Acute lung injury induced by the intravenous administration of cigarette smoke extract.

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of intravenous administration of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on histological, inflammatory, and respiratory function parameters in rats, as well as to compare this potential acute lung injury (ALI) model with that with the use of oleic acid (OA).

Methods: We studied 72 Wistar rats, divided into four groups: control (those injected intravenously with saline); CSE (those injected intravenously with CSE and saline); OA (those injected intravenously with saline and OA); and CSE/OA (those injected intravenously with CSE and OA).

Results: Mean lung compliance was significantly lower in the OA and CSE/OA groups (2.

Sildenafil improves the beneficial hemodynamic effects exerted by atorvastatin during acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

We investigated whether atorvastatin has beneficial hemodynamic effects during acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APT) and whether sildenafil improves these effects. We studied the involvement of oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and neutrophil activation. APT was induced with autologous blood clots (500 mg/kg) in anesthetized male lambs pretreated with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously; 1 week) or vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide 10% subcutaneously).

Increases in circulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels following fibrinolysis for acute pulmonary embolism.

Introduction: Fibrinolyis is one of the first line therapies in high risk pulmonary embolism (PE) according to current guidelines. Previous studies showed that fibrinolytic therapy with tPA (tissue plasminogen activator, or alteplase) upregulates the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and contributes to hemorrhagic transformation after cardioembolic stroke. However, no previous study has described the circulating MMPs levels following fibrinolysis for acute PE.

Circulating cell-free DNA levels in plasma increase with severity in experimental acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Background: The diagnosis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APT) and its severity is challenging. No previous study has examined whether there is a linear relation between plasma DNA concentrations and the severity of APT. We examined this hypothesis in anesthetized dogs.

Severity dependent increases in circulating cardiac troponin I and MMP-9 concentrations after experimental acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Background: Making the diagnosis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APT) and assessing its severity is very challenging. While cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations are promising in risk stratification, no previous study has examined whether there is a linear relation between cTnI concentrations and the severity of APT. Moreover, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the pathophysiology of APT.

eNOS genotype-dependent correlation between whole blood lead and plasma nitric oxide products concentrations.

Experimental data indicate that lead exposure decreases nitric oxide (NO) availability. However, no previous study has examined whether lead exposure affects plasma nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) concentrations in humans. In addition, the T(-786)C polymorphism affects endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression and endogenous NO release.

Hemodynamic effects of combined sildenafil and L-arginine during acute pulmonary embolism-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Sildenafil attenuates acute pulmonary embolism-induced pulmonary hypertension. However, the hemodynamic effects of sildenafil in combination with other vasodilators during acute pulmonary embolism have not been examined yet. In the present study, we examined the hemodynamic effects of combined sildenafil (0.

Methodological issues affecting the determination of plasma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activities.

Objectives: To examine whether a linear relationship exists between the volume of plasma loaded in each gel lane and the gelatinolytic activities of plasma matrix metalloproteinase (pMMP)-2 and pMMP-9, and the influences of plasma storage temperature, fasting, and a variable number of repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Design And Methods: Plasma from venous blood collected into EDTA tubes was stored for 1 month at -20 degrees C or at -70 degrees C until assayed for gelatin zymography of pMMP-2 and pMMP-9. The effects of food intake, repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and the gelatinolytic activity produced by serial dilutions of plasma were examined.

eNOS genotype is without effect on circulating nitrite/nitrate level in healthy male population.

Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system. It is produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which exhibits genetic polymorphisms. Although the clinically relevant polymorphism T(+IhI-786)C reduces eNOS-promoter activity, it is not clear whether circulating nitrite/nitrate (NOx) are affected by this polymorphism.