Cardioprotective effects of sinomenine in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model

BackgroundIschemia reperfusion (I/R) play an imperative role in the expansion of cardiovascular disease. Sinomenine (SM) has been exhibited to possess antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties. The aim of the study was scrutinized the cardioprotective effect of SM against I/R injury in rat.MethodsRat were randomly divided into normal control (NC), I/R control and I/R + SM (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), respectively. Ventricular arrhythmias, body weight and heart weight were estimated. Antioxidant, inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory mediators and plasmin system indicator were accessed.ResultsPre-treated SM group rats exhibited the reduction in the duration and incidence of ventricular fibrillation, ventricular ectopic beat (VEB) and ventricular tachycardia along with suppression of arrhythmia score during the ischemia (30 and 120 min). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) altered the level of antioxidant parameters. SM treatment significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the level of creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), creatine kinase (CK) and troponin I (Tnl). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the tissue factor (TF), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and plasma fibrinogen (Fbg) and inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators.ConclusionOur result clearly indicated that SM plays anti-arrhythmia effect in I/R injury in the rats via alteration of oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction.     

A Pilot First-in-Human Study of Embrace,a Polyethylene Glycol-Based Liquid Embolic Agent,in the Embolization of Malignant and Benign Hypervascular Tumors

PurposeTo investigate the safety and efficacy of an aqueous polyethylene glycol-based liquid embolic agent, Embrace Hydrogel Embolic System (HES), in the treatment of benign and malignant hypervascular tumors.Materials and MethodsA prospective, single-arm, multicenter study included 8 patients, 5 males and 3 females, with a median age of 58.5 years (30–85 years), who underwent embolization in 8 tumors between October 2019 and May 2020. Technical success was defined as successful delivery of HES to the index vessel, with disappearance of >90% of the targeted vascular enhancement or, for portal vein embolization, occlusion of the portal branches to the liver segments for future resection. The volume of HES administered, ease of use (5 point Likert scale), administration time, and adverse events (AEs) were recorded. Evaluation was performed at 7, 30, and 90 days via clinical assessment and blood testing, and follow-up imaging was performed at 30 days.ResultsEight patients were enrolled, and 10 embolizations were performed in 8 lesions. Tumors included hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 4), renal angiomyolipoma (n = 3), and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n = 1). Technical success was 100%, and the average ease of use was 3.3 ± 1.0 SD. The HES delivery time was 1–28 minutes (median, 16.5 minutes), and the HES volume injected was 0.4–4.0 mL (median, 1.3 mL). All patients reached 30-day follow-up with imaging, and 6 patients reached 90-day follow-up. There were 3 serious AEs in 2 patients that were unrelated to the embolic agent.ConclusionHES resulted in a 100% embolization technical success rate. The product ease of use was acceptable, and no target vessel recanalization was noted on follow-up imaging at 30 days.     

Liver dysfunction as a cytokine storm manifestation and prognostic factor for severe COVID-19

Liver damage in severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 infection occurs in patients with or without preexisting liver disorders, posing a significant complication and mortality risk. During coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), abnormal liver function is typically observed. However, liver injury may occur because of the treatment as well. Ischemia, cytokine storm, and hypoxia were identified as the three major factors contributing to liver damage during COVID-19. Indeed, raised liver enzymes during hospitalizations may be attributed to medications used, as well as sepsis and shock. As a result, the proportion of hospitalized patients afflicted with COVID-19 and pathological liver biomarkers varies from 14% to 53%. Aminotransferases and bilirubin are found most often elevated. Usually, increased gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and decreased serum albumin levels are demonstrated. Additionally, although there is no specific treatment for COVID-19, many of the drugs used to treat the infection are hepatotoxic. In this mini-review, we focus on how liver dysfunction can be one of the features associated with the COVID-19 cytokine storm. Furthermore, data show that liver injury can be an independent predictor of severe COVID-19, the need for hospitalization, and death.     

Curcumin ameliorates hepatic chronic inflammation induced by bile duct obstruction in mice through the activation of heme oxygenase-1

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血清谷丙转氨酶水平与不同性别2型糖尿病患病的关系

目的 探讨血清谷丙转氨酶（ALT）与新诊2型糖尿病（T2DM）患病风险之间的关联，为T2DM的防治提供科学依据。方法 采用4阶段分层随机抽样的方法选取2006年和2009年参与青岛糖尿病预防项目的研究对象男性3 012例、女性4 422例，采用Pearson相关检验分析不同性别ALT与FPG、2 h PG的相关性，并利用多因素logistic回归分析ALT与新诊T2DM患病的关系。结果 男性中，ALT与空腹血浆血糖（FPG）、餐后2 h血浆血糖（2 h PG）的Pearson相关系数分别为0.088、0.080（均P＜0.01）；多因素logistic回归显示，在调整了年龄、BMI、糖尿病家族史、城乡、教育、婚姻、收入、吸烟及饮酒状况等混杂因素后，ALT的第4分位（Q4）组新诊T2DM患病风险是第1分位（Q1）组的1.832倍（OR = 1.832，95% CI:1.324～2.534，P＜0.01）。女性中，ALT与FPG、2h PG的Pearson相关系数分别为0.065、0.108（均P＜0.01）；多因素logistic回归显示，在调整了年龄、BMI、糖尿病家族史、城乡、教育、婚姻、收入、吸烟及饮酒状况等混杂因素后，ALT的第4分位（Q4）组新诊T2DM患病风险是第1分位（Q1）组的1.445倍（OR = 1.445，95% CI:1.087～1.919，P＜0.05）。结论 在男、女性人群中，ALT水平升高与T2DM患病相关，且这种相关性不受年龄、BMI、糖尿病家族史等的影响。