Orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 Inhibits Oxidized LDL-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line into dendritic like cells.

Background: Nur77 is an orphan nuclear receptor expressed in human atheroma. In vascular cells in vitro, Nur77 expression is induced by pro-inflammatory factors, such as oxidized LDL (oxLDL).

Methods: We analyze the role of Nur77 in the oxLDL-induced differentiation of macrophages into dendritic cells (DC).

Endogenous renovascular hypertension combined with low shear stress induces plaque rupture in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Objective: The development of a murine model of spontaneous atherosclerotic plaque rupture with luminal thrombus.

Methods And Results: Combined partial ligation of the left renal artery and left common carotid artery in 8-week-old apolipoprotein E-deficient mice induced endogenous renovascular hypertension and local low oscillatory shear stress in the left common carotid artery. After 8 weeks, a fresh left common carotid artery lumen thrombus associated with severe plaque burden was found in 50% (10/20) of the mice.

Atorvastatin suppresses oxidized LDL-induced dendritic cell-like differentiation of RAW264.7 cells regulated by the p38 MAPK pathway.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent professional antigen-presenting cells and are involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Recent data suggest that mature macrophages differentiate into dendritic-like cells when exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of atorvastatin on the differentiation of macrophages to DCs and the molecular mechanisms of this transition.

Pharmacoinvasive therapy for ST elevation myocardial infarction in China: a pilot study.

Most patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cannot receive timely primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) because of lack of facilities or delays in patient transfer or catheterization team mobilization. In these patients, early routine post-thrombolysis PCI might be a reasonable, useful strategy. This study investigated feasibility and safety of early PCI after successful half-dose alteplase reperfusion in a Chinese population.

Factors affecting thrombolysis in myocardial infarction myocardial perfusion frame count: insights of myocardial tissue-level reperfusion from a novel index for assessing myocardial perfusion.

Background: Myocardial tissue-level perfusion failure is associated with adverse outcomes following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) despite successful epicardial recanalization. We have developed a new quantitative index-thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) myocardial perfusion frame count (TMPFC)--for assessing myocardial tissue level perfusion. However, factors affecting this novel index of myocardial perfusion are currently unknown.

Efficacy of coronary angioplasty on long-term outcome in elderly Chinese patients with ST elevated myocardial infarction.

The benefit and efficacy of interventional coronary therapies in elderly patients is still a controversial subject, especially in parts of the world where traditional and conservative medicine is still mainstream. In China, the benefit of intervention is still questionable, hence, this study investigated the prognostic significance of coronary angioplasty on outcomes of elderly patients presenting with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). The study cohort comprised of 270 elderly (age >or= 75 years) patients who had confirmed STEMI.

TIMI myocardial perfusion frame count: a new method to assess myocardial perfusion and its predictive value for short-term prognosis.

Objectives: We sought to develop a new quantitative method to evaluate the degree of myocardial perfusion.

Background: Currently available methods for assessing myocardial perfusion, both TIMI myocardial perfusion grading (TMPG) and myocardial blush grading (MBG), are subjective.

Methods: TIMI Myocardial Perfusion Frame Count (TMPFC), an objective method that measures the filling and clearance of contrast in the myocardium using cine-angiographic frame-counting, was developed to quantify myocardial perfusion.

[Prognostic value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and C-reactive protein in patients with acute coronary syndromes underwent percutaneous coronary intervention].

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Patients with ACS underwent PCI in our hospital from December 2004 to September 2005 were included in this study. Plasma BNP (n = 189) and CRP (n = 141) were measured at a median of (34.

[The clinical value of sixteen-detector row computed tomography angiography for the assessment of coronary artery bypass graft].

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of sixteen-detector row computed tomography angiography (CTA) for the assessment of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

Methods: Sixty-two consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were recruited. Among them, 6 patients were excluded from the study due to unfavorable control of heart rate.