Assessing the causal role of the structural connectome in temporomandibular disorders: A Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: We examined the relationships between the structural connectome and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).

Methods: Bidirectional Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted using Genome-wide association studies data on the structural connectome and TMDs.

Results: Positive associations with TMD risk were found for white matter structural connectivity from the left hemisphere limbic network to putamen, left hemisphere salience_ventral attention network to caudate, right hemisphere visual network to thalamus, and right hemisphere salience_ventral attention network to right hemisphere control network, while negative associations were observed for connectivity from the left hemisphere control and somatomotor networks to pallidum, left hemisphere somatomotor network to right hemisphere dorsal attention network, and right hemisphere somatomotor network to hippocampus (< 0.

Cancer-secreted exosomal miR-21-5p induces angiogenesis and vascular permeability by targeting KRIT1.

Cancer-secreted exosomes are critical mediators of cancer-host crosstalk. In the present study, we showed the delivery of miR-21-5p from colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to endothelial cells via exosomes increased the amount of miR-21-5p in recipient cells. MiR-21-5p suppressed Krev interaction trapped protein 1 (KRIT1) in recipient HUVECs and subsequently activated β-catenin signaling pathway and increased their downstream targets VEGFa and Ccnd1, which consequently promoted angiogenesis and vascular permeability in CRC.

Ginsenoside metabolite 20(S)‑protopanaxadiol promotes neural stem cell transition from a state of proliferation to differentiation by inducing autophagy and cell cycle arrest.

20(S)‑Protopanaxadiol (PPD) is an active ginseng metabolite and is the final form of protopanaxadiol saponins metabolized by human intestinal microflora. The neuroprotective effects and mechanisms underlying PPD on neural stem cells (NSCs) are not completely understood. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of PPD on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells.

The anti-angiogenic effect and novel mechanisms of action of Combretastatin A-4.

Combretastatin A-4 (CA4) is the lead compound of a relatively new class of vascular disrupting agents that target existing tumor blood vessels. Recent studies showed the CA4 might inhibit angiogenesis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which CA4 exerts its anti-angiogenic effects are not fully understood.

ZLM-7 exhibits anti-angiogenic effects via impaired endothelial cell function and blockade of VEGF/VEGFR-2 signaling.

Inhibition of angiogenesis is a promising therapeutic strategy against cancer. In this study, we reported that ZLM-7, a combretastain A-4 (CA-4) derivative, exhibited anti-angiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, ZLM-7 induced microtubule cytoskeletal disassembly.