mA Modification of Profilin-1 in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Drives Phenotype Switching and Neointimal Hyperplasia via Activation of the p-ANXA2/STAT3 Pathway.

Background: In-stent restenosis is characterized by a significant reduction in lumen diameter within the stented segment, primarily attributed to excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and neointimal hyperplasia. PFN1 (profilin-1), an actin-sequestering protein extensively studied in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, remains less explored in neointimal hyperplasia.

Methods: Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing alongside data from in-stent restenosis patients and various experimental in-stent restenosis models (swine, rats, and mice), we investigated the role of PFN1 in promoting VSMC phenotype switching and neointimal hyperplasia.

Intravascular Ultrasound vs Angiography-Guided Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty: The ULTIMATE Ⅲ Trial.

Background: Drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty seems a safe and effective option for specific de novo coronary lesions. However, the beneficial effect of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided DCB angioplasty in de novo lesions remains uncertain.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the benefits of IVUS guidance over angiography guidance during DCB angioplasty in de novo coronary lesions.

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Phenotypic Switching in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the major cell type in the arterial vessel wall, have a contractile phenotype that maintains the normal vessel structure and function under physiological conditions. In response to stress or vascular injury, contractile VSMCs can switch to a less differentiated state (synthetic phenotype) to acquire the proliferative, migratory, and synthetic capabilities for tissue reparation. Imbalances in VSMCs phenotypic switching can result in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, in-stent restenosis, aortic aneurysms, and vascular calcification.

DPP4 as a Potential Candidate in Cardiovascular Disease.

The rising prevalence of cardiovascular disease has become a global health concern. The occurrence of cardiovascular disease is the result of long-term interaction of many risk factors, one of which is diabetes. As a novel anti-diabetic drug, DPP4 inhibitor has been proven to be cardiovascular safe in five recently completed cardiovascular outcome trials.

Which evaluation criteria of the short-term efficacy can better reflect the long-term outcomes for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Purpose: To compare the consistency of one-dimensional Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (1D-RECIST), two-dimensional WHO criteria (2D-WHO), and three-dimensional (3D) measurement for therapeutic response assessment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials And Methods: Retrospective data of 288 newly diagnosed NPC patients were reviewed. Tumor size was assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) according to the 1D-RECIST, 2D-WHO, and 3D measurement criteria.

Rationale and design for comparison of non-compliant balloon with drug-coating balloon angioplasty for side branch after provisional stenting for patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions: a prospective, multicentre and randomised DCB-BIF trial.

Introduction: Provisional stenting using drug-eluting stent is effective for simple coronary bifurcation lesions. Kissing balloon inflation using conventional non-compliant balloon is the primary treatment of side branch (SB) after main vessel (MV) stenting. Drug-coating balloon (DCB) is reported to be associated with less frequent clinical events in in-stent restenosis and small vessel disease.

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of the Rat Carotid Arteries Uncovers Potential Cellular Targets of Neointimal Hyperplasia.

In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains an Achilles heel of drug-eluting stents despite technical advances in devices and procedural techniques. Neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) is the most important pathophysiological process of ISR. The present study mapped normal arteries and stenotic arteries to uncover potential cellular targets of neointimal hyperplasia.

Plasma Small Extracellular Vesicle-Carried miRNA-501-5p Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Modulation-Mediated In-Stent Restenosis.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic modulation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of in-stent restenosis (ISR), the underlying mechanism of which remains a key issue needing to be urgently addressed. This study is designed to investigate the role of plasma small extracellular vesicles (sEV) in VSMC phenotypic modulation. sEV were isolated from the plasma of patients with ISR (ISR-sEV) or not (Ctl-sEV) 1 year after coronary stent implantation using differential ultracentrifugation.

Assessment of the expression and response of PD-1, LAG-3, and TIM-3 after neoadjuvant radiotherapy in rectal cancer.

Many studies have verified the safety of combined radiotherapy and immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs) without the specific radiation dose or sequencing of combination. We aimed to evaluate the expression and response of PD-1, TIM-3, LAG-3 after neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NRT) and explore the possibility and optimal schedule of combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy in treating rectal cancer. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of PD-1, TIM-3, LAG-3, CD8, and CD3.

Comparison of intravascular ultrasound-guided with angiography-guided double kissing crush stenting for patients with complex coronary bifurcation lesions: Rationale and design of a prospective, randomized, and multicenter DKCRUSH VIII trial.

Background: Double kissing (DK) crush approach for patients with coronary bifurcation lesions, particularly localized at distal left main or lesions with increased complexity, is associated with significant reduction in clinical events when compared with provisional stenting. Recently, randomized clinical trial has demonstrated the net clinical benefits by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided implantation of drug-eluting stent in all-comers. However, the improvement in clinical outcome after DK crush treatment guided by IVUS over angiography guidance for patients with complex bifurcation lesions have never been studied in a randomized fashion.

Intravascular Ultrasound-guided Versus Angiography-guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Evidence from Observational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials.

Coronary angiography has been considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and guidance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, 2D-projection angiography cannot completely reflect the 3D coronary lumen. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can overcome a number of limitations of coronary angiography by providing more information about the dimensions of the vessel lumen, plaque characteristics, stent deployment, and the mechanisms of device failure.

Intravascular ultrasound guidance reduces cardiac death and coronary revascularization in patients undergoing drug-eluting stent implantation: results from a meta-analysis of 9 randomized trials and 4724 patients.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance is not routinely performed in real-word clinical practice partly because the benefit of IVUS guidance is not well established. This updated meta-analysis aims to compare IVUS-guided and angiography-guided drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, simultaneously stressing the value of an optimal IVUS-defined procedure. Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry were searched for the randomized trials comparing IVUS-guided and angiography-guided DES implantation.

Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and class III β-tubulin in survival for non-metastatic rectal cancer.

Aim: To assess the long-term prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) mRNA expression in non-metastatic rectal cancer.

Methods: A total of 75 consecutive patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer from March 2004 to November 2008 were analyzed retrospectively at our institute. The mRNA expressions of VEGFR1 and TUBB3 were detected by multiplex branched DNA liquid-chip technology.

Exogenous hydrogen sulfide attenuates the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy via the FoxO1 pathway.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that exogenous hydrogen sulfide can alleviate the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Nuclear expression and function of the transcription factor Forkhead box protein O (FoxO1) have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, and thus, the importance of FoxO1 in DCM has gained increasing attention.

Relationship between high platelet reactivity on clopidogrel and long-term clinical outcomes after drug-eluting stents implantation (PAINT-DES): a prospective, propensity score-matched cohort study.

Background: The relationship between platelet reactivity and long-term clinical outcomes remains controversial. The present prospective study was designed to explore the association between high platelet reactivity (HPR) on clopidogrel and long-term clinical outcomes following implantation of drug eluting stents (DES).

Methods: A total of 1769 consecutive patients assessed by Aggrestar (PL-11) were enrolled at our center from February 2011 to December 2017.

Diagnostic power of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the presence of lymph node metastasis: A meta-analysis.

Present work was designed to quantitatively evaluate the performance of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of the presence of metastasis in lymph nodes (LNs). Eligible studies were identified from systematical PubMed and EMBASE searches. Data were extracted.

Good interrater reliability of a new grading system in detecting traumatic bone marrow lesions in the knee by dual energy CT virtual non-calcium images.

Objective: To evaluate the capacity of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) virtual non-calcium (VNCa) images in detecting post-traumatic bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in the knee with a new grading system.

Methods: DECT and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were used to examine acute trauma of the knee in 32 patients. VNCa images were generated by dual-energy subtraction of calcium, and the lower end of the femur and upper end of the tibia each were divided into six regions for grading of bone marrow by two musculoskeletal radiologists using a four-grading system (Grade 4, very obvious lesions; Grade 3, relatively obvious lesions; Grade 2, slight or suspicious lesion on VNCa image and mild lesion on MR image; Grade 1, normal bone marrow).