AIM: To investigate the potential inhibitory effect of pterostilbene on the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EndMT)induced by high glucose conditions in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs).METHODS: The optimal concentration of pterostilbene for treating HRMECs was determined using the CCK-8 assay, with 12.5 and 25 μmol/L concentrations selected for subsequent experiments. Four experimental groups were established: control group, high glucose group, high glucose combined with 12.5 μmol/L pterostilbene treatment group, and high glucose combined with 25 μmol/L pterostilbene treatment group. The expression levels of HDAC7 and EndMT-associated markers were detected via Western blot analysis. Cell migration ability was assessed using Transwell migration assays and scratch wound healing tests, while vasculogenic capability was evaluated through tube formation assays.RESULTS: The CCK-8 assay revealed that pterostilbene at a concentration of 22.07 μmol/L inhibited 50% of cell viability in HRMECs. Western blot analysis demonstrated that compared with the control group, the expression levels of HDAC7, ZEB1, Vimentin, and Snail were significantly upregulated in HRMECs cultured in high glucose(all P<0.01), while the expressions of VE-cadherin and CD31 were significantly reduced(all P<0.01). Compared to the high glucose group, the treatment with 12.5 and 25 μmol/L pterostilbene significantly reduced the expression of HDAC7, ZEB1, Vimentin, and Snail under high glucose conditions(all P<0.01). Notably, 25 μmol/L pterostilbene enhanced the expression of VE-cadherin and CD31(all P<0.01). Scratch wound healing tests revealed that HRMECs treated with high glucose exhibited a significantly increased cell migration rate compared to the control group(P<0.05), while the application of 25 μmol/L pterostilbene significantly suppressed HRMECs migration under high glucose conditions(P<0.01). Transwell migration assays demonstrated that the cell migration rate in the high glucose group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01), with cell migration rate markedly reduced following treatment with both of 12.5 and 25 μmol/L pterostilbene(all P<0.01). The tube formation assay revealed that the ability of HRMECs to form tubular structures was significantly enhanced under high glucose conditions(P<0.01), and both 12.5 and 25 μmol/L of pterostilbene effectively inhibited this effect(all P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Pterostilbene can inhibit HDAC7 expression, suppress EndMT-mediated migration of HRMECs, and impair tube formation under high-glucose conditions.

AIM: To investigate the potential inhibitory effect of pterostilbene on the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EndMT)induced by high glucose conditions in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs).METHODS: The optimal concentration of pterostilbene for treating HRMECs was determined using the CCK-8 assay, with 12.5 and 25 μmol/L concentrations selected for subsequent experiments. Four experimental groups were established: control group, high glucose group, high glucose combined with 12.5 μmol/L pterostilbene treatment group, and high glucose combined with 25 μmol/L pterostilbene treatment group. The expression levels of HDAC7 and EndMT-associated markers were detected via Western blot analysis. Cell migration ability was assessed using Transwell migration assays and scratch wound healing tests, while vasculogenic capability was evaluated through tube formation assays.RESULTS: The CCK-8 assay revealed that pterostilbene at a concentration of 22.07 μmol/L inhibited 50% of cell viability in HRMECs. Western blot analysis demonstrated that compared with the control group, the expression levels of HDAC7, ZEB1, Vimentin, and Snail were significantly upregulated in HRMECs cultured in high glucose(all P<0.01), while the expressions of VE-cadherin and CD31 were significantly reduced(all P<0.01). Compared to the high glucose group, the treatment with 12.5 and 25 μmol/L pterostilbene significantly reduced the expression of HDAC7, ZEB1, Vimentin, and Snail under high glucose conditions(all P<0.01). Notably, 25 μmol/L pterostilbene enhanced the expression of VE-cadherin and CD31(all P<0.01). Scratch wound healing tests revealed that HRMECs treated with high glucose exhibited a significantly increased cell migration rate compared to the control group(P<0.05), while the application of 25 μmol/L pterostilbene significantly suppressed HRMECs migration under high glucose conditions(P<0.01). Transwell migration assays demonstrated that the cell migration rate in the high glucose group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01), with cell migration rate markedly reduced following treatment with both of 12.5 and 25 μmol/L pterostilbene(all P<0.01). The tube formation assay revealed that the ability of HRMECs to form tubular structures was significantly enhanced under high glucose conditions(P<0.01), and both 12.5 and 25 μmol/L of pterostilbene effectively inhibited this effect(all P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Pterostilbene can inhibit HDAC7 expression, suppress EndMT-mediated migration of HRMECs, and impair tube formation under high-glucose conditions.

Migraine disorders, a common disabling headache condition, is the second largest contributor to global neurological disability-adjusted life-years. Since 2000, migraine surgery has been pioneered and elaborated by plastic surgeons. For certain patients, migraine episodes are associated with "trigger sites" caused by compression of the peripheral nerves in the head and neck region. Botulinum toxin type A injections or nerve blocks, clinical manifestations and image studies can help confirm the trigger sites. Surgical deactivation of the trigger sites can effectively alleviate or eliminate migraine disorders, with the optimal result incorporated with experience and principles of plastic and cosmetic surgery.

Objective:To investigate the autophagy level of CD8+T cells in rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and correlation with its number,and to explore the role of autophagy in pathogenesis of COPD.Methods:Thirty-six 6-week-old male SD rats were divided into three groups,including normal control group,COPD group and COPD intervention group.COPD model was established by smoking,and intraperitoneal injection of 3-methyladenine(3-MA)was used for intervention.Lung function of rats was detected by small animal pulmonary function testing,and frequency of CD8+T cells,CD8+memory T cells,CD8+effector T cells in blood and lung of rats were detected by flow cytometry.CD8+T cells were sorted by immunomagnetic beads,and expressions of autophagy protein including LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ,Beclin-1 and p62 in CD8+T cells were detected by Western blot.The middle lobe of right lung was collected for histological observation.Results:Infiltration of inflammatory cells and the decline of lung function in COPD group were more obvious than those in normal group.Frequency of CD8+T cells,CD8+effector T cells and CD8+memory T cells in blood and lung of rats in COPD group were significantly higher than those in normal control group(all P<0.05).Level of autophagy protein,LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ and Beclin-1 of CD8+T cells in COPD group were significantly higher than that in normal control group,while level of p62 was lower than that in normal control group(P<0.01).CD8+T cells,CD8+effector T cells,CD8+memory T cells in COPD intervention group were significantly lower than those in COPD group(P<0.05).Correlation analysis showed that LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ expression level was positively correlated with frequency of CD8+T cells in blood(r=0.667,P<0.01).Expression level of Beclin-1 was positively correlated with frequency of CD8+T cells and CD8+effector T cells in blood(r=0.505,P=0.021;r=0.428,P=0.037).Expression of LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰprotein was positively correlated with frequency of CD8+T cells and CD8+effector T cells in lung tissue(r=0.474,P=0.019;r=0.549,P=0.006).Expression of Beclin-1 was positively correlated with frequency of CD8+effector T cells in lung tissue(r=0.458,P=0.025).Conclusion:Level of CD8+T cell autophagy is correlated with its number.CD8+T cell autophagy may be involved in the chronic inflam-matory process of COPD,and 3-MA can inhibit COPD inflammation.

Objective:To investigate the autophagy level of CD8+T cells in rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and correlation with its number,and to explore the role of autophagy in pathogenesis of COPD.Methods:Thirty-six 6-week-old male SD rats were divided into three groups,including normal control group,COPD group and COPD intervention group.COPD model was established by smoking,and intraperitoneal injection of 3-methyladenine(3-MA)was used for intervention.Lung function of rats was detected by small animal pulmonary function testing,and frequency of CD8+T cells,CD8+memory T cells,CD8+effector T cells in blood and lung of rats were detected by flow cytometry.CD8+T cells were sorted by immunomagnetic beads,and expressions of autophagy protein including LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ,Beclin-1 and p62 in CD8+T cells were detected by Western blot.The middle lobe of right lung was collected for histological observation.Results:Infiltration of inflammatory cells and the decline of lung function in COPD group were more obvious than those in normal group.Frequency of CD8+T cells,CD8+effector T cells and CD8+memory T cells in blood and lung of rats in COPD group were significantly higher than those in normal control group(all P<0.05).Level of autophagy protein,LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ and Beclin-1 of CD8+T cells in COPD group were significantly higher than that in normal control group,while level of p62 was lower than that in normal control group(P<0.01).CD8+T cells,CD8+effector T cells,CD8+memory T cells in COPD intervention group were significantly lower than those in COPD group(P<0.05).Correlation analysis showed that LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ expression level was positively correlated with frequency of CD8+T cells in blood(r=0.667,P<0.01).Expression level of Beclin-1 was positively correlated with frequency of CD8+T cells and CD8+effector T cells in blood(r=0.505,P=0.021;r=0.428,P=0.037).Expression of LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰprotein was positively correlated with frequency of CD8+T cells and CD8+effector T cells in lung tissue(r=0.474,P=0.019;r=0.549,P=0.006).Expression of Beclin-1 was positively correlated with frequency of CD8+effector T cells in lung tissue(r=0.458,P=0.025).Conclusion:Level of CD8+T cell autophagy is correlated with its number.CD8+T cell autophagy may be involved in the chronic inflam-matory process of COPD,and 3-MA can inhibit COPD inflammation.

Migraine disorders, a common disabling headache condition, is the second largest contributor to global neurological disability-adjusted life-years. Since 2000, migraine surgery has been pioneered and elaborated by plastic surgeons. For certain patients, migraine episodes are associated with "trigger sites" caused by compression of the peripheral nerves in the head and neck region. Botulinum toxin type A injections or nerve blocks, clinical manifestations and image studies can help confirm the trigger sites. Surgical deactivation of the trigger sites can effectively alleviate or eliminate migraine disorders, with the optimal result incorporated with experience and principles of plastic and cosmetic surgery.

Humans ; Cohort Studies ; Body Mass Index ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Inflammation ; Treatment Outcome ; Risk Factors

In this study, we explored the neural mechanism underlying impaired stereopsis and possible functional plasticity after strabismus surgery. We enrolled 18 stereo-deficient patients with intermittent exotropia before and after surgery, along with 18 healthy controls. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected when participants viewed three-dimensional stimuli. Compared with controls, preoperative patients showed hypoactivation in higher-level dorsal (visual and parietal) areas and ventral visual areas. Pre- and postoperative activation did not significantly differ in patients overall; patients with improved stereopsis showed stronger postoperative activation than preoperative activation in the right V3A and left intraparietal sulcus. Worse stereopsis and fusional control were correlated with preoperative hypoactivation, suggesting that cortical deficits along the two streams might reflect impaired stereopsis in intermittent exotropia. The correlation between improved stereopsis and activation in the right V3A after surgery indicates that functional plasticity may underlie the improvement of stereopsis. Thus, additional postoperative strategies are needed to promote functional plasticity and enhance the recovery of stereopsis.
Humans ; Exotropia/surgery* ; Depth Perception/physiology* ; Strabismus/surgery* ; Oculomotor Muscles/surgery*

Self-assembly refers to the spontaneous process where basic units such as molecules and nanostructured materials form a stable and compact structure. Peptides can self-assemble by non-covalent driving forces to form various morphologies such as nanofibers, nano layered structures, and micelles. Peptide self-assembly technology has become a hot research topic in recent years due to the advantages of definite amino acid sequences, easy synthesis and design of peptides. It has been shown that the self-assembly design of certain peptide drugs or the use of self-assembled peptide materials as carriers for drug delivery can solve the problems such as short half-life, poor water solubility and poor penetration due to physiological barrier. This review summarizes the formation mechanism of self-assembled peptides, self-assembly morphology, influencing factors, self-assembly design methods and major applications in biomedical field, providing a reference for the efficient use of peptides.
Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Peptides/chemistry* ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Nanostructures/chemistry* ; Drug Delivery Systems

Objective To explore the impact of temperature and environmental factors on the risk of deaths from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in Wuhan during the course of high temperature. Methods The daily CVD death data and meteorological and atmospheric pollutant concentration data during the high temperature process in Wuhan from 2014 to 2019 were collected. The generalized additive models (GAM) were used to obtain the characteristics of meteorological factors, atmospheric pollutant concentrations, high impact factors and thresholds affecting the relative risk of CVD death. Results The analysis results showed that: (1) When the maximum temperature reached 36.7°C and the lowest temperature reached 25.3°C, the relative risk of CVD death increased significantly; (2) The risk of CVD death during the first high temperature process was the largest, and the average CVD excess mortality rate during the first high temperature process from 2014 to 2019 reached 21.7%; and (3) The average temperature, maximum temperature and PM₁₀ during the course of high temperature were important environmental factors that increased the risk of CVD deaths, and the relative risks were 1.14 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.11-1.17), 1.11 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.08-1.15, and 1.06 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.02-1.09), respectively. Conclusion Temperature and PM₁₀ are important environmental factors that increase the risk of death from CVD during the high temperature process in Wuhan from 2014 to 2019, with the first annual high temperature process having the greatest impact on the risk of CVD death.