肺动脉高压生化指标的相关性分析

目的：研究血清骨保护素（OPG）、N末端脑钠肽前体（NT-proBNP）、转化生长因子β1（TGFβ1）、基质金属蛋白酶（MMP）及嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白（EPC）与肺动脉高压的相关性。方法：选取2010年2月～2013年12月本院收治的56例肺动脉高压患者为观察组,并以56例同龄的健康人为对照组,比较两组及观察组不同分级者血清OPG、NT-proBNP、TGFβ1、MMP及EPC水平,并分析各指标水平与疾病的关系。结果：观察组血清OPG、NT-proBNP、TGFβ1、MMP及EPC水平均高于对照组,而且观察组中分级较高者的检测水平高于分级较低者,差异均有统计学意义（P均〈0．05）;经Logistic分析显示血清OPG、NT-proBNP、TGFβ1、MMP及EPC均与本病有密切的关系。结论：与肺动脉高压有相关性的血清OPG、NT-proBNP、TGFβ1、MMP及EPC波动较大,与疾病有密切的关系。     

黄芪、三七促进骨髓干细胞体外转化并扩增血管内皮前体细胞(EPC)作用的研究

目的:探讨黄芪、三七对骨髓干细胞体外转化并扩增EPC的促进作用及其可能的机制。方法:常规采集下肢缺血患者骨髓血,密度梯度离心法分离骨髓单个核细胞,不同条件下贴壁扩增细胞。镜下细胞的形态学观察,流式细胞仪检测CD₃⁺₄细胞的百分比。结果:细胞呈梭形,束状排列,间杂有少量圆形细胞。与对照组相比,黄芪中、低剂量组,三七中、高剂量组CD₃⁺₄细胞的百分比均显著增加。结论:黄芪、三七能促进EPC的转化和增殖。     

Fish interferon-stimulated genes: The antiviral effectors

Type I interferons (IFN) are the cornerstone cytokine of innate antiviral immunity. In response to a viral infection, IFN signaling results in the expression of a diverse group of genes known as interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). These ISGs are responsible for interfering with viral replication and infectivity, helping to limit viral infection within a cell. In mammals, many antiviral effector ISGs have been identified and the antiviral mechanisms are at least partially elucidated. In fish fewer ISGs have been identified and while there is evidence they limit viral infection, almost nothing is known of their respective antiviral mechanisms. This review discusses seven ISGs common to mammals and fish and three ISGs that are unique to fish. The lack of understanding regarding fish ISG's antiviral effector functions is highlighted and draws attention to the need for research in this aspect of aquatic innate immunity.     

17β-Estradiol protects the esophageal epithelium from IL-13–induced barrier dysfunction and remodeling

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A new hydroxyl radical scavenger “EPC” on cadaver heart transplantation in a canine model

This study was performed to determine if an “arrested” heart, resuscitated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) after the cessation of beating, can be successfully transplanted, and whether a hydroxyl radical scavenger EPC can reduce ischemic and reperfusion injury during resuscitation of the arrested heart and following orthotopic heart transplantation. A total of 16 pairs of canines were divided into a control group of eight pairs and an EPC-treated group of eight pairs. Cardiac arrest of the donor heart was induced by the discontinuation of respiratory support after the induction of brain death. The cadaver heart was then resuscitated and core-cooled to myocardial temperature of 15°C using CPB. The donor heart was harvested using cold cardioplegia and orthotopically transplanted. All of the transplanted hearts in the EPC group were weaned from CPB without any inotropic support after 60 min of bypass support, whereas all the animals in the control group required 5 μg/kg/min dopamine (P=0.001). Moreover, cardiac function (E _max) 1h after orthotopic heart transplantation was better preserved in the EPC group than in the control group, at 110±36% vs. 70±21% of the post brain death values (P=0.02) These findings demonstrate that EPC reduces posttransplant reperfusion injury, and thus it may prove to be a valuable adjunct in this challenging model.     

Very late stent thrombosis due to DES fracture: Description of a case and review of potential causes

Stent fracture and subsequent stent thrombosis are known complications after stent implantation, especially in stents with closed cell design like the first generation sirolimus drug eluting stents (DES). Late stent thrombosis is very rarely encountered in our patient population, majority Chinese. We report a case of non‐ST elevation myocardial infarction as a result of very late stent thrombosis (three years after implantation) due to stent fracture at the site of overlap of two first generation sirolimus DES. There were initial difficulties in restoring coronary flow by conventional reperfusion therapies but a successful outcome after implantation of an endothelial progenitor cell capture stent, with no further recurrence of ischemic event after 12 months. An attempt was made to analyze all existing factors present and contributing to the stent fracture and stent thrombosis in this case, as reported in the literature. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

“Nanoantibiotics”: A new paradigm for treating infectious diseases using nanomaterials in the antibiotics resistant era

Despite the fact that we live in an era of advanced and innovative technologies for elucidating underlying mechanisms of diseases and molecularly designing new drugs, infectious diseases continue to be one of the greatest health challenges worldwide. The main drawbacks for conventional antimicrobial agents are the development of multiple drug resistance and adverse side effects. Drug resistance enforces high dose administration of antibiotics, often generating intolerable toxicity, development of new antibiotics, and requests for significant economic, labor, and time investments. Recently, nontraditional antibiotic agents have been of tremendous interest in overcoming resistance that is developed by several pathogenic microorganisms against most of the commonly used antibiotics. Especially, several classes of antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs) and nanosized carriers for antibiotics delivery have proven their effectiveness for treating infectious diseases, including antibiotics resistant ones, in vitro as well as in animal models. This review summarizes emerging efforts in combating against infectious diseases, particularly using antimicrobial NPs and antibiotics delivery systems as new tools to tackle the current challenges in treating infectious diseases.     

Actions and therapeutic potential of G-CSF and GM-CSF in cardiovascular disease

Despite their names, the cytokines granulocyte- and granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF and GM-CSF respectively) have actions far beyond simply stimulating the proliferation of neutrophil and monocyte lineage cells. A comprehensive body of evidence now exists demonstrating that G-CSF and GM-CSF effectively mobilize bone-marrow-derived progenitor cells into the peripheral circulation. These mobilized progenitor cells can be conveniently harvested for use in reconstituting bone marrow by transplantation after myelo-ablative treatment of hematological malignancies. In addition, much evidence has recently emerged to suggest that these cytokines may have multiple direct and indirect beneficial cardiovascular effects--including neovascularization of ischemic myocardium and reducing the extent of myocardial damage after infarction. Based on this knowledge and a strong safety record in hematological applications, a number of early clinical trials have evaluated the use of G-CSF or GM-CSF in patients with both acute and chronic myocardial ischemia. Although the interpretation of these trials is complicated by heterogeneity in study design, small patient numbers and methodological concerns related to appropriate selection and blinding of patients, the results of ongoing larger phase II/III trials should soon be available to determine if these agents will be useful additions to the cardiovascular armamentarium.     

Age-related changes in endothelial function and blood flow regulation

Vascular endothelial dysfunction is regarded as a primary phenotypic expression of normal human aging. This senescence-induced disorder is the likely culprit underlying the increased cardiovascular and metabolic disease risks associated with aging. The rate of this age-dependent deterioration is largely influenced by the poor-quality lifestyle choice, such as smoking, sedentary daily life, chronic alcohol ingestion, high salt intake, unbalanced diet, and mental stress; and it is accelerated by cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Although minimizing these detrimental factors is the best course of action, nonetheless chronological age steadily impairs endothelial function through reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression/action, accelerated nitric oxide (NO) degradation, increased phosphodiesterase activity, inhibition of NOS activity by endogenous NOS inhibitors, increased production of reactive oxygen species, inflammatory reactions, decreased endothelial progenitor cell number and function, and impaired telomerase activity or telomere shortening. Endothelial dysfunction in regional vasculatures results in cerebral hypoperfusion triggering cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease, coronary artery insufficiency, penile erectile dysfunction, and circulatory failures in other organs and tissues. Possible prophylactic measures to minimize age-related endothelial dysfunction are also summarized in this review.