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Background: Clearance of apoptotic cells by efferocytosis is crucial for prevention of atherosclerosis progress, and impaired efferocytosis contributes to the aggravated atherosclerosis. Results: In this study, we found that diabetic ApoE–/– mice showed aggravated atherosclerosis as hyperglycemia damaged the efferocytosis capacity at least partially due to decreased expression of Mer tyrosine kinase (MerTK) on macrophages. To locally restore MerTK in the macrophages in the plaque, hybrid membrane nanovesicles (HMNVs) were thus developed. Briefly, cell membrane from MerTK overexpressing RAW264.7 cell and transferrin receptor (TfR) overexpressing HEK293T cell were mixed with DOPE polymers to produce nanovesicles designated as HMNVs. HMNVs could fuse with the recipient cell membrane and thus increased MerTK in diabetic macrophages, which in turn restored the efferocytosis capacity. Upon intravenous administration into diabetic ApoE–/– mice, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SMN) decorated HMNVs accumulated at the aorta site significantly under magnetic navigation, where the recipient macrophages cleared the apoptotic cells efficiently and thus decreased the inflammation. Conclusions: Our study indicates that MerTK decrease in macrophages contributes to the aggravated atherosclerosis in diabetic ApoE–/– mice and regional restoration of MerTK in macrophages of the plaque via HMNVs could be a promising therapeutic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between admission hyperglycemia and adverse outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been well studied, and the optimal plasma glucose cut-off values for prognosis for NSTEMI patients with and without diabetes have not been determined.Methods: According to glucose level and diabetes status, consecutive NSTEMI patients undergoing PCI (n = 890) were divided into four groups: without diabetes mellitus (DM) and admission plasma glucose (APG) <144 or ≥144 mg/dL; or with DM and APG <180 or ≥180 mg/dL. All patients were followed up at 30 days and 3 years after discharge, and the outcomes were assessed.Results: Admission hyperglycemia was found in 44 and 28% of the DM and non-DM patients, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed that the APG level was an independent predictor of 30-day and 3-year MACEs. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the appropriate cut-off values were 178 and 145 mg/dL for patients with and without DM, respectively, or 157 mg/dL for all patients.Conclusions: Admission hyperglycemia may be used to predict 30-day and 3-year MACEs in patients with NSTEMI undergoing PCI, irrespective of diabetes status. However, the optimal admission glucose cut-off values for predicting prognosis differ for patients with or without DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between admission hyperglycemia and adverse outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been well studied, and the optimal plasma glucose cut-off values for prognosis for NSTEMI patients with and without diabetes have not been determined., Methods: According to glucose level and diabetes status, consecutive NSTEMI patients undergoing PCI (n = 890) were divided into four groups: without diabetes mellitus (DM) and admission plasma glucose (APG) <144 or ≥144 mg/dL; or with DM and APG <180 or ≥180 mg/dL. All patients were followed up at 30 days and 3 years after discharge, and the outcomes were assessed., Results: Admission hyperglycemia was found in 44 and 28% of the DM and non-DM patients, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed that the APG level was an independent predictor of 30-day and 3-year MACEs. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the appropriate cut-off values were 178 and 145 mg/dL for patients with and without DM, respectively, or 157 mg/dL for all patients., Conclusions: Admission hyperglycemia may be used to predict 30-day and 3-year MACEs in patients with NSTEMI undergoing PCI, irrespective of diabetes status. However, the optimal admission glucose cut-off values for predicting prognosis differ for patients with or without DM.

Background: Genes in the CCCH family encode zinc finger proteins containing the motif with three cysteines and one histidine residues. They have been known to play important roles in RNA processing as RNA-binding proteins in animals. To date, few plant CCCH proteins have been studied functionally., Results: In this study, a comprehensive computational analysis identified 68 and 67 CCCH family genes in Arabidopsis and rice, respectively. A complete overview of this gene family in Arabidopsis was presented, including the gene structures, phylogeny, protein motifs, and chromosome locations. In addition, a comparative analysis between these genes in Arabidopsis and rice was performed. These results revealed that the CCCH families in Arabidopsis and rice were divided into 11 and 8 subfamilies, respectively. The gene duplication contributed to the expansion of the CCCH gene family in Arabidopsis genome. Expression studies indicated that CCCH proteins exhibit a variety of expression patterns, suggesting diverse functions. Finally, evolutionary analysis showed that one subfamily is higher plant specific. The expression profile indicated that most members of this subfamily are regulated by abiotic or biotic stresses, suggesting that they could have an effective role in stress tolerance., Conclusion: Our comparative genomics analysis of CCCH genes and encoded proteins in two model plant species provides the first step towards the functional dissection of this emerging family of potential RNA-binding proteins.