Improving lung function capacity in patients with chronotropic incompetence using closed loop stimulation: A randomized crossover study.

Background: Chronotropic incompetence (CI) severely limits exercise tolerance due to impaired heart rate responses. This study investigated whether pacemaker with closed-loop stimulation (DDD-CLS) pacing, which provides rate acceleration in response to exertion, could enhance lung function and cardiopulmonary capacity compared pacemaker without CLS pacing in patients with CI.

Methods: This randomized crossover trial included 32 patients with CI who were compared to each CLS and DDD pacing over 2 months.

Association between Gene Polymorphisms and SNP-SNP Interactions of the Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 Signaling Pathway and the Risk of Vascular Senescence.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) signaling pathway and the risk of vascular senescence (VS).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, between May and November 2022, peripheral venous blood of 151 VS patients (case group) and 233 volunteers (control group) were collected. Fourteen SNPs were identified in five genes encoding the components of the MMP-2 signaling pathway, assessed through carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.

Enhancement of bicycle exercise capacity in patients with chronotropic incompetence through closed-loop stimulation: a randomized crossover trial.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of closed-loop stimulation (CLS) pacing compared with the traditional DDD mode in patients with chronotropic incompetence (CI) using bicycle-based cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Methods And Results: This single-centre, randomized crossover trial involved 40 patients with CI. Patients were randomized to receive either DDD-CLS or DDD mode pacing for 2 months, followed by a crossover to the alternative mode for an additional 2 months.

Deubiquitinating PABPC1 by USP10 upregulates CLK2 translation to promote tumor progression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is extremely malignant with limited treatment options. Deubiquitinases (DUBs), which cleave ubiquitin on substrates, can regulate tumor progression and are appealing therapeutic targets, but there are few related studies in PDAC. In our study, we screened the expression levels and prognostic value of USP family members based on published databases and selected USP10 as the potential interventional target in PDAC.

Inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition augments antitumor efficacy of nanotherapeutics in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Intrinsic drug resistance mechanisms of tumor cells often reduce intracellular drug concentration to suboptimal levels. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pivotal process in tumor progression and metastasis that confers an aggressive phenotype as well as resistance to chemotherapeutics. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel strategies and identify new targets to improve the overall efficacy of cancer treatment.

Coevolving stability and activity of LsCR by a single point mutation and constructing neat substrate bioreaction system.

Carbonyl reductase (CR)-catalyzed bioreduction in the organic phase and the neat substrate reaction system is a lasting challenge, placing higher requirements on the performance of enzymes. Protein engineering is an effective method to enhance the properties of enzymes for industrial applications. In the present work, a single point mutation E145A on our previously constructed CR mutant LsCR , coevolved thermostability, and activity.

Comparison of Application of MD-VF-Auto SEM Method and Plankton Gene Multiplex PCR System in the Diagnosis of Drowning.

Objectives: To compare the application effect of microwave digestion - vacuum filtration - automated scanning electron microscopy (MD-VF-Auto SEM) method and plankton gene multiplex PCR system in the diagnosis of drowning.

Methods: Lung, liver and kidney tissue of 10 non-drowning cases and 50 drowning cases were prepared for further MD-VF-Auto SEM method analysis and plankton gene multiplex PCR system analysis. The positive detection rate of the two methods in each tissue was calculated.

SIGLEC15 amplifies immunosuppressive properties of tumor-associated macrophages in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) usually presents infrequent infiltration of T lymphocytes. The known immune-checkpoint inhibitors to date focus on activating T cells and manifest limited effectiveness in PDAC. SIGLEC15 was identified as a novel tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-related immune-checkpoint in other cancer types, while its immunosuppressive role and clinical significance remained unclear in PDAC.

Successful bailout stenting strategy against rare spontaneous retrograde dissection of partially absorbed magnesium-based resorbable scaffold: A case report.

Background: In the development of coronary stent technology, bioresorbable scaffolds are promising milestones in improving the clinical treatment of coronary artery disease. The "leave nothing behind" motto is the premise of the fourth revolution in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Studies proving the safety and efficacy of the magnesium-based resorbable scaffolds (MgBRSs) include the BIOSOLVE-I and BIOSOLVE-II trials and the latest BIOSOLVE-IV registry.

Chrysin Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Migration on Chorioretinal Endothelial Cells via VEGF and VEGFR Down-Regulation.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic inflammatory disease, which causes multiple complications. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is among these complications and is a dominant cause of vision loss for diabetic patients. Numerous studies have shown that chrysin, a flavonoid, has many biological activities such as anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation.

Effectiveness of intracavitary electrocardiogram-guided peripherally inserted central catheter tip placement in premature infants: a multicentre pre-post intervention study.

This pre-post intervention study was conducted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in two Chinese hospitals. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intracavitary electrocardiogram (IC-ECG)-guided peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement and tip positioning in premature infants. A total of 161 premature infants who required a PICC were enrolled and divided into two groups: pre-intervention group (n = 83) from October 2017 to July 2018 and post-intervention IC-ECG group (n = 78) from August 2018 to March 2019.

A Novel Strategy for Chronic Total Occlusion of the Stumpless Ostial Left Anterior Descending Artery.

BACKGROUND Despite improvements in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) devices and operator expertise, coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) poses a management dilemma for interventional cardiologists. Occasionally, in CTO lesions and in bifurcation lesions with severe curvature and stenosis, wires cannot be introduced into the main artery, although wiring into the side branch is possible. We herein report a case of stumpless ostial left anterior descending artery (LAD) CTO that was successfully treated with a novel strategy.

Relation of carotid artery diameter with cardiac geometry and mechanics in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Central artery dilation and remodeling are associated with higher heart failure and cardiovascular risks. However, data regarding carotid artery diameter from hypertension to heart failure have remained elusive. We sought to investigate this issue by examining the association between carotid artery diameter and surrogates of ventricular dysfunction.

Large aortic aneurysm mimicking a cardiac tumor.

Introduction: Extrinsic left atrial compression caused by a displaced, crooked descending thoracic aorta is rare. This anomaly may mimic primary cardiac tumors or metastatic neoplasms from the first look.

Case Presentation: We reported a 78-year-old woman presented to our emergency room with back pain, increased exercise intolerance and intermittent angina.

Evaluation of a lipopeptide biosurfactant from Bacillus natto TK-1 as a potential source of anti-adhesive, antimicrobial and antitumor activities.

A lipopeptide biosurfactant produced by Bacillus natto TK-1 has a strong surface activity. The biosurfactant was found to be an anti-adhesive agent against several bacterial strains, and also showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. The biosurfactant induced a significant reduction in tumor cells viability in a dose-dependent manner.

Purification and antitumour activity of a lipopeptide biosurfactant produced by Bacillus natto TK-1.

An antitumour lipopeptide biosurfactant purified from Bacillus natto TK-1 was able to inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast-cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase release showed no significant difference between MCF-7 cells treated with lipopeptide and untreated controls. The antitumour activity of the lipopeptide in MCF-7 cells was associated with cell apoptosis determined by typical morphological changes and sub-G(1) peak in cell growth-phase distribution.