Thyroid structure, function and iodine status by pregnancy trimester in Harbin, China.

Background And Objectives: Thyroid disease in pregnancy can have devastating effect on the fetus. In Harbin, China, there is insufficient knowledge about the incidence of and contributing factors to thyroid disease in pregnancy. This study investigates whether urine iodine concentration (UIC), as a proxy for iodine intake, affects the thyroid structure and/or function during each trimester.

Expression of the NEK7/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in patients with diabetic lower extremity arterial disease.

Introduction: The NLRP3 inflammasome is closely related to diabetes and atherosclerosis. Recent studies suggest NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7) is necessary for NLRP3 inflammasome activation during potassium efflux. However, the expression of the NEK7/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in diabetic lower extremity arterial disease (DLEAD) is unclear.

Ghrelin inhibited pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy by promoting autophagy via CaMKK/AMPK signaling pathway.

Ghrelin, a novel gut hormone, has been shown to exert protective effects on cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. However, the underlying mechanisms of its protective effects remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of ghrelin on cardiac hypertrophy and explored the mechanisms involved.

Urine iodine level and multiple risks are associated with thyroid structural abnormalities among adults in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Background And Objectives: The prevalence of adult thyroid structural abnormalities has increased significantly worldwide. However, no study has examined the thyroid structure and urine iodine levels of adults in Heilongjiang Province in the last decade. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the rate and risk factors of thyroid structural abnormalities among the residents of this province.

Ginsenoside Rg3 protects heart against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction by activating AMPK mediated autophagy.

Background: Panax ginseng is a well-known medicinal herb that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating various diseases. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) is thought to be one of the most important active ingredients of Panax ginseng. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of Rg3 has been elusive.

Plasma preptin levels are decreased in patients with essential hypertension.

The pancreatic hormone preptin amplifies glucose-mediated insulin secretion, and we investigated its circulating levels in patients with essential hypertension and possible association with carotid atherosclerosis. Ninety-eight patients were divided into hypertensive and control groups. Relationships between plasma preptin levels, clinical parameters, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were analyzed.

Differentially expressed gene profiles in the serum before and after the ultrasound-guided ethanol sclerotherapy in patients with ovarian endometriomas.

Objectives: To detect the differentially expressed genes and subsequently identify disease-related signatures and potential biomarkers for patients with ovarian endometriomas in the serum before and after the ultrasound-guided ethanol sclerotherapy in patients with ovarian endometriomas.

Design And Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from nine patients with ovarian endometriomas before and after ultrasound-guided ethanol sclerotherapy, and the serum were isolated after centrifugation. NimbleGen human gene expression microarrays analysis was conducted to analyse gene ontology categories (GO terms) and signalling pathways of differentially expressed genes.

Cortistatin Inhibits NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation of Cardiac Fibroblasts During Sepsis.

Background: Cortistatin is a recently discovered neuropeptide that has emerged as a potential endogenous antiinflammatory peptide. As a clinical syndrome, sepsis occurs when an infection becomes amplified, leading to organ dysfunction or risk for secondary infection. Human septic shock involves excessive inflammatory cytokine production.

Correlation between ovarian chocolate cyst and serum carbohydrate antigen 125 level and the effect of ultrasound-guided interventional sclerotherapy on serum carbohydrate antigen 125 level.

Aim: This study was to investigate the correlation between ovarian chocolate cysts and serum carbohydrate antigen (CA)-125 levels and to demonstrate the effect of ultrasound-guided interventional sclerotherapy (UGIS) on serum CA-125 levels.

Methods: Based on the serum CA-125 level, as determined by chemiluminescence detection prior to UGIS, 105 patients with ovarian chocolate cysts were divided into the normal group (CA-125 ≤ 35 U/mL, 45 patients) and the abnormal group (35 U/mL < CA-125 ≤ 200 U/mL, 60 patients). There were six clinical indicators including age, disease duration, dysmenorrhea history, child-bearing history, abortion history and surgical history.

Metformin protects the myocardium against isoproterenol-induced injury in rats through alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Clinical studies have suggested that metformin, a widely used antidiabetic agent, exerts a direct cardioprotective effect on cardiovascular disease in addition to its blood glucose-lowering activity. This study was designed to identify the role of metformin in rats with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial injury and to investigate its underlying mechanism. A rat model of myocardial ischemic injury was established by the subcutaneous injection of a high dose of ISO, a beta-adrenergic agonist.

Ghrelin protects heart against ERS-induced injury and apoptosis by activating AMP-activated protein kinase.

Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), is a cardioprotective peptide. In our previous work, we have revealed that ghrelin could protect heart against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), which contributes to many heart diseases. In current study, using both in vivo and in vitro models, we investigated how ghrelin inhibits myocardial ERS.