micro RNAs(mi RNAs) are powerful regulators of posttranscriptional gene expression and play an important role in pathophysiological processes. Circulating mi RNAs can be quantified in body liquids and are promising bi...micro RNAs(mi RNAs) are powerful regulators of posttranscriptional gene expression and play an important role in pathophysiological processes. Circulating mi RNAs can be quantified in body liquids and are promising biomarkers in numerous diseases. In cardiovascular disease mi RNAs have been proven to be reliable diagnostic biomarkers for different disease entities. In cardiac fibrosis(CF) and heart failure(HF) dysregulated circulating mi RNAs have been identified,indicating their promising applicability as diagnostic biomarkers. Some mi RNAs were successfully tested in risk stratification of HF implementing their potential use as prognostic biomarkers. In this respect mi RNAs might soon be implemented in diagnostic clinical routine. In the young field of mi RNA based research advances have been made in identifying mi RNAs as potential targets for the treatment of experimental CF and HF. Promising study results suggest their potential future application as therapeutic agents in treatment of cardiovascular disease. This article summarizes the current state of the various aspects of mi RNA research in the field of CF and HF with reduced ejection fraction as well as preserved ejection fraction. The review provides an overview of the application of circulating mi RNAs as biomarkers in CF and HF and current approaches to therapeutically utilize mi RNAs in this field of cardiovascular disease.展开更多
Heart failure(HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization among older adults and the prevalence is growing with the aging populations in the Western countries. Epidemiologic reports suggest that approximately 50% of p...Heart failure(HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization among older adults and the prevalence is growing with the aging populations in the Western countries. Epidemiologic reports suggest that approximately 50% of patients who have signs or symptoms of HF have preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. This HF type predominantly affects women and the elderly with other co-morbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, and overt volume status. Most of the current treatment strategies are based on morbidity benefits such as quality of life and reduction of clinical HF symptoms. Treatment of patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction displayed disappointing results from several large randomized controlled trials. The heterogeneity of HF with preserved ejection fraction, understood as complex syndrome, seems to be one of the primary reasons. Here, we present an overview of the current management strategies with available evidence and new therapeutic approach from drugs currently in clinical trials, which target diastolic dysfunction, chronotropic incompetence, and risk factor management. We provide an outline and interpretation of recent clinical trials that failed to improve outcome and survival in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction.展开更多
The intense application of Voltage Source Converter based HVDC interconnections and grids will result in a hybrid AC-HVDC-system. The operation of such a system becomes complex regarding system security and system ope...The intense application of Voltage Source Converter based HVDC interconnections and grids will result in a hybrid AC-HVDC-system. The operation of such a system becomes complex regarding system security and system operation. This paper describes major challenges and proposes potential solutions, including a combined security assessment, preventive optimization and curative actions. A coordination of both systems enables an efficient application of existing transport capacity.展开更多
Embryonic stem cells （ESC） are suggested to be immune-privileged, but they carry the risk of uncontrolled expansion and malignancy. Upon differentiation they lose their tumor-forming capacity, but they become immuno...Embryonic stem cells （ESC） are suggested to be immune-privileged, but they carry the risk of uncontrolled expansion and malignancy. Upon differentiation they lose their tumor-forming capacity, but they become immunogenic by the expression of a normal set of MHC molecules. This immunogenicity might trigger rejection after application in regenerative therapies. In this study MHC expression of and immune responses to endothelial derivatives of rat embryonic stem cell-like cells （RESC） under inflammatory conditions were determined in comparison to primary rat aortic endothelial cells （ECs）. Cellular as well as humoral allo-recognition was analyzed in vitro. In addition, im- mune reactions in vivo were assessed by allo-antibody production and determination of interferon-y （IFNy）-secreting alio-reactive T cells. RESC derivatives expressed low but significant levels of MHC class I, and no MHC class II. In response to IFNy MHC class I expression was enhanced, while class II transactivator induction failed completely in these cells; MHC class II expression remained consistently absent. Functionally, the RESC derivatives showed a reduced allo-stimulatory capacity, protection against humoral allo-recognition in vitro and a slightly diminished sus- ceptibility to cytotoxic T cell lysis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that these ceils do not trigger host immune reactions, characterized by no allo-antibody production and no induction of allo-reactive memory T cells. Our results show that endothelial derivatives of RESC have a distinctive reduced immunogenic potency even under inflammatory conditions.展开更多
基金Supported by The European Union,Biomar Ca RE,No.HEALTH-2011-278913
文摘micro RNAs(mi RNAs) are powerful regulators of posttranscriptional gene expression and play an important role in pathophysiological processes. Circulating mi RNAs can be quantified in body liquids and are promising biomarkers in numerous diseases. In cardiovascular disease mi RNAs have been proven to be reliable diagnostic biomarkers for different disease entities. In cardiac fibrosis(CF) and heart failure(HF) dysregulated circulating mi RNAs have been identified,indicating their promising applicability as diagnostic biomarkers. Some mi RNAs were successfully tested in risk stratification of HF implementing their potential use as prognostic biomarkers. In this respect mi RNAs might soon be implemented in diagnostic clinical routine. In the young field of mi RNA based research advances have been made in identifying mi RNAs as potential targets for the treatment of experimental CF and HF. Promising study results suggest their potential future application as therapeutic agents in treatment of cardiovascular disease. This article summarizes the current state of the various aspects of mi RNA research in the field of CF and HF with reduced ejection fraction as well as preserved ejection fraction. The review provides an overview of the application of circulating mi RNAs as biomarkers in CF and HF and current approaches to therapeutically utilize mi RNAs in this field of cardiovascular disease.
文摘Heart failure(HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization among older adults and the prevalence is growing with the aging populations in the Western countries. Epidemiologic reports suggest that approximately 50% of patients who have signs or symptoms of HF have preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. This HF type predominantly affects women and the elderly with other co-morbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, and overt volume status. Most of the current treatment strategies are based on morbidity benefits such as quality of life and reduction of clinical HF symptoms. Treatment of patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction displayed disappointing results from several large randomized controlled trials. The heterogeneity of HF with preserved ejection fraction, understood as complex syndrome, seems to be one of the primary reasons. Here, we present an overview of the current management strategies with available evidence and new therapeutic approach from drugs currently in clinical trials, which target diastolic dysfunction, chronotropic incompetence, and risk factor management. We provide an outline and interpretation of recent clinical trials that failed to improve outcome and survival in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction.
文摘The intense application of Voltage Source Converter based HVDC interconnections and grids will result in a hybrid AC-HVDC-system. The operation of such a system becomes complex regarding system security and system operation. This paper describes major challenges and proposes potential solutions, including a combined security assessment, preventive optimization and curative actions. A coordination of both systems enables an efficient application of existing transport capacity.
文摘Embryonic stem cells （ESC） are suggested to be immune-privileged, but they carry the risk of uncontrolled expansion and malignancy. Upon differentiation they lose their tumor-forming capacity, but they become immunogenic by the expression of a normal set of MHC molecules. This immunogenicity might trigger rejection after application in regenerative therapies. In this study MHC expression of and immune responses to endothelial derivatives of rat embryonic stem cell-like cells （RESC） under inflammatory conditions were determined in comparison to primary rat aortic endothelial cells （ECs）. Cellular as well as humoral allo-recognition was analyzed in vitro. In addition, im- mune reactions in vivo were assessed by allo-antibody production and determination of interferon-y （IFNy）-secreting alio-reactive T cells. RESC derivatives expressed low but significant levels of MHC class I, and no MHC class II. In response to IFNy MHC class I expression was enhanced, while class II transactivator induction failed completely in these cells; MHC class II expression remained consistently absent. Functionally, the RESC derivatives showed a reduced allo-stimulatory capacity, protection against humoral allo-recognition in vitro and a slightly diminished sus- ceptibility to cytotoxic T cell lysis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that these ceils do not trigger host immune reactions, characterized by no allo-antibody production and no induction of allo-reactive memory T cells. Our results show that endothelial derivatives of RESC have a distinctive reduced immunogenic potency even under inflammatory conditions.
