AMPKα2 controls the anti-atherosclerotic effects of fish oils by modulating the SUMOylation of GPR120.

Consuming fish oils (FO) is linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in certain populations. However, FO failed to exhibit therapeutic effects in some patients with cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine the possible reasons for the inconsistent effects of FO.

Green Tea Polyphenols Prevent Early Vascular Aging Induced by High-Fat Diet via Promoting Autophagy in Young Adult Rats.

Objective: Epidemiology studies indicate that green tea polyphenols (GTP) perform a protective effect on cardiovascular diseases, but the underlying mechanisms are complex. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of GTP on high-fat diets (HFD) induced-early vascular aging.

Methods: Six-week young adult Wistar rats were fed with standard chow or HFD in the presence and absence of GTP (200 mg/kg body weight) for 18 weeks.

Detection & analysis of inflammatory cytokines in tears of patients with lacrimal duct obstruction.

Background & Objectives: Tear proteomic changes can be a candidate etiopathogenesis of lacrimal duct obstruction diseases (LDODs). Studies on proteomics have focused primarily on nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and some specific inflammatory cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-α2a, interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10, have not been investigated. In addition, differences in inflammatory cytokines in tears according to the LDOD subtype have not been reported.

Systematic evaluation during early-phase ischemia predicts outcomes in middle cerebral artery occlusion mice.

Identifying outcome predictors for ischemic stroke is beneficial for choosing correct intervention protocols. Thus, it is necessary to systemically evaluate histological outcome-associated changes such as hemodynamics, behavior, and body weight during the early phase of ischemia. Here, 50 mice were subjected to 45-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) using Longa's method.

Recombinant Cellular Repressor of E1A-Stimulated Genes Protects against Renal Fibrosis in Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats.

Background: Human cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG) is a secreted glycoprotein that attenuates angiotensin II-induced hypertension, alleviates myocardial fibrosis, and improves heart function. However, the role of CREG in high-salt (HS) diet-induced hypertensive nephropathy is unclear.

Methods: To determine the effects and molecular mechanisms of CREG in HS diet-induced hypertensive nephropathy, we established a hypertensive nephropathy animal model in Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats fed a HS diet (8% NaCl, n = 20) for 8 weeks.

Thrombin-loaded alginate-calcium microspheres: A novel hemostatic embolic material for transcatheter arterial embolization.

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is the best non-laparotomy choice for solid visceral organs rupture and bleeding nowadays. In our previous study, a new biodegradable macromolecule material thrombin-loaded alginate-calcium microsphere (TACM) was prepared and its characteristics were investigated preliminarily. In this study, we further investigated the biocompatibility of TACMs, as well as physical characteristic, application method and effect of TACMs with thrombus (embolic agent).

The impacts of different embolization techniques on splenic artery embolization for blunt splenic injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Splenic artery embolization (SAE) has been an effective adjunct to the Non-operative management (NOM) for blunt splenic injury (BSI). However, the optimal embolization techniques are still inconclusive. To further understand the roles of different embolization locations and embolic materials in SAE, we conducted this system review and meta-analyses.

The novel intracellular protein CREG inhibits hepatic steatosis, obesity, and insulin resistance.

Unlabelled: Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG), a novel cellular glycoprotein, has been identified as a suppressor of various cardiovascular diseases because of its capacity to reduce hyperplasia, maintain vascular homeostasis, and promote endothelial restoration. However, the effects and mechanism of CREG in metabolic disorder and hepatic steatosis remain unknown. Here, we report that hepatocyte-specific CREG deletion dramatically exacerbates high-fat diet and leptin deficiency-induced (ob/ob) adverse effects such as obesity, hepatic steatosis, and metabolic disorders, whereas a beneficial effect is conferred by CREG overexpression.

Alginate-calcium microsphere loaded with thrombin: a new composite biomaterial for hemostatic embolization.

To date, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has become a standard treatment to control intracavitary bleeding as an alternative to surgery. Due to excellent biocompatibility and no residual in vivo, biodegradable materials are preferred in TAE. However, gelfoam is the only commercially available biodegradable embolic material used to treat blunt trauma of solid abdominal viscera until now, and controversial on its stability and reliability never stopped in the past five decades.

MicroRNA-495 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by targeting chemokine CCL2.

Introduction: Endothelium dysfunction plays a critical role in atherosclerosis. MicroRNAs are endogenous non-coding RNAs that suppress gene expression by binding to the 3' untranslated regions of target genes. MiR-495 can regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells, however, the roles of miR-495 in endothelial cells (ECs) remain unclear.

Purification and functional assessment of smooth muscle cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells.

Objective: To obtain a pure population of smooth muscle cells (SMC) derived from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) and further assess their functions.

Methods: A vector, expressing both puromycin resistance gene (puro(r) ) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene driven by smooth muscle 22α (SM22α) promoter, named pSM22α-puro(r)-IRES2-EGFP was constructed and used to transfect ESC. Transgenic ESC (Tg-ESC) clones were selected by G418 and identified by PCR amplification of puro(r) gene.

MicroRNA-31 controls phenotypic modulation of human vascular smooth muscle cells by regulating its target gene cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes.

Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of a variety of proliferative vascular diseases. The cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG) has been shown to play an important role in phenotypic modulation of VSMCs. However, the mechanism regulating CREG upstream signaling remains unclear.