Growth of algal biomass in laboratory and in large-scale algal photobioreactors in the temperate climate of western Germany.

Growth of Chlorella vulgaris was characterized as a function of irradiance in a laboratory turbidostat (1L) and compared to batch growth in sunlit modules (5-25L) of the commercial NOVAgreen photobioreactor. The effects of variable sunlight and culture density were deconvoluted by a mathematical model. The analysis showed that algal growth was light-limited due to shading by external construction elements and due to light attenuation within the algal bags.

Cloning of casbene and neocembrene synthases from Euphorbiaceae plants and expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A large number of diterpenes have been isolated from Euphorbiaceae plants, many of which are of interest due to toxicity or potential therapeutic activity. Specific Euphorbiaceae diterpenes of medical interest include the latent HIV-1 activator prostratin (and related 12-deoxyphorbol esters), the analgesic resiniferatoxin, and the anticancer drug candidate ingenol 3-angelate. In spite of the large number of diterpenes isolated from these plants and the similarity of their core structures, there is little known about their biosynthetic pathways.

Endothelin-1 is a key mediator of coronary vasoconstriction in patients with transplant coronary arteriosclerosis.

Background: Transplant coronary arteriosclerosis (TCA) is the principal long-term complication in cardiac transplant recipients. The mediators responsible for vascular proliferation and vasoconstriction typical of TCA remain largely unknown. We tested whether endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen, contributes to the pathogenesis and manifestations of TCA.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on the occurrence of restenosis after elective percutaneous coronary intervention in ischemic heart disease.

Rationale: There is growing evidence that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with coronary artery disease. However, there are no data on the course of coronary stenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objectives: To determine whether sleep apnea is associated with increased late lumen loss and restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Impact of coronary endothelial function on the progression of cardiac transplant-associated arteriosclerosis: effect of anti-oxidant vitamins C and E.

Background: Excessive vascular oxidant stress has been implicated in cardiac transplant-associated arteriosclerosis (TxAA). In a recent placebo-controlled study of 40 cardiac transplant recipients, vitamin C 500 mg twice a day and vitamin E 400 IU twice a day for 1 year retarded the progression of TxAA, as assessed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Endothelial dysfunction is a key feature of TxAA and reflects oxidant stress.

Long-term effect of combined vitamins E and C on coronary and peripheral endothelial function.

Objectives: We tested whether long-term administration of antioxidant vitamins C and E improves coronary and brachial artery endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Background: Endothelial function is a sensitive indicator of vascular health. Oxidant stress and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) impair endothelial function by reducing nitric oxide bioavailability in the artery wall.

No-reflow is an independent predictor of death and myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: No-reflow occurring during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with poor inhospital outcomes. The objectives of this analysis were to evaluate the occurrence of no-reflow as an independent predictor of adverse events and to determine whether treatment with intracoronary vasodilator therapy affected clinical outcomes.

Methods: We prospectively collected data from 4264 consecutive patients undergoing PCI, identifying those with no-reflow, and analyzed their treatments and clinical outcomes.

Circulating autoantibodies to oxidized LDL correlate with impaired coronary endothelial function after cardiac transplantation.

Objective: The oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) may play a role in the pathogenesis of transplant-associated arteriosclerosis. Oxidized LDL (OxLDL) is immunogenic as well as atherogenic, and the level of autoantibodies to OxLDL has been taken as an index of the oxidant state of LDL. Because endothelial dysfunction is key in the initiation of transplant-associated arteriosclerosis, we postulated that the level of OxLDL autoantibody is associated with the degree of impairment of coronary endothelial function.

Endothelial function. From vascular biology to clinical applications.

The endothelium, by releasing nitric oxide (NO), promotes vasodilation and inhibits inflammation, thrombosis, and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. These biological actions of NO make it an important component in the endogenous defense against atherosclerosis and its overt clinical complications. Loss of the functional integrity of the endothelium, as seen commonly in the milieu of cardiovascular risk factors, plays an integral role in all stages of atherosclerosis from lesion initiation to plaque rupture.

Effect of vitamins C and E on progression of transplant-associated arteriosclerosis: a randomised trial.

Background: Cardiac transplantation is associated with oxidant stress, which may contribute to the development of accelerated coronary arteriosclerosis. We postulated that treatment with antioxidant vitamins C and E would retard the progression of transplant-associated arteriosclerosis.

Methods: In a double-blind prospective study, 40 patients (0-2 years after cardiac transplantation) were randomly assigned vitamin C 500 mg plus vitamin E 400 IU, each twice daily (n=19), or placebo (n=21) for 1 year.