Impact of hemodialysis on efficacies of the antiplatelet agents in coronary artery disease patients complicated with end-stage renal disease.

It is controversial whether hemodialysis affects the efficacy of the antiplatelet agents. We aimed to investigate the impact of hemodialysis on efficacies of the antiplatelet agents in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients complicated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). 86 CAD patients complicated with ESRD requiring hemodialysis were consecutively enrolled.

Exploration and bioinformatic prediction for profile of mRNA bound to circular RNA BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 in coronary artery disease.

Background: As a novel circRNA, BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 has not been fully investigated in coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim is to reveal the possible functional role and regulatory pathway of BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 in CAD via exploring genes combined with BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563.

Methods: A total of 45 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples of CAD patients were enrolled.

Circular RNA ZBTB46 depletion alleviates the progression of Atherosclerosis by regulating the ubiquitination and degradation of hnRNPA2B1 via the AKT/mTOR pathway.

Background: CircZBTB46 has been identified as being associated with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and has the potential to be a diagnostic biomarker for CAD. However, the specific function and detailed mechanism of circZBTB46 in CAD are still unknown.

Methods: The expression levels and properties of circRNAs were examined using qRT‒PCR, RNA FISH, and subcellular localization analysis.

Correlation between the Serum Platelet-Derived Growth Factor, Angiopoietin-1, and Severity of Coronary Heart Disease.

Background: The expression of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) in patients with coronary artery disease of different studies was inconsistent. This study was to investigate the expression of the PDGF and Ang-1 in peripheral blood and coronary artery in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the relationship between the expression of the PDGF and Ang-1 and the severity of coronary artery disease.

Methods: A total of 81 patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled from September 2012 to December 2013.

Safety and Efficacy of Adenovirus Carrying Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene by Percutaneous Endocardial Injection for Treating Post-infarct Heart Failure: A Phase IIa Clinical Trial.

Objective: Our previous phase I clinical trial has confirmed the safety of Adenovirus carrying Hepatocyte Growth Factor gene (Ad-HGF) by intracoronary administration for treating severe coronary artery disease. This study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Ad-HGF by percutaneous endocardial injection for treating post-infarct heart failure.

Methods: A total of 30 patients (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) with postinfarct heart failure who were not indicated to revascularization and had received the optimal standardized medication therapy were included in the study.

Beneficial effects of muscone on cardiac remodeling in a mouse model of myocardial infarction.

Musk has been traditionally used in East Asia to alleviate the symptoms of angina pectoris. However, it remains unclear as to whether muscone, the main active ingredient of musk, has any beneficial effects on persistent myocardial ischemia in vivo. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether muscone can improve cardiac function and attenuate myocardial remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI) in mice.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of minor elevated cardiac troponin levels for percutaneous coronary intervention-related myocardial injury: a prospective, single-center and double-blind study.

Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) and -T (cTnT) are sensitive and specific markers of myocardial injury. However, the role of increased cTnI and cTnT in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-related myocardial injury remains controversial. In this prospective, single-center and double-blind study, we aimed to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of cTnI as well as cTnT (cTns) in PCI-related myocardial injury in a Chinese population.

Cardiac-specific expression of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) under the control of a TnIc promoter confers a heart protective effect after myocardial infarction (MI).

Objective: Uncontrolled therapeutic gene expression and neovascularization in non-specific tissues has lowered the safety of gene therapy. The aim of the study was to identify a cardiac-specific promoter to control target gene expression in heart tissue in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Adenovirus vectors containing the firefly luciferase or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) genes under control of the Troponin I (TnIc) or Cytomegalievirus (CMV) promoters were transfected into cell lines or injected into the left ventricular wall of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats via thoracotomy.

Beneficial effects of schisandrin B on the cardiac function in mice model of myocardial infarction.

The fruit of Schisandra chinensis has been used in the traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Accumulating evidence suggests that Schisandrin B (Sch B) has cardioprotection effect on myocardial ischemia in vitro. However, it is unclear whether Sch B has beneficial effects on continuous myocardial ischemia in vivo.

A correlation between acute kidney injury and myonecrosis after scheduled percutaneous coronary intervention.

Slight elevations in cardiac troponin I and T are frequently observed after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a complex syndrome induced by exposure to intravascular contrast media (CM). Currently, the relationships between the CM, pre-existing kidney insufficiency, CI-AKI, and myonecrosis after elective PCI are unclear.

Catheter-based intramyocardial delivery (NavX) of adenovirus achieves safe and accurate gene transfer in pigs.

Background: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is one of the major angiogenic factors being studied for the treatment of ischemic heart diseases. Our previous study demonstrated adenovirus-HGF was effective in myocardial ischemia models. The first clinical safety study showed a positive effect in patients with severe and diffused triple coronary disease.

Beneficial effects of ginsenoside-Rg1 on ischemia-induced angiogenesis in diabetic mice.

Neovascularization and the formation of collateral vessels are often impaired in diabetes mellitus (DM) population compared with non-diabetics. Alterations in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) dysfunction have been confirmed to play a crucial role in impaired neovascularization in diabetic mice. Accumulating data have suggested that Rg1, a main component of Panax ginseng, has the ability to promote tubulogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro, and that the mechanism involves increased expression level of VEGF as well as increased eNOS activation.

Effect of the calcium sensing receptor on rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell proliferation through the ERK1/2 pathway.

Migration and proliferation of bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is critical to treatment of ischemic injury. The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) has an important role in maintaining systemic calcium homeostasis, which is related to cell proliferation, apoptosis and paracrine signaling. We hypothesize that CaSR may enhance BMSC proliferation.

[Activation of calcium-sensing receptors is associated with apoptosis in cardiomyocytes under simulated ischemia/reperfusion].

Objective: To examine the association of activation of calcium-sensing receptors (CaSR) with apoptosis in cardiomyocytes under simulated ischemia/reperfusion.

Methods: Ventricular cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats were incubated in ischemia-mimetic solution for 2 h, then re-incubated in normal culture medium for 24 h to establish a model of simulated ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL assay).

Toxic effects of a high dose of non-ionic iodinated contrast media on renal glomerular and aortic endothelial cells in aged rats in vivo.

Iodinated contrast media (CM) can induce apoptosis and necrosis of renal tubular cells. The injuries of endothelial cells induced by CM on the systemic condition have not been fully understood. To assess the toxic effects of non-ionic CM on the glomerular and aortic endothelial cells, iopromide and iodixanol, two kinds of representative non-ionic CM, were used for the in vivo study.

Coexpression of VEGF and angiopoietin-1 promotes angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte proliferation reduces apoptosis in porcine myocardial infarction (MI) heart.

VEGF and angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) are two major angiogenic factors being investigated for the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI). Targeting VEGF and Ang1 expression in the ischemic myocardium can increase their local therapeutic effects and reduce possible adverse effects. Adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) expressing cardiac-specific and hypoxia-inducible VEGF [AAV-myosin light chain-2v (MLC)VEGF] and Ang1 (AAV-MLCAng1) were coinjected (VEGF/Ang1 group) into six different sites of the porcine myocardium at the peri-infarct zone immediately after ligating the left descending coronary artery.

[Hepatocyte growth factor attenuates ischemia/reperfusion induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via downregulating calcium sensing receptor expression].

Objective: To examine whether the anti-apoptotic effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in cardiomyocytes underwent ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is associated with downregulation of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) mRNA expression.

Methods: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were isolated and randomly divided into 7 groups: control, I/R, GdCl(3), GdCl(3) + NiCl(2) + CdCl(2), GdCl(3) + LY294002, GdCl(3) + HGF, GdCl(3) + HGF + LY294002.I/R was established by incubating primary neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes in ischemia-mimetic solution for 2 h, then reincubated in normal culture medium for 24 h.

Inhibitory effect of hepatocyte growth factor on cardiomyocytes apoptosis is partly related to reduced calcium sensing receptor expression during a model of simulated ischemia/reperfusion.

Calcium-sensing receptors (CaSR) are G-protein coupled receptors which maintain systemic calcium haemeostasis, participate in hormone secretion, activation of iron channel, cell apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. Previous studies have show CaSR induce apoptosis in isolated rat adult heart and in normal rat neonatal cardiomyocytes by G-protein-PLC-IP3 signaling transinduction. A few of studies had demonstrated that CaSR induce apoptosis in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes during ischemia/reperfusion.

Activation of calcium-sensing receptors is associated with apoptosis in a model of simulated cardiomyocytes ischemia/reperfusion.

Objective: Calcium-sensing receptors (CaSRs) are G-protein coupled receptors which maintain systemic calcium homeostasis and participate in hormone secretion, activation of ion channels, cell apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation. Previous studies have shown that CaSRs induce apoptosis in isolated adult rat heart and in normal neonatal rat cardiomyocytes by G-protein-PLC-IP3 signaling transduction. However, little knowledge is presently available concerning the role of CaSRs in the apoptosis induced by ischemia and reperfusion in neonatal cardiomyocytes.

HGF percutaneous endocardial injection induces cardiomyocyte proliferation and rescues cardiac function in pigs.

Objective: To investigate the effect of cardiomyocyte proliferation induced by human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in pigs with chronic myocardial infarction (CMI).

Methods: A steerable, deflectable 7F catheter incorporating a 27-guage needle was advanced percutaneously to the left ventricular myocardium of 18 pigs with CMI. Pigs were randomized (1:1:1) to receive adenoviral vector HGF (total dose, 1×10(10) genome copies), which was administered as five injections into the infarcted myocardium (total, 1.