Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume Pre-press, issue Pre-press

Authors: Kükrek, Haydar | Aitzetmüller, Matthias | Vodiškar, Mateja | Moog, Philipp | Machens, Hans-Günther | Duscher, Dominik

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Adipose derived Stem Cells (ASCs) have been proven to play a key role in tissue regeneration. However, exposure to large amounts of cigarette smoke can drastically diminish their function. Erythropoetin (EPO), can modulate cellular response to injury. Therefore, we investigated the ability of EPO to restore the regenerative function and differentiation capacity of ASCs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human ASCs were isolated from abdominoplasty samples using standard isolation procedures. Cell identity was established by means of Fluorescence Activated Cell Scanning. Subsequently, isolated ASCs were cultivated with cigarette smoke extract both with and without EPO. Parameters investigated included - …cellular metabolic activity, adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation capacity, and in vitro wound closure capacity. For further enhancing wound closure, EPO was combined with Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) or Stromal Derived Factor-1 alpha (SDF-1 a). RESULTS: Cigarette smoke reduces adipogenic differentiation, the osteogenic differentiation capacity as well as the in vitro wound healing ability of human derived ASCs. EPO did not change metabolic activity of ASCs significantly. The addition of EPO could partially restore their function. The combination of EPO with GM-CSF or SDF-1did not result in a synergistic effect regarding wound healing ability. CONCLUSION: Exposure to cigarette smoke significantly reduced the regenerative potential of ASCs. Treatment of ASCs exposed to cigarette smoke with EPO has the potential to partially restore their function. Show more

Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells, erythropoietin, cigarette smoke extract, wound healing, ASC

DOI: 10.3233/CH-200852

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-10, 2020

Authors: Wu, Yongjuan | Cheng, Guangyuan | Chen, Hui | Wang, Jingzhong | Wang, Jiangtao | Wang, Wanbi

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: IL-17 is considered to be a cancer-promoting gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we explored the effect of IL-17 in predicting the therapeutic effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with apartinib in patients with HCC in this study. METHODS: Established of IL-17 knockdown SK-Hep1 cells for studying the effects of IL-17 expression on the invasion and migration of human HCC cells in vitro by transwell assay and tumor angiogenesis in nude mouse. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of IL-17, E-cadherin, Vimentin and CD34 protein in 175 cases of human HCC tumor tissues. Kaplan-Meier …was used to analyze the prognostic significance of TACE combined with apatinib treatment in HCC patients. RESULTS: n SK-Hep1 cells, IL-17 knockdown could increase E-cadherin protein expression, reduce vimentin protein expression, inhibit cell invasion and migration in vitro , and inhibit angiogenesis of tumor and decrease plasma VEGF level in nude mouse. In tumor tissues of HCC patients, IL-17 protein expression was negatively correlated with E-cadherin protein expression (r  = –0.622, P  < 0.001), positively correlated with Vimentin protein expression (r  = 0.540, P  < 0.001), and was positively correlated with MVD of HCC tumor tissues (r  = 0.564, P  < 0.001). Compared with adjuvant TACE alone, patients with low-expression of IL-17 treated combined with apatinib have a higher 5-year overall survival. However, additional apatinib treatment did not significantly improve 5-year overall survival in HCC patients with high IL-17 expression. CONCLUSION: IL-17 had a pivotal role in the invasion and angiogenesis of HCC and contribute to the selection of patients who may benefit from adjuvant TACE combined with apatinib. Show more

Keywords: IL-17, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, hepatocellular carcinoma, overall survival

DOI: 10.3233/CH-200857

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-11, 2020

Authors: Sun, Xiaoying | Kuang, Bin | Dai, Yan | Xiong, Chao | Li, Mingxing | Luo, Zhijian

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury often occurs in various clinical events, and its incidence and mortality have been increasing. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the monitoring of dexamethasone in the improvement of renal I/R injury in rats. METHODS: Eighteen healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, I/R, and I/R surgery plus dexamethasone treatment (Dexa) groups. In the I/R group 45-minute renal ischemia with 24 h reperfusion period was monitored. Time-intensity curve (TIC)-derived parameters, which included peak value, time to peak (TP), area under the curve (AUC), and mean transit …time (MTT) were compared to the blood creatinine, urea, Caspase-1, and NLRP3 levels. RESULTS: The I/R group showed an increased peak value, prolonged TP and MTT, and greater AUC (P  < 0.05). The Dexa group showed shorter TP and MTT, and smaller AUC (P  < 0.05). Results show that the associations between (i) TP, AUC, and MTT and (ii) creatinine, urea, Caspase-1, and NLRP3 levels were significant (P  < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone can alleviate renal I/R injury in rats, which may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3 and caspase-1. CEUS can quantitatively measure this change, in which the changes in TP, AUC and MMT values have considerable reference values. Show more

Keywords: Kidney, renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, dexamethasone, time-intensity curve, NLRP3, Caspase-1

DOI: 10.3233/CH-200842

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-12, 2020

Authors: Zhang, Xin-Yue | Huang, Zheng | Li, Qing-Jie | Zhong, Guo-Qiang | Meng, Jian-Jun | Wang, Dong-Xiao | Tu, Rong-Hui | Hong-Wen,

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Myocardial inflammation mediated by toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays an active role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Studies show that heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is involved in ischemic postconditioning (IPostC) cardioprotection. This study investigates the roles of TLR4 and HSP90 in IPostC. METHODS: Rats were subjected to 30 min ischemia, then 2 h reperfusion. IPostC was applied by three cycles of 30 s reperfusion, then 30 s reocclusion at reperfusion onset. Sixty rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, I/R, IPostC, and geldanamycin (GA, HSP90 inhibitor, 1 mg/kg) plus IPostC (IPostC + GA). RESULTS: IPostC significantly reduced I/R-induced infarct size …(40.2±2.1% versus 28.4±2.4%; P  < 0.05); the release of cardiac Troponin T, creatine kinase-MB, and lactate dehydrogenase (191.5±3.1 versus 140.6±3.3 pg/ml, 3394.6±132.7 versus 2880.7±125.5 pg/ml, 2686.2±98.6 versus 1848.8±90.1 pg/ml, respectively; P  < 0.05); and cardiomyocyte apoptosis (40.3±2.2% versus 27.0±1.6%; P  < 0.05). Further, local and circulating IL-1β , IL-6, TNF-α , and ICAM-1 levels decreased; TLR4 expression and nuclear factor-KB (NF-κ B) signaling decreased; and cardiac HSP90 expression increased. Blocking HSP90 function with GA inhibited IPostC protection and anti-inflammation, suggesting that IPostC has a HSP90-dependent anti-inflammatory effect. CONCLUSION: HSP90 may play a role in IPostC-mediated cardioprotection by inhibiting TLR4 activation, local and systemic inflammation, and NF-kB signaling. Show more

Keywords: Heat shock protein 90, ischemic postconditioning, toll-like receptor 4, nuclear factor-KB, inflammation

DOI: 10.3233/CH-200840

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-12, 2020

Authors: Li, Tianhua | Yang, Shuhong | Hu, Fang | Geng, Qian | Lu, Qing | Ding, Junqin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was (1) to compare the effects of ankle pump exercise(APE) frequency on hemodynamics of the common femoral vein(CFV) and (2) to analyse the relationship between APE duration and lower limb fatigue. METHODS: Twenty-seven males and thirty-three females performed APE. Among them, there were thirty participants with non-lower limb fracture (N-LLF) and thirty participants with lower limb fracture (LLF).The colour doppler ultrasound was used to record the time-averaged mean velocity (TAMV) of common femoral venous flow when the participants at rest and move at different frequencies of 6 times/min, 10 times/min, 30 times/min, …60 times/min. The ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) was used to assess the lower limb fatigue of the participants when performing APE at the frequency of 60 times/min after 1 min, 2 mins, 3 mins, 4 mins and 5 mins. RESULTS: With the increase of frequency, TAMV increased significantly in both the participants with N-LLF and LLF (p  < 0.01). The TAMV were 19.82±3.86, 33.78±8.76, 37.06±8.67, 43.82±10.40, 52.18±10.53, respectively in the participants with N-LLF and 16.98±3.01, 22.20±4.96, 24.01±5.78, 29.20±7.05, 35.75±9.28, respectively in the injured limb of patients with LLF when at rest and moving at the frequency of 6 times/min, 10 times/min, 30 times/min, 60 times/min. There was a positive correlation (p  < 0.01) between lower limb fatigue and exercise duration.When the RPE was 16 points (the corresponding fatigue degree is “tired”), the exercise duration of the participants with N-LLF was 3 mins and that of the injured limb of patients with LLF was 2 mins. CONCLUSIONS: Both fast and slow-frequency APE can promote venous blood return in the lower limb. Despite of the equivalent APE duration, fast-frequency APE can promote venous blood return more effectively. When the frequency of APE was 60 times/min, participants with N-LLF can exercise for 3 mins, and the injured limb of patients with LLF can exercise for 2 mins. Show more

Keywords: Ankle pump exercise, requency, duration, common femoral vein, hemodynamics

DOI: 10.3233/CH-200860

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-10, 2020

Authors: Tong, Wenjuan | Zhang, Xiaoling | Luo, Jia | Pan, Fushun | Liang, Jinyu | Huang, Hui | Li, Manying | Cheng, Meiqing | Pan, Jiamin | Zheng, Yanling | Xie, Xiaoyan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: To assess the value of conventional ultrasound (US), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and mammography in the diagnosis of breast lesions with calcifications. METHODS: A total of 87 breast lesions with calcification were subjected to US, CEUS and mammography and divided into 3 groups: Group A (all cases), Group A1 (31 cases who underwent US and CEUS first followed by mammography), and Group A2 (56 cases who underwent mammography first followed by US and CEUS). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of different methods in different groups. RESULTS: In …Group A, the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of CEUS were 0.937, which were significantly higher than that of mammography (p  < 0.05). In Group A1, the AUROC of CEUS were 0.842, which were not significantly different from that of US and mammography (p  > 0.05). In Group A2, the AUROC of CEUS were 0.987, which were significantly higher than that of mammography and US (p  < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the mammography results, the combination of US and CEUS might improve the diagnostic efficacy in breast lesions with calcification. Show more

Keywords: Breast, ultrasonography, mammography, diagnosis

DOI: 10.3233/CH-200877

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-14, 2020

Authors: Chung, Young Hak | Lee, Kyung Ah | Cho, Minhee | Shin, Sehyun | Lee, Byoung Kwon

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Analysis of responsiveness to antiplatelet therapy is crucial in the management of patients with cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate a new platelet function analysis system (Anysis-200) and to compare it with VerifyNow (Accumetrics, San Diego, CA) in cardiology patients. METHODS: Overall, 125 citrated blood samples were collected from 85 cardiology patients referred for platelet function testing. In Anysis-200, platelet function was measured as blood migration distance (MD) until clogging of flow passage, which is comparable to aspirin resistance units obtained using VerifyNow. The two devices were simultaneously used and compared. …RESULTS: The MDs before and after taking aspirin were 174±51 and 247±27 mm, respectively (p  < 0.0001). Compared with VerifyNow (reference), the sensitivity and specificity of Anysis-200 was 91.5% and 75.5%, respectively (area under the curve, 0.829). Further, the true positive rate in patients newly taking aspirin was 85% for VerifyNow and 92.5% for Anysis-200, respectively. The Cohen’s kappa coefficient between the two devices was 0.682, indicating a relatively high agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Anysis-200, a novel system for assessing platelet aggregation, has accuracy and precision equivalent to that of, and significant agreement with, VerifyNow. Anysis-200 may be useful in screening patients with abnormal platelet reactivity and aspirin nonresponsiveness. Show more

Keywords: Platelet function, aspirin, Anysis-200 analyzer, VerifyNow

DOI: 10.3233/CH-200822

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-10, 2020

Authors: Zhang, Yan-Qun | Wen, Jie-Xian | Luo, Rong-Kui | Yuan, Hai-Xia | Wang, Wen-Ping

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors are rare neoplasms arising from endocrine cells. Here we present a case of 32-year-old woman with Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors, report the imaging and contrast-enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) features and review previous literatures of neuroendocrine tumors, which may be valuable for the differential diagnosis of duodenal neoplasms.

Keywords: Neuroendocrine tumors, duodenal, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), imaging features

DOI: 10.3233/CH-200816

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-6, 2020

Authors: Zheng, Yi | Xia, Shujun | Ren, Xinping | Zhan, Weiwei | Zheng, Zhan | Chen, Zhijie

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the value of spleen shear-wave elastography (sound touch elastography [STE], sound touch quantification [STQ]) in indirect prediction of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: The Young’s modulus (kPa) of spleen STE, STQ and liver FibroScan were measured in 112 patients with CHB. The final diagnosis was according to histological results from liver biopsy based on Scheure G/S scoring system and liver FibroScan was considered as a reference index of prediction efficiency. Grouped by the stage of liver fibrosis, data were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis, Mann-Whitney test and receiver operating characteristic …curve (ROC). RESULTS: Spleen STE was positively correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis, but spleen STQ was not. STEmean and STEmax of spleen were statistically different between the groups categorized by S = 2, S = 3 and S = 4 (all p  < 0.05), respectively. Spleen STEmean had the best predicting performance on staging liver fibrosis. The areas under the ROC (AUC) for spleen STEmean were 0.66 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56– 0.76) for stage S = 2 or higher, 0.72 (95% CI, 0.60– 0.83) for S = 3 or higher, 0.83 (95% CI, 0.74– 0.92) for S = 4 (all P  < 0.01). The differences between the AUC for STEmean and liver FibroScan in liver fibrosis staging were not statistically significant when the groups categorized by S = 2 and S = 4 (P  = 0.146 and P  = 0.052). But when categorized by S = 3, the evaluating performance of liver FibroScan was better (P  = 0.004). CONCLUSION: STEmean of spleen is applicable in indirect predicting fibrosis stage in patients with CHB. Show more

Keywords: Spleen elastography, shear-wave elastography, transient elastography, chronic hepatitis B, liver fibrosis

DOI: 10.3233/CH-200869

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-10, 2020

Authors: Loibl, Csaba | Rozanovic, Martin | Bogár, Lajos | Pankaczi, Andrea | Kovács, Patrícia | Miseta, Attila | Molnár, Tihamér | Csontos, Csaba

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Major burn injury causes massive tissue destruction consequently enhanced platelet function and leukocyte-mediated inflammatory response. METHODS: In a prospective, observational study 23 consecutive patients with more than 20% body surface burn injury were followed for five days (T1–T5) after admission to a university intensive care (ICU). Platelet and leukocyte antisedimentation rate (PAR and LAR) was measured by one-hour gravity sedimentation. It detects the percentage of total platelet and leukocyte number crossed the half line of blood sample column, therefore, they can be regarded as cells of decreased specific gravity. We aimed to investigate the time course of …PAR and LAR after burn injury, as the trend of platelet and the leukocyte activation in the early post-burn period. RESULTS: Daily mean PAR and LAR values continuously increased in the observation period (T1 to T5). Daily mean PAR and LAR were lower in ICU non-survivors (n  = 7) compared to survivors (n  = 16) between T2 and T4 (p  < 0.05 and p  < 0.01). PAR values of septic patients (n  = 10) were lower than that of non-septic ones (n  = 13, p  < 0.01 at T5). CONCLUSIONS: Both PAR and LAR, as novel bedside test can predict septic complications and unfavorable outcome after major burn injury. Further studies with higher sample size are warranted. Show more

Keywords: Platelet activation, leukocyte activation, burns, sepsis after burns

DOI: 10.3233/CH-190779

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-10, 2020