Publications by authors named "Bitao Xiang"
Causal relationship between immune cells and aortic aneurysms: a Mendelian randomization study.
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg
June 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate the causal link between immune cell characteristics and the risk of aortic aneurysms using genetic data.
- It identified 20 immune traits potentially influencing abdominal aortic aneurysm and 15 affecting thoracic aortic aneurysm, with two specific immune cell markers showing significant associations.
- The findings suggest a valuable causal relationship that could guide future research on the mechanisms behind aortic aneurysms.
Article Synopsis
- Heart failure is a significant global health concern, with a comprehensive study revealing trends and contributing factors from 1990 to 2019.
- In 2019, the age-standardized prevalence of heart failure was approximately 711.90 cases per 100,000 population, showing a general decline overall, though an increase was noted between 2017 and 2019, especially in less-developed countries.
- Ischemic and hypertensive heart diseases are the leading causes of heart failure, highlighting the need for targeted prevention and treatment efforts in these regions.
Aortic aneurysm (AA), a potentially lethal condition with the characteristic of aortic dilatation, can only be treated by surgical or endovascular procedures. The underlying mechanisms of AA are unclear and early preventive treatment is still insufficient due to segmental aortic heterogeneity and the limitations of current disease models. Here, we firstly established a comprehensive lineage-specific vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC)-on-a-chip model using human induced pluripotent stem cells to yield cell lineages representing different segments of the aorta and tested the constructed organ-on-a-chip model under various tensile stress conditions.
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- Aortic aneurysms are associated with the aging of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs), and understanding the mechanisms behind this senescence is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Researchers created an organ-on-a-chip model to study HASMCs, finding that angiotensin II induces senescence and leads to decreased NAD+ levels, a key factor in cell aging.
- Pretreatment with nicotinamide mononucleotide, a precursor to NAD+, effectively raised NAD+ levels and reduced HASMC senescence, suggesting potential for NAD+ boosting therapy in treating aortic aneurysms.
Air pollution is a major public health concern worldwide. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is closely associated with cardiovascular diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCiprofloxacin use may be associated with adverse aortic events. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of ciprofloxacin on the progression of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is not well understood. Using an in vitro microphysiological model, we treated human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) derived from patients with bicuspid aortic valve- or tricuspid aortic valve-associated (BAV- or TAV-associated) TAAs with ciprofloxacin.
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- Conventional two-dimensional cell cultures and animal models struggle to effectively replicate human thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD), leading to a gap in understanding that can hinder drug discovery.
- Recent advancements in microfabrication and microfluidics have enabled the creation of organoids-on-a-chip that better simulate the biomechanical environment of human tissues.
- The newly developed human aorta smooth muscle cell organ-on-a-chip (HASMC-OOC) model accurately mimics the mechanical strain experienced in human aortic smooth muscle cells, offering a promising alternative for studying TAAD and identifying potential therapies.
Article Synopsis
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a serious condition characterized by the dilation of the aorta, leading to potentially life-threatening complications, and there is a lack of effective treatment options.
- A new three-dimensional microphysiological model was developed using human aortic smooth muscle cells to study TAA and test drugs, revealing important biological features that mimic the disease state more accurately than traditional methods.
- The study found that the diabetes medication metformin showed promise in restoring normal cell function and improving aortic health in TAA, supporting the use of the microphysiological model for future drug discovery and personalized treatment.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess a new imaging strategy using cycloaddition for detecting CD11b expression in inflammatory aortic aneurysm through SPECT/CT.
- C57BL/6J mice were used to model aortic aneurysms, and specialized probes were synthesized to target inflammatory cells, showing their effectiveness through various imaging and lab assays.
- Results indicated that the pre-targeting approach provided significant differentiation in detecting inflammation in aortic aneurysm models compared to control methods, validated by additional imaging and staining techniques.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the effects of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients who underwent aortic valve surgery, focusing on mid-term outcomes and treatment effectiveness.
- New-onset AF occurred in about 26% of patients, showing similar survival rates but higher stroke risks compared to those without AF.
- Rhythm control therapies were effective in managing AF, but newer patients faced increased chances of stroke and persistent AF within the first year, suggesting a need for preventive measures like beta-blocker therapy.
Article Synopsis
- Aortic aneurysm (AA) is a leading cause of death globally, with surgical repair being the main preventive treatment to avoid life-threatening complications like dissection or rupture.
- Various pharmacological treatments, including β-blockers, losartan, and statins, have been explored to slow AA progression, but there is a significant gap between initial research success and clinical application success.
- The review focuses on current medications for AA management, their mechanisms, and discusses preclinical models that could aid in understanding the disease better and finding new treatment targets.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the midterm outcomes of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) after different methods of carotid revascularization.
- A total of 245 patients received carotid interventions prior to CABG, with methods including carotid endarterectomy (CEA), carotid artery stenting (CAS), and a combined procedure.
- The findings showed variable rates of complications such as mortality, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) between the surgical methods, but these differences were not statistically significant.