Modular probe integrating with quantum dots based versatile platform for sensitive and label-free biomarker detection.

Multiplexed analysis of biomarkers in a single sample tube is essential for accurate diagnosis and therapy of diseases. However, the existing detection platforms suffer from many drawbacks, such as low specificity, limited applicable sceneries, and complicated operation. Hence, it is highly important to develop a versatile biomarker detection platform that can be used for disease diagnosis and pathophysiological research. In this study, we provide a versatile method for detecting biomarkers using dual-loop probes and quantum dots (QDs). This approach utilizes a dual-loop probe that consists of a recognition module for identifying specific targets, a template recognition module for initiating subsequent chain replacement cycles, and a signal module for facilitating the fixation of QDs on the 96-well plate. The lower limit of detection for miRNA-21 is determined to be at the aM level. Furthermore, this design may be easily expanded to simultaneously detect several targets, such as miRNA and C-reactive protein. The experimental results demonstrated the successful construction of the versatile biomarkers detection platform, and indicated that the sensitive and versatile platform has significant potential in the areas of bio-sensing, clinical diagnostics, and environmental sample analysis.

Retrospective analysis of Advanced Heart Failure and/or Cardiogenic Shock in Patients with Aortic Valve Stenosis Treated by Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and a Nomogram Model Construction.

Objective: Currently, there is little information about the risk of sudden cardiac death and its predictors in aortic valve stenosis patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Therefore, we conducted a large sample cohort study on TAVR patients to evaluate the predictive factors and incidence of heart failure death caused by advanced heart failure (AHF) and sudden cardiac death. Furthermore, a nomogram model to predict its risk was constructed. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 241 consecutive participants who had received TAVR treatment for aortic valve stenosis in our hospital from January 2020 to January 2022. The characteristics of the subjects, including myocardial zymogram, renal function, biochemical parameters, and cardiac ultrasound parameters, were collected. Moreover, a nomogram was constructed to predict the risk of sudden cardiac death and its predictors in patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The model was validatedinternally using measures of calibration and decision curve analysis. Results: Six independent risk factors(Age, smoking, diabetes, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and fasting blood glucose) were finally recruited into the nomogram model to predict the risk of advanced heart failure and/or cardiogenic shock in AS patients treated by TAVR. Besides, the decision curve analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the nomogram prediction models showed positive clinical benefits. Conclusions: The Age, smoking, diabetes, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and fasting blood glucose are the independent risk factors for advanced heart failure and/or cardiogenic shock in AS patients treated by TAVR. The construction of nomograms is beneficial in predicting the risk of advanced heart failure and/or cardiogenic shock in AS patients treated by TAVR.

CircCDYL Contributes to Apoptosis, Ferroptosis, and Oxidative Stress of Ang II-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have important regulation in thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). The function and mechanism of circCDYL (circ_0008285) was explored in TAA here. Angiotensin II (Ang II) was used to construct a TAA model. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed for the detection of circCDYL, miR-1270, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10). Cell viability was examined via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and proliferation was analyzed using Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Apoptosis rate was assessed via flow cytometry. Western blot was used for protein detection. Oxidative stress was evaluated by commercial kits. CircCDYL was upregulated in TAA tissues and Ang II-induced circCDYL upregulation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Knockdown of circCDYL weakened Ang II-aroused inhibition of viability, proliferation, and promotion of apoptosis, ferroptosis, and oxidative stress in VSMCs. CircCDYL served as a miR-1270 sponge. The mitigated regulation of circCDYL knockdown for Ang II-induced injury was restored after miR-1270 downregulation. CircCDYL positively regulated ADAM10 through interacting with miR-1270. Overexpression of miR-1270 abated Ang II-induced injury by downregulating ADAM10. In conclusion, circCDYL was involved in the Ang II-induced VSMC injury in TAA via the miR-1270/ADAM10 axis.

Colorimetric analysis of C-reactive protein via 'jellyfish' probe-based exonuclease III-assisted multiple-signal recycles.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a potential biomarker for evaluating inflammatory responses in patients receiving coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Here, the authors depict a sensitive and reliable colorimetric approach for CRP analysis. In this method, an aptamer specifically binds with CRP and an initiator sequence is released from an arch probe to activate signal amplification. The released initiator sequence hybridizes with the toehold section in the 'jellyfish' probe to form a blunt terminus to induce exonuclease III-assisted signal amplification. The method exhibited a low limit of detection of 1.32 ng/ml and high intraday and interday precision for CRP detection. In summary, this colorimetric approach may provide a potential alternative tool for the evaluation of inflammation in patients receiving coronary artery bypass graft and clinical diagnostics of disease.

Effects of off-pump coronary artery bypass graft on the clinical efficacy, surgical indicators, and cardiac function of patients with coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common clinical cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to analyze the effects of off-pump coronary artery bypass graft on the clinical efficacy, surgical indicators, and cardiac function of patients with CHD. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 120 patients with CHD who were treated in our hospital from May 2017 to May 2020. And they were divided into the control group (extracorporeal coronary artery bypass graft) and the observation group (off-pump coronary artery bypass graft). The clinical efficacy, surgical indicators, cardiac function, myocardial injury, the degree of cardiac autonomic nerve imbalance, incidence of complications and quality of life one year after the operation in the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Intraoperative blood loss, operation time, intraoperative blood transfusion, and hospital stay in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group. After treatment, the levels of cardiac index (CI), ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), and cardiac output (CO) in the observation group and the control group were higher than those before treatment, especially in the observation group. Compared with those before operation, CK-MB and cTnI of the two groups significantly increased at all time points after surgery. After treatment, SDNN, LF, HF, and TP of patients in the two groups increased, which was significant in the observation group. The incidence of complications such as myocardial infarction, ischemic changes, respiratory insufficiency, and intraoperative ventricular fibrillation in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The score of quality of life in the observation group was significantly higher than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of patients with CHD, off-pump coronary artery bypass graft has good clinical effects, which can significantly improve the heart function, and cardiac autonomic nerve imbalance of patients, reduce myocardial damage, decrease the incidence of complications, and improve the quality of life. Therefore, off-pump coronary artery bypass graft is worthy of clinical application.

Preoperative statins as modifiers of cardiac and inflammatory outcomes following coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a meta-analysis.

Early postoperative cardiac complications of coronary artery bypass graft surgery, such as atrial fibrillation (AF) or myocardial infarction (MI), may be beneficially modulated by preoperative statins, involving their anti-inflammatory effects. There is uncertainty on the clinical merit of statin pretreatment. Addressing this, we conducted a meta-analysis of early cardiac complications and inflammatory markers following statin pretreatment in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. A search of Medline and Cochrane databases was undertaken to identify suitable studies. A meta-analysis was carried out for early cardiac (AF, MI, myocardial injury markers) and inflammatory (cytokines, C-reactive protein) outcomes. We identified 17 suitable studies that featured data from the total of 2796 patients. Twelve studies (1260 treated and 1263 untreated patients) reported AF incidence. Statin pretreatment was associated with a significant decrease of AF incidence: odds ratio 0.44 (95% confidence interval: 0.27-0.70; P = 0.003). Seven studies (381 treated and 277 untreated patients) reported useful data on MI. Unlike in AF, no significant modulation of postoperative MI in association with statin pretreatment could be observed: odds ratio 0.62 (95% confidence interval: 0.21-1.81; P = 0.62). Five studies (248 treated and 245 untreated patients) provided data on postoperative rise of C-reactive protein. This rise was significantly downregulated in statin-pretreated patients: standardized mean difference -0.44 (95% confidence interval: -0.78 to -0.11; P = 0.02). Thus, postoperative AF incidence is the biggest beneficiary of statin pretreatment in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. This effect is associated with beneficial modulation of systemic inflammatory markers.