Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Zhichao Zhou, Aida Collado, Changyan Sun, Yahor Tratsiakovich, Ali Mahdi, Hanna Winter, Ekaterina Chernogubova, Till Seime, Sampath Narayanan, Tong Jiao, Hong Jin, Michael Alvarsson, Xiaowei Zheng, Jiangning Yang, Ulf Hedin, Sergiu-Bogdan Catrina, Lars Maegdefessel, John Pernow
Summary: Red blood cells (RBC) play a role in vascular injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and miR-210 is decreased in T2DM patients. This study shows that downregulation of RBC miR-210 induces endothelial dysfunction in T2DM. Transfection of miR-210 can rescue endothelial function, while inhibition of miR-210 impairs endothelial function. The downregulation of RBC miR-210 involves PTP1B and reactive oxygen species.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Daniel Dankl, Richard Rezar, Behrooz Mamandipoor, Zhichao Zhou, Sarah Wernly, Bernhard Wernly, Venet Osmani
Summary: This study validated the association between red cell distribution width (RDW) and mortality in septic patients. The results showed that high RDW was associated with higher hospital mortality and ICU mortality. The optimal RDW cutoff for predicting hospital mortality was determined to be 16%.
MEDICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Michelle Broekhuizen, Rene de Vries, Marja A. W. Smits, Willem A. Dik, Sam Schoenmakers, Birgit C. P. Koch, Daphne Merkus, Irwin K. M. Reiss, A. H. Jan Danser, Sinno H. P. Simons, Emilie Hitzerd
Summary: This study investigated the placental transfer, vascular effects, and anti-inflammatory actions of pentoxifylline in healthy and pre-eclamptic human placentas. The results showed that while pentoxifylline had beneficial effects on vasodilation and inflammation in healthy placentas, these effects were not retained in pre-eclamptic placentas. This limits the application of pentoxifylline in the treatment of pre-eclampsia, but it may still have value for other placenta-related disorders.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jarno J. Steenhorst, Alexander Hirsch, Annemarie Verzijl, Piotr Wielopolski, Daphne De Wijs-Meijler, Dirk J. Duncker, Irwin K. M. Reiss, Daphne Merkus
Summary: Prematurely born young adults who experienced neonatal oxidative injury (NOI) of the lungs have increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the long-term effects of NOI on cardiopulmonary function in piglets at the age of 10-12 weeks. It was found that the duration of neonatal hypoxia is an important determinant of alterations in cardiopulmonary function that persist further into life.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Dirk J. Duncker, Oana Sorop, Jens van de Wouw, Gao Fen, Vincent J. de Beer, Yannick J. Taverne, Henri J. D. de Graaff, Daphne Merkus
Summary: This study demonstrates important species differences in the regulation of coronary blood flow by adenosine, NO, and K-ATP channels at rest and during exercise. In swine, these mechanisms follow a linear additive design, as opposed to dogs which follow a nonlinear redundant design. Simultaneous blockade of all three mechanisms virtually abolished exercise-induced coronary vasodilation in dogs, whereas a substantial vasodilator reserve could still be recruited during exercise in swine.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ali Mahdi, Tigist Wodaje, Oskar Kovamees, John Tengbom, Allan Zhao, Tong Jiao, Marcus Henricsson, Jiangning Yang, Zhichao Zhou, Anni Nieminen, Malin Levin, Aida Collado, Jonas Brinck, John Pernow
Summary: This study demonstrates that red blood cells (FH-RBCs) from patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels induce endothelial dysfunction, which is associated with an increased risk of premature atherosclerosis. This is mainly achieved through increased levels of arginase 1 and reactive oxygen species (ROS).
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Payel Sen, Oana Sorop, Daphne Merkus
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Yu Cheng, Zhichao Zhou, James M. Papadopoulos, Jason D. Zuke, Tanya G. Falbel, Karthik Anantharaman, Briana M. Burton, Ophelia S. Venturelli
Summary: The factors influencing HGT via natural transformation in microbial communities, including extracellular DNA release, plasmid properties, donor stress responses and lysis rates, as well as interspecies interactions, have been investigated in a microbial co-culture. It has been found that plasmid release and HGT efficiency are enhanced in the co-culture compared to monocultures, with the key determining factor being the donor's ability to induce SOS response and release plasmids in high concentrations. Notably, HGT efficiency is independent of the viability state of the donor cells.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Qihang Kong, Junteng Zhou, Chi Ma, Zisong Wei, Yan Chen, Yue Cheng, Wenchao Wu, Zhichao Zhou, Yong Tang, Xiaojing Liu
Summary: Cardiac fibrosis, characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, is a pathological process in myocardial remodeling. The novel lncRNA Gm41724 was found to play a critical regulatory role in cardiac fibrosis induced by pressure overload. Knockdown of Gm41724 inhibited CFs differentiation into myofibroblasts and alleviated pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis. Mechanistically, Gm41724 was found to bind with lamina-associated polypeptide 2 alpha (lap2 alpha) and regulate the activation of CFs. Downstream effector Rgs4 was identified to be involved in CFs activation.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yang Chen, Md Misbahul Ferdous, Lakshme Kottu, Jie Zhao, Hong-Liang Zhang, Mo-Yang Wang, Guan-Nan Niu, Qing-Rong Liu, Zheng Zhou, Zhen-Yan Zhao, Qian Zhang, De-Jing Feng, Bin Zhang, Zi-Ang Li, Daphne Merkus, Bin Lv, Hai-Yan Xu, Guang-Yuan Song, Yong-Jian Wu
Summary: The primary goal of this study was to summarize the medium- and short-term clinical effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) guided by accurate multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) measurements in patients with severe and chronic aortic regurgitation (AR), especially in elderly patients. Patients were categorized based on MDCT measurements, anatomical classification, and perioperative outcomes, and those who met the criteria for TAVR underwent the procedure. The results showed that TAVR with a self-expanding transcatheter heart valve (THV) is a safe and feasible treatment option for patients with chronic severe AR, particularly those who meet the criteria for appropriate MDCT anatomical classification with intact dual aortic anchors, and it has a significant clinical effect for at least a year.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Hematology
Eftychia Kontidou, Aida Collado, John Pernow, Zhichao Zhou
Summary: Recent studies have found that red blood cells (RBCs) have functions beyond gas transport and undergo functional changes in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. RBC dysfunction is associated with various diseases including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, preeclampsia, familial hypercholesterolemia/dyslipidemia, and COVID-19. The mechanisms include decreased nitric oxide bioavailability, increased arginase activity, and reactive oxygen species formation. RBCs contain diverse miRNAs which are altered in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, contributing to the development of cardiovascular complications. RBC-derived miRNAs interact with the cardiovascular system through extracellular vesicles and argonaute RISC catalytic component 2. Understanding the function of RBC-derived miRNAs can provide insights into disease mechanisms and potential targets for cardiovascular complications treatment.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ximeng He, Zhichao Zhou
Summary: Heart failure is a leading cause of death worldwide and is associated with various mechanisms including sympatho-excitation. Enhanced carotid body chemoreflex function plays a role in the excessive sympathetic nerve activity and sleep-disordered breathing seen in heart failure. Targeting purinergic receptors has been suggested as a potential strategy to combat heart failure. A recent study found that targeting purinergic P2X(3) receptors in the carotid body can attenuate the progression of heart failure. This study provides valuable insights into the potential treatment options for heart failure.
PURINERGIC SIGNALLING
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Youwei Li, Yuanfang Zhang, Honglin Shang, Qiang Gao, Qiping Wen, Na Chen, Mingchun Zhai, Jingxin Liu, Zhichao Zhou, Guanying Yang, Wei Wang, Zongming Zhang, Jianing Xi
Summary: This study conducted a scientometric analysis of IVIM literature using CiteSpace software to construct a knowledge framework and explore hotspots and emerging trends in the use of IVIM in humans. The results showed that the research in the IVIM field mainly focused on perfusion, diffusion-weighted imaging, IVIM technique, apparent diffusion coefficient, and magnetic resonance imaging. The frontier topics were brain perfusion and accuracy, and the main research directions were liver, diffusion weighting, pancreas, and brain.
MEDICAL SCIENCE MONITOR
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Junteng Zhou, Geer Tian, Yue Quan, Qihang Kong, Fangyang Huang, Junli Li, Wenchao Wu, Yong Tang, Zhichao Zhou, Xiaojing Liu
Summary: Cardiac fibrosis is a detrimental process in cardiovascular disease, leading to reduced cardiac compliance and ultimately heart failure. In this study, the key long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) THBS1-AS1 was identified as positively associated with cardiac fibrosis. Functional studies demonstrated that THBS1-AS1 could regulate cardiac fibroblast activation through miR-221/222 and TGFBR1. In vivo knockdown of THBS1-AS1 alleviated cardiac fibrosis, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis treatment.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lijin Shen, Ya Dong, Mingzhen Li, Zhichao Zhou, Jing Zhang, Yanjie Liu, Wei Zhao
Summary: This study evaluated the change in leukocyte levels caused by hyperuricemia and explored the relationship between leukocyte levels and hypertension in elderly patients. The findings revealed that leukocyte levels were higher in elderly patients with hyperuricemia compared to those without hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia was found to be an independent risk factor for leukocyte levels and hypertension. Furthermore, chronic inflammation caused by hyperuricemia may be an important pathogenesis of incident hypertension in patients with hyperuricemia.