Restoring the dysfunctional endothelium

Nowadays the endothelium is considered a key determinant of vascular health. NO is the principal mediator of all endothelial protective effects, due to its antiinflammatory, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory and vasorelaxant properties. On the contrary, a growing body of evidence suggests that endothelial dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular events. Emerging data suggest that acute coronary syndromes (ACS) may involve a complex interplay between endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and thrombosis. Despite the success in reducing the mortality from acute cardiovascular events, the incidence of cardiovascular disease and its complication continues to increase. New insights into mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction, such as a better understanding of the regulation of vascular sources of oxygen radicals, may lead to novel therapeutic strategies with the potential to improve prognosis. The key pharmacological agents that improve clinical outcome in high-risk patients are statins, ACE-inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists. Compelling scientific evidence suggests that these medications are effective in improving endothelial function. The present review focuses on the potential importance of benefits on endothelium of these medicaments in the management of acute coronary syndromes.     

细菌性阴道炎实施乳酸杆菌治疗对其恢复阴道微生态环境的作用

目的:评定细菌性阴道炎患者选用乳酸杆菌用药治疗方式对恢复其阴道相关微生态环境形成的作用状况.方法:课题指标来自于2019年5月—2020年5月本医院实施用药治疗的100例细菌性阴道炎患者详细评估资料,实施组别分组方式选用随机数字表方法,各个组别入组例数50例,试验组采取基础抗菌用药加乳酸杆菌用药方法,参照组采取基础抗菌...     

The "vine of the soul" vs. the Controlled Substances Act: implications of the hoasca case

In 2006, the Supreme Court paved the way for the sacramental use of a hallucinogen, hoasca, to be imported, distributed and ingested by a religious group. This case has broad implications for religious freedom for using sacramental psychotropics and how such cases might be decided in the future. This article outlines the arguments used both by the church and by the government. It lists the facts of the cases, explains and analyzes the decision, evaluates the likelihood of expansions of religion-based exceptions for entheogen use in light of the Supreme Court's decision and offers a profile for those groups most likely to receive such an exemption.     

Restoring stem cell mobilization to promote vascular repair in diabetes

Diabetes triggers endothelial dysfunction, which is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Stem and progenitor cells from the bone marrow are involved in the maintenance of vascular integrity. Diabetic patients show a dysfunction of these cells, which might represent a novel pathophysiological mechanism of vascular disease. Specifically, stem and progenitor cells fail to egress from the bone marrow (BM) due to BM pathological alterations and unresponsiveness to mobilizing stimuli. In this review, we describe impaired stem cell mobilization in diabetes as a mechanism of failed vascular repair and we provide evidence that pharmacological strategies can restore mobilization. We discuss recent advances in the knowledge of aberrant organization of the diabetic BM and its implications for impaired mobilization. Finally, we describe in detail the pharmacological exploitation of the G-CSF/DPP-4(CD26)/SDF-1α axis as a novel strategy to improve mobilization and attain vascular repair in diabetes.     

Regenerative medicine of the kidney

End stage renal disease is a major health problem in this country and worldwide. Although dialysis and kidney transplantation are currently used to treat this condition, kidney regeneration resulting in complete healing would be a desirable alternative. In this review we focus our attention on current therapeutic approaches used clinically to delay the onset of kidney failure. In addition we describe novel approaches, like Tissue Engineering, Stem cell Applications, Gene Therapy, and Renal Replacement Therapy that may one day be possible alternative therapies for patients with the hope of delaying kidney failure or even stopping the progression of renal disease.     

弹性材料结合金属支架修复后牙缺失

目的 将弹性基托材料与铸造金属支架结合,探索一种新的修复后牙的方法。方法 对临床上182副后牙缺失的义齿进行1～2年的观察分析,其中使用弹性基托材料结合铸造金属支架102副,普通方法制作的弹性义齿80副作为对照组对义齿的摆动或翘动、咬合升高、人工牙脱落等情况进行观察。结果 弹性基托材料结合铸造金属支架组摆动或翘动5副,咬合升高现象3副,有13副义齿有人工牙脱落;对照组有20副义齿出现摆动或翘动,26副义齿出现咬合升高,8副有人工牙脱落。结论 弹性基托材料结合铸造金属支架修复后牙缺失,充分发挥了隐形义齿美观、稳定、金属支架小巧舒适的优点,疗效优于普通弹性义齿。