OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of quercetin on cuproptosis and L-type calcium currents in the myocardium of diabetic rats. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomized into control group and diabetic model groups. The rat models of diabetes mellitus (DM) induced by high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection were further divided into DM model group, quercetin treatment group, and empagliflozin treatment group (n=10). Blood glucose and body weight were measured every other week, and cardiac function of the rats was evaluated using echocardiography. HE staining, Sirius red staining, and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) analysis were used to observe the changes in myocardial histomorphology, and serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression were detected. In cultured rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells with high-glucose exposure, the effects of quercetin and elesclomol, alone or in combination, on intracellular CK-MB and LDH levels and FDX1 expression were assessed, and the changes in L-type calcium currents were analyzed using patch-clamp technique. RESULTS: The diabetic rats exhibited elevated blood glucose, reduced body weight, impaired left ventricular function, increased serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression, decreased L-type calcium currents, and prolonged action potential duration. Quercetin and empagliflozin treatment significantly lowered blood glucose, improved body weight, and restored cardiac function of the diabetic rats, and compared with empagliflozin, quercetin more effectively reduced serum copper levels, downregulated FDX1 expression, and enhanced myocardial L-type calcium currents in diabetic rats. In H9c2 cells, high glucose exposure significantly increased myocardial expressions of FDX1, CK-MB and LDH, which were effectively lowered by quercetin treatment; Elesclomol further elevated FDX1, CK-MB and LDH levels in the exposed cells, and these changes were not significantly affected by the application of quercetin. CONCLUSIONS Quercetin ameliorates myocardial injury in diabetic rats possibly by suppressing myocardial cuproptosis signaling and restoring L-type calcium channel activity.
Animals ; Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Calcium Channels, L-Type/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Male

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Objective To investigate the early clinical efficacy of minimally invasive cardiac surgery coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) via left intercostal small incision for multivessel coronary artery disease. Methods The patients who received off-pump CABG in the Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2021 to June 2023 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the operative technique used, including a traditional midline sternotomy group and a left intercostal small incision group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared. Results A total of 143 patients were enrolled, including 70 patients in the traditional midline sternotomy group and 73 patients in the left intercostal small incision group. The age of the patients in the left intercostal small incision group and the traditional midline sternotomy group was (63.8±8.0) years and (63.0±7.8) years, respectively; the proportions of males were 69.9% and 74.3%, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). All patients in the two groups successfully completed the operation, and no patients in the left intercostal small incision group were converted to thoracotomy. The patients in the left intercostal small incision group showed less postoperative drainage within postoperative 24 hours [(239.4±177.7) mL vs. (338.0±151.9) mL, P<0.001], lower perioperative blood transfusion rate [32.9% (24/73) vs. 51.4% (36/70), P=0.028], higher postoperative myoglobin level within postoperative 24 hours [366.1 (247.9, 513.0) ng/mL vs. 220.8 (147.2, 314.9) ng/mL, P<0.001], shorter intensive care unit stay [45.5 (31.5, 67.5) h vs. 68.0 (46.0, 78.5) h, P=0.001] and postoperative hospital stay [(10.8±4.0) d vs. (13.1±5.3) d, P=0.028] compared to the traditional midline sternotomy group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event between the two groups [2.7% (2/73) vs. 2.9% (2/70), P=1.000]. Conclusion Compared to the full median sternotomy, MICS CABG leads to a good clinical result with smaller trauma, faster overall recovery, and less perioperative blood transfusion.

Paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury is a serious neurological complication, for which surgery is currently the main treatment method. Due to different surgical approaches, patients are usually expected to maintain a passive prone position for a long time or switch between the supine and prone positions. Affected by multiple factors such as neurogenic sensory disorders, pathological changes in muscle tone and operative duration, the risk of intraoperative acquired pressure injury (IAPI) is significantly increased. Current clinical prevention strategies for IAPI in these patients predominantly focus on localized pressure relief during positioning, lacking systematic, standardized comprehensive prevention protocols or evidence-based guidelines. To address it, Department of Nursing, Orthopedics Branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, Spinal Trauma Professional Committee, Orthopedics Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Nursing Group of Spine and Spinal Cord Professional Committee of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine organized experts in relevant fields to formulate Guideline for the prevention of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury ( version 2025), based on evidence-based medical evidence and latest research results and clinical practice at home and abroad. Eleven recommendations were put forward from the aspects of preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative prevention strategies, postoperative handover and monitoring, and supportive mechanisms for IAPI prevention, aiming to standardize the prevention measures and management strategies of IAPI in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury and accelerate the recovery of patients and improve the therapeutic effect.

Objective To observe the correlations of chest CT quantitative parameters and one-year readmission in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Methods Totally 225 AECOPD patients were included and divided into the readmission group(group A,n=61)and non-readmission group(group B,n=164)according to whether readmitted due to acute exacerbation within one year or not.Quantitative CT parameters,including the percentage of low attenuation area volume to total lung volume(LAA％)and intrapulmonary vascular volume(IPVV)of the whole lung,left/right lung and each lobe,as well as the bronchial lumen area(LA)and percentage of bronchial wall area(WA％)of grades 3-8 were compared between groups.Spearman correlations were used to analyze the correlations between quantitative CT parameters and one-year readmission.Results LAA％of the whole lung,right lung,upper lobe of both lungs,middle lobe of the right lung,and lower lobe of the right lung in group A were higher than that in group B(all P＜0.05),which were weakly positively correlated with readmissions within one year(r=0.142-0.187,all P＜0.05).Significant differences of the upper lobe of right lung LAgrade 6,lower lobe of left lung LAgrade 6,lower lobe of left lung LAgrade 8,upper lobe of right lung WA％grade 5,upper lobe of right lung WA％grade 8 and lower lobe of left lung WA％grade 8 were found between groups,which were all correlated with readmissions within one year except for the lower lobe of the left lung LAgrade 6(all P＜0.05).Conclusion One-year readmission in AECOPD patients might be associated with severe airway remodeling and emphysema.

Objective:To analyze the molecular characteristics of prevalent Bordetella pertussis (Bp) isolates in Liaocheng City, Shandong Province in 2024. Methods:From March to August 2024, oropharyngeal swabs were collected from suspected pertussis cases at Liaocheng People′s Hospital in Shandong Province for Bp isolation. A total of 99 Bp isolates were obtained. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on all isolates, followed by Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST), vaccine antigen-related gene typing (including ptxP, ptxA, ptxB, ptxC, ptxD, ptxE, fhaB, fim2, fim3, and prn), 23S rRNA gene typing, and phylogenetic analysis. To capture the differences between Bp isolates and vaccine strains in Liaocheng City, the international vaccine strain Tohama I and the Chinese vaccine strain CS were included in the analysis. Antimicrobial resistance testing against 11 agents was performed on 52 isolates. Results:The throat swabs of 99 Bp isolates were collected from patients aged 44 days to 42 years, and the median age of the patients was 7 (5, 8) years. All isolates ptxP were ptxP3 type. 74 isolates (74.75%) carried the prn150, while 21 isolates (21.21%) were prn-deficient. The predominant antigenic profile was ptxP3/ ptxA1/ ptxB1/ ptxC4/ ptxD1/ ptxE4/ fhaB1/ fim2-1/ fim3-1/ prn150, found in 72 isolates (72.73%). All 99 isolates carried the A2047G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the MICs of macrolides and clindamycin for all 52 Bp isolates were all >256 mg/L. However, the isolates showed low MIC for seven other antimicrobials tested, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, and levofloxacin. MLST typing revealed that 94 isolates (94.95%) were identified as ST-2, while 5 isolates (5.05%) belonged to a novel sequence type (ST-118). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that all 99 Bp isolates were highly homologous but clustered in evolutionary branches distinct from vaccine strains. Conclusion:In 2024, Bordetella pertussis isolates in Liaocheng City exhibit distinct clonal epidemic characteristics, with the predominant antigenic genotype being ptxP3/ ptxA1/ ptxB1/ ptxC4/ ptxD1/ ptxE4/ fhaB1/ fim2-1/ fim3-1/ prn150. All isolates are resistant to macrolide antibiotics.

Objective To investigate the value of chest contrast-enhanced CT(C-CECT)combined with artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction(AIIR)for bronchial artery(BA)imaging.Methods Seventy patients who underwent C-CECT were prospectively enrolled.The images were reconstructed with AIIR(AIIR group)and hybrid iterative reconstruction(HIR,HIR group),respectively.The overall image quality,the traceability of BA,the sharpness of BA and the diagnostic confidence of abnormalities of BA were subjectively graded using a 5-point scale by two radiologists,respectively.The subjective scores and inter-observer agreement were compared between groups.The noise(SD)in reconstructed images of thoracic aorta,pulmonary trunk,BA and spinal erectors,the contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of the above 3 arteries relative to spinal erectors,and the diameters of BA at the origin,bifurcation and pulmonary hilum were compared between groups.Results The scores of the overall image quality,the traceability of BA,the sharpness of BA and the diagnostic confidence of abnormalities of BA were all significantly higher in AIIR group than those in HIR group(all P＜0.001),all with good inter-observer agreement(Kappa=0.46-0.73).SD of the aorta,pulmonary artery trunk,BA and erector spinal muscle in AIIR group were lower than those in HIR group,while CNR of above 3 arteries were higher than those in HIR group(all P＜0.05).No significant difference of the diameter of BA at each position was found between groups(all P＞0.05),while the consistency of measurement of AIIR group was higher than that of HIR group(intra-class correlation coefficient:0.89-0.94 vs.0.63-0.78).Conclusion C-CECT combined with AIIR could significantly improve imaging quality and diagnostic confidence of BA.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effects of adeno-associated virus vector 5 (AAV5)-mediated hepatic lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression on serum triglyceride (TG) metabolism and hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) in mice.Methods:Ten male C57BL/6 Lpl+/- mice were randomly divided into two groups by a random number table: the Lpl+/- control group and the Lpl+/- gene therapy group, with five mice in each group. The Lpl+/- control group received a tail vein injection of AAV5 vector carrying the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene (AAV5-EGFP), while the Lpl+/- gene therapy group received a tail vein injection of AAV5 vector carrying the human LPLS447X gene (AAV5-LPLS447X). Oral fat tolerance tests were performed at 14, 28, and 56 days post-injection. Twenty wild-type ICR mice were randomly divided into a control group and a gene therapy group, with ten mice in each group. The ICR control group was injected with AAV5-EGFP, and the ICR gene therapy group was injected with AAV5-LPLS447X. Fourteen days after injection, the mice underwent intraperitoneal injection of P407 solution (0.5 g/kg) and caerulein (200 μg/kg) to induce HTG-AP. Serum TG, total cholesterol (TC), amylase, lipase levels, and plasma LPL activity after heparin injection were measured by microplate reader. Plasma LPL concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). LPL mRNA expression levels in the liver, heart, and adipose tissue of Lpl+/- mice were determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). LPL protein expression in the liver tissue of ICR mice was detected by immunohistochemistry at 28 days after gene therapy. Histopathological changes in the pancreas were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results:Compared to the Lpl+/- control group, the Lpl+/- gene therapy group showed a significant decrease in serum TG levels starting from day 21. After oral administration of olive oil, the increase and peak of serum TG levels were significantly lower than those in the control group. Furthermore, hepatic LPL mRNA expression levels were significantly higher (1.96±0.11 vs 1.02±0.12) with statistical significance ( P<0.05). Compared to the ICR control group, the ICR gene therapy group showed a significant decrease in serum TG and TC levels, and plasma LPL activity (0.17±0.05 mEq/L·h -1vs 0.06±0.02 mEq/L·h -1) was significantly higher at 28 days after heparin injection with statistical significance (all P value <0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed high expression of LPL protein on the hepatocyte membrane in the liver of ICR gene therapy group mice. Moreover, pancreatic edema, inflammatory infiltration, and acinar cell necrosis were significantly alleviated compared to the control group. Conclusions:LPLS447X treatment can promote LPL expression in the liver of mice, significantly reduce TG levels, and alleviate the severity of HTG-AP.

Objective To explore related factors of intra-amniotic infection(IAI)during the delivery period in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM),and to analyze the predictive value of these related factors for IAI.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 360 GDM pregnant women,including 120 cases with IAI(IAI group)and 240 pregnant women with GDM who did not develop IAI(control group).Clinical data,fetal monitoring during labor,placental pathology,pregnancy outcomes and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)results were collected for both groups.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to investigate influencing factors of IAI.The predictive value of combined HbA1c levels,parity and rupture time for IAI was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated.Results In the IAI group,the proportion of primigravida,first-time delivery,artificial rupture of membranes,oxytocin use,rupture time and HbA1c levels were significantly higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The IAI group had a smaller gestational age at delivery,higher rates of forceps-assisted delivery,cesarean section and amniotic fluid contamination(P＜0.05).In the IAI group,the proportion of abnormal intrapartum baseline fetal heart rate and the incidence of late decelerations were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05),while the incidence of variable deceleration and the proportion of category Ⅱ fetal heart rate monitoring were lower in the IAI group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in baseline variability or acceleration of fetal heart rate between the two groups(P＞0.05).The proportions of mild neonatal asphyxia and neonatal transfer to intensive care were high in the IAI group than those of the control group(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression showed that elevated HbA1c levels(OR=3.342,95%CI:1.539-7.257)and prolonged rupture time(OR=1.001,95%CI:1.000-1.001)were independent risk factors for IAI in GDM pregnant women,while multiparity was a protective factor(OR=0.113,95%CI:0.046-0.278).The AUC for predicting IAI during labor by combining HbA1c,parity and rupture time was 0.819(95%CI:0.772-0.865),with a sensitivity of 0.742 and specificity of 0.767.Conclusion HbA1c levels,rupture time and parity are independent influencing factors for IAI during labor in pregnant women with GDM.The combination of these three factors has high clinical value in predicting IAI in GDM patients.

Objective To explore related factors of intra-amniotic infection(IAI)during the delivery period in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM),and to analyze the predictive value of these related factors for IAI.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 360 GDM pregnant women,including 120 cases with IAI(IAI group)and 240 pregnant women with GDM who did not develop IAI(control group).Clinical data,fetal monitoring during labor,placental pathology,pregnancy outcomes and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)results were collected for both groups.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to investigate influencing factors of IAI.The predictive value of combined HbA1c levels,parity and rupture time for IAI was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated.Results In the IAI group,the proportion of primigravida,first-time delivery,artificial rupture of membranes,oxytocin use,rupture time and HbA1c levels were significantly higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The IAI group had a smaller gestational age at delivery,higher rates of forceps-assisted delivery,cesarean section and amniotic fluid contamination(P＜0.05).In the IAI group,the proportion of abnormal intrapartum baseline fetal heart rate and the incidence of late decelerations were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05),while the incidence of variable deceleration and the proportion of category Ⅱ fetal heart rate monitoring were lower in the IAI group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in baseline variability or acceleration of fetal heart rate between the two groups(P＞0.05).The proportions of mild neonatal asphyxia and neonatal transfer to intensive care were high in the IAI group than those of the control group(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression showed that elevated HbA1c levels(OR=3.342,95%CI:1.539-7.257)and prolonged rupture time(OR=1.001,95%CI:1.000-1.001)were independent risk factors for IAI in GDM pregnant women,while multiparity was a protective factor(OR=0.113,95%CI:0.046-0.278).The AUC for predicting IAI during labor by combining HbA1c,parity and rupture time was 0.819(95%CI:0.772-0.865),with a sensitivity of 0.742 and specificity of 0.767.Conclusion HbA1c levels,rupture time and parity are independent influencing factors for IAI during labor in pregnant women with GDM.The combination of these three factors has high clinical value in predicting IAI in GDM patients.