Physiological Research

Aspirin supplemented with quercetin was reported to enhance the therapeutic effects of aspirin in a rat model of preeclampsia. In this study, the underlying mechanisms were further explored. Preeclampsia was induced by L-NAME (50 mg/kg/day) via oral gavage from gestation day (GD)14 to GD19. Aspirin (1.5 mg/kg/day) administration was performed using aspirin mixed with rodent dough from GD0 to GD19. The administration of quercetin (2 mg/kg/day) was performed by intraperitoneal infusion from GD0 to GD19. Protein levels were evaluated using ELISA or Western blot, and microRNA (miRNA) level was evaluated by RT-PCR...

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), one of the key enzymes of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), plays an important role in SARS-CoV-2 infection by functioning as a virus receptor. Angiotensin peptides Ang I and Ang II, the substrates of ACE2, can modulate the binding of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein to the ACE2 receptor. In the present work, we found that co incubation of HEK-ACE2 and Vero E6 cells with the SARS-CoV-2 Spike pseudovirus (PVP) resulted in stimulation of the virus entry at low and high micromolar concentrations of Ang I and Ang II, respectively...

No information is available about sex-related differences in unloading-induced cardiac atrophy. We aimed to compare the course of unloading-induced cardiac atrophy in intact (without gonadectomy) male and female rats, and in animals after gonadectomy, to obtain insight into the influence of sex hormones on this process. Heterotopic heart transplantation (HT((x)) was used as a model for heart unloading. Cardiac atrophy was assessed as the weight ratio of heterotopically transplanted heart weight (HW) to the native HW on days 7 and 14 after HTx in intact male and female rats...

Periovarian adipose tissue (POAT) is a type of gonadal white adipose tissue that surrounds the ovary. POAT is a source of various bioactive molecules, such as adipokines, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and hormones. Thereby it could influence crucial ovarian functions. Recent findings showed that removal of POAT affects folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis in the ovary. Furthermore, changes in the morphology and function of POAT were observed in women during menopause or polycystic ovary syndrome. Although the relationship between the body's energy status and fertility in females is generally well known, the contribution of POAT remains still elusive...

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes is generally rare, but a serious complication of cardiovascular events during exercise. Although regular intensive physical exercise is thought to be a key to a healthy life, unsuspected pathologies might lead to SCD during or after physical activity. Cardiac dysfunction and elevated cardiac markers have been reported after prolonged exercise. We sought to clarify the cardiac marker levels and hydration status in healthy, middle-aged male subjects for 24 hours after running sixty-minute at race-pace...

The aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) including miR-29c-3p have been reported in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in recent researches. Nevertheless, the functional role and underlying molecular mechanism of miR-29c-3p in AD pathogenesis are still not well elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine whether miR-29c-3p regulated beta-Ameyloid (Abeta)-induced neurotoxicity by targeting beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). The expressions of miR 29c 3p and BACE1 mRNA and protein levels in Abeta-treated PC12 cellular AD model were examined by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses...

Previous studies have suggested that gamma-delta T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In this pilot study, the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and healthy volunteers were stained and analyzed by flow cytometry to distinguish gamma-delta T cells and its subtypes, and then to report the distribution of gamma-delta T cells and iyts subtypes and their correlation with ankylosing spondylitis. A total of 17 patients with active AS and 10 age- and gender- matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study, and their peripheral blood were drawn to collect mononuclear cells (PBMCs)...

Wound healing is a dynamic process involving different cell types with distinct roles according to the stages of healing. Fibroblasts and stem cells actively participate in tissue regeneration. A proper stimulation could contribute to enhance wound healing process-es. Helichrysum italicum (H. italicum) is a medical plant well described for its pharmacological, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Aim of the present work was to examine the effect of the hydrolat derivate from H. italicum on stem cells isolated from skin and fibroblasts in vitro in presence or absence of tissue damage...

Agomelatine is a pharmaceutical compound that functions as an agonist for melatonin receptors, with a particular affinity for the MT1 and MT2 receptor subtypes. Its mode of action is integral to the regulation of diverse physiological processes, encompassing the orchestration of circadian rhythms, sleep-wake cycles, and mood modulation. In the present study, we delve into the intricate interplay between agomelatine and the modulation of estrus cycles, gestation periods, offspring numbers, and uterine contractions, shedding light on their collective impact on reproductive physiology...

Ulceration colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disorder in the gastro-intestinal tract. The purpose of our study is to explore the potential mechanisms of ginsenoside Rg1 (GS Rg1) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Acute colitis was induced in male C57BL/6 mice. In vitro model of LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells to simulate enteritis model. The disease activity index (DAI), colon length, body weight and histopathological analysis were performed in vivo...

To explore the efficacy and safety of a small-volume-plasma artificial liver support system (ALSS) in the treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). A retrospective analysis was performed. All ACLF patients received ALSS of plasma exchange & double plasma molecular absorb system (PE+DPMAS) treatment, and successfully completed this treatment. Patients were divided into small-volume and half-volume plasma groups. We compared the changes of the indicators on liver function, kidney function, blood coagulation function, and blood ammonia level before and after PE+DPMAS treatment; we compared the short-term and long-term curative effects between small-volume and half-volume plasma groups; and the factors influencing Week 4 and Week 12 mortality of ACLF patients were analyzed...

Although cisplatin is an effective chemotherapy drug for the treatment of various cancers, its clinical use is limited due to its side effects, especially nephrotoxicity. Unfortunately, acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by cisplatin remains one of the main challenges in effective cancer treatment. Evidence increasingly suggests that renal inflammation and pyroptotic inflammatory cell death of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) mainly determine the progression and outcome of cisplatin-induced AKI. However, it is not clear how cisplatin regulates the pyroptosis of RTECs cells in AKI...

To compare different rat models of sepsis at different time points, based on pulmonary or extrapulmonary injury mechanisms, to identify a model which is more stable and reproducible to cause sepsis-associated acute lung injury (ALI). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to (1) cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) with single (CLP1 group) or two repeated through-and-through punctures (CLP2 group); (2) tail vein injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of 10mg/kg (IV-LPS10 group) or 20 mg/kg (IV-LPS20 group); (3) intratracheal instillation with LPS of 10mg/kg (IT-LPS10 group) or 20mg/kg (IT-LPS20 group)...

This research aimed to evaluate whether vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) could effectively prevent septic shock-induced cardiac injury in rats and investigate the potential mechanisms. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the Sham group (sham cecal ligation and puncture [CLP] plus vagal nerve trunk separation), the Vehicle group (CLP plus vagal nerve trunk separation), and the VNS groups (CLP plus vagal nerve trunk separation plus VNS). The left ventricular function was analyzed by echocardiography. Histologic examinations of the cardiac tissues were performed through hematoxylin and eosin staining and TUNEL staining...

To investigate the exact effects of dietary choline on hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and explore the potential mechanisms, male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were randomly divided into five groups as follows: WKY group, WKY + Choline group, SHR group, SHR + Choline group, and SHR + Choline + NaHS group. In choline treatment groups, rats were fed with 1.3% (w/v) choline in the drinking water for 3 months. The rats in the SHR + Choline + NaHS group were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS (100 micromol/kg/day, a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor) for 3 months...

In this study, we investigated the clinical effects of blood ultrafiltration therapy in patients with acute decompensated chronic heart failure. We enrolled 78 patients with acute decompensated chronic heart failure who were admitted to a hospital from September 2017 to December 2021, and divided them into two groups based on the digital randomization method. The FQ-16 heart failure ultrafiltration dehydrating device blood ultrafiltration therapy was administered to the observation group (39 patients) for 8-16 hours, while the control group (39 patients) received the stepped drug therapy...

Cough is one of the most important airway defensive reflexes aimed at removing foreign particles or endogenously produced materials from the airways and provides protection against aspiration. Generally considered, cough is a vital physiological defensive mechanism for lung health. However, in case of cough dysregulation this reflex can become pathological and leads to an adverse influence on daily life. Therefore, it is necessary to effectively evaluate the severity of cough for its diagnosis and treatment...

Zymography is an electrophoretic method in which proteins are separated in a polyacrylamide gel in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE). This method is used for the detection of enzymatic activity and molecular characterization of proteins. In contrast to the standard SDS-PAGE method, a substrate is incorporated into the gel during zymography, which is subsequently cleaved by target proteases. Many studies have focused on the development and progression of inflammatory diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, emphasizing the role of the largest group of proteases, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)...

Activators of hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs), such as roxadustat, are promising agents for anemia treatment. However, since HIFs are also involved in the regulation of the pulmonary circulation, we hypothesized that roxadustat increases pulmonary vascular resistance and vasoconstrictor reactivity. Using isolated, cell-free solution perfused rat lungs, we found perfusion pressure-flow curves to be shifted to higher pressures by 2 weeks of roxadustat treatment (10 mg/kg every other day), although not as much as by chronic hypoxic exposure...

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has revolutionized our ability to non-invasively study the brain's structural and functional properties. However, detecting myelin, a crucial component of white matter, remains challenging due to its indirect visibility on conventional MRI scans. Myelin plays a vital role in neural signal transmission and is associated with various neurological conditions. Understanding myelin distribution and content is crucial for insights into brain development, aging, and neurological disorders...