Objective To explore the role of indole-3-propionic acid(IPA)in the pathogenesis of metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)induced by high-fat diet(HFD)in order to reveal the role and related mechanism of adipose tissue metabolism in the process.Methods A mouse model of MAFLD was induced by HFD.Male C57BL/6J mice(6～7 weeks old)were randomly divided into control group(CON),HFD group,and HFD+IPA intervention group(HFD+IPA).The CON group was fed with control diet,and the HFD group and HFD+IPA group were fed with 60％of high-fat diet.The experiment period was 12 weeks,and IPA was administered at 20 mg/(kg·d)for 6 weeks starting from the 7th week.The body weight and food intake of each group were monitored weekly.After the intervention,the body composition of mice was detected by animal body composition analyzer.After the mice were euthanized,the morphological and structural changes in the liver and adipose tissues were observed by HE staining,the indicators relevant to lipid metabolism in the serum,l iver and adipose tissues were detected by automatic blood biochemical analyzer and biochemical kits,and the mRNA expression changes of lipid metabolism and inflammation related genes were detected by qRT-PCR.Results Compared with the CON group,the HFD group had significantly increased body weight and body fat percentage,obvious lipid deposition in the liver,obviously elevated serum alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels(P＜0.05),and raised mRNA levels of liver fatty acid transporter CD36(P＜0.05),while IPA intervention significantly reversed the above changes(P＜0.05).IPA intervention significantly inhibited the HFD-induced enlargement of visceral and brown fat cells,reduced the content of visceral adipose tissue(VAT)and serum level of free fatty acids(P＜0.05),and increased the mRNA expression levels of VAT lipolysis(HSL,CGI58),browning genes(Cidea,ND5,UCP1,Prdm16)(P＜0.05),as well as those of brown adipose tissue(BAT)lipolysis(HSL,ATGL)and fatty acid beta oxidation(Cpt1a,PPARα)genes(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,CXCL1 and CCL2 in VAT and BAT were decreased after IPA intervention(P＜0.05).Conclusion IPA can improve the occurrence of MAFLD induced by HFD,and its mechanism may be closely associated with its regulation of BAT and VAT morphology,and the mRNA expression of metabolic function and inflammation related genes.

Objective To explore the effect of chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA)on the expression of glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1)in the intestine of mice induced by high-fat diet(HFD)through farnesoid X receptor(FXR),and investigate the related mechanism.Methods Forty C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group,HFD group,HFD+CDCA group,HFD+Z-Gug(FXR antagonist)group,and HFD+CDCA+Z-Gug group,with 8 animals in each group.During intervention for 8 weeks,body weight and 24-hour food intake were measured every week.At the 8th week,oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT)were conducted.After the mice were sacrificed,the serum levels of GLu,TG,CHO,LDL-C and HDL-C were detected;the expression levels of GLP-1 and FXR in intestinal tissues were detected by immunofluorescence assay;and the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,Gcg and FXR were detected by RT-qPCR;the serum level of GLP-1 was detected by ELISA,and the proportion of intraepithelial lymphocytes(IELs)subsets and the expression of CD26/DPP4 were detected by flow cytometry.Results Compared with the control group,the HFD group had increased body weight,abnormal serum glucose and lipid metabolism,impaired oral glucose tolerance,and weakened secretion of gastrointestinal hormones(P＜0.05),enhanced FXR expression at mRNA and protein levels,declined Gcg mRNA level and GLP-1 secretion level(P＜0.05),increased mRNA levels of intestinal inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β(P＜0.05),raised proportions of TCRαβ+IELs,TCRαβ+CD8αα+IELs,and TCRαβ+CD8αβ+IELs but reduced proportion of TCRγδ+IELs,and increased total CD26/DPP4 expression in IELs(P＜0.05).Compared with the HFD group,HFD+CDCA treatment resulted in significantly increased body weight,impaired oral glucose tolerance,decreased secretion of gastrointestinal hormones,increased FXR mRNA and protein expression,and decreased Gcg mRNA expression and GLP-1 secretion(P＜0.05);decreased proportions of TCRαβ+IELs,TCRαβ+CD8αα+IELs and TCRααβ+CD8αβ+IELs but increased proportion of TCRγδ+ cells in IELs,and increased expression of total CD26/DPP4 in IELs(P＜0.05),which were significantly improved after Z-Gug intervention(P＜0.05).Conclusion CDCA may inhibit the expression and secretion of GLP-1 in intestinal tissue by activating FXR,and reduce the secretion of GLP-1.At the same time,CDCA may inhibit the expression of related inflammatory factors,regulate the proportions of IELs subsets,up-regulate the expression level of CD26/DPP4,promote the degradation of GLP-1 and aggravate insulin resistance.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of serum serine protease (Corin) in chronic renal failure (CRF) complicated with heart failure.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 120 patients, (64.05±13.89) years old, 77 male (64.17%), with chronic renal failure combined with heart failure admitted to Zhengzhou People′s Hospital from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The control group consisted of 87 patients, (60.59±8.78) years old, 54 male (62.07%), with simple chronic renal failure. Clinical information, laboratory test indicators and echocardiographic parameters were collected. Serum Corin concentration was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The experimental group was divided into grade Ⅱ(31 cases), grade Ⅲ(47 cases) and grade Ⅳ(42 cases) according to the New York College of Cardiology heart function classification system. Serum Corin levels were compared between the experimental group and the control group and among different cardiac function grades. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between serum Corin and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), D-dimer. ROC analysis was conducted to assess the predictive value of serum Corin in CRF complicated with heart failure and cardiac function classification; Binary Logistic regression was used to construct a multi-index joint prediction model, the joint prediction probability was obtained, and ROC curve was drawn to compare the diagnostic value of serum Corin and BNP in CRF combined with heart failure and the diagnostic value of serum Corin combined with D-dimer and BNP in CRF combined with heart failure.Results:The serum Corin level[2 568.97±477.70 pg/ml vs. 1 727.81±480.60 pg/ml, t=12.47, P<0.001], BNP [700.00(256.00, 2 089.75) pg/ml compared with 88.00 (43.00, 230.00) pg/ml, Z=-9.00, P<0.001], D-dimer [1 150.00(643.00, 1 874.75)μg/L compared with 556.00 (301.00, 865.00)μg/L, Z=-6.57, P<0.001] in chronic renal failure complicated with heart failure group was higher than that in simple CRF group, and the difference was statistically significant. Among patients with CRF complicated with heart failure, serum Corin[2 231.74±311.39 pg/ml vs. 2 562.09±365.30 pg/ml vs. 2 825.57±536.83 pg/ml, F=74.33, P<0.001], BNP [234.00(168.00, 612.00) pg/ml compared with 514.00(260.00, 1 455.00) pg/ml compared with 2 200.00(640.50, 4 682.75) pg/ml, H=29.42, P<0.001], D-dimer [753.00(514.00, 1 280.00) μg/L compared with 1 187.00(590.00, 1 840.00) μg/L compared with 1 603.00(810.00, 3 313.25) μg/L, H=14.98, P<0.001] increased with the increase of cardiac function grade, and the difference was statistically significant. According to Spearman correlation analysis, serum Corin was positively correlated with BNP ( r=0.409) and D-dimer ( r=0.299), P<0.001. According to the ROC analysis, the AUC of serum Corin in the diagnosis of CRF complicated with heart failure and cardiac function grade Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ were 0.890(95% CI 0.846-0.935), 0.807 (95% CI 0.728-0.885), 0.911 (95% CI 0.864-0.959), 0.927 (95% CI 0.882-0.972) respectively; the AUC of BNP in the diagnosis of CRF complicated with heart failure was 0.867 (95% CI 0.817-0.916), the AUC of serum Corin combined with D-dimer, BNP combined with D-dimer, serum Corin combined with D-dimer and BNP in the diagnosis of CRF complicated with heart failure were respectively 0.930 (95% CI 0.897-0.962), 0.892 (95% CI 0.847-0.936), 0.952 (95% CI 0.927-0.977). Conclusions:Serum Corin expression is elevated in patients with CRF complicated with heart failure, and the degree of elevation is related to cardiac function grade. Serum Corin has a good diagnostic value for CRF complicated with heart failure and its severity. Serum Corin is expected to become a new biomarker for diagnosis of CRF complicated with heart failure.

Macrophage-mediated inflammation plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. However, current cell-based models lack a comprehensive understanding of crosstalk between macrophages and cardiomyocytes, hindering the discovery of effective therapeutic interventions. Here, a microfluidic model has been developed to facilitate the coculture of macrophages and cardiomyocytes, allowing for mapping key signaling pathways and screening potential therapeutic agents against inflammation-induced dynamic myocardial injury. Through metabolic profiling and bioinformatic enrichment analysis, the microchip model with dynamic cell-cell crosstalk reveals robust activation of inflammatory and oxidative stress-associated metabolic pathways, closely resembling metabolic profiles of myocardial infarction in both humans and rodents. Furthermore, an integrative screening strategy has been established to screen bioactive natural products precisely, identifying ginsenoside Rb₁ and protocatechualdehyde as promising cardioprotective candidates in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, the microfluidic coculture model advances mechanistic insight into macrophage-mediated cardio-immunology and may accelerate the discovery of therapeutics for myocardial injury.

This study aimed to explore the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the post-transcriptional regulation of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide in the bovine hypothalamus and to screen key regulatory miRNAs. Targetscan was used to predict the potential miRNAs binding to CART 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR). Bioinformatics analysis predicted 7 miRNA binding sites in the bovine CART 3'UTR, which were bta-miR-377, bta-miR-331-3p, bta-miR-491, bta-miR-493, bta-miR-758, bta-miR-877, and bta-miR-381, respectively. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was carried out to determine the endogenous expression of CART and target miRNAs in the bovine hypothalamus. All the 7 target miRNAs and CART were endogenously expressed in the bovine hypothalamus. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was employed to detect the targeted binding relationship between CART 3'UTR and target miRNAs obtained from bioinformatics analysis. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that the 3'UTR of CART had a targeted binding relationship with the 7 target miRNAs. Cell experiments were conducted to examine the effects of target miRNAs on the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of exogenous CART and screen for key regulatory miRNAs. The results of cell experiments showed that the 7 miRNAs downregulated the mRNA level of CART, with bta-miR-491 demonstrating the strongest downregulating effect. Bta-miR-377, bta-miR-331-3p, bta-miR-491, bta-miR-493, and bta-miR-381 downregulated the protein level of CART, with bta-miR-381 exerting the strongest downregulating effect. Animal experiments were conducted to explore the effects of key regulatory miRNAs on the mRNA and protein levels of CART in the hypothalamus and the CART concentration in the serum. The results from animal experiments showed that miR-491 and miR-381 regulated the endogenous expression of CART in the hypothalamus and the concentration in the serum by binding to the CART 3'UTR. These results suggest that miR-491 and miR-381 are the main miRNAs regulating CART expression in the bovine hypothalamus, which can affect serum CART concentration by modulating endogenous CART expression.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Cattle ; Hypothalamus/metabolism* ; 3' Untranslated Regions/genetics* ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Binding Sites ; Base Sequence ; Computational Biology/methods* ; Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein

BACKGROUND: The effect of arteriosclerotic intracranial arterial vessel wall enhancement (IAVWE) on downstream collateral flow found in vessel wall imaging (VWI) is not clear. Regardless of the mechanism underlying IAVWE on VWI, damage to the patient's nervous system caused by IAVWE is likely achieved by affecting downstream cerebral blood flow. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of arteriosclerotic IAVWE on downstream collateral flow. METHODS: The present study recruited 63 consecutive patients at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2021 to November 2021 with underlying atherosclerotic diseases and unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) M1-segment stenosis who underwent an magnetic resonance scan within 3 days of symptom onset. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to IAVWE and the stenosis ratio (Group 1, n = 17; Group 2, n = 19; Group 3, n = 13; Group 4, n = 14), and downstream collateral flow was analyzed using three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (3D-pCASL) and RAPID software. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores of the patients were also recorded. Two-factor multivariate analysis of variance using Pillai's trace was used as the main statistical method. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in baseline demographic characteristics among the groups. IAVWE, but not the stenosis ratio, had a statistically significant significance on the late-arriving retrograde flow proportion (LARFP), hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR), and NIHSS scores ( F = 20.941, P <0.001, Pillai's trace statistic = 0.567). The between-subject effects test showed that IAVWE had a significant effect on the three dependent variables: LARFP ( R2 = 0.088, F = 10.899, P = 0.002), HIR ( R2 = 0.234, F = 29.354, P <0.001), and NIHSS ( R2 = 114.339, F = 33.338, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Arteriosclerotic IAVWE significantly reduced downstream collateral flow and affected relevant neurological deficits. It was an independent factor affecting downstream collateral flow and NIHSS scores, which should be a focus of future studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR2100053661.
Humans ; Constriction, Pathologic/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Middle Cerebral Artery/pathology* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Biofilms ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Peptides ; Plankton ; Staphylococcus epidermidis

Objective:To investigate the mid-term clinical efficacy and imaging changes of Waveflex semi-rigid internal fixation system combined with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in the treatment of double segmental lumbar degenerative diseases.Methods:The data of 51 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases who underwent surgery from September 2014 to September 2015 were retrospectively analyzed, including 29 males and 22 females, aged 65.5±5.6 years (range 58-73 years). Preoperative intervertebral space degeneration grade by University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Pfirrmann intervertebral disc degeneration grade were recorded. 23 cases of primary responsible segments were treated with decompression, fixation and fusion, and adjacent secondary responsible or degenerative segments were treated with Waveflex semi-rigid internal fixation (combined group); 28 cases of double segments were treated with decompression, fixation and fusion (fusion group). Disc height index (DHI) and intervertebral foramina height (IFH) of the semi-rigid fixation segments, DHI and IFH of the upper adjacent intervertebral space, and horizontal displacement of the upper adjacent vertebral body (HD) were measured on lateral X-ray films of lumbar spine; In the fusion group, DHI and IFH adjacent to the upper vertebral space and HD adjacent to the upper vertebral body were measured. The efficacy was evaluated by short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and Oswestry disability index (ODI).Results:51 cases were followed up for 5.4±0.3 years (range 5.2-6.3 years). The low back and leg pain and function in the combined group and fusion group were significantly improved compared with those before operation. SF-MPQ and ODI at 3 months, 1 year, 5 years after operation were significantly different from those before operation ( P<0.05). In the combined group, the DHI of semi-rigid internal fixation segments before operation and 3 months, 1 year, 5 years after operation were 37.8%±7.6%, 37.9%±7.4%, 36.5%±6.9% and 36.0%±7.1% respectively ( P>0.05); The IFH of semi-rigid internal fixation segments before operation and 3 months, 1 year, 5 years after operation were 21.5±2.8, 21.4±2.8, 20.4±2.7, 19.4±2.4 mm respectively ( P<0.05); The DHI of the upper segment adjacent to semi-rigid internal fixation before operation and 3 months, 1 year, 5 years after operation were 37.1%±9.3%, 36.8%±9.1%, 35.2%±9.1%, 33.9%±8.8% respectively ( P>0.05); The IFH of the upper segment adjacent to semi-rigid internal fixation before operation and 3 months, 1 year, 5 years after operation were 21.9±3.0, 21.4±3.0, 20.4±2.9, 19.5±2.7 mm, respectively ( P<0.05). The HD of upper vertebral body adjacent to semi-rigid internal fixation before operation and 3 months, 1 year, 5 years after operation were 2.2±0.7, 2.3±0.5, 2.5±0.5, 2.8±0.5 mm respectively ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, one case of semi-rigid titanium rod fracture, one case of screw loosening at semi-rigid internal fixation segment, three cases with unsatisfied numbness relief, and 2 cases of facet joint spontaneous fusion at semi-rigid fixation segment occurred in the combined group. Conclusion:Waveflex semi-rigid internal fixation can protect the degenerative lumbar intervertebral disc, and delay the degeneration of semi-rigid internal fixation segment and adjacent upper segment after interbody fusion, but long-term follow-up and study are needed.

Objective:To identify hot research topics about enteral nutrition in critically ill patients in PubMed from 2011 to 2020, and to explore the current research landscape and development directions.Methods:Literature about enteral nutrition published from 2011 to 2020 were retrived in the PubMed database. Subject headings in publications were extracted using BICOMB and then two-way cluster analysis was performed using gCLUTO to cluster the subjects and generate cluster curve, matrix and tree diagram.Results:A total of 5,686 publications were included, mostly published in Unites States and United Kingdom and with an increasing trend. The researches focused on five aspects including feeding practice in very low birth weight infants, prevention and control of aspiration pneumonia in critically ill patients, catheterization methods in enteral nutrition, protein intake in critically ill patients, and clinical implementation of enteral nutrition guidelines in critically ill patients.Conclusions:Much importance has been attached to enteral nutrition researches over the recent decade. Analysis of hot research topics in enteral nutrition is beneficial to understanding the current research landscape and development directions and providing references for practice, research and education of enteral nutrition.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic factors of renal function after nephron sparing surgery (NSS) in renal tumor patients.Methods:The data of 115 patients who underwent NSS in our hospital from December 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 75 males and 40 females, aged (49.50±12.94) years. The body mass index was (24.59±3.59) kg/m 2. The maximum diameter of the tumor was (3.66±1.32) cm. The R. E.N.A.L. score was (6.43±1.60). Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was performed in 61 cases and robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was performed in 54 cases, and all of which were successfully completed. Operative time, WIT and postoperative pathological results were recorded. Blood creatinine value, GFR of affected kidney, GFR of healthy kidney, total GFR, GFR preserving rate (the ratio of postoperative GFR to preoperative GFR), functioning parenchymal volume (FPV) of the affected kidneys, and FPV preserving rate of the affected kidneys (the ratio of postoperative FPV and preoperative FPV) were recorded 6 months after surgery. FPV was measured by the ellipsoid approximation on CT images before and after surgery. Paired sample t test was used to compare GFR and FPV before and after surgery. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between the study factors and GFR preserving rate of the affected kidneys. Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze independent predictors of renal function of the affected kidneys. Independent sample t test was used for comparison between group of WIT≤25 min and group of WIT>25 min. Results:All of the 115 patients in this study underwent successfully operations, with the median operation time of 135(75-245) min, and WIT(24.57±5.51) min. Postoperative GFR of the affected kidneys(35.50±7.81)ml/(min·1.73 m 2) was significantly different from preoperative GFR( P<0.001). The FPV preserving rate of the affected kidneys was (84.28±4.37)%, which was significantly lower than that preoperative FPV of the affected kidneys ( P<0.001). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that there was a strong positive correlation between the FPV preserving rate of the affected kidneys and the GFR preserving rate of the affected kidneys ( r=0.802), WIT was negatively correlated with the GFR preserving rate of the affected kidneys ( r=-0.503). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that preoperative GFR of the affected kidneys ( b=-0.150, P=0.008), WIT ( b=-0.443, P<0.001) and the FPV preserving rate of the affected kidneys ( b=1.638, P<0.001) were independent predictors of the GFR preserving rate of the affected kidneys. WIT>25 min group had a significantly lower GFR preserving rate of the affected kidneys than WIT≤25 min group [(68.77±10.88)% vs.(79.34±8.88)%, P<0.001]. Conclusions:In the case of short WIT (<30 min), the reservation of normal renal tissue is the most important variable prognostic factor of renal function after NSS, and short WIT plays a secondary role. Under the premise of complete tumor resection, normal renal tissue should be reserved as much as possible and WIT should be controlled within 25 min.