Drug-coated balloon angioplasty for coronary stenotic lesions in a paediatric patient after Kawasaki disease.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for stenosis of coronary artery after Kawasaki disease presents various challenges. The diameters of reference vessels and femoral artery in children are smaller, and the morphological changes are different from adults. Herein, we describe our successful experience with a severe coronary artery stenosis at the proximal portion of left anterior descending treated with drug-coated balloon dilation.

Analysis of MicroRNAs Associated With Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Rupture With Thrombosis.

Atherosclerosis is a progressive vascular wall inflammatory disease, and the rupture of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study intended to explore the potential mechanisms behind plaque rupture and thrombosis in ApoE knockout mice. The spontaneous plaque rupture models were established, and left carotid artery tissues at different time points (1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 12-, and 16-week post-surgery) were collected.

Sulindac-derived retinoid X receptor-α modulator attenuates atherosclerotic plaque progression and destabilization in ApoE mice.

Background And Purpose: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and retinoid X receptor-α (RXRα) is an intriguing anti-atherosclerosis target. This study investigated whether and how an RXRα modulator, K-80003, derived from a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug attenuates atherosclerotic plaque progression and destabilization.

Experimental Approach: Our previously established ApoE mouse model of carotid vulnerable plaque progression was treated with K-80003 or vehicle for 4 or 8 weeks.

Xuezhikang ameliorates contrast media-induced nephropathy in rats via suppression of oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and apoptosis.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the preventive effect of xuezhikang (XZK) to replace atorvastatin on the contrast media-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI).

Methods: The male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: group 1 (sham), injected with normal saline; group 2 (XZK), treated with XZK; group 3 contrast media (CM), injected with CM; group 4 (CM + ATO), injected with CM + pretreatment with atorvastatin; group 5 (CM + XZK), injected with CM + pretreatment with XZK. Twenty-four hours after injection with normal saline or CM, the blood sample and the kidneys were collected for the measurement of biochemical parameters, oxidative stress markers, nitric oxide production, inflammatory parameters, as well as renal histopathology and apoptosis detection.

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).

Atorvastatin improves plaque stability in ApoE-knockout mice by regulating chemokines and chemokine receptors.

It is well documented that statins protect atherosclerotic patients from inflammatory changes and plaque instability in coronary arteries. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Using a previously established mouse model for vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, we investigated the effect of atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) on plaque morphology.

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.

Gender differences in epicardial and tissue-level reperfusion in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: The impact of gender on clinical course after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not fully understood. We prospectively investigated whether there are gender-related differences in epicardial and myocardial tissue-level perfusion, both of which represent important prognostic determinants in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods: A total of 594 consecutive non-selected STEMI patients undergoing PPCI were prospectively enrolled.

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.

Comparison of epicardial and myocardial perfusions after primary coronary angioplasty for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in patients under and over 75 years of age.

Background And Aims: Patients aged ≥75 years compose a high-risk subgroup for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It is unknown whether myocardial perfusion in these patients is decreased compared with younger ones after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), which may contribute to their worse prognosis. We compared epicardial and myocardial perfusions as well as short-term outcomes between elderly and younger patients undergoing PPCI.

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.