Roles of Integrin in Cardiovascular Diseases: From Basic Research to Clinical Implications

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) pose a significant global health threat due to their complex pathogenesis and high incidence, imposing a substantial burden on global healthcare systems. Integrins, a group of heterodimers consisting of α and β subunits that are located on the cell membrane, have emerged as key players in mediating the occurrence and progression of CVDs by regulating the physiological activities of endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, platelets, fibroblasts, cardiomyocytes, and various immune cells. The crucial role of integrins in the progression of CVDs has valuable implications for targeted therapies. In this context, the development and application of various integrin antibodies and antagonists have been explored for antiplatelet therapy and anti-inflammatory-mediated tissue damage. Additionally, the rise of nanomedicine has enhanced the specificity and bioavailability of precision therapy targeting integrins. Nevertheless, the complexity of the pathogenesis of CVDs presents tremendous challenges for monoclonal targeted treatment. This paper reviews the mechanisms of integrins in the development of atherosclerosis, cardiac fibrosis, hypertension, and arrhythmias, which may pave the way for future innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of CVDs

Poor healthy lifestyle and life’s essential 8 are associated with higher risk of new-onset migraine: a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background Lifestyle are closely related to migraine. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the association between Healthy lifestyle or Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) and the risk of migraine. The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between Healthy lifestyle scores and Life’s essential 8 scores, and migraine. Methods 332,895 UK Biobank participants without migraine were included. Healthy lifestyle were assessed using seven lifestyle factors, and categorized as poor, intermediate, or ideal. LE8, based on the American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health (CVH), consist of eight indicators classified as low, moderate, or high CVH. The Cox proportional hazard model was employed to examine the association between Healthy lifestyle scores, LE8 scores, and migraine, with calculations for population-attributable fraction (PAF) and cumulative incidence. Results During a median follow-up of 13.58 years, participants in intermediate (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.99) or ideal category of Healthy lifestyle (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.91) significantly reduced migraine risk compared to the poor category. Similarly, high CVH (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.92) also lowered migraine risk, while moderate CVH (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.02) did not show a difference compared to low CVH. If all individuals adhered to higher categories of Healthy lifestyle and LE8, approximately 11.38% and 22.05% of migraine cases could be prevented. Among individual lifestyle factors, maintaining an ideal body mass index (BMI), physical activity, sleep duration, sleep pattern, and sedentary time were associated with substantial reductions in migraine risk, by 5.65%, 0.81%, 10.16%, 16.39%, and 6.57%, respectively. Conclusion Our study provides evidence that poor Healthy lifestyle and Life’s Essential 8 are associated with higher risk of new-onset migraine

Isolation and Identification of <i>Aeromonas veronii</i> in Sheep with Fatal Infection in China: A Case Report

According to the findings of a sheep breeding farm in Shaanxi, China, 2.53% (15/594) of sheep exhibited respiratory (clinical) symptoms such as dyspnoea, nasal discharge, wet cough, fever, and progressive emaciation. Although multi-drug treatment strategies (including ampicillin, tylosin, florfenicol, and ceftiofur) have been attempted to improve clinical outcomes, they have only been met with limited success, with a mortality rate of 40%. Ultimately, Aeromonas veronii (A. veronii) was identified as the causative pathogen for respiratory disease. The rates of symptomatic and asymptomatic sheep positive to A. veronii were 64.28% (95% CI 52.25–76.31%) and 8.02% (95% CI 6.96–9.08%), respectively. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that the A. veronii is pathogenic to sheep and mice. The results of the antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that the strain was sensitive to cefotaxime, gentamicin, and enrofloxacin and resistant to ampicillin, ceftiofur, amoxicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, florfenicol, and tylosin. We suggest that the combination of cefotaxime and gentamicin is an effective treatment based on the results of an antimicrobial susceptibility test, which exhibited good therapeutic efficacy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in which pathogenic A. veronii has been documented as the cause of death in sheep in China. We concluded that pathogenic A. veronii poses a potential risk to the industry of sheep husbandry. This study’s findings can help guide prevention and treatment plans for A. veronii infection in sheep

Isolation and Identification of Aeromonas veronii in Sheep with Fatal Infection in China: A Case Report

According to the findings of a sheep breeding farm in Shaanxi, China, 2.53% (15/594) of sheep exhibited respiratory (clinical) symptoms such as dyspnoea, nasal discharge, wet cough, fever, and progressive emaciation. Although multi-drug treatment strategies (including ampicillin, tylosin, florfenicol, and ceftiofur) have been attempted to improve clinical outcomes, they have only been met with limited success, with a mortality rate of 40%. Ultimately, Aeromonas veronii (A. veronii) was identified as the causative pathogen for respiratory disease. The rates of symptomatic and asymptomatic sheep positive to A. veronii were 64.28% (95% CI 52.25&ndash;76.31%) and 8.02% (95% CI 6.96&ndash;9.08%), respectively. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that the A. veronii is pathogenic to sheep and mice. The results of the antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that the strain was sensitive to cefotaxime, gentamicin, and enrofloxacin and resistant to ampicillin, ceftiofur, amoxicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, florfenicol, and tylosin. We suggest that the combination of cefotaxime and gentamicin is an effective treatment based on the results of an antimicrobial susceptibility test, which exhibited good therapeutic efficacy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in which pathogenic A. veronii has been documented as the cause of death in sheep in China. We concluded that pathogenic A. veronii poses a potential risk to the industry of sheep husbandry. This study&rsquo;s findings can help guide prevention and treatment plans for A. veronii infection in sheep

Antipathogenic Activities of Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Bacillus velezensis LT1 against Sclerotium rolfsii LC1, the Pathogen of Southern Blight in Coptis chinensis

This study explores the antipathogenic properties of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Bacillus velezensis LT1, isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Coptis chinensis. The impact of these VOCs on the mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii LC1, the causative agent of southern blight in C. chinensis, was evaluated using a double Petri-dish assay. The biocontrol efficacy of these VOCs was further assessed through leaf inoculation and pot experiments. Antifungal VOCs were collected using headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and their components were identified via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The results revealed that the VOCs significantly inhibited the mycelial growth and sclerotia germination of S. rolfsii LC1 and disrupted the morphological integrity of fungal mycelia. Under the influence of these VOCs, genes associated with chitin synthesis were upregulated, while those related to cell wall degrading enzymes were downregulated. Notably, 2-dodecanone and 2-undecanone exhibited inhibition rates of 81.67% and 80.08%, respectively. This research provides a novel approach for the prevention and management of southern blight in C. chinensis, highlighting the potential of microbial VOCs in biocontrol strategies

Fruiting body formation in volvariella volvacea can occur independently of its MAT-A-controlled bipolar mating system, enabling homothallic and heterothallic life cycles

Volvariella volvacea is an important crop in Southeast Asia, but erratic fruiting presents a serious challenge for its production and breeding. Efforts to explain inconsistent fruiting have been complicated by the multinucleate nature, typical lack of clamp connections, and an incompletely identified sexual reproductive system. In this study, we addressed the life cycle of V. volvacea using whole genome sequencing, cloning of MAT loci, karyotyping of spores, and fruiting assays. Microscopy analysis of spores had previously indicated the possible coexistence of heterothallic and homothallic life cycles. Our analysis of the MAT loci showed that only MAT-A, and not MAT-B, controlled heterokaryotization. Thus, the heterothallic life cycle was bipolar. Karyotyping of single spore isolates (SSIs) using molecular markers supported the existence of heterokaryotic spores. However, most SSIs were clearly not heterokaryotic, yet contained structural variation (SV) markers relating to both alleles of both parents. Heterokaryons from crossed, self-sterile homokaryons could produce fruiting bodies, agreeing with bipolar heterothallism. Meanwhile, some SSIs with two different MAT-A loci also produced fruiting bodies, which supported secondary homothallism. Next, SSIs that clearly contained only one MAT-A locus (homothallism) were also able to fruit, demonstrating that self-fertile SSIs were not, per definition, secondary homothallic, and that a third life cycle or genetic mechanism must exist. Finally, recombination between SV markers was normal, yet 10 out of 24 SV markers showed 1:2 or 1:3 distributions in the spores, and large numbers of SSIs contained doubled SV markers. This indicated selfish genes, and possibly partial aneuploidy.</p