AIM: To examine the effect of pretreatment with low-concentration of 11, 12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid(EET) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS: After tracheotomy, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion was produced by occlusion and release of the left anterior descending artery(LAD) of the rats. Ischemic preconditioning(IP) was made by two times of ischemia (5 min)/reperfusion (5 min). The experiment was conducted in three groups: control,IP and pretreatment with 11,12-EET(6.24?10 -8 mol/L), and each group was subdivided into two subgroups:A,the rats were subjected to ischemia (10 min)/reperfusion (10 min) and arrhythmias during the whole periods were monitored; The rats in B were subjected to ischemia (60 min)/reperfusion (30 min) and arrhythmias, cardiac funtion and myocardial infarction size were documented. RESULTS: Both IP and pretreatment with 11,12-EET could protect the heart against arrhythmias, cardiac disfunction and myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with 11,12-EET had protective effect on myocardium in case of ischemia/reperfusion, which was similar to ischemic preconditioning.

AIM: In order to study the relationship of the activation of ERK and delayed cardioprotection of 11,12-EET.METHODS: A rat ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) model was replicated by ligating left anterior descending coronary artery 30 min followed by 60 min.The expression of ERK was detected with Western blotting,and the change of heart function during reperfusion was observed.RESULTS: The difference of myocardial function was prominent at (24 h) in I/R group compared with sham group,EET+I/R and EET+PD098059+I/R group.The activity of ERK at(24 h) in EET+I/R group was higher than sham group, and the activity of ERK in EET+PD098059+I/R group was lower than that in EET+(I/R) group;the expression of phosphorylated ERK1/ERK2 at(24 h) in EET+I/R group was more than that in I/R group,and the expression of phosphorylated ERK1/ERK2 in EET+PD098059+I/R group was less than EET+I/R group.CONCLUSION: 11,12-EET has a delayed cardioprotection effect,and this protection effect is involved in the activity of ERK and expression of phosphorylated ERK1/ERK2.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine pretreatment on expression of se-cretion protein of Clara cell secretory protein(CC16)during endotoxin-induced acute lung injury(ALI) in rats.Methods One hundred and twelve healthy Wistar rats of both sexes, aged 8-12 weeks, weighing 250-350 g, were divided into ALI group(n=56)and dexmedetomidine pretreatment group(group DEX, n= 56)using a random number table.ALI was induced by intravenously injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS)5 mg∕kg over 1 min.Dexmedetomidine 10 μg∕kg was intravenously infused over 10 min starting from 10 min before LPS in group DEX.At 10 min before LPS injection and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 h after LPS injection, 8 rats were sacrificed and lungs were removed for examination of the pathological changes(with a light microscope)and ultrastructure of Clara cells(with a transmission electron microscope)and for deter-mination of CC16 expression in bronchioles(by immunohistochemistry). Results Compared with the baseline at 10 min before LPS injection, the expression of CC16 in bronchioles was significantly down-regu-lated at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 h after LPS injection in group ALI and at 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after LPS injection in group DEX(P<0.01), the pulmonary small arterial hyperemia, alveolar septa edema, red blood cell exudation and inflammatory cell infiltration were found, the Clara cells in bronchioles were reduced, the secretory granules in the cytoplasm were reduced, and the mitochondria were swollen and deformed after in-jection of LPS.Compared with group ALI, the expression of CC16 in bronchioles was significantly up-regu-lated at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 h after LPS injection(P<0.01), the pathologic changes of lung tissues were significantly attenuated, and the number of Clara cells was increased in group DEX.Conclusion The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine pretreatment reduces endotoxin-induced ALI may be related to up-regulating CC16 expression in rats.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.

The latest epidemiological data suggests that the situation of adult diabetes in China is severe, and metabolic diseases have become significant chronic illnesses that have a serious impact on public health and social development. After more than six years of practice, the National Metabolic Management Center(MMC) has developed distinctive approaches to manage metabolic patients and has achieved a series of positive outcomes, continuously advancing the standardized diagnosis and treatment model. In order to further improve the efficiency, based on the first edition, the second edition guideline was composed by incorporating experience of the past six years in conjunction with the latest international and domestic guidelines.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.