Objective-The goal of this study was to determine the expression signature and the potential role of microRNAs in human arteries with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO). Methods and Results-The expression profiles of microRNAs in human arteries with ASO and in normal control arteries were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction array. Among the 617 detected microRNAs, multiple microRNAs were aberrantly expressed in arteries with ASO. Some of these dysregulated microRNAs were further verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Among them, microRNA-21 (miR-21) was mainly located in arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and was increased by more than 7-fold in ASO that was related to hypoxia inducible factor 1-␣. In cultured human ASMCs, cell proliferation and migration were significantly decreased by inhibition of miR-21. 3Ј-Untranslated region luciferase assay confirmed that tropomyosin 1 was a target of miR-21 that was involved in miR-21-mediated cellular effects, such as cell shape modulation. Key Words: atherosclerosis Ⅲ hypoxia Ⅲ peripheral arterial disease Ⅲ vascular muscle Ⅲ microRNA A rteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) of the lower extremities is a major cause of adult limb loss worldwide. 1-3 Surgery is still the major approach in the treatment of ASO. However, many patients develop restenosis in 1 year after surgery. 1 It is well established that proliferation and migration of arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) are the major cellular events and the major reasons behind ASO formation and posttreatment restenosis. 4 However, the molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of proliferation and migration of ASMCs in ASO remain unclear. Conclusion-The See accompanying articles on pages 1939 and 1941MicroRNAs are a novel class of endogenous, small noncoding RNAs that regulate approximately 30% of the encoding genes of the human genome at the posttranscriptional level by binding the 3Ј-untranslated region (UTR) of their target mRNAs. [5][6][7] The microRNA expression profile in vessels has recently been described by Ji et al 8 Several microRNAs, including microRNA-21 (miR-21), miR-221/222, and miR-145, have been found to modulate ASMC function and be involved in the process of artery stenosis in the rat carotid artery balloon injury model. 8 -10 However, the expression profiles of microRNAs in human arteries with ASO are still unknown.Tissue-specific expression is an important characteristic of microRNA expression. 11 For example, miR-1 is highly expressed in heart, but its expression in artery is low. 8 Such different expression profiles in different tissues suggest that the physiological functions of microRNA in different tissues may be different. 8 Although human ASO and artery stenosis in rat carotid artery injury models share many features, their pathological processes are different. 12,13 Thus, identifying microRNAs in ASO and clarifying their biological functions would be useful for understanding the mechanisms of ASO formation and searc...

Bimetallic phosphide (NixFe1−x)2P hollow nanocubes were prepared from PBAs as highly active and stable OER electrocatalysts.

Background: Kinesin superfamily (KIFs) has a long-reported significant influence on the initiation, development, and progress of breast cancer. However, the prognostic value of whole family members was poorly done. Our study intends to demonstrate the value of kinesin superfamily members as prognostic biomarkers as well as a therapeutic target of breast cancer.Methods: Comprehensive bioinformatics analyses were done using data from TCGA, GEO, METABRIC, and GTEx. LASSO regression was done to select tumor-related members. Nomogram was constructed to predict the overall survival (OS) of breast cancer patients. Expression profiles were testified by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Transcription factor, GO and KEGG enrichments were done to explore regulatory mechanism and functions.

In recent years, Sn-based materials have been explored as potential anodes for high energy lithium-ion batteries. However, their severe volume expansion in lithiation procedure could lead to poor cycling property and inferior rate capability, which limit the applications of Sn-based materials in lithium-ion batteries. In this study, we have designed and prepared uniform Mn 2 SnO 4 /Sn/carbon composite cubic particles with a porous structure as anode material through facile hydrothermal method and subsequent annealing process. The results demonstrate that the well-crystallized threedimensional (3D) cubes with rounded corners consist of nanoparticles uniformly arranged in carbon matrix. The as-made Mn 2 SnO 4 /Sn/C anode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance and delivers 908 mA h g −1 of discharge capacity up to the 100th cycle at a current density of 500 mA g −1 , with a Coulombic efficiency above 97%. The remarkable performance can be attributed to the formation of unique conductive frameworks and the porous structure.

Highly monodisperse Ni NPs in UiO-66 give both excellent activity and selectivity for CO2 methanation at low temperatures.

A single-atom dispersed Ni doping strategy to boost the performance of N–C materials for CO2RR by the pyrolysis of a metal–organic molecule complex was reported and revealed.

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Gene therapy provides great opportunities for treating diseases from genetic disorders to immune system diseases and cancer. Much work has focused on bioactive macromolecules and nanoparticles, which can interact with low-molecular-mass drugs or DNA molecules to form complexes, and have been used for local delivery of therapeutic factors for tissue regeneration or gene therapy. In this study, inorganic amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) hybrid nanospheres functionalized with a small amount of Ca(II)-IP 6 compound (CaIP 6 ) were prepared on a large scale by a facile gas-diffusion method. The results of in vitro transfection experiments show that the obtained functional calcium carbonate/phosphate nanocomposite particles had higher transfection efficiency and lower cytotoxicity level than commercial Lipofectamine 2000. From these results alternative new vectors for gene delivery could be developed. In addition, functionalized inorganic nanocomposite particles are biocompatible and biodegradable, thus the as-prepared hybrid nanospheres are promising for biomedical applications as a safe biomaterial.