Changes in anti-heat shock protein 27 antibody and C-reactive protein levels following cardiac surgery and their association with cardiac function in patients with cardiovascular disease

The relationship between serum anti-heat shock protein (Hsp)27 antibody and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and indices of cardiac function were investigated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve replacement. The changes in anti-Hsp27 antibody titers and hs-CRP levels were compared among patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump CABG or valvular heart replacement. Fifty-three patients underwent off-pump, on-pump CABG, and heart valvular replacement in each group. Serum anti-Hsp27 titers and hs-CRP values were measured 24 h before and after the operation and at discharge. Echocardiography was performed before surgery and before discharge. The results were compared with values from 83 healthy controls. hs-CRP levels increased and anti-Hsp27 antibody decreased following surgery (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), although these changes were independent of operative procedure (P = 0.361 and P = 0.120, respectively). Anti-Hsp27 antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge (P = 0.016). Only in coronary patients were anti-Hsp27 antibody levels negatively associated with E/E′ (r = −0.268, P = 0.022), a marker of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. In conclusions, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels are associated with indices of cardiac function in coronary patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass had no significant effect on the induction of changes in anti-Hsp27 levels. Moreover, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels fell in all groups postoperatively; this may be due to the formation of immune complexes of antigen–antibody, and antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12192-012-0358-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Lysoglycerophospholipids in chronic inflammatory disorders: The PLA2/LPC and ATX/LPA axes

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), the most prominent lysoglycerophospholipids, are emerging as a novel class of inflammatory lipids, joining thromboxanes, leukotrienes and prostaglandins with which they share metabolic pathways and regulatory mechanisms. Enzymes that participate in LPC and LPA metabolism, such as the phospholipase A₂ superfamily (PLA₂) and autotaxin (ATX, ENPP2), play central roles in regulating LPC and LPA levels and consequently their actions. LPC/LPA biosynthetic pathways will be briefly presented and LPC/LPA signaling properties and their possible functions in the regulation of the immune system and chronic inflammation will be reviewed. Furthermore, implications of exacerbated LPC and/or LPA signaling in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases, namely rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis and hepatitis, will be discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Advances in Lysophospholipid Research.     

Permanent Cerebral Vessel Occlusion via Double Ligature and Transection

Stroke is a leading cause of death, disability, and socioeconomic loss worldwide. The majority of all strokes result from an interruption in blood flow (ischemia) ¹. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) delivers a great majority of blood to the lateral surface of the cortex ², is the most common site of human stroke ³, and ischemia within its territory can result in extensive dysfunction or death ^1,4,5. Survivors of ischemic stroke often suffer loss or disruption of motor capabilities, sensory deficits, and infarct. In an effort to capture these key characteristics of stroke, and thereby develop effective treatment, a great deal of emphasis is placed upon animal models of ischemia in MCA.Here we present a method of permanently occluding a cortical surface blood vessel. We will present this method using an example of a relevant vessel occlusion that models the most common type, location, and outcome of human stroke, permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). In this model, we surgically expose MCA in the adult rat and subsequently occlude via double ligature and transection of the vessel. This pMCAO blocks the proximal cortical branch of MCA, causing ischemia in all of MCA cortical territory, a large portion of the cortex. This method of occlusion can also be used to occlude more distal portions of cortical vessels in order to achieve more focal ischemia targeting a smaller region of cortex. The primary disadvantages of pMCAO are that the surgical procedure is somewhat invasive as a small craniotomy is required to access MCA, though this results in minimal tissue damage. The primary advantages of this model, however, are: the site of occlusion is well defined, the degree of blood flow reduction is consistent, functional and neurological impairment occurs rapidly, infarct size is consistent, and the high rate of survival allows for long-term chronic assessment.     

A Murine Model of Stent Implantation in the Carotid Artery for the Study of Restenosis

Despite the considerable progress made in the stent development in the last decades, cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of death in western countries. Beside the benefits offered by the development of different drug-eluting stents, the coronary revascularization bears also the life-threatening risks of in-stent thrombosis and restenosis. Research on new therapeutic strategies is impaired by the lack of appropriate methods to study stent implantation and restenosis processes. Here, we describe a rapid and accessible procedure of stent implantation in mouse carotid artery, which offers the possibility to study in a convenient way the molecular mechanisms of vessel remodeling and the effects of different drug coatings.     

彩色多普勒超声测量椎动脉血流量对后循环缺血的诊断价值

目的：探讨彩色多普勒超声技术测量椎动脉血流量对后循环缺血（PCI）的诊断价值。方法：选取2012年1月至2013年1月在本院神经内科住院并接受治疗的PCI患者58例作为观察组,另选取同期住院并确诊为非后循环缺血症的患者50例作为对照组。所有患者均接受颈部血管超声检查,测量椎动脉内径及血流量,观察组患者需行头颅CTA检查,比较两组患者的椎动脉内径、血流量及颈动脉硬化斑块发生率等。结果：观察组患者的椎动脉内径及血流量明显低于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;观察组颈动脉硬化斑块的发生率为77．5％（44例）,对照组颈动脉硬化斑块的发生率为42％（21例）,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。无狭窄、轻度狭窄、重度狭窄及闭塞的椎动脉血流量的变化（此处所指的血流量是指小于200mL/min那部分患者）有明显差异（P〈0．05）。结论：与头颅CTA对比检查,彩色多普勒具有直接、准确、方便及可重复性等优点,可有效的诊断后循环缺血症状。     

Loss Mechanisms in Thick‐Film Low‐Bandgap Polymer Solar Cells

Polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells based on low bandgap polymer:fullerene blends are promising for next generation low‐cost photovoltaics. While these solution‐processed solar cells are compatible with large‐scale roll‐to‐roll processing, active layers used for typical laboratory‐scale devices are too thin to ensure high manufacturing yields. Furthermore, due to the limited light absorption and optical interference within the thin active layer, the external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells are severely limited. In order to produce polymer solar cells with high yields, efficient solar cells with a thick active layer must be demonstrated. In this work, the performance of thick‐film solar cells employing the low‐bandgap polymer poly(dithienogermole‐thienopyrrolodione) (PDTG‐TPD) was demonstrated. Power conversion efficiencies over 8.0% were obtained for devices with an active layer thickness of 200 nm, illustrating the potential of this polymer for large‐scale manufacturing. Although an average EQE > 65% was obtained for devices with active layer thicknesses > 200 nm, the cell performance could not be maintained due to a reduction in fill factor. By comparing our results for PDTG‐TPD solar cells with similar P3HT‐based devices, we investigated the loss mechanisms associated with the limited device performance observed for thick‐film low‐bandgap polymer solar cells.     

支气管动脉灌注化疗与栓塞治疗中晚期肺癌的疗效观察

目的：对比分析支气管动脉灌注化疗与支气管动脉灌注化疗十栓塞术治疗中晚期肺癌的临床疗效。方法：将我院2011年1月-2013年1月期间收治的76例中晚期肺癌患者随机分为两组,即观察组38例,对照组38例。观察组患者行支气管动脉灌注化疗联合栓塞术治疗,对照组患者行单纯支气管动脉灌注化疗治疗。分别对两组患者治疗后的临床治疗效果进行评价,同时观察两组患者治疗后的不良反应及并发症的发生情况。结果：观察组患者临床治疗的总有效率为84．21％,对照组为64．78％．两组比较,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。两组患者治疗后,观察组患者总不良反应率为23．67％,对照组为21．04％,两组比较．差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。且经对症处理后,均得到有效改善。结论：支气管动脉灌注化疗联合栓塞术治疗中晚期肺癌的,临床疗效明显优于单纯支气管动脉灌注化疗,且无明显不良反应及并发症的发生,安全性好,值得临床推广与应用。     

Si‐Encapsulating Hollow Carbon Electrodes via Electroless Etching for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Remarkable improvements in the electrochemical performance of Si materials for Li‐ion batteries have been recently achieved, but the inherent volume change of Si still induces electrode expansion and external cell deformation. Here, the void structure in Si‐encapsulating hollow carbons is optimized in order to minimize the volume expansion of Si‐based anodes and improve electrochemical performance. When compared to chemical etching, the hollow structure is achieved via electroless etching is more advanced due to the improved electrical contact between carbon and Si. Despite the very thick electrodes (30 ～ 40 μm), this results in better cycle and rate performances including little capacity fading over 50 cycles and 1100 mA h g^?1 at 2C rate. Also, an in situ dilatometer technique is used to perform a comprehensive study of electrode thickness change, and Si‐encapsulating hollow carbon mitigates the volume change of electrodes by adoption of void space, resulting in a small volume increase of 18% after full lithiation corresponding with a reversible capacity of about 2000 mA h g^?1.     

颈内动脉支架置入术对颈动脉狭窄患者认知功能影响的研究

目的：研究颈动脉狭窄对认知功能的影响,探讨颈动脉支架置入术（CAS）患者术后不同时期认知功能的变化及其可能的机制。方法：选取2010年1月至2012年12月我院神经内科收住的急性脑梗死（前循环）患者75例,按颈内动脉狭窄程度,分成无狭窄组,轻度狭窄组（狭窄程度〈30％）,中度狭窄组（30-69％）和治疗组（70．99％）,前三组给予药物治疗,治疗组同时给予颈内动脉支架置入术,应用蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）、简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）、搭火柴测验（stickTest）,对患者进行认知功能评估,比较术前、术后不同时期认知功能的变化,同时利用SPECT／CT对治疗组20例患者术后局部脑血流改善状况进行评价。结果：治疗组和对照组在术前比较MoCA总分、MMSE评分、StickTest评分,发现治疗组评分低于对照组,且随着颈动脉狭窄程度的加重,认知功能受损越明显;治疗组在术后1周与术前比较,评分反而降低,差异有统计学意义;术后3个月、术后6个月与术前比较,评分均有所提高,差异有统计学意义;通过SPECT／CT对治疗组术前感兴趣区血流量与同侧小脑平均脑血流量比较,术后再与同侧小脑比较,结果显示术后脑灌注明显改善。结论：颈动脉狭窄与血管性认知功能障碍有关,而且认知功能障碍的程度与颈动脉狭窄程度呈正相关,颈内动脉支架置入术可最终改善认知功能,尤其表现在视空间／执行能力,延迟回忆能力,注意力等方面。