Network pharmacology integrated with experimental validation to elucidate the mechanisms of action of the Guizhi-Gancao Decoction in the treatment of phenylephrine-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Context: The mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Guizhi-Gancao Decoction (GGD) remain unknown.

Objective: This study explores the mechanisms of GGD against cardiac hypertrophy.

Materials And Methods: Network pharmacology analysis was carried out to identify the potential targets of GGD.

Ginsenoside Rb1 ameliorates lipotoxicity-induced myocardial injury in diabetes mellitus by regulating Mfn2.

Purpose: Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a prevalent cardiovascular complication of diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) on the diabetic myocardium.

Methods: Leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice and palmitic acid (PA)-treated cardiomyocyte models were utilized.

Stachydrine hydrochloride protects the ischemic heart by ameliorating endoplasmic reticulum stress through a SERCA2a dependent way and maintaining intracellular Ca homeostasis.

This study aimed to explore the effects and mechanism of action of stachydrine hydrochloride (Sta) against myocardial infarction (MI) through sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum stress-related injury. The targets of Sta against MI were screened using network pharmacology. C57BL/6 J mice after MI were treated with saline, Sta (6 or 12 mg kg) for 2 weeks, and adult mouse and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (AMCMs and NRCMs) were incubated with Sta (10-10 M) under normoxia or hypoxia for 2 or 12 h, respectively.

Integrin αV mediated activation of myofibroblast via mechanoparacrine of transforming growth factor β1 in promoting fibrous scar formation after myocardial infarction.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) dramatically changes the mechanical stress, which is intensified by the fibrotic remodeling. Integrins, especially the αV subunit, mediate mechanical signal and mechanoparacrine of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in various organ fibrosis by activating CFs into myofibroblasts (MFBs). We investigated a possible role of integrin αV mediated mechanoparacrine of TGF-β1 in MFBs activation for fibrous reparation in mice with MI.

Stachydrine Hydrochloride Regulates the NOX2-ROS-Signaling Axis in Pressure-Overload-Induced Heart Failure.

Our previous studies revealed the protection of stachydrine hydrochloride (STA) against cardiopathological remodeling. One of the underlying mechanisms involves the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMKII). However, the way STA influences CaMKII needs to be further investigated.

Icariin inhibits hypertrophy by regulation of GPER1 and CaMKII/HDAC4/MEF2C signaling crosstalk in ovariectomized mice.

Icariin (ICA), a flavonoid phytoestrogen, was isolated from traditional Chinese medicine Yin Yang Huo (Epimedium brevicornu Maxim.). Previous studies reporting the cardioprotective effects of ICA are available; however, little is known about the impact of ICA on cardioprotection under conditions of reduced estrogen levels.

Association between systemic inflammatory response index and left ventricular remodeling and systolic dysfunction in atrial fibrillation patients.

Background: Cardiac remodeling and dysfunction can be caused by atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between the systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and left ventricular (LV) remodeling and systolic function in individuals with AF.

Methods: 416 patients with AF who were admitted to the Second Department of Cardiology in the East Ward of the Qingdao Municipal Hospital between January 2020 and May 2022 were included in the present retrospective research.

A new mechanism of therapeutic effect of stachydrine on heart failure by inhibiting myocardial ferroptosis.

Ferroptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death caused by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and excessive production of ROS. Its morphology is characterized by mitochondrial atrophy, increased mitochondrial membrane density, mitochondrial cristae degeneration and rupture, and unchanged nuclear morphology. Here, we investigated whether a bioactive constituent extracted from the Chinese herb Leonurus japonicus Houtt.

Notoginsenoside R1-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles targeting the site of injury through inflammatory cells improves heart repair after myocardial infarction.

Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) is the main monomeric component extracted from the dried roots and rhizomes of Panax notoginseng, and exerts pharmacological action against myocardial infarction (MI). Owing to the differences in compound distribution, absorption, and metabolism in vivo, exploring a more effective drug delivery system with a high therapeutic targeting effect is crucial. In the early stages of MI, CD11b-expressing monocytes and neutrophils accumulate at infarct sites.

Trans-cinnamaldehyde protects against phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through the CaMKII/ERK pathway.

Background: Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA) is one of the main pharmaceutical ingredients of Cinnamomum cassia Presl, which has been shown to have therapeutic effects on a variety of cardiovascular diseases. This study was carried out to characterize and reveal the underlying mechanisms of the protective effects of TCA against cardiac hypertrophy.

Methods: We used phenylephrine (PE) to induce cardiac hypertrophy and treated with TCA in vivo and in vitro.

Stachytine Hydrochloride Improves Cardiac Function in Mice with ISO-Induced Heart Failure by Inhibiting the α-1,6-Fucosylation on N-Glycosylation of β1AR.

Cardiovascular diseases have become a major public health problem that seriously threatens human health. The cumulative effects of various cardiovascular events will eventually develop into chronic heart insufficiency and even heart failure, and the β1 adrenergic receptor signal pathway plays an important role in this process. Stachytine hydrochloride is the main active ingredient of Yimucao, which is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat gynecological diseases.

Trans-cinnamaldehyde suppresses microtubule detyrosination and alleviates cardiac hypertrophy.

Background: Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA) is a main compound of Cinnamomum cassia, used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat many ailments. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the therapeutic effects of TCA in cardiovascular diseases.

Purpose: The present study aimed to determine whether TCA exerts antihypertrophic effects in vitro and in vivo and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these effects.

Ophiopogonin D alleviates diabetic myocardial injuries by regulating mitochondrial dynamics.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ophiopogonin D (OP-D) is a steroidal saponin extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl. (Liliaceae), that has been traditionally used to treat cough, sputum, and thirst in some Asian countries.

Fluorescent dynamics of CsPbBr nanocrystals in polar solvents: a potential sensor for polarity.

During synthesis, device processes, and applications of perovskite nanocrystals (NCs), there are usually inevitable interactions between perovskite NCs and polar solvents. To elaborately control the properties of perovskite NCs, investigating the effects of solvent polarity on perovskite NCs is thus highly important. Herein, fluorescent variations induced by different solvents into CsPbBr NCs solution are systematically studied.

Reusable Self-Sterilization Masks Based on Electrothermal Graphene Filters.

Surgical mask is recommended by the World Health Organization for personal protection against disease transmission. However, most of the surgical masks on the market are disposable that cannot be self-sterilized for reuse. Thus, when confronting the global public health crisis, a severe shortage of mask resource is inevitable.

Treatment of Masked Hypertension with a Chinese Herbal Formula: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Masked hypertension is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Nonetheless, no randomized controlled trials exist in the treatment of masked hypertension. The aim of this randomized, placebo-controlled trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of blood pressure (BP)-lowering treatment with a Chinese herbal formula, gastrodia-uncaria granules, in patients with masked hypertension.

Stachydrine hydrochloride suppresses phenylephrine-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cell signalling pathway.

The calcineurin (CaN)/nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) signalling pathway plays an important role in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Here, we investigated the potential effects of stachydrine hydrochloride, a bioactive constituent extracted from the Chinese herb Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Yimucao), on pathological cardiac hypertrophy during chronic α1-adrenergic receptor (α1-AR) activation and the underlying mechanisms.

Stachydrine hydrochloride alleviates pressure overload-induced heart failure and calcium mishandling on mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Traditional Chinese medicine Leonurus japonicus Houtt. has a long history in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Stachydrine hydrochloride, the main bioactive ingredient extracted from Leonurus japonicus Houtt.

Porous reduced graphene oxide/nickel foam for highly efficient solar steam generation.

Solar-driven water evaporation is considered to be an effective method for seawater desalination and wastewater purification. Here, we report a novel solar steam generation (SSG) system based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/nickel foam. Porous rGO foam acting as a photothermal conversion layer is fabricated by coating the rGO microsheets on the metallic nickel foam.

Stachydrine Ameliorates Cardiac Fibrosis Through Inhibition of Angiotensin II/Transformation Growth Factor β1 Fibrogenic Axis.

Cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death worldwide, are tightly associated with the pathological myocardial fibrosis. Stachydrine (Sta), a major active compound in Chinese motherwort , was reported to effectively attenuate cardiac fibrosis, but the cellular and molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the anti-fibrotic effect of Sta and mechanism underlying were explored in a mouse model of pressure overload and AngII stimulated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs).

Shengmai San Alleviates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Through Improvement of Mitochondrial Lipid Metabolic Disorder.

Background/aims: Shengmai San (SMS), prepared from Panax ginseng, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Schisandra chinensisin, has been widely used to treat ischemic disease. In this study, we investigated whether SMS may exert a beneficial effect in diabetic cardiomyopathy through improvement of mitochondrial lipid metabolism.

Methods: A leptin receptor-deficient db/db mouse model was utilized, and lean age-matched C57BLKS mice served as non-diabetic controls.

Analysis of the origin of peak aerosol optical depth in springtime over the Gulf of Tonkin.

By aggregating MODIS (moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer) AOD (aerosol optical depth) and OMI (ozone monitoring instrument) UVAI (ultra violet aerosol index) datasets over 2010-2014, it was found that peak aerosol loading in seasonal variation occurred annually in spring over the Gulf of Tonkin (17-23 °N, 105-110 °E). The vertical structure of the aerosol extinction coefficient retrieved from the spaceborne lidar CALIOP (cloud-aerosol lidar with orthogonal polarization) showed that the springtime peak AOD could be attributed to an abrupt increase in aerosol loading between altitudes of 2 and 5 km. In contrast, aerosol loading in the low atmosphere (below 1 km) was only half of that in winter.

[Numerical Study on the Characteristics of Regional Transport of PM2.5 in Shandong Province During Spring in 2014].

In this paper, spatial and temporal distribution, transportation and deposition of PM2.5 in Shandong Province in Spring, 2014 were all analyzed by applying PSAT of CAMx model and we also developed a transport matrix of PM2.5 between different cities in Shandong.

Persistence of Masked Hypertension in Chinese Patients.

Background: Masked hypertension (MH) has 10-15% prevalence and carries risk similar to that of sustained hypertension, but its short-term persistence remains uncertain.

Methods: Forty-five patients with MH (mean age 52.2 years; 37.