Abstract:Aim To explore whether atorvastatin inhibits HMGB1-induced vascular endothelial activation, and clarify the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods The cultured endothelial cells （EC） of rats were treated by Atorvastatin, HMGB1,TLR4-specific inhibitor CLI-095 with different concentrations. Leukocyte-endothelial adhesion was calculated as the proportion of the adherent neutrophils fluorescence intensity among the total added cells. RT-PCR and Western blot method were used to assay the expression of Toll like receptor 4（TLR4）, ICAM-1 , E-selectin mRNA and protein. DNA binding activity of NF-κB was measured by EMSA. Results Atorvastatin, at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 μmol/L, effectively and in a dose-dependent manner inhibited HMGB1-induced ECs activation. Atorvastatin markedly suppressed TLR4 expression （P<0.05） in ECsIncubation of ECs with atorvastatin and CLI-095 reduced HMGB1-induced NF-κB p65 DNA binding activity and adhesion molecules （ICAM-1 and E-selectin） expression （P<0.05）. Conclusion Atorvastatin can attenuate HMGB1-induced vascular endothelial activation. The underlying mechanism may be connected with inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB-dependent signaling pathway induced leukocyte-endothelial adhesion.

Abstract:Aim To demonstrate the activation and nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor-κB（NF-κB） induced by advanced glycation end products （AGEs） in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells （HDMECs） , and to elucidate the roles of oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in this pathological procedure. Methods HDMECs were incubated with AGEs-modified bovine serum albumin （AGE-BSA） at concentration of 100 mg/L for 1 h. As control, BSA of the same concentration was administered to HDMECs. NF-κB nuclear translocation was observed by immunofluorescent staining. Subsequently, HDMECs were pretreated with reduced glutathione （GSH）, apocynin, a pharmacological inhibitor of NADPH oxidase （NOX）, NOX4 siRNA or inositol requiring enzyme 1α （IRE1α） siRNA, and then administrated with AGE-BSA for 1 h. Changes of NF-κB nuclear translocation was observed. Results The results demonstrated the translocation of NF-κB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus upon the stimulation of AGE-BSA. Inhibition of reactive oxygen species generation with GSH or apocynin greatly attenuated these responses. Transfection of NOX4-small interfering RNA or IRE1α-small interfering RNA in HDMECs also significantly attenuated the AGE-induced translocation of NF-κB. Conclusion Oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress are possibly involved in the mediation of AGE-induced activation of NF-κB in endothelial cells.

Abstract:Aim To explore the effect and its possible mechanism of resveratrol on atherosclerosis. Methods 42 Mature male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: rabbits in blank group treated with normal diet, rabbits in model group treated with high fat diet, rabbits in resveratrol group treated with high fat diet and resveratrol at the dosage 16 mg/（kg·d）. All rabbits were fed according to experiment design for 12 weeks. The aortas were harvested for histopathological examination. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL, the mRNA transcription of PPARγ, Fas, FasL and Caspase-3 were examined by RT-PCR and MCP-1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were examined by ELISA.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the protective effects of fasudil hydrochloride on postconditioning of acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and the potential mechanisms in rats. Methods Sixty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham operation group, ischemia/reperfusion group, an inhibitor of PI3K group, fasudil hydrochloride group, fasudil hydrochloride and an inhibitor of PI3K group. There were 12 rats in each group. Animals were sacrificed after 180 minutes reperfusion to determine heart function parameters, plasma myocardial enzymes, cell apoptosis index and myocardial infarct size. Results The levels of apoptosis index and myocardial infarct size in the fasudil hydrochloride group were significantly lower than in the ischemia/reperfusion group （all P<0.01）. But using an inhibitor of PI3K, fasudil hydrochloride couldn’t protect myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, the levels of apoptosis index and myocardial infarct size in the fasudil hydrochloride and an inhibitor of PI3K group were significantly higher than in the fasudil hydrochloride group （all P<0.01）. Conclusion PI3K-Akt pathway was thought to be one of the main mechanisms responsible for the protection of fasudil hydrochloride postconditioning.

Abstract:Aim To evaluate the diagonostic value of vascular intima temperature difference on vulnerable plaque in rabbit abdominal aorta. Methods To establish vulnerable plaque model, twenty male New Zealand white rabbits received intra-aorta balloon inflation to induce vascular injury and were fed with lipid rich diet for the next 16 weeks. The survival rabbits were given with Chinese Russell’s viper venom and histamine to induce the rupture of plaque and the formation of thrombosis. The temperature difference of vascular intima between plaque and surrounding tissue were measured. Results 16 rabbits models were successfully established, in which there were 24 abdominal aortic plaques. A total of 54 plaque surface temperature measurement temperature difference were measured. 17 vulnerable plaque characteristics which were found in 14 rabbits, and received a total of 37 temperature difference measurements. Seven plaques with fibrous plaque characteristics were observed in six rabbits, and received 17 temperature different measurements. 4 non-plaque areas received 9 temperature different measurements. Mean intima temperature difference was 0.94±0.25℃ in valnerable plaque, which was significantly different （P<0.01） from that in fibrous plaques （0.15±0.14℃） and that in non-plaque areas （0.10±0.08℃）. Identification of rabbit atherosclerosis vulnerable plaque of sensitivity and specificity were 86.5% and 85.2% respectively, when vascular intima surface temperature difference is greater than 0.3℃. Conclusion Measurements of vascular intima surface temperature difference could help to identify vulnerable plaque.

Abstract:Aim To observe the effect of rosuvastatin on methylation level and expression of Bcl-2 in aorta of rats with hyperhomocysteinamia. Method Thirty-three healthy five-week-old Wistar male rats， weighting （150±10）g ，were randomly divided into the control, Hhcy and rosuvastatin groups（n11，each）. The control was given normal food .

Abstract:Aim To explore the effects and related mechanisms of testosterone on the proliferation of Peripheral-blood endothelial progenitor cells （PB-EPCs）. Methods Total mononuclear cells（MNC） were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy volunteers by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, culturing with EGM-2MV for 7 days in vitro. The adherent cells showed up taking of acetylated low-density （ac-LDL-DiI） and binding of lectin（FITC-UEA-I）, observing with confocal laser scanning microscopy. PB-EPC were dealt with four concentrations of testosterone, as 0 nmol/L, 1 nmol/L, 10 nmol/L,and 100 nmol/L respectively, and in another group PB-EPC were pretreated with 10 nmol/L flutamide （androgen receptor antagonist） for 3h and then stimulated with 10 nmol/L testosterone. After 48 h, the ability of cell proliferation was determined by 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diph-phenyltetrazolium bromide assay （MTT）. The VEGF expression was tested by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and ELISA assay. Results The proliferation of PB-EPC were increased by testosterone in a dose-dependent manner, however, these effects could be blocked by flutamide. Testosterone can up-regulate VEGF both on mRNA and protein level, however, these effects could be blocked by flutamide. Conclusions Testosterone enhances the proliferation of PB-EPCs by up-regulating VEGF expression via androgen receptor pathway.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the nenuroprotective effects of hydrogen-rich saline on brain injury of acute carbon monoxide （CO） poisoned rats. Methods Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: normal group, CO＋saline group and CO＋hydrogen salinegroup. Hydrogen-rich saline or normal saline was given intraperitoneally in the dose of 10 mg/kg with an interval of 8 hours for six consecutive times. The normal group rats were used as normal controls. At 5 days after CO poisoning, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay （TUNEL） staining, the activity of caspase-3, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and the content of malondialdehyde （MDA）, the level of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）, interleukin-6 （IL-6） and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′deoxyguanine （8-OHdG） were conducted in established acute carbon monoxide poisoned rats. Results TUNEL-poisitive cells, the content of MDA, the level of TNF-α, IL-6 and 8-OHdG, decreased the activity of caspase-3 and SOD were apparently reduced by hydrogen-rich saline. Conclusion Hydrogen-rich saline reduced CO encephalopathy through its antioxidant, anti-apoptopic and anti-inflammatory actions.

Abstract:Aim To investigate whether peroxisome proliferator activated receptors gamma （PPARγ） activator GW1929 regulates suppressors of cytokine signaling-1 （SOCS1） and SOCS3 expression as well as production of tumor necrosis factorα （TNF-α）, interleukin-10 （IL-10）, and interferon-γ （IFN-γ） in macrophages induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein （ox-LDL）. Methods Real-time PCR were used to analyze SOCS1 and SOCS3 mRNA expression after the mouse peritoneal macrophages were pretreated with ox-LDL （50 mg/L） and GW1929 （20 μmol/L） for 4 h. Western blot were used to analyze SOCS1 and SOCS3 protein expression after the mouse peritoneal macrophages were pretreated with ox-LDL （50 mg/L） and GW1929 （20 μmol/L） for 6 h. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-10 and IFN-γ in the culture supernatant were detected after macrophages were pretreated with ox-LDL and GW1929 for 24 h by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Results The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-10 and IFN-γ and ratios of TNF-α/IL-10，IFN-γ/IL-10 in ox-LDL group were higher than those in control and GW1929 group obviously, but the concentrations of the above factors in ox-LDL +GW1929 group were lower than those in ox-LDL group apparently. The expressions of SOCS1 at mRNA and protein level in ox-LDL group were higher than those in control and GW1929 group obviously,and SOCS1 expr-

Abstract:Aim To learn about the lipid goal attainment among coronary heart disease patients with dyslipidemia. Methods We retrospectively summarized 115 patients of coronary heart disease with dyslipidemia from April to May 2010 by electrical case management system in Fuwai Hospital. These patients, who had hyperlipaemia course no shorter than half a year, all charged first time and successfully followed up over half a year. During the first hospitalization and the follow up, the value changes of serum total cholesterol （TC ）, triglyceride （TG ）, low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDLC ）, high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDLC ）, aspartate aminotransferase （AST）, alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and et al were compared. In addition, the adverse event was also observed at the same time. Results

Abstract:Aim To investigate the correlation of lacunar infarction with leukoaraisis and intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis. Methods 200 patients who admitted in the Department of Neurology，Beijing Military General Hospital from January 2012 to October 2012 were divided into lacunar infarction with leukoaraiosis group （n100） and lacunar infarction with non-Leukoaraiosis group （n100） according to their cerebral MRI findings, all of them were examined by head/neck CTA/MRA and it was determined whether leukoaraiosis is associated with intracranial or extracranial artery stenosis in patients with leukoaraiosis. Results The incidence rate of extracranial or intracranial artery stenosis in lacunar infarction with leukoaraiosis group was higher than lacunar infarction with non-leukoaraiosis. Severity of leukoaraiosis in patients with lacunar infarction was associated with extracranial or intracranial artery stenosis. Multiple regression showed age, history of hypertension, and artery plaques/stenosis were the strongest determinants of the leukoaraiosis severity. Conclusion The leukoaraiosis is associated with intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis in patients with lacunar infarction.

Abstract:Aim To explore whether the use of peripheral arterial tonometry （PAT） in the evaluation of admission vascular endothelial function of acute myocardial infarction （AMI） patients can predict recurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events （MACE）. Methods For 116 consecutive patients clinically diagnosed with AMI received evaluation of vascular endothelial function using PAT technique within 72 hours of admission, reactive hyperemia index （RHI） was calculated. By the cut point of normal RHI （1.67） patients were divided into the normal endothelial function group （RHI≥1.67） and the endothelial dysfunction group （RHI＜1.67）, follow-up of MACE was conducted in both groups during hospitalization （median value 8.0 days） and after discharge from hospital （243.8±68.3 days）. MACE included cardiac death, recurrent acute myocardial infarction, recurrent unstable angina during hospitalization, ischemic stroke, elective percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） or coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG）, and hospitalization due to cardiovascular causes. Result There was no significant difference in recurrence of MACE between PAT-determined endothelial dysfunction group （RHI＜1.67） and normal endothelial function group （RHI≥1.67） both during hospitalization and after discharge from hospital （P＝0.098 and 0.104, respectively）. Conclusion PAT cannot predict recurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events in AMI patients both during hospitalization and after discharge from hospital.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effect of telmisartan and amlodipine on improving the artery stiffness in type 2 diabetics mellitus patients with hypertension. Methods Type 2 diabetics mellitus patients with primary hypertension were randomly assigned to telmisartan （4 mg each day） and amlodipine （5 mg each day） regimen for 6 months （n＝36）.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the causes, risk factors, severity of diabetic foot and prognostic factors of amputation. Methods 284 inpatients with diabetic foot who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the Endocrinology Department, from January, 2006 to December, 2010. Their clinical data were collected for retrospective study. Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for the severe diabetic foot and amputation. Results Of these 284 patients, 175 were men and 109 were women. 82.4% of patients were older than 50. The diabetes duration in 77.5% patients was more than 5 years. Glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c） in 86.5% patients was higher than 6.5%. Diabetic foot ulcers mostly occured in the toe. The main causes of diabetic foot were burn or scald. The positive rate of bacterial culture in diabetic foot ulcer secretions was 94.8%, and diabetic foot was often accompanied with diabetic nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy. Serum albumin （ALB）, total cholesterol （TC）, high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDLC）, red blood cell count and hemoglobin （Hb） in patients with Wagner 3～5 （Severe group） were lower than that in patients with Wagner 0～2 （Mild group） （P<0.05）, and white blood cell count and platelet count in severe group were higher than that in mild group （P<0.05）. Severe patients were predisposed to diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic

Abstract:Aim To analyze the relationship between the level of receptor for advanced glycation endproducts （RAGE） on peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC） and the clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease and the severity of angiographic lesion. Further investigation should be made to discuss whether RAGE can play a guiding role in the prediction and assessment of the risk of coronary heart disease. Methods 80 study participants were scheduled to undergo elective cardiac catheterization for suspected coronary artery disease according to clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease, Gensini scores of coronary angiographic stenosis and the number of diseased coronary artery, all subjects were divided into different groups. Expression of RAGE on PBMC was detected by flow cyto-metric analysis. Results

Abstract:Aim To study the detection rate and influential factors of carotid artery and subclavian artery plaque in the elderly population. Methods Subjects with previous stroke, transient is-chemic attack （TIA）, myocardial infarction were excluded. A total of 5356 employees （including who were being employed and those who were retired from Tangshan Kailuan Company）who were beyond 40 years old were identified to take part in the study through stratified random sampling. All the information were obtained from the unified questionnaire,measures of blood biochemistry and cervicular vascular ultrasonography. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the fators affecting the carotid artery plaque. Results Studies population in the right carotid artery, right subclavian artery plaque detection rates were 29.6% and 31.4%. Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that male, age, systolic blood pressure（SBP）, total cholesterol （TC）, fasting blood glucose （FBG） and smoking were the risk factors of right carotid artery plaque, the odds ratios were 1.922, 2.541, 1.942, 1.326, 1.500, 1.231. Male, age, SBP, TC, FBG and smoking were the risk factors of right subclavian artery plaque, the odds ratios were 1.737,1.798,1.459,1.375,1.322,1.227. Conclusion In the elderly population, the right carotid artery and right subclavian artery plaque detection rates were 29.6% and 31.4%. The right carotid artery and the right subclavian artery plaque influence factors were sex, age, SBP, TC, FBG, smoking.

Abstract:MiRNA are non-coding RNAs with 19～25 nucleotides in length, which play an important role in regulation of gene transcription and translation and greatly contribute to the development of tumor and cardiocerebral vascular diseases. Recently studies show that miRNAs stably exist in the peripheral blood. Changes of miRNA levels in the circulation are closely related to the occurrence, development and prognosis of multiple diseases. Therefore miRNAs may be a novel class of biomarkers for diseases. Plant-derived miRNAs can also stably exist in the blood and participate in the regulation of many target proteins of animals. It is of great significance to assess the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and to clarify the underlying mechanisms through examining the changes of plant-derived miRNA levels in the blood.

Abstract:As with drug-eluting stents （DES）, biomacromolecule-eluting stents can deliver biologically active agents such as nucleic acid, antibody, enzyme and cell factor. Biological active agents can selectively act at specific target location through molecular mechanism of coronary artery restenosis. This seems to be a promising treatment strategy for preventing in-stent restenosis （ISR） while simultaneously reducing the risk of stent thrombosis. This article reviews recent developments in biomacromolecule-eluting stents.

Abstract:It has been a consensus that diabetes is one of the causes of cardiovascular diseases. With the continued strengthening to control the blood glucose of patients, the incidence of hypoglycemia are increasing. The impact of hypoglycemia on the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases has attracted more attention. The paper reviews recent researches about the impact of hypoglycemia and intensive glycemic control on the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases and has discussed its pathophysiological mechanisms.

Abstract:Atherosclerosis is the main pathogenesis of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Now early and effective identifying of the vulnerable plaques has been a hot point of the medical field, and it has very important clinical value in treatment and prognosis of the atherosclerosis. The plaques’ component and distribution is bound up with the vulnerability of plaques and cardiovascular events caused by the plaque rupture. This article mainly summarizes the progress of imaging detection means in the vulnerable plaque′s components of the characteristics.