Canagliflozin alleviates pulmonary hypertension by activating PPARγ and inhibiting its S225 phosphorylation.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive fatal disease with no cure. Canagliflozin (CANA), a novel medication for diabetes, has been found to have remarkable cardiovascular benefits. However, few studies have addressed the effect and pharmacological mechanism of CANA in the treatment of PH.

[Association between genetic polymorphisms in pre-miR-146a and pre-miR-196a2 and genetic damage levels among coke oven workers].

Objective: To investigate the association of rs2910164 G > C polymorphism and rs11614913 T > C polymorphism in pre-miR-146a and pre-miR-196a2 with genetic damage levels in coke oven workers.

Methods: A total of 575 nonsmoking workers who have worked for more than one year in a coke-oven plant at Wuhan, Hubei Province were enrolled in this study in September to October, 2010. The general characteristics as well as blood and urine samples were collected.

[The dose response decrease of lung function associated with the urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons metabolites in coke oven workers].

Objective: To analyze the relationship between metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and lung function in coke oven workers, and to provide scientific basis for further exploring the potential mechanism and developing the preventing strategies of the workers' early lung damage.

Methods: We measured carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, benzene soluble matter, particulate matters, and PAHs at different workplaces of a coke oven plant. Detailed information on demography and occupational health condition of 912 workers were collected.

[Using the stable HSPA1A promoter-driven luciferase reporter HepG2 cells to assess the overall toxicity of coke oven emissions].

Objective: Using the stable HSPA1A (HSP70-1) promoter-driven luciferase reporter HepG2 cells (HepG2/HSPA1A cells) to assess the overall toxicity of coke oven emissions.

Methods: The stable HepG2/HSPA1A cells were treated with different concentrations of coke oven emissions (COEs) collected from the top, side, and bottom of a coke oven battery for 24 h. After the treatments, luciferase activity, cell viability, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, Olive tail moment, and micronuclei frequency were determined, respectively.

[Sonographic evaluation of the special thyroid carcinoma].

Objective: To analyze the cases of thyroid carcinoma with special sonographic features, so as to increase the accuracy of sonographic diagnosis for thyroid carcinoma.

Methods: The sonographic characteristics of 9 patients with special sonographic appearance were analyzed. According to the sonographic features, they were divided into two kinds: 8 cases suffered from thyroid diffuse malignant lesions, and one case showed cystic lesion sticking out of the thyroid.