The Beneficial Effects of Dietary Astragali Radix Are Related to the Regulation of Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites.

(AR) or its extract has been used as an herbal medicine and dietary supplement in China, Europe, and the United States. The gut microbiota could provide new insights for exploring dietary supplements' underlying mechanism on organisms. However, no reports have focused on the regulatory effect of AR on the gut microbiota as a dietary supplement.

Diagnosis, treatment and genetic analysis of a case of familial aldosteronism type II with WFS1 gene mutation.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a disease characterized by hypertension and hypokalemia due to the excessive aldosterone secretion from the adrenal cortex, which leads to the retention of both water and sodium, and the inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system as well. Familial hyperaldosteronism type II (FH-II) is known as an autosomal dominant hereditary disease, which is a scarce cause of PA. In this report, we cllected the clinical data of a patient with repeated hypertension and hypokalemia of uncertain diagnosis since 2014.

Diagnosing early scar pregnancy in the lower uterine segment after cesarean section by intracavitary ultrasound.

Background: Early scar pregnancy (CSP) in the lower uterine segment after cesarean section is a type of ectopic pregnancy that can cause major complications if left untreated. Transabdominal ultrasound is a common procedure but is influenced by external factors. Thus, intracavitary ultrasound may have better diagnostic efficiency for CSP.

[Characterization of oil/water partition coefficient of chishao terpene glucoside components based on contribution rate of representative components for myocardial ischemia].

The components of traditional Chinese medicine(TCMCs) are the basic unit of raw materials for Chinese medicines, and their physical and chemical properties directly affect the choice of dosage forms and the optimization of prescriptions. However, most of TCMCs are multi-component complex systems, and the characterization of their overall properties is still in the exploration stage. On the basis of biological activity, the representative components are determined, and then the individual characteristics are fitted with the weight coefficient of efficacy contribution rate, which may provide reference for characterizing the overall properties of TCMCs.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography detected interventricular dyssynchrony predicts exercise capacity and disease severity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) intraventricular mechanical dyssynchrony detected by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) has been reported to be correlated with a decrease in RV contractile efficiency in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients, while little attention has been paid to biventricular dysfunction. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of 2D-STE detected interventricular dyssynchrony for exercise capacity and disease severity in patients with pre-capillary PH (PcPH).

Methods: Conventional transthoracic echocardiography, 2D-STE and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) were performed in all participants.

Impact of right ventricular dyssynchrony on prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive disease with high mortality with an increasing burden of right ventricular. Right ventricular dyssynchrony was observed in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, but the association with mortality is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of right ventricular dyssynchrony on the survival of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

EXPRESS: Left ventricular early diastolic strain rate detected by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography and disease severity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension.

We investigated and compared the correlations between two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography detected left ventricular peak early diastolic strain rates (global: left ventricular global peak early diastolic strain rate; septum: left ventricular peak early diastolic strain rate of septum; free wall: left ventricular peak early diastolic strain rate of free wall) and disease severity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension. Seventy-four pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension patients (23 males and 51 females, 35 ± 13 years) and thirty healthy controls were consecutively recruited for two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography analyses in our study. Medical records of pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension patients were reviewed to capture clinical data; risk assessments were performed based on the 2015 ESC Guidelines.

Monitoring the growth of Ag-S clusters through crystallization of intermediate clusters.

We report a series of Ag-S nanoscale clusters in an attempt to understand the growth process of Ag2S clusters. UV-vis monitoring and crystallization at different stages of the reaction map out the cluster growth steps from Ag31S3(StBu)17(tfa)8(MeCN)4 (tfa = trifluoroacetate), to Ag45S7(StBu)24(tfa)7 to [Ag62S13(StBu)32(tfa)2](tfa)2, showing sequential eye-catching color changes. The cluster growth is associated with the in situ generation of S2-, which comes from the C-S bond cleavage of tert-butyl thiolate.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography assessed right ventricular function and exercise capacity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension.

Resting two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) identified right ventricular (RV) systolic function were reported to predict exercise capacity in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients, but little attention had been payed to 2D-STE detected RV diastolic function. Therefore, we aim to elucidate and compare the relations between 2D-STE identified RV diastolic/systolic functions and peak oxygen consumption (PVO) determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in pre-capillary PH. 2D-STE was performed in 66 pre-capillary PH patients and 28 healthy controls.

Activation of AMPK-dependent autophagy in the nucleus accumbens opposes cocaine-induced behaviors of mice.

Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant, which can induce drug addiction. Previous studies have reported that cocaine-induced autophagy is involved in neuroinflammation and cell death. However, the role of autophagy in psychomotor sensitivity to cocaine has not been explored.

Anticancer effects of Rosmarinic acid in OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells are mediated via induction of apoptosis, suppression of cell migration and modulation of lncRNA MALAT-1 expression.

Purpose: The main objective of the present research work was to study the anticancer properties of rosmarinic acid in OVCAR-3 human ovarian cancer cells and also to evaluate its effects on apoptosis induction, cancer cell migration and modulation of lncRNA MALAT-1 expression.

Methods: MTT assay was used to study the effects of the agent on OVCAR-3 cell viability, while inverted phase contrast microscopy and fluorescence microscopy were used to study the effects on cell morphology. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the effects of rosmarinic acid on cell surface morphology in OVCAR-3 cells.

Comparing square root method of measuring the cardiac output by means of aortic impedance change component to Kubicek's method.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to explore a calculated method used to measure the cardiac output using the aortic impedance change component of reconstructed impedance cardiography.

Methods: Routine impedance cardiography was measured using Kubicek's method with four ring electrodes. The thoracic mixed impedance changes were measured by six leads, which consisted of 15 electrodes.

Pharmacokinetic Studies of Factor VIII in Chinese Boys with Severe Hemophilia A: A Single-Center Study.

Background: Although much attention has been paid to the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of different factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates in persons with hemophilia A (HA), limited information is available in young boys with severe HA. In this study, we aimed to assess the PK parameters of FVIII products in boys with severe HA in China.

Methods: A total of 36 boys (plasma-derived [pd]-FVIII, n = 15; recombinant [r] FVIII, n = 21) were enrolled between January 2015 and May 2016 in Beijing Children's Hospital.

The clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe complication of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT); however, little is known about its clinical characteristics and prognosis. Nine newly diagnosed HHT-PAH patients were prospectively recruited between October 2007 and January 2016 and were followed up every half-year. Eighteen idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients, matched with HHT-PAH patients on mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac index, and World Health Organization (WHO) functional class (FC), were recruited.

Clemochinenosides C and D, two new macrocyclic glucosides from Clematis chinensis.

The EtOH extract of the roots and rhizomes of Clematis chinensis afforded two new macrocyclic glucosides clemochinenosides C (1) and D (2). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic means and hydrolysis products. These compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharides-induced TNF-α production in RAW 246.

Prognostic Value of Pulmonary Artery Compliance in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Adult Congenital Heart Disease.

In congenital heart disease (CHD), the presence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with a poor prognosis. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of pulmonary artery compliance (Cp) in predicting the mortality of PAH associated with adult congenital heart disease (APAH-CHD). One-hundred and seventy-five patients of APAH-CHD who underwent a comprehensive clinical evaluation were included in this study.

Atomically Precise Bimetallic AuCu Nanocluster with an Icosidodecahedral Cu Shell and an Alkynyl-Cu Interface.

Bimetallic nanoclusters AuCu with chemical composition of [AuCu(C≡CR)(PhP)Cl](NO) (where RC≡C is from 3-ethynylthiophene (HCS-3-C≡CH) or ethynylbenzene (PhC≡CH)) has been synthesized. Single X-ray structural analysis reveals that AuCu has a multishelled core structure of Au@Au@Cu@Au, comprising a centered icosahedral Au (Au@Au) surrounded by an icosidodecahedral Cu shell and an outmost shell of a chairlike hexagonal Au. The alkynyl carbon is bound to the hollow sites on the AuCu nanocluster surface, which is a novel interfacial binding mode in alkynyl-protected alloy nanoclusters.

The Value of the Electrocardiogram for Evaluating Prognosis in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Association between electrocardiography (ECG) features and right ventricular anatomy and physiology has been established. This study is aimed to identify the value of 12-lead ECG in evaluating prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).

Method: 194 patients with newly diagnosed IPAH were included in this study.

Pulmonary Vascular Capacitance is Associated with Vasoreactivity and Long-Term Response to Calcium Channel Blockers in Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationship between pulmonary vascular capacitance (PVC) and vasoreactivity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), and the value of PVC in predicting long-term response to CCB treatment.

Methods: Pulmonary vasodilator testing with inhaling iloprost was performed in 308 newly diagnosed IPAH patients. Acute vasodilator-responsive patients accepted CCBs treatment.

Human MALAT-1 long non-coding RNA is overexpressed in cervical cancer metastasis and promotes cell proliferation, invasion and migration.

Purpose: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play a crucial role in the development as well as the prognosis of various human cancers, particularly in human metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript-1 (MALAT-1), which has been shown to be upregulated in some tumors. However, the role of MALAT-1 in cervical cancer (CC) is yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to establish a correlation between MALAT-1 and its role in CC progression and prognosis.

[Correlation analysis of serum calcium levels and risks of diabetes mellitus in middle-aged and elderly men].

Objective: To investigate the correlation of serum calcium levels and the risks of diabetes mellitus (DM) in middle-aged elderly men.

Methods: A total of 3386 male subjects aged 40-79 years were selected from two local communities of Beijing using stratified random sampling for this cross-sectional survey. The survey was conducted using questionnaires, and all the subjects underwent physical examination and blood tests of serum calcium, vitamin D and other biochemical parameters.

The cutoffs and performance of glycated hemoglobin for diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes in a young and middle-aged population and in an elderly population.

The aims were to compare the appropriate cutoffs of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a population of varying ages and to evaluate the performance of HbA1c for diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes. A total of 1064 participants in the young and middle-aged group and 1671 in the elderly group were included and underwent HbA1c testing and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the optimal HbA1c cutoffs.

Association between glycemic indices and beta cell function in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To identify the relationship between glycemic indices and β cell function in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Methods: The cross-sectional analysis included 61 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who received continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for 72 hours. The association between β cell function and glycemic indices including A1C and glycemic variability was investigated.

Overexpression of long noncoding RNA HOTAIR predicts a poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer.

Purpose: The long noncoding RNA HOTAIR has been reported to be a good biomarker for poor prognosis in a variety of human cancers. However, whether HOTAIR could serve as novel biomarker to predict prognosis in cervical cancer or not is unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression of HOTAIR in cervical cancers and to investigate the relationship between this lncRNA expression levels and existing clinicopathological factors and patient survival.