Serum irisin level is higher in peritoneal dialysis than in hemodialysis.

Background: Previous studies have proved that irisin is related to the development of chronic kidney disease. In this study, we aimed to compare serum irisin level in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD).

Methods: Two hundred and fifty-two dialysis patients (146 PD patients and 106 HD patients) were included in the study.

Irisin alleviates vascular calcification by inhibiting VSMC osteoblastic transformation and mitochondria dysfunction via AMPK/Drp1 signaling pathway in chronic kidney disease.

Background And Aims: Vascular calcification (VC) is an intricate active process, significantly controlled by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in VC and VSMCs osteoblastic transformation. We previously reported that decreased levels of Irisin were independently associated with VC in hemodialysis patients.

Expression of urotensin II is positively correlated with pyroptosis-related molecules in patients with severe preeclampsia.

: We studied the expression of urotensin II (UII) and its relationships with markers of pyroptosis in preeclampsia. : 48 pregnant subjects were recruited consisting of 28 severe preeclampsia pregnancies (SPE) and 20 healthy pregnancies. We detected expressions of UII and markers of pyroptosis such as NLR-family pyrin domain (PYD)-containing 3 (NLRP-3), caspase-1/4/5, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in placentas of patients with SPE and healthy pregnancies.

Urotensin II Induces Mice Skeletal Muscle Atrophy Associated with Enhanced Autophagy and Inhibited Irisin Precursor (Fibronectin Type III Domain Containing 5) Expression in Chronic Renal Failure.

Background/aims: Skeletal muscle atrophy is one of the main manifestations of protein energy wasting. We hypothesized that urotensin II (UII) can lead to skeletal muscle atrophy through upregulating autophagy and affecting Irisin precursor fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) expressions.

Methods: Three animal models (the sham operation, wild-type C57BL/6 mice with 5/6 nephrectomy, UII receptor (UT) gene knockout (UTKO) mice with 5/6 nephrectomy) were designed.

The Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Cardiomyopathy: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Introduction: The efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cardiomyopathy remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of MSCs versus placebo on the treatment efficacy of cardiomyopathy.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases through November 2018 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the treatment efficacy of MSCs versus placebo for cardiomyopathy.

Expression of urotensin II is associated with placental autophagy in patients with severe preeclampsia.

The aims of this study are to explore the correlation between the expressions of urotensin II (UII) and autophagic markers (LC3 and P62) in patients with severe preeclampsia (SPE). A total of 64 pregnant subjects were recruited, including 29 healthy pregnancies and 35 preeclamptic patients (7 mild preeclamptic (MPE) patients and 28 SPE patients). UII and autophagic markers expression in placenta specimens was investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC), RT-qPCR, and western blot.