Secretory and transmembrane proteins rely on proper function of the secretory pathway for folding, posttranslational modification, assembly, and secretion. Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stimulates the unfolded …

The microenvironment of native heart tissue may be better replicated when cardiomyocytes are cultured in three-dimensional clusters (i.e., spheroids) than in monolayers or as individual cells. Thus, we differentiated human, cardiac-lineage, …

We have previously demonstrated that adult transgenic C57BL/6J mice with CM-restricted overexpression of the dominant negative Wv mutant protein (dn-c-kit-Tg) respond to pressure overload with robust cardiomyocyte (CM) cell cycle entry. Here, we tested if …

Recent smooth muscle cell (SMC) lineage tracing studies have revealed SMCs undergo remarkable changes in phenotype during development of atherosclerosis. Of major interest, we demonstrated that KLF4 in SMC is detrimental for overall lesion pathogenesis in …

Compared to conventional cancer treatment, combination therapy based on well-designed nanoscale platforms may offer an opportunity to eliminate tumors and reduce recurrence and metastasis. In this study, we prepared multifunctional microspheres from …

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) slows the decline in kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet the mechanisms mediating this effect remain unclear. The Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rat develops hypertension and progressive renal injury …

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of combining high-frequency ultrasound imaging, automated insertion, and force sensing to yield more information about cochlear implant insertion dynamics. Methods: An apparatus was developed …

Atrial fibrosis influences atrial fibrillation (AF) development by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)/Smad pathway. Although microRNAs are implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, information regarding the functional role of microRNAs …

Background The root of Centranthera grandiflora Benth. is a Chinese ethnodrug known as Ye-Can-Dou-Gen (YCDG) and has been widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases in Hmong, Yunnan Province, China; however, its mechanisms of action were largely …

Photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT), a fast-developing modality for deep tissue imaging, images the spatial distribution of optical absorption. PACT usually treats the absorption coefficient as a scalar. However, the absorption coefficients of many …