Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 in atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Assessing whether serum Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1(VCAM-1) concentration in the left atrial appendage(LAA) and the expression of VCAM-1 in LAA tissues are associated with the risk of atrial fibrillation-related stroke.

Method: Blood samples were collected from atrial fibrillation(AF) patients scheduled for catheter ablation of AF, both from within the LAA and peripheral veins(PV). The serum concentration of VCAM-1 was quantitatively analyzed using ELISA.

Concurrent assessment of time-to-isolation and temperature at 30 s as an innovative metric for predicting the persistence of pulmonary vein isolation using second-generation cryoballoons.

Background: We attempted to establish correlations between intraoperative variables such as time-to-isolation (TTI) and temperature (T) at the 30-second mark, and the sustained efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation.

Methods: One hundred patients underwent repeat procedures subsequent to their index ablation. Five time intervals were delineated based on TTI metrics of 30, 35, 40, 45, and 60 s during the initial procedure.

Evaluating the impact of shift work on the risk of cardiometabolic disease: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background And Aims: Evidence is increasingly suggesting that shift work is a risk factor for cardiometabolic disease. However, the causal relationship between shift work and cardiometabolic disease is not yet fully understood. In this study, we employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal relationship between shift work and the risk of cardiometabolic outcomes.

Calcium-mediated DAD in membrane potentials and triggered activity in atrial myocytes of ETV1 MyHC mice.

The E-twenty-six variant 1 (ETV1)-dependent transcriptome plays an important role in atrial electrical and structural remodelling and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the underlying mechanism of ETV1 in AF is unclear. In this study, cardiomyocyte-specific ETV1 knockout (ETV1MyHC, ETV1-CKO) mice were constructed to observe the susceptibility to AF and the underlying mechanism in AF associated with ETV1-CKO mice. AF susceptibility was examined by intraesophageal burst pacing, induction of AF was increased obviously in ETV1-CKO mice than WT mice.

Acral persistent papular mucinosis: a rare child case report and literature review.

Background: Acral persistent papular mucinosis (APPM) is a rare idiopathic subtype of localized lichen myxedematosus. To date, there have been less than 41 APPM cases reported worldwide, however, almost all patients were older than 18 years of age. A 7-year-old child was first reported in this paper.

Pseudomonas guariconensis Necrotizing Fasciitis, United Kingdom.

We describe a case of necrotizing fasciitis in the United Kingdom in which Pseudomonas guariconensis was isolated from multiple blood culture and tissue samples. The organism carried a Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase gene and evidence of decreased susceptibility to β-lactam antimicrobial agents. Clinicians should use caution when treating infection caused by this rare pathogen.

Self-expanding metal stents versus decompression tubes as a bridge to surgery for patients with obstruction caused by colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Using self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) and decompression tubes (DT) as a bridge-to-surgery (BTS) treatment may avoid emergency operations for patients with colorectal cancer-caused obstructions. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the two approaches.

Methods: We systematically retrieved literature from January 1, 2000, to May 30, 2023, from the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SinoMed, Wanfang Data, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials databases.

An evaluation of the clinical efficacy of the application of 28mm cryoballoon for linear ablation of left atrial apex combined with enlarged pulmonary vein vestibule ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objective: to retrospectively investigate the efficacy and safety of the application of 28 mm cryoballoon for pulmonary vein electrical isolation (PVI) combined with top left atrial linear ablation and pulmonary vein vestibular expansion ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation.

Methods: From July 2016 to December 2020, 413 patients diagnosed with persistent atrial fibrillation were evaluated, including 230 (55.7%) in the PVI group (PVI only) and 183 (44.

Efficacy of extended antrum ablation based on substrate mapping plus pulmonary vein isolation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction And Objectives: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) technique has become the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of extended antrum ablation based on electrophysiological substrate mapping plus PVI in AF patients who underwent cryoballoon ablation.

Methods: In this observational study, a total of 121 paroxysmal AF patients and 80 persistent AF patients who did not achieve the procedure endpoint after cryoballoon ablation received extra extended antrum ablation (EAA) based on electrophysiological substrate mapping via radiofrequency ablation (EAA group).

Is bivalirudin an alternative anticoagulant for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Anticoagulation is important for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Heparin is widely used; however, in some cases, it is not suitable for patients. Bivalirudin has been recently proposed for ECMO patients, and there is no evidence regarding its effectiveness and safety.

Gut, metabolism and nutritional Support for COVID-19: Experiences from China.

There is little research that focuses on the relationship between the gut, metabolism, nutritional support and COVID-19. As a group of Chinese physicians, nutritionists and scientists working on the frontline treating COVID-19 patients, we aim to integrate our experiences and the current clinical evidence to address this pressing issue in this article. Based on our clinical observations and available evidence, we recommend the following practice.

Pseudomonas laoshanensis sp. nov., isolated from peanut field soil.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic strain, designated Y22, was isolated from peanut field soil in Laoshan Mountain in China. Cells of strain Y22 were rod-shaped and motile by a single flagellum. The strain was found to be oxidase- and catalase-positive.

The effect of forskolin on membrane clock and calcium clock in the hypoxic/reoxygenation of sinoatrial node cells and its mechanism.

Background: In this study, we investigated the effect of forskolin (FSK, a selective adenylate cyclase agonist) on the automatic diastolic depolarization of sinus node cells (SNC) with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury.

Methods: The SNC of the newborn rat was randomly assigned into the control group, the H/R (H/R injury) group, or the H/R + FSK (H/R injury + FSK treatment) group. Patch-clamp was performed to record the action potential and electrophysiological changes.

Inhibitory Effects of Cyclopiazonic Acid on the Pacemaker Current in Sinoatrial Nodal Cells.

Objective: The spontaneous action potential of isolated sinoatrial node (SAN) cells is regulated by a coupled-clock system of two clocks: the calcium clock and membrane clock. However, it remains unclear whether calcium clock inhibitors have a direct effect on the membrane clock. The purpose of this study was to investigate the direct effect of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), a selective calcium clock inhibitor, on the function of the membrane clock of SAN cells.

Change in late sodium current of atrial myocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats with allocryptopine treatment.

Aim: We aimed to study the effect of allocryptopine (All) on the late sodium current (I) of atrial myocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods: The enzyme digestion method was used to separate single atrial myocytes from SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. I was recorded using the patch-clamp technique, and the effect of All was evaluated on the current.

A gene signature associated with prognosis and immune processes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a poor prognosis that has not significantly improved in the past several decades. A prognostic-related signature was needed.

Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas and GSE41613 databases were downloaded as a training and validation set, respectively.

TGFβ1 and HGF regulate CTGF expression in human atrial fibroblasts and are involved in atrial remodelling in patients with rheumatic heart disease.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF β1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in human atrial fibroblasts, and to explore the relationship of these factors in atrial fibrosis and atrial anatomical remodelling (AAR) of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Fresh right auricular appendix tissue of 20 patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement surgery was collected during surgeries, 10 patients had sinus rhythm(SR), and 10 patients had chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF). Atrial fibroblasts were then cultured from the tissues with differential attachment technique and treated with either TGFβ1 (10 ng/mL) or HGF (100 ng/mL).

Calcium-Mediated Oscillation in Membrane Potentials and Atrial-Triggered Activity in Atrial Cells of Casq2 Mutation Mice.

We investigated the underlying mechanisms in atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with R33Q mutation and Ca-triggered activity. We examined AF susceptibility with intraesophageal burst pacing in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca leak model calsequestrin 2 R33Q (Casq2) mice. Atrial trigger appeared in R33Q mice but not WT mice (17.

Hyperforin improves post-stroke social isolation‑induced exaggeration of PSD and PSA via TGF-β.

Stroke survivors often experience social isolation, which can lead to post‑stroke depression (PSD) and post‑stroke anxiety (PSA) that can compromise neurogenesis and impede functional recovery following the stroke. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of post‑stroke social isolation‑mediated PSD and PSA on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive function. The effects of the natural antidepressant hyperforin on post‑stroke social isolation‑mediated PSD and PSA were also investigated.

Multi-objective optimization of asymmetric acoustic transmission with periodical structure.

Asymmetric acoustic wave propagation is important for control and manipulation of the acoustic wave signals in various devices. However, previous approach to find optimal asymmetric acoustic transmission (AAT) is through repeatedly adjusting the geometrical parameters, thus causing time-consuming. Here we propose a study on the multi-objective optimization of the AAT, aiming to achieve the widest working frequency range (fr) and the highest transmittance peak (η) with regard to the design variables.

Soluble interleukin‑2 receptor as a factor associated with angiogenesis in gastric cancer.

Angiogenesis serves a role in the growth, metastasis and prognosis of tumors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the angiogenic ability and clinical significance of the immune biomarker soluble interleukin‑2 receptor (sIL‑2R) in gastric cancer (GC) patients. Serum levels of sIL‑2R were measured in 35 GC patients with different stages of disease and 32 healthy individuals, and it was investigated whether the levels were associated with angiogenesis factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β1.

Enriched housing promotes post-stroke functional recovery through astrocytic HMGB1-IL-6-mediated angiogenesis.

Enriched environment (EE) is shown to promote angiogenesis, neurogenesis and functional recovery after ischemic stroke. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. C57BL/6 mice underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (60 min) followed by reperfusion, after which mice were housed in either standard environment (SE) or EE.

Proinflammatory effects of S100A8/A9 via TLR4 and RAGE signaling pathways in BV-2 microglial cells.

S100A8/A9, a heterodimer of the two calcium-binding proteins S100A8 and S100A9, has emerged as an important proinflammatory mediator in acute and chronic inflammation. However, whether S100A8/A9 is implicated in microglial‑induced neuroinflammatory response remains unclear. Here, we found that S100A8/A9 significantly increased the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines inclu-ding tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cultured BV-2 microglial cells.