ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 （PRMT5） on the angiogenesis of colorectal cancer （CRC） through the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （JAK2/STAT3） signaling pathway. MethodsThe expression and prognostic value of PRMT5 in CRC tissues were analyzed based on the cancer genome atlas （TCGA） and gene expression omnibus （GEO） databases. A total of 105 pairs of cancer tissues and matched adjacent non-tumor tissues were collected from CRC patients， and PRMT5 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）； Western blot was used to detect the PRMT5 protein level in normal colonic epithelial cells （FHC） and CRC cell lines （including RKO， SW480）. SW48 and LoVo cells were divided into negative control （NC） group and PRMT5 knockdown interference group. After the stable knockdown cell models were successfully constructed， the effects of conditioned medium on the proliferation， cell cycle， migration and tube formation abilities of human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs） were detected； the correlation between PRMT5 and vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGFA） was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （RT-qPCR） and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Gene set enrichment analysis （GSEA） and cytoplasm-nucleus separation assay were performed to verify the regulatory pathway. ResultsPRMT5 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and cell lines， which was significantly correlated with poor prognosis and pathological characteristics of patients （all P<0.05）； PRMT5 knockdown could significantly inhibit the angiogenesis-related abilities of HUVECs （all P<0.05） and down-regulate the expression of VEGFA （all P<0.01）. GSEA results indicated that PRMT5 expression was significantly associated with the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway （all P<0.001）. PRMT5 knockdown could inhibit the activation of JAK2/STAT3， the nuclear translocation of STAT3 and the protein level of phosphorylated STAT3 （p-STAT3） in the nucleus， thus inhibiting the expression of VEGFA. ConclusionPRMT5 is highly expressed in CRC tissues and indicates poor prognosis of patients. It promotes the nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of STAT3 by activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and drives the expression of VEGFA to promote tumor angiogenesis.

Objective:To investigate the changes of home blood pressure from weekdays to weekends and its influencing factors.Methods:This study was a national multicenter prospective registry study. Data came from the registry study on the “Action of controlling home blood pressure to target in ten thousand patients”. Hypertension patients receiving antihypertensive drugs in the above study were included, and the general clinical data of the enrolled patients were collected. Patients′ office and home blood pressure were measured at baseline, followed by home blood pressure measurements for 7 consecutive days, and blood pressure trends over a one-week period were analyzed. Multivariate linear stepwise regression was used to investigate the influencing factors of blood pressure change from weekdays to weekends, and subgroup analysis was conducted according to body mass index, alcohol consumption, fasting blood glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L or diabetes mellitus. Kappa consistency test was used to analyze the influence of removing weekend blood pressure data on home blood pressure monitoring results. Results:A total of 3 228 hypertensive patients aged (66.2±7.6) years were included, including 1 612 (49.9%) males. The weekly blood pressure changes of the study subjects showed a trend of gradually increasing during working days (Monday to Friday) and decreasing during weekends (Saturday to Sunday). The blood pressure on weekends was lower than that on weekdays, but the difference was not statistically significant ((128.2±13.7)/(79.7±8.7) mmHg vs. (128.3±12.9)/(79.8±8.3) mmHg, all P>0.05; 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The blood pressure on Sunday was significantly lower than that on Friday ((127.9±13.3)/(79.6±9.1) mmHg vs. (128.5±13.3)/(80.0±9.0) mmHg, all P<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that hypertensive patients who were overweight and obese, drank alcohol, and had fasting blood glucose≥6.1 mmol/L or combined diabetes mellitus had a smaller decrease or increasing trend in home blood pressure from weekdays to weekends. Consistency test results showed that the mean blood pressure after removing the 2-day home blood pressure data on weekends was consistent with the mean blood pressure of one week ( Kappa=0.90). The mean blood pressure after removing only the blood pressure data of Sunday was slightly less consistent with the mean blood pressure of one week ( Kappa=0.88). Conclusions:The home blood pressure level of hypertensive patients receiving antihypertensive drugs showed a trend of gradually increasing during working days and decreasing at weekends. People with hypertension who were overweight and obese, drank alcohol, had high fasting blood sugar, or had combined diabetes mellitus, and their home blood pressure decreased less or increased from weekdays to weekends. The removal of 1-day Sunday blood pressure data but not 2-day weekend blood pressure data had impact on the one-week home blood pressure monitoring results.

BACKGROUND:A novel aggregation induced luminescence fluorescence probe based on the mechanism of intramolecular motility restriction can be used for the detection of disease markers,tumor diagnosis,and bacterial imaging recognition.OBJECTIVE:To prepare a near-infrared Ⅱ nanoprobe called FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs based on aggregation-induced luminescence,and to explore its potential of targeted fluorescence imaging and photothermal therapy for prostate cancer.METHODS:Lecithin,polyethylene glycol phospholipids,folate polyethylene glycol phospholipids,and aggregation induced luminescent molecule 2TT-oC26B were used as raw materials.The folate-targeted nanoprobe FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation method,and basic characterization of the nanoprobe was detected.PC3 human prostate cancer cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were selected as experimental objects.The cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs were detected.PC3 human prostate cancer cells were selected as the experimental objects.Flow cytometry and calcein/propidium iodide staining were used to assess the efficacy of photothermal therapy.PC3 human prostate cancer cells were injected subcutaneously into the abdomen of BALB/C nude mice to establish a tumor model,and nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs were injected into the tail vein.The mice were immediately subjected to near-infraced Ⅱ fluorescence imaging.12 hours later,the tumor was irradiated by laser for 5 minutes,and the photothermal treatment effect was observed within 14 days.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs with a mean diameter of(171.0±0.3)nm showed a well-defined spherical morphology.The nanoprobe had a wide absorption spectrum and tail emission extending to the near-infrared Ⅱ which emitted a bright near-infrared Ⅱ fluorescence signal under laser irradiation.(2)The nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs had low cytotoxicity and high phototoxicity.The results of flow cytometry and calcein/propidium iodide staining showed that nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs had an obvious photothermal killing effect on human prostate cancer cells.(3)The nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs successfully achieved near-infrared Ⅱ fluorescence imaging of mouse blood vessels and the maximum enrichment time of the tumor was 12 hours.The vessel widths of the hind leg and single blood vessels of abdomen were estimated to be 0.63 mm and 0.42 mm.The tumor volume of mice was significantly smaller after 14 days of treatment.(4)The results show that nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs can achieve near-infrared Ⅱ fluorescence imaging and photothermal therapy of prostate cancer effectively,which may provide a new method for early diagnosis and combined treatment of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND:A novel aggregation induced luminescence fluorescence probe based on the mechanism of intramolecular motility restriction can be used for the detection of disease markers,tumor diagnosis,and bacterial imaging recognition.OBJECTIVE:To prepare a near-infrared Ⅱ nanoprobe called FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs based on aggregation-induced luminescence,and to explore its potential of targeted fluorescence imaging and photothermal therapy for prostate cancer.METHODS:Lecithin,polyethylene glycol phospholipids,folate polyethylene glycol phospholipids,and aggregation induced luminescent molecule 2TT-oC26B were used as raw materials.The folate-targeted nanoprobe FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation method,and basic characterization of the nanoprobe was detected.PC3 human prostate cancer cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were selected as experimental objects.The cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs were detected.PC3 human prostate cancer cells were selected as the experimental objects.Flow cytometry and calcein/propidium iodide staining were used to assess the efficacy of photothermal therapy.PC3 human prostate cancer cells were injected subcutaneously into the abdomen of BALB/C nude mice to establish a tumor model,and nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs were injected into the tail vein.The mice were immediately subjected to near-infraced Ⅱ fluorescence imaging.12 hours later,the tumor was irradiated by laser for 5 minutes,and the photothermal treatment effect was observed within 14 days.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs with a mean diameter of(171.0±0.3)nm showed a well-defined spherical morphology.The nanoprobe had a wide absorption spectrum and tail emission extending to the near-infrared Ⅱ which emitted a bright near-infrared Ⅱ fluorescence signal under laser irradiation.(2)The nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs had low cytotoxicity and high phototoxicity.The results of flow cytometry and calcein/propidium iodide staining showed that nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs had an obvious photothermal killing effect on human prostate cancer cells.(3)The nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs successfully achieved near-infrared Ⅱ fluorescence imaging of mouse blood vessels and the maximum enrichment time of the tumor was 12 hours.The vessel widths of the hind leg and single blood vessels of abdomen were estimated to be 0.63 mm and 0.42 mm.The tumor volume of mice was significantly smaller after 14 days of treatment.(4)The results show that nanoprobes FA-DSPE-PEG-AIE@NPs can achieve near-infrared Ⅱ fluorescence imaging and photothermal therapy of prostate cancer effectively,which may provide a new method for early diagnosis and combined treatment of prostate cancer.

Objective:To investigate the changes of home blood pressure from weekdays to weekends and its influencing factors.Methods:This study was a national multicenter prospective registry study. Data came from the registry study on the “Action of controlling home blood pressure to target in ten thousand patients”. Hypertension patients receiving antihypertensive drugs in the above study were included, and the general clinical data of the enrolled patients were collected. Patients′ office and home blood pressure were measured at baseline, followed by home blood pressure measurements for 7 consecutive days, and blood pressure trends over a one-week period were analyzed. Multivariate linear stepwise regression was used to investigate the influencing factors of blood pressure change from weekdays to weekends, and subgroup analysis was conducted according to body mass index, alcohol consumption, fasting blood glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L or diabetes mellitus. Kappa consistency test was used to analyze the influence of removing weekend blood pressure data on home blood pressure monitoring results. Results:A total of 3 228 hypertensive patients aged (66.2±7.6) years were included, including 1 612 (49.9%) males. The weekly blood pressure changes of the study subjects showed a trend of gradually increasing during working days (Monday to Friday) and decreasing during weekends (Saturday to Sunday). The blood pressure on weekends was lower than that on weekdays, but the difference was not statistically significant ((128.2±13.7)/(79.7±8.7) mmHg vs. (128.3±12.9)/(79.8±8.3) mmHg, all P>0.05; 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The blood pressure on Sunday was significantly lower than that on Friday ((127.9±13.3)/(79.6±9.1) mmHg vs. (128.5±13.3)/(80.0±9.0) mmHg, all P<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that hypertensive patients who were overweight and obese, drank alcohol, and had fasting blood glucose≥6.1 mmol/L or combined diabetes mellitus had a smaller decrease or increasing trend in home blood pressure from weekdays to weekends. Consistency test results showed that the mean blood pressure after removing the 2-day home blood pressure data on weekends was consistent with the mean blood pressure of one week ( Kappa=0.90). The mean blood pressure after removing only the blood pressure data of Sunday was slightly less consistent with the mean blood pressure of one week ( Kappa=0.88). Conclusions:The home blood pressure level of hypertensive patients receiving antihypertensive drugs showed a trend of gradually increasing during working days and decreasing at weekends. People with hypertension who were overweight and obese, drank alcohol, had high fasting blood sugar, or had combined diabetes mellitus, and their home blood pressure decreased less or increased from weekdays to weekends. The removal of 1-day Sunday blood pressure data but not 2-day weekend blood pressure data had impact on the one-week home blood pressure monitoring results.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of anti-colorectal cancer growth and metastasis-related effects of Astraga-lus mongholicus Bunge-Curcuma aromatica-Paridis Rhizoma(Qi-Zhu-Zao)pairing through PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling pathway mediating endoplasmic reticulum stress.METHODS Twenty-four BALB/c male mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group,model group,5-FU(5-fluorouracil)group(25 mg·kg-1),and Qi-Zhu-Zao high dose group(5.85 g·kg-1),Qi-Zhu-Zao low dose group(2.925 g·kg-1)(n=6)to construct a mouse model of colorectal cancer in situ transplantation tumor,and the inter-vention effect of Qi-Zhu-Zao combination on tumor growth was assessed by the change of tumor volume size after 15 days of administra-tion;the intervention effect of Qi-Zhu-Zao combination on tumor growth was assessed by H&E.Pathological staining was used to eval-uate the effect of Qi-Zhu-Zao combination on the liver and tumor tissues of mice.The changes of MDA,SOD and GSH-Px levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);the expression of PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling pathway and EMT-related proteins were detected by protein immunoblotting(Western blot).RESULTS Compared with the model group,the tumor volume was significantly reduced(P＜0.000 1),liver and spleen metastases were less pronounced in the Qi-Zhu-Zao high-dose group,and his-topathological staining results of liver tissue and tumor produced changes in oxidative stress indicators SOD,MDA,and GSH-Px,up-regulation of ER stress-related proteins p-PERK,p-IF2α,and ATF4,etc.,upregulated the protein expression levels of E-Cadherin,downregulated N-Cadherin,Vimentin,and Snail,and inhibited the EMT process(P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).CONCLUSION In this paper,we investigated the regulatory mechanism related to the inhibition of colorectal cancer growth and metastasis by the combination of Qi-Zhu-Zao trigonal medicine,and demonstrated that it may inhibit the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer by activating the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway to induce sustained ER stress and affect the EMT process of colorectal cancer.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and associated risk of cardiovascular event of resistant hypertension in treated outpatients.Methods:This study was a nationwide multi-center prospective cohort study. The participants were treated outpatients enrolled in the China Nationwide Ambulatory and Home Blood Pressure Registry study of 42 hospitals in 19 provinces across the country from August 2009 to October 2017. Apparent resistant hypertension was defined as uncontrolled office blood pressure (≥140/90 mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) in spite of the use of three antihypertensive drugs or controlled office blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg) with four antihypertensive drugs or more. Subjects diagnosed with uncontrolled office blood pressure were further subdivided as pseudo-resistant hypertension and true resistant hypertension based on 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The primary endpoint was fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, which was a composite endpoint consisting of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular death, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary artery revascularization, unstable angina, heart failure, and coronary artery stenosis≥50% confirmed by coronary angiography. Secondary outcomes included fatal and non-fatal stroke or cardiac events. Patients with controlled office blood pressure after taking only 1 or 2 antihypertensive drugs were included as control. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank test, and Cox proportional risk model were used to evaluate the risk of apparent refractory hypertension in relation to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular prognosis.Results:A total of 2 782 treated hypertensive patients, aged (58.1±12.3) years were enrolled, including 1 403 (50.4%) men. The prevalence of apparent and true resistant hypertension was 15.1% (420/2 782) and 10.5% (293/2 782), respectively. Among patients with apparent resistant hypertension, during a median of 5 years follow-up, the cumulative incidence rate was 28.2, 11.2 and 19.1 per 1 000 person-years for fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events ( n=58), stroke ( n=24) and cardiac events ( n=40), respectively. The Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test showed that those patients with true resistant hypertension, had the highest cumulative incidence rate of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, stroke, and cardiac events. Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that true resistant hypertension was associated with a significantly higher risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events ( HR=1.73, 95% CI 1.17-2.56, P=0.006) and stroke ( HR=2.81, 95% CI 1.53-5.17, P=0.001). Conclusion:Resistant hypertension, especially true resistant hypertension, is associated with a higher risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiac and cerebrovascular events.

Objective:To improve the aqueous solubility, biocompatibility, fluorescence, and sonosensitivity of curcumin, this study aims to transform curcumin into curcumin-derived carbon dots (Cur-CDs) to enhance the efficacy of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) of atherosclerosis (AS).Methods:Cur-CDs were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The morphology was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were applied to analyze the chemical composition and surface functional groups. Optical properties were examined by UV-visible spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. Cell proliferation and viability assay and a hemolysis experiment were performed to assess biocompatibility. The sonosensitivity of Cur-CDs was determined by the measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by Cur-CDs.To verify the effect of Cur-CDs-mediated SDT on macrophage phenotype, the M1 and M2 macrophage marker genes were detected via real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The ability of Cur-CDs in plaque detection was assessed through in vivo fluorescence imaging and ex vivo aortic fluorescence imaging. Atherosclerotic plaque mice were divided into five groups: control group, curcumin group, Cur-CDs group, curcumin + low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) group, and Cur-CDs+ LPIUS group. Aortic Oil red O staining and blood lipid level measurements were conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of SDT on the plaques.Results:Cur-CDs exhibited a spherical morphology and a distinct lattice structure with the diameter of (1.87±0.35)nm. The aqueous solubility of Cur-CDs was about 10 5 times that of curcumin because of their abundant oxygen-containing hydrophilic functional groups.Cur-CDs at concentrations up to 500 mg/L had no significant impact on cell proliferation and viability, with a negligible hemolysis rate of <1%, indicating good biocompatibility of Cur-CDs. Cur-CDs exhibited a stable and excellent fluorescence with the maximum excitation and emission wavelengths of 420 nm and 530 nm, respectively. Cur-CDs had the potential to be used for plaque fluorescence imaging, with the fluorescence intensity at the plaque being significantly greater than that of curcumin( P<0.01). It was observed that Cur-CDs activated by LIPUS were capable of producing ROS, including 1O 2, ·OH, and ·O 2-, with the total amount of ROS exceeding that of curcumin( P<0.05). Cur-CDs-mediated SDT facilitated the transformation of macrophage phenotype from M1 to M2, with a more pronounced effect than that observed with curcumin-mediated SDT. Oil red O staining revealed the most significant reduction in plaque area and lipid content in the Cur-CDs+ LIPUS group, which was about three times greater than that in the curcumin+ LIPUS group, confirming the excellent efficacy of Cur-CDs-mediated SDT on plaques. Conclusions:The successfully prepared Cur-CDs exhibit superior aqueous solubility, biocompatibility, fluorescence, and sonosensitivity than curcumin, contributing to the significant improvement in sonodynamic efficacy on plaques.

Cell Cycle Checkpoints/genetics* ; Checkpoint Kinase 1/metabolism* ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mitosis/genetics* ; Mutation ; Zygote/metabolism*

A 61-year-old woman with pulmonary alternariosis and aspergillosis was reported.The patient presented with recurrent hemoptysis and cough for 3 years.Alternaria was identified by fungal culture.Biopsy specimen showed pulmonary aspergillosis.The patient had been treated with voriconazole at 400 mg/d through intravenous guttae for 7 days,and then switched amphotericin B at 25 mg/d through intravenous guttae for 11 days.The patient was treated with voriconazole at 400 mg through oral when she was discharged from hospital.After the treatment,the clinical symptoms ofhemoptysis and cough were recovered,and the lung CT examinations showed normal.