The effects of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on the proliferation of cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC) were investigated in vitro. By using NaBr density gradient centrifugation, LDL was isolated and purified from human plasma. Ox-LDL was produced from LDL by being incubated with CuSO(4). ox-LDL was then added to the culture medium at different concentrations (35, 60, 85, 110, 135 and 160 microg/mL) for 7 days. The influence of ox-LDL on vSMC proliferation was observed in growth curve, mitosis index, and in situ determination of apoptosis. The data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software. The results showed that the ox-LDL produced in vitro had a good purity and optimal oxidative degree, which was similar to the intrinsic ox-LDL in atherosclerotic plaque. ox-LDL at a concentration of 35 microg/mL demonstrated the strongest proliferation inducement, and at a concentration of 135 microg/mL, ox-LDL could inhibit the growth of vSMC. ox-LDL at concentrations of 35 and 50 microg/mL presented powerful mitotic trigger, and with the increase of ox-LDL concentration, the mitotic index of vSMC was decreased gradually. ox-LDL at higher concentrations promoted more apoptotic vSMCs. ox-LDL at lower concentrations triggered proliferation of vSMCs, and at higher concentrations induced apoptosis in vSMCs. ox-LDL played a promotional role in the pathogenesis and development of atherosclerosis by affecting vSMC proliferation and apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of perfusion pressure with a cardioplegic solution on endothelium-dependent relaxation and smooth muscle function of porcine coronary artery. Methods The hearts were infused with a modified St.Thomas’ hospital solution at the pressures of 40, 60 and 80 mmHg. The distal part of porcine left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) having a diameter of 1.0-1.5 mm, was dissected free from the surrounding tissue, cut into 1 mm long segments, immediately transferred to organ baths for the evaluation of endothelial and smooth muscle function. Results Smooth muscle function was not affected after cardioplegic flushing at the pressures used in this study. The maximal endothelium-dependent relaxations of the vessels in 40 and 60 mmHg groups were not reduced compared to fresh segments . The maximal EDR was significantly reduced to (90.8?2.2)% (P

BACKGROUND:Myocardial and coronary endothelial injury occurs in donor hearts due to warm ischemia during cardiac transplantation. Coronary endothelial structure and function play a critical role in long-term outcomes for patients after cardiac transplantation. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of hypoxia-induced warm ischemia (20 minutes) on coronary endothelial function of porcine donor hearts after cardiac death (DCD). METHODS:Sixteen healthy Swedish domestic pigs were randomized into control (n=6), DCD (n=5), and DCD plus cold storage (n=5) groups, respectively. A DCD model in pigs was established using the method of hypoxia-induced 20-minute warm ischemia in the DCD and DCD plus cold storage groups. Isolation of the heart left anterior descending coronary artery or combined with heart preservation pretreatment for 4 hours was performed in the DCD and DCD plus cold storage groups. The maximum coronary endothelium-dependent relaxation was determined in the three groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were no significant differences in the maximum coronary endothelium-dependent relaxation and the minus logarithmic of substance concentration induced 50%maximal relaxation among three groups (P>0.05). These results indicate that 20-minute warm ischemia cannot lead to obvious coronary endothelial dysfunction. In addition, DCD combined with 4-hour cold storage does not affect coronary endothelial function.

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Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death worldwide and is characterized by lipid-laden foam cell formation. Recently, pycnogenol (PYC) has drawn much attention because of its prominent effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, its protective effect against atherosclerosis and the underlying mechanism remains undefined. Here PYC treatment reduced areas of plaque and lipid deposition in atherosclerotic mice, concomitant with decreases in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increases in HDL cholesterol levels, indicating a potential antiatherosclerotic effect of PYC through the regulation of lipid levels. Additionally, PYC preconditioning markedly decreased foam cell formation and lipid accumulation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human THP-1 monocytes. A mechanistic analysis indicated that PYC decreased the lipid-related protein expression of adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) and adipocyte lipid-binding protein (ALBP/aP2) in a dose-dependent manner. Further analysis confirmed that PYC attenuated LPS-induced lipid droplet formation via ADRP and ALBP expression through the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway, because pretreatment with anti-TLR4 antibody or a specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB (PDTC) strikingly mitigated the LPS-induced increase in ADRP and ALBP. Together, our results provide insight into the ability of PYC to attenuate bacterial infection-triggered pathological processes associated with atherosclerosis. Thus PYC may be a potential lead compound for the future development of antiatherosclerotic CVD therapy.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*therapeutic use ; Atherosclerosis/*drug therapy/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Line ; Flavonoids/*therapeutic use ; Foam Cells/drug effects/immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism/*drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/*immunology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/*immunology

OBJECTIVE: To determine the use of septal plication with Dor or Cooley procedure for post infarction anterior and anterior-septal aneurysm of the left ventricle. METHODS: A total of 23 patients with post infarction anterior and anterior-septal aneurysm of the left ventricle underwent septal plication and Dor or Cooley procedure along with coronary artery bypass grafting concomitantly. Data of NYHA grading, left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular end systolic volume index (LVESVI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were recorded before the surgery, before discharge and 3 months after the surgery. RESULTS: Compared with the preoperative data, the NYHA grading before the discharge and 3 months after the surgery improved from 3.21 ± 0.62 to 1.72 ± 0.31 and 1.57 ± 0.23(P<0.05); LVEDVI decreased from (102.31 ± 18.71) mL/m² to (62.11 ± 6.21) mL/m² and (54.63 ± 4.54) mL/m² (P<0.05); LVESVI decreased from (69.32 ± 17.48) mL/m² to (30.23 ± 3.25)mL/m² and (28.34 ± 3.12) mL/m²; while LVEF increased from (32.92 ± 8.12)% to (48.78 ± 4.51)% and (50.52 ± 4.68)% (P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION Ventricular septal plication combined with Dor or Cooley procedure can remarkably improve the left heart function in patients with post infarction ventricular aneurysm.
Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Female ; Heart Aneurysm ; etiology ; surgery ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology ; Ventricular Septum ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the methods used to diagnose and surgically treat ruptured aneurysm in sinus of Valsalva (RASV).

METHODSThirty-seven hospitalized patients with ruptured aneurysms in the sinus of Valsalva from September 1981 to April 2001, including 21 cases (56.7%) of RASV associated with ventricular septal defects (VSD) and 11 (29.7%) with aortic valvular prolapse were given surgical interventions. Under hypothermia and extracorporeal circulation, we successfully performed the surgical correction of RASV for all 37 patients VSD repair in 21 patients, aortic valvuloplasty in 6 and aortic valvular replacement in 2.

RESULTSThere was no hospital deaths among these patients, although residual shunting occurred in two patients and acute renal failure was found one. Follow-up study of one month to 20 years in the patients undergoing repair of RASV revealed that the mostly individuals treated with operation obtained satisfactory cardiac function.

CONCLUSIONCorrect diagnosis of ruptured aneurysm in sinus of Valsalva should be confirmed immediately and surgical correction should be carried out as soon as possible.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aortic Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Aortic Rupture ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sinus of Valsalva

The effects of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on the proliferation of culturedhuman vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC) were investigated in vitro. By using NaBr density gradient centrifugation, LDL was isolated and purified from human plasma. Ox-LDL was produced from LDL by being incubated with CuSO4. ox-LDL was then added to the culture medium at different concentrations (35, 60, 85, 110, 135 and 160 μg/mL) for 7 days. The influence of ox-LDL on vSMC proliferation was observed in growth curve, mitosis index, and in situ determination of apoptosis. The data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software. The results showed that the ox-LDL produced in vitro had a good purity and optimal oxidative degree, which was similar to the intrinsic ox-LDL in atherosclerotic plaque. ox-LDL at a concentration of 35 μg/mL demonstrated the strongest proliferation inducement, and at a concentration of 135 μg/mL, ox-LDL could inhibit the growth of vSMC. ox-LDL at concentrations of 35 and 50 μg/mL presented powerful mitotic trigger, and with the increase of ox-LDL concentration, the mitotic index of vSMC was decreased gradually. ox-LDL at higher concentrations promoted more apoptotic vSMCs. ox-LDL at lower concentrations triggered proliferation of vSMCs, and at higher concentrations induced apoptosis in vSMCs. ox-LDL played a promotional role in the pathogenesis and development of atherosclerosis by affecting vSMC proliferation and apoptosis.

Objective To explore some reasonable ways of anticoagulation for pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic valves.Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted for 27 women with mechanical prosthetic valves who have born children after their cardiac surgeries.Numbers of pregnancies,ages,ways of anticoagulation during pregnancy,ways of anticoagulation before pregnancy,valve thrombosis events,thromboembolism events,bleeding events,outcomes of pregnancy and ways of delivery were collected and studied.Comparing adverse events and outcomes of different ways of anticoagulation which those women used during their pregnancies.Results 27 women with mechanical prosthetic valves experienced 41 pregnancies,and bore 28 children.24 pregnancies used oral low does warfarin(＜ 5 mg/day) to anticoagulate,2 minor bleeding events and 10 early abortion occurred,no abnormal neonates were found,14 healthy neonates were born.6 pregnancies used low-molecularweight heparin to anticoagnlate from 6th week to 12th week,they used oral warfarin to anticoagulate in rest weeks of pregnancy.1 late abortion occurred,1 fetus with hydrocephalus was found at 20th week,then induced labour was conducted.4 healthy neonates were born.11 pregnancies used low-molecular-weight heparin to anticoagulate until delivery,1 early abortion,2 minor bleeding events and 1 valve thrombosis occurred.10 neonates were born,and 1 of them has hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,the other 9 neonates were healthy.Conclusion For pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic valves,using oral low does warfarin throughout pregnancy is a reasonable way of anicoagnlation with low risk of maternal and fetal adverse events except high risk of abortion.Low-molecular-weight heparin is hopeful anticoagulant agent for pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic valves,but more studies about its safety and effectiveness should be conducted.