1,721,139 research outputs found
ESC working group on cellular biology of the heart: Position paper for Cardiovascular Research: Tissue engineering strategies combined with cell therapies for cardiac repair in ischaemic heart disease and heart failure
No full textMorbidity and mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure (HF) remain significant in Europe and are increasing worldwide. Patients with IHD or HF might benefit from novel therapeutic strategies, such as cell-based therapies. We recently discussed the therapeutic potential of cell-based therapies and provided recommendations on how to improve the therapeutic translation of these novel strategies for effective cardiac regeneration and repair. Despite major advances in optimizing these strategies with respect to cell source and delivery method, the clinical outcome of cell-based therapy remains unsatisfactory. Major obstacles are the low engraftment and survival rate of transplanted cells in the harmful microenvironment of the host tissue, and the paucity or even lack of endogenous cells with repair capacity. Therefore, new ways of delivering cells and their derivatives are required in order to empower cell-based cardiac repair and regeneration in patients with IHD or HF. Strategies using tissue engineering (TE) combine cells with matrix materials to enhance cell retention or cell delivery in the transplanted area, and have recently received much attention for this purpose. Here, we summarize knowledge on novel approaches emerging from the TE scenario. In particular, we will discuss how combinations of cell/bio-materials (e.g. hydrogels, cell sheets, prefabricated matrices, microspheres, and injectable matrices) combinations might enhance cell retention or cell delivery in the transplantation areas, thereby increase the success rate of cell therapies for IHD and HF. We will not focus on the use of classical engineering approaches, employing fully synthetic materials, because of their unsatisfactory material properties which render them not clinically applicable. The overall aim of this Position Paper from the ESC Working Group Cellular Biology of the Heart is to provide recommendations on how to proceed in research with these novel TE strategies combined with cell-based therapies to boost cardiac repair in the clinical settings of IHD and HF. © Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved
Ageing, sex, and cardioprotection
No full textTranslation of cardioprotective interventions aimed at reducing myocardial injury during ischaemia–reperfusion from experimental studies to clinical practice is an important yet unmet need in cardiovascular medicine. One particular challenge facing translation is the existence of demographic and clinical factors that influence the pathophysiology of ischaemia–reperfusion injury of the heart and the effects of treatments aimed at preventing it. Among these factors, age and sex are prominent and have a recognised role in the susceptibility and outcome of ischaemic heart disease. Remarkably, some of the most powerful cardioprotective strategies proven to be effective in young animals become ineffective during ageing. This article reviews the mechanisms and implications of the modulatory effects of ageing and sex on myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury and their potential effects on cardioprotective interventions
Diastolic dysfunction in severe aortic stenosis: Old but still gold
No full textA simple, widely applicable and reproducible risk predictor may improve patient care, risk stratification, and clinical decision making for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (sAS) patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Baseline severe left ventricular diastolic dysfunction identified by E/A ratio in sAS patients undergoing TAVI is associated with increased post-procedural all-cause mortality or heart failure hospitalization but is not an independent predictor of outcome. Large studies employing multimodality imaging of cardiac function/structure and accounting for sex and comorbidities will be necessary to validate DD parameters (or their combination) in sAS patients undergoing TAVI
Determination of semi-volatile organic compounds adsorbed on the surface of suspended particulate matter
No full textEpac1 inhibition as a novel cardioprotective strategy: Lights and shadows on GRK5 canonical and non-canonical functions
No full textDistribuzione dimensionale dell’acqua legata al particolato atmosferico
No full textL’acqua è una componente non trascurabile della massa del materiale particellare sospeso in atmosfera (PM), che spesso costituisce un contributo non identificato negli studi di mass closure. Per la determinazione qualitativa e quantitativa dell’acqua nel PM è stato recentemente sviluppato ed ottimizzato un metodo analitico basato sull’impiego di un sistema Karl-Fisher coulometrico dotato di un forno a temperatura programmabile [1].
Il metodo, che permette la separazione di differenti contributi di acqua rilasciati in diversi intervalli di temperatura, è stato applicato con successo a campioni giornalieri di PM prelevati in diverse località e condizioni ambientali. Il profilo dei contributi di acqua è risultato associabile a polveri atmosferiche caratterizzate da specie chimiche idrofile diverse (es.: sali di ammonio, road dust, polveri desertiche).
Il questo lavoro viene riportata l’applicazione del metodo sopracitato a campioni di PM segregati dimensionalmente, prelevati utilizzando un impattore multistadio MOUDI (10 stadi nell’intervallo
0.18 – 18 μm). Le determinazioni di acqua sono state eseguite in siti con diverse caratteristiche ambientali e/o durante eventi di trasporto da lunga distanza, in parallelo alle determinazioni chimiche tradizionali (elementi, specie ioniche).
I risultati mostrano che l’acqua presenta una distribuzione dimensionale ed un profilo di
contributi diverso a seconda delle caratteristiche chimiche della polvere raccolta. In particolare, campioni prelevati in Pianura Padana durante un periodo caratterizzato da stabilità atmosferica intensa e persistente presentano un profilo dimensionale dell’acqua sostanzialmente confinato nella frazione fine (massimo nell’intervallo 0.56 – 1.0 μm) con una distribuzione simile a quella del nitrato di ammonio; il profilo dei contributi di acqua all’analisi Karl-Fisher risulta sovrapponibile a quello osservato per l’analisi di sali di ammonio puri. Campioni prelevati nell’area di Montelibretti (25 km a NE di Roma) durante un modesto evento di trasporto di sabbia dal Nord Africa mostrano invece un profilo dimensionale bimodale: la moda fine presenta un profilo dei contributi di acqua tipico delle specie di formazione secondaria, mentre la moda grossolana presenta il profilo di contributi di acqua tipicamente associato ai contributi crustali. Campioni prelavati nell’area urbana di Roma presentano anch’essi una distribuzione di acqua bimodale, con contributi associati alle specie di formazione secondaria nella moda fine e contributi associati al road dust in quella grossolana.
In tutti i casi, per una data specie o gruppo di specie chimiche idrofile si è osservata una
distribuzione dimensionale dell’acqua sovrapponibile alla distribuzione dimensionale della specie data ed un profilo di contributi di acqua tipicamente associato a quella specie
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Indoor air quality in a domestic environment. Combined contribution of indoor and outdoor PM sources
No full textThe impact of outdoor and indoor sources on the chemical composition of particulate matter (PM) collected in a domestic environment was explored. PM2.5 samples were simultaneously collected inside (living room and bedroom) and outside a detached house located in a peri-urban area. The daily concentrations of macro-components and of micro- and trace-elements (soluble and insoluble fractions) were determined over a period of eighteen days and used to obtain detailed information about the variability of PM sources in the outdoor and indoor environments. The most important outdoor contributions to PM mass concentrations were organic and secondary inorganic species, particularly during an atmospheric stability period. A nearby congested road was responsible for the resuspension of soil related species (Si, Ca, Fe). Indoors, PM mass concentration was significantly influenced by the presence of inhabitants and their routine activities. Cigarette smoking was selectively traced by the indoor concentration profile of soluble Cd. Particularly high Cu concentrations in the bedroom were associated with the use of electric appliances equipped with brush motors (vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, electric heater). Exhaust (EC) and non-exhaust (residual Sb, Cu, Mn, Mo and Sn) traffic tracers and biomass burning related species (K and soluble Rb, Cs, Tl) were able to penetrate indoors even when the ventilation of the house was poor. An accurate estimation of the health implications due to the exposure to PM2.5 in indoor, domestic environments must consider indoor and outdoor PM source contributions in detail
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