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Objective To investigate the association between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with ischemic heart failure. Methods This study involved 120 patients with ischemic heart failure, characterized by sinus rhythm and a reduced ejection fraction (EF < 40%). NT-proBNP levels were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. At the 12-month follow-up, patients underwent 12-lead electrocardiography (EKG) or Holter monitoring to identify new-onset AF. Patients were classified into an AF group (n=44) and a non-AF group (n=76). Clinical characteristics and echocardiographic data were reviewed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to ascertain the optimal NT-proBNP threshold for predicting new-onset AF, and logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic impact of NT-proBNP levels. Results New-onset AF was detected in 36.7% of the cohort. Significant elevations in functional capacity (NYHA class), NT-proBNP levels, E/A ratio, E/E' ratio, pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), left atrial volume (LAV), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) were observed in the AF group compared to the non-AF group (P

Passion fruit is a valued tropical fruit crop that faces environment-related growth strains. TCP genes are important for both growth modulation and stress prevention in plants. Herein, we systematically analyzed the TCP gene family in passion fruit, recognizing 30 members. Genes exhibiting closer phylogenetic relationships exhibited similar protein and gene structures. Gene members of the TCP family showed developmental-stage- or tissue-specific expression profiles during the passion fruit life cycle. Transcriptome data also demonstrated that many PeTCPs showed induced expression in response to hormonal treatments and cold, heat, and salt stress. Based on transcriptomics data, eight candidate genes were chosen for preferential gene expression confirmation under cold stress conditions. The qRT-PCR assays suggested PeTCP15/16/17/19/23 upregulation, while PeTCP1/11/25 downregulation after cold stress. Additionally, TCP19/20/29/30 exhibited in silico binding with cold-stress-related miRNA319s. GFP subcellular localization assays exhibited PeTCP19/1 were localized at the nucleus. This study will aid in the establishment of novel germplasm, as well as the further investigation of the roles of PeTCPs and their cold stress resistance characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess powerful immunomodulatory ability. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UMSCs) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and to explore the potential mechanisms. Methods: This prospective, self-controlled clinical study was conducted at Henan Provincial People's Hospital. Patients with moderate-to-severe active UC, unresponsive to traditional drugs were continuously enrolled from September 2018 to March 2023. UMSCs were administered intravenously monthly for two months at a cell dosage of 1 × 106 per kg. The primary outcome was a clinical response at 2 months. The levels of cytokines and progerin in the plasma of the patients were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, and longitudinal data was analyzed using generalized estimation equation. Results: Forty-one patients were enrolled and received UMSC therapy. At 2 months, 73.2% (30/41) of patients achieved a clinical response, and 41.5% (17/41) achieved a clinical remission. At 6 months, 2 patients were lost to follow-up; the corresponding figures were 70.0% (25/41) and 34.2% (14/41), respectively. After UMSC therapy, the Mayo score, Mayo endoscopy score, mean and maximum values of Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity and Nancy index were significantly reduced compared with baseline values. Additionally, the levels of progerin and inflammatory markers, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-17 A decreased, while hemoglobin, albumin, and IL-10/IL-17 A ratio increased, particularly in the response group. Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis showed age was an independent risk factor affecting efficacy (odds ratio, 0.875 (95% confidence interval (0.787, 0.972)); the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for age was 0.79. No serious adverse events were observed during or after UMSC therapy. Conclusion: UMSCs are safe and effective for patients with UC, with age being an independent risk factor affecting efficacy. Mechanistically, UMSC treatment may ameliorate cell senescence and suppress the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Trial registration: The study was retrospectively registered at www.chictr.org.cn/ (ChiCTR1900026035) on September 18, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), Wanfang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) were searched to collect randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trials of FD treated with TCM compounds. The search duration was from the establishment of the database to March 2, 2021. After two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and evaluated the bias risk included in the study, they used RevMan 5.4 software for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 23 clinical trials were included, including 2 898 patients. Meta-analysis showed that the overall remission rate of FD treated with TCM compounds was significantly higher than that of placebo (73.8% vs. 46.2%) [RR = 1.50, 95% CI (1.29, 1.76), P < 0.000 01]. Among the single symptoms, TCM compounds were superior to the placebo in improving epigastric pain [MD =-0.99, 95% CI (-1.37,-0.61), P < 0.000 01], epigastric burning sensation [MD =-0.32, 95% CI (-0.59,-0.05), P = 0.02], postprandial fullness discomfort [MD = -1.59, 95% CI (-1.96, -1.21), P < 0.000 01], and early satiety symptoms [MD = -0.93, 95% CI (-1.32, -0.54), P < 0.000 01]. Compared with the placebo, TCM compounds treatment can obviously improve TCM syndrome in patients with FD [MD = -5.58, 95% CI (-7.55,-3.61), P < 0.000 01], gastric emptying rate [MD = 12. 22, 95% CI (8.90, 15.55), P < 0.00001], and helped to improve patients' quality of life [MD = 11.27, 95% CI (0.10, 22.43), P = 0.05]. No severe adverse events were reported between the two groups [RR = 1.34, 95% CI (0.91, 1.96), P = 0.14]. Conclusion: Our results showed that TCM compounds treatment could significantly alleviate FD symptoms, improve gastric emptying in FD patients, and help to improve their quality of life. No severe adverse reactions have been reported in clinical applications. Due to the limitation of the quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusions need to be verified by more high-quality studies.

Cerium samarium oxides catalysts with K+ doping on the wall surface of cordierite honeycomb ceramics were preparation by sol–gel and dipping processes. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the structural morphology and phase compositions. Through XPS analysis and H2-TPR measurement of monolithic catalyst, it is found that potassium ions improve the oxygen mobility in CeO2 lattice and form surface active oxygen, increase the amount of oxygen adsorbed on the surface and improve the oxidation–reduction capacity. The catalytic combustion research demonstrates that T10, T50 and Tm in samples (Ce/Sm-0 K, Ce/Sm-0.3 K, Ce/Sm-0.5 K and Ce/Sm-0.7 K) decrease significantly compared with the blank reference (Cordierite). And the optimized sample Ce/Sm-0.5 K possess the lowest T10 (389.6 °C), the lowest T50 (425.5 °C), and the lowest Tm (419 °C) in comparison with other samples. The cycle stability investigation reveals that sample Ce/Sm-0.5 K has excellent structural stability and stable catalytic performance, which has potential application in soot catalytic combustion field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the yield and water use efficiency of spring wheat in dryland in Xinjiang, a single factor randomized block experiment design was used to select the appropriate sowing methods. 3 sowing methods were set up including traditional flat planting (T1), ridge and furrow planting (T2), ridge and film furrow planting (T3). Soil water content, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter and yield of dryland spring wheat under different sowing methods were determined. And soil water storage, water consumption and water use efficiency were calculated. The results showed that, before heading stage, T2 and T3 treatments could significantly promote the increase of LAI and dry matter mass, and after heading stage, T3 treatment was more beneficial to improve LAI and dry matter mass of dryland spring wheat than T2 and T1 treatments. At the same time, T3 treatment could significantly increase soil water content and water storage in 0-80 cm soil layer at jointing stage, which were significantly increased by 32.09%, 34.64% and 38.20%, 38.85%, respectively, compared with T2 and T1 treatments. T3 treatment reduced soil water consumption at sowing-jointing stage, but increased soil water consumption at jointing stage and harvest stage, which was beneficial to plant growth and development at middle and later stages. T3 treatment could increase the effective panicle number, grain number per panicle, grain yield, water use efficiency and precipitation use efficiency of wheat, and the highest yield was 2 474.43 kg · hm-2, which was significantly increased by 50.13% and 50.47%, and water utilization and precipitation utilization were also significantly increased by 48.99%, 51.02% and 49.41%, 50.15%,compared with T1 and T2 treatments, respectively. Therefore, furrow planting with ridging and film mulching was beneficial to increase wheat yield and efficient water utilization, which could provide theoretical basis and technical reference for water storage and high yield and efficiency of spring wheat in dryland in Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]