Prodrug-Loaded Zirconium Carbide Nanosheets as a Novel Biophotonic Nanoplatform for Effective Treatment of Cancer.

Conventional chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) face many major challenges, including systemic toxicity, low bioavailability, ineffective tissue penetration, chemotherapy/hyperthermia-induced inflammation, and tumor angiogenesis. A versatile nanomedicine offers an exciting opportunity to circumvent the abovementioned limitations for their successful translation into clinical practice. Here, a promising biophotonic nanoplatform is developed based on the zirconium carbide (ZrC) nanosheet as a deep PTT-photosensitizer and on-demand designed anticancer prodrug SN38-Nif, which is released and activated by photothermia and tumor-overexpressed esterase.

Activation of the CaR-CSE/H2S pathway confers cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a multifactorial process triggered when an organ is subjected to transiently reduced blood supply. The result is a cascade of pathological complications and organ damage due to the production of reactive oxygen species following reperfusion. The present study aims to evaluate the role of activated calcium-sensing receptor (CaR)-cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE)/hydrogen sulfide (H2S) pathway in I/R injury.

99-Case Study of Sporadic Aortic Dissection by Whole Exome Sequencing Indicated Novel Disease-Associated Genes and Variants in Chinese Population.

Background: In this study, the whole exome sequencing in human aortic dissection, a highly lethal cardiovascular disease, was investigated to explore the aortic dissection-associated genes and variants in Chinese population.

Methods: Whole exome sequencing was performed in 99 cases of aortic dissection. All single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions/deletions (InDels), and copy number variations (CNVs) were filtered to exclude the benign variants.

Notch pathway activation mediated the senescence of endothelial progenitor cells in hypercholesterolemic mice.

Hyperlipidemia is an important factor in the induction of cardiovascular diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the vascular injury involved in hyperlipidemia remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the Notch pathway of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in reendothelialization after vascular injury and to explore the involvement of Notch pathway in the senescence of EPCs.

Involvement of Spike Protein, Furin, and ACE2 in SARS-CoV-2-Related Cardiovascular Complications.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 has a similar structure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-1(SARS-CoV-1). The S protein on the surface of the virus is cleaved by host proprotein convertases (PCs) to expose the active N-terminal S1 extracellular domain.

Berberine Attenuates Arterial Plaque Formation in Atherosclerotic Rats with Damp-Heat Syndrome via Regulating Autophagy.

Purpose: Berberine (BBR) is an effective component of Huanglian and has shown to attenuate atherosclerosis (AS); however, the detailed mechanism of BBR-mediated protective actions against AS remains elusive. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of BBR on aortic atherosclerotic plaque stability and the expression of autophagy-related proteins in AS rats with damp-heat syndrome or yang deficiency.

Methods: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into (1) control (CON); (2) damp-heat syndrome atherosclerosis (AS + DH); (3) yang deficiency syndrome atherosclerosis (AS + YX); (4) damp-heat syndrome atherosclerosis + BBR (AS + DH + BBR); (5) yang deficiency syndrome, atherosclerosis + BBR (AS + YX + BBR); and (6) damp-heat syndrome, atherosclerosis + BBR + 3-methyladenine (AS + DH + BBR + 3-MA) (n = 5/group) groups.

MiR-1247-3p protects rat cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury via targeting BCL2L11 and caspase-2.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents a severe coronary heart disease with relatively high rate of mortality and usually can lead to the damage of the myocardial tissues. Reperfusion of the ischemic myocardial tissues can minimize AMI-induced damage. As far as we know, the molecular mechanisms underlying ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury remains elusive.

Semen Brassicae reduces thoracic aortic remodeling, inflammation, and oxidative damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the role of Semen Brassicae, a common Traditional Chinese Medicine, in the treatment of hypertension.

Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were divided into five groups and were gavaged with either distilled water, water-decocted solution from Semen Brassicae (0.5, 1 or 2 g/kg), or nifedipine (2.

MiR-703 protects against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte injury via inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis.

Myocardial infarction represents one of the severe cardiovascular diseases and is one of the high-risk factors for mortality, and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is one of the risk factors that contribute to the high mortality of myocardial infarction. MicroRNAs have been proven as key regulators in various diseases including myocardial infarction. The present study was sought to determine the role of miR-703 in the myocardial I/R injury and to explore detailed mechanisms.

Hydrogen Sulfide Protects Against High Glucose-Induced Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell Injury Through Activating PI3K/Akt/eNOS Pathway.

Purpose: Dysfunction of endothelial cells plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic atherosclerosis. High glucose (HG) has been found as a key factor in the progression of diabetic complications, including atherosclerosis. PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway has been shown to involve in HG-induced vascular injuries.

Blood Oxygen Accumulation Distribution Area Index Is Associated With Erectile Dysfunction in Patients With Sleep Apnea-Results From a Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked with erectile dysfunction (ED), but the relatively independent polysomnography (PSG) outcomes of apnea and nocturnal hypoxia may not effectively assess the physiological impairment of OSA well.

Aim: To propose a new calculation method, the blood oxygen accumulation distribution area index (BOADAI), for evaluating the association between OSA and ED.

Methods: In this study, 502 male participants with suspected OSA were enrolled.

Systematic analysis of survival-associated alternative splicing signatures in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Alternative splicing (AS) constitutes a major reason for messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein diversity. Increasing studies have shown a link to splicing dysfunction associated with malignant neoplasia. Systematic analysis of AS events in kidney cancer remains poorly reported.

Plasma D-dimer as a predictor of intraluminal thrombus burden and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Aim: Intraluminal thrombus (ILT) is presented in most abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and is suggested to promote AAA expansion. D-dimer, a breakdown product in the thrombus remodeling, may have prognostic value for AAA. This study investigated the interrelation between plasma D-dimer level, ILT volume, AAA size and progression.

A numerical corrosion-fatigue model for biodegradable Mg alloy stents.

Biodegradable magnesium alloys have attracted research interest as matrix materials for next-generation absorbable metallic coronary stents. Subject to cyclic stresses, magnesium alloy stents (MAS) are prone to premature failures caused by corrosion fatigue damage. This work aimed to develop a numerical continuum damage mechanics model, implemented with the finite element method, which can account for the corrosion fatigue of Mg alloys and the applications in coronary stents.

Circ-RHOJ.1 regulated myocardial cell proliferation and apoptosis via targeting the miR-124-3p/NRG-1 axis in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Introduction: Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a leading cause of cardiac dysfunction. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial I/R injury. However, the functions and underlying mechanisms are unclear.

The effect of the *2 allele on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary artery stenting: a prospective study.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of cytochrome P450 2C19*2 (*2) on ischemic and bleeding events in the Chinese Han population.

Material And Methods: Patients after coronary artery stenting were enrolled for genotyping *2. Platelet reactivity 4 weeks after stent implantation was compared between different genotype groups.

β2AR-dependent signaling contributes to in-vivo reendothelialization capacity of endothelial progenitor cells by shear stress.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a crucial role in the endothelial repair after arterial injury. Shear stress has a beneficial effect on modulating EPC functions. The molecular mechanism underlying the influence of EPCs on the endothelial integrity and shear stress effects on EPC regulation remained unclear.

Challenges in the use of zinc and its alloys as biodegradable metals: Perspective from biomechanical compatibility.

To date, more than fifty articles have been published on the feasibility studies of zinc and its alloys as biodegradable metals. These preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies showed acceptable biodegradability and reasonable biocompatibility in bone and blood microenvironments for the experimental Zn-based biodegradable metals and, for some alloy systems, superior mechanical performance over Mg-based biodegradable metals. For instance, the Zn-Li alloys exhibited higher UTS (UTS), and the Zn-Mn alloys exhibited higher elongation (more than 100%).

Gene expression profiling analysis to investigate the role of remote ischemic postconditioning in ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Background: Blood flow restoration is a definitive therapy for salvaging the myocardium following ischemic injury. Nevertheless, the sudden restoration of blood flow to the ischemic myocardium can induce ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI).

Results: Herein, we investigated the cardioprotective effect of remote ischemic postconditioning (RPostC) through our in vivo rat model of myocardial IRI.

Naringin attenuates high glucose-induced injuries and inflammation by modulating the leptin-JAK2/STAT3 pathway in H9c2 cardiac cells.

Introduction: Our previous study showed that naringin (NRG) protects cardiomyocytes against high glucose (HG)-induced injuries by inhibiting p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Leptin induces hypertrophy in rat cardiomyocytes via p38/MAPK activation. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that leptin-Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), which are responsible for leptin's functions, are involved in HG-induced injuries and cardioprotective effects of NRG in cardiomyocytes.

CC chemokine receptor 2 functions in osteoblastic transformation of valvular interstitial cells.

Aims: Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) emerges as a challenging clinical issue, which is associated with high cardiovascular mortality. It has been demonstrated that osteoblastic transformation of AVICs is a key mechanism of CAVD and C-C motif chemokine receptors (CCRs) may favor this process. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether CCRs were involved in osteoblastic transformation of AVICs during the development CAVD.

Flow-mediated dilation can be used to predict incident hypertension in patients with hyperuricemia.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether flow-mediated dilation (FMD) can be used to predict incident hypertension in patients with hyperuricemia.

Material And Methods: Normotensive participants with and without hyperuricemia at baseline were prospectively enrolled. Flow-mediated dilation was assessed at baseline, and after 1 year's follow-up the incidence of hypertension was compared between those with and without hyperuricemia.

HDAC inhibition induces autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis during cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Aims: The FDA-approved histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA, Vorinostat) has been shown to induce cardiomyocyte autophagy and blunt ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury when administered at the time of reperfusion. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective activity of SAHA are unknown. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage are major contributors to myocardial apoptosis during I/R injury.

Prevalence of Smoking and Knowledge About the Hazards of Smoking Among 170 000 Chinese Adults, 2013-2014.

Introduction: Periodic population surveys of smoking behavior can inform development of effective tobacco control strategies. We investigated smoking patterns, cessation, and knowledge about smoking hazards in China.

Methods: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey recruited 176 318 people aged ≥18 years across 31 provinces of China in 2013-2014, using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling methods.