Antigen-conjugated N-trimethylaminoethylmethacrylate Chitosan Nanoparticles Induce Strong Immune Responses After Nasal Administration

Pharmaceutical Research - Antigens were conjugated on the surface of N-trimethylaminoethylmethacrylate chitosan (TMC) nanoparticles to induce systemic and mucosal immune responses after nasal...     

Left Bundle Branch Pacing for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Nonrandomized On-Treatment Comparison With His Bundle Pacing and Biventricular Pacing

BackgroundLeft bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a novel method for delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We compared on-treatment outcomes with His bundle pacing (HBP) and biventricular pacing (BVP) in this nonrandomized observational study.MethodsConsecutive patients with left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% and typical left bundle branch block (LBBB) referred for CRT received BVP, HBP, or LBBP. QRS duration, pacing threshold, LVEF, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class were assessed.ResultsOne hundred thirty-seven patients were recruited: 49 HBP, 32 LBBP, and 54 BVP; 2 did not receive CRT. The majority of patients had nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Mean paced QRS duration was 100.7 ± 15.3 ms, 110.8 ± 11.1 ms, and 135.4 ± 20.2 ms during HBP, LBBP, and BVP, respectively. HBP and LBBP demonstrated a similar absolute increase (Δ) in LVEF (+23.9% vs +24%, P = 0.977) and rate of normalized final LVEF (74.4% vs 70.0%, P = 0.881) at 1-year follow-up. This was significantly higher than in the BVP group (Δ LVEF +16.7% and 44.9% rate of normalized final LVEF, P < 0.005). HBP and LBBP also demonstrated greater improvements in NYHA class compared with BVP. LBBP was associated with higher R-wave amplitude (11.2 ± 5.1 mV vs 3.8 ± 1.9 mV, P < 0.001) and lower pacing threshold (0.49 ± 0.13 V/0.5 ms vs 1.35 ± 0.73 V/0.5 ms, P < 0.001) compared with HBP.ConclusionLBBP appears to be a promising method for delivering CRT. We observed similar improvements in symptoms and LV function with LBBP and HBP. These improvements were significantly greater than those seen in patients treated with BVP in this nonrandomized study. These promising findings justify further investigation with randomized trials.     

Exogenous IGF-1 improves tau pathology and neuronal pyroptosis in high-fat diet mice with cognitive dysfunction

Metabolic Brain Disease - Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) improves obesity-induced cognitive dysfunction, but its mechanism is not fully clarified. The aim of the study was to reveal whether...     

Dickkopf-1 perpetuated synovial fibroblast activation and synovial angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical Rheumatology - Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1), a regulatory molecule of the Wnt pathway, is elevated and leads to bone resorption in patients with RA. This study is aimed to investigate the...     

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma in a patient with MAGIC syndrome: a case and review of the literature

Clinical Rheumatology - Mouth and genital ulcer with inflamed cartilage syndrome (MAGIC syndrome) is a rare autoinflammatory disorder with unknown etiology. Except for the common clinical...     

Conservative management for an extensive type A aortic dissection complicating coronary angioplasty

Aortic dissection is a recognized, though rare complication of percutaneous revascularization procedures. We report a case of an extensive type A dissection that occurred during an attempt to recanalize a chronic total occlusion of a right coronary artery. The patient was treated conservatively and was followed for 36 months, during which he remained well. We conclude that, even though surgery remains the preferred option, conservative management could also be considered in certain patients.     

Modulation of platelet and leucocyte function by a Chinese herbal formulation as compared with conventional antiplatelet agents

Platelet and leucocyte activity are important in the acute development of thrombosis and in the pathogenesis of ischaemic vascular disease. Dan Shen Di Wan (DS, Cardiotonic Pill or Dantonic(R) Pill) is one of the most commonly used Chinese herbal formulations for treating patients with atherosclerotic disease in China and several Asian countries. We studied the effect of DS on platelet and leucocyte function and compared the effects with conventional antiplatelet agents, cangrelor (ADP P2Y(12) receptor antagonist) and aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid, ASA). Measurements were made by platelet aggregation (%) and activation (CD62P %), platelet-monocyte conjugate formation (P/M, CD42a median fluorescence, mf), platelet-neutrophil conjugate formation (P/N, mf), and leucocyte activation (CD11b median fluorescence on monocytes and neutrophils, mf) in response to 3.3 micromol/L adenosine diphosphate (ADP), 1.0 micromol/L platelet activating factor (PAF), 5.0 micromol/L adrenaline and 0.5 microg/mL collagen. We also evaluated the effect of its main component, water soluble extract of salvia miltiorrhiza (SME) on intracellular calcium mobilization in platelets triggered by 10 micromol/L ADP, 10 micromol/L PAF, 2 microg/mL collagen and 15 micromol/L thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP). Overall DS showed inhibition of platelet aggregation, platelet activation, platelet-leucocyte conjugate formation and leucocyte activation in response to all the agonists apart from adrenaline (all p < 0.01). DS showed inhibition of platelet aggregation and leucocyte activation equivalent to cangrelor 100 nmol/L and ASA 100 micromol/L. SME dose-dependently inhibited intracellular calcium mobilization in platelets following stimulation with all the platelet agonists with maximum effective at 0.36 mg/mL (all p < 0.01). When used at 0.18 mg/mL its inhibitory effect was equivalent to cangrelor and ASA. We conclude that DS is a potential inhibitor of both platelet and leucocyte activation.