Peptide Hydrogel for Sustained Release of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 In Vitro.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of varying the formulation of a specific peptide hydrogel (PepGel) on the release kinetics of rhBMP-2 in vitro. Three PepGel formulations were assessed: (1) 50% / (peptides volume/total volume) PepGel, where synthetic peptides were mixed with crosslinking reagents and rhBMP-2 solution; (2) 67% / PepGel; (3) 80% / PepGel. Each sample was loaded with 12 µg of rhBMP-2 and incubated in PBS.

Feasibility of cultivating Se-enriched crops using localized natural Se enrichment resources.

Selenium (Se) exists in a dispersed state with low abundance in the environment, of which nutritional supply is generally inadequate globally. Cultivating Se-enriched crops using limited natural Se resources may be a feasible solution to mitigate this inadequacy. Herein, maize grain and Chinese cabbage harvested from a representative area with localized Se enrichment were selected.

Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription improves diabetes-related depression by modulation of gut microbiota and neuroinflammation in hippocampus.

Context: There is a significant challenge associated with the co-morbidity of mental and physical illnesses throughout the world. A classic example of mental/physical co-morbidity is diabetes-related depression (DD).

Objective: DD is treated with Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription (ZJJ).

Activation of nuclear receptor pregnane-X-receptor protects against abdominal aortic aneurysm by inhibiting oxidative stress.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening condition, but effective medications to prevent its progression and rupture are currently lacking. The nuclear receptor pregnane-X-receptor (PXR) plays a crucial role in vascular homeostasis. However, the role of PXR in AAA development remains unknown.

Efficacy of a cysteine protease inhibitor compared with enalapril in murine heart failure models.

Cysteine proteases calpains contribute to heart failure (HF), but it remains unknown whether their inhibition provides any benefit compared to standard pharmacological treatment for HF. Here, we characterize the pharmacological properties of NPO-2270 (NPO) as a potent inhibitor of cysteine proteases. Then, we describe that acute administration of NPO in rodent models of transient ischemia at the time of reperfusion reduces myocardial infarction, while its chronic oral administration attenuates adverse remodeling and cardiac dysfunction induced by ischemic and non-ischemic pathological stimuli more effectively than enalapril when given at the same dose.

Ambient Air Pollution and Hospitalizations for Schizophrenia in China.

Importance: Schizophrenia episodes may be triggered by short-term environmental stimuli. Short-term increases in ambient air pollution levels may elevate the risk of schizophrenia episodes, yet few epidemiologic studies have examined this association.

Objective: To investigate whether short-term increases in air pollution levels are associated with an additional risk of schizophrenia episodes, independent of absolute air pollution concentrations, and whether sustained increases in air pollution levels for several days are associated with more pronounced risks of schizophrenia episodes.

Variation in worldwide incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome: a population-based study in urban China and existing global evidence.

Background And Objectives: Geographical variation existed in the incidences of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), but no national population-based study has evaluated the incidences of GBS in China. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of GBS in urban China and evaluate the worldwide variation in the incidence of GBS.

Methods: Firstly, we did a population-based study to calculate the incidence of GBS in urban China based on the National Urban Medical Insurance database from 2013 to 2017.

Preventing Site-Specific Calpain Proteolysis of Junctophilin-2 Protects Against Stress-Induced Excitation-Contraction Uncoupling and Heart Failure Development.

Background: Excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling processes become disrupted in heart failure (HF), resulting in abnormal Ca homeostasis, maladaptive structural and transcriptional remodeling, and cardiac dysfunction. Junctophilin-2 (JP2) is an essential component of the E-C coupling apparatus but becomes site-specifically cleaved by calpain, leading to disruption of E-C coupling, plasmalemmal transverse tubule degeneration, abnormal Ca homeostasis, and HF. However, it is not clear whether preventing site-specific calpain cleavage of JP2 is sufficient to protect the heart against stress-induced pathological cardiac remodeling in vivo.

IRS2 Signaling Protects Against Stress-Induced Arrhythmia by Maintaining Ca Homeostasis.

Background: The docking protein IRS2 (insulin receptor substrate protein-2) is an important mediator of insulin signaling and may also regulate other signaling pathways. Murine hearts with cardiomyocyte-restricted deletion of (cIRS2-KO) are more susceptible to pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction, implying a critical protective role of IRS2 in cardiac adaptation to stress through mechanisms that are not fully understood. There is limited evidence regarding the function of IRS2 beyond metabolic homeostasis regulation, particularly in the context of cardiac disease.

Incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus in urban China, 2013-2017: A nationwide population-based study.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is becoming a growing public health concern due to increasing disease and economic burdens. Epidemiological information about SLE, especially its incidence rate, is limited in developing countries. In the current study, we sought to investigate the incidence, prevalence, and economic burdens of SLE in urban China.

A real-world observational study on the effect of Qingre Lishi decoction on glycemic profile using continuous glucose monitoring in obese type 2 diabetes adults.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of the Qingre Lishi decoction in treating of newly diagnosed overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from an evidence-based medical perspective.

Methods: 70 cases of overweight and obese patients with newly diagnosed T2DM treated in the outpatient clinic of the Department of Endocrinology of the Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2021 to November 2022 were selected, of which 35 cases were in the observation group and 35 cases were in the control group. The observation group was treated with the Qingre Lishi decoction add lifestyle intervention, and the control group was treated with lifestyle intervention only.

Global prevalence of diet low in calcium and the disease burden: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Background: Due to the essential role of calcium in vital biological functions, diet low in calcium (DLC) is associated with various diseases. However, there is a lack of study about the current prevalence and health burden due to DLC using reliable data sources.

Methods: We used data from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 (GBD 2019) to estimate the prevalence and health burden of DLC in 204 countries from 1990 to 2019, by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI).

Epigenetic silencing of miR-125a-3p promotes the progress of human cholangiocarcinoma via increasing CAC1 expression.

We aimed to investigate the dysregulation of the microRNAs(miRNAs) in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), including its impact on the homeostasis of the transcriptome and cellular behavior. MiRNAs serve as potent epigenetic regulators of transcriptional output, targeting various signaling pathways. This study aimed to investigate the expression level, epigenetic mechanism and function of miR-125a-3 in CCA.

Glutamine Protects against Mouse Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm through Modulating VSMC Apoptosis and M1 Macrophage Activation.

Glutamine (Gln), known as the most abundant free amino acid, is widely spread in human body. In this study, we demonstrated the protective effects of glutamine against mouse abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) induced by both angiotensin II (AngII) and calcium phosphate (Ca(PO)) , which was characterized with lower incidence of mouse AAA. Moreover, histomorphological staining visually presented more intact elastic fiber and less collagen deposition in abdominal aortas of mice treated by glutamine.

A study on the mechanism of Beclin-1 m6A modification mediated by catalpol in protection against neuronal injury and autophagy following cerebral ischemia.

Objective: Catalpol (CAT) has various pharmacological activities and plays a protective role in cerebral ischemia. It has been reported that CAT played a protective role in cerebral ischemia by upregulaing NRF1 expression. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that NRF1 can be used as a transcription factor to bind to the histone acetyltransferase KAT2A.

Management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an important cause of heart failure and arrhythmias, including sudden death, with a major impact on the healthcare system. Genetic causes and different phenotypes are now increasingly being identified for this condition. In addition, specific medications, such as myosin inhibitors, have been recently shown as potentially able to modify its symptoms, hemodynamic abnormalities and clinical course.

The Sympatric Coexistence Mechanism: A Case Study of Two Penahia Species in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea.

The study of trophic relationships among closely related species plays an important role in deepening our understanding of the resource utilization characteristics, differentiation patterns, and population dynamics of co-occurring species in the same habitat. This research uses two congeneric fish species, and , as examples. Based on a stomach content analysis and a carbon-nitrogen stable isotope analysis, a comparative analysis of their feeding habits and trophic niches is conducted.

Calpain inhibition protects against atrial fibrillation by mitigating diabetes-associated atrial fibrosis and calcium handling dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mice.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for atrial structural remodeling and atrial fibrillation (AF). Calpain activity is hypothesized to promote atrial remodeling and AF.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of calpain in diabetes-associated AF, fibrosis, and calcium handling dysfunction.

A novel Kit mutant rat enables hematopoietic stem cell engraftment without irradiation.

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is extensively studied in mouse models, but their limited scale presents challenges for effective engraftment and comprehensive evaluations. Rats, owing to their larger size and anatomical similarity to humans, offer a promising alternative. In this study, we establish a rat model with the Kit mutation, mirroring Kit mice often used in KIT signaling and HSC research.

Association between red blood cell distribution width-to-albumin ratio and prognosis in non-ischaemic heart failure.

Aims: Red blood cell distribution width-to-albumin ratio (RAR), an innovate biomarker of inflammation, can independently predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the association between RAR and prognosis in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure (NIHF) remains unclear.

Methods And Results: A total of 2077 NIHF patients admitted to the Heart Failure Care Unit, Fuwai Hospital, were consecutively enrolled from December 2006 to October 2017 in this retrospective study.

Ptpn23 Controls Cardiac T-Tubule Patterning by Promoting the Assembly of Dystrophin-Glycoprotein Complex.

Background: Cardiac transverse tubules (T-tubules) are anchored to sarcomeric Z-discs by costameres to establish a regular spaced pattern. One of the major components of costameres is the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). Nevertheless, how the assembly of the DGC coordinates with the formation and maintenance of T-tubules under physiological and pathological conditions remains unclear.