Statin Use and the Risk of Parkinson's Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis

Introduction

In response to the ongoing debate over the relationship between the use of statins and the risk of Parkinson''s disease (PD), we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to examine their association.

Methods

We conducted a review of the literature using electronic databases supplemented by a manual search to identify potentially relevant case-control or cohort studies. Summary relative risk (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were also conducted.

Results

Eleven studies (five case-control and six cohort) with a total of 3,513,209 participants and 21,011 PD cases were included. Statin use was associated with a lower risk of PD, with a summary RR of 0.81 (95% CI 0.71–0.92). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the robustness of results. Subgroup analyses showed that neither study design nor study region significantly influenced the effect estimates. However, subgroup studies adjusted for age or sex had a greater inverse association than did unadjusted analyses (age-adjusted RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60–0.95; age-unadjusted RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75–0.99 and sex-adjusted RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59–0.98; sex-unadjusted RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79–0.92).

Conclusions

Results of this systematic review suggest that statin use is associated with a reduced PD risk. However, randomized controlled trials and more observational studies should be performed before strong conclusions are drawn.     

Protective Role of False Tendon in Subjects with Left Bundle Branch Block: A Virtual Population Study

False tendons (FTs) are fibrous or fibromuscular bands that can be found in both the normal and abnormal human heart in various anatomical forms depending on their attachment points, tissue types, and geometrical properties. While FTs are widely considered to affect the function of the heart, their specific roles remain largely unclear and unexplored. In this paper, we present an in silico study of the ventricular activation time of the human heart in the presence of FTs. This study presents the first computational model of the human heart that includes a FT, Purkinje network, and papillary muscles. Based on this model, we perform simulations to investigate the effect of different types of FTs on hearts with the electrical conduction abnormality of a left bundle branch block (LBBB). We employ a virtual population of 70 human hearts derived from a statistical atlas, and run a total of 560 simulations to assess ventricular activation time with different FT configurations. The obtained results indicate that, in the presence of a LBBB, the FT reduces the total activation time that is abnormally augmented due to a branch block, to such an extent that surgical implant of cardiac resynchronisation devices might not be recommended by international guidelines. Specifically, the simulation results show that FTs reduce the QRS duration at least 10 ms in 80% of hearts, and up to 45 ms for FTs connecting to the ventricular free wall, suggesting a significant reduction of cardiovascular mortality risk. In further simulation studies we show the reduction in the QRS duration is more sensitive to the shape of the heart then the size of the heart or the exact location of the FT. Finally, the model suggests that FTs may contribute to reducing the activation time difference between the left and right ventricles from 12 ms to 4 ms. We conclude that FTs may provide an alternative conduction pathway that compensates for the propagation delay caused by the LBBB. Further investigation is needed to quantify the clinical impact of FTs on cardiovascular mortality risk.     

Lactic Acid Production from Pretreated Hydrolysates of Corn Stover by a Newly Developed Bacillus coagulans Strain

An inhibitor-tolerance strain, Bacillus coagulans GKN316, was developed through atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) mutation and evolution experiment in condensed dilute-acid hydrolysate (CDH) of corn stover. The fermentabilities of other hydrolysates with B. coagulans GKN316 and the parental strain B. coagulans NL01 were assessed. When using condensed acid-catalyzed steam-exploded hydrolysate (CASEH), condensed acid-catalyzed liquid hot water hydrolysate (CALH) and condensed acid-catalyzed sulfite hydrolysate (CASH) as substrates, the concentration of lactic acid reached 45.39, 16.83, and 18.71 g/L by B. coagulans GKN316, respectively. But for B. coagulans NL01, only CASEH could be directly fermented to produce 15.47 g/L lactic acid. The individual inhibitory effect of furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), vanillin, syringaldehyde and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (pHBal) on xylose utilization by B. coagulans GKN316 was also studied. The strain B. coagulans GKN316 could effectively convert these toxic inhibitors to the less toxic corresponding alcohols in situ. These results suggested that B. coagulans GKN316 was well suited to production of lactic acid from undetoxified lignocellulosic hydrolysates.     

Analyzing the Long Term Cohesive Effect of Sector Specific Driving Forces

Financial markets are partially composed of sectors dominated by external driving forces, such as commodity prices, infrastructure and other indices. We characterize the statistical properties of such sectors and present a novel model for the coupling of the stock prices and their dominating driving forces, inspired by mean reverting stochastic processes. Using the model we were able to explain the market sectors’ long term behavior and estimate the coupling strength between stocks in financial markets and the sector specific driving forces. Notably, the analysis was successfully applied to the shipping market, in which the Baltic dry index (BDI), an assessment of the price of transporting the major raw materials by sea, influences the shipping financial market. We also present the analysis of other sectors—the gold mining market and the food production market, for which the model was also successfully applied. The model can serve as a general tool for characterizing the coupling between external forces and affected financial variables and therefore for estimating the risk in sectors and their vulnerability to external stress.     

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Seeding of Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosal Extracellular Matrix for Cardiovascular Applications

In this study, we investigate the translational potential of a novel combined construct using an FDA-approved decellularized porcine small intestinal submucosa extracellular matrix (SIS-ECM) seeded with human or porcine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cardiovascular indications. With the emerging success of individual component in various clinical applications, the combination of SIS-ECM with MSCs could provide additional therapeutic potential compared to individual components alone for cardiovascular repair. We tested the in vitro effects of MSC-seeding on SIS-ECM on resultant construct structure/function properties and MSC phenotypes. Additionally, we evaluated the ability of porcine MSCs to modulate recipient graft-specific response towards SIS-ECM in a porcine cardiac patch in vivo model. Specifically, we determined: 1) in vitro loading-capacity of human MSCs on SIS-ECM, 2) effect of cell seeding on SIS-ECM structure, compositions and mechanical properties, 3) effect of SIS-ECM seeding on human MSC phenotypes and differentiation potential, and 4) optimal orientation and dose of porcine MSCs seeded SIS-ECM for an in vivo cardiac application. In this study, histological structure, biochemical compositions and mechanical properties of the FDA-approved SIS-ECM biomaterial were retained following MSCs repopulation in vitro. Similarly, the cellular phenotypes and differentiation potential of MSCs were preserved following seeding on SIS-ECM. In a porcine in vivo patch study, the presence of porcine MSCs on SIS-ECM significantly reduced adaptive T cell response regardless of cell dose and orientation compared to SIS-ECM alone. These findings substantiate the clinical translational potential of combined SIS-ECM seeded with MSCs as a promising therapeutic candidate for cardiac applications.     

过氧化物酶体增殖剂对稻瘟病菌生长发育及致病性的影响

【目的】探索过氧化物酶体增殖剂(Peroxisome proliferators,PPs)对稻瘟病菌生长发育及致病性的影响。【方法】在6种不同的PPs诱导下,观察比较稻瘟病菌过氧化物酶体数量及相关基因表达、生长速率、孢子萌发、附着胞形成与致病性的差异。【结果】在不同的PPs诱导下,稻瘟病菌过氧化物酶体数量均呈现明显的增加,同时过氧化物酶体形成相关基因PEX8、PEX11、PEX14的表达量升高;PPs影响病菌菌丝生长、分生孢子萌发及附着孢形成,并导致致病性的减弱。其中,2,4-D与阿司匹林的抑制效果最为显著。同时,2,4-D与ASA对稻瘟病菌过氧化物酶体形成突变体Δpex5和Δpex7的生长抑制效果与野生菌株相比明显增加。【结论】首次将PPs类化合物用于模式丝状病原真菌稻瘟病菌的研究。研究发现6种PPs均能够引起过氧化物酶体的增殖,并可抑制稻瘟病菌生长发育,降低致病性。     

单室微生物电解池除镍途径分析及微生物群落动态特征北大核心CSCD

【目的】为探究UASB颗粒污泥启动的单室微生物电解池(Single-chamber microbial electrolysis cell,SMEC)对Ni(II)的去除途径和SMEC中微生物群落的动态特征。【方法】以乙酸钠为底物,采用单因子控制方法分析SMEC对Ni(II)的去除途径和应用Illumina高通量测序技术解析SMEC启动过程中微生物群落的组成和结构动态学特征。【结果】结果表明,SMEC对重金属的去除主要通过吸附和微生物作用。经培养驯化功能菌群发生变化。成熟单室微生物燃料电池(Single-chamber microbial fuel cell,SMFC)阳极生物膜菌群主要是Proteobacteria(变形菌门,91.42%)中的Geobacter sp.(地杆菌属,76.25%);阴极生物膜菌群主要是Bacteroidetes(拟杆菌门,47.99%)中的Niabella sp.(布鲁氏菌属,33.01%)和Proteobacteria(45.74%)中的Ochrobactrum sp.(苍白杆菌属,10.80%)。成熟SMFC改装成的SMEC在12.5 mg-Ni(II)/L下,阳极生物膜菌群由单一优势菌Geobacter sp.转变为Geobacter sp.(41.56%)和Proteobacteria中的Azospirillum sp.(固氮螺菌属,5.97%);阴极生物膜菌群由Niabella sp.和Ochrobactrum sp.转变为Firmicutes(厚壁菌门,25.21%)中的Acetoanaerobium sp.(19.28%)、Proteobacteria(51.42%)中的Dokdonella sp.(16.48%)和Azospirillum sp.(9.49%)。【结论】本研究表明,污泥微生物经SMFC和SMEC驯化过程及Ni(II)的淘汰和选择,在电极上形成了稳定、高效产电与除镍菌群,优势菌群为Proteobacteria。     

A spectrophotometric assay for monoamine oxidase activity with 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine as a derivatized reagent

A simple, rapid and reliable spectrophotometry was developed to determine monoamine oxidase (MAO). In this study, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), a classic derivatizing reagent, was used to detect MAO-dependent aldehyde production; and traditional DNPH spectrophotometry was simplified. Benzylamine and serotonin oxidation were catalyzed by MAO-B and MAO-A, respectively, to aldehydes. These were derivatized with DNPH, and the corresponding quinones were further formed by adding NaOH. These DNPH derivatives with large conjugated structures were directly measured spectrophotometrically at 465 nm and 425 nm, without the need for precipitating, washing and suspending procedures. The addition of NaOH caused a red shift of the maximum absorption wavelength of these derivatives, which reduced the interference of free DNPH. MAO-B protein was as low as 47.5 μg in rat liver with correlation coefficients ranging within 0.995–0.999. This method is 2–3 times more sensitive than direct spectrophotometry. The detection of MAO inhibition through this method showed that IC₅₀ values of rasagiline are 8.00 × 10⁻⁹ M for MAO-B and 2.59 × 10⁻⁷ M for MAO-A. These results are similar to the values obtained by direct spectrophotometry. Our study suggests that DNPH spectrophotometry is suitable to detect MAO activity, and has the potential for MAO inhibitor screening in the treatment of MAO-mediated diseases.