Dapagliflozin alleviates right heart failure by promoting collagen degradation by reducing ROS levels.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) fibrosis is an important pathological change that occurs during the development of right heart failure (RHF) induced by pulmonary hypertension (PH). Dapagliflozin (DAPA), a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, has been shown to play a major role in left heart failure, but it is unclear whether it has a positive effect on RHF. This study aimed to clarify the effect of DAPA on PH-induced RHF and investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Rapid Information Retrieval from DNA Storage with Microfluidic Very Large-Scale Integration Platform.

Due to its high information density, DNA is very attractive as a data storage system. However, a major obstacle is the high cost and long turnaround time for retrieving DNA data with next-generation sequencing. Herein, the use of a microfluidic very large-scale integration (mVLSI) platform is described to perform highly parallel and rapid readout of data stored in DNA.

Spatiotemporal variation and driving factor of vegetation coverage from 2000 to 2020 in southern Jiangxi Province, China.

Vegetation plays a critical role in the water and carbon cycling and energy flow, serving as an indicator for regulating land carbon balance and reflecting climate change and human activities. We analyzed the spatiotemporal variations of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) during the growing season in southern Jiangxi from 2000 to 2020, using statistical methods, including the Mann-Kendall test, Theil-Sen Median analysis, Hurst index, and coefficient of variation. We employed the geodetector model to comprehensively assess the impacts of climate, topography, soil and human factors on spatial differentiation of vegetation NDVI.

Melt-Encoded-Tags for Expanded Optical Readout in Digital PCR (METEOR-dPCR) Enables Highly Multiplexed Quantitative Gene Panel Profiling.

Digital PCR (dPCR) is an important tool for precise nucleic acid quantification in clinical setting, but the limited multiplexing capability restricts its applications for quantitative gene panel profiling. Here, this work describes melt-encoded-tags for expanded optical readout in digital PCR (METEOR-dPCR), a simple two-step assay that enables simultaneous quantification of a large panel of arbitrary genes in a dPCR platform. Target genes are quantitatively converted into DNA tags with unique melting temperatures through a ligation approach.

Rapid Single-Round Pool Testing of Infectious Disease Enabled by Multicolor Digital Melting PCR.

Pooled nucleic acid amplification test is a promising strategy to reduce cost and resources for screening large populations for infectious disease. However, the benefit of pooled testing is reversed when disease prevalence is high, because of the need to retest each sample to identify infected individual when a pool is positive. Split, Amplify, and Melt analysis of Pooled Assay (SAMPA) is presented, a multicolor digital melting PCR assay in nanoliter chambers that simultaneously identify infected individuals and quantify their viral loads in a single round of pooled testing.

Mechanical stretch aggravates vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis and vascular remodeling by downregulating EZH2.

Background: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) was recently found to play an important role in cardiovascular disease. However, the role of EZH2 in vascular remodeling induced by mechanical stretch is poorly understood. The aim of the present work was to investigate the role of EZH2 in regulating smooth muscle cell function through mechanical stretch assays and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Dickkopf1 (Dkk1) Alleviates Vascular Calcification by Regulating the Degradation of Phospholipase D1 (PLD1).

Vascular calcification (VC) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients with atherosclerosis (AS), chronic kidney disease, and diabetes. Dickkopf1 (Dkk1) is a multifunctional secreted glycoprotein that has been explored as a novel potential antitumor target. Recently, Dkk1 was shown to be closely associated with AS development.

Metabolic enzyme gene polymorphisms predict the effects of antioxidant treatment on idiopathic male infertility.

To explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of metabolic enzymes such as CYP1A1, CYP2D6, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 and idiopathic male infertility. By observing the efficacy of antioxidants in the treatment of idiopathic male infertility, the effect of metabolic enzyme gene polymorphisms on antioxidant therapy in patients with idiopathic male infertility was prospectively studied. This case-control study included 310 men with idiopathic infertility and 170 healthy controls.

Hepatic protective effects of Shenling Baizhu powder, a herbal compound, against inflammatory damage via TLR4/NLRP3 signalling pathway in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: High-fat diet (HFD) and inflammation are two key contributors to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Shenling Baizhu powder (SLBZP), a classical herbal compound, has been successfully used to alleviate NAFLD. However, its specific mechanisms are not fully understood.

Conversion ratio of tacrolimus switching from intravenous infusion to oral administration after lung transplantation.

Background: To investigate the conversion ratio of tacrolimus switching from intravenous infusion to oral administration in patients after lung transplantation.

Methods: We retrospectively recruited patients received lung transplantation in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical Hospital from January 2015 to June 2019. The blood concentration of tacrolimus administrated through intravenous infusion and oral administration were collected.

MAP4K4 induces early blood-brain barrier damage in a murine subarachnoid hemorrhage model.

Sterile-20-like mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP4K4) is expressed in endothelial cells and activates inflammatory vascular damage. Endothelial cells are important components of the blood-brain barrier. To investigate whether MAP4K4 plays a role in the pathophysiology of subarachnoid hemorrhage, we evaluated the time-course expression of MAP4K4 after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Depth-dependent ratcheting strains of young and adult articular cartilages by experiments and predictions.

Background: Ratcheting strain is produced due to the repeated accumulation of compressive strain in cartilage and may be a precursor to osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to investigate the ratcheting behaviors of young and adult articular cartilages under cyclic compression by experiments and theoretical predictions.

Methods: A series of uniaxial cyclic compression tests were conducted for young and adult cartilage, and the effects of different loading conditions on their ratcheting behaviors were probed.

CDC20 and its downstream genes: potential prognosis factors of osteosarcoma.

Background: We investigated the microarray data GSE42352 to identify genes that can be used as prognosis factors in osteosarcoma.

Methods: Gene Ontology (GO) biological process analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of Cytoscape ClueGo were used in verifying the function of different genes. Realtime-PCR were used to confirm the microarray results.

A cost-consequence analysis of parecoxib and opioids vs opioids alone for postoperative pain: Chinese perspective.

Purpose: The use of parecoxib plus opioids for postoperative analgesia in noncardiac surgical patients seems to be cost-saving in Europe due to a reduction in opioid use and opioid-related adverse events. Given the lack of information on postoperative analgesic use in Asia, this study assessed the economic consequences of the addition of parecoxib to opioids vs opioids alone to treat postsurgical pain in China.

Methods: A cost-consequence economic evaluation assessed direct medical costs related to opioid-related clinically meaningful events (CMEs) utilizing dosing information and reported frequency of events from a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, global clinical trial (PARA-0505-069) of parecoxib plus opioids vs opioids alone for 3 days following major orthopedic, abdominal, gynecologic, or noncardiac thoracic surgery requiring general or regional anesthesia.

ACTL6A interacts with p53 in acute promyelocytic leukemia cell lines to affect differentiation via the Sox2/Notch1 signaling pathway.

Actin-like 6A (ACTL6A), a component of BAF chromatin remodeling complexes, is important for cell differentiation. Nevertheless, its role and mechanism in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has not been reported. To identify the genes that may participate in the development of APL, we analyzed data from an APL cDNA microarray (GSE12662) in the NCBI database, and found that ACTL6A was up-regulated in APL patients.

Efficacy of common salvage chemotherapy regimens in patients with refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia: A retrospective cohort study.

To assess treatment response and overall survival (OS) in refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) patients treated by different common salvage chemotherapy regimens.Medical records data from 142 R/R AML patients were reviewed in this retrospective study. Patients were treated with regimens based on the following drugs: cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and fludarabine (FLAG) (n = 46); cytarabine and G-CSF in addition to aclarubicin or daunorubicin (CAG/DAG) (n = 30); cytarabine, G-CSF, and cladribine (CLAG) (n = 27); cytarabine, etoposide, and mitoxantrone (MEA) (n = 17); cytarabine plus idarubicin, daunorubicin, or mitoxantrone (IA/DA/MA) (n = 12); and homoharringtonine, cytarabine, and aclarubicin or daunorubicin (HAA/HAD) (n = 10).

Comparison of amlodipine versus other calcium channel blockers on blood pressure variability in hypertensive patients in China: a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis.

Aim: Reducing the fluctuation of blood pressure has recently been recognized as a potential target for improving management of hypertension to prevent cardiovascular events, particularly for strokes. Some randomized controlled trials demonstrated that amlodipine can effectively reduce blood pressure as a well-established, long-acting calcium channel blocker (CCB). However, few data are available for amlodipine on blood pressure variability (BPV) in China in a real-world setting.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Lancifodilactone G Acetate. 2. Final Phase and Completion of the Total Synthesis.

The asymmetric total synthesis of lancifodilactone G acetate was accomplished in 28 steps. The key steps in this synthesis include (i) an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction for formation of the scaffold of the BC ring; (ii) an intramolecular ring-closing metathesis reaction for the formation of the trisubstituted cyclooctene using a Hoveyda-Grubbs II catalyst; (iii) an intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction for construction of the sterically congested F ring; (iv) sequential cross-metathesis, hydrogenation, and lactonization reactions for installation of the anomerically stabilized bis-spiro ketal fragment of lancifodilactone G; and (v) a Dieckmann-type condensation reaction for installation of the A ring. The strategy and chemistry developed for the total synthesis will be useful in the synthesis of other natural products and complex molecules.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Lancifodilactone G Acetate. 1. Diastereoselective Synthesis of CDEFGH Ring System.

The stereoselective construction of the CDEFGH ring system of lancifodilactone G is described. The key steps in this synthesis are (i) ring-closing metathesis for formation of the oxa-bridged eight-membered ring; (ii) an intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction for construction of the sterically congested F ring; and (iii) sequential cross-metathesis, hydrogenation, and lactonization reactions for installation of the anomerically stabilized bis-spiro ketal fragment of lancifodilactone G.

Effects of placebo-controlled insulin-sensitizing drugs on hormonal parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome patients: A network meta-analysis.

This network meta-analysis was conducted to compare effects of different placebo-controlled insulin-sensitizing drugs, including metformin, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, and troglitazone on hormonal parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to July 2017. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met our inclusion criteria were included.

Neuritin Enhances Synaptic Transmission in Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Mice by Increasing CaV3.3 Surface Expression.

Neuritin is a neurotrophic factor involved in neural development and synaptic plasticity. However, its role in modulating synaptic transmission remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of neuritin on miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and glutamate release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in mice.

Assessment of balance and vestibular functions in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

This study investigated the relationship among the severity of hearing impairment, vestibular function and balance function in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). A total of 35 ISSNHL patients (including 21 patients with vertigo) were enrolled. All of the patients underwent audiometry, sensory organization test (SOT), caloric test, cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) test.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Lancifodilactone G Acetate.

Asymmetric total synthesis of structurally intriguing and highly oxygenated lancifodilactone G acetate (7) has been achieved for the first time in 28 steps from a cheap commodity chemical, 2-(triisopropylsiloxy)-1,3-butadiene.