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Hyperkinetic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) severely influences the success of operation for congenital heart disease and deteriorates the prognosis of disease. Adipose-derived stromal cell (ADSC) is a good alternative multipotent stem cell for regeneration medicine. PAH rat models were established by arteriovenous shunt and ADSCs were isolated, cultured, and labeled in vitro. Twelve weeks after shunt operation, rats received an injection of 5 × 10(7) ADSCs. Two weeks after transplantation, hemodynamic abnormality induced by the shunt flow and the hypertrophy of right ventricle were reversed, which was confirmed by invasive measurement and echocardiography examination. The PAH rats receiving cell transplantation demonstrated decreased remodeling of small arteries in the lung; immunohistochemistry analysis showed augmented expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and increased number of pulmonary small arteries. Western blot and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction indicated that the protein and mRNA levels of HGF and endothelial nitric oxide synthase increased, respectively, in the lung after cell transplantation. Our results suggested that ADSC transplantation can ameliorate PAH induced by shunt flow by enhancing the expression of HGF and subsequently promoting angiogenesis in the injured lung tissue.

Objective The adipokine asprosin, which was recently discovered, facilitates hepatic glucose production. The aim of this study is to see whether serum asprosin concentrations are linked to diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods We performed this investigation in a group of 212 type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. These patients were classified into three subgroups: DN0 group (normal to mildly increased), DN1 group (moderately increased), and DN2 group (severely increased) on the basis of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Results When compared to the controls, T2DM patients had higher serum asprosin levels. The DN2 group had significantly higher serum asprosin than the DN0 and DN1 groups. Furthermore, the DN1 group had higher serum asprosin than the DN0 group. Serum asprosin was linked to a higher risk of T2DM and DN in a logistic regression analysis. Serum asprosin was found to be positively related with disease duration, systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, ACR, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker therapy, but negatively related with glomerular filtration rate, metformin, and acarbose therapy. Conclusion Serum asprosin increase with the progression of DN. Serum asprosin is correlated with renal function and ACR.

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Both the therapy with HIF-1α-transfected EPCs, and EPC transplantation, attenuated shunt flow-induced PAH, by means of an angiogenic effect. The former therapeutic method was more effective.

Successful closure of calcified PDA with few complications in older adult patients was achieved using the duct occluder.

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