Phosphate burden induces vascular calcification through a NLRP3-caspase-1-mediated pyroptotic pathway.

Aims: The aim of this study is to clarify the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in phosphate burden-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification.

Main Methods: VSMC calcification was induced using a high concentration of inorganic phosphate. After pharmacological inhibition or genetic silencing of the NLRP3 inflammasome, pyroptosis, or potassium efflux, the cells were examined by RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting to identify the NLRP3-mediated pathway for VSMC calcification.

Interaction of transcription factors Islet2 and Nr2f1b to control vascular patterning during zebrafish development.

Many regulators controlling arterial identity are well described; however, transcription factors that promote vein identity and vascular patterning have remained largely unknown. We previously identified the transcription factors Islet2 (Isl2) and Nr2f1b required for specification of the vein and tip cell identity mediated by notch pathway in zebrafish. However, the interaction between Isl2 and Nr2f1b is not known.

The Mediating Roles of Impulsiveness and Maladjustment in the Association of Psychological Resilience with Drug Addiction during Isolated Detoxification.

Studies have shown that psychological resilience is a key factor in drug rehabilitation. To explore the feasibility of developing psychological resilience as an addiction treatment intervention, it is essential to explore the role that it plays in drug addiction. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychological resilience and drug addiction, as well as to examine the underlying mediational roles of maladjustment and impulsiveness in this association.

Indoxyl Sulfate Mediates the Low Inducibility of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Hemodialysis Patients.

The NLRP3 inflammasome is responsible for the maturation of caspase-1 and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Despite the study about basal activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome in hemodialysis (HD) patients, little is known about its inducibility in the milieu of uremia. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from 11 HD patients and 14 volunteers without a history of chronic kidney disease, as well as macrophages with or without the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) pretreatment, underwent canonical NLRP3 inflammasome induction.

Characterization of the monoclonal antibody specific to the ORF72 protein of koi herpesvirus and cellular distribution analysis of the viral protein.

Koi herpesvirus (KHV) is an emerging pathogen of koi and common carp that causes a severe disease and mass mortality of infected fish. The KHV ORF72 protein is an important capsid protein that has been suggested to be a candidate for the development of diagnostic reagents and KHV vaccines. The purpose of this study was to clone and express the KHV ORF72 gene for further preparation of a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) and to analyse cellular distribution of the viral protein.

Fine-tune regulation of carboxypeptidase N1 controls vascular patterning during zebrafish development.

Vascular development is regulated by complicated signals and molecules in vertebrates. In this study, we characterized a novel function of carboxypeptidase N1 (Cpn1) in the vasculature. We show that cpn1 mRNA is expressed in developing vessels.

Low power consumption and high-contrast light scattering based on polymer-dispersed liquid crystals doped with silver-coated polystyrene microspheres.

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) have attracted considerable attention for optical device applications in recent years. However, the high operating voltage of PDLCs limits their applications. This study reports a simple approach used for the first time to decrease the operating voltage of PDLCs by means of doping 3 μm-diameter silver-coated polystyrene microspheres (Ag-coated PSMSs) into PDLCs.

Nr2f1b control venous specification and angiogenic patterning during zebrafish vascular development.

Background: The specification of vein and the patterning of intersegmental vessels (ISV) controlled by transcription factor is not fully characterized. The orphan nuclear receptor Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (CoupTFII, a.k.