β-glucans, heterogeneous glucose polymers occurring in many organisms, are considered Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs), which upon recognition by Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) present on cell membranes, trigger a broad array of …

UCn2 and UCn3 peptides have recently been infused to treat patients with heart failure (HF) but are limited by their short half-lives. A 1-time intravenous injection of virus vectors encoding UCn2 or UCn3 provided sustained increases in plasma …

Background: Studies indicate that chemokine CC-motif ligand 2 (CCL2) is involved in inflammation and atherosclerosis. However, the roles and mechanisms of CCL2 on platelet function and arterial thrombosis are unknown. Methods: The expressions of CCL2 or …

Achilles tendinopathy remains a prevalent condition among recreational and high-level athletes. Mechanical loading has become the gold standard in managing these injuries, but exercises are often generic and prescribed in a “one-size-fits-all” principle. …

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of AT1-AAs on vascular calcification. Wistar rats were immunized with synthetic peptides corresponding to the second extracellular loop of AT1 receptor. The titer of AT1-AAs in rat serum, SBP, and HR …

Background-—Limb ischemia resulting from peripheral vascular disease is a common cause of morbidity. Vessel occlusion limits blood flow, creating a hypoxic environment that damages distal tissue, requiring therapeutic revascularization. Hypoxia-inducible …

Plaque strain and blood vector velocity imaging of stenosed arteries are expected to aid in diagnosis and prevention of cerebrovascular disease. Ultrafast plane wave imaging enables simultaneous strain and velocity estimation. Multiple ultrasound vendors …

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. The authors investigated the efficacy of18F-DHMT, a marker of ROS, for early detection of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Echocardiography was performed at …

Background: Improvement of bladder emptying by modulating afferent nerve activity is an attractive therapeutic strategy for detrusor underactivity. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a sensory ion channel in urothelial cells that …

Many imaging methods have been proposed to act as surrogate markers of organ damage, yet for many candidates the essential biomarkers characteristics of the injured organ have not yet been described. Hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate allows real time …