Remote photobiomodulation: an emerging strategy for neuroprotection

<正>Photobiomodulation (PBM)-the irradiation of cells or tissues with low-intensity red to near-infrared light-is emerging as an effective means of enhancing cell and tissue resilience and repair. As reviewed elsewhere (Gordon et al., 2019), the intracellular effects of     

Does prophylactic sotalol and magnesium decrease the incidence of atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass surgery: a propensity-matched analysis

Background  

Atrial fibrillation can occur in up to 40% of patients undergoing coronary surgery.     

Intimal hyperplasia and coronary flow reserve after heart transplantation: association with big endothelin-1

BACKGROUND: Endothelin, a peptide with strong vasoconstrictive and mitogenic properties, has been found to increase after cardiac transplantation. We therefore assessed the association between its precursor peptide, big endothelin-1, and intimal hyperplasia and coronary flow reserve after heart transplantation. METHODS: Thirty-five patients without hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease after heart transplantation were investigated: Average peak flow velocity in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was assessed by intracoronary Doppler at baseline as well as after injection of adenosine; coronary flow reserve was calculated as a ratio of both and was corrected for patient age and baseline average peak flow velocity. Lumen, intima + media and total vessel area were measured by intracoronary ultrasound. The plasma concentration of big endothelin-1 in venous blood was determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Patients with elevated big endothelin-1 levels (>2 fmol/ml) tended to have a decreased corrected coronary flow reserve (2.60 +/- 0.9 vs 3.21 +/- 1.0, p = 0.078). They also had a significantly larger intima + media area (5.82 +/- 2.9 vs 2.37 +/- 2.9 mm(2), p = 0.004) and total vessel area (18.36 +/- 5.8 vs 12.81 +/- 4.8 mm(2), p = 0.012) than those with normal plasma concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests an association between elevated big endothelin-1 plasma levels and the development of intimal hyperplasia and reduction of coronary flow reserve after cardiac transplantation.     

Umbilical artery reactivity and ultrastructural changes in pregnancy-induced hypertension and other complicated pregnancies

Abnormal pressor responses are known to occur in the maternal circulation in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), but little is know of the response of the foetal circulation. The responsiveness of umbilical arteries in PIH can be studied after delivery, and this is a useful model to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. In the present experiments, the in vitro response of umbilical artery rings to bradykinin and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was tested and ultrastructural changes investigated. Umbilical arteries from 48 cords were studied. Fifteen of the mothers had PIH, five had essential hypertension pre-dating the pregnancy and five had diabetes. Twenty-three women had pregnancies uncomplicated by hypertension or serious medical or obstetric problems and these served as controls. Umbilical arteries from the severe proteinuric PIH group were significantly more responsive to 5-HT as assessed by affinity constants (P less than 0.05). The responsiveness of arteries from all other groups did not differ from the normal cases. A probable mechanism for the findings is endothelial damage as a result of pre-eclamptic disease. This was substantiated by ultrastructural evidence.