Macrophage plasticity: signaling pathways, tissue repair, and regeneration.

Macrophages are versatile immune cells with remarkable plasticity, enabling them to adapt to diverse tissue microenvironments and perform various functions. Traditionally categorized into classically activated (M1) and alternatively activated (M2) phenotypes, recent advances have revealed a spectrum of macrophage activation states that extend beyond this dichotomy. The complex interplay of signaling pathways, transcriptional regulators, and epigenetic modifications orchestrates macrophage polarization, allowing them to respond to various stimuli dynamically.

Synergistic Effect of Uroguanylin and D Dopamine Receptors on Sodium Excretion in Hypertension.

Background Oral NaCl produces a greater natriuresis and diuresis than the intravenous infusion of the same amount of NaCl, indicating the existence of a gastro-renal axis. As one of the major natriuretic hormones secreted by both the intestines and the kidney, we hypothesized that renal uroguanylin interacts with dopamine receptors to increase sodium excretion synergistically, an impaired interaction of which may be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Methods and Results In Wistar-Kyoto rats, the infusion of uroguanylin or fenoldopam (a D-like receptor agonist) induced natriuresis and diuresis.

The Protective Role of Yin-Yang 1 in Cardiac Injury and Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction.

Background Exploring potential therapeutic target is of great significance for myocardial infarction (MI) and post-MI heart failure. Transcription factor Yin-Yang 1 (YY1) is an essential regulator of apoptosis and angiogenesis, but its role in MI is unclear. Methods and Results The expression of YY1 was assessed in the C57BL/6J mouse heart following MI.

The Emerging Role of Irisin in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Irisin, a novel hormone like polypeptide, is cleaved and secreted by an unknown protease from a membrane-spanning protein, FNDC5 (fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5). The current knowledge on the biological functions of irisin includes browning white adipose tissue, regulating insulin use, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Dysfunction of irisin has shown to be involved in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Primary paraganglioma-like dermal melanocytic tumor with local recurrence: a case report.

Primary paraganglioma-like dermal melanocytic tumor (PDMT) is a rare dermal melanocytic tumor first recognized in 2004. The cases in previous reports suggested a benign course with a favorable prognosis. Herein, we describe a case of PDMT in the right neck from a 33-year-old man.

Abnormal amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and functional connectivity of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with leukoaraiosis.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the cerebral function deficits in patients with leukoaraiosis (LA) and the correlation with white matter hyperintensity (WMH) using functional MRI (fMRI) technology.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight patients with LA and 30 volunteers were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent structural MRI and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) scanning.

Elevated ASCL2 expression is associated with metastasis of osteosarcoma and predicts poor prognosis of the patients.

Achaetescute-like 2 (ASCL2), a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, plays an important role in the determination of neuronal precursors in the central and peripheral nervous system and involves in tumor progression. However, the role of ASCL2 expression in the osteosarcoma prognosis has not been elaborated. This study aimed to evaluate ASCL2 expression level in osteosarcoma and assess its prognostic value for patients.

Advanced glycation endproducts induce apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells by activating receptor RAGE and NADPH oxidase/JNK signaling axis.

Elevated levels of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis. Dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which is essential for re-endothelialization and neovascularization, is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. However, it remains unclear whether and how AGEs acts on EPCs to promote pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Chloroquine attenuates LPS-mediated macrophage activation through miR-669n-regulated SENP6 protein translation.

Chloroquine (CQ) has been shown to inhibit Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated monocyte and macrophage activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the underlying mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. Recently, SUMO-specific protease 6 (SENP6) has been reported to suppress LPS-induced activation of macrophages through deSUMOlation of NF-κB essential modifier (NEMO).

Fasudil, an inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase, attenuates hyperoxia-induced pulmonary fibrosis in neonatal rats.

Background: Oxygen therapy is important during the management of high-risk neonatal infants, such as those with preterm birth, low birth weight, and asphyxia. However, prolonged exposure to high oxygen concentrations can readily lead to diffuse nonspecific inflammation, which promotes airway remodeling and pulmonary fibrosis. The Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (Rho/ROCK) signaling pathway plays an important role in numerous developmental and proliferative diseases.

Association of I-FABP gene polymorphism and the risk of coronary heart disease.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the association between polymorphism of I-FABP gene and coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: 225 patients with CHD were randomly recruited into the case group, and 196 healthy elderly volunteers were recruited from Medical Examination Center of our hospital as control. General clinical data were collected and plasma TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C levels were measured.

Impacts of stellate ganglion block on plasma NF-κB and inflammatory factors of TBI patients.

The aim of this study was to initially explore the regulatory mechanism of brain function protection of SGB from the view of nerve-endocrine-immune network. 50 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were divided into the SGB treatment group and the control group, the changes of serum IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and CGRP levels were detected by ELISA, and the changes of lymphocyte NF-κB protein expression was detected by Western Blot. The control group exhibited the higher expression of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, while the SGB treatment group exhibited various degrees of reduction.

DNA repair gene ERCC1 C118T polymorphism predicts sensitivity of recurrent esophageal cancer to radiochemotherapy in a Chinese population.

Background: DNA repair gene polymorphisms could alter DNA repair capacity and therefore associate with tumor sensitivity to radiochemotherapy. This study assessed excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) C118T and X-ray cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) G399A single-nucleotide polymorphisms in esophageal patients for an association with sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapy.

Methods: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients (n = 118) who relapsed after surgery were enrolled for assessment of ERCC1 C118T and XRCC1 G399A polymorphisms by direct DNA sequencing.

Lack of association of CYP11B2-344C/T polymorphism with essential hypertension: a meta-analysis.

Objective: A meta-analysis was carried out to evaluate the correlation between CYP11B2-344C/T polymorphism and essential hypertension susceptibility.

Methods: By retrieving relevant databases and collecting domestic and international literatures about the correlation between CYP11B2-344C/T polymorphism and essential hypertension, the quality of literature were evaluated according to NEWCASTLE-OTTAWA case-control study quality rating scale (NOS). RevMan 5.

PC4 induces lymphangiogenesis dependent VEGF-C/VEGF-D/VEGFR-3 axis activation in lung adenocarcinoma.

Human transcriptional positive cofactor 4 (PC4) is a novel marker for diagnosis and treatment of advanced human cancers metastasis. In human lung adenocarcinoma, tumor lymphangiogenesis, an important early event, can promotes lymphatic metastasis, while it has been reported that VEGF-C/VEGF-D/VEGFR-3 axis plays an important role in lymphangiogenesis. The proposed study aims to explore whether PC4 correlates with VEGF-C/VEGF-D/VEGFR-3 axis of lymphangiogenesis in the lymph node metastasis during lung adenocarcinoma.

Comminuted radial head fractures treated by the Acumed anatomic radial head system.

Objective: The treatment of comminuted radial head fractures is still challenging. A radial head replacement is more effective in comminuted radial head fractures. The aim of this paper was to present the medium-term results of the Acumed anatomic radial head system (AARHS).

Production of plasmid-encoding NDM-1 in clinical Raoultella ornithinolytica and Leclercia adecarboxylata from China.

Raoultella ornithinolytica YNKP001 and Leclercia adecarboxylata P10164, which harbor conjugative plasmids pYNKP001-NDM and pP10164-NDM, respectively, were isolated from two different Chinese patients, and their complete nucleotide sequences were determined. Production of NDM-1 enzyme by these plasmids accounts for the carbapenem resistance of these two strains. This is the first report of bla NDM in L.

The microRNA-520a-3p inhibits proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis by targeting MAP3K2 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Growing evidence indicates that miR-520a was involved in the complement attack and migration of tumor cells, but nonetheless, the role of miR-520a-3p in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not clear. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2) is a kinase belonging to the serine/threonine protein kinase family. To develop potential therapy targeting MAP3K2, we studied the roles of miR-520a-3p in the proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis of NSCLC.

Contribution of glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphisms to development of skin cancer.

Background: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) family genes are of vital importance in maintaining cellular defence systems, protecting cells against the toxic effects of reactive oxygen produced during the synthesis of melanin, and detoxifying environmental mutagens and chemical or synthetic drugs. As no previous meta-analyses have examined the association of polymorphisms at GSTT1, GSTP1 Ile105Val with skin cancer risk and independently published studies have produced inconsistent conclusions, we were promoted to estimate the associations in the largest study to date.

Methods: Computer-assisted searches were carried out to systematically identify the studies of GST polymorphisms and skin cancer.

Association of endothelial lipase genetic polymorphism with lacunar infarction in a Chinese population.

Introduction: This study sought to investigate the correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9958947C>T in the endothelial lipase (LIPG) gene promoter and lacunar infarction in the Han population in China.

Materials And Methods: A case-control method was applied in this study, which included 378 patients with lacunar infarction in the patient group and 404 healthy individuals who received a routine physical examination in the control group. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods were used to detect the SNP (rs9958947) in the LIPG promoter for the two groups.

ATPase may play a critical role in disturbance of energy metabolism in congestive heart failure rats.

Objective: This study aims to explore the expression and significance of ATPase in myocardium of congestive heart failure induced by pressure overload in rats.

Methods: Male SD rats were divided into 3 groups randomly: Control group (C group), coarctation of abdominal aorta 15 weeks group (A group) and sham operation group (SH group). The hemodynamics parameters were measured.

Changes in mitochondrial DNA and its encoded products in alcoholic cirrhosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate hepatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and changes in its encoded products in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) in order to understand disease pathogenesis. We enrolled 23 patients with AC, 26 alcoholics without cirrhosis, and 25 normal subjects in this study. Hepatic mtDNA deletions were positioned using a combination of long and accurate polymerase chain reaction (LA PCR) and gene sequencing.

Silencing hexokinase II gene sensitizes human colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil.

Background/aims: Extensive trials have indicated that cancer cells with high glycolytic activity exhibit decreased sensitivity to anticancer agents. Moreover, recent research has proved that a specific inhibitor of hexokinase II, which is a key glycolytic enzyme, may enhance the activity of anticancer drugs. The purpose of this study is to further investigate the effect and mechanisms of hexokinase II on chemosensitivity of colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil.