[Effect of external counterpulsation on morphological damage of endomembrane and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in the carotid arteries in hypercholesterolemic pigs].

Objective: To explore the effect of long-term enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on morphological damage of endomembrane and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation of the carotid arteries of hypercholesterolemic pigs.

Methods: Eighteen male infant pigs were randomly divided into three groups according to the contents of their diet: the normal control group (n=6), the high-cholesterol feeding control group (n=6) and EECP group (n=6). Porcine model of hypercholesterolemia was reproduced by feeding animals with high-cholesterol diet.

[Effect of chronic enhanced external counterpulastion on gene expression profiles of arterial endothelial cells of pigs fed with high-cholesterol diet].

Objective: To investigate the effect of chronic enhanced external counterpulastion (EECP) on gene expression profiles of arterial endothelial cells (ECs) of pigs fed with high-cholesterol diet.

Methods: Eight male pigs were fed with high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks to induce arteriosclerosis and subjected to EECP for accumulative 36 h (2 h every other day for 18 sessions). Another 8 pigs on cholesterol-enriched diet and 6 normally fed pigs served as the arteriosclerosis model group and normal control group, respectively, and the high-cholesterol diet was maintained until the end of EECP treatment.

Enhanced external counterpulsation inhibits intimal hyperplasia by modifying shear stress responsive gene expression in hypercholesterolemic pigs.

Background: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a circulation assist device that may improve endothelial dysfunction by increasing shear stress. Chronic exposure of vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells to relatively high physiological shear stress has antiproliferative and vasoprotective effects. The present study hypothesizes that EECP inhibits intimal hyperplasia and atherogenesis by modifying shear stress-responsive gene expression.

[Establishment of a pig model of chronic ally enhanced external counterpulsation].

Objective: To establish a pig model of chronic external counterpulsation.

Methods: Twelve pigs were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (< or =30 mg/kg.b.

[Effects of enhanced external counterpulsation in atherosclerosis and NF-kappaB expression: a pig model with hypercholesterolemia].

Objective: To study the effects of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on the vascular morphology, and endothelial function using experimentally induced hypercholesterolemic pigs.

Methods: Thirty five male pigs were randomly divided into three groups: 7 normal control animals, 11 hypercholesterolemic animals, and 17 hypercholesterolemic animals receiving EECP. Serum cholesterol was measured.

[Effect of chronic enhanced external counterpulsation on arterial endothelial cells of porcine with hypercholesteremia].

Objective: To verify whether chronic enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) may repair artery endothelial cells (ECs) damage resulted from hypercholesteremia in pigs.

Methods: EECP was performed for 36 hours in pigs with hypercholesteremia and the left descending artery (LDA) was isolated for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ECs were collected from the thoracic aorta and analyzed by proteomic technique.

Microvessel angiogenesis: a possible cardioprotective mechanism of external counterpulsation for canine myocardial infarction.

Background: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). It has been proposed that the beneficial effects of EECP observed in clinical studies may be due to the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and collateral development. However, there is a relative paucity of basic studies to support the proposed mechanisms.

Angiogenic effects of long-term enhanced external counterpulsation in a dog model of myocardial infarction.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is an effective noninvasive treatment of coronary artery disease. Its mechanism of action remains unknown. An acute coronary occlusion dog model was created to explore the angiogenic effect of EECP.

[Effects of external counterpulsation on the pulsatility of blood pressure in human subjects].

Pulsatile blood flow plays an important role in maintaining normal vascular endothelial function. Quantitative measurement of pulsatility of human arterial blood pressure and the influence of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on the pulsatility were investigated in this study. Eight healthy young male volunteers aged 22 to 35 were included.

[Effects of external counterpulsation on the pulsatility of blood pressure and blood flow in dogs].

Pulsatile blood flow plays an important role in maintaining normal vascular endothelial function. Quantitative measurement of pulsatility of artery blood pressure and blood flow in dogs and effects of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on the pulsatility were taken in this study. Common carotid artery blood pressure and blood flow were measured in 6 beagle dogs that had suffered from an acute myocardial infarction 6 weeks before.