Objective To evaluate peak left ventricular(LV) apical rotation velocity during early diastole by speckle tracking echocardiography in normal peopleand patients with myocardial hypertrophy because of hypertension. Methods Two dimensional images of left basal and apical ventricular short axis view were recorded in 20 healthy people and 20 patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH). Rotation velocity-time curves of six segments in LV apex and base were obtained using Qlab software. The peak rotation velocity in early diastole of LV apex(A-Vel) and base (B-Vel) were acquired through Excel software. Results In LVH group,A-Vel was significantly decreased(P<0. 05) while B-Vel appeared no difference (P = 0.58) compared with healthy individuals. Conclusions Peak LV apical rotation velocity in early diastole can evaluate the change of LV diastolic function in patients with hypertension and LVH.

Objective To explore the preliminary evaluation of transesophageal echocardiography in percutaneous edge-to-edge repair of mitral regurgitation.Methods Ten consecutive patients were treated with percutaneous edge-to-edge repair of mitral regurgitation using the MitraClip system.All of them had moderate-severe (n =1) or severe (n =9) central MR and high operative risk.MitraClip implantation performed under echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance in general anaesthesia.Preoperative and postoperative immediate echocardiographic data were prospectively collected.Results All operations succeed with one MitraClip implanted to 5 patients and two MitraClips implanted to 5 patients.Postoperative immediate echocardiography observed MR reduction,6 cases to mild,2 cases to mild-to-moderate and 2 cases to moderate.No complications occurred in all patients,such as Clip off,pericardial effusion/tamponade,or mitral valve damage.Conclusions Echocardiography guarentees the success of MitraClip based transcatheter mitral valve repair operations with safety and effectiveness.

Objective: To compare aortic annular diameter measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with severe aortic stenosis, and to evaluate the impact on selection of prosthetic valve type in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods: Clinical data of 138 patients with severe aortic stenosis referred for TAVI between January 2014 and June 2016 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.The difference of aortic annular diameter measured by TTE, TEE, and MSCT were compared.TTE was performed after TAVI to evaluate the accuracy of measurement before TAVI. Results: (1) Aortic annular diameter was (23.37±2.22) mm by TTE and (23.52±1.70) mm by TEE (P=0.12). Pearson correlation analysis showed that aortic annular diameter measured by TTE was correlated to that measured by TEE (r=0.87, P<0.05). (2)The long-axis diameter and the short-axis diameter measured by MSCT multiplanar reconstruction were significantly different ((27.86±2.87) mm vs. (21.91±2.53) mm, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the mean of the long- and short-axis diameters and the diameter derived from cross-sectional area by MSCT ((24.92±2.38) mm vs. (24.84±2.25) mm, P=0.08). However, the diameter derived from the circumference ((25.35±2.34) mm) was significantly larger than the mean of the long- and short-axis diameters and the diameter derived from cross-sectional area by MSCT, and the difference were (0.43±0.62) mm and (0.51±0.62) mm respectively(both P<0.05). (3) Measurements of the aortic annulus diameter by MSCT including the mean of the long- and short-axis diameters, diameter derived from cross-sectional area, and diameter derived from the circumference were larger than the measurement by TTE and TTE (all P<0.05). (4) Implantation was successful in all patients.Moderate to severe paravalvular leakage was detected in 3 patients at 7 days post TAVI, and 1 patient developed severe prosthetic valve restenosis at 6 months post TAVI and received valve-in-valve implantation. Conclusions In severe aortic stenosis patients referred for TAVI, the aortic annular diameter derived from TTE and TEE measurements are smaller than that from MSCT.In the absence of a gold standard, selection of prosthetic valve type in TAVI procedure should rely on comprehensive considerations, which is of importance to get good clinical results for severe aortic stenosis patients underwent TAVI.

OBJECTIVE To predict biomarkers of type 2 inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps(CRSwNP)by employing peripheral blood indicators.METHODS CRSwNP patients admitted to the Rhinology Department of Beijing Tongren Hospital from June 2020 to May 2022 were enrolled and their basic clinical data were collected.The blood percentage of eosinophils(Eos%),Eos count,periostin and total IgE,as well as mucosal interleukin-5(IL-5)and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin-immunoglobulin E(SE-IgE)were tested.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of each blood indicator for positive mucosal expression of IL-5/SE-IgE.The logistic regression was employed to screen multiple blood indicators with predictive value for positive mucosal expression of IL-5/SE-IgE in order to construct a nomogram model.RESULTS The proportion of asthma,blood Eos%,periostin and total IgE in CRSwNP patients showed statistical differences between IL-5/SE-IgE positive and negative subgroups.ROC univariate analysis demonstrated that blood Eos%,Eos count,periostin and total IgE could predict mucosal IL-5 positivity with AUC ranging from 0.655 to 0.784,and mucosal SE-IgE positivity with AUC ranging from 0.721-0.802.The logistic regression confirmed that blood Eos%and total IgE,as well as blood periostin and total IgE were independent predictors for mucosal IL-5 and SE-IgE positivity,respectively.The nomogram models were constructed for predicting IL-5/SE-IgE positivity in CRSwNP mucosa,with consistency incides(C-index)of 0.804 and 0.81,indicating good predictive accuracy.CONCLUSION The nomograms constructed based on blood Eos%and total IgE,as well as blood periostin and total IgE,could have good predictive value for the positive mucosal expression of IL-5 and SE-IgE in the CRSwNP,which help to predict the severity of endotype and phenotype of CRSwNP.

Bronchiectasis is a complex and heterogeneous group of diseases with their own characteristics in terms of etiology, symptoms, infections and inflammation, among which infections are both the most common cause of bronchiectasis and the most important factor contributing to the progression of the disease and affecting the prognosis. The current paper will focus on the characterization, diagnosis and treatment of pathogenic bacteria in bronchiectasis.

AIM: To explore the intervention effect of Dahuangtang pellets (DHT) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) based on the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/unc-51-like kinase 1 (AMPK/mTOR/ULK1) signaling pathway. METHODS: Eight mice were randomly assigned to the model group, the dapagliflozin group, and the DHT (high, medium, and low dosage) group out of a total of 40 C57BL/KSJ-db/db (hereafter referred to as db/db) mice; another 10 C57BL/KSJ-db/dm mice were used as the normal group, saline was provided to the normal and model groups, and the mice in the treatment group received the appropriate medications. The medications were given for 10 consecutive weeks, once per day, to the mice in the treatment group. At weeks 0, 4, 8, and 10 of administration, fasting blood glucose (FBG) was assessed by drawing blood at a predetermined time from the tail vein; Urine samples were taken at 0, 5, and 10 weeks after treatment to evaluate the levels of albumin and creatinine, and the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) was computed. After 10 weeks, mice in each group were assayed for 24 h total urine protein, serum creatinine (Scr), urea nitrogen (BUN) levels; Western blotting analysis was conducted to detect the expression of p-AMPK, p-mTOR, and p-ULK1, as well as the expression of autophagy related proteins homolog of yeast Atg6 (Beclin-1), autophagy-related proteins microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), P62 in renal tissue; Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of podocyte lacunar membrane proteins (Nephrin, Podocin) in renal tissues; The pathological morphology of renal tissue was observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, FBG, ACR, and 24 h total urine protein were reduced in the dapagliflozin group and DHT groups of mice, and there was no statistically significant difference in Scr and BUN; In renal tissues, there is increased expression of p-AMPK and p-ULK1, decreased expression of p-mTOR, increased expression of LC3II / LC3I and Beclin-1, and decreased expression of P62 (P<0.01, P< 0.05); differentially upregulated in glomeruli are the podocyte lacunar membrane proteins Nephrin and Podocin (P<0.01, P<0.05); renal pathologic damage was reduced to varying degrees; transmission electron microscopy showed an increase in the number of autophagic vesicles and autophagic lysosomes. CONCLUSION: DHT can delay the development of DN by regulating the AMPK / mTOR / ULK1 signaling pathway, enhancing podocyte autophagy, and protecting glomeruli.

ObjectiveTo explore the protective effects of Dahuang Tangluo pills on early diabetic kidkdey disease （DKD） in db/db mice. MethodEight db/m mice were selected as the control group. Forty male db/db mice were selected and blood samples were collected via tail vein to measure fasting blood glucose （FBG）. Mice with FBG ≥ 16.7 mmol·L^-1， increased urine output， and persistent albuminuria were considered successful in model establishment. After successful modeling， they were randomly divided into a model group， a dapagliflozin group （1.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high， medium， and low dose groups of Dahuang Tangluo pills （3.6， 1.8， 0.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively）， with eight mice in each group. All medication groups were administered orally， while the control and model groups were given an equal amount of distilled water by gavage daily. After continuous administration for 10 weeks， the survival status of the mice was observed， and their body weight， FBG， and kidney function-related indicators were measured. Inflammatory indicators in renal tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Masson staining， and electron microscopy were used to observe the pathological changes in renal tissues in each group. Immunofluorescence was employed to examine the expression of advanced glycation end products （AGEs） and receptors for advanced glycation end products （RAGE） proteins. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were utilized to detect the gene and protein expression levels of AGEs， RAGE， inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） kinase （IKK）， and NF-κB in the renal tissues of mice in each group. ResultCompared with control group， the model group showed a significant increase in body weight， FBG， serum creatinine （SCr）， urinary microalbumin/urine creatinine ratio （ACR）， total cholesterol （TC）， and triglycerides （TG） （P<0.05）. The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α） in renal tissues were significantly elevated （P<0.05）. Renal histopathological staining and electron microscopy revealed loose arrangement， gaps， structural disarray， mesangial proliferation， and significant fibrosis in renal tissues. Real-time PCR results showed a significant increase in the expression of RAGE， IKK， and NF-κB genes in renal tissues （P<0.05）. Immunofluorescence results demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of AGEs and RAGE proteins in renal tissues （P<0.05）. Western blot results showed a significant increase in the expression of AGEs， RAGE， IKK， and NF-κB proteins in renal tissues （P<0.05）. After drug intervention， compared with model group， the dapagliflozin group and the high-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills group showed significant reductions in body weight， FBG， SCr， and ACR （P<0.05）， and a significant decrease in TC in mouse serum （P<0.05）， while the high-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills group showed a significant decrease in TG in mouse serum （P<0.05）. All treatment groups showed a significant reduction in ICAM-1， IL-6， and TNF-α in renal tissues （P<0.05）. Renal histopathological staining and electron microscopy showed improved kidney injury， decreased collagen fiber deposition， and reduced mesangial proliferation in all treatment groups. Real-time PCR results showed a significant decrease in the expression of RAGE， IKK， and NF-κB genes in the dapagliflozin group and the high- and medium-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills groups （P<0.05）. Immunofluorescence results demonstrated a significant decrease in the expression of AGEs and RAGE proteins in the dapagliflozin group and the high- and medium-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills groups （P<0.05）. Western blot results showed a significant decrease in the expression of AGEs， RAGE， IKK， and NF-κB proteins in the dapagliflozin group and the high- and medium-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills groups （P<0.05）. ConclusionDahuang Tangluo pills can improve the pathological structure of the kidneys and reduce renal inflammation in DKD mice， possibly through inhibiting the AGEs/RAGE/IKK/NF-κB pathway.

Since synthetic pigments are potentially harmful to human health, natural ones such as bixin, one of the carotenoids, are favored. As the second widely used natural pigment in the world, there is significant interest in the biosynthetic pathway of bixin which has not been fully elucidated. This review summarizes the chemical properties, extraction methods, biosynthetic pathway and application of bixin. In addition, we compared the difference between traditional extraction methods and new extraction techniques. Moreover, we described the genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of bixin and the effects of abiotic stress on the biosynthesis of bixin, and discussed the application of bixin in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. However, the researches on bixin biosynthesis pathway are mostly carried out at the transcriptome level and most of the gene functions have not been elucidated. Therefore, we propose to characterize the entire bixin biosynthetic pathway using techniques of genomics, bioinformatics, and phytochemistry. This will help facilitate the synthetic biology research of bixin and development of bixin into new drugs.
Bixaceae/genetics* ; Carotenoids ; Humans ; Pigmentation ; Transcriptome

Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Bronchiectasis ; Mycobacterium avium Complex ; Syndrome ; Nocardia Infections/drug therapy* ; Nocardia ; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection

Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis) and Scutellaria barbata (S. barbata) are common medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family. Both produce specific flavonoid compounds, including baicalein, scutellarein, norwogonin, and wogonin, as well as their glycosides, which exhibit antioxidant and antitumor activities. Here, we report chromosome-level genome assemblies of S. baicalensis and S. barbata with quantitative chromosomal variation (2n = 18 and 2n = 26, respectively). The divergence of S. baicalensis and S. barbata occurred far earlier than previously reported, and a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event was identified. The insertion of long terminal repeat elements after speciation might be responsible for the observed chromosomal expansion and rearrangement. Comparative genome analysis of the congeneric species revealed the species-specific evolution of chrysin and apigenin biosynthetic genes, such as the S. baicalensis-specific tandem duplication of genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase and chalcone synthase, and the S. barbata-specific duplication of genes encoding 4-CoA ligase. In addition, the paralogous duplication, colinearity, and expression diversity of CYP82D subfamily members revealed the functional divergence of genes encoding flavone hydroxylase between S. baicalensis and S. barbata. Analyzing these Scutellaria genomes reveals the common and species-specific evolution of flavone biosynthetic genes. Thus, these findings would facilitate the development of molecular breeding and studies of biosynthesis and regulation of bioactive compounds.
Evolution, Molecular ; Flavonoids/biosynthesis* ; Genome, Plant ; Plant Extracts/genetics* ; Scutellaria/metabolism* ; Whole Genome Sequencing