Background: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), known as the third endogenous gaseous transmitter, has received increasing attention because of its diverse effects, including angiogenesis, vascular relaxation and myocardial protection.We aimed to investigate the role of H₂S in oxidative/nitrative stress and inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by endotoxemia. Methods: Male ICR mice were divided in six groups: (1) Control group; (2) GYY4137treatment group; (3) L-NAME treatment group; (4) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment group; (5) LPS with GYY4137 treatment group; and (6) LPS with L-NAME treatment group. The lungs were analysed by histology, NO production in the mouse lungs determined by modified Griess (Sigma-Aldrich) reaction, cytokine levels utilizing commercialkits, and protein abundance by Western blotting. Results: GYY4137, a slowly-releasing H₂S donor, improved the histopathological changes in the lungs of endotoxemic mice. Treatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, increased anti-oxidant biomarkers such as thetotal antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and theactivities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) but decreased a marker of peroxynitrite (ONOO-) action and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) in endotoxemic lung. L-NAME administration also suppressed inflammation in endotoxemic lung, as evidenced by the decreased pulmonary levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the increased level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. GYY4137 treatment reversed endotoxin-induced oxidative/nitrative stress, as evidenced by a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogenperoxide (H₂O₂) and 3-NT and an increase in the antioxidant biomarker ratio of reduced/oxidized glutathione(GSH/GSSG ratio) and T-AOC, CAT and SOD activity. GYY4137 also attenuated endotoxin-induced lung inflammation. Moreover, treatment with GYY4137 inhibited inducible NOS (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in the endotoxemia lung. Conclusions: GYY4137 conferred protection against acute endotoxemia-associated lung injury, which may have beendue to the anti-oxidant, anti-nitrative and anti-inflammatory properties of GYY4137. The present findings warrant further exploration of the clinical applicability of H₂S in the prevention and treatment of ALI.

BackgroundWingspan stenting for the treatment of complex intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS), i.e., that involving tortuous vascular pathways, long (>15 mm) lesions or arterial bifurcations, has a relatively high risk of complications. This retrospective study assessed the safety and efficacy of undersized balloon angioplasty followed by deployment of the more flexible Enterprise stent for the treatment of complex symptomatic ICAS.MethodsForty-four patients on combined antiplatelet therapy and intensive risk factor management and a symptomatic 70–99 % stenosis of a major intracranial artery in complex settings that was treated with balloon angioplasty and Enterprise stent deployment between July 2009 and August 2013 were enrolled. Primary outcome was occurrence of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke or death within 30 days after intervention. Secondary outcomes included procedural success (defined as achievement of <50 % immediate residual stenosis), and follow-up clinical and angiographic outcomes.ResultsWith a procedural success rate of 100 %, stenosis was reduced from 79.3 ± 8.1–14.9 ± 12.3 %. Three (6.8 %) ischemic and 1 (2.2 %) hemorrhagic strokes occurred during the periprocedural period, with no further transient ischemic attacks or strokes in the 42 patients available at median 25.6 (range, 12–57) months follow-up. Of the 38 (86.4 %) patients who underwent angiographic follow-up, 3 (6.81 %) developed >50 % in-stent restenosis after mean 22 months follow-up.ConclusionIn this retrospective, single-center experience, undersized balloon angioplasty followed by Enterprise stent deployment appears technically feasible with a relatively low rate of complications for the treatment of complex symptomatic ICAS. Prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trials against optimal medical management are warranted.

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Endogenous H₂S plays a critical role in the maintenance of mitochondrial function in the adrenal cortex, thereby resulting in an adequate adrenocortical response to ACTH.

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The objective of the study was to assess the relationship between hypertension and risk of depression. The relationship between hypertension and depression has been discussed for a long time, but the results are controversial. Studies were searched from PubMed and Cochrane up to 24 March 2014. Any prospective cohort study, which possibly reported the relationship between hypertension and depression, was included. The random effect model was used to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR). Finally, five prospective cohort studies were included for analysis, with a total of 9647 participants involved. Our meta-analysis does not support that hypertension is probably a risk factor of depression. The pooled RR was 1.16 (95% confidence interval: 0.91, 1.42) when those exposed to hypertension were compared with those who were not. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias test suggested that the overall result of this analysis was robust. Further studies are needed to exclude the effects of other confounding factors.

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