DHEA down-regulates mitochondrial dynamics and promotes apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells through FASTKD2.

Background: DHEA is a steroid hormone produced by the gonads, adrenal cortex, brain, and gastrointestinal tract. While the anti-obesity, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-cancer, and memory-enhancing effects of DHEA have been substantiated through cell experiments, animal studies, and human trials, the precise mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Altered mitochondrial dynamics can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is closely related to many human diseases, especially cancer and aging. This study was to investigate whether DHEA inhibits lung adenocarcinoma through the mitochondrial pathway and its molecular mechanism. Methods: Through animal experiments and cell experiments, the effect of DHEA on tumor inhibition was determined. The correlation between FASTKD2 expression and DHEA was analyzed by Western blot, Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, Immunohistochemistry, and TCGA database. Results: In this study, DHEA supplementation in the diet can inhibit the tumor size of mice, and the effect of adding DHEA one week before the experiment is the best. DHEA limits the glycolysis process by inhibiting G6PDH activity, increases the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and initiates apoptosis in the mitochondrial pathway of cancer cells. Conclusion: DHEA suppresses mitochondrial fission and promotes mitochondrial fusion by downregulating the expression of FASTKD2, thereby inhibiting tumor growth and prolonging the overall survival of lung adenocarcinoma patients, which also provides a new target for the prevention and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.

Application of computer-aided diagnosis to predict malignancy in BI-RADS 3 breast lesions.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system (S-Detect) to identify malignancy in ultrasound (US) -detected BI-RADS 3 breast lesions. Materials and methods: 148 patients with 148 breast lesions categorized as BI-RADS 3 were included in the study between January 2021 and September 2022. The malignancy rate, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Results: In this study, 143 breast lesions were found to be benign, and 5 breast lesions were malignant (malignancy rate, 3.4 %, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.5-6.3). The malignancy rate rose significantly to 18.2 % (4/22, 95 % CI: 2.1-34.3) in the high-risk group with a "possibly malignant" CAD result (p = 0.017). With a "possibly benign" CAD result, the malignancy rate decreased to 0.8 % (1/126, 95 % CI: 0-2.2) in the low-risk group (p = 0.297). The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of the CAD system in BI-RADS 3 breast lesions were 0.837 (95 % CI: 77.7-89.6), 80.0 % (95 % CI: 73.6-86.4), 87.4 % (95 % CI: 82.0-92.7), 87.2 % (95 % CI: 81.8-92.6), 18.2 % (95 % CI: 2.1-34.3) and 99.2 % (95 % CI: 97.8-100.0), respectively. Conclusions: CAD system (S-Detect) enables radiologists to distinguish a high-risk group and a low-risk group among US-detected BI-RADS 3 breast lesions, so that patients in the low-risk group can receive follow-up without anxiety, while those in the high-risk group with a significantly increased malignancy rate should actively receive biopsy to avoid delayed diagnosis of breast cancer.

Clinical Application of Computer-Aided Diagnosis System in Breast Ultrasound: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: Ultrasound tends to present very high sensitivity but relatively low specificity and positive predictive value (PPV), which would result in unnecessary breast biopsies. The purpose of this study is to analyze the diagnostic performance of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) (S-Detect) system in differentiating breast lesions and reducing unnecessary biopsies in non-university hospitals in less-developed regions of China. METHODS: The study was a prospective multicenter study from 8 hospitals. The ultrasound images, and cine, CAD analysis, and BI-RADS were recorded. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) were analyzed and compared between CAD and radiologists. The Youden Index (YI) was used to determine optimal cut-off for the number of planes to downgrade. RESULTS: A total of 491 breast lesions were included in the study. Less-experienced radiologists combined CAD was superior to less-experienced radiologists alone in AUC (0.878 vs 0.712, p < 0.001), and specificity (81.3% vs 44.6%, p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference in AUC (0.891 vs 0.878, p = 0.346), and specificity (82.3% vs 81.3%, p = 0.791) between experienced radiologists and less-experienced radiologists combined CAD. With CAD assistance, the biopsy rate of less-experienced radiologists was significantly decreased (100.0% vs 25.6%, p < 0.001), and malignant rate of biopsy was significantly increased (15.0% vs 43.9%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CAD system can be an effective auxiliary tool in differentiating breast lesions and reducing unnecessary biopsies for radiologists from non-university hospitals in less-developed regions of China.

Deep Learning-Based Computer-Aided Diagnosis for Breast Lesion Classification on Ultrasound: A Prospective Multicenter Study of Radiologists Without Breast Ultrasound Expertise.

BACKGROUND. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems for breast ultrasound interpretation have been primarily evaluated at tertiary and/or urban medical centers by radiologists with breast ultrasound expertise. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of deep learning-based CAD software on the diagnostic performance of radiologists without breast ultrasound expertise at secondary or rural hospitals in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions measuring up to 2.0 cm on ultrasound. METHODS. This prospective study included patients scheduled to undergo biopsy or surgical resection at any of eight participating secondary or rural hospitals in China of a breast lesion classified as BI-RADS category 3-5 on prior breast ultrasound from November 2021 to September 2022. Patients underwent an additional investigational breast ultrasound, performed and interpreted by a radiologist without breast ultrasound expertise (hybrid body/breast radiologists, either who lacked breast imaging subspecialty training or for whom the number of breast ultrasounds performed annually accounted for less than 10% of all ultrasounds performed annually by the radiologist), who assigned a BI-RADS category. CAD results were used to upgrade reader-assigned BI-RADS category 3 lesions to category 4A and to downgrade reader-assigned BI-RADS category 4A lesions to category 3. Histologic results of biopsy or resection served as the reference standard. RESULTS. The study included 313 patients (mean age, 47.0 ± 14.0 years) with 313 breast lesions (102 malignant, 211 benign). Of BI-RADS category 3 lesions, 6.0% (6/100) were upgraded by CAD to category 4A, of which 16.7% (1/6) were malignant. Of category 4A lesions, 79.1% (87/110) were downgraded by CAD to category 3, of which 4.6% (4/87) were malignant. Diagnostic performance was significantly better after application of CAD, in comparison with before application of CAD, in terms of accuracy (86.6% vs 62.6%, p < .001), specificity (82.9% vs 46.0%, p < .001), and PPV (72.7% vs 46.5%, p < .001) but not significantly different in terms of sensitivity (94.1% vs 97.1%, p = .38) or NPV (96.7% vs 97.0%, p > .99). CONCLUSION. CAD significantly improved radiologists' diagnostic performance, showing particular potential to reduce the frequency of benign breast biopsies. CLINICAL IMPACT. The findings indicate the ability of CAD to improve patient care in settings with incomplete access to breast imaging expertise.

Effect of different bone cement distributions in percutaneous kyphoplasty on clinical outcomes for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: A retrospective study.

Osteoporotic fractures and their complications are becoming increasingly harmful to the elderly. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical results of connected or unconnected bilateral cement after bilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF). The clinical data of 217 patients with single-segment OVCF were retrospectively collected. Patients were allocated into 2 groups according to the bilateral bone cement in the vertebrae was connected or unconnected after surgery. The surgery-related indexes of the 2 groups were compared, including operation time; bone cement injection volume; contact situation between bone cement and the upper and lower endplates of the vertebral body; visual analogue scale (VAS) scores before surgery, 1 week and 1 year after surgery; Oswestry disability index (ODI) before surgery, 1 week and 1 year after surgery; local kyphosis angle (LKA) before surgery, 1 week and 1 year after surgery; postoperative vertebral body height at 1 week and 1 year after surgery; vertebral body height restoration rate (HRR) at 1 week and 1 year after surgery. The follow-up results of all patients were recorded. The postoperative VAS, ODI, vertebral body height, LKA and other indexes of the 2 groups were significantly improved compared with those before the operation (P < .05), and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P > .05). At the same time, there were no significant difference in vertebral body HRR and bone cement leakage rate between the 2 groups (P > .05). X-ray examination showed that 21 of 217 patients (21/217, 9.8%) had a refracture of the injured vertebral body, including 16 cases (16/121, 13.2%) in the unconnected group and 5 cases (5/96, 5.2%) in the connected group (P < .05). Adjacent vertebrae fractures occurred in 25 cases (25/217, 11.5%), while 19 cases (19/121, 15.7%) were in the unconnected group and 6 cases (6/96, 6.3%) were in the connected group (P < .05). PKP has a good therapeutic effect on OVCF no matter whether the bilateral bone cement is connected or not. However, if the bilateral cement inside the vertebra was connected, the risk of recollapse of the injured vertebrae and the new fracture of adjacent vertebrae could be reduced.

Mechanisms controlling the transport and evaporation of human exhaled respiratory droplets containing the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus: a review.

Transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 is still ongoing despite mass vaccination, lockdowns, and other drastic measures to control the pandemic. This is due partly to our lack of understanding on the multiphase flow mechanics that control droplet transport and viral transmission dynamics. Various models of droplet evaporation have been reported, yet there is still limited knowledge about the influence of physicochemical parameters on the transport of respiratory droplets carrying the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Here we review the effects of initial droplet size, environmental conditions, virus mutation, and non-volatile components on droplet evaporation and dispersion, and on virus stability. We present experimental and computational methods to analyze droplet transport, and factors controlling transport and evaporation. Methods include thermal manikins, flow techniques, aerosol-generating techniques, nucleic acid-based assays, antibody-based assays, polymerase chain reaction, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, field-effect transistor-based assay, and discrete and gas-phase modeling. Controlling factors include environmental conditions, turbulence, ventilation, ambient temperature, relative humidity, droplet size distribution, non-volatile components, evaporation and mutation. Current results show that medium-sized droplets, e.g., 50 µm, are sensitive to relative humidity. Medium-sized droplets experience delayed evaporation at high relative humidity, and increase airborne lifetime and travel distance. By contrast, at low relative humidity, medium-sized droplets quickly shrink to droplet nuclei and follow the cough jet. Virus inactivation within a few hours generally occurs at temperatures above 40 °C, and the presence of viral particles in aerosols impedes droplet evaporation.

Negative pressure wound therapy reduces the incidence of postoperative wound dehiscence and surgical site infections after total knee arthroplasty in patients with obesity.

Obesity is a risk factor for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Wound dehiscence and surgical site infections (SSIs) are the main complications of TKA in patients with obesity. They can profoundly affect patients because they often require readmission, additional surgical interventions, lengthy intravenous antibiotic administration, and delayed rehabilitation. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) exposes the wound site to negative pressure, resulting in the improvement of blood supply, removal of excess fluid, and stimulation of cellular proliferation of granulation tissue. This study aims to assess the incidence of wound dehiscence and SSIs in patients with obesity undergoing TKA after the routine use of NPWT. This sduty enrolled adult patients with obesity who underwent TKA within 8 years. A total of 360 adult patients with obesity (NPWT: 150, non-NPWT: 210) underwent TKA, and the baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Compared with the non-NPWT group, the NPWT group had a 50% lower incidence of wound dehiscence (3.33% vs 9.52%; P < .05) and a significantly lower incidence of SSIs (11.33% vs 25.24%; P < .05), including prosthetic joint infection (4.0% vs 10.0%; P < .05) and superficial wound infection (7.33% vs 15.24%; P < .05). In addition, the NPWT group had a lower need to return to the operating room for new interventions for any reason (2.67% vs 9.05%; P = .0107) than the non-NPWT group. Conventional incision NPWT can significantly reduce the incidence of wound dehiscence and SSIs in patients with obesity after TKA.

Involvement of PD-L1-mediated tumor-intrinsic signaling and immune suppression in tumorigenic effect of α-tocopherol.

Numerous studies have shown that the different isoforms vitamin E have distinct activity on carcinogenesis. α-Tocopherol (α-T), the most abundant vitamin E in certain types of food and animal tissues, has demonstrated a cancer-promoting effect in a number of human clinical trials and pre-clinical studies, whereas the γ- and δ- forms of Tocopherols and Tocotrienols have exhibited significant anticancer effect in various pre-clinical studies. However, the mechanisms underlying the tumorigenic effect of α-T have not yet been fully understood. In the present study, we found that α-T was able to activate programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-mediated tumor-intrinsic signaling and immune suppression via JAK/STAT3-dependent transcriptional and ERK-dependent post-transcriptional mechanism. In line with PD-L1 induction, α-T treatment increased cancer cell viability in vitro and promoted tumor growth in LLC xenograft mouse model. The findings of the present study for the first time provided evidence that PD-L1-mediated tumor-intrinsic and immune escape mechanism contributed to the tumorigenic effect of α-T.

Percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy for the treatment of L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation and the influence of iliac crest height on its clinical effects.

The present study aimed to explore the clinical effects of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy using a transforaminal endoscopic spine system (TESSYS) technique for the treatment of L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation and to analyse the influence of iliac crest height on these clinical effects. The clinical data of 76 patients with L5-S1 single-segment disc herniation treated with TESSYS at The Second Affiliated Hospital and Third Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between January and December 2016 were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into the following three groups according to the positional relation between the highest point of the iliac crest and the L4 and L5 pedicles in the lateral lumbar, as determined by X-ray: Group I, iliac crest height below the upper edge horizontal line of the L5 pedicle (n=42); group II, iliac crest height between the lower edge horizontal line of the L4 pedicle and the upper edge horizontal line of the L5 pedicle (n=29) and group III, iliac crest height above the lower edge horizontal line of the L4 pedicle (n=5). Changes in the postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) of the lower back and lower limbs were observed, and the effects were compared among the three groups. The mean operating time was 86.5±13.5 min. A single patient experienced cerebrospinal fluid leakage due to a mild tear of the dura mater during the operation, which improved after symptomatic treatment. The same operation was repeated in one patient due to the recurrence of disc herniation. In all patients, the VAS pain score and ODI of the lower back and lower limbs at 1 week and 1, 3 and 12 months following the operation were significantly lower than those before the operation (all P<0.05). Furthermore, the postoperative VAS pain score and ODI of the lower back and lower limbs were poorer in group III (L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation complicated with high iliac crest) than in groups I and II (P<0.05). These results suggested that TESSYS was effective in treating lumbar disc herniation. Whether the iliac crest is higher than the lower edge horizontal line of the L4 pedicle is suggested to be one of the factors influencing the outcome of the operation.

Long-Term Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Patients With In-Stent Chronic Total Occlusion Versus De Novo Chronic Total Occlusion.

Limited data are available on long-term outcomes and health status in the treatment of in-stent coronary chronic total occlusion (IS-CTO) and de novo coronary chronic total occlusion (de novo CTO). This study compared the long-term clinical outcomes and health status of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with IS-CTO versus patients with de novo CTO in the drug-eluting stent era. We screened 483 consecutive patients with 1 CTO lesion, including 81 patients with IS-CTO and 402 patients with de novo CTO. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics between the 2 groups. The clinical end point was major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The success rates of CTO lesion revascularization were similar in both groups. In the propensity score-matched patients, after a median follow-up of 36 months, MACE was observed in 32.8% of patients with IS-CTO versus 13.5% of the patients with de novo CTO (P < .001), mainly driven by target-vessel revascularization (21.9% vs 6.7%; P < .01). Moreover, patients with IS-CTO had significantly worse Seattle Angina Questionnaire anginal stability scores than the patients with de novo CTO. In conclusion, patients with IS-CTO after PCI had a worse clinical outcome, mainly MACE, and a poorer anginal stability in the long term than patients with de novo CTO.

Resveratrol prevents steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head via miR-146a modulation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible use of resveratrol (Res) to reverse abnormal osteogenesis/osteoclastogenesis activity that occurs during femoral head osteonecrosis and to explore the detailed mechanisms. Application of Res to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro promoted survival, inhibited apoptosis, and downregulated expression of reactive oxygen species expression. Moreover, Res application was associated with elevated microRNA-146a (miR-146a) expression, osteogenic differentiation, and suppressed osteoclastic differentiation, which were markedly reversed by miR-146a inhibitor. Histopathological observations and micro-computed tomography scanning results indicated that the Res-treated group had lower incidence of osteonecrosis and better bone microstructure than the untreated group. Res inhibited osteoclastogenesis through altering the levels of sirtuin1 (Sirt1), nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB), and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). Simultaneously, Res treatment improved bone formation and increased ß-catenin and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runt2) expression levels, while reducing forkhead box class O (FOXO) family protein levels. The results of our study suggest that Res prevents steroid-induced osteonecrosis by upregulating miR-146a, and thereby stabilizes osteogenesis/osteoclastogenesis homeostasis via Wnt/FOXO and Sirt1/NF-κB pathways.

The association between the two more common genetic causes of spermatogenic failure: a 7-year retrospective study.

Chromosomal abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletions are considered to be the two more common genetic causes of spermatogenic failure. However, the relationship between chromosomal aberrations and Y chromosome microdeletions is still unclear. This study was to investigate the incidence and characteristics of chromosomal aberrations and Y chromosome microdeletions in infertile men, and to explore whether there was a correlation between the two genetic defects of spermatogenic failure. A 7-year retrospective study was conducted on 5465 infertile men with nonobstructive azoospermia or oligozoospermia. Karyotype analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was performed by standard G-banding techniques. Y chromosome microdeletions were screened by multiplex PCR amplification with six specific sequence-tagged site (STS) markers. Among the 5465 infertile men analyzed, 371 (6.8%) had Y chromosome microdeletions and the prevalence of microdeletions in azoospermia was 10.5% (259/2474) and in severe oligozoospermia was 6.3% (107/1705). A total of 4003 (73.2%) infertile men underwent karyotyping; 370 (9.2%) had chromosomal abnormalities and 222 (5.5%) had chromosomal polymorphisms. Karyotype analysis was performed on 272 (73.3%) patients with Y chromosome microdeletions and 77 (28.3%) had chromosomal aberrations, all of which involved sex chromosomes but not autosomes. There was a significant difference in the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities between men with and without Y chromosome microdeletions (P< 0.05).

Berberine induces apoptosis in non-small-cell lung cancer cells by upregulating miR-19a targeting tissue factor.

BACKGROUND: Berberine (BBR) from the widely used Chinese herbal medicine Huanglian has an array of pharmacological and biochemical properties, including anti-neoplastic activity. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these properties are unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the anti-tumor mechanisms of BBR in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The effects of BBR on NSCLC tumor development and programmed cell death were investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Luciferase reporter assays were used to determine whether tissue factor (TF) was a target of miR-19a. RESULTS: BBR suppressed NSCLC growth and promoted apoptosis in NSCLC cells by modulating miR-19a and TF expression. Luciferase assays showed that TF was a direct inhibitory target of miR-19a in NSCLC cells. BBR induced apoptosis through the miR-19a/TF/MAPK axis. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that BBR induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells via the miR-19a/TF/MAPK signaling pathway.

[Total arthroscopic internal drainage technique for the treatment of popliteal cyst].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects of total arthroscopic internal drainage and arthroscopic combined with posterior small incision in the treatment of popliteal cyst. METHODS: From January 2015 to January 2017, 60 patients with popliteal cyst were treated, including 29 males and 31 females, aged 30 to 65(47.8±2.5) years old, with a course of disease (8.5±4.2) months. Among them, 30 cases received total arthroscopic internal drainage for popliteal fossa cyst(total arthroscopic group), 30 cases received arthroscopic combined with posterior small incision for popliteal fossa cyst(arthroscopic combined with small incision group). The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, incision length, Rauschning and Lindgren grade 0 recovery rate and Lysholm score were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients in total arthroscopy group were followed up, and 28 patients in arthroscopy combined with small incision group were followed up for 8 to 20(12.8±2.1) months. Operation time: total arthroscopic group(45.32±5.71) min, arthroscopic combined small incision group (44.56±3.85) min; Rauschning and Lindgren grade 0 recovery: 23 cases in total arthroscopic group, 22 cases in arthroscopic combined small incision group; postoperative Lysholm score: total arthroscopic group 84.5±11.2, arthroscopic combined small incision group 83.2±12.7; there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). Intraoperative bleeding volume: total arthroscopic group(5.32±1.25) ml, arthroscopic combined small incision group(20.75±8.18) ml; incision length: total arthroscopic group (1.51±0.34) cm, arthroscopic combined small incision group (7.34±0.75) cm; the difference between the two groups was significant(P<0.05). At the last follow-up, the knee joint was examined by magnetic resonance imaging, and no recurrence of cyst was found. CONCLUSIONS: Total arthroscopic internal drainage and arthroscopic combined with posterior small incision technique for popliteal fossa cyst with intra-articular lesions have the same clinical effect, but less trauma and faster recovery.

Effects of ginkgo biloba extract on the cognitive function and expression profile of inflammatory factors in a rat model of hemorrhagic stroke.

Hemorrhagic stroke is a major risk factor for cognitive impairment. Our study aimed to measure the effect of ginkgo biloba extract (EGB761) on the cognitive ability and inflammatory expression in hemorrhagic stroke model SD rats and to analyze their relationship. Forty SD rats were divided randomly into an SD group (normal control SD rats), an SD+EGB761 group (normal control SD rats supplemented with 45 mg/kg EGB761), a CO group (hemorrhagic stroke model SD rats using collagenase), and a CO+EGB761 group (hemorrhagic stroke model SD rats supplemented with 45 mg/kg EGB761) consisting of 10 rats, respectively. The Y-electric maze test was selected to measure the cognitive function in four groups. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time PCR were, respectively, applied for detecting the protein and gene expression profiles of inflammatory factors in primary cultured microglia. Compared with rats in the SD group, the average time of electrical simulation for mastering criteria was prolonged in the CO group (P<0.05). Furthermore, expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-ß were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in rats of the CO group compared with the SD group (P<0.05). The results of electrical simulation time, inflammatory factors protein, and gene expression profile in rats of the CO+EGB761 group compared with the CO group were opposite to above contrast (P<0.05). Ginkgo biloba extract could alleviate the cognitive dysfunction after hemorrhagic stroke in SD rats; this is associated with regulating the expression of inflammatory factors secreted by microglia.

[Regression analysis of red cell distribution width and mean platelet volume in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical implications of changes in red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: A total of 127 patients (90 men and 37 women) were enrolled in this analysis, including 66 with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 61 with unstable angina (UA). The patients' baseline demographic and clinical data were compared between the two groups including age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, BMI, blood biochemical profiles, cardiac functions and platelet and red blood cell parameters. The patients were further divided into subgroups according to the RDW 50% cumulative frequency, and the MPV, P-LCR, hsCRP, NT-proBNP, RBC, Dimer and MCV were compared. The correlations between platelet and erythrocyte test results were evaluated in both the AMI and UA patients. Regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting the RDW in the AMI group and a regression model was established. RESULTS: The platelet and red blood cell test results, P-LCR, MPV, and RDW differed significantly between AMI and UA groups (P<0.01 or 0.05). Correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between RDW and MPV in AMI group (r=0.34, P<0.01). Between the subgroups with different RDW 50% cumulative frequencies, MPV, P-LCR, hsCRP, D-Dimer, and NT-proBNP all differed significantly (P<0.05 or 0.01). In AMI group, with RDW as the dependent variable, we established a multivariate regression model of RDW=0.19MPV+10.83. CONCLUSION: RDW and MPV are closely correlated in patients with AMI. In multiple regression analysis, MPV can explain the changes in RDW in patients with AMI.

HSYA alleviates secondary neuronal death through attenuating oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and neural apoptosis in SD rat spinal cord compression injury.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is a major active component of yellow pigment extracted from safflowers; this compound possesses potent neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo. However, underlying mechanism of HSYA is not fully elucidated. The present study investigated the protective effects of HSYA in rat spinal cord compression injury model and related mechanisms involved. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided as Sham, Control, and HSYA groups (n = 30 per group). Spinal cord injury (SCI) model was induced by application of vascular clips (force of 50 g, 1 min) to the dura at T9-T10 level of vertebra. Injured animals were administered with either HSYA (8 mg/kg at 1 and 6 h after injury, then 14 mg/kg, for a total of 7 days at 24-h time intervals) or equal volume of saline by intraperitoneal injection. RESULTS: From this experiment, we discovered that SCI in rats resulted in severe trauma, which is characterized by tissue damage, lipid peroxidation, neutrophil infiltration, inflammation mediator release, and neuronal apoptosis. However, HSYA treatment significantly reduced the following: (1) degree of tissue injury (histological score) and edema; (2) neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase activity); (3) oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide); (4) pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2); (5) nuclear factor-κB activation; (6) apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining and cysteine-aspartic protease-3 activity). Moreover, in a separate set of experiments, we clearly demonstrated that HSYA treatment significantly ameliorated recovery of limb function (as evaluated by Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan behavioral recovery scores). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with HSYA restrains development of oxidative stress, inflammation response, and apoptotic events associated with SCI of rats, demonstrating that HSYA is a potential neuroprotectant for human SCI therapy.

Resistin may be an independent predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis formale smokers.

To investigate whether resistin is associated with early atherosclerosis in male smokers. The present study consecutively enrolled 50 male smokers. Their serum resistin contents were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and subclinical atherosclerosis indices, including carotid inner middle thickness (IMT) and arterial elasticity indices (C1 and C2), were measured. The association between serum resistin levels and IMT, C1 and C2 were respectively evaluated with the Pearson's correlation coefficient method. The results showed that the serum resistin level had a positive association with IMT (r = 0.307, p = .030), but were both inversely associated with C1 (r = -0.440, p = .001) and C2 (r = -0.381, p = .006). These associations remained significant even after adjustment for cardiovascular confounders. In conclusion, serum resistin concentration was independently associated with early atherosclerosis in male smokers.

Nicotine may affect the secretion of adipokines leptin, resistin, and visfatin through activation of KATP channel.

OBJECTIVE: It has been confirmed that adipokines are associated with atherosclerosis. Cigarette smoking was found to possibly influence adipokine secretion. However, the precise role of smoking in adipokine secretion and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether nicotine, the principal active ingredient of cigarettes, can influence adipokine secretion and its potential mechanism. METHODS: The present study consecutively enrolled 96 men, including 50 smokers with early atherosclerosis and 46 nonsmokers. Serum adipokines, including leptin, resistin, and visfatin, were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all participants. Furthermore, the effect of nicotine on secretion of these adipokines was examined in differentiated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes under the conditions of ATP-dependent potassium (KATP) channel blocked or unblocked. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, serum levels of leptin, resistin, and visfatin in smokers were significantly higher. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, nicotine treatment significantly increased the levels of these adipokines (P = 0.014, 0.001, and 0.029, respectively). When the KATP channel was blocked, secretion of resistin and visfatin was reduced (P < 0.001), but no change was found in the leptin secretion (P = 0.522). CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine may affect the secretion of adipokines leptin, resistin, and visfatin through activation of KATP channel.

Adiponectin may be a biomarker of early atherosclerosis of smokers and decreased by nicotine through KATP channel in adipocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Plasm adiponectin is decreased in smokers. Adiponectin is emerging as a potential key molecular marker in atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum adiponectin levels and early atherosclerosis in smokers. Furthermore, the role of the KATP channel in the down-regulation of adiponectin by smoking was preliminarily explored. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 96 men, including 50 smokers with atherosclerosis and 46 nonsmokers. Serum adiponectin was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - in all participants. Large (C1) and small (C2) artery elasticity indices and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured as evaluation indexes of early atherosclerosis in smokers. Finally, the effect of nicotine via ATP-dependent potassium (KATP) channels on adiponectin secretion by 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was examined in vitro. RESULTS: Adiponectin levels of smokers were statistically negatively correlated to IMT (r = -.440; P < 0.001) and positively correlated to C1 (r = 0.448; P < 0.001) as well as C2 (r = 0.426; P = 0.002). In 3-T3-L1 preadipocytes, nicotine treatment significantly decreased adiponectin levels (P = 0.003), whereas the adiponectin level was rescued by the inhibition of KATP channel (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum adiponectin level was an independent predictor of early atherosclerosis in smokers. Nicotine might decrease adiponectin in part through altering KATP channels in adipocytes.