The hemodynamic responses to enhanced external counterpulsation therapy in post-PCI patients with a multi-dimension 0/1D-3D model.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is widely utilized in rehabilitating patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and has demonstrated efficacy in promoting cardiovascular function recovery. Although the precise mechanisms of the therapeutic effects remain elusive, it is widely postulated that the improvement of biomechanical environment induced by EECP plays a critical role. This study aimed to unravel the underlying mechanism through a numerical investigation of the in-stent biomechanical environment during EECP using an advanced multi-dimensional 0/1D-3D coupled model.

Evaluation of enhanced external counterpulsation for diabetic foot based on a patient-specific 0D-1D cardiovascular system model.

Background And Objective: Diabetic foot (DF) complications often lead to severe vascular issues. This study investigated the effectiveness of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) and its derived innovative compression strategies in addressing poor perfusion in DF. Although developing non-invasive and efficient treatment methods for DF is critical, the hemodynamic alterations during EECP remain underexplored despite promising outcomes in microcirculation.

A numerical study on the siphonic effect of enhanced external counterpulsation at lower extremities with a coupled 0D-1D closed-loop personalized hemodynamics model.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a treatment and rehabilitation approach for ischemic diseases, including coronary artery disease. Its therapeutic benefits are primarily attributed to the improved blood circulation achieved through sequential mechanical compression of the lower extremities. However, despite the crucial role that hemodynamic effects in the lower extremity arteries play in determining the effectiveness of EECP treatment, most studies have focused on the diastole phase and ignored the systolic phase.

Identification of Three Cuproptosis-specific Expressed Genes as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease characterized by a lipid-driven infiltration of inflammatory cells in large and medium arteries and is considered to be a major underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases. Cuproptosis, a novel form of cell death, is highly linked to mitochondrial metabolism and mediated by protein lipoylation. However, the clinical implication of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in atherosclerosis remains unclear.

RHOJ as a novel mechanosensitive modulator of endothelial inflammation.

Physiological high shear stress (HSS), a frictional force generated by flowing blood, is essential for endothelial homeostasis under normal physiological conditions. HSS suppresses atherosclerosis by inhibiting endothelial inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully elucidated.

Expert consensus on the clinical application of enhanced external counterpulsation in elderly people (2019).

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive assisted circulation technique and a rich pool of evidence has accumulated for its clinical application in the prevention and management of multiple comorbidities in the elderly population, including angina, heart failure, ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, sleep disorder, diabetes and its complications, ischemic eye diseases, sudden hearing loss and erectile dysfunction, as well as various psychological and psychiatric conditions. When applying EECP to elderly patients, emphasis should be placed on issues such as safety assessment, risk management and protocol individualization, as well as the monitoring of efficacy during and after treatment.

Development of Albumin Coupled, Cholesterol Stabilized, Lipid Nanoemulsion of Methotrexate, and TNF-α Inhibitor for Improved In Vivo Efficacy Against Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Methotrexate (MTX; an anti-folate) and etanercept (ET; a TNF-α inhibitor) are used against arthritis; however, limitations like short biological half-life, low cutaneous absorption, and acidic instability limit their clinical relevance. Therefore, the aim of the investigation was to develop albumin coupled lipid nanoemulsion of MTX and ET for improved efficacy by virtue of their controlled release and specificity at the arthritic site. This emulsion was prepared by high-speed homogenization and stabilized using cholesterol.

Regulation of microRNA-155 in endothelial inflammation by targeting nuclear factor (NF)-κB P65.

Increasing evidences have illuminated the fundamental role of inflammation in mediating all stages of atherosclerosis. miR-155, a typical multi-functional miRNA, has recently emerged as a novel component of inflammatory signal transduction in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, little is known about whether endothelial highly expressed miR-155 can regulate endothelial inflammation-related transcription factors and the predicted role of miR-155 as a negative feedback regulator in endothelial inflammation involved in atherosclerosis.

Enhanced external counterpulsation inhibits endothelial apoptosis via modulation of BIRC2 and Apaf-1 genes in porcine hypercholesterolemia.

Objectives: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) could improve endothelium-dependent vasodilatation of carotid artery and restore imbalance of nitric oxide and endothein-1 in patients with coronary artery disease. Our study was designed to test the hypothesis that long-term EECP may protect vascular endothelial cells from apoptosis by modifying apoptosis-related gene expression.

Methods: Eighteen male Yorkshire pigs were randomly assigned to three groups: usual diet (Normal), high cholesterol diet (HC) and high cholesterol diet plus EECP (HC+EECP).

Enhanced external counterpulsation improves cerebral blood flow following cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Background: To investigate the therapeutic value of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on recovery of cerebral blood flow following cardiac arrest (CA) and successful resumption of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) by cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Methods: CA models were conducted using beagle dogs induced by alternating current. After successful ROSC by cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 16 dogs were randomly divided into the EECP and control group (n = 8 per group).

Transplantation of human umbilical cord-derived endothelial progenitor cells promotes re-endothelialization of the injured carotid artery after balloon injury in New Zealand white rabbits.

Background: Cell transplantation has great potential for promoting endothelial repair and reducing the complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of transplantation of human umbilical cord blood endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on injured arteries.

Methods: Umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells were obtained from post-partum lying-in women, and EPCs were isolated, cultured, expanded and identified by immunofluorescence.

Early enhanced external counter pulsation improves neurological recovery after the return of spontaneous circulation in a mongrel dog cardiac arrest model*.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether early enhanced external counter pulsation therapy after cardiopulmonary resuscitation improved neurological outcome in a mongrel dog cardiac arrest model.

Design: Randomized, animal study.

Setting: Assisted circulation laboratory.

Defective T wave combined with incomplete right bundle branch block: a new electrocardiographic index for diagnosing atrial septal defect.

Background: Incomplete right bundle branch block (ICRBBB) is commonly associated with atrial septal defect (ASD), but lacks sufficient diagnostic test characteristics. An abnormal T wave is also often observed in ASD, with horizontal or inverted displacement of the proximal T wave limb in the right precordial leads, termed "defective T wave" (DTW).

Methods: We examined the diagnostic test characteristics of combining ICRBBB with DTW as a new index to diagnose ASD.

Vasculoprotective properties of enhanced external counterpulsation for coronary artery disease: beyond the hemodynamics.

A growing pool of evidence has shown that enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive, safe, low-cost, and highly beneficial therapy for patients with coronary artery disease. However, the exact mechanisms of benefit exerted by EECP therapy remain only partially understood. The favorable hemodynamic effects of EECP were previously considered as the primary mechanism of action.

The changes of brain water diffusion and blood flow on diffusion-weighted and perfusion-weighted imaging in a canine model of cardiac arrest.

Objective: To study the changes of brain water diffusion and cerebral haemodynamics of cortical areas using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in canine models of cardiac arrest (CA) and restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The secondary study objective was to evaluate whether MRI can be used to observe haemodynamic disorders in brain microcirculation.

Methods: CA was induced in six beagle dogs using electrical stimulation followed by resuscitation to spontaneous circulation 3 min later.

Protective effect of lipid microspheres 1 on myocardial injury following elective percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with angina pectoris: a pilot study.

Background: Prostaglandin E1 incorporated into lipid microspheres (lipo-PGE1) is effective in the treatment of peripheral vascular disorders and diabetic neuropathy. It is unknown whether it has protective effects in patients with angina pectoris undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objectives: The goal of this pilot study was to investigate whether lipo-PGE1 has protective effects in patients with angina pectoris undergoing PCI.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein predicts outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) may play an important role in the development of acute coronary syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the levels of circulating PAPP-A and the mid-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: The circulating PAPP-A levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein before PCI were measured in 129 patients with single coronary artery stenosis.

Investigation of the relationship between venticular fibrillation duration and cardiac/neurological damage in a rabbit model of electrically induced arrhythmia.

Background: To establish a simple, economic, and reliable alternating current (AC)-induced cardiac arrest (ACCA) model in rabbits for cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation research.

Methods: Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 27 New Zealand rabbits by external transthoracic AC, which were randomly divided into three groups according to the duration of untreated ACCA (ACCA-3 minutes, ACCA-5 minutes, and ACCA-8 minutes). After ACCA, all animals received cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 2 minutes and subsequent defibrillation until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Expanded human cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells salvage infarcted myocardium in rats with acute myocardial infarction.

1. Cell transplantation has promise as a therapeutic option for restoring impaired heart function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the optimal cell type to use remains controversial.

Enhanced external counterpulsation promotes growth cytokines-mediated myocardial angiogenesis in a porcine model of hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) improves ischemia in patients with refractory angina pectoris, but the mechanism remains unclear. To explore the mechanisms of EECP action, we detected progenitor cells presenting any of the following markers CD34(+), CD29(+), and CD106(+).

Methods: Growth cytokines-mediated progenitor cell mobilization and associated angiogenesis potential were assessed in a porcine model of hypercholesterolemia.

Human umbilical cord-derived endothelial progenitor cells promote growth cytokines-mediated neorevascularization in rat myocardial infarction.

Background: Cell-based vascular therapies of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) mediated neovascularization is still a novel but promising approach for the treatment of ischemic disease. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic potentials of human umbilical cord blood-derived EPCs (hUCB-EPCs) in rat with acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: Human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) mononuclear cells were isolated using density gradient centrifugation from the fresh human umbilical cord in healthy delivery woman, and cultured in M199 medium for 7 days.

[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.