Left Atrial Enlargement is Associated with Stroke Severity with Cardioembolic and Cryptogenic Subtypes in a Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial enlargement is associated with increased risk for stroke. However, few studies that evaluated the correlation between left atrial size and ischemic stroke severity. In this study, we aim to evaluate the association between left atrial size and stroke severity, especially with cardioembolic and cryptogenic stroke in the Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 1271 patients with acute ischemic stroke were included in this study. Echocardiographic left atrial diameter was measured and indexed to height. Stroke severity was assessed at admission with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Moderate-to-severe neurologic deficit was defined as NIHSS greater than or equal to 5. Patients were divided into mild, moderate, or severe abnormal left atrial size by tertile distribution. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of severe stroke after adjustment. RESULTS: Among all enrolled patients, 328 (25.8%) were classified into moderate-to severe stroke severity (NIHSS ≥ 5). In the multivariable model, compared with the lowest tertile of left atrial size, the odds ratio for moderate-to-severe neurologic deficit was 0.902 (95% CI, 0.644-1.264, P = .550) when left atrial size was the highest tertile. Of all patients, 190 patients were further categorized as cardioembolic and cryptogenic subtypes, and 70 (36.8%) were classified into moderate-to-severe stroke severity. After adjusting for confounders, compared with the lowest tertile, the top tertile of left atrial size was significantly associated with moderate-to-severe stroke (3.156, 95% CI, 1.143-8.711, P = .027). CONCLUSION: Left atrial enlargement was associated with more severe initial neurologic deficits of embolic subtypes (cardioembolic and cryptogenic stroke) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

HuoXueTongFu Formula Alleviates Intraperitoneal Adhesion by Regulating Macrophage Polarization and the SOCS/JAK2/STAT/PPAR-γ Signalling Pathway.

Intraperitoneal adhesion is a common complication after abdominal surgery, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. HuoXueTongFu Formula (HXTF) plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of intraperitoneal adhesions. However, the molecular-related mechanisms are still not fully known. In this study, the model of Intrapetitoneal adhesion was established by cecum abrasion and treated with HXTF for one week. RAW264.7 cells were given LPS, IFN-γ, IL-4, HXTF-medicated serum, and PPAR-γ agonist/antagonist, respectively. Histopathology, flow cytometry, ELISA, real-time PCR, and Western blotting were used to further detect the related protein, M1/M2 polarization tendency, and PPAR-γ nuclear translocation. The deposition of collagen fibres reduced in the local area of rats after the operation with HXTF treatment. Similar to IL-4, HXTF induced a tendency for macrophages to polarize toward M2 and promoted peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) nuclear translocation. Furthermore, the use of HXTF and PPAR-γ agonists downregulated macrophage M1 polarization-related factors IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha and upregulated M2 polarization-related factors IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-beta 1. Meanwhile, the use of HXTF and PPAR-γ agonists downregulated the SOCS3/JAK2/STAT1 pathway and activated the SOCS1/STAT6/PPAR-γ pathway. These results show that HXTF may reduce intraperitoneal adhesion by inducing macrophage M2 polarization and regulating the SOCS/JAK2/STAT/PPAR-γ pathway.

[Impact of Land Use Type on the Stability and Organic Carbon Content of Soil Aggregates in the Weibei Dryland].

Soil aggregates are important indicators of soil quality and sustainable land utilization, and impact the retention abilities of water and fertilizers and the release of nutrients in soil. This study aimed to understand the effects of two land use types (an orchard and farmland) on the distribution, stability, and organic carbon content of soil aggregates, and provides a theoretical basis for the optimal management of the soil carbon pool in the Weibei Dryland of the Loess Plateau. We examined the soils from an orchard and from farmland by simultaneous sampling and wet sieving; the proportions of large macroaggregates (>2 mm), small macroaggregates (0.25-2 mm), microaggregates (0.053-0.25 mm), and silt and clay (<0.053 mm) were then determined; the content of organic carbon in each aggregate fraction at soil depths of 0-40 cm were also measured, and the total organic carbon content of all aggregates fractions was determined for each soil. The results showed that the type of agricultural land use had a significant effect on the distribution and stability of soil aggregates in the 0-20 cm soil layer, with the relative proportions of the different sized aggregates (>2, 0.25-2, 0.053-0.25, and<0.053 mm) being 12.9%, 51.3%, 28.8%, and 7.0% in the orchards, respectively, and 8.3%, 49.7%, 33.6%, and 8.4% on the farmland, respectively. The proportion of macro-aggregates (>0.25 mm) was significantly higher in the orchard soils than in the farmland soils. Mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) are important indicators of the soil aggregate stability; the MWD and GWD of the farmland soils were significantly lower than the orchard soils in the 0-40 cm depth zone (P<0.05). The effects of different land use types on the organic carbon content of soil aggregates was most marked in the 0-10 cm layer. Compared with farmland, the organic carbon content in the large aggregates, intermediate aggregates, micro-aggregates, and the silt and clay fraction of orchard soils were relatively increased by 56.0% (P<0.05), 57.1% (P<0.05), 40.8% (P>0.05), and 13.0% (P>0.05), respectively. Organic carbon storage in each aggregate class (excluding the<0.053 mm fraction) in the orchard soils was higher than in the farmland soils. In the orchard soils, the proportion of soil macro-aggregates (>0.25 mm) and the associated organic carbon content was elevated, damage to aggregates was reduced, and the organic carbon stability was enhanced. In general, the soil aggregate stability and organic carbon content of orchard soils were higher than for the farmland soils. Orchards appear to enhance the physical stability of aggregates with respect to soil organic carbon, contribute to soil organic carbon accumulation, and thus promote soil carbon sequestration.