OBJECTIVE To investigate the role and mechanism of microRNA-125b (miR-125b) in downregulating ion channel-related protein expression in a cardiac hypertrophy model.METHODS① In vivo:Lentiviral vectors for miR-125b overexpression and knockdown were constructed,and male C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups:sham group (thoracotomy without virus injection),LV-miR-125b group (mmu-miR-125b mimic),LV-miR-125b-inhibitor group (mmu-miR-125b-inhibitor),and negative control group (LV-NC).The mice were raised under normal conditions for 4 weeks.The ultrastructural changes in myocardium tissue sections of LV-miR-125b mice were observed using trans-mission electron microscopy.The cardiac hypertrophy model in mice was established using thoracic aortic constriction (TAC).Echocardiography was performed to measure ejection fraction (EF) and frac-tional shortening (FS),and the ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW),ratio of heart weight to tibia length (HW/TL),as well as the expression level of the myocardial hypertrophy marker β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) were calculated to evaluate the success of the TAC-induced hypertrophy model.Subse-quently,C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups:Sham group,TAC model group,LV-miR-125b-inhibitor+TAC group,and LV-NC+TAC group.Protein expression levels of cardiac sodium channel (Nav1.5) and calcium channel (Cav1.2) were detected using Western blotting.RT-qPCR was performed to assess the levels of miR-125b and mRNA expression of myocardial hypertrophy markers,including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP),brain natriuretic peptide (BNP),and β-MHC.② In vitro:Primary cultured neonatal Kunming mouse cardiomyocytes were divided into four groups:cell control group (no treatment),miR-125b overexpression group,miR-125b-inhibitor group,and negative control group (NC).RT-qPCR was used to detect the levels of miR-125b,ANP,BNP,and β-MHC.Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to assess the expression levels of Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 in the cardiomyocytes.Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to evaluate the direct effect of miR-125b on the target proteins Nav1.5 and Cav1.2.RESULTS ① In vivo:Compared to the Sham group,the TAC model mice showed significantly increased the ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW),the ratio of heart weight to tibia length (HW/TL),and expression levels of the myocardial hypertrophy marker β-MHC (P＜0.05),indicating the successful establishment of the TAC model.Furthermore,miR-125b expression was significantly elevated in the TAC model group (P＜0.01).In the LV-miR-125b group,compared to the LV-NC group,the expression levels of myocardial hypertrophy markers ANP,BNP,and β-MHC were significantly increased (P＜0.01),while the ejection fraction (EF) and fractional short-ening (FS) values of the mice were significantly reduced (P＜0.01).Additionally,Additionally,myocardium ultrastructure of LV-miR-125b group was damaged.Compared to the LV-NC+TAC group,the LV-miR-125b-inhibitor+TAC group showed a significant increase in ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) values (P＜0.05).Additionally,the levels of Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 in myocardium tissue were signifi-cantly elevated in the LV-miR-125b-inhibitor+TAC group compared to the LV-NC+TAC group (P＜0.05).② In vitro:Compared to the NC group,the miR-125b overexpression group showed a significant increase in miR-125b expression (P＜0.01),as well as elevated levels of ANP,BNP,and β-MHC (P＜0.01).However,miR-125b-inhibitor significantly reversed the increases in ANP,BNP,and β-MHC (P＜0.01).Western blotting and immunofluorescence results showed that,compared to the NC group,the miR-125b mimic group exhibited significantly decreased levels of Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 (P＜0.01),while miR-125b-inhibitor led to an increase in the levels of both Nav1.5 and Cav1.2.Luciferase assay results demon-strated that miR-125b directly binds to the ion channel proteins Nav1.5 and Cav1.2,encoded by the SCN5A and CACNA1C genes.CONCLUSION miR-125b promotes the development of cardiac hyper-trophy by inhibiting the voltage-gated ion channel proteins Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 Inhibition of miR-125b expression improves cardiac hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role and mechanism of microRNA-125b (miR-125b) in downregulating ion channel-related protein expression in a cardiac hypertrophy model.METHODS① In vivo:Lentiviral vectors for miR-125b overexpression and knockdown were constructed,and male C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups:sham group (thoracotomy without virus injection),LV-miR-125b group (mmu-miR-125b mimic),LV-miR-125b-inhibitor group (mmu-miR-125b-inhibitor),and negative control group (LV-NC).The mice were raised under normal conditions for 4 weeks.The ultrastructural changes in myocardium tissue sections of LV-miR-125b mice were observed using trans-mission electron microscopy.The cardiac hypertrophy model in mice was established using thoracic aortic constriction (TAC).Echocardiography was performed to measure ejection fraction (EF) and frac-tional shortening (FS),and the ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW),ratio of heart weight to tibia length (HW/TL),as well as the expression level of the myocardial hypertrophy marker β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) were calculated to evaluate the success of the TAC-induced hypertrophy model.Subse-quently,C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups:Sham group,TAC model group,LV-miR-125b-inhibitor+TAC group,and LV-NC+TAC group.Protein expression levels of cardiac sodium channel (Nav1.5) and calcium channel (Cav1.2) were detected using Western blotting.RT-qPCR was performed to assess the levels of miR-125b and mRNA expression of myocardial hypertrophy markers,including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP),brain natriuretic peptide (BNP),and β-MHC.② In vitro:Primary cultured neonatal Kunming mouse cardiomyocytes were divided into four groups:cell control group (no treatment),miR-125b overexpression group,miR-125b-inhibitor group,and negative control group (NC).RT-qPCR was used to detect the levels of miR-125b,ANP,BNP,and β-MHC.Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to assess the expression levels of Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 in the cardiomyocytes.Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to evaluate the direct effect of miR-125b on the target proteins Nav1.5 and Cav1.2.RESULTS ① In vivo:Compared to the Sham group,the TAC model mice showed significantly increased the ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW),the ratio of heart weight to tibia length (HW/TL),and expression levels of the myocardial hypertrophy marker β-MHC (P＜0.05),indicating the successful establishment of the TAC model.Furthermore,miR-125b expression was significantly elevated in the TAC model group (P＜0.01).In the LV-miR-125b group,compared to the LV-NC group,the expression levels of myocardial hypertrophy markers ANP,BNP,and β-MHC were significantly increased (P＜0.01),while the ejection fraction (EF) and fractional short-ening (FS) values of the mice were significantly reduced (P＜0.01).Additionally,Additionally,myocardium ultrastructure of LV-miR-125b group was damaged.Compared to the LV-NC+TAC group,the LV-miR-125b-inhibitor+TAC group showed a significant increase in ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) values (P＜0.05).Additionally,the levels of Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 in myocardium tissue were signifi-cantly elevated in the LV-miR-125b-inhibitor+TAC group compared to the LV-NC+TAC group (P＜0.05).② In vitro:Compared to the NC group,the miR-125b overexpression group showed a significant increase in miR-125b expression (P＜0.01),as well as elevated levels of ANP,BNP,and β-MHC (P＜0.01).However,miR-125b-inhibitor significantly reversed the increases in ANP,BNP,and β-MHC (P＜0.01).Western blotting and immunofluorescence results showed that,compared to the NC group,the miR-125b mimic group exhibited significantly decreased levels of Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 (P＜0.01),while miR-125b-inhibitor led to an increase in the levels of both Nav1.5 and Cav1.2.Luciferase assay results demon-strated that miR-125b directly binds to the ion channel proteins Nav1.5 and Cav1.2,encoded by the SCN5A and CACNA1C genes.CONCLUSION miR-125b promotes the development of cardiac hyper-trophy by inhibiting the voltage-gated ion channel proteins Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 Inhibition of miR-125b expression improves cardiac hypertrophy.

Humans ; Adult ; Serum Albumin, Human ; Consensus ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Thoracic Surgery

Objective    To evaluate the safety and efficacy of mitral valve surgery and cryoablation in elderly patients with mitral valve disease and persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation. Methods    From May 2014 to July 2018, 144 patients with mitral valve diseases combined with persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command were selected. Among them, there were 69 patients in a non-elderly group (<60 years) including 18 males and 51 females aged 52.07±5.56 years, and 75 patients in an elderly group (≥60 years) including 32 males and 43 females aged 65.23±4.29 years. A propensity-score matching (PSM) study was conducted to eliminate confounding factors. Both groups underwent mitral valve surgery and cryoablation at the same time. A 2-year follow-up was conducted after discharge from the hospital, and the perioperative and postoperative efficacy indexes were compared between the two groups. Results    After PSM analysis, there were 56 patients in each group. The sinus rhythm conversion rate of the two groups at each follow-up time point was above 85%, and the cardiac function was graded asⅠorⅡ, which was significantly improved compared with that before the surgery, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Among the perioperative indicators of the two groups, the elderly group had more coronary artery bypass graft surgeries and longer postoperative ICU stay time compared with the non-elderly group (P<0.05), and the differences in other indicators were not statistically different (P>0.05). Conclusion    The mitral valve surgery and cryoablation in elderly patients with mitral valve diseases combined with persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation are safe, and the short-term outcome is satisfactory.

BACKGROUNDEndostar™ (rh-endostatin, YH-16) is a new recombinant human endostatin developed by Medgenn Bioengineering Co. Ltd., Yantai, Shandong, P.R.China. Pre-clinical study indicated that YH-16 could inhibit tumor endothelial cell proliferation, angiogenesis and tumor growth. Phase I and phase II studies revealed that YH-16 was effective as single agent with good tolerance in clinical use.The current study was to compare the response rate , median ti me to progression (TTP) ,clinical benefit andsafety in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) , who were treated with YH-16 plus vi-norelbine and cisplatin (NP) or placebo plus NP.

METHODSFour hundred and ninety-three histologically or cy-tologically confirmed stage IIIB and IV NSCLC patients , withlife expectancy > 3 months and ECOG perform-ance status 0-2 , were enrolledin a randomized ,double-blind ,placebo-controlled , multicenter trial ,either trialgroup : NP plus YH-16 (vinorelbine 25 mg/m² on day 1 and day 5 ,cisplatin 30mg/m² on days 2 to 4 , YH-167.5mg/m² on days 1 to 14) or control group : NP plus placebo (vinorelbine 25 mg/m² on day 1 and day 5 ,cis-platin 30 mg/m² on days 2 to 4 ,0.9% sodium-chloride 3 .75 ml on days 1 to 14) every 3 weeks for 2-6 cycles .The trial endpoints included response rate ,clinical benefit rate ,time to progression,quality of life and safety .

RESULTSOf 486 assessable patients , overall response rate was 35.4% in trial group and 19.5% in controlgroup (P=0 .0003) . The median TTP was 6 .3 months and 3 .6 months for trial group and control group respectively (P < 0 .001) . The clinical benefit rate was 73 .3 %in trial group and 64.0% in control group (P=0 .035) .In untreated patients of trial group and control group ,the response rate was 40 .0% and 23.9%(P=0 .003) ,the clinical benefit rate was 76 .5 % and 65 .0 % (P=0 .023) ,the median TTP was 6 .6 and 3 .7months (P=0 .0000) ,respectively .In pretreated patients of trial group and control group ,the response ratewas 23.9% and 8.5%(P=0 .034) ,the clinical benefit rate was 65.2% and 61.7%(P=0 .68) ,the median TTP was 5 .7 and 3 .2 months (P=0 .0002) ,respectively . The relief rate of clinical symptoms in trial groupwas higher than that of those in control group ,but no significance existed (P > 0 .05) . The score of quality oflife in trial group was significantly higher than that in control group (P=0 .0155) after treatment . There were no significant differences in incidence of hematologic and non-hematologic toxicity , moderate and severe sideeffects betweentrial group and control group .

CONCLUSIONSThe addition of YH-16 to NP regimen results in significantly and clinically meaningful improvement in response rate , median time to tumor progression,and clinical benefit rate compared with NP alone in advanced NSCLC patients . YH-16 in combination with chemotherapy shows a synergic activity and a favorable toxic profile in advanced cancer patients .

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate and compare the effects and toxicity of the domestic product of recombinant mutant human tumor necrosis factor (rmhTNF) combined with chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSTwo hundred patients with NSCLC in multicenter were randomly devided into trial group (150 cases) and control group (50 cases). Chemotherapy with CAP regimen was given to the patients. Meanwhile, rmhTNF injection of 4×10⁶U/m² was also given from the 1st to 7th days, the 11th to 17th days on the chemotherapy cycle in the trial group. The control patients received chemotherapy alone. Twenty-one days were as a cycle, 2 cycles were given to each patient. The chemotherapeutic effects and toxicity were observed and compared between the two groups after the therapy.

RESULTSof the 200 patients, 5 cases in the trial group and 3 cases in the control group were out of the trial because of economy. The other 192 cases (145 cases in the trial group and 47 cases in the control group) could be analyzed and evaluated the clinical effects and toxicity. The response rate of chemotherapy was 46.90% (68/145) in the trial group and 17.02% (8/47) in the control group respectively ( P =0.001). The KPS scores was 86.02±9.74 in the trial group, and 80.14±9.10 in the control group ( P =0.025). No significant difference of degree III+IV toxicity was observed between the two groups ( P > 0.05). The side effects related to rmhTNF included slight fever, cold-like symptoms, pain and red and swelling in the injection site. All of them were mild and didn't need any treatment and disappeared after the therapy. There were no severe abnormality of liver and kidney function and ECG in both groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe results demonstrate that the effects of domestic rmhTNF combined with chemotherapy are remarkably higher than that of chemotherapy alone in the treatment of NSCLC. rmhTNF can increase the sensitivity to chemotherapy and improve the quality of life of the patients with slight toxicity. Hence rmhTNF is worth expanding clinical use.