Decoding mechanosensitive genes in cardiac fibroblasts via 3D hydrogel models of fibrosis.

Cardiac fibrosis arises from the abnormal activation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in response to both chemical and mechanical stressors. While extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is a key determinant of fibroblast behavior, the molecular mechanisms linking mechanical signals to gene expression remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel system that mimics the ECM stiffness of normal, mid-stage, and fibrotic myocardium.

A Gene Cluster of Mitochondrial Complexes Contributes to the Cognitive Decline of COVID-19 Infection.

"Brain fog," a persistent cognitive impairment syndrome, stands out as a significant neurological aftermath of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Yet, the underlying mechanisms by which COVID-19 induces cognitive deficits remain elusive. In our study, we observed an upregulation in the expression of genes linked to the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, whereas genes associated with cognitive function were downregulated in the brains of patients infected with COVID-19.

Bazi Bushen capsule attenuates cardiac systolic injury via SIRT3/SOD2 pathway in high-fat diet-fed ovariectomized mice.

Background: Bazi Bushen capsule (BZBS) is a Chinese herbal compound that is clinically used to treat fatigue and forgetfulness. However, it is still unclear whether and how BZBS affects heart function decline in menopausal women. This study aimed to examine the effect of BZBS on cardiac function in a high-fat diet-fed ovariectomy (HFD-fed OVX) mouse model and elucidate the underlying mechanism of this effect.

MicroRNA-195 liposomes for therapy of Alzheimer's disease.

The complex etiologies and mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) underscore the importance for devising multitarget drugs to achieve effective therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are capable of concurrently regulating the expression of multiple proteins by selectively targeting disease- associated genes in a sequence-specific fashion. Nonetheless, as RNA-based drugs, their stability in the circulation and capacity of traversing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is largely compromised, thereby limiting their potential clinical applications.

Amelioration of cognitive impairment using epigallocatechin-3-gallate in ovariectomized mice fed a high-fat diet involves remodeling with and Bifidobacteriales.

Estrogen deficiency and a high-fat diet (HFD) are both risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). HFD can accelerate cognitive impairment in estrogen-deficient patients, but there is currently no effective treatment. Epigallocatechin-3-galate (EGCG) is widely studied for its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-neurodegeneration effects.

Off-Stoichiometric Methylammonium Iodide Passivated Large-Grain Perovskite Film in Ambient Air for Efficient Inverted Solar Cells.

Hot-casting is a promising technique of depositing high-quality organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite thin films with large crystal grain size. Here, we reported the that the crystallinity and grain size of perovskite films could be systematically tailored by modulating the stoichiometry of the precursor solution in the hot-casting process under ambient condition with a relative humidity of 40%. It was found that a slight excess of methylammonium iodide (MAI) in the precursor solution could effectively compensate the MAI loss due to the high substrate temperature.