The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was searched from 2005 to October 2010 using the keywords “”vascular dementia”" or “”vascular cognitive impairment and therapy.”" MEDLINE was searched for English-language JSH-23 in vivo articles published within the last 10 years using the combined Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) “”therapeutics and dementia,”" “”vascular”" or “” vascular cognitive impairment.”" Although cholinesterase inhibitors

and memantine produce small cognitive improvements in patients with VCI, these drugs do not improve global clinical outcomes and have adverse effects and costs. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers may improve short-term cognitive function in patients with VCI. Antihypertensive therapy with an ACE inhibitor-based regimen and statins may prevent the major subtype of VCI known as poststroke cognitive decline. Clinical and effectiveness studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine the benefits and risks of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies to prevent and treat VCI. Given its growing health, social, and economic burden,

the prevention and treatment of VCI are critical priorities for clinical care and research.”
“Background: Pulmonary hypertension is associated with vascular remodeling and increased extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. While the contribution of ECM in vascular remodeling is well documented, the roles played by their receptors, integrins,

in pulmonary hypertension have selleck kinase inhibitor received little attention. Here we characterized the changes of integrin expression in endothelium-denuded pulmonary arteries (PAs) and aorta of chronic hypoxia as well as monocrotaline-treated rats. Methods and Results: Immunoblot showed increased alpha(1)-, alpha(8)- and alpha(v)-integrins, and decreased alpha(5)-integrin levels in PAs of both models. beta(1)- and beta(3)-integrins were reduced in PAs of chronic hypoxia and monocrotaline-treated rats, respectively. Integrin expression in aorta was minimally affected. Differential expression of alpha(1)- and alpha(5)-integrins induced by chronic hypoxia was further examined. Immunostaining showed that they were expressed on the surface of PA smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), and their distribution was unaltered by chronic Alisertib cell line hypoxia. Phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase was augmented in PAs of chronic hypoxia rats, and in chronic hypoxia PASMCs cultured on the alpha(1)-ligand collagen IV. Moreover, alpha(1)-integrin binding hexapeptide GRGDTP elicited an enhanced Ca(2+) response, whereas the response to alpha(5)-integrin binding peptide GRGDNP was reduced in CH-PASMCs. Conclusion: Integrins in PASMCs are differentially regulated in pulmonary hypertension, and the dynamic integrin-ECM interactions may contribute to the vascular remodeling accompanying disease progression. Copyright (C) 2011 S.