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Background: It is worthwhile to establish a prognostic prediction model based on microenvironment cells (MCs) infiltration and explore new treatment strategies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods: The xCell algorithm was used to quantify the cellular components of the TNBC microenvironment based on bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq) data. The MCs index (MCI) was constructed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox (LASSO-Cox) regression analysis. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT), and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) staining analyses verified MCI. The mechanism of action of the MCI was investigated in tumor-bearing mice. Results: MCI consists of the six types of MCs, which can precisely predict the prognosis of the TNBC patients. scRNA-seq, SRT, and mIF analyses verified the existence and proportions of these cells. Furthermore, combined with the spatial distribution characteristics of the six types of MCs, an MCI-enhanced (MCI-e) model was constructed, which could predict the prognosis of the TNBC patients more accurately. More importantly, inhibition of the insulin signaling pathway activated in the cancer cells of the MCIhigh the TNBC patients significantly prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing mice. Conclusions: Overall, our results demonstrate that MCs infiltration can be exploited as a novel indicator for the prognosis and therapeutic regimen selection of the TNBC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury is the major cause of morbidity and mortality for cardiovascular diseases. Dopamine D2 receptors are expressed in cardiac tissues. However, the roles of dopamine D2 receptors in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and cardiomyocyte apoptosis are unclear. Here we investigated the effects of both dopamine D2 receptors agonist (bromocriptine) and antagonist (haloperidol) on apoptosis of cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury. Methods Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury was simulated by incubating primarily cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in ischemic (hypoxic) buffer solution for 2 h. Thereafter, these cells were incubated for 24 h in normal culture medium. Results Treatment of the cardiomyocytes with 10 μM bromocriptine significantly decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity, increased superoxide dismutase activity, and decreased malondialdehyde content in the culture medium. Bromocriptine significantly inhibited the release of cytochrome c, accumulation of [Ca2+]i, and apoptosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury. Bromocriptine also down-regulated the expression of caspase-3 and -9, Fas and Fas ligand, and up-regulated Bcl-2 expression. In contrast, haloperidol (10 μM) had no significant effects on the apoptosis of cultured cardiomyocytes under the aforementioned conditions. Conclusions These data suggest that activation of dopamine D2 receptors can inhibit apoptosis of cardiomyocytes encountered during ischemia/reperfusion damage through various pathways.

Background. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a chronic disease, serious harm to human health. Complications of the blood pipe are the main cause of disability and death in diabetic patients, including vascular lesions that directly affects the prognosis of patients with diabetes and survival. This study was to determine the influence of high glucose and related mechanism of vascular lesion of type 2 diabetes mellitus pathogenesis. Methods. In vivo aorta abdominalis of GK rats was observed with blood pressure, heart rate, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson, and Verhoeff staining. In vitro cells were cultured with 30 mM glucose for 24 h. RT-QPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of endothelial markers PTEN, PI3K, Akt, and VEGF. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of PTEN, PI3K, Akt, and VEGF. PI3K and Akt phosphorylation levels were detected by Western blot analysis. Results. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean blood pressure in the GK control group were higher compared with the Wistar control group and no difference compared with the GK experimental model group. Fluorescence intensity of VEGF, Akt, and PI3K in the high-sugar stimulus group was stronger than the control group; PTEN in the high-sugar stimulus group was weakening than the control group. VEGF, Akt, and PI3K mRNA in the high-sugar stimulus group were higher than the control group; protein expressions of VEGF, Akt, and PI3K in the high-sugar stimulus group were higher than the control group. PTEN mRNA in the high-sugar stimulus group was lower than the control group. Protein expression of PTEN in the high-sugar stimulus group was lower than the control group. Conclusions. Angiogenesis is an important pathogenesis of T2DM vascular disease, and PTEN plays a negative regulatory role in the development of new blood vessels and can inhibit the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac microvascular obstruction (MVO) after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) has been well studied, but microvascular leakage (MVL) remains largely unexplored. We characterized MVL in the mouse I/R model by histology, biochemistry, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. I/R was induced surgically in mice. MVL was determined by administrating the microvascular permeability tracer Evans blue (EB) and/or gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid contrast. The size of MVL, infarction, and MVO in the heart was quantified histologically. Myocardial EB was extracted and quantified chromatographically. Serial CMR images were acquired from euthanized mice to determine late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) for comparison with MVL quantified by histology. I/R resulted in MVL with its severity dependent on the ischemic duration and reaching its maximum at 24-48 h after reperfusion. The size of MVL correlated with the degree of left ventricular dilatation and reduction in ejection fraction. Within the risk zone, the area of MVL (75 ± 2%) was greater than that of infarct (47 ± 4%, P < 0.01) or MVO (36 ± 4%, P < 0.01). Contour analysis of paired CMR-LGE by CMR and histological MVL images revealed a high degree of spatial colocalization ( r  = 0.959, P < 0.0001). These data indicate that microvascular barrier function is damaged after I/R leading to MVL. Histological and biochemical means are able to characterize MVL by size and severity while CMR-LGE is a potential diagnostic tool for MVL. The size of ischemic myocardium exhibiting MVL was greater than that of infarction and MVO, implying a role of MVL in postinfarct pathophysiology. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We characterized, for the first time, the features of microvascular leakage (MVL) as a consequence of reperfused myocardial infarction. The size of ischemic myocardium exhibiting MVL was significantly greater than that of infarction or no reflow. We made a proof-of-concept finding on the diagnostic potential of MVL by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging., (Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.)

Myocardial fibrosis is regarded as a pivotal proarrhythmic substrate, but there have been no comprehensive studies showing a correlation between the severity of fibrosis and ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs). Our purpose was to document this relationship in a transgenic (TG) strain of mice with fibrotic cardiomyopathy. TG mice with cardiac overexpression of β2-adrenoceptors (β2-AR mice) and non-TG (NTG) littermates were studied at 4-12 mo of age. VTA was quantified by ECG telemetry. The effect of pharmacological blockade of β2-ARs on VTA was examined. Myocardial collagen content was determined by hydroxyproline assay. NTG and TG mice displayed circadian variation in heart rate, which was higher in TG mice than in NTG mice (P <0.05). Frequent spontaneous ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) were prominent in TG mice but not present in NTG mice. The frequency of VEB and VT episodes in TG mice increased with age (P < 0.01). Ventricular collagen content was greater in TG mice than in NTG mice (P <0.001) and correlated with age (r = 0.71, P < 0.01). The number of VEBs or VT episodes correlated with age (r = 0.83 and r = 0.73) and the content of total or cross-linked collagen (r = 0.62∼0.66, all P <0.01). While having no effect in younger β2-TG mice, β2-AR blockade reduced the frequency of VTA in old β2-TG mice with more severe fibrosis. In conclusion, β2-TG mice exhibit interstitial fibrosis and spontaneous onset of VTA, becoming more severe with aging. The extent of cardiac fibrosis is a major determinant for both the frequency of VTA and proarrhythmic action of β2-AR activation., (Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.)

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of estrogen against cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced ovarian failure in female rats., Methods: Sixty female Wistar rats (2-3 months old) were randomized into 4 groups to receive treatments with normal saline, CTX, estradiol (E2) or CTX+E2. Serum estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were measured regularly in the 4 groups, and the weight of the ovary and uterus, follicle number and mean diameter of the follicles were compared., Results: Compared with CTX+EE2 group, the CTX group showed significantly increased FSH levels and decreased EE2 levels (P<0.05). The weight of the ovary and uterus and follicle number were significantly lower in CTX group than in CTX+EE2 group (P<0.05). No obvious differences in the indexes were found between the control and CTX+E2 groups., Conclusion: Estrogen administration provides protection against CTX-induced ovarian damage in rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of lisinopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DNP)., Methods: Twenty-five Wistar rats underwent intravenous injection of streptozocin to establish diabetes models and 10 rats were injected with sodium citrate solution as normal controls. The diabetic rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: lisinopril group treated with gastric perfusion of lisinopril daily for 8 weeks, and diabetic control group. The diabetic controls and normal controls were treated with gastric perfusion of water. Sciatic nerve electrode penetration method was used to measure the motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV). Light and heat pain measuring apparatus was used to measure the pain threshold. Then the sciatic nerves were isolated. Electron microscopy was used to observe the ultra-structure. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and Na(+)K(+)-ATPase activity were detected by chemical colorimetry. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the CD34 in the sciatic nerve. The capillary density of sciatic nerve was calculated., Results: The MNCV and SNCV levels of the lisinopril group were both lower than those of the 2 control groups (all P < 0.01). The potency of heat pain leg retraction response of the lisinopril group was significantly shorter than that pf the diabetic control group (P < 0.05). The pathological changes of the lisinopril group were milder than those of the other groups. The SOD level and the Na(+)K(+)-ATPase activity of the diabetic group were significantly lower than those of the normal control group, and the MDA of the diabetic group was significantly higher than those of the other 2 groups (all P < 0.05). And the SOD level and Na(+)K(+)-ATPase activity of the lisinopril group were significantly higher than those of the diabetic control group, and the MDA level of the lisinopril group was significantly lower than that of the diabetic control group. The capillary density of sciatic nerve of the diabetic control group was lower and the normal control group, and that of the lisinopril group was significantly higher than that of the diabetic control group (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: ACE inhibitors effectively prevent and treat DPN.

Objective: To investigate the possibility of using bioaugmentation as a strategy for remediating quinoline-contaminated soil., Methods: Microorganisms were introduced to the soil to assess the feasibility of enhancing the removal of quinoline from quinoline-contaminated soil. Slurry-phase reactor was used to investigate the bioremediation of quinoline-contaminated soil. HPLC (Hewlett-Packard model 5050 with an UV detector) was used for analysis of quinoline concentration., Results: The biodegradation rate of quinoline was increased through the introduction of Burkholderia pickettii. Quinoline, at a concentration of 1 mg/g soil, could be removed completely within 6 and 8 hours with and without combined effect of indigenous microbes, respectively. Although the indigenous microbes alone had no quinoline-degrading ability, they cooperated with the introduced quinoline-degrader to remove quinoline more quickly than the introduced microbes alone. Bioaugmentaion process was accelerated by the increase of inoculum size and bio-stimulation. The ratio of water to soil in slurry had no significant impact on bioremediation results., Conclusion: Bioaugmetation is an effective way for bioremediation of quinoline-contaminated soil.