Preliminary study to explore gene-PM2.5 interactive effects on respiratory system in traffic policemen

Objectives: Traffic-related particulate matter (PM) is one of the major sources of air pollution in metropolitan areas. This study is to observe the interactive effects of gene and fine particles (particles smaller than 2.5 μm – PM2.5) on the respiratory system and explore the mechanisms linking PM2.5 and pulmonary injury. Material and Methods: The participants include 110 traffic policemen and 101 common populations in Shanghai, China. Continuous 24 h individual-level PM2.5 is detected and the pulmonary function, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), Clara cell protein 16 (CC16) and the polymorphism in CXCL3, NME7 and C5 genes are determined. The multiple linear regression method is used to analyze the association between PM2.5 and health effects. Meanwhile, the interactive effects of gene and PM2.5 on lung function are analyzed. Results: The individual PM2.5 exposure for traffic policemen was higher than that in the common population whereas the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), the ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) and lymphocytes are lower. In contrast, the hs-CRP level is higher. In the adjusted analysis, PM2.5 exposure was associated with the decrease in lymphocytes and the increase in hs-CRP. The allele frequencies for NME7 and C5 have significant differences between FEV1/FVC ≤ 70% and FEV1/FVC > 70% participants. The results didn’t find the interaction effects of gene and PM2.5 on FEV1/FVC in all the 3 genes. Conclusions: The results indicated that traffic exposure to high levels of PM2.5 was associated with systemic inflammatory response and respiratory injury. Traffic policemen represent a high risk group suffering from the respiratory injury

The Predictive Value of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction For Left Ventricular Reverse Remodelling in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

AIMS: to evaluate the degree of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) first-pass perfusion parameters and to examine the correlation between myocardial perfusion and left ventricle reverse remodelling (LVRR). METHODS: In this study, 94 DCM patients and 35 healthy controls matched for age and sex were included. Myocardial perfusion parameters, including upslope, time to maximum signal intensity (Time RESULTS: With a median follow-up period of 12 months [interquartile range (IQR), 8-13], 41 DCM patients (44%) achieved LVRR. Compared with healthy controls, DCM patients presented CMD with reduced upslope, SI CONCLUSIONS: CMD could be found in DCM patients and was more impaired in patients with non-LVRR than LVRR patients. Tim

General Theory for the Ferroelectric Polarization Induced by Spin-Spiral Order

The ferroelectric polarization of triangular-lattice antiferromagnets induced by helical spin-spiral order is not explained by any existing model of magnetic-order-driven ferroelectricity. We resolve this problem by developing a general theory for the ferroelectric polarization induced by spin-spiral order and then by evaluating the coefficients needed to specify the general theory on the basis of density functional calculations. Our theory correctly describes the ferroelectricity of triangular-lattice antiferromagnets driven by helical spin-spiral order, and incorporates known models of magnetic-order-driven ferroelectricity as special cases.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Agenda 21 and the ecological footprint as instruments to achieve a sustainable university

[Resumen] Para frenar el rápido deterioro ambiental, la universidad ha de formar a las nuevas generaciones en un modelo de sostenibilidad integral (solidaridad sincrónica y diacrónica) y, además, contribuir al cambio en los estilos de vida, en los conocimientos y conductas de la sociedad actual. Esto precisa un nuevo marco teórico-metodológico bajo el paradigma de la sostenibilidad que fundamente y concrete las propuestas educativas. Tomando como referencia los principios del desarrollo sostenible y utilizando como «herramientas» la Agenda 21en la Universidad y la Huella Ecológica, hemos desarrollado y puesto en práctica una estrategia metodológica (ecometodología) con el fin de capacitar a nuestro alumnado (profesorado en formación) para actuar con criterios de sustentabilidad, tanto colectiva, como individualmente[Abstract] In order to stop the quick environmental deterioration of the planet, University has to prepare the new generations following a model of integral sustainability (synchronic and diachronic solidarity) and it also has to contribute to a change in lifestyles, in knowledge and behaviours in our society. There is a need for a new theoretical-methodological frame under the paradigm of sustainability to base educational proposals on it and to concretize them. Taking into consideration the principles of Sustainable Development and using the tools of «Agenda 21 in the University» and Ecological Footprint, we have developed and applied a methodological strategy (ecomethodology) to enable ours students (future teachers) to act, collectively and individually, according to the criteria of sustainabilit

A Novel in vitro Human Macrophage Model to Study the Persistence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Using Vitamin D3 and Retinoic Acid Activated THP-1 Macrophages

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) replicates within the human macrophages and we investigated the activating effects of retinoic acid (RA) and vitamin D3 (VD) on macrophages in relation to the viability of intracellular Mtb. A combination of these vitamins (RAVD) enhanced the levels of DC-SIGN and mannose receptors on THP-1 macrophages that increased mycobacterial uptake but inhibited the subsequent intracellular growth of Mtb by inducing reactive oxygen species and autophagy. RAVD also enhanced antigen presenting and chemotactic receptors on THPs suggesting an activated phenotype for RAVD activated THPs. RAVD mediated activation was also associated with a marked phenotypic change in Mtb infected THPs that fused with adjacent THPs to form multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs). Typically, MNGCs occurred over 30 days of in vitro culture and contained non-replicating persisting Mtb for more than 60 days in culture. Latent tuberculosis occurs in over a third of mankind and we propose that RAVD mediated induction of persistent Mtb within human macrophages provides a novel model to develop therapeutic approaches and investigate pathogenesis of latency

A novel Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Pluronic-Poly(ε-caprolactone) grafted Polyethyleneimine(PCFC-g-PEI), Part 1, synthesis, cytotoxicity, and in vitro transfection study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Polyethyleneimine (PEI), a cationic polymer, is one of the successful and widely used vectors for non-viral gene transfection <it>in vitro</it>. However, its <it>in vivo </it>application was greatly limited due to its high cytotoxicity and short duration of gene expression. To improve its biocompatibility and transfection efficiency, PEI has been modified with PEG, folic acid, and chloroquine in order to improve biocompatibility and enhance targeting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Pluronic-Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCFC) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization, and PCFC-<it>g</it>-PEI was obtained by Michael addition reaction with GMA-PCFC-GMA and polyethyleneimine (PEI, 25 kD). The prepared PCFC-<it>g</it>-PEI was characterized by ¹H-NMR, SEC-MALLS. Meanwhile, DNA condensation, DNase I protection, the particle size and zeta potential of PCFC-<it>g</it>-PEI/DNA complexes were also determined. According to the results of flow cytometry and MTT assay, the synthesized PCFC-<it>g</it>-PEI, with considerable transfection efficiency, had obviously lower cytotoxicity against 293 T and A549 cell lines compared with that of PEI 25 kD.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The cytotoxicity and <it>in vitro </it>transfection study indicated that PCFC-<it>g</it>-PEI copolymer prepared in this paper was a novel gene delivery system with lower cytotoxicity and considerable transfection efficiency compared with commercial PEI (25 kD).</p

The Use of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Over the Past 10 Years [2013-2023]: a Citespace-Based Bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common genetic cardiac disorder characterized by the hypertrophy of a segment of the myocardium. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has been widely used in the assessment of HCM. However, no bibliometric assessment has been conducted on the progress of research in this field. This study thus aimed to examine the current state of research into the application of CMR in HCM and the hotspots and trends that have emerged in this field over the past decade. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on the Web of Science regarding CMR in the assessment of HCM. The databases were searched from 2013 to June 2023. CiteSpace is an application that can be used to characterize the underlying knowledge of the scientific literature in a given field. We used it to analyze the relationship between publication year and country, institution, journal, author, bibliography, and keywords in the field of CMR for the assessment of HCM. RESULTS: A total of 1,427 articles were included in the analysis. In the assessment of HCM, the findings from the past decade have consistently demonstrated a progressive rise in the quantity of articles pertaining to CMR. The country with the largest number of publications was the United States [310], and the institution with the greatest number of publications was the University College London [45]. The analysis of keywords revealed the diagnosis and management of HCM with CMR to be the current research focus and emerging trend within this academic field. CONCLUSIONS: This study used a novel approach to visually analyze the use of CMR in HCM assessment. The current research trajectory in CMR consists of the diagnosis and management of patients with HCM. Although most studies confirmed the indispensability of CMR in the assessment of HCM, larger-scale cohorts are still needed to more comprehensively evaluate the role of CMR in the differential diagnosis, pre- and post-treatment assessment, and long-term management of patients with HCM

Identification of novel proteins interacting with vascular endothelial growth inhibitor 174 in renal cell carcinoma

Background/Aim: Vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI) is a multipotential cytokine that plays a role in regulating immunity, anti-angiogenesis, and inhibiting tumor growth. However, the proteins that interact with it are still unknown. In the present study, we examined the proteins which interact with VEGI174 and their expressions in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and Methods: The proteins that interact with VEGI174 were identified using western blot, pull-down assay, and mass spectrometry. The expressions of VEGI174 and the interacting proteins were examined in RCC and were compared with normal renal tissues using immunochemical staining and RNA-seq respectively. Results: The results of the mass spectrometric analysis showed that ACLY, ENO1, ZIK1, AKR1C3, and MYC may interact with VEGI174. When compared with the TCGA database, the expression level of VEGI174 in RCC was lower than that in normal kidney using RNAseq (p<0.001). The expression levels of ACLY, ENO1, ZIK1, AKR1C3 and MYC in RCC were higher than that in normal kidney (p<0.05, all of above factors). Moreover, immunochemical staining results also showed that the expression level of AKR1C3 in RCC was significantly higher than that in normal kidney (p<0.001) and was also positively correlated with higher RCC stage and grade. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings showed that VEGI174 may interact with ACLY, ENO1, ZIK1, AKR1C3, and MYC. The expression of ACLY, ENO1, AKR1C3 and MYC is increased in RCC. AKR1C3 was a new factor that may correlate with the progression of RCC. The results indicated that VEGI174 has more functions than we currently know in the development and progression of RC