Abstract: A compression device can include an adjustable belt, an inflation bladder, and a control module. The adjustable belt can be sized to fit circumferentially around a subject's abdomen. The inflatable bladder and the control module can be secured to the belt. The control module can include a housing that encloses at least one of a pump, a pressure relief valve, and a controller. The pump and the pressure relief valve can be in fluid communication with the bladder. The pump can be configured to inflate the bladder to a pre-determined pressure and apply a compressive pressure to the subject's abdomen. The pressure relief valve can be configured to decrease the pressure within the bladder. The controller can be configured to automatically adjust the compressive pressure in response to a change in the subject's posture. The controller can be in electrical communication with the pump and the pressure relief valve.

Abstract: A compression device can include an adjustable belt, an inflation bladder, and a control module. The adjustable belt can be sized to fit circumferentially around a subject's abdomen. The inflatable bladder and the control module can be secured to the belt. The control module can include a housing that encloses at least one of a pump, a pressure relief valve, and a controller. The pump and the pressure relief valve can be in fluid communication with the bladder. The pump can be configured to inflate the bladder to a pre-determined pressure and apply a compressive pressure to the subject's abdomen. The pressure relief valve can be configured to decrease the pressure within the bladder. The controller can be configured to automatically adjust the compressive pressure in response to a change in the subject's posture. The controller can be in electrical communication with the pump and the pressure relief valve.

Abstract: Intracoronary delivery of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is an emerging concept for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, and enhancement of EPC adhesion to vascular endothelium should improve cell retention within targeted organs, as well as vascular development. The present inventors have shown that stimulation of adenosine receptors (AdoR) in murine embryonic EPCs (eEPCs) and cardiac endothelial cells (cECs) rapidly, within minutes, increased eEPC adhesion to cECs. eEPCs and cECs were found to predominantly express functional A1 and A2B AdoR subtypes, respectively, and both subtypes are involved in the regulation of eEPC adhesion to cECs. Adenosine, adenosine precursors (e.g., AMP) and adenosine receptor agonists thus can be used to stimulate EPC/stem cell homing and engraftment in cell-based therapies.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of inducing vasodilation in a subject diagnosed with a need for vasodilation, comprising administering into a blood vessel of the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition consisting essentially of adenosine monophosphate in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, whereby the administration of the composition induces vasodilation in the subject. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.