Inhibition of ERK or Akt ameliorates intimal hyperplasia via up-regulation of Cx37 and down-regulation of Cx43 in balloon injury rat model.

Background: Connexins (Cxs) are reported to participate in atherosclerosis associated intimal hyperplasia (IH), while their function involved in the balloon injury (BI) induced IH and restenosis is less reported.

Methods: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to not injured (NI) group and BI group, which were further administrated with ERK-inhibitor U0216 and Akt-inhibitor MIK2206. Western blot and RT-PCR were utilized to detect the expression of Cx30, Cx37, Cx40, and Cx43 at 6 hours, 24 hours, 7 days, and 14 days post-surgery.

Nicotinic acid affects cytoskeleton remodeling via increasing the activity of gelsolin.

Our previous research has demonstrated that nicotinic acid (NA) might suppress the angiogenesis by modulating the expression of angiogenesis factors and promoting the cytoskeleton remodeling. However, the underlying mechanism need to be further elucidated. The intracellular Ca concentration was measured by a [Ca ] detection kit.

Nicotinic acid inhibits angiogenesis likely through cytoskeleton remodeling.

Angiogenesis is a physiological procedure during which the new blood vessels develop from the pre-existing vessels. Uncontrolled angiogenesis is related to various diseases including cancers. Clinical inhibition of undesired angiogenesis is still under investigation.

Homocysteine inhibits angiogenesis through cytoskeleton remodeling.

Homocysteine (Hcy) is an intermediate non-diet amino acid connecting methionine and folate cycles. Elevated total Hcy level in blood, denoted as hyperhomocysteinemia, has emerged as a prevalent and strong risk factor for multiple diseases including atherosclerotic vascular disease in coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vessels. Its detrimental effect on vascular system implies the potential application as an inhibitor of angiogenesis.

The Use of the Angiosome Concept for Treating Infrapopliteal Critical Limb Ischemia through Interventional Therapy and Determining the Clinical Significance of Collateral Vessels.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of the involvement of collateral vessels in interventional therapy based on the angiosome concept for infrapopliteal critical limb ischemia (CLI).

Methods: We enrolled 486 patients with unilateral infrapopliteal CLI (Rutherford Stage 5 or 6) treated at 2 hospitals from January 2005 to December 2014. Using the angiosome concept, the patients were categorized into 3 groups: the direct revascularization (DR) group, the indirect revascularization through collaterals (IR-tc) group, and the indirect revascularization without collaterals (IR-wc) group.

Functional variants inPXRare associated with colorectal cancer susceptibility in Chinese populations.

Background: As an important member of the steroid nuclear receptor family, recent research has suggested that PXR may play important roles in the development of multiple cancers. However, no well-designed studies has been conducted to investigate the associations between genetic polymorphisms of PXR and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in Chinese populations.

Materials And Methods: We performed a hospital-based case-control analysis to assess two genetic polymorphisms in the 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR) via allele-specific MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry assay and evaluated the associations between two polymorphisms and risk of CRC.

Incidence and risk factors of early deep venous thrombosis after varicose vein surgery with routine use of a tourniquet.

Introduction: The incidence of early deep venous thrombosis (DVT) following varicose vein surgery (traditional open stripping) with routine use of a tourniquet remains unknown.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent varicose vein surgery with a tourniquet in the authors' unit between 1 January 2012 and 30 November 2013 was undertaken. Cases of postoperative DVT were identified from the unit database, and re-assessments conducted 1, 3 and 6 months after the initial diagnosis were recorded from the outpatient department.