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.

Enantioselective Alkylation of Primary C()-H Bonds in -Methyl Tertiary Amine Enabled by Iridium Complex of Axially Chiral β-Aryl Porphyrins.

A fine-tuning of enantioselective carbene insertion into primary C()-H bonds has been realized in challenging substrates, such as -methyl unblocked aromatic and non-deactivated aliphatic tertiary amines, in which sterically demanding β-axially chiral iridium porphyrin catalysts play a crucial role. This primary C()-H alkylation with diazo compounds affords a series of β-chiral tertiary amines in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. Notably, the protocol was successfully applied to the postmodification of chiral bicuculline, yielding the desired derivative with high diastereoselectivity.

The surgical strategy selection and clinical efficacy analysis of Kummell's disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of surgery in Kummell's disease (KD) to help us select the optimum surgical strategy.

Methods: We included 67 KD patients who underwent Percutaneous vertebral plasty (PVP), Percutaneous kyphosis plasty (PKP), Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) or Posterior decompression osteotomy fixation (PDOF). The differences in imaging parameters and prognosis changes of pre-operation, post-operative and follow-up endpoint were analyzed.

Morroniside improves AngII-induced cardiac fibroblast proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix deposition by blocking p38/JNK signaling pathway through the downregulation of KLF5.

Myocardial fibrosis (MF), which is an inevitable pathological manifestation of many cardiovascular diseases in the terminal stage, often contributes to severe cardiac dysfunction and sudden death. Morroniside (MOR) is the main active component of Cornus officinalis with a variety of biological activities. This study was designed to explore the efficacy of MOR in MF and to investigate its pharmacological mechanism.

Roles of the crucial mitochondrial DNA in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy prognosis and diagnosis: A review.

Mitochondrial DNA is implicated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) development. We aimed to identify valuable mtDNAs that contribute to the development of HCM. Differentially expressed mitochondrial DNAs (DEMGs) between HCM and controls were screened.

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.

Preoperative prediction of residual back pain after vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: Initial application of a radiomics score based nomogram.

Background: Most patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) obtain pain relief after vertebral augmentation, but some will experience residual back pain (RBP) after surgery. Although several risk factors of RBP have been reported, it is still difficult to estimate the risk of RBP preoperatively. Radiomics is helpful for disease diagnosis and outcome prediction by establishing complementary relationships between human-recognizable and computer-extracted features.

Dopamine receptor D2, but not D1, mediates the reward circuit from the ventral tegmental area to the central amygdala, which is involved in pain relief.

Pain involves both sensory and affective dimensions. The amygdala is a key player in linking nociceptive stimuli to negative emotional behaviors or affective states. Relief of pain is rewarding and activates brain reward circuits.

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).

Correlation between the fatty infiltration of paraspinal muscles and disc degeneration and the underlying mechanism.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is associated with lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) and fatty infiltration of paraspinal muscles. However, there are some controversies about the relationship between LDD and fatty infiltration of paraspinal muscles, and the causation of them is also not clear. Thus, we investigated whether the degree of LDD was associated with fatty infiltration of paraspinal muscles and preliminarily explored the underlying mechanism.

Propionibacterium acnes contributes to low back pain via upregulation of NGF in TLR2-NF-κB/JNK or ROS pathway.

Propionibacterium acnes infection in intervertebral discs (IVDs) is a newly identified cause of low back pain (LBP). In the present study, we aimed to determine whether the nerve growth factor (NGF), a critical pro-algesic factor, is involved in P. acnes-induced LBP.

Acrolein scavenger dimercaprol offers neuroprotection in an animal model of Parkinson's disease: implication of acrolein and TRPA1.

Background: The mechanisms underlying lesions of dopaminergic (DA) neurons, an essential pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD), are largely unknown, although oxidative stress is recognized as a key factor. We have previously shown that the pro-oxidative aldehyde acrolein is a critical factor in PD pathology, and that acrolein scavenger hydralazine can reduce the elevated acrolein, mitigate DA neuron death, and alleviate motor deficits in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model. As such, we hypothesize that a structurally distinct acrolein scavenger, dimercaprol (DP), can also offer neuroprotection and behavioral benefits.

Analysis of Approaches in the Microsurgical Treatment of 102 Cases of Petroclival Meningioma in a Single Center.

We identified the optimal approaches for treating the diverse tumor subtypes of petroclival meningioma (PM) by analyzing the clinical benefits of various surgical approaches adopted for each subtype. Tumors in 102 PM patients from a single center who underwent surgical treatment were classified as upper clivus (UC), cavernous sinus (CS), tentorium (TE), or petrous apex (PA) types based on the attachment site of the tumor base and the displacement of the trigeminal nerve. The therapeutic effects of different surgical approaches among the subtypes were evaluated according to the patient outcomes.

Primary large B-cell lymphoma involving the cerebellopontine angle: a case report.

Primary large B-cell lymphomas involving the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are uncommon. Fewer than 20 cases of large B-cell lymphoma at the CPA have been reported worldwide. Herein, we report a rare case of B-cell lymphoma in a 67-year-old woman who presented with dysphagia and dizziness and showed a lesion involving the right CPA on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Four-octyl itaconate activates Nrf2 cascade to protect osteoblasts from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative injury.

Four-octyl itaconate (4-OI) is the cell-permeable derivative of itaconate that can activate Nrf2 signaling by alkylating Keap1's cysteine residues. Here, we tested the potential effect of 4-OI on hydrogen peroxide (HO)-induced oxidative injury in osteoblasts. In OB-6 cells and primary murine osteoblasts, 4-OI was able to activate Nrf2 signaling cascade and cause Keap1-Nrf2 disassociation, Nrf2 protein stabilization, cytosol accumulation, and nuclear translocation.

Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for the treatment of pacemaker pocket infection in patients unable or unwilling to undergo CIED extraction.

Purpose: The occurrence of cardiac pacemaker pocket infection has markedly increased and has become a new problem facing cardiovascular internists. The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of treating cardiac pacemaker pocket infection using negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in patients who are unwilling or unable to have their cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) removed.

Methods: From March 2013 to April 2019, NPWT was applied to 26 patients with cardiac pacemaker pocket infection who were unwilling or unable to have their CIEDs removed.

Chemokine CCL2 contributes to BBB disruption via the p38 MAPK signaling pathway following acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains a devastating type of stroke that lacks an effective treatment. Recent evidence has demonstrated that CCL2 is involved in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and propagermanium (PG) as a CCL2 receptor inhibitor is neuroprotective in ischemic stroke. However, whether PG therapy exert effective role in acute ICH still unclear.

Risk factors associated with postoperative recurrence in atypical intracranial meningioma: analysis of 263 cases at a single neurosurgical centre.

Objective: Atypical meningioma (AM) has a high rate of local recurrence after surgery, and the role of adjuvant radiotherapy in AM remains controversial. We analysed progression-free survival (PFS) and identified the factors associated with postoperative recurrence in AM patients.

Methods: Data were obtained from 263 AM patients who underwent surgery at our institution between October 2009 and September 2018.

The bacteria-positive proportion in the disc tissue samples from surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The role of bacteria, especially Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), in human intervertebral disc diseases has raised attention in recent years. However, limited sample size of these studies and diverse bacteria-positive proportion made this topic still controversial.

Microbicidal Phagocytosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells Against via the TLR2/MAPKs Signaling Pathway.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) is an immune-privileged organ that lacks immunocytes, such as macrophages or neutrophils; therefore, it is unclear how IVD immunological defense against bacterial infection occurs. Here, we demonstrated that nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), the vital machinery for maintaining the homeostasis of IVD, exerted microbicidal activity against via induction of phagolysosome formation. Moreover, we found that the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway is critical for bacterial phagocytosis and phagolysosome formation of NPCs.

VR/V Index: A Novel Electrocardiographic Criterion for Differentiating Left From Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Arrhythmias Origins.

Background: Several algorithms have been proposed to predict the origin of outflow tract (OT) ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) using standard 12-lead ECG. However, the additive value of right precordial and posterior leads is unknown.

Methods: Standard 12-lead ECG, right precordial leads ECG (VR, VR, VR) and posterior leads ECG (V, V, V) were recorded and analyzed in a development cohort of consecutive patients undergoing OT-VAs ablation at a single center.

Propionibacterium acnes induces discogenic low back pain via stimulating nucleus pulposus cells to secrete pro-algesic factor of IL-8/CINC-1 through TLR2-NF-κB p65 pathway.

Latent infection of Propionibacterium acnes was considered as a new pathogeny for low back pain (LBP); however, there is no credible animal evidence or mechanism hypothesis. This study proved that P. acnes is a causative pathogen of bacteria-induced LBP and investigated its underlying mechanism.

Induces Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Promoting iNOS/NO and COX-2/PGE Activation via the ROS-Dependent NF-B Pathway.

Accumulating evidence suggests that () is a novel pathogenic factor promoting intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). However, the underlying mechanisms by which induces IVDD have been unclear. In this study, we quantified the severity of IVDD, as well as the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2)/prostaglandin (PGE) in human intervertebral discs (IVDs) infected with .