Erythropoietin （EPO） is known as a classical hematopoietic growth factor, which has been used to treat anemia caused by different reasons. In recent years, EPO＇s non-hematopoietic biological effects have gradually become a focus. Among these effects, EPO＇s tissue protection is most attractive and EPO has been proved to protect many different tissues and organs. Myocardial protection has always been the important and key topic in the field of cardiovascular diseases. Reports about EPO＇s myocardial protective effects have been published in the recent two years, which direct the research about myocardial protection with new ideas. In this article, the discoveries and unsolved problems associated with EPO＇s myocardial protection were reviewed.
Abstract: Objective To investigate the influence of cardiopul monary bypass(CPB) to the cellular immune function of T lymphocyte. Me th ods Among 500 patients operated from March 2006 to September 2006，30 patients with rheumatic heart disease were selected randomly as the CPB group, which would replace mitral valve; 30 patients with congenital patent ductus arte reriosus as the nonCPB group, which would ligate ductus arteriosus without CPB . The blood was sampled before operation, at the end of CPB or operation, and 24 hours after operation. After T lymphocyte was seperated, the quantum o f T lymphocyte, apoptosis of T lymphocyte, ability of T lymphocyte to kill tumou r cell were measured. Results The quantum of T lymphocyte i n CPB group at the end of CPB was decreased than that before operation （50.9% ±6.8% vs. 58.5%± 9.1%,Plt;0.05）; apoptosis of T lymphocyte at the end of CPB and 24 hou rs after operation were increased than that before operation （6.5%±2.2% vs. 0. 9%±1.1%, 5.6%±1.8% vs. 0.9%±1.1%;Plt;0.01）; ability to kill tumour cell b reakdown in CPB group at the end of CPB and 24 hours after operation was decrea sed than that before operation （30.4%±6.0% vs. 37.3%±8.6%, 29.0%±4.9% vs . 37 .3%±8.6%;Plt;0.05）. Ability to kill tumour cell breakdown in CPB group was lower than that in nonCPB group at the end of CPB （30.4%±6.0% vs. 33.6%±5. 3%, Plt;0.05）. Conclusion CPB can depress the cellular im mune function,which causes temporary immune depression to the body.
Abstract: The amniotic fluidderived stem cells (AFSC) possess considerable advantageous characteristics including high proliferation potential, easy availability, low immunogenicity and oncogenicity，and accordance with medical ethnics. Moreover, they do not require the sacrifice of human embryos for their isolation and the cells can differentiate into all three kinds of germs. Accordingly，they initiate a new and very promising field in stem cell research and they will be a potential source of stem cells for therapies related to regeneration medicine of cardiovascular diseases. The research about the AFSC utilization in cardiovascular diseases is just started. Though there were some exciting breakthroughs, there still remain many challenges. In the article，we will discuss AFSC characteristics, influence of amniotic fluid harvesting time on stem cells, isolation and purification, emphasizing mainly on the potential of AFSC differentiation into cardiovascular cells, current situation and problems in this field.
Abstract:Objective To observe the expression of calcium-dependent proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2（Pyk2） in myocardium of rheumatic heart disease, the relationship between its role and cardiac fibrosis and clinical significance. Methods The blue myocardium collagen stain were analysed after Masson staining in 30 patients with rheumatic heart disease （RHD group） and 6 normal myocardium specimens （control group）. The contents of hyaluronic acid （HA）, laminin（LN） and type IV collagen（IV-C） were detected by radio-immunity method,and the expressions of Pyk2 protein and messenger ribonucleic acid（mRNA） were explored by immunohistochemistry methods and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction （RT PCR）,then the correlations of these results were statistically analyzed. Results The contents of HA,LN and IV C in RHDgroup increased compared to control group（174.95±76.14μg/L vs. 70.06±15.63μg/L, 153. 86 ± 20. 72μg/L vs. 90.01±14. 11μg/L, 95. 26±7.66μg/L vs. 63. 21±10.62μg/L; P= 0.003, 0. 013, 0. 035）. The Pyk2 absorption and the ratio of Pyk2 mRNA/glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase （GAPDH） in RHD group were significantly higher than those in control group （0. 325 ± 0. 032 vs. 0.106±0.013, 0.870±0.085 vs. 0.573±0.042; P=0.048, 0.006）.There were positive correlativity between the expression of Pyk2 protein and HA, LN and IV-C （r=0. 611, 0. 743, 0. 829, P〈0. 01）, there were positive correlativity between the expression of Pyk2 mRNA and LN, IV-C （r=0. 794, 0. 766, P〈0.05）. Conclusion Pyk2 may play a key role in the proceeding of cardiac fibrosis in rheumatic heart disease by increasing collagen synthesis in myocardium.
Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of modified ultrafiltration on attenuating the inflammatory reaction and endothelial cell activation or damage after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods Forty patients undergoing cardiac operation with CPB were randomly divided into two groups. Ult rafiltration group ( n = 20) : patients underwent modified ultrafiltration after CPB; control group ( n = 20 ) : without ultrafiltration. Plasma concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecules-1 ( s ICAM -1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunity pre-operat ively (baseline) , at the end of CPB, 4h and 24h post-operatively in both groups. Results The concentrations of sICAM -1 in the cont rol group at 4h and 24h po st-operatively were higher than those pre-operatively (P lt; 0. 01). The concentrations sICAM -1 in the ultrafiltrat ion group in pre-operatively and at the end of CPB were not significantly different from that of the control group, but they were lower at 4h and 24h post-operatively (269. 6±33. 8Lg/L vs. 409. 6±37. 3Lg/L , 245. 9±32. 2Lg/L vs. 379. 3±35. 7Lg/L ; P lt; 0. 01). In the ultrafiltration group, the concentration of TN F-α at the end of CPB and 4h post-operatively were higher than that pre-operatively (P lt; 0. 01). The concent rations of TNF-α in the ultrafiltration group at 24h post-operatively recoved to the pre-operative level (0. 177±0. 024Lg/L vs. 0. 172±0. 030Lg/L ; P gt;0.05). In the control group, the concentration of TN F-α was higher at the end of CPB than that pre-operatively (P lt;0.01) , and decreased slightly at 4h and 24h post-operatively, but remained higher than those pre-operat ively (0. 264±0.045Lg/L vs. 0.174±0.033Lg/L , 0.218±0.028Lg/L vs. 0.174±0. 033Lg/L ; P lt; 0. 05). Conclus ion CPB is known to induce inflammatory reaction and endothelial cell activation or damage. Modified ultrafiltration appears to attenuate these adverse reactions and is beneficial to postoperative convalescence.