Objective: To explore the correlation between allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) during the perioperative period. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort of 1,170 patients undergoing isolated CABG was analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to explore the nonlinear association between perioperative RBC transfusion (from intraoperative period to 72 hours postoperatively) and HAIs. Results: Among the 1,170 CABG patients, 109 patients (9.2%) received RBC transfusion during the operation or within 3 days after the operation. The risk of HAIs in those who received ≥4 units of RBCs during and within 3 days after the operation was 6.89 times higher than that in the non-transfusion group (95% CI: 3.65-17.20). Furthermore, there was a nonlinear threshold effect between the blood transfusion volume and postoperative HAIs (inflection point: 7.8 units). When the transfusion volume was ≤7.8 units, the risk of HAIs increased by 61% for each additional unit transfused (OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.21-2.15). Beyond this threshold, no statistically significant association was observed (P=0.289). Conclusion: Perioperative RBC transfusion in CABG patients is associated with an increased incidence of HAIs. The perioperative blood transfusion volume has a curvilinear relationship with the risk of postoperative HAIs. When the blood transfusion volume is ≤7.8 units, the blood transfusion volume has a dose-dependent relationship with postoperative infection, with higher blood transfusion volumes correlating with greater postoperative infection risk. When the blood transfusion volume is >7.8 units, the relationship between the two is not statistically significant. The preventive effect of reducing RBC transfusion on HAIs requires further validation in the future.

To investigate the immune protective effect induced by superoxide dismutase(SOD)of the Toxocara canis(T.canis)in mice,in this experiment,seventy-five Kunming mice of six-week-age were randomly divided into 5 groups for the immune protection experiment,the mice were subcutaneously immunized with 50,75 and 125 mg/L Tc-SOD(0.1 mL)on days 0,14 and 28,re-spectively.In the blank group,mice did not receive any treatment,while the PBS group was injected with equal amounts of sterility PBS.A total of three immunizations and each immunization interval of 14 days.14 days after the third immunization,the 3 000 infected worm eggs were given orally in all groups.Before each immunization,14 days after the third immunization,and after the T.canis attack on the 7th day,the blood was sampled from the tail vein and sera were separated,while the IgG levels in serum were detected by indirect ELISA.The proliferation ability of splenic lympho-cytes and the mRNA expression levels of Th1(IFN-γ,IL-2)and Th2 cytokines(IL-4,IL-10)were analyzed with CCK-8 and qRT-PCR.The larvae reduction rates were calculated on the 7th day after the T.canis attack,and the pathological changes in the livers and lungs were observed using H&E staining.The results showed that compared with the PBS group,the serum IgG antibody levels increased with the frequency and duration of Tc-SOD immunization.It remained at a high level af-ter the T.canis attack,and the differences were very significant(P＜0.001).The mRNA expres-sion levels of IFN-γ,IL-2,IL-4,and IL-10 were dramatically increased(P＜0.01),while IL-4 andIL-10 were significantly higher than IFN-γ and IL-2 on the 14th day after the third immunization(P＜0.05),showing the Th2 type predominant immune response.And induce the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes in vitro(P＜0.01).The reduction rates of larvae of 50,75 and 125 mg/L Tc-SOD immune groups were 18.7％,24.9％and 37.6％,respectively,with significant differences in the 125 mg/L Tc-SOD group(P＜0.05),and had better immune protection effect.Moreover,the H&E staining results indicated that three Tc-SOD immune groups reduce the inflammatory cell infiltration(neutrophils,eosinophils,and macrophages)and hemorrhagic lesions in the livers and lungs of mice.The above results indicated that Tc-SOD could induce humoral and cellular immune responses in mice,mainly Th2 immune response,and provide immune protection against T.canis infection.

Soil cadmium pollution can adversely affect the cultivation of the ornamental plant, Coleus scutellarioides. Upon cadmium contamination of the soil, the growth of C. scutellarioides is impeded, and it may even succumb to the toxic accumulation of cadmium. In this study, we investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the adaptation of C. scutellarioides to cadmium stress, by measuring the physiological metabolism and the degree of root damage of C. scutellarioides, with Aspergillus oryzae as the test fungi. The results indicated that cadmium stress increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) within the cells of C. scutellarioides, but inhibited mycorrhizal infestation rate, root vigour and growth rate to a great degree. With the same cadmium concentration, the inoculation of AMF significantly improved the physiological indexes of C. scutellarioides. The maximum decrease of MDA content was 42.16%, and the content of secondary metabolites rosemarinic acid and anthocyanosides could be increased by up to 27.43% and 25.72%, respectively. Meanwhile, the increase of root vigour was as high as 35.35%, and the DNA damage of the root system was obviously repaired. In conclusion, the inoculation of AMF can promote the accumulation of secondary metabolites, alleviate root damage, and enhance the tolerance to cadmium stress in C. scutellarioides.
Cadmium/toxicity* ; Mycorrhizae/physiology* ; Plant Roots/drug effects* ; Soil Pollutants/toxicity* ; Stress, Physiological ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*

Objectives:To investigate the clinical value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging(CMR)feature-tracking strain analysis in risk stratification of diabetic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF).Methods:In this retrospective study,a total of 215 patients with diabetic HFpEF who underwent CMR at Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Fuwai Hospital from January 2012 to December 2018 were included.Myocardial strain parameters were calculated using CMR feature-tracking technology.Patients were followed up by medical records or telephone calls.Composite endpoint event,all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization during follow-up were recorded.Patients were divided into event group and event-free group.Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors for the outcomes in diabetic HFpEF.The effects of hypertension and obesity on the prognosis of diabetic HFpEF patients and whether they affect the prognostic value of CMR feature-tracking strain analysis were also analyzed.Results:During a follow-up of(7.1±1.8)years,93(43.3%)patients had endpoint events(event group),including 28 all-cause deaths and 65 heart failure hospitalization.Compared with the event-free group(n=122),patients in the event group had significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction,higher prevalence and extent of late gadolinium enhancement,and significantly reduced global longitudinal strain(GLS),global circumferential strain,global radial strain,and global systolic longitudinal strain rate(all P<0.05).The absolute GLS value was significantly lower in event group than in event-free group,regardless of the presence of hypertension and obesity.Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that estimated glomerular filtration rate(HR=0.983,95%CI:0.972-0.993,P=0.001),left atrial volume index(HR=1.015,95%CI:1.005-1.026,P=0.004),and GLS(HR=1.142,95%CI:1.060-1.231,P<0.001)were independent risk factors for adverse cardiovascular events in diabetic HFpEF patients.However,adjusted N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide was not an independent prognostic factor.The cut-offvalue of GLS to predict outcome was-14.09%from ROC curve analysis.The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that in patients with and without hypertension and obesity,patients with the GLS>-14.09%had lower event-free survival compared to patients with GLS≤-14.09%(all P<0.05),and the ability of GLS to predict adverse outcomes was not affected by hypertension and obesity.Conclusions:GLS obtained by CMR feature-tracking strain analysis is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in diabetic HFpEF,and its ability to predict adverse outcomes is independent of hypertension and obesity.

Objective To prepare glucose transporter 1(Glut1)-targeted doxorubicin(DOX)-loaded liposomes(doxorubicin/polyphyllin H-liposomes,DOX/ppH-LPs)using polyphyllin H(ppH)instead of cholesterol as the liposomal membrane material,and to investigate their in vitro synergistic anti-tumor activity against non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods DOX/ppH-LPs were prepared using thin-film hydration,and the formulation was optimized by single-factor investigation.The optimized DOX/ppH-LPs were characterized for morphology,particle size,polydispersity index(PDI),and zeta potential with transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and dynamic light scattering(DLS).Drug loading DL%was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The storage stability was evaluated by observing in PBS at 4℃for 7 d,and the serum stability was observed in DMEM containing 10%fetal bovine serum(FBS)at 37℃for 48 h.In vitro drug release was studied in PBS at pH 7.4 and pH 5.0 values,respectively.Human NSCLC A549 cells were subjected as the model,MTT assay was performed to detect the proliferation inhibition by DOX/ppH-LPs at different concentrations(0.5,5.0,15.0 μg/mL)and the control group(ppH+DOX/LPs,a physical mixture of free ppH and DOX-loaded liposomes).Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe cellular uptake of DOX/ppH-LPs and DOX/LPs(containing 5 μg/mL DOX)at 15 min and 2 h.Live/dead cell staining was applied to assess apoptosis/necrosis induced by formulations(15 μg/mL DOX)after 48 h incubation.Transwell assay was conducted to evaluate inhibitory effect on cell migration and invasion,and the targeting property and in vitro synergistic anti-NSCLC activity of DOX/ppH-LPs were then comprehensively evaluated.Results The optimal formulation of DOX/ppH-LPs was determined as hydration temperature at 50℃,6 mg DOX,2 mg ppH,and 24 mg lecithin.The prepared DOX/ppH-LPs were in spherical shape,uniform distribution,and at an average particle size of 145.13±22.14 nm,a PDI of 0.15±0.05,a zeta potential of-23.92±1.73 mV,and a DL of 10.13±0.71%for DOX and(1.22±0.21)%for ppH.DOX/ppH-LPs maintained stable particle size,PDI,and exhibited significantly unchanged zeta potential after storage in PBS at 4℃for 7 d or incubation in DMEM containing 10%FBS at 37℃for 48 h,demonstrating excellent physical and serum stability.Both liposomes showed slow release at pH 7.4 value,while drug release was significantly accelerated at pH 5.0 value(P<0.05),indicating pH-sensitive release characteristics.MTT assay revealed that DOX/ppH-LPs exerted significantly stronger cytotoxicity against A549 cells than the ppH+DOX/LPs control group(P<0.05).Compared with ppH+DOX/LPs,DOX/ppH-LPs showed remarkably enhanced cellular uptake in A549 cells(P<0.05),with more DOX localized in the nucleus.Live/dead cell staining showed that at the same DOX concentration(15 μg/mL),the proportion of apoptotic/necrotic cells induced by DOX/ppH-LPs was significantly higher than that of the DOX/LPs control group.Transwell assay demonstrated that there were significantly less cells migrating and invading through the membrane in the DOX/ppH-LPs group than the ppH+DOX/LPs group.Conclusion Glut1-targeted doxorubicin-loaded liposomes(DOX/ppH-LPs)constructed by substituting cholesterol with ppH can target NSCLC cells,significantly enhance the in vitro synergistic anti-NSCLC activity of DOX and ppH.

Objective·To investigate the effect of Th17 cell-specific Stat3 knockout on anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors.Methods·Mice with specific Stat3 knockout in Th17 cells(Stat3fl/fl;Il17a-CreERT2),named Stat3△Il17a,and wild-type mice(Stat3fl/fl,WT)were generated through the Cre/LoxP system,and Stat3 knockout was induced by intraperitoneal injection of tamoxifen.CD4+T cells were isolated using magnetic-activated cell sorting and induced to differentiate into Th17 cells.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to verify Stat3 knockout efficiency.Mice were assigned into 4 groups:WT-C group,Stat3△Il17a-C group,WT-P group,and Stat3△Il17a-P group.The periodontitis model was established in the WT-P group and the Stat3△Il17a-P group by injection of Porphyromonas gingivalis-lipopolysaccharide(P.gingivalis-LPS)into the gingival sulcus.Behavioral tests,including the open field test,elevated zero maze,and forced swimming test,were conducted to evaluate changes in anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors.Micro-computed tomography was used to observe destruction of alveolar bone.Neuronal injury was observed by H-E staining,and the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results·mRNA expression and protein levels of Stat3 in Stat3△Il17a mice were inhibited compared to WT mice(P<0.05).Experimental periodontitis model was successfully established in the WT-P group and the Stat3△Il17a-P group.The degree of alveolar bone destruction was reduced in the Stat3△Il17a-P group compared to the WT-P group.In the WT-P group,decreased residence time in the central area and in the open area was observed in the open field test and elevated zero maze respectively,and increased immortal time was recorded in the forced swimming test(P<0.05).Moreover,neuronal injury was detected and significantly decreased expression levels of BDNF in the brain were measured in the WT-P group compared with the WT-C group(P<0.05).The degree of abnormal behaviors and neuronal injury was reduced in the Stat3△Il17a-P group compared to the WT-P group(P<0.05).Moreover,the level of BDNF in the Stat3△Il17a-P was higher than that in the WT-P group(P<0.05).Conclusion·Periodontitis may contribute to anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors and neuronal damage in mice,while Th17-specific conditional knockout of Stat3 could significantly alleviate pathological behaviors and neuronal damage.Stat3-mediated-Th17 cell immune responses may play a crucial role in the correlation between periodontitis and anxiety and depression.

Objective·To investigate the effect of Th17 cell-specific Stat3 knockout on anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors.Methods·Mice with specific Stat3 knockout in Th17 cells(Stat3fl/fl;Il17a-CreERT2),named Stat3△Il17a,and wild-type mice(Stat3fl/fl,WT)were generated through the Cre/LoxP system,and Stat3 knockout was induced by intraperitoneal injection of tamoxifen.CD4+T cells were isolated using magnetic-activated cell sorting and induced to differentiate into Th17 cells.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to verify Stat3 knockout efficiency.Mice were assigned into 4 groups:WT-C group,Stat3△Il17a-C group,WT-P group,and Stat3△Il17a-P group.The periodontitis model was established in the WT-P group and the Stat3△Il17a-P group by injection of Porphyromonas gingivalis-lipopolysaccharide(P.gingivalis-LPS)into the gingival sulcus.Behavioral tests,including the open field test,elevated zero maze,and forced swimming test,were conducted to evaluate changes in anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors.Micro-computed tomography was used to observe destruction of alveolar bone.Neuronal injury was observed by H-E staining,and the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results·mRNA expression and protein levels of Stat3 in Stat3△Il17a mice were inhibited compared to WT mice(P<0.05).Experimental periodontitis model was successfully established in the WT-P group and the Stat3△Il17a-P group.The degree of alveolar bone destruction was reduced in the Stat3△Il17a-P group compared to the WT-P group.In the WT-P group,decreased residence time in the central area and in the open area was observed in the open field test and elevated zero maze respectively,and increased immortal time was recorded in the forced swimming test(P<0.05).Moreover,neuronal injury was detected and significantly decreased expression levels of BDNF in the brain were measured in the WT-P group compared with the WT-C group(P<0.05).The degree of abnormal behaviors and neuronal injury was reduced in the Stat3△Il17a-P group compared to the WT-P group(P<0.05).Moreover,the level of BDNF in the Stat3△Il17a-P was higher than that in the WT-P group(P<0.05).Conclusion·Periodontitis may contribute to anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors and neuronal damage in mice,while Th17-specific conditional knockout of Stat3 could significantly alleviate pathological behaviors and neuronal damage.Stat3-mediated-Th17 cell immune responses may play a crucial role in the correlation between periodontitis and anxiety and depression.

Objectives:To investigate the clinical value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging(CMR)feature-tracking strain analysis in risk stratification of diabetic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF).Methods:In this retrospective study,a total of 215 patients with diabetic HFpEF who underwent CMR at Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Fuwai Hospital from January 2012 to December 2018 were included.Myocardial strain parameters were calculated using CMR feature-tracking technology.Patients were followed up by medical records or telephone calls.Composite endpoint event,all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization during follow-up were recorded.Patients were divided into event group and event-free group.Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors for the outcomes in diabetic HFpEF.The effects of hypertension and obesity on the prognosis of diabetic HFpEF patients and whether they affect the prognostic value of CMR feature-tracking strain analysis were also analyzed.Results:During a follow-up of(7.1±1.8)years,93(43.3%)patients had endpoint events(event group),including 28 all-cause deaths and 65 heart failure hospitalization.Compared with the event-free group(n=122),patients in the event group had significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction,higher prevalence and extent of late gadolinium enhancement,and significantly reduced global longitudinal strain(GLS),global circumferential strain,global radial strain,and global systolic longitudinal strain rate(all P<0.05).The absolute GLS value was significantly lower in event group than in event-free group,regardless of the presence of hypertension and obesity.Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that estimated glomerular filtration rate(HR=0.983,95%CI:0.972-0.993,P=0.001),left atrial volume index(HR=1.015,95%CI:1.005-1.026,P=0.004),and GLS(HR=1.142,95%CI:1.060-1.231,P<0.001)were independent risk factors for adverse cardiovascular events in diabetic HFpEF patients.However,adjusted N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide was not an independent prognostic factor.The cut-offvalue of GLS to predict outcome was-14.09%from ROC curve analysis.The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that in patients with and without hypertension and obesity,patients with the GLS>-14.09%had lower event-free survival compared to patients with GLS≤-14.09%(all P<0.05),and the ability of GLS to predict adverse outcomes was not affected by hypertension and obesity.Conclusions:GLS obtained by CMR feature-tracking strain analysis is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in diabetic HFpEF,and its ability to predict adverse outcomes is independent of hypertension and obesity.

To investigate the immune protective effect induced by superoxide dismutase(SOD)of the Toxocara canis(T.canis)in mice,in this experiment,seventy-five Kunming mice of six-week-age were randomly divided into 5 groups for the immune protection experiment,the mice were subcutaneously immunized with 50,75 and 125 mg/L Tc-SOD(0.1 mL)on days 0,14 and 28,re-spectively.In the blank group,mice did not receive any treatment,while the PBS group was injected with equal amounts of sterility PBS.A total of three immunizations and each immunization interval of 14 days.14 days after the third immunization,the 3 000 infected worm eggs were given orally in all groups.Before each immunization,14 days after the third immunization,and after the T.canis attack on the 7th day,the blood was sampled from the tail vein and sera were separated,while the IgG levels in serum were detected by indirect ELISA.The proliferation ability of splenic lympho-cytes and the mRNA expression levels of Th1(IFN-γ,IL-2)and Th2 cytokines(IL-4,IL-10)were analyzed with CCK-8 and qRT-PCR.The larvae reduction rates were calculated on the 7th day after the T.canis attack,and the pathological changes in the livers and lungs were observed using H&E staining.The results showed that compared with the PBS group,the serum IgG antibody levels increased with the frequency and duration of Tc-SOD immunization.It remained at a high level af-ter the T.canis attack,and the differences were very significant(P＜0.001).The mRNA expres-sion levels of IFN-γ,IL-2,IL-4,and IL-10 were dramatically increased(P＜0.01),while IL-4 andIL-10 were significantly higher than IFN-γ and IL-2 on the 14th day after the third immunization(P＜0.05),showing the Th2 type predominant immune response.And induce the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes in vitro(P＜0.01).The reduction rates of larvae of 50,75 and 125 mg/L Tc-SOD immune groups were 18.7％,24.9％and 37.6％,respectively,with significant differences in the 125 mg/L Tc-SOD group(P＜0.05),and had better immune protection effect.Moreover,the H&E staining results indicated that three Tc-SOD immune groups reduce the inflammatory cell infiltration(neutrophils,eosinophils,and macrophages)and hemorrhagic lesions in the livers and lungs of mice.The above results indicated that Tc-SOD could induce humoral and cellular immune responses in mice,mainly Th2 immune response,and provide immune protection against T.canis infection.

Eleven compounds were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate part of 80% ethanol extract of Ferula feruloides root by a combination of normal-phase silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 dextran gel column chromatography and semi-preparative liquid chromatography and then modern wave spectrometry methods (NMR, MS, UV, IR) were used to identify the structures of the compounds, which were identified as baigene D (1), baigene E (2), baigene F (3), β-kirialovin (4), α-kirialovin (5), falcarindiol (6), ammoresinol (7), dshamirone (8), 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-3-[4-methyl-5-(4-methy1-2-furyl)-3(E)-pentenyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin (9), 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadi-enyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin (10), and baigene C (11). Compounds 1-3 are new coumarin analogues, and compounds 4-6 are firstly isolated from F. feruloides. The anti-proliferative activity of compounds 5, 7-11 against human gastric cancer (MKN-45) cells was evaluated using MTT assay, which showed that compounds 7-11 exhibited strong inhibitory activity, and compound 5 exhibited weak inhibitory activity.