We provide evidence for the predisposition of miR-335-5p, miR-27a and miR-218 to syndesmophytes in AS patients, indicating a contributory role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of syndesmophytes. Further validation is warranted.

Objective Findings regarding the prognostic value of soluble suppression of tumorigenecity-2 (sST2) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remain inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the long-term prognostic value of sST2 in patients with CAD. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted across the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to June 3, 2020. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). The secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) death, heart failure (HF), and myocardial infarction (MI). Pooled estimations and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed using a random-effects model. Results Twenty-two articles that enrolled a total of 17,432 patients with CAD were included in the final analysis. CAD patients in the highest categories of baseline sST2 had a significantly

The water conservation function plays a vital role in the land–water cycle. As the “Chinese water tower”, the headwaters of the Yellow River are of great significance to the safety of the Yellow River basin and even the global ecosystem. Taking the grassland ecosystem in the Yellow River source area as the research object, the InVEST water yield model with modified parameters and the ecological value evaluation of the modified equivalent factor method were used to explore the simulated spatio-temporal changes and the value of grassland water conservation from 2001 to 2020. The results show that: (1) the average total amount of water conservation in the source area is 549 × 108 m3, which is 16% of the runoff in the Yellow River basin, with a growth rate of 7.5 mm/year 1 and a contribution rate of 30%; (2) the total ecological value of grassland water conservation in 2020 is USD 340.03 × 108. The proportion of improved grassland in ecological restoration and management is only 0.51%, while the proportion of original alpine meadow reaches 67% and its ecological function and value are irreplaceable; (3) based on the comprehensive indicators of water conservation capacity, value and importance, Qumalai, Chengduo and Maduo counties are ranked as priority areas for the ecological protection of water resources.

Background: Left atrial posterior wall isolation (PWI) is commonly used with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. However, potentials are often still recorded in the posterior wall after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), roof linear ablation, and bottom linear ablation in clinical practice. We aimed to explore the methodological approach and electrophysiological characteristics of PWI.Methods: A total of 36 patients who attended our center with long-standing persistent AF were retrospectively analyzed. After routine PVI and roof and bottom linear ablation, complete PWI was confirmed in sinus rhythm by voltage mapping and highoutput pacing. Otherwise, activation mapping and voltage mapping were used to guide ablation on the line or inside the posterior wall until bidirectional block was achieved. Results:The first-pass success rate of PWI was 39%. In the remaining 61% of patients with posterior wall electrograms, activation mapping in sinus rhythm showed that the earliest activation point was not on the ablation line but in a relatively dispersed focal area, possibly related to epicardial muscular sleeve insertion. Voltage mapping revealed a focal high-voltage area in the posterior wall matching the relatively dispersed earliest activation site, in which an average of five points of ablation achieved complete PWI without serious esophageal injury. The middle zone contained 80% of the additional posterior wall ablation points.Conclusions: PWI was performed safely and effectively with an average of five additional ablation points in the posterior wall in 61% of patients under the guidance of voltage mapping.

In practice, this study will help to better elucidate the relationship between oxidation profile and meat quality, and provide consumers with recommendations for consuming PSE-like meat.