Mitochondrial homeostasis in odontoblast: Physiology, pathogenesis and targeting strategies.

Caries and pulpitis remain a major global disease burden and affect the quality of life of patients. Odontoblasts are key players in the progression of caries and pulpitis, not only secreting and mineralizing to form dentin, but also acting as a wall of defense to initiate immune defenses. Mitochondrion is an information processor for numerous cellular activities, and dysregulation of mitochondrion homeostasis not only affects cellular metabolism but also triggers a wide range of diseases. Elucidating mitochondrial homeostasis in odontoblasts can help deepen scholars' understanding of odontoblast-associated diseases. Articles on mitochondrial homeostasis in odontoblasts were evaluated for information pertinent to include in this narrative review. This narrative review focused on understanding the complex interplay between mitochondrial homeostasis in odontoblasts under physiological and pathological conditions. Furthermore, mitochondria-centered therapeutic strategies (including mitochondrial base editing, targeting platforms, and mitochondrial transplantation) were emphasized by resolving key genes that regulate mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are involved in odontoblast differentiation and function, and act as mitochondrial danger-associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs) to mediate odontoblast pathological progression. Novel mitochondria-centered therapeutic strategies are particularly attractive as emerging therapeutic approaches for the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis. It is expected to probe key events of odontoblast differentiation and advance the clinical resolution of dentin formation and mineralization disorders and odontoblast-related diseases.

LCZ696 Ameliorates Isoproterenol-Induced Acute Heart Failure in Rats by Activating the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Objective: LCZ696 (sacubitril/valsartan) is an angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor-neprilysin inhibitor, with effects of immunosuppression, anti-inflammation, antiapoptosis, and antioxidation. The present study was aimed at determining whether LCZ696 has a protective effect against isoproterenol-induced acute heart failure (AHF) in rats. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, HF group, LCZ696 group, and enalapril group. The cardiac function of rats was evaluated using echocardiographic parameters, heart weight (HW), serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). HE is staining, which was used to determine the pathological damage of rat myocardial tissue. Also, we measured oxidative stress markers including reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Finally, the expression of Nrf2 signaling pathway-related proteins was determined using Western blot. Results: Compared with the HF group, LCZ696 could significantly improve cardiac function and myocardial injury in rats and reduce AHF-induced oxidative stress. In addition, the results of Western blot confirmed that LCZ696 could upregulate the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 while decreasing Keap1 expression. Conclusion: LCZ696 ameliorates isoproterenol-induced AHF in rats by alleviating oxidative stress injury and activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Depressive State in the Emergency Department During COVID-19: A National Cross-Sectional Survey in China.

Chinese emergency department (ED) staff encountered significant mental stress while fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We sought to investigate the prevalence and associated factors for depressive symptoms among ED staff (including physicians, nurses, allied health, and auxiliary ED staff). A cross-sectional national survey of ED staff who were on duty and participated in combating the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted March 1-15, 2020. A total of 6,588 emergency medical personnel from 1,060 hospitals responded to this survey. A majority of respondents scored above 10 points on the PHQ-9 standardized test, which is associated with depressive symptoms. Those aged 31-45, those working in the COVID-19 isolation unit, and those with relatives ≤ 16 or ≥70 years old at home all had statistically significant associations with scoring >10 points. Depressive symptoms among Chinese emergency medical staff were likely quite common during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforce the importance of targeted ED staff support during future outbreaks.

Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation on serum levels of myeloperoxidase, soluble ST2, and hypersensitive C-reactive protein in acute myocardial infarction patients.

BACKGROUND: Prompt and effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can promote the recovery of spontaneous circulation to some extent and can save patients' lives. The minimum target of cardiac resuscitation is the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). However, owing to prolonged sudden cardiac arrest, there is relatively high mortality within 24 h after cardiac resuscitation. Moreover, severe cerebral anoxia can deteriorate the prognosis of patients. Therefore, it is important to adopt an effective clinical evaluation of acute myocardial infarct (AMI) patients' prognosis after cardiac resuscitation for the purpose of prevention and management. AIM: To investigate early CPR effects on human myeloperoxidase (MPO), soluble ST2 (sST2), and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in AMI patients. METHODS: In total, 54 patients with cardiac arrest caused by AMI in our hospital were selected as the observation group, and 50 other patients with AMI were selected as the control group. The differences in serum levels of MPO, sST2, and hs-CRP between the observation group and the control group were tested, and the differences in the serum levels of MPO, sST2, and hs-CRP in ROSC and non-ROSC patients, and in patients who died and in those who survived, were analyzed. RESULTS: Serum levels of MPO, sST2, hs-CRP, lactic acid, creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum levels of MPO, sST2, hs-CRP, lactic acid, CK-MB, and cTnI in the observation group were lower after CPR than before CPR (P < 0.05). In the observation group, MPO, sST2, hs-CRP, lactic acid, CK-MB, and cTnI serum levels were lower in ROSC patients than in non-ROSC patients (P < 0.05). MPO, sST2, hs-CRP, and lactic acid serum levels of patients who died in the observation group were higher than those of patients who survived (P < 0.05). The areas under receiver operating characteristic curve predicted by MPO, sST2, hs-CRP, lactic acid, CK-MB, and cTnI were 0.616, 0.681, 0.705, 0.704, 0.702, and 0.656, respectively (P < 0.05). The areas under receiver operating characteristic curve for MPO, SST2, hs-CRP, and lactic acid to predict death were 0.724, 0.800, 0.689, and 0.691, respectively (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that MPO, sST2, and hs-CRP were the influencing factors of ROSC [odds ratios = 1.667, 1.589, and 1.409, P < 0.05], while MPO, sST2, hs-CRP, and lactic acid were the influencing factors of death (odds ratios = 1.624, 1.525, 1.451, and 1.365, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of MPO, sST2, hs-CRP, and lactic acid have a certain value in predicting recovery and prognosis of patients with ROSC.

Overexpressed CD39 mitigates sepsis­induced kidney epithelial cell injury via suppressing the activation of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3.

Unfettered inflammation is a leading cause of multiple organ failures in sepsis. The anti­inflammatory role of cluster of differentiation (CD)39 has been previously reported. The present study aimed to investigate the role of unfettered inflammation in sepsis­induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was introduced to construct a sepsis mouse model. Kidney function and pathological changes in mice were measured at 12, 24 and 48 h. CD39 overexpression and inhibition vectors were transfected into renal tubular epithelial (HK­2) cells, followed by LPS treatment (10 µg/ml), and the cell viability changes at 24 h after treatment were assessed and the expression of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), cleaved caspase­1 and CD39 were determined by performing ELISAs. Cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined by flow cytometry. It was found that after LPS administration, kidney injury was the most serious at 24 h in mice. CD39 overexpression could suppress the upregulation of pro­inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS treatment. In addition, the cell apoptosis and ROS level exhibited an obvious decrease, while cell viability increased. The NLRP3 expression and activity also showed a great inhibition in CD39­overexpressed cells. By contrast to CD39 overexpression, CD39 inhibition promoted the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. These data indicate the protective role of CD39 in LPS­induced renal tubular epithelial cell damage through inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and that CD39 might be a potential therapeutic target in sepsis­induced AKI.

[A retrospective analysis of 19 splenic abscess patients].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of patients with splenic abscess. METHOD: The clinical data, including baseline clinical data, clinical features, past history, pathogen culture result, treatment and the prognosis were retrospectively analyzed in the patients with the discharge diagnosis splenic abscess from January 1991 to March 2012 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. RESULTS: The media time from onset to Peking Union Medical College Hospital of the 19 patients were 29 days. Among them, 9 patients were cured, 8 were improved and 2 died. Risk factors, such as tumor burden, diabetes, and using immunosuppressive agents etc, can be found in most patients with splenic abscess. All the 19 patients had splenic image changes and non-specific clinical features. The most common three clinical symptoms were fever (18 cases), chills (12 cases) and shivering (11 cases). The most common three signs were abdominal tenderness (9 cases), left upper quadrant sensitive to percussion (7 cases) and splenomegaly (4 cases). The most common etiological culture results were gram negative bacilli (9 cases), gram positive coccus (8 cases), and fungi (4 cases). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical features are non-specific in splenic abscess patients. Related exam such as ultrasound should be performed on patients with splenic abscess risk factors to avoid misdiagnosis. Empiric antibiotic administration should begin right after the diagnosis based on the image. Pathogen culture should be timely conducted after pus collection. Individual therapeutical protocol should be chosen according to patient's condition.