Prediction of an impaired myocardial work using infarct size in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between myocardial infarct size (MIS) on late gadolinium-enhanced cardiac MRI (LGE MRI) and myocardial work (MW) indices assessed with MW echocardiography (MWE) has not been well characterized. This study aimed to determine an impaired MW using MIS in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Left ventricular (LV) two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography, MWE, and LGE MRI were performed in 33 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and in 30 age- and sex-comparable controls. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE) and MIS were acquired, respectively. RESULTS: MIS was negatively correlated with GWI (r = -0.60, P  = 0.005), GCW (r =- 0.66, P  = 0.002) and GWE (r = -0.71, P  = 0.0004), but positively correlated with GLS (r = 0.68, P  = 0.001). With the receiver operating characteristic curve, the cutoff value of MIS for the prediction of an impaired GLS was 16.5% [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.867)], an impaired GWI was 19.2% (AUC = 0.727), an impaired GCW was 19.2% (AUC = 0.725), an increased GWW was 15.8% (AUC = 0.656), an impaired GWE was 15.8% (AUC = 0.880). CONCLUSION: MIS is a strong predictor of impaired MW. Timely reduction of infarct size is essential to improve myocardial function.

[Construction of a core outcome set in clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of adhesive capsulitis].

This study aims to construct the core outcome set for the clinical trials of adhesive capsulitis treated with acupuncture and moxibustion. Using systematic review, semi-structured interview, Delphi questionnaire survey, analytic hierarchy process and expert consensus meeting, the primary outcomes are obtained, i.e. local tenderness, pain degree during movement, range of motion, changes in range of motion, function score, and score of local symptoms of shoulder joint. The secondary outcomes are myofascial thickness, thickness of the inferior wall of the joint capsule, health status, activity of daily living, incidence of adverse events, laboratory indexes, vital signs, cost-effectiveness, total effective rate, and patient satisfaction. It is expected to provide a reference for the outcome selection in clinical trials and the generation of medical evidences in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis with acupuncture and moxibustion.

Moxibustion for COVID-19: a systematic scoping review.

Moxibustion has been widely used in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. However, there is no systematic review of current topics and clinical findings on moxibustion for COVID-19. We conducted this scoping review to systematically summarize and analyze the themes and findings of published articles, and to provide an overview of current knowledge and practice of moxibustion for COVID-19. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed, Wan Fang Data, and VIP databases were searched from inception until April 2022. The relevant data were presented through bar graphs, structured tables, and figures along with descriptive statistics and analysis. This scoping review was conducted based on the PRISMA-ScR Checklist. Results: A total of 76 articles were reviewed: 47 reviews, 19 clinical research studies, seven systematic reviews (all were protocols), and three guidelines. All the studies were conducted by Chinese researchers and published from January 1, 2020 to March 14, 2022. The feasibility of moxibustion in the prevention and treatment of mild or moderate COVID-19 is based on the consensus of therapeutic mechanisms and effectiveness. The most adopted approach was the suspended and gentle moxibustion, and the most frequently applied or recommended acupoints were found to be ST36, CV8, CV6, CV4, CV12, GV14, BL13, LI4, ST25, and LR3. Conclusions: As a convenient and safe traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy with its specific feature, moxibustion has been significantly effective at ameliorating mild or moderate symptoms among COVID-19 patients. Further large-scale, well-designed research and international cooperation are still warranted in clinical evaluations of moxibustion. Graphical abstract: http://links.lww.com/AHM/A35.

Efficacy evaluation and mechanism study of electroacupuncture intervention in acute phase of IFP: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies had already reported the efficacy of electroacupuncture treatment for idiopathic facial nerve palsy (IFP) in a recovery phase; however, the initial use of electroacupuncture in the acute phase remains controversial. Hence, in the present study, we will add electroacupuncture intervention based on oral prednisone tablets in the acute phase of IFP and compare the clinical effects with simple oral prednisone tablets. Besides, the prognosis and safety will be evaluated. The present study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy, prognosis, and safety of electroacupuncture combined with oral prednisone tablets in the acute phase of IFP, using surface electromyography (sEMG) to objectively observe the recovery of facial expression muscle function. In addition, the morphological changes of the facial nerve were observed dynamically by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the acute phase to reveal the effect mechanism of this therapy. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials will be conducted in the first teaching hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China from September 2020 to April 2021. The treatment will be carried out in two phases, including the acute phase and the recovery phase. Eighty IFP patients will be recruited and randomized into two groups with a 1:1 ratio. Subjects in the acute phases of the control group will be given oral prednisone tablets, based on the control group, and subjects of the experimental group will be given electroacupuncture therapy simultaneously in the acute phase. Both groups will be stopped taking prednisone tablets and turn to electroacupuncture therapy in a recovery phase. Patients in the experimental group will receive treatment at least 6 times in the acute phase and both groups will receive treatment 9 times in the recovery phase, and there will be a follow-up period of 15 days after the treatment. The primary outcome is supposed to be related to the changes observed in the Sunnybrook (Toronto) Facial Grading System (SFGS) on the baseline and day 30 after the onset. Secondary outcome measures will include House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System (H-B), measurement of Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Facial Disability Index scale (FDI, including physical function subscore, FDIP, and social functioning and well-being subscore, FDIS), surface electromyogram (sEMG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Adverse events will be recorded for safety assessment. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will allow the present study to compare the difference in efficacy and prognosis between the strategy of combined electroacupuncture in the acute phase and only oral prednisone tablets. The findings from this trial will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CHICTR ChiCTR2000038472 . Registered on 23 September 2020.

Xenopus laevis tadpoles exposed to metamifop: Changes in growth, behavioral endpoints, neurotransmitters, antioxidant system and thyroid development.

Pesticides are a major cause of the reduction in the global amphibian population. In this study, the acute toxicity and chronic effects of metamifop on Xenopus laevis (X. laevis) tadpoles were investigated. The 96 h-LC50 value of metamifop on X. laevis tadpoles was 0.634 mg/L, which indicated that metamifop was highly toxic to tadpoles. In the chronic toxicity study, tadpoles were exposed to 0.063 mg/L of metamifop. After 14, 21 and 35 d of exposure, metamifop significantly inhibited the body weight and neurotransmitter synthesis of tadpoles, caused abnormal behavior and interfered with fat metabolism. According to the results of antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA), tadpoles exposed to 0.063 mg/L metamifop suffered severe lipid oxidative damage. Compared with the control group, the thyroid hormone (TH) levels and related gene expression in tadpoles in the treatment group were affected, reflecting the endocrine interference effect of metamifop. The data of this study can enrich our knowledge of the effects of aryloxyphenoxy propionate pesticides on amphibians and highlight the role of metamifop and other pesticides play in global decline of amphibians.

Stuck-moving needle acupuncture myofascial trigger point to treat idiopathic frozen shoulder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for chronic shoulder pain, however, it remains unclear the best acupuncture modes for effective treatment. We compared the effect of the myofascial trigger point (MTrp) stuck-moving needle acupuncture with that of common acupuncture treatments. Further, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of stuck-moving needle acupuncture for the MTrp in improving pain and range of motions in patients with idiopathic frozen shoulder. The aim of present study is to select an effective therapy for patients with idiopathic frozen shoulder. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial will be conducted in the three clinical centers of Qingyang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Qingyang Xifeng district People's Hospital, and Qingyang Second People's Hospital in China from February 2020 to January 2021. One hundred and eight frozen shoulder patients will be recruited and randomized into one of three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio of the stuck-moving needle acupuncture group, common acupuncture control group, and physical exercise control group. This trial will include a 1-week baseline period, a 3-week treatment period, and a 12-week follow-up period. During the 3 weeks of the treatment period, patients will receive nine sessions of acupuncture. The primary outcome will be related to change in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and measurement of range of joint motion (ROM) from the baseline period to the 12-week follow-up period. Secondary outcome measures will include measurement of pressure pain threshold (PPT), pressure pain tolerance (PTT), Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), 36-item short form survey, and patient satisfaction evaluation. Adverse events also will be recorded for safety assessment. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will allow us to compare the difference in efficacy between stuck-moving needle acupuncture MTrP with that of common acupuncture treatments. The findings from this trial will be published in the peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Acupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Trial Registry (ChiMCTR1900002862) and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900028452). Registered on 22 December 2019. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=47354.

Thermal effects on tissue distribution, liver biotransformation, metabolism and toxic responses in Mongolia racerunner (Eremias argus) after oral administration of beta-cyfluthrin.

Effects of temperature on metabolism/biotransformation and toxicokinetics to lizards are significant, but frequently ignored in toxicology studies. Beta-cyfluthrin (BC) is a pyrethroid insecticide and has been widely used globally. The study aimed to understand the diverse adverse effects of BC to the lizard (Eremias argus) at different temperature regimes. We carried out a single oral BC treatment (20 mg/kg bw) for toxicokinetic study and a 7-day BC (10 mg/kg bw) gavage to look at toxicology by monitoring changes in the biomarkers HSP70, SOD, MDA, CarE, UDPGT, GST, cyp genes, and other metabolic responses. Results showed that BC was lethal to lizards, showing oxidative damages in the liver at ambient temperature (25 °C). Heat stress (35 °C) could exacerbate the oxidative damage (MDA increased) caused by BC, due to the disorder of the antioxidant defense system. The result of tissue distribution and toxicokinetic study also showed that temperature affected the BC biotransformation in lizards. The biotransformation of BC maybe relates to the activation of CarE and UDGPT by heat stress. However, the cyp system and GST didn't increase under BC or/and heat treatments. 1H-NMR metabolomics analysis showed that BC or/and heat stress interfered with energy and amino acid metabolism of the liver. Unlike acute lethal toxicity, the occurrence of the BC and heat stresses has detrimental effects on lizard individuals and populations on sub-lethal levels. Our results indicate that pollution and global warming (or some other extremely weather) may generate significant and harmful effects on lizards.

Bioaccumulation, behavior changes and physiological disruptions with gender-dependent in lizards (Eremias argus) after exposure to glufosinate-ammonium and l-glufosinate-ammonium.

Reptiles, the most diverse taxon of terrestrial vertebrates, might be particularly vulnerable to soil pollution. Reptiles especially lizards have been rarely evaluated in ecotoxicological studies, and there is a very limited report for effects of soil pesticide contaminants on lizards. In this study, male and female lizards (Eremias argus) were exposed to Glufosinate-ammonium (GLA) and l- Glufosinate-ammonium (L-GLA) for 60 days. Slower sprint speed, higher frequency of turning back and reduced brain index were observed in treatment groups. The accumulation of GLA in the brain of lizard was higher than that of L-GLA. Moreover, the activities of neurotoxicity-related enzymes and biomarkers of oxidative stress were also investigated. In summary, the neurotoxic effects of lizards have been observed after exposure to GLA and L-GLA. Based on the result of the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR), males were more sensitive to contaminants than females. On the other hand, the neurotoxic pathways by GLA and L-GLA triggered were slightly different: GLA mainly acted on glutamine synthetase (GS), acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and Catalase (CAT) and L-GLA aimed at AchE, Na+/K+-ATPase, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Malondialdehyde (MDA). In summary, the accumulation of GLA and L-GLA in lizard's brain induced neurotoxicity by altering the levels of enzymes related to nervous system and antioxidant activity and further resulted in the decrease of brain index and locomotor performance.

Stereoselective toxicity of metconazole to the antioxidant defenses and the photosynthesis system of Chlorella pyrenoidosa.

Metconazole (MEZ) is a broad-spectrum fungicide with four optical stereoisomers. Compared to traditional fungicides, it achieves better control effect at lower dosages. However, its toxicity to non-target organisms has rarely been investigated. This study investigated the stereoselective toxicity of metconazole to Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa). The results indicate that the presence of the racemate and four stereoisomers of MEZ caused a sudden increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This in turn stimulated antioxidant defense, impaired photosynthesis and responses of subcellular structure, and eventually inhibited cell growth. The 96 h-EC50 of the racemate, cis-1R,5S-MEZ, cis-1S,5R-MEZ, trans-1S,5S-MEZ, and trans-1R,5R-MEZ were 0.058, 0.182, 0.129, 0.032, and 0.038 mg/L, respectively. Furtheromre, the generation of ROS, antioxidant response, and the loss of photosynthetic function in C. pyrenoidosa were all preferentially trans-1S,5S-MEZ induced. These results aid the understanding of the stereoselective effects of chiral pesticides on C. pyrenoidosa. Such stereoselective differences must be considered when assessing the risk of metconazole to environment.

Amphibian (Rana nigromaculata)exposed to cyproconazole: Changes in growth index, behavioral endpoints, antioxidant biomarkers, thyroid and gonad development.

Pesticides are a major cause of reduction in the global population of amphibians. This study investigates the effect of varying concentrations of cyproconazole (1 and 10 mg/L) on Rana nigromaculata during a chronic 90 days exposure period. High levels of cyproconazole (10 mg/L) induced declined body weight, short snout-vent length, slow metamorphic development and abnormal behavioral endpoints in R. nigromaculata tadpoles. Tadpoles exposed to 10 mg/L did not survive beyond 42 days. Abnormal behaviors were observed more frequently with exposure to the highest concentration of cyproconazole. Compared with controls, the concentrations of dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) were significantly increased in tadpoles exposed to 1 mg/L cyproconazole. However, when the concentration of cyproconazole increased to 10 mg/L, concentrations of SOD, GSH and CAT activity began to decline. In addition, thyroid and gonad development were also affected at the gene and hormone level, with varied effects observed with different exposure levels and days. Exposure to cyproconazole at the lower level of 1 mg/L induced damage to histological structures of the thyroid gland. Stereoselective tissue distribution and bioaccumulation of cyproconazole was observed in tadpoles. The ranked order of bioaccumulation was: enantiomer -4 > 3> 2 > 1, with the level of cyproconazole highest in the gut. These findings reflect the toxicity of cyproconazole to R. nigromaculata and further our understanding of the effects of pesticide exposure on global amphibian population declines.

Enantioselective toxic effects of cyproconazole enantiomers against Rana nigromaculata.

The environmental contaminant, especially pesticides, threatened the amphibian population. In this assay, the enantioselective behavior of cyproconazole on Rana nigromaculata was studied. We found LC50 (lethal concentration causing 50% mortality) of 4-enantiomers was nearly twice as 3-enantiomers in 96 h acute toxicity test. Besides, the significant considerable variation of oxidative stress and LDH (lactic dehydrogenase) induced by the four enantiomers indicated that cyproconazole could enantioselectively affect enzymes in tadpoles. Bioaccumulation experiments showed the order of cyproconazole in the tadpoles was 4-enantiomers>3- enantiomers>2- enantiomers>1- enantiomers during the exposure for 28d. In tissue distribution test, cyproconazole was formed and accumulated in order of 4-enantiomers>2-enantiomers>3- enantiomers>1- enantiomers, except that in the gut. During the elimination experiment, cyproconazole was rapidly eliminated by 95% within the only 24 h. These results suggested that the influence of enantioselective behavior should consider when assessing ecological risk of chiral pesticides to amphibians.

Synthesis, fungicidal evaluation and 3D-QSAR studies of novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole xylofuranose derivatives.

1,3,4-Thiadiazole and sugar-derived molecules have proven to be promising agrochemicals with growth promoting, insecticidal and fungicidal activities. In the research field of agricultural fungicide, applying union of active group we synthesized a new set of 1,3,4-thiadiazole xylofuranose derivatives and all of the compounds were characterized by 1H NMR and HRMS. In precise toxicity measurement, some of compounds exhibited more potent fungicidal activities than the most widely used commercial fungicide Chlorothalonil, promoting further research and development. Based on our experimental data, 3D-QSAR (three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship) was established and investigated using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) techniques, helping to better understand the structural requirements of lead compounds with high fungicidal activity and environmental compatibility.

G-quadruplex-based ultrasensitive and selective detection of histidine and cysteine.

Histidine and cysteine detection is critically important since an abnormal level of histidine or cysteine is an indicator for many diseases. In this paper, we demonstrated a novel label-free, G-quadruplex-based approach for simultaneous detection of histidine and cysteine. The present assay is based on the highly specific interaction among amino acids (histidine or cysteine), Cu(2+) and NMM/G-4 (NMM: N-methylmesoporphyrin IX; G-4: G-quadruplex). The fluorescence intensity of NMM was dramatically enhanced in the presence of G-quadruplex formed from 24GT, which can be effectively quenched by cupric ion (Cu(2+)) due to the chelation of Cu(2+) by NMM as well as the unfolding of G-quadruplex by Cu(2+). The presence of histidine or cysteine will disturb the interaction between Cu(2+) and NMM/G-4 because of the strong binding affinity of Cu(2+) to the imidazole group of histidine or the interaction of Cu(2+) with thiol group in cysteine, leading to distinct fluorescence emission intensity. High selectivity is conferred by the use of cysteine-masking agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), which helps to discriminate histidine from cysteine. At last, a novel and simple approach was developed to determine each precise concentration of histidine and cysteine according to the different response of the system with and without NEM. Importantly, histidine can be also detected even in the presence of a large amount of other amino acids. A detection limit as low as 3 nM for histidine and 5 nM for cysteine was obtained by practical measurement rather than conventional calculation (S/N=3), confirming the high sensitivity of the present approach. Meanwhile, this sensing protocol can determine histidine and cysteine in diluted biological samples such as urine, exhibiting great potential to meet the need of practical application.

Highly sensitive and selective detection of cancer cell with a label-free electrochemical cytosensor.

Electrochemical methods have attracted considerable attention for developing cytosensing system since they can decrease the cost and time requirement for cell detection with simple instrumentation. Herein, a label-free electrochemical cytosensor with surface-confined ferrocene as signal indicator was developed for highly sensitive and selective detection of cancer cell. With layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique, positively charged poly(ethylene imine) functionalized with ferrocene (Fc-PEI) and negatively charged single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were alternately assembled on 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) modified gold substrate. Folic acid (FA) was covalently bonded onto SWNTs surface to specifically recognize cancer cells according to the high affinity of FA for folate receptor (FR) on cellular surface. The developed cytosensor presented high sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell. By using fast-response differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) method, a wide detection range from 10 to 10(6) cells/mL with a detection limit as low as 10 cells/mL was reached even in the presence of a large amount of non-cancerous cells.

Electrochemical current rectifier as a highly sensitive and selective cytosensor for cancer cell detection.

Signal amplification originating from electrochemical current rectifier (ECR) was firstly applied to construct a cytosensor for rapid and non-invasive detection of folate receptor-rich cancer cells with high sensitivity. It exhibits a broad linear range with a detection limit as low as 10 cells mL(-1) even in the presence of a large number of normal cells.

An aptamer-based keypad lock system.

An aptamer-based security system mimicking keypad lock function was successfully designed. The system was turned "ON" with a strong fluorescent output signal only when the inputs were added according to the correct combination and exact sequence. Otherwise, the system was kept "OFF" to prevent illegal access.

Redox mediated electron transfer behaviors at azobenzene functionalized electrode.

Three kinds of redox-mediated behavior were realized at an azobenzene-functionalized electrode, which has great potential for application in the field of molecular devices. According to these results, the functionalized electrode could act as either a cathodic molecular rectifier or anodic molecular rectifier.