Long noncoding RNA and messenger RNA profiling in epicardial adipose tissue of patients with new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract Background Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) constitutes a significant complication following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), potentially linked to epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). This investigation seeks to elucidate the association between POAF and EAT at the genetic level. Methods EAT and clinical data from patients undergoing CABG were systematically acquired, adhering to established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were categorized into POAF and Non-POAF groups based on the presence or absence of POAF. High-throughput sequencing data of EAT were subjected to differential expression analysis and gene function assessment. A random selection of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) underwent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for validation of the high-throughput sequencing findings. Coexpression analysis was employed to elucidate the interactions between lncRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Results RNA sequencing yielded a total of 69,685 transcripts (37,740 coding and 31,945 noncoding sequences), representing 16,920 genes. Within this dataset, 38 mRNAs and 12 lncRNAs exhibited differential expression between the POAF and Non-POAF groups (P  1.5). The qRT-PCR results for lncRNAs corroborated the sequencing findings (P < 0.01). Functional enrichment analysis of genes and the coexpression network indicated that these differentially expressed RNAs were primarily implicated in processes such as cell growth, differentiation, signal transduction, as well as influencing tissue fibrosis and ion transmembrane transport. Conclusions This study unveils a potential association between myocardial fibrosis and ion channels co-regulated by mRNAs and lncRNAs, closely linked to the emergence of new-onset POAF, after accounting for clinical risk factors. This discovery holds promise for further advances in clinical and fundamental research

Consideration of future consequences (CFC) serves as a buffer against aggression related to psychopathy.

Psychopathy is the most notorious trait in the Dark Triad, and it is strongly linked to many kinds of aggressive behaviors. However, not every individual who is characterized by psychopathy engages in aggression, which suggests that certain factors may attenuate the intensity of the relations between psychopathy and aggression. The purpose of the current study was to explore the protective roles of the consideration of future consequences (CFC) (high CFC-Future and low CFC- Immediate) in attenuating aggression related to psychopathy using proactive aggression (Study 1) and cyber-aggression (Study 2) behavior indexes. College students (Study 1; N = 1,058) and adults (Study 2; N = 350) voluntarily participated in this study. The results demonstrated that the relationship between psychopathy and aggressive behaviors was moderated by CFC-Future and CFC-Immediate. Individuals with high psychopathy scores who also had high CFC-Future scores or low CFC-Immediate scores exhibited less proactive aggression (Study 1) and left fewer aggressive online comments on news websites (Study 2). The results of the present study suggested that CFC serves as a buffer against aggression related to psychopathy and may extend the knowledge of the relationship between psychopathy and aggression

Additional file 1 of Long noncoding RNA and messenger RNA profiling in epicardial adipose tissue of patients with new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting

Additional file 1: Table S1. Primer lists were used for Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

Long-term effects of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) on milk quality and hepatic gene expression in lactating goats fed a high-concentrate diet.

PURPOSE: The mechanism underlying the decline in milk quality during periods of feeding high-concentrate diets to dairy ruminants is not well documented. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic changes in the liver that contribute to the input of substrate precursors to the mammary gland after feeding a high-concentrate diet to lactating goats for a long period. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Eight mid-lactating goats with rumen cannulas were randomly assigned to two groups. For 9 weeks, the treatment group was fed a high-concentrate diet (60% concentrate of dry matter, HC) and the control group was fed a low-concentrate diet (40% concentrate of dry matter, LC). Ruminal fluid, plasma, and liver tissues were sampled, microarray techniques and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate metabolic parameters and gene expression in liver. RESULTS: Feeding a 60%-concentrate diet for 9 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in rumen pH. Changes in fat and protein content also occurred, which negatively affected milk quality. Plasma levels of leptin (p = 0.058), non-esterified fatty acid (p = 0.071), and glucose (p = 0.014) increased markedly in HC group. Plasma cortisol concentration was significantly elevated in the treatment group (p<0.05). Expression of the glucocorticoid receptor protein gene was significantly down-regulated (p<0.05) in the liver. The expression of genes for interleukin 1β, serum amyloid A, C-reactive protein, and haptoglobin mRNA was significantly increased (p<0.05) in the HC group. GeneRelNet analysis showed that gene expression involved in inflammatory responses and the metabolism of lipids, protein, and carbohydrate were significantly altered by feeding a high-concentrate diet for 9 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of the acute phase response and the inflammatory response may contribute to nutrient partitioning and re-distribution of energy in the liver, and ultimately lead to a decline in milk quality

Declined plasma microfibrillar-associated protein 4 levels in acute coronary syndrome

Abstract Background Microfibrillar-associated protein (MFAP4), initially identified as an extracellular matrix protein, has been demonstrated in multiple human disorders, but it is yet to be discovered following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in clinical practice. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between circulating MFAP4 levels and coronary stenosis in ACS. Methods We performed the study in 148 ACS subjects, including 75 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 27 non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI) and 46 unstable angina (UA). Clinical variables were collected and Gensini and Syntax stenosis scoring systems were applied to assess the severity of coronary stenosis. Kaplan–Meier and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between MFAP4 and the severity of coronary stenosis or ACS outcomes. Spearman analysis was used to describe the correlation between MFAP4 and clinical parameters. Results Circulating MFAP4 levels were significantly decreased in the STEMI group (0.008 ng/ml) compared with the non-STEMI group (0.014 ng/ml) and UA group (0.019 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, we found that MFAP4 was an independent risk factor for STEMI (odds ratio = 0.395, 95% CI 0.174–0.895, p = 0.026). MFAP4 level was negatively correlated with Gensini score and Syntax score (r = − 0.311 and − 0.211, p < 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). Based on the MFAP4 level of 0.117 ng/ml, ACS patients were divided into two groups: the low-MFAP4 group (< 0.117 ng/ml, n = 60) and the high-MFAP4 group (≥ 0.117 ng/ml, n = 88). After the median follow-up of 165 days, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that the MACE-free rate was significantly lower in ACS patients with lower MFAP4 levels (p = 0.009). Conclusions MFAP4 has a potential as a biomarker for the degree of coronary stenosis in ACS. Confirmation of observations in larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods is warranted

Co-expression network for k-core genes in liver of HC goats.

<p>Co-expression networks were for immune and inflammatory responses (A), lipid metabolism (B), protein (or amino acid) metabolism (C), and carbohydrate metabolism (D) in the liver of HC goats. Circles in the figure represent genes (red circle means up–regulation; blue circle means down-regulation), lines represent regulation relationships between genes (solid lines mean a positive correlation of the expression between genes; dotted lines mean a negative correlation), rectangles represent genes for immunity and stress, triangles represent carbohydrate metabolism, hexagons represent lipid metabolism, and diamonds represent protein metabolism.</p

Plasma cytokines and acute phase protein levels in control and treatment group goats.

<p>LC, low concentrate; HC, high concentrate; HP, haptoglobin; IL-6, interleukin-6; LBP, lipopolysaccharide binding protein; SAA, serum amyloid A protein; TNF-α, tumour necrosises factor α. Values are mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM), <i>n</i> = 4/group.</p

Hierarchical cluster analysis of the differentially expressed transcripts (n = 155).

<p>155 transcripts were differentially expressed (adjusted <i>p<0.01</i>). Red and green colors reflect the high and low intensities, respectively.</p