Infection and upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines in human brain vascular pericytes by human cytomegalovirus.

Background: Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections can result in CNS abnormalities in newborn babies including vision loss, mental retardation, motor deficits, seizures, and hearing loss. Brain pericytes play an essential role in the development and function of the blood-brain barrier yet their unique role in HCMV dissemination and neuropathlogy has not been reported.

Methods: Primary human brain vascular pericytes were exposed to a primary clinical isolate of HCMV designated 'SBCMV'.

Evidence for Gardnerella vaginalis uptake and internalization by squamous vaginal epithelial cells: implications for the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common condition seen in premenopausal women, is associated with preterm labor, pelvic inflammatory disease, and delivery of low birth weight infants. Gardnerella vaginalis is the predominant bacterial species associated with BV, although its exact role in the pathology of BV is unknown. Using immunofluorescence, confocal and transmission electron microscopy, we found that VK2 vaginal epithelial cells take up G.

[Effects of control-releasing arsenic trioxide-eluting stent on intimal smooth muscle cells and type III collagen in canine coronary artery post-stent model].

Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of control-releasing arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-eluting stent on intimal smooth muscle cells (SMC) and type III collagen (CIII) in canine coronary artery post-stent model.

Methods: Twenty-four experimental canines were equally divided into 4 groups, the three tested groups were deployed by stents with different dosage of As2O3 (1.6 microg/mm2, 2.

[Clinical and angiographic characteristics of left coronaroventricular microfistula].

Objective: To investigate the clinical and angiographic characteristics of left coronaroventricular microfistula.

Methods: In his retrospective review, clinical, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and coronary angiography data were analyzed for patients with left coronaroventricular microfistula.

Results: Left coronaroventricular microfistula was identified in 9 out of 8300 patients underwent coronary angiographies from 1998 to 2008 in our center.

[Effect of zedoary turmeric oil-eluting stents for post-stenting restenosis prevention and treatment].

Objective: To investigate the effect and safety of Zedoary Turmeric Oil (ZTO)-eluting stents for post-coronary stenting restenosis prevention and treatment in the experimental dogs.

Methods: Bare stents, stents coated with polybutyl methacrylate/Nano silica, and stents eluted with 100 microg ZTO were randomly deployed in canine anterior descending or circumflex coronary artery. Four weeks after stent implantation, the dogs were sacrificed and the vascular histomorphologic changes in the stenting segment analyzed.

[Electrocardiographic and angiographic characteristics of patients with acute solitary posterior myocardial infarction].

Objective: To investigate electrocardiographic (ECG) and angiographic characteristics of patients with acute solitary posterior myocardial infarction. Patients complicated by inferior wall or right ventricular infarction were excluded.

Method: ECG and angiographic changes in 11 patients with acute solitary posterior myocardial infarction admitted to our emergency room from 2001 to 2006 were analyzed.

[Effect of early and non-early controlled-release of arsenic-trioxide eluting stents on restenosis inhibition in a canine model].

Objective: To observe the safety and efficacy of early or non-early controlled-release arsenic-trioxide (As(2)O(3))-eluting stents on reducing in-stent neointimal hyperplasia.

Methods: Bare stents, stents coated with polybutyl methacrylate/Nano silica (containing 200 microg of As(2)O(3) per stent or not), stents coated with polybutyl methacrylate/Nano silica inside (containing 200 microg of As(2)O(3) per stent or not) and poly-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) outside were deployed with mild oversizing in left anterior descending (LAD) and circumflex coronary arteries (LCX)of 30 canines (n = 6, 12 stents for each group).

Results: The mean injury scores were similar in all groups at 4 weeks post stents implantation while the mean neointimal thickness, neointimal area and degree of stenosis were significantly reduced and the lumen area significantly increased in canines receiving single coating stents containing As(2)O(3) compared with single or double coating stents and bare stents groups (all P < 0.

[Effects of controlled-release arsenic-trioxide-eluting stents on in-stent neointimal hyperplasia in coronary artery: experiment with dog model].

Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of controlled-release arsenic-trioxide (As(2)O(3))-eluting stents to reduce in-stent neointimal hyperplasia in coronary artery.

Methods: As(2)O(3) was sprayed onto the stainless steel coated with polybutyl methacrylate/nano-silica and poly-lactide-co-glycolide so as to make the controlled-release As(2)O(3)-eluting stents with the As(2)O(3) concentrations of 0, 1.6, 2.

Differential regulation of endothelial exocytosis of P-selectin and von Willebrand factor by protease-activated receptors and cAMP.

Thrombin-mediated endothelial-cell release of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and P-selectin functionally links protease-activated receptors (PARs) to thrombosis and inflammation. VWF release can be stimulated by both Ca2+ and cAMP, and, although both VWF and P-selectin are found in Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), we found that their release could be differentially regulated. In these studies, human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated with cAMP or PAR2-AP led to a delayed release of VWF and significantly less P-selectin release compared with histamine, thrombin, or PAR1-AP.