Background Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pyroptosis is a form of inflammatory cell death that plays a major role in the development and progression of cardiac injury in AMI. However, the underlying mechanisms for the activation of pyroptosis during AMI are not fully elucidated. Methods and Results Here we show that RBP4 (retinol‐binding protein 4), a previous identified proinflammatory adipokine, was increased both in the myocardium of left anterior descending artery ligation‐induced AMI mouse model and in ischemia‐hypoxia‒induced cardiomyocyte injury model. The upregulated RBP4 may contribute to the activation of cardiomyocyte pyroptosis in AMI because overexpression of RBP4 activated NLRP3 (nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐like receptor family pyrin domain‐containing 3) inflammasome, promoted the precursor cleavage of Caspase‐1, and subsequently induced GSDMD (gasdermin‐D)‐dependent pyroptosis. In contrast, knockdown of RBP4 alleviated ischemia‐hypoxia‒induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling and pyroptosis in cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, coimmunoprecipitation assay showed that RBP4 interacted directly with NLRP3 in cardiomyocyte, while genetic knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of NLRP3 attenuated RBP4‐induced pyroptosis in cardiomyocytes. Finally, knockdown of RBP4 in heart decreased infarct size and protected against AMI‐induced pyroptosis and cardiac dysfunction in mice. Conclusions Taken together, these findings reveal RBP4 as a novel modulator promoting cardiomyocyte pyroptosis via interaction with NLRP3 in AMI. Therefore, targeting cardiac RBP4 might represent a viable strategy for the prevention of cardiac injury in patients with AMI.
Parasitoid wasps are rapidly developing as a model for evolutionary biology. Here we present chromosomal genomes of two Anastatus wasps, A. japonicus and A. fulloi, and leverage these genomes to study two fundamental questions-genome size evolution and venom evolution. Anastatus shows a much larger genome than is known among other wasps, with unexpectedly recent bursts of LTR retrotransposons. Importantly, several genomic innovations, including Piwi gene family expansion, ubiquitous Piwi expression profiles, as well as transposable element-piRNA coevolution, have likely emerged for transposable element silencing to maintain genomic stability. Additionally, we show that the co-option evolution arose by expression shifts in the venom gland plays a dominant role in venom turnover. We also highlight the potential importance of non-venom genes that are coexpressed with venom genes during venom evolution. Our findings greatly advance the current understanding of genome size evolution and venom evolution, and these genomic resources will facilitate comparative genomics studies of insects in the future.
Chinese silkworm (Antheraea pernyi) eggs are used as factitious hosts of Anastatus fulloi, and refrigeration of these eggs is essential for large-scale rearing of A. fulloi. We studied the effects of cold storage of A. pernyi eggs on egg quality and the fitness of A. fulloi reared on the eggs. Four cold storage treatments and two cold storage periods were assessed. The 0–3 °C refrigerator treatment was unsuitable for long-term (>70 days) storage. Cold storage at −5 °C and −18 °C increased the loss rate of A. pernyi eggs, but there was no significant difference between the control and 0–3 °C water bath treatment. The parasitism rate of A. fulloi was reduced when A. pernyi eggs were refrigerated for 6 or 12 months. There were no obvious differences in eclosion rate and percentage of females between control and eggs subjected to 6-month storage in 0–3 °C, −5 °C, and −18 °C water bath treatments. However, the eclosion rate and percentage of females decreased sharply when the storage period was 12 months. The overall eclosion rate of A. fulloi was reduced at the prolonged refrigeration time. Cold storage reduced host egg quality and their fitness suitability for A. fulloi. To minimize losses in the large-scale rearing of A. fulloi, A. pernyi eggs should be refrigerated in a 0–3 °C or −5 °C water bath treatment, and the storage period should not exceed 6 months.
Objective To compare the effect of Travoprost and Timolol in treating patients with primary open angle glaucoma.Methods Using randomized,parallel group control study and choosing patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG),0.004％ Travoprost was applied once a day (7:00PM) in 58 patients of the experiment group and 0.5％ Timolol (7:00AM&7:00PM) in 30 patients of the control group for 1 year.Intraocular pressure (IOP),visual field and adverse reaction were observed.Results The IOP in the experiment group decreased 8.21±3.44mmHg and the visual field score reduced 0.45±1.10,the reduction in the control group was 5.44±l.78mmHg and the score increased 0.47±1.01.Visual field score of the two groups were stable.Conclusions Comparing with Timolol,Travoprost is more effective and stable in reducing IOP in patients with POAG.
Key words:
Travoprost; Timolol; Glaucoma
BACKGROUND:The contribution of local sympathetic nerves to ventricular arrhythmia (VA) originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) has not been elucidated. This study used a canine model to investigate the anatomical changes of the RVOT associated with VA, and the distribution of local sympathetic nerves. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The RVOT-VA canine model (6 dogs) was induced with a circular catheter and high-frequency stimulation (100 Hz) in the middle of the pulmonary artery trunk. Six dogs who were not given stimulation served as the control group. The serum levels of neurotransmitters, the extent of myocardial extension, and the sympathetic nerve density of the RVOT were also analyzed. RESULTS:Ventricular arrhythmias, including premature ventricular contractions, were induced in the experimental group after high-frequency stimulation. Dogs from the RVOT-VA group showed enhanced myocardial extension and sympathetic nerve density in the septal wall as compared with those of the free wall of the RVOT. In the RVOT-VA dogs, serum norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y and the sympathetic nerve density were significantly higher compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS:Stimulation of the pulmonary artery could activate local sympathetic nerves and enhance myocardial extension, which may be the foundation of RVOT-VA. The RVOT voltage transitional zone positively correlated with myocardial extension, which may serve as an important target for the radiofrequency catheter ablation of RVOT-VA clinically.
Cataracts are associated with a decline in both cognitive and visual functions. This study examines postoperative changes in cognitive and visual functions in patients with age-related cataracts, focusing on the differential effects of unilateral and bilateral cataract surgeries on these functions. Additionally, the study evaluates changes in cognitive function following cataract surgery in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A cohort of patients (n = 35, 59 eyes) aged 60 years and older (69.9 ± 7.0 years) with age-related cataracts who underwent unilateral or bilateral cataract surgery between May and June 2024 was selected. Cognitive and visual functions were evaluated preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Visual function was assessed using a binocular visual function testing system based on virtual reality (VR) technology, which evaluated low spatial frequency suppression, simultaneous vision, stereopsis, and perceptual eye position under 3D viewing conditions without glasses. Based on preoperative MoCA scores, patients were classified into cognitively normal and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) groups. Patients with age-related cataracts demonstrated significant improvements in both cognitive and visual functions at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively, compared to preoperative assessments (p < 0.05). Specifically, both the bilateral surgery group and the MCI group exhibited substantial improvements in cognitive function at these time points (p < 0.05). Additionally, the bilateral surgery group outperformed the unilateral surgery group in cognitive function throughout the follow-up period (p < 0.05). In terms of visual function, the bilateral surgery group showed significant improvements in low spatial frequency suppression, simultaneous vision, and stereopsis at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively, compared to preoperative measurements (p < 0.05). Both cognitive and visual functions significantly improved after cataract surgery. Bilateral cataract surgery is more effective in increasing the cognitive functions than unilateral surgery. Additionally, cataract surgery plays a critical role in facilitating cognitive recovery in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Anastatus japonicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) are the most important egg parasitoids of Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in northern China. In this study, we assessed the fitness of these two parasitoid species at different temperatures. We examined the intrinsic competition of these parasitoids inside host eggs by providing each parasitoid species with H. halys egg masses previously parasitized by the other species, at different time intervals between attacks. We also investigated their intraguild competition for H. halys eggs by releasing a single species (one female T. japonicus or five female A. japonicus per cage) or both parasitoid species (one female T. japonicus and five female A. japonicus per cage) simultaneously in exclusion cages stocked with three host egg masses per cage in a kiwifruit orchard. Our results showed that the developmental time from eggs to adults of both parasitoids decreased with increased temperatures, between 15 °C and 30 °C, and T. japonicus developed much faster than A. japonicus during the immature stages in host eggs. Both T. japonicus and A. japonicus were able to parasitize a host already parasitized by the other parasitoid, and sex ratios of their offspring from multi-parasitized hosts were male-biased for both parasitoids. Inside host eggs, T. japonicus outcompeted A. japonicus when the time lags between the first and second attacks were less than or equal to 1 day, regardless of the order of attack by the two parasitoids, whereas A. japonicus began to dominate when the time lag was 2 to 5 d. The host location, exploitation and impact indexes of the two parasitoids were influenced by their exploitation modes and/or releases in the exclusion cage tests in the field. However, regardless of single or simultaneous release, the parasitism rates of the two parasitoids were not so much affected. We concluded that the combined release of T. japonicus and A. japonicus at the given parasitoid densities did not show any advantage compared to the single release of either species. The two parasitoids employed different reproductive strategies contributing to the outcome of their interspecific competition, which should be considered in any future biological control program for the sustainable management of H. halys.
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