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Coronary artery spasm （CAS） is a hyper-contraction of segmental coronary artery in response to multiple stimuli. At present, it’s still in lack of specific diagnostic indicators of sudden cardiac death caused by CAS. This review summarizes current researches on the mechanisms of CAS and describes the roles of vascular endothelial dysfunction and vascular smooth muscle hypersensitivity in the course of CAS. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms of the endogenous NO and endothelin-1 cause vascular endothelial dysfunction, and the phosphorylation of MLC2, Rho kinase and endoplasmic reticulum stress related to vascular smooth muscle hypersensitivity are discussed. Meanwhile, the possibility of forensic application for the related molecules on the diagnosis of sudden cardiac death caused by CAS are also explored.

Abstract: Cp3Fe4(CO)4(4′-C5H4-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) (abbreviated as Fe4tpyH) reacts with Os3(CO)10(NCMe)2 in hot methylcyclohexane to generate the double cluster (μ-H)Os3(μ,η 2-Fe4tpy)(CO)10 (1) and (μ-H)Os3(μ,η 3-Fe4tpy)(CO)9 (2). Similar reaction of 4′-(p-FC6H4)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (abbreviated as FtpyH) and Os3(CO)10(NCMe)2 affords (μ-H)Os3(μ,η 2-Ftpy)(CO)10 (3) and (μ-H)Os3(μ,η 3-Ftpy)(CO)9 (4). On the other hand, treating the pristine molecule 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (abbreviated as TpyH) with Os3(CO)10(NCMe)2 only isolates (μ-H)Os3(μ,η 2-Tpy)(CO)10 (5). These compounds are generated by complexation and C–H bond activation of pyridyl groups on triosmium framework, and have been characterized by IR, NMR, and mass spectroscopies. The structure of 4 is determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Schistosomiasis japonica is currently one of the most serious parasitic diseases and over 670000 people are infected in China by the end of 2006. In order to establish an effective diagnostic method, the gene coding for Sj14-3-3 and Sj26kDa GST were cloned and expressed separately in Escherichia coli as fusion protein with His-tag. The rSj14-3-3 and 26kDa rSjGST were combinedly used as antigens for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to diagnose acute and chronic S. japonica. Our results showed that the sensitivity in diagnoses of both acute and chronic schistosomiasis was 94.4% (67/71) and 80.7% (96/119), respectively. The specificity was 94.7% applying 132 sera from people living in S. japonicum-free areas. The data also showed that the recombinant proteins cross-react with Clonorchis sinensis and hookworms at a rate of 11.8% and 5.3% respectively. Parallel tests were conducted among ELISA, indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) and circular ovum precipitin test (COPT) to determine anti-S. japonicum antibodies in sera of patients with schistosomiasis, healthy control, and those infected with other parasites and the results showed no significant difference in sensitivity for acute schistosomiasis between ELISA and IHA assays (chi(2)=1.33, P>0.05), but significant between ELISA and COPT assays (chi(2)=6.72, P<0.01). Our results also revealed significant difference in positive rate between ELISA and IHA (chi(2)=24.74, P<0.005), as well as between ELISA and COPT (chi(2)=58.14, P<0.005). These results suggest that the rSj14-3-3 and r26kDa SjGST would be effective diagnostic antigens for detection of antibodies to S. japonicum in human. Due to the easy production, high sensitivity and specificity, the recombinant proteins tested in this study can be considered as candidate reagent for immunological diagnosis of human schistosomiasis.