Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes ameliorate hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting the Hsp90aa1/ERK/pERK pathway.

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a serious and life-threatening chronic cardiopulmonary disease characterized by progressive elevation of pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Mesenchymal stem cell- derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) can relieve HPH by reversing pulmonary vascular remodeling. The HPH model was established in healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 6 to 8 weeks.

Mitochondrial K channel-mediated autophagy contributes to angiotensin II-induced vascular dysfunction in mice.

Background And Aim: The present study aimed to investigate whether the mitochondrial K channel contributes to angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced vascular dysfunction, the development of hypertension, and atherosclerosis.

Methods And Results: ApoE (-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet were chronically infused with Ang II for eight weeks and concomitantly treated with losartan (ARB), apocynin, or 5-hydroxy decanoate (5-HD), or 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Systolic blood pressure was measured, and pathological changes of aortic or liver tissue were observed.

Dexmedetomidine Alleviates Ischemia/Reperfusion-Associated Acute Kidney Injury by Enhancing Autophagic Activity the α2-AR/AMPK/mTOR Pathway.

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) reportedly protects against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and associated damage to the kidneys, but the underlying mechanisms have yet to be established.

Methods: Unilateral nephrectomy was performed in Wistar rats, and the remaining kidney was clamped for 1 h prior to reperfusion to establish an experimental model system. These animals were then randomized into Sham, DEX + Sham, DEX + I/R, ATI (Altepamizole, α2-adrenergic receptor inhibitor) + DEX + I/R, and 3-MA (3-methyladenine, autophagy inhibitor) + DEX + I/R groups.

Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stromal cells exert a therapeutic effect on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension by modulating the YAP1/SPP1 signaling pathway.

Objective: Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a progressive and life-threatening disease characterized by perivascular inflammation, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and occlusion. Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived exosomes (MSC-exo) have emerged as potential therapeutic agents due to their role in cell communication and the transportation of bioactive molecules. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of MSC-exo against HPH and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism.

Interaction Between the Glymphatic System and α-Synuclein in Parkinson's Disease.

The glymphatic system contributes to the clearance of amyloid-β from the brain and is disrupted in Alzheimer's disease. However, whether the system is involved in the removal of α-synuclein (α-syn) and whether it is suppressed in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain largely unknown. In mice receiving the intranigral injection of recombinant human α-syn, we found that the glymphatic suppression via aquaporin-4 (AQP4) gene deletion or acetazolamide treatment reduced the clearance of injected α-syn from the brain.

Gao-Zi-Yao improves learning and memory function in old spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Aims: Gao-Zi-Yao has long been a unique way for treating various diseases. The present study is to explore the effect of Gao-Zi-Yao on learning and memory function in old spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) and its possible mechanism.

Method: Male old SHR were received different doses of Gao-Zi-Yao for 4 weeks.

Microbubbles for Effective Cleaning of Metal Surfaces Without Chemical Agents.

Traditional cleaning methods involving surfactants and ultrasound generate large amounts of wastewater. Microbubbles offer a more eco-friendly technology for interface cleaning. Here, we explored the efficiency of microbubbles for cleaning oil from metal surfaces.

Autophagy contributes to angiotensin II induced dysfunction of HUVECs.

Background: Signal transduction of Angiotensin II (Ang II) induced autophagy and its role in Ang II-induced dysfunction of HUVECs are still unclear.

Methods: HUVECs are stimulated with different doses of Ang II (10-9-10-5 mol/L) for different time (6-48 hours). Autophagy-related protein markers: LC3, Beclin-1 and SQSTM1/p62 are measured by western blot.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulation Huangqi Jianzhong Tang Improves Cardiac Function after Myocardial Infarction in Rats.

Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (HQJZT) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula consisting of seven different herbs: Radix Astragali, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Fructus Jujubae, Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, and Saccharum Granorum. The present study aims to evaluate the possible effects of HQJZT on cardiac function in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and related mechanism. AMI model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by one-week HQJZT treatment.

Antihypertensive properties of a traditional Chinese medicine GAO-ZI-YAO in elderly spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Aim: The present study aims to investigate the antihypertensive effect and the underlying mechanism of GAO-ZI-YAO, one of the traditional Chinese medicines, in elderly spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods: 12-month-old male SHRs were randomly divided into five groups on the basis of treatment with different doses of GAO-ZI-YAO or angiotensin II receptor-1 blocker (ARB, Irbesartan) for four weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), and serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiotensin II (Ang II), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrotic factor (TNF)-α were measured.

Pingkui Enema Alleviates TNBS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Regulation of Inflammatory Factors, Gut Bifidobacterium, and Intestinal Mucosal Barrier in Rats.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent inflammation of the colon, and clinical outcome of UC is still unsatisfied. Pingkui enema, a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has been safely applied for the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery in clinic for many years. However, its mechanism is still elusive.

Quantitative Determination of Glymphatic Flow Using Spectrophotofluorometry.

Following intrathecal injection of fluorescent tracers, ex vivo imaging of brain vibratome slices has been widely used to study the glymphatic system in the rodent brain. Tracer penetration into the brain is usually quantified by image-processing, even though this approach requires much time and manual operation. Here, we illustrate a simple protocol for the quantitative determination of glymphatic activity using spectrophotofluorometry.

Shenfu injection prevents sepsis-induced myocardial injury by inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Shenfu injection (SFI) is a well-known Chinese herbal medicine widely used in the treatment of septic shock in China.

Aims: The aims of this study are to investigate the protective effects of SFI on sepsis-induced myocardial injury in mice and to identify the underlying mechanism of action.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-two male C57/B6J mice (5-6 weeks old) were randomly divided into five groups: control (NC), sham sepsis (sham), sepsis (Lipopolysaccharide- LPS), sepsis treated with a low dose SFI, and sepsis treated with a high dose SFI.

Sodium Tanshinone II Sulfonate A Ameliorates Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains a prevalent disease globally. Sodium tanshinone II sulfonate A (STS) has been used in clinical treatment of PH.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of sodium STS treatment on hypoxia-induced PH and related mechanisms.

The effect of candesartan on chronic stress induced imbalance of glucose homeostasis.

Objective: To explore whether chronic stress induces imbalance of glucose homeostasis, and to investigate the possible involvement of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS).

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, chronic stress, chronic stress plus low dose candesartan (an angiotensin II receptor-1 blocker, ARB, 5 mg/kg/d, i.p.

[Assay of 18 amino acids in Chuanmingshen violaceum roots by pre-column derivative HPLC].

The roots of Chuanmingshen violaceum is a commonly used Chinese herb and food, which contains rich amino acids. However, the kinds and amounts of amino acids are variety in this herb among the geographical location and ecological environment. Therefore, this study firstly developed a new pre-column derived HPLC method to quantify the levels of 18 amino acids in Ch.

Effect of olprinone on ischemia-reperfusion induced myocardial injury in rats.

Aims: This study investigated the effect of olprinone on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) induced cardiac injury, and the underlying mechanism.

Main Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 30-min coronary arterial occlusion followed by 24 h reperfusion. After the start of reperfusion, rats were respectively treated with olprinone in three different dosages (0.

Chronic stress impairs the aquaporin-4-mediated glymphatic transport through glucocorticoid signaling.

Background: The glymphatic system has recently been proposed to function as a brain-wide macroscopic system for the clearance of potentially harmful molecules, such as amyloid beta (e.g., Aβ), from the brain parenchyma.

Tanshinone IIA Sodium Sulfonate Attenuates LPS-Induced Intestinal Injury in Mice.

Background: Tanshinone IIA sodium sulfonate (TSS) is known to possess anti-inflammatory effects and has exhibited protective effects in various inflammatory conditions; however, its role in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced intestinal injury is still unknown.

Objective: The present study is designed to explore the role and possible mechanism of TSS in LPS-induced intestinal injury.

Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice, challenged with intraperitoneal LPS injection, were treated with or without TSS 0.

Cardioprotective Effects of Serca2a Overexpression Against Ischemiareperfusion- induced Injuries in Rats.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to assess how genetically increased Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (Serca2a) expression affects cardiac injury after Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) exposure and the related mechanisms involved.

Methods And Results: Rats were subjected to Left Anterior Descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion for 30 min followed by a 24-hour reperfusion. Cardiac function analysis revealed that cardiac function dramatically improved in Serca2a transgenic rats, (Serca2aTG) rats, compared to Wild Type (WT) rats.

The modified Yi qi decoction protects cardiac ischemia-reperfusion induced injury in rats.

Background: To investigate the effects and involved mechanisms of the modified Yi Qi decoction (MYQ) in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induced injury.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 30-min coronary arterial occlusion followed by reperfusion, low or high dose decoction of MYQ was administrated orally for 1 week or 1 month.

Results: Both in 1 week and 1 month IR rat groups, cardiac function indexes were significantly impaired compared with sham group rats, accompanied with higher ratio of infarct size to risk size, decreased expressions of sodium calcium exchanger (NCX1) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (Serca2a), and different expressions of autophagic proteins, Beclin-1 and LC3.

Protective effects of tanshinone IIA sodium sulfonate on ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial injury in rats.

Objectives: This study investigated the protective effect of tanshinone IIA sodium sulfonate (TSS) on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) induced cardiac injury, and the underlying mechanism of action.

Materials And Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 30-min coronary arterial occlusion followed by 24 hours' reperfusion. Half an hour before the left coronary artery ligation, rats were pretreated with TSS in three different dosages (15, 30, 70 mg/kg, IP).

Prognostic significance of long noncoding RNA Z38 as a candidate biomarker in breast cancer.

Background: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) Z38 has been shown to promote cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in breast cancer. However, expression pattern and prognostic value of lncRNA Z38 in breast cancer patients remain elusive.

Methods: The expression levels of SPRY4-IT1 in 110 self-paired specimens of breast cancer and adjacent normal breast tissues were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and its correlation with overall survival of patients with breast cancer was further statistically analyzed.