The efficacy and safety of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors combined with statins in patients with hypercholesterolemia: a network meta-analysis.

Background: In recent years, the position of PCSK9 inhibitors as adjuvant therapy to statins in guidelines has further improved. However, there remained a dearth of direct comparative studies among different PCSK9 inhibitors. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different PCSK9 inhibitors combined with statins.

FACT mediates the depletion of macroH2A1.2 to expedite gene transcription.

The histone variant macroH2A is generally linked to transcriptionally inactive chromatin, but how macroH2A regulates chromatin structure and functions in the transcriptional process remains elusive. This study reveals that while the integration of human macroH2A1.2 into nucleosomes does not affect their stability or folding dynamics, it notably hinders the maintenance of facilitates chromatin transcription's (FACT's) function.

Efficacy and safety of tocilizumab and baricitinib among patients hospitalized for COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tocilizumab and baricitinib are recommended treatment options for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory response; however, there is a lack of systematic review directly evaluating their efficacy and safety. This review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab and baricitinib in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Relevant databases were searched for studies that compared the effect or safety of baricitinib or tocilizumab in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Natriuretic Peptides-New Targets for Neurocontrol of Blood Pressure via Baroreflex Afferent Pathway.

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) induce vasodilation, natriuresis, and diuresis, counteract the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and autonomic nervous system, and are key regulators of cardiovascular volume and pressure homeostasis. Baroreflex afferent pathway is an important reflex loop in the neuroregulation of blood pressure (BP), including nodose ganglion (NG) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). Dysfunction of baroreflex would lead to various hypertensions.

Macrophage polarization is involved in liver fibrosis induced by β -adrenoceptor autoantibody.

Accumulating evidence suggests that liver injury can be induced by the over-expression of β -adrenergic receptors (β -ARs). High titers of autoantibodies specific to β -adrenergic receptors (β -AA) are detected in the sera of heart failure patients, potentially playing agonist-like roles. However, the role of β -AA in liver function has not been characterized.

Bradykinin-mediated estrogen-dependent depressor response by direct activation of female-specific distribution of myelinated Ah-type baroreceptor neurons in rats.

Aim: To understand the direct impact of bradykinin in autonomic control of circulation through baroreflex afferent pathway.

Methods: The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was monitored while bradykinin and its agonists were applied via nodose (NG) microinjection, the expression of bradykinin receptors (BRs) in the NG (1 -order) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS, 2 -order) were tested in adult male, age-matched female, and ovariectomized rats under physiological and hypertensive conditions. Additionally, bradykinin-induced depolarization was also tested in identified baroreceptor and baroreceptive neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp technique.

The baroreflex afferent pathway plays a critical role in HS-mediated autonomic control of blood pressure regulation under physiological and hypertensive conditions.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS), which is closely related to various cardiovascular disorders, lowers blood pressure (BP), but whether this action is mediated via the modification of baroreflex afferent function has not been elucidated. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the role of the baroreflex afferent pathway in HS-mediated autonomic control of BP regulation. The results showed that baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was increased by acute intravenous NaHS (a HS donor) administration to renovascular hypertensive (RVH) and control rats.

FGF-21 ameliorates essential hypertension of SHR via baroreflex afferent function.

Hypertension is a common complication of metabolic abnormalities associated with cardiovascular system and characterized by sexual dimorphism in mammals. Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) plays a critical role in metabolic-disorder related hypertension through the afferent loop of baroreflex. However, the gender difference in FGF-21-mediated blood pressure (BP) regulation via sexual dimorphic expression of FGFRs in the nodose (NG) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) were not elucidated in physiological and genomic form of hypertension.