Type 2 Diabetes, Circulating Metabolites, and Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Epidemiological studies have shown an association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS), but the potential causal relationship and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a two-sample and two-step Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the association of T2D with CAVS and the mediating effects of circulating metabolites and blood pressure using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used for the primary MR analysis, and comprehensive sensitivity analyses were performed to validate the robustness of the results.

Hippo pathway cooperates with ChREBP to regulate hepatic glucose utilization.

Hippo pathway plays a crucial role as a regulator of organ size and tumorigenesis that negatively regulates cell growth and survival. Recently lots of evidences show that Hippo pathway plays a crucial role in glucose metabolic metabolism to regulate energy status with cell growth. However, the detailed mechanism is still unclear.

The Diagonal Branch to the Accompanying Vein Fistula After Rotational Atherectomy.

We report a case of rotational-atherectomy induced fistula between the diagonal branch and the accompanying vein. Thus far, the patient has had no relevant symptoms; thus, no intervention has been undertaken. We will closely monitor the patient to determine future treatment.

Clinical characteristics and biomarkers of coronary microvascular dysfunction and obstructive coronary artery disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics and biomarkers in patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMVD) and to compare them with patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD).

Methods: We conducted a single-center, hospital-based, observational, descriptive, comparative, clinical study of 40 patients, including 20 patients with CMVD and 20 with OCAD. We assessed laboratory biomarkers (low-density lipoprotein [LDL], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], red blood cell distribution width [RDW], brain natriuretic protein [BNP], troponin I), and PET/CT coronary flow reserve was performed.

Circulating myocardial microRNAs from infarcted hearts are carried in exosomes and mobilise bone marrow progenitor cells.

Myocardial microRNAs (myo-miRs) are released into the circulation after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). How they impact remote organs is however largely unknown. Here we show that circulating myo-miRs are carried in exosomes and mediate functional crosstalk between the ischemic heart and the bone marrow (BM).

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin attenuates the development of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice.

Background: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine with multiple effects on the body. For one thing, TSLP induces Th2 immunoreaction and facilitates allergic reaction; for another, it promotes the differentiation of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (nTregs) and maintains immune tolerance. However, the exact role of TSLP in atherosclerosis remains unknown.

Total cholesterol content of erythrocyte membranes is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease and the therapeutic effect of rosuvastatin.

Introduction: Numerous studies suggest that total cholesterol content of erythrocyte membranes (CEM) might play a critical role in atherosclerotic plaque progression and instability. However, the exact role of CEM in atherosclerosis remains obscure. Our study was designed to investigate the association between CEM and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), and to assess the effect of rosuvastatin on CEM levels.

CD4+LAP + and CD4 +CD25 +Foxp3 + regulatory T cells induced by nasal oxidized low-density lipoprotein suppress effector T cells response and attenuate atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice.

Increasing studies have demonstrated that atherosclerosis is a chronic immunoinflammatory disease, and that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-specific T cells contribute to the autoimmune process in atherosclerosis. Oral administration of oxLDL, which was identified as a candidate autoantigen in atherosclerosis, was shown to induce tolerance and suppress atherogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms of mucosal tolerance induction, in particular nasal tolerance, remain unknown.

Establishment of nasal tolerance to heat shock protein-60 alleviates atherosclerosis by inducing TGF-β-dependent regulatory T cells.

Mounting evidence supports that a newly identified regulatory T cell (Treg), CD4(+)LAP(+) Treg, is associated with oral tolerance induction and following inhibition of atherosclerosis, but little is described about whether nasal tolerance to antigen likewise induces the novel Tregs production and the relevant antiatherosclerotic benefit. We investigated the effect of nasal administration of heat shock protein-60 (HSP60) on atherogenesis. HSP60 or phosphate buffer solution (PBS) was nasally administered to six-week-old male ApoE(-/-) mice.

Overexpression of CXCL16 promotes a vulnerable plaque phenotype in Apolipoprotein E-Knockout Mice.

Background: CXCL16 has been shown to be involved in atherosclerotic lesion development, but its role in preexisting lesions is still unclear. This study aims to assess the effect of CXCL16 on the stability of preexisting lesions.

Methods: We firstly measured plasma CXCL16 level in Apolipoprotein E-Knockout (ApoE KO) mice with either high-cholesterol diet (HCD) or normal diet (ND) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Circulating CXCL16 is related to the severity of coronary artery stenosis.

Background: The novel chemokine CXCL16 is involved in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the role of CXCL16 in atherosclerosis remains uncertain. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between CXCL16 and the severity of coronary artery stenosis.