Monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio as an independent predictor of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis-related emergency large vessel occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) and intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis-related emergent large vessel occlusion (ICAS-ELVO) in acute ischemic stroke patients with endovascular thrombectomy. METHODS: Included in this study were 215 patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy. They were randomly assigned to training and testing datasets. The patients in training dataset (n=128) were divided into ICAS group (n=65) and embolism group (n=63). MHR was compared between the two groups. According to the cut-off value, patients in testing dataset (n=87) were divided into low-MHR group (n=54) and high-MHR group (n=33). MHR was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In training dataset, the proportion of male patients, diabetic patients and smokers in ICAS group was significantly higher than that in embolism group [(50 (76.9%) vs. 30 (47.6%), P=0.001; 29 (44.6%) vs. 14(22.2%), P=0.007; 37(56.9%) vs. 14 (22.2%), P=0.001; 37 (56.9%) vs. 14 (22.2%), P=0.001], while the mean age and the proportion of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and atrial fibrillation were significantly lower [(64.74±9.13 vs. 71.38±13.34, P=0.001; 6 (9.2%) vs. 14 (22.2%), P=0.043; 12 (18.5%) vs. 22 (34.9%), P=0.035; 5 (7.7%)vs. 56 (88.9%), P<0.001)]. The laboratory test results showed that monocyte count was significantly higher and high-density lipoprotein level was significantly lower in ICAS group than those in embolism group (0.61±0.26 vs. 0.45±0.13, P=0.001; 1.17±0.28 vs. 1.37±0.27, P=0.001). MHR in ICAS group was significantly higher than that in embolism group (0.55±0.26 vs. 0.34±0.11, P=0.001). In training set, MHR was found to be an independent predictor for the occurrence of ICAS-ELVO with an adjusted OR of 2.39 (95%CI 1.29-4.48, P=0.006). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of MHR was 0.8 (95% CI, 0.72-0.87, p < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 0.60 and a specificity of 0.873. The optimal cut-off value of the MHR level was 0.46. In testing dataset, the rate of ICAS-ELVO in higher quartile was significantly higher than that in the lower quartile (81.8% vs. 33.3%, P<0.001). Patients with a low MHR had a higher rate of cerebral hemorrhagic than those with a high MHR. CONCLUSION: MHR was associated with ICAS-ELVO in acute ischemic stroke patients with endovascular thrombectomy, and the higher level of MHR does benefit to differentiate ICAS from intracranial embolism, suggesting that MHR may prove to be an independent predictor for ICAS-ELVO.

Reciprocal Regulation of Peroxisome Biogenesis and Myogenic Factors Is Critical for Myogenesis.

Mitochondria (MITO) and peroxisomes (PEXO) are the major organelles involved in the oxidative metabolism of cells, but detailed examination of their dynamics and functional adaptations during skeletal muscle (SKM) development (myogenesis) is still lacking. In this study, we found that during myogenesis, MITO DNA, ROS level, and redox ratio increased in myotubes, but the membrane potential (Δψm) and ATP content reduced, implying that the MITO efficiency might reduce during myogenesis. The PEXO number and density both increased during myogenesis, which probably resulted from the accumulation and increased biogenesis of PEXO. The expression of PEXO biogenesis factors was induced during myogenesis in vitro and in utero, and their promoters were also activated by MyoD. Knockdown of the biogenesis factors Pex3 repressed not only the PEXO density and functions but also the levels of MITO genes and functions, suggesting a close coupling between PEXO biogenesis and MITO functions. Surprisingly, Pex3 knockdown by the CRISPRi system repressed myogenic differentiation, indicating critical involvement of PEXO biogenesis in myogenesis. Taken together, these observations suggest that the dynamics and functions of both MITO and PEXO are coupled with each other and with the metabolic changes that occur during myogenesis, and these metabolic couplings are critical to myogenesis.

Cloning and expression characterization of elongation of very long-chain fatty acids protein 6 (elovl6) with dietary fatty acids, ambient salinity and starvation stress in Scylla paramamosain.

Introduction: Elongation of very long-chain fatty acids protein 6 (ELOVL6) played crucial roles in regulating energy expenditure and fatty acid metabolism. Many studies have performed to investigate the physiological roles and regulatory mechanisms of elovl6 in fish and animals, while few studies were reported in crustaceans. Methods: Here we reported on the molecular cloning, tissue distribution and expression profiles in response to dietary fatty acids, ambient salinity and starvation stress in Scylla paramamosain by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Three elovl6 isoforms (named elovl6a, elovl6b and elovl6c) were isolated from S. paramamosain in the present study. The complete sequence of elovl6a was 1345 bp, the full-length sequence of elovl6b was 1419 bp, and the obtained elovl6c sequence was 1375 bp in full length. The elovl6a, elovl6b and elovl6c encoded 287, 329 and 301 amino acids respectively, and exhibited the typical structural features of ELOVL protein family members. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the ELOVL6a from S. paramamosain clustered most closely to ELOVL6 from Portunus trituberculatus and Eriocheir sinensis, while the ELOVL6b and ELOVL6c from S. paramamosain gathered alone into a single branch. Quantitative real-time PCR exhibited that the relatively abundant expression of elovl6b was observed in intestine and stomach, and the elovl6a and elovl6c were highly expressed in hepatopancreas. In addition, studies found that replacing fish oil with soybean oil could significantly increase the transcriptional levels of three elovl6 in hepatopancreas of S. paramamosain, and the expression of elovl6a and elovl6c in hepatopancreas were more sensitive to dietary fatty acids than the elovl6b. Compared with the normal sea water group (27‰), the expression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein1c (srebp-1), elovl6a, elovl6b and elovl6c were upregulated in the low salinity groups, particularly in 7‰. On the contrary, the starvation stress suppressed the expression of srebp-1, elovl6a, elovl6b and elovl6c. Discussion: These results may contribute to understand the functions of elovl6 in fatty acid synthesis and regulatory mechanisms in crustaceans.

Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy in Patients With Acute Posterior Circulation Stroke: A Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolytic therapy (IVT) for posterior circulation stroke (PCS) in the real world are rarely studied. This study was designed to evaluate the prestroke and baseline characteristics, stroke sub-types, complications, and outcomes of PCS patients and compare them with anterior circulation stroke (ACS) after intravenous thrombolysis. METHODS: Data of consecutive patients with PCS and ACS treated with alteplase in a standard dose of 0.9 mg/kg in our stroke center were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Presenting characteristics, hemorrhage transformation, mortality, and favorable outcomes (modified Rankin scale 0 or 1) at 90 days were compared between PCS and ACS patients. RESULTS: A total of 462 patients were included in this study, including 350 (75.8%) in ACS group and 112 (24.2%) in PCS group. A history of coronary artery disease was significantly more common in ACS patients than that in PCS patients (15.1% versus 6.3%, P = .015). There was no significant difference in fast glucose and baseline NIHSS scores between PCS and ACS groups. In PCS group, 7 patients (6.3%) had hemorrhage transformation after IVT and 5 patients (4.5%) were symptomatic versus 32 (9.1%) and 22 (6.3%) in ACS group (P > .05). 75.5% PCS patients versus 72.2% ACS patients had excellent recovery outcomes (mRS 0-1) at 90 days (P = .507). For PCS patients, logistic regression analysis after adjusting the covariates identified age (P = .047, OR .920, 95% CI = .847-.999) and atrial fibrillation (P = .007, OR 12.149, 95% CI = 1.966-75.093) as independent significant predictors of hemorrhage transformation. In addition, atrial fibrillation was also an independent predictor of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (P = .008, OR 21.176, 95% CI = 2.228-201.273). Multivariate logistic analysis identified hemorrhage transformation (P = .012; OR .131, 95% CI = .027-.644) and onset to drug time (P = .026, OR 1.006, 95% CI = 1.001-1.011) as independent predictors of functional independence (mRS 0-2). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (P = .007, OR 15.094, 95% CI = 2.097-108.661) and baseline NIHSS score (P = .050; OR 1.070, 95% CI = 1.000-1.145) were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IVT in PCS patients is safe and effective as that in ACS patients. In PCS patients, long onset to needle time and hemorrhage transformation were identified as independent predictors of unfavorable outcomes.

Source apportionment of fluorine pollution in regional shallow groundwater at You'xi County southeast China.

Source apportionment of fluorine pollution in the regional shallow groundwater at You'xi County, southeast China, has been analyzed by means of monitoring F(-) ion change characteristics in this area. Meanwhile, pollution sources and influencing factors of the shallow groundwater have been uncovered by studying the correlation between F(-) and other related ions such as Na(+), Ca(2+), Cl(-), NO3(-), HCO3(-), as well as (K(+) + Na(+))/Ca(2+) ratio (R) and pH effect. The results show that F(-) ions in shallow groundwater at the study area come mainly from the dissolution of fluorinated minerals in a form of fluorite (CaF2), the so-called water-rock interaction, and there is a higher possibility for the occurrence of fluorine water where the ratio of (K(+) + Na(+))/Ca(2+) exceeds a value of 2.1. Moreover, the release and migration of F(-) ions have been favored by the alkaline environment in this study area.