Galectin-3 mediates high-glucose-induced cardiomyocyte injury by the NADPH oxidase/reactive oxygen species pathway.

Galectin-3 is a member of the ß-galactoside-binding lectin family taking part in the regulation of inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis. This study was designed to study the improved effect of galectin-3 inhibition on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into the control, DCM, and DCM + modified citrus pectin (MCP) (a galectin-3 pharmacological inhibitor) groups. After 8 weeks, streptozotocin-induced DCM led to high blood glucose level, oxidative stress, cardiac injury, and dysfunction accompanied by suppressed body mass. On the contrary, MCP (100 mg·kg-1·day-1) administration improved body mass and blood glucose level and attenuated cardiac injury and dysfunction in DCM rats. Additionally, MCP attenuated pathological changes in plasma and myocardial tissue markers of oxidative stress, such as hydrogen peroxide and malonyldialdehyde, although it did not change superoxide dismutase activities, which were decreased in the DCM group. The levels of oxidative stress associated proteins evaluated by Western blot, such as p67phox and NADPH oxidase 4, were obviously increased in the DCM group, while they were reversed by MCP treatment. Therefore, galectin-3-mediated high-glucose-induced cardiomyocyte injury and galectin-3 inhibition attenuated DCM by suppressing NADPH oxidase. These findings suggested that galectin-3 could be a potential target for treatment of patients with DCM.

International normalized ratio for the guidance of warfarin treatment in elderly patients after cardiac valve replacement.

Thus far, the target value for international normalized ratio (INR) has remained to be determined. The current study aimed to further explore the INR value of the anti-coagulation drug warfarin after cardiac valve replacement. The clinical data of 213 patients who underwent cardiac valve replacement at Linyi Central Hospital (Linyi, China) between January 2010 and May 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The warfarin dosage, prothrombin time (PT) and INR were compared among patients with hemorrhage or embolism, and those with no complications. A total of 31 cases (14.6%) developed adverse reactions and complications during the medication period, including 21 cases with hemorrhage (9.9%, hemorrhage group) and 10 cases with embolism (4.7%, embolism group), while 182 patients did not (85.4%, normal group). The average dosage of warfarin was 2.0±0.6, 3.1±0.7 and 1.7±0.6 mg/day in the normal, hemorrhage and embolism groups, respectively. The dosage of warfarin, the PT and the INR in the hemorrhage group were all significantly greater than those in the normal group and the embolism group (all P<0.05). INR monitoring is recommended to ensure the safety of the anti-coagulant drug warfarin, but further study is still required to determine a reasonable target INR value.