Antiproliferation activity of a naphthoquinone derivative against vascular smooth muscle cells / 中国药理学通报

Aim: To explore the effect of a synthetic naphthoquinone derivative on the proliferation of rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells(RAVSMCs) stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and to clarify its mechanism underlying the anti-proliferative effect. Methods: The influence of the synthetic naphthoquinone derivative on cell cycle progression and main signal transduction pathway of cell cycle induced by PDGF-BB were investigated by cell proliferation assay, [3H] thymidine incorporation test, cell cycle process analysis and immunoblotting assay. Results: S phase cell percentage in the cell cycle was reduced, while G0/G1 phase cell percentage was increased by the synthetic naphthoquinone in a dose-dependent (0. 1, 0. 5, 1 μmol · L-1) manner. Moreover, DNA synthesis also decreased. The inhibitory rate of PDGF-BB-induced RAVSMCs proliferation achieved the maximum of 44. 4% after 24 h pre-treatment by the synthetic naphthoquinone derivative at the concentration of 1 μmol · L-1. The phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase l/2(ERKl/2), Akt, phospholipase C (PLC) γ1 and PDGF receptor β(PDGFRβ) induced by PDGF-BB was significantly decreased (P < 0. 01) by addtion of 1 μmol · L-1 synthetic naphthoquinone derivative. Conclusions: The synthetic naphthoquinone derivative exhibits anti-proliferation activity against RAVSMCs induced by PDGF-BB via blocking the transformation of G0/G1 phase cell into S-phase cell in the cell cycle. The mechanisms might be related to its down-regulatory effect on phosporalation level of ERK1/2, Akt, PLCγ1 and PDGFRβ.

Internal Carotid Artery Dissection in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Carotid artery dissection is a significant cause of stroke in young patients. It may be asymptomatic and go undiagnosed, or minimal transient manifestations may follow, commanding a higher index of suspicion than ordinarily exists to avoid misdiagnosis. Reported herein is a 27-year-old man who suffered extracranial internal carotid artery dissection while practicing a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu submission maneuver. The patient's condition suddenly deteriorated one week later due to distal embolization and stroke. Despite endovascular treatment, with stenting of the cervical carotid artery, neurologic deficits remained. Of note, the objective in martial arts, which is to kill or incapacitate, has yet to be fully tempered in transitioning to sport. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, a relatively new and fast-growing form of martial art, places emphasis on submission maneuvers. Related injuries are not common knowledge and are poorly described in the literature. This account is intended to shed light on the risk of this discipline. Through education and improved supervision, vascular injuries of this nature and the potentially lethal or disabling consequences may thus be prevented in young athletes.

Serum Klotho (but not haplotypes) associate with the post-myocardial infarction status of older adults

OBJECTIVES: The number of deaths from vascular diseases is incredibly high worldwide, and reliable markers for major events are still needed. The current cross-sectional study investigated the association of Klotho haplotypes and Klotho serum levels with classic risk factors and a clinical history of vascular events. METHODS: Clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and nutritional assessments were conducted with 168 older adults, complemented by genotyping (rs9536314 and rs9527025) and the detection of serum Klotho (ELISA). RESULTS: Klotho levels and haplotypes did not associate with most classic risk factors for vascular events, including markers such as C-reactive protein and homocysteine. A positive association was only found between Klotho levels and the previous occurrence of a myocardial infarction by both correlational (p=0.006) and variance analyses (p<0.001), and these associations were independent of the context. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that serum Klotho is higher in individuals with a clinical history of myocardial infarction but not with a history of coronary artery disease or stroke. None of the Klotho haplotypes were associated with the variables investigated herein.

An Incidental Finding of Pseudoexfoliation in Patient With Ophthalmic Artery Occlusion

PURPOSE: To report a case of pseudoexfoliation in the unaffected eye in a patient with ophthalmic artery occlusion. CASE SUMMARY: A 49-year-old female presented with sudden vision loss in her right eye. On the initial examination, best corrected visual acuity was 20/500 in the right eye, and 20/20 in the left eye. Intraocular pressure in both eyes was 17 mmHg. Fundus examination showed retinal edema and a cotton wool spot in the right eye. There was a filling delay of choroidal and retinal vessels in the fluorescein angiography. On the slit lamp examination, there was pseudoexfoliation material around the pupil margin and lens capsule in the unaffected eye but no evidence of glaucoma. At the six-month follow-up, best corrected visual acuity in the right eye improved to 20/30 and a retinal nerve fiber layer defect was found at the spot of the previous cotton wool spot. On the visual field examination, visual defects corresponded with a retinal nerve fiber layer defect. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudoexfoliation may be related to a systemic vascular disorder.