Endothelial Microparticles as Potential Biomarkers in the Assessment of Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypercholesterolemia

Predictive value of miR-636 in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and its bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is currently the most direct and effective procedure to treat AMI, but the occurrence of postoperative cardiovascular events (MACE) affects patients' quality of life. The objective of this study was to identify a new biomarker that could provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of MACE in patients with AMI undergoing PCI.

METHODS

142 AMI patients who underwent PCI and 130 healthy volunteers were selected as study subjects. Detection of miR-636 expression level by fluorescence quantitative PCR. ROC, Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were applied to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of miR-636 for AMI. The miR-636 target genes were predicted and enriched for GO function and KEGG pathway.

RESULTS

MiR-636 expression levels were elevated in patients with AMI. ROC curve analysis showed that miR-636 had a feasible diagnostic value in distinguishing AMI patients from healthy controls miR-636 expression levels were elevated in patients who developed MACEs. ROC results showed that miR-636 had significant diagnostic value in differentiating AMI patients with and without MACEs after PCI treatment. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that miR-636 may transmit information to vesicles formed by the cell membrane.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-636 expression serves as a biomarker for diagnosing AMI and predicting the occurrence of MACE after PCI.

Unraveling the Multifaceted Roles of Extracellular Vesicles: Insights into Biology, Pharmacology, and Pharmaceutical Applications for Drug Delivery

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles released from various cell types that have emerged as powerful new therapeutic option for a variety of diseases. EVs are involved in the transmission of biological signals between cells and in the regulation of a variety of biological processes, highlighting them as potential novel targets/platforms for therapeutics intervention and/or delivery. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate new aspects of EVs' biogenesis, biodistribution, metabolism, and excretion as well as safety/compatibility of both unmodified and engineered EVs upon administration in different pharmaceutical dosage forms and delivery systems. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of essential physiological and pathological roles of EVs in different organs and organ systems. We provide an overview regarding application of EVs as therapeutic targets, therapeutics, and drug delivery platforms. We also explore various approaches implemented over the years to improve the dosage of specific EV products for different administration routes.

The profile of inflammatory extracellular vesicles in intracerebral hemorrhage patients

Background

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the leading life-threatening types of strokes with high mortality. A prominent feature of ICH is neuroinflammation involving leukocytes, such as neutrophils and macrophages. Large extracellular vesicles (lEV) and small extracellular vesicles (sEV) released from various cells are used as biomarkers for different diseases. Here, we aimed to determine the concentration/population of lEV and sEV from different leukocytes in ICH patients and analyze the correlation of these lEV/sEV with clinical parameters.

Methods

lEV and sEV were isolated from the plasma of ICH patients (n = 39) by using the serial centrifuge methods. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA, NS300) was used to determine the type and concentration of different leukocytes-released lEV/sEV. Specific antibodies, CD66b, P2RY12, and CD80 were used for different leukocyte types.

Results

A predictive relationship between both hospital length of stay (R 2 = 0.83) and Intensive care units (ICU) length of stay (R 2 = 0.88) was found with lEV and sEV and patient data [including low-density lipoprotein (LDL), ICH volume, etc.]. Further predictive-multiple linear regression relationship was seen between lEV and sEV concentrations and MRSV3 (Modified Rankin Scale at 90 days) (R 2 = 0.46) and MRSV5 (modified Rankin Scale at 180 days) (R 2 = 0.51). Additionally, a slight, but statistically significant (p = 0.0151), multiple linear regression relationship was seen between lEV and sEV concentrations and ICU length of stay (R 2 = 0.26).

Conclusion

This study found predictive relationships between patient outcomes and lEV and sEV. When combined with generally collected patient data (LDL, etc.), measurements of lEV and sEV are strongly predictive of overall patient outcome. Further, larger studies should investigate these effects.

Factors of Obesity and Metabolically Healthy Obesity in Asia

The East Asian region (China, Japan, and South Korea) is comprised of almost 1.5 billion people and recent industrialization has brought with it a pandemic of rising obesity, even in children. As these countries are rapidly aging and functioning at sub-replacement birthrates, the burgeoning costs of obesity-related care may threaten socialized healthcare systems and quality of life. However, a condition called metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) has been found to be without immediate cardiopulmonary or diabetic risk. Thus, maintenance of the MHO condition for the obese in East Asia could buffer the burden of long-term obesity care on medical systems and knowledge of the biochemical, genetic, and physiological milieu associated with it could also provide new targets for intervention. Diverse physiological, psychological, environmental, and social factors play a role in obesogenesis and the transition of MHO to a metabolically unhealthy obesity. This review will give a broad survey of the various causes of obesity and MHO, with special emphasis on the East Asian population and studies from that region.