Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 orchestrates vascular smooth muscle cell homeostasis in arterial disease.

Smooth muscle cells are remarkably plastic. Their reversible differentiation is required for growth and wound healing but also contributes to pathologies such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. Here we demonstrate the role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) as a critical master regulator of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) plasticity.

A rare HCN4 variant combined with sick sinus syndrome, left ventricular noncompaction, and complex congenital heart disease.

The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated potassium channel 4 (HCN4) gene has been reported to regulate the spontaneous depolarization of sinoatrial node cells. A novel HCN4 mutation (c.2036 G>A) may lead to sick sinus syndrome.

Erucin Alleviates Cardiac Hypertrophy by Improving Mitochondrial Function via Nrf2-Sirt3 Pathway.

Numerous studies have documented erucin's anticancer and vasodilatory properties, yet its impact on pathological cardiac hypertrophy remains to be fully understood. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of erucin in cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in mice by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery, and in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes via phenylephrine (PE) treatment.

A rare concomitance of Wilson's disease and systemic lupus erythematosus in a teenage girl: a case report and literature review.

Background: Wilson's disease (WD) is an inherited disorder characterized by impaired biliary excretion of copper and excessive copper accumulation in multiple organs, primarily leading to hepatic, neurological, and psychiatric manifestations. The coexistence of WD and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has rarely been reported, posing challenges in accurately diagnosing these two conditions because of overlapping clinical symptoms.

Case Presentation: We presented the case of a 17-year-old girl initially suspected of having SLE due to positive anti-nuclear antibodies and lupus anticoagulants, decreased platelet count, hypocomplementemia, and pleural effusion.

Proteomic analysis of neonatal mouse hearts shows PKA functions as a cardiomyocyte replication regulator.

The ability of the adult mammalian heart to regenerate can save the cardiac muscle from a loss of function caused by injury. Cardiomyocyte regeneration is a key aspect of research for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The mouse heart shows temporary regeneration in the first week after birth; thus, the newborn mouse heart is an ideal model to study heart muscle regeneration.

LncRNA Nron deficiency protects mice from diet-induced adiposity and hepatic steatosis.

Obesity, as a worldwide healthcare problem, has attracted more and more attention. Here we identify a long non-coding RNA NRON, which is highly conserved across species, as an important regulator of glucose/lipid metabolism and whole-body energy expenditure. Depletion of Nron leads to metabolic benefits in DIO (diet-induced obesity) mice, including reduced body weight and fat mass, improved insulin sensitivity and serum lipid parameters, attenuated hepatic steatosis and enhanced adipose function.

Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis With a Digital Health Application: A Multicenter, Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Digital health applications have been shown to be effective in the management of chronic diseases with simple treatment targets. The potential clinical value of digital health applications in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been well studied.

Objective: To investigate whether assessing patient-reported outcomes using digital health applications could result in disease control for patients with RA.

Attitudes toward COVID-19 Vaccination: A Survey of Chinese Patients with Rheumatic Diseases.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed enormous morbidity and mortality burdens. Patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs) are vulnerable to the COVID-19 infection, given their immunocompromised status. Ensuring acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine is important and has attracted attention by health professionals.

Prevalence and prognosis of molecularly defined familial hypercholesterolemia in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) can elevate serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, which can promote the progression of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the effect of FH on the prognosis of ACS remains unclear.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 223 patients with ACS having LDL-C ≥ 135.

Hypocomplementemia in primary Sjogren's syndrome: association with serological, clinical features, and outcome.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical characteristic of hypocomplementemia (HC) in primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), and to address possible risk factors and the prognosis associated with HC in pSS patients.

Methods: pSS patients with HC in Hebei General Hospital from September 2016 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed and compared to those with normocomplementemia (NC). Logistic regression analysis was used to detect risk factors.

The role of long noncoding RNA Nron in atherosclerosis development and plaque stability.

The major clinical consequences of atherosclerosis such as myocardial infarction or stroke are because of thrombotic events associated with acute rupture or erosion of an unstable plaque. Here, we identify an lncRNA Noncoding Repressor of NFAT (Nron) as a critical regulator of atherosclerotic plaque stability. Nron overexpression (OE) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) induces a highly characteristic architecture of more-vulnerable plaques, while Nron knockdown (KD) suppresses the development of atherosclerosis and favors plaque stability.

Interstitial lung disease in Primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) may cause life-threatening complications of primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), and has a poor prognosis in terms of survival and quality of life. To date, few studies have investigated the risk factors for ILD detected by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in pSS patients with or without respiratory symptoms.

Methods: Data of 333 patients with newly diagnosed pSS were retrospectively analysed.

Multifunctional MOF-based probes for efficient detection and discrimination of Pb, Fe and CrO/CrO.

Developing metal-organic framework (MOF)-based fluorescent probes for efficient detection and discrimination of polluting ions in groundwater is vital for environmental protection and human health. In this paper, we prepared two luminescence-active transition MOFs, namely, Zn-MOF and Cd-MOF, and conducted sensing experiments. The results show that they both exhibit multiple-target detection for Fe, Pb and Cr(VI) with high sensitivity, good anti-interference ability and good recyclability even with different frameworks.

Integrated Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing to Solve a Neuromuscular Puzzle: Miyoshi Muscular Dystrophy and Early Onset Primary Dystonia in Siblings of the Same Family.

Background: Neuromuscular disorders (NMD), many of which are hereditary, affect muscular function. Due to advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies, the diagnosis of hereditary NMDs has dramatically improved in recent years.

Methods And Results: In this study, we report an family with two siblings exhibiting two different NMD, Miyoshi muscular dystrophy (MMD) and early onset primary dystonia (EOPD).

Outcome of mitral valve repair or replacement for non-ischemic mitral regurgitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a rather common valvular heart disease. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the outcomes, and complications of mitral valve (MV) replacement with surgical MV repair of non-ischemic MR (NIMR) METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched until October, 2020. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they included patients with MR and reported early (30-day or in-hospital) or late all-cause mortality.

Resveratrol affects the expression of uric acid transporter by improving inflammation.

Resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenol, non‑flavonoid plant‑derived antitoxin, ameliorates hyperuricemia and kidney inflammation. The present study aimed to establish a model of high‑fat diet (HFD)‑induced insulin resistance (IR) and to determine the specific mechanism of RSV to improve kidney inflammation and reduce uric acid (UA). C57BL/6J mice were fed a HFD for 12 weeks and their glucose tolerance was evaluated by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance testing.

Clinical features and risk factors of Raynaud's phenomenon in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: The aim at the current study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of 333 new-onset pSS patients was performed. Demographic, clinical, and serological data were compared between individuals with and without RP.

Patients with early-onset primary Sjögren's syndrome have distinctive clinical manifestations and circulating lymphocyte profiles.

Objectives: To further investigate the clinical characteristics and circulating lymphocyte profiles of patients with early-onset primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Method: Data of 333 patients with pSS were analysed retrospectively. Early onset was defined as a pSS diagnosis at an age of 35 years or younger.

Involuntary movement in stiff-person syndrome with amphiphysin antibodies: A case report.

Rationale: Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological immune disorder characterized by progressive axial and proximal limb muscle rigidity, stiffness, and painful muscle spasms. Amphiphysin antibodies are positive in approximately 5% of SPS patients. To date, there have been no relevant reports on involuntary movement in cases of SPS with amphiphysin antibodies.

E3 Ligase FBXW2 Is a New Therapeutic Target in Obesity and Atherosclerosis.

Chronic low-grade inflammation orchestrated by macrophages plays a critical role in metabolic chronic diseases, like obesity and atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, the E3 ubiquitin ligase F-box/WD Repeat-Containing Protein 2 (FBXW2), the substrate-binding subunit of E3 ubiquitin ligase SCF (a complex of FBXW2, SKP1, and cullin-1), as an inflammatory mediator in macrophages, is identified.

Yin and Yang Regulation of Liver X Receptor α Signaling Control of Cholesterol Metabolism by Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1.

Liver X receptor α (LXRα) controls a set of key genes involved in cholesterol metabolism. However, the molecular mechanism of this regulation remains unknown. The regulatory role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in cholesterol metabolism in the liver was examined.

Targeting NFATc4 attenuates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice.

Background & Aims: The nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) family was first recognised to play an important role in the differentiation of T cells, but has since been shown to regulate multiple pathophysiological processes. However, whether it is involved in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains unknown.

Methods: Hepatic NFATc expression and localisation were analysed in C57BL/6 mice on a methionine-choline-deficient diet, as well as in samples from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.