Exploring Ferroptosis-Associated Gene Signatures as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets for Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) is a severe complication of sepsis associated with high mortality rates. Despite its significance, the molecular mechanisms underlying SICM remain poorly understood, particularly the role of ferroptosis - a form of iron-dependent programmed cell death.

Methodology: This study analyzed the GSE79962 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus, containing cardiac gene expression profiles from SICM patients and controls.

Association of urinary bisphenol A levels with heart failure risk in U.S. adults from the NHANES (2003-2016).

Introduction: Although heart failure (HF) has been linked to bisphenol A (BPA), few studies have investigated the cut-off values for the effects of urinary BPA levels on heart failure risk. The association between urinary BPA levels and HF prognosis has not been investigated.

Methods: This study included 11,849 adults over 20 years old using information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which was conducted from 2003 to 2016.

ITGAM: A Pivotal Regulator in Macrophage Dynamics and Cardiac Function During Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is a critical complication arising from sepsis characterized by reversible myocardial dysfunction. Despite the increasing attention to SIC in research, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly comprehended.

Methods: In this study, we utilized bioinformatics to analyze RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify key immune cell populations and molecular markers associated with SIC.

N, P and C removal simultaneously and microbial population numbers in a cyclic activated sludge system treating village and township domestic wastewater by altering the cycle times.

It was necessary to research an efficient treatment process suitable for township domestic wastewater. In this paper, the performance of the cyclic activated sludge system (CASS) system for simultaneous carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal was investigated by changing the operation cycle of the CASS reactor. Four operating conditions were set up, T1, T2, T3 and T4, with cycle times of 6, 8, 12 and 8 h (with carbon source), respectively.

Genome-wide analysis of RNA-binding proteins co-expression with alternative splicing events in mitral valve prolapse.

Objectives: We investigated the role and molecular mechanisms of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and their regulated alternative splicing events (RASEs) in the pathogenesis of mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

Methods: For RNA extraction, we obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from five patients with MVP, with or without chordae tendineae rupture, and five healthy individuals. High-throughput sequencing was used for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).

High‑risk pathological subtype associated FAM83A‑AS1 promotes malignancy and glycolysis of lung adenocarcinoma via miR‑202‑3p/HK2 axis.

According to the diverse cellular morphology, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) was classified into five pathological subtypes, referred to as follows: High‑risk group (micropapillary and solid), intermediate‑risk group (acinar and papillary) and low‑risk group (epidic). Nevertheless, little is known about the biological function of long non‑coding RNA (lncRNA) in the molecular determination of LUAD histologic patterns. Screening the transcriptional expression data from TCGA‑LUAD, the differentially expressed lncRNA across the divergent pathological subtypes were explored.

Maternal Serum tRNA-Derived Fragments (tRFs) as Potential Candidates for Diagnosis of Fetal Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most predominant birth defects that causes infant death worldwide. The timely and successful surgical treatment of CHD on newborns after delivery requires accurate detection and reliable diagnosis during pregnancy. However, there are no biomarkers that can serve as an early diagnostic factor for CHD patients.

Functional analysis of differently expressed ferroptosis-related genes in patients with mitral valve prolapse.

The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in heart valvular diseases is globally increasing. However, the understanding of its etiology and pathogenesis is limited. So far, the relationship between ferroptosis-related genes and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in MVP remains unexplored.

Aortic valve repair for the treatment of rheumatic aortic valve disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Valvuloplasty for rheumatic aortic valve disease remains controversial. We conducted this study to explore whether aortic valvuloplasty is appropriate for the rheumatic population. A comprehensive search was conducted, and 7 eligible retrospective studies were identified from PubMed, Embase, Medline and Cochrane (up to April 7, 2020) according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Surgical ablation supplemented by ethanol injection for ventricular tachycardia refractory to percutaneous ablation.

Background: A combination of endocardial and epicardial approaches has improved the overall success rate of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation in patients with cardiomyopathy. However, the origins of some VTs are truly intramural or close to coronary arteries, which makes this combined strategy either prone to failure or too risky.

Objectives: This observational study aimed to explore the feasibility and efficacy of direct epicardial ablation combined with intramural ethanol injection via surgical approach for inaccessible intramural VTs or VTs too close to coronary arteries.

Tocilizumab for treating COVID-19: a systemic review and meta-analysis of retrospective studies.

Objectives: COVID-19 has become a global epidemic, and effective therapies have not been discovered up to now. We conducted this study to explore the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab recently used for treating COVID-19.

Method: A comprehensive search was conducted (up to September 27, 2020), and 19 eligible records were identified according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Comparison of catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Objective: To compare both the beneficial and adverse effects of catheter ablation (CA) and surgical ablation (SA) on patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and 4 additional databases for randomized controlled trials that compared CA with SA. Following data extraction, we conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the efficacy and safety of CA relative to SA.

Effect of eNOS on Ischemic Postconditioning-Induced Autophagy against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice.

Autophagy is involved in the development of numerous illnesses, including ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) participates in the protective effects of ischemic postconditioning (IPostC). However, it remains unclear whether eNOS-mediated autophagy serves as a critical role in IPostC in the hearts of mice, in protecting against I/R injury.

MiR-889 promotes cell growth in human non-small cell lung cancer by regulating KLF9.

Currently, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still the most common malignancy worldwide. Although miR-889 has been reported to play an important role in various malignancies, the physiological function of miR-889 in NSCLC remains unknown. This paper places emphasis on the influence of miR-889 on the development and progression of non-small cell lung cancer.

Total endoscopic repair of atrial septal defect under on-pump beating heart.

Background: We previously reported the techniques for total endoscopic atrial septal defect (ASD) repair on hearts arrested with cardioplegia through three small incisions in the chest wall without aid of a surgical robotic system. The optimal results motivated us to use total thoracoscopic technology for ASD on perfused beating hearts.

Methods: From 2010 to 2017, 161 patients with a mean age of 28.

Association between polyfluoroalkyl chemical concentrations and leucocyte telomere length in US adults.

Exposure to some environmental chemicals is reportedly associated with the leucocyte telomere length (LTL), but the effects of the non-occupational exposure to polyfluoroalkyl chemical (PFCs) on the LTL are not well understood. Using data from 773 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in 1999-2000, we analysed the association between blood PFC concentrations and LTL. Coefficients (betas) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the blood PFC concentrations in association with the LTL were estimated using multivariate linear regression models after adjustment for age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), poverty income ratio, educational level, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and other PFCs.

B-type Natriuretic Peptide and Other Risk Factors for Predicting Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation after Thoracic Surgery.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with increased morality rate, prolonged hospitalization, and reduced long-term survival after surgery. Thus, prediction of POAF is important to assess surgical risk and provide prophylaxis.

Methods: It was a prospective study of 207 consecutive patients who underwent a routine preoperative laboratory testing before thoracic surgery from October 2016 to May 2017.

MiR-155 inhibits proliferation and invasion by directly targeting PDCD4 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: MicroRNAs are often abnormally expressed in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are thought to play a critical role in the emergence or maintenance of NSCLC by binding to its target messenger RNA. We assessed the effects of miR-155 on cell proliferation and invasion to elucidate the role played by miR-155/PDCD4 in NSCLC.

Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, Western blotting, and cell counting kit-8, luciferase, and transwell invasion assays were conducted on a normal human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) and three NSCLC cell lines (SPC-A-1, A549, and H2170).

Interleukin 18 promotes myofibroblast activation of valvular interstitial cells.

Background: Calcific aortic valve disease is the main heart valve disease in the elderly. Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) play an important role in the process of valve calcification. Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is expressed in stenosis aortic valves and is positively related with the clinical severity of aortic stenosis.

Essential role of STX6 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma growth and migration.

Abnormalities in endosomes, or dysregulation in their trafficking, play an important role directly in many diseases including oncogenesis. Syntaxin-6 (STX6) is involved in diverse cellular functions in a variety of cell types and has been shown to regulate many intracellular membrane trafficking events such as endocytosis, recycling and anterograde and retrograde trafficking. However, its expression pattern and biological functions in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remained unknown.

CC-chemokine receptor 7 and its ligand CCL19 promote mitral valve interstitial cell migration and repair.

The effect of CC-chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and CC-chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19) on rheumatic mitral stenosis is unknown. This study aimed to explore the roles of CCR7 and CCL19 in rheumatic mitral stenosis by measuring the expression of CCR7 and CCL19 in human mitral valves from rheumatic mitral stenosis patients. Additionally, we examined their effects on human mitral valve interstitial cells (hMVICs) proliferation, apoptosis and wound repair.

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury-mediated cytotoxicity induced by silver nanoparticles in human A549 and HepG2 cells.

Objectives: Considering the increasing applications of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in food- and cosmetic-related products worldwide, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential adverse health effects induced by AgNPs exposure in terms of cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial injury in human A549 and HepG2 cells.

Methods: After a 48 h AgNPs treatment, the cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Oxidative damage was determined by assays of malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-epi-PGF2α and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG).

Activation of HSPA1A promoter by environmental pollutants: An early and rapid response to cellular damage.

We established the HepG2-luciferase cells containing a luciferase reporter gene regulated by human HSPA1A promoter. The screening of heat shock and three typical environmental toxicants revealed differences in their capacities to activate HSPA1A promoter in HepG2-luciferase cells. After heat shock, a progressive time-dependent increase in relative luciferase activity was detected peaking at 8h of recovery.