Low-Dose versus Standard-Dose Intravenous Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke with a lower-than-standard dose of intravenous alteplase may improve recovery along with a reduced risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Methods: Using a 2-by-2 quasi-factorial open-label design, we randomly assigned 3310 patients who were eligible for thrombolytic therapy (median age, 67 years; 63% Asian) to low-dose intravenous alteplase (0.6 mg per kilogram of body weight) or the standard dose (0.

A Hierarchical Carbon Derived from Sponge-Templated Activation of Graphene Oxide for High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes.

A hierarchical porous carbon is fabricated by introducing a polyurethane sponge to a template graphene oxide into a 3D interconnected structure, while KOH activation generates abundant micropores in its backbone. Supercapacitors assembled with this carbon achieve a high energy density of 89 W h kg(-1) (64 W h L(-1) ) and outstanding power density due to the shortened ion-transport distance in 3D.

Aldosterone Induces Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1 Expression and Further Contributes to Collagen Accumulation: From Clinical to Bench Studies.

Aldosterone induces myocardial fibrosis. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) is a key factor of myocardial fibrosis. This study tested the hypothesis that aldosterone induces TIMP-1 expression and contributes to the fibrotic process.

Pivotal Role of Regulator of G-protein Signaling 12 in Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy.

Cardiac hypertrophy is a major predictor of heart failure and is regulated by diverse signaling pathways. As a typical multi-domain member of the regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) family, RGS12 plays a regulatory role in various signaling pathways. However, the precise effect of RGS12 on cardiac hypertrophy remains largely unknown.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Smooth Muscle Cells Promotes Atherosclerosis-Brief Report.

Objective: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is present in many cell types of atherosclerotic lesions. This study determined whether ACE activity in endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), 2 major resident cell types of the aorta, contributes to hypercholesterolemia-induced atherosclerosis.

Approach And Results: All study mice were in low-density lipoprotein receptor(-/-) background.

Bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed proteins in prostate cancer based on proteomics data.

We mined the literature for proteomics data to examine the occurrence and metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa) through a bioinformatics analysis. We divided the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) into two groups: the group consisting of PCa and benign tissues (P&b) and the group presenting both high and low PCa metastatic tendencies (H&L). In the P&b group, we found 320 DEPs, 20 of which were reported more than three times, and DES was the most commonly reported.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Level Contributes to Structural Integrity and Component Production of Elastic Fibers in the Aorta.

Loss of integrity and massive disruption of elastic fibers are key features of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has been shown to attenuate AAA through inhibition of inflammation and proteolytic degradation. However, its involvement in elastogenesis during AAA remains unclear.

Use of Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Who Have a History of Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Background: The risk of further intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and the benefit of stroke risk reduction with the use of oral anticoagulants for patients who have atrial fibrillation with a history of ICH remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the risks and benefits in patients who have atrial fibrillation with a previous ICH treated with warfarin or antiplatelet drugs in comparison with no antithrombotic therapies.

Methods And Results: This study used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

Novel susceptibility gene for nonfamilial hypokalemic periodic paralysis.

Objective: To identify susceptibility genes to nonfamilial hypokalemic periodic paralysis (hypoKPP) consisting of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) and sporadic periodic paralysis (SPP) and explore the potential pathogenic mechanisms.

Methods: We enrolled patients with nonfamilial hypoKPP not carrying mutations in CACNA1S, SCN4A, KCNJ18, or KCNJ2 and conducted genome-wide association analyses comparing 77 patients with TPP and 32 patients with SPP with 1,730 controls in a Han Chinese population in Taiwan. Replication was performed using an independent Han Chinese cohort of 50 patients with TPP, 22 patients with SPP, and 376 controls.

The Differential Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and BDNF among Bipolar Spectrum Disorders.

Objective: Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation and neurodegeneration underlies bipolar disorder. To investigate biological markers of cytokines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor between bipolar I, bipolar II, and other specified bipolar disorder with short duration hypomania may support the association with inflammatory dysregulation and bipolar disorder and, more specifically, provide evidence for other specified bipolar disorder with short duration hypomania patients were similar to bipolar II disorder patients from a biological marker perspective.

Methods: We enrolled patients with bipolar I disorder (n=234), bipolar II disorder (n=260), other specified bipolar disorder with short duration hypomania (n=243), and healthy controls (n=140).

Shared genetic susceptibility of vascular-related biomarkers with ischemic and recurrent stroke.

Objective: To investigate the genetic contributors to cerebrovascular disease and variation in biomarkers of ischemic stroke.

Methods: The Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention Trial (VISP) was a randomized, controlled clinical trial of B vitamin supplementation to prevent recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, or death. VISP collected baseline measures of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, creatinine, prothrombin fragments F1+2, thrombin-antithrombin complex, and thrombomodulin prior to treatment initiation.

Angiotensinogen Exerts Effects Independent of Angiotensin II.

Objective: This study determined whether angiotensinogen (AGT) has angiotensin II-independent effects using multiple genetic and pharmacological manipulations.

Approach And Results: All study mice were in low-density lipoprotein receptor -/- background and fed a saturated fat-enriched diet. In mice with floxed alleles and a neomycin cassette in intron 2 of the AGT gene (hypoAGT mice), plasma AGT concentrations were >90% lower compared with their wild-type littermates.

Structural Insights into the Pharmacophore of Vinca Domain Inhibitors of Microtubules.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have achieved great success in cancer therapy in recent years. Some peptidyl microtubule inhibitors consisting of natural and unnatural amino acids, such as monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) and F (MMAF), are extremely cytotoxic and have been used as a payload in ADCs. However, their precise molecular interaction with tubulin and microtubules remains unclear.

In Vitro Assessment of Histology Verified Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease by 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Concentric or Eccentric?

Background And Purpose: Clinical trial studies show that plaque eccentricity (symmetry) is among the plaque features that have been associated with more frequent cerebrovascular events. Plaque eccentricity of intracranial atherosclerotic disease is unclear because of lacking of cerebral artery specimens.

Methods: 1.

Regulator of G-Protein Signaling 10 Negatively Regulates Cardiac Remodeling by Blocking Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase 1/2 Signaling.

Regulator of G-protein signaling 10 (RGS10) is an important member of the RGS family and produces biological effects in multiple organs. We used a genetic approach to study the role of RGS10 in the regulation of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and found that RGS10 can negatively influence pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling. RGS10 expression was markedly decreased in failing human hearts and hypertrophic murine hearts.

Construction and measuring combination of KDR-targeted ultrasound contrast agent in vitro for evaluating endometrial receptivity.

Objective: To investigate the preparation of a new kind of targeted lipid ultrasound contrast agent with anti-KDR antibody based on biotin-avidin bridge (MB-BAB-KDR) which could combine specifically with KDR that increases during the time of embryo implantation. Then its binding capability in vitro was evaluated.

Materials And Methods: The agitation of high-speed method was employed to prepare biotin-microbubbles (MB-B), and biotin-avidin mediated technique was used to produce MB-BAB-KDR.

Expansion of CD25+ Innate Lymphoid Cells Reduces Atherosclerosis.

Objective: Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a newly discovered subset of immune cells that promote tissue homeostasis and protect against pathogens. ILCs produce cytokines also produced by T lymphocytes that have been shown to affect atherosclerosis, but the influence of ILCs on atherosclerosis has not been explored.

Approach And Results: We demonstrate that CD25(+) ILCs that produce type 2 cytokines (ILC2s) are present in the aorta of atherosclerotic immunodeficient ldlr(-/-)rag1(-/-) mice.

Morphological Variability and Distinct Protein Profiles of Cultured and Endosymbiotic Symbiodinium cells Isolated from Exaiptasia pulchella.

Symbiodinium is a dinoflagellate that plays an important role in the physiology of the symbiotic relationships of Cnidarians such as corals and sea anemones. However, it is very difficult to cultivate free-living dinoflagellates after being isolated from the host, as they are very sensitive to environmental changes. How these symbiont cells are supported by the host tissue is still unclear.

Effect of Age on Working Memory Performance and Cerebral Activation after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Functional MR Imaging Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the age effect on working memory (WM) performance and functional activation after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the local research ethics committee. All participants provided written informed consent.

Induced pluripotent stem cells alleviate lung injury from mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion.

Background: Mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a serious pathophysiologic process that can trigger the development of multiorgan dysfunction. Acute lung injury is a major cause of death among mesenteric I/R patients, as current treatments remain inadequate. Stem cell-based therapies are considered novel strategies for treating several devastating and incurable diseases.

Aldosterone Impairs Vascular Smooth Muscle Function: From Clinical to Bench Research.

Context: The effect of aldosterone on vascular smooth muscle cell function is still unclear. One method to measure vascular smooth muscle cell function is endothelial-independent vascular dilation, for which the key factor is sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA).

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the effect of aldosterone on vascular smooth muscle cell function and SERCA regulation.

Comparison of the Effect of Vessel Size Imaging and Cerebral Blood Volume Derived from Perfusion MR Imaging on Glioma Grading.

Background And Purpose: Vascular proliferation is a major criterion for grading gliomas on the basis of histology. Relative cerebral blood volume can provide pathophysiologic information about glioma grading. Vessel size imaging, in some animals, can be used to estimate the microvascular caliber of a glioma, but its clinical use remains unclear.

Soil as an inexhaustible and high-performance anode material for Li-ion batteries.

Herein, we demonstrate that by a simple treatment of heating and ball-milling, soil is endowed with a 77.2% degree of defects and acts as a high-performance anode material for soil/Li half cells and 18650-type LiNi0.915Co0.

Pharmacokinetics and Tolerability of Rufinamide Following Single and Multiple Oral Doses and Effect of Food on Pharmacokinetics in Healthy Chinese Subjects.

Background: Rufinamide is a triazole derivative that is structurally unrelated to currently marketed antiepileptic medications for add-on treatment of seizures in the setting of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients from the age of 4 years.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic and safety profile of single and multiple doses of rufinamide in healthy Chinese subjects. The effects of food and gender on the pharmacokinetic properties of rufinamide were also evaluated.

Genetic predisposition to higher blood pressure increases risk of incident hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in Chinese.

Although multiple genetic markers associated with blood pressure have been identified by genome-wide association studies, their aggregate effect on risk of incident hypertension and cardiovascular disease is uncertain, particularly among East Asian who may have different genetic and environmental exposures from Europeans. We aimed to examine the association between genetic predisposition to higher blood pressure and risk of incident hypertension and cardiovascular disease in 26 262 individuals in 2 Chinese population-based prospective cohorts. A genetic risk score was calculated based on 22 established variants for blood pressure in East Asian.