Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Because of the side effects and incomplete recovery from current therapy, stem cell therapy emerges as a potential therapy for CVD treatment, and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) is one of the key stem cells used for therapeutic applications. The effect of this therapy required the expansion of EPC function. To enhance the EPC activation, proliferation, and angiogenesis using dronedarone hydrochloride (DH) is the purpose of this study. DH received approval for atrial fibrillation treatment and its cardiovascular protective effects were already reported. In this study, DH significantly increased EPC proliferation, tube formation, migration, and maintained EPCs surface marker expression. In addition, DH treatment up-regulated the phosphorylation of AKT and reduced the reactive oxygen species production. In summary, the cell priming by DH considerably improved the functional activity of EPCs, and the use of which might be a novel strategy for CVD treatment.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Because of the side effects and incomplete recovery from current therapy, stem cell therapy emerges as a potential therapy for CVD treatment, and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) is one of the key stem cells used for therapeutic applications. The effect of this therapy required the expansion of EPC function. To enhance the EPC activation, proliferation, and angiogenesis using dronedarone hydrochloride (DH) is the purpose of this study. DH received approval for atrial fibrillation treatment and its cardiovascular protective effects were already reported. In this study, DH significantly increased EPC proliferation, tube formation, migration, and maintained EPCs surface marker expression. In addition, DH treatment up-regulated the phosphorylation of AKT and reduced the reactive oxygen species production. In summary, the cell priming by DH considerably improved the functional activity of EPCs, and the use of which might be a novel strategy for CVD treatment.

Aim To compare the effects of BoneCeramic and Bio-Oss on the proliferation, adhesion and osteogenic differentiation of dog bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (DBMSCs) in vitro. Methods DBM-SCs were isolated and cultured in vitro and identified for osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. CCK-8 was used to detect the effects of BoneCeramic and Bio-Oss bone meal extracts on the vitality of DBMSCs. SEM was used to observe the adhesion of DBMSCs on the surface of bone meal. ALP was used to quantitatively detect the osteogenic differentiation of DBMSCs on the surface of bone meal, and the relative expressions of OPN, OCN, RUNX-2, and ALP genes were detected by RT-PCR. Results The cells isolated and cultured from dog bone marrow conformed to the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells. CCK-8 results showed that the stock solutions of Bio-Oss and Bone Ceramic had no obvious cytotoxic effect on DBMSCs. SEM showed that DBMSCs were distributed more widely on the surface of BoneCeramic than that of Bio-Oss. ALP quantitative detection showed that DBMSCs on the BoneCeramic surface were more conducive to its osteogenic differentiation than Bio-Oss, and it also increased the expression of OPN, OCN, RUNX-2 and ALP genes. Conclusions In vitro studies show that both Bio-Oss and BoneCeramic have good biocompatibility. Compared with Bio-Oss bone meal, BoneCeramic is more conducive to the osteogenic differentiation of DBMSCs.

Objective To observe the effect of edaravone on endogenous neural stem cells in rats with permanent cerebral ischemia. Methods The rat model of permanent cerebral ischemia was established by electrocoagulation. Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups; sham operation group, brain injury group and edaravone group. Six hours after the establishment of the model, the edaravone group was intraperitoneally injected with 1.5 g/L edaravone (10 ml/kg) once a day. The sham operation group and the cerebral ischemia group were intraperitoneally injected with saline of equal volume for 7 days. 24 hours after the last administration, BrdU positive cells, Nestin/BrdU positive cells, neuronal class III β-tubulin (Tuj1)/BrdU positive cells and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)/BrdU positive cells were observed by immunofluorescent staining, Tuj1 and GFAP protein expressions were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the cerebral ischemia group, the BrdU positive cells, Nestin/BrdU positive cells, Tuj1/BrdU positive cells and GFAP/BrdU positive cells increased significantly in the infraventricular area and the cortex area around the ischemia in the edaravone group (P<0.05). Compared with the cerebral ischemia group, the expression of Tuj1 and GFAP protein in the cerebral cortex of edaravone group increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion Edaravone can promote the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells and astrocytes in the subventricular area and the cortex around ischemia, and promote the differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells into neurons.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Yangyin Yiqi Huoxue Recipe (YYHR, the basic recipe of Yangyin Tongnao Granule) in treatment of ischemic stroke patients of deficiency of qi and yin syndrome (DQYS) and static blood obstructing collaterals syndrome (SBOCS).

METHODSTotally 312 patients were assigned to the control group (86 cases) and the treatment group (226 cases) using strati- fied randomized allocation method. Patients in the treatment group were treated with modified YYHR, while those in the control group took Xueshuan Xinmaining. The treatment course was 4 weeks for all. Constituent ratios of the acute stage and the recovery stage of DQYS and SBOCS and their complicated syndromes were observed in the two groups. Changes of the clinical curative effect, clinical symptoms integral, whole blood viscosity ratio, plasma viscosity ratio, hematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total cho- lesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were detected in the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere was statistical difference in constituent ratios of the acute stage and the recovery stage of DQYS SBOCS and its complicated syndromes between the two groups (P < 0.01). DQYS and SBOCS was basic syndrome types of the two groups. The cured and markedly effective rate was 71.24%(161/226) in the treatment group and 43.02% (37/86) in the control group. The total effective rate was 91.15% (206/226) in the treatment group, higher than that of the control group (76.74%, 66/86) with statistical difference (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the clinical symptoms integral, whole blood viscosity ratio, plasma viscosity ratio, hematocrit, ESR, TC, TG,HDL-C, and LDL-C (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSymptoms of ischemic stroke patients could be improved by modified YYHR. Indices such as the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity ratio, hematocrit, ESR, abnormal metabolism of blood lipids were also significantly improved. Pathological changes of blood stasis induced by qi-yin deficiency exist in ischemic stroke patients, and DQYS and SBOCS were basic syndrome types.

Aged ; Biomedical Research ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Stroke ; drug therapy ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Yin Deficiency ; therapy