ABSTRACT
Hyperlipidemia is an important lipid disorder and a risk factor for health. Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) is a novel synthetic compound which is made up of two chemical structural units from aspirin and eugenol. Therapeutic effect of AEE on hyperlipidemia has been confirmed in animal model. But the action mechanism of AEE on hyperlipidemia is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of AEE on liver and feces metabolic profile through UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based untargeted metabolomics in hyperlipidemia hamster induced with high fat diet (HFD), and the effects of AEE on the expression of genes and proteins related to cholesterol and bile acid (BA) in HFD-induced hyperlipidemia SD rat. The concentrations of 26 bile acids (BAs) in the liver from hyperlipidemia SD rat were also quantified with the application of BA targeted metabolomics. The results of untargeted metabolomics showed that the underlying mechanism of AEE on hyperlipidemia was mainly associated with amino acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, energy metabolism, BA metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. AEE induced the expression of the BA-synthetic enzymes cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) by the inhibition of BA nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in liver, which resulted in accelerating the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids and excrete in feces. The results of BA targeted metabolomics showed that AEE elevated the glycine-conjugated BA level and decreased the tauro-conjugated BA level. In conclusion, this study found that AEE decreased FXR and increased CYP7A1 in the liver, which might be the possible molecular mechanisms and targets of AEE for anti-hyperlipidemia therapies.
ABSTRACT
Although real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (RD-3DTTE) has been used in children with complex congenital heart diseases, the benefit of RD-3DTTE as a vision of the pulmonary veins still requires further evaluation. We present here, a 3-year-old girl with a stenosis of the left upper pulmonary vein (LUPV). Excellent images were obtained rapidly by RD-3DTTE that successfully visualized the narrowing at the junction of the LUPV. The result was demonstrated by MRI, cardiac catheterization, and operation. RD-3DTTE is a feasible and promising technique in evaluating pulmonary veins in children.
Subject(s)
Echocardiography/methods , Pulmonary Valve Stenosis/congenital , Pulmonary Valve Stenosis/diagnostic imaging , Pulmonary Veins/diagnostic imaging , Child, Preschool , Computer Systems , Female , HumansABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the medical community's awareness and practice regarding delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and ten predesigned questionnaires were distributed to ICU practitioners in the affiliated hospitals of Zhejiang University.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 105 valid questionnaires were collected. Totally, 55.3% of the clinicians considered that delirium was common in the ICU. Delirium was believed to be a significant or serious problem by 70.5% of respondents, and under-diagnosis was acknowledged by 56.2% of the respondents. The incidence of ICU delirium is even more under-estimated by the pediatric doctors compared with their counterparts in adult ICU (P less than 0.05). Primary disease of the brain (agreed by 82.1% of the respondents) was believed to be the most common risk factor for delirium. None of the ICU professionals screened delirium or used a specific tool for delirium assessment routinely. The vast majority (92.4%) of respondents had little knowledge on the diagnosis and the standard treatment of delirium.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Although delirium is considered as a serious problem by a majority of the surveyed ICU professionals, it is still under-recognized in routine critical care practice. Data from this survey show a disconnection between the perceived significance of delirium and the current practices of monitoring and treatment in ICU in China.</p>
