Resiniferatoxin reduces cardiac sympathetic nerve activation to exert a cardioprotective effect during myocardial infarction

Background and objective: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common critical disease of the cardiovascular system. The process of MI is often accompanied by the excessive activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves, which leads to arrhythmia. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), involved in the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex. However, whether RTX can reduce the occurrence of arrhythmia and exert a cardioprotective effect by inhibiting the sympathetic reflex during MI is still unknown. Methods: The left anterior descending artery of cardiac was clamped to construct a model of MI. RTX (50 μg/ml) was used by epicardial application in MI rats. Ventricular electrophysiologic properties were continuously monitored by a body surface ECG. Yrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) were detected by Immunofluorescence staining. Connexin43 and transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-β1) were detected by western blot. Norepinephrine (NE) and BNP levels in blood and tissue were determined by ELISA. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Results: The ERP, APD90, QRS, QT and the Tend-Tpeak intervals in MI rats were all prolonged, but decreased after RTX treatment (n = 3, P<0.05). In contrast, the RR interval was shortened in the MI group, but prolonged in the MI+RTX group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX treatment significantly reduced ventricular arrhythmias after MI. TH- and GAP43-positive nerve densities and TGF-β1, and cx-43 protein expression were up-regulated in the MI group compared to the sham group, and they were decreased in the MI+RTX group compared to the MI group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX can decrease serum and tissue NE and BNP levels (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX pretreatment significantly decreased heart rate, HW/BW ratio and LVIDS, and increased LVEF andLVFS values (n = 3, P<0.05). Conclusion: RTX improved cardiac dysfunction, ventricular electrophysiologic properties, and sympathetic nerve remodeling in rats with MI by inhibiting the excessive cardiac sympathetic drive.     

Genomic variants within chromosome 14q32.32 regulate bone mass through MARK3 signaling in osteoblasts

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a highly heritable predictor of osteoporotic fracture. GWAS have identified hundreds of loci influencing BMD, but few have been functionally analyzed. In this study, we show that SNPs within a BMD locus on chromosome 14q32.32 alter splicing and expression of PAR-1a/microtubule affinity regulating kinase 3 (MARK3), a conserved serine/threonine kinase known to regulate bioenergetics, cell division, and polarity. Mice lacking Mark3 either globally or selectively in osteoblasts have increased bone mass at maturity. RNA profiling from Mark3-deficient osteoblasts suggested changes in the expression of components of the Notch signaling pathway. Mark3-deficient osteoblasts exhibited greater matrix mineralization compared with controls that was accompanied by reduced Jag1/Hes1 expression and diminished downstream JNK signaling. Overexpression of Jag1 in Mark3-deficient osteoblasts both in vitro and in vivo normalized mineralization capacity and bone mass, respectively. Together, these findings reveal a mechanism whereby genetically regulated alterations in Mark3 expression perturb cell signaling in osteoblasts to influence bone mass.     

COVID-19 Gender Disparities and Mitigation Recommendations: A Narrative Review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly created widespread impacts on global health and the economy. Data suggest that women are less susceptible to severe illness. However, sex-disaggregated data are incomplete, leaving room for misinterpretation, and focusing only on biologic sex underestimates the gendered impact of the pandemic on women. This narrative review summarizes what is known about gender disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic, domestic, and health burdens along with overlapping vulnerabilities related to the pandemic. In addition, this review outlines recommended strategies that advocacy groups, community leaders, and policymakers should implement to mitigate the widening gender disparities related to COVID-19.     

Emergency Care EMTALA Alterations During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of health care delivery in the United States, and the emergency medicine system has been hit particularly hard while dealing with this public health crisis. In an unprecedented time in our history, medical systems and clinicians have been asked to be creative, flexible, and innovative, all while continuing to uphold the important standards in the US health care system. To continue providing quality services to patients during this extraordinary time, care providers, organizations, administrators, and insurers have needed to alter longstanding models and procedures to respond to the dynamics of a pandemic. The Emergency Medicine Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986, or EMTALA, is 1 example of where these alterations have allowed health care facilities and clinicians to continue their work of caring for patients while protecting both the patients and the clinicians themselves from infectious exposures at the same time.     

基于生物钟节律探讨前列腺癌的 发病机理及择时治疗策略

生物钟节律观与中医“天人一体”观相契合，生物钟节律紊乱可影响人体的生理病理状态，通过调节生物钟节律可达到提高治疗效果的目的。生物钟节律系统包括中枢生物钟节律系统与外周生物节律系统两大系统，分别在疾病发生发展中发挥不同的作用。与之相应，择时疗法是根据人体气血阴阳节律变化而选择相应药物治疗以达到最佳的疗效的一种时间医学治疗方法。临床上许多前列腺癌患者的发病与生物钟节律紊乱密切相关，通过调整生物钟节律具有预防和改善前列腺癌预后的积极作用。因此，本文将以现代生物钟节律的生理及病理机理为切入点，探讨不同生物钟节律系统紊乱在促前列腺癌中医主证形成过程中的发生机理，进而探讨择时治疗策略在不同类型前列腺癌治疗中运用的可行性，以期对前列腺癌的防治及预后产生一定的影响。     

针刺治疗慢性疼痛的功能磁共振研究述评＊

目的基于针刺治疗慢性疼痛的功能磁共振(Functional magnetic resonance imaging,fMRI)文献进行述评,为针刺治疗慢性疼痛的机制研究提供思路和借鉴。方法对近10年针刺治疗慢性疼痛的fMRI研究进行回顾,依据病种选择、样本量计算、试验设计、研究结果四方面内容进行述评,分析并总结当前研究现状。结果偏头痛、膝骨关节炎和下腰痛是目前研究中涉及频次最高的3个病种。受试者的疾病亚型、年龄段、利手习惯及fMRI禁忌症在研究中基本都保证了一致性和规范性。但多数研究仍存在样本量计算方式不明确的问题。对照组设置主要包括标准对照、无效对照和安慰对照。针刺效应因素在各研究间存在较大差异。研究中结局指标包括疾病特异性量表、疼痛评分及心理、精神状态的评估。fMRI设计以静息态和单一任务态设计为主,多任务fMRI研究相对较少。研究证实针刺可调节疼痛处理网络的功能连接,有效建立心理物理疼痛稳态。结论运用fMRI探讨针刺治疗慢性疼痛作用机制的研究成果丰硕,未来可通过扩大病种的选择,完善质量控制,关注针刺效应影响因素,丰富数据处理手段,借鉴多学科任务设计方式等方式,促进针刺疗慢性疼痛机制研究的进一步发展。