Purification and functional assessment of smooth muscle cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells.

Objective: To obtain a pure population of smooth muscle cells (SMC) derived from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) and further assess their functions.

Methods: A vector, expressing both puromycin resistance gene (puro(r) ) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene driven by smooth muscle 22α (SM22α) promoter, named pSM22α-puro(r)-IRES2-EGFP was constructed and used to transfect ESC. Transgenic ESC (Tg-ESC) clones were selected by G418 and identified by PCR amplification of puro(r) gene.

Elective percutaneous intervention for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis complicated with left anterior descending artery chronic total occlusive lesions.

Background: The patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis and chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions at the left anterior descending (LAD) artery are often recommended for bypass surgery. However, some of these patients are deemed inoperable or are at high risk for surgery. In this study, we explored strategies and evaluated the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention for the treatment of ULMCA stenosis complicated by LAD CTO.

[Effects of cilostazol on long-term clinical outcomes after coronary stenting].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of cilostazol on long-term clinical outcomes in patients underwent coronary stent implantation.

Methods: One hundred patients who underwent coronary stenting were randomly assigned to receive cilostazol 200 mg/d for 6 months (n = 50) or ticlopidine 500 mg/d for 1 month (n = 50). Aspirin 100 mg/d was administrated concomitantly with cilostazol or ticlopidine.