Safety and Efficacy of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Patients With Severe Carotid Artery Stenosis Before Carotid Artery Stenting: A Proof-of-Concept, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) can inhibit recurrent ischemic events effectively in patients with acute or chronic cerebral ischemia. However, it is still unclear whether RIPC can impede ischemic injury after carotid artery stenting (CAS) in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis.

Methods: Subjects with severe carotid artery stenosis were recruited in this randomized controlled study, and assigned to RIPC, sham, and no intervention (control) groups.

Ablation of Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 Protects Against Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice.

The secretion of adhesion molecules by endothelial cells, as well as the subsequent infiltration of macrophages, determines the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that IRF3 (interferon regulatory factor 3) is required for the induction of proinflammatory cytokines and for endothelial cell proliferation. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of IRF3 on atherogenesis remain unknown.

Data on taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationship of tits.

The data in this paper are related to the research article entitled "Taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationship of tits based on mitogenomes and nuclear segments" (X.J. Li et al.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor apicidin increases expression of the α-secretase ADAM10 through transcription factor USF1-mediated mechanisms.

ADAM10 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10) is the α-secretase that is involved in APP (β-amyloid precursor protein) processing. Enhancement of the nonamyloidogenic APP pathway by ADAM10 provides therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease (AD). By using high-throughput screening that targeted ADAM10, we determined that apicidin-an inhibitor of HDACs (histone deacetylases)-significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of ADAM10 in SH-SY5Y cells.

Chronic Kidney Disease Induces Inflammatory CD40+ Monocyte Differentiation via Homocysteine Elevation and DNA Hypomethylation.

Rationale: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) develop hyperhomocysteinemia and have a higher cardiovascular mortality than those without hyperhomocysteinemia by 10-fold.

Objective: We investigated monocyte differentiation in human CKD and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods And Results: We identified CD40 as a CKD-related monocyte activation gene using CKD-monocyte -mRNA array analysis and classified CD40 monocyte (CD40CD14) as a stronger inflammatory subset than the intermediate monocyte (CD14CD16) subset.

Tripartite Motif 8 Contributes to Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy Through Enhancing Transforming Growth Factor β-Activated Kinase 1-Dependent Signaling Pathways.

Tripartite motif (TRIM) 8 functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, interacting with and ubiquitinating diverse substrates, and is implicated in various pathological processes. However, the function of TRIM8 in the heart remains largely uncharacterized. This study aims to explore the role of TRIM8 in the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Phase II Study of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin and 5-Fluorouracil for Advanced Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil for advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PCC) in this prospective phase II study. Materials and Methods The protocol was approved by the local ethics committee, and all patients gave informed consent. Patients with nonresectable PCC were included in a prospective, open phase II study investigating HAI through interventionally implanted port catheters.

Maternal Low Protein Isocaloric Diet Suppresses Pancreatic β-Cell Proliferation in Mouse Offspring via miR-15b.

The mechanism underlying the increased susceptibility of type 2 diabetes in offspring of maternal malnutrition is poorly determined. Here we tested the hypothesis that functional microRNAs (miRNAs) mediated the maternal low-protein (LP) isocaloric diet induced pancreatic β-cell impairment. We performed miRNA profiling in the islets from offspring of LP and control diet mothers to explore the potential functional miRNAs responsible for β-cell dysfunction.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Intra-arterial Delivery of Doxorubicin-loaded Hollow Gold Nanospheres for Photothermal Ablation-Chemoembolization Therapy in Rats.

Purpose To determine if combretastatin A-4 phosphate disodium (CA4P) can enhance the tumor uptake of doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated hollow gold nanospheres (HAuNS) mixed with ethiodized oil for improved photothermal ablation (PTA)-chemoembolization therapy (CET) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Materials and Methods Animal experiments were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee and performed from February 2014 to April 2015. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 45; age, 12 weeks) were inoculated with N1S1 HCC cells in the liver, and 8 days later, were randomly divided into two groups of 10 rats.

Contribution of GABAA, Glycine, and Opioid Receptors to Sacral Neuromodulation of Bladder Overactivity in Cats.

In α-chloralose-anesthetized cats, we examined the role of GABA, glycine, and opioid receptors in sacral neuromodulation-induced inhibition of bladder overactivity elicited by intravesical infusion of 0.5% acetic acid (AA). AA irritation significantly (P < 0.

Liver and Muscle Contribute Differently to the Plasma Acylcarnitine Pool During Fasting and Exercise in Humans.

Background: Plasma acylcarnitine levels are elevated by physiological conditions such as fasting and exercise but also in states of insulin resistance and obesity.

Aim: To elucidate the contribution of liver and skeletal muscle to plasma acylcarnitines in the fasting state and during exercise in humans.

Methods: In 2 independent studies, young healthy males were fasted overnight and performed an acute bout of exercise to investigate either acylcarnitines in skeletal muscle biopsies and arterial-to-venous plasma differences over the exercising and resting leg (n = 9) or the flux over the hepato-splanchnic bed (n = 10).

Integrin Imaging with Tc-3PRGD2 SPECT/CT Shows High Specificity in the Diagnosis of Lymph Node Metastasis from Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose To evaluate an integrin imaging approach based on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) by using technetium 99m (Tc)-dimeric cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides with three polyethylene glycol spacers (3PRGD2) as the tracer to target the integrin αβ expression in lung cancer and lymph node metastasis. Materials and Methods With ethics committee approval and written informed consent, 65 patients (41 male, 24 female; mean age, 60 years ± 11 [standard deviation]) with suspicious lung lesions were recruited with informed consent. The patients underwent both Tc-3PRGD2 SPECT/CT and fluorine 18 (F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT within 1 week.

Altered resting-state neural activity and changes following a craving behavioral intervention for Internet gaming disorder.

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has become a serious mental health issue worldwide. Evaluating the benefits of interventions for IGD is of great significance. Thirty-six young adults with IGD and 19 healthy comparison (HC) subjects were recruited and underwent resting-state fMRI scanning.

Tenofovir to Prevent Hepatitis B Transmission in Mothers with High Viral Load.

Background: Few data are available regarding the use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) during pregnancy for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: In this trial, we included 200 mothers who were positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and who had an HBV DNA level higher than 200,000 IU per milliliter. Participants were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive usual care without antiviral therapy or to receive TDF (at an oral dose of 300 mg per day) from 30 to 32 weeks of gestation until postpartum week 4; the participants were followed until postpartum week 28.

Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate Lysophosphatidylcholine-Induced Endothelial Cell Activation.

Objective: Hyperlipidemia-induced endothelial cell (EC) activation is considered as an initial event responsible for monocyte recruitment in atherogenesis. However, it remains poorly defined what is the mechanism underlying hyperlipidemia-induced EC activation. Here, we tested a novel hypothesis that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) serve as signaling mediators for EC activation in early atherosclerosis.

Caspase-1 Inflammasome Activation Mediates Homocysteine-Induced Pyrop-Apoptosis in Endothelial Cells.

Rationale: Endothelial injury is an initial mechanism mediating cardiovascular disease.

Objective: Here, we investigated the effect of hyperhomocysteinemia on programed cell death in endothelial cells (EC).

Methods And Results: We established a novel flow-cytometric gating method to define pyrotosis (Annexin V(-)/Propidium iodide(+)).

A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study on White Matter Abnormalities in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics.

Background And Purpose: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have considerably higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia. WM changes in these patients have been reported. Our aim was to demonstrate that gradual and continuous WM change and the associated cognitive decline in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus can be captured by DTI parameters, which can be used to complement neuropsychological test scores in identifying patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with and without mild cognitive impairment.

Multicenter Prospective Trial of Stent Placement in Patients with Symptomatic High-Grade Intracranial Stenosis.

Background And Purpose: On the basis of the high 1-month stroke and/or death (14.7%) rates associated with stent placement in the Stenting versus Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis trial, modifications in patient selection and procedural aspects for intracranial stent placement have been recommended. We performed a multicenter prospective single-arm trial to determine whether such modifications would result in lower rates of periprocedural stroke and/or death.

A Signaling Cascade from miR444 to RDR1 in Rice Antiviral RNA Silencing Pathway.

Plant RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE1 (RDR1) is a key component of the antiviral RNA-silencing pathway, contributing to the biogenesis of virus-derived small interfering RNAs. This enzyme also is responsible for producing virus-activated endogenous small interfering RNAs to stimulate the broad-spectrum antiviral activity through silencing host genes. The expression of RDR1 orthologs in various plants is usually induced by virus infection.

Genomic Foundation of Starch-to-Lipid Switch in Oleaginous Chlorella spp.

The ability to rapidly switch the intracellular energy storage form from starch to lipids is an advantageous trait for microalgae feedstock. To probe this mechanism, we sequenced the 56.8-Mbp genome of Chlorella pyrenoidosa FACHB-9, an industrial production strain for protein, starch, and lipids.

Comparison of Life Tables of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Under Laboratory and Greenhouse Conditions.

The ladybird Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.) is an important aphidophagous predator in Asia. In order to mass rear predators for biological control, it is valuable to identify the features of populations that are affected by variations in field conditions.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: Clinical and genetic analyses of 110 patients.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the clinical and genetic features of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) in a large population and to analyze the genotype-phenotype correlation of PKD.

Methods: We analyzed clinical manifestations and conducted PRRT2 screening in 110 patients with PKD. Clinical data were compared between 91 probands with and without PRRT2 mutations.

Effects of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Cardiac Nerves on Atrial Arrhythmia in Experimental Pulmonary Artery Hypertension.

Atrial arrhythmia, which includes atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL), is common in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), who often have increased sympathetic nerve activity. Here, we tested the hypothesis that autonomic nerves play important roles in vulnerability to AF/AFL in PAH. The atrial effective refractory period and AF/AFL inducibility at baseline and after anterior right ganglionated plexi ablation were determined during left stellate ganglion stimulation or left renal sympathetic nerve stimulation in beagle dogs with or without PAH.

Longitudinal Study of Gray Matter Changes in Parkinson Disease.

Background And Purpose: The pathology of Parkinson disease leads to morphological brain volume changes. So far, the progressive gray matter volume change across time specific to patients with Parkinson disease compared controls remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate the pattern of gray matter changes in patients with Parkinson disease and to explore the progressive gray matter volume change specific to patients with Parkinson disease with disease progression by using voxel-based morphometry analysis.

Genetic predisposition to higher blood pressure increases risk of incident hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in Chinese.

Although multiple genetic markers associated with blood pressure have been identified by genome-wide association studies, their aggregate effect on risk of incident hypertension and cardiovascular disease is uncertain, particularly among East Asian who may have different genetic and environmental exposures from Europeans. We aimed to examine the association between genetic predisposition to higher blood pressure and risk of incident hypertension and cardiovascular disease in 26 262 individuals in 2 Chinese population-based prospective cohorts. A genetic risk score was calculated based on 22 established variants for blood pressure in East Asian.