CaMKII inhibition mitigates ischemia/reperfusion-elicited calpain activation and the damage to membrane skeleton proteins in isolated rat hearts.

Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) has been implicated in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of CaMKII on the damage to membrane skeleton proteins, which is an important cause of IR injury. Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 45-min global ischemia/2-h reperfusion.

2,3,5,4'-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside protects murine hearts against ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating Notch1/Hes1 signaling and attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress.

2,3,5,4'-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG) is a water-soluble active component extracted from Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. A number of studies demonstrate that TSG exerts cardioprotective effects. Since endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a key role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R)-induced cell apoptosis, we sought to determine whether modulation of the ER stress during MI/R injury was involved in the cardioprotective action of TSG.

Glutamate protects against Ca(2+) paradox-induced injury and inhibits calpain activity in isolated rat hearts.

This study determined the effects of glutamate on the Ca(2+) paradoxical heart, which is a model for Ca(2+) overload-induced injury during myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion, and evaluated its effect on a known mediator of injury, calpain. An isolated rat heart was retrogradely perfused in a Langendorff apparatus. Ca(2+) paradox was elicited via perfusion with a Ca(2+) -free Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution for 3 minutes followed by Ca(2+) -containing normal KH solution for 30 minutes.

Berberine protects rat heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury via activating JAK2/STAT3 signaling and attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Aim: Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline-derived alkaloid isolated from Rhizoma coptidis, exerts cardioprotective effects. Because endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a pivotal role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R)-induced apoptosis, it was interesting to examine whether the protective effects of BBR resulted from modulating ER stress levels during MI/R injury, and to define the signaling mechanisms in this process.

Methods: Male rats were treated with BBR (200 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1), ig) for 2 weeks, and then subjected to MI/R surgery.

Association of genetic polymorphisms on BTNL2 with susceptibility to and prognosis of dilated cardiomyopathy in a Chinese population.

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one type of primary myocardial disease, partly caused by immunity dysfunctions. BTNL2 (butyrophilin-like 2) has already been confirmed to be involved in the etiology of autoimmune disorders and GWAS (genome wide association study) has also identified mutants of a SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) near BTNL2 could modulate risk of coronary heart disease (also cardiomyopathy). The current study, therefore, was aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms within or around BTNL2 would be correlated with susceptibility to and prognosis of DCM.

Effects of Sevoflurane Inhalation During Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

The effects of sevoflurane inhalation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on postoperative courses and serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery have not been extensively investigated. In this single-center, prospective, randomized trial, an anesthetic regimen containing 2% sevoflurane used throughout the CPB process was compared with a total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) regimen. One hundred and three patients undergoing congenital heart defect repair with CPB were included in this prospective randomized controlled study.

The Blockade of Transmembrane Cl⁻ Flux Mitigates I/R-Induced Heart Injury via the Inhibition of Calpain Activity.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether calpain is involved in Cl(-)-induced myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Methods: Isolated rat hearts were subjected to either 45 min of global no-flow ischemia followed by reperfusion or successive perfusion with Ca(2+)-free KH solution for 3 min and normal KH solution for 30 min, also known as Ca(2+) paradox.

Results: The hearts in the I/R group exhibited increases in myocardial injury area, LDH release, caspase 3 activity and apoptotic indices and a marked decline in cardiac performance.

Different roles for contracture and calpain in calcium paradox-induced heart injury.

The Ca(2+) paradox represents a good model to study Ca(2+) overload injury in ischemic heart diseases. We and others have demonstrated that contracture and calpain are involved in the Ca(2+) paradox-induced injury. This study aimed to elucidate their roles in this model.

The myocardial protective effects of a moderate-potassium blood cardioplegia in pediatric cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: We investigated the myocardial protective effect of a moderate-potassium cold blood cardioplegic solution (K+, 10 mmol/L) in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Methods: Sixty-eight pediatric patients with congenital heart disease and undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were randomly allocated to the high potassium (HP [K+, 20 mmol/L, n=31]) cold blood cardioplegia group or the moderate potassium (MP [K+, 10 mmol/L, n=37]) cold blood cardioplegia group. Heart arresting time, rhythm recovery time, mechanical ventilation time, inotropic drug use in the intensive care unit, perioperative serum cardiac troponin I concentrations, morbidities, and mortalities were compared between the two groups.

The association between OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis of 27 studies.

Background: Numerous studies have investigated association of OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism with lung cancer susceptibility; however, the findings are inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis based on 27 publications encompass 9663 cases and 11348 controls to comprehensively evaluate such associations.

Methods: We searched publications from MEDLINE and EMBASE which were assessing the associations between OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and lung cancer risk.

Calpain inhibitor MDL 28170 protects against the Ca2+ paradox in rat hearts.

The calcium paradox represents an important model in which to study myocardial injuries due to intracellular Ca(2+) overload. In a previous study, calpain was transiently activated in Ca(2+) -paradoxic hearts. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of calpain in myocardial dysfunction in hearts subjected to the Ca(2+) paradox and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

[Clinical follow-up of staged hybrid approach for patients with ventricular septal defects combined with patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of staged hybrid approach in treating ventricular septal defect (VSD) patients combined with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH).

Methods: From July 2004 to July 2009, 22 VSD patients with PDA and PAH were enrolled and received staged hybrid approach treatment (transcatheter PDA occlusion and elective open surgery for VSD several days after PDA occlusion). All patients were followed up to examine rhythm change, residual shunt, shape of occlude, possible valve regurgitation, and aortic stenosis by echocardiography.

The myocardial protective effects of a moderate-potassium adenosine-lidocaine cardioplegia in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate a moderate-potassium cardioplegic solution using adenosine and lidocaine as the arresting and protecting cardioprotective combination in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Methods: One hundred thirty-four patients with congenital heart disease were randomly allocated to one of 3 groups according to the cardioplegia formula used: the high-potassium (HP) group (K(+), 20 mmol/L), 46 patients; the high-potassium adenosine-lidocaine (HPAL) group (K(+), 20 mmol/L; adenosine, 0.7 mmol/L; and lidocaine, 0.

Tanshinone IIA: a new activator of human cardiac KCNQ1/KCNE1 (I(Ks)) potassium channels.

Tanshinone IIA, one of the main active components from Chinese herb Danshen, is widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases including arrhythmia in Asian countries especially in China. However, the mechanisms underlying its anti-arrythmia effects are not clear. In this study we investigate the effects of tanshinone IIA on human KCNQ1/KCNE1 potassium channels (I(Ks)), human ether-a-go-go-related gene potassium channels (hERG), Kv1.

Postconditioning the human heart with adenosine in heart valve replacement surgery.

Background: The effect of adenosine postconditioning on myocardial protection in cardiac surgery remains uncertain. The present study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and beneficial effect of adenosine postconditioning as an adjunct to predominantly used cold-blood cardioplegic myocardial protection method in the setting of heart valve replacement operations.

Methods: Sixty patients with rheumatic heart valve disease undergoing heart valve replacement operations were randomized to an adenosine (1.

Histological/biological characterization of decellularized bovine jugular vein.

Several deficiencies in currently available right ventricular valved conduits make them problematic for use in infants and children. A solution would be to develop a tissue-engineered valved conduit containing autologous cells. A method was devised to produce a decellularized bovine matrix scaffold for developing a tissue-engineered right ventricular valved conduit.

Role of reverse mode Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in the cardioprotection of metabolic inhibition preconditioning in rat ventricular myocytes.

This study determined the role of the reverse mode Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) in cardioprotection of metabolic inhibition preconditioning in isolated ventricular myocyctes. Activity of the reverse mode NCX was assessed by changes of [Ca(2+)](i) upon withdrawal of extracellular Na(+). [Ca(2+)](i) was measured by spectrofluorometry, using Fura-2 as Ca(2+) indicator.

[Construction and evaluation of the property of decellular porcine aortic valve].

Objective: To construct decellular porcine aortic valve (PAV) and to observe the existence of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) and valve scaffold structure before and after implantation.

Methods: (1) Porcine aortic valve was obtained. The cellular components of PAV were completely removed by using detergent and nucleotidase solution combined with alteration of osmosis.

[Construction of a tissue-engineered valve with decellular porcine aortic valve scaffold in the abdominal aorta of canine].

Objective: To explore an experimental method for construction of tissue-engineered heart valve (TEHV) in canine abdominal aorta.

Methods: The decellular porcine aortic valve (PAV) leaflets seeded with canine vessel interstitial cells and endothelial cells (ECs) were implanted into 6 canine abdominal aortas. Valve specimens were obtained respectively at the end of 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after implantation were studied for morphology, histology and immunohistochemistry.