PERK Signaling Maintains Hematopoietic Stem Cell Pool Integrity under Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by Promoting Proliferation.

Unlabelled: The integrity of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) pool relies on efficient long-term self-renewal and the timely removal of damaged or differentiation-prone HSCs. Previous studies have demonstrated the PERK branch of the unfolded protein response (UPR) drives specific programmed cell death programs to maintain HSC pool integrity in response to ER stress. However, the role of PERK in regulating HSC fate remains unclear.

Quantification of functional hemodynamics in aortic valve disease using cardiac computed tomography angiography.

Background And Objective: Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the preferred modality for preoperative planning in aortic valve stenosis. However, it cannot provide essential functional hemodynamic data, specifically the mean transvalvular pressure gradient (MPG). This study aims to introduce a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach for MPG quantification using cardiac CTA, enhancing its diagnostic value.

Prevalence and outcomes of atrial fibrillation in patients suffering prostate cancer: a national analysis in the United States.

Purpose: Although the adverse effects of atrial fibrillation (AF) on cancers have been well reported, the relationship between the AF and the adverse outcomes in prostate cancer (PC) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of AF and evaluate the relationship between AF and clinical outcomes in PC patients.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with PC between 2008 and 2017 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample database.

Depression, anxiety, lower sleep quality and social support in square cabin hospitals during Shanghai's COVID-19 lockdown, China.

Objectives: To investigate and compare the associated factors of depression, anxiety, and other psychological differences between patients with Corona Virus Disease 2019 quarantined in square cabin hospitals (SCH) and isolation wards (IW) in China.

Methods: Cluster sampling method was performed during Shanghai's Two-Month Lockdown in 2022. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Depression subscale (HADS-D), 7-tiem Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) were used to investigate psychological differences.

Response of microalgae size-class structure to nutrients differences in northern Yellow Sea, China.

Marine phytoplankton size-class structure affects ecological functions and shellfish culture. We use high-throughput sequencing and size-fractioned grading techniques to identify and analyze responses of phytoplankton differences in environmental variables at Donggang, northern Yellow Sea (high inorganic nitrogen (DIN)) and Changhai (low DIN) for 2021. The main environmental variables that correlate with differences in the proportional contributions of pico-, nano-, and microphytoplankton to the total phytoplankton community are inorganic phosphorus (DIP), nitrite to inorganic nitrogen ratio (NO/dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN)), and ammonia nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen ratio (NH/DIN), respectively.

Molecular imaging of fibroblast activity in pressure overload heart failure using [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate whether [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT could characterize the early stages of cardiac fibrosis in pressure overload heart failure.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) (n = 12) and sham surgery (n = 10). All rats were scanned with [ Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery.

Incidence and outcomes of acute high-risk chest pain diseases during pregnancy and puerperium.

Aim: To investigate the incidence and outcomes of acute high-risk chest pain diseases, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), aortic dissection (AD), and pulmonary embolism (PE) during pregnancy and puerperium.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify pregnancy-related hospitalizations from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2017. Temporal trends in the incidence and mortality of AMI, AD and PE were extracted.

MicroRNA-22 promoted osteogenic differentiation of valvular interstitial cells by inhibiting CAB39 expression during aortic valve calcification.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a common valve disease characterized by the fibro-calcific remodeling of the aortic valves, which is an actively regulated process involving osteogenic differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs). MicroRNA (miRNA) is an essential regulator in diverse biological processes in cells. The present study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of miR-22 in the osteogenic differentiation of VICs.

Diagnostic value of circulating microRNA-19b in heart failure.

Objective: For differentiating heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) from HF with reduced EF (HFrEF), N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is less accurate. Decreased expression of microRNA-19b (miR-19b) is associated with increased cardiac-fibrosis. We aim to evaluate the value of miR-19b in diagnosing HFrEF patients.

Function analysis of differentially expressed microRNAs in TGF-β1-induced cardiac fibroblasts differentiation.

Background: Cardiac fibroblasts differentiation plays a critical role in cardiac remodeling and failure, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) had been identified as important regulators during cell differentiation. The aim of the present study was to screen the miRNAs involved in regulation of cardiac fibroblasts differentiation.

HSP90 inhibitor 17-DMAG effectively alleviated the progress of thoracic aortic dissection by suppressing smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch.

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a highly lethal vascular disease characterized by medial degeneration. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) had been proved as a potential target for a variety of diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of HSP90 inhibitor on TAD progress, and to explore the potential utility of HSP90 inhibitors as therapeutic avenue for TAD.

Screening and Function Analysis of MicroRNAs Involved in Exercise Preconditioning-Attenuating Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy.

Exercise preconditioning (EP) attenuates pathological cardiac hypertrophy by increasing the functional capacity of the cardiovascular system; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in various physiological and pathological processes by regulating the expression of the targeted gene. In this study, we aimed to screen the miRNAs involved in EP-attenuating pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Inhibition of maternally expressed gene 3 attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis through sponging miR-21 in renal tubular epithelial cells.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) results in retention of waste products and dysregulation of extracellular volume and electrolytes, thus leading to a variety of complications. Recent advances in long noncoding RNAs suggested their close relationship with disease progression. In the current study, we investigated the role and mechanism of maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) on AKI pathogenesis.

Differential expression profile of long non-coding RNAs in human thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is progressive fatal aortic pathological dilation, which is characterized by increased proteoglycans and loss of elastic fibers. Recent advances in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), an important regulator in many biological processes, suggested the close correlation between expression patterns and disease progression. In the present study, the ascending aortic tissues were collected from ascending TAA patients (n = 33) and organ donors (n = 16).

Differential expression profile of long non-coding RNA in cardiomyocytes autophagy induced by angiotensin II.

Autophagy is a ubiquitous intracellular process for cellular homeostasis maintenance by recycling damaged protein and organelles. Dysregulation of cardiomyocytes autophagic activity is implicated in various heart diseases. Recent studies had demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) played crucial roles on modulation of autophagic activity.

Endocytosis and membrane receptor internalization: implication of F-BAR protein Carom.

Endocytosis is a cellular process mostly responsible for membrane receptor internalization. Cell membrane receptors bind to their ligands and form a complex which can be internalized. We previously proposed that F-BAR protein initiates membrane curvature and mediates endocytosis via its binding partners.

Dynamic autophagic activity affected the development of thoracic aortic dissection by regulating functional properties of smooth muscle cells.

The aortic medial degeneration is the key histopathologic feature of Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD). The aim of this study was to identify the change of autophagic activity in the aortic wall during TAD development, and to explore the roles of autophagy on regulating functional properties of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Firstly, compared with control group (n = 11), the increased expression of autophagic markers Beclin1 and LC3 was detected in the aortic wall from TAD group (n = 23) by immunochemistry and western blot.

Inhibition of heat shock protein 90 improves pulmonary arteriole remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

While the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is involved in a multitude of physiological and pathological processes, its role relating to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect in which HSP90 improves pulmonary arteriole remodeling, and explored the therapeutic utility of targeting HSP90 as therapeutic drug for PAH. By Elisa and immunohistochemistry, HSP90 was found to be increased in both plasma and membrane walls of pulmonary arterioles from PAH patients.

Metabolomic profiles delineate the effect of Sanmiao wan on hyperuricemia in rats.

A serum metabolomic method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was developed to characterize hyperuricemia-related metabolic profiles and delineate the mechanism of Sanmiao wan (SMW), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in treating hyperuricemic rats. With partial least-squares discriminant analysis for classification and selection of biomarkers, 13 potential biomarkers in mouse serum were identified in the screen, primarily involved in purine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, citrate cycle, phenylalanine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Taking these potential biomarkers as screening indexes, SMW could reverse the pathological process of hyperuricemia through partially regulating the perturbed metabolic pathway except for glycerophospholipid metabolism.

Analysis for Carom complex, signaling and function by database mining.

Carom is a novel protein that regulates membrane curvature and transmits pathophysiological signaling. The tissue expression of Carom is unclear and its functional role and signaling are unknown. We employed a group of combined database mining strategies and established a working model of Carom signaling.

Transcatheter Closure of Intracristal Ventricular Septal Defect With Mild Aortic Cusp Prolapse Using Zero Eccentricity Ventricular Septal Defect Occluder.

Background: Transcatheter closure is a well-established therapy for patients with perimembranous ventricular septal defects (VSDs), but with limited experience in intracristal VSDs (IVSDs) with aortic cusp prolapse (ACP).

Methods and results: From 2012 to 2014, we reviewed 38 patients with IVSDs complicated with mild ACP who underwent device closure, and, in light of the findings, assessed the effect of transcatheter intervention on preoperative mild ACP. The zero eccentric VSD occluder was chosen for closure (Shanghai Shape Memory Alloy Ltd, Shanghai, China).

F-BAR family proteins, emerging regulators for cell membrane dynamic changes-from structure to human diseases.

Eukaryotic cell membrane dynamics change in curvature during physiological and pathological processes. In the past ten years, a novel protein family, Fes/CIP4 homology-Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (F-BAR) domain proteins, has been identified to be the most important coordinators in membrane curvature regulation. The F-BAR domain family is a member of the Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain superfamily that is associated with dynamic changes in cell membrane.

Endothelial progenitor cells in ischemic stroke: an exploration from hypothesis to therapy.

As the population ages and lifestyles change in concordance, the number of patients suffering from ischemic stroke and its associated disabilities is increasing. Studies on determining the relationship between endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and ischemic stroke have become a new hot spot and have reported that EPCs may protect the brain against ischemic injury, promote neurovascular repair, and improve long-term neurobehavioral outcomes. More importantly, they introduce a new perspective for prognosis assessment and therapy of ischemic stroke.