Managing Emergent Surgery for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic which may compromise the management of vascular emergencies. An uncompromised treatment for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) during such a health crisis represents a challenge. This study aimed to demonstrate the treatment outcomes of rAAA and the perioperative prevention of cross-infection under the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In cases of rAAA during the pandemic, a perioperative workflow was applied to expedite coronavirus testing and avoid pre-operative delay, combined with a strategy for preventing cross-infection. Data of rAAA treated in 11 vascular centers between January-March 2020 collected retrospectively were compared to the corresponding period in 2018 and 2019. RESULTS: Eight, 12, and 14 rAAA patients were treated in 11 centers in January-March 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. An increased portion were treated at local hospitals with a comparable outcome compared with large centers in Guangzhou. With EVAR-first strategy, 85.7% patients with rAAA in 2020 underwent endovascular repair, similar to that in 2018 and 2019. The surgical outcomes during the pandemic were not inferior to that in 2018 and 2019. The average length of ICU stay was 1.8 ± 3.4 days in 2020, tending to be shorter than that in 2018 and 2019, whereas the length of hospital stay was similar among 3 years. The in-hospital mortality of 2018, 2019, and 2020 was 37.5%, 25.0%, and 14.3%, respectively. Three patients undergoing emergent surgeries were suspected of COVID-19, though turned out to be negative after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience for emergency management of rAAA and infection prevention for healthcare providers is effective in optimizing emergent surgical outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Primary Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor Arising from Left Subclavian Vein and Extending along Left Brachiocephalic Vein and Superior Vena Cava into Right Atrium.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is an extremely rare malignancy thought to be derived from fetal neuroectodermal precursor cells. It usually occurs in central and peripheral nervous system or soft tissue and bone, while intravenous or intracavitary PNET is considered as an extremely rare tumor. We reported a case of a 44-year-old woman who presented with the left unilateral facial and neck swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tape-shaped solid mass within left subclavian vein, left brachiocephalic vein, superior vena cava, and right atrium; the proximal end proportion occupied almost the entire right atrium with a pedicle flip protruded into the right ventricle. Ultrasonography revealed an irregular hypoechnoic mass arising from the left subclavian vein, which extended along the left brachiocephalic vein and superior vena cava into the right atrium and up to the right ventricle. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed several hypermetabolic thyroid nodules with no evidence of intravenous hyperactive lesion. The patient underwent tumor resection under cardiopulmonary bypass. At 15 days postoperatively, total thyroidectomy and resection of the left subclavian vein were simultaneously performed. The patient received chemotherapy and radiotherapy later. Histologically, the neoplasm displayed small, round, blue cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and scant cytoplasm. The neoplastic cells showed a strong immunopositivity for CD99, synaptophysin, CD56, CD57, and friend leukemia integration 1, thus confirming a diagnosis of the PNET. Histopathological examination of the thyroid showed papillary carcinoma. Thus, this PNET had no definitive organ or tissue of origin, which primarily originated from the left subclavian vein with tumor extension along the superior vena cava to the right ventricle.

The rodent models of arteriovenous fistula.

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) have long been used as dialysis access in patients with end-stage renal disease; however, their maturation and long-term patency still fall short of clinical needs. Rodent models are irreplaceable to facilitate the study of mechanisms and provide reliable insights into clinical problems. The ideal rodent AVF model recapitulates the major features and pathology of human disease as closely as possible, and pre-induction of the uremic milieu is an important addition to AVF failure studies. Herein, we review different surgical methods used so far to create AVF in rodents, including surgical suturing, needle puncture, and the cuff technique. We also summarize commonly used evaluations after AVF placement. The aim was to provide recent advances and ideas for better selection and induction of rodent AVF models. At the same time, further improvements in the models and a deeper understanding of AVF failure mechanisms are expected.

Comparative bioinformatics analysis of transcriptomes between ß-aminopropionitrile-induced aortic dissection murine model and human aortic dissection.

Background: Aortic dissection (AD) poses a great threat to the life of patients; however, there is currently no documentation of a clear pathogenic mechanism of this disease. In recent years, ß-aminopropionitrile (BAPN)-induced AD in rodents has been widely used in basic research, which provides a good platform for exploring the pathogenesis of AD and drug modification. This study aimed to identify molecular markers and pathways for the diagnosis and treatment of AD by comparing a murine AD model and human AD transcriptome through a bioinformatics analysis. Methods: We constructed a BAPN-induced mice model and performed high-throughput sequencing analysis. The GSE147026 dataset of patients was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We performed a subsequent bioinformatics analysis of human AD and the murine AD model using R software. The DESeq software package was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed to analyze the enrichment pathways. Protein-protein interaction network construction and hub gene selection were based on STRING software analysis. Stepwise identification of potential drugs was performed online, while hub genes were validated immunohistochemically. Results: We compared the murine AD model and human AD transcriptome and found that both differentially expressed 463 genes. The cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, tuberculosis, and phagosome pathways were significantly enriched. CDC20, CCNB2, and CCNB1 may be associated with AD development. Protein-drug interactions were also identified. Conclusions: This study is the first to reveal transcriptional changes in a murine BAPN-induced AD model versus human AD transcriptome. Furthermore, we identified the important hub genes, related pathways, and potential drugs by analyzing the overlapping DEGs between human AD and the murine AD model. Our results provide a basis for the further identification of potential molecular markers for diagnosing and treating AD.

Identification and Validation of PTGS2 Gene as an Oxidative Stress-Related Biomarker for Arteriovenous Fistula Failure.

(1) Background: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are the preferred site for hemodialysis. Unfortunately, approximately 60% of patients suffer from AVF failure within one year. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the occurrence and development of AVF. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, specific oxidative stress-related biomarkers are urgently needed for the diagnosis and treatment of AVF failure. (2) Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was carried out on dataset GSE119296 to screen for PTGS2 as a candidate gene related to oxidative stress and to verify the expression level and diagnostic efficacy of PTGS2 in clinical patients. The effects of NS398, a PTGS2 inhibitor, on hemodynamics, smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and oxidative stress were evaluated in a mouse AVF model. (3) Results: Based on 83 oxidative stress-related differentially expressed genes, we identified the important pathways related to oxidative stress. PTGS2 may have diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy for AVF failure. We further confirmed this finding using clinical specimens and validation datasets. The animal experiments illustrated that NS398 administration could reduce neointimal area (average decrease: 49%) and improve peak velocity (average increase: 53%). (4) Conclusions: Our study identified PTGS2 as an important oxidative stress-related biomarker for AVF failure. Targeting PTGS2 reduced oxidative stress and improved hemodynamics in an AVF mouse model.

Ferroptosis in Cardiovascular Diseases: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are still a major cause of global mortality and disability, seriously affecting people's lives. Due to the severity and complexity of these diseases, it is important to find new regulatory mechanisms to treat CVDs. Ferroptosis is a new kind of regulatory cell death currently being investigated. Increasing evidence showed that ferroptosis plays an important role in CVDs, such as in ischemia/reperfusion injury, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and atherosclerosis. Protecting against CVDs by targeting ferroptosis is a promising approach; therefore, in this review, we summarized the latest regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis and the current studies related to each CVD, followed by critical perspectives on the ferroptotic treatment of CVDs and the future direction of this intriguing biology.

History, progress and future challenges of artificial blood vessels: a narrative review.

Cardiovascular disease serves as the leading cause of death worldwide, with stenosis, occlusion, or severe dysfunction of blood vessels being its pathophysiological mechanism. Vascular replacement is the preferred surgical option for treating obstructed vascular structures. Due to the limited availability of healthy autologous vessels as well as the incidence of postoperative complications, there is an increasing demand for artificial blood vessels. From synthetic to natural, or a mixture of these components, numerous materials have been used to prepare artificial vascular grafts. Although synthetic grafts are more appropriate for use in medium to large-diameter vessels, they fail when replacing small-diameter vessels. Tissue-engineered vascular grafts are very likely to be an ideal alternative to autologous grafts in small-diameter vessels and are worthy of further investigation. However, a multitude of problems remain that must be resolved before they can be used in biomedical applications. Accordingly, this review attempts to describe these problems and provide a discussion of the generation of artificial blood vessels. In addition, we deliberate on current state-of-the-art technologies for creating artificial blood vessels, including advances in materials, fabrication techniques, various methods of surface modification, as well as preclinical and clinical applications. Furthermore, the evaluation of grafts both in vivo and in vitro, mechanical properties, challenges, and directions for further research are also discussed.

Targeting TNF-α for COVID-19: Recent Advanced and Controversies.

Recent advances in the pathophysiologic understanding of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) suggests that cytokine release syndrome (CRS) has an association with the severity of disease, which is characterized by increased tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2, IL-7, and IL-10. Hence, managing CRS has been recommended for rescuing severe COVID-19 patients. TNF-α, one of the pro-inflammatory cytokines commonly upregulated in acute lung injury, triggers CRS and facilitates SARS-CoV-2 interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). TNF-α inhibitors, therefore, may serve as an effective therapeutic strategy for attenuating disease progression in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Below, we review the possibilities and challenges of targeting the TNF-α pathway in COVID-19 treatment.

Sex Differences in Arteriovenous Fistula Failure: Insights from Bioinformatics Analysis.

(1) Background: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are the preferred access for hemodialysis. Unfortunately, about 60% of patients, especially female patients, fail to receive normal dialysis within one year after surgery because of AVF failure. However, the underlying mechanisms caused by sex differences in AVF failure remain unclear. (2) Methods: We performed analysis of DEGs and functional analysis with the dataset GSE119296 to reveal the biology underlying AVF failure. Immune responses were calculated using CIBERSORT. A protein-protein interaction network and hub gene were constructed using STRING and stepwise identification of potential drugs was performed online. (3) Results: Functional analysis showed that extracellular matrix reprogramming and PI3K-AKT pathway enrichment were significant in both male and female patients. COL1A1 was the hub gene in male patients, whereas CDK1 was the hub gene in female patients. Immune responses including γδ-T cells and mast cells are activated in female patients while no significant differences were noted in the male group. (4) Conclusions: In this study, we used a series of mature and recognized bioinformatic strategies to determine the following items: (1) Reveal the pathogenesis of AVF failure through HUB genes and signaling pathways between the different sexes. (2) Determine the relationship between sex differences in AVF failure and immune abnormalities. (3) Search for relevant sex-specific drugs targeting AVF failure.

Oxidative stress: An essential factor in the process of arteriovenous fistula failure.

For more than half a century, arteriovenous fistula (AVFs) has been recognized as a lifeline for patients requiring hemodialysis (HD). With its higher long-term patency rate and lower probability of complications, AVF is strongly recommended by guidelines in different areas as the first choice for vascular access for HD patients, and its proportion of application is gradually increasing. Despite technological improvements and advances in the standards of postoperative care, many deficiencies are still encountered in the use of AVF related to its high incidence of failure due to unsuccessful maturation to adequately support HD and the development of neointimal hyperplasia (NIH), which narrows the AVF lumen. AVF failure is linked to the activation and migration of vascular cells and the remodeling of the extracellular matrix, where complex interactions between cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators lead to poor adaptive remodeling. Oxidative stress also plays a vital role in AVF failure, and a growing amount of data suggest a link between AVF failure and oxidative stress. In this review, we summarize the present understanding of the pathophysiology of AVF failure. Furthermore, we focus on the relation between oxidative stress and AVF dysfunction. Finally, we discuss potential therapies for addressing AVF failure based on targeting oxidative stress.

Deep vein thrombosis: related to anemophilous pollen?

The etiology of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is still not elucidated nowadays. Based on the accordance between DVT incidence and the anemophilous pollen concentration in the air, we proposed the hypothesis that allergic reaction induced by anemophilous pollen may cause "idiopathic" DVT, and proinflammatory factors may play an important role in the thrombosis process.

H2S attenuates oxidative stress via Nrf2/NF-κB signaling to regulate restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Restenosis after angioplasty of peripheral arteries is a clinical problem involving oxidative stress. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) participates in oxidative stress regulation and activates nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). This study investigated the effect of H2S and Nrf2 on restenosis-induced arterial injury. Using an in vivo rat model of restenosis, we investigated whether H2S inhibits restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and the oxidative stress-related mechanisms implicated therein. The involvement of Nrf2 was explored using Nrf2-shRNA. Neointimal formation and the deposition of elastic fibers were assessed histologically. Inflammatory cytokine secretion and the expression of proteins associated with oxidative stress and inflammation were evaluated. The artery of rats subjected to restenosis showed increased arterial intimal thickness, with prominent elastic fiber deposition. Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), an H2S donor, counteracted these changes in vivo. Restenosis caused a decrease in anti-oxidative stress signaling. This phenomenon was inhibited by NaHS, but Nrf2-shRNA counteracted the effects of NaHS. In terms of inflammation, inflammatory cytokines were upregulated, whereas NaHS suppressed the induced inflammatory reaction. Similarly, Nrf2 downregulation blocked the effect of NaHS. In vitro studies using aortic endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from experimental animals showed consistent results as those of in vivo studies, and the participation of the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway was demonstrated. Collectively, H2S played a role in regulating post-PTA restenosis by alleviating oxidative stress, modulating anti-oxidant defense, and targeting Nrf2-related pathways via nuclear factor-kappa B signaling.

Long non-coding RNA MVIH promotes cell proliferation, migration, invasion through regulating multiple cancer-related pathways, and correlates with worse prognosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.

We aimed to explore the effect of long non-coding RNA MVIH (lnc-MVIH) on cell proliferation, migration as well as invasion, and investigate the landscape of its molecular mechanism in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). Control overexpression (OE-NC group) and lnc-MVIH overexpression (OE-MVIH group) plasmids were transfected in BxPC-3 cells; control knock-down (KD-NC group) and lnc-MVIH knock-down (KD-MVIH group) plasmids were transfected in PANC-1 cells. Cellular functions were measured and mRNA sequencing was conducted. In 70 PDAC patients, lnc-MVIH expression in tumor and adjacent tissues was detected. Lnc-MVIH expression was higher in human PDAC cell lines than human normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cell line. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were increased in OE-MVIH group compared to OE-NC group, but decreased in KD-MVIH group compared to KD-NC group. mRNA sequencing showed 145 differentially expressing genes (DEGs) upregulated in OE-MVIH group vs. OE-NC group and downregulated in KD-MVIH group vs. KD-NC group, and 51 DEGs downregulated in OE-MVIH group vs. OE-NC group and upregulated in KD-MVIH group vs. KD-NC group. These DEGs were enriched in several cancer-related pathways (including Hippo signaling pathway, cell cycle, Forkhead box O signaling pathway, apoptosis and advanced glycation end products-RAGE signaling pathway), and the effect of lnc-MVIH on regulating these DEGs was further validated by RT-qPCR. In PDAC patients, lnc-MVIH expression was increased in tumor tissue and correlated with advanced tumor size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and poor OS. In conclusion, lnc-MVIH might be a potential therapeutic target which regulated multiple cancer-related pathways in PDAC.

Deep Venous Thrombosis in COVID-19 Patients: A Cohort Analysis.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a severe complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this study was to study the prevalence, risk factors, anticoagulant therapy and sex differences of DVT in patients with COVID-19. The enrolled 121 hospitalized non-ventilator patients were confirmed positive for COVID-19. All suspected patients received color Doppler ultrasound (US) to screen for DVT in both lower extremities. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors related to DVT in COVID-19 patients. DVT was found in 48% of the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients with an increased PADUA or Caprini index using US scanning. The multivariate logistic regression determined that age (OR, 1.05; p = .0306), C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR, 1.02; p = .0040), and baseline D-dimer (OR, 1.42; p = .0010) were risk factors among COVID-19 patients. Although the most common DVT location was infrapopliteal (classes I and II), higher mortality in DVT-COVID-19 patients was confirmed. DVT-COVID-19 patients presented significant increases in CRP, neutrophil count, and D-dimer throughout the whole inpatient period compared to non-DVT-COVID-19 patients. Although anticoagulation therapy accelerated the recovery of lymphocytopenia in DVT patients, men DVT-COVID-19 patients with anticoagulant therapy showed significant higher CRP and neutrophil count vs. lymphocyte count (N/L) ratio, but showed lower lymphocyte counts compared to women DVT-COVID-19 patients. DVT is common in COVID-19 patients with high-risk factors, especially for older age and higher CRP and baseline D-dimer populations. It is important to consider sex differences in anticoagulant therapy among DVT-COVID-19 patients.

Accumulated Clinical Experiences from Successful Treatment of 1377 Severe and Critically Ill COVID-19 Cases.

In late December 2019, COVID-19 was firstly recognized in Wuhan, China and spread rapidly to all of the provinces of China. The West Campus of Wuhan Union Hospital, the designated hospital to admit and treat the severe and critically ill COVID-19 cases, has treated a large number of such patients with great success and obtained lots of valuable experiences based on the Chinese guideline (V7.0). To standardize and share the treatment procedures of severe and critically ill cases, Wuhan Union Hospital has established a working group and formulated an operational recommendation, including the monitoring, early warning indicators, and several treatment principles for severe and critically ill cases. The treatment experiences may provide some constructive suggestions for treating the severe and critically ill COVID-19 cases all over the world.

In vivo histocompatibility evaluation of polyurethane membrane modified by superfine silk-fibroin powder.

In this study, a novel polyurethane membrane, modified by superfine silk-fibroin powder, was prepared for small-diameter vascular grafting. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and histological examination were applied to evaluate histocompatibility of this polyurethane membrane. The polyurethane membrane was compared with polytetrafluoroethylene material. A pseudomembrane and gap formed between polytetrafluoroethylene and the surrounding tissues, and no cells infiltrated or grew into the polytetrafluoroethylene material. On the contrary, superfine silk-fibroin powder/polyurethane blend membrane merged tightly with the surrounding tissues without gaps, and cells infiltrated and grew into the material. Moreover, the negative effects of superfine silk-fibroin powder/polyurethane blend membrane on cells were less than those of its polytetrafluoroethylene counterpart. Our findings indicated that the superfine silk-fibroin powder/polyurethane blend membrane has better histocompatibility than polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. It is concluded that the superfine silk-fibroin powder/polyurethane blend membrane is a promising biomaterial for small-diameter prosthesis.

Targeted induction of differentiation of human bone mesenchymal stem cells into neuron-like cells.

A systematic method of isolating and culturing human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), and inducing them to differentiate into neuron-like cells in vitro was established. The hMSCs were isolated from bone marrow with the lymphocyte-separating medium, cultured and expanded in vitro, and induced after addition of compound neuro-revulsants. The morphological changes of hMSCs were observed, and the expression of surface markers in induced hMSCs was immunocytochemically identified during induction period. The hMSCs could be separated, cultured and expanded in vitro. After induction by compound neuro-revulsants for 48 h, the changes of neuron-like cells, such as cellular shrinkage and neurite growth, were observed in some cells. The immunochemical staining revealed nestin (+) or NF (+), and GFAP (-). It was concluded that hMSCs were successfully cultured and induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells.

A novel analytical method to assess the effect of imipenem/cilastatin on liver function laboratory indexes in Chinese underage inpatients: Probability distribution curve.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to establish a novel method to assess the effect of imipenem/cilastatin (IMP) on liver function laboratory indexes in Chinese underage inpatients (inpatients aged <18 year-old). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 188 underage inpatients who received IMP in Xiangya Hospital from January 2016 to April 2018. Demographic data and clinical information of these inpatients were collected. As there was no reference interval of minors, the occurrence of abnormal liver function was estimated by that of adults, temporarily. A new concept (mean-variance induced by drug, MVID) was introduced to analyze the characteristics of total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Effect of MVID of TBil, DBil, ALT and AST in different patients (aged<1 year old and aged ≥ 1 year old) were compared by Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Estimating by reference intervals of adults, 57.4% underage inpatients (108/188) had abnormal liver function. According to the probability distribution curve of MVID, IMP can cause the increase of AST in 24% (0.62-0.38) Chinese underage inpatients, and the increase of ALT in 20% (0.60-0.40) Chinese underage inpatients. And liver protecting drugs can decrease MVID of ALT and AST. There were not statistically significant differences in MVID of TBil, DBil, ALT and AST in different patients (aged<1 year old and aged ≥ 1 year old); P value was 0.711, 0.734, 0.067 and 0.086, respectively. CONCLUSION: IMP can affect the liver function of 20-24% Chinese underage inpatients mainly by increasing the AST and ALT. IMP may induce hepatocellular injury, but not cholestasis. And liver protecting drugs can reverse the side effects caused by IMP. Age may not affect the effect of IMP on liver function.

Protective effect of a hydrogen sulfide donor on balloon injury-induced restenosis via the Nrf2/HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Restenosis is liable to occur following treatment with endovascular interventional therapy. Increasing evidence indicates that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exhibits numerous physiological properties, including antioxidative and cardioprotective disease properties. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the anti­restenosis effects of H2S and its protective mechanisms. A balloon dilatation restenosis model was used, in which model Sprague­Dawley rats were treated with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS: A donor of H2S, 30 µmol/kg) by intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks. Histological observations of the carotid artery were performed, and H2S production and the expression of Nuclear factor­E2­related factor 2 (Nrf2)/hypoxia­inducible factor (HIF)­1α signaling pathway proteins were measured. In addition, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with NaHS following the inhibition of Nrf2 or HIF­1α expression. The expression of Nrf2/HIF­1α signaling pathway proteins, tube formation and cell migration were evaluated thereafter. The results demonstrated that NaHS treatment significantly increased H2S production in rats with restenosis, and that neointimal thickness decreased significantly in arteries with restenosis. Furthermore, an increase in H2S production enhanced the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and expression of its downstream targets, heme oxygenase­1 and superoxide dismutase, as well as HIF­1α. Similar effects of NaHS on the expression of these proteins were observed in HUVECs. Additionally, these findings indicated that NaHS­induced HIF­1α expression was dependent on Nrf2 expression. NaHS treatment also markedly increased tube formation by upregulating vascular endothelial growth factor expression and cell migration, both of which were mediated by the Nrf2/HIF­1α signaling pathway, and suppressed the migration and proliferation of human vascular smooth muscle cells. Thus, NaHS­mediated H2S production was observed to prevent neointimal hyperplasia, promote activation of the Nrf2/HIF­1α signal pathway, and enhance HUVEC tube formation and migration, thereby exerting protective effects on balloon injury­induced restenosis.