TMC7 functions as a suppressor of Piezo2 in primary sensory neurons blunting peripheral mechanotransduction.

The transmembrane channel-like (TMC) protein family comprises eight members, with TMC1 and TMC2 being extensively studied. This study demonstrates substantial co-expression of TMC7 with the mechanosensitive channel Piezo2 in somatosensory neurons. Genetic deletion of TMC7 in primary sensory ganglia neurons in vivo enhances sensitivity in both physiological and pathological mechanosensory transduction.

Impact of electronic cigarette usage on the onset of respiratory symptoms and COPD among Chinese adults.

The prevalence of dual usage and the relatively low cessation rate among e-cigarette (EC) users suggest that ECs have not demonstrated significant effectiveness as a smoking cessation tool. Furthermore, there has been a substantial increase in the prevalence of EC usage in recent years. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the association between EC use and the incidence of respiratory symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Nav1.8 in small dorsal root ganglion neurons contributes to vincristine-induced mechanical allodynia.

Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of vincristine treatment, which is accompanied by pain and can be dose-limiting. The molecular mechanisms that underlie vincristine-induced pain are not well understood. We have established an animal model to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms of vincristine-induced pain.

Effect of cardiac function in patients with gastrointestinal cancer with or without acute kidney injury assessed using a non-invasive impedance cardiography: a case-control study.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the possible causes of changes in cardiac function and investigate the feasibility of clinical assessment of gastrointestinal cancer in patients with or without acute kidney injury (AKI) assessed using a non-invasive impedance cardiography (ICG, Bioz. Cardio Dynamics, USA) to identify independent risk factors.

Methods: Patients admitted to the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China, between May 1, 2019, and February 15, 2022, were included in this study.

Protective effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) against cerebral ischemic stroke in mice by promoting brain vascular remodeling via the inhibition of ROCK1/p-MLC2 signaling pathway.

Vascular remodeling is essential for patients with cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS). Our previous study proved that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) could increase cortical hemodynamics. However, the effects and mechanisms of LIPUS on cerebral vascular remodeling after CIS are still unknown.

MiR-217-5p inhibits smog (PM2.5)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress response of mouse lung tissues and macrophages through targeting STAT1.

Objective: To explore the roles of macrophages' miR-217-5p in the process of PM2.5 induced acute lung injury.

Methods: GEO database and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis as well as GSEA were used to predicted the miRNA and associated target signals.

Establishment of two canine models of benign airway stenosis and the effect of mitomycin C on airway stenosis.

Objectives: Cuffed endotracheal intubation and stent implantation were employed to simulate two types of benign airway stenosis and further to analysis the different features between them from trachecscopic characteristics, gross anatomy to histopathological changes. In addition, our study explored the therapeutic effect of mitomycin C at different concentrations on granulation tissue caused by stent implantation in order to provide a new therapeutic strategy for clinical treatment of benign airway stenosis.

Methods: Twelve beagle dogs were randomly divided into four groups, with three dogs in each group.

Effect of high-level fine particulate matter and its interaction with meteorological factors on AECOPD in Shijiazhuang, China.

Epidemiological evidence of the effect of high-level air pollution and its interaction with meteorological factors on the risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is limited. Daily data on AECOPD cases, air pollutants and meteorological factors were collected from 2015 to 2018 in Shijiazhuang. A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to explore the lag and cumulative effect of PM on the risk of AECOPD.

Ultrasonic thalamic stimulation modulates neural activity of thalamus and motor cortex in the mouse.

Previous studies have demonstrated that ultrasound thalamic stimulation (UTS) can treat disorders of consciousness. However, it is still unclear how UTS modulates neural activity in the thalamus and cortex.In this study, we performed UTS in mice and recorded the neural activities including spike and local field potential (LFP) of the thalamus and motor cortex (M1).

SET8, a novel regulator to ameliorate vascular calcification via activating PI3K/Akt mediated anti-apoptotic effects.

Previous studies have shown that the apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) underlies the mechanism of pathological calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). SET domain-containing protein 8 (SET8) is an efficient protein that modulates apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, esophageal squamous cells, and neuronal cells by regulating pathological processes, such as cell cycle progression and transcription regulation. However, whether SET8 is involved in high phosphorus-induced vascular calcification by mediating apoptosis remains unclear.

MicroRNA-103a regulates the calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells by targeting runt-related transcription factor 2 in high phosphorus conditions.

Vascular calcification, such as atherosclerosis, is a serious complication of chronic kidney disease that is characterized by tunica media calcification, and has gained increasing attention from researchers. The commonly observed association between vascular calcification and osteoporosis suggests a link between bone and vascular disorders. As microRNAs (miRNAs) have a wide range of gene regulation functions, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, stress and transdifferentiation, the current study aimed to determine whether miRNAs play a vital role in the calcification and osteoblastic differentiation of rat thoracic aorta vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

The intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel KCa3.1 contributes to alkalinization-induced vascular calcification in vitro.

Objective: In order to find new strategies for the prevention of vascular calcification in uremic individuals especially treated by dialysis and develop novel therapeutic targets in vascular calcification, we explore the role of KCa3.1 in alkalinization-induced VSMCs calcification in vitro.

Method: Rat VSMCs calcification model was established by beta-glycerophosphate (β-GP, 10 mM) induction.

Novel insights into the role of BRD4 in fine particulate matter induced airway hyperresponsiveness.

Epidemiological research has identified that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can increase airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) which is considered a typical characteristic of asthma. Although the effect of PM2.

Identification of a genome-wide serum microRNA expression profile as potential noninvasive biomarkers for chronic kidney disease using next-generation sequencing.

Objective: To identify serum microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential non-invasive biomarkers for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: We collected serum samples from healthy controls, CKD stage 1 (CKD1), and stage 5 (CKD5) patients with primary glomerulonephritis (GN), screened differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) using next-generation sequencing (NGS), and confirmed the sequencing data using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results: We identified 20 and 42 DEMs in the CKD1 and CKD5 patients compared with the controls, respectively, and 70 DEMs in the CKD5 compared with the CKD1 patients.

Antagonism of interleukin 17 protects chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rat lungs from adverse effects of environmental PM.

Severe air pollution has raised concerns about the adverse effects of particulate matters 2.5 μm in size (PM) on human health. However, the mechanisms elucidating how PM affects lungs, especially in COPD, remain unclear.

LRRCA8A and ANO1 contribute to serum-induced VRAC in a Ca-dependent manners.

The volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) plays a central role in maintaining cell volume in response to osmotic stress. Leucine-rich repeat-containing 8A (LRRC8A) was recently identified as an essential component of VRAC although other Cl channels were also suggested to contribute to VRAC. VRAC is activated when a cell is challenged with a hypotonic environment or even in isotonic conditions challenged with different stimuli.

Ghrelin ameliorates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-associated infllammation and autophagy.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic and devastating condition characterized by poor airflow and breath. Smoking and other environmental factors-caused inflammations triggered excessive autophagy of normal lung epithelial cells, eventually leading to impaired lung functions. Previous studies showed that ghrelin exhibited beneficial effects on patients with COPD.

Fine particulate matter increases airway hyperresponsiveness through kallikrein-bradykinin pathway.

Epidemiological studies have reported short-term fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure to increase incidence of asthma, related to the increase of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR); however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Aim of this study was to elucidate the role of kallikrein in PM2.

CT-Radiomic Approach to Predict G1/2 Nonfunctional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor.

Rationale And Objectives: Tumor grading of nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-pNETs) determines the choice of clinical treatment and management. The pathological grade of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors is usually assessed on postoperative specimens. The goal of our study is to establish a tumor grade (G) prediction model for preoperative G1/2 NF-pNETs using radiomics for multislice spiral CT image analysis.

Hydrogen ameliorates lung injury in a rat model of subacute exposure to concentrated ambient PM2.5 via Aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

Background: Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) could induce lung injury. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is involved in the molecular mechanisms of prooxidative and pro-inflammatory effect of PM2.

Comparison of air pollutant-related hospitalization burden from AECOPD in Shijiazhuang, China, between heating and non-heating season.

Few researches have been investigated on the effects of ambient air pollutants from coal combustion on acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) hospitalizations. The whole time series was split into heating season and non-heating season. We used a quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression model combined with distributed lag non-linear models (DLNMs) to estimate the relative cumulative risk and calculate the air pollutant hospitalization burden of AECOPD for lag 0-7 days in heating season and non-heating season.

The hospitalization attributable burden of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to ambient air pollution in Shijiazhuang, China.

Few studies have investigated the acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD)-associated attributable burden under exposure to high levels of air pollution among Asians. Data on hospitalization for AECOPD, air pollution and meteorological factors from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2016 were collected in Shijiazhuang, China. We used a Poisson generalized linear regression model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) to evaluate the relative cumulative risk for a lag of 0-7 days and examined the potential effect modifications by age and sex via stratification analyses, controlling for long-term trends, seasonal patterns, meteorological factors, and other possible confounders.

Novel insights into the role of LRRC8A in ameliorating alveolar fluid clearance in LPS induced acute lung injury.

Leucine-rich repeat-containing 8A (LRRC8A) protein was recently identified as an essential component of volume-regulated anion channel which plays a central role in maintaining cell volume. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of LRRC8A in alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) and the effect of inflammatory cytokines on LRRC8A and the underlying mechanism. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to generate a rat acute lung injury model.

Volume-regulated Cl current: contributions of distinct Cl channels and localized Ca signals.

The swelling-activated chloride current () is induced when a cell swells and plays a central role in maintaining cell volume in response to osmotic stress. The major contributor of is the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC). Leucine-rich repeat containing 8A (LRRC8A; SWELL1) was recently identified as an essential component of VRAC, but the mechanisms of VRAC activation are still largely unknown; moreover, other Cl channels, such as anoctamin 1 (ANO1), were also suggested to contribute to .