Mitochondrial oxygen metabolism as a potential predictor of weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for class III obesity.

Unlabelled: The prevalence of obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in industrialized countries. Obesity is a systemic disease that causes not only macroscopic alterations, but also mitochondrial dysfunction. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) poses a potential therapeutic option for patients with severe obesity.

Cholinesterase activities and sepsis-associated encephalopathy in viral versus nonviral sepsis.

Purpose: There is evidence that cholinergic imbalance secondary to neuroinflammation plays a role in the pathophysiology of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities have been proposed as surrogate parameters for the cholinergic function of the central nervous system. Viral sepsis is associated with systemic inflammation and BChE has been reported to be of prognostic value in a small cohort of COVID-19 patients.

Safety and efficacy of SITAgliptin plus GRanulocyte-colony-stimulating factor in patients suffering from Acute Myocardial Infarction (SITAGRAMI-Trial)--rationale, design and first interim analysis.

Aims: Our pre-clinical studies demonstrated that G-CSF based stem cell mobilization in combination with genetic or pharmaceutical CD26/DPP-IV inhibition after acute myocardial infarction leads to improved cardiac homing of stem cells, enhanced heart function and increased survival. Thereupon, we initiated a phase III, multi-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled efficacy and safety study (n=100) analyzing the effect of combined application of G-CSF and Sitagliptin, which is a clinically admitted, anti-diabetic DPP-IV-inhibitor, after acute myocardial infarction ("SITAGRAMI-Trial"; EudraCT Number: 2007-003941-34).

Methods: The primary objective of the study is to assess myocardial regeneration by improved myocardial homing of mobilized stem cells, as measured by cardiac function using MRI analysis.

G-CSF in patients suffering from late revascularised ST elevation myocardial infarction: final 1-year-results of the G-CSF-STEMI Trial.

Aims: The aims of this trial were to investigate the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on left-ventricular ejection fraction and event-free survival in patients suffering from sub-acute myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: We enrolled 44 patients suffering from sub-acute STEMI with late revascularization achieved by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients were randomized to receive either G-CSF (Filgrastim) at a dose of 10 μg/kg body weight/day subcutaneously or placebo.

Stem cell mobilisation for myocardial repair.

Background: The idea that autologous bone marrow derived stem cells (BMCs) can transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes or vascular cells has been challenged in several scientific reports.

Objective/methods: This review summarises conditions for stem cell mobilisation, their use for therapeutic approaches to prevent ischaemic cardiomyopathy after acute myocardial infarction and current clinical trials. Mechanisms for mobilisation and homing of BMCs are discussed.

G-CSF in patients suffering from late revascularized ST elevation myocardial infarction: analysis on the timing of G-CSF administration.

Objective: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) improves myocardial function after infarction in vivo. Placebo-controlled clinical studies failed to show beneficial effects on myocardial function. Recent data demonstrate that the time point of treatment initiation may be crucial for the efficacy of G-CSF.

Small poly-L-lysines improve cationic lipid-mediated gene transfer in vascular cells in vitro and in vivo.

The potential of two small poly-L-lysines (sPLLs), low molecular weight sPLL (LMW-L) containing 7-30 lysine residues and L18 with 18 lysine repeats, to enhance the efficiency of liposome-mediated gene transfer (GT) with cationic lipid DOCSPER [1,3-dioleoyloxy-2-(N(5)-carbamoyl-spermine)-propane] in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was investigated. Dynamic light scattering was used for determination of particle size. Confocal microscopy was applied for colocalization studies of sPLLs and plasmid DNA inside cells.

Circulation of CD34+ progenitor cell populations in patients with idiopathic dilated and ischaemic cardiomyopathy (DCM and ICM).

Aims: This study aimed at analysing the endogenous stem cell circulation in patients suffering from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).

Methods And Results: Cytokines in peripheral blood were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and circulating CD34(+) stem cell populations (CD34(+)CD133(+), CD34(+)CD31(+), CD34(+)CXCR-4(+)) were measured by flow cytometry in DCM patients (n = 25), ICM patients (n = 15), and controls (n = 10). Explanted DCM (n = 5), ICM (n = 4) and normal hearts (n = 5) were analysed for the expression of several homing factors [stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), Stem cell factor (SCF), HIF-1a, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), and Hepatocyte growth factor] by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Stem cell therapy after myocardial infarction: ready for clinical application?

The discovery of stem cells capable of generating angiogenic or contractile cells and structures might offer new treatment options for patients suffering from heart disease. In particular, embryonic stem cells are considered to have great potential for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Studies suggest that delivery or mobilization of stem and progenitor cells might improve tissue perfusion and contractile performance of the damaged heart; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

Autologous bone marrow stem cell mobilization induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor after subacute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing late revascularization: final results from the G-CSF-STEMI (Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction) trial.

Objectives: The purpose of this investigator-driven, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II study was to compare the effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the improvement of myocardial function in patients undergoing delayed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background: Experimental and early clinical studies suggest that transplantation of stem cells improves cardiac regeneration and neovascularization after acute myocardial infarction. Most investigators have utilized either a direct injection or intracoronary infusion of bone marrow-derived cells, but early cytokine-mediated mobilization of stem cells has been reported to show similar improvement in cardiac function.

Chronic perivascular inoculation with Chlamydophila pneumoniae results in plaque formation in vivo.

Hypercholesterolemic and normocholesterolemic rabbit models of chronic arterial Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae (CPN) inoculation were established and the role of both viable and inactivated bacteria was investigated in atherogenesis. A total of 29 rabbits were randomized to four groups. Groups A and B were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet, and groups C and D were fed a normal diet.

Phase-sensitive inversion-recovery MR imaging in the detection of myocardial infarction.

Purpose: To prospectively determine if phase-sensitive inversion-recovery (IR) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging eliminates the need to find the precise inversion time (TI) to null the signal of normal myocardium to achieve high contrast between infarcted and normal myocardium.

Materials And Methods: Informed consent was obtained from each patient for this prospective MR imaging research study, which was approved by the institutional review board. Twenty patients (16 men; four women; mean age, 56 years +/- 12.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome associated with heterozygous factor V gene mutation: an unusual combination resulting in an acute coronary syndrome and recurrent cerebral stroke-a case report.

The authors report the first case of a patient with a hypereosinophilic syndrome associated with heterozygous factor V gene mutation, resulting in an acute coronary syndrome and recurrent cerebral stroke despite effective anticoagulation. A 40-year-old man presented with an acute coronary syndrome accompanied by a brachiofacial right-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria. Diagnosis of a hypereosinophilic syndrome was established by blood testing, myocardial biopsy, and bone marrow analysis.

Recurrent perivascular inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) results in the formation of atheromatous lesions in vivo.

Bacteria and viruses are suspected to induce arteriosclerosis; however, most investigators have focused on coincidences rather than causal relationships. The aim of this work was to establish a rabbit model in which the vessel reaction to local perivascular injection of defined bacterial products can be analyzed. A total of 23 rabbits were randomized to four groups.

Comparison of surgical versus endovascular occlusion models in pig femoral arteries.

Purpose: To compare an endovascular technique with a well established surgical approach to achieve long-term occlusions of large porcine arteries while preserving the integrity of periarterial tissue.

Methods: The femoral arteries in 11 pigs were occluded using surgical techniques on one side and blinded stent-grafts in the contralateral vessel. Feasibility, safety, primary and long-term success, and the extent of vascularization were determined over a 3-month period by conventional angiography and histological analysis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor response in porcine coronary and peripheral arteries using nonsurgical occlusion model, local delivery, and liposome-mediated gene transfer.

Angiogenesis and arteriogenesis play an important role in advanced vascular occlusive diseases. Whether angiogenesis or arteriogenesis predominate depends on the preexisting collateral vessel network, the type and location of occlusion, and different developmental origin of the arteries. Angiogenesis and arteriogenesis were investigated following vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in different arteries important in occlusive arterial diseases using a newly developed porcine arterial occlusion model.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) and its influence on angiogenesis versus arteriogenesis in different vascular beds.

Purpose: To use local gene delivery to determine any district-specific influence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF(165)) on angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in arteries of distinct developmental origin.

Methods: Coronary and peripheral arteries were chronically occluded in 30 Pietrain pigs using a percutaneous approach and blinded stent-graft. DNA was delivered to the adventitia in dosages corresponding to 10% of the body weight-adapted amount used in clinical trials.

Optimization of nonviral transfection: variables influencing liposome-mediated gene transfer in proliferating vs. quiescent cells in culture and in vivo using a porcine restenosis model.

Cationic liposomes/DNA complexes are widely used vectors for delivering genes in clinical and experimental trials. Relatively low transfer efficiencies in vivo compared with viral gene transfer may be improved using local application. In addition, markedly increased transfer efficiency may be achieved in vitro and in vivo via optimization of known variables influencing liposomal transfection.