Objective To explore the correlation between malignant tumors and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)levels.Methods A total of 336 patients with malignant tumors(cancer group)who were admitted to the Department of Cardiology,Chinese PLA General Hospital and underwent coronary angiography from January 1,2009 to December 31,2020,and were newly diagnosed and had not received any anti-tumor treatment were selected.They were matched with 1 008 patients(non-cancer group)in a 1:3 ratio using propensity score matching based on gender and age.Clinical data of the patients were collected,including age,gender,serum NT-proBNP,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),SYNTAX score,serum creatinine,and tumor diagnosis information.The patients were divided into 4 groups based on the quartiles of NT-proBNP levels:low-level group(NT-proBNP ≤ 61.80 pg/mL),medium-level group(61.80 pg/mL＜NT-proBNP≤ 152.95 pg/mL),high-level group(152.95 pg/mL＜NT-proBNP≤470.10 pg/mL),and very high-level group(NT-proBNP＞470.10 pg/mL).Ordered logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between malignant tumors and serum NT-proBNP.Results A total of 1 344 patients were included,with an average age of(65.78±9.18)years old,1 003 males(74.63％),LVEF of 60.00％(55.00％,64.00％),SYNTAX score of(13.84±11.63)points,and creatinine level of 76.60(66.50,88.88)μmol/L.Among the 336 cancer patients,the top 3 types of cancer were lung cancer(84 cases,25.00％),colorectal cancer(58 cases,17.26％),and gastric cancer(52 cases,15.48％).The NT-proBNP levels in the cancer group were significantly higher than those in the non-cancer group(208.45[85.75,601.83]pg/mL vs 134.35[57.18,430.23]pg/mL,P＜0.001).Ordered logistic regression analysis showed that in the unadjusted model,malignant tumors were significantly associated with higher NT-proBNP levels(OR=1.561,95％CI 1.538-1.584,P＜0.001);after adjusting for relevant factors,malignant tumors remained significantly associated with higher serum NT-proBNP levels(OR=1.384,95％CI 1.070-1.791,P=0.013).Conclusions NT-proBNP in malignant tumor patients is higher than that in non-malignant tumor patients,and there is a significant correlation between malignant tumors and serum NT-proBNP levels.

Objective To explore the effects of the same dose of fractionated radiation and single radiation on radiation-induced heart damage in mice.Methods Twenty-one wild-type C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the normal group,fractionated radiation group and single radiation group.18 Gy X-ray,via fractionated(3 Gy/time,6 times)radiation or single radiation,was used to establish a radiation-induced heart damage model.The concentrations of myocardial enzyme damage markers(creatinekinase(CK),creatinekinase-MB(CK-MB),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and LDH1)and peripheral serum ions(K+,Ca2+,Fe2+and Cl-)were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer at day 7 and 28 after radiation.Ultrasound was used to detect and analyze the cardiac function of mice at day 28 after radiation,including the left ventricular ejection fraction(EF),left ventricular fractional shortening(FS),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV),left ventricular mass(LV mass)and left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV).The opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore(mPTP)and changes of mitochondrial membrane potential of myocardial cells were observed using a laser confocal microscope.The ultrastructure of myocardia was observed under a transmission electron microscope(TEM)and cardiac fibrosis was checked by Masson staining.The atherosclerosis of the aorta was examined by gross oil red staining.Real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting were performed to detect the expressions ofapoptosis-related genes and proteins,B cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein(BAX)and casepase-3.Results Seven days after 18Gy X-ray irradiation,the expression levels of CK,CK-MB,LDH and LDH1 in the single radiation group increased significantly or trended up,while only CK and LDH1 in the fractionated irradiation group continued to increase.Twenty-eight days after radiation,the expression levels of 4 enzymes in myocardial zymogram were increased by both radiation methods.Seven and twenty-eight days after radiation,the concentrations of serum ions K+,Fe2+,Ca2+and Cl-were significantly decreased by both radiation methods that could lead to the decrease of EF and FS,and the increase of LV mass,LVEDV and LVESV.Single radiation made more difference to EF and FS,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant.Both methods could decrease the mPTP and mitochondrial membrane potential,especially single radiation,and there was significant difference between the two groups.The results of TEM showed that the mitochondrial cristae of myocardial cells decreased and vacuolated,and the myocardial fiber bundles became thicker after X-ray radiation.Masson staining showed that collagen fibers were deposited in the heart tissue ofmice after X-ray irradiation,particularly in the single radiation group.Gross oil red staining ofthe aorta showed that both methods could damage the aorta of mice,and the area of atherosclerotic plaques in the single radiation group was larger,which was statistically different from that of the fractionated radiation group.The results of RT-qPCR and Western blotting showed that X-ray radiation could increase the expression levels of apoptosis-related BAX and caspase-3 in cardiac tissue,especially in the single radiation group.The mRNAexpressions of BAX and caspase-3 increased more significantly in the single radiation group.Conclusion Both fractionated radiation and single radiation at the same dose can cause heart damage,so they can be used to establish a radiation-induced heart damage model of mice.Single radiation can cause more significant damage to the heart.Different modeling methods can be selected as required.

Objective: To investigate the regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) on permeability of rat vascular endothelial cells and the mechanism. Methods: Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 35 to 38 days were collected and vascular endothelial cells were separated and cultured. The morphology of cells was observed after 4 days of culture, and the following experiments were performed on the 2nd or 3rd passage of cells. (1) Rat vascular endothelial cells were collected and divided into blank control group, negative control group, HIF-1α interference sequence 1 group, HIF-1α interference sequence 2 group, and HIF-1α interference sequence 3 group according to the random number table (the same grouping method below), with 3 wells in each group. Cells in negative control group, HIF-1α interference sequence 1 group, HIF-1α interference sequence 2 group, and HIF-1α interference sequence 3 group were transfected with GV248 empty plasmid, recombinant plasmid respectively containing HIF-1α interference sequence 1, interference sequence 2, and interference sequence 3 with liposome 2000. Cells in blank control group were only transfected with liposome 2000. After transfection of 24 h, expression levels of HIF-1α mRNA and protein of cells in each group were respectively detected by reverse transcription real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting (the same detecting methods below) . The sequence with the highest interference efficiency was selected. (2) Another batch of rat vascular endothelial cells were collected and divided into blank control group, negative control group, and HIF-1α low expression group, with 3 wells in each group. Cells in blank control group were only transfected with liposome 2000, and cells in negative control group and HIF-1α low expression group were respectively transfected with GV248 empty plasmid and low expression HIF-1α recombinant plasmid selected in experiment (1) with liposome 2000. After 14 days of culture, the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α in each group were detected. (3) Another batch of rat vascular endothelial cells were collected and divided into blank control group, negative control group, and HIF-1α high expression group, with 3 wells in each group. Cells in blank control group were transfected with liposome 2000, and cells in negative control group and HIF-1α high expression group were respectively transfected with GV230 empty plasmid and HIF-1α high expression recombinant plasmid with liposome 2000. After 14 days of culture, the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α of cells in each group were detected. (4) After transfection of 24 h, cells of three groups in experiment (1) and three groups in experiment (2) were collected, and mRNA and protein expressions of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), phosphorylated myosin light chain (p-MLC), and zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) of cells were detected. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and t test. Results: After 4 days of culture, the cells were spindle-shaped, and rat vascular endothelial cells were successfully cultured. (1) The interference efficiencies of HIF-1α of cells in HIF-1α interference sequence 1 group, HIF-1α interference sequence 2 group, and HIF-1α interference sequence 3 group were 47.66%, 45.79%, and 62.62%, respectively, and the interference sequence 3 group had the highest interference efficiency. After transfection of 24 h, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α of cells in interference sequence 3 group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=18.404, 9.140, P<0.01) and negative control group (t=15.099, 7.096, P<0.01). (2) After cultured for 14 days, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α of cells in HIF-1α low expression group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=21.140, 5.440, P<0.01) and negative control group (t= 14.310, 5.210, P<0.01). (3) After cultured for 14 days, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α of cells in HIF-1α high expression group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (t=19.160, 7.710, P<0.01) and negative control group (t= 19.890, 7.500, P<0.01). (4) After transfection of 24 h, the mRNA expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α low expression group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=2.709, 4.011, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and negative control group (t=2.373, 3.744, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α low expression group was significantly higher than that in blank control group and negative control group (t=4.285, 5.050, P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α high expression group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (t=9.118, 11.313, P<0.01) and negative control group (t=9.073, 11.280, P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α high expression group was significantly lower than that in blank control group and negative control group (t=2.889, 2.640, P<0.05). (5) After transfection of 24 h, the protein expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α low expression group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=2.652, 3.983, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and negative control group (t=2.792, 4.065, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expression of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α low expression group was significantly higher than that in blank control group and negative control group (t=3.881, 3.570, P<0.01). The protein expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α high expression group were 1.18±0.24 and 0.68±0.22, which were significantly higher than 0.41±0.21 and 0.35±0.14 in blank control group (t=5.011, 3.982, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and 0.43±0.20 and 0.36±0.12 in negative control group (t= 4.880, 3.862, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expression level of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α high expression group was 0.08±0.06, which was significantly lower than 0.20±0.09 in blank control group and 0.19±0.09 in negative control group (t=4.178, 3.830, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions HIF-1α up-regulates expressions of MLCK and p-MLC and down-regulates expression of ZO-1, thereby increasing the permeability of rat vascular endothelial cells.

Objective To explore the relationship between the serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels and the pathogenesis,therapeutic intervention of schizophrenia. Methods One hundard twenty-five patients with schizophrenia (case group) with no medication for at least 4-week and 136 healthy controls (control group) were evaluated by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scala (PANSS). Simultaneously blood tests were performed to detect serum NPY levels. In the case group, PANSS was evaluated and blood collected again after 4 weeks of treatment with olanzapine. Result At the baseline,the serum NPY concentration was significantly lower in the case group than in control group (t=-5.79, P<0.01). The scores of RBANS and its factors were significantly lower in the case group than in control group (all P<0.01). The concentration was positively correlated with the score of the attention factor for RBANS scale (r=0.20, P=0.04). After treatment with olanzapine for 4 weeks,the serum NPY level in the case group was significantly increased (t=-2.23,P=0.03).The scores of PANSS total scale and subscale were significantly decreased(all P<0.01).There was no significant correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and PANSS total or subscale scores from baseline to 4-week (all P>0.05). Conclusion The present study has revealed a significant decrease in serum NPY levels in patients with schizophrenia which can be attenuated by treatment of Olanzapine.The action of Olanzapine may be related to the mechanism of action of Olanzapine.However,there is no correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and the improvement in the patientˊs clinical symptoms.

Objective:To explore the regional brain activities in healthy adolescent subjects after sleep deprivation (SD) using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) method.Methods:Total of 16 healthy adolescent subjects (8 males,8 females;aged 13-20 years) were recruited in the community and the campus through the internet and posters.Each of the 16 healthy adolescent subject underwent the attention network test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session twice:once was after rested wakefulness (RW condition),and the other was after SD condition.Amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) method was used to assess the local brain features.The mean ALFF signal values of the different brain areas were performed to investigate their relationships with the accuracy rate,reaction time and lapse rate in the attention network test,and were analyzed with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to investigate their sensitivities and specificities to distinguish the SD condition from the RW condition.Results:Subjects showed a lower response accuracy rate [(83 ± 12) ％ vs.(97 ± 4) ％,P ＜ 0.05],a longer response time [(832 ± 134) ms vs.(715 ± 97) ms,P ＜ 0.05] and a higher lapse rate [(15 ± 11)％ vs.(2.4 ±7.3)％,P ＜0.05] under SD condition than under RW condition.They showed higher ALFF area in the right cuneus (BA 17,BA 18),and lower ALFF areas in the right lentiform nucleus,right claustrum,left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 46) and left inferior parietal cortex (BA 39) under SD condition than under RW condition.Under SD condition,the mean ALFF signal value of the right claustrum showed a significant positive correlation with the accuracy rate (r =0.69,P ＜0.05),and a negative correlation with the lapse rate (r =-0.71,P ＜0.05).The mean ALFF signal value of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex showed a significant positive correlation with the reaction time (r =0.68,P ＜ 0.05).The values of area under the curve of the right cuneus,right lentiform nucleus,right claustrum,left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left inferior parietal cortice were 0.9,0.8,0.9,0.8 and 0.9,respectively.These different ALFF areas also showed high degree of sensitivities and specificities.Conclusion:Sleep deprivation leads to the dysfunction in the default mode network,anticorrelatedtask-positive network,and advanced cognitive function brain areas,and the functional compensation in the visual network.

Objective To investigate the effect of liraglutide, an analogue of glucagon-like peptide-1, on the proliferation and migration of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) and explore the mechanism. Methods In vitro cultured CMECs of SD rats were purified by differential adhesion method and identified immunocytochemically using CD31 antibody and factor VIII. MTT assay was performed to assess the proliferation of the first- generation cells exposed to different concentrations (0-1000 nm/L) of liraglutide. Western blotting was used to detect the activation of PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. BrdU fluorescent labeling and scratch assay were performed to observe the proliferation and migration of CMECs following liraglutide treatment, and PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathway inhibitors LY294002 and PD98059, respectively, were used to further confirm the role of these signaling pathways in regulating the proliferation and migration of CMECs. Results Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated a proportion of double positive cells exceeding 95%. The cells exhibited a logarithmic growth 48 h after plating. Liraglutide exposure concentration-dependently promoted the proliferation of CMECs with the optimal concentration of 100 nmol/L (P<0.05). Liraglutide exposure of the cells for 24 h significantly increased the levels of intracellular phosphorylated Akt and ERK (P<0.05), but pretreatment of the cells with Akt and ERK signaling pathway inhibitors 1 h before liraglutide obviously reversed such effect (P<0.05). BrdU and scratch assay showed that 100 nmol/L liraglutide significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of CMECs (P<0.05), but such effects were obviously suppressed by Akt and ERK inhibitors (P<0.05). Conclusion Liraglutide promotes the proliferation and migration of CMECs in vitro via PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways.

Objective To investigate the effect of liraglutide, an analogue of glucagon-like peptide-1, on the proliferation and migration of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) and explore the mechanism. Methods In vitro cultured CMECs of SD rats were purified by differential adhesion method and identified immunocytochemically using CD31 antibody and factor VIII. MTT assay was performed to assess the proliferation of the first- generation cells exposed to different concentrations (0-1000 nm/L) of liraglutide. Western blotting was used to detect the activation of PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. BrdU fluorescent labeling and scratch assay were performed to observe the proliferation and migration of CMECs following liraglutide treatment, and PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathway inhibitors LY294002 and PD98059, respectively, were used to further confirm the role of these signaling pathways in regulating the proliferation and migration of CMECs. Results Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated a proportion of double positive cells exceeding 95%. The cells exhibited a logarithmic growth 48 h after plating. Liraglutide exposure concentration-dependently promoted the proliferation of CMECs with the optimal concentration of 100 nmol/L (P<0.05). Liraglutide exposure of the cells for 24 h significantly increased the levels of intracellular phosphorylated Akt and ERK (P<0.05), but pretreatment of the cells with Akt and ERK signaling pathway inhibitors 1 h before liraglutide obviously reversed such effect (P<0.05). BrdU and scratch assay showed that 100 nmol/L liraglutide significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of CMECs (P<0.05), but such effects were obviously suppressed by Akt and ERK inhibitors (P<0.05). Conclusion Liraglutide promotes the proliferation and migration of CMECs in vitro via PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism by which exendin-4 promotes paracrine secretion of cytokines by adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs).

METHODSIn vitro cultured SD rat ADSCs (fourth passage) with or without exendin-4 treatment underwent flow cytometry to characterize the surface markers. MTT assay was performed to assess the proliferation of the cells exposed to different concentrations (0-20 nm/L) of exendin-4, and the paracrine secretion of cytokines (bFGF, VEGF, HGF, and IGF-1) by the ADSCs was evaluated by qPCR. The changes in the expressions of p-Akt in the cells were analyzed by Western blotting and qPCR in response to exendin-4 (10 nm/L) with or without exposure to PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY-294002 (50 nm/L); bFGF, VEGF, HGF, and IGF-1 production in the cells were detected using ELISA kits.

RESULTSTreatment with exendin-4 for 12 h did not affect the surface marker profile of the ADSCs but promoted the cell proliferation (P<0.05). Exendin-4 significantly increased the mRNA expressions of VEGF, bFGF, HGF, and IGF-1 in a concentration-dependent manner, and 10 nm/L was the optimum concentration (P<0.05). Exendin-4 treatment resulted in significantly increased p-Akt expressions in the ADSCs, and PI3K/Akt inhibitor not only reversed such effects of exendin-4 on p-Akt but also diminished the exendin-4- mediated up-regulation of the paracrine cytokines.

CONCLUSIONExendin-4 can concentration-dependently promote the proliferative and paracrine capacities of ADSCs partially through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway without affecting the surface marker profile of the cells.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromones ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Morpholines ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Up-Regulation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Venoms ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the correlation of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with PTEN gene involving in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) C1 signaling genes polymorphisms and autism in children.Methods A total of 97 cases with autism were enrolled from Mar.2011 to Dec.2012 in this study,who came from the child and adolescent out-patient department in Shanghai Mental Health Center of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.Single SNP association and haplotype association analysis were performed using the family-based association test and Haploview software.Results 1.In a family-based association test,two SNPs showed significant association with autism(rs17107001 G:Z =2.982,P =0.003 ; rs2299941 G:Z =2.524,P =0.012).After the correction of false discovery rate,they all remained significant.2.Haplotype association analysis showed significant transmission disequilibrium in haplotype T-T-G and C-T-A generated from rs532678-rs17562384-rs2299941 (block2) in LD Block,and haplotype T-T-G was over transmitted to offspring(Z =-2.986,P =0.003) while haplotype C-T-A was the opposite (Z =-2.197,P =0.028).Conclusion The SNPs of PTEN genes might have a correlation with autism in children.

OBJECTIVETo identify the risk factors for no-reflow (NR) phenomenon after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

METHODSA total of 843 patients with AMI underwent primary PCI within 12 h following onset of the ischemic symptoms. According to TIMI flow grade and myocardial blush grade, the patients were divided into reflow group and NR group after primary PCI, and the clinical data, angiography findings and surgical data were compared to analyze the factors contributing to NR.

RESULTSNR occurred in 15.9% of the AMI patients after primary PCI. Univariate analysis showed that previous myocardial infarction, Killip classes of MI, time to reperfusion, IABP use before PCI, TIMI flow grade before primary PCI, long target lesion, pre-PCI thrombus score and method of reperfusion were correlated to NR (P<0.05 ). Multiple logistic analysis identified the time to reperfusion (OR=1.60; 95% CI: 1.02-2.73), TIMI flow grade before primary PCI (OR=1.1; 95% CI: 1.04-1.16), long target lesion (OR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.19-1.69), and pre-PCI thrombus score (OR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.47-2.76) as the independent predictors of NR after primary PCI.

CONCLUSIONThe time to reperfusion, TIMI flow grade before primary PCI, long target lesion, and pre-PCI thrombus score are independent predictors of NR after primary PCI for AMI.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; No-Reflow Phenomenon ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Risk Factors