HGF过表达对慢阻肺小鼠肺功能、肺动脉压力的影响及其作用机制

目的探讨肝细胞生长因子(HGF)过表达对慢性阻塞性肺疾病小鼠肺功能、肺动脉压力的影响及相关机制。方法取30只小鼠建立慢阻肺模型,随机分为模型组、HGF组、HGF+PI3K抑制剂LY294002组,各10只,另取10只小鼠设为对照组。各组小鼠给予相应处理后,采用实验仪器检测肺功能和肺动脉压力指标,ELISA法检测肺组织爱帕琳肽(Apelin)水平,RT-PCR检测肺组织HGF mRNA表达量,Western blot检测肺组织相关蛋白表达量,TUNEL法检测肺组织细胞凋亡。结果与对照组比较,模型组小鼠mPAP水平升高,TV、PEF、PIF、FEV0.3、FEV0.3/FVC、Apelin水平降低,肺组织HGF mRNA和蛋白表达量降低,Caspase-3表达量和细胞凋亡率升高,Bcl-2表达量、p-PI3K/PI3K和p-Akt/Akt比值降低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。HGF过表达可显著逆转模型组上述指标水平,LY294002显著抑制HGF过表达对慢阻肺小鼠的作用效果。结论HGF可通过增加Apelin水平、抑制细胞凋亡改善慢阻肺小鼠肺功能和肺动脉压力,其作用机制可能与PI3K/Akt信号通路的激活相关。     

Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty for the Treatment of Nonoperable Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: Single-Center Experience with Low Initial Complication Rate

PurposeTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) for nonoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients during the initial experience of a single center.MethodsA total of 18 CTEPH patients (5 with residual pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy) were treated with BPA during the period 2014–2018 and were retrospectively reviewed. Mean age was 61 ± 19 years; 55% were female; mean pulmonary artery pressure was 44 ± 12 mmHg; cardiac output was 4.3 ± 1.0 l/min; and pulmonary vascular resistance was 8.4 ± 3.6 WU. Patients were evaluated by New York Heart Association functional class, 6-minute walk distance, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide, echocardiography, right heart catheterization, and before and after completions of BPA.ResultsA total of 91 procedures were performed, with a median number of 4 BPA sessions per patient (range, 2–8). There were no deaths or major complications requiring extracorporeal support or (non)invasive ventilation. The most common complication was self-limiting hemoptysis (3%). According to Society of Interventional Radiology classification, 4 mild, 4 moderate, and 1 severe adverse events were noted. Invasive hemodynamics significantly improved, with a cardiac index increase of 15% (P = .0333), decrease of mean pulmonary artery pressure of 30% (P = .0013), and decrease of pulmonary vascular resistance of 45% (P = .0048). Stroke volume index (P = .0171) and pulmonary arterial compliance (P = .0004) were also significantly enhanced.ConclusionsBPA significantly improves cardiopulmonary hemodynamics with an acceptable safety profile. Further studies assessing the long-term efficacy of BPA are required.     

Effect of patent ductus arteriosus on the heart in preterm infants

There continues to be controversy on the long‐term effects of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and its management. However, the hemodynamic effects of a large PDA in a preterm infant are well known. This article aims to provide insight into the adaptive changes and remodeling effects of a PDA on the myocardium in preterm infants.     

Echocardiographic assessment at rest and during stress in patients with intermittent claudication

Objective. Skeletal muscle perfusion during walking relies on complex interactions between cardiac activity and vascular control mechanisms, why cardiac dysfunction may contribute to intermittent claudication (IC) symptoms. The study aims were to describe cardiac function at rest and during stress in consecutive IC patients, to explore the relations between cardiac function parameters and treadmill performance, and to test the hypothesis that clinically silent myocardial ischemia during stress may contribute to IC limb symptomatology. Design. Patients with mild to severe IC (n?=?111, mean age 67 y, 52% females, mean treadmill distance 195 m) underwent standard echocardiography, dobutamine stress echocardiography (SE) and treadmill testing. The patient cohort was separated in two groups based on treadmill performance (HIGH and LOW performance). Results. Ten patients (9%) had regional wall motion abnormalities of which three had left ventricular ejection fraction <50% at standard echocardiography. A majority had lower than expected systolic- and diastolic ventricular volumes. LOW performers had smaller diastolic left ventricular volumes and lower global peak systolic velocity during dobutamine stress. No patient demonstrated significant cardiac dysfunction during dobutamine provocation that was not also evident at standard echocardiography. Conclusions. Most IC patients were without signs of ischemic heart disease or cardiac failure. The majority had small left ventricular volumes. The hypothesis that clinically silent myocardial ischemia impairing left ventricular function during stress may contribute to IC limb symptomatology was not supported.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01219842.