Publications by authors named "Jean Ruf"

The evaluation of suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) in the medical community is challenging. Patients with suspected coronary chronic syndrome (CCS) are referred by the medical community to be assessed by specialists for the performance of noninvasive tests that have high rates of false positives and false negatives. While troponins are the gold standard for evaluate myocardial injuries, there is no biomarker to assess myocardial ischemia in patient populations with negative electrocardiography or without an increase in troponin level.

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Adenosine is a ubiquitous nucleoside that is implicated in the occurrence of clinical manifestations of neuro-humoral syncope (NHS). NHS is characterized by a drop in blood pressure due to vasodepression together with cardio inhibition. These manifestations are often preceded by prodromes such as headaches, abdominal pain, feeling of discomfort or sweating.

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Homocysteine (Hcy) is a sulfhydryl-containing amino acid, which is not acquired through the diet, but rather synthesized as an intermediate metabolite in the methionine cycle. Hcy is present in plasma, with normal levels between 5 and 15 μmol/L, a slightly elevated level between 15 to 30 μmol/L, moderate from 30 to 100 μmol/L and a value > 100 μmol/L classified as severe hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). HHcy has been associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis and is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

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Although atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac arrhythmia in humans, the mechanism that leads to the onset of this condition is poorly elucidated. Adenosine is suspected to be implicated in the trigger of atrial fibrillation (AF) through the activation of its membrane receptors, mainly adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes AR and AR. In this study, we compared blood adenosine concentration (BAC), and AR, AR, and AR production in right (RA) and left atrium (LA), and on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with underlying structural heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery with or without peri-operative AF (PeOpAF).

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While the concept of a receptor reserve (spare receptors) is old, their presence on human cells as an adaptive mechanism in cardiovascular disease is a new suggestion. The presence of spare receptors is suspected when the activation of a weak fraction of receptors leads to maximal biological effects, in other words, when the half-maximal effective concentration (EC) for a biological effect (cAMP production, for example) is lower than the affinity (K) of the ligand for a receptor. Adenosine is an ATP derivative that strongly impacts the cardiovascular system via its four membrane receptors, named AR, AR, AR, and AR, with the AR being more particularly involved in heart rhythm, while the AR controls vasodilation.

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The influence of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCy) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear. HHCy is associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis, and it is an independent risk factor for CVD, stroke and myocardial infarction. However, homocysteine (HCy)-lowering therapy does not affect the inflammatory state of CVD patients, and it has little influence on cardiovascular risk.

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Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside that plays a major role in the physiology and physiopathology of the coronary artery system, mainly by activating its A2A receptors (A2AR). Adenosine is released by myocardial, endothelial, and immune cells during hypoxia, ischaemia, or inflammation, each condition being present in coronary artery disease (CAD). While activation of A2AR improves coronary blood circulation and leads to anti-inflammatory effects, down-regulation of A2AR has many deleterious effects during CAD.

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Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside which strongly impacts the cardiovascular system. Adenosine is released mostly by endothelial cells and myocytes during ischemia or hypoxia and greatly regulates the cardiovascular system via four specific G-protein-coupled receptors named AR, AR, AR, and AR. Among them, A subtypes are strongly expressed in coronary tissues, and their activation increases coronary blood flow via the production of cAMP in smooth muscle cells.

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Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). The mechanistic aspects of this relationship are unclear. In CAD patients, homocysteine (HCy) concentration correlates with plasma level of adenosine that controls the coronary circulation via the activation of adenosine A receptors (A R).

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Adenosine and its receptors exert a potent control on the cardiovascular system. This review aims to present emerging experimental evidence supporting the existence and implication in cardiovascular disorders of specific adenosinergic pharmacological profiles, conforming to the concept of "receptor reserve", also known as "spare receptors". This kind of receptors allow agonists to achieve their maximal effect without occupying all of the relevant cell receptors.

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Extracellular vesicles (EV) can transfer cellular molecules for specific intercellular communication with potential relevance in pathological conditions. We searched for the presence in plasma from coronary artery disease (CAD) patients of EV containing the adenosine A receptor (A R), a signalling receptor associated with myocardial ischaemia and whose expression is related to homocysteine (HCy) metabolism. Using protein organic solvent precipitation for plasma EV preparation and Western blotting for protein identification, we found that plasma from CAD patients contained various amounts of EV with ubiquitin bound to A R.

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Background: Altered blood flow occurs in patients with low extremity peripheral artery disease (LE-PAD). LE-PAD is mostly associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside that affects both coronary and limb artery blood flow, mostly via the adenosine A receptor (AR).

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The mechanism of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with normal heart remains unclear. While exogenous adenosine can trigger AF, nothing is known about the behavior of endogenous adenosine plasma level (APL) at the onset of AF and during ablation procedure. Ninety-one patients (68 with paroxysmal AF: 40 males, 66 ± 16 years; 23 with persistent AF: 14 males, 69 ± 11 years) and 18 controls were included.

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Objectives: To investigate whether adenosine A2A receptors lead to vasodilation and positive inotropic function under stimulation and whether they play a role in the control of blood pressure in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Monocentric, Hopital Nord, Marseille, France.

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Background: The rapid and reliable exclusion of myocardial revascularization is a major unmet clinical need in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and non-contributive electrocardiography and troponin. Non-invasive tests have high rates of false positives and negatives, and there is no biomarker to assess myocardial ischemia. The presence of spare adenosine A receptors (AR)-characterized by a high dissociation constant/half maximal effective concentration (K/EC) ratio-expressed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) has been associated with ischemia during exercise stress testing in patients with CAD.

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The role of serum uric acid in coronary artery disease has been extensively investigated. It was suggested that serum uric acid level (SUA) is an independent predictor of endothelial dysfunction and related to coronary artery lesions. However, the relationship between SUA and severity of coronary atherosclerosis evaluated via endothelial dysfunction using peripheral arterial tone (PAT) and the reactive hyperhemia index (RHI) has not been investigated during a first episode of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

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Resveratrol, (3, 5, 4'-trihydroxystilbene) is a non-flavonoid polyphenol stilbene synthesized by plants when damaged by infectious diseases or ionizing radiation. Although present in more than seventy plant species, grapes and wine are the major dietary contributors of resveratrol, responsible for 98% of the daily intake. In 1992, Renaud and De Lorgeril first linked wine polyphenols, including resveratrol, to the potential health benefits ascribed to regular and moderate wine consumption (the so called "French Paradox").

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Electrolyte concentration in sweat depends on environmental context and physical condition but also on the pathophysiological status. Sweat analyzers may be therefore the future way for biological survey although how sweat electrolyte composition can reflect plasma composition remains unclear. We recruited 10 healthy subjects and 6 patients to have a broad range of plasma electrolyte concentrations (chloride, potassium and sodium) and pH.

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Background: Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is essential for physiological function of the thyroid gland. The high prevalence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs) in patients with breast cancer and their protective role had previously been demonstrated, indicating a link between breast cancer and thyroid autoimmunity. Recently, TPO was shown to be present in breast cancer tissue samples but its antigenicity has not been analyzed.

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Background: Altered coronary blood flow occurs in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Adenosine strongly impacts blood flow mostly via adenosine A receptor (AR) expressed in coronary tissues. As part of a systemic regulation of the adenosinergic system, we compared AR expression in situ, and on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in CAD patients.

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During exercise, cardiac oxygen-consumption increases and the resulting low oxygen level in myocardium triggers coronary vasodilation. This response to hypoxia is controlled notably by the vasodilator adenosine and its A receptor (AR). According to the "spare receptor" pharmacological model, a strong AR-mediated response can occur in the context of a large number of receptors remaining unoccupied, activation of only a weak fraction of AR (evaluated using K) resulting in maximal cAMP production (evaluated using EC), and hence in maximal coronary vasodilation.

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Immersion pulmonary edema (IPE) is a misdiagnosed environmental illness caused by water immersion, cold, and exertion. IPE occurs typically during SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and swimming. IPE is sometimes associated with myocardial injury and/or loss of consciousness in water, which may be fatal.

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