The clinical implications of choroidal thickness combined with tear VEGFA in coronary artery disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of choroidal thickness and tear vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) as biomarkers of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: This study was a retrospective observational case-control trial. A total of 637 patients who underwent coronary angiography to assess their coronary artery status were included.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 overexpression improves atrial electrical remodeling through TRPM7 signaling pathway.

Atrial electrical remodeling is an important factor in the development and persistence of atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of atrial angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 overexpression on atrial electrical remodeling and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Twenty-eight male and female dogs were randomly divided into the following 4 groups: a sham-operation group, a control group, an adenovirus-enhanced green fluorescent protein (Ad-EGFP) gene group and an Ad-ACE2 gene group.

Coronary Artery Complication in Kawasaki Disease and the Importance of Early Intervention : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: The timing and selection of patients with Kawasaki disease for corticosteroid use to prevent coronary artery complications remain controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of corticosteroid therapy in KD.

Data Sources: Databases of Medline, The Cochrane Library, and the Clinicaltrials.

Selective proximal renal denervation guided by autonomic responses evoked via high-frequency stimulation in a preclinical canine model.

Background: Electric stimulation has been proved to be available to monitor the efficacy of renal denervation (RDN). This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of high-frequency stimulation (HFS)-guided proximal RDN.

Methods And Results: A total of 13 Chinese Kunming dogs were included and allocated to proximal RDN group (n=8) and control group (n=5).

Comparison of Saline-Irrigated Catheter vs. Temperature-Controlled Catheter for Renal Denervation in a Canine Model.

Background: The effectiveness of catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) remains controversial. Although the reasons for this have not yet been elucidated, ineffective denervation appears to be an important factor. The present study aimed to investigate the difference in RDN between a saline-irrigated catheter (SIC) and a temperature-controlled catheter (TCC).

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 overexpression improves atrial remodeling and function in a canine model of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrosis is an important factor in initiating and maintaining atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that atrial angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) overexpression might inhibit atrial collagen accumulation and improve atrial remodeling in a canine atrial pacing model.

Methods And Results: Thirty-two mongrel dogs of both genders were divided randomly into 4 groups: sham-operated, control, gene therapy with adenovirus-enhanced green fluorescent protein (Ad-EGFP), and gene therapy with Ad-ACE2.

Role of TMS5: staphylococcal multidrug-efflux protein QacA.

Background: QacA, a main exporter mediating the multidrug-resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to a variety of antiseptics and disinfectants, possesses a topology of 14 alpha-helical transmembrane segments (TMS). Our study aimed to determine the importance and topology of amino acid residues in and flanking the cytoplasmic end of TMS5.

Methods: Site-directed mutagenesis was used to mutate 5 residues, including L146, A147, V148, W149 and S150, into cysteine.