Indigo enhances wound healing activity of Caco-2 cells via activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

Indigo Naturalis, also known as Qing Dai (QD) is a compound obtained from Indigofera tinctoria, Isatis tinctoria, and Polygonum tinctoria and is known to ameliorate refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) by an unknown mechanism. QD maintains both homeostasis and the integrity of colon epithelia in mice that have experimentally induced colitis. The primary component of QD, indigo, comprises 42.

Obstructive sleep apnoea inhibits the recovery of left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: It has been suggested that obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA) may be a direct cause of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. This study was designed to examine our hypothesis that OSA inhibits the recovery of LV function in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: Our 86 consecutive first-AMI patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Serum amyloid a protein as a predictor of cardiac rupture in acute myocardial infarction patients following primary coronary angioplasty.

Background: The predictors of cardiac rupture (CR) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with successful primary coronary angioplasty have not been identified.

Methods And Results: Of 433 consecutive AMI subjects who underwent reperfusion by primary coronary angioplasty within 24 h of onset, CR occurred in 11 (2.5%), free wall rupture in 9, and ventricular septal perforation in 2.

Predictors of sub-acute stent thrombosis in acute myocardial infarction patients following primary coronary stenting with bare metal stent.

Background: The aim of the present study was to identify the relationship between sub-acute stent thrombosis (SAT) and acute-phase inflammatory reactants, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and serum amyloid-A protein (SAA), in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) successfully treated with primary coronary stenting.

Methods And Results: The 381 consecutive AMI subjects were reperfused by primary coronary stenting within 24 h of onset. SAT was confirmed angiographically in 10 patients (2.

Prognostic significance of time-delay to peak creatine kinase after direct percutaneous coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction patients.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic significance of time-delay to peak creatine kinase (CK) after successful direct percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Our 240 consecutive first AMI attack subjects admitted within 5 hours from onset were successfully reperfused by direct PCI therapy. Subjects were divided into two groups according to the upper quartile value of peak-CK time from onset, the early peak-CK group (peak-CK time < or = 16 hours from onset, n = 180) and the late peak-CK group (peak-CK time > 16 hours, n = 60).

Prognostic value of serum amyloid A protein in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The relationship between plasma levels of serum amyloid A protein (SAA) concentrations and clinical course (including mortality) was investigated in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: The study enrolled 280 consecutive AMI patients who were admitted within 10 h of onset and were successfully reperfused by primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Plasma SAA concentrations were evaluated at 24 h after onset.

Clinical outcomes and left ventricular function in diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction treated by primary coronary angioplasty.

The objective of the present study was to compare left ventricular (LV) function and clinical outcomes in diabetics versus nondiabetics with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated by primary coronary angioplasty. A total of 327 consecutive AMI subjects were reperfused by primary coronary angioplasty within 12 hours from onset. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 104 of the 327 patients.

Clinical significance of acute-phase endothelin-1 in acute myocardial infarction patients treated with direct coronary angioplasty.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between plasma concentrations of endothelin (ET)-1 and clinical outcome (including mortality) and left ventricular (LV) systolic function in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: The study group comprised 110 consecutive first-AMI patients who were successfully reperfused by primary coronary intervention. Plasma ET-1 concentrations were evaluated 24 h from onset and the patients were divided into 2 groups according to the median value, either a high group (H group: > or = 2.

Predictors of mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock.

Background: Although cardiogenic shock (CS) is the leading cause of death for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients, reliable predictive factors in the acute stage, such as cardiovascular peptides, have not yet been identified.

Methods And Results: In 42 consecutive AMI patients with CS on admission, successfully treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 12 h of onset, related factors including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, and adrenomedullin, were investigated 24 h from onset, as well as the 1-year mortality rates. During the 12-month follow-up period, 15 patients died from cardiovascular causes (group D).

Segmental mediolytic arteriopathy involving celiac to splenic and left renal arteries.

A 46-year-old man presented with a huge splenic artery dissecting aneurysm that had been incidentally found and was successfully resected before rupture. The histopathologic findings were compatible with segmental mediolytic arteriopathy (SMA). Simultaneous involvement of the left renal and right common iliac artery was observed.