Anisotropic Cell Expansion Is Affected through the Bidirectional Mobility of Cellulose Synthase Complexes and Phosphorylation at Two Critical Residues on CESA3.

Here we report that phosphorylation status of S211 and T212 of the CESA3 component of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) cellulose synthase impacts the regulation of anisotropic cell expansion as well as cellulose synthesis and deposition and microtubule-dependent bidirectional mobility of CESA complexes. Mutation of S211 to Ala caused a significant decrease in the length of etiolated hypocotyls and primary roots, while root hairs were not significantly affected. By contrast, the S211E mutation stunted the growth of root hairs, but primary roots were not significantly affected.

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Deficiency in Macrophages Inhibits Neointimal Hyperplasia and Suppresses Macrophage Inflammation Through SGK1-AP1/NF-κB Pathways.

Objective: Restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention remains to be a serious medical problem. Although mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) has been implicated as a potential target for treating restenosis, the cellular and molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. This study aims to explore the functions of macrophage MR in neointimal hyperplasia and to delineate the molecular mechanisms.

Role of Interleukin-1 Signaling in a Mouse Model of Kawasaki Disease-Associated Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Objective: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of acquired cardiac disease in US children. In addition to coronary artery abnormalities and aneurysms, it can be associated with systemic arterial aneurysms. We evaluated the development of systemic arterial dilatation and aneurysms, including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in the Lactobacillus casei cell-wall extract (LCWE)-induced KD vasculitis mouse model.

Unique Expression of Angiotensin Type-2 Receptor in Sex-Specific Distribution of Myelinated Ah-Type Baroreceptor Neuron Contributing to Sex-Dimorphic Neurocontrol of Circulation.

This study aims to understand the special expression patterns of angiotensin-II receptor (AT1R and AT2R) in nodose ganglia and nucleus of tractus solitary of baroreflex afferent pathway and their contribution in sex difference of neurocontrol of blood pressure regulation. In this regard, action potentials were recorded in baroreceptor neurons (BRNs) using whole-cell patch techniques; mRNA and protein expression of AT1R and AT2R in nodose ganglia and nucleus of tractus solitary were evaluated using real time-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry at both tissue and single-cell levels. The in vivo effects of 17β-estradiol on blood pressure and AT2R expression were also tested.

The Differential Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and BDNF among Bipolar Spectrum Disorders.

Objective: Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation and neurodegeneration underlies bipolar disorder. To investigate biological markers of cytokines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor between bipolar I, bipolar II, and other specified bipolar disorder with short duration hypomania may support the association with inflammatory dysregulation and bipolar disorder and, more specifically, provide evidence for other specified bipolar disorder with short duration hypomania patients were similar to bipolar II disorder patients from a biological marker perspective.

Methods: We enrolled patients with bipolar I disorder (n=234), bipolar II disorder (n=260), other specified bipolar disorder with short duration hypomania (n=243), and healthy controls (n=140).

Catheter Ablation of Nonparoxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Using Electrophysiologically Guided Substrate Modification During Sinus Rhythm After Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Background: The high incidence of postprocedural atrial tachycardia reduces the absolute arrhythmia-free success rate of extensive ablation strategies to treat nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (NPAF). We hypothesized that a strategy of targeting low-voltage zones and sites with abnormal electrograms during sinus rhythm (SR-AEs) in the left atrium after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation and cavotricuspid isthmus ablation in patients with NPAF is superior.

Methods And Results: A total of 86 consecutive patients with NPAF were enrolled in study group.

A Large-Scale Investigation of Hypoxia-Preconditioned Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Myocardial Repair in Nonhuman Primates: Paracrine Activity Without Remuscularization.

Rationale: The effectiveness of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cardiac repair has been limited; thus, strategies for optimizing stem-cell-based myocardial therapy are needed.

Objective: The present study was designed to test our central hypothesis that hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs (HP-MSCs) are more effective than MSCs cultured under ambient oxygen levels for the treatment of myocardial injury in a large-scale (N=49), long-term (9 months), nonhuman primate (Cynomolgous monkeys) investigation.

Methods And Results: MSCs were engineered to express green fluorescent protein, cultured under ambient oxygen or 0.

Bone Morphogenic Protein 4-Smad-Induced Upregulation of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor AA Impairs Endothelial Function.

Objective: Bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) is an important mediator of endothelial dysfunction in cardio-metabolic diseases, whereas platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are major angiogenic and proinflammatory mediator, although the functional link between these 2 factors is unknown. The present study investigated whether PDGF mediates BMP4-induced endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.

Approach And Results: We generated Ad-Bmp4 to overexpress Bmp4 and Ad-Pdgfa-shRNA to knockdown Pdgfa in mice through tail intravenous injection.

Smad4 Deficiency in Smooth Muscle Cells Initiates the Formation of Aortic Aneurysm.

Rationale: Aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening cardiovascular disorder caused by the predisposition for dissection and rupture. Genetic studies have proved the involvement of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway in aortic aneurysm. Smad4 is the central mediator of the canonical TGF-β signaling pathway.

Risks of Death and Stroke in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis With New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation: A Competing-Risk Analysis of a Nationwide Cohort.

Background: Whether oral anticoagulant use should be considered in patients undergoing hemodialysis with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains controversial because of the uncertainty regarding risk-benefit assessments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of ischemic stroke in patients undergoing hemodialysis with new-onset AF, in comparison with those without arrhythmia.

Methods And Results: This nationwide, population-based, propensity score-matched cohort study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database during 1998 to 2011 for patients on hemodialysis with new-onset nonvalvular AF and matched subjects without arrhythmia.

Repolarization Alternans and Ventricular Arrhythmia in a Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot Animal Model.

Background: Ventricular arrhythmia is an important cause of late death in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). By using an rTOF canine model, we investigated the role of repolarization alternans and its electrophysiological mechanisms.

Methods And Results: Six dogs received right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) transannular patch, pulmonary valve destruction, and right bundle branch ablation to simulate rTOF.

Critical Roles of STAT3 in β-Adrenergic Functions in the Heart.

Background: β-Adrenergic receptors (βARs) play paradoxical roles in the heart. On one hand, βARs augment cardiac performance to fulfill the physiological demands, but on the other hand, prolonged activations of βARs exert deleterious effects that result in heart failure. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a dynamic role in integrating multiple cytokine signaling pathways in a number of tissues.

Structural Basis of Reversible Phosphorylation by Maize Pyruvate Orthophosphate Dikinase Regulatory Protein.

Pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) is one of the most important enzymes in C4 photosynthesis. PPDK regulatory protein (PDRP) regulates the inorganic phosphate-dependent activation and ADP-dependent inactivation of PPDK by reversible phosphorylation. PDRP shares no significant sequence similarity with other protein kinases or phosphatases.

Cynomolgus Monkey as a Clinically Relevant Model to Study Transport Involving Renal Organic Cation Transporters: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation.

Organic cation transporter (OCT) 2, multidrug and toxin extrusion protein (MATE) 1, and MATE2K mediate the renal secretion of various cationic drugs and can serve as the loci of drug-drug interactions (DDI). To support the evaluation of cynomolgus monkey as a surrogate model for studying human organic cation transporters, monkey genes were cloned and shown to have a high degree of amino acid sequence identity versus their human counterparts (93.7, 94.

Regulator of G-Protein Signaling 10 Negatively Regulates Cardiac Remodeling by Blocking Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase 1/2 Signaling.

Regulator of G-protein signaling 10 (RGS10) is an important member of the RGS family and produces biological effects in multiple organs. We used a genetic approach to study the role of RGS10 in the regulation of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and found that RGS10 can negatively influence pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling. RGS10 expression was markedly decreased in failing human hearts and hypertrophic murine hearts.

How much esophageal pressure-guided end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure is sufficient to maintain lung recruitment in lavage-induced lung injury?

Background: Because of limitations of the esophageal balloon technique, the value of using esophageal pressure (Pes)-guided end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure (PL-exp) to maintain lung recruitment in adult respiratory distress syndrome is controversial. This study aimed to investigate whether tailoring PL-exp to greater than 0 was enough to maintain lung recruitment.

Methods: Ten pigs with severe lavage-induced lung injury were mechanically ventilated in a decremental positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) trial that was reduced from 20 to 6 cm H2O after full-lung recruitment.

IL-1 Signaling Is Critically Required in Stromal Cells in Kawasaki Disease Vasculitis Mouse Model: Role of Both IL-1α and IL-1β.

Objective: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of acute vasculitis and acquired cardiac disease among US children. We have previously shown that both TLR2/MyD88 and interleukin (IL)-1β signaling are required for the Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract-induced KD vasculitis mouse model. The objectives of this study were to investigate the cellular origins of IL-1 production, the role of CD11c(+) dendritic cells and macrophages, and the relative contribution of hematopoietic and stromal cells for IL-1 responsive cells, as well the MyD88 signaling, in Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract-induced KD mouse model of vasculitis.

Early Administration of Carvedilol Protected against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

This study tested for the benefits of early administration of carvedilol as protection against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy. Thirty male, adult B6 mice were categorized into group 1 (untreated control), group 2 [DOX treatment (15 mg/every other day for 2 weeks, i.p.

Is Exposure to Famine in Childhood and Economic Development in Adulthood Associated With Diabetes?

Context: The Chinese were afflicted by great famine between 1959 and 1962. These people then experienced rapid economic development during which the gross domestic product per capita increased from $28 in 1978 to $6807 in 2013. We hypothesize that these two events are associated with the booming rate of diabetes in China.

BnaC9.SMG7b Functions as a Positive Regulator of the Number of Seeds per Silique in Brassica napus by Regulating the Formation of Functional Female Gametophytes.

Number of seeds per silique (NSS) is an important determinant of seed yield potential in Brassicaceae crops, and it is controlled by naturally occurring quantitative trait loci. We previously mapped a major quantitative trait locus, qSS.C9, on the C9 chromosome that controls NSS in Brassica napus.

Aldosterone Impairs Vascular Smooth Muscle Function: From Clinical to Bench Research.

Context: The effect of aldosterone on vascular smooth muscle cell function is still unclear. One method to measure vascular smooth muscle cell function is endothelial-independent vascular dilation, for which the key factor is sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA).

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the effect of aldosterone on vascular smooth muscle cell function and SERCA regulation.

Catheter Ablation of Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardia: Long-Term Clinical Outcomes and Mechanisms of Recurrence.

Background: Fascicular ventricular tachycardia (FVT) is a common form of sustained idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia with an Asian preponderance. This study aimed to prospectively investigate long-term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing ablation of FVT and identify predictors of arrhythmia recurrence.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients undergoing FVT ablation at a single tertiary center were enrolled.

Influence of Amyloid-β on Cognitive Decline After Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack: Three-Year Longitudinal Study.

Background And Purpose: We hypothesized that comorbid amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition played a key role in long-term cognitive decline in subjects with stroke/transient ischemic attack.

Methods: We recruited 72 subjects with cognitive impairment after stroke/transient ischemic attack to receive Carbon-11-labeled Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography. We excluded subjects with known clinical Alzheimer's disease.

Internal Carotid Artery Hypoplasia: Role of Color-Coded Carotid Duplex Sonography.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of color-coded carotid duplex sonography for diagnosis of internal carotid artery hypoplasia.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 25,000 color-coded carotid duplex sonograms in our neurosonographic database to establish more diagnostic criteria for internal carotid artery hypoplasia.

Results: A definitive diagnosis of internal carotid artery hypoplasia was made in 9 patients.