Methods: Between January 1st and December 31st, 2020, all consecutive adult patients referred to the radiology department for clinical suspicion of acute colonic diverticulitis/sigmoiditis were retrospectively screened. To be included, patients must have undergone a CT with both unenhanced (UCT) and contrast-enhanced portal venous phase CT (CECT). CT examinations were assessed for features of diverticulitis, complications, differential diagnosis and incidental findings using UCT + CECT association, medical management, and follow-up as the reference. Radiation doses were recorded on our image archiving system and assessed.

Results: Of the 114 patients included (mean age was 67±18 years; 60% were female), 46 had acute colonic diverticulitis/sigmoiditis. No diagnosis of sigmoiditis/diverticulitis, complication or differential diagnosis was missed with the CECT alone. Apart from diverticulitis, only one 2 mm meatal urinary microlithiasis was missed with no impact on patient management. The confidence level in diagnosis was not increased by UCT. The average DLP of CECT was 450 mGy.cm, and 382 mGy.cm for UCT. The use of a single-phase CECT acquisition allowed a reduction of 45.9% of the irradiation.

Conclusion: Unenhanced CT is not necessary for patients addressed with clinical suspicion of acute colonic diverticulitis/sigmoiditis, and CECT alone protocol must be used.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 184 adult patients with 192 intussusceptions. Depending on the location, intussusceptions were classified as enteric, ileocolic, and colonic types. The similarities and differences of clinical presentations, MDCT features, and treatment of three types of adult intussusception were compared. Meanwhile, the three types of intussusceptions were further divided into surgical and conservative groups based on the treatment. Uni- and multivariate logistic analyses were used to identify risk factors for intussusception requiring surgery.

Results: Enteric and ileocolic intussusceptions were mainly presented with abdominal pain (78.46% and 85.71%). Hematochezia/melena (64.29%) was the main symptom of colonic intussusception. On MDCT, ileocolic intussusceptions were longer in length and had more signs of intestinal necrosis (hypodense layer, fluid collection and no/poor bowel wall enhancement) than enteric and colonic intussusceptions. Moreover, it was found that 93.88% (46/49) of ileocolic intussusception and 98.59% (70/71) of colonic intussusception belonged to the surgical group, whereas only 43.06% (31/72) of enteric intussusception belonged to the surgical group. Intussusception length (OR=1.171, P=0.028) and discernible lead point on MDCT (OR=21.003, P<0.001) were reliable indicators of enteric intussusception requiring surgery.

Conclusion: Ileocolic intussusception may be more prone to intestinal necrosis than enteric and colonic intussusceptions, requiring more attention from clinicians. Surgery remains the treatment of choice for most ileocolic and colonic intussusceptions. Less than half of enteric intussusceptions require surgery, and MDCT features are effective in identifying them.

Case Presentation: The patient underwent gastric endoscopy revealing an extensive lower esophageal varix protruding into the proximal stomach, subsequently treated with banding. The stomach and duodenum were found to contain fresh blood and blood clots indicating acute bleeding.

An urgent CT scan identified active bleeding (extravasation) at segment V and blood accumulation at the confluence of the right and left biliary drains. This was followed by celiac and selective hepatic digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Conclusion: This case study outlines the occurrence of a hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm six months after percutaneous insertion of bilateral biliary drains. The pseudoaneurysm manifested precisely at the confluence of the right and left drains. The reported delayed complication may have resulted from friction between the drains at the confluence or erosion of the adjacent artery by the drains. The insights gained from this case shed light on the causes and preventive measures for potential delayed complications associated with percutaneous biliary drain placement.

Case Report: We present the case of a 31-year-old female patient with BCS, which led to ALF and subsequent multiple organ failure, which was successfully treated with TIPS and endovascular coil placement. Initial diagnostic workup revealed the complete obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow, spleno-mesenteric confluent thrombosis, and biochemical criteria of ALF. Her condition rapidly deteriorated towards multiple organ failure. At one point, the MELD score was 42, while the SOFA score predicted a mortality rate of >95%. Following continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration with cytokine adsorbent filters, TIPS was inserted, resulting in a portal pressure gradient (PPG) of 14 mmHg. Following TIPS, the patient had persistent ascites and later presented an episode of gastric variceal bleeding with endoscopic and surgical treatment failure. TIPS revision with further dilation led to a final PPG of 6 mmHg. During the procedure, selective embolization by coil placement of the spleno-gastric collateral circulation ultimately resolved the variceal bleeding. In the aftermath, the patient had complete organ failure remission and was successfully discharged with no ascites, encephalopathy, or significant impairment regarding daily life activities.

Conclusion: In the rare setting of BCS complicated with ALF and portal hypertension-related complications, TIPS and endovascular embolization provide a unique, effective, and against-all-odd solution.

Case Reports: Three hospitalised patients aged 23 to 86 years underwent venous air embolism (VAE) in the right heart system after performing CTPA. One of the patients died from a complication of venous thromboembolic disease (PE, coronary sinus thrombosis, mesenteric venous thrombosis).

Conclusion: CTPA is a procedure that a priori seems innocuous, but it can be a potential cause of death or serious consequences for patients undergoing radiological procedures where the administration of contrast and the use of an injector could be counterproductive. Radiologists and physicians responsible for the patient should be aware of vascular gas embolism after contrast injection in patients undergoing CTPA.

Case Report: We reported the case of a 69-year-old man who presented to our hospital with acute abdominal pain and vomiting. An emergent abdominal enhanced MDCT imaging was performed and demonstrated the volvulus secondary to a large diverticulum of the jejunum complicated with AMI. Here, a case was presented that highlighted unique imaging findings on MDCT, as well as a literature review.

Conclusion: A review of the literature revealed that a single jejunal diverticulum causing both volvulus and AMI is rare in adults. To our knowledge, a systemic description of their signs on MDCT in a case has not been reported yet.

Methods: From March 2018 to May 2023, a rigorous posthoc analysis was conducted on whether 177 emergent patients with SBO had SBIN. Four clinical indexes and 19 CT signs were analyzed, and a multivariate scoring model for predicting SBIN was established using logistic regression analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the accuracy of this model.

Results: Multivariate analysis showed that mesenteric edema and effusion (OR=23.450), significant thickening and the target sign on the small-bowel wall on plain scans (OR=23.652), significant thinning of the small-bowel wall (OR=30.439), significant decrease in small-bowel wall density (OR=12.885), and significant increase in small-bowel wall density (OR=19.550) were significantly correlated with SBIN (P<0.05). According to their multivariate ORs, an appropriate “predictive score” was assigned to each sign, and the rates of SBIN among those with a total score of 0-4, 5-6, and 7-8 were 2.2%, 86.4%, and 96.9%, respectively. The AUC of this predictive scoring model for SBIN exceeded 0.980.

Conclusion: We have developed a predictive scoring model for SBIN, for which the incidence of SBIN increases with increasing predictive scores. This model can be useful for clinical treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the duration of the hepatic artery catheterization, fluoroscopy time (FT), radiation exposure, safety, and quality of life associated with the procedure in patients undergoing HAIC via TRA and TFA.

Methods: This prospective, single-center, randomized, controlled study included 120 patients with unresectable HCC undergoing HAIC procedures. Patients were randomly assigned to group A (n = 60, TRA-HAIC) or group B (n = 60, TFA-HAIC). The hepatic artery catheterization time, FT, entrance surface dose (ESD), dose area product (DAP), procedure-related complications, and quality of life associated with the procedure were assessed between the two groups. Independent-sample t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess differences. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results: HAIC procedures were successfully performed in both groups. The hepatic artery catheterization time (19.35 ± 5.84 vs. 18.93 ± 5.62 minutes, P = 0.837), FT (2.35 ± 2.23 vs. 2.25 ± 2.16 minutes, P = 0.901), ESD (259.32 ± 167.46 vs. 250.56 ± 170.58 mGy, P = 0.449), and DAP (125.37 ± 60.65 vs. 120.56 ± 64.33 Gy.cm3, P = 0.566) were comparable between the two groups. The incidence of artery occlusion (10.0% vs. 0%, P < 0.001) in the TRA group was significantly higher than that in the TFA group. TRA was associated with a statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvement in the quality of life.

Conclusion: TRA to HAIC was associated with greater improvement in the quality of life associated with the procedure compared with TFA. Both approaches to HAIC had similar efficiency, safety, radiation exposure, and procedure duration.

Materials and Methods: Patients who were admitted to the emergency department with abdominal pain were recruited retrospectively from the hospital information system. Grouping was carried out on the basis of AMI (n=78) and non-AMI (n=78). In both groups, the corrected QT (QTc) and QT dispersion (QTD) were measured on electrocardiographs, and the qualitative and quantitative CT findings were evaluated on CT examinations.

Results: The QTc and QTD values were higher in the AMI group. The median QTc values were 456.16 (IQR: 422.88-483.16) for the AMI group and 388.83 (IQR: 359.74-415.83) for the control group (p<0.001), and the median QTD values were 58 (IQR: 50.3-68.25) for the AMI group and 46 (IQR: 42-50) for the control group (p<0.001).

In the CT analysis, the QTc values were significantly higher among AMI patients, with images of paper-thin bowel walls and the absence of bowel wall enhancement (p=0.042 and p=0.042, respectively). Meanwhile, the QTD values were significantly higher among patients with venous pneumatosis findings on CT (p=0.005). In the regression analysis, a significant relationship was found between the QT parameters and AMI (p<0.001). For QTc, an AUC of 0.903 (95% CI: 0.857-0.950, p<0.001), a sensitivity of 80.8%, and a specificity of 82.3% were found. For QTD, an AUC of 0.821 (95% CI: 0.753-0.889, p<0.001), a sensitivity of 73.1%, and a specificity of 82.3% were found.

Conclusion: We found the QTc and QTD values to be significantly higher among AMI patients. Furthermore, we found a significant relationship between the CT findings and QTc and QTD and a significant relationship between survival and QTc in the AMI group.

Methods: The current literature data on the caveolae behavior in norm and pathology were revised.

Results: Caveolae are expressed in various cell types, highly concentrated in endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, and epithelial cells. Physiologically, caveolae contribute to maintaining a signaling balance between the various homeostatic processes, including pro-growth and pro-survival, such as endothelial nitric oxide synthase, glycogen synthase kinase-3β, p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase, PKA, SFK, PKC, Akt through regulation of tyrosine kinases, G protein-coupled receptor, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and MAPK pathways, and their signaling dysfunction is directly attributed to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, regeneration inhibition, neurodegenerative diseases, infection, osteoporosis, diabetes, and tumour induction and progression.

Conclusion: Regulation of the ratio and penetrance of caveolae activity/expression is a clinically significant potential therapeutic strategy to enhance the current therapies and eliminate the etiopathogenetic pathway of rising homeostatic disorders.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 38-year-old overweight female, seen in the emergency department, with a complaint of sudden onset of worsening epigastric abdominal pain for four days. The pain became more localized at the right iliac fossa two days before the admission. A physical examination revealed severe right iliac fossa tenderness and positive rebound tenderness.

A computed tomography of the abdomen was done and showed a localized area of mesenteric fat stranding in the right lumbar region reaching up to the inferior border of the right lobe of the liver with adjacent peritoneal fold thickening, likely suggesting inflammatory etiology. However, the appendix was visualized normally with a mild enhancement of the distal part suggesting secondary mild acute appendicitis.

A decision for diagnostic laparoscopy was made, where we found a 4x4 cm infarcted greater omental segment, which was excised and sent for histopathology.

Conclusion: Idiopathic omental infarction is a rare cause of acute abdomen in adults and needs to be considered as a potential differential diagnosis, especially if the clinical finding does not correspond with common conditions, like acute appendicitis.

Objective: To analyze pathophysiological characteristics/co-morbidities precipitating myocardial ischemia in patients with HTN LVH and provide a rationale for recommending beta-blockers (BBs) to prevent/treat ischemia in LVH.

Methods: We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, PubMed, Elsevier, Springer Verlag, and Google Scholar for review articles and guidelines on hypertension from 01/01/2000 until 01/05/2022. The search was limited to publications written in English.

Results: HTN LVH worsens ischemia in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Even without obstructive CAD, several pathophysiological mechanisms in HTN LVH can lead to myocardial ischemia. In the same guidelines that recommend BBs for patients with HTN and CAD, we could not find a single recommendation for BBs in patients with HTN LVH but without proven CAD. There are several reasons for the proposal of using some BBs to control ischemia in patients with HTN and LVH (even in the absence of obstructive CAD).

Conclusion: Some BBs ought to be considered to prevent/treat ischemia in patients with HTN LVH (even in the absence of obstructive CAD). Furthermore, LVH and ischemic events are important causes of ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and sudden cardiac death; these events are another reason for recommending certain BBs for HTN LVH.

Conclusion: Ig A vasculitis is mostly a self-limiting disease, but adults tend to have a severe course. It is important to diagnose early and identify a trigger. Removing the offending agent or treating the underlying infection is an important aspect of management.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/125747Objective: This study aimed to explore and analyze the effect of acupuncture on improving the enteral nutrition level and gastrointestinal dynamics in patients who had suffered a severe stroke.

Methods: A total of 122 patients who experienced a severe stroke who were treated in the intensive care unit of the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University (China) between September 2021 and March 2022 were randomly divided into two groups as follows: 1) the observation group, the participants of which received acupuncture combined with early enteral nutrition (61 cases); 2) the control group, the participants of which received early enteral nutrition (61 cases). Following treatment, the hemoglobin, neutrophil count, blood glucose, albumin, pre-albumin, immediate postprandial antral area, antral contraction frequency (at 2 min), and antral motility index on days 1 and 7 of treatment were compared between the two groups.

Results: The total clinical effective rate was 96.72% in the observation group and 77.05% in the control group. The curative effect comparison between the two groups after seven days of treatment showed a lower probability of gastrointestinal bleeding, faster recovery of gastrointestinal motility, and a higher level of nutrient absorption in the observation group. Serum albumin, pre-albumin, hemoglobin, total lymphocyte count, immediate postprandial maximum (max) and minimum (mix) area of the gastric antrum, antral contraction frequency (at 2 min), and antral motility index were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The difference in blood glucose levels between the two groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture improved the enteral nutrition status of patients who had suffered a severe stroke and promoted gastrointestinal motility. The combination of acupuncture and early enteral nutrition could reduce damage to the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier caused by stress, changes in metabolism, and improved gastrointestinal function.

Case Presentation: A 58-year-old patient presented to our clinic with a complaint of acute abdominal pain. His CT examination revealed thrombosis in SMV, congestion in the mesenteric venous structures, contamination in the mesentery, and thickening and dilatation of the jejunal loops due to ischemia. The patient had a history of acute COVID-19 infection. He had typical COVID-19 pneumonia findings (peripheral ground-glass opacities in both lung parenchyma predominantly in the lower lobe) on the thorax CT at that time. He was followed up with anticoagulant therapy. During his follow-up, a thoracic and abdominal CT was performed due to recurrent acute abdominal findings. On thorax CT, there was a web-like filling defect consistent with pulmonary embolism, traction bronchiectasis consistent with late findings of COVID-19 pneumonia, and poorly circumscribed subpleural ground glass opacities. On abdominal CT, in addition to mesenteric ischemia findings, loss of wall integrity was observed in the jejunal loops due to perforation and collection areas containing air consistent with an abscess. He was treated with small bowel resection and abscess drainage.

Conclusion: Patients with acute COVID-19 infection should be followed up for the early diagnosis of serious symptoms that may develop due to post-COVID-19 syndrome, and contrast-enhanced CT should be the imaging method of choice to detect possible mesenteric vascular thrombosis in patients with acute abdominal symptoms.

Methods: We performed a review of the literature evaluating the physiologic effects of vasoactive peptides on the vasculature of the brain and systemic organs. To assess the likelihood that a vasoactive peptide might transiently disrupt the blood-brain barrier, we devised a four-tier classification system to organize the available evidence.

Results: We identified 32 vasoactive peptides with potential blood-brain barrier permeabilityaltering properties. To date, none of these are shown to open the blood-brain barrier in humans. Twelve vasoactive peptides increased blood-brain barrier permeability in rodents. The remaining 20 had favorable physiologic effects on blood vessels but lacked specific information on permeability changes to the blood-brain barrier.

Conclusion: Vasoactive peptides remain an understudied class of drugs with the potential to increase drug delivery and improve treatment in patients with brain tumors and other neurologic diseases. Dozens of vasoactive peptides have yet to be formally evaluated for this important clinical effect. This narrative review summarizes the available data on vasoactive peptides, highlighting agents that deserve further in vitro and in vivo investigations.

Methods: The present review was conducted based on the 06- PRISMA guideline; whereas five English databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar without time limitation were used for searching the publications related to antihypertensive effects of natural and synthetic polymeric nanoparticles.

Results: The results demonstrated that among 1701 papers, 25 papers including 11 in vitro (44%), 6 in vivo (24%), 7 in vitro / in vivo (28%), and 1 in vitro / ex vivo (4%) up to 2020, met the inclusion criteria for discussion in this systematic review. The most used nanoparticles were poly-(lactic- co-glycolic) acid nanoparticle (PLGANPs) (7, 29.2%), chitosan based nanoparticles (6, 25%), followed by polylactide acid nanoparticles (5, 20.8%).

Conclusion: We concluded that the high potency of polymeric nanoparticles in the drug delivery system was for hypertension treatment. Although the accurate mechanisms are not fully understood; however, some mechanisms, such as sustained release forms with increased bioavailability, increasing oral bioavailability and improving the oral and non-oral absorption, counteracting excessive superoxide and decreasing blood pressure, etc. can be related to these nanoparticles.

Case presentation: This is a case presentation of a 23-year-old pregnant woman with a personal history of immune thrombocytopenia and splenectomy performed 4 years ago, who presented at the emergency department with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient underwent resection and anastomosis of gangrene in the small intestine due to mesenteric venous ischemia.

Conclusions: The diagnosis of mesenteric venous thrombosis should be considered in the setting of acute abdomen in early pregnancy in women with prior history of coagulation disorder.

Methods: A comprehensive search of the PubMed database was performed, and relevant articles on the topic were included in this review.

Results: Extensive study of diabetic animal models has shown that the etiology of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is complex, with multiple mechanisms affecting neurons, Schwann cells, and the microvasculature, which contribute to the phenotypic nature of this most common complication of diabetes. Moreover, animal studies have demonstrated that the mechanisms related to peripheral neuropathy occurring in type 1 and type 2 diabetes are likely different, with hyperglycemia being the primary factor for neuropathology in type 1 diabetes, which contributes to a lesser extent in type 2 diabetes, whereas insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and other factors may have a greater role. Two of the earliest mechanisms described from animal studies as a cause for diabetic peripheral neuropathy were the activation of the aldose reductase pathway and increased non-enzymatic glycation. However, continuing research has identified numerous other potential factors that may contribute to diabetic peripheral neuropathy, including oxidative and inflammatory stress, dysregulation of protein kinase C and hexosamine pathways, and decreased neurotrophic support. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated that peripheral neuropathy-like symptoms are present in animal models, representing pre-diabetes in the absence of hyperglycemia.

Conclusion: This complexity complicates the successful treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and results in the poor outcome of translating successful treatments from animal studies to human clinical trials.

Results: CT plays a key role in emergent triage, proper treatment and decision making and provides high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in the detection of early-stage obstruction and acute intestinal vascular compromise. CT can also differentiate between various etiologies of SBO entity which is considered an important criterion in the triage of patients into surgical vs. non-surgical treatment.

Conclusion: There Key CT findings which may suggest a need for surgical treatment include mesenteric edema, lack of the small-bowel feces, bowel wall thickening, fat stranding in the mesentery, and intraperitoneal fluid which are predictive of urgent surgical exploration.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/113447Background: Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that is widely used to treat infections and is a first-line oral antibiotic in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne. Although it has high efficacy, several adverse reactions, including life-threatening ones, have been reported in association with its use.

Objective: To identify all the potential adverse reactions due to minocycline and analyze them in terms of the number of cases reported so far, salient features, severity and clinical outcome.

Methods: Comprehensive PubMed search of English and non-English literature for case reports of adverse reactions to minocycline was conducted.

Results: A total of 550 cases were identified from over 200 publications. The major reported adverse events caused by minocycline are drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome, autoimmune syndromes like hepatitis, lupus and vasculitis, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, pseudotumor cerebri, hyperpigmentation, serum sickness-like reaction, Sweet’s syndrome and drug fever. Several other reactions involving multiple organ systems have also been reported. These show an overlap of clinical features and may be associated with multiple events causing considerable morbidity. Eight of these cases resulted in the death of the patients.

Conclusion: In view of the evident potential of minocycline to cause long-lasting and severe adverse effects, significant morbidity and even mortality, it should be prescribed with caution in the first-line treatment for moderate to severe acne.

Methods: Nine Corriedale sheep that had been monitored for 10 minutes during a basal stage underwent 5-minute myocardial ischemia, followed by 60-minute reperfusion. Seven of them were subjected to an induced heart failure through an overdose of halothane, two of which were treated with intra-aortic counterpulsation during the reperfusion stage. The remaining two animals were monitored during their ischemia-reperfusion stage.

Results: Data obtained in the 5 animals suffering from heart failure followed by myocardial ischemia showed that: a) heart failure induction determined decrease in cardiac output, cardiac index and systolic and diastolic aortic pressure (AoP) with respect to their basal values (p<0.05), b) myocardial ischemia decreased the WTF compared with basal and induced heart failure values (p<0.05), c) during the reperfusion stage accompanied by induced heart failure, WTF increased with respect to values observed during the ischemia induction stage (p<0.05); nevertheless, basal values were not recovered after reperfusion (p<0.05). During this 60-minute stage, systolic and diastolic AoP values were lower (p<0.05) than those at the basal stage.

Conclusion: AIx and WTF values calculated from synchronically recorded values of aortic pressure and left ventricular wall thickness during the reperfusion stage in all animals (n = 9) showed a negative correlation (p<0.05). Analysed data provided evidence of a negative relationship between a left ventricular index of myocardial function and an arterial index obtained from AoP waves.

Case Presentation: We report a case of neglected SMV septic thrombophlebitis is caused by appendicitis. The patient represented with fever, vague abdominal pain without rebound tenderness, and history of the consumption of contaminated water. Antibiotic initiated due to suspicious typhoid fever. Then typhoid fever was ruled out. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed micro-abscess forming complicated appendicitis and the thrombus in SMV.

Discussion and Conclusion: The patient underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy, during which retrocecal gangrened perforated appendix with a 2×2 cm abscess was drained. Based on positive culture with ESBL organism meropenem was initiated. Appendectomy and treatment with broad- -spectrum antibiotics and anticoagulation led to a full recovery.

Objective: To evaluate whether serum endocan, NSE and IMA levels can be compared in terms of endothelial injury/ dysfunction and neuronal damage in term neonates with polycythemia who underwent PET.

Methods: 38 symptomatic polycythemic newborns having PET and 38 healthy newborns were included in the study. Blood samples for endocan, NSE and IMA were taken at only postnatal 24 hours of age in the control group and in polycytemia group just before PET, at 24 and 72 hours after PET.

Results: The polycythemia group had higher serum endocan(1073,4 ± 644,8 vs. 378,8 ± 95,9ng/ml; p<0.05), IMA(1,32 ± 0,34 vs.0,601 ± 0,095absorbance unit; p<0.05) and NSE(44,7 ± 4,3 vs. 26,91 ± 7,12μg/l; p<0.05) levels than control group before the PET procedure. At 24 hours after PET, IMA(0,656 ± 0,07 vs. 0,601 ± 0,095absorbance unit; p<0.05) and endocan(510,9 ± 228,6 vs. 378,8 ± 95,9ng/ml; p<0.05) levels were closer to the control group, being still statistically significant higher. NSE levels decreased to control group levels having no difference between the PET and control groups at 24 hours after PET (28,98 ± 6,5 vs. 26,91 ± 7,12μg/l; p>0.05). At 72 hours after PET the polycythemia and control groups did not differ statistically for IMA, endocan and NSE levels (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Serum endocan and IMA levels can be used as a biomarker for endothelial damage/ dysfunction and tissue hypoxia in infants with symptomatic polycytemia.

Methods: A review of the current literature was undertaken to investigate the relationship between NLR and PLR with percutaneous, cardiac surgery, and vascular surgery procedures.

Results: Our findings show that perioperative NLR and PLR levels are significantly correlated with patient morbidity and mortality rates.

Conclusion: These biomarkers have several attractive characteristics, as they are inexpensive and quickly available, and they can contribute to the early identification of patients at high risk for periprocedural adverse events.

Methods: sprague Dawley (SD) rats (n = 8 - 11) were each given either a single dose of 30 mg/kg ISO, or a twice-daily dose of 10 mg/kg of DOX or 4 doses of normal saline (control) by subcutaneous injection. Blood samples were collected up to 6 hours for measuring concentrations of ATP and its catabolites. Hemodynamics was recorded continuously. The difference was considered significant at p < 0.05 (ANOVA).

Results: Mortality was 1/8, 5/11, and 0/11 for the DOX, ISO, and control groups, respectively. Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in the DOX and ISO treated rats than in control measured at the last recorded time (76 ± 9 for DOX vs. 42 ± 8 for ISO vs. 103 ± 5 mmHg for control, p < 0.05 for all). Blood pressure fell gradually after the final injection for both DOX and control groups, but abruptly after ISO, followed by a rebound and then gradual decline till the end of the experiment. Heart rate was significantly higher after ISO, but there were no differences between the DOX and control rats (p > 0.05). RBC concentrations of ADP and AMP, and plasma concentrations of adenosine and uric acid were significantly higher in the ISO group. In contrast, hypoxanthine concentrations were significantly higher in the DOX treated group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Acute cardiovascular toxicity induced by DOX and ISO may be measured by changes in hemodynamics and breakdown of ATP and adenosine in the systemic circulation, albeit a notable qualitative and quantitative difference was observed.

Objective: To assess ascites fluid with attenuation values in the form of Hounsfield units (HU) in order to determine a non-invasive differentiation criterion for the diagnosis of intraperitoneal collections.

Methods: Sixty patients with known intra-peritoneal collections who underwent computed tomography (CT) for reasons such as tumor staging, post-surgical follow-up or other indications, were retrospectively included in this study. All subjects had a final pathological analysis of the fluid collections. Two radiologists measured the attenuation values for each collection. The averaged values were used for comparing benign and malignancy-related ascites (MRA), bland and hemorrhagic ascites and infected and noninfected fluid collections by consuming the Mann–Whitney U test. Also, the receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed for the statistically significant results (P<0.05), and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated.

Results: Attenuation values could differentiate between benign and MRA (P=0.04; AUC=0.656; sensitivity, 65.52%; specificity, 71.43%) but failed to distinguish between bland ascites and ascites with hemorrhagic component (P=0.85), and between infected and noninfected fluid collections (P=0.47).

Conclusion: Although the results are statistically significant, the substrate of differentiation between benign and MRA ascites cannot be clearly stated. As being the first study to investigate this issue, it opens the way for other researches in the field to determine the dynamics of imaging quantitative measurements according to the fluid’s pathological features.

Objective: Blood pressure variability (BPV), ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and ankle- brachial index (ABI) have been proposed as indices that can improve risk stratification for an adverse cardiac outcome. However, their utility in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is unclear.

Methods: The ACS-BP study is a single-centre observational cohort study designed to investigate the prognostic role of haemodynamic load and arterial stiffness indices for cardio-renal outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). All consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute AMI with or without ST segment elevation were screened for inclusion in the study. The management of AMI will follow current guidelines.

Results and Discussion: Data from baseline clinical and laboratory parameters during their hospitalization were collected. The haemodynamic load of each patient was determined by clinical BP values as well as 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. The AASI was calculated from the raw 24-h BP data and ABI was measured after the third day of hospitalization using a certified device. Patients were followed-up for 12 months in order to collect data for hard cardiovascular and renal endpoints.

Conclusion: The study results should clarify the role of these non-invasive tools in secondary risk stratification of such patients.

Objective: In this study we aimed to review the literature on the valuable effects of herbs and plants and their isolated alkaloids compounds as medication for management of diabetes, a prevalent risk factor for several other disorders and illnesses.

Methods: In the current review, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer and google scholar databases were used and the criterion for inclusion was based on the following keywords and phrases: diabetes, hyperglycemia, complications of diabetes, alkaloids, antidiabetic alkaloids, hypoglycemic alkaloids, alkaloids and complications of diabetes mellitus, mechanisms of action and alkaloids.

Results: In the current review, we demonstrate that alkaloids in the form of extracts and isolated molecules obtained from a large variety of species demonstrated their efficiency for improving raises in blood glucose either in animal models via experimental studies or in human subjects via clinical trials. Medicinal species as chillies (Capsicum annuum), turmeric (Curcuma longa), barberry (Berberis vulgaris) and cress (Lepidium sativum) are among the most common and therapeutic plants used for controlling diabetes that were the subject of several experimental and clinical investigations. Whereas, isolated alkaloids such as berberine, capsaicin and trigonelline have received more interest in this field. Interestingly, the therapeutic impact of alkaloids against blood glucose pathogenesis is mediated through a variety of signaling cascades and pathways, via inhibiting or stimulating diversity of systems such as inhibition of α-glucosidase enzyme, blockade of PTP- 1B, deactivation of DPP-IV, increasing insulin sensitivity and modulating the oxidative stress.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present review, alkaloids could be used as preventive and curative agents in the case of endocrine disorders, particularly diabetes and could play a promoting function for the discovery of new antidiabetic agents.

Methods: Sprague Dawley rats' heart and myocardial cells I/R model were established in vivo and vitro, then 100 mg/kg and 10 μmol/l baicalin were administrated, respectively. The experiment was randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10): Control; I/R; IR+DMEM; and I/R+baicalin groups. Postoperation, the Left Ventricular (LV) End-Diastolic Pressure (LVEDP), the maximum velocity of LV contraction (dP/dtmax) and the maximum velocity of LV diastole (dP/dtmin) were recorded by the transthoracic echocardiography; the myocardial apoptosis percentage was analyzed by Annexin VFITC/ PI and TUNEL staining, and the apoptosis gene and protein were detected by RT-PCR and western blot. Furthermore, the protein expression of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were observed by western blot and Fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester. Moreover, primary rats’ cardiomyocytes were cultured and ERK1/2 specific inhibitor PD98059 was added to the culture medium. The cell survival rate, vitality and apoptosis were detected by MTT, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and TUNEL staining assay Kit, respectively.

Results: Our present study showed that baicalin significantly improved LV hemodynamic parameters and myocardial apoptosis in myocardial I/R injury rats. Furthermore, we found that baicalin could down-regulate the protein expression of CaSR, but up-regulate the protein expression of ERK1/2. Furthermore, when the cells were pretreated with ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, the cells survival rate significantly decreased, but LDH activity and apoptosis significantly increased. The results indicated that the effect of baicalin on myocardial I/R injury could be inhibited by ERK1/2 inhibitor.

Conclusion: In conclusion, our data suggests that baicalin attenuates I/R-induced myocardial injury maybe through the suppression of the CaSR/ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Patients with APS have endothelial dysfunction, accelerated endothelial proliferation and intimal hyperplasia, atherogenesis, platelet activation, inflammatory products secretion and coagulation-fibrinolytic dysregulation. Cardiovascular complications include accelerated atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, Libman-Sacks endocarditis, cardiomyopathy and venous, arterial or intracardiac thrombi. Moreover, pulmonary hypertension and peripheral microvascular dysfunction are common findings.

Management of these patients is not well documented. The role of primary thrombosis prevention remains controversial in individuals with positive antiphospholipid antibodies. Treatment of traditional cardiovascular risk factors according to current guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in the general population is recommended for primary prevention of APS. Anticoagulation therapy with unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin overlapped with a vitamin K antagonist remains the mainstay of the treatment for APS patients with venous thrombosis, whereas direct oral anticoagulants are not yet recommended. Data are scarce regarding the secondary arterial thrombosis prevention and it is not clear whether dual or triple antithrombotic therapy is necessary. To date, it is recommended to follow current guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndrome in the general population. New treatment targets are promising options for patients with catastrophic APS.

Objective: Integrative analysis of gene expression profiling and gene regulatory network was exploited to identify potential biomarkers early in the development of insulin resistance.

Methods: RNA was isolated from livers of animals at three weeks of age, and whole-genome expression profiling was performed and analyzed with Agilent mouse 4×44K microarrays. Differentially expressed genes were subsequently validated by qRT-PCR. Functional characterizations of genes and their interactions were performed by Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and gene regulatory network (GRN) analysis.

Results: A total of 197 genes were found to be differentially expressed by fold change ≥2 and P < 0.05 in BKS-db +/+ mice relative to sex and age-matched controls. Functional analysis suggested that these differentially expressed genes were enriched in the regulation of phosphorylation and generation of precursor metabolites which are closely associated with insulin resistance. Then a gene regulatory network associated with insulin resistance (IRGRN) was constructed by integration of these differentially expressed genes and known human protein-protein interaction network. The principal component analysis demonstrated that 67 genes in IRGRN could clearly distinguish insulin resistance from the non-disease state. Some of these candidate genes were further experimentally validated by qRT-PCR, highlighting the predictive role as biomarkers in insulin resistance.

Conclusion: Our study provides new insight into the pathogenesis and treatment of insulin resistance and also reveals potential novel molecular targets and diagnostic biomarkers for insulin resistance.

Methods: TRPV1 gene knockout (TRPV1-/-) and Wild-Type (WT) mice were Fed a High-Fat Diet (HFD) or a control diet or for 20 weeks, and then the hearts were collected for I/R injury ex vivo. The hearts were mounted on a Langendorff apparatus and subjected to ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (40 min) after incubated with capsaicin (10 nmol/L), CGRP (0.1 μmol/L) and SP (0.1 μmol/L). Then, Coronary Flow (CF), left ventricular peak positive dP/dt (+dP/dt), Left Ventricular Developed Pressure (LVDP) and Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure (LVEDP) were measured.

Results: HFD intake remarkably reduced CF, +dP/dt and LVDP and elevated LVEDP in both strains (P<0.05). Treatment with capsaicin decreased infarct size, increased CF, +dP/dt and LVDP, and decreased LVEDP in WT mice on control diet (P<0.05), but did not do so in other three groups. Treatment with CGRP and SP decreased infarct size in both strains fed with control diet (P<0.05). In contrast, not all the parameters of cardiac postischemic recovery in HFD-fed WT and TRPV1-/- mice were improved by CGRP and SP.

Conclusion: These results suggest that HFD intake impairs cardiac postischemic recovery. HFDinduced impairment of recovery is alleviated by CGRP in both strains and by SP only in TRPV1-/- mice, indicating that the effects of CGRP and SP are differentially regulated during HFD intake.

Conclusion: Taking one-step back and looking from afar at the players of immune-inflammation may help us provide a broader perspective of these complicated interactions. This may lead to the identification of new drug targets and the development of new therapies as well as preventative measures.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/100654Background: Obesity is a major cardiovascular risk factor which dramatically impairs endothelium- dependent vasodilation and leads to hypertension and vascular damage. The impairment of the vasomotor response to extracellular autacoids, e.g., acetylcholine, mainly depends on the reduced Nitric Oxide (NO) bioavailability, which hampers vasorelaxation in large conduit arteries. In addition, obesity may affect Endothelium-Dependent Hyperpolarization (EDH), which drives vasorelaxation in small resistance arteries and arterioles. Of note, endothelial Ca2+ signals drive NO release and trigger EDH.

Methods: A structured search of bibliographic databases was carried out to retrieve the most influential, recent articles on the impairment of vasorelaxation in animal models of obesity, including obese Zucker rats, and on the remodeling of the endothelial Ca2+ toolkit under conditions that mimic obesity. Furthermore, we searched for articles discussing how dietary manipulation could be exploited to rescue Ca2+-dependent vasodilation.

Results: We found evidence that the endothelial Ca2+ could be severely affected by obese vessels. This rearrangement could contribute to endothelial damage and is likely to be involved in the disruption of vasorelaxant mechanisms. However, several Ca2+-permeable channels, including Vanilloid Transient Receptor Potential (TRPV) 1, 3 and 4 could be stimulated by several food components to stimulate vasorelaxation in obese individuals.

Conclusion: The endothelial Ca2+ toolkit could be targeted to reduce vascular damage and rescue endothelium- dependent vasodilation in obese vessels. This hypothesis remains, however, to be probed on truly obese endothelial cells.

Medical management of the SMAS in the young involves good alimentation and weight gain to overall increase the intestinal fat pad. Medical management of SMA atherosclerotic ischemia in the elderly is directed at marked lipid lowering with atherosclerotic plaque stabilization or even regression.

If needed, surgery for SMAS can be attempted laparoscopically with duodenojejunoscopy which is the most popular procedure but there are also more conservative possibilities that avoid division of the duodenum. In addition, sometimes direct vision is needed to successfully operate on SMAS. If surgery is needed for SMA atherosclerotic ischemia, it is usually attempted endoscopically with angioplasty and stent placement.

Most important, in the case of these two rare clinical entities, is that the clinician have a suspicion of their presence when indicated so that the young or old patient can be spared unnecessary suffering and return to good health in a timely fashion.

Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with a normal diet (10% kcal as fat, lean group) or a high-fat diet (60kcal as fat, obese group) for 12 consecutive weeks. To detect the MIF expression and AMPK activation in response to I/R in isolated hearts from lean and obese mice, myocardial samples were collected from left ventricular areas at different time points. To determine whether MIF supplementation is protective against I/R injury, recombined MIF (10 ng/mL) was applied before ischemia. Myocardial infarct size was estimated by triphenyltetrazolium staining. Western blot was used to detect myocardial MIF expression, AMPK activation and membrane glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) expression.

Results: The expression of MIF was remarkably higher in obese group compared to lean group. Ischemia increased myocardial MIF expression and phosphorylation of AMPK in lean mice, whereas it had no significant effect on obese mice. Furthermore, administration of recombinant MIF increased ischemic AMPK activation and membrane Glut4 expression in both lean and obese mice, while it reduced the infarct size in lean mice only.

Conclusion: An impaired MIF/AMPK activation response and consequent reduced membrane Glut4 expression may play an important role in increasing myocardial susceptibility to I/R in obesity.

Methods: This narrative review is based on the material searched for and obtained via PubMed up to May 2016. The search terms we used were: “red wine, cardiovascular, alcohol” in combination with “polyphenols, heart failure, infarction”.

Results: Epidemiological and mechanistic evidence of a J-shaped relationship between red wine intake and CV risk further supported the “French paradox”. Specific components of red wine both in vitro and in animal models were discovered. Polyphenols and especially resveratrol largely contribute to CV prevention mainly through antioxidant properties. They exert beneficial effects on endothelial dysfunction and hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic diseases, thus reducing the risk of adverse CV events such as myocardial infarction ischemic stroke and heart failure. Of interest, recent studies pointed out the role of ethanol itself as a potential cardioprotective agent, but a clear epidemiological evidence is still missing. The aim of this narrative review is to update current knowledge on the intracellular mechanism underlying the cardioprotective effects of polyphenols and ethanol. Furthermore, we summarized the results of epidemiological studies, emphasizing their methodological criticisms and the need for randomized clinical trials able to clarify the potential role of red wine consumption in reducing CV risk.

Conclusion: Caution in avowing underestimation of the global burden of alcohol-related diseases was particularly used.

Methods: Endotoxin-induced eye inflammation was induced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in PACAP KO and wild-type (Wt) mice. After LPS treatment, retinas were processed for histological examination. To detect the alterations of different proteins and cytokines, immunohistochemical, western blot and cytokine array were used. We also performed dark-adapted electroretinography (ERG) to detect the functional differences.

Results: The thickness of nearly all layers was significantly less in LPS-injected PACAP KO mice compared to Wt animals. Increased expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) was induced in Müller glial cells after LPS treatment, which was more intense in PACAP KO mice. The levels of pAkt and pGSK were decreased in PACAP KO group during inflammation. LPS treatment significantly increased cytokines (sICAM-1, JE, TIMP-1) in both treated groups, but it was more expressed in PACAP KO animals. Furthermore, ERG responses were disturbed after LPS injection in PACAP KO mice.

Conclusion: Our results showed that endogenous PACAP has a protective role in LPS-caused retinal inflammation.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/88475 https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/93793

Objective: Here, we discuss the role of CC-chemokines in atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, restenosis and renal dysfunction through direct activation of endothelial cells, endothelial progenitors, vascular smooth muscle cells, platelets, erythrocytes, mesangial cells and fibroblasts.

Results: The pathophysiological role of CC-chemokines has become more interesting since the discovery of the atypical chemokine receptor (ACKR) subfamily, that does not couple with G proteins and fails to transmit conventional intracellular signals. It has been demonstrated to be a chemokine scavenger or decoy receptor with a role in the regulation of acute inflammatory responses.

Conclusion: At the vascular level, ACKRs are expressed by endothelial cells and endothelial lymphatic cells that seem to regulate angio- and lymph-angiogenesis. Pleiotropic effects of CC-chemokines on vascular wall cells and leukocytes increase their importance in vascular remodeling and suggest new drugs to counteract vascular dysfunction.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/89289 https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/84205 https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/80608

Methods: We undertook a structured search of bibliographic database for peer-reviewed research literature using a focused review question and inclusion/exclusion criteria. The quality of retrieved papers was appraised using standard tools. The characteristics of screened papers were described, and a deductive qualitative content analysis methodology was applied to analyze the interventions and findings of included studies using a conceptual framework.

Results: Twenty-one papers were included in the review, eight papers outlined the relationship of Cx43 and reperfusion arrhythmias. Eight papers pointed out the effect on the infarct size of Cx43.

Conclusion: The findings of this review confirm that Cx43 is the most abundant member of Cx family in the heart and is vital for myocardial protection during ischemia/reperfusion process and for ischemia/reperfusion injury. Many of its mechanism are still not very clear and require future research in the future.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/86199

Methods: Eight NZW rabbits were divided into 2 groups. One group was fed Ganoderma Lucidum (GL) (100 mg/Kg) daily for 3 weeks while the other were controls. At the end of the 3 week period, each rabbit was euthanized and the bladder separated into six strips and mounted in individual baths. Each strip was stimulated with Field Stimulation (FS), Carbachol, potassium chloride (KCl), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). After the control stimulations, the oxygenated baths were subjected to nitrogen in the absence of glucose (ischemia) for 1 hour while being stimulated at 32Hz at 5 minute intervals. After 1 hour of ischemia, the buffer was changed back to normal oxygenated Tyrode's with glucose and allowed to recover for 2 hours. After this time period, the strips were stimulated as described earlier.

Results: 1) There was a rapid and near complete inhibition of the contractile responses during the ischemic period for both control and GL groups; 2) For the control group, following I/R there was a 86% decrease in the response to FS, 11% decrease in the response to ATP, 17% decrease in the response to carbachol, and 20% decrease in the response to KCl. For the GL group, there was a 71% decrease in the response to FS, and no decreases in the responses to ATP, carbachol, or KCl.

Conclusion: Pretreatment of rabbits for three weeks with GL prior to subjecting them to in-vitro ischemia/reperfusion significantly protected the bladder strips from all forms of contractile dysfunctions, although the response to FS was still significantly decreased.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/81952

Results: Acting through a variety of downstream mechanisms, urocortin has been shown to alter cellular metabolism and modulate the mechanism of cell death occurring as a result of ischemia-reperfusion injury. New evidence continues to accumulate in support of urocortin’s beneficial role in cytoprotection.

Conclusion: We present here an updated review largely focused on the various mechanisms through which urocortin alters cellular metabolism, and discuss the clinical potential of urocortin’s cardioprotective ability in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/84582

Objective: This study was performed to assess the effects of resveratrol on hypochlorite-induced endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: Endothelial dysfunction was induced in isolated rat aortic rings by incubation with 75 µM sodium hypochlorite. The vasoprotective effect of resveratrol at concentrations of 0.1, 1 and 10 µM was assessed by adding it to a buffer solution for 30 min before or after incubation with sodium hypochlorite.

Results: Incubating aortic rings with sodium hypochlorite induced endothelial dysfunction, whereas aortic rings incubated with 10 µM resveratrol before and after adding sodium hypochlorite showed less pronounced endothelial dysfunction, as evidenced by higher maximal relaxation and lower EC50 values. Treating aortic rings with 75 µM hypochlorite, 10 µM resveratrol or a combination of the two did not affect endothelium-independent relaxation.

Conclusion: The results reveal that resveratrol attenuates the development of hypochlorite-induced endothelial dysfunction.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/84431

Conclusion: In addition, we present an interesting occurrence of this intriguing phenomenon in a forty-eight year old lady at our institution who presented with vague symptomatology and was an extremely challenging diagnosis. This highlights the importance of timely detection and institution of therapeutic or preventive strategies to minimize future catastrophic events.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/85934

Discussion: MR enterography, with the absence of ionizing radiation exposure, excellent tissue contrast, ultrafast breath-holding pulse sequences, and the ability to perform real-time functional imaging, has become the first-line imaging modality for the evaluation of the majority of small bowel disorders. Advanced MR applications including diffusion-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, and motility imaging are becoming central in the imaging evaluation of small bowel disease.

Conclusion: CT enterography is the preferred modality in patients with known or suspected inflammatory bowel disease in the acute setting to assess for extra-luminal complications. The enteroclysis technique is of use in selected cases in which adequate small bowel distention is not achieved with oral enteral contrast administration. Capsule endoscopy is reserved for patients in whom the clinical suspicion of small bowel disease remains high despite negative evaluations with endoscopy and imaging.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/81864

Methods: Male rats were used after 18 h of fasting. Ischemic enteritis was induced by partial ligation of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Under ether anesthesia, SMA was isolated, and a stenosis was made by placing a needle (23 guage) on the vessel and ligating both the vessel and needle, and then a needle was removed from the ligature. Animals were then fed normally after surgery. Various drugs such as antibiotics, cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors and PGE2 were administered for 2 days after surgery.

Results: Stenosis of the SMA caused mucosal ischemia and damaged the small intestine, particularly the ileum, within 3 days. The development of enteritis was accompanied by mucosal invasion of enterobacteria, with the bacterial count being significantly increased 8 h after surgery. The severity of enteritis was prevented by the prior administration of ampicillin, L-NAME, or aminoguanidine, but aggravated by that of indomethacin or rofecoxib. The deleterious effects of indomethacin were antagonized by the co-administration of PGE2; these effects were mimicked by AE1-329, an EP4 agonist, and abrogated by AE3-208, an EP4 antagonist. The expression of iNOS and COX-2 was up-regulated in the small intestine in a time-dependent manner after ischemia caused by stenosis of the SMA, with increases in the mucosal contents of NO and PGE2.

Conclusion: These results suggest that enterobacteria played a major pathogenic role in this model of ischemic enteritis, and that iNOS/NO was deleterious in the pathogenesis of these lesions, while COX-2/PGE2 prevented the development of ischemic enteritis by activating EP4 receptors.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/70781

Objective: In this review, various pharmacological interventions to treat myocardial reperfusion injury including the antioxidant flavonols, hydrogen sulfide, adenosine, opioids, incretin-based therapies and cyclosporin A which targets the mitochondrial permeability transition pore are discussed.

Conclusion: The processes involved in reperfusion injury might provide targets for improved outcomes after myocardial infarction but thus far that aim has not been met in the clinic.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/71153

Objective: The diverse studies have revealed multifunctional roles of TRP channels in the physiological conditions and various diseases while some members of TRP channel superfamily are demonstrated to participate in the pathophysiology of cardiometabolic diseases and myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. Here we discuss the roles of TRP channels in myocardial ischemia reperfusion and cardiometabolic diseases and their potential use in treating these diseases.

Results: Regulation of TRP channels facilitates the control of metabolic syndrome such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. This review presents an overview of our current knowledge regarding the physiological functions of TRP channels in the metabolic and cardiovascular systems and their contributions to cardiometabolic diseases and I/R injury.

Conclusion: On the basis of these discoveries, the therapeutic potential of targeting novel TRP channels can be proposed for the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases and I/R injury.]]> https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/78316 https://www.benthamscience.comarticle/78034