Search

The northern Chinese coastal seas have been observed to constitute a large jellyfish blooming hotspots during the las decades. The spatial distribution of the abundance and biomass of large jellyfish was investigated in this area through a bottom trawl survey during the summer of 2021. Nemopilema nomurai, Cyanea spp., Aurelia coerulea, Aequorea spp., and Ulmaridae (undefined sp.) were identified during the investigation. The realized niches of the three most abundant species (N. nomurai, Cyanea spp., and A. coerulea) were measured through the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model to explain their spatial distribution patterns. Nemopilema nomurai was used as a representative species to estimate the feeding rate and feeding pressure of large jellyfish on the zooplankton. During N. nomurai blooms, the potential consumption of zooplankton by N. nomurai was enormous and even exceeded the zooplankton productivity in regions where N. nomurai assembled in this study. Reductions in absolute and relative abundance were noted in small copepods at mid-bloom and bloom stations compared to non-bloom stations. The realized niches of large jellyfish and their relationships with the zooplankton in this study would be helpful for understanding their biogeographic distribution and ecological roles in the northern Chinese coastal seas under future climate change scenarios.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder that affects children and adults. Despite the pathology of AD involves in immune dysfunction and epidermal barrier function destruction has been found, the mechanism of immune activation and barrier damage remain largely unknown. In the present study, The TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaTs, organotypic AD-like 3D skin equivalents and AD-like mouse model were constructed. The mRNA, histological morphology, protein levels, cytokines were detected by real-time quantitative polymerasechain reaction (RT-qPCR), hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunoblotting, immunofluorescence (IF) staining, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis were respectively calculated using a Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry. A dual-luciferase reporter gene system was used to investigate the relationship between miR-1294 and STAT3. Compared with the control group, the expression of miR-1294 decreased in TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaTs (P 0.001), AD-like skin model, and AD-like mouse model (P 0.001). Moreover, STAT3 was documented as a direct target of miR-1294. Inflammation (P 0.05) and epidermal barrier function destruction (P 0.05) in AD was suppressed by overexpression of miR-1294 but enhanced by STAT3 upregulation and its downstream NF-κB pathway. We also found miR-1294 upregulation inhibited inflammation and epidermal barrier function destruction via targeting STAT3 to suppress NF-κB pathway activation in AD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the differences between carvedilol and propranolol in the degree of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) reduction, response rate, and adverse events in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension, and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carvedilol in reducing portal vein pressure. MethodsSixty-four patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who were diagnosed and treated in Shandong Provincial Hospital from October 2010 to January 2012 were selected and randomized into propranolol group (n=33) and carvedilol group (n=31). The dose of drugs was adjusted according to blood pressure and heart rate, and the course of treatment was 7 days. Measurements of HVPG and liver and renal function indices were performed before and after treatment, and the degree of HVPG reduction and response rate were compared between the two groups. The incidence of adverse events such as hypotension, ascites, and renal injury in the two groups was observed. Comparison of continuous data between the two groups was made by t test, and comparison of categorical data was made by chi-square test or Fisher′s exact. ResultsHVPG was reduced significantly in both carvedilol group and propranolol group, with degrees of (28.30±22.19)% and (12.38±24.09)%, respectively, and the reduction in the carvedilol group was significantly greater/higher/larger (t=0223 4, P=0.032). The response rate was 56.7% (17/30) and 41.9% (13/31) in the carvedilol group and propranolol group, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (χ2=1324, P=0.250). The carvedilol group had a significantly more reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) than the propranolol group (t=2.338, P=0.024), but the patients did not experience the adverse event of hypotension. The levels of bilirubin, serum creatinine, and urea nitrogen did not change significantly before and after treatment, and there was no tendency of ascites formation or aggravation. ConclusionThis randomized study suggests that within a short period of time, carvedilol is more effective than propranolol in reducing HVPG and has no obvious adverse effects. Carvedilol is safe and effective in the treatment of cirrhotic portal hypertension.