Pancreatic fibrosis (PF) is a hallmark of chronic pancreatitis (CP), but its molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore the role of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in PF in CP mice. The CP mouse model was established using caerulein. After KLF4 interference, pathological changes in pancreatic tissues and fibrosis degree were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining, and levels of Collagen I, Collagen III, and alpha-smooth muscle actin, inflammatory cytokines, KLF4, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A (STAT5) in pancreatic tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot assay, and immunofluorescence. The enrichment of KLF4 on the STAT5 promoter and the binding of KLF4 to the STAT5 promoter were analyzed. The rescue experiments were performed by co-injection of sh-STAT5 and sh-KLF4 to confirm the regulatory mechanism of KLF4. KLF4 was upregulated in CP mice. Inhibition of KLF4 effectively attenuated pancreatic inflammation and PF in mice. KLF4 was enriched on the STAT5 promoter and enhanced the transcriptional and protein levels of STAT5. Overexpression of STAT5 reversed the inhibitory role of silencing KLF4 in PF. In summary, KLF4 promoted the transcription and expression of STAT5, which further facilitated PF in CP mice.
A high rate of thromboembolism and a high risk of death have been reported regarding hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recently, we noticed that clinicians in some comparative studies used direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to prevent thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19. However, it is uncertain whether DOACs are better than recommended heparin for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Therefore, a direct comparison of the prophylactic effects and safety between DOACs and heparin is needed. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from 2019 to December 1, 2022. Randomized controlled trials or retrospective studies comparing the efficacy or safety of DOACs with that of heparin in preventing thromboembolism for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were included. We assessed endpoints and publication bias using Stata 14.0. Five studies comprising 1360 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate cases were identified in the databases. Comparing the embolism incidence, we found that DOACs had a better effect than heparin, mainly low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), in preventing thromboembolism (risk ratio [RR] = 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.43-0.91], P = 0.014). Considering safety, DOACs resulted in less bleeding than heparin during hospitalization (RR = 0.52, 95% CI [0.11-2.44], P = 0.411). Similar mortality was discovered in the 2 groups (RR = 0.94, 95% CI [0.59-1.51], P = 0.797). In noncritically hospitalized patients with COVID-19, DOACs are superior to heparin, even LMWH, in preventing thromboembolism. Compared with heparin, DOACs have a lower trend of bleeding and yield a similar mortality rate. Therefore, DOACs may be a better alternative for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
The study was to probe into the application of ultrasound technique in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and research the progress of PEG-PCL nano micelle and ultrasound technique. Method: 210 patients with a singleton pregnancy fetus, who received the fetal echocardiography in Yuhang District First Peoples Hospital from March 2019 to March 2020, were selected as the subjects, including 101 fetuses who were confirmed as gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM), and 109 normal fetuses (control group). The ultrasound cardiogram technique was employed to detect the thickness of the fetus ventricle septum, mitral/tricuspid annular displacement, left/right TEI indexes, and so on. The mean value of three cardiac cycles was taken as the test results. Finally, SPSS17.0 software was applied to the analysis of data. The nano micelle was made from the amphiphilic block copolymers (PEG-PCL) using the dialysis method/solvent evaporation method. The nanoscale ultrasound contrast agent was prepared from Decafluoropentane which was imaging gas. The characterizations were studied using the optical microscope, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The temperature sensitivity and ultrasound sensitivity of the nano-ultrasound contrast agent were analyzed with the particle size as the evaluation index. The in-vitro ultrasound contrast experiment was conducted to study the contrast-enhanced effect. Results: The fetal Tei index of the case group was higher than that of the control group, of which P had statistical significance. However, the thickness of the fetus ventricle septum, Em, Am, and Em/Am of mitral/tricuspid annular were not significantly different from those of the control group (P>0.05). The nano ultrasonic contrast agent prepared through the ultrasonic injection method had a uniform particle size and a hollow shell-core structure under an electron projection microscope. The particle size of the nano-ultrasound contrast agent varied with temperature, and its microbubbles were generated under ultrasonic conditions. As compared with the blank degassed water group, a real linear echo appeared inside the contrast agent group, with small and even echo spots. The back echo remained with no obvious attenuation and lasted for a longer period. However, the blank degassed group had no distinct echo intensity and spot. Conclusion: PEG-PCL nano-ultrasound contrast agent achieved an excellent imaging effect; there was no obvious change to heart function and structure of the fetus, when gestational diabetes pregnant had blood sugar perfectly controlled, however, the fetus’s heart function may change in the last trimester.
Abstract In order to deal with the global energy crisis and environmental problems, reducing carbon dioxide through artificial photosynthesis has become a hot topic. Lead halide perovskite is attracted people's attention because of its excellent photoelectric properties, but the toxicity and long‐term instability prompt people to search for new photocatalysts. Herein, a series of <111> inorganic double perovskites Cs 4 Mn 1‐x Cu x Sb 2 Cl 12 microcrystals (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) are synthesized and characterized. Among them, Cs 4 Mn 0.7 Cu 0.3 Sb 2 Cl 12 microcrystals have the best photocatalytic performance, and the yields of CO and CH 4 are 503.86 and 68.35 µmol g −1 , respectively, after 3 h irradiation, which are the highest among pure phase perovskites reported so far. In addition, in situ Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy are used to explore the mechanism of the photocatalytic reaction. The results highlight the potential of this class of materials for photocatalytic reduction reactions.
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