Clinics最新文献

{"title":"Peripheral and brainstem auditory evaluation in post-COVID-19 individuals.","authors":"Lucas Pinto Mielle, Maria Vanderléia Araujo Maximiano, Ivone Ferreira Neves-Lobo, Liliane Aparecida Fagundes Silva, Alessandra C Goulart, Carla Romagnolli, Gerson Sobrinho Salvador de Oliveira, Alessandra Giannella Samelli, Carla Gentile Matas","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100472","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this study was to investigate the peripheral and central auditory pathways in adult individuals after COVID-19 infection.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A total of 44 individuals aged between 19 and 58 years, of both genders, post-COVID-19 infection, confirmed by serological tests, with no previous hearing complaints and no risk factors for hearing loss, were assessed. All the participants underwent the following procedures: pure tone audiometry, logoaudiometry, immitanciometry, and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP), in addition to answering a questionnaire about auditory symptoms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirteen individuals (29.5 %) had some hearing threshold impairment, mainly sensorineural hearing loss. In the BAEP, 18 individuals (40.9 %) presented longer latencies, mainly in waves III and V. According to the questionnaire answers, 3 individuals (9.1 %) reported worsened hearing and 7 (15.9 %) tinnitus that emerged after the infection. As for the use of ototoxic drugs during treatment, 7 individuals (15.9 %) reported their use, of which 5 showed abnormalities in peripheral and/or central auditory assessments.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Considering the self-reported hearing complaints after COVID-19 infection and the high rate of abnormalities found in both peripheral and central audiological assessments, it is suggested that the new COVID-19 may compromise the auditory system. Due to the many variables involved in this study, the results should be considered with caution. However, it is essential that audiological evaluations are carried out on post-COVID-19 patients in order to assess the effects of the infection in the short, medium, and long term. Future longitudinal investigations are important for a better understanding of the auditory consequences of COVID-19.</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100472"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11334733/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141888694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeted saliva metabolomics in Sjögren's syndrome.","authors":"Giovanna Piacenza Florezi, Felippe Pereira Barone, Mario Augusto Izidoro, José Maria Soares-Jr, Claudia Malheiros Coutinho-Camillo, Silvia Vanessa Lourenço","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100459","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune exocrinopathy, and although, the role of metabolism in the autoimmune responses has been discussed in diseases such as lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and scleroderma. There is a lack of information regarding the metabolic implications of SS. Considering that the disease affects primarily salivary glands; the aim of this study is to evaluate the metabolic changes in the salivary glands' microenvironment using a targeted metabolomics approach.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The saliva from 10 patients diagnosed with SS by the American-European consensus and 10 healthy volunteers was analyzed in an Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatograph Coupled Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed an increased concentration in SS of metabolites involved in oxidative stress such as lactate, alanine and malate, and amino acids involved in the growth and proliferation of T-cells, such as arginine, leucine valine and isoleucine.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results revealed that is possible to differentiate the metabolic profile of SS and healthy individuals using a small amount of saliva, which in its turn may reflect the cellular changes observed in the microenvironments of damaged salivary glands from these patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100459"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11334732/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141888695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of music on hemodynamic fluctuations in women during induction of general anesthesia: A prospective randomized controlled multicenter trial.","authors":"Jie Wang, Linghui Jiang, Wannan Chen, Zhiyao Wang, Changhong Miao, Jing Zhong, Wanxia Xiong","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100462","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100462","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The authors aim to investigate the effect of music on hemodynamic fluctuations during induction of general anesthesia and reducing preoperative anxiety for women who underwent elective non-cardiac surgery.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>It is a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial. Patients were randomized 1:1 to either a Music Intervention group (MI) or a Control group (Control). The MI participants listened to their preferred music for more than 30 minutes in the waiting area. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure anxiety levels in the groups, and hemodynamic parameters (Heart Rate [HR], Mean Arterial Pressure [MAP]) were continuously recorded before induction (T0), at loss of consciousness (T1), immediately before intubation (T2), and after intubation (T3). Intubation-related adverse events were also recorded. The primary outcome was the incidence of MAP changes more than 20 % above baseline during T0-T2.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 164 patients were included in the final analyses. The incidence of MAP instability during T0-T2 was lower in the MI, and the 95 % Confidence Interval for the rate difference demonstrated the superiority of MI. HR instability was less frequent in MI participants both in T0-T2 and T2-T3. The overall incidence of preoperative anxiety was 53.7 % (88/164). After the music intervention, the mean score of STAI was significantly lower in the MI than in the Control, with a between-group difference of 8.01.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Preoperative music intervention effectively prevented hemodynamic instability during anesthesia induction and significantly reduced preoperative anxiety in women undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100462"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11345336/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141888690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations of oxidative stress markers with the prevalence of sarcopenia in the United States general population.","authors":"Tingting Sang, Feng Gao, Xiao Lu, Ying Yang, Lingling Liu, Gang Zhang, Guosong Han","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100450","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of oxidative stress markers with sarcopenia in the general United States population under the age of 60.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011‒2014 and performed Restricted Cubic Spline (RCS) plots, weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis to calculate ratio ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals, and subgroup analysis based on age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and body mass index stratification to determine the association of markers of oxidative stress with the prevalence of sarcopenia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The present analysis included a total of 8,782 participants. Firstly, the RCS plots showed a roughly L-shaped curve association of total bilirubin and serum iron with a prevalence of sarcopenia. Secondly, albumin was negatively and linearly associated with the risk of sarcopenia. Finally, with the increase in gamma-glutamyl transferase, the prevalence of sarcopenia showed a trend of first rising and then declining as a result of the iron increase.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We demonstrated a nonlinear association between markers of oxidative stress and sarcopenia. The need to focus more on levels of oxidative stress in the body could provide better prevention strategies for sarcopenia.</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100450"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11334777/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141888688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ablation of myocardial autonomic ganglion plexus in the treatment of bradyarrhythmia A one-arm interventional study.","authors":"Mingliang Shao, Chenhuan Yao, Yafan Han, Xianhui Zhou, Yanmei Lu, Ling Zhang, Yaodong Li, Baopeng Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100448","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100448","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To study the complications and effectiveness of the treatment of chronic arrhythmias with cardiac Ganglion Plexus (GP) ablation, and to explore the value of the treatment of chronic arrhythmias with GP ablation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was a one-arm interventional study of patients from the first hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and the People's Hospital of Xuancheng City admitted (09/2018-08/2021) because of bradyarrhythmia. The left atrium was modeled using the Carto3 mapping system. The ablation endpoint was the absence of a vagal response under anatomically localized and high-frequency stimulation guidance. Postoperative routine follow-up was conducted. Holter data at 3-, 6-, and 12-months were recorded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty patients (25 male, mean age 33.16 ± 7.89 years) were induced vagal response by either LSGP, LIGP, RAGP, or RIGP. The heart rate was stable at 76 bpm, SNRT 1.092s. DC, DR, HR, SDNN, RMSSD values were lower than that before ablation. AC, SSR, TH values were higher than those before ablation, mean heart rate and the slowest heart rate were significantly increased. There were significant differences in follow-up data between the preoperative and postoperative periods (all p < 0.05). All the patients were successfully ablated, and their blood pressure decreased significantly. No complications such as vascular damage, vascular embolism and pericardial effusion occurred.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Left Atrial GP ablation has good long-term clinical results and can be used as a treatment option for patients with bradyarrhythmia.</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100448"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11334784/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141888687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristics and outcome of influenza-associated encephalopathy/encephalitis among children in China.","authors":"Min Yang, Ling Yi, Fenglin Jia, Xiaobin Zeng, Zhongqiang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100475","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Influenza-Associated Encephalopathy/Encephalitis (IAE) is characterized by high incidence and poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features and outcomes of IAE in pediatric patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a retrospective review of hospitalized cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection between January 2018 and December 2021. Demographic, clinical, imaging, treatment and outcome data were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 446 children hospitalized with influenza, 71 cases were identified with a diagnosis of IAE. The median age was 3 years and 46 (64.8 %) were younger than 5 years. Only one patient was vaccinated for seasonal influenza. 46 (64.8 %) patients had abnormal electroencephalogram examination and 47 (66.2 %) had abnormal brain MRI or CT findings. 68 (95.8 %) patients were treated with oseltamivir/peramivir. 12 (16.9 %) patients suffered mortality. Non-survivors were more likely to have lower Glasgow coma score (median 7), longer duration of fever (median 3 days), with underlying medical conditions (P = 0.006), and complications including sepsis (P = 0.003), shock (P < 0.001), respiratory failure (P = 0.006), acute renal failure (P = 0.001), myocardial damage (P < 0.001), coagulation disorders (P = 0.03), electrolyte disturbance (P = 0.001) and hyperlactacidemia (P = 0.003). Non-survivors had higher percentages of corticosteroids (P = 0.003) and immunoglobulin (P = 0.003) treatments compared to survivors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Children with IAE have a high mortality rate. Lower Glasgow coma score, longer duration of fever, with underlying medical conditions and complications pose a great risk to poor prognosis. Influenza vaccination is recommended to all eligible children.</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100475"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11345302/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141888689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of fibroblast growth factor-23 on diagnosis of cerebral infarction and vertebral basilar artery stenosis^☆.","authors":"Zhuoqun Wei, Changyang Zhong, Chunli Wu, Yuan Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100457","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100457","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to explore the correlation between Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF23) levels and Cerebral Infarction (CI), and to determine whether there is a significant relationship between FGF23 and the occurrence and severity of CI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study categorized Cerebral Infarction (CI) patients into severe and mild stenosis groups based on vertebrobasilar artery stenosis, using Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The study compared the levels of Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF23) in the serum of CI patients and healthy controls using a t-test and evaluated the diagnostic effectiveness of serum FGF23 using a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Additionally, the study analyzed the correlation between FGF23 levels and CI severity after treatment using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study found a significant increase in serum Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF23) levels in patients with Cerebral Infarction (CI) compared to healthy volunteers, (p < 0.001). A higher serum FGF23 level was observed in the severe stenosis group than in the mild stenosis group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the study showed that a high FGF23 level at admission was significantly related to more severe symptoms of CI as indicated by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on the 7^th day after treatment (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study discovered a correlation between Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF23) levels, vertebrobasilar artery stenosis, and short-term prognosis in patients who had recently experienced acute Cerebral Infarction (CI).</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100457"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11334781/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141888696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of newborn neuropsychomotor development born with exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the perinatal period using the Bayley III scale at 6 months of age.","authors":"Patricia Albertini Orioli, Cintia Johnston, Juliana Zoboli Del Bigio, Vera Lucia Jornada Krebs, Mariana Pissolato, Maria Augusta Bento Cicaroni Gibelli, Orlei Ribeiro De Araujo, Rossana Pulcineli Vieira Francisco, Werther Brunow De Carvalho","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100460","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100460","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the Neuropsychomotor Development (NPMD) of newborns exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in the perinatal period using the Bayley III scale at 6 months of age.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Childcare appointments were scheduled for the included newborns in the study. During the 6-month consultation, the Screening Test for Bayley III Scale and, based on it, children were classified as \"low risk\", \"moderate risk\" or \"high risk\" in the domains: of cognitive, receptive language, expressive language, fine motor, and gross motor. Those classified as \"moderate risk\"; or \"high risk\" received guidance about NPMD stimuli and were instructed to maintain follow-up.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only 13 (37.1 %) of the newborns were classified as low risk in receptive language and 18 (51.4 %) in gross motor skills, with the domains most affected. Prematurity was a risk for cognitive incompetence (moderate risk/high-risk classification) (coefficient: 1.89, Odds Ratio = 6.7, 95 % CI 1.3‒35, p = 0.02). Lower birth weight that 2.500g had a similar effect on cognitive incompetence (coefficient: 1.9, Odds Ratio = 6.2, 95 % CI 1.2‒32.2, p = 0.02). Exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge (n = 8) was protective for incompetence (high risk/moderate risk) in the language domain (coefficient -2.14, OR = 0.12, 95 % CI 0.02‒0.71, p = 0.02).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The children included in the study must be monitored and their development monitored in order to clarify whether there is a relationship between the delay in NPMD and perinatal exposure to COVID-19, as delays were observed in these preliminary results.</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100460"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11334819/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141878471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation of serum Klotho, fetuin-A, and MGP levels with coronary artery calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients.","authors":"Dan Wang, XiuLin Chu, JuHua Cao, YunHua Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100417","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study was to investigate the role of serum Klotho, fetuin-A, and Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) in Coronary Artery Calcification (CAC) in patients with Maintenance Hemodialysis (MHD) and their predictive value for CAC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>100 patients receiving MHD were selected. Serum Klotho, fetuin-A, and MGP levels were detected by ELISA. CAC scores were assessed by coronary CT scan. Multifactor analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors affecting CAC. The ability of serum Klotho, fetuin-A, and MGP levels to diagnose CAC was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Serum Klotho, fetuin-A, and MGP were independent risk factors for CAC. Serum Klotho, fetuin-A, and MGP were valuable in the diagnosis of CAC in MHD patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is a close relationship between Klotho, fetuin-A, and MGP levels in MHD patients and CAC.</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100417"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11342211/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141874357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"LncRNA HCG18 affects aortic dissection through the miR-103a-3p/HMGA2 axis by modulating proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smoothing muscle cells.","authors":"ZhiHong Yang, YuanSheng Cui, ShuGuo Xu, LongBiao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100400","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aortic Dissection (AD) is a vascular disease with a high mortality rate and limited treatment strategies. The current research analyzed the function and regulatory mechanism of lncRNA HCG18 in AD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>HCG18, miR-103a-3p, and HMGA2 levels in the aortic tissue of AD patients were examined by RT-qPCR. After transfection with relevant plasmids, the proliferation of rat aortic Vascular Smoothing Muscle Cells (VSMCs) was detected by CCK-8 and colony formation assay, Bcl-2 and Bax was measured by Western blot, and apoptosis was checked by flow cytometry. Then, the targeting relationship between miR-103a-3p and HCG18 or HMGA2 was verified by bioinformation website analysis and dual luciferase reporter assay. Finally, the effect of HCG18 was verified in an AD rat model induced by β-aminopropionitrile.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HCG18 and HMGA2 were upregulated and miR-103a-3p was downregulated in the aortic tissues of AD patients. Downregulating HCG18 or upregulating miR-103a-3p enhanced the proliferation of VSMCs and limited cell apoptosis. HCG18 promoted HMGA2 expression by competing with miR-103a-3p and restoring HMGA2 could impair the effect of HCG18 downregulation or miR-103a-3p upregulation in mediating the proliferation and apoptosis of VSMCs. In addition, down-regulation of HCG18 could improve the pathological injury of the aorta in AD rats.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HCG18 reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis of VSMCs through the miR-103a-3p/HMGA2 axis, thus aggravating AD.</p>","PeriodicalId":10472,"journal":{"name":"Clinics","volume":"79 ","pages":"100400"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11342200/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141874358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}