Could non-HDL-cholesterol be a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background/objectiveObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with dyslipidemia, a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is accepted as a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia and recommended as a target of lipid lowering therapy. We aimed to assess the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia, and relationship between OSA severity and serum LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels in OSA patients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated treatment naïve 2361 subjects admitted to the sleep laboratory of a university hospital for polysomnography. All subjects’ lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-HDL-cholesterol were measured.ResultsOut of 2361 patients (mean age 49.6 ± 11.9 years; 68.9% male, apnea-hypopnea index 36.6 ± 28.4/h), 185 (7.8%) had no OSA and 2176 (92.2%) had OSA. Atherogenic dyslipidemia prevalence was high (57–66%) in OSA patients, and especially increased in severe OSA compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Though total and LDL-cholesterol did not differ between those with and without OSA, non-HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.020), and triglycerides (p = 0.001) were higher and HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.018) were lower in OSA patients than non-OSA. Non-HDL-cholesterol was significantly correlated with OSA severity (p < 0.001) and hypoxia parameters (p < 0.01), whereas LDL-cholesterol showed no correlation.ConclusionsAtherogenic dyslipidemia is highly prevalent and non-HDL-cholesterol levels are significantly increased, predominantly in severe OSA patients. Non-HDL-cholesterol but not LDL-cholesterol, is significantly correlated with OSA severity and hypoxia parameters. Therefore, it could be better to use non-HDL-cholesterol, which is a guideline recommended target of lipid therapy, as a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in OSA patients.     

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of lycopene against 5-fluorouracil-induced cytotoxicity in Caco2 cells

5-fluorouracil (5FU) is widely used to treat colorectal cancer (CC) and its main mechanisms of anticancer action are through generation of ROS which often result in inflammation. Here, we test the effect of Lycopene against 5FU in Caco2 cell line. Caco2 cells were exposed to 3 µg/ml of 5FU alone or with 60, 90, 120 µg/ml of lycopene. This was followed by assessment of cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and gene expression of inflammatory genes. Our findings showed that Lycopene and 5FU co-exposure induced dose-dependent cytotoxic effect without compromising the membrane integrity based on the LDH assay. Lycopene also significantly enhanced 5FU-induced SOD activity and GSH level compared to control for all mixture concentrations (p < 0.01). Lycopene alone and combination with 5FU-induced expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6. Furthermore, IFN-γ expression was significantly enhanced by only mixture of lycopene (90 µg/ml) and 5FU (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Lycopene supplementation with 5FU therapy resulted in improvement in antioxidant parameters such as catalase and GSH levels giving the cell capacity to cope with 5FU-mediated oxidative stress. Lycopene also enhanced IFN-γ expression in the presence of 5FU, which may activate antitumor effects further enhancing the cancer killing effect of 5FU.     

The relationships among monocyte subsets,miRNAs and inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes irreversible myocardial damage and release of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines and miRNAs. We aimed to investigate changes in the levels of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10), miRNAs profiles (miR-146 and miR-155) and distribution of different monocyte subsets (CD14++CD16-, CD14++CD16+, CD14+CD16++) in the acute and post-healing phases of AMI.

Quantitative chemical exchange saturation transfer (qCEST) MRI – omega plot analysis of RF‐spillover‐corrected inverse CEST ratio asymmetry for simultaneous determination of labile proton ratio and exchange rate

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI is sensitive to labile proton concentration and exchange rate, thus allowing measurement of dilute CEST agent and microenvironmental properties. However, CEST measurement depends not only on the CEST agent properties but also on the experimental conditions. Quantitative CEST (qCEST) analysis has been proposed to address the limitation of the commonly used simplistic CEST‐weighted calculation. Recent research has shown that the concomitant direct RF saturation (spillover) effect can be corrected using an inverse CEST ratio calculation. We postulated that a simplified qCEST analysis is feasible with omega plot analysis of the inverse CEST asymmetry calculation. Specifically, simulations showed that the numerically derived labile proton ratio and exchange rate were in good agreement with input values. In addition, the qCEST analysis was confirmed experimentally in a phantom with concurrent variation in CEST agent concentration and pH. Also, we demonstrated that the derived labile proton ratio increased linearly with creatine concentration (P < 0.01) while the pH‐dependent exchange rate followed a dominantly base‐catalyzed exchange relationship (P < 0.01). In summary, our study verified that a simplified qCEST analysis can simultaneously determine labile proton ratio and exchange rate in a relatively complex in vitro CEST system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species and photocatalytic activity by Pt-based metallic nanostructures: the composition matters

The modification of semiconductor nanostructures with metallic nanocomponents can promote the separation of electron/hole from photoexited semiconductors by forming heterojunctions, thus exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activities and potential applications. In this study, Pt-based NPs, including Pt, PtCu, and PtCuCo are employed as model co-catalysts to comparatively study their capability to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ nanosheets. It was found that each of Pt, PtCu, and PtCuCo can greatly enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ toward degradation of organic dyes. Using electron spin resonance spectroscopy, we demonstrated that deposition of Pt-based NPs resulted in more production of reactive oxygen species including hydroxyl radicals, superoxide, and singlet oxygen. The enhancing effects of Pt-based NPs on generation of ROS and photocatalytic activity showed same trend: PtCuCo?>?PtCu?>?Pt. The mechanism underlying the enhancement differences in Pt-based NPs may be mainly related to electronic structure change of Pt in alloying with Cu and Co. These results are valuable for designing hybrid nanomaterials with high photocatalytic efficiency for applications in water purification and antibacterial products.     

Heteroepitaxy of Cerium Oxide Thin Films on Cu(111)

An important part of fundamental research in catalysis is based on theoretical and modeling foundations which are closely connected with studies of single-crystalline catalyst surfaces. These so-called model catalysts are often prepared in the form of epitaxial thin films, and characterized using advanced material characterization techniques. This concept provides the fundamental understanding and the knowledge base needed to tailor the design of new heterogeneous catalysts with improved catalytic properties. The present contribution is devoted to development of a model catalyst system of CeO₂ (ceria) on the Cu(111) substrate. We propose ways to experimentally characterize and control important parameters of the model catalyst—the coverage of the ceria layer, the influence of the Cu substrate, and the density of surface defects on ceria, particularly the density of step edges and the density and the ordering of the oxygen vacancies. The large spectrum of controlled parameters makes ceria on Cu(111) an interesting alternative to a more common model system ceria on Ru(0001) that has served numerous catalysis studies, mainly as a support for metal clusters.     

经鼻高流量湿化氧疗在小儿先心病术后的疗效观察

目的探析经鼻高流量湿化氧疗用于小儿先心病术后治疗中的效果以及护理措施。方法2014年9月—2017年10月在郑州儿童医院外科监护室接受手术治疗的先心病患儿中随机抽取130例,根据术后氧疗方法不同分组:对照组患儿术后给予常规面罩吸氧,观察组患儿术后给予经鼻高流量湿化氧疗,2组患儿均给予优质术后护理,对比2组的血气指标、住院时间等。结果2组患者氧疗后24h、48h的血氧饱和度差异无统计学意义,在氧疗后24h的PaCO2水平差异无统计学意义,而在氧疗后24h和48h的氧合指数,观察组明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);2组ICU入住时间和总住院时间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论经鼻高流量湿化氧疗的应用提高先心病患儿术后的舒适度,改善呼吸状况,值得推广。     

高流量吸氧与面罩吸氧在胸腔镜辅助食管癌根治术后氧疗效果对比

目的观察高流量湿化吸氧与常规面罩吸氧在食管癌患者行胸腔镜辅助食管癌根治术后治疗的临床效果。方法将36例择期行胸腔镜辅助下食管癌根治术后患者随机分为常规面罩吸氧对照组(A组)和高流量湿化吸氧治疗组(B组),对两组患者治疗2 h、6 h和24 h后的呼吸频率、动脉血气分析等指标进行比较,了解两种吸氧方式在食管癌患者行胸腔镜辅助食管癌根治术后治疗上的优劣。结果两组患者治疗2 h、6 h和24 h的呼吸频率、动脉血气分析发现,A组动脉氧饱和度、动脉血氧分压较B组降低,动脉血二氧化碳分压、呼吸频率较B组增高,两组比较差异有统计学意义(均P0.01)。结论与常规面罩吸氧比较,高流量湿化面罩吸氧可以使胸腔镜辅助食管癌根治术后患者有更满意的氧合效果,值得在临床上推广。     

高压氧综合治疗糖尿病性胃轻瘫患者的疗效观察

目的观察高压氧（HBO）联合吗丁啉综合治疗对糖尿病性胃轻瘫患者胃动素及胃排空时间的影响。方法采用随机数字表法将2000年10月至2004年10月间连续人院的糖尿病性胃轻瘫患者112例随机分为高压氧组和对照组各46例，HBO组在给予吗丁啉（每次10mg，每天3次，连用4周）的基础上加用HBO治疗，HBO采用多人氧舱，在舱内停留120min，压力为0．25MPa（2．5ATA），戴面罩吸人纯氧60min（30min各2次，中间休息10min吸人舱内空气），10次为1个疗程，共3个疗程，每疗程间隔3～5d（排除HBO治疗禁忌证）。对照组为单纯吗丁啉，每次10mg，每天3次，连用4周。45d分别对两组患者治疗前后胃动素、空腹血糖、胃排空时间及症状的改善各项指标进行研究对比。结果HBO组和对照组总有效率分别为92．9％和76．8％，症状的改善、胃动素及胃排空时间治疗组均优于对照组，差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论糖尿病性胃轻瘫患者在服用吗丁啉的基础上应用HBO可降低胃动素、加速胃排空时间，对临床症状的改善具有积极作用。