BACKGROUND: Microspheric injectable scaffold has a perspective in cartilage tissue engineering; however, it is still limited by in vivo hard forming and microsphere transmigration.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of self-assembly scaffolds by attaching negatively charged calcium alginate microspheres and positively charged chitosan microspheres by electrostatic force. METHODS: The calcium alginate and chitosan microspheres were prepared by emulsion-internal gelation and spray drying technique, respectively. The characterizations of the microspheres were determined by means of scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and zeta potential analysis methods. Self-assembly scaffolds were fabricated by mixing the aqueous suspensions of the microspheres with oppositely charged surfaces. The phenomenon of electrostatic attachment was characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and the elastic compress modulus of the scaffolds was also investigated.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The average diameter of the calcium alginate microspheres was 52.5 μm, and the chitosan one was 4.1 μm, respectively. The zeta-potential of the calcium alginate microspheres was 23.5 mv, and the chitosan one was +9.8 mv, respectively. The microspheres were spherical and smooth. The small size chitosan microspheres could attach to the surface of the calcium alginate microspheres and anchor the calcium alginate microspheres together. The elastic compress modulus increased with the increase of solid content of the microspheres, but decreased with the increase of the ionic strength. The elastic compress modulus increased firstly and then decreased with the increase of the mass ratio of m (CHI):m (ALG), and it showed the highest elastic compress modulus when m (CHI):m (ALG) was 2:1. The positively charged chitosan microspheres could attach to the negatively calcium alginate microspheres to form a self-assembly scaffold.

Aim To explore the role of ERO1 αand its DNA methylation in homocysteine (Hcy)-induced in-hibition of hepatocytes proliferation.Methods The hepatocytes stimulated with 0 μmol·L -1 Hcy were set as the normal group (NC group)and the hepatocytes stimulated with 1 00 μmol·L -1 Hcy as the experimen-tal group (Hcy group).Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT)reduction assay was used to reflect the prolifer-ation of the hepatocytes;qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of ERO1 α;the expression of green fluorescence protein was observed in hepatocytes after the recombinant plas-mid of ERO1 α was constructed,which was used to confirm if the recombinant plasmid into hepatocytes was successful,then the mRNA and protein levels of ERO1 αwere assayed and the proliferation of the hepa-tocytes was also detected;ntMSP was used to detect the change of ERO1 αDNA methylation.Results The mRNA and protein levels of ERO1 αwere decreased in Hcy group compared with NC group,and the prolifera-tion activity of hepatocytes in Hcy group was de-creased.Sequencing result showed that the recombi-nant plasmid of ERO1 αwas constructed successfully. QRT-PCR and Western blot revealed that ERO1 αwas overexpressed. The result of MTT suggested that ERO1 αoverexpression restored hepatocyte proliferation inhibited by Hcy.Hcy caused ERO1 αDNA hyperm-ethylation.Conclusions Hcy inhibits hepatocyte pro-liferation by downregulating the expression of ERO1 α, and methylation of ERO1 αpromoter may play a role in this process.

Danshensu is one of the main water soluble active ingredients of Salvia miltiorrhiza ,which has many phar-macological activities ,especially in cardiovascular system .T he cardiovascular pharmacological mechanism of Danshensu and its derivatives from the view of anti-apoptosis ,antioxidant ,inhibiting calcium overload and role in the inflammatory reaction path-ways etc .were summarized in this article .

Objective To investigate the role of microRNA-214-3p (miR-214-3p) in differentiation and proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) induced by cyclic stretch. Methods EPCs were exposed to cyclic stretch at physiological level (with the magnitude of 5%, at a constant frequency of 1.25 Hz) for 24 h by FX-5000T Strain Unit. miRNAs array was performed to identify the expression profiling of miRNAs. Real-time PCR was used to examine the expression levels of miRs. The expression of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) markers in EPCs was detected by real-time PCR. EPC proliferation was detected by BrdU ELISA assay. After EPCs were transfected with miR-214-3p inhibitor (IN) to knockdown expression of miR-214-3p, the level of VSMC markers expression and EPC proliferation was detected. Results Cyclic stretch significantly decreased miR-214-3p expression, depressed EPC differentiation toward VSMCs, and increased EPCs proliferation. Similarly, transfection with the miR-214-3p inhibitor led to the decreased expression of VSMC markers under static station. Meanwhile, miR-214-3p down-regulation promoted EPC proliferation significantly. Conclusions Physiological cyclic stretch could down-regulate the expression of miR-214-3p in EPCs, depress EPC differentiation towards VSMC and promote EPC proliferation eventually. Therefore, the research findings provide a potential therapeutic strategy for treating vessel injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To study the predictive value of transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG) derived from diastolic phase of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for identifying systolic compression of myocardial bridge (MB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients diagnosed with MB based on CCTA findings and without obstructive coronary artery disease were retrospectively enrolled. In total, 143 patients with 144 MBs were included in the study. Patients were classified into three groups: without systolic compression, with systolic compression < 50%, and with systolic compression ≥ 50%. TAG was defined as the linear regression coefficient between intraluminal attenuation in Hounsfield units (HU) and length from the vessel ostium. Other indices such as the length and depth of the MB were also recorded. RESULTS: TAG was the lowest in MB patients with systolic compression ≥ 50% (−19.9 ± 8.7 HU/10 mm). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cutoff values for identifying systolic compression ≥ 50%. The result indicated an optimal cutoff value of TAG as −18.8 HU/10 mm (area under curve = 0.778, p < 0.001), which yielded higher sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy (54.1, 80.5, 72.8, and 75.0%, respectively). In addition, the TAG of MB with diastolic compression was significantly lower than the TAG of MB without diastolic compression (−21.4 ± 4.8 HU/10 mm vs. −12.7 ± 8 HU/10 mm, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: TAG was a better predictor of MB with systolic compression ≥ 50%, compared to the length or depth of the MB. The TAG of MB with persistent diastolic compression was significantly lower than the TAG without diastolic compression.
Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of calcification characterization by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to predict the use of rotational atherectomy (RA) for coronary intervention of lesions with moderate to severe calcification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with calcified lesions treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who underwent both CCTA and invasive coronary angiography were retrospectively included in this study. Calcification remodeling index was calculated as the ratio of the smallest vessel cross-sectional area of the lesion to the proximal reference luminal area. Other parameters such as calcium volume, regional Agatston score, calcification length, and involved calcium arc quadrant were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 223 patients with 241 calcified lesions were finally included. Lesions with RA tended to have larger calcium volume, higher regional Agatston score, more involved calcium arc quadrants, and significantly smaller calcification remodeling index than lesions without RA. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the best cutoff value of calcification remodeling index was 0.84 (area under curve = 0.847, p < 0.001). Calcification remodeling index ≤ 0.84 was the strongest independent predictor (odds ratio: 251.47, p < 0.001) for using RA. CONCLUSION: Calcification remodeling index was significantly correlated with the incidence of using RA to aid PCI. Calcification remodeling index ≤ 0.84 was the strongest independent predictor for using RA prior to stent implantation.
Angiography ; Atherectomy, Coronary* ; Calcium ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Phenobarbital ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Stents

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of calcification characterization by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to predict the use of rotational atherectomy (RA) for coronary intervention of lesions with moderate to severe calcification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with calcified lesions treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who underwent both CCTA and invasive coronary angiography were retrospectively included in this study. Calcification remodeling index was calculated as the ratio of the smallest vessel cross-sectional area of the lesion to the proximal reference luminal area. Other parameters such as calcium volume, regional Agatston score, calcification length, and involved calcium arc quadrant were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 223 patients with 241 calcified lesions were finally included. Lesions with RA tended to have larger calcium volume, higher regional Agatston score, more involved calcium arc quadrants, and significantly smaller calcification remodeling index than lesions without RA. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the best cutoff value of calcification remodeling index was 0.84 (area under curve = 0.847, p < 0.001). Calcification remodeling index ≤ 0.84 was the strongest independent predictor (odds ratio: 251.47, p < 0.001) for using RA. CONCLUSION: Calcification remodeling index was significantly correlated with the incidence of using RA to aid PCI. Calcification remodeling index ≤ 0.84 was the strongest independent predictor for using RA prior to stent implantation.
Angiography ; Atherectomy, Coronary* ; Calcium ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Phenobarbital ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Stents

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morphological changes of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) as determined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) follow-up using semi-automated quantitative analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with 31 CTO lesions confirmed by invasive coronary angiography and baseline/follow-up CCTA were retrospectively included. CTOs were quantitatively analyzed by a semi-automated coronary plaque analysis software (Coronary Plaque Analysis, version 2.0, Siemens) after manually determining the lesion border. Recanalized lumen was defined as the linear-like enhanced opacity traversing the non-opacified occluded segment. Other parameters, such as total occlusion length, total occlusion volume, volume with low attenuation component (< 30 Hounsfield unit [HU]), volume with middle to high attenuation component (30–190 HU) as well as the calcification volume, were also recorded. RESULTS: Recanalized lumen was found within 48.4% (15/31) occlusions on the follow-up CCTA, compared to 45.2% (14/31) occlusions on the baseline CCTA. Eleven of 14 lesions (78.6%) with CT-visible recanalized lumen within CTOs had a shorter occlusion length on follow-up compared to only 3 of 17 lesions (17.6%) without CT-visible recanalized lumen (odds ratio, 17.1, p < 0.001). The percentage of low attenuation component of occlusions was smaller on follow-up CCTA compared to baseline value (18.1 ± 20.1% vs. 22.6 ± 19.6%, p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Coronary computed tomography angiography enables non-invasive characterization of natural progression of untreated CTO lesions. Recanalized lumen within CTOs observed at baseline CCTA was associated with shortening of occlusion length on follow-up. Compared to their earlier stage, occlusions of later stage were presented with higher density of non-calcified components.
Angiography* ; Coronary Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Natural History* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the metabolomics characteristic of neuromyelities optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid.Methods Ultra high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) was used to identify plasma metabolites in 16 patients with NMOSD and 8 healthy controls.At the same time,the identification of metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid of 8 NMOSD patients and 5 healthy controls was completed.Differential metabolites screening and metabolomic pathway analysis were performed by diversified data analysis methods.Results Compared with healthy control group,the content of 8 substances such as Cis.8.11.14.Eicosatrienoic acid in the plasma of NMOSD patients was increased.The content of 8 substances such as L-glutamine acid were decreased.There was no significant difference in the metabolites between Aquaporin 4 (AQP-4) antibody positive and negative NMOSD plasma.The content of 6 substances such as 3-hydroxybutyric acid in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with NMOSD was reduced.Conclusions The distribution of metabolites in plasma between NMOSD patients and healthy controls was significantly different.There was no significant difference in metabolites between AQP-4 antibody positive and negative NMOSD plasma.There are some differences in metabolites between cerebrospinal fluid of NMOSD patients and healthy controls.A variety of amino acid abnormalities,sphingomyelin dysfunction,energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction were involved in the pathogenesis of NMOSD.

Coronary artery fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a critical physiological indicator for assessment of impaired blood flow caused by coronary artery stenosis. The wire-based invasive measurement of blood flow pressure gradient across stenosis is the gold standard for clinical measurement of FFR. However, it has the risk of vascular injury and requires the use of vasodilators, increasing the time and overall cost of interventional examination. Coronary imaging is playing an important role in clinical diagnosis of stenotic lesions, evaluation of severity of lesions, and planning of therapies. In recent years, the computation of FFR based on the physiological information of blood flow obtained from routinely collected coronary image data has become a research focus in this field. This technique reduces the cost of physiological assessment of coronary lesions and the use of pressure wires. It is beneficial to strengthen the physiological guidance in interventional therapy. In order to better understand this emerging technique, this paper highlights its implementation principle and diagnostic performance, analyzes practical problems and current challenges in clinical applications, and discusses possible future development.
Humans ; Coronary Vessels/diagnostic imaging* ; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; Heart ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Stenosis/diagnostic imaging*