Fibroblast Activation Protein Activates Macrophages and Promotes Parenchymal Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis.

Background & Aims: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is expressed on activated fibroblast. Its role in fibrosis and desmoplasia is controversial, and data on pharmacological FAP inhibition are lacking. We aimed to better define the role of FAP in liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro.

Low deceleration capacity is associated with higher stroke risk in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Deceleration capacity (DC) is a non-invasive marker for cardiac autonomic dysfunction; however, few studies have shown that the influence factors of cardiac autonomic dysfunction and the correlations between DC and stroke risk in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to explore the influencing factors of abnormal DC and the relationships between DC and stroke risk in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Methods: The study included hospitalized paroxysmal AF patients with DC measurements derived from 24-h Holter electrocardiography recordings taken between August 2015 and June 2016.

Preparative expression and purification of a nacreous protein N16 and testing its effect on osteoporosis rat model.

N16, a nacreous protein isolated from Pinctada martensii, is related to nacreous layer formation. Our previous study indicated that N16 showed dual regulatory effects by inducing osteoblast biomineralization as well as inhibiting osteoclast formation. In order to obtain large quantity of N16 for animal experiment and clinical trial, a fermentation and preparative purification method was established.

N16, a Nacreous Protein, Inhibits Osteoclast Differentiation and Enhances Osteogenesis.

N16 is a protein from the nacreous layer of Pinctada fucata, a pearl oyster. It has been found to promote biomineralization, and we hypothesized that it also plays a role in bone metabolism. The cDNA of N16 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli to produce N16 protein, which was purified to high homogeneity by ion-exchange and gel filtration columns.