Inflammation-Regulated Nanodrug Sensitizes Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Checkpoint Blockade Therapy by Reprogramming the Tumor Microenvironment.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) utilizing programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody is a promising treatment strategy in solid tumors. However, in fact, more than half of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients are unresponsive to PD-L1-based ICB treatment due to multiple immune evasion mechanisms such as the hyperactivation of inflammation pathway, excessive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) infiltration, and insufficient infiltration of T cells. Herein, an inflammation-regulated nanodrug was designed to codeliver NF-κB inhibitor curcumin and PD-L1 antibody to reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) and activate antitumor immunity.

Oral N-acetylcysteine for prophylaxis of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients following coronary angioplasty: A meta-analysis.

It is acknowledged that contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a common cause of acute renal insufficiency after cardiac catheterization and affects mortality and morbidity. To date, it is unknown whether oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is able to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was performed to assess the effects of NAC in the prevention of CIN in patients following coronary angioplasty.

Down regulation of Jag-1 in VSMCs contributes to impaired angiogenesis under high glucose condition: Experimental study using aortic rings of rats.

The major cause of diabetes-related mortality is the complications involving aberrant angiogenesis. To understand the underlying mechanisms of such altered-angiogenesis in diabetes, examining the interaction between endothelial cells (ECs) and neighboring smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) rather than mainly focusing on EC might provide us useful information. Thus, in the present study, we examined the effect of high glucose on the expression of Jag1, one of the key trans-activating ligands of Notch receptors known to be involved in EC-SMC interaction, as well as angiogenic process, in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to elucidate possible role of EC-VSMC interaction in diabetes-related angiopathy.

Experience with a novel retrograde wiring technique for coronary chronic total occlusion.

Objectives: We report our evaluation of a novel retrograde wiring technique known as the Rendezvous method.

Background: Different strategies of retrograde approaches can be used to improve the success rate of recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO). We previously introduced the Rendezvous technique as an alternative final step for a retrograde CTO procedure.

Mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing GCP-2 improve heart function through enhanced angiogenic properties in a myocardial infarction model.

Aims: In this study, our aim was to evaluate the angio-vasculogenic properties of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing the granulocyte chemotactic protein (GCP)-2 (hASCs/GCP-2) and to determine possible therapeutic effects in an experimental ischaemic heart model.

Methods And Results: Quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR results revealed that hASCs/GCP-2 expressed significantly higher levels of pro-angiogenic genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and interleukin (IL)-8, when compared with control-vector transduced hASCs or human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, the anti-apoptotic insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and Akt-1 were also highly up-regulated in the hASCs/GCP-2 cells.

Impact of platelet function test on platelet responsiveness and clinical outcome after coronary stent implantation: platelet responsiveness and clinical outcome.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this study was to confirm the predictive cut-off values for P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) and aspirin reaction units (ARU) and to evaluate the clinical impact of VerifyNow® assays.

Subjects And Methods: From November 2007 to October 2009, 186 eligible patients were prospectively recruited. Post-treatment platelet reactivity was measured by VerifyNow® assays within 12 to 24 hours after intervention, followed by standard dual maintenance dose therapy for 1 year.

Effect of different anticoagulants on multiple electrode platelet aggregometry after clopidogrel and aspirin administration in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation: a comparison between citrate and hirudin.

Outcomes of platelet function tests are highly dependent on the type of blood anticoagulant used. The primary objective of this study was to clinically evaluate the platelet function after dual antiplatelet therapy using two different types of anticoagulant (citrate and hirudin). We compared data obtained from multiple electrode platelet aggregometry (MEA) with reference to light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and VerifyNow (VN) assays.

Loading effect of 200 mg cilostazol on platelet inhibition in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

To date, most studies conducted on cilostazol have examined its effects as an agent of maintenance-dose therapy, but its loading effects on platelet inhibition have never been reported. This study aimed to determine the loading effects of 200 mg cilostazol in addition to aspirin and clopidogrel on platelet inhibition in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.Sixty consecutive patients undergoing coronary intervention were enrolled and assigned to receive 300 mg of aspirin and clopidogrel with or without 200 mg of cilostazol.

Determination of the prevalence of aspirin and clopidogrel resistances in patients with coronary artery disease by using various platelet-function tests.

Background: Dual therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel has emerged as the gold standard therapy for patients treated with drug-eluting stents (DES). However, there is variability in patients' responses to this antiplatelet therapy, and some patients continue to show ischemic recurrences after therapy. The purpose of the study was to compare the simultaneously obtained results of various platelet-function tests for assessing the prevalence of antiplatelet resistance in coronary artery disease patients undergoing DES therapy.

High Plasma Levels of the B-type Natriuretic Peptide in Patients Without Heart Failure: Is There Clinical Significance?

We report a case of a 19-year-old female with an elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, but without evidence of heart failure (HF). She presented with non-specific chest pain and a high level of the B-type natriuretic peptide, despite having unremarkable findings on physical examination, laboratory analysis, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, chest X-ray, chest computed tomography, whole body scan, and coronary angiography. We attribute this finding to a genetic variation in the synthesis and cleavage of the natriuretic peptides.

Initial experience of retrograde wire approach in coronary chronic total occlusion intervention.

Background And Objectives: Retrograde wire approach has been emerged as a useful tool to enhance success rate in coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) intervention. Therefore, we tried to report the initial experience of retrograde approach and its clinical implication on CTO intervention.

Subjects And Methods: From February 2007 to July 2008, retrograde approaches were performed in 28 patients with 31 CTO lesions out of 61patients.

A new retrograde wiring technique for chronic total occlusion.

To improve the success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO), different strategies of retrograde approach were introduced in recent years. The aim of this report is to describe a new retrograde wiring technique for CTO, the "Bridge or Rendezvous method." This new technique saves time, reduces cost, as well as reduces procedure-related complications.

Improvement of cardiac function and remodeling by transplanting adipose tissue-derived stromal cells into a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: We investigated the effect of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSC) therapy on cardiac contractility and remodeling in the C57BL/6 mouse model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: 30 adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into 2 groups, namely, AMI+media (control, n=15) and AMI+ADSC (n=15). AMI was produced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation.