Pathological cardiac hypertrophy serves as a significant foundation for cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Recently, growing evidence has revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) play multiple roles in biological processes and participate in cardiovascular diseases. In the present research, we investigate the impact of miRNA-34c-5p on cardiac hypertrophy and the mechanism involved. The expression of miR-34c-5p was proved to be elevated in heart tissues from isoprenaline (ISO)-infused mice. ISO also promoted miR-34c-5p level in primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs). Transfection with miR-34c-5p mimic enhanced cell surface area and expression levels of foetal-type genes atrial natriuretic factor (Anf) and β-myosin heavy chain (β-Mhc) in NRCMs. In contrast, treatment with miR-34c-5p inhibitor attenuated ISO-induced hypertrophic responses. Enforced expression of miR-34c-5p by tail intravenous injection of its agomir led to cardiac dysfunction and hypertrophy in mice, whereas inhibiting miR-34c-5p by specific antagomir could protect the animals against ISO-triggered hypertrophic abnormalities. Mechanistically, miR-34c-5p suppressed autophagic flux in cardiomyocytes, which contributed to the development of hypertrophy. Furthermore, the autophagy-related gene 4B (ATG4B) was identified as a direct target of miR-34c-5p, and miR-34c-5p was certified to interact with 3' untranslated region of Atg4b mRNA by dual-luciferase reporter assay. miR-34c-5p reduced the expression of ATG4B, thereby resulting in decreased autophagy activity and induction of hypertrophy. Inhibition of miR-34c-5p abolished the detrimental effects of ISO by restoring ATG4B and increasing autophagy. In conclusion, our findings illuminate that miR-34c-5p participates in ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy, at least partly through suppressing ATG4B and autophagy. It suggests that regulation of miR-34c-5p may offer a new way for handling hypertrophy-related cardiac dysfunction.

Many therapies are effective in treating varicoceles, including dilation of the pampiniform plexus in males. The most common method of treatment is varicocelectomy. We aimed to assess an alternative technique (microsurgical spermatic [distal end]-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis) that preserves the normal blood flow pattern for varicocele treatment. We retrospectively analyzed 27 men with varicocele between October 2019 and July 2020. All patients underwent microsurgical spermatic (distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis. The prognosis was reviewed retrospectively with an additional survey conducted 3 months after surgery. The mean ± standard deviation of the age was 26.1 ± 7.3 years in patients with microsurgical spermatic (distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis. The maximum diameter of the varicocele vein, perineal pain score, sperm density, and forward movement of sperm improved over 3 months after surgery. Microsurgical spermatic (distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis is a safe and efficient surgical treatment for varicoceles.
Humans ; Male ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Varicocele/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Microsurgery/methods* ; Semen ; Anastomosis, Surgical/methods* ; Spermatozoa ; Pain/surgery*

Limit test of flavones in diterpene ginkgolides meglumine injection materials by UV-Vis and HPLC-DAD method was studied in this essay. The HPLC-DAD method has lower LOD (about 1% of the UV-Vis), that is, the sensitivity is higher than UV-Vis method. Through the analysis of the kinds of flavonoids ingredients in the samples by LC-MS, the three compounds with highest contents are kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin. Kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin were chosen as reference compounds for HPLC analysis, and the HPLC separation analysis was carried on an Agilent Eclipse plus C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) with methanol and water containing 0.4% phosphoric acid (50: 50) as mobile phase, and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was set at 360 nm. This method has good specificity, precision and reproducibility. The LODs of quercetin, kaempferide and isorhamnetin were 27.6, 22.3, 29.5 μg x L(-1). The average recovery was 87.9% (RSD 3.3%), 91.7% (RSD 3.1%), 88.3 (RSD 1.3%) for quercetin, kaempferide and isorhamnetin, respectively. Based on the 10 batches of sample results and sensitivity of different HPLC, the content of total flavonoids ingredients of diterpene ginkgolides meglumine injection materials was limited no more than 2 x 10(-5). This method is simple, quick and has good maneuverability, and could be used to the limit test of flavonoids in the diterpene ginkgolides meglumine injection materials.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Diterpenes ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flavones ; analysis ; Ginkgolides ; analysis ; Limit of Detection ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Vaginal Neoplasms ; secondary

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) patients who had high risk of recurrence.

METHODSA prospective, open-label, multi-center trial conducted in sixteen teaching hospitals in China was carried out. The criteria of the enrolled patients included age more than 18 years old, CD117 positive GIST, tumor size more than 5 cm, pathological mitosis counts more than 5/50 HPF, and treatment beginning within 4 weeks after complete resection and with imatinib (400 mg, once a day) for at least 12 months. The 1, 3 year recurrence rates, disease free survival, overall survival rate and quality of life were evaluated.

RESULTSFrom Aug. 16th 2004 to Sep. 13th 2005, there were totally 74 patients screened and 57 patients (34 men, 23 women) enrolled in the imatinib treatment group. The primary tumors were located in the stomach in 50.9%, the small intestine in 38.6% and the colorectum in 10.5% of the cases. All the patients received radical resection. Until the cut-off date of interim analysis, there was no evidence of tumor relapse or metastasis in all patients and no death was reported either. Among the 57 enrolled patients with intention to treat(ITT), twelve patients finished the protocol (per protocol, PP). The disease free survival was (268.3 +/-120.2) d in ITT analysis, and (396.7+/-38.2) d in the PP analysis. The incidence of adverse effect was 44.4% . The score in quality of life showed no statistically significant difference between the baseline visit and the follow-up visits.

CONCLUSIONImatinib is a promising postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in GISTs patients with high risk of recurrence, and the adverse effects are receivable.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Benzamides ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analysis the efficacy and safety of lamivudine (made in China) therapy for 52 weeks in adolescent patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSOne hundred and five teenage CHB patients were treated with lamivudine 100 mg once daily for 52 weeks. Patients with elevated ALT at baseline were in group 1 and those with normal ALT were in group 2. The changes of HBV DNA, HBV seromarkers and ALT at the end of 12, 24 and 52 weeks after lamivudine therapy were compared with those at baseline. Adverse events were recorded and evaluated.

RESULTSAt the end of 52 weeks of lamivudine therapy, HBV DNA-ve, HBeAg loss and anti-HBe seroconversion were observed in 92.0%, 24.4% and 22.0% in group 1 patients and 76.1%, 14.2% and 14.2% in group 2 patients respectively. No significant differences were found between two groups. At 12, 24 and 52 weeks, normalization rates of ALT were 59.0%, 66.7% and 76.0%, normal ALT with undetectable HBV DNA were 44.9%, 64.1% and 70.7% at the same time. During 52 weeks lamivudine treatment 26 mild adverse events were observed in 18 patients.

CONCLUSIONLamivudine can inhibit HBV replication rapidly and normalize ALT in majority adolescent CHB patients. HBeAg loss or seroconversion of anti-HBe was observed in some of these patients. All patients in this study were safety and well tolerated.

Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Safety ; Treatment Outcome