GRK2 Orchestrates VSMC Phenotypic Modulation via DNMT1-Mediated DNA Methylation Reprogramming.

Background: Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic modulation is responsible for the pathogenesis of hyper-muscularized arterial diseases. Recent studies have highlighted the critical role of epigenetic regulation in VSMC fate. However, the mechanisms underlying the precise regulation of the epigenetic machinery in VSMC remain unclear.

The GRK2/AP-1 Signaling Axis Mediates Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis Induced by Oscillatory Low Shear Stress.

Disturbed blood flow and the resulting oscillatory low shear stress (OSS) are key contributors to vascular endothelial dysfunction and the initiation of atherosclerosis. However, the molecular mediators that translate abnormal hemodynamic signals into pathological vascular endothelial responses remain unclear. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are classical mechanosensors in the vascular endothelium.

Associations of artificial sweetener intake with cardiometabolic disorders and mortality: a population-based study.

Artificial sweeteners are generally used and recommended to alternate added sugar for health promotion. However, the health effects of artificial sweeteners remain unclear. In this study, we included 6371 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with artificial sweetener intake records.

Vitamin D supplementation for cardiometabolic risk markers in pregnant women based on the gestational diabetes mellitus or obesity status : a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or obesity are vulnerable to impaired gestational cardiovascular health (CVH) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the future. It is unclear if prenatal vitamin D supplementation improves gestational CVH, especially in women at high risk for developing CVD. Our goal was to find out if vitamin D supplementation could protect against gestational CVH, including the women with GDM or obesity.

Inhibition of PCSK9 Improves the Development of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Via Down-Regulating Notch3 Expression.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal disease characterized by continuous constriction and occlusion of small pulmonary arteries, leading to the development of right ventricular failure and death. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a kind of serine protease enzyme that increases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels through degrading low-density lipoprotein cholesterol receptors (LDLr). However, whether inhibition of PCSK9 can alleviate PAH has not been reported.

Previous pregnancy loss and gestational cardiovascular health: A prospective cohort of nulliparous women.

Objectives: To estimate the association of previous pregnancy loss with subsequent cardiovascular health during gestation and to examine the role of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the association.

Methods: A total of 2,778 nulliparous pregnant women were recruited between March 2015 and November 2020 in Hefei city, China. Their cardiovascular health (CVH) including prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and smoke status were recorded at 24-28 weeks' gestation, as well as their reproductive history.

Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollution and Pre-Labor Rupture of Membranes in a Prospective Cohort Study: The Role of Maternal Hemoglobin and Iron Supplementation.

Background: Exposure to air pollution in prenatal period is associated with prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM). However, the sensitive exposure time windows and the possible biological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear.

Objective: We aimed to identify the sensitive time windows of exposure to air pollution for PROM risk.

Maternal 25(OH)D attenuates the relationship between ambient air pollution during pregnancy and fetal hyperinsulinism.

Inflammatory responses have been demonstrated to link air pollution with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in adults. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between prenatal air pollution and fetal β-cell function and the mediating effect of systematic inflammation remains elusive. Whether the anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin D could attenuate the β-cell dysfunction in early life warrants further investigations.

Establishment of a canine model of pulmonary arterial hypertension induced by dehydromonocrotaline and ultrasonographic study of right ventricular remodeling.

Objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) means high blood pressure in the lungs. We aimed to observe the right ventricular size, wall thickness and characteristic functional changes and their associations with PAH in an established model of beagle dogs, and to explore convenient, reliable and sensitive ultrasound indicators for assessing right ventricular remodeling.

Methods: Twenty healthy beagle dogs (8-10 kg) were randomly divided into control group (N-dimethylformamide,  = 10) and dehydromonocrotaline (DHMCT) group (DHMCT,  = 10).

Associations of cord blood meta-inflammation and vitamin D with neurodevelopmental delay: A prospective birth cohort study in China.

Aim: To estimate the associations of cord meta-inflammatory markers with neurodevelopment, including the potential impact of cord blood vitamin D levels.

Method: The prospective cohort study comprised 7198 participants based on the Maternal & Infants Health in Hefei study. Cord blood C-peptide, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides and 25(OH)D levels were measured.

Sleep patterns modify the association of 25(OH)D with poor cardiovascular health in pregnant women.

Background: The relationship between vitamin D status and gestational cardiovascular health (CVH) is inconsistent in previous studies. Emerging evidence shows that sleep behaviors are related to vitamin D metabolism. However, no studies evaluate the interaction of vitamin D and sleep behaviors on gestational CVH.

Adequate 25(OH)D moderates the relationship between dietary inflammatory potential and cardiovascular health risk during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Background: Pro-inflammatory diets play an important role in developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Vitamin D has been demonstrated to have an anti-inflammatory effect and promote cardiovascular health (CVH). However, it is unclear whether adequate vitamin D during pregnancy protects against poor CVH caused by pro-inflammatory diets.

Plasma Small Extracellular Vesicle-Carried miRNA-501-5p Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Modulation-Mediated In-Stent Restenosis.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic modulation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of in-stent restenosis (ISR), the underlying mechanism of which remains a key issue needing to be urgently addressed. This study is designed to investigate the role of plasma small extracellular vesicles (sEV) in VSMC phenotypic modulation. sEV were isolated from the plasma of patients with ISR (ISR-sEV) or not (Ctl-sEV) 1 year after coronary stent implantation using differential ultracentrifugation.

The association of vitamin D status and supplementation during pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus: a Chinese prospective birth cohort study.

Background: Previous studies have shown conflicting findings regarding the relation of vitamin D status and supplementation during pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Most of these studies hypothesized that 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were associated with GDM risk and glucose metabolism based on linear association models.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the associations of 25(OH)D concentrations and vitamin D supplementation with GDM risk and glucose metabolism and determine the threshold concentrations of 25(OH)D that could significantly affect glucose metabolism and GDM risk.

[Effect of dexmedetomidine on inflammatory factors level and cognitive function after femoral head replacement in elderly patients].

Objective: To analyze the effect of dexmedetomidine on the inflammatory factors level and cognitive function after femoral head replacement in elderly patients.

Methods: From January 2016 to December 2017, 60 elderly patients(more than 60 years old, and Grade I to II of ASA) treated with femoral head replacement were divided into three groups, and 20 in each group. All patients received midazolam, fentanyl, etomidate, cisatracurium anesthesia induction and sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia maintenance.

Efficacy and safety of oral targeted therapies in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Oral targeted therapies play an important role in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Several new oral agents have emerged for PAH in recent years. However, whether they provide a survival advantage is still not clear.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Affecting Platelet Reactivity in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and platelet reactivity in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been defined. The present prospective, single-center study explored the relationship between platelet reactivity and OSA in patients with PCI.

Methods: A total of 242 patients were finally included in the study.

Targeted drugs for pulmonary arterial hypertension: a network meta-analysis of 32 randomized clinical trials.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease and ultimately leads to right heart failure and premature death. A total of four classical targeted drugs, prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE-5Is), and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator (sGCS), have been proved to improve exercise capacity and hemodynamics compared to placebo; however, direct head-to-head comparisons of these drugs are lacking. This network meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively compare the efficacy of these targeted drugs for PAH.

Pulmonary artery denervation improves pulmonary arterial hypertension induced right ventricular dysfunction by modulating the local renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is commonly accompanied with the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) reduces PAH partly through the inhibition of RAAS. Analogically, we hypothesized that pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) could reverse PAH and PAH-induced right ventricular (RV) dysfunction by downregulating the local RAAS activity.