BACKGROUND: The potential impact of pre-existing coronary artery stenosis (CAS) on right ventricular (RV) function during acute pulmonary embolism (PE) episodes remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the association between pre-existing CAS and RV dysfunction in patients with acute PE. METHODS: In this multicenter, case-control study, 89 cases and 176 controls matched for age were enrolled at three study centers (Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Fuwai Hospital, and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University) from January 2016 to December 2020. The cases were patients with acute PE with CAS, and the controls were patients with acute PE without CAS. Coronary artery assessment was performed using coronary computed tomographic angiography. CAS was defined as ≥50% stenosis of the lumen diameter in any coronary vessel >2.0 mm in diameter. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between CAS and RV dysfunction. RESULTS: The percentages of RV dysfunction (19.1% [17/89] vs. 44.6% [78/176], P <0.001) and elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) (19.3% [17/89] vs. 39.5% [68/176], P = 0.001) were significantly lower in the case group than those in the control group. In the multivariable logistic regression model, CAS was independently and negatively associated with RV dysfunction (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.367; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.185-0.728; P = 0.004), and elevated sPAP (OR: 0.490; 95% CI: 0.252-0.980; P = 0.035), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Pre-existing CAS was significantly and negatively associated with RV dysfunction and elevated sPAP in patients with acute PE. This finding provides new insights into RV dysfunction in patients with acute PE with pre-existing CAS.
Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism/complications* ; Case-Control Studies ; Male ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/physiopathology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Coronary Stenosis/complications* ; Logistic Models ; Adult

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that both Panax notoginseng saponins and concentrated growth factor can promote fracture healing,but there are few studies addressing their combined effects on fracture healing.Panax notoginseng saponins may accelerate fracture healing by promoting the release of concentrated growth factor-related factors over a certain period of time. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of Panax notoginseng saponins on concentrated growth factor release and fracture healing in rats. METHODS:Eighteen 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were numbered and randomly divided into three groups:Panax notoginseng saponins group,model control group and blank group.Panax notoginseng saponins group was fed with Panax notoginseng saponins for 2 weeks.Model control group was given 2 mL of normal saline for 2 weeks and blank group was fed normally.Concentrated growth factor was obtained by the centrifugation method both from the Panax notoginseng saponins group and model control group.After 1 week of normal feeding,all animals underwent modeling for femoral fracture.The Panax notoginseng saponins group and the model control group were implanted with autologous concentrated growth factor,and then the release concentration of growth factors at different time points(1 hour,1,3,5,7,9 and 11 days)were measured by ELISA.Fracture healing was assessed based on postoperative X-ray and hematoxylin-eosin staining of bone tissues. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model control group,the Panax notoginseng saponins group had higher release concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor A and transforming growth factor β at 7,9,and 11 days,Platelet-derived growth factor BB at 5,9,and 11 days,and basic fibroblast growth factor at 1-11 days(P<0.01).X-ray examinations indicated that fracture healing in the Panax notoginseng saponins group was better than that in the model control group,and fracture healing in these two groups was better than that in the blank group at 2 months after surgery.Hematoxylin-eosin staining results found that the constituent osteocyte density in the Panax notoginseng saponins group was greater than that in the model control group,and the constituent osteocyte density in these two groups was better than that in the blank group.These findings indicate that Panax notoginseng saponins can increase the concentration of concentrated growth factor-related factors.After intervention with Panax notoginseng saponins,concentrated growth factors are more advantageous in promoting fracture healing in rats.

Background::The potential impact of pre-existing coronary artery stenosis (CAS) on acute pulmonary embolism (PE) episodes remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the association between pre-existing CAS and the elevation of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) levels in patients with PE.Methods::In this multicenter, prospective case-control study, 88 cases and 163 controls matched for age, sex, and study center were enrolled. Cases were patients with PE with elevated hs-cTnI. Controls were patients with PE with normal hs-cTnI. Coronary artery assessment utilized coronary computed tomographic angiography or invasive coronary angiography. CAS was defined as ≥50% stenosis of the lumen diameter in any coronary vessel >2.0 mm in diameter. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between CAS and hs-cTnI elevation.Results::The percentage of CAS was higher in the case group compared to the control group (44.3% [39/88] vs. 30.1% [49/163]; P = 0.024). In multivariable conditional logistic regression model 1, CAS (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.680; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.243–5.779), heart rate >75 beats/min (OR, 2.306; 95% CI, 1.056–5.036) and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) >420 pg/mL (OR, 12.169; 95% CI, 4.792–30.900) were independently associated with elevated hs-cTnI. In model 2, right CAS (OR, 3.615; 95% CI, 1.467–8.909) and NT-proBNP >420 pg/mL (OR, 13.890; 95% CI, 5.288–36.484) were independently associated with elevated hs-cTnI. Conclusions::CAS was independently associated with myocardial injury in patients with PE. Vigilance towards CAS is warranted in patients with PE with elevated cardiac troponin levels.

Objective: To investigate the associations between the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) in vestigial like family member 4(VGLL4) gene and Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection. Methods: The blood samples of 450 normal physical examiners were collected , and the samples were divided into H. pylori negative group( n =220) and H. pylori positive group(n = 230) using enzyme⁃linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) . SNP rs1803489 ,rs7617620 , and rs13078528 in VGLL4 gene were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) Ⅳrestriction fragment length polymorphism ( RFLP) technology. Results: SNP rs1803489 , rs7617620 , and rs13078528 in VGLL4 gene were not associated with H. pylori infection in the Han population in Baotou , Inner Mongolia. Conclusion SNP rs1803489 , rs7617620 , and rs13078528 in VGLL4 gene may not play a major role in H. pylori infection in Baotou Han population.

Endometrial cancer has been identified by The Cancer Genome Atlas program with four molecular subtypes by genome sequence analysis. Clinical trials to select suitable immunotherapeutic agents based on the different immune characteristics of each subtype have been conducted in several countries and have made important progress. The main clinical applications of immune checkpoint inhibitors include anti-programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death-ligand 1 antibodies and poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors. Optimizing drug selection and drug combination based on the target characteristics of different immune checkpoint inhibitors may provide new opportunities for immunotherapy of endometrial cancer and bring new light to improve survival rates.

Objective: To investigate the associations of the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) rs1803489, rs7617620 and rs13078528 in vestigial like family member 4(VGLL4) gene with the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer. Methods: The case-control study design was used. 450 cases with non-cardia gastric cancer confirmed by pathology and 450 normal controls were collected in the Han population in Baotou; SNP rs1803489, rs7617620, and rs13078528 inVGLL4were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) technology. Results: VGLL4gene SNP rs1803489 was associated with the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer in the Han population in Baotou. Compared with the carriers of GG genotype, the carriers of AG genotype had a higher risk of non-cardia gastric cancer(OR=1.511, 95%CI=1.095-2.085,P<0.05). SNP rs7617620 and rs13078528 were not associated with non-cardia gastric cancer(P>0.05). Conclusion SNP rs1803489 inVGLL4may have an effect on the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer in the Han population in Baotou. SNP rs7617620 and rs13078528 may not play a major role in the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer.

Aim To investigate the possible mecha-nisms of the levels of NO decrease induced apoptosis in human placental trophoblast cells. Methods Human placental trophoblast cells ( HTR-8 ) were cultured in 5 ml DMEM-F12 culture medium with 37℃ 5% CO2 . Then, the old culture medium was discarded and re-placed with 10,100,500,1 000 μmol·L-1 L-NAME, and the group without L-NAME was set as the control group, cultured for 48h. The effects of L-NAME on the survival of cells were detected by methylthiazolyldiphe-nyl tetrazolium bromide ( MTT); the content of NO in cells was tested by nitrate reductive enzymatic;trans-mission electron microscopy, flow cytometry analysis and Annexin-V FITC dyeing were used to test the effects of L-NAME on apoptosis in HTR-8 cells;restore Fe3+ colorimetric assay was applied for detection of to-tal antioxidant capacity ( T-AOC ) , xanthine oxidase for detection of superoxide dismutase ( SOD) activity, and thiobarbituric acid colorimetry for determination of content of MDA. Results Compared with the control group, the survival rate of HTR-8 cells and the levels of NO in 100,500,1 000 μmol·L-1 L-NAME group were significantly reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01). Flow analysis and Annexin-V FITC staining showed that L-NAME could induce cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The number of cell apoptosis was negatively correlated with the content of NO ( r = -0.5210 ) in HTR-8 cells. Transmission electron microscopy results showed that compared with the control group, the ex-perimental group's cell nucleus shape was irregular, nuclear pyknosis in irregular shape, the chromatin ag-glutination or side the collection, mitochondrial swell-ing or enrichment, crest fracture or dissolved, even vanished, forming the vacuole, especially in 100 μmol ·L-1 L-NAME group, the apoptotic bodies obviously appeared. At the same time, T-AOC, SOD levels in HTR-8 cells decreased ( P <0.05 ) , and the MDA content increased ( P<0.05 ) . The number of cell ap-optosis was negatively correlated with the level of T-AOC ( r= -0.3212 ) , SOD ( r= -0.2779 ) in HTR-8 cells , while positively correlated with the content of MDA(r=0.2807). Conclusion Oxidative stress may play an important role in the levels of NO decrease in-duced apoptosis in human placental trophoblast cells.

Aim To explore the role of ERO1 αand its DNA methylation in homocysteine (Hcy)-induced in-hibition of hepatocytes proliferation.Methods The hepatocytes stimulated with 0 μmol·L -1 Hcy were set as the normal group (NC group)and the hepatocytes stimulated with 1 00 μmol·L -1 Hcy as the experimen-tal group (Hcy group).Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT)reduction assay was used to reflect the prolifer-ation of the hepatocytes;qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of ERO1 α;the expression of green fluorescence protein was observed in hepatocytes after the recombinant plas-mid of ERO1 α was constructed,which was used to confirm if the recombinant plasmid into hepatocytes was successful,then the mRNA and protein levels of ERO1 αwere assayed and the proliferation of the hepa-tocytes was also detected;ntMSP was used to detect the change of ERO1 αDNA methylation.Results The mRNA and protein levels of ERO1 αwere decreased in Hcy group compared with NC group,and the prolifera-tion activity of hepatocytes in Hcy group was de-creased.Sequencing result showed that the recombi-nant plasmid of ERO1 αwas constructed successfully. QRT-PCR and Western blot revealed that ERO1 αwas overexpressed. The result of MTT suggested that ERO1 αoverexpression restored hepatocyte proliferation inhibited by Hcy.Hcy caused ERO1 αDNA hyperm-ethylation.Conclusions Hcy inhibits hepatocyte pro-liferation by downregulating the expression of ERO1 α, and methylation of ERO1 αpromoter may play a role in this process.

Objective To assess the diagnostic significance of T cell receptor gamma gene rearrangemerits in mycosis fungoides (MF), so as to develop a sensitive diagnosis tool. Methods A total of 50 specimens were collected, including 33 skin lesion specimens and 2 lymph specimens from 30 patients with MF,15 skin lesion specimens from 15 patients with inflammatory dermatoses. PCR was performed with specific primers targeting TCR V gamma 8, 9, 10, 11 to detect T cell receptor gamma gene rearrangement. Results Monoclonai rearrangements of TCR gene was observed in 88% (29/33) of specimens from patients with MF and 33% (5/15) of samples from patients with inflammatory dermatoses. Conclusions The detection of TCR gene rearrangements, as an ancillary test, is useful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MF.

OBJECTIVETo search novel method for diagnosis and therapy of B-lymphoma, specific small molecular peptide ligands against binding site of tumor cells were screened and its effects on signal transduction and cell apoptosis were tested.

METHODSSpecific peptide ligands were screened by binding with site of human B lymphoma cell (OC1LY8) using peptide-bead libraries. The identified peptides were characterized with responsible cells by rebinding test. The role of tyrosine phosphorylation of peptide ligand was tested by Western blot; and its apoptosispromoting role was observed by confocal fluorescent microscope.

RESULTSSpecific peptide ligand was able to bind specifically to site on cell surface and enter into cytoplasm. Tetrameric peptide ligand was able to strongly trigger signal transduction resulting in tyrosine phosphorylation and cellular apoptosis in OC1LY8 cell line.

CONCLUSIONScreened peptide ligand can effectively bind with OC1LY8 cell, stimulate cellular tyrosine phosphorylation and induce cellular apoptosis.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Ligands ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oligopeptides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Peptide Library ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tyrosine ; metabolism