Integrating serum microRNAs and electronic health records improved the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: To verify the differential expression of miR-30c and miR-142-3p between tuberculosis patients and healthy controls and to investigate the performance of microRNA (miRNA) and subsequently models for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: We followed up 460 subjects suspected of TB, and finally enrolled 132 patients, including 60 TB patients, 24 non-TB disease controls (TB-DCs), and 48 healthy controls (HCs). The differential expression of miR-30c and miR-142-3p in serum samples of the TB patients, TB-DCs, and HCs were identified by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR. Diagnostic models were developed by analyzing the characteristics of miRNA and electronic health records (EHRs). These models evaluated by the area under the curves (AUC) and calibration curves were presented as nomograms. RESULTS: There were differential expression of miR-30c and miR-142-3p between TB patients and HCs (p < 0.05). Individual miRNA has a limited diagnostic value for TB. However, diagnostic performance has been both significantly improved when we integrated miR-142-3p and ordinary EHRs to develop two models for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The AUC of the model for distinguishing tuberculosis patients from healthy controls has increased from 0.75 (95% CI: 0.66-0.84) to 0.96 (95% CI: 0.92-0.99) and the model for distinguishing tuberculosis patients from non-TB disease controls has increased from 0.67 (95% CI: 0.55-0.79) to 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Integrating serum miR-142-3p and EHRs is a good strategy for improving TB diagnosis.

Safety and Effectiveness Analysis of Endovascular Treatment vs Standard Medication Treatment in Patients with Progressive AIS-LVO Stroke in the Ultra-late Time Window: A Propensity Score Matched Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The time from onset to symptom deterioration in ischemic stroke often exceeds 24 hours, and this ultra-late time window is excluded from the endovascular treatment (EVT) guideline. This study aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of EVT in progressive acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) stroke patients with onset to symptom deterioration times of 24h-7 days. METHODS: Progressive stroke patients with time window of 24h-7 days treated at our hospital over the past 6 years were retrospectively collected. Patients were categorized into EVT and standard medication treatment (SMT) group based on the treatment approach. Patients were matched using propensity score matching (PSM). Safety outcomes primarily included 3-month mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), efficacy outcome primarily included functional independence (3-month mRS≤2). RESULTS: A total of 396 patients were included in the study, with 86(21.7%) in EVT and 310(78.3%) in SMT group. There were 140 remaining after PSM, with 70 in each group (50%). Compared to SMT group, EVT group had higher functional independence (52.9% vs 15.7%, OR=7.504, 95% CI 2.141-14.093, P<0.001) and lower 3-month mortality (14.3% vs 40.0%, OR=0.412, 95% CI 0.099-0.856, P<0.001). EVT was also associated with higher sICH (25.7% vs 5.7%, OR=9.926, 95% CI 1.874-36.547, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: For patients with progressive AIS-LVO in the ultra-late time window, EVT remains a viable treatment approach.

Safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke of large-vessel occlusion beyond the time window based on imaging evaluation.

PURPOSE: Endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute ischemic stroke caused by large-vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) over 24 h of onset remains controversial. This study was to explore the safety and efficacy of EVT for patients with AIS-LVO between 24 and 72 h of symptom onset after rigorous imaging evaluation. METHODS: Patients with AIS-LVO treated with EVT were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups according to the time from symptom onset to groin puncture: 64 in the over-time group (>24 h) and 257 in the within-time group (≤24 h). Outcomes included 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, functional independence (defined as mRS 0-2), successful cerebral reperfusion, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and 3-month mortality. RESULTS: Patients in the over-time group had no significant differences in the functional independence (40.6% vs 42.5%, odds ratio or OR 0.91, 95% confidence interval or CI 0.52-1.60, p = 0.753), successful reperfusion (96.7% vs 95.8%, OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.36-1.59, p = 0.467), sICH (8.3% vs 6.7%, OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.42-3.38, p = 0.735), 3-month mortality (13.3% vs 10.8%, OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.51-2.70, p = 0.716) compared with patients in the within-time group. After matching adjustment, the results did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The safety and effectiveness of EVT treatment for selected AIS-LVO patients with symptom onset of 24-72 h are not inferior to those treated within 6-24 h of onset, especially in a short term based on the pre-treatment advanced neuroimaging computed tomography perfusion even though further investigations are necessary to prove this finding.

Safety and effects of endovascular treatment of basilar tip aneurysms in patients with moyamoya diseases.

The effect and safety of endovascular treatment of basilar tip aneurysms associated with moyamoya disease are unknown. This study was to investigate the safety and effect of endovascular treatment of basilar tip aneurysms associated with moyamoya disease. Patients with moyamoya disease concurrent with basilar tip aneurysms were retrospectively enrolled and treated with endovascular embolization. The clinical and angiographic data were analyzed. Thirty patients with a basilar tip aneurysm were enrolled, including 8 (26.67%) male and 22 (73.33%) female patients aged 38 to 72 years (mean 54.4 ± 8.15). Endovascular treatment was successfully performed in 29 (96.67%) patients but failed in 1 (3.33%). Immediately after embolization, aneurysm occlusion degree was Raymond-Roy grade I in 26 (89.66%), grade II in 2 (6.90%), and grade III in 1 (3.45%). Intraprocedural complications occurred in 2 (10%) patients, including aneurysm rupture in 1 (3.33%), leading to death of the patient, and stent thrombosis in 2 (6.67%) which was successfully treated with thrombolysis. At discharge, good clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) was achieved in 29 (96.67%) and death in 1 (3.03%). Follow-up was performed 6 to 26 months (median 15) in 27 (93.1%) patients. Aneurysm occlusion degree was Raymond-Roy grade I in 21 (77.78%) patients, grade II in 4 (14.81%), and grade III in 2 (7.41%), not significantly (P = .67) different from those immediately after embolization. Aneurysm recurrence was found in 4 patients (14.81%). The clinical outcome was modified Rankin Scale 0 to 2 in all 27 patients, not significantly different from that at discharge. Endovascular embolization can be performed safely and effectively for basilar tip aneurysms associated with moyamoya disease even though more advanced embolization techniques are necessary.

A mutation of OSOTP 51 leads to impairment of photosystem I complex assembly and serious photo-damage in rice.

Gene expression in chloroplasts is regulated by many nuclear-encoded proteins. In this study, we isolated a rice (Oryza sativa subsp. japonica) mutant osotp51 with significant reduction in photosystem I (PSI). The osotp51 is extremely sensitive to light and accumulates a higher level of reactive oxygen species. Its leaves are almost albino when grown at 40 µmol photons/m(2) per s. However, grown at 4 µmol photons/m(2) per s, osotp51 has a similar phenotype to the wild-type. 77K chlorophyll fluorescence analysis showed a blue shift in the highest peak emission from PSI in osotp51. In addition, the level of PSI and PSII dimer is dramatically reduced in osotp51. OSOTP 51 encodes a pentatricopeptide repeats protein, homologous to organelle transcript processing 51 in Arabidopsis. Loss-of-function OSOTP51 affects intron splicing of a number of plastid genes, particularly the ycf3 coding a protein involved in the assembly of PSI complex. OSOTP51 is functionally conserved in higher plants. The mutation of osotp51 indirectly leads to a widespread change in the structure and functions of PSI, results in severe photoinhibition, and finally dies, even when grown under very low light intensity.

Risk scoring model for prediction of non-home discharge after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are likely to be discharged to a location other than home. We aimed to determine the association between preoperative risk factors and non-home discharge after TAVR. METHODS: Patients discharged alive after TAVR at three centers were identified from a prospectively maintained database randomly divided into 80% derivation and 20% validation cohorts. Logistic regression models were fit to identify preoperative factors associated with non-home discharge in the derivation cohort. Multivariable models were developed and a nomogram based risk-scoring system was developed for use in preoperative counseling. RESULTS: Between June 2012 and December 2018, a total of 1, 163 patients had TAVR at three centers. Thirty-seven patients who died before discharge were excluded. Of the remaining 1, 126 patients (97%) who were discharged alive, the incidence of non-home discharge was 25.6% (n = 289). The patient population was randomly divided into the 80% (n = 900) derivation cohort and 20% (n = 226) validation cohort. Mean ± SD age of the study population was 83 ± 8 years. In multivariable analysis, factors that were significantly associated with non-home discharge were extreme age, female sex, higher STS scores, use of general anesthesia, elective procedures, chronic liver disease, non-transfemoral approach and postoperative complications. The unbiased estimate of the C-index was 0.81 and the model had excellent calibration. CONCLUSIONS: One out of every four patients undergoing TAVR is discharged to a location other than home. Identification of preoperative factors associated with non-home discharge can assist patient counseling and postoperative disposition planning.

Evaluation of the antioxidant property and effects in Caenorhabditis elegans of Xiangxi flavor vinegar, a Hunan local traditional vinegar.

Xiangxi flavor vinegar (XV) is one of Hunan Province's traditional fermented vinegars. It is produced from herb, rice, and spring water with spontaneous liquid-state fermentation techniques. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant property of XV by analyzing its antioxidant compounds, its free radical scavenging property in vitro and in vivo, and its effects on antioxidant enzyme activity and apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that XV is rich in antioxidants. In particular, ligustrazine reached 6.431 µg/ml. The in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH•), hydroxyl radical (•OH), and superoxide anion radical (O2•-) scavenging rates of XV were 95.85%, 97.22%, and 63.33%, respectively. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in XV-treated C. elegans decreased significantly (P<0.01) compared to the control group. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were remarkably increased (P<0.01) in C. elegans after XV treatment. In addition, XV could upregulate CED-9 protein expression and downregulate CED-3 protein expression in C. elegans. These results prove that XV is rich in antioxidants and scavenges radicals in vitro efficiently. XV inhibits apoptosis in C. elegans probably by scavenging ROS and increasing the activities of its antioxidant enzymes.

Magnesium lithospermate B ameliorates renal cortical microperfusion in rats.

AIM: To investigate the effects of magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) isolated from Salviae miltiorrhizae on renal microcirculation, and renal and systemic hemodynamics in Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: MLB (10, 30, and 60 mg/kg) was injected intravenously and renal blood flow (RBF), renal cortical microperfusion (RCM), and systemic hemodynamic function parameters including heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and maximal velocity of pressure increase (dp/dt(max)) were measured for 45 min after administration. RESULTS: Intravenous MLB at doses of 10, 30, and 60 mg/kg increased RCM significantly, but had no obvious effects on RBF or systemic hemodynamics. The effect of MLB on RCM reached its peak 15 min after injection and returned to baseline after 45 min. Up to 60 mg/kg MLB increased RCM by 62.4%+/-20.2% (changes from baseline, P<0.01), whereas RBF (3.7%+/-9.7% vs baseline) and renal vascular resistance (-1.4%+/-9.1% vs baseline) did not obviously change. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that MLB ameliorates renal microcirculation in a dose-dependent manner, which may be related to the renoprotective effects of MLB.