Mitofilin in cardiovascular diseases: Insights into the pathogenesis and potential pharmacological interventions.

The impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease is increasing. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear. Mitochondria produce cellular energy through oxidative phosphorylation while regulating calcium homeostasis, cellular respiration, and the production of biosynthetic chemicals. Nevertheless, problems related to cardiac energy metabolism, defective mitochondrial proteins, mitophagy, and structural changes in mitochondrial membranes can cause cardiovascular diseases via mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitofilin is a critical inner mitochondrial membrane protein that maintains cristae structure and facilitates protein transport while linking the inner mitochondrial membrane, outer mitochondrial membrane, and mitochondrial DNA transcription. Researchers believe that mitofilin may be a therapeutic target for treating cardiovascular diseases, particularly cardiac mitochondrial dysfunctions. In this review, we highlight current findings regarding the role of mitofilin in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and potential therapeutic compounds targeting mitofilin.

Chemical peeling with 35% glycolic acid for the treatment of disseminated facial verruca plana: A randomized, split-face, evaluator-blinded trial.

Disseminated facial verruca plana is a chronic disorder that causes significant psychological distress. However, safe and effective treatment is lacking. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of 35% glycolic acid (GA) for the treatment of disseminated facial verruca plana. A split-face clinical trial was conducted to explore the efficacy and safety of using chemical peeling with 35% GA for the treatment of disseminated facial verruca plana. One side of the face was applied with 35% GA once every fortnight for a total of three times. Adapalene gel was applied every night to the other side of the face as the control. The clearance rate of lesions was evaluated at different time points. Between June 2020 and December 2020, 30 patients with disseminated verruca plana who visited the Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University were enrolled. After three chemical peelings with 35% GA that was applied at 2-week intervals, 15 (50%) patients achieved >70% lesion reduction. The same effective rate in the adapalene gel-treated side of the face was documented in eight patients. Subgroup analysis showed a higher clearance rate in patients with a shorter disease duration. Moreover, concurrent improvements in facial roughness were observed in the 35% GA-treated group. Adverse effects including mild erythema and desquamation were observed during chemical peeling with 35% GA. In conclusion, chemical peeling with 35% GA could be a safe and effective option for treating disseminated facial verruca plana, especially for those who desire skin improvement.

PM2.5-mediated cardiovascular disease in aging: Cardiometabolic risks, molecular mechanisms and potential interventions.

Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with <2.5 µm in diameter, is a major public health concern. Studies have consistently linked PM2.5 exposure to a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), and cardiac arrhythmias. Notably, individuals with pre-existing age-related cardiometabolic conditions appear more susceptible. However, the specific impact of PM2.5 on CVDs susceptibility in older adults remains unclear. Therefore, this review addresses this gap by discussing the factors that make the elderly more vulnerable to PM2.5-induced CVDs. Accordingly, we focused on physiological aging, increased susceptibility, cardiometabolic risk factors, CVDs, and biological mechanisms. This review concludes by examining potential interventions to reduce exposure and the adverse health effects of PM2.5 in the elderly population. The latter includes dietary modifications, medications, and exploration of the potential benefits of supplements. By comprehensively analyzing these factors, this review aims to provide a deeper understanding of the detrimental effects of PM2.5 on cardiovascular health in older adults. This knowledge can inform future research and guide strategies to protect vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of air pollution.

Research progress on effects of traditional Chinese medicine on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury: A review.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a high-risk disease in the middle-aged and elderly population. The ischemic heart may be further damaged after reperfusion therapy with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and other methods, namely, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), which further affects revascularization and hinders patient rehabilitation. Therefore, the investigation of new therapies against MIRI has drawn great global attention. Within the long history of the prevention and treatment of MIRI, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has increasingly been recognized by the scientific community for its multi-component and multi-target effects. These multi-target effects provide a conspicuous advantage to the anti-MIRI of TCM to overcome the shortcomings of single-component drugs, thereby pointing toward a novel avenue for the treatment of MIRI. However, very few reviews have summarized the currently available anti-MIRI of TCM. Therefore, a systematic data mining of TCM for protecting against MIRI will certainly accelerate the processes of drug discovery and help to identify safe candidates with synergistic formulations. The present review aims to describe TCM-based research in MIRI treatment through electronic retrieval of articles, patents, and ethnopharmacology documents. This review reported the progress of research on the active ingredients, efficacy, and underlying mechanism of anti-MIRI in TCM and TCM formulas, provided scientific support to the clinical use of TCM in the treatment of MIRI, and revealed the corresponding clinical significance and development prospects of TCM in treating MIRI.

Two new isoquinoline alkaloids from Cryptocarya wrayi and their biological activities.

Two new isoquinoline alkaloids, cryptowrayines A (1) and B (2), along with one known pavine alkaloid (-)-12-hydroxyeschscholtzidine (3), were isolated from the twigs of Cryptocarya wrayi. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate quinone reductase inducing activity in Hepa 1c1c7 cells.