Aidong Zhang

Pathophysiology of contrast-induced nephropathy

Contrast media induce various factors that may increase vasoconstriction and decrease vasodilatation in the renal medulla, leading to hypoxia and acute tubular necrosis known as contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) that tends to occur in diabetics and patients with preexisting renal insufficiency. Contrast media inhibit mitochondrial enzyme activities and subsequently increase adenosine through hydrolysis of ATP. Both catabolism of adenosine and medullary hypoxia generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that scavenge nitric oxide (NO). Released along with endothelin and prostaglandin from endothelial cells exposed to contrast media, adenosine activates the A1 receptor that mainly constricts afferent arteriole at the glomerulus but not the medullary vasculature. Adenosine also activates the A2 receptor that increases NO production, leading to medullary vasodilatation which is induced by activation of endothelin-B receptor and G-protein coupled E-prostanoid receptor 2, and 4 of prostaglandin PGE2 respectively as well. Conversely medullary vasoconstriction is mediated by activating endothelin-A receptor and G-protein coupled E-prostanoid receptor 1, and 3 of prostaglandin PGE2 respectively. The osmotic load of contrast media increases interstitial pressure and sodium transport and thus oxygen consumption. Risking hypoxia, increased medullary oxygen consumption may also result from stimulating Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity by endothelin-A receptor. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) scavenges ROS and therefore preserves NO that not only dilates medullary vasculature but also reduces sodium reabsorption and oxygen consumption, tipping the balance against medullary vasoconstriction, hypoxia, and thus CIN. While prostacyclin and its analog, iloprost, prevent CIN by inducing medullary vasodilatation, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may do so by inhibiting renin secretion.

CHADS2 versus CHA2DS2-VASc score in assessing the stroke and thromboembolism risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the predictive abilities of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc in stroke and thromboembolism risk stratification of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Methods We searched PubMed and EMBASE for English-language literature on comparisons of the diagnostic performance between CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc in predicting stroke, or systemic embolism, in AF. We then assessed the quality of the included studies and pooled the C-statistics and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results Eight studies were included. It was unsuitable to perform a direct meta-analysis because of high heterogeneity. When analyzed as a continuous variable, the C-statistic ranged from 0.60 to 0.80 (median 0.683) for CHADS2 and 0.64–0.79 (median 0.673) for CHA2DS2-VASc. When analyzed as a continuous variable in anticoagulation patients, the subgroup analysis showed that the pooled C-statistic (95% CI) was 0.660 (0.655–0.665) for CHADS2 and 0.667 (0.651–0.683) for CHA2DS2-VASc (no significant difference). For non-anticoagulation patients, the pooled C-statistic (95% CI) was 0.685 (0.666–0.705) for CHADS2 and 0.675 (0.656–0.694) for CHA2DS2-VASc (no significant difference). The average ratio of endpoint events in the low-risk group of CHA2DS2-VASc was less than CHADS2 (0.41% vs. 0.94%, P < 0.05). The average proportion of the moderate-risk group of CHA2DS2-VASc was lower than CHADS2 (11.12% vs. 30.75%, P < 0.05). Conclusions The C-statistic suggests a similar clinical utility of the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores in predicting stroke and thromboembolism, but CHA2DS2- VASc has the important advantage of identifying extremely low-risk patients with atrial fibrillation, as well as classifying a lower proportion of patients as moderate risk.

Mechanism of and Therapeutic Strategy for Atrial Fibrillation Associated with Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most important risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) and is a predictor of stroke and thromboembolism. DM may increase the incidence of AF, and when it is combined with other risk factors, the incidence of stroke and thromboembolism may also be higher; furthermore, hospitalization due to heart failure appears to increase. Maintenance of well-controlled blood glucose and low levels of HbA1c in accordance with guidelines may decrease the incidence of AF. The mechanisms of AF associated with DM are autonomic remodeling, electrical remodeling, structural remodeling, and insulin resistance. Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system is suggested to be an upstream therapy for this type of AF. Studies have indicated that catheter ablation may be effective for AF associated with DM, restoring sinus rhythm and improving prognosis. Catheter ablation combined with hypoglycemic agents may further increase the rate of maintenance of sinus rhythm and reduce the need for reablation.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 treatment of MSCs attenuates inflammation and cardiac dysfunction following MI.

It has been reported that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) promoted migration of endothelial cells and cardiac resident progenitor cells. In the previous study, we found the time-dependent and dose-dependent effects of IGF-1 treatment on the CXCR4 expression in MSCs in vitro, but it is still not clear whether IGF-1 pretreatment of MSCs may play anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammation role in myocardial infarction. In this study, we demonstrated that IGF-1-treated MSCs’ transplantation attenuate cardiac dysfunction, increase the survival of engrafted cells in the ischemic heart, decrease myocardium cells apoptosis, and inhibit protein production and gene expression of inflammation cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. IGF-1 pretreatment of MSCs may play anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammation roles in post-myocardial infarction.

The renal and cardiovascular effects of natriuretic peptides

The landmark report by de Bold et al. in 1981 signified the heart as one of the endocrine organs involved in fluid and salt balance (de Bold AJ, Borenstein HB, Veress AT, Sonnenberg H. Life Sci 28: 89-94, 1981). Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are secreted from cardiomyocytes in response to cardiac stretch as in the case of heart failure, whereas C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is secreted from endothelial and renal cells in response to cytokines and endothelium-dependent agonists, such as acetylcholine. Binding ANP or BNP to natriuretic peptide receptor A induces cyclic guanylyl monophosphate as second messenger in the target cells to mediate the following: natriuresis; water diuresis; increasing glomerular filtration rate; decreasing systemic sympathetic activities; plasma volume; cardiac output and blood pressure; and curbing mitoses of heart fibroblasts and hypertrophy of cardiovascular muscle cells. ANP, BNP, and CNP are cleared from the bloodstream by natriuretic peptide receptor C and degraded by an ectoenzyme called neprilysin (NEP). The plasma levels of BNP are typically >100 pg/ml in patients with congestive heart failure. Sacubitril/valsartan is an angiotensin receptor NEP inhibitor that prevents the clinical progression of surviving patients with heart failure more effectively than enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. A thorough understanding of the renal and cardiovascular effects of natriuretic peptides is of major importance for first-year medical students to gain insight into the significance of plasma levels of BNP in patients with heart failure.

Effects of low-level autonomic stimulation on prevention of atrial fibrillation induced by acute electrical remodeling.

Background. Rapid atrial pacing (RAP) can induce electrical and autonomic remodeling and facilitate atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent reports showed that low-level vagosympathetic nerve stimulation (LLVNS) can suppress AF, as an antiarrhythmic effect. We hypothesized that LLVNS can reverse substrate heterogeneity induced by RAP. Methods and Results. Mongrel dogs were divided into (LLVNS+RAP) and RAP groups. Electrode catheters were sutured to multiple atrial sites, and LLVNS was applied to cervical vagosympathetic trunks with voltage 50% below the threshold slowing sinus rate by ⩽30 msec. RAP induced a significant decrease in effective refractory period (ERP) and increase in the window of vulnerability at all sites, characterized by descending and elevated gradient differences towards the ganglionic plexi (GP) sites, respectively. The ERP dispersion was obviously enlarged by RAP and more significant when the ERP of GP-related sites was considered. Recovery time from AF was also prolonged significantly as a result of RAP. LLVNS could reverse all these changes induced by RAP and recover the heterogeneous substrate to baseline. Conclusions. LLVNS can reverse the electrical and autonomic remodeling and abolish the GP-central gradient differences induced by RAP, and thus it can recover the homogeneous substrate, which may be the underlying mechanism of its antiarrhythmic effect.

A hypothesis on the conflicting results of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is regarded as acute tubular necrosis resulting from the cytotoxicity of contrast media and the medullary hypoxia linking to the interplay of vasoconstriction and vasodilatation. Saline infusion may prevent CIN by inhibiting renin release and thus production of angiotensin II (ANG II), a vasoconstrictor, from angiotensin I (ANG I). Yet the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) yields conflicting results in the prevention of CIN. We hypothesise that ACEI will be useful for CIN prevention when the saline infusion is insufficient, useless when the saline infusion is sufficient, and counterproductive when the saline infusion is excessive, respectively. When the production of ANG I and thus ANG II is insufficiently inhibited by insufficient saline infusion, ACEI may help prevent CIN by conferring extra inhibition on the production of ANG II from ANG I. The counterproductive effect may result from ACEI blocking the generation of angiotensin 1-7, a potent vasodilator, from angiotensin 1-9 whose precursor, ANG I, is excessively diminished by excessive saline infusion. Clinical data suggest that normal saline infusion at a rate of 1 ml/kg/h for 12 h, 1 ml/kg/h for 6 h, and 2 ml/kg/h for 6 h before and after contrast injection provide sufficient, insufficient, and excessive hydration in the prevention of CIN, respectively. The mainstream guideline is to stop ACEI and provide sufficient hydration for CIN prevention. Alternatively one may continue to have ACEI but the use of normal saline infusion must be limited to 1 ml/kg/h for 6 h before and after contrast injection.

Isosorbide dinitrate improves the efficacy of bone mesenchymal stem cell transplantation via endothelial nitric oxide synthase- dependent mechanism

This study investigated the effect of treatment wientry isosorbide dinitrate (Isoket) on bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI) and its possible mechanism. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized to a sham operation group, MI control group, BMSC transplantation group, and Isoket-BMSCs transplantation group. Isosorbide dinitrate (Isoket, 5 μg/m) was administered by intraperitoneal injection (10 ml/kg) at 0, 12, and 24 hours following ischemia/reperfusion induction of MI models. Left ventricular function, myocardial infarct size (MIS), the survival of engrafted BMSCs, and expression of vascular endothelial growentry factor (VEGF), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) proteins were detected 2 weeks post-transplantation. The results showed isosorbide dinitrate attenuated cardiac dysfunction, increased the survival of engrafted cells in the ischemic heart and promoted iNOS, eNOS, and VEGF protein expression. It is suggested that isosorbide dinitrate enhances mesenchymal stem cell therapy for MI via an eNOS-dependent mechanism.