BACKGROUND: Dysfunction of the gap junction channel protein connexin 43 (Cx43) contributes to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced ventricular arrhythmias. Cx43 can be regulated by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification. Protein inhibitor of activated STAT Y (PIASy) is an E3 SUMO ligase for its target proteins. However, whether Cx43 is a target protein of PIASy and whether Cx43 SUMOylation plays a role in I/R-induced arrhythmias are largely unknown. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were infected with PIASy short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) using recombinant adeno-associated virus subtype 9 (rAAV9). Two weeks later, the rats were subjected to 45 min of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 h reperfusion. Electrocardiogram was recorded to assess arrhythmias. Rat ventricular tissues were collected for molecular biological measurements. RESULTS: Following 45 min of ischemia, QRS duration and QTc intervals statistically significantly increased, but these values decreased after transfecting PIASy shRNA. PIASy downregulation ameliorated ventricular arrhythmias induced by myocardial I/R, as evidenced by the decreased incidence of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and reduced arrythmia score. In addition, myocardial I/R statistically significantly induced PIASy expression and Cx43 SUMOylation, accompanied by reduced Cx43 phosphorylation and plakophilin 2 (PKP2) expression. Moreover, PIASy downregulation remarkably reduced Cx43 SUMOylation, accompanied by increased Cx43 phosphorylation and PKP2 expression after I/R. CONCLUSION PIASy downregulation inhibited Cx43 SUMOylation and increased PKP2 expression, thereby improving ventricular arrhythmias in ischemic/reperfused rats heart.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/metabolism* ; Connexin 43/genetics* ; Sumoylation ; Down-Regulation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/drug therapy* ; Myocardial Ischemia/metabolism* ; RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism*

Background There are few studies on the diet quality of patients with thyroid cancer, and the relationship between diet quality and thyroid cancer remains uncertain. Objective This study aims to assess the diet quality with the Chinese Health Diet Index (CHDI) and to explore the relationship between diet quality and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods A 1∶1 gender- and age-matched hospital-based case-control study included newly diagnosed PTC patients and matched controls from Shanghai Cancer Hospital and Renji Hospital (East) in Shanghai, China. A structured questionnaire was applied to collect data on general characteristics, history of diseases, dietary intakes, and lifestyles. Food intakes in the past one year were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, from which the CHDI score was calculated. The CHDI, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents, was employed to evaluate the diet quality of the two groups. A multiple conditional logistic regression model was conducted to explore the relationship between diet quality and PTC. Results A total of 350 pairs of cases and controls were recruited. The overall median CHDI score of the cases was lower than that of the controls (67.8 vs. 73.4, P<0.001). The cases had lower median scores of fruits (6.8 vs. 9.5), dairy products (3.6 vs. 5.6), and soybeans (4.6 vs. 5.5) than the controls (P<0.05); the cases had a higher median score of refined grains than the controls (5.0 vs. 4.9), and the percentage of the cases that met diet recommendations for refined grains was higher than the percentage of the controls (65.4% vs. 48.6%) (P<0.05); the cases showed lower median scores of whole grains/beans/tubers, total vegetables, dark vegetables, and fish/shrimps (0.9 vs. 1.4, 3.1 vs. 4.4, 3.6 vs. 5.0, and 3.3 vs. 4.0, respectively), and the percentages of the cases meeting their diet recommendations were lower than the percentages of the controls (6.3% vs. 8.6%, 32.6% vs. 42.0%, 38.6% vs. 50.6%, and 34.0% vs. 40.3%, respectively, P<0.05). The results of multiple conditional logistic regression analysis suggested that qualified and good diet quality were associated with a reduced the risk of PTC (qualified diet quality, OR=0.37, 95%CI: 0.23−0.62; good diet quality, OR=0.19, 95%CI: 0.10−0.36); the statistical significance remained after excluding patients who had a history of benign thyroid conditions (qualified diet quality, OR=0.28, 95%CI: 0.15−0.52; good diet quality, OR=0.20, 95%CI: 0.09−0.43). Conclusion Those with qualified or good diet quality have a lower risk of PTC. PTC patients have insufficient intakes of fruits, dairy, soybeans, whole grains/beans/tubers, vegetables, and fish/shrimps.

Background Thyroid carcinoma is a serious threat to human health in Shanghai and a focus of cancer prevention and treatment. Objective This study aims to assess the relationship between foods rich in iodine and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC)．Methods In a hospital-based case-control study matched by gender and age (±3 years old), 402 pairs of cases (new incidences) and controls were included and studied. A validated questionnaire and food frequency questionnaire survey was conducted face to face to obtain demographic characteristics and dietary intake. A multiple conditional logistic regression model was applied to explore the relationship between foods rich in iodine (including seaweeds, kelp, and dried shrimps) and PTC. Results The mean age of the participants was (41.17±11.51) years in this study. Compared with the controls, more cases had a lower education and a manual occupation (P<0.05); more cases were overweight or obese, had a history of benign thyroid conditions, and had a family history of thyroid diseases (P<0.05); the two groups were different in the frequency of CT examination in the past ten years (P<0.05). The results of multiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that consumption of iodine-rich foods was associated with a lower risk of PTC (for <1 time per week, OR=0.20, 95%CI: 0.12−0.35; for 1−2 times per week, OR=0.18, 95%CI: 0.10−0.33; for ≥3 times per week, OR=0.13, 95%CI: 0.04−0.44) (P<0.05). Specifically, those who consumed seaweeds (for <1 time per week, OR=0.18, 95%CI: 0.11−0.30; for 1−2 times per week, OR=0.11, 95%CI: 0.05−0.23; for ≥3 times per week, OR=0.15, 95%CI: 0.03−0.75), kelp (for <1 time per week, OR=0.28, 95%CI: 0.18−0.43; for ≤2 times per week, OR=0.24, 95%CI: 0.11−0.50), and dried shrimps (for <1 time per week, OR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.29−0.69; for ≤2 times per week: OR=0.34, 95%CI: 0.18−0.65) had a lower risk of PTC (P<0.05). After excluding patients who had a history of benign thyroid conditions, the favorable association remained significant among patients who had consumption of iodine-rich foods, seaweeds, shrimps, and kelp (P<0.05). Conclusion Less PTC patients consume iodine-rich foods than the controls.

Background Both domestic and foreign studies on the diet quality of patients with thyroid nodules are rare at present, and the relationship between thyroid nodules and diet quality is still unclear. Objective This study aims to evaluate the diet quality of thyroid nodules with the China Healthy Diet Index (CHDI) and to explore the relationship between diet quality and thyroid nodules. Methods We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in which 387 patients with thyroid nodules were matched individually (1∶1) by gender and age (±3 years) to the controls who ordered a routine physical examine and with negative thyroid nodules reported by B-ultrasound in the same hospital. A structured questionnaire was applied to collect data on general characteristics and diet. CHDI was employed to evaluate the diet quality of the two groups. CHDI is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents and the recommended food intake in the balanced diet pagoda, combined with the dietary nutritional status of Chinese population. The index contains 13 scoring components, and the highest total score is 100, with a higher score representing better dietary quality. CHDI scores < 60, 60-<80, and ≥80 are recognized as unqualified, qualified, and good diet quality, respectively. Results The scores of the thyroid nodule cases were lower than the scores of the controls in total vegetables, dark vegetables, fruits, and fish/shrimps (all Ps<0.05). The nonparametric test results found that there were significant differences in the distributions of scores in total vegetables, dark vegetables, fruits, soybeans, and fish/shrimps between the case and the control groups (all Ps<0.05). The percentages reaching the full scores in food variety, meat and eggs, and empty calories in both groups exceeded 60%, while the percentages reaching the full scores in whole grains/beans/tubers, dairy, soybeans, and sodium were lower than 30% in the two groups. The median CHDI scores of the thyroid nodule cases and the controls were 69.1 and 72.9, respectively; the cases' CHDI score was lower than the controls' (P<0.05). The proportions of unqualified diet in the case and the control groups accounted for 23.0% and 13.7% respectively (P=0.001). After being adjusted for education level, marital status, occupation, monthly household income per capita, body mass index, hypertension/diabetes, energy, and iodine intake, the results of logistic regression analysis showed that the risk for thyroid nodules was negatively associated with CHDI score (CHDI qualified group vs. CHDI unqualified group, OR=0.484, 95%CI: 0.291-0.804; CHDI good dietary quality group vs. CHDI unqualified group, OR=0.414, 95%CI: 0.230−0.746). Conclusion The diet quality of patients with thyroid nodules is lower than that of the control group, as the former reported lower consumptions of total vegetables, dark vegetables, fruits, and fish/shrimps. Those who have good or qualified diet quality show a reduced risk of thyroid nodules than those with unqualified dietary quality.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between comorbidity and fall injury degree in elderly inpatients with falls.Methods:Using the method of retrospective study, 212 elderly patients with fall comorbidity in a tertiary general hospital from January 2017 to March 2020 were selected as the research objects. The clinical data were collected according to the degree of injury. The severity of comorbidity was evaluated by age adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI), and the relationship between the comorbidity and the degree of fall injury was analyzed.Results:The overall acci index of 212 patients was (7.21 ± 2.69) points, and the average number of comorbidities was (4.74 ± 2.20). Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in CCI ( F value was 10.806, P<0.001)、aCCI ( F value was 15.231, P<0.001), comorbid circulatory system diseases ( χ2 value was 9.580, P=0.022) , urinary system diseases ( χ2 value was 10.127, P=0.018) , endocrine system diseases ( χ2 value was 7.978, P=0.046) and comorbidities( F value was 3.093, P=0.028) among elderly patients with different injury degrees. Spearman correlation analysis showed that age, CCI, aCCI and the number of comorbidities were correlated with the degree of fall injury ( P<0.05). Logistic regression model showed that aCCI ( B value was 0.234, OR value was 1.264) was an independent predictor of fall injury. The area under the ROC curve was 0.652 (95% CI 0.579-0.725, P<0.001). Conclusions:The aCCI index can predict the degree of fall injury.

Objective To evaluate the effect of propofol postconditioning on necroptosis during hy-poxia-reoxygenation (H∕R) injury in diabetic cardiomyocytes. Methods Normally cultured H9C2 cardio-myocytes were divided into 5 groups (n= 19 each) using a random number table: control group (group C), high glucose group (group HG), H∕R group, propofol postconditioning (group P) and solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control group (group DMSO). H9C2 cells were incubated for 48 h in DMEM culture medium containing 5. 5 and 25 mmol∕L glucose in group C and group HG, respectively. In group H∕R, H9C2 cells were incubated for 48 h in DMEM culture medium containing 25 mmol∕L glucose and then un-derwent H∕R. H9C2 cells were incubated for 48 h in DMEM culture medium containing 25 mmol∕L glucose and then underwent H∕R, and propofol at the final concentration of 50 μmol∕L was added at the onset of reoxygenation in group P. In group DMSO, H9C2 cells were incubated for 48 h in DMEM culture medium containing 25 mmol∕L glucose and then underwent H∕R, and DMSO at the final concentration of 150μmol∕L was added at the onset of reoxygenation. The model of cardiomyocyte H∕R injury was established by subjecting cardiomyocytes to 6 h of hypoxia followed by 12 h of reoxygenation. At 12 h of reoxygenation, the cell viability was measured by CCK8 assay, the product of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in culture medium was measured, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined by flow cytometry, cardiomyo-cyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL, and the expression of receptor-interacting protein 1 ( RIP1), RIP3, Bax, Bcl-2, activated caspase-3 and caspase-3 was determined by Western blot. The apoptotic rate and ratio of activated caspase-3∕caspase-3 were calculated. Results Compared with group C, the cell via-bility was significantly decreased, the product of LDH was increased, the level of ROS and apoptotic rate were increased, the expression of RIP1, RIP3 and Bax was up-regulated, the expression of Bcl-2 was down-regulated, and the ratio of activated caspase-3∕caspase-3 was increased in group HG ( P < 0. 05). Compared with group HG, the cell viability was significantly decreased, the product of LDH was increased, the level of ROS and apoptotic rate were increased, the expression of RIP1, RIP3 and Bax was up-regula-ted, the expression of Bcl-2 was down-regulated, and the ratio of activated caspase-3∕caspase-3 was in-creased in group H∕R (P<0. 05). Compared with group H∕R, the cell viability was significantly increased, the product of LDH was decreased, the level of ROS and apoptotic rate were decreased, the expression of RIP1, RIP3 and Bax was down-regulated, the expression of Bcl-2 was up-regulated, and the ratio of acti-vated caspase-3∕caspase-3 was decreased in group P (P<0. 05), and no significant change was found in the indexes mentioned above in group DMSO (P>0. 05). Conclusion The mechanism by which propofol post-conditioning ameliorates H∕R injury in diabetic cardiomyocytes may be related to inhibiting necroptosis.

Objective To explore the spatial-temporal characteristics and changing regularities of Schistosoma japonicum in-fections among human from 2004 to 2011. Methods The township level spatial databases of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2011 were established,and the related spatial analysis was performed by SPSS 17.0,ArcGIS 10.1 and SaTScan 7.03. Results The schistosome infection rate among human in Hunan Province sharply decreased from 3.0％in 2004 to 0.8％in 2011. However,the rate among residents in parts of some townships in 2011 was still hovering at a higher level (P90=2.12％),and the higher rate was distributed along the Oncomelania hupensis snail ridden areas outside embankment. The auto-correlation analysis showed that the global Moran's I for schistosome infection rate among human was 0.34 to 0.53 from 2004 to 2011,and was higher than the expected value(Z>8.71,P<0.05). The local G statistics indicated that the positive hotspot high-high clustering areas were mainly near the coast of Dongting Lake from 2004 to 2011,and the number of townships with schistosomiasis endemic in the clustering areas reached 30 to 70. The spatial scan analysis showed that the number of townships in the clustering areas ran up to 145 to 183 from 2004 to 2011. Conclusions The schistosome infection rate among human de-creased significantly in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2011. However,the rate in parts of some townships still remains at a com-paratively high level,and there are positive spatial correlation and spatial agglomerations in the schistosome infection rate among human,suggesting that the prevention and control work on schistosomiasis in these areas should be strengthened in the fu-ture.

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of acute incisional pain on the expression of connexin 43 in rat spinal cord dorsal horn.

METHODSEighty rats were assigned into control group without any treatment and incisional pain group with incision surgery. For paw incisions, a 1-cm longitudinal incision was made through the skin and fascia of the plantar aspect of the right hind paw. After surgery, the 50% paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was assessed in response to a tactile stimulus with calibrated von Frey monofilaments at 1, 2, 4 and 24 h, respectively. The spinal cord dorsal horn of rats was isolated at 1, 2, and 4 h after the surgery to assess the expression of connexin 43 using Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSThe 50% PWT of the rats was significantly decreased after the incision surgery, and this decrement was the most obvious at 2 and 4 h. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay showed that the expression of connexin 43 in the spinal cord dorsal horn was significantly increased in rats receiving the surgery especially at 2 and 4 h after the surgery.

CONCLUSIONIncision surgery induces an significant increase in connexin 43 expression in rat spinal cord dorsal horn, suggestting an potential role of connexin43 in postoperative incisional pain.

Objective To examine the effect of acute incisional pain on the expression of connexin 43 in rat spinal cord dorsal horn. Methods Eighty rats were assigned into control group without any treatment and incisional pain group with incision surgery. For paw incisions, a 1-cm longitudinal incision was made through the skin and fascia of the plantar aspect of the right hind paw. After surgery, the 50% paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was assessed in response to a tactile stimulus with calibrated von Frey monofilaments at 1, 2, 4 and 24 h, respectively. The spinal cord dorsal horn of rats was isolated at 1, 2, and 4 h after the surgery to assess the expression of connexin 43 using Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. Results The 50%PWT of the rats was significantly decreased after the incision surgery, and this decrement was the most obvious at 2 and 4 h. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay showed that the expression of connexin 43 in the spinal cord dorsal horn was significantly increased in rats receiving the surgery especially at 2 and 4 h after the surgery. Conclusion Incision surgery induces an significant increase in connexin 43 expression in rat spinal cord dorsal horn, suggestting an potential role of connexin43 in postoperative incisional pain.

Objective To examine the effect of acute incisional pain on the expression of connexin 43 in rat spinal cord dorsal horn. Methods Eighty rats were assigned into control group without any treatment and incisional pain group with incision surgery. For paw incisions, a 1-cm longitudinal incision was made through the skin and fascia of the plantar aspect of the right hind paw. After surgery, the 50% paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was assessed in response to a tactile stimulus with calibrated von Frey monofilaments at 1, 2, 4 and 24 h, respectively. The spinal cord dorsal horn of rats was isolated at 1, 2, and 4 h after the surgery to assess the expression of connexin 43 using Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. Results The 50%PWT of the rats was significantly decreased after the incision surgery, and this decrement was the most obvious at 2 and 4 h. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay showed that the expression of connexin 43 in the spinal cord dorsal horn was significantly increased in rats receiving the surgery especially at 2 and 4 h after the surgery. Conclusion Incision surgery induces an significant increase in connexin 43 expression in rat spinal cord dorsal horn, suggestting an potential role of connexin43 in postoperative incisional pain.