Endothelial-Specific Reduction in Arf6 Impairs Insulin-Stimulated Vasodilation and Skeletal Muscle Blood Flow Resulting in Systemic Insulin Resistance in Mice.

Background: Much of what we know about insulin resistance is based on studies from metabolically active tissues such as the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. Emerging evidence suggests that the vascular endothelium plays a crucial role in systemic insulin resistance; however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Arf6 (ADP ribosylation factor 6) is a small GTPase that plays a critical role in endothelial cell function.

Effects of prolonged face mask use among patients with hypertension or diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the impacts of prolonged mask use on patients with hypertension or diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This study included patients with hypertension or diabetes who visited the outpatient department of Nanjing Yimin Hospital between 1 February 2022 and 31 January 2023. We compared the change in blood pressure (BP) and fasting plasma glucose in patients with hypertension or diabetes and adjustments to treatment between the group with prolonged mask-wearing group (≥20 hours/week) and the control group (<20 hours/week).

Activation of NFAT by HGF and IGF-1 via ARF6 and its effector ASAP1 promotes uveal melanoma metastasis.

Preventing or effectively treating metastatic uveal melanoma (UM) is critical because it occurs in about half of patients and confers a very poor prognosis. There is emerging evidence that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) promote metastasis and contribute to the striking metastatic hepatotropism observed in UM metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which HGF and IGF-1 promote UM liver metastasis have not been elucidated.

Laparoscopic versus open surgery for colonoscopic perforation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of laparoscopic surgery (LS) for the treatment of colonoscopic perforation is still controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of LS versus open surgery (OS) for colonoscopic perforation.

Methods: All clinical trials that compared laparoscopic with OS for colonoscopic perforation published in English were identified in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library searches.

Endothelial specific reduction in Arf6 impairs insulin-stimulated vasodilation and skeletal muscle blood flow resulting in systemic insulin resistance.

Background: Much of what we know about insulin resistance is based on studies from metabolically active tissues such as liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. Emerging evidence suggests that the vascular endothelium plays a crucial role in systemic insulin resistance, however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. ADP ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) is a small GTPase that plays a critical role in endothelial cell (EC) function.

Heterozygosity for ADP-ribosylation factor 6 suppresses the burden and severity of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the root cause of major cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as myocardial infarction and stroke. ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) is a ubiquitously expressed GTPase known to be involved in inflammation, vascular permeability and is sensitive to changes in shear stress. Here, using atheroprone, ApoE-/- mice, with a single allele deletion of Arf6 (HET) or wildtype Arf6 (WT), we demonstrate that reduction in Arf6 attenuates atherosclerotic plaque burden and severity.

Neuroinflammatory disease disrupts the blood-CNS barrier via crosstalk between proinflammatory and endothelial-to-mesenchymal-transition signaling.

Breakdown of the blood-central nervous system barrier (BCNSB) is a hallmark of many neuroinflammatory disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Using a mouse model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we show that endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) occurs in the CNS before the onset of clinical symptoms and plays a major role in the breakdown of BCNSB function. EndoMT can be induced by an IL-1β-stimulated signaling pathway in which activation of the small GTPase ADP ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) leads to crosstalk with the activin receptor-like kinase (ALK)-SMAD1/5 pathway.

LPA Contributes to Vascular Endothelium Homeostasis and Cardiac Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction.

Rationale: Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most dangerous adverse cardiovascular events. Our previous study found that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is increased in human peripheral blood after MI, and LPA has a protective effect on the survival and proliferation of various cell types. However, the role of LPA and its receptors in MI is less understood.

Role of minimally invasive techniques in gastrointestinal surgery: Current status and future perspectives.

In recent years, the incidence of gastrointestinal cancer has remained high. Currently, surgical resection is still the most effective method for treating gastrointestinal cancer. Traditionally, radical surgery depends on open surgery.

Robotic natural orifice specimen extraction surgery versus traditional robotic-assisted surgery (NOTR) for patients with colorectal cancer: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery for colorectal cancer has been introduced in order to reduce the abdominal incision, demonstrating major development potential in minimally invasive surgery. We are conducting this randomized controlled trial to assess whether robotic NOSES is non-inferior to traditional robotic-assisted surgery for patients with colorectal cancer in terms of primary and secondary outcomes.

Method/design: Accordingly, a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled, parallel-group, multicenter, and non-inferiority trial will be conducted to discuss the safety and efficacy of robotic natural orifice extraction surgery compared to traditional robotic-assisted surgery.

Catenin α 1 mutations cause familial exudative vitreoretinopathy by overactivating Norrin/β-catenin signaling.

Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a severe retinal vascular disease that causes blindness. FEVR has been linked to mutations in several genes associated with inactivation of the Norrin/β-catenin signaling pathway, but these account for only approximately 50% of cases. We report that mutations in α-catenin (CTNNA1) cause FEVR by overactivating the β-catenin pathway and disrupting cell adherens junctions.

Deletion of Reduces Eosinophilic Inflammation and Interleukin-5 Expression in a Murine Model of Rhinitis.

Background: ARF nucleotide-binding site opener (ARNO) is a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor for ADP-ribosylation factor proteins. ARF nucleotide-binding site opener also binds MyD88, and small-molecule inhibition of ARNO reduces inflammation in animal models of inflammatory arthritis and acute inflammation. However, whether genetic deletion of in mice reduces pathologic inflammation has not yet been reported.

MicroRNAs: Multifaceted Regulators of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis and Clinical Applications.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third-commonest malignant cancer, and its metastasis is the major reason for cancer-related death. The process of metastasis is highly coordinated and involves a complex cascade of multiple steps. In recent years, miRNAs, as highly conserved, endogenous, noncoding, single-stranded RNA, has been confirmed to be involved in the development of various cancers.

Apigenin and Ethaverine Hydrochloride Enhance Retinal Vascular Barrier In Vitro and In Vivo.

Purpose: This study aims to develop an impedance-based drug screening platform that will help identify drugs that can enhance the vascular barrier function by stabilizing vascular endothelial cell junctions.

Methods: Changes in permeability of cultured human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) monolayer were monitored in real-time with the xCELLigence RTCA system. Using this platform, we performed a primary screen of 2100 known drugs and confirmed hits using two additional secondary permeability assays: the transwell permeability assay and the XPerT assay.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of robotic assisted rectal cancer resection alone versus robotic rectal cancer resection with natural orifice extraction: a matched analysis.

Robotic rectal cancer resection with natural orifice extraction is a recently developed minimally invasive surgery used in the treatment of patients with rectal cancer. However, its safety and feasibility remain undiscussed and controversial. This study reported the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors pertaining to traditional robotic assisted rectal cancer resection alone against that of robotic rectal cancer resection with natural orifice extraction to provide a discussion on this issue.

Preserving Vascular Integrity Protects Mice against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infection.

The rise in multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms portends a serious global threat to the health care system with nearly untreatable infectious diseases, including pneumonia and its often fatal sequelae, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis. Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), including , , and carbapenemase-producing (CPKP), are among the World Health Organization's and National Institutes of Health's high-priority MDR pathogens for targeted development of new therapies. Here, we show that stabilizing the host's vasculature by genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of the small GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) increases survival rates of mice infected with , , and CPKP.

Robotic- laparoscopic-assisted proctectomy for locally advanced rectal cancer based on propensity score matching: Short-term outcomes at a colorectal center in China.

Background: Reports in the field of robotic surgery for rectal cancer are increasing year by year. However, most of these studies enroll patients at a relatively early stage and have small sample sizes. In fact, studies only on patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and with relatively large sample sizes are lacking.

Robotic- versus laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for advanced gastric cancer based on propensity score matching: short-term outcomes at a high-capacity center.

Reports in the field of robotic surgery for gastric cancer are increasing. However, studies only on patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) are lacking. This retrospective study was to compare the short-term outcomes of robotic-assisted distal gastrectomy (RADG) and laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with D2 lymphadenectomy for AGC.

ROBO4 deletion ameliorates PAF-mediated skin inflammation via regulating the mRNA translation efficiency of LPCAT1/LPCAT2 and the expression of PAF receptor.

The diminished level of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAFAH) in milk causes an enhanced level of platelet activating factor (PAF) in the skin, leading to a severe hair loss phenotype during neonatal pup's lactation. The deletion of very-low-density-lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) prevents the expression and secretion of PAFAH. Here we revealed that deletion of Roundabout 4 (ROBO4) in mice ameliorated hair loss phenotype via reducing PAF concentration in skin.

Short- and long-term outcomes of totally robotic versus robotic-assisted radical distal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: a mono-institution retrospective study.

Purpose: By comparing short- and long-term outcomes following totally robotic radical distal gastrectomy (TRDG) and robotic-assisted radical distal gastrectomy (RADG), we aimed to assess in which modus operandi patients will benefit more.

Methods: From January 2015 to May 2019, we included 332 patients undergone RADG (237) and TRDG (95). Based on the propensity score matching (PSM), inclusion and exclusion criteria, 246 patients were finally included in the propensity score-matched cohort including RADG group (164) and TRDG group (82).

Hidden species diversity in Pachyhynobius: A multiple approaches species delimitation with mitogenomes.

The lack of distinct morphological features of cryptic species is a hard problem for taxonomy, especially when the taxa are closely related with considerable amounts of ancestral polymorphism. Lately, intensive coalescent-based analyses involving multiple loci have become the preferred method to assess the extent of genetic distinctiveness in otherwise phenotypically similar populations. Previously, phylogenetic studies on Pachyhynobius shangchengensis uncovered five extremely deeply divergent clades, which suggested that this species may be a cryptic species complex.

Mutant RAMP2 causes primary open-angle glaucoma via the CRLR-cAMP axis.

Purpose: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and mutations in known genes can only explain 5-6% of POAG. This study was conducted to identify novel POAG-causing genes and explore the pathogenesis of this disease.

Methods: Exome sequencing was performed in a Han Chinese cohort comprising 398 sporadic cases with POAG and 2010 controls, followed by replication studies by Sanger sequencing.

Small GTPase ARF6 controls VEGFR2 trafficking and signaling in diabetic retinopathy.

The devastating sequelae of diabetes mellitus include microvascular permeability, which results in retinopathy. Despite clinical and scientific advances, there remains a need for new approaches to treat retinopathy. Here, we have presented a possible treatment strategy, whereby targeting the small GTPase ARF6 alters VEGFR2 trafficking and reverses signs of pathology in 4 animal models that represent features of diabetic retinopathy and in a fifth model of ocular pathological angiogenesis.

The small GTPase ARF6 regulates protein trafficking to control cellular function during development and in disease.

The activation of the small GTPase ARF6 has been implicated in promoting several pathological processes related to vascular instability and tumor formation, growth, and metastasis. ARF6 also plays a vital role during embryonic development. Recent studies have suggested that ARF6 carries out these disparate functions primarily by controlling protein trafficking within the cell.