Sb3+-Doped Indium-Based Metal Halide (Gua)3InCl6 with Efficient Yellow Emission.

In recent years, low-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid metal halides (OIHMHs) have shown excellent photophysical properties due to their quantum structure, adjustable energy levels, and energy transfer between inorganic and organic components, which have attracted extensive attention from researchers. Herein, we synthesize a zero-dimensional (0D) OIHMH, Sb3+:(Gua)3InCl6, by introducing Sb3+ into (Gua)3InCl6, which undergoes a significant enhancement of the emission peak at 580 nm with the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) boosted from 17.86 to 95.72% when excited at 340 nm. This boost in photoluminescence of the doped sample was studied by combining ultrafast femtosecond transient absorption, temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and density functional theory (DFT) calculation, revealing the process of self-trapped exciton (STE) recombination to emit light at both Sb and In sites in this 0D structure simultaneously. This material with the lowest dark STE level at the In site for emission in the undoped sample can amazingly yield very strong emission in the doped sample, which has never been observed before. Finally, we tested its application in a photoelectric device. This work not only helps to gain a deeper understanding of the formation of STEs in In-based halides but also plays a certain guiding role in the design of new luminescent materials.

Application of robot navigation system for insertion of femoral neck system in the treatment of femoral neck fracture.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy and advantages of surgery robot positioning system for insertion of Femoral Neck System (FNS) in the treatment of femoral neck fractures. METHODS: The clinical data of 52 patients with Femoral neck fracture (FNF) who had been treated with FNS between June 2020 and September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 26 patients were treated with traditional FNS (control group), while 26 additional patients were treated with FNS assisted by an orthopaedic robot positioning system (study group). The operation duration, frequency of key-guide needle placement, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, fracture healing rate, fracture healing time, and the Harris scores at the last follow-up were calculated and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The study group had shorter operation duration, fewer numbers of placing the key-guide needle, less intraoperative blood loss, and smaller surgical incisions than the control group (all, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of fracture healing rate between the 2 groups (P = 0.47), while the fracture healing duration of the study group was shorter than that of the control group (P = 0.03). At the last follow-up, compared with the control group, the Harris score and the number of excellent and good ratings were significantly higher in the study group (all, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using orthopaedic surgery robot positioning system-assisted FNS in the treatment of FNFs can effectively improve the efficiency of surgery, shorten operation time, and reduce the number of placing the key-guide needle, intraoperative blood loss, and operative trauma. Simultaneously, it shortens the duration of fracture healing and improves the recovery of hip function.

Nickel(II)-Doped Lead-Free Halide Crystals Exhibiting Highly Efficient Tunable Blue-Emitting out of Antiferromagnetic Ni-Ni Coupling.

Metal halide crystals are widely used in optoelectronic fields due to their excellent optical properties. The hunt for a lead-free halide semiconductor with superior optical performance is a particularly fascinating topic in order to avoid the toxicity of lead. Here, we incorporate Ni2+ into a series of halide nanocrystals (NCs) through solution-phase synthesis. By modifying the A-site and varying the halide compositions, we successfully achieved significant tunability of the blue emission of the Ni2+-doped AX (A = K+, Rb+, NH2CH = NH2+ (FA), CH3NH3+ (MA); X = Br, I) NCs, ranging from 375 to 490 nm, due to the antiferromagnetic polaron (AMP), which is in contrast with the excitonic magnetic polarons (EMP) from those with ferromagnetic (FM) coupling between transition metal ions in similar compounds. This work shows that Ni2+-doped halide crystals could become a typical example providing AMP excitation as the optional emission centers for use in light emitting devices.

Taxifolin Inhibits the Growth of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer via Downregulating Genes Displaying Novel and Robust Associations with Immune Evasion Factors.

Using an LL2 cell-based syngeneic mouse LC model, taxifolin suppressed allografts along with the appearance of 578 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These DEGs were associated with enhancement of processes related to the extracellular matrix and lymphocyte chemotaxis as well as the reduction in pathways relevant to cell proliferation. From these DEGs, we formulated 12-gene (TxflSig) and 7-gene (TxflSig1) panels; both predicted response to ICB (immune checkpoint blockade) therapy more effectively in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) than numerous well-established ICB biomarkers, including PD-L1. In both panels, the mouse counterparts of ITGAL, ITGAX, and TMEM119 genes were downregulated by taxifolin. They were strongly associated with immune suppression in LC, evidenced by their robust correlations with the major immunosuppressive cell types (MDSC, Treg, and macrophage) and multiple immune checkpoints in NSCLC and across multiple human cancer types. ITGAL, ITGAX, and IIT (ITGAL-ITGAX-TMEM119) effectively predicted NSCLC's response to ICB therapy; IIT stratified the mortality risk of NSCLC. The stromal expressions of ITGAL and ITGAX, together with tumor expression of TMEM119 in NSCLC, were demonstrated. Collectively, we report multiple novel ICB biomarkers-TxflSig, TxflSig1, IIT, ITGAL, and ITGAX-and taxifolin-derived attenuation of immunosuppressive activities in NSCLC, suggesting the inclusion of taxifolin in ICB therapies for NSCLC.

Taxifolin Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth by Facilitating CD8+ T Cell Infiltration and Inducing a Novel Set of Genes including Potential Tumor Suppressor Genes in 1q21.3.

Taxifolin inhibits breast cancer (BC) via novel mechanisms. In a syngeneic mouse BC model, taxifolin suppressed 4T-1 cell-derived allografts. RNA-seq of 4T-1 tumors identified 36 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) upregulated by taxifolin. Among their human homologues, 19, 7, and 2 genes were downregulated in BCs, high-proliferative BCs, and BCs with high-fatality risks, respectively. Three genes were established as tumor suppressors and eight were novel to BC, including HNRN, KPRP, CRCT1, and FLG2. These four genes exhibit tumor suppressive actions and reside in 1q21.3, a locus amplified in 70% recurrent BCs, revealing a unique vulnerability of primary and recurrent BCs with 1q21.3 amplification with respect to taxifolin. Furthermore, the 36 DEGs formed a multiple gene panel (DEG36) that effectively stratified the fatality risk in luminal, HER2+, and triple-negative (TN) equivalent BCs in two large cohorts: the METABRIC and TCGA datasets. 4T-1 cells model human TNBC cells. The DEG36 most robustly predicted the poor prognosis of TNBCs and associated it with the infiltration of CD8+ T, NK, macrophages, and Th2 cells. Of note, taxifolin increased the CD8+ T cell content in 4T-1 tumors. The DEG36 is a novel and effective prognostic biomarker of BCs, particularly TNBCs, and can be used to assess the BC-associated immunosuppressive microenvironment.

Hounsfield units predicts the occurrence but not the patterns of proximal humerus fracture in the elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Increased incidence of fragility fractures of the proximal humerus has been reported. Proximal humerus Hounsfield unit (HU) measurements based on computed tomography (CT) scans of the shoulder can be used to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD). It is unknown whether HU values can predict the risk of proximal humerus osteoporotic fracture and /or fracture patterns. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to identify whether the HU value is associated with proximal humeral osteoporotic fracture risk, and whether or not it has an impact on the complexity of the fracture. METHODS: We identified 60 + years old patients' CT scans between 2019 and 2021 according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or lack of a fracture in the proximal humerus, meanwhile, patients with fractures were stratified into simple and comminuted fractures based on the Neer classification. HU values were calculated within the proximal humerus and compared between groups using the Student t-test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the ability of HU values to predict fracture. RESULTS: A total of 138 patients with proximal humerus fracture (PHF) including 62 simple PHFs and 76 complex PHFs and 138 non-fracture patients were enrolled in the study. The HU values decreased as age increased among all patients. Both male and female patients with PHF had significantly lower HU values compared with non-fracture patients, the area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve for males and females was 0.8 and 0.723 respectively. Nevertheless, no significant differences were found between simple and complex fractures of the proximal humerus in the HU values. CONCLUSION: Decreasing HU values on CT may be an early warning sign of fracture potential, however, it was not a predictive factor for comminuted fracture of the proximal humerus.

Luminescence and Mechanism of Mn2+ Substitution in Cs7Cd3Br13 with Two Types of Coordination Number.

Cadmium-based perovskite materials as promising optoelectronic materials have been widely explored, but there are still some special microscopic interaction-dependent properties not fully understood. Here, we successfully synthesized Cs7(Cd1-XMnX)3Br13 crystal by a simple hydrothermal method. In Cs7Cd3Br13 crystals with their intrinsic self-trapped exciton (STE) emission, Cd2+ ions stay in both different coordination sites, and partial replacement of Cd2+ with Mn2+ can modify their luminescence properties significantly. The luminescence peak position of the doped sample was adjusted from 610 nm in the undoped sample to 577 nm in the doped one by the combination of STE and Mn d-d transition, with enhanced photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of ∼50% at a Mn precursor ratio of 40%. Their magnetic responses occur from the coexisting ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) coupling of Mn pairs in four and six coordination sites, modifying its whole emission profile. This material is valuable for studying the structure-optical properties and finding applications in optoelectronic devices.

Platelet-Mimicking Nanosponges for Functional Reversal of Antiplatelet Agents.

BACKGROUND: During long-term antiplatelet agents (APAs) administration, patients with thrombotic diseases take a fairly high risk of life-threatening bleeding, especially when in need of urgent surgery. Rapid functional reversal of APAs remains an issue yet to be efficiently resolved by far due to the lack of any specific reversal agent in the clinic, which greatly restricts the use of APAs. METHODS: Flow cytometry analysis was first applied to assess the dose-dependent reversal activity of platelet-mimicking perfluorocarbon-based nanosponges (PLT-PFCs) toward ticagrelor. The tail bleeding time of mice treated with APAs followed by PLT-PFCs was recorded at different time points, along with corresponding pharmacokinetic analysis of ticagrelor and tirofiban. A hemorrhagic transformation model was established in experimental stroke mice with thrombolytic/antiplatelet therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging was subsequently applied to observe hemorrhage and thrombosis in vivo. Further evaluation of the spontaneous clot formation activity of PLT-PFCs was achieved by clot retraction assay in vitro. RESULTS: PLT-PFCs potently reversed the antiplatelet effect of APAs by competitively binding with APAs. PLT-PFCs showed high binding affinity comparable to fresh platelets in vitro with first-line APAs, ticagrelor and tirofiban, and efficiently reversed their function in both tail bleeding and postischemic-reperfusion models. Moreover, the deficiency of platelet intrinsic thrombotic activity diminished the risk of thrombogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of platelet-mimicking nanosponges in ameliorating the bleeding risk of different APAs, which offers a promising strategy for the management of bleeding complications induced by antiplatelet therapy.

Sex differences in atrial remodeling and its relationship with myocardial fibrosis in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Background: This study aimed to explore the effect of sex on left atrial (LA) remodeling and its relationship with myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods and results: A total of 85 patients with HOCM were enrolled. Myocardial fibrosis was quantified by the collagen volume fraction (CVF) in myocardial samples. The early atrial peak of emptying rate (PER-E) was assessed by LA volume/time (V/t) curves derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging analysis. The PER-E index was PER-E normalized by left ventricular (LV) filling volume. Patients with HOCM showed a lower PER-E index than healthy controls (P = 0.027). Compared with men, the PER-E (P < 0.001) and the PER-E indexes (P = 0.012) in women were lower. In CVF-stratified subgroups, a sex difference in the PER-E index was eliminated (P > 0.05). The CVF was correlated with the PER-E and PER-E indexes in both sexes (all P-values were <0.05). In multivariate regression analysis, sex (P = 0.007) and CVF (P < 0.001) were independently correlated with PER-E (all P-values were <0.05). Conclusion: Patients with HOCM presented LA reverse remodeling. Impaired LA function was more common in female patients with HOCM due to their susceptibility to myocardial fibrosis.

Global Burden and Improvement Gap of Non-Rheumatic Calcific Aortic Valve Disease: 1990-2019 Findings from Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

The aim of this study was to explore the most updated changing trends of non-rheumatic calcific aortic valve disease (nrCAVD) and reveal possible improvements. We analyzed the age-standardized rates (ASRs) of prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and mortality trends of nrCAVD from 1990 to 2019 using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019. The relations between ASRs and socio-demographic index (SDI) were analyzed with Pearson's correlation coefficients. Decomposition and frontier analysis were employed to reveal the contribution proportion of influence factors and regions where improvement can be achieved. In 2019, there were 9.40 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 8.07 to 10.89 million) individuals with nrCAVD globally. From 1990 to 2019, the prevalence rate of nrCAVD increased by 155.47% (95% IU: 141.66% to 171.7%), with the largest increase observed in the middle SDI region (821.11%, 95% UI: 709.87% to 944.23%). Globally, there were no significant changes in the mortality rate of nrCAVD (0.37%, 95% UI: -8.85% to 7.99%). The global DALYs decreased by 10.97% (95% UI: -17.94% to -3.46%). The population attributable fraction (PAF) of high systolic blood pressure increased in the population aged 15-49 years, while it declined slightly in population aged 50+ years. Population growth was the main contributing factor to the increased DALYs across the globe (74.73%), while aging was the driving force in the high-SDI region (80.27%). The Netherlands, Finland, Luxembourg, Germany, and Norway could reduce DALY rates of nrCAVD using their socio-demographic resources. According to these results, we revealed that the burden of nrCAVD increased markedly from 1990 to 2019 in high-SDI and high-middle-SDI regions. There was a downward trend in the mortality due to nrCAVD since 2013, which is possibly owing to profound advances in transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Some countries may reduce burdens of nrCAVD using their socio-demographic resources.

A Lightweight Semantic Segmentation Algorithm Based on Deep Convolutional Neural Networks.

With the development of deep learning theory and the decrease of the cost of acquiring massive data, the image semantic segmentation algorithm based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) is gradually replacing the conventional segmentation algorithm by its high accuracy segmentation performance. By increasing the amount of training data and stacking more convolutional layers to form Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs), a neural network model with higher segmentation accuracy can be obtained, but it faces the problems of serious memory consumption and long latency. For some special application scenarios, such as augmented reality and mobile interaction, real-time processing cannot be performed. To improve the speed of semantic segmentation while obtaining the most accurate segmentation results as possible, this paper proposes a semantic segmentation algorithm based on lightweight convolutional neural networks. Taking the computational complexity and segmentation accuracy into account, the algorithm starts from the perspective of extracting high-level semantic features and introduces a position-attention mechanism with richer contextual information to model the relationship between different pixels, avoiding the convolutional local perceptual field to be too small. To recover clearer target boundaries, a channel attention mechanism is introduced in the decoding part of the model to mine more useful feature channel information and effectively improve the fusion of low-level features with high-level features. By verifying the effectiveness of the above model on a publicly available dataset and comparing it with the more popular semantic segmentation methods, the model proposed in this paper has higher semantic segmentation accuracy and reflects certain advantages in objective evaluation.

[TiRobot-assisted percutaneous sacroiliac cannulated screw fixation for posterior pelvic ring injury with sacral variations].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of TiRobot-assisted percutaneous sacroiliac cannulated screw fixation in the treatment of posterior pelvic ring injuries with sacral variations, and to evaluate its feasibility and safety. Methods: The clinical data of 7 patients with Tile type C pelvic fractures and sacral variations treated with TiRobot-assisted percutaneous sacroiliac cannulated screw fixation between January 2020 and June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 2 females with an average age of 36 years (range, 17-56 years). The causes of injury were traffic accident in 4 cases and falling from height in 3 cases. According to Tile classification of pelvic fractures, there were 1 case of type C1.1, 1 case of type C1.2, and 5 cases of type C1.3; according to Denis classification of sacral fractures, there were 3 cases of zone Ⅰ and 4 cases of zone Ⅱ; sacral deformities included 3 cases of lumbar sacralization, 2 cases of sacral lumbarization, and 2 cases of accessory auricular surface of the sacrum. The time from injury to operation ranged from 2 to 7 days, with an average of 4.6 days. The implantation time of each screw, the fluoroscopy times of each guide pin, the quality of fracture reduction (according to Matta score), the excellent and good rate of screw position, the healing time of fracture, and the incidence of complications were recorded, and the effectiveness was evaluated by Majeed score. Results: A total of 13 screws were implanted during the operation, the implantation time of each screw was 10-23 minutes, with an average of 18.2 minutes; the position of the guide pin was good, and no guide pin was adjusted, the fluoroscopy times of each guide pin were 3-7 times, with a median of 4 times. Postoperative imaging data at 3 days showed that the position of sacroiliac screw implantation was evaluated as excellent. No complication such as incision infection or vascular nerve injury occurred, and no adverse events related to robotic devices occurred. At 3 days after operation, according to Matta score, the quality of fracture reduction was excellent in 6 cases and good in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. All the 7 patients were followed up 6-15 months, with an average of 12.4 months. Bone union was achieved in all patients, and the healing time ranged from 18 to 24 weeks, with an average of 21.2 weeks. Majeed score at last follow-up was 81-95, with an average of 91.5; 5 cases were excellent, 2 cases were good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. Conclusion: TiRobot-assisted percutaneous sacroiliac cannulated screw fixation for posterior pelvic ring injury with sacral variation is accurate, safe, minimally invasive, and intelligent, and the effectiveness is satisfactory.

Papillary and Trabecular Muscles Have Substantial Impact on Quantification of Left Ventricle in Patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

Patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) have large papillary and trabecular muscles (PTMs), which are myocardial tissue. PTMs are usually excluded from the myocardium and included in the left ventricular (LV) cavity when determining LV mass (LVM) and volumes using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). This conventional method may result in large distortion of LVM and other indices. We investigated 74 patients with HOCM undergoing CMR imaging. LV short-axis cine images were obtained. LV contours were drawn using two different methods: (1) the conventional method, where PTMs were included in the LV cavity; and (2) the mask method, which includes the TPMs in the LV myocardium. The LV end-diastolic volume (LV-EDV), LV end-systolic volume (LV-ESV), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and the LVM were then calculated. Fasting NT-proBNP and CK-MB levels were measured with ELISA. In patients with HOCM, mass of PTMs (MOPTM) was 47.9 ± 18.7 g, which represented 26.9% of total LVM. Inclusion of PTMs with the mask method resulted in significantly greater LVM and LVM index (both p < 0.0001) in comparison with those measured with the conventional method. In addition, the mask method produced a significant decrease in LV-EDV and LV-ESV. LVEF was significantly increased with the mask method (64.3 ± 7.9% vs. 77.2 ± 7.1%, p < 0.0001). MOPTM was positively correlated with BMI, septal wall thickness, LVM, LV-EDV, and LV-ESV. LVEF was inversely correlated with MOPTM. In addition, MOPTM correlated positively with NT-proBNP (r = 0.265, p = 0.039) and CK-MB (r = 0.356, p = 0.002). In conclusion, inclusion of PTMs in the myocardium has a substantial impact on quantification of the LVM, LV-EDV, LV-ESV, and LVEF in patients with HOCM. The effects of the PTMs in women was greater than that in men. Furthermore, the MOPTM was positively associated with NT-proBNP and CK-MB. The PTMs might be included in the myocardium when measuring the LV volumes and mass of patients with HOCM. At present, the clinical and prognostic meaning and relevance of the PTMs is not clear and should be further studied.

Significance and Determinants of Plasma Apelin in Patients With Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Recent studies suggest apelin has multiple protective effects in some cardiovascular diseases. However, there are few data concerning apelin levels in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM) or the relationship between apelin levels and severity of OHCM. Methods: We studied 88 patients with OHCM and 32 control subjects with matched age and sex distribution. Complete medical history was collected and related examinations were performed. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and echocardiography were employed to characterize cardiac morphology and function. Plasma apelin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Plasma apelin levels were significantly lower in patients with OHCM than those in control subjects (96.6 ± 34.3 vs. 169.4 ± 62.5 µg/L, p < 0.001). When patients with OHCM were divided into two groups according to the mean value of plasma apelin, patients with lower apelin levels (plasma apelin ≤ 96.6 µg/L) had greater septal wall thickness (SWT; 25.6 ± 5.5 vs. 23.2 ± 4.3 mm, p = 0.035) and less right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RVEDD; 20.4 ± 3.3 vs. 23.0 ± 3.6 mm, p = 0.001). Consistently, plasma apelin levels were inversely correlated with SWT (r = -0.334, p = 0.002) and positively correlated with RVEDD (r = 0.368, p < 0.001). Besides, plasma apelin levels were inversely correlated with Ln (NT-proBNP) (r = -0.307, p = 0.008) and positively correlated with body mass index (BMI; r = 0.287, p = 0.008). On multivariate analysis, the SWT was independently associated with decreasing plasma apelin, while the RVEDD was independently associated with increasing plasma apelin. Conclusion: Plasma apelin levels are reduced in patients with OHCM. The apelin levels are inversely related to SWT and positively related to RVEDD.

LINC00460 Stimulates the Proliferation of Vascular Endothelial Cells by Downregulating miRNA-24-3p.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the effect of LINC00460 on mediating the proliferative ability of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) by targeting microRNA-24-3p (miRNA-24-3p), thus influencing the progression of atherosclerotic diseases. METHODS: Relative levels of LINC00460 and miRNA-24-3p in ECs induced with different doses of ox-LDL (oxidized low density lipoprotein) for different time points were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Influences of LINC00460 and miRNA-24-3p on the viability of ECs were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Through dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, the binding between LINC00460 and miRNA-24-3p was evaluated. At last, rescue experiments were performed to identify the function of the LINC00460/miRNA-24-3p axis in regulating the proliferative ability of ECs. RESULTS: LINC00460 was upregulated after ox-LDL treatment in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Viability of ECs gradually increased with the prolongation of ox-LDL treatment and the treatment of increased dose. The overexpression of LINC00460 enhanced the viability and EdU-positive rate in ECs treated with ox-LDL. miRNA-24-3p was the direct target of LINC00460, which was negatively regulated by LINC00460. miRNA-24-3p was downregulated with the prolongation of ox-LDL treatment. The overexpression of miRNA-24-3p could reverse the effect of LINC00460 on regulating the proliferative ability of ECs. CONCLUSIONS: LINC00460 regulates the proliferative ability of ECs and thus the occurrence and development of coronary atherosclerotic diseases by targeting miRNA-24-3p.

Enhanced IL-10 inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of HUVECs through STAT3 signaling pathway in sepsis.

AIMS: The present study aims to determine the expression of interleukin (IL)-10 in peripheral blood of patients with sepsis, and investigate its effects on the biological function of vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: Thirty-six sepsis patients and 20 healthy subjects were included. Peripheral blood was collected from all subjects. ELISA was used to determine IL-10 content in serum. A ratio of IL-10⁺ T cells was determined by flow cytometry. CCK-8 assay was used to investigate proliferation. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of phosphorylated STAT3 protein. RESULTS: The content of IL-10 and the ratio of IL-10⁺ T cells were enhanced in pa-tients with sepsis. Serum from patients with sepsis inhibited the proliferation of HU-VECs, and addition of IL-10 antibody reversed this effect. IL-10 in the serum from patients with sepsis promoted the apoptosis of HUVECs. IL-10 inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of HUVECs by enhancing the phosphorylation of STAT3. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that the content of IL-10 and the ratio of IL-10⁺ T cells in peripheral blood of patients with sepsis are up-regulated, and this inhibits HUVEC proliferation and promotes HUVEC apoptosis through STAT3 sig-naling pathway. The results in this study provide a new experimental basis for further understanding the molecular mechanism of sepsis-induced vascular injury.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

AIM: The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in 2019 has negatively impacted the care of patients with other life-threatening diseases, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, there is little published information concerning the depth of the impact on the clinical management and outcome following AMI. METHODS: We enrolled patients with AMI who received urgent primary percutaneous coronary intervention at the Beijing Tiantan Hospital (Beijing, China) between December 1, 2019 and April 10, 2020. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts, the pre-COVID-19 group (from December 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020) and during-COVID-19 group (from February 1, 2020 to April 10, 2020) for analysis. The door-to-balloon (D to B) time, total hospitalization stay (days) and coronary care unit (CCU) hospitalization days were calculated. New York Heart Association heart functional class (NYHA class), re-hospitalization and death ratio in patients were assessed between the two cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 148 AMI patients were enrolled in this study comprising 53 patients pre-COVID-19 group and 95 patients during-COVID-19 group. Patients with AMI during-COVID-19 group had longer symptom onset to hospital time (4.5 [2.0-9.3] vs 3.0 [2.0-5.0] hours, p = 0.013) and D to B time (96 [74-119] vs 67 [52-81] minutes, p <0.001); the D to B time shortened during the study period. The two cohorts did not have significantly different number of hospitalization days, re-hospitalization rates, peak cTnI, BNP or death rates. For the one-year follow-up, the patients in the during-COVID-19 group were classified as NYHA class III-IV more frequently (9 [9.7%] vs 0 [0%], p=0.004). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected one measure of critical care of patients with AMI, NYHA classification, which may have resulted in increased medical expenses.

Seipin Deficiency Accelerates Heart Failure Due to Calcium Handling Abnormalities and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Mice.

Seipin deficiency can induce hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure, which often leads to death in humans. To explore the effects and the possible mechanisms of Seipin deficiency in myocardial remodeling, Seipin knockout (SKO) mice underwent transverse aortic constriction (TAC) for 12 weeks. We found a more severe left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic heart failure and increases in inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen deposition, and apoptotic bodies in the SKO group compared to those in the wild type (WT) group after TAC. Electron microscopy also showed a more extensive sarcoplasmic reticulum expansion, deformation of microtubules, and formation of mitochondrial lesions in the cardiomyocytes of SKO mice than in those of WT mice after TAC. Compared with the WT group, the SKO group showed increases in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-, inflammation-, and fibrosis-related gene expression, while calcium ion-related factors, such as Serca2a and Ryr, were decreased in the SKO group after TAC. Increased levels of the ER stress-related protein GRP78 and decreased SERCA2a and P-RYR protein levels were detected in the SKO group compared with the WT group after TAC. Slowing of transient Ca2+ current decay and an increased SR Ca2+ content in myocytes were detected in the cardiomyocytes of SKO mice. Adipose tissue transplantation could not rescue the cardiac hypertrophy after TAC in SKO mice. In conclusion, we found that Seipin deficiency could promote cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic heart failure after TAC in mice. These changes may be related to the impairment of myocardial calcium handling, ER stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Matrix Metalloproteinases Increase Because of Hypoperfusion in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is considered a result of microvascular dysfunction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs), capable of degrading collagen, directly participate in the development of MF. First we investigated the relationships among MF, microvascular rarefaction, and MMPs. Then we assessed the prognostic value of MF-related circulating biomarkers. METHODS: Fifty-five obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) patients were enrolled after surgical myectomy. Myocardial samples were performed with Masson's trichrome staining and immunohistochemical procedures for collagen volume fraction and microvascular density, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to assess myocardial and plasma of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 and plasma C-terminal propeptide of procollagen type Ⅰ (PICP) and C-terminal telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen (ICTP) levels. The composite cardiovascular endpoint consisted of new-onset atrial fibrillation, heart failure requiring hospitalization, and all-cause death. RESULTS: In HOCM patients microvascular density was associated with the myocardial MMP-2/TIMP-1 ratio (r = -0.348, P = .009), whereas no correlation was found between collagen volume fraction and myocardial MMPs. During the 44-month follow-up 6 patients experienced a cardiovascular endpoint. The plasma PICP/ICTP ratio and MMP-2/TIMP-1 ratio were the 2 strongest prognostic makers. In multivariable analyses high PICP/ICTP and MMP-2/TIMP-1 ratios remained independent predictors of cardiovascular outcomes after adjusting for clinical confounders (hazard ratios, 12.683 [P = .021] and 17.037 [P = .027], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In HOCM patients the myocardial MMP-2/TIMP-1 ratio was elevated because of microvascular rarefaction but may not be responsible for MF. High plasma PICP/ICTP and MMP-2/TIMP-1 ratios are independent predictors of adverse outcomes in HOCM patients.

Efficacy and safety of aspirin and rivaroxaban for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after total hip or knee arthroplasty: A protocol for meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy and safety of aspirin and rivaroxaban in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following either total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of several electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) was conducted to identify relevant studies. Outcomes of interest included VTE rate, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) rate, pulmonary embolism rate, major bleeding events, mortality rate, blood transfusion, and wound complication. Risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated using a fixed-effects model or random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 8 studies with 97,677 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with rivaroxaban, aspirin had a significantly higher incidence of DVT (RR = 1.48, 95%CI: 1.27, 1.72; P < .001), and decreased risk of blood transfusion (RR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.93, 0.94; P < .001). However, there were no significant differences between the 2 drugs in terms of total VTE rate (RR = 1.39%, 95%CI: 0.94, 2.05; P = .101), pulmonary embolism rate (RR = 1.64, 95%CI: 0.92, 2.92; P = .094), mortality rate (RR = 1.13, 95%CI: 0.15, 8.27; P = .907), major bleeding (RR = 1.00, 95%CI: 0.44, 2.27; P = .995), and wound complication rate (RR = 0.37, 95%CI: 0.07, 1.87; P = .229). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that aspirin and rivaroxaban offered similar effect in the prevention of VTE after total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty. However, rivaroxaban seemed to have better effect than aspirin in reducing the risk of DVT, and aspirin was safer than rivaroxaban in decreasing the blood transfusion rate.