Deficiency of Endothelial Impairs Pulmonary Vascular Angiogenesis and Predisposes Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel plays a key role in pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the role of Piezo2 in PH remains unclear.

Methods: Endothelial cell (EC)-specific knockout (, Tek-Cre; ) rats and primarily cultured pulmonary microvascular ECs were used to determine the role of Piezo2 in PH.

Salvianolic acid B alleviated myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via modulating SIRT3-mediated crosstalk between mitochondrial ROS and NLRP3.

Background: Mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) accumulation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation are critical in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). However, their upstream regulatory mechanisms and interaction remain inadequately understood.

Purpose: The study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) on MIRI and elucidate its potential molecular mechanism, mainly focusing on the role of SIRT3.

Dysregulation and impaired anti-bacterial potential of mucosal-associated invariant T cells in autoimmune liver diseases.

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) encompass a group of conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the liver tissue. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are enriched in the liver, where they play crucial roles in antibacterial defense and inflammation regulation. Compared to other autoimmune conditions affecting the synovium of the joints, MAIT cells from AILD exhibited a greater deficiency in ratio, elevated activation markers, increased apoptosis, and higher pro-inflammatory cytokines production.

Disorder of neuroplasticity aggravates cognitive impairment via neuroinflammation associated with intestinal flora dysbiosis in chronic heart failure.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) impairs cognitive function, yet its effects on brain structure and underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to explore the mechanisms behind cognitive impairment.

Methods: CHF models in rats were induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery.

[Pharmacological research progress of five classical prescriptions in treatment of chronic heart failure].

Chronic heart failure(CHF) is a comprehensive clinical syndrome caused by multiple factors that result in structural and/or functional abnormalities of the heart, leading to impaired ventricular contraction and/or relaxation functions. This medical condition represents the final stage of various cardiovascular diseases. In the treatment of CHF, multiple clinical studies have demonstrated the benefits of using traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) to control oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, thereby delaying ventricular remodeling and reducing myocardial fibrosis.

Airway delivery of Streptococcus salivarius is sufficient to induce experimental pulmonary hypertension in rats.

Background And Purpose: The causal relationship between altered host microbiome composition, especially the respiratory tract microbiome, and the occurrence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) has not yet been studied. An increased abundance of airway streptococci is seen in patients with PH compared with healthy individuals. This study aimed to determine the causal link between elevated airway exposure to Streptococcus and PH.

IL-33/ST2 axis contributes to the dermal fibrosis of systemic sclerosis via promoting fibroblasts activation.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic immune-mediated rheumatic disease that is characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) has been recently implicated in several autoimmune diseases through its receptor ST2.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of IL-33/ST2 axis in the fibrotic disorder of SSc.

The IL-33/ST2 Axis Promotes Primary Sjögren's Syndrome by Enhancing Salivary Epithelial Cell Activation and Type 1 Immune Response.

The molecular mechanisms of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are poorly understood. In this study, we explored the role of the IL-33/ST2 axis in the development of pSS. In the mouse model of experimental Sjögren's syndrome, we found that the saliva flow rate at weeks 4 and 30 was preserved in IL-33 and ST2 mice, compared with that of wild-type mice.

Gut Microbiota Aberration in Patients of Systemic Sclerosis and Bleomycin-Induced Mice Model.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immune-mediated systemic autoimmune disease with unknown etiology, which has high morbidity and mortality. Current treatments to dispose of this disorder are limited. And there are still no ideal animal models that can fully replicate the four basic pathophysiological features of SSc, including vascular lesions, fibrosis, inflammation, and autoimmunity, let alone animal models specifically designed to study gastrointestinal lesions.

Intratracheal Poly(I:C) Exposure Accelerates the Immunological Disorder of Salivary Glands in Sjogren's-Like NOD/ShiLtJ Mice.

Evidences have suggested that Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is associated with viral infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of respiratory viral poly(I:C) in the pathogenesis of SS and potential mechanisms using a SS-like NOD/ShiLtJ (NOD) mouse model. 5-week female NOD mice were intratracheally administered poly(I:C) every other day for 5 times to mimic viral infection.

Mitomycin C induces pulmonary vascular endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and pulmonary veno-occlusive disease via Smad3-dependent pathway in rats.

Background And Purpose: Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare disease characterized by the obstruction of small pulmonary veins leading to pulmonary hypertension. However, the mechanisms underlying pulmonary vessel occlusion remain largely unclear.

Experimental Approach: A mitomycin C (MMC)-induced PVOD rat model was used as in vivo animal model, and primarily cultured rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) were used as in vitro cell model.

Clinical features of rheumatic patients infected with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.

Objective: The clinical features of rheumatic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not been reported. This study aimed to describe the clinical features of COVID-19 in rheumatic patients and provide information for handling this situation in clinical practice.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series study.

A Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture Treatment of Gastroparesis Using Different Acupoints.

Objective: To explore the effect of "selecting acupoints by site" on the synergy effect of "acupoint compatibility" according to the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment of patients with gastroparesis.

Methods: A total of 99 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for gastroparesis were enrolled in 3 clinical centers and randomly divided into group A (33 cases), group B (33 cases, 1 case of shedding), and group C (33 cases, 1 case of shedding). In group A, acupuncture was performed at Zhongwan (CV 12) and Zusanli (ST 36); in group B, acupuncture was performed at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36); in group C, acupuncture was performed at nonacupoint and Zusanli (ST 36).

[Acupuncture at acupoints along the meridians for primary insomnia: a multi-center randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the clinical effect differences among different acupoint selection methods for primary insomnia.

Methods: A total of 333 patients with primary insomnia were recruited from 3 study centers and randomly divided into a group A (111 cases, 7 cases dropped off), a group B (111 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a group C (111 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the group A were treated with acupuncture at Shenmen (HT 7) and Baihui (GV 20), the patients in the group B were treated with acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Baihui (GV 20), and the patients in the group C were treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint and Baihui (GV 20).

Prior cervical cytology and high-risk HPV testing results for 311 patients with invasive cervical adenocarcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study from China's largest independent operator of pathology laboratories.

Background: High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) testing is more sensitive than cytology for the detection of cervical cancer and its precursors. However, limited and inconsistent data are available about the efficacy of the combination of these two methods for screening cervical adenocarcinoma. This multicenter retrospective study investigated the screening results of a cohort of Chinese patients who were subsequently diagnosed with invasive cervical adenocarcinoma, with the goal of identifying the optimal cervical adenocarcinoma screening method.

Sphingomyelin synthase 1 enhances BCR signaling to promote lupus-like autoimmune response.

Background: Sphingomyelin synthase 1 (SMS1) has been reported to participate in hepatitis and atherosclerosis. However, its role in autoimmune response is not clear. This study investigates the possible involvement of SMS1 in B-cell activation and lupus-like autoimmunity.

[Manual Acupuncture Stimulation of Paired Acupoints Can Relieve Sleep Disorder Possibly by Upregulating Pineal Melatonin Protein and Its Receptor mRNA Levels in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus in Insomnia Rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of manual acupuncture stimulation of paired "Baihui" (GV 20)+ "Shenmen" (HT 7), GV 20+ "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), and GV 20+ non-acupoint on expression of melatonine (MT) and suprachiasmatic melatonin receptor 1 (MT) and melatonin receptor 2 (MT) mRNAs in insomnia rats, so as to explore their action difference and the underlying mechanism in improving insomnia.

Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control (=12), mo-del (=8), GV 20+HT 7(=12), GV 20+SP 6(=11), and GV 20+ non-acupoint (=10) groups. The insomnia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of Para-chlorophenylalanine suspension (50 mg/mL, 50 mg/100 g), once daily for 2 days.

[Effect of Different Stimulating Strength of Electroacupuncture on Gastrointestinal Motility and RhoA/ROCK Signaling in Gastric Antral Smooth Muscle in Diabetic Gastroparesis Rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of different strength of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on gastrointestinal motility and Ras homolog gene family member (RhoA)/Rho associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase (ROCK) signaling in diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) rats, so as to reveal the underlying mechanisms of EA for improving DGP.

Methods: Sixty SD rats were randomly and equally divided into blank control, DGP model, weak EA, medium EA, and strong EA groups (＝12 rats in each). The DGP model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mmol/kg, 2%) and high-sugar and high-fat fodder feeding for 8 weeks.

[Effects of Herbal-cake-separated Moxibustion on Blood Lipid Protein Levels and Expression of Toll-like Receptor and Nuclear Factor Genes in Atherosclerotic Plaques in Hyperglycemia Rabbits].

Objective: To observe the effect of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on blood lipid-apoprotein levels and the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR 2), TLR 4 and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) mRNAs in atherosclerotic (AS) vulnerable plaques of hyperglycemia rabbits, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of atherosclerosis.

Methods: Sixty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, model, direct moxibustion, herbal-cake-separated moxibustion and medication groups(＝12 rabbits in each group). The AS vulnerable plaque model was established by high-fat forage feeding plus balloon-induced abdominal aorta injury and gene transfection of Ad 5-p 53 recombinant vector.

Increased risk of coronary heart disease among patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

To investigate the association between primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and coronary heart disease (CHD), and the influence of medications for pSS patients on risk of CHD. The authors identified 4175 patients with a new diagnosis of pSS between 2002 and 2013 from the National Health Insurance Research database. The control-to-case ratio was 4:1.

[Effect of Acupuncture Stimulation of Different Acupoint Combinations on Sleep and Expression of Circadian and Bmal 1 Genes in Hypothalamus of Insomnia Rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of manual acupuncture stimulation (MAS) of "Baihui"(GV 20)-"Shenmen"(HT 7)or GV 20-"Sanyinjiao"(SP 6) on sleep and expression of circadian rhythm genes ( and Bmal 1) in the hypothalamus in insomnia rats, so as to select a better acupoint group for insomnia.

Methods: A total of 53 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control (=12),insomnia model (=8), GV 20-HT 7(=12), GV 20-SP 6(=11),and GV 20-non-acupoint (=10) groups. The insomnia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA,500 mg/kg,100 mg/mL) once daily for 2 days.