Apelin Receptor Homodimerisation Inhibits Hippocampal Neuronal Autophagy via G Protein-Dependent Signalling in Vascular Dementia.

Vascular dementia (VD), a progressive vascular cognitive impairment, is characterised by the presence of cerebral hypoperfusion, increased blood-brain barrier permeability, and white matter lesions. Although current treatment strategies primarily focus on risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, efficient and targeted therapies are lacking and the underlying mechanisms of VD remain unclear. We previously discovered that Apelin receptors (APJ), which are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), can homodimerize and generate signals that are distinct from those of APJ monomers in VD rats.

Apelin receptor dimer: Classification, future prospects, and pathophysiological perspectives.

Apelin receptor (APJ), a member of the class A family of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), plays a crucial role in regulating cardiovascular and central nervous systems function. APJ influences the onset and progression of various diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cerebral stroke, making it an important target for drug development. Our preliminary findings indicate that APJ can form homodimers, heterodimers, or even higher-order oligomers, which participate in different signaling pathways and have distinct functions compared with monomers.

Inhibition of SPARC signal by aerobic exercise to ameliorate atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: Inflammation and atherosclerosis (AS) are closely associated to Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) and its related factors. This study attempted to define the role and the potential mechanism of SPARC and its related factors in ameliorating hyperlipidemia and AS by aerobic exercise intervention.

Methods: The AS rat model was established with a high-fat diet plus vitamin D3 intraperitoneal injection.

The effect of tai chi intervention on NLRP3 and its related antiviral inflammatory factors in the serum of patients with pre-diabetes.

Background: NLRP3 inflammasome and its related antiviral inflammatory factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance, but its contribution to pre-diabetes remains poorly understood.

Objective: To investigate the effects and the potential mechanism of Tai Chi intervention on NLRP3 inflammasome and its related inflammatory factors in the serum of middle-aged and older people with pre-diabetes mellitus (PDM).

Methods: 40 pre-diabetic subjects were divided into a pre-diabetic control group (PDM-C group, N=20) and a Tai Chi group (PDM-TC group, N=20) by random number table.

Aerobic exercise alleviates pyroptosis-related diseases by regulating NLRP3 inflammasome.

Pyroptosis plays a crucial role in a variety of human diseases, including atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, depression, and Alzheimer's disease, which usually release pyroptosis-related cytokines due to inflammation. Many studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise is a good option for decreasing the release of pyroptosis-related cytokines. However, the molecular mechanisms of aerobic exercise on pyroptosis-related diseases remain unknown.

Genetic diversity and distribution of rhizobia associated with soybean in red soil in Hunan Province.

To explore the genetic diversity and distribution of rhizobia in the rhizosphere of soybean grown in red soil, we have collected 21 soil samples from soybean fields across seven counties in Hunan province, China. MiSeq sequencing of rpoB gene was used to determine the intra-species diversity of rhizobia existing in soybean rhizospheres. Soil chemical properties were determined by routine methods.

Identification of CD38 as a potential biomarker in skin cutaneous melanoma using bioinformatics analysis.

Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is the most aggressive type of skin cancer, with a high rate of metastasis and mortality; however, identification of biomarkers for the treatment of SKCM is required. Cluster of differentiation (CD)38 has emerged as an effective target for therapeutic drugs in several types of cancer, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. In the present study, to determine the contribution of CD38 to the diagnosis of SKCM, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 and University of Alabama Cancer Database online tools were used to analyze The Cancer Genome Atlas-SKCM dataset.

Porous Alumina Ceramics Obtained by Particles Self-Assembly Combing Freeze Drying Method.

An innovative approach for fabricating porous alumina ceramics is demonstrated in this paper. The distinguished feature is that the construction of the porous structure stems from the interaction between ceramic particles, which is a poorly explored area. By tailoring the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) interaction energy to the second minimum, the dilute ceramic slurry would be gelled by the weakly assembled particle network, and the assembled structure is conserved via a freeze drying strategy.

Phosphorylation and acetylation modifications of FOXO3a: Independently or synergistically?

Forkhead box class O 3a (FOXO3a) is a transcription factor that has emerged as being a tumor suppressor and longevity factor. The precise regulation of FOXO3a transactivation of target genes is achieved via post-translational modifications (PTMs) and specific protein-protein interactions. The multiple types of PTMs that FOXO3a undergoes, including phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation and ubiquitination, serve important roles in directing its subcellular localization and transcription activity, which are central to the integration of insulin/growth factor signaling and oxidative/nutrient stress signaling.

Short sleep duration is associated with increased risk of pre-hypertension and hypertension in Chinese early middle-aged females.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between sleep duration and hypertension in a middle-aged Chinese population.

Methods: Cross-sectional data of 20,505 individuals aged 35-64 years from Taizhou longitudinal study was used. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of pre-hypertension and hypertension in association with sleep duration.

Involvement of Bim in Photofrin-mediated photodynamically induced apoptosis.

Background/aims: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising noninvasive technique, which has been successfully applied to the treatment of human cancers. Studies have shown that the Bcl-2 family proteins play important roles in PDT-induced apoptosis. However, whether Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death (Bim) is involved in photodynamic treatment remains unknown.