| 1. |
- Liu, Jin-ming, et al.
(författare)
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Mid-term effects of lung volume reduction surgery on pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- 2007
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Ingår i: Chinese Medical Journal. - 0366-6999. ; 120:8, s. 658-662
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Now lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has become one of the most effective methods for the management of some cases of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the mid-term effects of LVRS on pulmonary function in patients with severe COPD. Methods Ten male patients with severe COPD aged 38-70 years underwent LVRS and their pulmonary function was assessed before, 3 months and 3 years after surgery. The spirometric and gas exchange parameters included residual volume, total lung capacity, inspiratory capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, diffusion capacity for CO, and arterial blood gas. A 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) test was performed. Results As to preoperative assessment, most spirometric parameters and 6MWD were significantly improved after 3 months and slightly 3 years after LVRS. Gas exchange parameters were significantly improved 3 months after surgery, but returned to the preoperative levels after 3 years. Conclusions LVRS may significantly improve pulmonary function in patients with severe COPD indicating for LVRS. Mid-term pulmonary function 3 years after surgery can be decreased to the level at 3 months after surgery. Three years after LVRS, lung volume and pulmonary ventilation function can be significantly improved, but the improvement in gas exchange function was not significant.
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| 2. |
- Wei, Jian-Feng, et al.
(författare)
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Formation of Kv2.1-FAK complex as a mechanism of FAK activation, cell polarization and enhanced motility
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Cellular Physiology. - : Wiley. - 0021-9541 .- 1097-4652. ; 217:2, s. 544-557
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays key roles in cell adhesion and migration. We now report that the delayed rectifier Kv2.1 potassium channel, through its LD-like motif in N-terminus, may interact with FAK and enhance phosphorylation of FAK(397) and FAK(576/577) Overlapping distribution of Kv2.1 and FAK was observed on soma and proximal dendrites of cortical neurons. FAK expression promotes a polarized membrane distribution of the Kv2.1 channel. In Kv2.1-transfected CHO cells, formation of the Kv2.1-FAK complex was stimulated by fibronectin/integrin and inhibited by the K channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA). FAK phosphorylation was minimized by shRNA knockdown of the Kv2.1 channel, point mutations of the N-terminus, and TEA, respectively. Cell migration morphology was altered by Kv2.1 knockdown or TEA, hindering cell migration activity. In wound healing tests in vitro and a traumatic injury animal model, Kv2.1 expression and co-localization of Kv2.1 and FAK significantly enhanced directional cell migration and wound closure. It is suggested that the Kv2.1 channel may function as a promoting signal for FAK activation and cell motility.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Ding, Wen-hong, et al.
(författare)
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Echocardiographic predictors of left ventricular functional recovery following valve replacement surgery for severe aortic stenosis.
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 128:2, s. 178-84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify the most sensitive echocardiographic measurements that predict recovery of left ventricular function following valve replacement surgery in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and LV dysfunction.METHODS: We studied 66 patients (mean age 70+/-2 years, 53 male) who underwent AVR for severe AS with concurrent LV dysfunction between 1998 and 2003 at the Royal Brompton Hospital. Clinical symptoms, co-morbidities and echocardiographic measurements of LV function were recorded before and at a median follow-up of 46 months after AVR. Pre-operative LV systolic dysfunction was defined as LV ejection fraction (EF) <50% and the post-op LV recovery as an increase of EF >10%.RESULTS: Following AVR peak aortic pressure gradient decreased and aortic valve area index increased (64+/-3 to 19+/-1 mm Hg and 0.30+/-0.01 to 0.89+/-0.03 cm(2)/m(2), p<0.001 for both). LV EF increased (from 45+/-1 to 54+/-2%; p<0.001) and the LV dimensions fell (LVEDD index: from 33+/-1 to 30+/-1 mm/m(2); and LVESD index: from 27+/-1 to 20+/-1 mm/m(2); p<0.01 for both). LV diastolic dysfunction improved as evidenced by the fall in E/A ratio (from 2.6+/-0.2 to 1.9+/-0.4) and prolongation of total filling time; (from 29.2+/-0.6 to 31.4+/-0.5 s/min, p=0.01 for both). Among all echocardiographic variables, LV dimensions (LVEDD index, OR 0.70, CI 0.52-0.97, p<0.05; LVESD index, OR 0.57, CI 0.40-0.85, p=0.005) were the two independent predictors of post-operative LV functional recovery on multivariate analysis. A cut off value of pre-operative LVESD index=or<27.5 mm/m(2) was 85% sensitive and 72% specific in predicting intermediate-term recovery of LV function after AVR (AUC, 0.72, p=0.002).CONCLUSION: LV functional recovery was evident in majority of aortic stenotic patients with LV dysfunction after aortic valve replacement. A lower prevalence of LV functional recovery in patients with large pre-operative LV end systolic dimension index might signify the loss of contractile reserve and thus predict post-operative functional recovery.
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| 5. |
- Ding, Wen-Hong, et al.
(författare)
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Predictors of survival after aortic valve replacement in patients with low-flow and high-gradient aortic stenosis
- 2009
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Ingår i: European Journal of Heart Failure. - : Oxford University Press. - 1388-9842 .- 1879-0844. ; 11:9, s. 897-902
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: To identify predictors of survival following aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with low-flow and high-gradient aortic stenosis (AS).METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-six patients (aged 71 +/- 10 years) with severe AS [aortic valve mean pressure gradient >40 mmHg or valve area <1.0 cm(2)] and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction [ejection fraction (EF) <50%] underwent AVR. Cox proportional hazards were used to identify independent clinical and echocardiographic predictors of mortality. Operative (30-day) mortality was 10%. Peri-operative mortality was associated with lower mean LVEF, higher mitral E:A ratio, peak systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PSPAP), and serum creatinine (by 12%, 2.3, 28 mmHg, and 74 mmol/L, respectively, all P < 0.001), NYHA class III-IV (100 vs. 65%), concomitant CABG (89 vs. 55%), urgent surgery (78 vs. 35%), and longer bypass-time (by 28 min, all P < 0.05). Mortality at 4 years was 17%. Univariate predictors [hazard ratio (HR)] of 4-year mortality were: lower EF (HR 0.68 per % increase, P < 0.001), presence of restrictive LV filling (HR: 3.52, P < 0.001), raised PSPAP (HR: 1.07, P < 0.001), and CABG (HR: 4.93, P = 0.037). However, only low EF (<40%, HR 0.74, P = 0.030), the presence of restrictive filling (HR 1.77, P = 0.033), and raised PSPAP (>45 mmHg, HR 2.71, P = 0.010) remained as independent predictors after multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The severity of pre-operative systolic and diastolic LV dysfunction is the major predictor of mortality following AVR for low-flow and high-gradient AS.
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| 6. |
- Hsieh, Yves S-Y, et al.
(författare)
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Structure and bioactivity of the polysaccharides in medicinal plant Dendrobium huoshanense
- 2008
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Ingår i: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. - : Elsevier. - 0968-0896 .- 1464-3391. ; 16:11, s. 6054-68
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Detailed structures of the active polysaccharides extracted from the leaf and stem cell walls and mucilage of Dendrobium huoshanense are determined by using various techniques, including chromatographic, spectroscopic, chemical, and enzymatic methods. The mucilage polysaccharide exhibits specific functions in activating murine splenocytes to produce several cytokines including IFN-gamma, IL-10, IL-6, and IL-1alpha, as well as hematopoietic growth factors GM-CSF and G-CSF. However, the deacetylated mucilage obtained from an alkaline treatment fails to induce cytokine production. The structure and bioactivity of mucilage components are validated by further fractionation. This is the first study that provides clear evidence for the structure and activity relationship of the polysaccharide in D. huoshanense.
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| 7. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(författare)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy in higher eukaryotes
- 2008
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Ingår i: Autophagy. - : Landes Bioscience. - 1554-8627 .- 1554-8635. ; 4:2, s. 151-175
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Research in autophagy continues to accelerate,1 and as a result many new scientists are entering the field. Accordingly, it is important to establish a standard set of criteria for monitoring macroautophagy in different organisms. Recent reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose.2,3 There are many useful and convenient methods that can be used to monitor macroautophagy in yeast, but relatively few in other model systems, and there is much confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure macroautophagy in higher eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers of autophagosomes versus those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway; thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from fully functional autophagy that includes delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of the methods that can be used by investigators who are attempting to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as by reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that investigate these processes. This set of guidelines is not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to verify an autophagic response.
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