Age- and gender-related oxidative status determined in healthy subjects by means of OXY-SCORE,a potential new comprehensive index

Oxidative stress has been related to various diseases, gender and ageing, and has been measured by various markers. The authors developed a procedure to compute a global oxidative stress index (OXY-SCORE), reflecting both oxidative and antioxidant markers in healthy subjects. Its performance was tested in relation to age and gender and in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Eighty-two healthy subjects and 20 CAD patients were enrolled. Plasma free and total malondialdehyde (F- and T-MDA), glutathione disulphide/reduced form ratio (GSSG/GSH) and urine isoprostanes (iPF_2α-III) levels were combined as oxidative damage markers (damage score). GSH, α- and γ-tocopherol (TH) levels, and individual antioxidant capacity were combined as antioxidant defence indexes (protection score). The OXY-SCORE was computed by subtracting the protection score from the damage score. Among single parameters, T-MDA and iPF_2α-III significantly correlated with age; only GSH and both tocopherols correlated with male gender in healthy subjects. The OXY-SCORE was positively associated with age (p=0.004) and male gender (p=0.03). As expected, the OXY-SCORE was higher in CAD with a very significant p-value (<0.0001), after adjusting for age, gender and smoking. Combining different markers can potentially provide a powerful index in the evaluation of oxidative stress related to age, gender and CAD status.     

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。     

两种途径介入治疗急性心肌梗塞疗效分析

目的：探讨对急性心梗患者行不同途径急诊经皮冠状动脉治疗（PCi）的临床疗效及预后。方法：选取我院自2011年1月至2012年12月收治的75例sT段抬高的急性心肌梗死患者作为研究对象进行回顾性调查,对比分析经桡动脉PCI（TRA—Pet）和经股动脉PCI（TFA—PCI）两组治疗疗效及出现并发症情况,包括比较两组穿刺成功率,手术时间,术中出血及术后局部及其他并发症等方面,并作统计分析,取P〈0．05为有统计学意义。结果：两组穿刺成功率及PCI手术成功率差异无统计学意义,P〉0．05。在手术操作时间上,TFA—PCI组明显长于TRA—PCI组,差异有统计学意义,P〈0．05。TFA．PCI组局部并发症发生率为11．8％．远期并发症为2．9％。TRA-PCI组局部并发症发生率为2．4％,远期并发症为7．3％,两组差别显著,P〈0．05。结论：TRA—PCI和TFA—PCI在手术时间及术后并发症上有差异,TRA—PCI术中花时间较少,术后局部并发症要轻,值得在临床上推广,但是由于有远期并发症的危险,故术后应加强肝肾功能等的监测。     

剖宫产术后切口妊娠介入治疗与保守治疗效果的临床研究

目的:研究子宫动脉介入化疗栓塞术在临床上对剖宫产切口妊娠的治疗效果.方法:回顾性分析我院2007年1月至2012年12月的收治的切口妊娠患者53例.并将53例患者随机分为介入治疗组28例、保守治疗组25例,介入治疗组患者采用双侧子宫动脉栓塞术后进行刮宫术的治疗,保守治疗组患者采用口服米非司酮以及肌内注射MTX后进行刮宫术的治疗.对两组患者的临床资料包括出血量,住院时间,降血HCG时间等进行统计学分析.结果:介入治疗组患者的出血量,住院时间,降血HCG时间明显低于保守治疗组患者的情况,差异具有显著性(P＜0.05).介入治疗组和保守治疗组间的不良反应差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论:对患者采用子宫动脉介入对剖宫产切口妊娠进行治疗的方式,可以对切口妊娠大出血进行有效的控制,同时也可以对妊娠物进行有效的杀死.