The clinical significance of the atrial subendocardial smooth muscle layer and cardiac myofibroblasts in human atrial tissue with valvular atrial fibrillation

BackgroundThe existence of myofibroblasts (MFBs) and the role of subendocardial smooth muscle (SSM) layer of human atrial tissue in atrial fibrillation (AF) have not yet been elucidated. We hypothesized that the SSM layer and MFB play some roles in atrial structural remodeling and maintenance of valvular AF in patients who undergo cardiac surgery.MethodsWe analyzed immunohistochemical staining of left atrial (LA) appendage tissues taken from 17 patients with AF and 15 patients remaining in sinus rhythm (SR) who underwent cardiac surgery (male 50.0%, 54.1±14.2 years old, valve surgery 87.5%). SSM was quantified by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) stain excluding vascular structure. MFB was defined as α-SMA + cells with disorganized Connexin 43-positive gap junctions in Sirius red-positive fibrotic area.ResultsThe SSM layer of atrium was significantly thicker in patients with AF than in those with SR (P=.0091). Patients with SSM layer ≥ 14 μm had a larger LA size (P=.0006) and greater fibrotic area (P=.0094) than those patients whose SSM layer < 14 μm. MFBs were found in 7 of 17 (41.2%) patients with AF and 2 of 15 (13.3%) in SR group (P=.0456) in SSM area, colocalized with Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stain-positive glycogen storage cells (95.5%).ConclusionSSM layer was closely related to the existence of AF, degrees of atrial remodeling, and fibrosis in patients who underwent open heart surgery. We found that MFB does exist in SSM layer of human atrial tissue co-localized with PAS-positive cells.     

Histopathological characteristics and oxidative injury secondary to atrial fibrillation in the left atrial appendages of patients with different forms of mitral valve disease

BackgroundThe prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the frequency cardioversion of AF postoperatively are different in different forms of mitral valve disease. We hypothesized that these differences would relate to different extent of histopathological characteristics and oxidative injury in different forms of mitral valve diseases.MethodsLeft atrial appendages were obtained from 24 patients of mitral valve disease with or without AF undergoing mitral valve surgery. Control data were obtained from left appendages of 4 persons in normal sinus rhythm (SR) died of traffic accident. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and enzyme kinetics examination were performed to assess the extent of histopathological characteristics and oxidative injury.ResultsThe average cross-sectional diameter of atrial myocyte of mitral stenosis (MS)+AF, MS+SR, mitral regurgitation (MR)+AF, MR+SR and control was 25.62±7.56 μm, 20.20±9.34 μm, 21.69±7.00 μm, 13.93±4.32 μm and 9.81±2.34 μm, respectively. Significantly statistical difference was found between each group (P<.05).Increased degree of atrial interstitial fibrosis was seen both in MS and MR with AF patients compared to other groups (P<.05), and the extent of fibrosis was more remarkable in MR patients compared to MS patients (P<.05).The extent of 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) immunoreactivity significantly increased in the patients with MS and AF compared to those of MR and AF (P<.05), and the immunoprevalence of 3-NT was significantly increased in patients of MS and SR compared to those of MR and SR (P<.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between creatine kinase (CK) activity and extent of 3-NT immunoreactivity in atrial tissues (r=?0.382, P<.05).Significant decreases in CK activity were observed in myocardium from all patients of mitral valve disease with or without AF compared to controls (P<.05).Western blotting demonstrating an increased prevalence of 3-NT formation in CK-MM was detected compared to control group (P<.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between CK-MM activity and extent of CK-MM tyrosine nitration (r=?0.446, P<.05).ConclusionsIn different forms of mitral valve disease with different cardiac rhythm, the extent of histopathological characteristics and oxidative injury are different. Histopathological characteristics and oxidative injury not only relate to mitral valve disease but also relate to the development and sustain of AF.     

Phosphorylated KDR expression in endometrial cancer cells relates to HIF1alpha/VEGF pathway and unfavourable prognosis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor for many malignant neoplasms exerting its function through activation of specific membrane receptors, that is, KDR/flk-1, residing in endothelial cells. Several recent reports indicate that VEGF receptors are also expressed in cancer cells, suggesting that specific VEGF-originated cancer cell reactions may parallel the endothelial response. Using a novel monoclonal antibody, recognizing the activated (phosphorylated) form of the KDR receptor (pKDR), we assessed the expression of pKDR in normal and malignant endometrium. A strong and consistent cytoplasmic and nuclear pKDR expression was noted in the normally cycling endometrium, including epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells, suggesting a role in the normal menstrual cycle. Approximately, one-third of the 70 stage I endometrioid adenocarcinomas analysed exhibited an intense cytoplasmic and nuclear pKDR expression in both cancer cells and peritumoral vessels. It was noted that such pKDR reactivity in cancer cells was related directly to VEGF, VEGF/KDR complexes and HIF1alpha (hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha) expression. Furthermore, pKDR expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis. It is concluded that the VEGF/KDR pathway is activated in both normally cycling and malignant endometrium, suggestive of an important role in the biology of this tissue. The unfavourable prognosis that VEGF confers to endometrial adenocarcinomas could be attributed to its angiogenic activity, but also to a direct effect on cancer cells through an autocrine VEGF/KDR loop.     

Association of increased ligand cyclophilin A and receptor CD147 with hypoxia, angiogenesis, metastasis and prognosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Huang C, Sun Z, Sun Y, Chen X, Zhu X, Fan C, Liu B, Zhao Y & Zhang W
(2012) Histopathology  60, 793–803 Association of increased ligand cyclophilin A and receptor CD147 with hypoxia, angiogenesis, metastasis and prognosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma Aims: We evaluated the association of ligand cyclophilin A (CypA) and receptor CD147 with hypoxia, angiogenesis, lymph node metastasis and prognosis of patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Methods and results: We studied the expression of CypA, CD147, hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α), vascular endothelial growth factor A and C (VEGF‐A and VEGF‐C) protein by immunohistochemistry in 80 specimens of TSCC. CypA, CD147, HIF‐1α, VEGF‐A and VEGF‐C were overexpressed in TSCCs, and were significantly higher than those in normal oral mucosa tissues (P < 0.01). Increased ligand CypA and receptor CD147 correlated significantly with expression of HIF‐1α, VEGF‐A and VEGF‐C. A significant relationship between VEGF‐A and VEGF‐C was also detected (P < 0.01). Patients with overexpression of CypA, CD147, HIF‐1α and VEGF‐C had significantly worse overall survival (P < 0.05) using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that HIF‐1α, recurrence and distant metastasis were independent prognostic factors on overall survival in TSCC patients. Conclusions: The association of expression of ligand CypA and receptor CD147 with carcinogenesis, hypoxia, angiogenesis, metastasis and prognosis of TSCC suggests that ligand CypA and receptor CD147 may have prognostic value and could be regarded as potential therapeutic targets in TSCC.     

Losartan affects the substrate for atrial fibrillation maintenance in a rabbit model

BackgroundAtrial fibrosis causes abnormal conduction through the atria, creating a substrate for atrial fibrillation (AF). In a rabbit model, rapid atrial pacing produces significant atrial fibrosis and the substrate for AF maintenance. This atrial remodeling is a potential therapeutic target.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of the losartan on atrial fibrosis.MethodsThirty rabbit AF models were produced by rapid atrial stimulation. They were randomly divided into three groups: sham group, rapid atrial pacing group, and rapid atrial pacing with losartan group. We performed AF vulnerability studies, atrial histologic, and molecular analyses after 4 weeks.ResultsOnly rabbits in the rapid atrial pacing group developed sustained AF (30 min, 4of 10 rabbits). Treatment with losartan resulted in a significant reduction in left atrial fibrosis and AF duration (P<.01). real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated the drug's effects on the expression of Collagen I, Collagen III, and TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway.ConclusionsThe treatment of losartan results in significantly reduced atrial fibrosis and AF vulnerability. Pharmacological therapy targeted at the fibrotic substrate itself may play an important role in the management of AF.     

CD105 is a more appropriate marker for evaluating angiogenesis in urothelial cancer of the upper urinary tract than CD31 or CD34

Angiogenesis plays an important role in cancer progression in many types of cancer. Evaluation of angiogenesis is often performed, but the optimal methodology for human cancer has not been agreed upon. As adequate evaluation of angiogenesis in cancer tissues might be important for prediction of prognosis and treatment decisions, we evaluated angiogenesis semiquantitatively by assessing microvessel density (MVD) in urothelial cancer of the upper urinary tract (UC-UUT). We compared the performance of three endothelial cell markers (CD31, CD34, and CD105) on formalin-fixed tissues from 122 patients diagnosed with UC-UUT without metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A expression was also evaluated immunohistochemically. Correlations between MVD with each marker and pT stage, grade, survival, and VEGF-A expression were investigated. Mean (standard deviation) MVD as estimated by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD31, anti-CD34, and anti-CD105 were 47.1 (17.9)/high-power field (HPF), 70.9 (19.5)/HPF, and 31.2 (16.7)/HPF, respectively. Although all MVDs were significantly associated with pT stage and grade, CD105-MVD showed the strongest association. Similarly, CD105-MVD showed the strongest correlation with VEGF-A expression (r?=?0.530, p?<?0.001). Although all MVDs were associated with metastasis-free survival and cause-specific survival on univariate analysis, only CD105-MVD was retained as an independent predictor in multivariate analysis including pT stage and grade. CD105-MVD may be the preferred marker for semiquantitative assessment of angiogenesis in patients with UC-UUT.     

Light and electron microscopic features of surgically excised left atrial appendage in rheumatic heart disease patients with atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm

IntroductionThere are few studies comparing the pathology of the remodeled substrate in patients of rheumatic heart disease with atrial fibrillation (AF) and normal sinus rhythm (NSR).MethodsThe study group comprised 30 patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing mitral valve replacement. Excised left atrial appendages of these patients [17 with persistent AF and 13 NSR (control group)] were subjected to light and electron microscopic examination.ResultsThe histopathological findings of the myocardium were characterized by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (CH), nuclear enlargement (NE), perinuclear clearing (PC), sarcoplasmic vacuolation (SV), fibrosis, and inflammation in the patients with AF and NSR. NE (17/17 vs. 4/13; P= .004), PC (17/17 vs. 4/13; P= .004), SV (17/17 vs. 9/13; P= .06), and fibrosis (15/17 vs. 3/13; P= .001) were all significantly more common in patients with AF. Inflammatory cells were observed in 9/17 patients of AF as compared to 1 in NSR patients (9/17 vs. 1/13; P= .02). CH was common in the patients with AF as compared with those in NSR (17/17 vs. 10/13; P= .103).In AF patients, electron microscopy revealed cardiomyocytes with depletion of the contractile elements (Z-bands), glycogen particle accumulation, and an increase in mitochondria. Cells severely affected by AF showed loss of contractile elements with extensive areas of SV, presence of myelin figures, and mitochondrial aggregates. Majority of AF cases showed extensive fibrosis in the form of collagen bundles in the interstitium.ConclusionThe left atrial substrate in AF as compared with NSR, in rheumatic heart disease patients, is associated with significant degenerative remodeling and ongoing inflammation that is associated with extensive fibrosis.     

Fibroblast growth factor-21 is positively associated with atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation patients with rheumatic heart disease

Objective: Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) has been discovered as a strong hormone, plays an important role in lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, associated with several diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular events; however, no evidence is available concerning the relationship of FGF-21 and atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Methods: Twenty-four rheumatic heart disease patients were divided into two groups, 12 cases with AF and 12 cases with sinus rhythm (SR). Clinical characteristics and blood samples were collected before surgery; right atrial appendage samples were taken in the surgery of valve replacement. HE staining was performed to determine cross-sectional area of atrial myocytes; Masson stained sections and mRNA levels of cardiac fibrosis biomarkers were used to evaluate the degree of cardiac fibrosis; the level of FGF-21 was evaluated via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Compared with SR group, cross-sectional area of atrial myocytes and collagen volume fraction were significantly increased in the atrial tissue of AF group. The distribution of FGF-21 in the AF group was remarkably higher than SR group. In addition, plasma and mRNA levels of FGF-21 in atrial tissue of AF showed the same trend as the result of immunohistochemistry. Using linear correlation analysis, the expression level of FGF-21 was found to be positively related to the degree of atrial fibrosis. Conclusion: FGF-21 might involve in the development and maintenance of atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation with rheumatic heart disease, and FGF-21 could be used as a novel biomarker to evaluate myocardial fibrosis in the future.     

Immunohistochemical expression HIF1α in chronic plaque psoriasis,an association with angiogenesis and proliferation

Psoriasis is characterized by excessive cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and regions of hypoxia. Hypoxia stimulates production of hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) such as HIF1α. The aim of the present study is to investigate the possible role of HIF1α in pathogenesis of psoriasis and to correlate its expression with angiogenesis and proliferation in involved and uninvolved skin in patients with plaque psoriasis using CD34 and Ki-67. The current study was performed on 40 skin specimens of patients presented with chronic plaque psoriasis both involved and uninvolved together with 40 specimens from age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers as a control group. The specimens were submitted for HIF1α, CD34, and Ki-67 immunostaining. HIF1α was expressed in 37.5% of normal skin with mild intensity and cytoplasmic localization instead of its expression in 72.5% and 100% of uninvolved and involved psoriatic skin, respectively. Nucleocytoplasmic pattern of HIF1α was seen in 34.5% and 37.5% of uninvolved and involved psoriatic skin, respectively. Positive and intense expression of HIF1α as well as its nucleocytoplasmic localization were significantly in favor of psoriatic skin either involved or uninvolved in comparison to normal skin (P < 0.05). Intense HIF1α was significantly associated with microvessel density in both involved and uninvolved skin (P < 0.05). Nucleocytoplasmic pattern was significantly associated with epidermal acanthosis (P < 0.05) and tended to be associated with percentage of Ki-67 of psoriatic skin (P = 0.06). The present study demonstrated that HIF1α is upregulated in the skin of psoriatic cases (involved and uninvolved) compared to normal skin indicating its role in pathogenesis of psoriasis especially its active nuclear form that showed an association with angiogenesis and proliferation.     

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase‐2 in urothelial carcinoma in conjunction with tumor‐associated‐macrophage infiltration,hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α expression,and tumor angiogenesis

This study examines whether the expression of cyclooxgenase‐2 (COX‐2) in urothelial carcinoma (UC) is associated with macrophage infiltration, hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) expression and angiogenesis. We investigated the expression of COX‐2 associated with HIF‐1α and performed double immunohistochemical analysis of 216 UCs for COX‐2 expression and the correlation with tumor‐associated‐macrophage (TAM) density and microvessel density (MVD) in situ. A high expression of COX‐2 was positively correlated with tumor invasiveness, histologic grade and HIF‐1α expression in UC (p<0.0001, p=0.003, p<0.0001, respectively). Quantification of double staining of COX‐2/CD34 and COX‐2/CD68 showed that a higher MVD and TAM density was found in COX‐2 high‐expression than in COX‐2 low‐expression tumor fields (p<0.0001). Adjacent to the principal of COX‐2 expression areas, MVD value and TAM density were significantly increased in HIF‐1α high‐expression specimens compared with HIF‐1α low‐expression ones (p<0.0001). Interestingly, our data revealed that high COX‐2 expression (p=0.002), high HIF‐1α expression (p<0.0001) and TAM density (p<0.0001) were all associated with high MVD value. Our results suggest that COX‐2 may produce a cooperative effect in promoting tumor progression and may be involved in the process of angiogenesis through increasing TAM infiltration or HIF‐1α regulation by hypoxia.     

Phosphorylated KDR is expressed in the neoplastic and stromal elements of human renal tumours and shuttles from cell membrane to nucleus

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A is an important angiogenic factor in establishing the vasculature in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). Since little is known about VEGF signalling in RCCs, the profile of phosphorylated KDR (pKDR) has been investigated and the intracellular location of the receptor has been examined in the present study. Using two monoclonal antibodies raised against the phosphorylated KDR epitopes (Y1059 and Y1214) known to mediate different VEGF functions, together with a commercial anti-KDR antibody and immunohistochemistry, the expression of pKDR was investigated in a series of normal (n = 25) and neoplastic kidneys (n = 54; clear cell n = 35; papillary n = 10; oncocytomas n = 8). pKDR was present in many tissue elements of both normal and neoplastic renal tissues, with strong expression in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nuclei of normal kidney and tumour cells, as well as endothelial cells in tumours of all histological types. Patterns and intensity were similar using both anti-pKDR antibodies. There was no significant correlation in clear cell carcinomas between pKDR expression and age (p = 0.57), tumour size (p = 0.2), gender (p = 0.59), grade (p = 0.2) or histological type (p = 0.36). To delineate further the intracellular processing that might account for the cellular distribution, confocal microscopy was also performed. Antibodies to the different phosphorylated epitopes demonstrated different intracellular staining patterns. This study shows that pKDR is present in a wide variety of renal tumours, suggesting that anti-VEGF therapy might have direct effects on tumour cells. It further suggests that cells traffic pKDR depending on the precise KDR tyrosines that are autophosphorylated in a manner that enables receptor activation to result in different functions.     

TLR2 was overexpressed independent of IL-6 in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) has recently been shown to be up-regulated in patients with non-valvular atrial fi-brillation (AF). The present study was aimed to determine whether the pathogenesis and development of AF is associated with the up-regulation of TLR2. Clinical data and right atrial appendage (RAA) specimens were col-lected from 20 patients with persisten AF (PeAF), 15 patients with paroxysmal AF (PaAF) and 13 patients with no history of AF undergoing valvular replacement. The results showed that gene expression and protein content of TLR2 were increased in both the AF subgroups, compared with the sinus rhythm (SR) group. Between the two AF subgroups, PaAF had a higher TLR2 level than PeAF. However, no difference in interluekin (IL)-6 content was found among the three groups, and no correlation was found between TLR2 and IL-6 in PeAF patients (r = 0.090, P = 0.706), PaAF patients (r = 0.408, P = 0.131) and AF patients (r = -0.301, P = 0.079). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TLR2 was distributed in RAAs of AF patients and confirmed the immunoblotting results. In conclusion, we demonstrated that TLR2 was elevated in AF (especially PaAF) patients with valvular heart disease, further implicating inflammation involved in the pathogenesis and development of AF.     

蛋白激酶A在慢性心房颤动患者2型小电导钙激活钾通道调控中的作用

 目的：探讨心房颤动（AF）时心房肌细胞2型小电导钙激活钾通道（SK2通道）功能的改变及蛋白激酶A（PKA）相关途径对SK2通道电流的调节。方法：从体外循环手术中获取右心耳组织,应用改良的急性酶分离法获得人心房单个心肌细胞,采用膜片钳全细胞记录模式进行SK2通道电流记录。对比窦性心律（SR）组和AF组SK2通道电流密度及其在混合电流中所占比例的变化。观察PKA特异性抑制剂H-89对SK2通道电流的作用。采用BCA法和ELISA法检测心房组织总蛋白和PKA的含量。结果：（1）SR组和AF组的SK2通道电流均呈现内向整流特性。AF组SK2通道电流密度明显增高,且在混合电流中所占比例增加。在-130 mV钳制电压下,SR组和AF组SK2通道电流密度分别为(-2.61±0.14) pA/pF和(-6.21±0.59) pA/pF,在混合电流中所占比例分别为(20.01±1.44)%和(42.87±1.79)%,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。（2）H-89能够降低SR组和AF组SK2通道电流密度,且对AF组SK2通道电流密度的抑制更明显。在-130 mV钳制电压下,H-89对SR组和AF组SK2通道电流密度的抑制率分别为(39.27±4.08)%和(76.32±2.94)%;SK2通道电流在混合电流中比例亦下降,抑制率分别为(37.48±4.77)%和(56.40±3.66)%,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。（3）AF使PKA含量下降。SR组和AF组PKA含量分别为(511.91±7.22) ng/L和(444.09±7.88) ng/L,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：AF患者心房肌细胞SK2通道电流密度及其在混合电流中比例升高,是AF发生和维持的基础之一,电流改变参与了心房电重构过程。PKA能够通过一定途径调节SK2通道功能,且对AF心房肌细胞SK2通道的调节更为显著。     

钙网织蛋白促进心脏瓣膜病患者心房重构

 目的: 明确钙网织蛋白的异常表达与分布能否促进心脏瓣膜病患者心房重构的发生。方法: 从78位进行瓣膜置换手术的患者中获得左右心房的标本。患者被分为窦性节律组、阵发性房颤组和持续性房颤组(房颤持续超过6个月),检测心房组织中钙网织蛋白、整合素α5和转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1)的蛋白表达情况。同时使用免疫共沉淀法测定钙网织蛋白与钙调磷酸酶B及整合素α5的结合情况。结果: 房颤组的钙网织蛋白、整合素α5和TGF-β1的蛋白表达均高于窦性节律组,特别是在二尖瓣疾病患者的左心房中。免疫共沉淀显示钙网织蛋白可以与钙调磷酸酶B和整合素α5结合产生相互作用。整合素α5的表达水平与TGF-β1的表达具有明显相关性,钙网织蛋白表达水平与整合素α5和TGF-β1的表达水平具有明显的相关性。在相同心功能分级情况下,钙网织蛋白的表达水平在持续性房颤组明显高于窦性心律组。结论: 房颤患者心房组织中的钙网织蛋白、整合素α5和TGF-β1表达增高,并与房颤类型有关,这提示钙网织蛋白参与了心脏瓣膜病房颤患者的心房重构。     

Role of left atrial speckle tracking echocardiography in predicting persistent atrial fibrillation electrical cardioversion success and sinus rhythm maintenance at 6 months

PurposeWe assessed the value of left atrium speckle tracking imaging (STI) indices, and clinical and other echocardiographic parameters in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients to predict the efficacy of electrical cardioversion (EC) and sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance at 6 months.Material/methodsEighty persistent AF patients planned to receive EC, underwent echocardiography including STI. After 24 h, patients with successful EC were examined to predict SR maintenance. After 6 months patients with no AF recurrence in electrocardiogram (ECG) underwent 7-day ECG to exclude silent AF. Every AF > 1 min was a recurrence.ResultsSR restored in 61 patients, 19 unsuccessful. Prior use of statins (68.8% vs. 42.1%, p = 0.03) was the only factor, determined later by univariate analysis to be a significant EC success predictor (OR = 1.09, CL ± 95% 1.001–1.019, p < 0.03). Both groups received similar antiarrhythmics and had similar echocardiographic parameters. After 6 months, SR was maintained in 19 patients (31.1%, Group I); AF recurrences were registered in 42 patients (68.8%, Group II). In Group I, only the mitral valve deceleration time (MVDT) 224.18 ± 88.13 vs. 181.6 ± 60.6 in Group II, p = 0.04) and the dispersion of time to peak longitudinal strain (dTPLS) (86.0 ± 68.3 vs. 151.8 ± 89.6, p = 0.03) differed significantly. The univariate analysis revealed dTPLS as a significant predictor of SR maintenance.ConclusionHigh EC efficacy and frequent AF recurrences were observed. The dispersion of time to the maximal longitudinal strain (LS) of left atrial segments facilitated prediction of SR maintenance. The value of 7-day ECG monitoring for detection of arrhythmia after 6 months was limited.     

Atrial expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in patients with and without atrial fibrillation

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with oxidative stress within the fibrillating atrial myocardium. Experimental studies suggest that reduced levels of nitric oxide (NO) caused by down-regulation of the NO synthase (eNOS) contribute to the development of prothrombotic endocardial remodeling in AF. This study was designed to determine the endocardial expression of eNOS in atrial tissue samples from patients with and without AF.MethodsTissue microarrays were used to analyze right atrial tissue specimens obtained from 234 patients (38 with AF; 196 with sinus rhythm) for differences in atrial eNOS expression. In selected patients, immunohistological results were confirmed by Western blotting.ResultsImmunohistochemical analyses showed that eNOS is expressed by endocardial cells and myocytes. However, endocardial expression of eNOS was not independently related to AF per se. There was no difference between paroxysmal and persistent AF. Clinical factors like gender (P=.05) and coronary artery disease (P=.06) were associated with down-regulation of eNOS. Interestingly, diabetes mellitus (P=.02) was associated with an up-regulation of endocardial eNOS, whereas other risk factors for thromboembolic events did not influence eNOS levels. Multivariable analysis showed that eNOS expression is influenced by interactions between diabetes mellitus and AF (P=.09) as well as by interactions between gender and AF (P=.04). Lowest levels of eNOS were found in women with AF.ConclusionAF does not independently effect atrial eNOS expression in humans. Due to the nonuniform regulation of endocardial eNOS expression, it appears unlikely that down-regulation of eNOS is a final common pathway for the development of prothrombotic endocardial remodeling, since classical risk factors for thromboembolic events do not reduce endocardial eNOS protein.     

The angiogenic pathway "vascular endothelial growth factor/flk-1(KDR)-receptor" in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Active angiogenesis, together with an up-regulation of angiogenic factors, is evident in the synovium of both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). The present study assessed, by immunohistochemistry, the microvessel density in the synovium of these arthritides and in normal controls, in relation to the expression of the angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) and the apoptosis-related proteins bcl-2 and p53. More importantly, using the novel 11B5 MAb, the activated "VEGF/flk-1(KDR)-receptor" microvessel density was assessed. VEGF expression in fibroblasts was diffuse in both RA and OA. Diffuse PD-ECGF expression of fibroblasts was noted in all cases of RA, while fibroblast reactivity was focal in the OA material. The standard microvessel density (sMVD), as assessed with the anti-CD31 monoclonal antibody (MAb), was higher in RA (64+/-12) and in OA (65+/-16) than in normal tissues (52+/-8; p=0.008 and 0.0004, respectively). The activated microvessel density (aMVD), assessed with the 11B5 MAb, was significantly higher in RA (29+/-10) than in OA (17+/-4; p<0.0001) and than in normal tissues (14+/-2; p<0.0001). The "activation ratio" (aMVD/sMVD) was statistically higher in RA (0.46+/-0.17) than in OA and normal synovial tissues, the latter two having a similar ratio (0.28+/-0.08 and 0.26+/-0.03, respectively). Cytoplasmic bcl-2 expression was frequent in the synovial cells of OA, but rare in RA. Nuclear p53 protein accumulation was never observed. It is suggested that the angiogenic pathway VEGF/flk-1(KDR) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA and OA. Thus, failure of VEGF/flk-1(KDR) activation, in the presence of increased VEGF expression, may indicate a synovium with an impaired capacity to establish a viable vasculature, consistent with the degenerative nature of OA. On the other hand, the activated angiogenesis in RA shows a functional, still pathologically up-regulated VEGF/flk-1(KDR) pathway. Whether restoration of an impaired VEGF/flk-1(KDR) pathway in OA, or inhibition of this in RA, would prove of therapeutic importance requires further investigation.     

心房颤动患者心房纤维化与缝隙连接重构的关系

目的：探讨心房颤动患者心房肌胶原纤维与缝隙连接重构在房颤发病机制中的可能作用以及它们之间的关系。 方法： 取44例心脏病患者的右心耳标本（房颤26例,为AF组；窦性心律18例，为SR组）,（1）行天狼猩红染色，偏光显微镜下观察AF组与SR组心房肌Ⅰ型胶原并通过图像分析系统分析统计2组间Ⅰ型胶原含量分数（collagen volume fraction of collagen Ⅰ,CVF-Ⅰ）的差异；（2）超微病理切片，透射电镜下观察闰盘并统计闰盘组数及闰盘重构分数（remodeled intercalated disc fraction, RIDF）；（3）连接蛋白43（connexin 43,Cx43）免疫组化染色，普通显微镜下观察分析缝隙连接蛋白Cx43的含量分数（volume fraction of Cx43,Cx43VF），统计2组间的差异；（4）CVF-I与Cx43VF、RIDF分别进行Pearson相关分析。 结果： （1）AF组CVF-I高于SR组（1.26 vs 0.57, P＜0.01）；(2)2组间闰盘组数无显著差异(9.54 vs 10.11, P>0.05), AF组闰盘重构分数大于SR组(39.48 vs 15.61, P＜0.01)；(3)AF组Cx43VF低于SR组(3.45 vs 5.22, P＜0.01)；(4)CVF-I与闰盘重构比例正相关(r＝0.96,P＜0.01)；(5)CVF-I与Cx43VF负相关(r＝－0.98,P＜0.01)。 结论： 房颤患者Ⅰ型胶原纤维化程度增加，闰盘与连接蛋白发生重构。纤维化可能分离心肌，使闰盘重构,进而影响到缝隙连接蛋白的分布，参与房颤发生发展的过程。