Emerging evidences have indicated the role of ferroptosis in the progression of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD); thus, inhibiting ferroptosis is a promising strategy for the development of MAFLD therapeutics. Recent studies have demonstrated the antioxidative effect of the gut commensal bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muc); however, whether it can alleviate ferroptosis remains unclear. The current study indicates A. muc intervention efficiently reversed high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHFD)-induced lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in the liver. These beneficial effects were mediated by activation of the hepatic AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis, as evidenced by the finding that AMPK deficiency abrogated the amelioration of lipid peroxidation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were enriched upon A. muc treatment, and acetate was identified as a key activator of hepatic AMPK signalling. Mechanistically, microbiota-derived acetate was transported to the liver and metabolized to adenosine monophosphate (AMP), which triggered AMPK activation. Furthermore, a colonization assay in germ-free mice confirmed that A. muc mediated antiferroptotic effects in the absence of other microbes. These data indicated that A. muc exerts antiferroptotic effects against MAFLD, at least partially by producing acetate, which activates the hepatic AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis to alleviate ferroptosis via the inhibition of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthesis.

Cobalt/toxicity* ; Computational Biology ; Kidney/drug effects* ; Kidney Diseases/genetics* ; Humans

Objective To investigate the accuracy of liver stiffness (LS) as a noninvasive index in predicting hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and the value of LS in the diagnosis of decompensated liver cirrhosis. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 88 patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis or decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis who received both HVPG measurement and LS measurement by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) in Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, from April 2013 to June 2021, and according to HVPG, the patients were divided into serious portal hypertension (SPH) (HVPG≥20 mmHg) group with 24 patients and non-SPH (HVPG < 20 mmHg) group with 64 patients. The two groups were compared in terms of LS, spleen stiffness, portal vein velocity, and related biochemical parameters. The t -test or the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation of different noninvasive indices with HVPG, and a Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association of different noninvasive indices with the risk of SPH. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for different noninvasive indices in predicting HVPG≥20 mmHg, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, maximum Youden index, and corresponding cut-off value were calculated to investigate the value of each index in predicting SPH. Results Among the 88 patients, 76 had decompensated cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis and 12 had decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis. There were no significant differences between the SPH group and the non-SPH group in age, sex, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, platelet count, prothrombin time, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, serum sodium, creatinine, Child-Pugh class, and spleen stiffness, while there was a significant difference in LS between the two groups ( t =-3.970, P < 0.01). The correlation analysis showed that HVPG was positively correlated with LS ( r =0.458, P < 0.001). The Logistic regression analysis showed that LS was a risk factor for SPH (odds ratio=3.941, 95% confidence interval: 1.245-12.476, P =0.020). The ROC curve analysis showed that LS had an AUC of 0.751 in predicting the onset of SPH, with a sensitivity of 54.17% and a specificity of 90.63% at the optimal cut-off value of 2.295 m/s. Conclusion In patients with decompensated cirrhosis, LS measured by ARFI is correlated with HVPG and has a certain value in the non-invasive diagnosis of decompensated cirrhosis with HVPG≥20 mmHg.

Dendrobii officinalis, with a definite effect of nourishing Yin and clearing heat, has been a folk habit for drinking after being mixed with water. Because its superfine powder has the advantages of high dissolution and convenient drinking, we observed the effect of D. officinalis superfine powder on metabolic hypertension model rats and its possible mechanism in this experiment, which can be used as a reference for its clinical application for hypertension. The overeating greasy-induced metabolic hypertension model was established with high-fat, high-sugar and high-purine diet. These rats were orally administered with 400 mg·kg~(-1) and 200 mg·kg~(-1) of D. officinalis superfine powder for 20 consecutive weeks. During this period, blood pressure, blood lipid, blood glucose, insulin and other related indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism were monitored; the levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS), C-reactive protein(CRP), interleukin 6(IL-6) and other inflammatory mediators were measured; the levels of nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1(ET-1) were detected, and the histomorphological and ultrastructural changes of aorta were observed. In addition, the expression of LPS/TLR4 pathway-related molecules in aorta was determined. The results showed that long-term administration of D. officinalis superfine powder significantly reduced the levels of systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and mean arterial pressure(MBP) in metabolic hypertension model rats, decreased the levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c), glucose(Glu), and insulin(INS) levels in blood, increased the contents of high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c),decreased the LPS, CRP, IL-6 and ET-1 levels in blood and increased NO content. Furthermore, it improved the abnormality of aortic histomorphology and endothelial ultrastructure, and inhibited the protein expression of TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor(MyD88), IL-6, interleukin-1 β(IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) as well as mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in aorta. In conclusion, D. officinalis superfine powder may improve the abnormal function and structure of blood vessels by inhibiting the activation of LPS/TLR4 pathway, thus playing a role against metabolic hypertension.
Animals ; Dendrobium/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Hyperphagia ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Interleukin-6 ; Powders ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Objective: To summarize the clinical features and treatment status for elderly in-hospital patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods: A single center retrospective study was conducted in 1 741 patients admitted in our hospital from 2014-05-01 to 2015-04-30 with echocardiography confirmed moderate to severe MR. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Elderly group, n=680(39.06%)patients≥60 years of age and Non-elderly group,n=1 061(60.94%)patients<60 years.Clinical features and treatment status were studied and compared between 2 groups. Results: The mean age in Elderly group was (66.98±5.94) years and the most common type was degenerative MR (41.18%). Compared with Non-elderly group, Elderly group had more patients combining coronary artery disease (37.79% vs 17.43% ), more risk factors of atherosclerosis such as hypertension (45.44% vs 25.17%), diabetes (19.56% vs 8.48%) and hyperglycemia (35.29% vs 19.51%) all P<0.05; Elderly group had the higher EuroSCORE Ⅱ score (5.54±2.42) vs (3.15±1.66), greater left ventricular end diastolic diameter (57.72±12.37) mm vs (57.33±10.19) mm and less patients combining multiple valve disease (35.59% vs 40.81%), less patients received surgical treatment (54.71% vs 63.9%), all P<0.05. The surgery procedures (mitral valve replacement or mitral-plasty) were similar between 2 groups; compared with Non-elderly group, Elderly group had the higher application rate of bio-prosthetic valve (53.88% vs 18.67%), P<0.001. Conclusion: About 40% in-hospital moderate to severe MR patients were the elderly crowd, the most common pathogenesis was degenerative changes which leaded the higher incidences of cardiac complications, worse cardiac function and the higher risk scores for surgical treatment, there were less patients received surgery.

Objectives:To observe the clinical features and factorsrelated to treatment decision for hospitalizedpatients with mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods:A total of 3 450 consecutivepatients with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) confirmed moderate to severe MR admitted in our hospital from 2014-01-01 to 2015-12-31 were enrolled. Base on therapeutic method, the patients were divided into 2 groups:Surgery group, n=1 845 and Medication group, n=1 605. The baseline data including TTE results were collected, clinical features were compared between 2 groups and factors related to treatment decision were analyzed. Results:Mean age of this patient cohort was (54.8±13.8) years including 26.99% (931/3 450) patients aged ≥65 years. The most common etiology was primary MR, 324 (9.39%) patients were asymptomatic at admission and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was evidenced in 55.28% (1 907) patients. Total in-hospital mortality was 0.75% (26). Compared with Medication group, the patients in Surgery group were younger ([52.65±12.01] years vs [57.39±15.25] years), prevalence of severe MR (56.69% vs 26.79%) and primary MR (89.49% vs 39.00%), as well as LVEF value ([61.62±9.20] % vs [48.00±17.53] %) were higher (all P＜0.001).Logistic regression analysis indicated that age (OR=0.561, 95% CI 0.503-0.627), MR etiology (OR=3.062, 95% CI 2.565-3.654), MR grade (OR=0.103, 95% CI 0.085-0.126) and LVEF (OR=2.478, 95% CI 2.147-2.860) were the determinants for treatmentdecision making in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe MR. Conclusions:In this patient cohort, there are considerable proportion of aged patients with moderate to severe MR. Primary MRis the major etiology. 46.52% patients received conservative therpay instead of surgery, older age,secondary MR, moderate MR and decreased LVEF are the major reasons for choosing conservative therapy in this patient cohort.

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of gynura segetum induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS).Methods From July 2008 to October 2016,a total of 115 cases of gynura segetum caused HSOS were retrospectively analyzed.The history of taking gynura segetum before disease onset was recorded and epidemiologic data of main clinical symptoms,clinical manifestations,laboratory examinations,imaging and pathological features were observed.Results Among the 115 cases of HSOS,there were 113 patients with abdominal pain,106 with anorexia and 42 with jaundice sclera.A total of 108 patients displayed increased serum total bilirubin,41 of them only with mildly increased total bilirubin.There were 29 patients with albumin lower than 30 g/L,64 patients with prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and PT of 11 patients was prolonged for more than three seconds.Meanwhile,31 patients were with prolonged activated partial prothrombin time (APTT).A total of 60 patients had low platelet count.And 92 patients underwent ultrasound examination,among them,71 patients had enlarged liver size,79 patients with uneven internal echo of liver,70 patients with ascites,14 patients with patchy low echo tissue around hepatic venous.A total of 60 patient accepted computed tomography (CT) examination,and all of them had ascites,14 patients with mildly enlarged spleen and eight patients with gastro-esophageal varices.The results of CT plain scan indicated hepatomegaly,decreased liver density,map-like changes of patchy low density in delayed phase,heterogeneous enhancement of liver parenchyma in arterial phase,compression and deformation of liver segment of inferior vena cava and halo sign around venous portal vein.The results of pathological examination demonstrated the widening of hepatic sinusoid with hemorrhage and congestion,destruction of liver plate in zone Ⅲ area.There were seven patients who received hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement which were all significantly increased.Conclusions The characteristics of patients with gynura segetum caused HSOS are abdominal pain,anorexia and jaundice;mildly increased serum total bilirubin and albumim liver enlargement,slow blood velocity of portal vein and splenic veim increased HVPG,hepatic sinus congestion and cell coagulation necrosis in zone Ⅲ area.

Objective To investigate the correlation between liver and spleen stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG),and to evaluate its efficiency in the diagnosis of portal hypertension.Methods From April 2014 to March 2016,20 cases underwent HVPG measurement because of liver cirrhosis were enrolled.Before HVPG measurement,liver and spleen stiffness were assessed with ARFI.The correlation between HVPG and age,alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),total hilirubin,serum albumin,platelet count,prothrombin time,aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) score,Child-Pugh score,model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score,liver stiffness and spleen stiffness were analyzed.Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation were performed for statistical analysis.Results HVPG,liver and spleen stiffness were successfully measured in all 20 patients.The mean liver stiffness was (1.78±0.29) m/s,the mean spleen stiffness was (3.37±0.44) m/s and HVPG was (16.10±5.14) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa).Age,ALT,AST,total bilirubin,serum albumin,platelet count,prothrombin time,APRI score,Child-Pugh score and MELD score were all not correlated with HVPG (all P＞0.05).But HVPG was positively correlated with liver and spleen stiffness (r=0.449,P=0.047;r=0.487,P=0.030).In the diagnosis of HVPG≥12 mmHg,the area under curve (AUC) of liver stiffness was 0.875,the optimal cut-off value was 1.77 m/s,the sensitivity was 68.6 ％ and the specificity was 100.0％.In the diagnosis of HPVG≥20 mmHg,the AUC of liver stiffness was 0.798,the optimal cut off value was 1.85 m/s,the sensitivity was 100.0％ and the specificity was 68.8％.The AUC of spleen stiffness was 0.820,the optimal cut-off value was 3.23 m/s,the sensitivity was 100.0 ％ and the specificity was 56.3％.Conclusion In patients with liver cirrhosis,liver stiffness and spleen stiffness assessed by ARFI are positively correlated with HVPG and therefore ARFI has certain application value in the noninvasive diagnosis of portal hypertension.

Objective To investigate the effect of PKG on the secretion of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-αin THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. Methods THP-1 monocytes were induced to construct macrophages by treating with 160 nmol/L TPA. Then the macrophages were further treated with 50 mg/L ox-LDL to become foam cells. Four groups were set in this study, including the macrophage group, the foam cell group, the group of foam cell treated with PKG agonist 8-Br-cGMP, and the group of foam cell treated with PKG inhibitor KT-5823. The morphology of THP-1 cells, macrophages and foam cells were observed under microscope. The cellular lipid accumulation was detected by oil red ostaining. The secretion of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α into the supernatant was detected by ELISA assay. Results The foam cell was obtained after macrophage incubated with ox-LDL for 48 hours. The secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α increased significantly from the foam cells than that from the macrophages (P<0.05). After the THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with 8-Br-cGMP, the secretion of IL-6 in the supernatant decreased significantly ( P < 0 . 05 ) and IL-10 level in the supernatant increased significantly (P < 0.05). After the macrophages were incubated with KT-5823, the secretion of IL-10 decreased significantly (P<0.05), but the secretion of IL-6 was not significantly changed (P>0.05). After incubation with 8-Br-cGMP, the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α from the macrophage-derived foam cells decreased significantly (P < 0.05), but IL-10 increased significantly (P<0.05). After the foam cells were treated with KT-5823, the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-αwere also decreased significantly (P<0.05), with no significant change of IL-10 secretion (P > 0.05). Conclusions PKG may enhance the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and TNF-α, contributing to prevent the development of inflammation. PKG might have a potential anti-atherosclerosis effect.

Wuxistatin, a novel and potent statin, is converted from lovastatin by Amycolatopsis sp. CGMCC1149. In the bioconversion, lovastatin is firstly hydroxylated by a hydroxylase. To obtain the critical hydroxylase, a novel hydroxylase gene was isolated from Amycolatopsis sp. CGMCC1149 by Degenerate PCR and Self-Formed Adaptor PCR and expressed in Escherichia coli. BLAST sequence analysis revealed that the gene belonged to cytochrome P450 gene superfamily and could encode a 403-amino-acid protein with a molecular weight of 44.8 kDa. The secondary structure prediction result showed that this protein contained many typical functional regions of P450, such as oxygen binding site, ion-pair region and heme binding region. Meanwhile, a catalytic function verification system was constructed by NADH, ferredoxin and ferredoxin reductase which could catalyze lovastatin hydroxylation into the target product. These would be helpful for further studies in large-scale production of wuxistatin.
Actinomycetales ; enzymology ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Butyrates ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hydroxylation ; Industrial Microbiology ; Lovastatin ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data