Causal relationship between atrial fibrillation and stroke risk: a Mendelian randomization.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and the risk of Stroke using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods: A two-sample MR analysis was conducted using publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics data. In this analysis, genetic variants associated with AF were used as instrumental variables to estimate the causal effect.

CircHOMER1 aggravates oxidative stress, inflammation and extracellular matrix deposition in high glucose-induced human mesangial cells.

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important regulatory role in human diseases, including diabetic nephropathy (DN). The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of circHOMER1 action in DN.

Methods: Human mesangial cells (HMCs) were tested with high glucose (HG) to mimic DN cell models.

Danshao Shugan Granule therapy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Danshao Shugan Granules (DSSG), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is given to protect the liver. The objective is to evaluate the mechanisms of the effects of DSSG on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: 260 patients with NAFLD were randomly allocated to positive control drugs rosiglitazone (n = 30) and Silibinin (n = 50) as well as DSSG (n = 130) and combined DSSG/Silibinin (n = 50) groups, from which 90 patients in the DSSG group were further subdivided into 3 groups (n = 30, each) depending on the severity of symptoms.

Liuwei Dihuang Pill Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy by Inhibiting Renal Fibrosis via TGF-/Smad2/3 Pathway.

Among all the complications of diabetes, diabetic nephropathy is a significant factor causing the end-stage renal disease associated with high death rates. Current treatment fails to produce an ideal outcome. Thus, searching for a new preventive drug is urgently needed.

Efficacy and Safety of Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla) in Women With Blood Deficient Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

L [Equidae; Asini Corii Colla] (donkey-hide gelatin, Ejiao), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to nourish the blood, especially for women. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Ejiao in blood-deficient patients. A total of 210 participants were recruited and randomly allocated into the placebo control group and Ejiao-treated group (6 g/day).

Effects of Shaoyao-Gancao Decoction on Infarcted Cerebral Cortical Neurons: Suppression of the Inflammatory Response following Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion in a Rat Model.

The mechanisms by which Shaoyao-Gancao decoction (SGD) inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines in serum and brain tissue after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI-RP) in rats were investigated. A right middle cerebral artery occlusion was used to induce CI-RP after which the rats were divided into model (n = 39), SGD (n = 28), clopidogrel (n = 25) and sham operated (n = 34) groups. The Bederson scale was used to evaluate changes in behavioral indices.