Calycosin Ameliorates Neuroinflammation via TLR4-Mediated Signal Following Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in vivo and in vitro.

Background: Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a key pathophysiological process that leads to stroke mortality, with TLR4-mediated inflammation playing a crucial role. Our previous research highlighted the neuroprotective effects of the phytoestrogen calycosin on CIRI, although the precise mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of calycosin on the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in rat models of CIRI, both in vivo and in vitro.

Near-Isotropic, Extreme-Stiffness, Continuous 3D Mechanical Metamaterial Sequences Using Implicit Neural Representation.

Mechanical metamaterials represent a distinct category of engineered materials characterized by their tailored density distributions to have unique properties. It is challenging to create continuous density distributions to design a smooth mechanical metamaterial sequence in which each metamaterial possesses stiffness close to the theoretical limit in all directions. This study proposes three near-isotropic, extreme-stiffness, and continuous 3D mechanical metamaterial sequences by combining topology optimization and data-driven design.

LncRNA GHET1 from bone mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes improves doxorubicin-induced pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes by mediating NLRP3.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an important chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of hematologic tumors and breast carcinoma. However, its clinical application is limited owing to severe cardiotoxicity. Pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death linked to DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Combined effects of vitamin D and neferine on the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the synergistic effect of vitamin D and neferine on the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: The synergistic effect of biologically active form of vitamin D, VD and neferine on the treatment of CRC was investigated by bliss analysis. Colony formation and wound healing ability, migration and invasion ability, and epithelial mesenchymal transition of HCT-116 cells, as a response to the combination treatment with VD and neferine were evaluated.

Relationship Between Dietary Knowledge, Socioeconomic Status, and Stroke Among Adults Involved in the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Stroke is a public health threat that requires urgent attention in China. Nutrients have individual significant impacts on the prevalence of stroke. However, little research has been conducted on the impact of dietary knowledge on stroke and whether the impact is potentially heterogeneous under the effect of socioeconomic status.

The differential diagnostic value of serum homocysteine for white coat hypertension.

Objective: To assess the value of serum homocysteine (Hcy) in differential diagnosis of white coat hypertension (WCH).

Results: In this retrospective study, serum Hcy levels were elevated in hypertensive patients ( < 0.001) compared to WCH patients.

Primary Culture of Rat Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: A New Method.

BACKGROUND Developing a simple and efficient method of obtaining primary cultured VSMCs is necessary for basic cardiovascular research. MATERIAL AND METHODS The procedure of our new method mainly includes 6 steps: isolation of the aortic artery, removal of the fat tissue around the artery, separation of the media, cutting the media into small tissue blocks, transferring the tissue blocks to cell culture plates, and incubation until the cells reach confluence. The cells were identified as VSMCs by morphology and immunofluorescence.

Effects of Chinese yellow wine on nitric oxide synthase and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expressions in rat vascular endothelial cells.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine similarities in the effect of yellow wine as compared to statin and the possibility that yellow wine inhibits tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in cultured rat vascular endothelial cells (VECs).

Methods: We isolated VECs, and cultivated and purified Sprague Dawley (SD) rat thoracic aortas in vitro. We selected the optimal wine concentration using clonogenic and MTT assays to measure cell survival.

Polyphenols and Polypeptides in Chinese Rice Wine Inhibit Homocysteine-induced Proliferation and Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

The beneficial effect of Chinese rice wine on atherosclerosis has been proved, but the exact components that have the cardiovascular protective effect are still unknown. This study aimed to explore the exact ingredients in Chinese rice wine that could inhibit homocysteine (Hcy)-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration. VSMCs were divided into 7 groups: control, Hcy (1 mmol/L), Hcy + oligosaccharide, Hcy + polypeptides, Hcy + polyphenols, Hcy + alcohol, and Hcy + Chinese rice wine.

[Exploring the active ingredient of Chinese yellow wine which could inhibit the Hcy induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To explore the active ingredients in the Chinese yellow wine could inhibit the proliferation and migration of rat vascular smooth muscle cells induced by homocysteine (Hcy).

Methods: The primary culture and identification of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was conducted, and the VSMCs in passage 4-7 were used in the following experiments. The VSMCs were divided into 7 groups: control, Hcy (1 mmol/L), Hcy + oligosaccharide, Hcy + polypeptides, Hcy + polyphenols, Hcy + alcohol, Hcy + Chinese yellow wine and were given the corresponding treatment.

Yellow wine polyphenolic compounds inhibit matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9 expression and improve atherosclerotic plaque in LDL-receptor-knockout mice.

Many epidemiological studies have strongly suggested an inverse correlation between dietary polyphenol consumption and reduced risks of cardiovascular diseases. Yellow rice wine is a Chinese specialty and one of the three most ancient wines in the world (Shaoxing rice wine, beer, and grape wine). There is a large amount of polyphenol substances in yellow rice wine.

Hyperhomocysteinemia independently causes and promotes atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice.

Background: Hyperhomocysteine is an independent risk factor of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, whether hyperhomocysteine affects the progression of atherosclerosis is unclear. In the present study, we examined the effect of hyperhomocysteine on the formation of atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLr(-/-)) mice.

Rosuvastatin may modulate insulin signaling and inhibit atherogenesis beyond its plasma cholesterol-lowering effect in insulin-resistant mice.

Objectives: To provide evidence that rosuvastatin may improve insulin-resistance and inhibit atherogenesis by modulating insulin signaling, and whether this effect occurs beyond its plasma cholesterol-lowering effect.

Methods: Thirty-two 6-week-old low-density lipoprotein receptor deficient mice were randomized into 4 groups (n = 8 in each group): Normal control group (NC); High fat and high fructose diet group (HFF); HFF plus rosuvastatin group (HFFR); HFFR plus mevalonic acid group (HFFRMA). After 12 weeks, we measured fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin and cholesterol levels; the morphological concentrations of the aorta and aortic sinus; the expression of insulin receptor substrate 2, phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 2, protein kinase B, phosphorylated protein kinase B and the glucose transporter 4 in the liver.