Exploration of the Potential Biomarker FNDC5 for Discriminating Heart Failure in Patients with Coronary Atherosclerosis.

Coronary atherosclerosis leading to ischemic artery disease is one of the etiological factors to develop heart failure (HF). This study aimed to investigate potential biomarkers for discriminating HF in atherosclerotic patients. This study included 40 consecutive atherosclerotic patients who underwent angiography.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide prevents ox-LDL-induced adhesion of monocytes to human endothelial cells: An implication in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a common comorbidity of type II diabetes and a leading cause of death worldwide. The presence of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) drives atherogenesis by inducing oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), adhesion molecules including vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin, and downregulating expression of the Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) transcription factor. Importantly, ox-LDL induced the attachment of THP-1 monocytes to endothelial cells.

Antimicrobial Natural Product Berberine Is Efficacious for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.

The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of bioactive natural product berberine in the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Data of 45 paroxysmal AF patients treated with berberine and 43 age, gender, New York Heart Association functional classification score, and concomitant cardiovascular disease matched patients treated with amiodarone were analyzed retrospectively to examine conversion rate, average conversion time, average heart rate, and echocardiographic parameters. There was no statistical difference between berberine and amiodarone on conversion rate or echocardiographic parameters.

[Efficacy comparison between 5 mg perindopril arginine salt and 4 mg perindopril tert-butylamine salt for patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension].

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of 5 mg perindopril arginine salt and 4 mg perindopril tert-butylamine salt for patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Methods: The study was designed as multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active controlled trial with two parallel groups enrolling 524 participants with mild to moderate essential hypertension. After 2-week run-in period, 186 patients were enrolled and randomly treated with 5 mg perindopril arginine salt and 183 patients were enrolled and randomly treated with 4 mg perindopril tert-butylamine salt.

Losartan alleviates hyperuricemia-induced atherosclerosis in a rabbit model.

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of losartan on hyperuricemia-induced aortic atherosclerosis, in an experimental rabbit model.

Methods: Male rabbits (n = 48) were divided into control, hyperuricemia (HU), hypercholesterolemia + hyperuricemia (HC + HU) and high-purine with 30-mg/kg/d losartan (HU + losartan) groups. Serum uric acid (UA) and plasma renin and angiotensin II activities were determined.

Rare SNP rs12731181 in the miR-590-3p Target Site of the Prostaglandin F2α Receptor Gene Confers Risk for Essential Hypertension in the Han Chinese Population.

Objective: To investigate whether rs12731181 (A→G) interrupted miR-590-3p-mediated suppression of the prostaglandin F2α receptor (FP) and whether it is associated with essential hypertension in the Chinese population.

Approach And Results: We found that miR-590-3p regulates human FP gene expression by binding to its 3'-untranslated region. rs12731181 (A→G) altered the binding affinity between miR-590-3p and its FP 3'-untranslated region target, thus reducing the suppression of FP expression, which, in turn, enhanced FP receptor-mediated contractility of vascular smooth muscle cells.

The immunoprotective activity of baicalin in mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis.

The purpose of the study was to probe the therapeutic effect of baicalin on immunosuppression in the mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. Mouse model was established by employing the procedure of CLP. The proliferation of T lymphocytes was measured using CFDA-SE staining and MTT method, and the proliferation index was determined to assess the proliferation status of the outer peripheral and mesenteric cells of the lymph node in various treatment groups.

Therapeutic monitoring of serum digoxin for patients with heart failure using a rapid LC-MS/MS method.

Objective: Here we develop a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of digoxin in serum.

Design And Methods: The serum samples were extracted with methyl tert-butyl ether using an isotope-labeled digoxin-d3 as internal standard. The analyte was separated on a reverse phase Capcell C18 column and detected in positive electrospray ionization multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry.