Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Heart Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liposarcoma, Myxoid ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Myxoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myxosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pericardium ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Mammals exhibit limited heart regeneration ability, which can lead to heart failure after myocardial infarction. In contrast, zebrafish exhibit remarkable cardiac regeneration capacity. Several cell types and signaling pathways have been reported to participate in this process. However, a comprehensive analysis of how different cells and signals interact and coordinate to regulate cardiac regeneration is unavailable. We collected major cardiac cell types from zebrafish and performed high-precision single-cell transcriptome analyses during both development and post-injury regeneration. We revealed the cellular heterogeneity as well as the molecular progress of cardiomyocytes during these processes, and identified a subtype of atrial cardiomyocyte exhibiting a stem-like state which may transdifferentiate into ventricular cardiomyocytes during regeneration. Furthermore, we identified a regeneration-induced cell (RIC) population in the epicardium-derived cells (EPDC), and demonstrated Angiopoietin 4 (Angpt4) as a specific regulator of heart regeneration. angpt4 expression is specifically and transiently activated in RIC, which initiates a signaling cascade from EPDC to endocardium through the Tie2-MAPK pathway, and further induces activation of cathepsin K in cardiomyocytes through RA signaling. Loss of angpt4 leads to defects in scar tissue resolution and cardiomyocyte proliferation, while overexpression of angpt4 accelerates regeneration. Furthermore, we found that ANGPT4 could enhance proliferation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and promote cardiac repair in mice after myocardial infarction, indicating that the function of Angpt4 is conserved in mammals. Our study provides a mechanistic understanding of heart regeneration at single-cell precision, identifies Angpt4 as a key regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration, and offers a novel therapeutic target for improved recovery after human heart injuries.
Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Cell Proliferation ; Heart/physiology* ; Mammals ; Myocardial Infarction/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Pericardium/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Zebrafish/metabolism*

Pericardial fluid is a kind of serous fluid in pericardial cavity. Because blood undergoes postmortem changes such as autolysis and putrefaction, vitreous humor is limited,cerebrospinal fluid is easily mixed with blood, pericardial fluid, on the other hand, exists in a closed cavity and can be hardly contaminated by postmortem changes, and also is easily obtained. Pericardial fluid not only plays an important role in clinic practice, but also is widely applicable in forensic practice. This paper briefly presented the properties of pericardial fluid and its clinical significance. It reviewed biochemical changes in decedents died of heart diseases, drowning and asphyxia, and explored the significance in medico-legal investigation. Moreover, application of pericardial fluid in forensic serology, forensic toxicological analysis and other fields were also discussed. Pericardial fluid analysis may provide important information for determination of the cause of death with further investigation concerning forensic applicability of pericardial fluid.
Asphyxia/pathology* ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor/metabolism* ; Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Drowning/pathology* ; Forensic Pathology ; Heart Diseases/pathology* ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/metabolism* ; Magnesium/metabolism* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/metabolism* ; Pericardium/metabolism* ; Postmortem Changes ; Troponin I/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the hemocompatibility of glutaraldehyde (GA)-tanned bovine pericardium additionally treated by sodium bisulfite (SOB) solution.

METHODSThe hemocompatibility of GA-tanned bovine pericardium treated by SOB solution is evaluated by using dynamic clotting time test, blood platelet adhension test, D-dimeride determination, and complement activation test. The GA-tanned bovine pericardium was used as control.

RESULTSThe curve of absorbance-clotting time of two kinds of bovine pericardium was similar in dynamic clotting time test. There was no significant difference between SOB-treated and control groups in blood platelet adhension test. The D-dimeride contents of all bioprostheses were at normal level, and the D-dimeride content of GA-tanned bovine pericardium treated by SOB solution was significantly lower than that of control group (P < 0.05). In complement activation test, the level of complement C3a in SOB-treated group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGA-tanned bovine pericardium treated by SOB solution meets the demands of cardiac interstitial implanted materials in hemocompatibility.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bioprosthesis ; Blood Coagulation ; Cattle ; Complement C3a ; analysis ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Glutaral ; pharmacology ; Materials Testing ; Pericardium ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Platelet Adhesiveness ; Sulfites ; pharmacology

Bovine pericardium is mainly composed of collagen which has many good properties of extracellular matrix. This in vitro study was performed to quantitatively investigate and compare the degradation behavior of the bovine pericardial, which were modified with different methods. The purpose is to find out one method that presents not only the degradation regularity of material but also minimum antigenicity, so that bovine pericardium can be used as a well degradable guide tissue regeneration material. The results of the experiments showed that the bovine pericardium treated with ethanol is more appreciated than that treated with epoxy cross-linking agent or glutaraldehyde. The mensuration of protein and special amino acid may be a useful base of constructing a mathematic model for further researches on the rate of degradation of bovine pericardium.
Animals ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bioprosthesis ; Cattle ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyproline ; analysis ; In Vitro Techniques ; Materials Testing ; Pericardium ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Prosthesis Design ; Proteins ; analysis ; Surface Properties

BACKGROUNDIt has been proved that sevoflurane postconditioning (SpostC) could protect the heart against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, however, there has been few research focused on the electrophysiological effects of SpostC. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of SpostC on action potential duration (APD) and L-type calcium current (I(Ca, L)) in isolated cardiomyocytes.

METHODSLangendorff perfused SD rat hearts were randomly assigned to one of the time control (TC), ischemia/reperfusion (I/R, 25 minutes of ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion), and SpostC (postconditioned with 3% sevoflurane) groups. At the end of reperfusion, epicardial myocytes were dissociated enzymatically for patch clamp studies.

RESULTSSevoflurane directly prolonged APD and decreased peak I(Ca, L) densities in epicardial myocytes of the TC group (P < 0.05). I/R injury shortened APD and decreased peak I(Ca, L) densities in epicardial myocytes of the I/R group (P < 0.05). SpostC prolonged APD and increased peak I(Ca, L) densities in epicardial myocytes exposed to I/R injury (P < 0.05). SpostC decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, reduced the incidence of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and decreased reperfusion arrhythmia scores compared with the I/R group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSpostC attenuates APD shortening and I(Ca, L) suppression induced by I/R injury. The regulation of APD and I(Ca, L) by SpostC might be related with intracellular ROS modulation, which contributes to the alleviation of reperfusion ventricular arrhythmia.

Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Electrocardiography ; Methyl Ethers ; therapeutic use ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Pericardium ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a major marker for evaluating cardiac function and has been widely used in clinical practice. Recent researches show that BNP is also useful for identification of sudden cardiac death in forensic pathology. This article reviews the molecular structure and biological characteristics of the BNP and its application as a functional indicate in forensic medicine. It shows that the expression of BNP in cardiac muscles, together with the expression of BNP in blood and pericardium liquid can be used to evaluate the pathological physiology changes and dysfunction degrees of the heart during the cardiac sudden death.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Biomarkers ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Forensic Pathology ; Heart Diseases/physiopathology* ; Heart Failure/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/metabolism* ; Peptide Fragments/metabolism* ; Pericardium/metabolism* ; Postmortem Changes ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism*

12E7 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Heart Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Mesothelioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; metabolism ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericardium ; pathology ; Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Translocation, Genetic ; Vimentin ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an important subtype of lung cancer. The incidence of malignant pericardial effusion (MPCE) in EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients is high. However, there are few researches on the treatmentof this type of patients. METHODS: We collected data on clinical characteristics and treatment of advanced NSCLC patients who harboring EGFR mutants and MPCE between January 2010 and December 2016. The treatments were divided into three groups: oral gefitinib combined with pericardial perfusion of hydroxycamptotheci (HCPT) group (gefitinib/HCPT); intravenous chemotherapy combined with pericardial perfusion of HCPT group (chemotherapy/HCPT) and gefitinib monotherapy group. And we retrospectively analyzed patients' outcomes in three groups. RESULTS: In 273 advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations, 29 cases had pericardial effusion, among which 6 patients with small amount of pericardial effusion were excluded, and 23 patients were analyzed. Median pericardium progression free survival (PFS) was 247 days. PFS for gefitinib/HCPT group (460 days) was superior to PFS for chemotherapy/HCPT group (94 days, P=0.008) and gefitinib monotherapy group (131 days, P=0.032). As for the efficacy of primary pulmonary lesions, the efficacy in gefitinib/ HCPT group was superior to chemotherapy/HCPT group [objective response rate (ORR): 33.3% vs 12.5%; disease control rate (DCR): 86.7% vs 62.5%]. There is no difference of ORR and DCR between gefitinib/HCPT group and gefitinib monotherapy group. No obvious adverse reaction was observed in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS First-line gefitinib therapy combined with pericardial perfusion of HCPT can improve pericardium PFS for advanced NSCLC patients who harboring EGFR mutants andmalignantpericardial effusion. This finding should be confirmed further through multicenter, prospective clinical trials with large sample size.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; ErbB Receptors ; metabolism ; Female ; Gefitinib ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion ; Pericardial Effusion ; complications ; Pericardium ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of perivenous support with autologous pericardium on neointimal thickening in canine vein grafts.

METHODSAn autologous pericardium graft of 7 cm x 4 cm was harvested in right anterolateral thoracotomy. Two equal segments of the jugular vein were transplanted to both sides of the femoral arteries in 12 dogs, and on one side of the vein graft, perivenous support with autologous pericardium was applied. The vein grafts were harvested 2 and 4 weeks after operation and the thickness and area of the neointima calculated using computerized image analysis system. Scanning electron microscopy and PCNA immunohistochemistry were also performed.

RESULTSThe thickness and area of the neointima were significantly greater in the control grafts than in the grafts with perivenous support (P<0.05), and the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in the supported graft was less active (P<0.05). Electron microscopy showed extensive destruction of the endothelium in the control graft, but only slight damage was found in the graft with perivenous support.

CONCLUSIONPerivenous support of the vein graft with autologous pericardium can reduce intimal and medial hyperplasia in the graft.

Animals ; Dogs ; Femoral Artery ; surgery ; Graft Occlusion, Vascular ; prevention & control ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Jugular Veins ; pathology ; surgery ; transplantation ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Pericardium ; transplantation ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Tunica Intima ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure