MicroRNA-19 upregulation attenuates cardiac fibrosis via targeting connective tissue growth factor.

Background: Previous studies have shown the role of microRNA (miR)-19 in aging-related heart failure. The present study aimed to verify the effects of miR-19 on cardiac fibrosis and its target.

Methods: Cardiac fibrosis was induced by myocardial infarction (MI)-induced heart failure and angiotensin (Ang) II-treated rats in vivo, and was induced in Ang II-treated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in vitro.

A clinical analysis of very and extremely low birth weight preterm infants.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW)/extremely low birth weight (ELBW) preterm infants in Weihai from January 2017 to December 2019.

Methods: 107 VLBW/ELBW preterm infants admitted to our hospital were recruited as the study cohort and divided into three groups: the < 1000 g group (n = 11 cases), the ≥ 1000~1250 g group (n = 32 cases), and the ≥ 1250~1500 g group (n = 64 cases). The clinical characteristics of the VLBW/ELBW preterm infants in each group were analyzed, and the hospitalization duration times, the survival rates, the ventilator use, the main complications, and the follow-ups in each group were compared statistically.

Isofraxidin Alleviates Myocardial Infarction Through NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibition.

Isofraxidin is a well-known coumarin compound refined from traditional Chinese medicines. It has been previously demonstrated to play an anti-inflammatory role in various inflammatory conditions. However, the effect of isofraxidin on myocardial infarction (MI) remains uncovered.

[Effect of Naoxintong Capsule on Inflammation in Peripheral Ischemic Tissue and Its Mechanism].

Objective: To study the mechanism of naoxintong capsule (NXT) -inhibiting peripheral ischemic inflammation.

Methods: Mice were randomly double-blindly divided into 3 groups: sham-operation group, model group and NXT group. Both model and NXT groups underwent the hind limb ischemia (HLI) surgery followed by oral gavage with saline or NXT, respectively, one hour after operation.

Inhibition of microRNA-146a attenuated heart failure in myocardial infarction rats.

The aim of the present study was to determine the roles of microRNA (miR)-146a on myocardial infarction (MI)-induced heart failure and cardiac remodeling. Experiments were carried out in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with ligation of left coronary artery to induce heart failure, and in primary neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and cardiomyocytes treated with angiotensin (Ang) II. Four weeks after MI, rats were injected with miR-146a antagomiR or agomiR via tail vein.

Shen'ge powder decreases the cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in chronic heart failure by activating the Rho protein/Rho-associated coiledcoil forming protein kinase signaling pathway.

Objective: The current study aimed to explore the role and the molecular mechanism of Shen'ge powder in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were selected for the study and divided randomly into four groups: control, model, Shen'ge powder, and fasudil group. An inverted microscope was used to determine the diameter of cardiomyocytes in each group.

Role of angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism in sudden cardiac arrest.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and to understand sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the Chinese population.

Methods: In this study, 232 patients were divided into the SCA group and the coronary disease group with coronary disease, but no SCA occurred during the treatment period. After comparing the genotype frequencies of the two groups, all patients were further divided into three groups as the II homozygotes, ID heterozygotes, and DD homozygotes to investigate the relationship in ACE I/D polymorphism and other risk factors of SCA.

Estrogen receptor-beta agonist diarylpropionitrile counteracts the estrogenic activity of estrogen receptor-alpha agonist propylpyrazole-triol in the mammary gland of ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats.

Although estrogen can bind both types of estrogen receptors, estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) is dominant in mediating estrogenic activity in the mammary gland and uterus. Excessive estrogenic activity such as estrogen-based postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy increases the risk for breast and endometrial cancers. The adverse effect of estrogen on uterine endometrium can be opposed by progestins; however, estrogen-plus-progestin regimen imposes substantially greater risk for breast cancer than estrogen alone.