Stellate Ganglionectomy Attenuates Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy and Dysfunction.

Background: Enhanced cardiac sympathetic activity contributes to chronic heart failure (CHF). Interventions targeting the stellate ganglion (SG) can reduce this activity, potentially slowing the progression of cardiovascular diseases. This study examined the effects and mechanisms of stellate ganglionectomy on myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction caused by pressure overload.

Inhibitory Effect of PPARδ Agonist GW501516 on Proliferation of Hypoxia-induced Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells by Regulating the mTOR Pathway.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonist GW501516 on the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) induced by hypoxia, in order to search for new drugs for the treatment and prevention of pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Methods: PASMCs were incubated with different concentrations of GW501516 (10, 30, 100 nmol/L) under the hypoxic condition. The proliferation was determined by a CCK-8 assay.

The development and progress of health literacy in China.

Limited health literacy is a serious public health problem. It is strongly associated with increased hospital admissions and readmission, poorer self-management, and health outcomes. It can lead to poor management of chronic disease, lower health care quality, increased mortality, and higher healthcare expenditures.

[Effects of GW501516 on the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells induced by hypoxia and its mechanisms].

To investigate the effects of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonist GW501516 on the proliferation of primary rat proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells ( PASMCs ) induced by hypoxia, in order to discover new drugs for the treatment and prevention of pulmonary vascular remodeling. The PASMCs in the control group were cultured with 21% oxygen, while the PASMCs in the hypoxia group were cultured with 3% oxygen to induce cell proliferation. PASMCs were incubated with GW501516 at the concentrations of 10, 30 and 100 nmol/L under hypoxic conditions for different time points (12, 24, and 48 h) to find out the appropriate concentrations of GW501516 for inhibition the proliferation.

The Disease and Economic Burdens of Esophageal Cancer in China from 2013 to 2030: Dynamic Cohort Modeling Study.

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is the sixth leading cause of tumor-related deaths worldwide. Estimates of the EC burden are necessary and could offer evidence-based suggestions for local cancer control.

Objective: The aim of this study was to predict the disease burden of EC in China through the estimation of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and direct medical expenditure by sex from 2013 to 2030.

Salidroside blocks the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells induced by platelet‑derived growth factor‑BB.

The proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) contributes to the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling, ultimately leading to pulmonary hypertension. In this study, the effects and molecular mechanisms of salidroside on the platelet‑derived growth factor (PDGF)‑BB‑induced proliferation of primary cultured rat PASMCs were investigated. The presented data demonstrated that salidroside significantly inhibited the proliferation and DNA synthesis of PASMCs induced by PDGF‑BB in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner, without cell cytotoxicity.

Tripterygium polyglycosid attenuates the established airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Tripterygium polyglycosid on establishing airway eosinophil infiltration and related airway hyperresponsiveness of asthmatic mice.

Methods: A mature murine asthmatic model was made with ovabulmin sensitized and challenged C57BL/6 mice. Forty mice were divided into four groups with 10 mice in each group: mice sensitized and challenged with saline (WS group), mice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (WO group), mice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin and treated with Tripterygium polyglycosid (TP group) and Dexamethasone (DXM group).

Indole-3-carbinol blocks platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cell function and reduces neointima formation in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect and associated cell signaling mechanisms of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation and migration of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and neointima formation in a carotid injury model. Our data demonstrated that I3C inhibited PDGF-BB-induced proliferation of VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner without causing cell cytotoxicity, as assessed by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation and WST-1 assays. Further studies revealed that the antiproliferative effect of I3C was caused by the arrest of cells in both the G0/G1 and S phases.

Apigenin attenuates neointima formation via suppression of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic transformation.

Abnormal proliferation, migration, and phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are critical factors in neointima formation during restenosis. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy and possible cell signaling mechanisms of apigenin in VSMC activation induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and injury-induced neointima formation. Our data revealed a dose-dependent apigenin inhibition of PDGF-BB-induced proliferation of VSMCs by arresting cells in G0/G1-phase of the cell cycle as determined using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation and flow cytometry.

Gastrodin protects against cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.

Phenolic glucoside gastrodin (Gas), which is a main component extracted from the Chinese herbs Gastrodia elata Bl, is a well-known natural calcium antagonist with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions. It has long been used clinically for treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Previous studies have shown that gastrodin possesses comprehensive pharmacological functions.

Increased oxidative stress in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Objective: To investigate whether pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) may increase oxidative stress in women with PIH, and to explore the mechanisms by which PIH may increase oxidative stress and potential free radical damage.

Methods: Seventy women with PIH and seventy women with uncomplicated normotensive pregnancy (UNP) whose age, nutritional conditions, levels of hemoglobin and albumin were all matched, were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Their plasma concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE), and beta-carotene (beta-CAR) as well as their erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA), and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were determined by spectrophotometry.