Abstract:Aim To discuss the relationship between vascular endothelial cell injury, changes of serum endogenous metabolites and pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis obliterans （ASO）. Methods ASO models were constructed with the method of high-fat diet plus intimal injury. At 8 weeks after operation, the arterial morphology was observed using light microscopy, the number of circulating endothelial cells （CEC） was determined using percoll density gradient centrifugation method, serum endothelin-1 （ET-1） and nitric oxide （NO） levels were detected using ELISA double antibody sandwich assay, changes of endogenous metabolites in serum were analyzed with the metabonomics method-based gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC/MS） technology. Results Rat models of ASO were established successfully, the number of CEC in ASO rat peripheral blood increased significantly, the serum ET-1 level was significantly higher, and the level of NO was significantly less than normal control rats after operation （P<0.01）. Compared to normal control group, metabolism of the sugars, amino acids, fatty acids in serum of ASO rats were significantly changed. Conclusions Vascular endothelial cell injury and changes of serum endogenous metabolites mediated ASO, protecting the vascular endothelial function and adjusting the balance of the endogenous metabolites should be important therapeutic targets of ASO.

Abstract:Aim To explore the effect of astragalus polysaccharides （APS） on myocardial hypertrophy in rats induced by isoproterenol （ISO）. Methods 15 mg/（kg·d） ISO were used as myocardial hypertrophy models by intraperitoneally injection. 60 SD rats were randomly assigned to six groups, 10 rats for each group: the control group, ISO group, ISO＋APS 200 mg/（kg·d） group, ISO＋APS 400 mg/（kg·d） group, ISO＋APS 800 mg/（kg·d） group and ISO＋propranolol 40 mg/（kg·d） group. Administered groups were continually intraperitoneally injected administration for 3 weeks, and ISO were intraperitoneally injected as long as 2 weeks in the day after that. After 3 weeks, at the end of the treatment period, hemodynamic parameters were observed, and pathological section by HE staining. The expression of free fatty acid （FFA）, ATP, ADP, AMP were quantified by ELISA. The expression of atrial natriuretic factor （ANF）, PGC-1α mRNA were determined by RT-PCR, the expression of PGC-1α protein were determined by Western blot in the tissue. Results Compared with control group, ISO group markedly elevated HMI, LVMI, LVEDP level and decreased LVSP level, meanwhile the expression of ANF mRNA were increased and the expressions of PGC-1α mRNA and protein decreased. Compared with ISO group, the APS for different dose groups dependently improved hemodynamic parameters, ATP/AMP and ATP/ADP ratio and PGC-1α mRNA and protein expressions. Conclusions APS can improve cardiac hypertrophy induced by ISO, which maybe improve energy metabolism by PGC-1α.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effect of high glucose on the expression of CD36 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma （PPARγ） regulated by high density lipoprotein （HDL） in THP-1 macrophage. Methods THP-1 macrophages were incubated with 50 mg/L ox-LDL, 50 mg/L ox-LDL+50 mg/L HDL, 50 mg/L ox-LDL+50 mg/L HDL+20 mmol/L D-Glucose, 50 mg/L HDL, 50 mg/L HDL+20 mmol/L D-Glucose for 24 h. The lipid accumulation was detected by oil red O stain. CD36 and PPARγ mRNA were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, respectively. CD36, PPARγ and p-PPARγ protein was determined by Western Blot. Results

Abstract:Aim To observe the effect of OX40-OX40 ligand （OX40L） interaction on the expression of cyclophilin A （CyPA） in mice aortic vascular smooth muscle cell （VSMC）. Methods Patch-attaching method was used for primary culture of mouse aortic VSMC. The expression of OX40L mRNA and protein in VSMC were measured by real-time quantitative PCR （RT-PCR） and flow cytometry （FCM）, respectively. The levels of CyPA inside and outside of the VSMC was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results The expression of OX40L mRNA and protein was time-dependently induced by tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） plus lipopolysaccharide （LPS）, the mRNA expression peaked at 24 h （5.967±0.252 vs 1.000±0.000, P<0.05）, and the expression of protein peaked at 36 h （61.900±2.551 vs 20.967±0.451, P<0.05）. The expression of CyPA mRNA was time-dependently induced by soluble OX40 （sOX40）, and peaked at 90 minute （1.799±0.098 vs 1.000±0.000, P<0.05）. And abundant CyPA was gained in supernatant at 2 h （1.119±0.059 vs 0.281±0.038, P<0.05）, whereas, we didn’t observe the change of CyPA protein inside the VSMC compared to the control. Notably, the sOX40 revulsive elevations of mRNA （1.105±0.091 vs 1.799±0.098, P<0.05） and protein （0.635±0.040 vs 1.119±0.059, P<0.05） can be blocked by anti-OX40L monoclonal antibody.

Abstract:Aim To study the effect of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia （IHH） on vascular remodeling in apolipoprotein E gene knockout （ApoE^－/－） mice Methods 14 female ApoE^－/－ mice were randomly divided into control group and IHH group at 8 weeks of age. IHH group was put into a low pressure chamber simulating the hypobaric hypoxia environment of 4000 m altitude for 8 hours per day, lasting 60 days. At the end of the intervention, the collagen content and expressions of matrix metalloproteinase （MMP） and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase （TIMP） in aortic tissue were measured. Results The collagen content of aortic wall in IHH group was significantly decreased （P＜0.01）, expression level of MMP-9 was significantly elevated and TIMP-2 was significantly reduced compared with control group （P＜0.01）, but MMP-2, MMP-14 had no significant difference among the two groups （P＞0.05）. Conclusion IHH might decrease the collagen content of aortic wall and promote vascular remodeling through increasing the expressional imbalance of MMP-9 and TIMP-2.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the distribution of immunogenic and tolerogenic vascular dendritic cell（VDC） within the arterial wall in the lower limb atherosclerosis occlusion syndrome（ASO）, and to discuss the relationship between the immunogenic and tolerogenic VDC and the disease of lower limb ASO. Methods Forty human arterial specimens were collected from surgical operation and autopsy, and paraffin sections were made and HE stained routinely. Ten of them without obvious morphosis change were assigned as control group and the other thirty cases of lower limb artery lesions clearly were set to lesion group. The distribution of S100 positive, immunogenicity CD1a, CD83 and C-C chemokine receptor type 7（CCR7） positive and tolerability CD11b, dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin （DC-SIGN）, toll-like receptor 2（TLR-2）, indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase （IDO） positive cells were detected by using immunohistochemistry method on sections. The expression of proteins of immunogenicity CD1a, CD83 and tolerability CD11b, IDO were detected by the method of Western Blot. Results Immunogenicity S100, CD1a, CD83 and CCR7 positive VDC were heavily found in intima plaque and around the small vessel of adventitia on artherosclerosis aorta of lesion group. But few positive cells were detected in tunica media. There were low expression of CD1a, CD83 positive tolerogenic VDC in intima plaque and around the small vessel of adventitia on artherosclerosis aorta of lesion group. But few positive cells were detected in tunica media. Western Blot results found that they were high expression of CD1a, CD83 and low levels of CD11b and IDO in the ASO group. Conclusions Immunogenicity and tolerability VDC were assembled in the process of ASO, and the quanity of immunogenic VDC was significantly higher than the tolerogenic VDC, which suggected that VDC might be involved in the formation process of ASO and the high level of immunogenic VDC might be involved in the inflammatory immune response disease of ASO.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the change of plasma alarin levels in patients with coronary heart disease （CHD） and its relationship with the severity of coronary artery stenosis. Methods Plasma alarin levels were measured in 48 patients with acute myocardial infarction （AMI）, 74 patients with stable angina pectoris （SAP） and 34 controls. Coronary artery stenosis was evaluated by coronary angiography and characterized by Gensini scores. Results Plasma alrarin levels were significantly higher in AMI patients and SAP patients compared with controls （P<0.05） and there was no significant difference between AMI group and SAP group （P>0.05）. In patients with CHD, plasma levels of alarin were positively correlated with Gensini scores and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDLC） levels （P<0.05）. Conclusions Plasma alarin levels were elevated in CHD patients and positively correlated with coronary stenosis and LDLC levels. Alarin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CHD.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the alteration of plasma levels of omentin-1, visfatin in old patients with coronary heart disease （CHD） and to explore its clinical significance. Methods Plasma omentin-1, visfatin levels were measured in 90 subjects ［29 stable angina pectoris （SAP） cases, 30 unstable angina pectoris （UAP） cases and 31 age-and sex-matched healthy controls, age≥60years］ using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） methods. According to the NYHA classification, 59 CHD were divided into three groups: functional Ⅰ class for 11 cases, functional Ⅱ/Ⅲ class for 36 cases, functional Ⅳ class for 12 cases. Results （1）The plasma level of omentin-1 in coronary heart disease patients was significantly lower than that of the control group（717.63±229.11 ng/L vs 1115.49±361.41 ng/L, P＝0.000）, and SAP group’s, UAP group’s were all significantly lower than control group （respectively 780.32±273.19 ng/L vs 1115.49±361.41 ng/L, 652.81±152.94 ng/L vs 1115.49±361.41 ng/L, all P<0.05）. （2）The plasma level of visfatin in CHD patients was significantly higher than the control group （19.22±6.73 μg/L vs 13.31±1.69 μg/L, P＝0.002）, the level of visfatin of SAP group and UAP group were all significantly higher than that of the control group （17.92±4.19 μg/L vs 13.31±1.69 μg/L, 20.43±8.31 μg/L vs 13.31±1.69 μg/L, respective, all P<0.05）. （3）With the increase of NYHA class, the plasma omentin-1 level decreased, while visfatin levels increased gradually, and among the three groups, there were significant differences （omentin-1 respectively 1033.87±277.84 ng/L, 676.58±137.25 ng/L, 540.35±59.49 ng/L, visfatin respectively 13.00±1.19 μg/L, 19.08±2.97 μg/L, 5.23±11.30 μg/L, all P<0.05）. （4）The plasma omentin-1 level was negative correlated with systolic blood pressure （SBP） （r＝－0.264, P<0.05）, positively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDLC） level （r＝0.271, P<0.05）.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effect of alprostadil in the acute myocardial infarction （AMI） patients treated by delayed PCI with the ^99mTc- methodxy isobutyl isomitrile （^99mTc-MIBI） gated-myocardial perfusion stable image （G-MPI）.Methods 60 patients were enrolled. Patients had the first myocardial infarction beyond 12 hours without thrombolytic therapy. Patients were divided into control group （n30） and alprostadil group （n30） randomizedly. The control group were given conventional treatment and delayed PCI, while alprostadil group were treated by conventional treatment, delayed PCI and alprostadil. In all patients, G-MPI was received in the first week and the twelfth week after AMI. Then left ventricular end diastolic volume （LVEDV）, left ventricular end systolic volume （LVESV）, left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） and ischemic area （IA） were compared. Results LVEDV, LVESV, LVEF and IA between the two groups had no significant differences in the first week. After 12 weeks, LVEDV and LVESV of alprostadil group were significantly lower than those of control group, but LVEF of alprostadil group was significantly higher than that of control group. IA of alprostadil group was significantly less than that of control group. Conclusion The effects of alprostadil and delayed PCI include complete revascularization, improvements in perfusion, faster restoration of ventricular function.

Abstract:Aim This study was designed to investigate the correlation between serum galectin-3 （Gal-3） levels and coronary lesion in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods This study included 31 patients with acute myocardial infarction that were confirmed by coronary angiography. Thirty non-coronary heart disease subjects confirmed by coronary angiography were recruited as control group. General clinical data of all the subjects were collected, the concentration of serum Gal-3, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 （MCP-1） and plasma high-sensitive C-reactive protein （hs-CRP） were assayed. And the degree of coronary arterial lesion were calculated by Gensini cumulative index. Results The levels of serum Gal-3 were significantly higher in patients with acute myocardial infarction than the patients in control group （P<0.05）. Serum Gal-3 levels were correlated positively with hs-CRP, MCP-1 and Gensini score （all P<0.05）. Conclusion Serum Gal-3 can predict the degree of coronary lesions in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract:Aim To investigage the association of fibroblast growth factor 23 （FGF23） with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with moderate and advanced stage chronic kidney disease （CKD）. Methods Serum intact FGF23 levels in 120 patients with CKD stage 3 to 5 and 20 age and sex-matched healthy controls were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. There were 30 non dialysis patients, 30 peritoneal dialysis patients and 60 hemodialysis patients. The difference between non dialysis group, peritoneal dialysis group and hemodialysis group was compared, too.The patients with moderate and advanced stage CKD were divided into atherosclerosis group and no atherosclerosis group, which clinical parameters and level of FGF23 were compared. The association between FGF23 and carotid atherosclerosis was studied. Results The incidence of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with moderate and advanced stage CKD was relatively high （59/120, 49.2%）. The levels of serum FGF23 in atherosclerosis group were significantly higher than no atherosclerosis group （P<0.01）. The serum levels of FGF23 in patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls （P<0.01）. The levels of FGF23 were higher in dialyzed patients than those in non-dialyzed patients （P<0.05）,

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effect of nocturnal blood pressure load increase in female patients with normal blood pressure in consulting room on coronary artery atherosclerosis. Methods 190 patients with normal blood pressure in consulting room were chosen. Blood total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, body mass index, ambulatory blood pressure, coronary angiography were measured for each patients. According to the coronary angiography results, they were divided into the coronary heart disease group （n＝98） and control group （n＝92）. Results Female coronary artery stenosis was positively correlated with blood pressure variability at night （OR＝1.446, 95%CI 1.163～1.798）, increase of the average systolic blood pressure at night （OR＝3.630, 95%CI 2.954～4.311）, systolic blood pressure load at night （OR＝1.314, 95%CI 1.151～1.500） and diastolic blood pressure at night （OR＝2.086, 95%CI 1.344～3.237）（P<0.05）.

Abstract:Aim The study was to investigate the correlation between serum cystatin C （Cys C） and the degree of carotid stenosis in patients with transient ischemia attack or minor stroke. Methods A total of 229 patients with transient ischemic attack （TIA） or minor stroke were collected, and each of them received head and neck computed tomography angiography （CTA） inspection. All of the patients were divided into two groups: group with carotid stenosis and group without carotid stenosis. The group with carotid stenosis included 127 subjects of patients, which is divided into 4 subgroups: 44 subjects of mild carotid stenosis subgroup, 34 subjects of moderate carotid stenosis subgroup, 24 subjects of severe carotid stenosis subgroup, 12 subjects of oclussion subgroup Another 102 patients without carotid stenosis were selected as the control group. The levels of serum Cys C were detected by immunoturbidimetric assay, and the correlation between serum Cys C and the degree of carotid stenosis was analyzed. Results Serum Cys C level and homocysteine level were higher in carotid stenosis group than in without carotid stnosis group （P<0.01）. On spearman correlation analysis, carotid stenosis was correlated positively to age, serum Cys C, homocysteine （Hcy）, uric acid （UA）, hypertension and diabetes mellitus （P<0.05） The Logistic regression analysis showed that Cys C was not the independent risk factor for carotid stenosis. After the subjects of carotid stenosis group were divided into 4 subgroups according to the severity of carotid stenosis, serum Cys C levels were higher in severe carotid stenosis group than in without carotid stenosis group （P<0.05） The Cys C level of severe stenosis group was statistically and significantly different from mild stenosis group and moderate stenosis group （P<0.01, P<0.05）. The Logistic regression analysis showed that Cys C, triglyceride （TG）, hypertension were the independent risk factors for carotid with severe stenosis. Conclusion Serum Cys C level was positively correlated with carotid artery with severe stenosis in patients with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke, and was an independent risk factor for carotid artery with severe stenosis.

Abstract:Aim To study the effects of three kinds of domestic rapamycin drug-eluting stents（rapamycin drug-eluting stent, biodegradable rapamycin drug-eluting stents and polymer-free rapamycin drug-eluting stent） on serum secretory phospholipase A2 （sPLA2） and high sensitivity C-reactive protein （hs-CRP） levels after stents implantation. Methods 126 patients with unstable angina pectoris （UAP） by angiography were divided into Firebird 2 generation group （33 cases）, Excel group （43 cases） and Nano group （50 cases）, the patients without coronary heart disease （CHD） by coronary angiography during the same period were selected as the control group, serum concentration of sPLA2 and hs-CRP were determined before and at 24 h after coronary intervention. Results Clinical data had no difference in the four groups, and angiography characteristics had no significant differences in the three stent groups （P>0.05）. Serum concentration of sPLA2 and hs-CRP in the three stent groups were significantly higher than those of the control group before and at 24 h after coronary intervention （P<0.01）, but there were no significant differences between the three stent groups. Serum concentration of sPLA2 and hs-CRP at 24 h were significantly higher in each group than those in preoperative （P<0.05）. Compared with preoperative at 24 h, serum concentration of sPLA2 and hs-CRP in the three stent groups were significantly higher than those in the control group （P<0.01）, but there were no significant differences between the three stent groups. Conclusion Three kinds of domestic rapamycin drug-eluting stent implantation can induce the increase of serum sPLA2 and hs-CRP concentrations in short-term, but the inflammatory factor levels had no obvious differences between the three stent groups.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis in elderly patients and the expression of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p3 （Foxp3）, and high sensitivity C reactive protein （hs-CRP） in peripheral blood. Methods 66 cases of elderly patients with carotid atherosclerosis and 51 healthy controls were detected by flow cytometry of peripheral blood Foxp3, nephelometry hair testing hs-CPR. Results Perpheral CD^4＋CD25^＋Foxp3 regulatory T lymphocytes in elderly patients with carotid atherosclerosis decreased significantly and increased after rosuvatatin treatment, significantly higher than that before treatment serum hs-CRP in patients with carotid atherosclerosis was significantly higher than that of the control group, hs-CRP in patients with carotid artery plaque were significantly higher than that in patients with carotid artery intima-media thickness Foxp3 was correlated negatively with hs-CRP. Conclusions Carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly patients are closely related with peripheral blood expression of Foxp3 and hs-CRP. The peripheral blood Foxp3 and hs-CRP play an important role in the occurrence and development of plaque formation in carotid atherosclerosis, and the control of these risk factors is beneficial to controling and reducing the occurrence of apoplexy.

Abstract:Hypertrophic cardiomyophy（HCM） is one of the most common inherited cardiomyopathy, and it is believed to be the leading cause of sudden cardiac death for teenagers and athetes. Fibrosis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of HCM. A new technique,late gadolinium enhancement （LGE） imaging appears to be helpful in the diagnosis,differential diagnosis,and risk stratification of HCM patients. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of fibrosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Abstract:Diabetic vascular disease, especially cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM）. It has been shown that metformin goes beyond mere glycemic control, increasing insulin sensitivity. Moreover, metformin can decrease markers of inflammation, contribute to the reduction of oxidative stress, improve vascular endothelial and clock function. Therefore, metformin may have protective effect on diabetic macrovascular complication, which is independent of its hypoglycemic effect.

Abstract:An increasing amount of epidemiological and pathological evidence has been provided that indicates that maternal hyperlipidemia during embryonic development is correlated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis in the offspring during adulthood. In utero, the placenta and fetus are exposed to high cholesterol, lipid invasion, oxidative stress, inflammation and immune reaction signals from the mother and will likely respond specifically. In the fetus, these responses may lead to permanent epigenetic changes and these changes may lead to increased atherosclerosis susceptibility in adulthood.

Abstract:There are many methods to build carotid atherosclerosis models of rabbits. For example, air drying, balloon injury, silicone collar, electrical stimuli, microsurgical suture, Helicobacter pylori infection, radiation treatment, liquid nitrogen damage method, chemical burning method, etc. Different ways of building carotid atherosclerotic stenosis have different mechanism and pathological characteristics. This article focuses on the methods of making the carotid atherosclerotic models and their advantages and disadvantages.