Polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase are risk factors for perioperative acute myocardial infarction after cardiac surgery: a preliminary study.

In the present study we explored glutathione S-transferase (GST) polymorphisms in selected patients who experienced accelerated myocardial injury following open heart surgery and compared these to a control group of patients without postoperative complications. 758 Patients were enrolled from which 132 patients were selected to genotype analysis according to exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into the following groups: Group I: control patients (n = 78) without and Group II.

The effect of clopidogrel besylate and clopidogrel hydrogensulfate on platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease: a retrospective study.

Background: Recently several alternative forms of the original clopidogrel hydrogensulfate (CHS) were spread worldwide. A large amount of such drugs turned out to be clopidogrel besylate (CB). Only three studies, involving healthy volunteers, investigated the antiplatelet effect of CB, whereas its attribute remained unexplored in the case of patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Polymethyl-methacrylate-sorbitol-based capsules as local drug delivery vehicles: an in vitro antibiotic elution study.

A PMMA (polymethyl-methacrylate)-sorbitol-based capsule system was recently developed, and the permeability of 16 types of capsules with different wall thicknesses and sorbitol contents tested. By optimizing these two parameters, we showed that capsule permeability could be controlled. Promising preliminary data obtained using BPB (Bromophenol Blue) as diffusion marker prompted us to further investigate the antibiotic release of capsules showing the most appropriate release characteristics.

Expression and protective role of heme oxygenase-1 in delayed myocardial preconditioning.

In the study the authors aimed to demonstrate the expression and protective effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the delayed preconditioning (PC) on cultured myocardiac cells. Neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were exposed to ischemic (ischemic medium [IM] for 20 min) and pharmacological (adenosine, epinephrine, opioid) PC. Twenty-four hours later cells were subjected to a simulated ischemia (SI)--culturing for 3 h in IM, followed by 2-h reperfusion in normal medium--and then lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), live/death ratio, and apoptosis were measured.

Cardioprotective action of urocortin in early pre- and postconditioning.

Pre- and postconditioning are powerful endogenous adaptive phenomenon of the organism whereby different stimuli enhance the tolerance against various types of stress. Urocortin (Ucn), member of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family has potent effects on the cardiovascular system. The aim of this article was to investigate the action of Ucn on cultured cardiomyocytes in the process of pre- and postconditioning.

Hyperosmotic stress-induced apoptotic signaling pathways in chondrocytes.

Articular chondrocytes have a well-developed osmoregulatory system that enables cells to survive in a constantly changing osmotic environment. However, osmotic loading exceeding that occurring under physiological conditions severely compromises chondrocyte function and leads to degenerative changes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the form of cell death and changes in apoptotic signaling pathways under hyperosmotic stress using a primary chondrocyte culture.

The neuroprotective effects of PACAP in monosodium glutamate-induced retinal lesion involve inhibition of proapoptotic signaling pathways.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its receptors are present in the retina and exert several distinct functions. PACAP has well-known neuroprotective effects in neuronal cultures in vitro and against different insults in vivo. Recently we have shown that PACAP is neuroprotective against monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced retinal degeneration.

Involvement of ERK and CREB signaling pathways in the protective effect of PACAP in monosodium glutamate-induced retinal lesion.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has well-documented neuroprotective actions, which have also been shown in retinal degeneration induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) in neonatal rats. The aim of this article was to investigate the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-phosphate (cAMP)-responsive element binding protein (CREB) signaling pathways by Western blot analysis in retinal degeneration induced by MSG. We found that intravitreal administration of PACAP preceding the MSG treatments induced significant increases in the phosphorylation, that is, the activation of ERK1/2 and its downstream target, CREB, 12 h after the treatment compared to the contralateral untreated eye during the first two treatments, with no further elevations 24 h after treatments.

PACAP inhibits oxidative stress-induced activation of MAP kinase-dependent apoptotic pathway in cultured cardiomyocytes.

The present article investigated the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) on oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Our results show that PACAP decreased the ratio of apoptotic cells following H2O2 treatment. PACAP also diminished the activity of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase.

Rapid leukocyte activation following intraarticular bleeding.

The study aims at elucidating the leukocyte activation in the joint fluid of patients with acute traumatic hemarthrosis. Paired samples of peripheral blood and articular effusions after an acute hemorrhage were obtained from 22 patients. Leukocytes were separated and stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated mouse anti-human CD11a, CD18, and CD97 monoclonal antibodies for flow cytometry.

Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on nuclear factor-kappaB activation and on late preconditioning against infarction in the myocardium.

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays an essential role in the intracellular signal transduction of the second window of protection (SWOP). Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) blocks NF-kappaB-dependent gene activation in leukocytes and endothelial cells through preventing phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of the inhibitor IkappaB-alpha. This study investigated the effect of ASA on the late phase of ischemic preconditioning (PC) against myocardial infarction and on the activation of NF-kappaB in the preconditioned myocardium.

Effects of PACAP on in vitro and in vivo neuronal cell death, platelet aggregation, and production of reactive oxygen radicals.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) exerts neuroprotective effects in various in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral pathologies. It has been shown that PACAP protects neurons in rat models of both global and focal ischemia. In the present study, we investigated factors that may play a role in the neuroprotective effects of PACAP.

Activated PMNs lead to oxidative stress on chondrocytes: a study of swine knees.

Using an in vitro model, based on primary cultured chondrocytes, we examined possible oxidative injury caused by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (PMNs), which are thought to be part of the pathomechanism of hemarthrosis. Chondrocytes were isolated from swine knee joints and divided into three groups. Pure chondrocytes acted as the control population (group I).

[Effects of ischemic preconditioning on the oxidative stress in small bowel autotransplantation].

One determining factor in intestinal transplantation is the bowel's extreme sensitivity to ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study was meant to investigate the effect of ischemic preconditioning prior to autotransplantation. Total orthotopic intestinal autotransplantation was performed in 40 mongrel dogs.

The effects of preconditioning on the oxidative stress in small-bowel autotransplantation.

Background: One determining factor in intestinal transplantation is the extreme sensitivity of the small bowel to ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study investigated the effect of ischemic preconditioning prior to autotransplantation.

Methods: Total orthotopic intestinal autotransplantation was performed in 40 mongrel dogs.

Comparative neuroprotective effects of preischemic PACAP and VIP administration in permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats.

Objectives: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) belong to the same peptide family, and both neuropeptides have been shown to exert in vitro and in vivo neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the protective effects of PACAP and VIP in permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats. The effect on the progression of the cerebral infarct was also studied.