Hardingbradshaw0318

Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) participates in multiple cardiovascular disorders, while the mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of insulin on VSMC. Insulin was used to stimulate rat VSMCs, and the effects on cell cycle and proliferation were subsequently analyzed using flow cytometry. Furthermore, AP-1 and SM-α overexpression vectors were constructed and transfected into VSMCs. AP-1 and SM-α were inhibited by SR11302 and SM-α siRNA, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels were subsequently detected using the reversetranscription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. AP-1 and SM-α gene promoter binding sites were determined using luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. As a result, we found that high dose of insulin promoted proliferation of VSMCs and increased the percentage of cells in the S phase by downregulating AP-1. AP-1 was identified to bind to the SM-α gene promoter at locus 2-177 to upregulate SM-α gene expression. Inhibition of AP-1 led to the decrease of SM-α expression. Overexpression of SM-α directly suppressed proliferation of VSMCs, while knocking it down promoted the process. Therefore, this study revealed that insulin downregulated the expression of the SM-α gene by inhibiting AP-1, which in turn facilitated proliferation of VSMCs.Respiratory infections (RI) significantly burden patients, their families, and society. Y-27632 Respiratory infection recurrence (RRI) usually depends on a defect of the immune response, which can be more or less transient and/or selective. In particular, children, older people, heavy smokers, and patients with chronic diseases, characterized by an inadequate immune response, may be at risk of developing RRI. In this context, OM- 85 could represent a valuable option in the management of RRI. OM-85 is a bacterial lysate containing the extracts of some common pathogens, including Branhamella catarrhalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella ozaenae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus viridans, and Staphylococcus aureus. Methodologically rigorous studies have documented the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of OM-85. OM-85 enhances the natural and acquired immune response through multifaceted mechanisms. Substantial evidence has shown that OM-85 can prevent respiratory infections, reduce the number of COPD exacerbations, and shorten the disease duration at home or in hospital. OM-85 can enhance the effectiveness of the 'flu vaccination without affecting the vaccine tolerability. The preventive use of OM-85 can reduce the use of antibiotics, contributing to contrast antibiotic resistance and saving the high cost of chronic respiratory diseases. Further studies should define the ideal candidate to OM-85 treatment.India reported its index case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in January 2020 and since then there has been an alarming rise in cases. In response to the worsening pandemic and the challenge presented by COVID-19 for hospitals in the public sector, the Government of India asked the country's private hospitals to reserve a percentage of their beds for COVID-19 patients. This article describes how nursing services at the Christian Medical College, Vellore - an unaided, not-for-profit quaternary care teaching hospital in Tamil Nadu, India - addressed various challenges to ensure a sustained, high-quality nursing care response to increased patient load. The main challenges included changing COVID-19 policies, ensuring the hospital was prepared to care for COVID-19 patients, and ensuring the availability of nurses. The article demonstrates how proactive planning, empowered involvement of nursing leaders and collaborative efforts resulted in deployment and training of 1,400 nurses, and ensured coordinated care for more than 10,000 patients with COVID-19.

Total fertility rate (TFR) in Iran decreased from the year 2000 and recently Iran has experienced fertility rates below replacement level. Birth interval is one of the most important determinants of fertility levels and plays a vital role in population growth rate. Due to the importance of this subject, the aim of this study was analyzing three birth intervals using three Survival Recurrent Event (SRE) models.

In a 2017 cross-sectional fertility survey in Tehran, 610 married women, age 15-49 years, were selected by multi-stage stratified random sampling and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The effects of selected covariates on first, second and third birth intervals were fitted to the data using the Prentice-Williams- Peterson-Gap Time (PWP-GT) SRE model in



Calendar-period had a significant effect on all three birth intervals (P<0.01). The Hazard Rate (HR) for a short birth interval for women in the most recent calendar-period (2007-2017) was lower than for the other calendarperiods. eloped regions. The implementation of policies which change the economic and social conditions of families could prevent increasing birth intervals and influence the fertility rate.

The analysis of birth interval patterns using an appropriate statistical method provides important information for health policymakers. Based on the results of this study, younger women delayed their childbearing more than older women. Migrant women, unemployed women and women who live in developing regions gave birth to their second child sooner than non-migrant employed women, and women who lived in more developed regions. The implementation of policies which change the economic and social conditions of families could prevent increasing birth intervals and influence the fertility rate.

We aimed to compare the effects of using high-fat (HF) and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) containing dietsto induce obesity and diabetes on sperm function in mice.

In this experimental study, twenty-five 4-week old C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups and were fed with control, 45% HF, 60% HF, 45% AGEs-HF, or 60% AGEs-HF diet. After 28 weeks, fast blood sugar, glucose intolerance, insulin concentration, homeostatic model assessments (HOMA) for insulin resistance (IR) and HOMA for beta cells (HOMA beta) from systematic blood were assessed. In addition, body weight, morphometric characteristics of testes, sperm parameters, DNA damage (AO), protamine deficiency (CMAA3), and sperm membrane (DCFH-DA) and intracellular (BODIPY) lipid peroxidation were measured.

Body mass and fasting blood sugar increased significantly in all experimental groups compared to the control group. Insulin concentration, glucose intolerance, HOMA IR, and HOMA beta were also increased significantly with higher levels of fat and AGEs in all four diets (P<0.