ABSTRACT Objectives: The aims of the present study were to compare the long-term outcomes for ascending aortic dilatation and adverse aortic events after isolated aortic valve replacement between patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valve ( TAV). Methods: This retrospective study included 310 patients who had undergone isolated aortic valve replacement with an ascending aorta diameter ≤ 45 mm between January 2010 and September 2021. The patients were divided into BAV group (n=90) and TAV group (n=220). The differences in the dilation rate of the ascending aorta and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Results: Overall survival was 89 ± 4% in the BAV group vs. 75 ± 6% in the TAV group at 10 years postoperatively (P=0.007), yet this difference disappeared after adjusting exclusively for age (P=0.343). The mean annual growth rate of the ascending aorta was similar between the two groups during follow-up (0.5 ± 0.6 mm/year vs. 0.4 ± 0.5 mm/year; P=0.498). Ten-year freedom from adverse aortic events was 98.1% in the BAV group vs. 95.0% in the TAV group (P=0.636). Multivariable analysis revealed preoperative ascending aorta diameter to be a significant predictor of adverse aortic events (hazard ratio: 1.76; 95% confidence interval: 1.33 to 2.38; P<0.001). Conclusion: Our study revealed that the long-term survival and the risks of adverse aortic events between BAV and TAV patients were similar after isolated aortic valve replacement. BAV was not a risk factor of adverse aortic events. Objectives longterm long term (BAV TAV. . TAV) Methods 31 4 201 2021 n=90 n90 n 90 (n=90 n=220. n220 n=220 220 (n=220) analyzed Results 8 vs 7 6 1 P=0.007, P0007 P P=0.007 , 0 007 (P=0.007) P=0.343. P0343 P=0.343 343 (P=0.343) followup follow up 05 5 (0. 06 0. mmyear year 04 P=0.498. P0498 P=0.498 498 P=0.498) Tenyear Ten 981 98 98.1 950 95 95.0 P=0.636. P0636 P=0.636 636 (P=0.636) hazard ratio 1.76 176 76 interval 133 33 1.3 2.38 238 2 38 P<0.001. P0001 P<0.001 001 P<0.001) Conclusion 3 20 202 n=9 n9 9 (n=9 n22 n=22 22 (n=220 P000 P=0.00 00 (P=0.007 P034 P=0.34 34 (P=0.343 (0 P049 P=0.49 49 98. 95. P063 P=0.63 63 (P=0.636 1.7 17 13 1. 2.3 23 P<0.00 n= (n= n2 n=2 (n=22 P00 P=0.0 (P=0.00 P03 P=0.3 (P=0.34 P04 P=0.4 P06 P=0.6 (P=0.63 2. P<0.0 (n (n=2 P0 P=0. (P=0.0 (P=0.3 (P=0.6 P<0. P=0 (P=0. P<0 P= (P=0 P< (P= (P

Abstract Total triterpenoids from Antrodia cinnamomea fermentation mycelium (TT-ACFM) were prepared, and their in vitro inhibitory effects on hepatocellular carcinoma were investigated. Human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were incubated with TT-ACFM with concentration of 0 (control), 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL, respectively. The proliferation of cell was detected using CCK-8 method. The apoptosis of cells was detected by flow cytometry. The migration and invasion of cells was determined using Transwell chamber. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells was determined using DCFH-DA method. The expressions of matrix metalloproteinse-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinse-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein in cells were detected by western blot assays. Results indicate that, TT-ACFM can not only inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells and promote their apoptosis, but also inhibit their invasion and invasion. The mechanism may be related to its increase of ROS and down-regulation of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF expression in cells. TTACFM TT ACFM (TT-ACFM prepared investigated HepG control, control , (control) 125 12 5 12.5 25 50 10 20 μgmL μg mL μg/mL respectively CCK8 CCK 8 CCK- method cytometry chamber (ROS DCFHDA DCFH DA metalloproteinse2 metalloproteinse 2 metalloproteinse- MMP2, MMP2 MMP (MMP-2) metalloproteinse9 9 MMP9 (MMP-9 (VEGF assays that downregulation down regulation 2, MMP-2 MMP- (control 1 12. (MMP-2 (MMP- (MMP

ABSTRACT Background: This study aimed to explore the prevalence and clinical risk factors in patients diagnosed with incidental prostate cancer (IPC) during certain surgeries (transurethral resection of the prostate [TURP], open prostatectomy [OP], and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate [HoLEP]) after clinically suspected benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods: Literature search of the MEDILINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed to identify eligible studies published before June 2021. Multivariate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the prevalence and clinical risk factors of IPC were calculated using random or fixed-effect models. Results: Twenty-three studies were included in the meta-analysis. Amongst the 94.783 patients, IPC was detected in 24.715 (26.1%). Results showed that the chance of IPC detection (10%, 95% CI: 0.07-4.00; P<0.001; I2=97%) in patients treated with TURP is similar to that of patients treated with HoLEP (9%, 95% CI: 0.07-0.11; P<0.001; I2=81.4%). However, the pooled prevalence estimate of patients treated with OP was 11% (95% CI: −0.03-0.25; P=0.113; I2=99.1%) with no statistical significance. We observed increased incidence of IPC diagnosis after BPH surgery amongst patients with higher prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04-1.23; P=0.004; I2=89%), whereas no effect of age (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.97-1.06; P=0.48; I2=78.8%) and prostate volume (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.96-1.03; P=0.686; I2=80.5%) were observed. Conclusions: The prevalence of IPC was similar amongst patients undergoing TURP, HoLEP, and OP for presumed BPH. Interestingly, increased PSA level was the only independent predictor of increasing risk of IPC after BPH surgery rather than age and prostate volume. Hence, future research should focus on predictors which accurately foretell the progression of prostate cancer to determine the optimal treatment for managing patients with IPC after BPH surgery.

Abstract To explore the effects and mechanisms of benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Weight, paw swelling, arthritis index and joint pathologic changes were examined in each group after CIA induction. PGE2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, VEGF, MMP-3, IgG and anti-CII Ab were assessed by ELISA; STAT1 and STAT3 expressions were analyzed immunohistochemically, and the ultrastructure of synovial cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Therapeutic effects were determined in CIA rats via injecting benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin, which could alleviate the degree of swelling and arthritis index (AI) and pathological lesions of the sacroiliac gland; decrease the levels of PGE2, IL-1β, TNF-α, VEGF and IgG in serum; reduce STAT1 and STAT3 expression in the membrane tissue; and inhibit the secretion and proliferation of synovial cells. These results showed that benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin could significantly palliate the arthritic symptoms of CIA rats, and better therapeutic effects could be achieved if the two components were used in combination.

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary protein and net energy (NE) levels on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, and faecal microbiota of growing-finishing pigs. Eighteen crossed barrows were randomly allocated into one of three dietary treatments: high protein + high NE diet, low protein + high NE diet, and low protein + low NE diet. The whole experiment lasted 90 days and was divided into three phases (phase I: 25-50 kg; phase II: 50-75 kg; phase III: 75-105 kg). All pigs were individually housed in a metabolism cage and subjected to four-day total faeces and urine collection period at the end of each phase. There was no significant difference in growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum total protein, and albumin concentrations of pigs among the dietary treatments. Compared with the high protein + high NE diet, pigs fed low protein + high NE and low protein + low NE diets had lower N intake, urine N, and total N excretion in each phase. At the end of the experiment, pigs fed the low protein + high NE and low protein + low NE diets had lower blood urea nitrogen, serum NH3-N concentrations, faecal pH value, faecal NH3-N concentration, and faecal Escherichia coli count than those fed the high protein + high NE diet. However, there was no significant difference in all of the above indexes between low protein + high NE and low protein + low NE diets. Decreasing the dietary protein content by 3.5 percentage units has no adverse effects on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of pigs while significantly reduces N excretion and faecal Escherichia coli count. Moreover, further decreasing dietary NE level in the low-protein diet by 0.35-0.5 MJ/kg does not affect growth performance, nutrient digestibility, N excretion, blood profiles, and faecal Escherichia coli count of pigs.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar se os níveis séricos do anticorpo antirreceptor de acetilcolina (anti-AChR-Abs) estão relacionados aos parâmetros clínicos do blefaroespasmo (BSP). Métodos: Fora recrutados 83 adultos com BSP, 60 pacientes ambulatoriais com espasmo hemifacial (HFS) e 58 controles. Foi aplicado um questionário para registrar história pessoal, fatores demográficos, resposta à toxina botulínica tipo A (BoNT-A) e outras condições neurológicas. Os níveis de anti-AChR-Abs foram quantificados usando um ensaio imunoenzimático. Resultados: O nível de anti-AChR-Abs foi de 0,237 ± 0,022 unidades de densidade óptica (OD) no grupo BSP, significativamente diferente em comparação com o grupo HFS (0,160 ± 0,064) e o grupo controle (0,126 ± 0,038). O nível de anti-AChR-Abs se correlacionou com a idade e a duração da resposta à injeção de BoNT-A. Conclusão: Pacientes com BSP apresentaram títulos elevados de anti-AChR-Abs, o que sugere que a desimunidade desempenha um papel no surgimento de BSP. O aumento do título de anti-AChR-Abs pode ser um preditor de resposta insuficiente à BoNT-A em BSP.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine whether serum levels of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (anti-AChR-Abs) are related to clinical parameters of blepharospasm (BSP). Methods: Eighty-three adults with BSP, 60 outpatients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) and 58 controls were recruited. Personal history, demographic factors, response to botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) and other neurological conditions were recorded. Anti-AChR-Abs levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The anti-AChR Abs levels were 0.237 ± 0.022 optical density units in the BSP group, which was significantly different from the HFS group (0.160 ± 0.064) and control group (0.126 ± 0.038). The anti-AChR Abs level was correlated with age and the duration of response to the BoNT-A injection. Conclusion: Patients with BSP had an elevated anti-AChR Abs titer, which suggests that dysimmunity plays a role in the onset of BSP. An increased anti-AChR Abs titer may be a predictor for poor response to BoNT-A in BSP.

BACKGROUND: Human amnion mesenchymal cells (hAMCs), isolated from the amniotic membrane of human placenta, are a unique population of mesenchymal stem cells. Recent studies demonstrated that hAMCs could inhibit the activities and functions of several immune cells. However, their effect on inflammatory macrophages is largely unknown. This study investigated the effect of hAMCs on expression of inflammatory cytokines and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/NF-kB pathway in human THP-1 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS RESULTS: The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β secreted by LPS- stimulated THP-1 cells were increased significantly compared with those in the control group. After co-culture with different numbers of hAMCs, the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells were significantly reduced compared with the LPS group. The mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1β were also markedly inhibited. Moreover, treating LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells with hAMCs supernatants could also suppress TNF-α and IL-1β production in THP-1 cells. Important signaling pathways involved in the production of TNF-α and IL-1β were affected by hAMCs co-culture: hAMCs remarkably suppressed NF-kB activation and down-regulated the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK in LPS- stimulated THP-1 cells CONCLUSIONS: Human amnion mesenchymal cells inhibited the production of TNF-α and IL-1β secreted by LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells, partly through the suppression of NF-kB activation and ERK and JNK phosphorylation

Anhydrous p-aminobenzene sulphonic acid mediated solvent-free protocol is described for the synthesis of dihydropyrimidi-nones by the cyclocondensation of aldehydes, β-ketoesters and urea/thiourea. Yields obtained are significantly higher than those obtained utilizing classical Biginelli reaction conditions.