Empagliflozin ameliorates cardiac dysfunction in heart failure mice via regulating mitochondrial dynamics.

Empagliflozin has cardioprotective effects in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the mechanism by which empagliflozin protects against HF remains controversial. Study aimed to evaluate the effect of empagliflozin on myocardial fibrosis and cardiac function in HF mice and its possible mechanism.

Trimethylamine N-oxide facilitates the progression of atrial fibrillation in rats with type 2 diabetes by aggravating cardiac inflammation and connexin remodeling.

Diabetes is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to elucidate the pathophysiology of diabetes-related AF from the perspective of the gut microbial metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). In the present study, male rats received either a normal diet to serve as the control group or a high-fat diet/streptozotocin to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Hsa_circ_0016070/micro-340-5p Axis Accelerates Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Progression by Upregulating TWIST1 Transcription Via TCF4/β-Catenin Complex.

Background Hypoxia is considered a major leading cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH). In this study, the roles and molecular mechanism of circ_0016070 in PH were studied. Methods and Results The expression of circ_0016070 in serum samples, human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and hypoxia/monocrotaline-treated rats was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

The MFF-SIRT1/3 axis, regulated by miR-340-5p, restores mitochondrial homeostasis of hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

Mitochondrial dynamics and quality control play a central role in the maintenance of the proliferation-apoptosis balance, which is closely related to the progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the exact mechanism of this balance remains unknown. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were cultured in hypoxia condition for constructing a PAH model in vitro.

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase in dorsal raphe nucleus mediates PTSD-like behaviors induced by single-prolonged stress through inhibiting serotonergic neurons activity.

The pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains largely unclear. A large body of evidence suggests that the abnormal level of serotonin (5-HT) is closely related to the onset of PTSD. Several reports reveal that nitric oxide (NO) affects extracellular 5-HT levels in various brain regions, but no consistent direction of change was found and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Renal denervation ameliorates cardiac metabolic remodeling in diabetic cardiomyopathy rats by suppressing renal SGLT2 expression.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of renal denervation (RDN) on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and explore the related mechanisms. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed high-fat chow and injected with low-dose streptozotocin to establish a DCM model. Six rats served as controls.

Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction Exacerbates Neuroinflammation via the TLR4 Pathway in Mice With Heart Failure.

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate alterations in neuroinflammation after heart failure (HF) and explore the potential mechanisms.

Methods: Male wild-type (WT) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-knockout (KO) mice were subjected to sham operation or ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery to induce HF. 8 weeks later, cardiac functions were analyzed by echocardiography, and intestinal barrier functions were examined by measuring tight junction protein expression, intestinal permeability and plasma metabolite levels.

Renal Denervation Attenuates Neuroinflammation in the Brain by Regulating Gut-Brain Axis in Rats With Myocardial Infarction.

The development of neuroinflammation deteriorates the prognosis of myocardial infarction (MI). We aimed to investigate the effect of renal denervation (RDN) on post-MI neuroinflammation in rats and the related mechanisms. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sham or ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery to induce MI.

Depletion of Survivin suppresses docetaxel-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells by facilitating mitotic slippage.

The anticancer effects of taxanes are attributed to the induction of mitotic arrest through activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint. Cell death following extended mitotic arrest is mediated by the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Accordingly, factors that influence the robustness of mitotic arrest or disrupt the apoptotic machinery confer drug resistance.

Effects of Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitors on Inducibility of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Rats with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNi) on the susceptibility of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in rats with myocardial infarction (MI) and to explore the related mechanisms.A total of 32 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: a control group, MI group, and MI+ARNi group. MI was generated by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery.

Renal denervation ameliorates post-infarction cardiac remodeling in rats through dual regulation of oxidative stress in the heart and brain.

Background: Myocardial remodeling is the key step in the development of ischemic cardiomyopathy. We aimed to compare effects of renal denervation (RDN) with those of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNi) on cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI), and explore underlying mechanism.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40; male) were subjected to ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery to induce MI; six rats served as controls.

Renal denervation attenuates pressure overload-induced cardiac remodelling in rats with biphasic regulation of autophagy.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate effects of renal denervation (RDN) on pressure overload-induced cardiac remodelling in rats and the related mechanisms.

Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent transverse aortic constriction (TAC) to generate cardiac remodelling. RDN was performed 1 week after TAC.

[Prevalence of human papilloma virus infection and its risk factors in some rural areas of Jiangsu, China].

Objective: To investigate human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in the male genital tract and its risk factors in some rural areas of Jiangsu Province.

Methods: This study included 398 men from six rural areas in Jiangsu Province, whose female partners, based on the results of cervical cytological examination, were divided into a normal (n = 104), a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade Ⅰ (CIN-Ⅰ, n = 100), a CIN-Ⅱ (n = 95), and a CIN-Ⅲ group (n = 99). We examined the male subjects for genital warts and other lesions, collected urethral swab samples for HPV detection, and obtained their sociodemographic data by questionnaire investigation.

Using Electrical Stimulation to Enhance the Efficacy of Cell Transplantation Therapies for Neurodegenerative Retinal Diseases: Concepts, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.

Disease or trauma-induced loss or dysfunction of neurons in any central nervous system (CNS) tissue will have a significant impact on the health of the affected patient. The retina is a multilayered tissue that originates from the neuroectoderm, much like the brain and spinal cord. While sight is not required for life, neurodegeneration-related loss of vision not only affects the quality of life for the patient but also has societal implications in terms of health care expenditure.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Stabilize Atherosclerotic Vulnerable Plaque by Anti-Inflammatory Properties.

Background And Objectives: Formation and progression of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque (VP) is the primary cause of many cardio-cerebrovascular diseases such as acute coronary syndrome and stroke. It has been reported that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) exhibit protective effects against many kinds of diseases including myocardial infarction. Here, we examined the effects of intravenous MSC infusion on a VP model and provide novel evidence of its influence as a therapy in this animal disease model.

Spliced XBP1 promotes macrophage survival and autophagy by interacting with Beclin-1.

Macrophage autophagy plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis, but the precise mechanism mediating this process is unclear. The potential role of the X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), a crucial transduction factor that is involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response, in bone marrow-derived macrophage autophagy is unknown. This study mainly explores the roles of XBP1 mRNA splicing in bone marrow-derived macrophage autophagy.

A Meta-analysis of Central Corneal Thickness Changes With Overnight Orthokeratology.

Objectives: To assess the change of central corneal thickness (CCT) in the treatment of orthokeratology in patients with myopia.

Methods: A systematic search of all relevant studies published through April 2014 was conducted, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of CCT change were calculated. Random or fixed-effects models were used according to heterogeneity.

[Protective effect of thymosin β4 against oxidative damage in cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells].

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) against oxidative damage in rabbit corneal epithelial cells in vitro.

Methods: Experimental study. Primary cultures of rabbit corneal epithelial cells were isolated and cultured from cornea tissue explants.

Prognostic value of ultra-sensitive pregnancy associated plasma protein-A in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of ultra-sensitive pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) level in the early phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) attack.

Methods: Patients diagnosed as ACS were enrolled and the level of circulatory PAPP-A was measured within 12 hours after ACS attack. The patients were followed at the time of 1st, 6th, and 12th months post-ACS attack in order to observe the incidence of the cardiovascular adverse events.

Developing a novel rabbit model of atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombosis by cold-induced endothelial injury.

Background: It is widely believed that atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent thrombosis leads to acute coronary events and stroke. However, study of the mechanism and treatment of human plaque rupture is hampered by lack of a suitable animal model. Our aim was to develop a novel animal model of atherosclerotic plaque rupture to facilitate the study of human plaque disruption and thrombosis.

[Effect of angiotensin II on pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and insulin-like growth factor 1 gene expression in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To study the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) mRNA expressions in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUVSMCs).

Methods: In the presence or absence of Ox-LDL, HUVSMCs were cultured with Ang II of 10(-5) mol/L for 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h, or with Ang II at the concentrations of 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5), and 10(-4) mol/L for 24 h, after which the cells were then collected to detect PAPP-A and IGF-1 mRNA expressions in the cells using RT-PCR.

Results: At the concentration of 10(-5) mol/L, Ang II showed a time-dependent effect in inducing PAPP-A and IGF-1 mRNA expressions, which began to increase at 12 h of culture and reaching the highest level at 24 h.

[Cigarette smoking and Parkinson's disease: a population based case-control study].

Objective: To explore the association with cigarette smoking for Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: One hundred and fourteen PD cases and 205 controls matched on gender and race were recruited from ongoing PD prevalence survey and identified at the neurological clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Face to face questionnaire interview was carried out and data on smoking and alcohol consumption were analyzed in a population-based case control study.