The causal relationship between metabolic syndrome and its components and cardiovascular disease: A mendelian randomization study.

Aim: To investigate the causal relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components and 14 cardiovascular diseases using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods: We used summary statistics from large-scale genome-wide association studies of MetS, its components, and cardiovascular diseases. We performed a two-sample MR analysis using the inverse-variance weighted method and other sensitivity methods.

MicroRNA-338-3p as a therapeutic target in cardiac fibrosis through FGFR2 suppression.

Background: The development of cardiac fibrosis involves the activation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and their differentiation into myofibroblasts, which leads to the disruption of the extracellular matrix network. In the past few years, microRNAs (miRNA) have been described as potential targets for treating cardiac diseases. Although miR-338-3p has been shown to participate in the development of carcinoma, whether it affects cardiac fibrosis is unclear.

The Prognostic Significance of Chronic Kidney Disease on the All-Cause Death of Ischemic Heart Failure in the Chinese Population: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Our team tried to explore the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on all-cause death among ischemic heart failure (IHF) patients.

Methods: From December 2015 to June 2019, IHF patients were continuously recruited in the Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital. Participants were tracked through telephone interviews until October 15, 2020, or until the clinical endpoints appeared.

Recent Applications of Pillar[]arene-Based Host-Guest Recognition in Chemosensing and Imaging.

Pillar[]arene is a novel kind of synthetic supramolecular macrocyclic host characterized by its particular pillar-shaped structure consisting of an electron-rich cavity and two finely adjustable rims. Benefiting from its rigid structure, facile synthesis, ease of functionalization, and outstanding host-guest chemistry, pillar[]arene shows great potential for diverse applications. Significantly, the host-guest recognition of pillar[]arene provides a novel approach for chemosensing and imaging.

The association of lipoprotein(a) and intraplaque neovascularization in patients with carotid stenosis: a retrospective study.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) is genetically determined and increasingly recognized as a major risk factor for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We examined whether plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations were associated with intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) grade in patients with carotid stenosis and in terms of increasing plaque susceptibility to haemorrhage and rupture.

Methods: We included 85 patients diagnosed with carotid stenosis as confirmed using carotid ultrasound who were treated at Guangdong General Hospital.

Thiol-Rich Multifunctional Macromolecular Crosslinker for Gelatin-Norbornene-Based Bioprinting.

Extrusion-based bioprinting is an emerging and most frequently used technique for the fabrication of cell-laden constructs. A suitable hydrogel-based bioink for cell encapsulation and protection is critical for printability, structural stability, and post-printing cell viability. The thiol-ene chemistry-based gelatin-norbornene (GelNB) hydrogels have drawn much attention as a promising substitution of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), owing to the fast and controllable step-growth polymerization mechanism, as well as a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation.

Genetic analysis using targeted next-generation sequencing of sporadic Chinese patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Inherited dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) contributes to approximately 25% of idiopathic DCM cases, and the proportion is even higher in familial DCM patients. Most studies have focused on familial DCM, whereas the genetic profile of sporadic DCM in Chinese patients remains unknown.

Methods: Between June 2018 and September 2019, 24 patients diagnosed with idiopathic DCM without a family history were included in the present study.

Association of anaemia and all-cause mortality in patients with ischaemic heart failure varies by renal function status.

Aims: The aims of the current study were to evaluate the association between anaemia and all-cause mortality according to chronic kidney disease (CKD) status and to explore at what level of haemoglobin concentration would the all-cause mortality risk increase prominently among CKD and non-CKD patients, respectively.

Methods And Results: This is a prospective cohort study, and 1559 patients with ischaemic heart failure (IHF) were included (mean age of 63.5 ± 11.

Mechanically strengthened hybrid peptide-polyester hydrogel and potential applications in spinal cord injury repair.

ADA16 peptide hydrogels have been broadly used in tissue engineering due to their good biocompatibility and nanofibrous structure mimicking the native extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the low mechanical strength often fails them as implantable scaffolds. To improve the mechanical stability of the RADA16 peptide hydrogel, a photocrosslinkable diacrylated poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ϵ-caprolactone) triblock copolymer (PCECDA) was physically combined with RADA16 peptide pre-modified with cell adhesive Arg-Gly-Asp sequence (RADA16-RGD).