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BackgroundCardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of heart diseases that can gradually cause severe heart failure. In particular, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are the two main types of cardiomyopathies, yet the independent and communal biological mechanisms of both remain far from elucidated. Meanwhile, ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death that has been proven to be associated with cardiomyopathies, but the concrete nature of the interaction remains unclear. Hence, this study explored the pathogenesis and ferroptosis mechanism of HCM and DCM via a bioinformatics analysis.MethodsSix datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database based on the study inclusion/exclusion criteria. After screening the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and hub genes of HCM and DCM, subsequent analyses, including functional annotation, co-expression, validation, and transcription factors (TF)–mRNA–microRNA (miRNA) regulatory network construction, were performed. In addition, ferroptosis-related DEGs were also identified and verified in HCM and DCM.ResultsWe found 171 independent DEGs of HCM mainly enriched in the regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascade, while 171 independent DEGs of DCM were significantly involved in cell adhesion. Meanwhile, 32 communal DEGs (26 upregulated genes and 6 downregulated genes) and 3 hub genes [periostin (POSTN), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 (IGFBP5), and fibromodulin (FMOD)] were determined to be shared between HCM and DCM and the functional annotation of these genes highlighted the important position of growth hormone in HCM and DCM. Moreover, we identified activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3), and solute carrier family 1 member 5 (SLC1A5) as ferroptosis-related genes in HCM and STAT3 as a ferroptosis-related gene in DCM.ConclusionThe identified independent and communal DEGs contribute to uncover a potentially distinct and common mechanism of HCM and DCM and ferroptosis-related genes could provide us with a novel direction for exploration. In addition, 3 hub genes could be potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets in patients with cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of heart diseases that can gradually cause severe heart failure. In particular, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are the two main types of cardiomyopathies, yet the independent and communal biological mechanisms of both remain far from elucidated. Meanwhile, ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death that has been proven to be associated with cardiomyopathies, but the concrete nature of the interaction remains unclear. Hence, this study explored the pathogenesis and ferroptosis mechanism of HCM and DCMSix datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database based on the study inclusion/exclusion criteria. After screening the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and hub genes of HCM and DCM, subsequent analyses, including functional annotation, co-expression, validation, and transcription factors (TF)-mRNA-microRNA (miRNA) regulatory network construction, were performed. In addition, ferroptosis-related DEGs were also identified and verified in HCM and DCM.We found 171 independent DEGs of HCM mainly enriched in the regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascade, while 171 independent DEGs of DCM were significantly involved in cell adhesion. Meanwhile, 32 communal DEGs (26 upregulated genes and 6 downregulated genes) and 3 hub genes [periostin (The identified independent and communal DEGs contribute to uncover a potentially distinct and common mechanism of HCM and DCM and ferroptosis-related genes could provide us with a novel direction for exploration. In addition, 3 hub genes could be potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets in patients with cardiomyopathy.

Background There is currently no classification for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We aimed to perform a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), comparing the clinical characteristics, in-hospital acute heart failure and all-cause death events of AMI patients with mid-range ejection fraction (mrEF), preserved ejection fraction (pEF) and reduced ejection fraction (rEF). Material and methods Totally 1270 patients were stratified according to their LVEF immediately after emergency PCI into pEF group (LVEF 50% or higher), mrEF group (LVEF 40%–49%) and rEF group (LVEF Results Compared with mrEF, rEF was an independent risk factor for acute heart failure events during hospitalisation (HR 5.01, 95% CI 3.53 to 7.11, p Conclusions mrEF patients with AMI undergoing emergency PCI share many similarities with pEF patients in terms of clinical features, but the prognosis is significantly worse than that of pEF patients, suggesting that we need to pay attention to the management of mrEF patients with AMI.

Parasite infections of humans and animals remain a major global health problem, with limited choice of drugs being available to the treatment of parasitosis in the clinic. Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is a shrub that grows in Tibet Plateau of China. Decoction of the seeds has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to treat parasitosis for years. But the anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble fractions in the seeds need further investigation. In the present study, the water-soluble alkaloid fractions (E2) were obtained from S. moorcroftiana seeds by refluxing extraction with 60% ethanol and low polarity fraction (E2-a) and high polarity fraction (E2-b) were subsequently isolated from E2 using column chromatography. As a parasite model, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were treated with different fractions and their survivals were recorded. The results showed that that E2-a induced a lower survival rate in C. elegans than E2-b and E2. The protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) were cultured in the presence of E2-a. Compared with E2-b and E2, protoscoleces exhibited decreased survival rate following E2-a treatment. Furtherly, the effects of E2-a on the behavior, brood size, and lifespan of the worms were investigated. Body bend frequencies of the worms treated with the high concentration of E2-a were reduced by two-thirds compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with non-E2-a-treated group, exposure of nematodes to E2-a led to a decrease in head thrashes and pharyngeal pumps frequency (P < 0.01). E2-a treatment resulted in a significantly lower brood size (P < 0.01). Additional E2-a treatment induced a significantly shortened lifespan, compared with the control (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that water-soluble fraction E2-a from S. moorcroftiana seeds was a potential helminthic agent.

Background The role of MASP-2 is vital in the process of complement activation by the lectin pathway. It is generally considered that the functional activation of MASP-2 contribute to the infection disease development process. Aims To analyze the association between MASP-2 functional gene (rs72550870) polymorphism and the infection disease risk by a meta-analysis. Method Relevant case-control studies were identified by searching Cochrane Library, PubMed, Emabase, DOAJ, CAB Abstracts, CSA, CINAHL, EBSCO, Scopus, Global Health, Index Copernicus, CA, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases up to 10th January 2016. The data were extracted and the methodological quality of studies were evaluated. The STATA 12.0 software was used to perform statistical analysis. Results 9 studies were included. There was no significant association between masp-2 gene (p.D120G, rs72550870) polymorphism and the risk of infection disease under the allele model (G vs. A: OR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.66–1.21)(P = 0.445>0.05) and the recessive model (AG + GG vs.AA: OR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.65–1.20) (P = 0.428>0.05). Conclusion This is the first comprehensive meta-analysis indicates that the MASP-2 functional gene (rs72550870) polymorphism is not associated with the infection diseases, and the key functional gene polymorphism of rs72550870 did not increase susceptibility to the infection diseases. Similarly, there were no obvious difference in subgroup analysis based on geographical areas and pathogenic microorganisms.

Background: Case-based learning (CBL), an educational method of problem-based learning, provides students with a venue to relate content learned in the classroom to performance in professional practice. This study compared CBL in the teaching of a clinical laboratory immunology (CLI) course to lecture-based learning (LBL), and evaluated the effect on students regarding the CBL. Methods: Data were collected from senior students (n=85; 46% males, 54% females) at Lanzhou University in China. The students were divided into two groups, one group was offered CBL, while the other LBL as a teaching instrument. After intervention, perceptions of both the groups about their respective teaching method were evaluated using questionnaires, the resulting scores were compared to those obtained in the LBL group. Results: The CBL group showed significantly better scores in course examination (p Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that CBL is a more effective teaching strategy as compared to LBL in a CLI course. Consequently, the implementation of CBL in teaching a CLI course helps students to improve their learning motivation, problem solving abilities and mastery of knowledge.

The application-based flipped classroom (APP-FC) is an innovative teaching-learning model that has not been applied and assessed in basic medical curricula teaching in China. The aim of this investigation is to assess students’ perceptions to the APP-based flipped classroom (APP-FC) teaching model in an immunology course. The data of this study were collected from second-year medical students (n = 92) at Lanzhou University. One class (n = 50), as a control group, was offered lecture-based learning (LBL), while the other class (n = 42), as the APP-FC group, was given lecture-based instruction and the APP-FC teaching model during September–November 2017. Afterward, the perceptions of students on APP-FC teaching model were evaluated using questionnaires. Students responded that APP-FC improves their motivation (83%) and interest in learning immunology (81%), as well as their self-directed learning skills (81%). Compared to the traditional lecture-based instruction, the APP-FC noticeably improved students’ motivation in learning (P = 0.011), self-directed learn skills (P = 0.001), memory abilities (P = 0.009), and problem-solving abilities (P = 0.010). Most medical students’ scores (60%) in the final examination were more than 80 points after implementing an APP-FC model as compared to the control group (40%). The majority of students (70%) preferred the APP-FC teaching approach over traditional lecture-based pedagogy. The implementation of the APP-FC teaching model could improve students’ learning motivation, self-directed learn skills, and problem-solving abilities, which is a preferable teaching model for medical immunology courses in China.

We have measured near-surface absorption in a site of Daqing Oilfield, China, by using a cross-hole survey. The near-surface was divided into two layers according to the water table depth, the weathering and sub-weathering layers. The seismic attenuation for each layer was analysed in detail to estimate the quality factor Q and investigate its dependency on frequency. The absorption model was estimated using tomographic absorption inversion without source effect. The inverse Q factor for the weathering layer is much smaller than that for the sub-weathering layer, indicating that absorption decreases when the near-surface is saturated with water. The Q− 1 factors for the two layers vary with frequency in a similar way, increasing with frequency at the low frequency end, reaching its maximum value at a characteristic frequency and then decreasing with increasing frequency. The results closely match theoretical predictions and laboratory measurements and therefore can be treated as reliable evidence of frequency-dependent Q factor.

Based on the Giles–Johnston approximation and the analysis of the mutual interaction between two bubbles at different distances, a model is established to simulate the signature of clustered airguns in offshore seismic exploration, concerning the practical factors which have effects on bubble oscillation such as the gun ports throttling and the heat conduction across the bubble wall. By using this model, the signatures of clustered airguns at different distances are calculated with the volume of airguns equal and unequal; the energy distribution of the airgun array signature in three-dimensional (3D) space is also analysed. The result of simulation indicates (1) the pressure wave emitted from bubble oscillation and the ghost wave reflected from the sea surface change the wave field around other bubbles, which makes it the primary source of the mutual interaction between bubbles; (2) with the distance decreasing, the mutual interaction between bubbles becomes strong, the bubble period increases, the primary peak amplitude decreases, and the primary/bubble peak amplitude ratio increases at first and then decreases afterwards; (3) as the distance between bubbles reduced, the bubbles with unequal volumes oscillate with the same period, and the frequency locking phenomenon occurs accompanying the violent bubble oscillation; and (4) the energy of the pressure wave is strongest down below the midpoint of the airgun array, while relatively weak in other directions, this can be used for true amplitude recovery in seismic data processing.

In marine seismic exploration, air gun array is widely used to excite source signature since its signature has higher primary value and peak/bubble ratio than that excited by a single air gun. The array size is comparable with the seismic wave length, thus, its signature is dependent on the direction of seismic wave propagation, which means that the signature varies both with take-off angle and azimuth.

In marine seismic prospecting, as the air-gun array is usually composed of different types of air-guns, the signature modelling of different air-guns is particularly important to the array design. Different types of air-guns have different mechanical structures, which directly or indirectly affect the signatures. In order to simulate the influence of the mechanical structure, five parameters—the throttling constant, throttling power law exponent, mass release efficiency, fluid viscosity and heat transfer coefficient—are used in signature modelling. Through minimizing the energy relative error between the simulated and the measured signatures by the simulated annealing method, the five optimal parameters can be estimated. The method is tested in a field experiment, and the consistency between the simulated and the measured signatures is improved with the optimal parameters.