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The effect of blood pump flow rate on the cardiac functions of hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate if blood pump flow rate (Qb) and AVF access flow rate (Qa) can affect the cardiac function of Chinese hemodialysis patients. A total of 72 patients undergoing AVF hemodialysis were included from March 2010 to June 2014 and dichotomized into the high- and low-flow groups using the medians of Qb (220 mL/min) and Qa (1000 mL/min) as the cutoffs. The cardiac function parameters were measured by ultrasound dilution technique within the first (t + 30) and the last (t - 30) 30 min of dialysis. At t + 30, Qb-high group had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) than Qb-low group. At t - 30, Qb-high group had higher SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and MAP than Qb-low group. Qa-high group had higher SBP, MAP, cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), central blood volume (CBV), and lower peripheral resistance than Qa-low group. Multiple linear regression showed that at t - 30, Qb was positively correlated with SBP and MAP. Qa was positively correlated with CO, CI, CBV, and PR but negatively correlated with heart rate. Although Qb > 220 mL/min and Qa >1000 mL/min would elevate some parameters, the means of SBP, DBP, MAP remain within the normal range, indicating that appropriate increase in blood pump flow rate has little effect on the cardiac function of hemodialysis patients.

The combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted attention due to its enhanced tumor synergetic effect. This study proposes a novel nanoenzyme-based theranostic nanoplatform, IrO2@MSN@PDA-BSA(Ce6), for the combined PTT and PDT of tumors. IrO2 was prepared by a simple hydrolysis method and coated with a thin layer of mesoporous silica (MSN) to facilitate the physical adsorption of Chlorin e6 (Ce6). The PDA coating and IrO2 NPs of the nanoplatform demonstrated an improved photothermal conversion efficiency of 29.8 % under NIR irradiation. Further, the Ce6 loading imparts materials with the ability to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) under 660 nm NIR laser irradiation. It was also proved that the IrO2 NPs could catalyze the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to generate endogenous oxygen (O2), thereby enhancing the efficiency of PDT. The in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that the nanocomposites were highly biocompatible and could produce a satisfactory tumor therapeutic effect. Thus, the findings of the present study demonstrate the viability of using theranostic nanoenzymes for translational medicine.

LncRNA GAS5 is associated with high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte injury, but its role in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains unclear. Mice were administered with streptozotocin to construct the diabetic model (DM). Primary mouse cardiomyocytes were isolated and treated with 30 mmol/L high glucose to mimic the diabetic condition in vitro. GAS5 expression was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The relationship between GAS5 and miR-26a/b-5p was determined by bioinformatic prediction, luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. The cardiac function of diabetic mice was evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiography. GAS5 was significantly upregulated in diabetic cardiomyopathy both in vitro and in vivo. GAS5 knockdown and miR-26a/b-5p overexpression not only effectively attenuated myocardial fibrosis of diabetic mice in vivo but also inhibited high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte injury in vitro. miR-26a/b-5p was identified as a target of GAS5. GAS5 knockdown efficiently attenuated myocardial fibrosis and high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte injury through negatively regulating miR-26a/b-p. Our study showed that GAS5 promotes DCM progression by regulating miR-26a/b-5p, suggesting that GAS5 might be a potential therapeutic target for DCM.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Gastric precancerous conditions are generally considered to play an essential role in the gastric carcinogenesis cascade. This study identified risk factors of gastric precancerous conditions in a nationwide multicenter cross-sectional study. METHODS Individuals who made their visit to 115 hospitals in China for gastric cancer screening were recruited. Lifestyle habits and personal information were collected through a series of questionnaires. Serum biomarker test (pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, gastrin-17, and anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G antibody) and endoscopy were then performed. Risk factors for gastric precancerous conditions were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Of 14,929 subjects eligible for analysis, 4477 (30.0%) developed gastric precancerous conditions and 405 (2.71%) developed gastric cancer. In multiple logistic regression, precancerous conditions were associated with advanced age [odds ratio (OR)=1.027; 95% confidence interval (Cl), 1.023-1.032; P

We sought to analyze the clinical data of patients with ipsilateral coexistence of hemifacial spasm (HFS) and trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and their treatment by microvascular decompression.We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, imaging examination, offending vessels, surgical methods, and efficacy in 40 patients with ipsilateral coexistence of HFS and TN from January 2009 to January 2018. The posterior cranial fossa was measured using ITK-SNAP 3.0, which counted the cerebrospinal fluid volume on the basis of the region of interest. Preoperative and postoperative status was based on visual analog scale pain scores and Cohen evaluation scale.Preoperative visual analog scale pain scores were 10 for 30 patients, 9 for 8 patients, and 8 for 2 patients. Preoperative Cohen scores were 4 and 3 for 14 and 26 patients, respectively. A big looped vertebral basilar artery (VBA) was identified in the operative field in 18 patients (45%), which was regarded as the direct offending vessel. Postoperative the Barrow Neurological Institute scores were excellent (T = 2) for 30 patients (75%). The HFS completely disappeared in 28 patients (70%). In the follow-up period (12-110 months), no recurrence or any dysfunction of cranial nerves was found. When patients were grouped as per the responsible artery, the mean size of the posterior cranial fossa was significantly lower in the patients with VBA involved, compared with the patients in the noninvolved VBA group. In the VBA-involved group, HFS symptoms first appeared in all 18 patients, while in the non-VBA-involved group, HFS symptoms first appeared in 6/22 patients (P0.05). The preoperative Cohen score of the 4 patients in the VBA involved group, as well as that of 22 patients in the non-VBA-involved group, was 3 (P0.05).Our study suggests that patients with ipsilateral coexistence of HFS and TN usually have a narrower and smaller posterior fossa and have a large looped VBA as the responsible artery. In addition, patients with VBA involvement often develop HFS symptoms first and are more severe than those with non-vertebral artery involvement. Microvascular decompression is effective for patients with ipsilateral coexistence of HFS and TN.

Alginate-Ca2+ hydrogel has been used to immobilize photothermal materials as well as chemotherapy drugs at lesion sites to prevent their entry into the bloodstream. However, the alginate-Ca2+ gelation mechanism may result in hardening of the blood vessels because of Ca2+ migration to the lesion site. In this study, a unique and facile one-pot formation of chemotherapeutic (doxorubicin, DOX) and polypyrrole-containing alginate hydrogel was designed by introducing Fe3+, which can synchronously induce the polymerization of pyrrole and gelatinization of alginate, into the DOX/pyrrole/alginate solution. The formed composite hydrogel was endowed with superior photothermal conversion properties in both the NIR-I (650–950 nm) and NIR-II (1000–1700 nm) biowindows and light-to-heat conversion efficiency higher than 50%, which enabled effective tumor hyperthermia treatment. Besides, near-infrared (NIR) irradiation could be used as a remote controller to trigger the DOX-release because of the heat generation, thus ac...

Background: Extensive arterial damage of arteries that were too small in diameter precluded finger replantation. Venous arterialization in which arterial blood inflows through a proximal arterial-to-distal venous anastomosis, allows performing replantation that was previously considered as impossible and has resulted in a successful outcome. The aim is to introduce the distinctive phenomenon of the reperfusion delay in finger replantation by vein arterialization and to analyze its clinical significance. Materials and Methods: In 2012–2015, vein arterialization was involved in 18 digits of 13 patients. The duration that the replants restore reperfusion following the release of tourniquet, defined as revascularization time, was recorded. Results: The results showed that revascularization time ranged from 0 to 540 min, with an average of 54.5 min. The revascularization time was shorter than 20 min in 8 digits, between 20 and 120 min in 9 digits, and 540 min in one digit. Conclusion: The study findings have shown that reperfusion delay is usual during vein arterialization. Failing to understand it would result in the premature endings of the procedure. It is worth maintaining further observation, thus rescue otherwise possibly abandoned replantation.

The objective of the present study was to construct an alginate (AG)-based phase-changeable and injectable hydrogel for imaging-guided tumor hyperthermia and chemotherapy. Based on the binding between the α-l-guluronic blocks of AG and calcium ions, the AG/MoS2/Bi2S3-poly(ethylene glycol) (MBP)/doxorubicin (DOX) solution formed a cross-linked hydrogel to simultaneously encapsulate MBP nanosheets and DOX within the hydrogel matrix. The in situ formed hydrogel can act as a reservoir to control the release of entrapped drug molecules, and the doped MBP nanosheets and DOX can realize computed tomography/photoacoustic dual-modal imaging-guided in vivo tumor photothermal therapy and chemotherapy, respectively. The AG/MBP/DOX hydrogel exhibited excellent photothermal conversion properties with mass extinction coefficient of 45.1 L/g/cm and photothermal conversion efficiency of 42.7%. Besides, the heat from the photothermal transformation of MBP can promote drug diffusion from the hydrogel to realize on-demand dr...

In this research, a hydrogel that combined the tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) ability was designed, using dopamine-modified sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-DA) as the matrix and Chlorin e6 (Ce6) as the photosensitizer. The gel formation was initiated by adding the oxidizing agent sodium periodate (NaIO4) to the CMC-DA solution, during which the dopamine was simultaneously oxidized to polydopamine (PDA) and NaIO4 was reduced to sodium iodide (NaI). The formed NaI was encapsulated in the hydrogel and endowed the hydrogel with computerized tomography (CT) imaging ability to monitor the hydrogel degradation and the tumor therapy process. Moreover, the photosensitizer Ce6 can be loaded by the gel system via directly soaking the hydrogel in the Ce6 solution. Under the near-infrared light irradiation, Ce6 can produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species and the PDA can produce heat to trigger the tumor PDT and PTT respectively to eradicate the tumor recurrence. In general, the designed hydrogel is biocompatible and biodegradable, has a good photothermal conversion, drug loading and CT imaging ability, which laid the foundation for the rational design of biodegradable hydrogels for multifunctional applications.

New and practical synthetic route of momelotinib, a JAK inhibitor, is described on a decagram scale. A convergent synthetic process is adopted to prepare the methyl 4-(2-((4-morpholinophenyl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl) benzoate intermediate, by cyclization of 1-(4-morpholinophenyl)guanidine and methyl 4-(3-(dimethylamino)acryloyl)benzoate in high yield and mild conditions. Momelotinib is obtained in 43.2% yield over five steps and 99.1% purity (HPLC).

Aims Linderane, an important bioactive compound in Linderae, improved glucose and lipid metabolism in ob/ob mice. However, the effect of linderane on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced oxidative damage in INS-1 cells remains unclear. Main methods INS-1 cells were pre-treated with different doses of linderane for 2 h and then treated with 3 mM STZ for 12 h. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was detected using an Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit. The level of intracellular ROS was determined using dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA). The activities of insulin secretion, SOD, catalase (CAT) and GPx were measured using ELISA kits. The expression levels of bax, bcl-2, p38, p-p38, nuclear Nrf2 and HO-1 were measured using western blot. Key findings The results showed that STZ-caused inhibitory effects on cell viability and insulin secretion were mitigated by linderane. Furthermore, linderane inhibited apoptosis and oxidative stress in STZ-induced INS-1 cells. Finally, linderane suppressed the activation of p38 MAPK pathway, as well as enhanced the activation of Nrf2 pathway in STZ-induced INS-1 cells. Activation of p38 MAPK pathway or inhibition of Nrf2 significantly reversed the protective effects of linderane against STZ-induced ROS production and cell apoptosis. Significance The protective effects of linderane on STZ-induced INS-1 cells might be attributed to the inhibition of p38 MAPK and activation of Nrf2 pathway.

ObjectiveTo develop a gastric cancer (GC) risk prediction rule as an initial prescreening tool to identify individuals with a high risk prior to gastroscopy.DesignThis was a nationwide multicentre cross-sectional study. Individuals aged 40–80 years who went to hospitals for a GC screening gastroscopy were recruited. Serum pepsinogen (PG) I, PG II, gastrin-17 (G-17) and anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody concentrations were tested prior to endoscopy. Eligible participants (n=14 929) were randomly assigned into the derivation and validation cohorts, with a ratio of 2:1. Risk factors for GC were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and an optimal prediction rule was then settled.ResultsThe novel GC risk prediction rule comprised seven variables (age, sex, PG I/II ratio, G-17 level, H. pylori infection, pickled food and fried food), with scores ranging from 0 to 25. The observed prevalence rates of GC in the derivation cohort at low-risk (≤11), medium-risk (12–16) or high-risk (17–25) group were 1.2%, 4.4% and 12.3%, respectively (pConclusionsThe developed and validated prediction rule showed good performance on identifying individuals at a higher risk in a Chinese high-risk population. Future studies are needed to validate its efficacy in a larger population.

Energy Internet is a new energy utilization style with combination of energy and internet which adopts the idea of “Internet +”, integrated smarter energy management is the important form of energy internet, regional energy management and intelligent dispatching system is important for construction and operation of energy internet. In the future, integrated smarter energy management system will be the massive open energy management service platform which adopts structure of layering and distributing with big data, networking, mobile internet technology for support, with the help of cloud data center, it can monitor and manage the entire energy system, moreover, production, transportation, consumption and other information of electricity, heat (cold), gas and other energy sources will be intelligent processing. Its main features include innovative energy production, demand side consumption and interaction mode. Integrated energy management system consists of three parts: energy management platform, communication system and terminal which management mode can be divided into three types, such as total management, co management and joint management, meanwhile, it can realize many functions, such as energy optimal scheduling, interaction among market subjects, comprehensive monitoring, user energy analysis and so on.

Paeoniflorin (PF), as one of the important valid natural compounds of the total glucosides of peony, has displayed a potential effect in cancer prevention and treatment. Aggressive migration and invasion, as an important process, can contribute to tumor progression through infiltrating the surround normal tissue. Actin cytoskeleton rearrangement plays a key role in cells migration and invasion, involving multiple signal pathways. HGF/c-Met signal, as an important couple of oncoprotein, has been demonstrated to regulate actin cytoskeleton rearrangement. In our study, we aim to explore whether paeoniflorin can inhibit migration and invasion and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement via regulation of HGF/c-Met/RhoA/ROCK signal. Various approaches were applied to demonstrate the mechanism of paeoniflorin-mediated anticancer effect, including cell wound healing assay, invasion assay, immunofluorescence staining and transfection, and western blotting. We observed that paeoniflorin inhibited HGF-induced migration and invasion and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement in glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of HGF-induced migration and invasion and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement involved c-Met-mediated RhoA/ROCK signaling in glioblastoma. Thus, our study proved that paeoniflorin could inhibit migration and invasion and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement through inhibition of HGF/c-Met/RhoA/ROCK signaling in glioblastoma, suggesting that paeoniflorin might be a candidate compound to treat glioblastoma.

A new and improved synthetic route to bosutinib is described on a hectogram scale. The key step is the intramolecular cyclization of a 3-(2-aminophenyl)-3-oxopropanenitrile with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal to form the 3-cyano-4-hydroxyquinoline ring of 7-(3-chloropropoxy)-6-methoxy-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carbonitrile. A practical synthetic method to 2,4-dichloro-5-methoxyaniline is also established. Bosutinib is obtained in 18.0% yield over nine steps from acetovanillone with 98.9% purity (HPLC).

Background The quality of life in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis is compromised despite of the substantial achievements in treatments. Quality of life in hemodialysis patients have been shown to be associated with decreased survival and increased hospitalization. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate the managements of symptoms and patient self-perceived well-being as measurements of effective treatments for these patients. Methods A survey of symptom distress, quality of sleep and quality of life was performed in 301 maintenance hemodialysis patients using Dialysis Symptom Index, Short Form-36, and Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index table. Patients were recruited from five hospitals in Guangdong area of China by convenience sampling. Results The prevalence of various symptoms in maintenance hemodialysis patients was between 23.3 and 80.4 %. These patients had compromised sleep and poor quality of life. Moreover, poor quality of sleep and impaired quality of life were associated with high symptom burden of these patients. Conclusion The patients receiving chronic hemodialysis generally have heavy symptom distress, which could contribute to the disturbed sleep and impaired quality of life of these patients. Measurements of clinical outcomes for hemodialysis patients should include the management of symptoms and morbidity. The ultimate goal of treatments is to improve patient self-perceived quality of life.