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Experimental data suggest that transplantation of EPCs attenuates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats and dogs. In addition, our previous studies suggested that autologous EPC transplantation was feasible, safe, and might have beneficial effects on exercise capacity and pulmonary hemodynamics in adults with IPAH. Thus, we hypothesized that transplantation of EPCs would improve exercise capacity and pulmonary hemodynamics in children with IPAH. Thirteen children with IPAH received intravenous infusion of autologous EPCs. The right-sided heart catheterization and 6-MWD test were performed at baseline and at the time of 12 wk after cell infusion. At the time of 12 wk, mPAP decreased by 6.4 mmHg from 70.3 ± 19.0 to 63.9 ± 19.3 mmHg (p = 0.015). PVR decreased by approximately 19% from 1118 ± 537 to 906 ± 377 dyn s/cm5 (p = 0.047). CO increased from 3.39 ± 0.79 to 3.85 ± 0.42 L/min (p = 0.048). The 6-MWD increased by 39 m from 359 ± 82 to 399 ± 74 m (p = 0.012). NYHA functional class also improved. There were no severe adverse events with cell infusion. The small pilot study suggested that intravenous infusion of autologous EPCs was feasible, safe, and associated with significant improvements in exercise capacity, NYHA functional class, and pulmonary hemodynamics in children with IPAH. Confirmation of these results in a randomized controlled trial are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is the pathophysiological characteristic of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Some paracrine factors secreted by bone marrow–derived endothelial progenitor cells (BMEPCs) have the potential to strengthen endothelial integrity and function. This study investigated whether BMEPCs have the therapeutic potential to improve monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH via producing vasoprotective substances in a paracrine fashion. Methods and Results: Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells were cultured for 7 days to yield BMEPCs. 24 hours or 3 weeks after exposure to BMEPCs in vitro or in vivo, the vascular reactivity, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, prostacyclin (PGI2) and cAMP release in isolated pulmonary arteries were examined respectively. Treatment with BMEPCs could improve the relaxation of pulmonary arteries in MCT-induced PAH and BMEPCs were grafted into the pulmonary bed. The COX-2/prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) and its progenies PGI2/cAMP were found to be significantly increased in BMEPCs treated pulmonary arteries, and this action was reversed by a selective COX-2 inhibitor, NS398. Moreover, the same effect was also observed in conditioned medium obtained from BMEPCs culture. Conclusions: Implantation of BMEPCs effectively ameliorates MCT-induced PAH. Factors secreted in a paracrine fashion from BMEPCs promote vasoprotection by increasing the release of PGI2 and level of cAMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucellosis and Toxoplasmosis are important zoonotic diseases, and Neospora caninum is a parasite causing disease in cattle and other animals. Brucella spp. and N. caninum can cause abortions in cattle, and Toxoplasmosis is a relevant cause of abortion for small ruminants, resulting in economic loses to farmers. In this study, from July 2015 to April 2017, a total of 535 Yanbian yellow cattle blood samples were collected from 3 cities in Jilin Province, China. We detected the frequency of N. caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Brucella spp. using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, indirect hemagglutination assay, and real-time PCR methods, respectively. The frequency of Brucella was 7.7% (41/535), and the seroprevalences of N. caninum and T. gondii were 6.2% (33/535) and 5.0% (27/535), respectively. The region, gender, and age of Yanbian yellow cattle were considered as risk factors when analyzed using a logistic regression model. These findings provide the foundation for the prevention and control of infection by these pathogens in Yanbian yellow cattle and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of solidification pressure on the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of 19Cr14Mn4Mo0.9N high nitrogen steel is clarified by Thermo‐Calc/DICTRA software, including phase diagram, solidification mode, liquidus/solidus temperature, nitrogen solubility, partition coefficient, diffusion coefficient, driving force for nucleation, and diffusion coefficient. On this basis, the effect of pressure on critical nucleation radius and nucleation rate is also revealed. In the calculated vertical sections of 19Cr14Mn4Mo‐xN alloy phase diagram, δ single‐phase region decreases, both γ single‐phase region and three‐phase region L + δ + γ increase with increasing pressure. Additionally, the reaction mode of solidification transition gradually turns from peritectic to eutectic reaction, and the solidification mode changes from FA to A mode. Increasing the partial pressure of nitrogen can suppress the formation of ferrite trap and increase nitrogen solubility. Meanwhile, the partition coefficients of C, N, Cr, and Si increase, that of Mn and Mo decreases, resulting in decrease of C, N, and Cr microsegregation and improvement of Si, Mn, and Mo microsegregation. Pressurization has a small impact on diffusion coefficients, but it obviously promote the driving force for produced phase (δ and γ) nucleation, this lead to the decrease of critical nucleation radius, improvement of nucleation rate, and grain refinement of 19Cr14Mn4Mo0.9N high nitrogen steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cellular automaton-finite element (CAFE) model is used to simulate solidification structures of 19Cr14Mn0.9N high nitrogen steel under different solidification pressures. The effect of solidification pressure on model parameters is firstly investigated. After validation, this model is used to clarify the effect of solidification pressure on compactness degree with number of grains and primary dendrite arm spacing ( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High glucose could induce structure and function change in cardiomyocytes, PKC plays a core effect in the onset and progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy, but its underlying downstream signal transduction pathway is still not completely understood. Objectives: To study the influence of high glucose on the structure, function and signal transduction pathway of PKC (Protein Kinase C)/NF-κB(Nuclear factor-κB)/c-fos in cultured cardiomyocytes. Methods: Using cultured cardiomyocytes of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats as a model, groups were divided into: control group (glucose: 5 mmol/L); high glucose group (glucose: 10 mmol/L, 15 mmol/L, 20 mmol/L, 25.5 mmol/L); equimolar mannital group (5 mmol/L glucose + 20.5 mmol/L maninital); high glucose(25.5 mmol/L) add PKC inhibitor (Ro-31-8220, 50 nmol/L); high glucose (25.5 mmol/L) add NF-κB inhibitor (BAY11-7082, 5 μmol/L). The cellular contracting frequency and volumes were measured and the expression of PKC-α, PKC-β2, p-PKC-α, p-PKC-β2, NF-κB, p-NF-κB, TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) and c-fos were measured by western blot or RT-PCR. Results: Cardiomyocytes cultured in high glucose level, but not iso-osmotic mannital, showed an increased pulsatile frequency and higher cellular volumes consistent with the increased glucose levels, and also higher expression of PKC-α, PKC-β2, p-PKC-α, p-PKC-β2, NF-κB, p-NF-κB, TNF-α and c-fos. The addition of Ro-31-8220 and BAY11-7082 could partly reverse these changes induced by high glucose level. Conclusion: High glucose significantly increased the pulsatile frequency and cellular volumes of cultured cardiomyocytes via PKC/NF-κB/c-fos pathway, which might lead to diabetic cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and initial clinical outcome of intravenous infusion of autologous endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Background: Experimental data suggest that transplantation of EPCs attenuates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats and dogs. In addition, clinical studies suggest that autologous progenitor cell transplantation is feasible and safe in patients with ischemic diseases. Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized trial comparing the effects of EPC transplantation plus conventional therapy with those of conventional therapy alone in patients with IPAH. The primary end point was change in the 6-min walk distance using a standardized protocol. The secondary end points were changes in hemodynamic variables as assessed by right heart catheterization. Results: After 12 weeks of follow-up, the mean distance walked in 6 min increased by 48.2 m in the cell infusion group (from 263 ± 42 m to 312 ± 34 m), and an increase of 5.7 m occurred in the conventional therapy group (from 264 ± 42 m to 270 ± 44 m). The mean difference between the 2 groups was 42.5 m (95% confidence interval 28.7 to 56.3 m, p < 0.001). The patients in the cell infusion group also had significant improvement in mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and cardiac output. There were no severe adverse events with cell infusion. Conclusions: This preliminary study showed that intravenous infusion of autologous EPCs seemed to be feasible and safe, and might have beneficial effects on exercise capacity and pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with IPAH. (Safety and Efficacy Study of Transplantation of EPCs to Treat Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00257413?order=1; NCT00257413). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The cover image shows the pressurized induction furnace melting which is used to produce high nitrogen steel. The effect of solidification pressures on compactness degree of 19Cr14Mn0.9N high nitrogen steel has been analyzed based on the CAFE simulation results after verification, and the compactness degree is significantly improved under higher solidification pressure. Further details can be found in the article 1600509 by Zhou‐Hua Jiang, Hua‐Bing Li, and co‐workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]