[Effect of acupuncture on pain and cerebral hemodynamics in patients with migraine: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect between acupuncture combined with medication and simple medication on migraine and cerebral hemodynamics.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with migraine were randomized into an acupuncture plus medication group (60 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a medication group (60 cases, 6 cases dropped off). In the medication group, flunarizine hydrochloride capsule was given orally before sleep, 10 mg a day.

Function analysis of differentially expressed microRNAs in TGF-β1-induced cardiac fibroblasts differentiation.

Background: Cardiac fibroblasts differentiation plays a critical role in cardiac remodeling and failure, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) had been identified as important regulators during cell differentiation. The aim of the present study was to screen the miRNAs involved in regulation of cardiac fibroblasts differentiation.

Screening and Function Analysis of MicroRNAs Involved in Exercise Preconditioning-Attenuating Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy.

Exercise preconditioning (EP) attenuates pathological cardiac hypertrophy by increasing the functional capacity of the cardiovascular system; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in various physiological and pathological processes by regulating the expression of the targeted gene. In this study, we aimed to screen the miRNAs involved in EP-attenuating pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Transcriptional up-regulation of relaxin-3 by Nur77 attenuates β-adrenergic agonist-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.

The relaxin family peptides have been shown to exert several beneficial effects on the heart, including anti-apoptosis, anti-fibrosis, and anti-hypertrophy activity. Understanding their regulation might provide new opportunities for therapeutic interventions, but the molecular mechanism(s) coordinating relaxin expression in the heart remain largely obscured. Previous work demonstrated a role for the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 in regulating cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Transcatheter Closure of Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defects Using Dual Wire-Maintaining Technique.

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (PmVSDs) with dual wire-maintaining technique (DWMT).

Patients/methods: From January 2010 to December 2013, a total of 241 patients (men: 109, women: 132; mean age: 22.2±15.

Complete atrioventricular block after percutaneous device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect: A single-center experience on 1046 cases.

Background: Complete atrioventricular block (cAVB) has been deemed a rare complication after transcatheter closure for ventricular septal defect (VSD). However, this serious event appears to be underrecognized and is worth being investigated further.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and predisposing factors of cAVB associated with closure of VSD using a modified double-disk occluder (MDO).

Orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 is a novel negative regulator of endothelin-1 expression in vascular endothelial cells.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) produced by vascular endothelial cells plays essential roles in the regulation of vascular tone and development of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study is to identify novel regulators implicated in the regulation of ET-1 expression in vascular endothelial cells (ECs). By using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we show that either ectopic expression of orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 or pharmacological activation of Nur77 by 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) substantially inhibits ET-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), under both basal and thrombin-stimulated conditions.

MicroRNA-663 regulates human vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch and vascular neointimal formation.

Rationale: Abnormal phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is a hallmark of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators for VSMC function, and we recently identified miR-663 as critical for controlling human aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Objective: To investigate whether miR-663 plays a role in human VSMC phenotypic switch and the development of neointima formation.

MicroRNA-638 is highly expressed in human vascular smooth muscle cells and inhibits PDGF-BB-induced cell proliferation and migration through targeting orphan nuclear receptor NOR1.

Aims: Aberrant vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration contribute significantly to the development of vascular pathologies, such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. MicroRNAs have recently emerged as critical modulators in cellular processes and the purpose of this study is to identify novel miRNA regulators implicated in human aortic VSMC proliferation and migration.

Methods And Results: To identify miRNAs that are differentially expressed in human VSMCs, we performed miRNA microarray analysis in human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) at different time points after platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulation.

Deterioration of cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction is prevented by transplantation of modified endothelial progenitor cells overexpressing endothelial NO synthases.

Background/aims: Stem cell transplantation and gene therapies have been shown to attenuate myocardial dysfunction after myocardial infarction (AMI) in different acute and chronic animal models. The aim of this study was to assess the potential therapeutic efficacy of endothelial NO synthases (eNOS)-expressing endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on infarcted hearts.

Methods: Lentiviral eNOS-infected EPCs were injected after 1 h of ligation of the left anterior descending artery (LAD).

Potential candidate genes for alveolar hypoxia identified by transcriptome network analysis.

BACKGROUND. Alveolar hypoxia is an important condition related to many disorders such as chronic pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary vasoconstriction, and pulmonary vascular remodeling. The aim of present study was to disclose the biological response and the potential transcriptome networks regulating the hypoxia response in the lungs.

Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation is influenced by let-7d microRNA and its interaction with KRAS.

Background: Several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to regulate cardiovascular biological and pathological processes through inhibiting the translation of certain RNA transcripts. However, little is known about the association between miRNAs and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. The aim was to investigate the role of miRNAs in VSMC growth and the potential mechanism.

Transcatheter device closure of intracristal ventricular septal defects.

Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) is now offered as primary therapy at many institutions. We sought to evaluate the clinical feasibility and safety of device closure of intracristal VSDs using perimembranous occluders. A total of 49 patients were diagnosed with intracristal VSDs and assigned to the intracristal VSD group, and another 49 patients with the same size perimembranous VSDs were selected and assigned to the perimembranous VSD group.

[Outcome of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect with modified double-disk occluder device].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) with modified double-disk occluder device (MDVO).

Methods: Clinical data including clinical examination, electrocardiography daily after the procedure for a week, chest-X-rays and TTE before discharge and at 3-5 days after the procedure were analyzed from 604 patients underwent percutaneous closure of a pmVSD with MDVO at our department between December 2001 and December 2008.

Results: Procedure was successful in 576 out of 604 patients (95.

Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects using a novel wire-maintaining technique.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the clinical feasibility and safety of a novel wire-maintaining technique (WMT) for transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (PmVSDs).

Background: Transcatheter device closure of PmVSDs has been increasingly performed and this procedure is now offered as primary therapy at many institutions.

Methods: A total of 103 patients with complex PmVSDs were randomized to either the conventional technique (CT) group (n = 51) or the WMT group (n = 52).