Transcriptionally downregulated GABAergic genes associated with synaptic density network dysfunction in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Purpose: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a brain network disorder closely associated with synaptic loss and has a genetic basis. However, the in vivo whole-brain synaptic changes at the network-level and the underlying gene expression patterns in patients with TLE remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, we utilized a positron emission tomography with the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 A radioligand [F]SynVesT-1 cohort and two independent transcriptome datasets to investigate the topological properties of the synaptic density similarity network (SDSN) in TLE and its correlation with significantly dysregulated risk genes.

Individualized Structural Perturbations on Normative Brain Connectome Restrict Deep Brain Stimulation Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) respond to deep brain stimulation (DBS) variably. However, how brain substrates restrict DBS outcomes remains unclear.

Objective: In this article, we aim to identify prognostic brain signatures for explaining the response variability.

Individual cerebellar metabolic connectome in patients with MTLE and NTLE associated with surgical prognosis.

Purpose: This study aimed to comprehensively explore the different metabolic connectivity topological changes in MTLE and NTLE, as well as their association with surgical outcomes.

Methods: This study enrolled a cohort of patients with intractable MTLE and NTLE. Each individual's metabolic connectome, as determined by Kullback-Leibler divergence similarity estimation for the [F]FDG PET image, was employed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the cerebral metabolic network.

EIF4A3 stabilizes the expression of lncRNA AGAP2-AS1 to activate cancer-associated fibroblasts via MyD88/NF-κb signaling.

Background: Lung cancer (LC) is a fatal malignancy and often accompanied with converting normal fibroblasts to cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Exosomal lncRNA AGAP2-AS1 has been elucidated to be a potent prognostic factor for LC, while its role in activating CAFs is largely unknown.

Methods: We first extracted exosomes from LC patients and co-cultured them with MRC5 cells to observe the state of MRC5 cells, detect AGAP2-AS1 using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and then analyze the interaction between EIF4A3 and AGAP2-AS1 using RNA pull down experiments.

Paeoniflorin attenuates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in rats by suppressing TAK1-MAPK/NF-κB pathways.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling is a lethal disease. Paeoniflorin (PF) is a monoterpene glycoside with numerous beneficial functions, such as vasodilation, anti-inflammation and immunomodulation. This study aims to investigate the effects of PF on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rats.

Fasudil dichloroacetate (FDCA), an orally available agent with potent therapeutic efficiency on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension rats.

Given the therapeutic efficacy of fasudil hydrochloride (F) and dichloroacetate (DCA) on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a new salt fasudil dichloroacetate (FDCA) was designed, synthesized and biologically evaluated. FDCA exhibited comparable ROCK II inhibitory activity relative to fasudil hydrochloride, and suppressed the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in both PDGF-BB and hypoxia-treated pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and endothelial cells (PAECs). Significantly, FDCA lowered mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), and decreased right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rats.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibition alleviates pulmonary arterial remodeling in experimental pulmonary hypertension.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) is well known for its role in glucose homeostasis, and DPP-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) exhibits multiple actions in cardiovascular diseases. However, the effect of DPP-4i on pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of DPP-4i on pulmonary arterial remodeling in rats with PH and the potential underlying mechanisms.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Mediates the Protective Effect of the Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitor on Renal Fibrosis via Reducing the Phenotypic Conversion of Renal Microvascular Cells in Monocrotaline-Treated Rats.

Chronic kidney diseases are characterized by renal fibrosis with excessive matrix deposition, leading to a progressive loss of functional renal parenchyma and, eventually, renal failure. Renal microcirculation lesions, including the phenotypic conversion of vascular cells, contribute to renal fibrosis. Here, renal microcirculation lesions were established with monocrotaline (MCT, 60 mg/kg).