Mechanosensitive genes regulate multiple cardiovascular pathophysiological processes and disorders; however, the role of flow-sensitive genes in atherosclerosis is still unknown. In this study, we identify LIM Zinc Finger Domain Containing 2 (LIMS2) that acts as a mechanosensitive gene downregulated by disturbed flow (d-flow) both in human endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro and in mice in vivo. Mechanistically

Reproductive dysfunction stemming from chemical agents may lead to infertility. We examined the protective effects of Calliandra portoricensis (CP) extract on benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU)-induced ovarian and uterine toxicity in rat, treated as follows: control (group 1), NMU + BaP (group 2), groups 3 and 4 received (NMU + BaP), and CP (50 and 100 mg/kg), respectively. Group

Circulating exosomal microRNAs (ExmiRNAs) provide an ideal non-invasive method for cancer diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated two circulating ExmiRNAs in NSCLC patients as a diagnostic tool for early-stage non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). The exosomes were characterized by qNano, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blot, and the ExmiRNA expression was measured by microarrays. The differentially

Acute kidney injury causes significant morbidity and mortality. This experimental animal study investigated the simultaneous impact of iron and vitamin D on acute kidney injury induced by iohexol, an iodinated, non-ionic monomeric radiocontrast agent in Wistar rats. Out of 36 healthy male Wistar rats, saline was injected into six control rats (group 1) and iohexol into the remaining 30 experimental

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play an important role in the epigenetic regulation of genetic transcription in response to stress or pathological conditions. HDACs interact with a complex co-regulatory network of transcriptional regulators, deacetylate histones or non-histone proteins, and modulate gene expression in

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Atherosclerosis constitutes most cardiovascular disease etiologies. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven disease affecting the intima of blood vessels, resulting in an increase in its thickness and, therefore, narrowing of the arterial lumen. Many blood and immune cells have been shown to be implicated in atherosclerosis

Chemokines are a family of small molecular-weight proteins, being well-known with their important roles in the process of allergic response, immune regulation, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Almost two decades ago, a novel member of this family, chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) was identified. In recent years, it draws much attention of researchers because of its key roles in many types of

The early detection of surgical site infection (SSI) remains an unsolved problem. Inflammatory factors in fluids drained from surgical sites may be a promising tool for predicting SSI. Previous attempts to predict SSI via such factors have not taken baseline concentrations into account. However, this may have comprised predictive efficacy. In the current study, concentrations of C-reactive protein

NRF2 is the master regulator for the cellular oxidative stress response and regulates γ-globin gene expression in human erythroid progenitors and sickle cell disease mice. To explore NRF2 function, we established a human β-globin locus yeast artificial chromosome transgenic/NRF2 knockout (β-YAC/NRF2−/−) mouse model. NRF2 loss reduced γ-globin gene expression during erythropoiesis and abolished the

Shanshan Shui, Xia Wang, John Y Chiang and Lei Zheng. Far-infrared therapy for cardiovascular, autoimmune, and other chronic health problems: A systematic review. Experimental Biology and Medicine 2015; 240: 1257–1265. DOI: 10.1177/1535370215573391

Cellular senescence has evolved as a protective mechanism to arrest growth of cells with oncogenic potential but is accompanied by the often pathologically deleterious senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Here we demonstrate an H2O2-dependent functional disruption controlling senescence-associated Ca2+ homeostasis and the SASP. Senescent cells fail to respond to H2O2-dependent plasma lamellar

Hyperlipidemia represents a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases leading to myocardial injury. The present study aimed to illustrate the myocardial injury induced in a diabetic hyperlipidemic rat model and the effect of vitamin D3, 10-DHGD intake either individually or in combination form. Male albino rats were selected for the study, received alloxan, hypercholesterolemic diet, and categorized

Many countries are currently in a state of lockdown due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. One key requirement to safely transition out of lockdown is the continuous testing of the population to identify infected subjects. Currently, detection is performed at points of care using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, thus requiring dedicated professionals and equipment. Here, we developed a protocol based

Although clinical treatment has significant progress, acute pulmonary embolism is still a common disease with high morbidity and mortality. Janus Kinase 3, a member of JAK family, has been demonstrated to promote smooth muscle cell proliferation through STAT3. In this work, we explored the effect of JANEX-1 (a specific Janus Kinase 3 inhibitor) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced proliferation-related

Remodeling of extracellular matrix in the womb facilitates the dramatic morphogenesis of maternal and placental tissues necessary to support fetal development. In addition to providing a scaffold to support tissue structure, extracellular matrix influences pregnancy outcomes by facilitating communication between cells and their microenvironment to regulate cellular adhesion, migration, and invasion

The revolutionary success of biologic agents in treating various malignant and autoimmune conditions has been met with increased risk of opportunistic infections due to perturbations in immunity. In patients receiving biologic-containing regimens, the risk of fungal infection is less well-understood, and there is a lack of established guideline on the standard of care in terms of screening and prophylaxis

Diabetes often presents with ocular surface complications including dry eye, keratopathy, and altered sensitivity, along with systemic disorders. A common theme associated with corneal surface defects is decreased cellular proliferation. The opioid growth factor (OGF)–OGF receptor (OGFr) regulatory axis maintains epithelial homeostasis and can be modulated by naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist

Comorbidities impact negatively on breast cancer prognosis, especially in developing countries where cases are usually presented to clinics at advanced stages. This study aimed to determine the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and cardiovascular risk factors among Ghanaian women diagnosed with breast cancer. A total of 52 breast cancer patients were age-matched with 52 healthy controls. Sociodemographics

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a tool used for the treatment of patients with acute or chronic respiratory failure. However, MV is a non-physiological resource, and it can cause metabolic disorders such as release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and production of reactive oxygen species. In clinical setting, maneuvers such as sigh, are used to protect the lungs. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the

Use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is becoming increasingly prevalent. ENDS aerosols contain a variety of toxic components that may adversely impact health. Although exposure to traditional cigarette smoke is a risk factor for periodontal disease, the effects of ENDS on oral health have not been adequately examined. To evaluate potential oral health effects associated with ENDS use

In this work, our primary objective was to examine the interrelationship among the serum level of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and plaque characteristics in coronary culprit lesions. The clinical data of 116 coronary heart disease patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Cardiology of Henan Province People's Hospital from February 2015 to June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed

The whole world is locked down due to the outbreak of novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (nCOVID-19). A novel virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus pandemic 2019. Investigating the role of inflammatory mediators and understanding the virology of nCOVID-19 virus help in designing a rational and effective therapy for this infection. This

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a beta coronavirus that causes infectious respiratory disease, named as coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). While extensive studies have provided basic information on clinical characteristics of COVID-19, the disease pathology is not fully known. The SARS-CoV-2 virus structural studies and biochemical experiments have also indicated

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic destructive joint disease. To date, the etiology and pathogenesis of RA have not been fully elucidated, but a large number of studies have indicated that hypoxia is an important feature of RA. Our study was designed to probe how hypoxia-induced exosome (exo) derived from synovial fibroblasts (SFs) affect RA. In this

Maintenance of the highly plastic intestinal epithelium relies upon stem cells localized to intestinal crypts. Recent evidence suggests muscarinic acetylcholine signaling impacts epithelial barrier function, proliferation, and apoptosis. We hypothesized that the intestinal crypt base would express specific muscarinic acetylcholine receptors that drive proliferation in this critical region. Intestinal

Although new diagnostic techniques and treatments are increasingly updated, the clinical outcomes of CRC patients are still not encouraging with a low survival rate. N6-methyladenosine as a popular modification on mRNA is associated with multiple types of cancers. Our purpose is to evaluate gene signature and prognostic ability of N6-methyladenosine in CRC. We used the gene expression, copy number

Immune-related genes have great potential as prognostic markers in many types of cancer. Therefore, we have attempted to develop immune-related gene markers to enhance the prognosis of breast cancer; 1159 samples of breast cancer gene expression data and clinical follow-up messages were downloaded from TCGA and GEO, which were classified into training set, test set, and validation set. In the training

Hypoxia or low oxygen concentration in tumor microenvironment has widespread effects ranging from altered angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, tumor metabolism, growth, and therapeutic resistance in different cancer types. A large number of these effects are mediated by the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor 1⍺ (HIF-1⍺) which is activated by hypoxia. HIF1⍺ induces glycolytic genes and reduces

The rapid and dramatic increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 has led to a global pandemic. Early detection and containment are currently the most effective methods for controlling the outbreak. A positive diagnosis is determined by laboratory real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing, but the use of chest computed tomography (CT) has also been indicated as an important

Ultrasound and microbubbles can induce apoptosis of tumor cells. However, the effects of ultrasound and microbubbles (USMB) combined with chemotherapy on in vivo tumors have rarely been studied. This research is to evaluate the efficacy of targeted USMB and chemotherapeutic drugs on apoptosis and inhibition of hepatic carcinoma cells in nude mice. We also summarize case reports of its clinical application

Quantitative assessment of physiological condition of retinal photoreceptors is desirable for better detection and treatment evaluation of eye diseases that can cause photoreceptor dysfunctions. Functional intrinsic optical signal (IOS) imaging, also termed as optoretinography (ORG) or optophysiology, has been proposed as a high-resolution method for objective assessment of retinal physiology. Fast

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic, in part due to the highly infectious nature of the disease. Because SARS-CoV-2 is new, much is unknown regarding mechanisms of transmission, and such information is urgently needed. Here, based on previous findings from related human betacoronaviruses, it is suggested that one possible route of transmission may

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is reported to elicit adverse reproductive outcomes in animals. Gallic acid (GA) is known to exhibit antioxidant and inflammatory bioactivities. The impact of GA on AFB1-facilitated reproductive dysfunction is nonexistent in literature. This investigation elucidated GA protective effect on AFB1-induced reproductive toxicities in rats, exposed for 28 consecutive days to AFB1 (75 µg/kg)

MicroRNA (miR) plays a critical role in the progression of multiple malignancies. Nevertheless, knowledge of the role it plays in laryngeal cancer is limited. In this study, we explored the role of miR-892a in laryngeal cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. miR-892a expression was increased in 17 laryngeal cancer samples and cells compared with that in healthy tissues, laryngeal cancer normal surrounding

A quantitative analytical method to discriminate among the various types of cancerous esophagus tissue is essential for accurate cancer staging. This paper reports on the use of ratiometric nonlinear optical microscopy to reveal the ratio of two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) to second harmonic generation (SHG) and forward to backward (F/B) SHG from single collagen fibers only in submucosa of esophageal

The contribution of GJB4 and GJC3 gene variants to hearing impairment in Africa has not yet been studied. Here, we investigated the contribution of these genes to autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment in Ghanaian children. Hearing-impaired children from 141 simplex and 59 multiplex families were enrolled from 11 schools for the deaf in Ghana. The coding regions of GJB4 and GJC3 were

While neutrophil production in emergency states has been extensively studied, regulation of neutrophil homeostasis in the steady-state remained incompletely understood. We have shown that innate immune receptor toll-like receptor (TLR)4 and downstream TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) are indispensable for the generation of a granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-dependent

Cardio-metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, are known to be associated with accelerated attrition of telomeres, recognized as genetic and biological markers of aging. Some common genetic characteristics were found regarding the presence of shorter telomeres and the development of type 2 diabetes. However, there are conflicting epidemiological reports regarding the association of leukocyte

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo fission and fusion. While they are essential for cellular metabolism, the effect of dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics on cellular metabolism is not fully understood. We previously found that transmembrane protein 135 (Tmem135) plays a role in the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in mice. Mice homozygous for a Tmem135 mutation (Tmem135FUN025/FUN025)

NAD+ and its derivatives NADH, NADP+, and NADPH are essential cofactors in redox reactions and electron transport pathways. NAD serves also as substrate for an extensive series of regulatory enzymes including cyclic ADP-ribose hydrolases, mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferases, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, and sirtuin deacetylases which are O-acetyl-ADP-ribosyltransferases. As a result of the numerous and

In Ghana, majority of cancer studies have focused on only two main teaching hospitals. However, there is the need to study the disease burden from other parts of the country. This study was designed to review cancer cases recorded in major hospitals in the Volta Region of Ghana, with the aim of determining the incidence of cancers and cancer-related mortalities, and contribute to cancer data in the

Diabetes mellitus has been shown to impair respiratory function. The diaphragm is an important skeletal muscle involved in respiration. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the three endogenous gas messengers in mammals, which exhibits anti-fibrotic activity in some types of diabetes-related complications. However, whether and how H2S exerts its anti-fibrotic activity on the diabetic diaphragmatic muscle

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous inflammatory disease and eosinophils (EOS) participate in inflammation process. Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is an inevitable trend in the development of the disease and has attracted widespread attention. In the present study, 108 hospitalized patients with AECOPD were collected and the levels of interleukin-13 and eosinophil cationic

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a family of enzymes that deacetylate histones as well as a large number of other nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial proteins. The deacetylation of histones transforms chromatin to a transcriptionally repressed state, whereas deacetylation of other cellular proteins regulates their functional activity through modulation of subcellular location, their interaction

Sedentary lifestyle is associated with increased incidence of diabetes mellitus, whereas exercise training improves metabolic control and therefore may contribute to prevention of various chronic complications. Diabetic kidney disease is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, and is associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients. The literature

Recent studies have displayed that circular RNA plays a key regulatory role in tumorigenesis and development. However, evidence supporting the critical role of circular RNA in the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is still limited. This study was designed to screen and identify novel circular RNA biomarkers in CRC. The microarray analysis of circular RNA expression profile was performed in three

Insulin resistance (IR) may be associated with oxidative stress and leads to cardiovascular disorders. Current research focuses on interplay between insulin-resistance indices and oxidant-antioxidant markers in elderly individuals with or without insulin-resistance. The assessment involved anthropometric data (weight, height, BMI, percentage of body fat (FAT)) and biochemical tests (glucose, lipids

Retinoblastoma is common primary intraocular malignancy of infants and childhood. Neferine is a major bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid derived from the lotus plumule in Nelumbo nucifera. This study evaluated the mitigation role of Neferine on retinoblastoma in vitro and in vivo. Xenotransplantation model was established by injecting WERI-Rb-1 cells subcutaneously. Upon induction of retinoblastoma , mice

The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID 19), spreading from China all around the world in early 2020, has led scientists to investigate the immuno-mediated mechanisms underlying the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection. Depending on the amount of cytokines released as the result of the immunological activation induced by SARS-CoV2, three major clinical phenotypes

This study explored the role of ribophorin II (RPN2) in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) cell proliferation and growth and revealed that RPN2 knockdown suppressed OCI-AML3 cell growth and proliferation and triggered cell cycle arrest and elicited apoptosis in OCI-AML3 cells. In addition, it shed light on the etiology of RPN2's role in MDS cell proliferation that RPN2 can negatively impact enhancer

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a devastating retinal degenerative disease. Epidemiological reports showed an expected increasing prevalence of AMD in the near future. The only one existing FDA-approved pharmacological treatment involves an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy with serious disadvantages. This limitation emphasizes an alarming need to develop new therapeutic

Cornea, an outermost layer of mammalian eye, is protected by tear film and abnormalities of tear film causes dry eye. Dry eye injures the cornea which results lower vision in patients. Several factors cause dry eye, including altered systemic conditions, environment, and immunological abnormality of the patient in autoimmune disease like Sjögren's syndrome (SS). However, the detailed pathology of autoimmune

Lipotoxicity induced by saturated fatty acids (SFA) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of a variety of obesity-related metabolic disorders; however, the exact mechanism(s) underlying lipotoxicity development remains elusive. The liver plays a central role in regulating intrahepatic and circulatory lipid homeostasis. In the current study, we identified that mammalian target of rapamycin complex

Dentists have always been taught how to protect themselves and their patients from potential blood-borne pathogens, but the Coronavirus pandemic has brought a new unprecedented challenge to the world of dentistry; we therefore reviewed the literature to provide suggestions on how to accordingly change dental practice prevention.

Cilia play an important role in the airway defense mechanism. So far, studies on ciliary function have mainly been based on in vitro methods. Images of in vivo ciliary motion are very difficult to capture. In this study, we describe a novel approach to observe and analyze nasal ciliary motion in living animals with comparison to in vitro observation. Such images of ciliary motion from living animals

Our study provided new insight into the mechanism underlying the preservation of the peritoneum by valsartan. The results demonstrated that the mice receiving chronic high glucose (HG) peritoneal dialysis solution infusion showed a typical feature of peritoneal fibrosis (PF), as well as higher expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I. In vitro, HG increased the protein expression

Designing and conducting clinical trials are extremely difficult in rare diseases. Adapting tissue chips for rare disease therapy development is pivotal in assuring that treatments are available, especially for severe diseases that are difficult to treat. Thus far, the NCATS-led National Institutes of Health (NIH) Tissue Chip program has focused on deploying the technology towards in vitro tools for

There is a critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) around the globe. This article describes the safe collection, storage, and decontamination of N95 respirators using hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV). This article is unique because it describes the HPV process in an operating room, and is therefore, a deployable method for many healthcare settings. Results presented here offer creative

WW domain-containing oxidoreductase encoded by the WWOX gene is a transcription regulator and a key player in a number of cellular and biological processes such as tumor suppression, cell proliferation, apoptosis induction, steroid metabolism, and central nervous system development. This review provides a comprehensive summary of currently known roles and discusses the importance of WWOX gene for CNS

The number of commensal bacteria in the body surpasses the number of actual human cells. Thus, various interactions between microbes and human cells constitute an inevitable phenomenon. Recent evidence has led to bacterial extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) being proposed as good candidates for microbe-host inter-kingdom communication tools as they can modulate the expression of host genes. However, research