Midterm Outcomes of Endovascular Therapy for TASC II D Femoropopliteal Lesions with Critical Limb Ischemia: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: This study evaluated the midterm results of endovascular therapy (EVT) for Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society (TASC) II D femoropopliteal lesions in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI).

Methods: Fifty seven limbs of 54 patients with CLI due to TASC II D femoropopliteal lesions who underwent EVT at the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospectively analysed in a single-centre, observational study. The patient characteristics, endovascular procedural details, freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR), patency rates, ulcer healing rate, and limb salvage rate were accessed.

[Role of CD44 in monocyte transmigration across Cryptococcus neoformans-infected blood-brain barrier in vitro].

Objective: To explore the role of CD44 in monocyte adhesion to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and monocyte migration across an in vitro model of blood-brain barrier (BBB) infected by Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn).

Methods: An in vitro blood-brain barrier model was constructed using a transwell chamber covered with a HBMEC monolayer. The wild-type strain of Cn B4500FO2, TYCC645#32 strain with CPS1 gene deletion and PCIP strain with CPS1 complementation were chosen to infect the monolayer HBMECs.

Cardioprotective effects of adipokine apelin on myocardial infarction.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in myocardial infarction. Apelin and its natural receptor (angiotensin II receptor-like 1, AGTRL-1 or APLNR) induce sprouting of endothelial cells in an autocrine or paracrine manner. The aim of this study is to investigate whether apelin can improve the cardiac function after myocardial infarction by increasing angiogenesis in infarcted myocardium.

Upregulation of cytochrome P450 2J3/11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid inhibits apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes by a caspase-dependent pathway.

Short, nonlethal ischemic episodes administered to hearts directly after ischemic events (ischemic postconditioning, IPost) have an advantage over ischemic preconditioning (IPC). The endogenous cytochrome P450 2J3/11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (CYP2J3/11,12-EET) is upregulated by IPost, but not IPC, in the rat heart. The CYP epoxygenase inhibitor N-methylsulphonyl-6-(2-propargyloxyphenyl) hexanamide (MS-PPOH) reduces the cardioprotective effects of IPost, but not IPC.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 as a possible endogenous factor inhibits apoptosis in cardiac endothelial cells.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a new member of FGF super family that is an important endogenous regulator for systemic glucose and lipid metabolism. This study aimed to explore whether FGF21 reduces atherosclerotic injury and prevents endothelial dysfunction as an independent protection factor.

Methods: The present study was designed to investigate the changes of FGF21 levels induced by oxidized-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and the changes of apoptosis affected by regulating FGF21 expression.

Angiotensin IV protects against angiotensin II-induced cardiac injury via AT4 receptor.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is an important regulator of cardiac function and injury in hypertension. The novel Ang IV peptide/AT4 receptor system has been implicated in several physiological functions and has some effects opposite to those of Ang II. However, little is known about the role of this system in Ang II-induced cardiac injury.

[Oxidized low density lipoprotein and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α induced endogenous fibroblast growth factor 21 upregulation is protective against apoptosis in cardiac endothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α agonist bezafibrate and oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) expression and apoptosis in cardiac endothelial cells.

Methods: The mRNA level of FGF21 was determined by real time-PCR and the protein concentration of FGF21 in culture media was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in cultured cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) incubated with 10, 50, 100 µg/ml ox-LDL, 50, 100 or 200 µmol/L bezafibrate alone or in combination with 100 µg/ml ox-LDL. CMECs apoptosis in various treatment groups was also determined.

Cytochrome P450 2J3/epoxyeicosatrienoic acids mediate the cardioprotection induced by ischaemic post-conditioning, but not preconditioning, in the rat.

1. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxygenases and their arachidonic acid metabolites play a protective role against ischaemia-reperfusion injury. In the present study, we investigated whether endogenous CYP2J3/epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) mediates the cardioprotective effects of ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) and ischaemic post-conditioning (IPost).

Effects of angiotensin III on protein, DNA, and collagen synthesis of neonatal cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts in vitro.

This study compared angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin III (Ang III) for their effects on rat neonatal cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts in vitro and discussed the possible role of Ang III in the pathogenesis of cardiac remodeling. To do so, protein synthesis, cardiac fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, and secretion in response to treatment with Ang III and Ang II were investigated. Protein synthesis rate was assessed by (3)H-Leucine ((3)H-Leu) incorporation; the content of DNA was defined by (3)H-thymidine ((3)H-TdR) incorporation; and collagen synthesis and secretion were assessed by ( 3)H-proline ((3)H-Pro) incorporation.

Ghrelin improves disturbed myocardial energy metabolism in rats with heart failure induced by isoproterenol.

To explore the effects of ghrelin on disturbed myocardial energy metabolism during chronic heart failure (CHF). Rats were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol (ISO) for 10 days with or without ghrelin for another 10 days. Enzyme immunoassay was to measure ghrelin concentrations.

1,3-Bis(4-meth-oxy-benz-yl)-6-methyl-pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione.

The title compound, C(21)H(22)N(2)O(4), was prepared by reaction of 6-methyl-pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione and 1-chloro-methyl-4-meth-oxy-benzene. In the title mol-ecule, the central pyrimidine ring forms dihedral angles of 62.16 (4) and 69.

Apelin protects heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat.

Apelin, the endogenous ligand of the G protein-coupled APJ receptor, is a peptide mediator with emerging regulatory actions in the heart. We aimed to determine whether the endogenous apelin/APJ system is an intrinsic protective pathway in ischemic/reperfusion injury. A Langendorff model of perfused isolated rat hearts and primary cultured myocardial cells from neonatal rats were used.

Elevated expression of urotensin II and its receptor in skeletal muscle of diabetic mouse.

Urotensin II (UII) is a somatostatin-like peptide recently identified to be involved in metabolic regulation and to play a significant role in diabetes and its complications. In the present study, we investigated the expression of UII and its receptor UT in the soleus muscle of male diabetic KK/upj-AY/J mice (2DM group) and the effects of UII on glucose uptake by the skeletal muscle to explore the role of skeletal muscle-derived UII in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and diabetes. Radioimmunoassay, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and radio-ligand binding assay were used in this study.

1,3-Bis(4-methyl-benz-yl)pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione.

In the title mol-ecule, C(20)H(20)N(2)O(2), the central pyrimidine ring forms dihedral angles of 71.9 (1) and 69.8 (1)° with the two benzene rings.

Regulatory effect of hydrogen sulfide on vascular collagen content in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The present study aimed to examine the regulatory effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on vascular collagen remodeling in hypertensive rats. After 5 weeks of H2S donor treatment, tail blood pressure, the endogenous H2S production rate, levels of hydroxyproline and collagen type I, collagen type I protein expression in the thoracic aorta, [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporation, [3H]proline incorporation, and [3H]hydroxyproline secretion in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were measured. We also examined the effects of NaHS on angiotensin II-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor binding affinity.

Post-column detection of benzenediols and 1,2,4-benzenetriol based on acidic potassium permanganate chemiluminescence.

Based on the sensitizing effect of formic acid on the chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of polyhydroxylbenzenes with acidified potassium permanganate and the combination technique of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a sensitive, selective and simple post-column CL detection method for simultaneously determining catechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone and 1,2,4-benzenetriol is described. The optimal conditions for the CL detection and HPLC separation were carried out. The linear ranges were: 6.

[Effects of 11, 12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid preconditioning and postconditioning on Ca(2+)- handling proteins in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of 11, 12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11, 12-EET) preconditioning and postconditioning on Ca(2+)-handling proteins in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in rats and reveal the effects and mechanism of 11, 12-EET on cardioprotection. METHODS The IR injury model was built by stopping perfusion for 40 minutes followed by reperfusion for 30 minutes. The isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were divided into 4 groups: control group, IR group, EET preconditioning (Pre-EET) group and EET postconditioning (Post-EET) group.

[Protective effects of 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid preconditioning and postconditioning on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats].

To explore the effects of 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) preconditioning and postconditioning on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in rats, the IR injury model was built by stopping perfusion for 40 min followed by reperfusion for 30 min, and the changes of mitochondrial functions, myocardial metabolism and function were measured. Langendorff-perfused isolated rat hearts were divided into 4 groups: control group, persistently perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) fluid for 100 min; IR group, stopped perfusion for 40 min followed by reperfusion for 30 min; Pre-EET group, preconditioned with 6.24×10(-9) mol/L 11,12-EET for 5 min twice before subjected to ischemia; Post-EET group, postconditioned with 6.

[Effect of 11, 12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids on hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of 11, 12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (11, 12-EET) on the degree of hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs), and reveal the possible pathway of EET on protection.

Methods: Primary cultured HUVECs were randomly divided into control group, hypoxia/reoxygenation group, 11, 12-EET control group, 11, 12- EET hypoxia/reoxygenation group, inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERKI/2) group, and inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) group. Hypoxia/reoxygenation injury model in HUVECs was established by exposure to hypoxia (2% O2, 5% CO2 and 93% N2) for 3 hours, followed by reoxygenation (95% air and 5% CO2) for 1 hour.

Exercise training promotes expression of apelin and APJ of cardiovascular tissues in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Because apelin may play an important regulatory role in human cardiac dysfunction, we investigated alterations in cardiovascular content of apelin and its receptor, APJ, during hypertension and the effect of exercise training on the cardiovascular apelin/APJ system in hypertensive animals. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) underwent swimming training consisting of 54 swimming sessions of 60 min each (6 days/week for 9 weeks). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was verified weekly by tail-cuff plethysmography.

Cardioprotective effects of ghrelin and des-octanoyl ghrelin on myocardial injury induced by isoproterenol in rats.

Aim: To determine the cardioprotective action of ghrelin and des-octanoyl ghrelin in rats with isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury.

Methods: Rats were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol (ISO; 20, 10, and 5 mg/kg) on d 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and then 3 mg/kg for the next 7 d with or without ghrelin or des-octanoyl-ghrelin (100 microg/kg, twice daily). Plasma ghrelin and growth hormone levels were assayed using radioimmunoassay methods.