Identification of Circular RNA-MicroRNA-Messenger RNA Regulatory Network in Atrial Fibrillation by Integrated Analysis.

Background: Circular RNA (circRNA) is a noncoding RNA that forms a closed-loop structure, and its abnormal expression may cause disease. We aimed to find potential network for circRNA-related competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: The circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA expression profiles in the heart tissue from AF patients were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and analyzed comprehensively.

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade Improves Insulin Sensitivity in the Rat Heart and a Possible Molecular Mechanism.

Background/aims: Extensive research has explored the role of aldosterone in insulin resistance. Recent evidence suggests that the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) mediates aldosterone-induced dysregulation of cytokines, and most of this research has focused on adjustments in fat tissue and adipocytes. However, the direct effect of MR blockade on insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes remains largely unknown.

Bivalirudin plus loading dose of cilostazol-based triple-antiplatelet in treatment of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction following percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: To study the effect of bivalirudin plus loading dose of cilostazol-based triple-antiplatelet therapy strategy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: One hundred and fifty-three patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent PCI were divided into control group and cilostazol group. Patients in control group were given aspirin and clopidogrel and those in cilostazol group were given aspirin, clopidogrel, and cilostazol once 2 hours before PCI and for 30 days after PCI.

Aggressive fibromatosis of the leg and sacrococcygeal region: a report of two cases.

Aggressive fibromatosis is a rare soft tissue tumor that composes of myofibroblasts that arise from musculoaponeurotic structures. It usually affects the abdominal wall but may be also found in other less common sites including the head and neck, submucosa of the oral cavity, spinal, haunch and limbs, especially, the limbs and sacrococcygeal region are rare locations. We described two cases of aggressive fibromatosis.

Crosstalk of mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages promotes cardiac muscle repair.

Transplantation of bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has potential therapeutic effects on cardiac muscle repair. However, the underlying mechanism remains not completely clarified. Here we show that transplantation of MSCs significantly increased local recruitment of macrophages to facilitate cardiac muscle repair.

Effect of prolonging interval time between coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention on X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks in blood lymphocytes.

Background: It is desirable to minimize the risk of adverse radiation effects associated with percutaneous coronary intervention. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of prolonging the interval between coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention on X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks in blood lymphocytes using γ-H2AX immunofluorescence microscopy.

Methods: Blood samples of eight patients were taken before the first exposure to ionizing radiation, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours after the last exposure to determine the γ-H2AX foci repair kinetics.