Characteristics of the gut microbiome and metabolic profile in elderly patients with sarcopenia.

There is growing evidence of research indicating that the gut microbiota is involved in the development of sarcopenia. Nevertheless, there exists a notable deficiency in comprehension concerning the connection between irregularities in the intestinal microbiome and metabolic processes in older individuals suffering from sarcopenia. To analyze fecal samples obtained from a cohort of 30 older patients diagnosed with sarcopenia as well as 30 older patients without sarcopenia, this study employed 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based non-targeted metabolomics profiling techniques.

PvuII (rs2234693 T>C) polymorphism and cancer susceptibility: Evidence from 80 studies.

Emerging epidemiological researches have been performed to assess the association of PvuII (rs2234693 T>C) polymorphism with the risk of cancer, yet with conflicting conclusions. Therefore, this updated meta-analysis was performed to make a more accurate evaluation of such relationship. We adopted EMBASE, PubMed, CNKI, and WANFANG database to search relevant literature before January 2018.

Calcium Signal Pathway is Involved in Prostaglandin E2 Induced Cardiac Fibrosis in Cardiac Fibroblasts.

Unlabelled: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), one of the arachidonic acid metabolites synthetized from arachidonic acid through cyclooxygenase (COX) catalysis, demonstrates multiple physiological and pathological actions through different subtypes of EP receptors.

Purpose: The present study was designed to explore the effects of PGE2 on cardiac fibrosis and the involved mechanism.

Methods: We used western blot analysis, real-time quantitative PCR and immunostaining etc.

Store-Operated Ca Entry (SOCE) contributes to angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibrosis in cardiac fibroblasts.

Store-operated Ca entry (SOCE) is an important mechanism of extracellular Ca entry into cells. It has been proved that SOCE is involved in many pathologic and physiological processes. Two key participants of SOCE, stromal interaction molecule1 (STIM1) and Orai1, have been identified.

NMNAT3 is involved in the protective effect of SIRT3 in Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a maladaptive response in a variety of organic heart disease (OHD), which is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction that results from disturbed energy metabolism. SIRT3, a mitochondria-localized sirtuin, regulates global mitochondrial lysine acetylation and preserves mitochondrial function. However, the mechanisms by which SIRT3 regulates cardiac hypertrophy remains to be further elucidated.

SLC41A1 knockdown inhibits angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibrosis by preventing Mg(2+) efflux and Ca(2+) signaling in cardiac fibroblasts.

Na(+)/Mg(2+) exchanger plays an important role in cardiovascular system, but the molecular mechanisms still largely remain unknown. The Solute Carrier family 41A1 (SLC41A1), a novel Mg(2+) transporter, recently was found to function as Na(+)/Mg(2+) exchanger, which mainly regulates the intracellular Mg(2+) ([Mg(2+)]i) homeostasis. Our present studies were designed to investigate whether SLC41A1 impacts on the fibrogenesis of cardiac fibroblasts under Ang II stimulation.

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) contributes to H2O2-induced cardiac fibrosis via mediating Ca(2+) influx and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation in cardiac fibroblasts.

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7), a Ca(2+)-nonselective cation channel, plays a key role in the pathophysiological response of multiple cell types. However, the role of TRPM7 channels in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cardiac fibrosis remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether TRPM7 channels are involved in H2O2-induced cardiac fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms.

Cryptotanshinone attenuates cardiac fibrosis via downregulation of COX-2, NOX-2, and NOX-4.

Cryptotanshinone (CTS), a bioactive constituent extracted from a Chinese traditional herb Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), demonstrates multiple protective effects against cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to explore the effects of CTS in vitro by cultured adult rat cardiac fibroblasts stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang II) and in vivo by rats with acute myocardial infarction. Our data showed that in cardiac fibroblasts, CTS attenuated Ang II-induced upregulation of fibronectin, connective tissue growth factor, cyclooxygenase-2, and normalized Ang II-induced upregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2).

Salvianolic acid B protects cardiomyocytes from angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy via inhibition of PARP-1.

Salvianolic acid B (SalB), one of the major bioactive components in Salviamiltiorrhiza, has plenty of cardioprotective effects. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of SalB on angiotensin II (AngII)-induced hypertrophy in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and to find out whether or not this effect is attributed to inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), which plays a key role in cardiac hypertrophy. Our results showed that SalB prevented the cardiomyocytes from AngII-induced hypertrophy, associated with attenuation of the mRNA expressions of atrial natriuretic factor and brain natriuretic peptide, and reduction in the cell surface area.

Inhibitory effect of ethyl acetate extract of Aristolochia yunnanensis on cardiac fibrosis through extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 and transforming growth factor β/small mother against decapentaplegic signaling pathways.

Aristolochia yunnanensis, known as Nan Mu Xiang in traditional Chinese medicine, has long been used to treat hypertension and chest pain. In this study, the effect of ethyl acetate extract of Nan Mu Xiang (NMX) on cardiac fibrosis was assessed in vitro by cultured adult rat cardiac fibroblasts with angiotensin II (AngII) stimulation, and in vivo by rats with abdominal aorta constriction (AAC). In cultured adult rat cardiac fibroblasts stimulated by AngII, NMX inhibited cardiac fibroblast proliferation, reduced the expression of fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in a dose-dependent manner; and suppressed AngII-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, C- rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (C-Raf), and small mother against decapentaplegic (Smad) 2.

(E)-1-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one suppresses LPS-induced inflammatory response through inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Flavonoids are a class of compounds that exist in nature with the structure of 2-phenyl-chromone. In Chinese traditional medicine, herbal drugs containing flavonoids are widely used for the treatment of inflammation, cardiovascular disease, tumor and so on. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect and related mechanisms of a novel synthetic flavonoid, (E)-1-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one (ETH) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated macrophages.

Biomimetic mineralization of calcium carbonate/carboxymethylcellulose microspheres for lysozyme immobilization.

Porous calcium carbonate/carboxymethylcellulose (CaCO/CMC) microspheres were prepared by the biomimetic mineralization method for lysozyme immobilization via adsorption. The size and morphology of CaCO/CMC microspheres were characterized by transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential measurement. The lysozyme immobilization was verified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.