Objective Recent studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of cardiac development, physiologic, and pathologic processes via post-transcriptional control of gene expression. The stable circulating miRNAs offer unique opportunities for the early diagnosis of several diseases. In this study, we examined the circulating miR-133 and miR-328 levels from patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients and Methods Twenty-eight control subjects and fifty-one consecutive AMI patients were enrolled. The plasma and whole blood samples from AMI patients were obtained within 24 hours (n=51) and 7 days (n=6) after the onset of AMI symptoms. The circulating miR-133 and miR-328 levels were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. Results The miR-133 levels in plasma from AMI patients exhibited a 4.4-fold increase compared with control subjects (p=0.006). Moreover, the increased miR-133 levels in whole blood were comparable with those in plasma samples. In contrast, the miR-328 levels in plasma and whole blood of AMI patients were markedly increased by 10.9-fold and 16.1-fold, respectively, compared to those in control subjects (p=0.033 and p <0.001). The elevated circulating miR-133 and miR-328 levels were recovered to the control levels at 7 days after AMI. In addition, there was a correlation between circulating miR-133 or miR-328 levels and cardiac troponin I. Furthermore, circulating miR-133 or miR-328 showed no significant changes in AMI patients with tachyarrhythmia (n=24) or bradyarrhythmia (n=26) compared to those in patients without arrhythmias. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the areas under the curve of miR-133 or miR-328 in plasma and whole blood were 0.890, 0.702 and 0.810, 0.872, respectively (all p<0.05). Conclusion The miR-133 and miR-328 levels in plasma and whole blood in AMI patients were increased compared to those in control subjects. These miRNAs may represent novel biomarkers of AMI.

Olivine-hosted melt inclusions within lava retain information regarding the lava"s primary magma compositions and mantle sources. Thus, they can be used to infer the nature of the mantle sources of large igneous provinces, which is still not well known and of the subject of debate. We have analyzed the chemical compositions and Pb isotopic ratios of olivine-hosted melt inclusions in the Dali picrites, Emeishan Large Igneous Province (LIP), SW China. These are the first in-situ Pb isotope data measured for melt inclusions found in the Emeishan picrites and allow new constraints to be placed on the source lithology of the Emeishan LIP. The melt inclusions show chemical compositional variations, spanning low-, intermediate-and high-Ti compositions, while their host whole rocks are restricted to the intermediate-Ti compositions. Together with the relatively constant Pb isotope ratios of the melt inclusions, the compositional variations suggest that the low-, intermediate-and high-Ti melts were derived from compositionally similar sources. The geochemical characteristics of melt inclusions, their host olivines, and whole-rocks from the Emeishan LIP indicate that Ca, Al, Mn, Yb, and Lu behave compatibly, and Ti, Rb, Sr, Zr, and Nb behave incompatibly during partial melting, requiring a pyroxenite source for the Emeishin LIP. The wide range of Ti contents in the melt inclusions and whole-rocks of the Emeishan basalts reflects different degrees of partial melting in the pyroxenite source at different depths in the melting column. The Pb isotope compositions of the melt inclusions and the OIB-like trace element compositions of the Emeishan basalts imply that mixing of a recycled ancient oceanic crust (EM1-like) component with a peridotite component from the lower mantle (FOZO-like component) could have underwent solid-state reaction, producing a secondary pyroxenite source that was subsequently partially melted to form the basalts. This new model of pyroxenite melting could explain the geochemical variations among the low-, intermediate-and high-Ti basalts for the Emeishan LIP and challenges the prevailing belief that the source of the Emeishan basalts is peridotite- .

Unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) is a life-threatening cerebrovascular condition. Whether changes in gut microbial composition participate in the development of UIAs remains largely unknown. We perform a case-control metagenome-wide association study in two cohorts of Chinese UIA patients and control individuals and mice that receive fecal transplants from human donors. After fecal transplantation, the UIA microbiota is sufficient to induce UIAs in mice. We identify UIA-associated gut microbial species link to changes in circulating taurine. Specifically, the abundance of Hungatella hathewayi is markedly decreased and positively correlated with the circulating taurine concentration in both humans and mice. Consistently, gavage with H. hathewayi normalizes the taurine levels in serum and protects mice against the formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Taurine supplementation also reverses the progression of intracranial aneurysms. Our findings provide insights into a potential role of H. hathewayi-associated taurine depletion as a key factor in the pathogenesis of UIAs.

Pb isotope compositions of melt inclusions provide unique information about the composition of primary magmas and their source. In this study, we have developed a method for measuring Pb isotopes in small olivine-hosted melt inclusions (>40 mm) from young and old volcanoes by LA-MC-ICP-MS. We used a new interface cone assemblage consisting of a Jet sample cone and X skimmer cone. A small flow of N 2 gas was added to the carrier gas and passed through the assemblage to enhance the signal intensity. In addition the energy and repetition rate of the laser conditions were reduced and the signal integration time was shortened in order to lengthen the laser ablation time and to collect enough data. Mass bias and instrument drift were corrected using a standard-sample-standard bracketing method. The analysis routine employed eight ion counters to receive 238 basalts, but also from old samples that require correction for U-Th decay.