Heart failure(HF)is the end stage of almost all cardiovascular diseases,including coronary heart disease and structural heart disease.For end-stage HF,medications and cardiac assist devices have limited therapeutic effects,and heart transplantation is associated with donor shortage and immune rejection.Alginate hydrogel has the ability to mechanically support and induce cardiac tissue regeneration and repair.In March 2021,we conducted the world's first transcatheter endocardial alginate-hydrogel implantation in patients with end-stage heart failure,and explored the safety and feasibility of the treatment.Given that patients with heart failure who had undergone cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator(CRT-D)were excluded from previous studies,this paper is the first to report a case of transcatheter endocardial alginate-hydrogel implantation in a patient with heart failure who did not respond to CRT-D,with a significant reduction in the number of visits to the doctor and a significant improvement in the quality of life during the post-procedure follow-up,which may expand the indications for the use of this technology.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVR).Methods This was a single-center,retrospective study enrolling a total of 30 patients with reduced LVEF undergoing TAVR from January 2020 to January 2024.Of these,12 patients underwent TAVR with ECMO.Baseline clinical characteristics,preprocedural echocardiographic and computed tomographic(CT)measurements,TAVR procedural details,and follow-up data at 60-day and 6-month were collected.Results Among the 30 patients,there were 20 males with an average age of(67.0±10.4)years,an average STS score of(8.2±1.8)points,and an average LVEF of(21.2±5.3)％.This study included 11 AR patients,all of whom were in the group without ECMO implantation,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.027).During the operation,there were 0 cases of circulatory collapse in the ECMO group,and 5 cases(5/18)of circulatory collapse in the non ECMO group.All 5 patients underwent emergency ECMO placement.There were statistically significant differences(P＜0.05)in the comparison of two groups with circulatory collapse and salvage ECMO implantation.The technical success rate of 30 patients was 76.7％(23/30),and the instrument success rate was 60.0％(18/30).Among them,the technical success rate and instrument success rate of the ECMO group were higher than those of the non ECMO group,but the differences were not statistically significant(both P＞0.05).During a 30 day follow-up,there were 0 all-cause deaths in the ECMO group and 9 all-cause deaths(9/18)in the non ECMO group.Among them,7 cases(7/18)died from cardiovascular causes.The differences in all-cause and cardiovascular cause deaths between the two groups were statistically significant(both P＜0.05).During a 6-month follow-up,one patient with ECMO died due to extensive cerebral infarction.The all-cause mortality rate during the 6-month follow-up was 1/12(8.3％),while the all-cause mortality rate without ECMO was 9/18(5.0％).The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.024).The incidence of stroke with ECMO was 1/12(8.3％),while without ECMO it was 0.There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.978).Conclusions In patients with reduced LVEF undergoing TAVR,periprocedural ECMO support does seem to improve patient outcome.

The deubiquitinases (DUBs), as the crucial peptidohydrolases in the ubiquitin system, can reverse and strictly regulate ubiquitination and play key roles in various biological processes, including the regulation of protein stability, cell signal transduction. Ubiquitin-specific protease 28 (USP28) involves multiple cancer-related signaling pathways by enhancing the stability of various cancer-related proteins, and is closely associated with the progression of colorectal, breast cancer, lung carcinomas, and pancreatic cancer. USP28 has been considered as a promising drug target in anticancer therapy, and the development of USP28 inhibitors has made some progress. In this article, we review the structure of USP28 and its interaction with substrates, discuss the research progress of USP28 in cancers and summarize the development of USP28 inhibitors.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe lung interstitial disease characterized by the destruction of lung tissue structure, excessive activation and proliferation of fibroblasts, secretion and accumulation of a large amount of extracellular matrix (ECM), and impaired lung function. Due to the complexity of the disease, a suitable animal model to mimic human pulmonary fibrosis has not yet been established. Precision-cut lung slice (PCLS) has been a widely used in vitro method to study lung physiology and pathogenesis in recent years. This method is an in vitro culture technology at the level between organs and cells, because it can preserve the lung tissue structure and various types of airway cells in the lung tissue, simulate the in vivo lung environment, and conduct the observation of various interactions between cells and ECM. Therefore, PCLS can compensate for the limitations of other models such as cell culture. In order to explore the role of discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) in pulmonary fibrosis, Ddr2^flox/flox mice were successfully constructed. The Cre-LoxP system and PCLS technology were used to verify the deletion or knockdown of DDR2 in mouse PCLS. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) can induce fibrosis of mouse PCLS in vitro, which can simulate the in vivo environment of pulmonary fibrosis. In the DDR2 knock down-PCLS in vitro model, the expression of various fibrosis-related factors induced by TGF-β1 was significantly reduced, suggesting that knocking down DDR2 can inhibit the formation of pulmonary fibrosis. The results provide a new perspective for the clinical study of DDR2 as a therapeutic target in pulmonary fibrosis.
Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Discoidin Domain Receptor 2/metabolism* ; Fibroblasts/pathology* ; Fibrosis ; Lung/pathology* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/metabolism* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and extracorporeal shock wave in treating chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy. METHODS: From February 2019 to August 2021, 42 patients with chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy were selected and divided into PRP group(20 patients, 28 feet) and shock wave group (22 patients, 29 feet). In PRP group, there were 12 males and 8 females, aged 47.00(28.00, 50.75) years old, and the courses of disease ranged 7.00(6.00, 7.00) months;PRP injection was performed in the Achilles tendon stop area of the affected side. In shock wave group, there were 16 males and 6 females, aged 42.00(35.75, 47.25) years old;and the courses of disease was 7.00(6.00, 8.00) months;shock wave was performed in Achilles tendon stop area of the affected side and triceps surae area. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) were applied to evaluate clnical effect before treatment, 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment, and satisfaction of patients was investigated. RESULTS: VAS and VISA-A score in both groups were significantly improved at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment than before treatment (P<0.05), VAS and VISA-A score in PRP group at 6 months after treatment were significantly higher than those at 1 and 3 months after treatment, and VAS and VISA-A score in shock wave group were lower than those at 1 and 3 months after treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS and VISA-A score between two groups before treatment, 1 and 3 months after treatment(P>0.05), while VAS and VISA-A score in PRP group were better than those in shock wave group at 6 months after treatment(P<0.05), and the satisfaction survey in PRP group was better than that in shock wave group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION PRP injection has a good clinical effect on chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy with high patient satisfaction, and medium-and long-term effect of PRP injection for the treatment of chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy is better than that of extracorporeal divergent shock wave.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Achilles Tendon ; Tendinopathy/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome ; Exercise Therapy ; Platelet-Rich Plasma

【Objective】 To analyze the influencing factors of clinical efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. 【Methods】 From January, 2019 to December, 2021, 151 outpatients with androgenetic alopecia were treated in our hospital. All patients were treated with autologous PRP injection once a month and planned to received injection for 4-6 occasions. According to the hair growth before and after treatment, the treatment results were evaluated. The influencing factors in the treatment results were grouped and analyzed, including the treatment numbers (divided into 1-6 occasions), the grade of alopecia(three grades: mild, moderate and severe alopecia) and the Plt concentration in PRP[five grades(×10⁹/L): extremely low concentration (<800), low concentration (801-1 000) and medium concentration (1 001-1 200), high concentration(1 201-1 500)and extremely high concentration(>1 501)]. 【Results】 The correlation coefficient between the number of treatments and the effective rate was pearson=0.986, P<0.001, showing a positive correlation. There was a statistical difference in the total number of treatments between groups (P<0.01). As to the severity of alopecia: The effective rates of mild and moderate alopecia patients (66.67%, 56.95%) were higher than those of severe alopecia patients (35%). The difference between groups was statistically significant (P<0.01). As to the concentration of Plt in PRP: The concentration of Plt directly affected the therapeutic effect. When the Plt count was (1 200-1 500)×10⁹/L, the effect was optimal, reaching 68.12%, which was significantly higher than the other four groups(P<0.01). The treatment numbers, alopecia grade and Plt concentration in PRP were all related to the effectiveness of treatment (P<0.05). When the OR value of treatment numbers and Plt concentration was >1, the effective rate increased by 2.619 times and 2.033 times, respectively, as treatment numbers and Plt concentration increased. When the OR value of the grade of alopecia was 0.338 (0<0.338<1), the effective rate decreased with the increase of alopecia severity; For each grade increased, the effective rate would be compromised by 0.338. 【Conclusion】 When PRP is applied to treat AGA patients, the clinical therapeutic effect will be better in patients who received more treatments, PRP with higher Plt count, and be in the early degree of hair loss. Whether the higher the concentration of Plt in PRP, the better the therapeutic effect will be, remains to be further verified.

Liver disease is one of the major problems affecting human health. Ultrasound plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment of diffuse and focal liver diseases. However, conventional ultrasound evaluation is subjective and provides limited information. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology may supplement the disadvantages of conventional ultrasound and has been widely used in the field of ultrasound in liver diseases. To date, remarkable progress has been achieved for the use of AI technology in the diagnosis, assessment of therapeutic efficacy and prognosis prediction of liver diseases. This paper reviews the research progress of ultrasound image-based AI technology in the diagnosis and treatment of diffuse and focal liver diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of dietary behaviors on the risk of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Methods: A total of 12 208 subjects aged 18-60 years old were investigated by questionnaires to collect demographic data, dietary behaviors and lifestyle information, when they did health examination in a tertiary hospital in Beijing from 2014 to 2019. During the observation period of five year, the incidence of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases were collected through health examination files every year. The multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze the associations of dietary behaviors with hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Results: The study included 6 218 ( 50.93% ) males and 5 990 ( 49.07% ) females. The cumulative incidence rates of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases were 7.75%, 2.72% and 3.49%, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the high-sodium diet ( OR=1.422, 95%CI: 1.191-1.697 ) , eating fast ( OR=1.457, 95%CI: 1.102-1.974 ), eating more refined grain ( OR=1.251, 95%CI: 1.050-1.490 ) and drinking milk less than once a week ( OR=1.316, 95%CI: 1.022-1.697 ) were risk factors for hypertension. The high-sodium diet ( OR=1.344, 95%CI: 1.048-1.725 ), eating fast ( OR=1.733, 95%CI: 1.046-2.871 ), eating more meat ( OR=1.651,95%CI: 1.263-2.158 ) were risk factors for diabetes. High-sodium diet ( OR=1.501, 95%CI: 1.192-1.889 ) was risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Conclusion The diet with high sodium, more meat and refined grain as well as eating fast can increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in pregnant rats on lung dysplasia of newborn rats with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) induced by maternal food restriction. METHODS: Twenty-four female SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a control+EA group, a model group and a model+EA group, 6 rats in each group. From the 10th day into pregnancy to the time of delivery, the rats in the model group and the model+EA group were given with 50% dietary restriction to prepare IUGR model. From the 10th day into pregnancy to the time of delivery, the rats in the control+EA group and the model+EA group were treated with EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36), once a day. The body weight of offspring rats was measured at birth, and the body weight and lung weight of offspring rats were measured on the 21st day after birth. The lung function was measured by small animal lung function detection system; the lung tissue morphology was observed by HE staining; the content of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in lung tissue was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the body weight at birth as well as the body weight, lung weight, lung dynamic compliance (Cdyn) and PPARγ at 21 days after birth in the model group were significantly decreased ( CONCLUSION EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) may protect the lung function and lung histomorphology changes by regulating the level of PPARγ of lung in IUGR rats induced by maternal food restriction.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation/therapy* ; Lung ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a bioactive lipid medium, plays an important role in the development and progression of ovarian cancer. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is a first-line drug in the ovarian cancer clinical therapy, while the effect and molecular mechanism of LPA in the ovarian cancer with DOX treatment is still unclear. This study intended to explore the effect and molecular mechanism of LPA in ovarian cancer treated with DOX. SKOV3 and OVCAR-3 cells of human ovarian cancer and Chinese hamster ovary cells were treated with control, LPA (lOp-mol/L), DOX (2jjLmol/L) and LPA (10jJLmol/L) + DOX (2p,mol/L) respectively for 24 hours. The morphological changes of SKOV3 cells were observed under optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. Results showed that LPA reduced cell death and the degree of chromatin aggregation in SKOV3 cells treated with DOX; RT-qPCR showed that LPA treatment could down-regulate the mRNA levels of caspase-3 in DOX-treated SKOV3 cells (P<0. 05); Western blot showed that LPA treatment could reduce caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 levels treated with DOX in SKOV3, OVCAR-3 and CHO cells (P<0. 05); Flow cytometry using Annexin V/PI double staining showed that LPA could down-regulate apoptosis in SKOV3 cells treated with DOX (P<0. 05); DCFH-DA method was used to detect intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in SKOV3 cells. It was found that LPA reduced the intracellular ROS level treated with DOX (P<0. 05). Our preliminarily study showed the effect of LPA in the apoptosis of ovarian cancer treated with DOX, which may provide a reference for the drug therapy of ovarian cancer targeting LPA.