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Aims: Myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) is a major cause of heart failure after myocardial infarction. Berberine (BBR) presents anti‐inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties in many diseases. Our research looked into the therapeutic effects and mechanism of BBR in MIRI. Methods and results: MIRI animal and cell models were established. The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using reverse transcription and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. The haemodynamic parameters (left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular ejection fraction) were detected by echocardiography. The myocardial infarct size and myocardium lesion were assessed by triphenyltetrazolium chloride and haematoxylin–eosin staining. The levels of injury factors were determined by ELISA. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labelling staining was performed to analyse cell apoptosis. Dual luciferase reporter gene and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were carried out to verify the interaction between miR‐340‐5p and HMGB1. BBR administration could improve the haemodynamic parameters and infarct size in MIRI rats (all P < 0.05). In MIRI rat model, BBR reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammation (all P < 0.05). BBR could promote miR‐340‐5p expression (0.64 ± 0.21, P < 0.05), which is lowly expressed in MIRI group (0.24 ± 0.10, P < 0.01) in compare with the sham group (0.99 ± 0.01). MiR‐340‐5p knockdown abolished the protective effects of BBR on H/R‐treated cardiomyocytes (all P < 0.05). BBR suppressed the HMGB1/TLR4/NF‐κB pathway activation in MIRI. HMGB1 functioned as the target of miR‐340‐5p, and its silencing reversed the effect of miR‐340‐5p inhibitor on BBR‐treated MIRI. Conclusions: In MIRI, BBR repressed HMGB1‐mediated TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway through miR‐340‐5p to suppress cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) are designed to provide organisational support to employees, which is increasingly critical to improving employees' well‐being in the current macro and micro environment of pandemic and work pressure. Despite their potential significant role as part of human resource management (HRM), EAPs in China are under‐researched. Drawing on academic and practical sources of literature in both English and Chinese, this review study sheds light on the current state of research and practice of EAPs in China. We examine why, what and how EAPs are adopted in organisations in China and highlight differences between the public and private sectors in their EAPs, as well as the role of Chinese culture and guanxi with leaders in the delivery of EAPs. We also point out research avenues to extend the research field both theoretically and thematically, including the role of artificial intelligence and digital technology as part of effective EAPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) contribute to the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite significant improvements in CVDs diagnosis and treatment, a continued effort to explore novel therapeutic strategies is urgently need. N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, well known as the most prevalent type of RNA modifications, involved in RNA stability, nuclear exports, translation, and decoy, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, including CVDs, cancer, and drug resistance. Here, our article summarizes cellular functions of m6A modulators and recent research progress concerning the functions and mechanisms of m6A methylation in CVDs, in hope of providing references for exploring novel therapeutic approaches and potential biomarkers in the treatment of CVDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two shortcomings of the Fenton-like catalyst delafossite-type oxide (CuFeO 2 ) lie in its spontaneous agglomeration and deactivation under neutral working pH. To remedy these drawbacks, novel Fenton-like catalyst chitosan-derived maillard reaction productions coated CuFeO 2 with abundant oxygen vacancies (OV-CuFeO 2 @MRPs) was synthesized by hydrothermal method with no extra chemical reducing agent. The systemic characterization illustrated that richer oxygen vacancies and higher particles dispersion of OV-CuFeO 2 @MRPs contributed to better Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under neutral pH compared to pure CuFeO 2 . Cooper antisite defects in OV-CuFeO 2 @MRPs were evidenced by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), Raman spectra and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) linescan. To keep the charge balance, OV-CuFeO 2 @MRPs should form rich oxygen vacancies, which was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and solid-state electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer (solid-state EPR). Furthermore, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis revealed that oxygen vacancies could improve the electron transfer. Scavenging experiments and electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) analysis demonstrated that OH was main active radical during Fenton-like reaction, and the density functional theory (DFT) calculation verified that the oxygen vacancy could effectively adsorb H 2 O 2 and elongate O-O bond of H 2 O 2 , thus promoting the activation of H 2 O 2 into OH., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)