Identification of an osteopontin-derived peptide that binds neuropilin-1 and activates vascular repair responses and angiogenesis.

The osteopontin-derived peptide FOL-005 stimulates hair growth. Using ligand-receptor glyco-capture technology we identified neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), a known co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors, as the most probable receptor for FOL-005 and the more stable analogue FOL-026. X-ray diffraction and microscale thermophoresis analysis revealed that FOL-026 shares binding site with VEGF in the NRP-1 b1-subdomain.

Diagnostic performance of ultrasonic flow ratio versus quantitative flow ratio for assessment of coronary stenosis.

Background: Ultrasonic flow ratio (UFR) is a novel intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-derived modality for fast computation of fractional flow reserve (FFR) without pressure wires and adenosine.

Aims: This study was sought to compare the diagnostic performance of UFR and quantitative flow ratio (QFR), using FFR as the reference standard.

Methods: This is a retrospective study enrolling consecutive patients with intermediate coronary artery lesions (diameter stenosis of 30%-90% by visual estimation) for IVUS and FFR measurement.

Mutual regulation between GDF11 and TET2 prevents senescence of mesenchymal stem cells.

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a putative systemic rejuvenation factor. In this study, we characterized the mechanism by which GDF11 reversed aging of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In culture, aged MSCs proliferate slower and are positive for senescence markers senescence-associated β-galactosidase and P16 .

Akkermansia muciniphila, which is enriched in the gut microbiota by metformin, improves cognitive function in aged mice by reducing the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6.

Background: Metformin, a type 2 diabetes treatment, improves the cognitive function of aged mice; however, whether the protective effects of metformin on cognitive function in aged mice are associated with the gut microbiome is poorly understood. Although some studies suggest that the gut microbe composition influences cognitive function and that manipulating the gut microbiota might protect against age-related cognitive dysfunction, there is no direct evidence to validate that the gut microbiota mediates the effect of metformin on cognitive improvement.

Results: In this study, we show that the gut microbiota is altered by metformin, which is necessary for protection against ageing-associated cognitive function declines in aged mice.

Circulating Hepatocyte Growth Factor Reflects Activation of Vascular Repair in Response to Stress.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is released by stressed human vascular cells and promotes vascular cell repair responses in both autocrine and paracrine ways. Subjects with a low capacity to express HGF in response to systemic stress have an increased cardiovascular risk. Human atherosclerotic plaques with a low content of HGF have a more unstable phenotype.

Glycyrrhizic Acid Improves Cognitive Levels of Aging Mice by Regulating T/B Cell Proliferation.

Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) is the substance with the highest content of triterpenoid saponins that can be extracted from licorice, and has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer functions, among others. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of GA on cognitive decline in middle-aged mice and explore its mechanisms. We injected GA by the tail vein of C57BL/6 mice and measured their cognitive levels using the Morris water maze.

Metformin improves cognition of aged mice by promoting cerebral angiogenesis and neurogenesis.

Metformin is a widely used drug for type 2 diabetes that is considered to have potential anti-aging effects. However, the beneficial effects of metformin in middle-aged normoglycemic mice are less explored. Here, we report that metformin treated by tail vein injection improved cognitive function of aged mice better than oral administration, which seem to show a dose-dependent manner.

MiR-483 induces senescence of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells through inhibition.

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) are an ideal source of seed cells for regenerative applications and tissue engineering. However, long-term culture of hADSCs reduces their quantity and quality, which lessens their value in research and clinical applications. The molecular mechanisms underlying this biological process are poorly defined.

Robust, sustainable cellulose composite aerogels with outstanding flame retardancy and thermal insulation.

Robust and sustainable cellulose composite aerogels were prepared by incorporating MgAl-layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) as green nanofillers and flame retardants. Two series of aerogels combining MgAl-CO LDH (MA-C) and MgAl-HPO LDH (MA-P) were achieved, in which both MA-C and MA-P were uniformly dispersed in cellulose substances. The cellulose composite aerogels with 1.

Highly efficient adsorption and recycle of phosphate from wastewater using flower-like layered double oxides and their potential as synergistic flame retardants.

Here, a novel Mg/Al-layered double oxide (MgAl-LDO) with a flower-like architecture was synthesized through facile green co-precipitation and calcination methods for phosphate separation and recycle from wastewater. The as-prepared MgAl-LDO demonstrated high specific surface area of 200.17 m/g based on its 3D hierarchical flower-like structure.

Quantitative iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis of differentially expressed proteins in aging in human and monkey.

Background: The underlying physiological mechanisms associated with aging are still complex and unclear. As a very important tissue of human body, the circulatory system also plays a very important role in the process of aging. In this study, we use the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) method to identify differentially expressed proteins in plasma for humans and monkeys between young and aged.

Expression profile of circular RNAs in IDH-wild type glioblastoma tissues.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate the expression profiles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in IDH-wild type (IDH-wt) glioblastoma and explore the differences in circRNAs expression between IDH-wt glioblastoma and adjacent normal brain.

Patients And Methods: circRNA expression profiles were detected by circRNA microarray in three matched pairs of IDH-wt glioblastoma and adjacent normal brain. qRT-PCR was used to verify the differential expression of circRNAs from microarray analysis.

Expression of amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) in glioblastoma is associated with patient prognosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression status of amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) and its clinical relevance in patients with glioblastoma. The publically available database Project Betastasis involving Repository for Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data (REMBRANDT) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was first utilized to analyze the expression and prognostic potential of APLP2 in glioblastoma. Compared with normal controls, the glioblastoma group from each dataset showed no significant difference of APLP2 expression (p > 0.

Overexpression of G-protein-coupled receptors 65 in glioblastoma predicts poor patient prognosis.

Objective: G-protein-coupled receptors 65 (GPR65), identified as an acid-sensing receptor, is overexpressed in several malignancies and promote tumor development. Our aim was to investigate the expression and prognostic value of GPR65 in glioblastoma.

Materials And Methods: We determined the expression of GPR65 protein using immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays containing 11 Grade I, 107 Grade II, 47 Grade III, and 102 Grade IV gliomas and 16 normal brains.

High expression of TIG3 predicts poor survival in patients with primary glioblastoma.

TIG3 (tazarotene-induced gene 3) has been reported to suppress the progression of several malignancies, where this gene is universally downregulated. However, the expression of TIG3 in primary glioblastoma and its relevance to patient's prognosis have not been elaborated. Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate TIG3 expression level in primary glioblastoma and investigate the prognostic value of TIG3 for patients.