Tongue diagnostic parameters-based diagnostic signature in coronary artery disease patients with clopidogrel resistance after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Credible diagnostic stratification remains a challenge for coronary artery disease patients with clopidogrel resistance after percutaneous coronary intervention. Tongue diagnostic parameters-based diagnostic signatures might predict clopidogrel resistance. METHODS: Clinical and tongue diagnostic parameters data were obtained from coronary artery disease patients with clopidogrel resistance after percutaneous coronary intervention patients and then analyzed. Tongue diagnostic parameters-based diagnostic signatures were developed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The diagnostic prediction was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were consecutively identified. Then, tongue diagnostic parameters were identified as significantly associated with clopidogrel resistance diagnosis and were combined with risk factors to develop a model. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that tongue diagnostic parameters-based diagnostic signatures performed well in diagnosing clopidogrel resistance with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value of 0.819. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a novel tongue diagnostic parameters-based diagnostic signature to reliably distinguish clopidogrel resistance diagnosis in coronary artery disease patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Further larger, multicenter prospective studies are desired to validate this model.

Clinical value of regional lymph node sorting in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence have shown that regional lymph node metastasis is a critical prognostic factor in gastric cancer (GC). In addition, lymph node dissection is a key factor in determining the appropriate treatment for GC. However, the association between the number of positive lymph nodes and area of lymph node metastasis in GC remains unclear. AIM: To investigate the clinical value of regional lymph node sorting after radical gastrectomy for GC. METHODS: This study included 661 patients with GC who underwent radical gastrectomy at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital between January 2012 and June 2020. The patients were divided into regional sorting and non-sorting groups. Clinicopathological data were collected and retrospectively reviewed to determine the differences in the total number of lymph nodes and number of positive lymph nodes between the groups. Independent sample t-tests were used for intergroup comparisons. Continuous variables that did not conform to a normal distribution were expressed as median (interquartile range), and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for inter-group comparisons. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the surgical method, tumor site, immersion depth, and degree of differentiation. The total number of lymph nodes was significantly higher in the regional sorting group (n = 324) than in the non-sorting group (n = 337) (32.5 vs 21.2, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the number of positive lymph nodes between the two groups. A total of 212 patients with GC had lymph node metastasis in the lymph node regional sorting group, including 89 (41.98%) cases in the first dissection station and 123 (58.02 %) cases in the second dissection station. Binary and multivariate logistic regression results showed that the number of positive lymph nodes (P < 0.001) was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastases at the second dissection station. CONCLUSION: Regional sorting of lymph nodes after radical gastrectomy may increase the number of detected lymph nodes, thereby improving the reliability and accuracy of lymph node staging in clinical practice.

Guanxin V alleviates acute myocardial infarction by restraining oxidative stress damage, apoptosis, and fibrosis through the TGF-ß1 signalling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis have important roles in acute myocardial infarction, which is the main cause of global morbidity and mortality. Guanxin V significantly ameliorates acute myocardial infarction, the underlying mechanism, however, is still unclear. PURPOSE: In this study, we detected the anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrosis effects of Guanxin V on acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: We used left anterior descending coronary artery ligation to construct an acute myocardial infarction model. Cardiac function, heart weight, infarction size, and histopathology were measured. Cardiomyocytes were treated with hydrogen peroxide to build an in vitro model. Cell apoptosis, fibrosis, and reactive oxygen species-related markers were tested. We observed the mitochondrial ultrastructure through transmission electron microscopy. The levels of collagens and TGF-ß1 signalling were measured. The lentiviral vector containing the full-length TGF-ß1 sequence was administered to investigate the rescue role of Guanxin V. RESULTS: Guanxin V significantly decreased apoptosis and inhibited oxidative stress damage and fibrosis in acute myocardial infarction. Hydrogen peroxide could stimulate cardiomyocytes to produce reactive oxygen species and Guanxin V could significantly reverse hydrogen peroxide-induced cell damage, inhibit oxidative stress damage, apoptosis, and fibrosis, and enhance mitochondrial dynamic balance. Mechanistically, Guanxin V attenuated oxidative stress damage, apoptosis, and fibrosis induced by the TGF-ß1 signalling pathway activation. CONCLUSIONS: Guanxin V effectively relieved apoptosis, oxidative stress damage, and fibrosis through down-regulating the TGF-ß1 signalling pathway, which enhances the knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanism of Guanxin V in treating acute myocardial infarction.