BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Eight butyl-phthalides, senkyunolide K(1), senkyunolide N(2), butylphthalide(3), senkyunolide I(4), senkyunolide H(5),(Z)-butylidenephthalide(6),(Z)-ligustilide(7), and 3-butylidene-7-hydroxyphthalide(8) were isolated from the aerial part of Ligusticum sinense by column chromatography on silica gel column, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical data, especially NMR and MS. Compound 1 was a new butyl-phthalide and compounds 2-8 were isolated from the aerial part of L. sinense for the first time. Furthermore, the inhibitory activities of compounds 1-8 against the nitric oxide(NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro were evaluated. The results showed that compounds 1-8 exerted inhibitory activities on NO production with IC_(50) of 19.34-42.16 μmol·L~(-1).
Animals ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis* ; Ligusticum/chemistry* ; Benzofurans/isolation & purification* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Macrophages/immunology* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Molecular Structure

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2017.08.005.].

Zebrafish larvae are useful for identifying chemicals against lateral line (LL) hair cell (HC) damage and this type of chemical screen mainly focuses on searching for protectors against cell death. To expand the candidate pool of HC protectors, a self-built acoustic escape response (AER)-detecting system was developed to apply both low-frequency near-field sound transmission and AER image acquisition/processing modules. The device quickly confirmed the changed LL HC functions caused by most known ototoxins, protectors, and neural transmission modifiers, or knockdown of LL HC-expressing genes. With ten devices wired in tandem, five 'hit' chemicals were identified from 124 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors to partially restore cisplatin-damaged AER in less than a day. AS2863619, ribociclib, and SU9516 among the hits, protected the HCs in the mouse cochlea. Therefore, using free-swimming larval zebrafish, the self-made AER-detecting device can efficiently identify compounds that are protective against HC damage, including cell death and loss-of-function.
Animals ; Zebrafish ; Hair Cells, Auditory/physiology* ; Lateral Line System/cytology* ; Escape Reaction/physiology* ; Larva ; Mice ; Cisplatin/toxicity* ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods*

Objective:To investigate the current situation of community nursing needs of patients with middle and advanced Parkinson ′s disease, analyze the factors affecting the demand, and further explore the possible pathways of action between the factors, so as to provide the basis for formulating targeted community intervention measures in a more comprehensive way. Methods:A cross-sectional survey of 242 patients with middle and advanced Parkinson ′s disease from the Second Hospital Affiliated to the Army Medical University from November 2022 to January 2023 were selected by convenience sampling method, and the Community Care Need Scale, General Data Questionnaire, Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire and the Self-management Effectiveness Questionnaire of Parkinson ′s disease patients were used. SPSS 26.0 was used to analyze the data, and investigated the relationship between readiness for hospital discharge, self-management efficacy, active coping styles, and community nursing needs. Results:A total of 234 valid questionnaires were collected, including 108 males and 126 females, aged 39-93 (67.25±8.93) years. The average score of all dimensions from high to low was: disease treatment dimension (4.16±0.42), daily care dimension (4.05±0.97), fall prevention dimension (4.04±0.80), extended care dimension (3.95±0.65), emotional support dimension (3.77±0.65) and self function (3.75±0.72). Univariate analysis indicated that there were statistically significant differences in community nursing needs scores among middle and advanced Parkinson ′s disease patients with different educational level and different family income ( F=5.11, 3.05, both P<0.05). Readiness for hospital discharge, self-management efficacy and positive coping style were negatively correlated with community nursing needs of patients with middle and advanced Parkinson′s disease ( r=-0.567, -0.412, -0.398, all P<0.01), and self-management efficacy and positive coping style played a partial mediating role between readiness for hospital discharge and community nursing needs. Conclusions:There is a wide range of community nursing needs that patients with middle and advanced Parkinson ′s disease, and patients with primary school and below, high school and above, and low family income are higher. It is suggested that the community disease management process should focus on this group of people. Medical institutions should help patients with middle and advanced Parkinson ′s disease improve their ability to manage the disease by improving discharge preparation services, so that they can smoothly transition from hospital to home, thereby reducing the needs for community nursing.

Objective:To discuss the effect of D-limonene on the proliferation and apoptosis of the glioblastoma(GBM)cells,and to clarify its possible mechanism.Methods:The GBM cells were divided into control group(0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene)and 0.2,0.4,0.6,0.8,and 1.0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups.CCK-8 method was used to detect the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the cells in various groups;clone formation assay was used to detect the clone formation rates of the cells in various groups;Annexin Ⅴ-FITC/PI method was used to detect the apoptotic rates of the cells in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of protein kinase B(AKT),B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),and poly adenosine diphosphate(ADP)-ribose polymerase(PARP)proteins in the cells in various groups;imunofluorescence method was used to detect the expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3 protein in the cells in various groups.Fifteen model mice with subcutaneous tumor xenografts were randomly divided into blank group(0 mg·kg-1·d-1 D-limonene),low dose of D-limonene group(200 mg·kg-1·d-1 D-limonene),and high dose of D-limonene group(400 mg·kg-1·d-1 D-limonene),and there were 5 mice in each group.The inhibitory rates of the tumor in vitro in various groups were calculated;HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the morphology of subcutaneous tumor tissue of the mice in various groups and the growth curves of the tumor were drawn;immunohistochemical assay was used to detect the positive expression rates of Ki67 protein in subcutaneous tumor tissue of the mice in various groups;TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of the tumor cells in various groups.Results:In control group,the cells were spindle-shaped,in good condition,growing closely and adherently,with normal organelles and cytoplasm.After treated for 48 h,the cells in 0.6 mmol·L-1 D-limonene group showed reduced volume,intact but more permeable cell membranes,shrunken cytoplasm,internal vacuole structures,and some fragments floating in the solution.The cells in 0.8 and 1.0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups exhibited significant apoptotic bodies and were in an apoptotic state.The CCK-8 results showed that compared with control group,the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the U87,LN229,and GL261 cells in 0.6,0.8,and 1.0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly increased(P<0.01),the inhibitory rates of proliferation of the U87 and GL261 cells were significantly increased(P<0.01).The clone formation assay results showed that compared with control group,the clone formation rates of the U87,LN229,and GL261 cells in 0.4,0.6,and 0.8 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI results showed that compared with control group,after treated with D-limonene for 48 h,the apoptotic rates of the LN229 cells in 0.6,0.8,and 1.0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly increased(P<0.01).The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of Bax proteins in the LN229 cells in 0.6,0.8,and 1.0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly increased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of AKT and Bcl-2 proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.01),the expression level of PARP protein in the LN229 cells in 0.8 and 1.0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene group was significanthy increased(P<0.01).The immunofluorescence results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3 protein in the LN229 cells in 0.6,0.8,and 1.0 mmol·L-1 D-limonene groups were significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with blank group,the tumor volumes of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with blank group,the tumor weights of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the inhitory rates of tumor were significantly increased(P<0.05).The tumor cells in blank group were diffusely distributed,with deepened nuclear staining and increased nucleocytoplasmic ratio;a large number of degenerated and necrotic tumor cells were observed in tumor tissue of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups.Compared with blank group,the positive expression rates of Ki67 protein in tumor tissue of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with blank group,the apoptotic rates of tumor cells of the mice in low and high doses of D-limonene groups were significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:D-limonene has the inhibitory effect on the proliferation of the GBM cells;its mechanism may be related to the regulation of AKT protein expression and the activation of the Caspase-3 pathway to induce the apoptosis.

Objective To explore the influence of gender on the prognosis of patients with atrial fibrillation(AF)undergoing left atrial appendage occlusion(LAAO).Methods All non-valvular AF patients who were admitted in our hospital and underwent LAAO from August 2014 to August 2021 were enrolled and grouped according to gender.Their general information,including gender,age,comorbid underlying diseases,and results of transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)were collected.The incidences of device-related thrombosis(DRT),pericardial tamponade,stroke,bleeding,hospitalization for heart failure,and cardiac death were recorded during follow-up.The influence of gender on the prognosis of these patients was analyzed.Results There were totally 673 patients with non-valvular AF were enrolled,including 366 males and 307 females,at a mean age of 68.2±9.4 years.When compared with the male patients,the female ones had a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score(P＜0.01),but smaller proportions of history of stroke,average compression ratio of occluders,and incidence of residual shunt(＜3 mm)after occlusion(P＜0.05).In 45～60 d after surgery,TEE revealed that there were 17 cases of DRT,including 8 males(2.2％)and 9 females(2.9％),though without statistical difference between the groups.Among the 17 DRT cases,1 experienced stroke,and the incidence of stroke was 5.9％in those with DRT and 0.5％without.There were 4 cases of postoperative pericardial tamponade,including 1 in the male group and 3 in the female group(no significant difference),and all of them were improved after pericardial puncture and fluid extraction.During the follow-up period of 40.2±20.5 months,no obvious differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of stroke,bleeding,hospitalization for heart failure,and cardiogenic death.Conclusion Gender shows no significant effect on the prognosis of patients with non-valvular AF after LAAO.

Nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostic methods are considered the gold standard for detecting infectious pathogens.However,when applied to portable or on-site rapid diagnostics,they still face various limitations and challenges,such as poor specificity,cumbersome operation,and portability difficulties.The CRISPR(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/CRISPR-associated protein(Cas)-fluorescence detection method holds the potential to significantly enhance the specificity and signal-to-noise ratio of nucleic acid detection.In this study,we developed a portable grayscale reader detection system based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP)-CRISPR/Cas.On one hand,in the presence of CRISPR RNA(crRNA),the CRISPR/Cas12a system was employed to achieve precise fluorescent detection of self-designed LAMP amplification reactions for influenza A and influenza B viruses.This further validated the high selectivity and versatility of the CRISPR/Cas system.On the other hand,the accompanying independently developed portable grayscale reader allowed for low-cost collection of fluorescence signals and high-reliability visual interpretation.At the end of the detection process,it directly provided positive or negative results.Practical sample analyses using this detection system have verified its reliability and utility,demonstrating that this system can achieve highly sensitive and highly specific portable analysis of influenza viruses.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides in the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression.Methods An open,single-arm,multi-center design was adopted in our study.Adult patients with mild and moderate depression who had received acute treatment of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides were enrolled and continue to receive Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules for 24 weeks,the dose remained unchanged during continuation treatment.The remission rate,recurrence rate,recurrence time,and the change from baseline to endpoint of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Clinical Global Impression-Severity(CGI-S)and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale(ASEX)were evaluated.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was reported.Results The scores of HAMD-17 at baseline and after treatment were 6.60±1.87 and 5.85±4.18,scores of HAMA were 6.36±3.02 and 4.93±3.09,scores of CGI-S were 1.49±0.56 and 1.29±0.81,scores of ASEX were 15.92±4.72 and 15.57±5.26,with significant difference(P＜0.05).After continuation treatment,the remission rate was 54.59％(202 cases/370 cases),and the recurrence rate was 6.49％(24 cases/370 cases),the recurrence time was(64.67±42.47)days.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 15.35％(64 cases/417 cases).Conclusion Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules can be effectively used for the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression,and are well tolerated and safe.

Objective To investigate the expression of miR-31a-5p in myocardial infarction (MI) mice and its potential mechanism. Methods A dataset was downloaded from the gene expression database, and miR-31a-5p and its predicted target gene hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were screened using bioinformatics methods. The MI model was established by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery in C57BL/6J male mice which were randomly divided into sham and MI groups (n=6 in each group). The in vitro hypoxic cell model was induced by treatment of H9c2 cells with cobalt chloride (CoCl2) and divided into a control group, a model group, a NC group, a miR-31a-5p mimic group and a miR-31a-5p inhibitor group. The degree of myocardial tissue fibrosis was stained by Masson and analyzed. The expression levels of miR-31a-5p and HIF-1α mRNA in mouse myocardial tissues and H9c2 cells were detected by qRT-PCR. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), cleaved-caspase 3 apoptotic protein in mouse myocardial tissues and HIF-1α and apoptotic protein in H9c2 cells, respectively. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-31a-5p and HIF-1α. Results Masson staining showed significantly increased fibrosis in MI mice (P<0.000 1); miR-31a-5p, cleaved-caspase 3 were significantly elevated and Bcl-2 was decreased in MI mice and CoCl2 treated H9c2 (P<0.05). The results of dual luciferase reporter assay showed that the relative luciferase activity of miR-31a-5p mimic cotransfected with HIF-1α-3'-UTR WT plasmid was reduced (P<0.000 1); miR-31a-5p mimic decreased HIF-1α expression and increased apoptotic protein levels in CoCl2 induced H9c2 cells (both P<0.05), while miR-31a-5p exerted the opposite effect. Conclusion miR-31a-5p can aggravate apoptosis in myocardial ischemia by targeting HIF-1α.