Effects of OP2113 on Myocardial Infarct Size and No Reflow in a Rat Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Model

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - The present study was to determine whether OP2113 could limit myocardial infarction size and the no-reflow phenomenon in a rat myocardial ischemia/reperfusion...     

Evolving Roles of Optimal Medical Therapy and PCI in Chronic Coronary Syndrome Patients with Stable Angina: Introduction

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - This Introduction sets the stage for 5 subsequent papers that will follow, and which describe several key features of the ISCHEMIA Trial in depth, including...     

Effects of the economic crisis and social support on health-related quality of life: first wave of a longitudinal study in Spain

Background

Economic recession affects quality of life by increasing rates of mental disorders in particular. Social support can be an important protective factor.

Aim

To estimate the impact of being personally affected by an economic crisis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), taking into account the possible buffering effect of perceived social support.

Design and setting

Data from the first wave (March 2012 to November 2012) of the ‘Social Support and Quality of Life Study’, a longitudinal study carried out in a primary health care centre in a deprived neighbourhood of Barcelona, Spain.

Method

A total of 143 participants were assessed using the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, the List of Threatening Experiences and the Duke Social Support scales. The effect of economic crisis on mental and physical HRQoL was assessed using ordinary least squares regression models to test the interaction between social support and having experienced an economic crisis.

Results

There was no statistical association between having suffered an economic crisis and physical HRQoL. The interaction between social support and economic crisis was also tested without finding any statistical association. An interaction was detected between social support and economic crisis in relation to mental HRQoL; those who had low levels of social support and had also experienced an economic crisis had the lowest levels of mental HRQoL.

Conclusion

Social support constitutes a safety net that offers protection against the adverse effect of economic recessions on mental health. Primary care professionals are in a key position to promote social activities and to strengthen social networks in the community.     

军医大学各专业学员的典型人格类型分析

目的：调查军医大学不同专业学员人格类型的异同,寻找各专业的典型人格,为进一步探讨人格类型与专业的匹配情况,开展教育教学工作提供依据。方法：应用迈尔斯类型指标（ MBTI）量表,调查某军医大学所有在校学员的个性类型。结果：①不同专业学员在MBTI每个维度的百分比均有差异（χ2＝24．988,23．653,25．641,24．567;P均＜0．05）;②不同专业学员的16种人格类型比较均有统计学差异（χ2＝5．421,1．289,3．070,2．468,1．526,56．778,1．246,2．371,6．260,1．965,3．529,2．112,3．553,1．784,3．930,4．866;P均＜0．001））。其中ESFJ比例最高的是护理、海医学员（21．30％、19．8％）;ISTJ比例最高的是心理、药学、生物技术学员（23．1％、22．1％、18．2％）;INFP比例最高的是卫管、中医学员（24．2％、17．6％）;③不同专业学员8种偏好的标准化分数比较均有不同（F＝3．002,3．010,2．875,2．070,2．825,2．825,2．162,2．170;P均＜0．05）。结论：军医大学各专业学员大多有典型人格类型,存在一定相似性;要根据军医大学不同专业学员的个性特点进行针对性的教学。     

密度梯度离心后精子悬液中弹性硬蛋白酶浓度和精子DNA完整性的测定

目的检测体外授精过程中精液和经密度梯度离心后精子悬液中弹性硬蛋白酶(PMN-Elastase)的浓度与精子DNA的完整性,探讨密度梯度离心对精浆中PMN-Elastase的作用和精子DNA的损伤情况。方法选择我中心64例进入体外受精周期患者,其中根据女方取卵手术当天男方精液检测PMN—Elastase不同浓度将患者分为A组(15例):含量1000ng/ml(显性感染);B组(20例):含量290-1000ng/ml(隐性感染);C组(20):含量290ng/ml(正常水平),分析和比较处理前后三组精子悬液中PMN-Elastase的浓度和DNA完整率。结果三组处理后的精子悬液中A组PMN-Elastase前后浓度没有明显区别(P0.05),B组和C组浓度明显下降(P0.05);三组处理后的DNA完整率均明显提高(P0.05),经过长时间孵育均明显降低(P0.05)。结论高浓度PMN-Elastase的精液经密度梯度离心后的精子悬液中PMN-Elastase浓度并不增加,精子活力和DNA完整率增加,可能不影响受精结局。     

Age Progression of Neuropathological Markers in the Brain of the Chilean Rodent Octodon degus,a Natural Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of age‐related dementia worldwide. Several models for AD have been developed to provide information regarding the initial changes that lead to degeneration. Transgenic mouse models recapitulate many, but not all, of the features of AD, most likely because of the high complexity of the pathology. In this context, the validation of a wild‐type animal model of AD that mimics the neuropathological and behavioral abnormalities is necessary. In previous studies, we have reported that the Chilean rodent Octodon degus could represent a natural model for AD. In the present work, we further describe the age‐related neurodegeneration observed in the O. degus brain. We report some histopathological markers associated with the onset progression of AD, such as glial activation, increase in oxidative stress markers, neuronal apoptosis and the expression of the peroxisome proliferative‐activated receptor γ coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α). With these results, we suggest that the O. degus could represent a new model for AD research and a powerful tool in the search for therapeutic strategies against AD.     

Angiographic and intravascular ultrasound findings of the late catch-up phenomenon after intracoronary beta-radiation for the treatment of in-stent restenosis

We report one-year angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) outcomes of in-stent restenosis (ISR) patients treated with intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT). The benefit of IVBT for treating ISR is well documented. However, few data exist on significant angiographic and intravascular ultrasonic in-stent lumen deterioration beyond the habitual 6-month analysis after the index radiation procedure or so-called late catch-up process in the treatment of ISR. Twenty-five consecutive patients with ISR were treated with IVBT using the Beta-Cath System (a 40 mm 90 Sr per 90 gamma source). Quantitative angiographic and IVUS analysis was performed in all of them at 6 and 12 months. IVBT was successful in all patients. Four patients (16%) developed recurrent angiographic binary restenosis at 6-month follow-up, all located within the adjacent reference segments, with 2 being associated with geographical miss. An additional 4 patients (16%) presented with recurrent ISR at 12-month follow-up, all within the stented segment. Significant in-stent lumen loss (0.16 +/- 0.42 mm to 0.34 +/- 0.46 mm; p = 0.008) and in-stent intimal hyperplasia growth (+11.2 +/- 0.48 mm3; p = 0.03) was observed between 6 and 12 months. Intracoronary beta-radiation for the treatment of ISR was associated with significant luminal deterioration (late catch-up) within the stents between 6 and 12 months due to an important late progression of in-stent intimal hyperplasia.     

Hepatitis C virus kinetics during and immediately after liver transplantation

The study of hepatitis C virus (HCV) kinetics after liver transplantation (LT) might be important to design strategies to prevent HCV infection of the graft. We analyzed HCV kinetics during and immediately after LT in 20 consecutive patients undergoing LT for HCV-related cirrhosis. HCV RNA was quantified in blood samples obtained at regular intervals before, during, and after transplantation. HCV-RNA concentrations decreased in 18 of 20 patients during the anhepatic phase (mean decay slope -0.92, mean HCV elimination half-life 2.2 hours). We found a significant correlation between the HCV viral load decay and the blood loss during the anhepatic phase, indicating that the observed HCV clearance rates are maximum estimates. In fact, in 1 patient with an unusually long anhepatic phase of 20 hours and with minimum blood loss, the HCV elimination half-life was 10.3 hours. Eight to 24 hours after graft reperfusion a sharp decrease in HCV viral load occurred in 19 patients (mean decay slope -0.34, mean HCV elimination half-life 3.44 hours). HCV RNA became undetectable in only 1 patient. During the following days, HCV-RNA concentrations increased rapidly in 10 patients (mean HCV doubling time 13.8 hours), remained at similar levels in 4, and continued to decrease in 6. The only variable associated with a second-phase viral load decay was the absence of corticosteroids as part of the immunosuppressive regimen. In conclusion, a sharp decrease in HCV viral load occurs during the anhepatic phase and immediately after graft reperfusion, most likely owing to a lack of virion production and hepatic viral clearance. HCV infection of the graft, however, is an extremely dynamic process and viral replication begins a few hours after LT.     

Inhibition of mouse hepatocyte apoptosis via anti-Fas ribozyme

AIM: To investigate the effects of anti-Fas ribozyme on Fas expression and apoptosis in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. METHODS: Mouse hepatocytes were isolated by using collagenase irrigation. A hammerhead ribozyme targeting the Fas mRNA was constructed, and transfected into mouse hepatocytes via Effectene. Then Fas expression in mouse hepatocytes was detected by RT-PCR and western blotting. After being treated with anti-Fas antibody (JO2), hepatocytes viability was measured with MTT assay. Caspase-3 proteolytic activity was detected, and cell apoptosis was measured according to Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit. RESULTS: Fas expressed in primary mouse hepatocytes. Fas expression in hepatocytes transfected with anti-Fas ribozyme was decreased remarkably and correlated with the resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis as determined by flow cytometry and caspase-3 proteolytic activity. CONCLUSION: Anti-Fas ribozyme can remarkably decrease the Fas expression in mouse hepatocytes, thus inhibit Fas-mediated apoptosis in hepatocytes. It is suggested that anti-Fas ribozyme could significantly increase the resistance of transplanted hepatocytes to apoptosis and improve the survival of transplanted hepatocytes.