Correlation matrix between metabolic and anthropometric characteristics of study participants.

<p>Correlation matrix between metabolic and anthropometric characteristics of study participants.</p

Metabolic characteristics of study participants.

<p>Metabolic characteristics of study participants.</p

Partial linear correlation coefficients of serum TRAIL levels and metabolic characteristics of study participants.

<p>Partial linear correlation coefficients of serum TRAIL levels and metabolic characteristics of study participants.</p

Subcloning potential of EPC/ECFC generated from the PBMC of ACS patients.

<p>After <i>ex-vivo</i> expansion, primary EPC/ECFC colonies were trypsinized and assessed for clonogenic potential capacity by single cells replating assay. In <b>A</b>, single cells derived from EPC/ECPF colonies were seeded in collagen I coated wells and monitored day by day (<b>a</b>: day 1; <b>b</b>: day 2; <b>c</b>: day 3; <b>e–f</b>: day 4; <b>a–e</b>: original magnification 25X; <b>f</b>: original magnification 40X). One representative experiment is shown. In <b>B</b>, secondary clones were classified on the basis of their proliferation properties. Data are mean±SD derived from six independent experiments.</p

Multivariable linear regression models predicting serum TRAIL levels according to selected metabolic characteristics of study participants.

<p>Model 1 adjusted for age and gender.</p><p>Model 2 adjusted for age, gender and C-reactive protein.</p><p>Model 3 adjusted for age, gender, C-reactive protein and all variables included in table.</p><p>Model 4 Model 3 with stepwise backward selection of unnecessary variables (p for removal 0.1).</p

Characteristics of study participants according to TRAIL distribution.

<p>Characteristics of study participants according to TRAIL distribution.</p

Association between TRAIL and BNP adjusted for demographic and clinical parameters (multivariable linear regression analysis).

<p>BMI = body mass index; QWMI = Q-wave myocardial infarction; UA = unstable angina.</p

Charateristics of the study population.

<p>Values given as percentage or mean±SD. BMI = body mass index; BNP = B-type natriuretic peptide; CK = creatine kinase; CK-MB = creatine kinase-MB fraction; CRP = C-reactive protein.</p

Identification of optimal culture conditions for the <i>ex-vivo</i> expansion of ACS PB-derived EPC/ECFC.

<p> Primary EPC/ECFC colonies were generated by plating patient PBMC in M⁵¹⁰⁰ medium, as detailed in the Method section. In <b>A</b>, after the colony identification (at day 5 after plating), medium was change (arrow) and replaced either with fresh M⁵¹⁰⁰, or M^EGM or M¹⁹⁹ and the development of the colonies was monitored over the time. The growth kinetics of a representative experiment out of five independent experiments is shown. At each indicated time point, the mean cell number/ECFC was determined by two independent operators; standard deviations were below 10% and are not shown. Asterisk, p<0.05. In <b>B</b>, immunocytochemical analysis of <i>in vitro</i> expanded EPC/ECFC documenting positivity for CD105 antigen (original magnification: 20X) and for the specific endothelial marker Factor VIII (original magnification: 40X). In <b>C</b>, FISH analysis performed on <i>in vitro</i> expanded EPC/ECFC by using the centromeric enumeration probe CEP9 (white arrows) documenting a normal diploid chromosomal pattern (original magnification: 40X).</p

Serum TRAIL levels in AMI patients and healthy individuals.

<p>Levels of TRAIL were determined by ELISA in sera from AMI patients (analyzed at the indicated times post AMI) and from healthy control subjects. Horizontal bars are median, upper and lower edges of box are 75th and 25th percentiles, lines extending from box are 10th and 90th percentiles.</p