Qili Qiangxin (QLQX) capsule as a multi-functional traditional Chinese medicine in treating chronic heart failure (CHF): A review of ingredients, molecular, cellular, and pharmacological mechanisms.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a key part of cardiovascular continuum. Under the guidance of the theory of vessel-collateral doctrine, the present study proposes therapeutic benefits of Qili Qiangxin (QLQX) capsules, an innovative Chinese medicine, on chronic heart failure. The studies show that multiple targets of the drug on CHF, including enhancing myocardial systole, promoting urine excretion, inhibiting excessive activation of the neuroendocrine system, preventing ventricular remodeling by inhibiting inflammatory response, myocardial fibrosis, apoptosis and autophagy, enhancing myocardial energy metabolism, promoting angiogenesis, and improving endothelial function. Investigation on the effects and mechanism of the drug is beneficial to the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) through multiple targets and/or signaling pathways. Meanwhile, it provides new insights to further understand other refractory diseases in the cardiovascular continuum, and it also has an important theoretical and practical significance in enhancing prevention and therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine for these diseases.

The relationship between VEGF-460(T>C) polymorphism and cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on 46 reports.

BACKGROUND: Extensive studies on the link between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and various malignancy risks produced conflicting results, notably for VEGF-460(T/C). To evaluate this correlation more comprehensively and accurately, we perform a meta-analysis. METHODS: Through retrieving 5 databases (Web of Science (WoS), Embase, Pubmed, Wanfang database (Wangfang), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)) and applying hand search, citation search, and gray literature search, 44 papers included 46 reports were enrolled. To evaluate the relationship between VEGF-460 and cancer risk, we pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Our results indicated that the VEGF-460 polymorphism is not related to malignancy susceptibility (dominant model, OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.87-1.09; recessive model, OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.82-1.10; heterozygous model, OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.90-1.10; homozygous model, OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.76-1.10; additive model, OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.90-1.07). While, in subgroup analysis, this SNP may reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION: this meta-analysis indicated that VEGF-460 was irrelevant to overall malignancy risk, but it might be a protective factor for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Exosomes Derived from AT2R-Overexpressing BMSC Prevent Restenosis After Carotid Artery Injury by Attenuating the Injury-Induced Neointimal Hyperplasia.

Restenosis is a severe complication after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty which limits the long-term efficacy of the intervention. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of exosomes derived from AT2R-overexpressing bone mesenchymal stem cells on the prevention of restenosis after carotid artery injury. Our data showed that AT2R-EXO promoted the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells and maintained the ratio of eNOS/iNOS. On the contrary, AT2R-EXO inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. In vivo study proved that AT2R-Exo were more effectively accumulated in the injured carotid artery than EXO and Vehicle-EXO controls. AT2R-EXO treatment could improve blood flow of the injured carotid artery site more effectively. Further analysis revealed that AT2REXO prevents restenosis after carotid artery injury by attenuating the injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia. Our study provides a novel and more efficient exosome for the treatment of restenosis diseases after intervention.

Effects of statin therapy and treatment duration on cardiovascular disease risk in patients with nephrotic syndrome: A nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Although statins are the cornerstone of lipid management, hardly any of the existing studies on statin treatment of dyslipidemia in nephrotic syndrome (NS) addressed patient-centered outcomes of cardiovascular events. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether statin treatment impacts the outcomes of cardiovascular events in patients with NS. DESIGN: A single-center, retrospective, nested case-control study analyzed data from the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University. PATIENTS: Patients diagnosed with NS from January 1, 1999, to November 30, 2014, were selected and followed up for 5 years. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 2706 patients with NS were enrolled in this study cohort. Among these, 115 patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) at the end of the observational period and 235 CVD-free controls enrolled by 1:2 matching with gender, age, and index time were included in the study. Propensity score matching was used to match (1:1) the baseline characteristics of the cases and controls. The chi-square test was performed based on whether the patient used a statin as an exposure factor, and binary logistic regression analysis of the association between cardiovascular events and statin therapy duration was conducted. Subgroup analyses for relevant variables were also performed. The chi-square test showed that statin therapy was significantly associated with a reduction in CVD risk in patients with NS (p = 0.002). Furthermore, the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with NS decreased as the length of statin treatment increased (OR = 0.82 [95% CI 0.73-0.89], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For NS patients with dyslipidemia, statin therapy may be used to decrease CVD risk, and extended treatment was associated with more significant risk reduction.

Hydrothermal syntheses, luminescent properties, and temperature sensing of monodisperse Tb-doped NaCeF4 nanocrystals.

Monodisperse Tb-doped NaCeF4 nanocrystals were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The morphology, and room temperature and temperature dependent luminescent properties were investigated. Excited at 254 nm, the emissions of Ce3+ at 270-370 nm and those of Tb3+ at 475-700 nm can be observed. The strongest visible emission was observed in NaCeF4:20 at% Tb with a quantum yield of 49%. The efficiency of energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ increases with the Tb3+ doping concentration and reaches 95% for NaCeF4:30 at% Tb. The ratio of Tb3+ emission to Ce3+ emission is sensitive to temperature, and the relative sensitivity was calculated to be 1.0% °C-1 at 60 °C. The mechanisms for this thermal dependence were analyzed in terms of non-radiative relaxation and energy migration.

The prevalence of parasites and pathogens in Asian honeybees Apis cerana in China.

Pathogens and parasites represent significant threats to the health and well-being of honeybee species that are key pollinators of agricultural crops and flowers worldwide. We conducted a nationwide survey to determine the occurrence and prevalence of pathogens and parasites in Asian honeybees, Apis cerana, in China. Our study provides evidence of infections of A. cerana by pathogenic Deformed wing virus (DWV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), Nosema ceranae, and C. bombi species that have been linked to population declines of European honeybees, A. mellifera, and bumble bees. However, the prevalence of DWV, a virus that causes widespread infection in A. mellifera, was low, arguably a result of the greater ability of A. cerana to resist the ectoprasitic mite Varroa destructor, an efficient vector of DWV. Analyses of microbial communities from the A. cerana digestive tract showed that Nosema infection could have detrimental effects on the gut microbiota. Workers infected by N. ceranae tended to have lower bacterial quantities, with these differences being significant for the Bifidobacterium and Pasteurellaceae bacteria groups. The results of this nationwide screen show that parasites and pathogens that have caused serious problems in European honeybees can be found in native honeybee species kept in Asia. Environmental changes due to new agricultural practices and globalization may facilitate the spread of pathogens into new geographic areas. The foraging behavior of pollinators that are in close geographic proximity likely have played an important role in spreading of parasites and pathogens over to new hosts. Phylogenetic analyses provide insights into the movement and population structure of these parasites, suggesting a bidirectional flow of parasites among pollinators. The presence of these parasites and pathogens may have considerable implications for an observed population decline of Asian honeybees.