Punicalagin Attenuates Disturbed Flow-Induced Vascular Dysfunction by Inhibiting Force-Specific Activation of Smad1/5.

Background: Pathophysiological vascular remodeling in response to disturbed flow with low and oscillatory shear stress (OSS) plays important roles in atherosclerosis progression. Pomegranate extraction (PE) was reported having anti-atherogenic effects. However, whether it can exert a beneficial effect against disturbed flow-induced pathophysiological vascular remodeling to inhibit atherosclerosis remains unclear.

Formulation and intestinal absorption of naringenin loaded nanostructured lipid carrier and its inhibitory effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

In this study, we prepared naringenin (NGN) loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (NGN-NLC) and investigated its characterizations, transepithelial transport, intestinal absorption and inhibitory effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by a methionine choline deficient (MCD) diet in mice. The NGN-NLC, prepared by a method of emulsion-evaporation plus low temperature-solidification, displayed high drug loading capacity of 22.5 ± 1.

Simvastatin nanoliposome induces myocardial and hepatic toxicities due to its absorption enhancement in mice.

Nanoliposome is a useful dosage form to increase solubility and absorption of simvastatin (SMV), and consequently improves its therapeutic effects. However, toxicity of SMV could also be elevated accompanied by the absorption enhancement, which is a decisive factor for the clinical application of SMV nanoliposome (SMV-Lipo), but has not been studied systematically and reported so far. In this study, organ toxicity of SMV-Lipo was evaluated in mice in the presence and absence of isoproterenol and compared to those of free SMV.

Grape Seed Polyphenols Ameliorated Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis via Suppression of Inflammation and Apoptosis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease. Its onset is typically gradual, usually followed by periods of spontaneous remission and subsequent relapses. Grape seed polyphenols (GSP), a natural product extracted from grape seeds, have strong anti-inflammatory functions.

Atheroprotective Mechanisms of Tilianin by Inhibiting Inflammation Through Down-Regulating NF-κB Pathway and Foam Cells Formation.

Tilianin, a representative flavonoid ingredient of L., has been used to treat several diseases for centuries, including atherosclerosis (AS). However, pharmacological mechanisms underlying its biological functions remain elusive.

Rosa rugosa flavonoids alleviate myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in mice by suppressing JNK and p38 MAPK.

Objective: Although Rosa rugosa has been applied for preventing coronary artery disease, the pharmacological mechanism is little explored. In this study, the effects and mechanisms of Rosa rugosa flavonoids (RRF) on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) were investigated.

Methods: Mice were pretreated by intragastric administration of 600 mg/kg RRF for 7 days.

Alpha-Tocopheryl Succinate-Conjugated G5 PAMAM Dendrimer Enables Effective Inhibition of Ulcerative Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a severe inflammatory disease in colon, however, the therapeutic efficacy of the standard-of-care in clinic for UC patients is unsatisfactory. To explore new drugs for effective and safe treatment of UC, alpha-tocopheryl succinate (α-TOS) is conjugated to generation 5 (G5) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer to construct a nanodevice of G5-NH-acetamide (Ac)-TOS. The inhibitory effects of the G5-NH-Ac-TOS on UC are evaluated in vivo in a dextran sulfate sodium induced UC mouse model, and its mechanisms are explored in vitro in lipopolysaccharide stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Recent Advances in Dendrimer Research for Cardiovascular Diseases.

Dendrimers, as a type of artificially synthesized polymers, have been increasingly attracting attention in many research fields, including the material and medical sciences, due to their unique characteristics that include their highly branched and well-defined molecular architecture, multivalency and tunable chemical compositions. These advantages make dendrimers potential carriers for the delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Herein, we review the recent advances in dendrimer research for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with special focus on their applications as carriers for drug and gene delivery, as contrast agents, and as potential new drugs.

[Construction of baculovirus vector with WPRE regulatory element to express Newcastle disease virus F gene in primary chicken embryo cells].

Objective: To construct the recombinant baculovirus with mammaliancell-specific promoter and woodchuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element (WPRE), to highly express Newcastle disease virus (NDV) F gene in the primary chicken embryo cells.

Method: We extracted total RNAs from NDV La Sota strain. Then the F gene was amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.