Association between cardiovascular disease- and inflammation-related serum biomarkers and poor lung function in elderly

Identification of Circulating Inflammatory Proteins Associated with Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis by Multiplex Analysis

Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is characterized by increasing inflammation and progressive calcification in the aortic valve leaflets and is a major cause of death in the aging population. This study aimed to identify the inflammatory proteins involved in CAVS and provide potential therapeutic targets. We investigated the observational and causal associations of 92 inflammatory proteins, which were measured using affinity-based proteomic assays. Firstly, the case-control cohort identified differential proteins associated with the occurrence and progression of CAVS. Subsequently, we delved into exploring the causal impacts of these associated proteins through Mendelian randomization. This involved utilizing genetic instruments derived from cis-protein quantitative loci identified in genome-wide association studies, encompassing a cohort of over 400,000 individuals. Finally, we investigated the gene transcription and protein expression levels of inflammatory proteins by single-cell and immunohistochemistry analysis. Multivariate logistic regression and spearman's correlation analysis showed that five proteins showed a significant positive correlation with disease severity. Mendelian randomization showed that elevated levels of two proteins, namely, matrix metallopeptidase-1 (MMP1) and sirtuin 2 (SIRT2), were associated with an increased risk of CAVS. Immunohistochemistry and single-cell transcriptomes showed that expression levels of MMP1 and SIRT2 at the tissue and cell levels were significantly higher in calcified valves than in non-calcified control valves. These findings indicate that MMP1 and SIRT2 are causally related to CAVS and open up the possibility for identifying novel therapeutic targets.

Investigation of the shared gene signatures and molecular mechanisms between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and asthma

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is highly related with asthma from the epidemiology to pathogenesis, while the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Herein, we aimed to reveal the shared gene signatures and molecular mechanisms underlying the coexistence of OSAS and asthma and verified relating pathway in mouse models. We downloaded GSE75097 of OSAS and GSE165934 of asthma from GEO database and performed differential expression analysis and functional enrichment analysis to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and potential pathogenic pathway. PPI network was constructed with the STRING database. Hub genes were identified with cytoHubba and immune infiltration analysis was performed with cibersort for further verification. Potential drugs were screened with Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and miRNA-gene network was constructed. Besides, to test the pulmonary function and inflammatory cytokine, mouse models with OSAS and asthma were constructed, followed by validating the involvement of NOD1/NOD2-RIPK2-NF-κB-MCPIP-1 pathway in associated diseases.

RESULTS

In total, 104 DEGs were identified, in which PLAUR, RIPK2, PELI1, ZC3H12A, and TNFAIP8 are the hub genes, while NOD-like receptor signaling pathway and apoptosis signaling pathway were the potential influential pathways. Increased γδT cells and neutrophils were detected in asthma patients through immune infiltration analysis. Significant difference was detected among genders in OSAS, and acetaminophen is a potential drug in the comorbidity by screening the drugs in the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. Mice with OSAS and asthma presented with worse pulmonary function and higher levels of inflammatory cytokines. The relative proteins, including NOD1, NOD2, RIPK2, NF-κB, and MCPIP-1, were up-regulated in mice with the OSAS and asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

This research firstly elucidates NOD1/NOD2-RIPK2-NF-κB-MCPIP-1 pathway as the shared pathway in the development of OSAS and asthma through bioinformatics and experimental methods. There is an interactive deterioration model between OSAS and asthma. This study may provide some potential biomarkers in the future research of the underlying pathogenesis and treatment of comorbidity of OSAS and asthma.

Influence of Nurse-Led Health Education on Self-Management Ability, Satisfaction, and Compliance of Elderly Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Based on Knowledge, Belief, and Practice Model

Objective

Knowledge, belief, and behavior model (knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP)) is known as a cognitive model. Health education is important to the prognosis of patients, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, the investigation regarding health education based on the KAP model is few. Thus, this work is aimed at analyzing the influence of nurse-led health education on self-management ability, satisfaction, and compliance of elderly patients with COPD based on knowledge, belief, and practice model.

Methods

60 elderly patients with COPD cured in our hospital from January 2019 to April 2021 were enrolled for the study. The patients were randomly assigned to control group (n = 30) and study group (n = 30). The former group received routine nursing, and the latter group accepted health education based on “knowledge, belief, and practice” model. Finally, the scores of nursing satisfaction, KAP score, compliance rate, self-management level, pulmonary function, and life quality were compared in the two groups.

Results

The nursing satisfaction of the study group (100.00%) was higher than that (83.33%) of the control group (P < 0.05). The scores of knowledge, attitude, and behavior were remarkably higher in the study group than in the control group after nursing (P < 0.05). Moreover, KAP scores also significantly increased in the study group after nursing. The compliance rate of the study group (93.33%) was higher than that of the control group (66.67%) (P < 0.05). After nursing, the scores of symptom management, daily life management, emotion management, information management, and management efficiency were higher in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, pulmonary functions were improved in the two groups following nursing. Compared with the control groups, the 6 min walking distance, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC% were higher in the study group (P < 0.05). After nursing, the scores of life quality were reduced in the two groups. The scores of physiological function, psychological function, social function, and health self-cognition were lower in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Based on the model of knowledge, belief, and practice, nurse-led health education can successfully enhance the self-management ability, satisfaction, and compliance of elderly COPD patients.

Hypoxia- and Inflammation-Related Transcription Factor SP3 May Be Involved in Platelet Activation and Inflammation in Intracranial Hemorrhage

The purpose of this study was to identify the biomarkers implicated in the development of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and potential regulatory pathways. In the transcriptomic data for patients with ICH, we identified DEmiRNAs and DEmRNAs related to hypoxia, inflammation, and their transcription factors (TFs). An ICH-based miRNA-TF-mRNA regulatory network was thus constructed, and four biomarkers (TIMP1, PLAUR, DDIT3, and CD40) were screened for their association with inflammation or hypoxia by machine learning. Following this, SP3 was found to be a transcription factor involved in hypoxia and inflammation, which regulates TIMP1 and PLAUR. From the constructed miRNA-TF-mRNA regulatory network, we identified three axes, hsa-miR-940/RUNX1/TIMP1, hsa-miR-571/SP3/TIMP1, and hsa-miR-571/SP3/PLAUR, which may be involved in the development of ICH. Upregulated TIMP1 and PLAUR were validated in an independent clinical cohort 3 days after ICH onset. According to Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), SP3 was discovered to be important in interleukin signaling and platelet activation for hemostasis. Transcription factor SP3 associated with hypoxia or inflammation plays an important role in development of ICH. This study provides potential targets for monitoring the severity of inflammation and hypoxia in patients with ICH.

Common physiologic and proteomic biomarkers in pulmonary and coronary artery disease

Objective

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are leading causes of global morbidity and mortality. There is a well-known comorbidity between COPD and CAD, which is only partly explained by smoking and other known common risk factors. In order to better understand the relationship between COPD and CAD, we analyzed myocardial perfusion, pulmonary function and novel cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with symptoms suggesting myocardial ischemia.

Methods

A total of 396 subjects from the Swedish Biomarkers and Genetics CardioPulmonary Physiology Study (BiG CaPPS) were included, all of whom had been referred to myocardial perfusion imaging due to suspected myocardial ischemia. Subjects performed myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), pulmonary function tests (PFT) and analysis of 92 proteomic biomarkers, previously associated with cardiovascular disease. Linear regression was used to study the relationship between MPI and PFT results and proteomic biomarkers.

Results

Subjects with CAD (n = 159) had lower diffusing capacity (D_LCO) than patients without CAD (6.64 versus 7.17 mmol/(min*kPa*l); p = 0.004) in models adjusted for common covariates such as smoking, but also diabetes and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). The association remained significant after additional adjustment for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) (p = 0.009). Subjects with CAD, compared with subjects without CAD, had higher total airway resistance (0.37 vs 0.36 kPa/(l/s); p = 0.036). Among 92 protein biomarkers, nine were associated with a combined diagnosis of CAD and airflow obstruction: VSIG2, KIM1, FGF-23, REN, XCL1, GIF, ADM, TRAIL-R2 and PRSS8.

Significance

Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide is decreased in patients with CAD, independently of decreased FEV₁, diabetes, and elevated BNP. Several cardiovascular biomarkers are associated with co-existent CAD and airflow obstruction, but none with airflow obstruction only. The current findings indicate that the interaction between CAD and lung function is complex, including mechanisms beyond the known association between CAD and reduced ventilation.