Polarisation of T-cadherin to the leading edge of migrating vascular cells in vitro: a function in vascular cell motility?

Both histological and in vitro studies indicate a relationship between T-cadherin levels and acquisition of a modulated, migratory phenotype by vascular cells. This study further examines a role for T-cadherin in relation to cell migration and adhesion. Fluorescence microscopic examination of T-cadherin localisation in confluent cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), human aortic smooth muscle cells and the human carcinoma cell line ECV-304 revealed global distribution over the entire cell body, and with only slight enrichment at cell borders. This contrasts with restricted cell-cell junction localisation of classical cadherin (for example, VE-cadherin in HUVEC). In wounded cultures, T-cadherin polarised to the leading edge of cells migrating into the wound area, again contrasting with classical VE-cadherin, which was undetectable in this region. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that potential signalling functions of T-cadherin at the leading edge are unrelated to physical interactions with caveolin. Adherence of HUVEC onto a monolayer of T-cadherin-transfected L929 cells is significantly reduced compared with adhesion onto control (T-cadherin-negative) L929. Thus T-cadherin is not required for maintenance of intercellular adhesion, but may rather function as a signalling molecule involved in cell-cell recognition and sensing of the environment in processes where cell detachment occur

Effects of anti-ischaemic drug therapy in silent myocardial ischaemia type I: the Swiss Interventional Study on Silent Ischaemia type I (SWISSI I): a randomized, controlled pilot study

Aims To determine the effect of anti-ischaemic drug therapy on long-term outcomes of asymptomatic patients without coronary artery disease (CAD) history but silent exercise ST-depression. Methods and results In a randomized multicentre trial, 263 of 522 asymptomatic subjects without CAD but at least one CAD risk factor in whom silent ischaemia by exercise ECG was confirmed by stress imaging were asked to participate. The 54 (21%) consenting patients were randomized to anti-anginal drug therapy in addition to risk factor control (MED, n = 26) or risk factor control-only (RFC, n = 28). They were followed yearly for 11.2 ± 2.2 years. During 483 patient-years, cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or acute coronary syndrome requiring hospitalization or revascularization occurred in 3 (12%) of MED vs. 17 (61%) of RFC patients (P < 0.001). In addition, MED patients had consistently lower rates of exercise-induced ischaemia during follow-up, and left ventricular ejection fraction remained unchanged (−0.7%, P = 0.597) in contrast to RFC patients in whom it decreased over time (−6.0%, P = 0.006). Conclusion Anti-ischaemic drug therapy and aspirin seem to reduce cardiac events in subjects with asymptomatic ischaemia type I. In such patients, exercise-induced ST-segment depression should be verified by stress imaging; if silent ischaemia is documented, anti-ischaemic drug therapy and aspirin should be considere

Adrenergic control of mammalian myocardial contraction

Thesis (M. Sc.) -- Stellenbosch University, 1977.One copy microfiche.Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record

Staged stenting of a long aneurysm of a saphenous vein coronary artery bypass graft

A 65-year-old male who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) 21 years ago and received a mitral valve annuloplasty 5 years ago presented with recurrent angina. Computed tomography showed an aneurysm of the saphenous vein graft (SVG), measuring approximately 43 x 33 mm with mural thrombus. Diagnostic catheterization showed that the SVG to the marginal branch of the left circumflex artery had a large aneurysm with mural thrombus, which measured 32 x 45 mm. The lesion was pretreated with a 5.5 x 47 mm Magic Wallstent (Boston Scientific, Maple Grove, Minnesota) followed by 4.0 x 26, 4. x 26, 4.0 x 19 and 4.0 x 16 mm PTFE-covered stents. Postdilatation was performed using a 5.0 x 20 mm balloon. Because of significant flow from the distal end of the PTFE-covered stents seen at coronary angiography after 6 months, we implanted another 4.0 x 26 mm PTFE-covered stent at the distal edge of the previous stent. Final angiography and intravascular ultrasound showed no significant flow into the aneurysm

T-Cadherin Expression in the Epidermis and Adnexal Structures of Normal Skin

Background: T-cadherin is an atypical glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored member of the cadherin superfamily of adhesion molecules. The role of T-cadherin in biology of the skin is poorly understood. Expression of T-cadherin in basal keratinocytes and dermal blood vessels of the healthy epidermis has been demonstrated, but studies on expression in skin appendages are rare. Methods: We conducted an immunohistochemical analysis of T-cadherin expression in the epidermis and adnexal structures of normal skin. Results: T-cadherin expression is restricted to basal keratinocytes of the epidermis. The basal cell layer of sebaceous glands was T-cadherin positive, whereas sebocytes were negative. Within apocrine glands, only myoepithelial cells were T-cadherin positive. In contrast, both the secretory coils and excretory ducts of eccrine glands were T-cadherin positive. In terminal hair follicles, the outer root sheath layers strongly expressed T-cadherin throughout different regions of the follicle, with the strongest immunoreactivity at the bulge and suprabulbar regions. T-cadherin and CK15 stem cell marker similarly localized within the bulge and suprabulbar region. T-cadherin and CD34 stem cell marker similarly localized at the suprabulbar level. Conclusion: The specific patterns of T-cadherin expression in the epidermis and adnexal structures suggest an important guardian role in skin homeostasis

Interventional therapy for hypertension: Back on track again?

Treatment-resistant hypertension, or resistant hypertension, is defined as blood pressure that remains above target despite concurrent use of at least three antihypertensive agents from different classes at optimal doses, one of which should be a diuretic. Important considerations in the diagnosis of treatment-resistant hypertension include the exclusion of pseudoresistance and the evaluation of potential secondary causes of hypertension and of concomitant conditions that maintain high blood pressure. The ability to diagnose true treatment-resistant hypertension is important for selection of patients who may be appropriately treated with an invasive therapy. Currently, there are three interventional approaches to treat resistant hypertension, namely: (1) reduction of the activity of the sympathetic nervous system by renal nerve ablation, (2) stimulation of baroreceptors and (3) creation of a peripheral arterial venous anastomosis. This review focuses on the rationale behind these invasive approaches and the clinical results

Cadherins and cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular diseases encompass an enormous range of conditions arising through an equally diverse aetiology. The cadherin superfamily of cell surface adhesion molecules have long been recognised for their crucial roles in morphogenesis and controlled growth and turnover in adult tissues. Thus, their involvement in the development of cardiovascular diseases characterised by tissue remodelling can be predicted. However, given the diversity of cadherins expressed on resident cells in cardiac and vascular tissue and their assorted and frequently overlapping functions that extend beyond mere mediation of adhesive interactions, definition of specific roles in the progression of cardiovascular diseases can be confounding. Compared with the fields of embryogenesis and oncology, investigations targeted specifically toward delineation of the participation of cadherins in cardiovascular disease are remarkably scant. In this article we offer the reader a brief introduction to members of the cadherin superfamily, and review the involvement of cadherins in cardiac diseases (dilated and dysplastic cardiomyopathies) and vascular diseases (atherosclerosis and restenosis) in which prominent alterations in tissue architecture occur and ultimately cause the clinical manifestations and complications of the diseases. Putative functions of the different cadherins expressed in cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells are discussed

Intravascular ultrasound-based left main coronary artery assessment : comparison between pullback from left anterior descending and circumflex arteries

OBJECTIVE: We compared continuous pullback from the left anterior descending artery (LAD) with pullback from the circumflex artery (CX) for the assessment of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). BACKGROUND: Gray-scale IVUS and virtual histology by IVUS (IVUS-VH) overcome many shortcomings of contrast angiography in diagnostic assessment of the LMCA. IVUS of LCMA can be acquired by continuous pullback from LAD or CX. Equivalence of the two pullback methods has not been investigated. METHODS: LMCA morphology was assessed by IVUS in 65 patients referred for elective or rescue coronary angiography. In each patient IVUS was performed once using pullback from the LAD and once using pullback from the CX. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to measure the degree of reliability. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 60.4 +/- 9.5 years (range 40-84). The IVUS-determined degree of stenosis in the LMCA was a mean of 30% +/- 8% (range 15-52%). The ICC showed excellent reliability (ICC < 0.8) for volume measurements within the plaque (lipid volume, fibrolipidic volume, lipid core volume and calcified volume) and for the measurement of large or averaged diameters (maximal vessel diameter, average vessel diameter, average lumen diameter). The ICC was intermediate (ICC 0.5-0.8) for the measurement of small diameters (minimal vessel diameter, minimal lumen diameter, maximal lumen diameter) and for area calculations (minimal lumen area) based on small diameters. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there was excellent reliability between IVUS-based LMCA morphology assessment using pullback from either the LAD or the CX