Abstract:Aim To observe the effects of panax quinquefolius saponin on plaque content and the gene expressions of perilipin and scavenger receptor CD36 assosciated with lipid metabolism of ApoE-gene knockout mice and explore the effect of panax quinquefolius saponin on atherosclerotic plaque stability and its possible mechanism.Methods Thirty-three ApoE knockout mice had been fed with a high-fat diet for 13 weeks until the mature atherosclerotic plaques formed.Thereafter, they were randomized to three groups: control group,panax quinquefolius saponin group,simvastatin group(positive control group).Two drug-treated groups were treated with respective drug in clinical recommended doses for another 13 weeks accompancied by feeding high-fat diet.Then all the mice were sacrificed at the end of experiment,their blood was collected for determining the concentrations of blood lipids.The morphology and composition of atherosclerotic plaques in aortic roots were examined in tissue sections.Four sections were choosed and stained with Movat and HE stains respectively.The lipid core in plaque as well as the ratio of lipid to collagen content in plaque in each mouse were measured and counted.The gene expressions of perilipin and CD36 were determined by Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR technology.Results After treated drugs for 13 weeks,panax quinquefolius saponin group significantly reduced the lipid core as well as the ratio of lipid to collagen content in and the concentration of HDL in serum was significantly increased(p< 0.01).The gene expression of perilipin and CD36 in aorta were significantly

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effects of agonist of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor beta/delta(PPAR β/δ) on angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ)-induced hypertrophy myocytes and the changes of expressions of PPAR β/δ in vitro. Methods Hypertrophy in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes(MC) was established with AngⅡ and treated with GW0742.The surface area of MC was analyzed by the aid of NIH Image J software,and the synthetic rate of protein in MC was detected by 3 H-leucine incorporation.mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP),brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),and PPAR β/δ was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Protein expression of PPAR β/δ was detected by immunofluorescence staining.Results Changes induced by AngⅡ of MC were detected,including increases of surface area,mRNA expression of ANP,BNP,and 3 H-leucine incorporation;and decreases of mRNA and protein expressions of PPAR β/δ.Treatment with GW0742 inhibited the changes above.Conclusions The results demonstrate that GW0742,an agonist of PPAR β/δ,inhibits cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and suggest that GW0742 has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of cardiac diseases such as cardiac hypertrophy by activation of PPAR β/δ pathway.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effects of oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) and atorvastatin on gene and protein expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2(ACE-2) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC).Methods HUVEC cultured with equal serum-free medium were used as control.Different concentration groups of ox-LDL and atorvastatin: HUVEC were treated with ox-LDL(20,40 and 80 mg/L) and atorvastatin(1,5 and 10 μmol/L) for 24 h,respectively.In a timecontrol experiment,HUVEC were treated with ox-LDL at final concentration of 40 mg/L and atorvastatin of 5 μmol/L for 6,12 and 24 h,respectively.HUVEC were preincubated with atorvastatin(5 μmol/L) for 1 h and then cocultured with ox-LDL(40 mg/L) for 24 h.Changes in both gene and protein expression of ACE-2 were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis technique,respectively.Results Ox-LDL induced a concentration and time dependent decrease in gene and protein expression of ACE-2.When compared with that of control group,ACE-2 mRNA expression decreased to 73%,51%,33% and protein expression decreased to 81%,50% and 32%,respectively,after treated with different concentrations of ox-LDL(p< 0.01).When treated with ox-LDL for 6,12 and 24 h at concentration of 40 mg/L ox-LDL,ACE-2 mRNA expression in HUVEC decreased to 66%,55% and 50% when compared with that of control group( p<0.01),and protein expression decreased to 63%,53% and 49%(p< 0.01),respectively.Gene expression and protein expression of ACE-2 in groups treated with atorvastatin alone showed no significant difference when compared with that of control groups( p> 0.05).Pretreatment of HUVEC with simvastatin(5 μmol/L) for 1 h could obviously inhibited 40 mg/L ox

Abstract:Aim To explore the cellular mechanisms of free cholesterol(FC)-induced macrophage apoptosis by activating unfolded protein response(UPR).Methods Macrophages were harvested from the peritonea of female C57BL6/J mice,then incubated in DMEM and 1% fetal bovine serum(FBS) medium alone,or medium containing acetyl-low density lipoprotein(ac-LDL) and compound 58035(free cholesterol-loading conditions),or medium containing ac-LDL and compound 58035 plus U18666A respectively.Western-blot was used to determine expression of C/EBP homology protein(CHOP).The apoptosis percentages of macrophages were detected with flow cytometry(FCM) after the staining of Annexin-V and propidium(PI).Results Macrophages incubated in DMEM and 1% FBS alone had no expression of CHOP and showed very little evidence of cell apoptosis.After incubated with medium containing ac-LDL and compound 58035 in our cell culture model,the expression of CHOP increased notably and about 21.83%±2.47% apoptosis of the cells had been detected.But apoptosis was diminished markedly in free cholesterol-loaded plus U18666A and also no CHOP expression had been detected.Conclusions Excess intracellular FC accumulation plays an important role in macrophage apoptosis,and UPR is involved in this process.But U18666A can block FC transport into endoplasmic reticulum(ER) to activate the CHOP and subsequent apoptosis.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the expression of protein kinase C(PKC) isoenzyme and apoptosis in rats following intralcerebral hemorrhage,and the intervention effect of hirudin.Methods Animal model was made by injecting self arterial blood into the caudate nucleus of rats.75 rats were randomly assigned to control group,cerebral hemorrhage group and aprotinin treated group.After the injection,the rats were sacrificed at 6 h,1 d,3 d,6 d,10 d respectively.The expression of PKC isoenzyme was measured by immunohistochemistry method,and apoptosis detected with TUNEL method over a time course ranging from 6 hours to 10 days.Results Compared with the control group,the level of PKC isoenzyme increased after 6 hours of intralcerebral hemorrhage and reached its climax at the 3 day,then decreased at the 6 day and come back to the normal standard at the 10 day.Administration of aprotinin could reduce the expression and the level of apoptosis.Conclusions The expression of protein kinase C isoenzyme and apoptosis were up-regulated in rats following intralcerebral hemorrhage;Aprotinin can reduce the level of apoptosis;the inhibited expression of PKC isoenzyme may be involved in the mechanisms.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effects of different level testosterone on production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) in HUVEC and possible mechanism,so as to study the relationship between atherosclerosis and testosterone. Method After foreclosed HUVEC with LPS and different testosterone(control,3×10-10 mol/L,physiological concentration 3×10-9 and 3×10 -8 mol/L,3×10-6,3×10-5 mol/L),protein production of MCP-1 was examined by ELISA and mRNA level by RT-PCR.To study the mechanism,we added Fluramide or Aminoglutethimide beforehand in the medium for 5 hours and reduplicated above experimental processes. Results In contrast to control,protein production of lower testosterone was significantly increased and this effect was contracted by fluramide;while protein production were significantly decreased by 3×10-5 mol/L testosterone and mRNA level decreased by 3×10-9,3×10-6,3×10-5 mol/L testosterone,those effects were weakened by aminoglutethimide.Conclusion Lower testosterone may stimulate inflammation of HUVEC;testosterone of physiological level or above could suppress HUVEC from inflammation and dysfunction by converting to estradiol.

Abstract:Aim To explore the effects of different concentrations of salvianolic acid B on mouse platelet adherence function.Methods After different concentrations of salvianolic acid B were added into mouse blood,the adherence appearance and area of platelet on collagen protein were observed and calculated by hemoperfusion in vitro at low shear rate(300 S-1),meanwhile normal saline served as the control.Results Adherence area of platelet of different concentrations of salvianolic acid B group(400 mg/L,800 mg/L and 1 200 mg/L) and normal saline were 9.4%±1.2%,7.6%±1.1%,3.1%±0.5%,15.9%±2.6%.There was significant difference in adherence area and appearance of platelet between different concentrations of salvianolic acid B group and control group(p< 0.001),and there was significant difference in adherence area between 400 mg/L and 800 mg/L salvianolic acid B(p< 0.05),400 mg/L and 1 200 mg/L salvianolic acid B(p< 0.001),800 mg/L and 1 200 mg/L salvianolic acid B(p< 0.001).In control group platelet agglutinated into pieces and the adherence of single platelet was a rare condition.In experimental group the adherence of platelet decreased with the increase of concentration of salvianolic acid B and the platelet adhered loosely and there were many single spreading triangle or polygon platelets.Conclusion Hemoperfusion in vitro by using slide coated with collagen protein is convenient and macroscopic to study the adherence area and appearance of platelet in vitro.Experimental results can reflect salvianolic acid B has conspicuous anti-adherence and anti-agglutination effects on platelet.

Abstract:Aim To study the biocompatibility of Dacron vascular prosthesis surface in rabbit model coated with 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine(MPC) by ozonization.Methods Dacron vascular prosthesis was exposed to ozone and then followed by grafted polymerization with MPC.Pruned the vascular prothesis coated with MPC and patched the abdomenal aorta of twelve rabbits(treated group) controlled with uncoated grafts.The patency rate of abdomenal aorta,level of anastomotic stenosis,volume of blood flow of vascular prosthesis and the BrdU labeling index were observed.Results After patched the abdomenal aorta of rabbits using different Dacron vascular prosthesis,there was no significant difference in the patency rate between the two groups.Level of stenosis in anastomotic area was less in treated group than control group.The BrdU labeling index in neointimal tissue and smooth muscle around stoma was significantly less(p< 0.05) in the treated group than in the control group.Conclusions These data demonstrated that Dacron vascular prosthesis coated with MPC significantly reduces anastomotic intima and smooth muscle hyperplasia,reduces level of anastomotic stenosis and increase volume of blood flow of vascular prosthesis.

Abstract:Aim To compare the differences of high density lipoprotein(HDL) antioxidant activity between normal people and the essential hypertension patients,and to explore the factors that may affect the antioxidant capacity of HDL. Methods Thirty-three patients with essential hypertension and 32 normal people were included.HDL and low density lipoprotein(LDL) were isolated by one-step density grandient ultracentrifugation,and induced oxidation with external Cu 2+.Antioxidant activity of HDL,lag time,lipid peroxidation degree were determined by spectrophotometric and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances methods.Paraoxonase 1(PON1) activity was measured with continuous monitoring using phenylacetate as substrate.Results In essential hypertension patients,the inhibitory effect of HDL on LDL oxidation and the activity of PON1 were reduced(p< 0.05),the lag time of oxidation and the lipid peroxidation degree did not show statistically significant difference.HDL antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with PON1 activity and negatively correlated with systolic pressure,diastolic pressure,and total cholesterol level(with r= 0.317,-0.387,-0.42,-0.259 respectively,p< 0.05).Conclusions HDL antioxidant activity may be one of the most important determinants for the development of atherosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension.The impaired HDL antioxidant activity is affected by high levels of blood pressure,and low activity of PON1.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effect of tirofiban on coronary flow and microcirculation in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods 58 patients with primary STEMI who underwent primary PCI were randomized to receive either tirofiban and primary PCI(n= 30) or primary PCI alone(n= 28).Baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared.The patency rate of infarct-related artery(IRA) before intervention,the flow of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction(TIMI) before and after surgery,the resolution of ST segment,endothelial cell apoptosis,blood coagulation factor,the incidence of bleeding complications and acute ischemic events during hospitalization as well as the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) measured by echocardiography before discharge were studided.Results A greater percentage of TIMI 1 flow was achieved in the tirofiban group(p< 0.05).On the other hand,TIMI 0 flow was more commonly found in patients of the control group(p< 0.01).There was no difference between the two groups in percentage of TIMI 2 and 3 flow achieved in IRA after PCI(p> 0.05).The no-reflow phenomena,reperfusion arrhythmia,endothelial cell apoptosis,blood coagulation factor were less in the tirofiban group(p< 0.05),and faster ST segment resolution in the tirofiban group after PCI(p< 0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE) or bleeding in both groups.Conclusions Tirofiban treatment can improve the rates of recanalizationand and the TIMI flow to the acute myocardial infarction with PCI,the surgery can be done better.It can avoid more myocardial cell to die permanently,and improve microcirculation disfunction.

Abstract:Aim To study characteristics of coronary artery pathological changes in the aged coronary heart disease(CHD) patients with metabolic syndrome.Methods A total of 162 aged cases with coronary heart disease were divided into two groups according to the status of being combined with metabolic syndrome(MS groups,54 patients) or not(non-MS groups,108 patients).Coronary arteriongraphy(CAG) scoring and assay of cardiac function,waist circumference,blood pressure,fasting blood glucose(FBG),triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDLC),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDLC) were performed in all subjects and the left ventricular rejection fraction(LVEF) was measured with echocardiography.Results The MS patients suffered more from multi-vessel lesions,diffuse lesions and completely obstructive lesions( p< 0.05),LVEF decreased in MS groups.Conclusion The MS patients with multiple cardiovascular-risk factors,often have multi-branch lesion and more severe lesions.To treat cardiovascular risk factors actively is very important to prevent the CHD and improve its prognosis.

Abstract:Aim To study the blood plasma levels and significance of uPA,u-PAR,t-PA and PAI-1 in patients with ischemic cardio-cerebral-vascular disease.Methods ELISA was used to measure the blood plasma levels of uPA,uPAR,t-PA and PAI-1 in patients with acute cerebral infarction,acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris.Results Compared with the control group,(1)uPA level increased slightly at acute stage in patients with cerebral infarction(p> 0.05),while obviously fell back at restoration stage(p< 0.05);uPA level increased significantly at acute stage(p< 0.01)and increased more;t-PA level was obviously lower(p< 0.01),while PAI-1 significantly higher(p< 0.01) at acute stage;PAI-1 decreased to normal level while t-PA level was different from the control group at restoration stage.(2)u-PAR level increased obviously at acute stage(p< 0.05)and increased more at restoration stage(p< 0.01) in patients with acute myocardial infarction,uPA levels were nearly normal at both stages;t-PA and PAI1 levels were obviously higher at acute stage(p< 0.01) but decreased obviously at restoration stage till a normal PAI-1 level and a still higher level of t-PA (p< 0.05).(3)u-PAR level increased in patients with unstable angina pectoris at acute stage(P <0.01) while fell back at restoration stage after two weeks

Abstract:Aim To detect the contents of endogenous ADMA in coronary artery disease(CAD) patients and investigate the relationship between each other.Methods 37 patients with CAD(M=31,F=6,mean age=62.0±10.3) were selected at random for study,and 18 normal people(M=9,F=9,mean age=55.0±9.8) were selected as control.All of them received coronary angiography to determine whether he has CAD and the grading of pathological changes.Serum levels of ADMA,L-arginine and SDMA were measured by HPLC,and serum contents of lipid were detected by automatic biochemic analysis apparatus.Results The results showed that serum content of ADMA was significantly increased in CAD as compared to normal people(3.24 ±1.45 μmol/L vs 2.03±1.12 μmol/L,p< 0.01),while that of L-arginine and SDMA were similar in both groups(SDMA 1.98±2.19 μmol/L vs 1.27±1.44 μmol/L,p> 0.05;L-arginine 100.0±48.6 μmol/L vs 107.9±49.1 μmol/L,p> 0.05).ADMA showed a trend to elevate with severity of coronary artery disease and had significantly increased as comPared to normal people(p< 0.01).Serum level of ADMA only correlated with the severity of coronary artery disorder(r= 0.28,p< 0.05) but has no relation with the atherosclerosis risk factors such as lipid,age and BMI(p> 0.05).Conclusions ADMA significantly increased in CAD patients and the elevation of endogenous ADMA may be a risk factor of CAD.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the change of inflammatory indicators pentraxin3 in patients with the acute coronary syndrome(ACS).And to know about the relationship between pentraxin-3 and coronary artery lesion.Methods 44 patients with acute myocardial infarction,41 patients with unstable angina and 25 controls were studied retrospectively from July 2003 to September 2005.All of their bloods were extracted in the early morning.Then their plasma pentraxin-3 level were checked.Selective coronary angiography was performed in ACS patients.According to AHA/ACC classification,type A、B、C group was defined.Plasma pentraxin-3 was compared in different groups of coronary artery lesion.Results The plasma pentraxin-3 of patients with ACS were significantly higher than controls( p< 0.01).The plasma pentraxin-3 of patients with acute myocardial infarction were higher than the patients with unstable angina(p< 0.01).There was no significant difference of plasma pentraxin-3 in different groups of lesion type(p> 0.05).Conclusion As inflammatory indicators,pentraxin-3 is closely related to acute coronary syndrome.There is no clear correlation between pentraxin-3 and coronary artery lesion.

Abstract:Aim Aim To evaluate the short-term efficacy of percuteoust transluminal septal myocardial ablation(PTSMA) on hyoertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM). Methods 29 patients with HOCM were selected underwent PTSMA by Sigwart method.The change of left ventricular outflow-tract gradient(LVOTG) and ECG were monitored before and after septal branche occluded by 99% alcohol.The thickness of septal myocardium and width of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD) were also measured before and 30 days after PTSMA.Results LVOTG was dereased by 36.0±9.3 mmHg after ablation respectively(p< 0.05).The thickness of septal myocardium reduced by 3.2±0.3 mm,30 days after ablation(p<0.05).Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia,bradycardias,bundle branch block and completely atrial-ventricular block were not observed in 30 days.The average usage of alcohol was 2.97 mL.Conclusion PTSMA can significantly reduce LVOTG and has a satisfactory short-term efficacy in the treatment of HOCM.

Abstract:Aim To discuss the influencing factors associated with 30 days prognosis of 219 progressive ischemic stroke(PIS) patients,so as to provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment.Methods According to the severity of nervous dysfunction,the prognosis was rated as effective(including full recovery,significant improvement and improvement) and non-effective(including no change, deterioration and death).Related indexes in 219 supratentorial PIS patients were observed.Single factor analysis and multiple factors analysis were done to analyze the relationship between these factors and 30 days prognosis.Results Nutritional support,rehabilitation care,volume of infarction,hemorrhage of postinfarction,age,complications and Barthel index would influence the prognosis of PIS.Conclusion Sufficient nutritional support,early-stage rehabilitation care,lowering of volume of infarction and hemorrhage of postinfarction,prevention of complications are important elements for improving prognosis.

Abstract:Aim To assess the current epidemic characterization of prehypertension and risk factors among rural male adult groups in Liaoning province,and to provide scientific basis for preventing hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the rural area for government.Methods Resident(≥5 years) group of 15 122 male people aged more than 35 years old were collected with a multi-stage,stratified clustering sampling scheme in seven small towns of Fuxin county of Liaoning province,China.The blood pressure measurement and correlated risk factors were investigated by trained doctors.Results The prevalence rate of prehypertension for male people aged more than 35 years old in rural of Liaoning was 51.2%,and the prevalence rate of hypertension was 35.8%.With the age increasing,the prevalence rate of prehypertension was obviously down and the prevalence rate of hypertension was up.Multivariable logistic regression revealed overweight and obesity,Mongolian and drinking status were risk factors associated with prehypertension.Conclusions The prevalence of prehypertension of Liaoning rural male adult people is dramatically high;it associated with many risk factors.Comprehensive lifestyle modifications such as weight loss,limitation of alcohol intake to decrease the incidence of prehypertension should be taken,so as to prevent these people from hypertension and cerebrovascular disease.

Abstract:Aim To set up a method to measure the rate of reverse cholesterol transport from macrophage to feces in vivo,serum lipid profiles of mice was tested and the 3 H-contents was quantitated in serum,liver and feces in mice after 24 hours intraperitoneally were injected macrophages which were labeled with 3 H cholesterol.Methods 16 C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups at random and one group was injected intraperitoneally with RAW264.7 macrophages which were loaded with cholesterol by incubation with acetylated low density lipoprotein(acLDL),labeled with 3 H-cholesterol.As a control,another group was injected with culture media instead.Serum lipid profiles were quantitated by enzymatic method;serum and liver tissues were harvested at 24 hours,feces were collected(0～24 h),and all were analyzed for tracer counts(all were expressed as the percent of the total injected counts per minute).Results After being injected intraperitoneally 24 h with DMEM or RAW264.7 macrophages,the serum lipid profiles of two groups have no difference(p> 0.05).3 H-cholesterol could be detected in the plasma,liver,and feces of the mice in tested group,and the percents of the total injected counts per minute were 2.810%± 0.060%,0.680% ±0.030% and 0.690%±0.030% respectively,also were higher than that of control group.Conclusions After being injected intraperitoneally with 3 H-cholesterol-labled RAW264.7 macrophages,the radioactivity could be detected in the plasma,liver,and feces of the mice.This method could be taken as a kind of feasible way to measure the rate of reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages into feces.