PI3K-AKT/mTOR Signaling in Psychiatric Disorders: A Valuable Target to Stimulate or Suppress?

Economic development and increased stress have considerably increased the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in recent years, which rank as some of the most prevalent diseases globally. Several factors, including chronic social stress, genetic inheritance, and autogenous diseases, lead to the development and progression of psychiatric disorders. Clinical treatments for psychiatric disorders include psychotherapy, chemotherapy, and electric shock therapy.

Vascular smooth muscle cells in low SYNTAX scores coronary artery disease exhibit proinflammatory transcripts and proteins correlated with IL1B activation.

Background And Aims: The SYNTAX score is clinically validated to stratify number of lesions and pattern of CAD. A better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms influencing the pattern and complexity of coronary arteries lesions among CAD patients is needed.

Methods: Human arterial biopsies from 49 patients (16 low-SYNTAX-score (LSS, <23), 16 intermediate-SYNTAX-score (ISS, 23 to 32) and 17 high-SYNTAX-score (HSS, >32)) were evaluated using Affymetrix GeneChip® Human Genome U133 Plus 2.

The roles of sclerostin and irisin on bone and muscle of orchiectomized rats.

Background: The reduction in androgen level gives rise to a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle strength, but the exact mechanisms are unclear. We investigated the roles of novel cytokines of sclerostin and irisin on bone and muscle of orchiectomized rats.

Methods: Twenty 3-month-old male rats were randomized to receive sham or orchiectomy (ORX) operation.

Global burden of major gastrointestinal cancers and its association with socioeconomics, 1990-2019.

Background: To understand the impact of common cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and help to formulate evidence-based policy, we evaluate the relationship between the burden of GI tract cancers and socioeconomics.

Methods: Data on GI tract cancer burden were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 including mortality and incidence rates. According to the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) level, country and territory, and sex, , the data were further stratified.

Socioeconomics and attributable etiology of primary liver cancer, 1990-2019.

Background: Primary liver cancer (PLC) is a major contributor to cancer-related deaths. Data on global and country-specific levels and trends of PLC are essential for understanding the effects of this disease and helping policymakers to allocate resources.

Aim: To investigate the association between the burden of PLC and socioeconomic development status.

Clinical characteristics and identification of a novel TGFB1 variant in three unrelated Chinese families with Camurati-Engelmann disease.

Background: To investigate the clinical characteristics and molecular diagnosis of Camurati-Engelmann disease (CAEND) in Chinese individuals.

Methods: We recruited six patients aged 14 to 45 years in three unrelated families with CAEND, including five females and one male. Clinical manifestations, biochemical tests, and radiographic examinations were analyzed.

Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Plasticity and Interactions in Vessel Wall Inflammation.

The pathobiology of atherosclerotic disease requires further elucidation to discover new approaches to address its high morbidity and mortality. To date, over 17 million cardiovascular-related deaths have been reported annually, despite a multitude of surgical and nonsurgical interventions and advances in medical therapy. Existing strategies to prevent disease progression mainly focus on management of risk factors, such as hypercholesterolemia.

The interaction between miRNA and mRNA is involved in vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation in patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the arterial wall have diverse functions. In pathological states, the interplay between transcripts and microRNAs (miRNAs) leads to phenotypic changes. Understanding the regulatory role of miRNAs and their target genes may reveal how VSMCs modulate the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.

Transcriptome alterations of vascular smooth muscle cells in aortic wall of myocardial infarction patients.

This article contains further data and information from our published manuscript [1]. We aim to identify significant transcriptome alterations of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the aortic wall of myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Microarray gene analysis was applied to evaluate VSMCs of MI and non-MI patients.

Distinctive molecular signature and activated signaling pathways in aortic smooth muscle cells of patients with myocardial infarction.

Background And Aims: We aim to identify significant transcriptome alterations of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the aortic wall of myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Providing a robust transcriptomic signature, we aim to highlight the most likely aberrant pathway(s) in MI VSMCs.

Methods And Results: Laser-captured microdissection (LCM) was used to obtain VSMCs from aortic wall tissues harvested during coronary artery bypass surgery.

Resolution of ascending aortic dissection in a Stanford type A patient.

We observed an unusual natural course of a Stanford type A aortic dissection. The patient presented to the emergency department with an acute aortic dissection involving an ascending aorta and left-sided hemiparesis. The patient declined surgery and was managed conservatively.

Characteristics of aortic wall extracellular matrix in patients with acute myocardial infarction: tissue microarray detection of collagen I, collagen III and elastin levels.

Objectives: Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling of the vessel wall is hypothesized to be an important step in atherosclerosis. Changes of the ECM are associated with the gradual progression of an atherosclerotic lesion from a lipid streak to complicated unstable plaque, leading to a complete vessel occlusion and eventually myocardial infarction (MI). Understanding of this process is critical in the treatment and prevention of ischaemic heart disease (IHD).

[Effects of carvedilol on neurohormone and magnesium metabolism in patients with chronic heart failure].

Objective: To investigate the effects of carvedilol on neurohormone and magnesium metabolism in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: Fifty-seven patients with CHF were divided into two groups randomly: received conventional treatment alone or combined with carvedilol for 8 weeks, respectively. Urine magnesium excretion (UME), plasma levels of magnesium (PMC), norepinephrine (NE), angiotensin-II (Ang-II), aldosterone (ALD), plasma renin activity (PRA) and peripheral monocyte magnesium content (MMC) were measured before and after treatments.

[The effects of cell growth factors on proliferation and migration of coronary artery endothelial cells].

Aim: To study the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on proliferation and migration of bovine coronary artery endothelial cells (BCAEC) in vitro.

Methods: BCAECs were isolated and cultured in vitro, and divided into control group, VEGF group and HGF group. BCACEs proliferation were measured using MTT, and their migration was observed using reverse microscope.