Tetrahydroberberrubine improves hyperlipidemia by activating the AMPK/SREBP2/PCSK9/LDL receptor signaling pathway.

Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke, triggering an intensified research efforts into its prevention and treatment. Tetrahydroberberrubine (THBru) is a derivative of berberine (BBR) that has been shown to have higher bioavailability and lower toxicity compared to its parent compound. However, its impact on hyperlipidemia has not been fully explored.

Exosomal circ_HIPK3 reduces apoptosis in H2O2-induced AC16 cardiomyocytes through miR-33a-5p/IRS1 axis.

Background: Exosomal circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been revealed to participate in the processes of cellular angiogenesis, growth and metastasis. Herein, the goal of this work was to investigate the role of exosomal circ_HIPK3 in cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Methods: Exosomes were isolated using ultracentrifugation method and observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

LncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 hinders the proliferation and facilitates apoptosis of ox-LDL-induced vascular smooth muscle cells via the ceRNA network of CDKN2B-AS1/miR-126-5p/PTPN7.

Objective: The patterns of lncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 in coronary heart disease (CHD) have been extensively studied. This study investigated the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network of CDKN2B-AS1 in coronary atherosclerosis (CAS).

Methods: Microarray analyses were performed to screen out the CHD-related lncRNAs (CDKN2B-AS1) and the downstream microRNAs (miR-126-5p).

Proatherogenic stimuli induce HuR in atherosclerosis through MAPK/ErK pathway.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease inflicting the arterial wall, and endothelial activation and dysfunction play an important role in its pathogenesis. The RNA-binding protein HuR has been associated with events of inflammation and activation in endothelial cells, however, its connection with atherosclerosis remains unclear. Here, we show that the expression and RNA-binding activity of HuR are upregulated in human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions.

Identifying key genes associated with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: This study aimed to identify key genes associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by reanalyzing microarray data.

Methods: Three gene expression profile datasets GSE66360, GSE34198, and GSE48060 were downloaded from GEO database. After data preprocessing, genes without heterogeneity across different platforms were subjected to differential expression analysis between the AMI group and the control group using metaDE package.

CDKN2B-AS may indirectly regulate coronary artery disease-associated genes via targeting miR-92a.

Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) has a high mortality rate and consists of multiple condition, including stable/unstable angina, sudden cardiac death, and myocardial infarction. This study is aimed to explore the pathogenesis of CAD.

Methods: Datasets of GSE20680 (including 87 CAD samples and 52 normal samples) and GSE20681 (including 99 CAD samples and 99 normal samples) were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Short-Term Effects and Safety Analysis of Retrograde Autologous Blood Priming for Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Patients with Cardiac Valve Replacement Surgery.

This randomized, double-blind study evaluated the short-term effects and safety of perioperative retrograde autologous priming (RAP) for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients with cardiac replacement surgery to determine if this approach is a better substitute for crystal liquids priming in patients with valvular heart disease. We observed that RAP significantly decreased the actual priming volume, preserved the hematocrit and hemoglobin level during CPB to a certain degree, and decreased lactate accumulation in CPB period. Moreover, RAP lowered the volume of transfusion and dosage blood products.

[Retraction] Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells using skin fibroblasts from patients with myocardial infarction under feeder-free conditions.

After the publication of the article, the authors decided they wished to retract their manuscript for the following reasons. We wish to retract our research article entitled 'Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells using skin fibroblasts from patients with myocardial infarction under feeder-free conditions' published on the Molecular Medicine Reports 9: 837-842, 2014. In this article, we generated human iPSCs from skin fibroblasts from myocardial infarction patients in feeder-independent conditions.

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells using skin fibroblasts from patients with myocardial infarction under feeder-free conditions.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is an increasing medical problem; however, its pathogenesis has yet to be elucidated and more effective treatment strategies are required. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were recently successfully generated using human somatic cells transfected with four transcription factors. The present study aimed to generate iPSCs from cells from patients with myocardial infarction.

A comprehensive study on long-term injury to nigral dopaminergic neurons following intracerebroventricular injection of lipopolysaccharide in rats.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by selective and progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce chronic inflammation and has been widely used to study the pathogenesis of PD. In this study, a single intracerebroventricular injection of LPS was used to induce neurotoxic effects on dopaminergic neurons in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Case control study of gastrointestinal complications after cardiopulmonary bypass heart surgery.

Background: Gastrointestinal complications (GIC) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery are rare, but, nevertheless, extremely dangerous.The identification of risks for GIC may be helpful in planning appropriate perioperative management strategies. The aim of the present study was to analyze perioperative factors of GIC in patients undergoing CPB surgery.

Anti-rejection effect of ethanol extract of Poria cocos wolf in rats after cardiac allograft implantation.

Background: A living fetus within the maternal uterus provides an example of allogene tolerance in mammals. Poria cocos Wolf is the main component of many Chinese medicinal combination drugs that have therapeutic effects on recurrent spontaneous abortion and that can maintain pregnancy until delivery. It was hypothesized that this herbal medicine can also prolong allograft survival after organ transplantation.