Age affects vascular morphology and predictiveness of anatomical landmarks for aortic zones in trauma patients: implications for resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta.

PURPOSE: Understanding the vascular morphology is fundamental for resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aging on length and diameter of aorta and iliac arteries in trauma patients, and to investigate the predictiveness of anatomical landmarks for aortic zones. METHODS: A total of 235 patients in a regional trauma center registry from September 1, 2018, to January 3, 2024, participated in the study. Reconstruction of computed tomography was applied to the torso area. The marginal diameter and length of aorta and iliac arteries were measured. Anatomical landmark distances and aortic marginal lengths were compared. RESULTS: The length and diameter of aorta and iliac arteries increased with age, and a tortuous and enlarged morphology was observed in older patients. There was a good regression between age and diameter of the aorta. Neither the jugular notch, the xiphisternal joint, nor the umbilicus could reliably represent specific margins of aortic zones. The distance between the mid-sternum and femoral artery (427 ± 25 to 442 ± 25 mm for right, and 425 ± 28 to 440 ± 26 mm for left) was predictive for zone 1 in all groups. The distance between the lower one-third junction of the xiphisternum to the umbilicus and femoral artery (232 ± 19 to 240 ± 17 mm for right, and 229 ± 20 to 237 ± 19 mm for left) was predictive for zone 3 aorta. CONCLUSION: Aging increases the length and diameter of aorta and iliac arteries, with a tortuous and enlarged morphology in geriatric populations. The mid-sternum and the lower one-third junction of the xiphisternum to the umbilicus were predictive landmarks for zone 1 and zone 3, respectively.

Thawing Rate Predicts Acute Pulmonary Vein Isolation after Second-Generation Cryoballoon Ablation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether thawing rate could be a novel predictor of acute pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and explore the predictive value of thawing rate as a factor ensuring long-term PVI (vagus reflex). METHODS: A total of 151 patients who underwent cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) were enrolled in this retrospective study between January 2017 and June 2018. The thawing rate was calculated using the thawing phase of the cryoablation curve. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of the thawing rate for acute PVI and vagus reflex. RESULTS: ROC curve analyses revealed that the interval thawing rate at 15°C (ITR15) was the most valuable predictor of PVI, with the highest area under curve (AUC) value of the ROC curve. The best cut-off value of ITR15 for PVI was ≤2.14°C/S and its sensitivity and specificity were 88.62% and 67.18%, respectively. In addition, the ITR15 of the successful PVI group after cryoballoon ablation was significantly slower than the failed PVI group. ITR15 was a predictor of vagus reflex and the occurrence of vagus reflex group had a slower ITR15 compared to the non-occurrence group. CONCLUSIONS: Thawing rate was a novel predictor of acute PVI and the ITR15 was the most valuable predictor of acute PVI. In addition, ITR15 was a predictive factor ensuring long-term PVI (vagus reflex). Our study showed that thawing rate may serve in the early identification of useless cryoballoon ablation.

Thawing rate predicts acute pulmonary vein isolation after second-generation cryoballoon ablation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether thawing rate could be a novel predictor of acute pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and explore the predictive value of thawing rate as a factor ensuring long-term PVI (vagus reflex). METHODS: A total of 151 patients who underwent cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) were enrolled in this retrospective study between January 2017 and June 2018. The thawing rate was calculated using the thawing phase of the cryoablation curve. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of the thawing rate for acute PVI and vagus reflex. RESULTS: ROC curve analyses revealed that the interval thawing rate at 15°C (ITR15) was the most valuable predictor of PVI, with the highest area under curve (AUC) value of the ROC curve. The best cut-off value of ITR15 for PVI was ≤2.14°C/S and its sensitivity and specificity were 88.62% and 67.18%, respectively. In addition, the ITR15 of the successful PVI group after cryoballoon ablation was significantly slower than the failed PVI group. ITR15 was a predictor of vagus reflex and the occurrence of vagus reflex group had a slower ITR15 compared to the non-occurrence group. CONCLUSIONS: Thawing rate was a novel predictor of acute PVI and the ITR15 was the most valuable predictor of acute PVI. In addition, ITR15 was a predictive factor ensuring long-term PVI (vagus reflex). Our study showed that thawing rate may serve in the early identification of useless cryoballoon ablation.

Anti-CSC effects in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and Eca109/9706 cells induced by nanoliposomal quercetin alone or combined with CD 133 antiserum.

CD133 was recently reported to be a cancer stem cell and prognostic marker. Quercetin is considered as a potential chemopreventive agent due to its involvement in suppression of oxidative stress, proliferation and metastasis. In this study, the expression of CD133/CD44 in esophageal carcinomas and Eca109/9706 cells was explored. In immunoflurorescence the locations of CD133+ and multidrug resistance 1 (MDR 1)+ in the same E-cancer cells were coincident, mainly in cytomembranes. In esophageal squamous cell carcinomas detected by double/single immunocytochemistry, small CD133+ cells were located in the basal layer of stratified squamous epithelium, determined as CSLC (cancer stem like cells); CD44+ surrounding the cells appeared in diffuse pattern, and the larger CD44+ (hi) cells were mainly located in the prickle cell layer of the epithelium, as progenitor cells. In E-cancer cells exposed to nanoliposomal quercetin (nLQ with cytomembrane permeability), down-regulation of NF-κBp65, histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and cyclin D1 and up-regulation of caspase-3 were shown by immunoblotting, and attenuated HDAC1 with nuclear translocation and promoted E-cadherin expression were demonstrated by immunocytochemistry. In particular, enhanced E-cadherin expression reflected the reversed epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) capacity of nLQ, acting as cancer attenuator/preventive agent. nLQ acting as an HDAC inhibitor induced apoptotic cells detected by TUNEL assay mediated via HDAC-NF-κB signaling. Apoptotic effects of liposomal quercetin (LQ, with cytomembrane-philia) combined with CD133 antiserum were also detected by CD133 immunocytochemistry combined with TUNEL assay. The combination could induce greater apoptotic effects than nLQ induced alone, suggesting a novel anti-CSC treatment strategy.

Aberrant epigenetic alteration in Eca9706 cells modulated by nanoliposomal quercetin combined with butyrate mediated via epigenetic-NF-κB signaling.

Since the epigenetic alteration in tumor cells can be reversed by the dietary polyphenol quercetin (Q) or butyrate (B) with chemopreventive activity, suggesting that Q or B can be used for chemopreventive as well as therapeutic agent against tumors. In this study the polyphenol flavonoid quercetin (Q) or sodium butyrate (B) suppressed human esophageal 9706 cancer cell growth in dose dependent manner, and Q combined with B (Q+B) could further inhibit Eca9706 cell proliferation than that induced by Q or B alone, compared with untreated control group (C) in MTT assay. The reverse expressions of global DNMT1, NF-κBp65, HDAC1 and Cyclin D1 were down-regulated, while expressions of caspase-3 and p16INK4α were up-regulated, compared with the C group in immunoblotting; the down-regulated HDAC1-IR (-immunoreactivity) with nuclear translocation, and up-regulated E-cadherin-IR demonstrated in immunocytochemistry treated by Q or B, and Q+B also displayed further negatively and positively modulated effects compared with C group. The order of methylation specific (MS) PCR of p16INK4α: C>B/Q>Q+B group, while the order of E-cadherin expression level was contrary, Q+B>Q/B>C group. Thus, Q/B, especially Q+B display reverse effect targeting both altered DNA methylation and histone acetylation, acting as histone deacetylase inhibitor mediated via epigenetic-NF-κB cascade signaling.

Biobutanol production in a Clostridium acetobutylicum biofilm reactor integrated with simultaneous product recovery by adsorption.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium acetobutylicum can propagate on fibrous matrices and form biofilms that have improved butanol tolerance and a high fermentation rate and can be repeatedly used. Previously, a novel macroporous resin, KA-I, was synthesized in our laboratory and was demonstrated to be a good adsorbent with high selectivity and capacity for butanol recovery from a model solution. Based on these results, we aimed to develop a process integrating a biofilm reactor with simultaneous product recovery using the KA-I resin to maximize the production efficiency of biobutanol. RESULTS: KA-I showed great affinity for butanol and butyrate and could selectively enhance acetoin production at the expense of acetone during the fermentation. The biofilm reactor exhibited high productivity with considerably low broth turbidity during repeated batch fermentations. By maintaining the butanol level above 6.5 g/L in the biofilm reactor, butyrate adsorption by the KA-I resin was effectively reduced. Co-adsorption of acetone by the resin improved the fermentation performance. By redox modulation with methyl viologen (MV), the butanol-acetone ratio and the total product yield increased. An equivalent solvent titer of 96.5 to 130.7 g/L was achieved with a productivity of 1.0 to 1.5 g · L-1 · h-1. The solvent concentration and productivity increased by 4 to 6-fold and 3 to 5-fold, respectively, compared to traditional batch fermentation using planktonic culture. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the conventional process, the integrated process dramatically improved the productivity and reduced the energy consumption as well as water usage in biobutanol production. While genetic engineering focuses on strain improvement to enhance butanol production, process development can fully exploit the productivity of a strain and maximize the production efficiency.

[Explore the genotype characteristics of DNA repair enzyme XRCC1 and XPD in the lens epithelium associated with free radical level in the age-related cataract patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genotype characteristics of DNA repair enzyme XPD-751 and XRCC1-399 in the lens epithelium of cataract patients, and difference in free radical level. METHODS: The genome DNA was extracted from respective lens epithelium of 30 cataract patients, their peripheral blood and 12 normal control's peripheral blood by using a Genomic DNA kit, and the polymorphisms of DNA repair enzymes XPD-751 and XRCC1-399 were examined by PCR-RFLP technique. Meanwhile, that of the cultured normal human lens epithelial SRA01/04 cells was carried out same way as reference control. Besides, the free radical level was detected by related kit. RESULTS: The XRCC1-Gln399Gln or XPD-Lys751Lys genotype was found in the normal control group and cultured human SRA01/04 cells, while the polymorphism of XPD-Lys751Gln could be found in both lens epithelium and blood cells of the cataract patient group. However, there was no difference in XRCC1-399 phenotype between the patient and the normal control groups. There is difference in free radical level between the cataract (0.204 ± 0.07; 0.188 ± 0.07) and healthy subjects (t = 211.20, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The polymorphism of XPD-Lys751Gln can be found in the lens epithelium of cataract patient group, suggesting that there may be association among the XPD-751 polymorphism with higher free radical level in the age-related cataract disease.

[Screening effective sequences of small interfering RNAs targeting MDR1 gene in human gastric cancer SGC7901/VCR cells].

OBJECTIVE: To screen effective sequences of small interfering RNA targeting MDR1 gene in human gastric cancer SGC7901/VCR cells. METHODS: Four siRNAs (MDR1si326, MDR1si1513, MDR1si2631 and MDR1si3071) targeting MDR1 gene were designed and synthesized by in vitro transcription. The siRNA duplexes were used to transfect into the human gastric cancer SGC7901/VCR cells. The expression level of MDR1 mRNA and P-gp were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The accumulation of intracellular adriamycin (ADR) was examined by flow cytometry and the cell sensitivity to ADR was demonstrated by MTT. RESULTS: The SGC7901/VCR cells treated with 4 siRNAs led to reversal effect on multidrug resistance to different extents. Among the SGC7901/VCR cells treated by siRNAs for 48 h, the expression level of MDR1 mRNA in cells of MDR1si326 or MDR1si2631 group (0.42 +/- 0.07 or 0.49 +/- 0.02) was more decreased than that in cells of MDR1si1513 or MDR1si3071 group (P < 0.05). The accumulation of ADR in cells of MDR1si326 group was the most; in cells of MDR1si2631 group, more; in cells of MDR1si3071 group, lower and in cells of MDR1si1513 group, the lowest (P < 0.05). The relative reversal efficiency of cells of MDR1si2631 group to ADR was the highest and in cells of MDR1si326 group, higher (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the relative reversal efficiency between the cells of MDR1si1513 and MDR1si3071 groups (P > 0.05). The expression level of P-gp in cells of MDR1si326 group was the lowest among the SGC7901/VCR cells treated by siRNAs for 72 h. CONCLUSION: The MDR1si326 with most, MDR1si2631 with more, MDR1si3071 with less and MDR1si1513 with least reversal effects on MDR1 gene mediated multidrug resistance were found in the human gastric cancer SGC7901/VCR cells.

Dual effects of 8-Br-cAMP on differentiation and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer cell line Eca-109.

AIM: To investigate the effects of 8-Br-cAMP on differentiation and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer cell line Eca-109, and the related gene expression. METHODS: The cultured Eca-109 cells were divided into four groups: E1 group (co-cultured with 8-Br-cAMP for 24 h); E2 group (co-cultured with 8-Br-cAMP for 48 h); C1 group (treated without 8-Br-cAMP for 24 h); and C2 group (treated without 8-Br-cAMP for 48 h). The same concentration of cell suspension of each group was dropped separately onto the slides and nitrocellulose membranes (NCM). The biotin-labeled cDNA probes for c-myc, wild-type (wt) p53, bcl-2 and iNOS were prepared for in situ hybridization. The expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), p38 kinase, FAS, FasL and caspase-3 were detected using immunocytochemistry, and the NOS activity and the ratio of differentiated cells/proliferating cells were examined by cytochemistry. Immunocytochemistry, cytochemistry, and in situ hybridization were separately carried out on both slides and NCM specimens for each group. In addition, TUNEL was used to detect the cell apoptosis rate in each group. RESULTS: The apoptotic rate of E2 group was significantly higher compared to E1 group, while there was no difference in the ratio of differentiated cells/proliferating cells between E1 and E2 groups. The signals of wt p53 and iNOS were markedly stronger, while the signals of c-myc and EGFR were obviously weaker in E1 group than those in C1 group (P<0.05). Moreover, the signals of wt p53, iNOS, p38 kinase, caspase-3 and NOS activity were significantly stronger, whereas, the signals of bcl-2, c-myc and Fas/FasL were markedly weaker in E2 group than those in C2 group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The differentiation and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer cell Eca-109 can be induced after 24- and 48-h treatment with 8-Br-cAMP, respectively. Upregulation of wt p53, iNOS and downregulation of c-myc may be associated with differentiation and apoptosis of Eca-109 cells. Furthermore, upregulation of FasL, p38 kinase and caspase-3 as well as downregulation of bcl-2, and Fas may be involved in the apoptosis of Eca-109 cells.