NADPH oxidase 2 mediates cardiac sympathetic denervation and myocyte autophagy, resulting in cardiac atrophy and dysfunction in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy.

Doxorubicin has been used extensively as a potent anticancer agent, but its clinical use is limited by its cardiotoxicity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we tested whether NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) mediates cardiac sympathetic nerve terminal abnormalities and myocyte autophagy, resulting in cardiac atrophy and dysfunction in doxorubicin-induced heart failure. Nox2 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were randomly assigned to receive a single injection of doxorubicin (15 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline. WT doxorubicin mice exhibited the decreases in survival rate, left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and LV fractional shortening and the increase in the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio 1 week after the injections. These alterations were attenuated in Nox2 KO doxorubicin mice. In WT doxorubicin mice, myocardial oxidative stress was increased, myocardial noradrenergic nerve fibers were reduced, myocardial expression of PGP9.5, GAP43, tyrosine hydroxylase and norepinephrine transporter was decreased, and these changes were prevented in Nox2 KO doxorubicin mice. Myocyte autophagy was increased and myocyte size was decreased in WT doxorubicin mice, but not in Nox2 KO doxorubicin mice. Nox2 mediates cardiac sympathetic nerve terminal abnormalities and myocyte autophagy-both of which contribute to cardiac atrophy and failure after doxorubicin treatment.

[Esophageal Angiolipoma:Report of One Case and Literature Review].

Esophageal angiolipoma is a rare disease with unspecific clinical manifestations.This paper reported a case of esophageal angiolipoma confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and summarized the clinical manifestations,endoscopic and pathological features,treatment and prognosis of the patients by reviewing the relevant literature,aiming to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease in the future.

Clinical value of prenatal ultrasound in diagnosis and classification of common arterial trunk.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical value of prenatal ultrasound in the diagnosis of the common arterial trunk (CAT) classification and associated malformations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 2D ultrasound images, spatiotemporal image correlations (STICs) and clinical data of 88 fetuses diagnosed with CAT malformations by prenatal ultrasound were retrospectively analyzed and classified. The correlation between different types, fetal malformation and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 88 fetuses, there were 39 cases (44.32%) of type A1, 40 cases (45.45%) of type A2, 8 cases (9.09%) of type A3, and 1 case of type A4 (1.14%). There were 16 cases (18.18%) with isolated CAT, 48 cases (54.55%) with complex intra-cardiac structural abnormalities, and 24 cases (27.27%) with intra-cardiac and extra-cardiac structural abnormalities. In extra-cardiac structural malformations, 14 cases were associated with 1 other system abnormality, 4 cases with 2 other system abnormalities, 3 cases with 3 other system abnormalities, while 3 cases were combined with 4 other system abnormalities, among which the facial and physical abnormalities had the highest incidence (39.13%). The STIC images were completely displayed in all 88 cases. There was a statistical difference between isolated CAT and CAT combined with other abnormalities in fetal pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal ultrasound had a high clinical application value in CAT classification. Pregnancy outcomes were highly correlated with the classification and associated intra-cardiac and extra-cardiac structural malformations. The early evaluation of fetal prognosis before birth has important value for clinical intervention.

Comparative study on the gene expression of corticosterone metabolic enzymes in embryonic tissues between Tibetan and broiler chickens.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are an essential mediator hormone that can regulate animal growth, behavior, the phenotype of offspring, and so on, while GCs in poultry are predominantly corticosterones. The biological activity of GCs is mainly regulated by the intracellular metabolic enzymes, including 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases 1 (11ß-HSD1), 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases 2 (11ß-HSD2), and 20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20-HSD). To investigate the embryonic mechanisms of phenotypic differences between breeds, we compared the expression of corticosterone metabolic enzyme genes in the yolk-sac membrane and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). We described the tissue distribution and ontogenic patterns of corticosterone metabolic enzymes during embryonic incubation between Tibetan and broiler chickens. Forty fertilized eggs from Tibetan and broiler chickens were incubated under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, respectively. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to examine the expression of 11ß-HSD1/2, and 20-HSD mRNA in embryonic tissues. The results showed that the expression levels of yolk-sac membrane mRNA of 11ß-HSD2 and 20-HSD in Tibetan chickens on E14 (embryonic day of 14) were significantly lower than those of broiler chickens (P < 0.05), and these genes expression of CAM in Tibetan chickens were higher than those of broiler chickens (P < 0.05). In addition, the three genes in the yolk-sac membrane and CAM were followed by a down-regulation on E18 (embryonic day of 18). The 11ß-HSD1 and 11ß-HSD2 genes followed a similar tissue-specific pattern: the expression level was more abundantly in the liver, kidney, and intestine, with relatively lower abundance in the hypothalamus and muscle, and the expression level of 20-HSD genes in all tissues tested was higher. In the liver, 20-HSD of both Tibetan and broiler chickens showed different ontogeny development patterns, and hepatic mRNA expression of 20-HSD in broiler chickens was significantly higher than that of Tibetan chickens of the same age from E14 to E18 (P < 0.05). This study preliminarily revealed the expression levels of cortisol metabolic genes in different tissues during the development process of Tibetan and broiler chicken embryos. It provided essential information for in-depth research of the internal mechanism of maternal GCs programming on offspring.

Clinical study of domestic ZQL-type retrievable vena cava filter.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a serious disease often leading to disability and death. Percutaneous placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is an effective method to prevent fatal PTE caused by lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LEDVT). We developed the ZQL-type retrievable vena cava filter. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the ZQL-type filter for prevention of fatal PTE. METHODS: A total of 144 patients with indications for placement of an IVC filter received insertion of filters via a femoral (n = 37) or jugular (n = 107) vein approach. Abdominal X-ray and color Doppler ultrasonography of IVC were regularly performed to visualize the position and condition of the IVC filter following filter placement. If thrombi in the lower extremity deep veins were removed within 2 weeks, the filter retrieval procedure was performed after an abdominal radiograph, an inferior vena cavogram and a pulmonary angiography. Otherwise, the filter should be kept permanently in place with regular follow-up inspections. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four filters were implanted at the target sites with a success rate of 98.61% for one-time placement and 100% for two-time placement. Of the 137 patients followed up (follow-up rate, 95.14%), 43 patients had filters retrieved during a period of between 7 and 14 days (median, 12 days) following filter placement. The remaining 94 patients were followed for 7 days to 39 months (median follow-up period, 17 months). No filter migration or tilt, filter fracture or IVC perforation was observed. No obstruction of IVC occurred. No symptomatic PTE developed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The ZQL-type retrievable vena cava filter is a safe and effective device to prevent PTE. This filter possesses a distinctive stent-shape, stable design, high capture efficacy, and is easy to insert and retrieve and thus is suitable for clinical application.