Effects of a Short-Term “Fat Adaptation with Carbohydrate Restoration” Diet on Metabolic Responses and Exercise Performance in Well-Trained Runners

Periodized carbohydrate availability can enhance exercise capacity, but the effects of short-term fat adaptation carbohydrate restoration (FACR) diets on metabolic responses and exercise performance in endurance athletes have not been conclusively determined. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a FACR diet on measures of resting metabolism, exercise metabolism, and exercise performance. Well-trained male runners (n = 8) completed a FACR dietary intervention (five days’ carbohydrate < 20% and fat > 60% energy, plus one-day carbohydrate ≥ 70% energy), and a control high-carbohydrate (HCHO) diet for six days (carbohydrate > 60% energy; fat < 20% energy) in a randomized crossover design. Pre- and post-intervention metabolic measures included resting metabolic rate (RMR), respiratory quotient (RQ), maximum fat oxidation rate during exercise (MFO), and maximum fat oxidation intensity (FATmax). Measures of exercise performance included maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), running economy (RE), and 5 km running time trial (5 km-TT). In FACR compared with HCHO, there were significant improvements in FATmax (p = 0.006) and RE (p = 0.048). There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between FACR and HCHO in RMR, RQ, VO₂max, or 5 km-TT. Findings suggest that a short-term (six days) FACR diet may facilitate increased fat oxidation and submaximal exercise economy but does not improve 5 km-TT performance.     

Deregulated microRNA-22-3p in patients with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury serves as a new biomarker to predict disease occurrence and 28-day survival outcomes

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication of sepsis. MicroRNA-22-3p (miR-22-3p) has been found to be involved in septic AKI progression. The purpose of this study was to analyze both the serum and urinary expression of miR-22-3p in septic AKI patients, and evaluated the clinical value of miR-22-3p in the diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis-induced AKI.

Methods

Serum and urinary expression of miR-22-3p was examined using qRT-PCR. The risk factors related with septic AKI onset were assessed using logistic analysis. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of miR-22-3p, and the Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the predictive value of miR-22-3p for the 28-day survival of septic AKI patients.

Results

Both serum and urinary miR-22-3p expression was decreased and negatively correlated with kidney injury biomarkers in septic AKI patients. MiR-22-3p expression was a risk factor for AKI onset and had diagnostic accuracy in septic AKI patients. The expression of both serum and urinary miR-22-3p was lower in patients who died, and served as a prognostic biomarker to predict 28-day survival in septic AKI patients.

Conclusion

Serum and urinary miR-22-3p was reduced in sepsis-induced AKI patients, and served as a biomarker to predict AKI occurrence and 28-day survival in sepsis patients.

     

Application of network pharmacology and molecular docking to elucidate the potential mechanism of Astragalus–Scorpion against prostate cancer

The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the Astragalus–Scorpion drug pair in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). We employed network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to retrieving the active ingredients and corresponding targets of Astragalus–Scorpion by using TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, TCMID and Swiss Target Prediction Databases. The targets related to PCa were retrieved through GeneCards. Cytoscape software was used to construct the ‘active ingredient–target disease’ network, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on the common targets. Autodock software was used for molecular docking verification. In total, 26 active ingredients, 340 potential targets related to active ingredients and 122 common targets were screened from Astragalus–Scorpion drug pair. The core targets of the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network were JUN, AKT1, IL6, MAPK1 and RELA, whereas the core active ingredients were quercetin, kaempferol, formononetin, 7-o-methylisomucronulatol and calycosin. Nearly 762 GO entries and 154 pathways were obtained by using the pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking results revealed that quercetin and kaempferol bind to AKT1 and formononetin binds to RELA, all of which were found to be stable bounds.     

Outcomes and complications of naftopidil versus tamsulosin for elderly men with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the outcomes and complications of naftopidil in treating elderly men with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia and compared them with those administered with tamsulosin. A literature review was performed to identify the available randomised controlled trials concerning the comparison between naftopidil and tamsulosin for men with LUTS/BPH. We searched the following databases: the Cochrane Library Database, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. Eleven publications involving 1,114 men (557 in the naf group and 557 in the tam group) were pooled in our analysis. We found no significant differences in the total IPSS, IPSS storage score, IPSS voiding score, quality of life index, peak urinary flow rate, average flow rate and post-void residual volumes. We assessed cardiovascular and sexual adverse events, acute urinary retention, surgical intervention, withdrawals due to any reason and withdrawals due to adverse events. The incidence of adverse events was similar among patients in naf and tam groups. In conclusion, naftopidil shared comparable efficacy and similar incidence of adverse events with tamsulosin and appears to be a promising agent for and alternative to tam. However, more prospective trials with high quality and long-term treatment duration are needed to verify this observation.     

受体－A蛋白融合蛋白制备抗P物质受体血清及其特性

受体－Ａ蛋白融合蛋白制备抗Ｐ物质受体血清及其特性ＷａｌｔｅｒＫ．Ｋ．Ｈｏ（何国强）；ＡｌｅｘｉｓＰ．Ｋ．Ｃｈｅ，郑德枢（香港中文大学；香港生物化学系，香港沙田；广州医学院神经科学研究所，广州５１０１８２）本文报告了用直肠杆菌表达Ｐ物质受体－Ａ蛋白融合...     

VEGF,bFGF及PCNA在宫颈癌中的表达及其与肿瘤增殖和血管生成的关系

目的 :探讨有关细胞因子在调控宫颈癌增殖及其血管生成中的作用。方法 :应用免疫组织化学及其组织形态学定量分析方法 ,对血管内皮细胞生长因子 (VEGF) ,碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(b FGF)和增殖细胞核抗原 (PCNA)在宫颈癌中的表达进行研究。结果 :1肿瘤细胞增殖与 VEGF的表达呈正向关系 ,而与 b FGF的表达无关 ;2 VEGF,b FGF的表达分别与微血管密度有正相关性 ,而当 VEGF和 b FGF共同表达时 ,微血管密度显著增加 ;3VEGF,b FGF在不同个体的表达具有异质性。结论 :VEGF有促进肿瘤细胞增殖及血管生成的作用。VEGF,b FGF在肿瘤血管生成过程中可能起协同作用     

PCNA含量及DNA含量联合检测在子宫内膜癌及癌前病变中诊断意义

目的：说明ＰＣＮＡ含量及ＤＮＡ含量联合检测在子宫内膜癌及癌前病变中的诊断意义;两种取材方法对结果的影响,以探讨临床工作采用新鲜标本作为早期诊断的辅助手段是可行的。     

HPLC法测定川牛膝中杯苋甾酮的含量

用反相高效液相色谱法对１６个不同产地的川牛膝中所含的杯苋甾酮进行了含量测定。色谱柱为ＨｙｐｅｒｓｉｌＯＤＳ柱,流动相：乙腈－水（１：４．９）,流速：０．９ｍＬ／ｍｉｎ,检测波长：２４３ｎｍ,线性范围１．９１－３８．２８μｇ,ｒ＝０．９９９９,平均回收率９３．１％。本法简便,快速、灵敏,适合川牛膝中杯苋甾酮的定量分析。     

58例双瓣替换术体外循环管理体会

目的：回顾５８例双瓣替换术体外循环管理状况,总结双瓣替换术中灌注技术。方法：对５８例风湿性心脏瓣膜病人施行二尖瓣、主动脉瓣替换术中体外循环手术的临床资料、心肺转汉方法和心肌保护中的难点及处理进行回顾总结分析。结果：５８例中早期死亡２例,死亡率３．４５％Ｒ。结论：只有良好的体外循环灌注技术和心肌保护,才能保证双瓣替换术病人顺利渡过围术期,降低手术死亡率。