Protective activities of ellagic acid and urolithins against kidney toxicity of environmental pollutants: A review

Oxidative stress and inflammation are two possible mechanisms related to nephrotoxicity caused by environmental pollutants. Ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant phytochemical, may have great relevance in mitigating pollutant-induced nephrotoxicity and preventing the progression of kidney disease. This review discusses the latest findings on the protective effects of ellagic acid, its metabolic derivatives, the urolithins, against kidney toxicity caused by heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and organic air pollutants. We describe the chelating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, antiautophagic, and antiapoptotic properties of ellagic acid to attenuate nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, we present the molecular targets and signaling pathways that are regulated by these antioxidants, and suggest some others that should be explored. Nevertheless, the number of reports is still limited to establish the efficacy of ellagic acid against kidney damage induced by environmental pollutants. Therefore, additional preclinical studies on this topic are required, as well as the development of well-designed clinical trials.     

Coronary Artery Embolism: Two Case Reports and a Review of the Literature

Coronary embolism (CE) is an uncommon and unique cause of acute myocardial infarction. In this report, we review 216 cases of CE including 2 new cases from our institution. The mean patient age was 52.5 years and 62% of the patients were males. Chest pain was the most common presenting symptom followed by dyspnea, and the most commonly affected vessel was the left anterior descending artery. Leading etiologies of the embolus were atrial fibrillation, septic emboli, and iatrogenic causes. Treatment approaches varied with thrombus aspiration being used in 30% of cases. In-hospital mortality rate was 36% and 13% of the cases were complicated by cerebrovascular accident. CE is a unique pathology that leads to acute myocardial infarction. It portends a high mortality rate and requires a high level of suspicion as symptoms may be misleading. Further research is needed in order to improve recognition and management and to lower associated mortality.     

良性前列腺增生与前列腺慢性炎症的相关性研究进展

良性前列腺增生（BPH）是老年男性常见的泌尿系统疾病，其发病与前列腺慢性炎症之间存在显著相关。感染因子、尿液返流、代谢综合征、衰老过程和自身免疫应答在内的几种刺激，通过相应分子途径引起前列腺免疫细胞的组织定位和组成成分发生广泛改变，从而导致免疫系统失调，之后引发的组织损伤和缓慢愈合，导致了BPH发生和进展。本文通过总结良性前列腺增生与前列腺慢性炎症的相关性的临床研究结果，前列腺免疫细胞在病理生理机制层面与前两者之间的内在联系，以及抗炎药物对BPH-LUTS的干预作用，以其为BPH-LUTS的药物研发提供参考。     

Maternal benzo[a]pyrene exposure is correlated with the meiotic arrest and quality deterioration of offspring oocytes in mice

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in particulate matter that has a diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5). Studies have demonstrated that BaP exposure causes oocyte meiotic arrest in mice. However, whether BaP exposure also affects oocyte maturation in offspring remains unclear. To test this, female mice were administered BaP before pregnancy to generate BaP-exposed offspring. Our findings showed that BaP exposure reduced the in vitro maturation and increased the abnormalities of meiotic apparatus in offspring oocytes. In addition, BaP exposure reduced the mitochondrial content and intracellular ATP generation, induced early apoptosis, increased reactive oxidative species accumulation and the genomic DNA 5-methylcytosine (5mc) level in offspring oocytes. Along with the abovementioned defective parameters, maternal BaP exposure further compromised the embryo developmental competence of offspring oocytes. In summary, our study demonstrated that maternal BaP exposure compromised offspring oocyte maturation and quality.     

改良双腔球囊导管在插管失败的输卵管阻塞介入再通术中的应用价值

目的探讨改良双腔球囊导管在插管失败的输卵管阻塞介入再通术中的应用价值。方法回顾45例输卵管阻塞性不孕患者,应用常规法行介入再通术,其中输卵管开口插管失败采用改良双腔球囊导管行介入再通,统计分析常规法组与联合改良双腔球囊导管法组(联合法组)的输卵管开口插管成功率、输卵管阻塞的开通率。结果输卵管阻塞性不孕患者45例,共阻塞输卵管90条,采用常规法输卵管开口插管成功32条,其中开通成功31条,插管成功率为35.56%,开通率96.88%。采用联合法输卵管开口插管成功90条,输卵管开通83条,插管成功率为100%,开通率92.22%,7条输卵管因阻塞病情严重无法开通,其中双侧均未能开通1例。所有患者术中均无严重并发症发生。随访12个月,妊娠率48.65%。常规法组与联合法组输卵管开口插管成功率差异具有统计学意义(χ^2=85.574,P=0.000),而输卵管开通率差异无统计学意义(χ^2=0.248,P=0.619)。结论对于常规法输卵管开口插管失败者,采用联合改良双腔球囊导管可提高输卵管开口插管成功率。采用改良双腔球囊导管介入再通与常规法开通效果相当,可作为常规介入再通输卵管开口插管失败的备选方案。     

Caffeic Acid–coated Nanolayer on Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Potentiates the Host Immune Responses,Angiogenesis, and Odontogenesis

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to investigate whether mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) can be modified with caffeic acid (CA) to form caffeic acid/mineral trioxide aggregate (CAMTA) cement and to evaluate its physicochemical and biological properties as well as its capability in immune suppression and angiogenesis.MethodsMTA was immersed in trishydroxymethyl aminomethane buffer with CA to allow coating onto MTA powders. X-ray diffractometry and tensile stress-strain tests were conducted to assess for physical characteristics of CAMTA and to evaluate for successful modification of MTA. Then, the CAMTA cement was immersed in simulated body fluid to evaluate its hydroxyapatite formation capabilities and Si release profiles. In addition, RAW 264.7 cells and human dental pulp stem cells were used to evaluate CAMTA’s immunosuppressive capabilities and cell responses, respectively. hDPSCs were also used to assess CAMTA’s angiogenic capabilities.ResultsThe X-ray diffractometry results showed that CA can be successfully coated onto MTA without disrupting or losing MTA’s original structural properties, thus allowing us to retain the initial advantages of MTA. CAMTA was shown to have higher mechanical properties compared with MTA and had rougher pitted surfaces, which were hypothesized to lead to enhanced adhesion, proliferation, and secretion of angiogenic- and odontogenic-related proteins. In addition, it was found that CAMTA was able to enhance hydroxyapatite formation and immunosuppressive capabilities compared with MTA.ConclusionsCAMTA cements were found to have improved physicochemical and biological characteristics compared with their counterpart. In addition, CAMTA cements had enhanced odontogenic, angiogenic, and immunosuppressive properties compared with MTA. All of the results of this study proved that CAMTA cements could be a biomaterial for future clinical applications and tissue engineering use.     

Interleukin-11 Overexpression and M2 Macrophage Density are Associated with Angiogenic Activity in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the expression of IL-11 and its receptor IL-11Rα and to quantify density of CD163⁺ M2 macrophages in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).     

某设备所致脉冲X射线辐射场测量与防护评价

目的 了解某设备实验条件下不同位置脉冲X射线电离辐射水平，提出适当的防护建议。方法 采用热释光测量方法，分别在设备舱周围不同方向不同距离布放热释光剂量计，累积一定数量脉冲辐射后进行测量；采用电离室型X、γ剂量率仪（FJ-347A）实时测量工作状态下不同距离处电离辐射剂量率水平。依据《电离辐射防护与辐射源安全基本标准》（GB18871—2002）规定的职业照射人员和公众个人剂量限值提出不同工作位辐射防护建议。结果 热释光剂量计累计接收3 000个脉冲辐射，设备舱外壁0.01～8.98 mGy，顶部0.01～15.67 mGy，距外壁1～12 m之间0.01～2.18 mGy，工作位0 mGy。工作状态下，X射线剂量率仪测得距设备舱外侧壁1～20 m之间空气比释动能率范围0.26～16 mGy/h。结论 热释光剂量计、电离室型剂量率仪测量结果基本一致，说明两种方法均可用于脉冲X射线测量；工作状态下设备舱外近距离处辐射剂量率较高，可通过采取防护措施或者限制人员工作量以满足辐射防护要求。