Right heart thrombus in acute pulmonary embolism: A single center experience in China

Right heart thrombus (RHT) is a rare but life-threatening condition in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) without clear management guidelines. This study aimed to address the clinical characteristics and outcomes of RHT-APE in Chinese patients. In this study, 17 RHT-APE and 329 non-RHT-APE patients, who were diagnosed between September 2015 and August 2019, were retrospectively recruited with the median follow-up was 360 days. The overall prevalence of RHT was 4.91% in APE. Its prevalence increased along the increase of APE risk stratifications. Comparisons showed that with higher proportion of male gender and younger age, RHT-APE patients also had worse hemodynamic instability and heart function, and higher risk stratification levels than non-RHT-APE patients. After adjusting by age and gender, multivariate logistic regression analysis found high/intermediate-high risk stratification, decreased right ventricular (RV) motion, NT-proBNP >600 pg/mL, and RV dysfunction were risk factors for RHT. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed non-RHT had better prognosis than RHT patients (30-day survival: log-rank: p < 0.001; 90-day survival: log-rank: p = 0.002). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed RHT was an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality in APE. The subgroup analysis showed RHT would result in worse outcomes in patients who already had higher APE early mortality risk. RHT would increase the risk of 30- and 90-day mortality in APE. More attention should be paid to young male APE patients with decreased RV motion, NT-proBNP >600 pg/mL, RV dysfunction, or high level of risk stratification, to exclude the coexistence of RHT.

Circulating proteomic biomarkers related to the development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

Background

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), known as a complication of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), can be attributed to both persistent organized thrombi and small-vessel disease. It has been reported that patients with acute PE are more likely to develop CTEPH or have a worse prognosis in follow-up if they have pulmonary hypertension (PH) or right ventricular dysfunction in their acute phase; in acute PE, increased pulmonary arterial pressure can be induced by a combination of mechanical obstruction and pulmonary vasoconstriction. However, it remains unknown whether contributors to the increase pulmonary arterial pressure in acute phase would persistently influence the pulmonary vasculature, which could further lead to the development and progression of CTEPH.

Purpose

To investigate underlying contributors related to pulmonary hypertension in acute PE that would persistently influence the pulmonary vasculature in the development of CTEPH, and to explore potential biomarkers predictive of CTEPH in acute PE.

Methods

Plasma from patients with acute PE were collected and classified into Group 1 (with PH) and Group 2 (without PH) according to the presence of PH, which was defined by echocardiographic estimated “high probability” of PH as recommended in the 2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of PH. In addition, plasma from patients with acute PE who had not developed PH both in their acute and follow-up phase but had persistent thrombi (Group 3) were also studied and compared to that of CTEPH patients (Group 4). Differential expression proteins (DEPs) between 4 groups were identified in terms of data-independent acquisition-based quantitative proteomic analysis.

Results

Twenty-two DEPs were identified between Group1 and Group 2, and 105 DEPs were identified between Group 3 and Group 4. Among two groups of DEPs, 8 proteins were in common: antithrombin-III, osteopontin, properdin, desmoplakin, C1QA (complement C1q subcomponent subunit A), LDHA (L-lactate dehydrogenase A chain), IGKV1D-33 (immunoglobulin kappa variable 1D-33) and PEPD (Xaa-Pro dipeptidase). The level of LDHA, antithrombin-III, osteopontin and properdin were decreased both in acute PE patients with PH and CTEPH patients, while the level of desmoplakin, C1QA and IGKV1D-33 were increased in the above two groups. Regarding PEPD, its level was lower in acute patients with PH but was higher in CTEPH. Based on underlying pathogenic mechanism and the percentage of missing value, osteopontin, properdin, desmoplakin, C1QA, LDHA and PEPD were further validated as potential biomarkers predictive of CTEPH in acute PE.

Conclusions

Contributors to the increase pulmonary arterial pressure in acute PE can be further involved in the development of CTEPH, and these proteins can be potential biomarkers to help guide the management and follow-up strategy in acute PE.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS; No. 2017-12M-1-009); National Key Research and Development Program of China (No: 2016YFC1304400) Differential expression proteinsRelative intensity of proteins

Diagnostic value of fecal B cell activating factor in patients with abdominal discomfort

Fecal calprotectin has successfully been widely recommended as a sensitive biomarker of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Recently, we have identified an excellent new fecal biomarker, B cell activating factor (BAFF), as being as effective as fecal calprotectin for diagnosing intestinal inflammation. In this study, a total of 230 patients with abdominal discomfort were prospectively enrolled and fecal samples were collected within 24 h before the endoscopic examinations. We show that fecal BAFF levels were significantly higher in patients with ulcerative colitis (median = 1549 pg/g, P < 0·0001), Crohn's disease (median = 735 pg/g, P < 0·0001), gastric cancer (median = 267 pg/g, P < 0·0001) and colorectal cancer (median = 533 pg/g, P < 0·0001) than those in healthy groups (median = 61 pg/g), while the values of which in patients with gastric polyps, colorectal polyps, esophagitis/gastritis/duodenitis and peptic ulcer were in the range of healthy individuals (P > 0·05). An optimal cut-off value at 219·5 pg/g of fecal BAFF produced sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values of 85, 91, 84 and 92%, respectively, for IBD or carcinoma. Our results therefore indicate a potential role for fecal BAFF as a sensitive screening parameter for IBD and gastrointestinal carcinoma, as well a useful tool to select patients with abdominal discomfort for further endoscopic examinations.

Determination of p11 multifunctional protein in human body fluids by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Objectives

The diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) is symptom based due to the lack of biological biomarker. p11 protein was recently found to be an important factor mediating depression-like states and antidepressant responses. The aim of the study was to assess whether p11 protein in urine can serve as a potential biomarker for major depression, and the relationship of its levels among urine, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Methods

We obtained urine samples from 13 drug-free MDD patients and 13 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We also collected urine, serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 13 of fracture patients or cesarean section patients in the spinal anesthesia. The concentrations of p11 protein were measured using ELISA.

Results

In MDD patients, urine levels of p11 protein were all less than the minimum detectable concentration of the ELISA kit. The urine levels of p11 were detectable only in one healthy control. In the spinal anesthesia patients, we can detect p11 concentrations in both serum and urine in only two patients. Besides, levels of p11 were detectable in the serum of one patient and urine of another patient. We were unable to measure CSF levels of p11 in all patients.

Conclusions

Concentrations of p11 protein in the body fluids are very low and unstable. The sensitivity of the current p11 ELISA kit is currently unsatisfactory, requiring the development of an ELISA kit of higher sensitivity to determine whether p11 in body fluids can serve as biomarker for depression.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Effects of a proteasome inhibitor on the NF-κB signalling pathway in experimental osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 on the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65, inhibitor (I)-κB, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β in the cartilage and synovial tissues of rats with osteoarthritis (OA), and to investigate the role that the ubiquitin/proteasome system (UPS) plays in the OA process.

METHOD

A total of 144 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT) + MG-132 (ACLT/M), ACLT + dimethylsulfoxide (ACLT/D), sham surgery (Sham), and naïve + MG-132 (naïve/M). Pathological morphology was undertaken. mRNA expression levels of NF-κB p65, I-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β were determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The activities of the 20S proteasome chymotrypsin-like and peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase-like enzymes were measured using fluorospectrophotometry.

RESULTS

The Mankin scores at all time points in ACLT/M rats were significantly lower than those in ACLT/D rats (p < 0.05). Despite the NF-κB p65 in the synovial tissue at 2 weeks after surgery and IL-1β in the cartilage tissue at 12 weeks after surgery, mRNA expression levels of NF-κB p65, IL-1β, and TNF-α at other time points in ACLT/M were significantly lower than those in ACLT/D (p < 0.05). mRNA levels of I-κB in the cartilage tissue in ACLT/M were significantly higher than those in ACLT/D at 2 weeks after surgery (p < 0.05). mRNA levels of I-κB in the synovial tissue in ACLT/M were higher than those in ACLT/D at all time points, and the difference was significant at 4 weeks after surgery (p < 0.05). MG-132 decreased the activities of the 20S proteasome chymotrypsin-like and peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase-like enzymes in the cartilage and synovial tissues of rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The proteasome inhibitor MG-132 delays the progress of OA by alleviating synovial inflammation and protecting the articular cartilage tissue.

[Quality control of zhuanggu shenjin capsules]

Studies have been made on the microscopic identification of red jinseng, dog bone, indian bread, yanhusuo and datura flower in Zhuanggu Shenjin Capsules, as well as on the identification of ginsengside and tetrahydropalmatine by TLC and the determination of icariin by dual wavelength TLC-scanning. The content of the latter compound should be no less than 0.380mg/g and the average rate of recovery 97.62% (n = 5).

Overexpression of human apolipoprotein B-100 in transgenic rabbits results in increased levels of LDL and decreased levels of HDL

In this study, and 80-kb human genomic DNA fragment spanning the human apoB gene was used to generate transgenic New Zealand White rabbits that expressed human apoB-100. The concentration of human apoB in the plasma of the transgenic rabbits ranged between 5 and 100 mg/dL. The transgenic rabbits had nearly threefold elevations in the plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol compared with nontransgenic controls. Nearly all the cholesterol and human apoB in the plasma was in the LDL fraction. Pronounced triglyceride enrichment of the LDL fraction was a striking feature of human apoB overexpression in the transgenic rabbits, in which the LDL fraction contained more than 75% of the plasma triglycerides. The triglyceride-enriched LDL particles were smaller and more dense than the native rabbit LDL and contained markedly increased amounts of apoE and apoC-III. In the nontransgenic control animals most of the triglycerides were in the VLDL, and most of the apoE and apoC-III were in the VLDL and HDL fractions. In addition to increased LDL levels, overexpression of human apoB in rabbits resulted in lower plasma levels of HDL cholesterol and apoA-I. In our prior studies on transgenic mice expressing human apoB, we documented triglyceride-rich LDL and reduced levels of HDL cholesterol. These prior findings in mice, together with the present findings in transgenic rabbits, suggest that triglyceride-rich LDL and lowered levels of HDL cholesterol may be hallmark features of apoB overexpression.

Role of nucleotides in intestinal development and repair: implications for infant nutrition

Dietary sources of nucleotides may be conditionally essential nutrients. Rapidly growing tissues such as the intestinal epithelium and lymphoid cells lack significant capacity for de novo synthesis of nucleotides and require exogenous sources of purine and pyrimidine bases. Dietary purines are not significantly incorporated into hepatic nucleic acids, but pyrimidines are. Both are taken up by intestinal cells with excess purines converted to uric acid. Nucleotides are important for normal development, maturation and repair of the gastrointestinal tract. Human milk is the best source of nucleotides for young infants because cow's milk is lacking in nucleotide content. It is likely that infant formulas should have sources of nucleotides added to more closely duplicate human milk and provide these substrates for maximal intestinal development and repair.

The effect of nutritional additives on anti-infective factors in human milk

It has become a common practice to supplement human milk with a variety of additives to improve the nutritive content of the feeding for the premature infant. Twenty-two freshly frozen human milk samples were measured for lysozyme activity, total IgA, and specific IgA to Escherichia coli serotypes 01, 04, and 06. One mL aliquots were mixed with the following: 1 mL of Similac, Similac Special Care, Enfamil, Enfamil Premature Formula, and sterile water; 33 mL of Poly-Vi-Sol, 33 mg of Moducal, and 38 mg of breast-milk fortifier, and then reanalyzed. Significant decreases (41% to 74%) in lysozyme activity were seen with the addition of all formulas; breast-milk fortifier reduced activity by 19%, while no differences were seen with Moducal, sterile water, or Poly-Vi-Sol. No differences were seen in total IgA content, but some decreases were seen in specific IgA to E. coli serotypes 04 and 06. E. coli growth was determined after 3 1/2 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C after mixing. All cow-milk formulas enhanced E. coli growth; soy formulas and other additives preserved inhibition of bacterial growth. Nutritional additives can impair anti-infective properties of human milk, and such interplay should be considered in the decision on the feeding regimen of premature infants.

Sucrase-alpha-dextrinase in the rat. Postinsertional conversion to inactive molecular species by a carbohydrate-free diet

Absence of dietary carbohydrate decreases both activities of intestinal brush border sucrase-alpha-dextrinase. We examined the molecular mechanism causing this decrease. Adult rats were fed chow (70% CHO) or matched carbohydrate-free (CHO-free) diet for 7 d. Sucrase activity decreased by 50% in whole homogenates and brush borders. Enzyme kinetics revealed no change in sucrose affinity (CHO-free Km = 18 mM, chow Km = 21 mM), but fewer active sites (CHO-free Vmax = 2,720, chow Vmax = 5,000 mumol/min per g protein). Intraintestinal pulse-labeling of [35S]methionine in vivo revealed no differences in incorporation into sucrase. Immunoreactive sucrase protein, assayed by ELISA and rocket immunoelectrophoresis, increased twofold per milliunit of sucrase enzymatic activity in CHO-free jejunum. Total immunosucrase (St), the sum of active and inactive enzyme (St = Sa+Si), was unchanged with carbohydrate withdrawal, but > 50% of the sucrase protein became inactive. SDS-PAGE of sucrase immunoprecipitates revealed alteration of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits in CHO-free animals: (a) alpha and beta subunits migrated farther (mass change--2 kD); and (b) the alpha subunit became diffuse or was a doublet and was less abundant than the beta subunit. Rather than representing loss of sucrase protein, the decline in sucrase activity is achieved with structural subunit changes, probably involving postinsertional processing.

Effects of microwave radiation on anti-infective factors in human milk

In intensive care nurseries it has become common practice to use microwave thawing of frozen human milk for more rapid accessibility. Twenty-two freshly frozen human milk samples were tested for lysozyme activity, total IgA, and specific secretory IgA to Escherichia coli serotypes 01, 04, and 06. The samples were heated by microwave for 30 seconds at a low- or high-power setting and then reanalyzed. One-mL aliquots of 10 additional human milk samples were microwaved at low (20 degrees C to 25 degrees C), medium (60 degrees C to 70 degrees C), and high (greater than or equal to 98 degrees C) setting before the addition to each of 1 mL of diluted E coli suspension. E coli growth was determined after 3 1/2 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C. Microwaving at high temperatures (72 degrees C to 98 degrees C) caused a marked decrease in activity of all the tested antiinfective factors. E coli growth at greater than or equal to 98 degrees C was 18 times that of control human milk. Microwaving at low temperatures (20 degrees C to 53 degrees C) had no significant effect on total IgA, specific IgA to E coli serotypes 01 and 04, but did significantly decrease lysozyme and specific IgA to E coli serotype 06. Even at 20 degrees C to 25 degrees C, E coli growth was five times that of control human milk. Microwaving appears to be contraindicated at high temperatures, and questions regarding its safety exist even at low temperatures.

Intestinal lactase in the neonatal rat. Maturational changes in intracellular processing and brush-border degradation

The mechanism of decline in the catalytic activity of intestinal lactase during neonatal maturation has not been defined, but a shift in the lactase subunit synthesis from an active 130-kDa subunit to an inactive 100-kDa species has now been noted in the adult rat (Quan, R., Santiago, N. A., Tsuboi, K. K., and Gray, G. M. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 15882-15888). The subunit structure, synthesis, intracellular assembly, and subsequent degradation of lactase from the brush-border surface membrane was examined in 15-day-old pre-weaned and 30-day-old post-weaned intact rats. Lactase was labeled intraintestinally with [35S]methionine, isolated from Triton-solubilized membranes with monospecific polyclonal anti-lactase, and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The protein-stained gel revealed subunits of 225 and 130 kDa, the latter species predominating in both the pre- and post-weaned state. The distinct adult-type 100-kDa moiety was present in post-weaned animals while only a trace of a slightly larger (approximately 110 kDa) species was observed in pre-weaned animals. Quantitation of radioactivity in newly synthesized lactase revealed an increasing prominence of the 100-kDa species in post-weaned rats (130/100 incorporation ratio: pre-weaned 6.2; post-weaned 3.3). Accumulation of newly labeled lactase in brush-border membranes after intraperitoneal [35S]methionine labeling was similar in both groups at 3 h. Despite these comparable rates of lactase synthesis, assembly and insertion in the pre- and post-weaned state, subsequent removal of the 130-kDa unit was more rapid in post-weaned animals (t1/2 = 11 h; pre-weaned t1/2 = 37 h). In intact rats, the neonatal maturational decline in lactase catalytic activities involves both a shift to production of the inactive 100-kDa subunit and increased membrane surface degradation of the active 130-kDa subunit.

Intestinal lactase. Shift in intracellular processing to altered, inactive species in the adult rat

The regulatory mechanism of decline in catalytic activity for intestinal lactase (lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, beta-galactosidase) as mammals mature has not been defined. Solubilized intestinal brush-border membranes from adult male rats (greater than 4 months of age, 200-400 g) were examined by high performance liquid Zorbax GF-450 chromatography, subjected to denaturing acrylamide electrophoresis, blotted to nitrocellulose, and identified by specific polyvalent anti-lactase. Three major species were present within the 235-kDa active lactase peak (225, 130, and 100 kDa). The 100-kDa moiety was also prominent in the approximately 300-kDa region of the GF-450 effluent, suggesting it is a catalytically inactive oligomer. In vivo synthesis and assembly of lactase by intraintestinal pulse [( 35S]methionine, 5 min) and chase (15-120 min) revealed rapid (15 min of chase; maximum, 60 min) intracellular synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi fraction of multiple species (64, 100, 130, 175, and 225 kDa). The 64-kDa species disappeared from the intracellular membrane compartment and was not transferred to the brush-border surface. The 175-kDa moiety appeared to be processed to the 225-kDa unit prior to relocation to the surface membrane. By 120 min, the 100-kDa species became the predominant (approximately 60%) radiolabeled unit in both endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi and brush border. In the adult rat, lactase is assembled in multiple molecular forms that are differentially processed: (a) intracellular degradation (64-kDa unit) or (b) transfer to the brush-border surface as catalytically active (225 and 130 kDa) or inactive (100 kDa) species. Although substantial synthesis of lactase proteins prevails, major changes in processing appear to serve as an important regulatory mechanism producing the maturational decline of catalytic activity. The accompanying article (Castillo, R. O., Reisenauer, A. M., Kwong, L. K., Tsuboi, K. K., Quan, R., and Gray, G. M. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 15889-15893) extends our studies to synthesis and assembly during the neonatal period of maturation.

Effect of dietary nucleosides on growth and maturation of the developing gut in the rat

Dietary nucleoside (DN) as a precursor for nucleic acid synthesis may be important for rapidly dividing cells, since gut epithelial cells have limited capacity for de novo purine and pyrimidine synthesis. We evaluated in a controlled blinded study the effect of added nucleosides, 0.8% by weight, given for 2 weeks, on gut growth and maturation in 20 weanling rats. Mucosal protein and DNA in the proximal intestinal segment were 50% and 77% higher, respectively, in the DN-supplemented group (n = 10; p less than 0.05). Villus height based on cell count was 25% greater in the DN group (p less than 0.05). Maltase activity was significantly greater in proximal, middle, and distal intestinal segments, and the largest increase, 87%, was seen in the proximal gut mucosa. The maltase/lactase ratio was also higher in this segment. Increases in sucrase were less prominent. Lactase was minimally affected. The pattern of change in disaccharidase activity suggests that DN may enhance gut growth and maturation of the intestine in the weanling rat, the effects being more pronounced in the proximal segment. Diets free of nucleosides and nitrogenous bases may have adverse effects on the gut.

Severe pseudomembranous enterocolitis in a child: case report and literature review

Antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous enterocolitis (PMC), an inflammatory gastrointestinal disease mediated by toxins produced by Clostridium difficile, is increasingly recognized in the pediatric population. We report a case of fulminant PMC in an otherwise normal 2 1/2-year-old child after antibiotic therapy given for a routine childhood illness. The patient had debilitating colitis marked by severe diarrhea, a generalized electrolyte derangement, an extreme protein-losing enteropathy state, rectal prolapse, ascites, pleural effusion, varicella and multiple relapses. The child required specific antimicrobial therapy as well as aggressive supportive care to achieve recovery. A review of the literature for pediatric cases of PMC revealed reported cases in all age groups; the youngest was 5 days old. There were 9 deaths in 43 cases for a mortality rate of about 20%. All but 2 of the cases were associated with antibiotic therapy. The antibiotics most frequently implicated were ampicillin (15), penicillin (11), cephalosporins (7), amoxicillin (6) and clindamycin (5). The onset of symptoms of PMC can begin at any time while the child is taking an antibiotic or up to 21 days after it is discontinued. Children with underlying gastrointestinal motility disorders such as Hirschsprung's disease are predisposed to PMC. Fulminant PMC is a serious but uncommon infectious disease of infancy and childhood, occurring as a complication of routine antibiotic therapy for common childhood illnesses.

Growth-hormone-releasing factor immunoreactivity in human endocrine tumors

Seventy-three human tumors and adjacent nonneoplastic tissues were analyzed immunohistochemically for the presence of growth-hormone-releasing factor (GRF). Four of 9 pancreatic endocrine tumors, 2 of 3 appendiceal carcinoids, and 1 of 5 cecal carcinoids were immunoreactive for GRF. One of the GRF-containing pancreatic tumors was associated with acromegaly. Histologically, the growth patterns of these tumors were variable, and the distribution of immunoreactive cells was patchy and irregular. There were no normal cells that contained GRF. These results indicate that GRF production by human tumors is more common than previously thought, although clinical acromegaly may not be apparent in patients who harbor such neoplasms.

Effects of a commercial starch blocker preparation on carbohydrate digestion and absorption: in vivo and in vitro studies

We have tested the effectiveness of a commercial starch blocker on the digestion and absorption of dietary carbohydrates in six normal, healthy volunteers. The effectiveness of the starch blocker to attenuate or block the digestion of carbohydrate was assessed against a placebo by the measurement of end tidal breath hydrogen, plasma glucose, and insulin responses to a constant test meal. There were no significant differences in breath hydrogen, or plasma glucose and insulin responses. In vitro enzyme inhibition studies assessed the ability of the brush border enzyme maltase/glucoamylase to degrade starch in the presence of the starch blockers. A highly purified solution of rat and human maltase/glucoamylase was capable of degrading a starch solution, while 40 mM Tris-HCl (a known maltase/glucoamylase inhibitor) completely abolished the enzyme activity. These data challenge the claims that starch blocker preparations are effective in reducing or attenuating the absorption of carbohydrates or calories from a mixed meal. The ineffectiveness in vivo could be explained, in part, by the ability of the brush border enzyme maltase/glucoamylase to hydrolyze starch in the presence of starch blockers.