Objective To investigate the effects of activator protein-1(AP-1)decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs)on the myocardial fibrosis induced by angiotension Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)in vitro.Methods CFs of neonatal Spra- gue-Dawley(SD)rats were isolated by trypsin digestion method.CFs were co-cultured with 10~(-7)mol/L Ang Ⅱ in the presence of different concentration of activator protein-1(AP-1)decoy ODNs or mutational AP-1 decoy ODNs for 24 h.Collagen synthesis was assessed by hydroxyproline and the mRNA expression of collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ.Results The concentration of hydroxyproline increased significantly after treated by 10~(-7)mol/L Ang Ⅱ;decoy ODNs on the range of 10-200 nmol/L dose dependently decrease synthesis of collagen;Ang Ⅱ stimulates mRNA expression of collagen Ⅲ(1.04?0.07 vs 1.63?0.071,n=3,P

OBJECTIVEIt is revealed that circulating fibrocytes are elevated in patients/animals with cardiac fibrosis, and this review aims to provide an introduction to circulating fibrocytes and their role in cardiac fibrosis.

DATA SOURCESThis review is based on the data from 1994 to present obtained from PubMed. The search terms were "circulating fibrocytes " and "cardiac fibrosis ".

STUDY SELECTIONArticles and critical reviews, which are related to circulating fibrocytes and cardiac fibrosis, were selected.

RESULTSCirculating fibrocytes, which are derived from hematopoietic stem cells, represent a subset of peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibiting mixed morphological and molecular characteristics of hematopoietic and mesenchymal cells (CD34+/CD45+/collagen I+). They can produce extracellular matrix and many cytokines. It is shown that circulating fibrocytes participate in many fibrotic diseases, including cardiac fibrosis. Evidence accumulated in recent years shows that aging individuals and patients with hypertension, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and atrial fibrillation have more circulating fibrocytes in peripheral blood and/or heart tissue, and this elevation of circulating fibrocytes is correlated with the degree of fibrosis in the hearts.

CONCLUSIONSCirculating fibrocytes are effector cells in cardiac fibrosis.

Coronary Disease ; pathology ; Fibroblasts ; physiology ; Fibrosis ; pathology ; Heart Failure ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; pathology ; Myocardium ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of insulin resistance (IR) on prognosis in non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome patients.

METHODSIn this prospective study, we enrolled 332 non-diabetic patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome. The patients were divided into three groups by HOMA-IR which calculated by formula: low HOMA-IR group (HOMA-IR < 2), 44 cases; moderate HOMA-IR group (2 ≤ HOMA2-IR < 6), 99 cases; high HOMA-IR group (HOMA ≥ 6) with HOMA index, 179 cases. The in-hospital medical records of patients were compared, and all patients were followed up for one year after discharge.

RESULTSIncidence of hypertension (P = 0.013), dyslipidemia (P < 0.001), faster resting heart rate (P < 0.001) and number of triple vessel coronary artery disease (P = 0.017) in high HOMA-IR group were significantly higher than in low and moderate HOMA-IR group. During follow-up, the major end-point events increased in proportion to IR grade: 64.3% (26/44) in the high HOMA-IR group, 54.7% (52/99) in moderate HOMA-IR group and 41.3% (74/199) in low HOMA-IR group (P = 0.034). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that high sensitivity C reactive protein (OR = 1.012, 95%CI:1.002-1.022, P = 0.022), HOMA-IR (OR = 1.250, 95%CI:1.043-1.497, P = 0.015) , triple vessel coronary artery disease (OR = 5.914, 95%CI:2.947-11.868, P < 0.001) , ischemic changes on ECG (OR = 5.495, 95%CI:2.925-10.324, P < 0.001) and low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%) (OR = 13.205, 95%CI:5.000-34.661, P < 0.001) were independent risk factor for major end-point events during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSIncreased insulin resistance is linked with poor prognosis of non-diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to evaluate the influence of smear layer on the bonding effectiveness and durability of the self-adhesive resin cements to dentin. METHODS: A total of 48 fresh caries-free third molars with exposed dentin surface were divided into two groups. The dentin surfaces were treated using a standard grit diamond bur (group A) or further polished using a fine grit diamond bur (group B) and then bonded with either of the two self-adhesive resin cements, namely, Clearfil SA Cement (CSA, Kuraray) and Multilink Speed (MS, Ivoclar Vivadent). After 24 h or 2-year water storage, a microtensile bond strength test was performed. RESULTS: In group A, the dentin surface was rough, the smear layer was thick, and the dentin tubule orifice detritus showed low embolism value. In group B, the dentin surface roughness decreased, the embolism proportion increased, and the smear layer became thin. The initial bonding strengths of CSA and MS in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (P<0.05). The bonding strengths of CSA and MS significantly decreased after two years of water storage (P<0.05). For CSA, the bond strength of group B was significantly lower than that of group A (P<0.05). For MS, the differences in the bonding strength between groups A and B were insignificant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The properties of the smear layer and the types of self-adhesive resin cement used affected the bond strength and durability.
Composite Resins ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Cements ; Dentin ; Dentin-Bonding Agents ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Resin Cements ; Smear Layer ; Surface Properties ; Tensile Strength

BACKGROUNDMetabolic syndrome (MS) is a risk factor for stroke and thromboembolism event. Left atrial or LA appendage (LA/LAA) thrombus is a surrogate of potential stroke. The relationship between MS and atrial thrombus remains unclear. In this study, we sought to investigate the effect of MS on risk stratification of LA/LAA thrombus formation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

METHODSThis cross-sectional study enrolled 294 consecutive NVAF patients without prior anticoagulant and lipid-lowering therapies. LA/LAA thrombus was determined by transesophageal echocardiography. Risk assessment of LA/LAA thrombus was performed using the CHADS2 , CHA2DS2 -VASc, MS, CHADS2 -MS, and CHA2DS2 -VASc-MS scores. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine which factors were significantly related to LA/LAA thrombus. Odds ratio (OR) including 95% confidence interval was also calculated. The predictive powers of different scores for the risk of LA/LAA thrombus were represented by C-statistics and compared by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTSLA/LAA thrombi were identified in 56 patients (19.0%). Logistic analysis showed that MS was the strongest risk factor for LA/LAA thrombus in NVAF patients (OR = 14.698, P < 0.001). ROC curve analyses revealed that the C-statistics of CHADS2 -MS and CHA2DS2 -VASc-MS was significantly higher than those of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2 -VASc scores (CHADS2 -MS vs. CHADS2 , 0.807 vs. 0.726, P = 0.0019). Furthermore, MS was helpful for identifying individuals with a high risk of LA/LAA thrombus in the population with a low risk of stroke (CHADS2 or CHA2DS2 -VASc score = 0).

CONCLUSIONSMS is associated with LA/LAA thrombus risk in patients with NVAF. In addition to the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2 -VASc scores, the CHADS2 -MS and CHA2DS2 -VASc-MS scores provide additional information on stroke risk assessment.

Aged ; Atrial Appendage ; pathology ; Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; physiopathology