Prevalence of silent myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis detected by electron beam tomography

BACKGROUND: Electron beam tomography coronary calcium imaging is an evolving technique for the early detection of coronary atherosclerosis, and recent studies have established its prognostic value in asymptomatic individuals. The relationship of coronary artery calcium scores (CAC) to obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) has been poorly studied but is clinically relevant because it determines which individuals are likely to benefit from revascularization procedures. Hence, we prospectively evaluated the prevalence of myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic patients with cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 864 asymptomatic patients with no previous CAD but with cardiovascular risk factors, referred for electron beam tomography coronary calcium imaging to our institution over an 18-month period. From this group, 220 consecutive patients (85% men; mean age, 61 +/- 9 years; age range, 31-84 years) with moderate to severe atherosclerotic disease (coronary calcium score > or =100 Agatston units) were prospectively evaluated by technetium 99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Patients were followed up (mean follow-up, 14 months) and data regarding their subsequent clinical management recorded. Of the 220 patients, 119 had moderate atherosclerosis (CAC score of 100-400 Agatston units) and 101 had severe atherosclerosis (CAC score > or =400 Agatston units). Abnormal SPECT findings were seen in 18% of patients with moderate atherosclerosis (n = 21) and 45% of patients with severe atherosclerosis (n = 45). Increasing severity of atherosclerosis was related to increasing ischemic burden (summed difference score = 1 +/- 0.2 for CAC score of 100-400 Agatston units and 3.2 +/- 0.5 for CAC score > or =400 Agatston units). In a multivariate linear regression model incorporating risk factors, CAC was the only predictor of silent ischemia. CONCLUSION: In comparison to previously published data, we detected a higher prevalence of silent ischemia even in patients with moderate coronary atherosclerosis (18%). This may reflect the differing risk factor profile of our patient population. When coronary calcium screening is used to preselect asymptomatic patients with cardiovascular risk factors for myocardial perfusion imaging, the optimum coronary calcium score threshold will depend on the population prevalence of risk factors and asymptomatic obstructive CAD.     

The electrophysiological properties of substantia nigra pars compacta neurones recorded from 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned guinea-pigs in vitro

Summary Intracellular recordings were made from substantia nigra pars compacta neurones in vitro from animals with partial unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nigrostriatal tract. Lesions were assessed and grouped according to the severity of the strital dopamine depletion. No differences were seen between neurones from control and lesioned side nigrae as regards their membrane properties, firing rates, burst activity or percentage of quiescent neurones in any of the lesioned categories. It is concluded that following partial lesioning, the remaining substantia nigra zona compacta neurones in vitro, are functioning normally.     

Ca^＋＋对链霉素抗原—抗体反应的抑制作用

为探讨临床中使用钙制剂抢救链霉素过敏休克病人有良好效果的原因,由被动血凝试验、被动皮肤过敏试验和ELISA法证实,Ca~( )可以抑制链霉素抗原-抗体的反应。这种抑制作用是通过Ca~( )链霉素抗原结合,封闭链霉素抗原决定簇来加以实现的。     

碘杂环化合物对离体豚鼠心乳头肌动作电位和收缩力的作用

采用细胞内微电极记录技术,同步观察了3,6-[二甲氨基]-二苯并碘因甲酸盐(IHC-64)对豚鼠心乳头肌细胞动作电位和收缩力的作用。50μmol/L IHC-64抑制心肌收缩力,而不影响快反应动作电位。增加IHC-64浓度,动作电位0相最大峰值(APA)、除极速率(dp/dt_(max))和复极50％和90％时程(APD_(50)、APD_(90))被明显抑制。IHC-64抑制慢反应动作电位,提高细胞外钙浓度可拮抗这种抑制。结果提示,IHC-64主要抑制慢Ca~(2+)内流,同时也部分抑制快Na~+内流,它可能是一种新型B类钙通道阻滞剂。     

Inadequate dietary magnesium intake increases atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits

Epidemiological studies have shown dietary magnesium (Mg) intake and serum Mg levels to be inversely correlated with the development of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that low levels of Mg would promote atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits (4 months old, n = 22) were fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.12% (−Mg), 0.27% (control), or 0.43% (+Mg) Mg for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks and were assayed for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, triglycerides (TG), C-reactive protein, serum Mg, and erythrocyte Mg. Aortas from −Mg had significantly more plaque, with an intima thickness 42% greater than control and 36% greater than +Mg. Serum cholesterol levels rose over time, and at 8 weeks, −Mg had the highest and +Mg the lowest total and non-HDL cholesterol and TG levels, although these results did not reach significance. Over time, serum Mg levels increased, and erythrocyte Mg levels decreased. C-reactive protein significantly increased in all groups at 4 and 6 weeks but returned to baseline levels by 8 weeks. This study supports the hypothesis that inadequate intake of Mg results in an increase in atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits.     

The in vitro elution characteristics of vancomycin and tobramycin from calcium sulfate beads

The purpose of this study was to determine the elution characteristics of vancomycin and tobramycin when mixed with calcium sulfate to form antibiotic beads. Calcium sulfate was combined with vancomycin and tobramycin separately to form 2 types of antibiotic beads, which were packaged and labeled separately. The packaged calcium sulfate beads with vancomycin and tobramycin were then gas sterilized. The beads were placed in phosphate-buffered saline and kept at 36 degrees C for 6 weeks. Two separate series of assays were run simultaneously for both types of beads. In one assay, a bead containing vancomycin was placed in a fresh vial of phosphate buffered saline after each assay. The same was done with beads containing tobramycin. In the second series of assays, 9 vials of phosphate buffered saline each containing 1 vancomycin bead and 9 vials of phosphate buffered saline each containing 1 tobramycin bead was arranged. The phosphate-buffered saline was then assayed at predetermined times for both the vancomycin bead series and the tobramycin bead series. The amount of vancomycin and tobramycin assayed nearly equaled the calculated amount of antibiotic per bead measured before bead construction. Also, the elution of antibiotic from the calcium sulfate was complete within 72 hours. In conclusion, the construction and gas sterilization of calcium sulfate beads containing vancomycin and tobramycin does not destroy vancomycin and tobramycin. Also, the complete elution of available vancomycin and tobramycin in calcium sulfate beads occurs within 72 hours.     

骨髓间充质细胞与速固化磷酸钙支架共培养的实验研究

[目的]观察人骨髓间充质干细胞在速固化磷酸钙骨水泥支架中的增殖和生长情况。[方法]将速固化壳聚糖-磷酸钙骨水泥支架材料预先成形。采用全骨髓法分离人骨髓间充质细胞并在体外对细胞进行培养和扩增。72h首次换液,细胞融合80%传代,取第3代细胞用于实验。将细胞与磷酸钙骨水泥支架复合培养,分别利用四甲基偶氮唑蓝MTT法及扫描电镜等检测细胞在材料中的增殖和生长情况。[结果]用酶标仪检测OD值提示共培养后,支架内的细胞数量逐渐增加。扫描电镜结果显示支架材料内部为多孔结构,孔内见有细胞生长,细胞表面可见分泌颗粒。[结论]速固化壳聚糖-磷酸钙骨水泥对人骨髓间充质干细胞有较好的细胞相容性,细胞可在材料内黏附和增殖,是理想的骨组织工程支架材料。     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞与多孔双相磷酸钙陶瓷支架体外黏附的实验研究

目的研究大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(marrowmesenchymalstemcells,MSCs)诱导培养后在多孔双相磷酸钙(biphasiccalciumphosphate,BCP)陶瓷支架材料上的黏附和生长。方法SD大鼠MSCs经矿化诱导培养、扩增,具有成骨细胞表型后,与多孔BCP陶瓷支架及普通多孔羟基磷灰石(hydroxyapatite,HA)陶瓷支架体外复合培养,扫描电镜观察比较MSCs在两种材料支架表面的黏附数量和形态;同时以0.5、1.0、2.0、3.0和4.0×106/ml浓度细胞悬液接种于多孔BCP支架材料,检测适宜的接种浓度及单位体积支架材料可黏附MSCs数量。结果大鼠MSCs经诱导培养14d后,行矿化沉积茜素红染色、型胶原免疫细胞化学染色及碱性磷酸酶细胞化学染色,结果均为阳性。大鼠MSCs黏附于多孔BCP陶瓷上的细胞数(88.00±6.58)明显高于HA陶瓷组(39.00±3.65),两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。当接种浓度为2.0×106/ml时,单位体积的陶瓷支架材料最多可黏附MSCs数量为1.28×107个/cm3,为细胞适宜接种浓度。结论大鼠MSCs在体外经矿化诱导培养可表达成骨细胞表型,细胞浓度为2.0×106/ml时与多孔BCP陶瓷支架材料具有良好的黏附能力。     

中等强度冲击波负压暴露对豚鼠耳蜗毛细胞游离钙浓度的影响

目的:观察实验性冲击波负压(BUP)暴露对豚鼠耳蜗外毛细胞内游离钙浓度([Ca2 ]i)的影响。方法:在激光共聚焦显微镜下,用钙敏荧光探针Fluo-3作为指示剂,观察豚鼠暴露中等强度实验性BUP后耳蜗外毛细胞[Ca2 ]i的变化。结果:中等强度BUP暴露后8 h,至暴露后24 h和3 d稍有回落,但仍高于正常对照组。上述这些变化与听性脑干反应阈值的升高是一致的。结论:豚鼠暴露中等强度性BUP可引起耳蜗外毛细胞内[Ca2 ]i的明显增高,且可能是听功能损害的主要原因之一。