Prognostic role of the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and albumin for 30-day mortality in patients with postoperative acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and albumin for 30-day mortality in patients with postoperative acute pulmonary embolism (PAPE).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 101 patients with PAPE admitted from September 1, 2012, to March 31, 2019. The characteristics, surgical information, admission examination data and mortality within 30 days after PAPE were obtained from our electronic medical recording system and follow-up.

Aflatoxin B1 impairs leydig cells through inhibiting AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy flux pathway.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potential endocrine disrupter, has been shown to induce hepatotoxicity in animal models, but the effects of AFB1 on Leydig cell function are unclear. In this study, in vivo exposure to AFB1 at 15 and 150 μg/kg/day lowered serum testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, reduced Leydig cell number, and down-regulated the expression of testosterone biosynthesis-related genes. In vitro study showed that AFB1 (10 μM) significantly increased ROS levels, and decreased T production in Leydig cells by suppressing certain T-biosynthesis gene expressions.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin inhibits monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension via attenuating inflammation: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Inflammation in pulmonary arterioles initiates and maintains pathological processes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and inhibition of it attenuates PAH development. Grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) is believed to be effective in protecting vascular system via inhibiting inflammation, while its effect on pulmonary circulation remains inconclusive. In this study, we made observations in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rats and found decreases in mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vessel resistance, right ventricular hypertrophy index, percentage of medial wall thickness, percentage of medial wall area, and lung weight of wet and dry tissue ratio after GSP administration in vivo.