GDF15 Antagonism Limits Severe Heart Failure and Prevents Cardiac Cachexia

Heart Failure (HF) is a complex disease with increasing incidence and poor prognosis. Cardiac cachexia, a common complication in HF patients, is characterized by significant weight loss, muscle wasting, and malnutrition, and its occurrence is independently associated with patient morbidity and mortality. Although cardiac cachexia is prevalent in HF...

Abnormal Circadian Rhythms Exacerbate Dilated Cardiomyopathy by Reducing the Ventricular Mechanical Strength

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiac disease characterized by ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction, and it is one of the primary indications for heart transplantation worldwide. The etiology of DCM is complex, including genetic factors, infections, drugs, toxins, and endocrine disturbances. Due to the heterogeneity of its causes, earl...

Spatiotemporal EP4–Fibulin-1 Expression is Associated with Vascular Intimal Hyperplasia

Background Introduction Intimal Hyperplasia (IH) is a common pathological response following vascular injury, particularly after procedures such as angioplasty or stent implantation. Although the use of Drug-Eluting Stents (DES) has significantly reduced restenosis rates, cardiovascular adverse events, including restenosis, still occur in 5% to 10%...

The Proprotein Convertase Furin as a Novel Aneurysm Predisposition Gene Impairing TGF-β Signalling

Academic Background Aortic aneurysm (AA) is a condition characterized by abnormal dilation of the aorta, commonly occurring in the abdominal and thoracic aorta. Aortic aneurysms are more prevalent in individuals over the age of 65, and if not diagnosed and treated promptly, they can lead to fatal ruptures. Although age, smoking, hypertension, and m...

Insulin Receptors in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Regulate Plaque Stability of Atherosclerosis

Research Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, particularly among patients with diabetes and insulin resistance, where the risk of CVD is significantly elevated. Although the prognosis for diabetic patients has improved in recent years, their CVD-related mortality rate remains 2 to 7 times higher...

Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Factor 7 in Cardiac Hypertrophy

Academic Background Cardiac hypertrophy is a common pathophysiological process in the development of various cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and congenital heart disease. Although cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive response of the heart to adverse stimuli, long-term pathological cardiac hypertrophy can lead to ...

Fibroblast-Specific TGF-β Signaling Mediates Cardiac Dysfunction, Fibrosis, and Hypertrophy in Obese Diabetic Mice

New Mechanism of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy: The Role of Fibroblast-Specific TGF-β/Smad3 Signaling Pathway Research Background Diabetes is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and heart failure (HF) globally. Diabetic patients not only face risks of macrovascular complications such as hypertension and atherosclerosis but are also pron...

The Role of Diabetes and Age in Early Coronary Revascularization Among 'Stable' Patients with Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes

Academic Background Non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) is a common cardiovascular disease, particularly among diabetic patients, whose incidence and mortality rates are significantly higher than those of non-diabetic patients. Although current clinical guidelines recommend early (within 24 hours) coronary revascularization ...

Maternal Folic Acid Over-Supplementation Impairs Cardiac Function in Mice Offspring by Inhibiting SOD1 Expression

Background Folic Acid (FA) supplementation during pregnancy is widely recommended to reduce the risk of fetal congenital defects, particularly in the prevention of neural tube defects and congenital heart disease. However, despite the significant benefits of FA supplementation in preventing certain diseases, whether excessive FA supplementation may...

Interleukin-12p40 Deficiency Attenuates Myocardial Ferroptosis in Doxorubicin-Induced Chronic Cardiomyopathy by Inhibiting Th17 Differentiation and Interleukin-17A Production

Academic Background Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anthracycline drug widely used in the treatment of tumors, but it exhibits dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, potentially leading to cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Despite its significant anticancer effects, the cardiotoxicity of Dox limits its clinical application. Currently, Dexrazoxane is the only FDA-a...