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Eur J Pharmacol 2021 Apr 10:174097. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Anesthesiology, The first Affiliated Hospital of SUN YAT-SEN University, Guangzhou 510080, China.

Renal fibrosis is the common pathological hallmark of chronic kidney disease, and SET domain containing lysine methyltransferase 7 (SETD7) promote considerably renal fibrosis. However, the signaling mechanisms underlying SETD7 driving renal fibrosis are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of SETD7 in M2 macrophages-myofibroblasts transition and the myeloid fibroblasts activation in folic acid and obstruction-induced renal fibrosis. Read More

Nat Metab 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.

Nat Metab 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Brown adipose tissue can expend large amounts of energy, and therefore increasing its size or activity is a promising therapeutic approach to combat metabolic disease. In humans, major deposits of brown fat cells are found intimately associated with large blood vessels, corresponding to perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT). However, the cellular origins of PVAT are poorly understood. Read More

Nat Metab 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige fat function in energy expenditure in part due to their role in thermoregulation, making these tissues attractive targets for treating obesity and metabolic disorders. While prolonged cold exposure promotes de novo recruitment of brown adipocytes, the exact sources of cold-induced thermogenic adipocytes are not completely understood. Here, we identify transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (Trpv1) vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells as previously unidentified thermogenic adipocyte progenitors. Read More

Mucosal Immunol 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.

Acute exacerbations (AE) of asthma, remain one of the biggest concerns for patients living with asthma. As such, identifying the causes, the molecular mechanisms involved and new therapeutic interventions to prevent AE is a high priority. Immunity to intestinal helminths involves the reactivation of type-2 immune responses leading to smooth muscle contraction and mucus hypersecretion-physiological processes very similar to acute exacerbations in the airways following allergen exposure. Read More

Aging (Albany NY) 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.

J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Pharmacology, Chungnam National University College of Pharmacy, Korea, Republic of

The secretion of platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by specific stimuli, such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, initially increases the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and continuous stimulation leads to VSMC apoptosis, resulting in the formation of atheroma. Autophagy suppresses VSMC apoptosis, and statins can activate autophagy. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the mechanism of the autophagy-mediated vasoprotective activity of rosuvastatin, one of the most potent statins, in VSMCs continuously stimulated with PDGF-BB, an PDGF isoform to induce phenotypic switching of VSMC, at a high concentration (100 ng/mL). Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Apr 12;14(4). Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

Extradigital glomus tumour is uncommon, little-known outside of its subungual location, and may present without its classic triad of tenderness, cold sensitivity and paroxysmal pain. Imaging is non-specific and diagnosis is often delayed, sometimes for years, leading to unnecessary morbidity. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice, although technique depends on case specifics. Read More

J Heart Lung Transplant 2021 Mar 13. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; The Heart Center, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address:

Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy (CAV) is a leading contributor to late transplant rejection. Although implicated, the mechanisms by which bone marrow-derived cells promote CAV remain unclear. Emerging evidence implicates the cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase AXL to be elevated in rejecting human allografts. Read More

J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

University of Lille, CHU Lille, INSERM, Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale et Stomatologie, U1008 - Controlled Drug Delivery Systems and Biomaterials, Lille, France.

Introduction: Maxillofacial reconstruction with bony free flap is a classical technique. However, pedicle ossification after such reconstruction is a misunderstood complication that is rarely reported in the literature. It is usually manifested as trismus, neck pain, and hard swelling, but it is predominantly asymptomatic and, thus, mainly incidentally discovered at a later stage. Read More

Int J Pharm 2021 Apr 9:120575. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. Electronic address:

The advent of drug-eluting stents (DES) has revolutionised the treatment of coronary artery disease. These devices, coated with anti-proliferative drugs, are deployed into stenosed or occluded vessels, compressing the plaque to restore natural blood flow, whilst simultaneously combating the evolution of restenotic tissue. Since the development of the first stent, extensive research has investigated how further advancements in stent technology can improve patient outcome. Read More

J Control Release 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Departments of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Materials Science & Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842, USA. Electronic address:

Zwitterionic polymer nanoparticles of diverse morphologies (spherical, cylindrical, and platelet-like) constructed from biocompatible sugar-based polymers are designed to extend the pharmacological activities of short- and long-acting insulin peptides, thereby providing potential for therapeutic systems capable of reducing the frequency of administration and improving patient compliance. Amphiphilic block copolymers composed of zwitterionic poly(d-glucose carbonate) and semicrystalline polylactide segments were synthesized, and the respective block length ratios were tuned to allow formation of nanoscopic assemblies having different morphologies. Insulin-loaded nanoparticles had similar sizes and morphologies to the unloaded nanoparticle counterparts. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Department of Pathology, Orange County-Anaheim Medical Center, Anaheim, CA.

Cellular neurothekeoma is a cutaneous tumor with a distinctive histopathologic appearance characterized by a dermal based multinodular proliferation of epithelioid to spindled cells. Although the tumor may show varying amounts of myxoid stroma, extensive myxoid change is uncommon. The tumor typically presents as a solitary nodule with a predilection for the head and neck and upper limbs; examples of multiple cellular neurothekeomas are decidedly rare. Read More

Reprod Sci 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Koodakyar St., Velenjak Ave, Chamran Highway, Tehran, Iran.

Uterine leiomyoma (UL), as the most prevalent type of women's health disorders, is a benign tumor that originates from the smooth muscle cell layer of the uterus. A great number of associated complications are observed including infertility, miscarriage, bleeding, pain, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and dyspareunia. Although the etiology of UL is largely undefined, environmental and genetic factors are witnessed to engage in the UL development. Read More

J Dev Orig Health Dis 2021 Apr 12:1-7. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Anatomy, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, WuXi, Jiangsu214122, China.

Intestinal atresia (IA), a common cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction, is a developmental defect, which disrupts the luminal continuity of the intestine. Here, we investigated (i) the process of lumen formation in human embryos; and (ii) how a defective lumen formation led to IA. We performed histological and histochemical study on 6-10 gestation week human embryos and on IA septal regions. Read More

Cell Adh Migr 2021 Dec;15(1):116-125

School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.

Phenotypic switching is the main cause of the abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We previously showed that Daxx exerted negative regulatory effect on AngII-induced VSMC proliferation and migration. However, the function of Daxx in VSMC phenotype switching remained unknown. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2021 Apr 10:e019922. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

From the Institute for Fetology First Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou China.

Background Antenatal intrauterine fetal hypoxia is a common pregnancy complication that has profound adverse effects on an individual's vascular health later in life. Pulmonary arteries are sensitive to hypoxia, but adverse effects of antenatal hypoxia on pulmonary vasoreactivities in the offspring remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects and related mechanisms of antenatal hypoxia on pulmonary artery functions in adult male offspring. Read More