Interrelationship between platelets and BUN in postmenopausal patients with coronary heart disease: findings of the NHANES from 2003 to 2016.

OBJECTIVE: During menopause, women are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) due to the significant changes in body metabolism brought on by the loss of estrogen. The purpose of this study was to investigate the independent association between platelet parameters and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in postmenopausal patients with coronary artery disease in order to clarify the function performed by platelet parameters and BUN in thrombosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We took information from the NHANES between 2003 and 2016. Platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV), and PC/MPV were the independent variables, BUN was the dependent variable, and age, race, marital status, body mass index (BMI), inflammation indicators, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were the covariates. RESULTS: BUN decreased with increasing PC in postmenopausal heart disease patients after controlling for other factors. When PC/MPV was less than 30.5, there was a strong negative correlation with BUN. In addition, there was a strong positive correlation with BUN when MPV was less than 9.3 fL. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying thrombosis in postmenopausal women with CHD and offer fresh perspectives on how to create novel antithrombotic medications for an aging population.

Effect of Collagen-Reactive Functional Monomer on Etch-and-Rinse Adhesives.

In this study, we evaluated a novel functional monomer (4-formylphenyl acrylate [FA]) that can specifically and covalently bind to the dentin collagen matrix as a potential alternative hydrophobic diluent-like monomer for improving the durability of dentin bonding. Experimental adhesives with different FA contents (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) were evaluated as partial substituents for the hydrophilic monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, with the commercial adhesive One-Step (Bisco, Inc.) employed as the positive control. Their degree of conversion, viscosity, hydrophobicity, mechanical properties, and water absorption/solubility were measured as the comprehensive characterization. In situ zymographic assays were performed to determine the extent to which FA inhibits the endogenous hydrolytic activity of dentin. Finally, the bonding performances of the novel adhesives were evaluated with microtensile strength tests and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the incorporation of FA significantly improved the mobility of experimental adhesives attributable to the dilution property of FA. In contrast to the possible compromised rate of polymerization by hydroxyethyl methacrylate, FA exhibited typical characteristics of favorable copolymerization with polymerizable monomers in adhesives and improved the degree of conversion of experimental adhesives. The rigidity and hydrophobic properties of the phenyl framework of the FA molecule conferred superior mechanical properties and hydrolysis resistance to the novel experimental adhesives. An inhibitory effect on gelatinolytic activities within the hybrid layer was also observed in the in situ zymographic assays, even at a low FA concentration (10%). In conjunction with the significantly improved infiltration found via scanning electron microscopy, the experimental adhesives containing FA possessed significantly better-maintained microtensile strength, even after aging. Thus, the incorporation of this novel monomer endowed the experimental adhesives with multiple enhanced functionalities. These remarkable advantages highlight the suitability of the monomer for further applications in clinical practice.

A Novel Chemical Binding Primer to Improve Dentin Bonding Durability.

The dentin collagen matrix that is not completely enveloped by resin adhesive is vulnerable to degradation by intrinsic collagenases during the etch-and-rinse process, which contributes to the deterioration of the bonding interface. Current commercial adhesives have no functional components that can form covalent bonds to the dentin collagen matrix. In this study, a photocurable aldehyde, 4-formylphenyl acrylate (FA), was synthesized and for the first time applied as a primer in adhesive dentistry to covalently bind to collagen. Experimental groups with different concentrations of FA (1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 9%) were prepared as primers. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by live/dead-cell staining and thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay. The interaction of FA with collagen was examined by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, hydroxyproline release under the degradation of type I collagenase, and thermogravimetric analysis. An optimal group was selected based on the degree of conversion of 2 universal adhesives and further divided depending on the treatment time (20 s, 30 s, 1 min, 2 min). The bonding performances were evaluated by microtensile strength before and after aging. Finally, the bonding interface was observed under confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscope. The results indicated that FA demonstrated good biocompatibility, dentin modification capability, and infiltration. It not only effectively cross-linked dentin collagen to improve its stability against enzymatic hydrolysis and modify the adhesive interface but also potentially acted as a diluting monomer to induce deep penetration of adhesive resin monomers into the dentin. The bonding strength after aging was improved without jeopardizing the degree of conversion of 2 commercial adhesives. Such prominent advantages of using FA to improve the bonding performance promotes its further application in adhesive dentistry.

MiR-144 inhibits colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion by regulating PBX3.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are aberrantly expressed in various human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). We aim to investigate the functional role and underlying mechanism of miR-144 in CRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expressional level of miR-144 and pre-leukemia transcription factor 3 (PBX3) in CRC tissues and cells was confirmed by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. The migration and invasion of CRC cells were detected by transwell assay. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the specific target of miR-144 in CRC cells. RESULTS: The results displayed that miR-144 expression was significantly decreased in CRC tissues and cells compared to that in normal controls. Additionally, miR-144 mimic suppressed, while miR-144 inhibitor promoted the ability of CRC cell migration and invasion. More importantly, PBX3 was the direct target of miR-144 in regulating CRC development and PBX3 could reverse the inhibitory effect of miR-144 mimic on CRC cells. PBX3 expression was significantly increased in CRC and negatively correlated with miR-144 expression. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, miR-144 suppressed CRC cell migration and invasion by targeting PBX3, suggesting its potential value in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

[Antiseptic effect of compound lysostaphin disinfectant and its preventive effect on infection of artificial dermis after graft on full-thickness skin defect wound in rats].

Objective: To study the antiseptic effect of compound lysostaphin disinfectant and its preventive effect on infection of artificial dermis after graft on full-thickness skin defect wound in rats. Methods: (1) Each one standard strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus were selected. Each 20 clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus were collected from those isolated from wound exudates of burn patients hospitalized in our wards from January 2014 to December 2016 according to the random number table. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of compound lysostaphin disinfectant to above-mentioned strains were detected. The experiment was repeated 3 times. Compared with the corresponding standard strain, the clinical strain with higher MIC and/or MBC was considered as having decreased sensitivity to the disinfectant. The percentage of strains of each of the three kinds of bacteria with decreased sensitivity was calculated. (2) Artificial dermis pieces were soaked in compound lysostaphin disinfectant for 5 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h, respectively, with 21 pieces at each time point. After standing for 0 (immediately), 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 h (with 3 pieces at each time point), respectively, the diameters of their inhibition zones to standard strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus were measured. The experiment was repeated 3 times. The shortest soaking time corresponding to the longest standing time, after which the disinfectant-soaked artificial dermis could form an effective inhibition zone (with diameter more than 7 mm), was the sufficient soaking time of the disinfectant to the artificial dermis. (3) Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into post injury day (PID) 3, 7, 14, and 21 sampling groups according to the random number table, with 10 rats in each group. A full-thickness skin defect wound with a diameter of 20 mm was made on both sides of the spine on the back of each rat. Immediately after injury, the artificial dermis without any treatment was grafted on the wound on left side of the spine (hereinafter referred to as control wound), while the sufficiently soaked artificial dermis with compound lysostaphin disinfectant was grafted on the wound on right side of the spine (hereinafter referred to as disinfectant wound). On PID 3, 7, 14, and 21, the gross condition of wounds of all the surviving rats was observed, and the new infection rates of control wounds and disinfectant wounds were calculated. Then, the rats in the sampling group with corresponding time were killed, and the full-thickness wound tissue containing artificial dermis was collected for quantitative analysis of bacteria. Bacteria content of the uninfected control wounds and that of the uninfected disinfectant wounds were compared. Data were processed with chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: (1) The MIC of compound lysostaphin disinfectant to standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii were 1/32, 1/32, and 1/512 of the original concentration of the disinfectant, respectively, and the MBC were 1/32, 1/16, and 1/512 of the original concentration of the disinfectant, respectively. The percentages of clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus with decreased sensitivity to compound lysostaphin disinfectant were 15% (3/20), 20% (4/20), and 10% (2/20), respectively. (2) After being soaked in compound lysostaphin disinfectant for 2 and 4 h, the longest standing time, after which the artificial dermis could form an effective inhibition zone against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus, were 24, 36, and 48 h respectively, longer than 12, 24, and 24 h of soaking for 5 min and 24, 24, and 36 h of soaking for 1 h. The sufficient soaking time of compound lysostaphin disinfectant to artificial dermis was 2 h. (3) On PID 3, no infection symptom was observed in all the wounds, and so both the new infection rate of control wounds and that of disinfectant wounds were 0. The artificial dermis was transparent but not well connected with the wound. On PID 7, the new infection rate of control wounds was 20.00% (6/30), which was obviously higher than 3.33% (1/30) of disinfectant wounds, χ(2)=4.043, P<0.05. On the infected wound, a large amount of purulent exudates were observed, and the artificial dermis was not connected with the wound and degraded partially. On the uninfected wound, artificial dermis was transparent and had a partial connection with the wound. On PID 14 and 21, no new infected wound was observed, and so both the new infection rate of control wounds and that of disinfectant wounds were 0. There was no obvious improvement on the infected wounds. The collagen layers of artificial dermis in the uninfected wound established a good connection with the wound and were separating from the silica gel layer gradually. Infection occurred in 2, 3, 1 control wound (s) in PID 7, 14, and 21 sampling groups, respectively, and in 1 disinfectant wound in PID 14 sampling group. The bacteria content of the infected wounds tissue was 0.79×10(6) to 7.22×10(9) colony-forming unit (CFU)/g. The bacteria content of uninfected control wounds tissue in PID 3, 7, and 14 sampling groups were (3.43±1.88)×10(2,) (2.37±0.43)×10(3,) and (8.40±1.03)×10(3) CFU/g, respectively, which were significantly higher than (0.33±0.12)×10(2,) (0.43±0.17)×10(3,) (2.16±0.52)×10(3) CFU/g of uninfected disinfectant wounds tissue (Z=-3.780, -3.554, -3.334, P<0.05). The bacteria content of uninfected control wounds tissue and that of uninfected disinfectant wounds tissue in PID 21 sampling group were similar (Z=-0.490, P>0.05). Conclusions: Compound lysostaphin disinfectant has quite strong antibacterial ability against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus. Clinical strains of the three kinds of bacteria were highly sensitive to compound lysostaphin disinfectant. Saturation of absorption of compound lysostaphin disinfectant achieves in artificial dermis after 2 hours' soaking. After 24, 36, and 48 hours' standing, the soaked artificial dermis still has the antibacterial effect on Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The infection rate and the bacteria content of full-thickness skin defect wound in rats are all decreased when grafted with soaked artificial dermis.

[Protein kinase B and its role in the signal transduction pathway mediated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase].

Protein kinase B (PKB) is the expression product of a proto-oncongen (c-akt), which is involved in the signaling pathways initiated by some growth factors and mediated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). PKB is a direct target of PI3K. Similar to many protein kinases, PKB has a specific AH/PH domain which can mediate the interaction between signaling molecules. The lipid second messengers, PI-3, 4-P2 and PI-3,4,5-P3 produced by PI3K, can bind to the AH/PH domain of PKB and of PDK (phosphoinositide dependent protein kinase). This binding translocates PKB and PDK to the plasma membrane, and activates them. PKB is also activated via phosphorylation by PDK and, in turn, will activate the anti-apoptotic machinery, glucose metabolism (glycogen synthesis, glycolysis and glucose uptake) and protein synthesis. All these lead to cell growth and proliferation.

Mechanisms of regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunit 2B after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

AIM: To study the mechanisms of the regulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 2B(NR2B) in the gerbil hippocampal synaptosomes following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). METHODS: Transient (15 min) cerebral ischemia was produced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion procedure. The tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B was analyzed by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot assay. RESULTS: Transient forebrain ischemia for 15 min caused a marked decrease in the levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of many protein bands including 180 kDa protein. Transient ischemia followed by reperfusion induced rapid (within 15 min of reperfusion), and sustained (for at least 48 h) increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of many protein bands including 180 kDa protein. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblot confirmed that NR2B is among the phosphorylated 180 kDa protein. Maximal phosphorylation of 180 kDa band corresponding to NR2B (1.8 fold relative to sham-operated controls) was reached at 6 h of reperfusion following 15 min of cerebral ischemia. But the level of protein expression of NR2B did not change. Administration of ketamine (KT), a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, or nifedipine (ND), an L-type voltage gated calcium channel (L-type VGCC) blocker, 20 min before ischemia attenuated stimulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B without affecting the level of protein expression of NR2B. Under these conditions, non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) had no effect on the level of tyrosine phosphorylation. Protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitor vanadate and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor genestein resulted in the increase and the decrease of the tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B, respectively. Src coprecipitated with NR2B protein. CONCLUSION: The increase of the tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B induced by I/R has relation to NR and L-type VGCC; PTK and PTP participate in the regulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B during I/R. Src that associates with NR2B may play an important role in the regulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B during I/R.

Changes and mechanisms of protein-tyrosine kinase and protein-tyrosine phosphatase activities after brain ischemia/reperfusion.

AIM: To study the changes and mechanisms of protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) and protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activities in the hippocamal synaptosome following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in gerbil. METHODS: Transient (15 min) global ischemia was produced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion. Total PTK and PTP activities were measured by [r-32P] incorporation and colorimetric analysis, respectively. Src and proline-rich tyrosine kinase2 (PYK2) activities were measured by immunoprecipitation and [r-32P] incorporation. RESULTS: Total PTK activity increased significantly after I/R, but the PTP activity did not change. The Src activity was much higher than PYK2 activity in sham-operated controls. I/R mainly caused a pronounced increase in Src activity, but not PYK2 activity. The increase in Src activity had no relation to the expression of Src protein. Administration of ketamine (KT) or nifedipine (ND) 20 min before ischemia caused a decrease in total PTK and Src activities, and no change in the PYK2 and PTP activities. CONCLUSION: The increase in PTK activity caused by I/R may be mainly due to the increase in Src activity. This increase in Src activity has no relation to the expression of Src protein. But it is related to the activation of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor (NR) and L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (L-type VGCC). In other words, the increase in total PTK and Src activities induced by I/R may be mediated via NR and L-type VGCC. The PTP activity did not change during I/R.

[The compositional analysis of phospholipids and their fatty acids in rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum].

Phospholipids were extracted from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit skeletal muscle, and separated by high performance thin layer chromatography. The mole fraction of individual phospholipids were determined by assaying phosphorus of each band. Main phospholipids were scraped and extracted, and subjected to esterification by alkaline methanol, and then the composition and content of fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography. The results show that the main phospholipid components were PC (phosphatidylcholine) and PE (phosphatidylethanolamine). They account for 66.5% and 15.5%, respectively. The main fatty acid in PC is palmitic acid and those in PE are stearic acid and arachidic acid.

[Dynamic investigation of antithrombin III in the plasma of patients with acute myocardial infarction].

Antithrombin III level in the plasma of patients with AMI was determined dynamically by using the methods of chromogenic substrate and rocket electrophoresis. Meanwhile, plasma specimens of 40 normal subjects were examined with the same method. The results showed that the AT III level in AMI patients was much lower than that in normal controls at the first and third day after infarction. The level was also significantly lower than that at the 7th, 14th and 21st day after the onset of the disease. It revealed that there was a hypercoagulative state in patients within the first three days of infarction. The AT III level in patients who died within ten days was much lower than that in the survivor group, P less than 0.01. The authors concluded that a patient may be in a severe condition when their plasma AT III levels decrease apparently and persistently.

Allowable limit of error in clinical chemistry quality control.

Taking the National Clinical Chemistry Quality Control of China National Center for Clinical Laboratory as an example, I present this study of some problems with using the allowable error limit in present-day clinical chemistry quality control, and propose a new allowable error limit for use in external quality control in clinical chemistry.

Compositional analysis of the three main gangliosides from adult human myometrium by a rapid capillary gas chromatographic method.

A new capillary GC method is described for the compositional analysis of the three main gangliosides isolated from adult human myometrium. The sample was subjected to methanolysis, acetylation and trimethylsilylation which allows all the constituents to be analyzed simultaneously. The predominant ganglioside was found to be GD3, with GM3 and GT1b the next most abundant.