An injectable chitosan/dextran/β -glycerophosphate hydrogel as cell delivery carrier for therapy of myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is a common cardiovascular disease with high mortality. In this study, an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel of chitosan (CS)/dextran (DEX)/β-glycerophosphate (β-GP) loaded with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) was prepared for MI treatment. The good biocompatibility of hydrogels was confirmed by 3T3 cells and HUVECs culture study in vitro.

Visfatin Promotes Monocyte Adhesion by Upregulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 Expression in Endothelial Cells via Activation of p38-PI3K-Akt Signaling and Subsequent ROS Production and IKK/NF-κB Activation.

Background/aims: Visfatin is known to act as a mediator in several metabolic disorders, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of visfatin on the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to human vascular endothelial cells and the underlying mechanism.

Methods: Monocytes adhesion to endothelial cells was determined by using fluorescence-labeled monocytes.

Arterial stiffness is associated with target organ damage in subjects with pre-hypertension.

Introduction: Present study was to evaluate whether increased arterial stiffness was associated with target organ damage in pre-hypertensive subjects.

Material And Methods: Pre-hypertensive subjects enrolled and echocardiography was used to evaluate left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and the first morning urine was collected to evaluate albumin and creatinine ratio (ALB/Cr ratio). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) was measured.

Apelin/APJ axis improves angiotensin II-induced endothelial cell senescence through AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that endothelial cell senescence is involved in cardiovascular diseases such as cardiac fibrosis, atherosclerosis and heart failure. Accumulating evidence indicates that apelin exerts protective effects on ageing-related endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of the apelin/APJ axis in angiotensin II (AngII)-induced endothelium senescence and its associated mechanisms.

Association of 24 h-systolic blood pressure variability and cardiovascular disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: To evaluate association of 24 h-systolic blood pressure (SBP) variability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as defined by the apnea-hypopnea index ≥5/h; and association of 24 h-SBP variability and prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in OSA patients.

Methods: Participants underwent polysomongraphy to evaluate the presence of OSA, and 24 h-ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was applied to evaluate 24 h-SBP variability as indexed by weighted 24 h-standard deviation (SD) of SBP. Between-group differences were evaluated in participants with and without OSA.

Human Endothelial Progenitor Cell-Derived Exosomes Increase Proliferation and Angiogenesis in Cardiac Fibroblasts by Promoting the Mesenchymal-Endothelial Transition and Reducing High Mobility Group Box 1 Protein B1 Expression.

Myocardial fibrosis is a characteristic feature of cardiomyopathies. However, no effective strategies to attenuate cardiac fibrosis are currently available. Late-stage endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are precursors of endothelial cells (ECs) that repair the heart through a paracrine mechanism.

Additive effects of atorvastatin combined with sitagliptin on rats with myocardial infarction: a pilot study.

Introduction: Atorvastatin and sitagliptin are able to exert cardio-protective effects. However, whether atorvastatin plus sitagliptin could confer additive benefits for rats with myocardial infarction (MI) is unknown.

Material And Methods: Forty rats with MI were produced and 37 surviving rats were randomly divided into atorvastatin (10 mg/kg daily, = 9), sitagliptin (10 mg/kg daily, = 9), combined (10 mg/kg daily atorvastatin plus 10 mg/kg daily sitagliptin, = 9), and control groups (3 ml normal saline daily, = 10).

ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels contribute to the protective effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide against high glucose-induced injury in H9c2 cardiac cells.

Hyperglycemia, as well as diabetes mellitus, has been shown to impair ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels in human vascular smooth muscle cells. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is also known to be an opener of KATP channels. We previously demonstrated the cardioprotective effects exerted by H2S against high-glucose (HG, 35 mM glucose)-induced injury in H9c2 cardiac cells.

RASSF8 downregulation promotes lymphangiogenesis and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Lymphatic vessels are the major routes of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) metastasis. Tumor cells secrete pro-lymphangiogenic factors to induce new lymphatic vessels, promoting lymph node metastasis. In this study, we show that RAS association domain family 8 (RASSF8) expression in ESCC clinical samples was inversely correlated with lymph node metastasis and patients survival.

Glucose increases interleukin-12 gene expression and production in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of type 2 diabetes patients.

Background: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of type 2 diabetes patients produce more interleukin (IL)-12 under glucose treatment. The aim of this study was to determine whether increased IL-12 response in hyperglycemic LPS-stimulated PBMCs is due to increased gene expression or osmolarity.

Methods: LPS-stimulated PBMCs of 13 type 2 diabetes patients and 8 healthy controls were used for culture in the presence or absence of glucose or mannitol for 24 h.

Phase transformation of molecular beam epitaxy-grown nanometer-thick Gd₂O₃ and Y₂O₃ on GaN.

High quality nanometer-thick Gd₂O₃ and Y₂O₃ (rare-earth oxide, R₂O₃) films have been epitaxially grown on GaN (0001) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The R₂O₃ epi-layers exhibit remarkable thermal stability at 1100 °C, uniformity, and highly structural perfection. Structural investigation was carried out by in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and ex-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) with synchrotron radiation.

[Effects of rhBMP-7 on osteoblast differentiation of murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro].

Aim: To study the effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 (rhBMP-7) on osteoblast differentiation of murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).

Methods: The BMSCs were collected from murine bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation. Cells were adherent cultured and expanded in vitro.

High interleukin-12 production from stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of type 2 diabetes patients.

Unlabelled: Sugar control is important in patients with sepsis. Interleukin (IL)-12 induces the polarization of CD4(+) T cells to the T helper 1 (Th1) phenotype. Regulatory T (T(reg)) cells are important in immunity and disease.

Comparison of plasma interferon-gamma and antigen 60 immunoglobulin G in diagnosing pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Background: An elevated interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) level has been reported in the plasma of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Serologic diagnosis of tuberculosis using Antigen 60 immunoglobulin G (A60 IgG) is a well-known diagnostic approach. This study evaluated plasma IFN-y compared to A60 IgG in diagnosing Mycobacterium tuberculosis.