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

OBJECTIVES: To explore the molecular mechanism by which miR-124 affects cognitive function of sleep-deprived rats. METHODS: Fifty-four adult male SD rats were randomized into 6 groups (n=9), including a normal control group, a sleep deprivation (SD) model group, and 4 intracerebral microinjection groups in which the rats were subjected to stereotactic injection of miR-124 agomir, miR-124 agomir NC, miR-124 antagomir, or miR-124 antagomir into the lateral ventricle 7 days before SD modeling. The cognitive functions of the rats were evaluated with Morris water maze test, and pathological changes in the hippocampus were observed using HE staining. The expression level of miR-124 in hippocampal tissues of the rats was detected with qRT-PCR, and the expression level of apoptosis-related proteins and signaling pathway proteins were determined using Western blotting. RESULTS: In Morris water maze test, the SD rat models treated with miR-124 agomir showed a significantly shorter escape latency and fewer platform crossings with increased percentage of time and swimming distance in the fourth quadrant as compared with those in SD model group, while the rats treated with miR-124 antagomir exhibited worsened performance in the test. In the SD rat models, treatment with miR-124 agomir obviously lessened pathological changes in the hippocampus, while treatment with miR-124 antagomir significantly worsened the pathological changes. Compared with those in SD model group, the miR-124 agomir-treated rats showed an increased hippocampal expression of miR-124 with upregulated protein expressions of PI3K, p-AKT/AKT, and Bcl-2 and downregulated expressions of Bax and caspase-3 proteins, while rats treated with miR-124 antagomir showed significantly decreased hippocampal expression of miR-124 with lowered expressions of PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and Bcl-2 proteins and increased Bax and caspase-3 protein expressions. CONCLUSIONS High expression of miR-124 alleviates SD-induced cognitive decline and neuronal apoptosis in rats by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Cognition ; Rats ; Sleep Deprivation/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Maze Learning

Objective To develop an oxybutynin nanotransdermal formulation with high skin permeability based on cubsomes carrier.Methods The oxybutynin loaded cubsomes(OXY-CS)was prepared by ultrasonic method.Using particle size,polydispersity index and encapsulation efficiency as evaluation indexes,stirring temperature,stirring time,stirring speed,ultrasound time,ultrasound power,glycerol monooleate/poloxamer 407 ratio(GMO/F127),carrier(GMO+F127)/drug ratio and drug concentration were optimized.The effects of drug concentration,permeation promoter and gel matrix type on skin permeability were investigated using cumulative permeation and skin retention as evaluation indicators.Results The prepared OXY-CS had small particle size and high encapsulation efficiency at stirring temperature of 50℃,stirring time of 30 min,stirring speed of 1 000 r/min,ultrasound time of 10 min,ultrasound power of 100 W,GMO/F127 ratio of 2∶1,carrier/drug ratio of 3∶1 and drug concentration of 1％,respectively.OXY-CS had high cumulative penetration and skin retention at concentration ≥ 3％.The addition of a permeation promoter to OXY-CS did not increase the cumulative penetration of the drug.The skin permeability of oxybutynin cubsomes gel made with carbomer was significantly better than those of other gel matrices.Conclusion In this study,oxybutynin is made into a topical cubsomes gel,which is expected to reduce the incidence of adverse effects associated with oral administration.

Objective To prepare a sustained-release membrane with longer adhesion time and dissolution time, and compare it with the commercially available oral ulcer membrane. Method Adhesion strength, adhesion time, swelling coefficient, dissolution time, etc. were used as the inspection indicators, and a combination of single factor inspection and analytic hierarchy process were used to screen the membrane -forming materials. The dispersion method of clotrimazole, ornidazole and borneol were investigated to prevent the drug from seed out. The method of combining orthogonal experiment and analytic hierarchy process were used to optimize the dosage of CMC-Na, PVA-1788 and glycerin; and the commercial products were compared. Results Through single-factor investigation and orthogonal experiment, the optimal ratio of excipients was selected as CMC-Na∶PVA-1788∶glycerol (3∶1∶0.08). The water-insoluble component clotrimazole, ornidazole and borneol were treated by precipitation in liquid with good effect. The best method was used to prepare the membrane. The adhesion strength was 102 g. The adhesion time was 55 min. The swelling coefficient was 1 939.52. The average dissolution time was 110 min. The appearance was white and the surface was free of bubbles, soft and elastic. The membrane forming time at 60 ℃ was 300 min and the demolding effect was better which could be completely peeled off with moderate thickness. Conclusion The oral ulcer membrane developed in this method has good appearance, comfortable use, strong adhesion, long adhesion time and dissolution time, and could stay on the ulcer surface for a long time to form physical isolation, and slowly release the drug during the dissolution process, which could play the role of long-term pain relief, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and promote healing effects on oral ulcers.

Macrophage plays an important role in human innate immune system. It has powerful functions, such as recognition, phagocytosis, and bacteria and foreign body removal. Periodontitis, which is a chronic infectious disease characterized by gum inflammation and bone loss, is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Several studies demonstrated that periodontal tissue destruction is caused by the host immune response defending against infections. As an important part of host immune response, macrophage is also involved in periodontitis pathogenesis. Recently, anti-inflammatory and proresolving activities of macrophage was discovered. Thus, the complex function of macrophage in the occurrence, development, and resolution of inflammation and its potential role in periodontitis were reviewed.