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versed the effects of miR-322-5p silencing on hypoxic cardiac myoblast cells. Suppression of miR-322-5p protected cardiac myoblast cells against hypoxia-induced injury and apoptosis through regulation of CIAPIN1 expression and PI3K/AKT signal pathway.

Oxidative stress, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), and inflammation are some of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The aim of this study is to examine the protective effect of the chronic administration of astaxanthin, which is extracted from the shell of crabs and shrimps, into hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Animals were randomly assigned to 2 groups and treated with bilateral PVN infusion of astaxanthin or vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid) through osmotic minipumps (Alzet Osmotic Pumps, Model 2004, 0.25 μL/h) for 4 weeks. Spontaneously hypertensive rats had higher mean arterial pressure and plasma level of norepinephrine and proinflammatory cytokine; higher PVN levels of reactive oxygen species, NOX2, NOX4, IL-1β, IL-6, ACE, and AT1-R; and lower PVN levels of IL-10 and Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD, ACE2, and Mas receptors than Wistar-Kyoto rats. Our data showed that chronic administration of astaxanthin into PVN attenuated the overexigher mean arterial pressure and plasma level of norepinephrine and proinflammatory cytokine; higher PVN levels of reactive oxygen species, NOX2, NOX4, IL-1β, IL-6, ACE, and AT1-R; and lower PVN levels of IL-10 and Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD, ACE2, and Mas receptors than Wistar-Kyoto rats. Our data showed that chronic administration of astaxanthin into PVN attenuated the overexpression of reactive oxygen species, NOX2, NOX4, inflammatory cytokines, and components of RAS within the PVN and suppressed hypertension. The present results revealed that astaxanthin played a role in the brain. Our findings demonstrated that astaxanthin had protective effect on hypertension by improving the balance between inflammatory cytokines and components of RAS.

Isoprenylation is an important post-transcriptional modification of small GTPases required for their activation and function. Isoprenoids, including farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, are indispensable for isoprenylation by serving as donors of a prenyl moiety to small G proteins. In the human body, isoprenoids are mainly generated by the mevalonate pathway (also known as the cholesterol-synthesis pathway). The hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase catalyzes the first rate-limiting steps of the mevalonate pathway, and its inhibitor (statins) are widely used as lipid-lowering agents. In addition, the FPP synthase is also of critical importance for the regulation of the isoprenoids production, for which the inhibitor is mainly used in the treatment of osteoporosis. Synthetic FPP can be further used to generate geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate and cholesterol. Recent studies suggest a role for isoprenoids in the genesis and development of cardiovascular disorders, such as pathologisynthase inhibitors have also been applied for the management of heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases rather than their clinical use for hyperlipidemia or bone diseases. In this review, we focus on the function of several critical enzymes, including hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, FPP synthase, farnesyltransferase, and geranylgeranyltransferase in the mevalonate pathway which are involved in regulating the generation of isoprenoids and isoprenylation of small GTPases, and their pathophysiological role in the cardiovascular system. Moreover, we summarize recent research into applications of statins and the FPP synthase inhibitors to treat cardiovascular diseases, rather than for their traditional indications respectively.

Cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) has detrimental effects on behavioral function in children and adolescents. However, few study authors have examined the underlying mechanisms of these effects.

The aims of this study were to investigate the mediating effects of parenting stress in the association between cyanotic CHD and externalizing problems and to explore whether age moderated these mediating effects.

A total of 697 children and adolescents (aged 2-17 years) with CHD (252 with cyanotic CHD and 445 with acyanotic CHD) in Taiwan were enrolled. click here The Child Behavior Checklist and the Parenting Stress Index were used to assess externalizing problems and parenting stress, respectively. Mediation analysis was performed to determine the mediating effects of parenting stress in the association between cyanotic CHD and externalizing problems. A moderated mediation model was used to investigate the moderating effect of age on the observed mediating effects.

Parenting stress significantly mediated the relnces are considered.The first indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) received Federal Drug Administration approval in 1997, nearly 40 years after John Chambers first described instillation of talc into the pleural space for palliation of malignant pleural effusions. Since then IPCs have revolutionized the management of malignant pleural effusions, providing an effective means of controlling dyspnea in the end stages of life without the pain and prolonged hospital stays long associated with chemical sclerosing agents. While palliation of symptoms is the primary purpose of IPCs, development of pleurodesis in the outpatient setting is often an important secondary goal. Historically, decisions regarding IPC drainage frequency have been largely arbitrary and only recently has the evidence started to emerge regarding the effects of specific drainage strategies on both symptom control and pleurodesis development. This focused clinical review explores the current literature regarding IPC drainage strategies as well as novel methods designed to improve the efficacy of IPCs in a thorough and systematic manner. In addition, this review provides an in-depth analysis and synthesis of the data focusing on key considerations needed to develop patient-centered and cost-effective strategies for the use of IPCs in malignancy.