Hang Chang

Chrysin suppresses IL-6-induced angiogenesis via down-regulation of JAK1/STAT3 and VEGF: an in vitro and in ovo approach.

Chrysin, 5,7-dihydroxyflavone, possesses many biologic properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of chrysin on IL-6-induced angiogenesis in vitro and in ovo. Chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay, an in ovo angiogenesis assay, showed chrysin significantly suppressed IL-6-induced neovascularization. Furthermore, chrysin significantly suppressed human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) migration and tube formation. The signaling pathway involved in chrysin-related antiangiogenesis was also investigated. The data indicated that chrysin is able to down-regulate the expression of glycoprotein 130 (gp130), soluble IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), phosphorylated JAK1 and STAT3, and VEGF in HUVECs. The IL-6-induced binding of STAT3 was significantly suppressed by chrysin. Moreover, chrysin did not further suppress VEGF expression with STAT3 knocked down. Taken together, the results show that chrysin suppresses IL-6-induced angiogenesis through modulation of the sIL-6R/gp130/JAK1/STAT3/VEGF signaling pathway. Chrysin may provide new therapeutic potential for IL-6-induced pathological angiogenesis.

Molecular mechanism of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate on balloon injury-induced neointimal formation and leptin expression

Leptin contributes to the pathogenesis of vascular repair and cardiovascular events. This study evaluated the molecular mechanism of EGCG in balloon injury-induced leptin expression. According to immunohistochemical and confocal analyses, leptin expression was increased and the aortic lumen exhibited narrowing after balloon injury. EGCG treatment attenuated leptin expression and diminished neointimal formation. The in vitro study showed that angiotensin II (Ang II) induced the migration and proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), whereas treatment with EGCG, leptin siRNA, and c-Jun siRNA inhibited the migration and proliferation of VSMCs significantly. The EMSA shows that balloon injury increased AP-1-binding activity, and EGCG and c-Jun siRNA inhibited the AP-1-binding activity. Western blot and real-time RT-PCR analyses revealed similar results in intimal tissue samples. In summary, balloon injury induces leptin expression in the carotid artery of rats, and EGCG inhibits leptin expression through the JNK/AP-1 pathway and also attenuates neointimal formation.

Safety and Efficacy of Primary Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) for acute myocardial infarction(AMI) complicated by out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, 10 patients with AMI following prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) in a period of 5 years were studied. The CPR duration ranged from 10 to 30 minutes. Electrocardiographic evidence of AMI was documented in all patients, with 5 patients in anterior wall and 5 in inferior wall. Peak creatine kinase ranged from 748 to＞10,000 IU/L. Attempted infarct vessel angioplasty was successful in all patients. After angioplasty, the coronary flow was TIMI 3 in all patients. Nine patients survived to hospital discharge. No major complications were found during the angiolpasty procedure. In conclusion, it was feasible and safe to perform primary PTCA for AMI patients with prolonged CPR. Patients with contraindication to thrombolytic therapy may benefit from primary PTCA.

Successful Management of Ruptured Myocotic Aneurysm with Retroperitoneal Abscess due to Klebsiella Pneumoniae

A 60-year-old female diabetic presented with fever, chills and abdominal pain of one days duration. Shock associated with altered consciousness developed following admission. Abdominal CT scan revealed a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm with a peritoneal and retroperitoneal hematoma with abscess formation. An emergency operation confirmed the CT scan findings. Cultures of blood, peritoneal fluid and necrotic aortic wall all grew Klebsiella pneumoniae. This appears to be the first reported case of K. pneumonia causing a mycotic aortic aneurysm. Although a ruptured mycotic aortic aneurysm is frequently fatal, aggressive surgical treatment may save the patients life.

Retraction: Resistin contributes to neointimal formation via oxidative stress after vascular injury

Volume 120, issue 3 (2011) pp. 121–129 Following an investigation of Professor Kou-Gi Shyu by the Academic Ethical Issue Committee of Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital and by Taipei Medical University, it has been …

Retraction: Regulation of resistin by cyclic mechanical stretch in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Volume 118, issue 3 (2009) pp. 221–230 Following an investigation of Professor Kou-Gi Shyu by the Academic Ethical Issue Committee of Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital and by Taipei Medical University, it has been …

Gestational Hyperlipidemic Pancreatitis: A Case Report

Gestational hyperlipidemic pancreatitis is an uncommon complication of pregnancy with high risks of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. In 85 to 90 percent with acute pancreatitis, the disease is self-limited and subsides spontaneously, usually within three to seven days after treatment is established. We report on a 32 year old woman with extreme gestational hyperlipidemia and severe pancreatitis. She visited our emergency department with complaints of severe epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting. The laboratory evaluation was remarkable for serum lipase 6059 U/L.Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed. Therapy was supportive adequate hydration and fasting . Ten hours later, she was admitted to the intensive care unit due to shock. The fetal heart rate had dropped 100 beats/min. An emergency cesarean section was performed under epidural anesthesia, but the fetus died. The mother was finally complicated with sepsis ,acute renal failure and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Emergency physicians should know the potentially serious complication of gestational hyperipidemic pancreatitis. Intensive monitoring of all gestational hyperlipidemic.

Acute Suprarenal Aortic Occlusion Caused by Fungal Endocarditis: A Case Report

Acute aortic occlusion from and embolism in infective endocarditis is a rare, catastrophic vascular emergency with a grave prognosis. This report describes an unusual case of an acute occlusion of the suprarenal abdominal aorta in a 22-year-old woman with Candida endocarditis. She had a sudden onset of bilateral weakness. The endocardsitis wad confirmed by blood culture, surgical findings and tissue pathology. An emergency physiician should always keep in mind the possibility of a vascular cause in a patient with acute ischemia in the legs.

Patterns of Prescription and Administration of Sedatives and Analgesics in the Intensive Care Unit

To investigate the current usage of sedative and analgesic drugs in intensive care (ICU) and to study the pattern differences in usage of these drugs between the medical and surgical ICU, we retrospectively studied 229 consecutive ICU patients over a 3-month period. There were 114 medical and 115 surgical patients (162 men and 67 women; age 59±15 years). A total of 17 drugs were used, (range 0to8). On average, 2.1 and 1.5 (p＜0.0l) drugs were used in each surgical and medical patient, respectively. Ninety-six percent of surgical and 67% of medical (p＜0.00l) patients received analgesics or sedatives. Meperidine (81%), codeine (35%), and diazepam (20%) were the most frequently used in the surgical ICU, while oxazolam (33%), lorazepam (28%), and diazepam (25%) most frequently in the medical ICU. Intravenous administration was used more frequently in the surgical ICU, while oral administration was more common in the medical ICU (p＜0.00l). In the medical ICU, drugs were more commonly ordered to be given according to a fixed schedule while as-needed orders were more frequent in the surgical ICU (p＜0.0l). In conclusion, a wide variety of analgesic or sedative drugs are in current use in the ICU. Types of drugs, patterns of prescription and modes of administration differ between the surgical and medical ICU.