Exosomal microRNA-363 mediates the destructive effect of M1 macrophages on chondrocytes by repressing G3BP2.

M1 polarization of synovial macrophages contributes to cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis (OA) development. However, limited knowledge is available about how M1 macrophages affect the biological properties of chondrocytes. This study aimed to explore the role of exosomal microRNAs (miRs) released from M1 macrophages in modulating the proliferation and survival of chondrocytes.

Novel mechanism of cardiac protection by valsartan: synergetic roles of TGF-β1 and HIF-1α in Ang II-mediated fibrosis after myocardial infarction.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is a known factor in angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI). Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (Hif-1α) was recently demonstrated to involve in the tissue fibrosis and influenced by Ang II. However, whether Hif-1α contributed to the Ang II-mediated cardiac fibrosis after MI, and whether interaction or synergetic roles between Hif-1α and TGF-β pathways existed in the process was unclear.

In vivo imaging of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into myocardium using magnetic resonance imaging: a novel method to trace the transplanted cells.

Background: In vivo imaging of the cells transplanted into the beating heart is very important for the study of the cell's retention, migration. This study was designed to find a new labeling agent to trace and visualize the transplanted cells in vivo.

Method: BMMSCs were incubated with SPIO for 48 h.

Influence of skeletal muscle satellite cells implanted into infarcted myocardium on remnant myocyte volumes.

Objective: To study the effects of skeletal muscle satellite cells implanted into infarcted myocardium on the volume of remnant myocytes.

Methods: Thirty-six adult mongrel canines were divided randomly into implantation group and control group. In the implantation group, skeletal muscle satellite cells taken from the gluteus maximus muscles of the dogs were cultured, proliferated and labeled with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindone (DAPI) in vitro.

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of ruptured aneurysm in sinus of Valsalva.

Objective: To evaluate the methods used to diagnose and surgically treat ruptured aneurysm in sinus of Valsalva (RASV).

Methods: Thirty-seven hospitalized patients with ruptured aneurysms in the sinus of Valsalva from September 1981 to April 2001, including 21 cases (56.7%) of RASV associated with ventricular septal defects (VSD) and 11 (29.