Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and sleep disorders.

Studies have shown that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be associated with sleep disorders. In order to explore the explicit relationship between the two, we systematically reviewed the effects of sleep disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), on the incidence of NAFLD, and analyzed the possible mechanisms after adjusting for confounding factors. NAFLD is independently associated with sleep disorders.

Nitric Oxide Synthases in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by severe joint damage and disability. However, the specific mechanism of RA has not been thoroughly clarified over the past decade. Nitric oxide (NO), a kind of gas messenger molecule with many molecular targets, is demonstrated to have significant roles in histopathology and homeostasis.

Roles of autophagy in rheumatoid arthritis.

Autophagy, a vital mechanism restricted in tissues, exerts its cytoprotective role through the degradation mechanism of damaged or aging organelles, harmful protein aggregates and intracellular pathogens, followed by energy furnishment. However, dysfunctional autophagy is associated with the development of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In pathological conditions, autophagy may be involved in the maturation, survival and proliferation of various immune and non-immune cells and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of RA.

Pharmacological effects of the Cassia Seed on atherosclerosis: A meta-analysis based on network pharmacology.

Background: The aim of this study was to shed light on the active ingredients and potential targets of Cassia Seed about anti-atherosclerosis based on network pharmacology.

Methods: The active ingredients and potential targets of Cassia Seed were obtained from traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP) and SwissTargetPrediction database. Then, atherosclerosis-related targets were screened via GeneCards, online mendelian inheritance in man, therapeutic target database and DrugBank database.

New progress in understanding roles of nitric oxide during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a major clinical cause of morbidity and mortality in liver surgery and transplantation. Many studies have found that nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the HIRI and its increase or decrease can affect the progression and outcome of HIRI. However, the role of NO in HIRI is controversial and complicated.

Role of Cholinergic Signaling in Alzheimer's Disease.

Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter secreted by cholinergic neurons, is involved in signal transduction related to memory and learning ability. Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive and commonly diagnosed neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by memory and cognitive decline and behavioral disorders. The pathogenesis of AD is complex and remains unclear, being affected by various factors.

Atherosclerosis: The Culprit and Co-victim of Vascular Dementia.

Vascular dementia (VD), a cerebrovascular disease which causes cognitive impairment, is one of the significant factors that affects the quality of senectitude. Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory syndrome and closely associated with VD. Analyzing the role of AS in VD contribute greatly to its early detection and prevention, but their relationship has not been integrated into a complete network.

Astragaloside IV Alleviates Liver Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis to Protect Against Experimental Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main form of chronic liver disease in the world. Astragaloside IV (ASIV) has been tested in experimental models of different diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect and protective mechanism of ASIV on NAFLD.

Effects of non-drug treatment on liver cells apoptosis during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (HIRI) is an important cause of liver dysfunction after liver transplantation for the patients suffered from fatty liver, non-alcoholic cirrhosis, or liver cancer. It is closely related to liver cells apoptosis. Therefore, how to maintain the stable state of cell apoptosis is important to protect the liver from HIRI.

Pharmacological Treatment of Vascular Dementia: A Molecular Mechanism Perspective.

Vascular dementia (VaD) is a neurodegenerative disease, with cognitive dysfunction attributable to cerebrovascular factors. At present, it is the second most frequently occurring type of dementia in older adults (after Alzheimer's disease). The underlying etiology of VaD has not been completely elucidated, which limits its management.

Role of prostaglandins in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterised by systemic and chronic synovitis that lead to joint destruction, pain, and many complications. Treatments only relieve certain symptoms, but do not cure RA completely. Prostaglandins (PGs) are lipid signalling molecules and released in the early phase of RA.

LTB4-induced anti-apoptosis and infiltration of neutrophils in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune disease, resulting in synovitis, joint pain and stiffness, even deformity and disability. The interactions between leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and neutrophils in RA progression have not been elucidated in detail. Our review focuses on the correlation of LTB4 and neutrophils in the development of RA especially in terms of infiltration and delayed life span of neutrophils.

Exploring the bi-directional relationship between autophagy and Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and Tau phosphorylation, in which its pathogenesis has not been cleared so far. The metabolism of Aβ and Tau is critically affected by the autophagy. Abnormal autophagy is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of AD, regulating autophagy may become a new strategy for AD treatment.

Risk Factors, Mechanisms and Treatments of Thromboangiitis Obliterans: An Overview of Recent Research.

Background: Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is a nonatherosclerotic thromboticocclusive vasculitis that affects the vessels of the small and medium-sized extremities. No explicit etiology or pathogenesis of TAO has been proven, and more effective treatments are needed.

Objective: The study aimed to summarize and present an overview of recent advances regarding the risk factors, mechanisms and treatments of TAO and to organize the related information in figures to provide a comparatively complete reference.

Effects of apoptosis on liver aging.

As an irreversible and perennial process, aging is accompanied by functional and morphological declines in organs. Generally, aging liver exhibits a decline in volume and hepatic blood flow. Even with a preeminent regenerative capacity to restore its functions after liver cell loss, its biosynthesis and metabolism abilities decline, and these are difficult to restore to previous standards.

Pain and bone damage in rheumatoid arthritis: role of leukotriene B4.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by unbearable joint pain as well as bone and cartilage destruction. Although RA development is greatly controlled, the pain and bone damage failed to be relieved and managed. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) has been proved to play an essential role in the induction of pain and bone damage.

Roles of eNOS in atherosclerosis treatment.

Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main pathogeny of coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction and peripheral vascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the important pathogenesis of AS. As an important endothelium-derived relaxation factor, nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in cardiovascular protection and anti-AS function; but in the pathological state, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) disorder causes an abnormal production of NO, which may damage endothelial function and trigger AS.

Roles of aging in sleep.

With aging, various factors deteriorate the normal sleep process that is essential for the restoration of functional and physical performance. Due to aging-related diseases, life changes, or aging itself, disturbances in normal sleep cycles can profoundly affect healthy aging. To understand the interconnections between aging and the factors influencing sleep, with emerging evidence accumulated in recent years, this study elaborates on the roles of aging in sleep from four perspectives: cortical thinning, white matter degeneration, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and circadian disorganization.

Role of Reduced Nitric Oxide in Liver Cell Apoptosis Inhibition During Liver Damage.

Hepatic injury is a major event in liver surgery and may lead to liver cell apoptosis. Nitric oxide (NO) is an unstable, carbon-centered radical with a short half-time and a key role in molecular signaling. Increasing evidence demonstrates that NO plays an important role in the liver cell apoptosis caused by hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury and other liver damage.

Apoptosis in the aging liver.

Various changes in the liver during aging can reduce hepatic function and promote liver injury. Aging is associated with high morbidity and a poor prognosis in patients with various liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis C and liver cancer, as well as with surgeries such as partial hepatectomy and liver transplantation. In addition, apoptosis increases with liver aging.

Nitric oxide bioavailability dysfunction involves in atherosclerosis.

The pathological characteristics of atherosclerosis (AS) include lipid accumulation, fibrosis formation and atherosclerotic plaque produced in artery intima, which leads to vascular sclerosis, lumen stenosis and irritates the ischemic changes of corresponding organs. Endothelial dysfunction was closely associated with AS. Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional signaling molecule involved in the maintenance of metabolic and cardiovascular homeostasis.

New progress in roles of nitric oxide during hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury.

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a clinical condition which may lead to cellular injury and organ dysfunction. The role of nitric oxide (NO) in HIRI is complicated and inconclusive. NO produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation plays a protective role during early HIRI.