Sonic hedgehog regulates angiogenesis and myogenesis during post-natal skeletal muscle regeneration.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a morphogen-regulating crucial epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during embryonic development, but its signalling pathway is considered generally silent in post-natal life. In this study, we demonstrate that Shh is de novo expressed after injury and during regeneration of the adult skeletal muscle. Shh expression is followed by significant up-regulation of its receptor and target gene Ptc1 in injured and regenerating muscles.

Impact of aprotinin on adverse clinical outcomes and mortality up to 12 years in a registry of 3,337 patients.

Background: Recent studies have suggested increased renal complications and long-term mortality with aprotinin use in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients. However, these studies have been criticized for including multiple centers and different dosing strategies. We analyzed prospectively collected registry data from a single center hospital utilizing a full-dose aprotinin regimen to evaluate if aprotinin was associated with increased mortality and adverse outcomes compared with Amicar.

Distance and oxygen desaturation during the 6-min walk test as predictors of long-term mortality in patients with COPD.

Rationale: The distance walked in the 6-min walk test (6MWT) predicts mortality in patients with severe COPD. Little is known about its prognostic value in patients with a wider range of COPD severity, living in different countries, and the potential additional impact of oxygen desaturation measured during the test.

Methods: We enrolled 576 stable COPD outpatients in Spain and the United States and observed them for at least 3 years (median, 60 months).

Update on the management of COPD.

COPD is highly prevalent and will continue to be an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. COPD is now viewed under a new paradigm as preventable and treatable. In addition, it has become accepted that COPD is not solely a pulmonary disease but also one with important measurable systemic consequences.

Effects of hyperinflation on the oxygen pulse as a marker of cardiac performance in COPD.

A decreased inspiratory capacity (IC)/total lung capacity (TLC) ratio is associated with dynamic hyperinflation and decreased exercise capacity. The present authors hypothesised that static (low IC/TLC) and dynamic hyperinflation impair cardiac function as assessed by oxygen pulse at rest and during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Lung function, body mass index, hand grip strength and CPET parameters were measured (oxygen uptake (mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and oxygen pulse (mL x beat(-1))) in 87 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society/Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage 3-4) and 46 controls.

Dependence of invadopodia function on collagen fiber spacing and cross-linking: computational modeling and experimental evidence.

Invadopodia are subcellular organelles thought to be critical for extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and the movement of cells through tissues. Here we examine invadopodia generation, turnover, and function in relation to two structural aspects of the ECM substrates they degrade: cross-linking and fiber density. We set up a cellular automaton computational model that simulates ECM penetration and degradation by invadopodia.

Effect of pharmacotherapy on rate of decline of lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results from the TORCH study.

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by an accelerated decline in lung function. No drug has been shown conclusively to reduce this decline.

Objectives: In a post hoc analysis of the Toward a Revolution in COPD Health (TORCH) study, we investigated the effects of combined salmeterol 50 microg plus fluticasone propionate 500 microg, either component alone or placebo, on the rate of post-bronchodilator FEV(1) decline in patients with moderate or severe COPD.

Hemorrhoids can be a source of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding that requires transfusion: report of five patients.

Purpose: Hemorrhoids have been rarely reported to be a source of transfusion-dependent, obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. We report the diagnosis and management of a series of patients in whom hemorrhoids were the source of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding that was severe enough to require transfusion.

Methods: Five patients, who presented with severe hematochezia or obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, during a 24-month period had had an extensive workup for gastrointestinal bleeding.

Endotoxin-binding affinity of sevelamer hydrochloride.

Background: Sevelamer hydrochloride has been shown to attenuate circulating biomarkers of inflammation in patients with chronic kidney failure. We hypothesize that sevelamer hydrochloride binds bacterial endotoxin (ET) resulting in a decrease in ET levels and cytokine production.

Methods: To assess the ET-binding affinity of sevelamer hydrochloride, purified Escherichia coli ET was incubated with sevelamer hydrochloride (0-50 mg/ml).

Requirement for erythroblast-macrophage protein (Emp) in definitive erythropoiesis.

Emp, erythroblast-macrophage protein was initially identified as a mediator of erythroblast-macrophage interactions during erythroid differentiation. More recent studies have shown that targeted disruption of Emp leads to abnormal erythropoiesis in the fetal liver, and fetal demise. To further address the activity of Emp in the hematopoietic lineage in adult bone marrow, we conducted fetal liver HSC reconstitution assay.

Mortality trends in rheumatoid arthritis: the role of rheumatoid factor.

Objective: We previously demonstrated a widening in the mortality gap between subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the general population. We examined the contribution of rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity on overall mortality trends and cause-specific mortality.

Methods: A population-based RA incidence cohort (1955-1995, and aged >or= 18 yrs) was followed longitudinally until death or January 1, 2006.

Eighteen year (1985-2002) analysis of incidence, mortality, and cardiac procedure outcomes of acute myocardial infarction in patients > or = 65 years of age.

The temporal patterns of outcomes and therapy in patients aged > or =65 years with acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) from a national database were examined to better understand this increasingly important demographic group. The National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS), a nationally representative sample of acute care hospitals in the United States, was used for analysis. Using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes, hospitalizations with first-listed diagnoses of AMI from 1985 to 2002 were identified.

Remote magnetic navigation system provides a superior catheter stability in acquisition of His bundle electrogram.

Introduction: Catheter stability is a key prerequisite for a successful EP procedure. Remote magnetic navigation system (RMNS) was recently introduced for the manipulation of EP catheters. It may provide an improved catheter stability but this has not been tested prospectively.

C-reactive protein levels and survival in patients with moderate to very severe COPD.

Background: Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are increased in patients with COPD and correlate modestly with variables predictive of outcomes. In epidemiologic studies, CRP level is associated with all-cause mortality in patients with mild-to-moderate disease.

Objective: To determine if CRP levels are associated with survival in patients with moderate to very severe COPD in comparison with other well-known prognostic parameters of the disease.

Impact of saphenous vein graft radiographic markers on clinical events and angiographic parameters.

Background: Use of saphenous vein graft (SVG) radiographic markers has been associated with shorter cardiac catheterization procedure times and reduced contrast agent volume for postoperative coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) catheterizations. Use of such markers is varied and often operator-dependent, as the effect of SVG markers has not been fully evaluated. The goal of the present analysis was to evaluate the association of SVG markers with clinical outcomes and graft patency.

Pressure overload-induced hypertrophy in transgenic mice selectively overexpressing AT2 receptors in ventricular myocytes.

The role of the angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor in cardiac hypertrophy remains controversial. We studied the effects of AT2 receptors on chronic pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in transgenic mice selectively overexpressing AT2 receptors in ventricular myocytes. Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy was induced by ascending aorta banding (AS).

Effect of methyl derivatives of dopamine on tumor necrosis factor alpha and lipid peroxidation.

We recently demonstrated that melatonin, N-acetylserotonin (NAS), and N-acetyldopamine (NAD) attenuate the synthesis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and the generation of oxidant radicals. In this study, we examined whether acetyl and methyl derivatives of dopamine modulate LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha synthesis and LPS- and iron-induced lipid peroxidation. Differentiated THP-1-derived human monocytes were coincubated with Escherichia coli and rising concentrations of NAS, NAD, N-methyldopamine (NMD), or 4-O-methyldopamine (4-O-MD).

Central venous catheter infusions: a laboratory model shows large differences in drug delivery dynamics related to catheter dead volume.

Objective: Central venous catheters (CVCs) are conduits for drug infusions. Dead volumes of different CVC lumens vary considerably. This study quantitatively evaluated drug delivery dynamics of CVCs in a laboratory model of continuous drug infusion.

Role of host tissues for sustained humoral effects after endothelial progenitor cell transplantation into the ischemic heart.

Noncellular differentiation effects have emerged as important mechanisms mediating therapeutic effects of stem or progenitor cell transplantation. Here, we investigated the expression patterns and sources of humoral factors and their regional and systemic biological effects after bone marrow (BM)-derived endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) transplantation into ischemic myocardium. Although most of the transplanted EPCs disappeared within a week, up-regulation of multiple humoral factors was sustained for longer than two weeks, which correlated well with the recovery of cardiac function.

Protective effect of erythropoietin against radiocontrast-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury.

Background/aims: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) has been shown to reduce tissue injury following ischemia-reperfusion. We examined whether rhEpo protects in vitro renal tubular epithelial cells against radiocontrast media-induced injury.

Methods: LLC-PK1 renal tubular epithelial cells were exposed to non-ionic radiocontrast agent iohexol (low-osmolar) or iodixanol (iso-osmolar), with or without rhEpo (200 U/ml).

Differences in cardiopulmonary exercise test results by American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society-Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage categories and gender.

Background: The American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS)-Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has developed a new staging system based on the degree of airflow obstruction. Its validity to predict exercise capacity as an outcome has not been extensively studied. We hypothesized that exercise performance measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) results should decline significantly with each disease stage, independent of gender.