Research Progress on the Role and Mechanism of GDF15 in Body Weight Regulation.

Background: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is a member of the growth differentiation factor subfamily in the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. GDF15 has multiple functions and can regulate biological processes. High levels of GDF15 in the circulation can affect metabolic processes.

Deficiency of Tregs in hypertension-associated left ventricular hypertrophy.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the most common target organ damage in hypertension. Abnormal numbers or functions of CD4 CD25 Foxp3 regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) can cause immune disorders, which participates in LVH. This study aimed to explore the role of Tregs in LVH by investigating circulating Tregs and associated cytokine levels in hypertensive patients with or without LVH.

Arterial remodeling: the role of mitochondrial metabolism in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Arterial remodeling is a common pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, vascular restenosis, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, aortic dissection, and aneurysm. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are not only the main cellular components in the middle layer of the arterial wall but also the main cells involved in arterial remodeling. Dedifferentiated VSMCs lose their contractile properties and are converted to a synthetic, secretory, proliferative, and migratory phenotype, playing key roles in the pathogenesis of arterial remodeling.

Improvement of hemodynamic parameters in aortic stenosis patients with transcatheter valve replacement by using impedance cardiography.

Background: The hemodynamic changes of patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent transcatheter valve replacement (TAVR) have not been completely investigated.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 74 patients with AS who underwent TAVR and assessed cardiac function changes at 1 week post-operation by impedance cardiography (ICG) in a supine position at rest for more than 15 min. Of the 74 patients, 47 had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 50%; preserved-LVEF group) and 27 had reduced LVEF (LVEF <50%; reduced-LVEF group).

Methotrexate can prevent cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: An updated meta-analysis.

Aims: The incidence of cardiovascular events (CVEs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is higher than that in people without RA. This may be because inflammation promotes the progression of atherosclerosis. Anti-inflammatory drugs might reduce the occurrence of CVEs in patients with RA.

Circular RNA in cardiovascular disease: Expression, mechanisms and clinical prospects.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a group of covalently closed, endogenous, non-coding RNAs, which exist widely in human tissues including the heart. Increasing evidence has shown that cardiac circRNAs play crucial regulatory roles in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In this review, we aimed to provide a systemic understanding of circRNAs with a special emphasis on the cardiovascular system.

[Acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) as adjuvant treatment for pneumonia of phlegm-heat blocking lung type in children: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) as adjuvant treatment for pneumonia of phlegm-heat blocking lung type in children.

Methods: A total of 80 children with pneumonia of phlegm-heat blocking lung type were randomized into an observation group (40 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (40 cases). In the control group, routine anti-infection and symptomatic and supportive treatment were given.

Research progress on alternative non-classical mechanisms of PCSK9 in atherosclerosis in patients with and without diabetes.

The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) acts via a canonical pathway to regulate circulating low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) via degradation of the LDL receptor (LDLR) on the liver cell surface. Published research has shown that PCSK9 is involved in atherosclerosis via a variety of non-classical mechanisms that involve lysosomal, inflammatory, apoptotic, mitochondrial, and immune pathways. In this review paper, we summarized these additional mechanisms and described how anti-PCSK9 therapy exerts effects through these mechanisms.

Natural selection and genetic diversity of domain I of Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen-1 on Bioko Island.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen-1 (PfAMA-1) is a promising candidate antigen for a blood-stage malaria vaccine. However, antigenic variation and diversity of PfAMA-1 are still major problems to design a universal malaria vaccine based on this antigen, especially against domain I (DI). Detail understanding of the PfAMA-1 gene polymorphism can provide useful information on this potential vaccine component.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors, t-AUCB, regulated microRNA-1 and its target genes in myocardial infarction mice.

Purpose: Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors (sEHIs) had been demonstrated to produce cardioprotective effects against ischemia-induced lethal arrhythmias, but the exact mechanisms remain unknown. The present study was designed to investigate whether the beneficial effects of sEHIs are related to regulation of microRNA-1, which was a proarrhythmic factor in the ischemic heart.

Methods: A mousemyocardial infarction (MI) model was established by ligating the coronary artery.

Efficacy and safety of statins and exercise combination therapy compared to statin monotherapy in patients with dyslipidaemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Statin treatment in association with physical exercise can substantially reduce mortality in dyslipidaemic individuals. However, the available data to compare the efficacy and safety of statins and exercise combination therapy with statin monotherapy are limited. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors might prevent ischemic arrhythmias via microRNA-1 repression in primary neonatal mouse ventricular myocytes.

Ischemic arrhythmias are the main causes of sudden cardiac death. It has been reported that soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors (sEHis) could prevent arrhythmias; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In recent years, the proarrhythmic role of microRNA-1 (miR-1) has been investigated.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 potentially influences cholesterol uptake in macrophages and reverse cholesterol transport.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) promotes the degradation of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLRs) molecules expressed on the cell surface. Gene inactivation of PCSK9 reduces the areas of atherosclerotic lesions in mice, and the effect is mainly dependent on LDLRs. Furthermore, a positive relationship between PCSK9 and cholesterol accumulation in the wall of the aorta has been established.

Effects of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor on the expression of fatty acid synthase in peripheral blood mononuclear cell in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Researches have shown that soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors (sEHi) can protect against the development of atherosclerosis. Simultaneously, emerging evidences have implicated the association between fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We tested the hypothesis that sEHi could reduce the occurrence of ACS by regulating FAS.

[Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor t-AUCB ameliorates ox-LDL induced conversion of macrophages into foam cells through activating the PPARγ-ABCA1 pathway].

Objective: To observe the effects of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor t-AUCB on foam cell formation and cholesterol efflux in macrophage.

Methods: Mouse macrophages RAW264.7 were cultured and stimulated with ox-LDL (80 µmol/L) in the absence (group A) or presence of t-AUCB (1, 10, 50, 100 µmol/L, group B) or t-AUCB (100 µmol/L) pretreated with PPARγ antagonist GW9662 (5 µmol/L, group C).

A potent soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor, t-AUCB, acts through PPARγ to modulate the function of endothelial progenitor cells from patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are natural angiogenic mediators regulated by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Inhibitors of sEH can stabilize EETs levels and were reported to reduce atherosclerosis and inhibit myocardial infarction in animal models. In this work, we investigated whether increasing EETs with the sEH inhibitor t-AUCB would increase angiogenesis related function in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

[Effects of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors on the expression of fatty acid synthase in peripheral blood mononuclear cell of patients and inflammatory response with acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To explore the effects of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor (sEHi) on the expressions of fatty acid synthase (FASN) mRNA and protein in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to discuss the influences of sEHi in the regulated expression of FASN and inflammatory reaction.

Methods: The hospitalized ACS patients were selected as the ACS group (n = 35) while the healthy normal subjects as the control group (n = 30). The levels of lipoproteins, fasting blood glucose, myocardial enzyme and hs-CRP (high-sensitive C-reactive protein) were measured within 24 hours after admission.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors and cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) have been shown to play a role in cardiovascular protection by reducing ischemia reperfusion injury, producing anti-inflammatory effects, and promoting angiogenesis. EETs are regulated through conversion to less active corresponding diols by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Inhibition of sEH enhances the beneficial properties of EETs and has been investigated as a possible treatment for cardiovascular diseases.