Vessel remodeling

Ref. (61)]. The interim results confirmed the feasibility and safety of using E2F-I decoy. Analysis of the secondary endpoints using quantitative coronary angiography and three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound demonstrated increased patency and adaptive vessel remodeling characterized by reduction in neointimal size and volume in the treated group one year after treatment, leading to 40% reduction in critical stenosis. These results will now need to be confirmed in adequately sampled and powered phase III studies in patients with coronary and peripheral vessel disease in order to further... 

Fung, Y.C., Liu, S.Q., and Zhou, J.B. 1993. Remodeling of the constitutive equation while a blood vessel remodels itself under strain. /. Biomech. Eng. 115 453. 

WIEGMAN, P. 1., BARRY, W. L., MCPHERSON, 1. A., MCNAMARA, C. A., GIMPLE, L. W., SANDERS, J. M., BISHOP, G. G., POWERS, E. R., RAGOSTA, M., OWENS, G. K. SAREMBOCK, I. J. 2000. All-trans-retinoic acid limits restenosis after balloon angioplasty in the focaUy atherosclerotic rabbit A favorable effect on vessel remodeling. Arterioscler Thromb Vase Biol, 20, 89-95. 

Benjamin, L. E., Hemo, 1., and Keshet, E. 1998. A plasticity window for blood vessel remodelling is defined by pericyte coverage of the preformed endothelial network and is regulated by RDGF-B and VEGF. Development, 125, 1591-8. 

Vascular endothelial NOS (eNOS) is a calcium-calmodulin-dependent enzyme, with a monomeric molecular weight of 133 kDa that is bound to the cell membrane with a myristoylate bridge linked to the N-terminal glycine of the enzyme (Nathan 1992 Sessa et al. 1992). It is now well appreciated that eNOS is important for cardiovascular homeostasis, vessel remodeling, and angiogenesis (Nadaud et al. 2000 Chiou 2001). 

Pulmonary hypertension develops late in the course of COPD, usually after the development of severe hypoxemia. It is the most common cardiovascular complication of COPD and can result in cor pulmonale, or right-sided heart failure. Hypoxemia plays the primary role in the development of pulmonary hypertension by causing vasoconstriction of the pulmonary arteries and by promoting vessel wall remodeling. Destruction of the pulmonary capillary bed by emphysema further contributes by increasing the pressure required to perfuse the pulmonary vascular bed. Cor pulmonale is associated with venous stasis and thrombosis that may result in pulmonary embolism. Another important systemic effect is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, which contributes to exercise limitations and declining health status. 

A number of studies have investigated the use of PGE and PGI2 compounds in Raynaud s phenomenon and peripheral atherosclerosis. In the latter case, prolonged infusions have been used to permit remodeling of the vessel wall and to enhance regression of ischemic ulcers. 

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