Design and preliminary testing of an active intramedullary nail.

Purpose: To enhance bone healing through controlled interfragmentary movements, numerous experiments have been conducted in animal models employing external fixation devices to apply mechanical stimulation to the fracture site. However, the efficacy of these fixators has been questioned. On the other hand, intramedullary nailing is a widely established clinical practice for reducing closed tibial fractures.

The VYtorin on Carotid intima-media thickness and overall arterial rigidity (VYCTOR) study.

This study assessed the effect of 3 lipid-lowering therapies on the reduction of the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in high-risk coronary Mexican patients. The study was a randomized, comparative, and open clinical trial. Ninety high-risk coronary patients were allocated to 3 groups: pravastatin 40 mg, simvastatin 40 mg, and simvastatin 20 mg and ezetimibe 10 mg initially.

Metformin, arterial function, intima-media thickness and nitroxidation in metabolic syndrome: the mefisto study.

1. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is one of the greatest public health problems in Mexico, where more than 75% of adults in urban populations are overweight or obese. Metabolic syndrome has several comorbidities, which result in a high cardiometabolic risk.

Intraluminal-restricted 17 beta-estradiol exerts the same myocardial protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo as free 17 beta-estradiol.

Several in vitro studies show that in animals and isolated cells, 17 beta-estradiol induces cardiovascular protective effects and it has also been observed that it reduces coronary heart disease risk. However, the use of estrogens to improve or protect cardiovascular function in humans has been controversial, this might be explained by the wide variety of effects, because estrogen receptors (ER) are expressed ubiquitously. Therefore, a cell-specific targeting therapeutic approach might be necessary.

Differential expression of alpha1-adrenergic receptor subtypes in coronary microvascular endothelial cells in culture.

It has been postulated that in blood vessels under alpha(1)-related stimulation, the endothelial intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) increases, which is necessary to induce nitric oxide synthesis, is the result of an increase in vascular smooth muscle, which subsequently, flows into the endothelial cells through gap junctions and it is not the result of a direct adrenergic stimulation of endothelial receptors. Others, however, postulate that endothelial alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors, have a direct effect on nitric oxide synthesis. In order to clarify this phenomena, in this work we analyzed the presence of alpha(1)receptor subtypes and their functional association with nitric oxide synthesis in rat coronary microvascular endothelial cells in culture, with pharmacological, immunological and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction approaches.

The pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis in the setting of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Diabetes has emerged as a major threat to worldwide health. The increasing incidence of diabetes in young individuals is particularly worrisome given that the disease is likely to evolve over a period of years. In 1972, the existence of a diabetic cardiomyopathy was proposed based on the experience with four adult diabetic patients who suffered from congestive heart failure in the absence of discernible coronary artery disease, valvular or congenital heart disease, hypertension, or alcoholism.

Caveolin scaffolding peptide-1 interferes with norepinephrine-induced PLC-beta activation in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Caveolins are a family of integral membrane proteins implicated in various cell functions, including the organization and inactivation of signaling molecules of G protein-coupled receptors. We tested the ability of human caveolin scaffolding peptide-1 (CSP-1) to regulate norepinephrine- (NE) or histamine (HIS)-induced increases on intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca(2+)]i). In cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), CSP-1 inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner NE- and HIS-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i.

Profibrotic influence of high glucose concentration on cardiac fibroblast functions: effects of losartan and vitamin E.

Long-standing diabetes can result in the development of cardiomyopathy, which can be accompanied by myocardial fibrosis. Although exposure of cultured kidney and skin fibroblasts to high glucose (HG) concentration is known to increase collagen synthesis, little is known about cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). Therefore, we determined the influence of HG conditions on CF functions and the effects of losartan and vitamin E in these responses.