24 CT perfusion maps could be calculated adequately. The contrast volume used for one perfusion CT scan was 4.8 ml. The mean TTP before treatment was 12.8 seconds (standard deviation [SD] 2.8) and the mean TTP posttreatment was 8.4 seconds (SD 1.7), this difference being statistically significant (p=.001). Tendency toward increased blood flow after treatment, 340 ml/min/100 ml (SD 174) vs 514 ml/min/100 ml (SD 366) was noticed (p=.104). The mean effective radiation dose was 0.145 mSv per scan. CONCLUSION: Computed tomography perfusion of the foot with low contrast dose intra-arterial contrast injection during endovascular treatment in a hybrid angiography CT suite is a feasible technique. CLINICAL IMPACT: Intra-arterial CT foot perfusion using a hybrid CT-angiography system is a feasible new technique during endovascular therapy for critical limb ischemia to assess the results of the treament. Future research is necessary in defining endpoints of endovascular treatment and establishing its role in limb salvage prognostication.