TWEAK/Fn14 axis may promote vascular smooth muscle cell senescence via p38 signaling pathway: preliminary evidence.

Aim: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and its functional receptor, fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), on the process of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence.

Methods: Rat arterial VSMCs were cultured with angiotensin II to establish a model of premature senescence. The effects of TWEAK and Fn14 on senescent VSMCs were evaluated.

Nutrient deficiency patterns and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in older adults with hypertension: a latent class analysis.

Background: Previous researches examining the impact of dietary nutrition on mortality risk have mainly focused on individual nutrients, however the interaction of these nutrients has not been considered. The purpose of this study was to identify of nutrient deficiencies patterns and analyze their potential impact on mortality risk in older adults with hypertension.

Methods: We included participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study.

Interactive association of the dietary oxidative balance score and cardiovascular disease with mortality in older adults: evidence from NHANES.

: We conducted an assessment to explore potential associations of the dietary oxidative balance score (DOBS), cardiovascular disease (CVD), with all-cause mortality among older adults, while also exploring the potential moderating effect of DOBS on the relationship between CVD and mortality. : This study included 9059 older adults (≥60 years) from NHANES 2003-2014. Determination of DOBS involves scoring the combination of 16 nutrients, comprising 2 pro-oxidants and 14 anti-oxidants.

Combined association of dietary fibre and cognitive function with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in older adults.

Background: Dietary fibre and cognitive function are associated with the risk of mortality, respectively. Inadequate dietary fibre intake and cognitive impairment frequently co-occur in older adults, but the combined effect of dietary fibre and cognitive function on mortality remains unknown. The study was to investigate the combined effect of dietary fibre and cognitive function on mortality over a 13-year follow-up in a representative of older adults from the U.

Hypertension, dietary fiber intake, and cognitive function in older adults [from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data (2011-2014)].

Background: Dietary fiber was associated with hypertension (HYP) and cognitive function, but it was unknown whether the effect of HYP on cognitive function in older adults was modified by dietary fiber intake.

Methods: We recruited 2,478 participants from the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), with cognitive performance measured by Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD), the Animal Fluency test (AFT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST). Multivariate General linear model was used to estimate the interaction between dietary fiber intake and HYP status in association with low cognitive performance.

Sacubitril Valsartan Enhances Cardiac Function and Alleviates Myocardial Infarction in Rats through a SUV39H1/SPP1 Axis.

Sacubitril valsartan (lcz696) has been demonstrated as a substitute for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers for the treatment of heart failure. This research is aimed at examining the effects of lcz696 and its target molecules on myocardial infarction (MI). A rat model of MI was induced by left anterior descending artery ligation and treated with lcz696.

Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time and Mortality in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients.

Background: To evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: All data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. The study population was divided to two groups according to the optimal cut-off value of APTT calculated by X-tile software, and Cox proportional hazard model was used to define independent effect of APTT on 4-year mortality.

Circular RNA Foxo3 Relieves Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Suppressing Autophagy via Inhibiting HMGB1 by Repressing KAT7 in Myocardial Infarction.

Introduction: Myocardial infarction is coronary artery-related heart disease, and the leading cause of mortality globally. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new type of regulatory RNAs and participate in multiple pathological cardiac progression.

Methods: However, the function of circFoxo3 in MI-induced myocardial injury remains obscure.

Sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696) reduces myocardial injury following myocardial infarction by inhibiting NLRP3‑induced pyroptosis via the TAK1/JNK signaling pathway.

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696) on ventricular remodeling in myocardial infarction (MI) and the effects of the inflammasome‑mediated inflammatory response. First, a rat model was established. Animals were then treated with LCZ696 so that the histopathological changes associated with ventricular remodeling could be investigated.

Effects of nanoparticle-mediated delivery of pitavastatin on atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-knockout mice and THP-1-derived macrophages.

The treatment of atherosclerosis remains complex. Pitavastatin serves an important role in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of nanoparticle (NP)-mediated delivery of pitavastatin into atherosclerotic plaques as a novel treatment method for atherosclerosis.

Long non‑coding RNA NORAD regulates angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells via miR‑590‑3p under hypoxic conditions.

Dysregulation of angiogenesis can be caused by hypoxia, which may result in severe diseases of the heart, including coronary artery disease. Hypoxia‑inducible factor 1 (HIF‑1) modulates angiogenesis via the regulation of several angiogenic factors. However, the underlying mechanism of hypoxia‑induced angiogenesis remains unknown.

Crosstalk between endothelial cell-specific calpain inhibition and the endothelial-mesenchymal transition via the HSP90/Akt signaling pathway.

Hypothesis: The role of non-cardiomyocytes in cardiac remodeling and fibrosis has not been totally understood until now. This study investigated if endothelial cell (EC)-specific calpain participates in myocardial endothelial injury via the endothelial- mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and in cardiac fibroblasts during cell proliferation, thereby contributing to cardiac fibrosis eventually.

Methods: in vitro cultured mouse cardiac ECs were induced with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 (10 ng/ml) and calpain inhibitor III (20 μM) or Akt inhibitor (LY294002, 20 μM).

Effects of Intracoronary Nicorandil on Myocardial Microcirculation and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: The amelioration of myocardial reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) remains a significant issue.

Objective: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to better assess the effects of intracoronary nicorandil administration on myocardial microcirculation and clinical outcomes in these patients.

Methods: The meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement.

Human amnion mesenchymal stem cells attenuate atherosclerosis by modulating macrophage function to reduce immune response.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show immunosuppressive activities and alleviate atherosclerosis (AS) formation in apolipoprotein E‑knockout (apoE‑KO) mice. Human amnion mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs), a particular population of mesenchymal stem cells, have been shown to have immunomodulatory abilities. The present study investigated the effects of hAMSCs treatment on early atherosclerotic plaque formation and the progression of established lesion in apoE‑KO mice.

Treatment with verapamil for restoration of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response: A case report.

Rationale: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia disease that can cause thromboembolic disease and/or heart failure, resulting in increased mortality. Propafenone, amiodarone, and flecainide are recommended for converting AF to sinus rhythm. Beta blockers, verapamil, diltiazem, and digoxin are recommended for controlling AF with fast ventricular rate (VR).

Association between serum uric acid levels and coronary artery disease in different age and gender: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The association between uric acid (UA) and coronary artery disease (CAD) was controversial. It was still unclear how the UA level changes with age and gender.

Aims: To confirm the relationship between the change of UA with age and gender and CAD, especially in elderly people.

MicroRNA-21 mediates high phosphate-induced endothelial cell apoptosis.

Hyperphosphatemia, the elevated level of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in serum, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidities and mortality. The effects of high Pi on endothelial cells are not well studied. This study investigated high Pi-induced endothelial cell apoptosis and the role of microRNA-21.

Effects of Cilostazol-Based Triple Antiplatelet Therapy Versus Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation: An Updated Meta-Analysis of the Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background And Objective: The results of studies on cilostazol-based triple antiplatelet therapy (TAT) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation were inconsistent. To assess the effects of TAT compared with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) after DES/second-generation DES implantation, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: All relevant studies evaluated were identified by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science databases without time and language limitation.

Cardiac contractility modulation improves left ventricular systolic function partially via miR-25 mediated SERCA2A expression in rabbit trans aortic constriction heart failure model.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) in improving trans aortic constriction (TAC)-induced heart failure (HF) left ventricular (LV) systolic function. A total of 25 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham operation group (SHM), TAC-induced HF group (HF), TAC-induced HF followed by CCM stimulation group (HF + CCM), TAC-induced HF followed by injection of anti-miR-25 group (HF + anti-miR-25), TAC-induced HF followed by CCM stimulation and AAV9-miR-25 injection group (HF + CCM + miR-25). CCM current was performed 6 hours a day for 4 weeks.

Crocin prevents platelet‑derived growth factor BB‑induced vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and phenotypic switch.

The phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a major initiating factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Platelet‑derived growth factor‑BB (PDGF‑BB) initiates a number of biological processes that contribute to VSMC proliferation and phenotypic switch. Crocin, a component of saffron, has been reported to inhibit atheromatous plaque formation.

The dose-response association between estimated glomerular filtration rate and prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction from rural areas of China's Liaoning province.

We aimed to investigate the dose-response associations between chronic kidney disease (CKD), and short and long-term cardiovascular outcomes, to characterize these associations by drawing dose-response curves based on a Chinese rural ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population.In all, 1067 patients with STEMI were consecutively enrolled from 12 secondary hospitals of China's Liaoning province (from June 2009 to June 2010 and January 2015 to December 2015). The follow-up was regularly performed by telephone.

The protease inhibitor E64d improves ox-LDL-induced endothelial dysfunction in human aortic endothelial cells.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial dysfunction in human vascular endothelial cells contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. E64d, a cysteine protease inhibitor, blocks the elastolytic activity of cathepsin essential for vascular matrix remodeling and reduces neurovascular endothelial apoptosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects and the underling mechanisms of E64d on ox-LDL-induced endothelial dysfunction in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs).

Endothelial growth medium suppresses apoptosis of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro via decrease of miR‑29a.

The administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in cases of cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) has been associated with a significant reduction of myocardial cell death and an effective improvement in cardiac function. However, one major limiting factor in MSCs transplantation therapy is the low survival rate of the transplanted cells. The present study aimed to demonstrate that human amnion‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) cultured with endothelial growth medium (EGM‑2) exhibited reduced apoptosis when exposed to serum‑free and hypoxic conditions; and that the expression of microRNA (miR)‑29a decreased significantly.

Statin-ezetimibe versus statin lipid-lowering therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Studies comparing the clinical efficacy and safety of intensive statin therapy with ezetimibe-statin combination therapy are still rare at present, especially in Asian population.

Methods: We enrolled 202 patients who suffered acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between May and July in 2016. Patients were allocated into three groups based on the lipid lowering strategy: moderate-intensity statin group (n=118), ezetimibe combined with moderate-intensity statin group (ezetimibe-statin combination, n=55) and intensive statin group (n=29).