Detection of focal source and arrhythmogenic substrate from body surface potentials to guide atrial fibrillation ablation

Focal sources (FS) are believed to be important triggers and a perpetuation mechanism for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Detecting FS and determining AF sustainability in atrial tissue can help guide ablation targeting. We hypothesized that sustained rotors during FS-driven episodes indicate an arrhythmogenic substrate for sustained AF, and that non-invasive electrical recordings, like electrocardiograms (ECGs) or body surface potential maps (BSPMs), could be used to detect FS and AF sustainability. Computer simulations were performed on five bi-atrial geometries. FS were induced by pacing at cycle lengths of 120–270 ms from 32 atrial sites and four pulmonary veins. Self-sustained reentrant activities were also initiated around the same 32 atrial sites with inexcitable cores of radii of 0, 0.5 and 1 cm. FS fired for two seconds and then AF inducibility was tested by whether activation was sustained for another second. ECGs and BSPMs were simulated. Equivalent atrial sources were extracted using second-order blind source separation, and their cycle length, periodicity and contribution, were used as features for random forest classifiers. Longer rotor duration during FS-driven episodes indicates higher AF inducibility (area under ROC curve = 0.83). Our method had accuracy of 90.6±1.0% and 90.6±0.6% in detecting FS presence, and 93.1±0.6% and 94.2±1.2% in identifying AF sustainability, and 80.0±6.6% and 61.0±5.2% in determining the atrium of the focal site, from BSPMs and ECGs of five atria. The detection of FS presence and AF sustainability were insensitive to vest placement (±9.6%). On pre-operative BSPMs of 52 paroxysmal AF patients, patients classified with initiator-type FS on a single atrium resulted in improved two-to-three-year AF-free likelihoods (p-value < 0.01, logrank tests). Detection of FS and arrhythmogenic substrate can be performed from ECGs and BSPMs, enabling non-invasive mapping towards mechanism-targeted AF treatment, and malignant ectopic beat detection with likely AF progression.     

The role of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in tumor invasion and metastasis

Ubiquitination is vital for multiple cellular processes via dynamic modulation of proteins related to cell growth, proliferation, and survival. Of the ubiquitination system components, E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases have the most prominent roles in modulating tumor metastasis. This review will briefly summarize the observations and underlying mechanisms of multiple E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases to regulate tumor metastasis. Further, we will discuss the relationship and importance between ubiquitination components and tumor progression.     

Capsaicin inhibits intestinal Cl- secretion and promotes Na+ absorption by blocking TRPV4 channels in healthy and colitic mice

Although capsaicin has been studied extensively as an activator of the transient receptor potential vanilloid cation channel subtype 1 (TRPV1) channels in sensory neurons, little is known about its TRPV1-independent actions in gastrointestinal health and disease. Here, we aimed to investigate the pharmacological actions of capsaicin as a food additive and medication on intestinal ion transporters in mouse models of ulcerative colitis (UC). The short-circuit current (I_sc) of the intestine from WT, TRPV1-, and TRPV4-KO mice were measured in Ussing chambers, and Ca²⁺ imaging was performed on small intestinal epithelial cells. We also performed Western blots, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence on intestinal epithelial cells and on intestinal tissues following UC induction with dextran sodium sulfate. We found that capsaicin did not affect basal intestinal I_sc but significantly inhibited carbachol- and caffeine-induced intestinal I_sc in WT mice. Capsaicin similarly inhibited the intestinal I_sc in TRPV1 KO mice, but this inhibition was absent in TRPV4 KO mice. We also determined that Ca²⁺ influx via TRPV4 was required for cholinergic signaling–mediated intestinal anion secretion, which was inhibited by capsaicin. Moreover, the glucose-induced jejunal I_scvia Na⁺/glucose cotransporter was suppressed by TRPV4 activation, which could be relieved by capsaicin. Capsaicin also stimulated ouabain- and amiloride-sensitive colonic I_sc. Finally, we found that dietary capsaicin ameliorated the UC phenotype, suppressed hyperaction of TRPV4 channels, and rescued the reduced ouabain- and amiloride-sensitive I_sc. We therefore conclude that capsaicin inhibits intestinal Cl^- secretion and promotes Na⁺ absorption predominantly by blocking TRPV4 channels to exert its beneficial anti-colitic action.     

量子点在癌症研究中的应用

半导体量子点具有长时间、多目标和灵敏度高等独特的光化学性质,这些特性使量子点成为细胞标记和生物应用中得到了广泛的应用。利用量子点目标定位癌细胞,对于寻找癌变部位具有指导的作用。近年来,利用量子点作为光动力学治疗癌症的能量供体也得到了一定的研究。简单地介绍了量子点独特的光学性质,并从量子点标记癌细胞、可视化癌细胞表面功能和在光动力学治疗癌症等方面综述了量子点在癌症诊断和治疗中的应用。     

屯昌猪MYLPF基因序列分析及其组织表达量检测

为获得屯昌猪MYLPF基因的CDS区序列并分析其分子结构特征,研究屯昌猪、杜洛克猪以及其杂交F1代猪不同组织中的MYLPF mRNA表达水平,本研究以GenBank上公布的猪MYLPF基因序列(登录号:NM_001006592)为参考设计引物,通过RT-PCR扩增、测序获得屯昌猪MYLPF基因CDS区.结果显示:该基因...     

综合性医院重症监护病房病原菌分离情况分析

目的探讨重症监护病房（Icu）医院内感染的临床特点及病原菌种类、分布情况,为临床合理使用抗菌药物、预防和控制医院感染提供参考和依据。方法采用前瞻性监测与回顾性调查相结合的方法,对ICU患者的临床资料进行统计分析。结果ICU病人标本中分离出病原菌593株,得出菌种分布与感染情况。结论重症监护病房医院内感染发生率高,以呼吸道感染为主,主要病原菌以革兰阴性非发酵菌为主,加强ICU患者感染的控制,可减少ICU医院内感染的发生。     

Piwi/piRNAs control food intake by promoting neuropeptide F expression in locusts

Animal feeding, which directly affects growth and metabolism, is an important physiological process. However, the contribution of PIWI proteins and PIWI‐interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to the regulatory mechanism of animal feeding is unknown. Here, we report a novel function of Piwi and piRNAs in regulating food intake in locusts. Our study shows that the locust can serve as a representative species for determining PIWI function in insects. Knockdown of Piwi1 expression suppresses anabolic processes and reduces food consumption and body weight. The reduction in food intake by knockdown of Piwi1 expression results from decreased expression of neuropeptide NPF1 in a piRNA‐dependent manner. Mechanistically, intronic piRNAs might enhance RNA splicing of NPF1 by preventing hairpin formation at the branch point sites. These results suggest a novel nuclear PIWI/piRNA‐mediated mechanism that controls food intake in the locust nervous system.