Tetrandrine Attenuated Doxorubicin-Induced Acute Cardiac Injury in Mice.

Oxidative damage is closely involved in the development of doxorubicin- (DOX-) induced cardiotoxicity. It has been reported that tetrandrine can prevent the development of cardiac hypertrophy by suppressing reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) dependent signaling pathways in mice. However, whether tetrandrine could attenuate DOX-related cardiotoxicity remains unclear.

Remodeling of myocardial energy and metabolic homeostasis in a sheep model of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common progressive cardiac arrhythmia and is often associated with rapid contraction in both atria and ventricles. The role of atrial energy and metabolic homeostasis in AF progression is under-investigated.

Objectives: To determine the remodeling of energy metabolism during persistent AF and the effect of eplerenone (EPL), an aldosterone inhibitor, on metabolic homeostasis.

Rac1 promotes the survival of H9c2 cells during serum deficiency targeting JNK/c-JUN/Cyclin-D1 and AKT2/MCL1 pathways.

Rac1, known as a "molecular switch", plays a crucial role in plenty of cellular processes. Rac1 aggravates the damage of myocardial cells in the process of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion during myocardial infarction through activating the NADPH oxidase and bringing about the reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation. Myocardial ischemia and hypoxia are the basic pathogenesis of myocardial infarction and the underlying mechanisms are intricate and varied.

Saponin extract from Panax notoginseng promotesangiogenesis through AMPK‑ and eNOS‑dependent pathways in HUVECs.

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are among the most important compounds extracted from Panax notoginseng root, and have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to control bleeding. PNS have recently garnered attention for the treatment of circulatory system diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of PNS on angiogenesis in vitro and to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying their actions.

The influence of individual socioeconomic status on the clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke patients with different neighborhood status in Shanghai, China.

Socioeconomic status (SES) is being recognized as an important factor in both social and medical problems. The aim of present study is to examine the relationship between SES and ischemic stroke and investigate whether SES is a predictor of clinical outcomes among patients with different neighborhood status from Shanghai, China. A total of 471 first-ever ischemic stroke patients aged 18-80 years were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Low protein Z plasma level is a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction in coronary atherosclerosis disease patients.

Objectives: To examine plasma protein Z (PZ) levels in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and chronic coronary atherosclerosis disease (CCAD) patients without history of AMI and explore its potential clinical significance.

Methods: Plasma PZ concentrations were measured in 90 AMI patients (Group A), 87 CCAD patients without AMI history who remained free of major clinical events at least one year (Group B), and 88 clinically healthy controls (Group C).

Results: PZ was found to be significantly lower (P<0.

Does left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion device alter the echocardiography and electrocardiogram parameters in patients with atrial fibrillation?

Background: The alterations of echocardiography and electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients received left atrial appendage LAA occlusion therapy are still unclear. The present study was to evaluate the influence of LAA occlusion device on echocardiography and ECG changes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Seventy-three patients who had undergone Watchman, LAmbre and Lefort were enrolled in this study.

Rac1b enhances cell survival through activation of the JNK2/c-JUN/Cyclin-D1 and AKT2/MCL1 pathways.

Rac1b is a constitutively activated, alternatively spliced form of the small GTPase Rac1. Previous studies showed that Rac1b promotes cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis. In the present study, we used microarray analysis to detect genes differentially expressed in HEK293T cells and SW480 human colon cancer cells stably overexpressing Rac1b.

The role of mAKAPβ in the process of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II.

Angiotensin II (AngII) is the central product of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and this octapeptide contributes to the pathophysiology of cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. mAKAPβ is an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) that has the function of binding to the regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) and confining the holoenzyme to discrete locations within the cell. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of mAKAPβ in AngII‑induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and the possible mechanisms involved.

The Protective Effect of Lacidipine on Myocardial Remodeling Is Mediated by the Suppression in Expression of GPR78 and CHOP in Rats.

Lacidipine (LAC) is now widely used for the treatment of hypertension and further can prevent cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully understood. In this study, we examined the protective effects of LAC on cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and investigated the possible mechanism.

Persistent lipid abnormalities in statin-treated coronary artery disease patients with and without diabetes in China.

Background: We evaluate the prevalence of persistent lipid abnormalities and statin use in Chinese coronary artery disease patients with and without diabetes.

Methods And Results: In this cross-sectional observational study, 8965 outpatients from 200 clinical departments of 122 hospitals in 27 provinces nationwide of China who had coronary artery disease and were taking a statin were consecutively enrolled and divided into two groups based on diabetes status. The European Society of Cardiology/European Arthrosclerosis Society Guidelines for the management of dyslipidemias and the Chinese Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults were used to compare the control rates of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TG).