Abstract Sodium lactate contribution on color stability of chilled beef was evaluated by proteomics analysis combined with the relative Mb content and NADH/ NAD+ ratio. The sodium lactate exhibited a remarkable efficacy against discoloration of chilled beef and showed a desirable color appearance for 6 days, while the control showed an undesirable color appearance on the 3rd day. Based on the significance analysis of protein interaction network, 12 proteins responsible for color stability of chilled beef treated by sodium lactate have been identified, which participated mainly in redox systems, metabolic enzymes, oxidoreductase, structural proteins and heat shock proteins. The proteins were correlated with NADH regeneration. Thus, we suggest that the color stability promotion may attribute to the role of in the regeneration of NADH by sodium lactate treatment.

Abstract The effect of super-chilled storage (-2 °C) on shelf life and quality of beef was investigated, compared with chilled (4 °C) and frozen (-18 °C) storage. The pH value, color, TVB-N, water-holding capacity, total viable counts (TVC) and sensory evaluation were used to evaluate the freshness, shelf life and quality of beef. These results indicated that the fresh beef stored in super-chilled condition demonstrated better pH and color stability compared to chilled storage, and exhibited better water-holding capacity and sensory score compared to frozen storage. Based on the TVB-N level and TVC, the super-chilled storage was conducive to prolong the shelf life of beef with good quality. The super-chilled storage is a good way to preserve freshness of fresh beef. In conclusion, this work provides data for the preservation of fresh beef which will benefit the meat industry.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether tissue Doppler imaging parameters, especially the peak systolic velocity of the left ventricular lead-implanted segment (Ss), affect cardiac resynchronization therapy response. METHODS: In this case-control study, 110 enrolled patients were divided into cases (responder group, n=65) and controls (nonresponder group, n=45) based on whether their left ventricular end-systolic volume was reduced by ≥15% at 6 months after surgery. Preoperative clinical and echocardiographic data were collected. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors affecting the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy, and receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to evaluate their diagnostic values. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with left bundle branch block in the case group was higher than that in the control group. The control group showed a higher left atrial volume index, E/A ratio and E/Em ratio but lower Ss than that of the case group. A multivariate regression analysis showed that left bundle branch block, Ss, and an E/Em ratio>14 were independent risk factors affecting the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Ss=4.1 cm/s was the best diagnostic threshold according to the receiver operating characteristic curve. CONCLUSIONS: Ss is an important factor affecting the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Patients with heart failure associated with Ss<4.1 cm/s have a higher risk of nonresponse.

Resumo Fundamentos: A antraciclina gera uma disfunção ventricular esquerda progressiva associada a um prognóstico ruim. Objetivos: O propósito deste estudo foi avaliar se a análise layer específico de strain poderia avaliar disfunção ventricular esquerda subclínica após exposição a antraciclina. Métodos: Foram inscritos quarenta e dois sobreviventes tratados com antraciclina por linfoma não Hodgkin de células B grandes, de 55,83 ± 17,92 anos (grupo de quimioterapia) e 27 voluntários saudáveis, de 51,39 ± 13,40 anos (grupo controle). A dose cumulativa de epirrubicina no grupo de quimioterapia foi de 319,67 ± 71,71 mg/m2. O tempo desde a última dose de epirrubicina até o exame ecocardiográfico foi de 52,92 ± 22,32 meses. Analisaram-se o strain longitudinal global (GLS), o circunferencial (GCS) e o strain radial (GRS), os valores das camadas subendocárdica, média e subepicárdica so strain longitudinal (LS-ENDO, LS-MID, LS-EPI) e do strain circunferencial (CS-ENDO, CS-MID, CS-EPI). O gradiente de strain transmural foi calculado como a diferença no strain sistólico pico entre as camadas subendocárdicas e subepicárdicas. Um valor de p < 0,05 foi considerado significativo. Resultados: Os parâmetros convencionais da função sistólica e diastólica não mostraram diferenças significativas entre dois grupos. Comparados aos controles, os pacientes apresentaram GCS e GLS significativamente menores. A análise de speckle tracking multi-layer mostrou uma redução significativa no strain circunferencial da camada subendocárdica, o gradiente transmural CS e o strain longitudinal das três camadas. Em contraste, os dois grupos não diferiram no gradiente de strain longitudinal transmural e de strain radiais. Conclusões: Provou-se a deterioração preferencial do strain subendocárdico em sobreviventes de longa duração após exposição à antraciclina. O ecocardiograma de speckle tracking multi-layer pode facilitar o acompanhamento longitudinal dessa coorte de pacientes em risco. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2018; 110(3):219-228)

Abstract Background: Anthracycline generates progressive left ventricular dysfunction associated with a poor prognosis. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether layer-specific strain analysis could assess the subclinical left ventricular dysfunction after exposure to anthracycline. Methods: Forty-two anthracycline-treated survivors of large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, aged 55.83 ± 17.92 years (chemotherapy group) and 27 healthy volunteers, aged 51.39 ± 13.40 years (control group) were enrolled. The cumulative dose of epirubicin in chemotherapy group was 319.67 ± 71.71mg/m2. The time from last dose of epirubicin to the echocardiographic examination was 52.92 ± 22.32 months. Global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS) and radial strain (GRS), subendocardial, mid and subepicardial layer of longitudinal (LS-ENDO, LS-MID, LS-EPI) and circumferential strain (CS-ENDO, CS-MID, CS-EPI) values were analyzed. Transmural strain gradient was calculated as differences in peak systolic strain between the subendocardial and subepicardial layers. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Conventional parameters of systolic and diastolic function showed no significant difference between two groups. Compared with controls, patients had significantly lower GCS and GLS. Multi-layer speckle tracking analysis showed significant reduction of circumferential strain of subendocardial layer, transmural CS gradient and longitudinal strain of all three layers. In contrast, the two groups did not differ in transmural longitudinal strain gradient and radial strains. Conclusions: It proved the preferential impairment of subendocardial deformation in long-term survivors after exposure to anthracycline. Multi-layer speckle tracking echocardiography might facilitate the longitudinal follow-up of this at-risk patient cohort.

Resumo Fundamento: Apesar dos seus claros benefícios terapêuticos, a cardiotoxicidade induzida pela antraciclina é uma grande preocupação que limita a capacidade de reduzir a morbidade e mortalidade associadas com cânceres. A identificação precoce da cardiotoxicidade induzida por antraciclina é de vital importância para o equilíbrio entre o risco cardíaco e o potencial tratamento do câncer. Objetivo: Investigar se a análise por speckle-tracking pode fornecer uma medida sensível e precisa na detecção de lesão ventricular esquerda induzida por doxorrubicina. Métodos: Ratos Wistar foram divididos em 4 grupos de 8 ratos cada, e doxorrubicina foi administrada intraperitonealmente em intervalos semanais de até 4 semanas. Grupo 1: 2,5 mg/kg/semana; Grupo 2: 3 mg/kg/semana; Grupo 3: 3,5 mg/kg/semana; Grupo 4: 4 mg/kg/semana. Foram utilizados 5 ratos adicionais como controles. As imagens ecocardiográficas foram obtidas na linha basal e 1 semana após a última dose do tratamento. Foram analisados o strain radial (Srad) e circunferencial (Scirc) e as taxas de strain radial (TSrad) e circunferencial (TScirc). Após o experimento, a troponina cardíaca I (cTnI) foi analisada e as amostras cardíacas foram avaliadas histologicamente. Resultados: Após a exposição à doxorrubicina, a FEVE foi significativamente reduzida no grupo 4 (p = 0,006), mas permaneceu estável nos outros grupos. Entretanto, após o tratamento, os Srads foram reduzidos nos grupos 2, 3 e 4 (p < 0,05). A diminuição dos Srads foi correlacionada com cTnI (rho = -0,736, p = 0,000) e os escores de cardiomiopatia (rho = -0,797, p = 0,000). Conclusão: O strain radial pode fornecer um índice sensível e não-invasivo na detecção precoce da lesão miocárdica induzida pela doxorrubicina. As alterações do strain radial apresentaram correlação significativa com lesões miocárdicas e níveis séricos de troponina I cardíaca, indicando que esse parâmetro pode avaliar com precisão a gravidade da cardiotoxicidade.

Abstract Backgrounds: Despite their clear therapeutic benefits, anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is a major concern limiting the ability to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with cancers. The early identification of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is of vital importance to assess the cardiac risk against the potential cancer treatment. Objective: To investigate whether speckle-tracking analysis can provide a sensitive and accurate measurement when detecting doxorubicin-induced left ventricular injury. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups with 8 rats each, given doxorubicin intraperitoneally at weekly intervals for up to 4 weeks. Group 1: 2.5 mg/kg/week; group 2: 3 mg/kg/week; group 3: 3.5mg/kg/week; group 4: 4mg/kg/week. An additional 5 rats were used as controls. Echocardiographic images were obtained at baseline and 1 week after the last dose of treatment. Radial (Srad) and circumferential (Scirc) strains, radial (SRrad) and circumferential (SRcirc) strain rates were analyzed. After the experiment, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was analyzed and the heart samples were histologically evaluated. Results: After doxorubicin exposure, LVEF was significantly reduced in group 4 (p = 0.006), but remained stable in the other groups. However, after treatment, Srads were reduced in groups 2, 3 and 4 (p all < 0.05). The decrease in Srads was correlated with cTnI (rho = -0.736, p = 0.000) and cardiomyopathy scores (rho = -0.797, p = 0.000). Conclusion: Radial strain could provide a sensitive and noninvasive index in early detection of doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury. The changes in radial strain had a significant correlation with myocardial lesions and serum cardiac troponin I levels, indicating that this parameter could accurately evaluate cardiotoxicity severity.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between diastolic function and the different beneficial effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure due to different causes. METHODS: The 104 enrolled patients were divided into an ischemic cardiomyopathy group (n=27) and a non-ischemic cardiomyopathy group (n=77) according to the cause of heart failure. Before implantation, left ventricular diastolic function was evaluated in all patients using echocardiography. After six months of follow-up, the beneficial effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy were evaluated using a combination of clinical symptoms and echocardiography parameters. RESULTS: The ischemic cardiomyopathy group included significantly more patients with restrictive filling than the non-ischemic cardiomyopathy group. The response rate after the implantation procedure was significantly higher in the non-ischemic cardiomyopathy group than in the ischemic cardiomyopathy group. Degrees of improvement in echocardiography parameters were significantly greater in the non-ischemic cardiomyopathy group than in the ischemic cardiomyopathy group. Multivariate regression analysis showed that a restrictive filling pattern was an independent factor that influenced responses to cardiac resynchronization therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study again confirmed that the etiology of heart failure affects the beneficial effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy and a lower degree of improvement in ventricular systolic function and remodelling was observed in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients than in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. In addition, systolic heart failure patients with severe diastolic dysfunction had poor responses to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Ischemic cardiomyopathy patients exhibited more severe diastolic dysfunction than non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, which may be a reason for the reduced beneficial effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy.

BACKGROUND: Testis-expressed sequence 101 (TEX101) was found to be highly expressed in testis and involved in acrosome reaction in previous studies. Recently, the metastasis suppressor function of TEX101 in cancer was disclosed, but the comprehensive investigation of its expression has rarely been reported. In this study, the expression features of TEX101 in normal human organs and seminoma were systematically analyzed. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry demonstrated intense staining of TEX101 in human testis tissues; however, its expression in 27 other types of normal human organs, including the ovary, was negligible. Higher expression of TEX101 was observed in the spermatocytes and spermatids of the testis, but relatively lower staining was detected in spermatogonia. Western blotting showed a single TEX101 band of 38 kDa in human testis, but it did not correspond to the predicted molecular weight of its mature form at 21 KDa. Furthermore, we examined seminoma tissues by immunohistochemistry and found that none of the 36 samples expressed TEX101. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirmed TEX101 to be a testis protein that could be related to the maturation process of male germ cells. The lack of TEX101 in seminoma indicated its potential role in tumor progression. This characteristic expression of TEX101 could provide a valuable reference for understanding its biological functions.