Review
Physiology
Corey Wittig, Robert Szulcek
Summary: This review explores how the ratios of ECM proteins change in cardiovascular diseases and the aged individuum, with a focus on collagen-I, collagen-III, and elastin. The study reveals a tendency for increased collagen-I/collagen-III and decreased elastin/collagen ratios in cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the potential implications for pathological states and differences between human heart and aortic ECM protein ratios.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Akiko Mammoto, Kienna Matus, Tadanori Mammoto
Summary: The aging population is rapidly increasing, with arterial aging leading to various age-related pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases. Age-related changes in the aortic wall affect stable circulation and lead to organ dysfunction. Remodeling of the extracellular matrix is a hallmark of aortic functional stiffening in aging.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Massimiliano Peana, Alessio Pelucelli, Christos T. Chasapis, Spyros P. Perlepes, Vlasoula Bekiari, Serenella Medici, Maria Antonietta Zoroddu
Summary: Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that can cause chronic exposure and increase the risk of various cancers. It is mainly released into the environment through human activities such as industrial processes, pollution, waste incineration, and electronic waste recycling. Cd-induced carcinogenesis mechanisms include oxidative stress, inhibition of antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and interference with DNA repair systems. Proper treatments for Cd poisoning and preventive measures to counteract chronic exposure are summarized in this paper.
Article
Surgery
Lakmini Liyanage, Liam Musto, Charley Budgeon, Guy Rutty, Mike Biggs, Athanasios Saratzis, David A. Vorp, Vasileios Vavourakis, Matthew Bown, Alkiviadis Tsamis
Summary: The study assessed the proportion of collagen and elastin in the arterial wall and evaluated the collagen microstructure. The results showed that the aorta and iliac arteries are structurally non-uniform, with variations in the percentages of collagen and elastin and differences in collagen fiber diameter in different regions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoming Zhou, Yijun Feng, Zonglin Gong
Summary: This study found associations between blood levels of heavy metal elements cadmium, lead, mercury, urinary total arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid and elevation of ALT in adults. The associations between blood lead and mercury with ALT elevation were only observed in women.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Hamed Aramjoo, Morteza Arab-Zozani, Ali Feyzi, Ali Naghizadeh, Michael Aschner, Abolfazl Naimabadi, Tahereh Farkhondeh, Saeed Samarghandian
Summary: This study used a systematic and meta-analysis approach to investigate the association between cadmium exposure and blood pressure/hypertension. The findings suggest a positive relationship between blood and hair cadmium levels and hypertension, and indicate that hair is the optimal biological sample for assessing this relationship for both genders.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Shimeng Li, Qinbo Wang, Wenting Luo, Shanshan Jia, Dan Liu, Wei Ma, Hui Gu, Xiaowei Wei, Yiwen He, Songying Cao, Zhengwei Yuan
Summary: This meta-analysis found a positive association between maternal exposure to heavy metals during pregnancy and congenital heart defects (CHDs), particularly with arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead. Different measurement methods led to heterogeneous relationships, mainly due to differences in actual exposure levels to heavy metals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Alessandro Giudici, Ye Li, Yasmin, Sarah Cleary, Kathleen Connolly, Carmel McEniery, Ian B. Wilkinson, Ashraf W. Khir
Summary: Age-related remodelling of the arterial wall shifts the load bearing from the compliant elastin network to the stiffer collagen fibres. This study found that the tangential elastic modulus increased with age, while the elastin stiffness-like parameter decreased between 30 and 40 years. Changes in collagen parameters were observed later at age > 60 years.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Alessandro Giudici, Ye Li, Yasmin, Sarah Cleary, Kathleen Connolly, Carmel McEniery, Ian B. Wilkinson, Ashraf W. Khir
Summary: The study found that the human thoracic aorta stiffens during its life-course, which is related to the degeneration time-courses of elastin and collagen.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Robert D. Hume, Shaan Kanagalingam, Tejas Deshmukh, Siqi Chen, Suzanne M. Mithieux, Fairooj N. Rashid, Iman Roohani, Juntang Lu, Tram Doan, Dinny Graham, Zoe E. Clayton, Eugene Slaughter, Eddy Kizana, April S. Stempien-Otero, Paula Brown, Liza Thomas, Anthony S. Weiss, James J. H. Chong
Summary: This study demonstrated that tropoelastin can improve post-MI healing by enhancing cardiac repair and reducing scar formation. Tropoelastin injection significantly improved left ventricular function, reduced scar size, and increased scar elastin content. Furthermore, it promoted elastic fiber formation and reduced immune response. The findings suggest potential therapeutic strategies for manipulating scar synthesis after MI.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Victoria dos Santos Chemelo, Leonardo Oliveira Bittencourt, Walessa Alana Braganca Aragao, Savio Monteiro dos Santos, Renata Duarte Souza-Rodrigues, Carolina Heitmann Mares Azevedo Ribeiro, Marta Chagas Monteiro, Rafael Rodrigues Lima
Summary: The study revealed that low doses of HgCl(2) can increase total mercury levels in plasma and blood cells, and affect some blood cell populations, particularly with changes in leukocytes and platelets.
BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaofeng Wang, Zhiyuan Bai, Kecheng Li, Jiahui Dong, Han Zhang, Xuedi Liu, Wenjuan Han, Qian Li
Summary: A novel PLCL/elastin composite material was developed by electrospinning, which showed enhanced hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties due to the incorporation of elastin. Cell culture experiments demonstrated that the composite fiber membrane promoted the proliferation and adhesion of endothelial cells and induced a contractile phenotype in smooth muscle cells. These findings suggest that the PLCL/elastin composite material has great potential for vascular graft applications.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Utsav N. Patel, Urvesh D. Patel, Aniket Khadayata, Rahul K. Vaja, Harshad B. Patel, Chirag M. Modi
Summary: This study evaluated the behavior, oxidative stress, gene expressions, and histopathological changes in the brain of zebrafish following exposure to cadmium chloride and mercury chloride alone and in combination. The results showed anxiety-like behavior in all toxicity groups, significant downregulation of Nrf2 in the brain, and changes in glutathione and malondialdehyde levels. Additionally, significant pathological changes were observed in various brain regions of zebrafish, with the Cd + Hg group showing severe changes in the periventricular gray zone of the optic tectum.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Songqing Liu, Xin Deng, Zheng Li, Wenjing Zhou, Gang Wang, Jiasui Zhan, Binhong Hu
Summary: Cadmium exposure disrupts the balance between blood and intestinal flora, leading to an increase in specific gut and blood microbiota. Cd exposure also causes the translocation of certain bacteria from the gut into the blood. Additionally, Cd exposure is associated with changes in serum metabolites.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jacopo J. Branca, Donatello Carrino, Ferdinando Paternostro, Gabriele Morucci, Claudia Fiorillo, Claudio Nicoletti, Massimo Gulisano, Carla Ghelardini, Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli, Matteo Becatti, Alessandra Pacini
Summary: Cadmium is a well-known toxic pollutant that can accumulate in the brain and increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Zinc, on the other hand, has antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the role of zinc in preventing cadmium-induced blood-brain barrier alterations. The results showed that zinc protected cells from cadmium-induced damage and prevented blood-brain barrier impairment.