Serine metabolism in aging and age-related diseases.

Non-essential amino acids are often overlooked in biomedical research; however, they are crucial components of organismal metabolism. One such metabolite that is integral to physiological function is serine. Serine acts as a pivotal link connecting glycolysis with one-carbon and lipid metabolism, as well as with pyruvate and glutathione syntheses.

Helicobacter pylori Infection Is Not Associated with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Two-Year Cohort Study.

Introduction: Previous studies reported inconsistent results of the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: A cohort study of 2,063 adults without NAFLD at baseline, who participated in a repeated health checkup including a 13C-urea breath test and abdominal ultrasonography, was conducted to evaluate the link between H. pylori infection and NAFLD development.

Pro-Inflammatory Characteristics of Extracellular Vesicles in the Vitreous of Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness, yet its molecular mechanisms are unclear. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contribute to dysfunction in DR, but the characteristics and functions of vitreous EVs are unclear. This study investigated the inflammatory properties of type 2 diabetic (db) vitreous EVs.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Type 2 Diabetic versus Non-Diabetic Vitreous Fluids.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss, with complex mechanisms. The study aimed to comprehensively explore vitreous humor of diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, paving the way for identifying the potential molecular mechanisms underlying DR.

Methods: Vitreous samples from type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, collected post-mortem, were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Spermine oxidase inhibitor, MDL 72527, reduced neovascularization, vascular permeability, and acrolein-conjugated proteins in a mouse model of ischemic retinopathy.

Disruptions in polyamine metabolism have been identified as contributing factors to various central nervous system disorders. Our laboratory has previously highlighted the crucial role of polyamine oxidation in retinal disease models, specifically noting elevated levels of spermine oxidase (SMOX) in inner retinal neurons. Our prior research demonstrated that inhibiting SMOX with MDL 72527 protected against vascular injury and microglial activation induced by hyperoxia in the retina.

Age differences in the association of body mass index-defined obesity with abdominal aortic calcification.

Objectives: In cardiovascular disease, previous studies have suggested young age as one of the reasons to explain the obesity paradox. This study attempts to provide a different opinion on this claim through unexpected findings.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional analysis of the US nationally representative data, total of 10,175 participants were recruited in 2013-2014 from NHANES.

Pharmacological Modulation of β-Catenin Preserves Endothelial Barrier Integrity and Mitigates Retinal Vascular Permeability and Inflammation.

Compromised blood-retinal barrier (BRB) integrity is a significant factor in ocular diseases like uveitis and retinopathies, leading to pathological vascular permeability and retinal edema. Adherens and tight junction (AJ and TJ) dysregulation due to retinal inflammation plays a pivotal role in BRB disruption. We investigated the potential of ICG001, which inhibits β-catenin-mediated transcription, in stabilizing cell junctions and preventing BRB leakage.

A multi-arm, parallel, preclinical study investigating the potential benefits of acetazolamide, candesartan, and triciribine in combination with fluconazole for the treatment of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis.

Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, primarily infects immunodeficient patients frequently causing cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM). Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a serious complication responsible for increased morbidity and mortality in CM patients. Non-invasive pharmacological agents that mitigate ICP could be beneficial in treating CM patients.

is a Novel Long Noncoding RNA Promoting Vascular Smooth Muscle Inflammation via Scaffolding MKL1 and USP10.

Background: Activation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) inflammation is vital to initiate vascular disease. The role of human-specific long noncoding RNAs in VSMC inflammation is poorly understood.

Methods: Bulk RNA sequencing in differentiated human VSMCs revealed a novel human-specific long noncoding RNA called inflammatory MKL1 (megakaryoblastic leukemia 1) interacting long noncoding RNA ().

Triciribine attenuates pathological neovascularization and vascular permeability in a mouse model of proliferative retinopathy.

Proliferative retinopathies are the leading cause of irreversible blindness in all ages, and there is a critical need to identify novel therapies. We investigated the impact of triciribine (TCBN), a tricyclic nucleoside analog and a weak Akt inhibitor, on retinal neurovascular injury, vascular permeability, and inflammation in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). Post-natal day 7 (P7) mouse pups were subjected to OIR, and treated (i.

is a novel long noncoding RNA promoting vascular smooth muscle inflammation via scaffolding MKL1 and USP10.

Background: Activation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) inflammation is vital to initiate vascular disease. However, the role of human-specific long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in VSMC inflammation is poorly understood.

Methods: Bulk RNA-seq in differentiated human VSMCs revealed a novel human-specific lncRNA called IN flammatory M K L1 I nteracting L ong N oncoding RNA ( ).

Pharmacological Inhibition of Spermine Oxidase Suppresses Excitotoxicity Induced Neuroinflammation in Mouse Retina.

Polyamine oxidation plays a major role in neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that spermine oxidase (SMOX, a member of the polyamine oxidase family) inhibition using MDL 72527 reduced neurodegeneration in models of retinal excitotoxicity and diabetic retinopathy. However, the mechanisms behind the neuroprotection offered by SMOX inhibition are not completely studied.

MKL1 cooperates with p38MAPK to promote vascular senescence, inflammation, and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a catastrophic disease with little effective therapy. Myocardin related transcription factor A (MRTFA, MKL1) is a multifaceted transcription factor, regulating diverse biological processes. However, a detailed understanding of the mechanistic role of MKL1 in AAA has yet to be elucidated.

Association between the non-HDL-cholesterol-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio and the risk of gallbladder polyp formation among men: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Dyslipidaemia and male sex are associated with gallbladder polyp (GBP) formation. However, the potential relation between the non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol-to-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-c/HDL-c) ratio and GBPs in men is unclear.

Methods: A total of 1866 eligible subjects were selected for this retrospective cohort study from Wuhan Union Hospital between April 1, 2013, and November 30, 2014.

Maternal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and risk of premature rupture of membranes in Wuhan, Central China: a cohort study.

Background: The associations between maternal exposure to ambient PM during pregnancy and the risk of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) are controversial. And no relevant study has been conducted in Asia. This study aimed to determine the association between maternal exposure to ambient PM during pregnancy and the risk of (P)PROM.

Overexpression of Axl reverses endothelial cells dysfunction in high glucose and hypoxia.

The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl is involved in diabetic vascular disease. This study aims to investigate the effect of high glucose on endothelial cells injury and Axl expression in hypoxia condition in vitro, and we present details of the mechanism associated with overexpression of Axl rescue the high glucose injury. Our results showed that high glucose impaired both human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and EAhy926 cells angiogenesis in hypoxia condition.

Growth arrest-specific gene 6 transfer promotes mesenchymal stem cell survival and cardiac repair under hypoxia and ischemia via enhanced autocrine signaling and paracrine action.

Poor cell viability after transplantation has restricted the therapeutic capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cardiac dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI). Growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) encodes a secreted γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-containing protein that functions in cell growth, adhesion, chemotaxis, mitogenesis and cell survival. In this study, we genetically modified MSCs with Gas6 and evaluated cell survival, cardiac function, and infarct size in a rat model of MI via intramyocardial delivery.

Non-HDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio is a better predictor of new-onset non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than non-HDL-cholesterol: a cohort study.

Background: The nonHDLc/HDLc ratio (in which nonHDLc is defined as total cholesterol minus HDLc) is positively associated with multiple dyslipidemia-related disorders. This study aimed to determine whether the nonHDLc/HDLc ratio is an independent predictor of new-onset NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) in Chinese population.

Methods: A perspective cohort study consisting of 3374 Chinese adults without liver diseases or metabolic disturbances was performed.

Transgenic Overexpression of IL-37 Protects Against Atherosclerosis and Strengthens Plaque Stability.

Background/aims: Recently, studies have shown that interleukin-37 (IL-37) is involved in atherosclerosis-related diseases. However, the regulatory mechanisms of IL-37 in atherosclerosis remain unknown. This study aims to determine the role of IL-37 in atherosclerosis and to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved.

Coexistence of congenital left ventricular aneurysm and prominent left ventricular trabeculation in a patient with LDB3 mutation: a case report.

Background: The coexistence of congenital left ventricular aneurysm and abnormal cardiac trabeculation with gene mutation has not been reported previously. Here, we report a case of coexisting congenital left ventricular aneurysm and prominent left ventricular trabeculation in a patient with LIM domain binding 3 gene mutation.

Case Presentation: A 30-year-old Asian man showed paroxysmal sinus tachycardia and Q waves in an electrocardiogram health check.

The clinical value of inflammatory biomarkers in coronary artery disease: PTX3 as a new inflammatory marker.

Objective: Previous experiments have demonstrated that several inflammatory biomarkers, including pentraxin 3 (PTX3), matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP9), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), are differentially elevated in coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aims to compare the associations between plasma levels of these biomarkers and CAD, identifying the best biomarker that has the most powerful association with CAD.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 64 patients admitted to the Department of Cardiology, 31 of whom had CAD and 33 of whom were CAD-free.

The efficacy advantage of evolocumab (AMG 145) dosed at 140mg every 2weeks versus 420mg every 4weeks in patients with hypercholesterolemia: Evidence from a meta-analysis.

Background: Evolocumab (AMG 145), a PCSK9 inhibitor, has been shown to decrease low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Doses of 140mg administered every 2weeks (Q2W) and 420mg administered every 4weeks (Q4W) are widely used, and both dosing schedules were effective in clinical trials. However, some researchers have speculated that 140mg Q2W administration has equal or even greater efficacy.

TSLPR deficiency attenuates atherosclerotic lesion development associated with the inhibition of TH17 cells and the promotion of regulator T cells in ApoE-deficient mice.

Aims: We generated thymic stromal lymphopoietin R-chain deficient apolipoprotein E-double knockout (ApoE-TSLPR DKO) mice to directly explore the role of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in atherogenesis.

Methods And Results: Both thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and its receptor are expressed in atherosclerotic aortas of apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice. Serum thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is markedly increased in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice fed with a high fat diet (HFD).