Relationship between Plasma Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Concentrations and Apolipoprotein in Stable Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Background. Increasing evidence states that the plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) levels and apolipoprotein particles are regarded as the risk maker for cardiovascular heart disease. Nevertheless, the issue about whether Lp-PLA2 is associated with apolipoprotein particles in individuals who have been diagnosed as stable coronary artery disease (CAD) remains largely unexplored. Method. All 569 participants engaged in this research, who never took lipid-lowering drugs, had been divided into groups by the coronary angiography (CAG), namely, stable CAD: n=291; non-CAD: n=278. The results concerning Lp-PLA2 levels were calculated by Elisa Kit, while apolipoprotein particles were measured by the department of laboratory. Results. The plasma concentration of Lp-PLA2 was remarkably higher in stable CAD group than the non-CAD group (136.0±60.5 ng/mL vs. 113.2±65.6 ng/mL, P<0.001). Pearson correlation analyses explained the plasma Lp-PLA2 concentration was correlated with apoB (r=0.390, P<0.001) and apoB/apoA1 (r=0.450, P<0.001), not associated with apoA1 (r=−0.099, P=0.101). Conversely, the association remains unobserved among non-CAD patients except apoA1. Moreover, multiple linear regression revealed the relations between Lp-PLA2 concentrations and apoB (β=0.390, P<0.001), as well as apoB/apoA1 (β=0.450, P<0.001), but not apoA1 (β=−0.099, P=0.121). After adjustment for several risk factors regarding CAD, like hypertension, gender, smoking, age, and diabetes mellitus, there had still been positive associations between the Lp-PLA2 concentration and apoB (β=0.364, P<0.001), as well as apoB/apoA1 (β=0.390, P<0.001). Conclusion. The plasma levels of Lp-PLA2 provide positively a key link with apoB, apoB/apoA-1 among stable CAD, denoting the communication between Lp-PLA2 and apolipoprotein particles in the state of CAD

Guided elastic waves in infinite free-clamped hollow cylinders

Guided elastic-wave-inspection technique for hollow cylinders has received plenty of attention in recent years because of its high efficiency and low cost. To apply guided elastic waves to defects detection, it is necessary to investigate the propagation of guided waves in the hollow cylinders under all kinds of boundary conditions. In this paper, the dispersion equations of torsional, longitudinal and flexural guided waves in the hollow cylinders with traction-free and clamped lateral boundaries are derived by elastodynamic theory, based on which the phase and group velocity dispersion curves of the guided waves mentioned above are obtained. And the dispersion properties of these waves are discussed in detail. The transient wave in a free-clamped hollow cylinder is simulated by the finite element method (FEM). The time-frequency distribution of the transient wave agrees well with the theoretical group velocity dispersion curves. (C) 2008 National Natural Science Foundation of China and Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Limited and Science in China Press. All rights reserved.National Natural Science Foundation of China [10704064

Three-Dimensional Analytical Solution for Transient Guided Wave Propagation in Liquid-Filled Pipe Systems

The objective of this study is to investigate the three-dimensional (3-D) analytical solution for transient guided wave propagation in liquid-filled pipe systems using the eigenfunction expansion method (EEM). The eigenfunctions corresponding to finite liquid-filled pipe systems with a traction-free lateral boundary and rigid smooth end boundaries are obtained. Additionally, the orthogonality of the eigenfunctions is proved in detail. Subsequently, the exact 3-D analytical transient response of finite liquid-filled pipe systems to external body forces is constructed using the EEM, based on which, the approximate 3-D analytical transient response of the systems to external surface forces is derived. Furthermore, the analytical solution for transient guided wave propagation in finite liquid-filled pipe systems is extended explicitly and concisely to infinite liquid-filled pipe systems. Several numerical examples are given to illustrate the analysis of the spatial and frequency distributions of the radial and axial displacement amplitudes of various guided wave modes; the numerical examples also simulate the transient displacement of the pipe wall and the transient pressure of the internal liquid from the present solution. The present solution can provide some theoretical guidelines for the guided wave nondestructive evaluation of liquid-filled pipes and the guided wave technique for downhole data transfer.National Natural Science Foundation of China [10704064]; Aeronautical Science Foundation of China [2010ZF68006]; State Key Laboratory of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences [SKLOA201104]; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2011121010

Ticagrelor alleviates sepsis-induced myocardial injury via an adenosine-dependent pathway in a mouse sepsis model

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether ticagrelor, a classic anti-platelet drug, has a therapeutic effect on sepsis-induced myocardial injury. Methods: The C57BL6J mice received oral ticagrelor (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg) for seven days after which cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) were performed. An adenosine-receptor antagonist (CGS15943) was administered two hours before CLP. After 24 h, cardiac function was measured using cardiac echocardiography, then the heart and blood were collected. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL staining) were used to observe pathological changes and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Plasma concentration of TNF-α, IL-6 and adenosine and myocardial tissue levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were determined. Survival analysis was performed. Western blot was used to determine the expression of a signalling protein in the myocardial tissue. Results: The HE and TUNEL staining showed less inflammatory cell infiltration and less cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the ticagrelor group. Cardiac echocardiography showed preserved heart function in the ticagrelor group. Plasma TNF-α, IL-6 and relative expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in myocardial tissue were significantly lower in the ticagrelor group. Plasma adenosine levels were significantly higher in the ticagrelor group. Adenosine-receptor antagonists significantly blocked the protective effect of ticagrelor. Ticagrelor reduced the mortality of sepsis mice, and this reduction was blocked by the adenosine-receptor antagonist. Western blot showed that ticagrelor activated the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR. Adenosine-receptor antagonists inhibited the activation of AKT and mTOR. Conclusion: The protective effect of ticagrelor was dependent on adenosine-receptor activation, with downstream upregulation of phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR

A rare cause of abdominal pain managed unconventionally: acute renal infarction caused by atrial fibrillation: a case report

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmias. The main thrombotic complication of arterial fibrillation is ischemic stroke, but it can also cause acute renal infarction from embolization. The low incidence and nonspecific clinical manifestations of acute renal infarction make it difficult to diagnose, often leading to either delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Due to its rarity, more efficient treatment guidelines are helpful for the management of acute renal infarction related to the thromboembolic complication of arterial fibrillation.Case reportsWe report a case of acute renal infarction due to underlying arterial fibrillation, where a novel interventional therapeutic method was used. A 66-year-old Chinese man with arterial fibrillation, not on anticoagulation due to the patient's preference, and coronary artery disease post-percutaneous coronary intervention to left anterior descending artery about 1&nbsp;year ago, was currently on dual antiplatelet therapy. He suddenly developed intermittent and sharp left-sided abdominal pain and was found to have an acute left renal infarction on computed tomography scan. Angiogram showed acute occlusion of the left renal artery due to thromboembolism. For this patient, a combination method of local thrombus aspiration, angioplasty, and infusion of nitroglycerin and diltiazem were used, restoring blood flow to the left kidney. After recovery, the patient was discharged on aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin. At 6&nbsp;months follow-up, there was no residual kidney dysfunction.ConclusionsAcute renal infarction from thromboembolism is a rare but serious complication of arterial fibrillation. More efficient and different options for intervention methods will benefit the treatment of this disease. Here, we report a combination therapeutic method that has not been used in acute renal infarction associated with arterial fibrillation, and which restored renal perfusion and prevented long-term kidney injury

Effect of algal and bacterial diet on metal bioaccumulation in zooplankton from the Pearl River, South China

The biomagnification of metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and the metalloid As in aquatic systems is a global health concern. In this study, concentrations of fatty acid biomarkers in zooplankton were analyzed from the Pearl River, South China between September 2016 and July 2017. The objective was to examine how particulate matter, algae and bacteria food sources affect metal bioaccumulation using fatty acid facilitation. In the zooplankton fraction, positive correlations were observed between Pb concentration and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Zn and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (diatoms and Cryptophyceae biomarkers), Fe with Palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7, diatom marker), and a weak association of Mn with alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3). Cu concentration in the zooplankton increased significantly with an endogenous biotic biomarker Stearic acid (C18:0, bacteria biomarker), while Cd concentrations increased with increasing Oleic acid (C18:1n-9, green alga biomarker) concentration. There was a positive correlation between Cr concentration and the sum of Pentadecylic and Margaric acids (C15:0 + C17:0, bacteria biomarkers). Seven of the nine metals examined showed associations with fatty acids in the zooplankton. The bioaccumulation of Co, Cu, Pb, Fe, Mn and Zn concentration was correlated to the individual biomasses of Brachionus calyciflorus, Filinia longiseta, Schmackeria forbesi, Limnoithona sinenisis, Thermocyclops brevifurcatus, and Diaphanosoma dubium. For selected zooplankton taxa, the algal biomasses of Euglenophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cryptophyceae, and Bacillariophyceae were correlated. Zooplankton were affected by selected species of phytoplankton and bacteria numbers in the Pearl River. These results show that metal accumulation in zooplankton is not only correlated with diet but is also in part, species specific with metal type. Thus, the bioaccumulation or scavenging of metals across trophic levels is a fundamental and complex component of metal cycling in aquatic environments. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved