Association between N-terminal proB-type Natriuretic Peptide and Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background： While depression and certain cardiac biomarkers are associated with acute myocardial infarction （AM1）, the relationship between them remains largely unexplored. We examined the association between depressive symptoms and biomarkers in patients with AMI. Methods： We performed a cross-sectional study using data from 103 patients with AM1 between March 2013 and September 2014. The levels of depression, N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP）, and troponin 1 （Tnl） were measured at baseline. The patients were divided into two groups： those with depressive symptolns and those without depressive symptoms according to Zung Self-rating Depression Scale （SDS） score. Baseline comparisons between two groups were made using Student＇s t-test for continuous variables, Chi-square or Fisher＇s exact test for categorical variables, and Wilcoxon test for variables in skewed distribution. Binomial logistic regression and multivariate linear regression were performed to assess the association between depressive symptoms and biomarkers while adjusting for demographic and clinical variables. Results： Patients with depressive symptoms had significantly higher NT-proBNP levels as compared to patients without depressive symptoms （ 1135.0 [131.5, 2474.0] vs. 384.0 [ 133.0, 990.0], Z = -2.470, P 0.013）. Depressive symptoms were associated with higher NT-proBNP levels （odds ratio [OR] 2.348, 95% CI： 1.344 to 4.103, P= 0.003） and higher body mass index （OR = 1.169, 95% confidence interval [CI]： 1.016 to 1.345, P = 0.029）. The total SDS score was associated with the NT-proBNP level （[3 ： 0.327, 95% CI：1.674 to 6.119, P = 0.001） after multivariable adjustment. In particular, NT-proBNP was associated with three of the depressive dimensions, including core depression （β = 0.299, 95% CI：0.551 to 2.428, P=0.002）, cognitive depression （β= 0.320, 95% CI：0.476 to 1.811, P=0.001）, and somatic depression （β= 0.333, 95% CI： 0.240 to 0.847, P = 0.001）. Neither the overall depressive symptomatology nor the individual depressive dimensions were associated with TnI levels. Conclusions： Depressive symptoms, especially core depression, cognitive depression, and somatic depression, were related to high NT-proBNP levels in patients with AMI.

Potential Clinical Risk of Inflammation and Toxicity from Rare-Earth Nanoparticles in Mice

Background： Nanotechnology is emerging as a promising tool to may pose a potential risk of toxicity during in vivo applications nanoparticles （RENPs） using mice as models. perform noninvasive therapy and optical imaging. Howevei; nanomedicinc In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential toxicity of rare-earth Methods： We synthesized RENPs through a typical co-precipitation method. Institute of Cancer Research （ICR） mice were randomly divided into seven groups including a control group and six experimental groups （10 mice per group）. [CR mice were intravenously injected with bare RENPs at a daily dose of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg for 7 days. To evaluate the toxicity of these nanoparticles in mice, magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） was performed to assess their uptake in mice. In addition, hematological and biochemical analyses were conducted to evaluate any impairment in the organ functions of ICR mice. The analysis of variance （ANOVA） followed by a one-way ANOVA test was used in this study. A repeated measures＇ analysis was used to determine any significant differences in white blood cell （WBC）, alanine aminotransferase （ALT）, and creatinine （CREA） levels at different evaluation times in each group. Results： We demonstrated the successful synthesis of two different sizes （10 nm and 100 nm） of RENPs. Their physical properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and a 980 nm laser diode. Results of MRI study revealed the distribution and circulation of the RENPs in the liver. In addition, the hematological analysis found an increase of WBCs to （8.69 ± 0.85） × 10^9/L at the 28^th day, which is indicative of inflammation in the mouse treated with 1.5 mg/kg NaYbF4：Er nanoparticles. Furthermore, the biochemical analysis indicated increased levels of ALT （[64.20 ± 15.50] U/L） and CREA （[27.80 ± 3.56] μmol/L） at the 28^th day, particularly those injected with 1.5 mg/kg NaYbF4：Er nanoparticles. These results suggested the physiological and pathological dalnage caused by these nanoparticles to the organs and tissues of mice, especially to liver and kidney. Conclusion： The use of bare RENPs may cause possible hepatotoxicity and nephritictoxicity in mice.

Rare-earth Nanoparticle-induced Cytotoxicity on Spatia Cognition Memory of Mouse Brain

Background： Luminescent rare-earth-based nanoparticles have been increasingly used in nanomedicine due to their excellent physicochemical properties, such as biomedical imaging agents, drug carriers, and biomarkers. However, biological sat）ty of the rare-earth-based nanomedicine is of great significance for future development in practical applications. In particular, biological effects of rare-earth nanoparticles on human＇s central nervous system are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential toxicity of rare-earth nanoparticles in nervous system function in the case of continuous exposure. Methods： Adult ICR mice were randomly divided into seven groups, including control group （receiving 0.9% normal saline） and six experimental groups （ 10 mice in each group）. Luminescent rare-earth-based nanoparticles were synthesized by a reported co-precipitation method. Two different sizes of the nanoparticles were obtained, and then exposed to ICR mice through caudal vein injection at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg body weight in each day for 7 days. Next, a Morris water maze test was employed to evaluate impaired behaviors of their spatial recognition memory. Finally, histopathological examination was implemented to study how the nanoparticles can affect the brain tissue of the ICR mice. Results： Two different sizes of rare-earth nanoparticles have been successfully obtained, and their physical properties including luminescence spectra and nanoparticle sizes have been characterized. In these experiments, the rare-earth nanoparticles were taken up in the mouse liver using the magnetic resonance imaging characterization. Most importantly, the experimental results of the Morris water maze tests and histopathological analysis clearly showed that rare-earth nanoparticles could induce toxicity on mouse brain and impair the behaviors of spatial recognition memory. Finally, the mechanism of adenosine triphosphate quenching by the rare-earth nanoparticles was provided to illustrate the toxicity on the mouse brain. Conclusions： This study suggested that long-term exposure of high-dose bare rare-earth nanoparticles caused an obvious damage on the spatial recognition memory in the mice.