Abstract:Vascular remodeling is the pathophysiological basis of many cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, and various cells in the blood vessel wall play an important role in this process. Among them, vascular wall stem cells, as a type of adult stem cells that exist in the vascular wall, not only participate in angiogenesis during the growth and development of the body and early adulthood, but also can be affected by pathogenic factors in adulthood, activate from dormant state, differentiate into endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, participate in vascular remodeling after vascular injury, and affect the process of related diseases. This paper reviews the latest progress of vascular wall stem cells in vascular remodeling-related diseases, so as to provide a basis for further demonstrating the possible therapeutic potential of vascular wall stem cells.

Abstract:Serum uric acid plays dual role in physiological conditions. Hemorrhagic transformation(HT) is a common complication of acute ischemic stroke, which deteriorates the prognosis of ischemic stroke. The pathogenesis of hemorrhagic transformation is closely related to oxidative stress, inflammatory cascade, destruction of blood-brain barrier and alteplase thrombolysis. Many previous studies have shown that serum uric acid affects the occurrence and development of hemorrhagic transformation through a variety of ways. The aim of this article is to systematically review relevant research to improve the prognosis of hemorrhagic transformation.

Abstract:Aim To study the health effects of road traffic noise on rats and the effects on their metabolite levels in vivo, and to investigate the possible mechanism. Methods Twelve Wistar rats (half male and half female) were randomly divided into noise group and control group according to sex. The noise group was exposed to road traffic noise at a mean of 75 dB from 23:00 daily to 7:00 the next day for 2.5 months. Blood pressure was measured, and feces were collected for LC-MS non-targeted metabolomics analysis. Results The systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the noise group (P＜0.001). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were (176.67±27.07) mmHg and (93.93±21.54) mmHg in noise exposed group, as well as (150.38±17.98) mmHg and (67.72±24.67) mmHg in control group. Metabolomic analysis identified 41 significant metabolites, including 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, N-formylmethionine, 3-hydroxyphenylalanine, etc., which mainly involved in the amino acid metabolic pathway. Conclusion Road traffic noise exposure was associated with a high blood pressure in rats. N-formylmethionine and 2-hydroxyphenylacetic may play roles in this association.

Abstract:Aim To study the effect of levosimendan on apoptosis of H9c2 cells under hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) condition and related mechanisms. Methods H9c2 cells were cultured in vitro, and the cells were divided into blank control group, H/R group, low-dose levosimendan group, medium-dose levosimendan group, and high-dose levosimendan group. Proliferation of H9c2 cells was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay; Apoptosis of H9c2 cells was detected by flow cytometry; Superoxide dismutase (SOD) kit and malondialdehyde (MDA) kit were used to detect SOD activity and MDA content respectively; Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by fluorescent probe method; Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), phosphate and tension homology deleted on chromsome ten (PTEN) and phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K)/serine threonine kinase (Akt) signaling pathway protein expression were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the blank control group, the proliferation inhibition rate, apoptosis rate, MDA content, ROS level and PTEN protein expression of H9c2 cells in H/R group were significantly increased (P＜0.05), PCNA, Bcl-2, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt were significantly decreased, and Bax was significantly increased (P＜0.05). Compared with the H/R group, the proliferation inhibition rate, apoptosis rate, MDA content, ROS level and PTEN protein expression of H9c2 cells in the low-dose levosimendan group, the middle-dose group and the high-dose levosimendan group were significantly decreased (P＜0.05), PCNA, Bcl-2, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt were significantly increased, and Bax was significantly decreased (P＜0.05); And the higher the dose of levosimendan, the more obvious the corresponding changes of the above indicators. Conclusion Levosimendan can promote cell proliferation, and inhibit cell oxidative stress and apoptosis in H9c2 cells under H/R conditions possibly by inhibiting PTEN and activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the mechanism of microRNA-301 (miR-301) influencing cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, miR-301 agonist group (agomir miR-301 group), miR-301 agonist control group (agomir NC group), Wnt /β-catenin pathway inhibitor group (Dkk1 group), and agomir miR-301＋Dkk1 group, 10 rats in each group. Except for the control group, the other groups were fed with high-fat diet to establish a CHD model, and after 1 week of continuous administration, ultrasound was used to detect the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (FS), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) and other cardiac function indicators in rats. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of rat myocardium, TUNEL was used to detect cardiomyocyte apoptosis, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-301 in myocardial tissue, Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of Caspase-3, Bax, Wnt3a and β-catenin in rat myocardial tissue. Results Compared with the control group, LVEF and FS in model group decreased by 49.2% and 49.1%, the expression level of miR-301 in myocardial tissue decreased by 69.0%, and the protein expression levels of Wnt3a and β-catenin decreased by 60.7% and 39.7% (P＜0.05). LVEDD and LVESD increased by 32.2% and 99.6%, the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes increased by 1362.6%, and the expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax proteins in myocardial tissue increased by 100.0% and 114.6% (P＜0.05). Compared with agomir miR-301 group, LVEF and FS in agomir miR-301 group increased by 71.4% and 71.8%, the expression level of miR-301 in myocardial tissue increased by 1935.5%, and the protein expression levels of Wnt3a and β-catenin increased by 102.4% and 45.1% (P＜0.05), LVEDD and LVESD decreased by 15.6% and 39.2%, the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes decreased by 65.0%, and the expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax in myocardial tissue decreased by 70.2% and 78.4% (P＜0.05), while Dkk1 could reverse this phenomenon. Conclusion MiR-301 can improve cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with coronary heart disease by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of Cathepsin D(CTSD)gene promoter and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its related risk factors. Methods The CTSD gene promoters of 357 AMI patients and 347 control population were amplified and sequenced by polymerase chain reaction in case-control study, combined with the sequence and comparison of DNA sequencing, SNP was searched in NCBI database for data statistics and analysis. After using the Hardy Weinberg balance test, the χ² test and t test were used for correlation analysis. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of multiple risk factors and two SNP loci with susceptibility to AMI. Linkage unbalance and haplotype analysis were performed using Haploview4.2 software and SHEsis online software. TRANSFAC database was used to predict the binding sites of transcription factors that may be affected by SNP. Results Logistic regression analysis showed that age increase, smoking history, hypertension history and triglyceride increase were independent risk factors for AMI (P＜0.05), which significantly increased the risk of acute myocardial infarction. High density lipoprotein and cholesterol are protective factors of AMI (P＜0.05), which can significantly reduce the risk of AMI. This result may be related to the use of lipid-regulating drugs in the myocardial infarction group, which requires further analysis by expanding samples. The two SNP in the promoter sequence of CTSD gene were not associated with AMI. The linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis suggested that the two SNP loci were in the same linkage disequilibrium region (D′=1.000, R²=0.978), and haploid did not increase AMI susceptibility (P＞0.05). Conclusion The two SNP in the promoter region of CTSD gene are completely linked disequilibrium. The two SNP and their haploid types were not associated with the incidence of AMI, but provided the population genetic data of CTSD gene promoter region polymorphism.

Abstract:Aim To observe the status of nocturnal hypertension (NH) in young and middle-aged hypertensive patients, explore its influencing factors, and provide reference for clinical work. Methods A cross-sectional study method was adopted to collect the clinical data of young and middle-aged hypertensive patients who visited Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from April 2021 to April 2022, including general clinical data, biochemical test indicators, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data and Pittsburgh sleep quality index score. According to NH diagnostic criteria, 268 hypertensive patients were divided into non-NH group and NH group. The data of the two groups were analyzed and compared. Results Among 268 young and middle-aged hypertensive patients, 47 cases were in the non-NH group and 221 cases were in the NH group, with NH accounting for 82.46%. Nocturnal average blood pressure, daytime average blood pressure and 24-hour average blood pressure in the NH group were higher than those in the non-NH group. Among them, the nocturnal systolic blood pressure, nocturnal diastolic blood pressure, daytime systolic blood pressure, daytime diastolic blood pressure, 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure and 24-hour mean diastolic blood pressure in the NH group were 1.0,1.1,1.8,1.2,1.16 and 1.14 times that of the non-NH group, respectively (P＜0.01). The magnitude of drop in nocturnal blood pressure in the NH group was smaller, and the magnitude of drop in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure was only 40.02% and 43.43% of that in the non-NH group (P＜0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that alcohol consumption, high body mass index and Pittsburgh sleep quality index score were independent risk factors for the occurrence of NH. Conclusion The proportion of NH is high in young and middle-aged hypertensive patients, and the drop magnitude of nocturnal blood pressure in NH patients is smaller. Abstinence from drinking, losing weight and improving sleep quality are important means to control NH.

Abstract:Aim To study the diagnostic and prognostic value of head and neck computed tomography angiography (CTA) combined with ambulatory arterial stiffness index in acute cerebral watershed infarction (ACWI). Methods 292 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in the Department of Neurology of Baoding Second Central Hospital from July 2018 to September 2020 were prospectively collected. All patients were examined by diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). According to the results of DWI, patients were divided into ACWI group (n＝134) and non-ACWI group (n＝158). All patients underwent head and neck CTA examination and neck ultrasound, to detect the presence, nature and location of carotid plaque and the stenosis, location and stenosis of head and neck vessels in patients. The prognosis of the patients was evaluated with the NIHSS. The general clinical data, NIHSS score at admission and discharge, ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI), vascular stenosis in the head and neck, location and stenosis were compared between the two groups. Multivariate analysis was conducted using Logistic regression model. Pearson test was used to analyze the correlation between AASI and head and neck CTA in patients with ACWI. ROC curve was used to evaluate the detection index of CTA in the head and neck and the effect of AASI on ACWI, and the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with ACWI were analyzed by establishing Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results Mean arterial pressure was the protective factor of ACWI on admission (P＜0.05). The degree of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis on the lesion side, the stenosis degree of MCA on the lesion side, the stenosis of multiple vessels on the lesion side and AASI were independent risk factors for ACWI (P＜0.05). ASSI was positively correlated with the degree of ICA stenosis, the degree of MCA stenosis and the number of stenotic vessels (P＜0.001). The diagnostic value of head and neck CTA combined with AASI in ACWI was greater than that in ACWI alone (P＜0.05). NIHSS score at discharge, focal side severe ICA stenosis, focal side MCA severe stenosis, lesion side multivessel stenosis and AASI were the key risk factors affecting the prognosis of ACWI patients (P＜0.05). Conclusion The degree of ICA stenosis on the lesion side, the stenosis degree of MCA on the lesion side, the stenosis of multiple vessels on the lesion side and AASI are independent risk factors for ACWI. Clinically, head and neck CTA combined with AASI can be used for early diagnosis and treatment of ACWI patients and improve the prognosis of the patients.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the modeling methods and application of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque (VP) animal model. Methods The related literature about VP animal modeling published in CNKI, Pubmed and Wanfang databases from October 2016 to October 2021 were retrieved. The modeling animals, modeling methods, modeling cycles, model evaluation methods and corresponding detection indexes in the literatures were statistically analyzed. Results The most commonly used experimental animals were mice with apolipoprotein E gene deficient at 6～12 weeks, New Zealand white rabbits at 12～16 weeks, and familial hypercholesterolemia pigs at 34 weeks. Modeling methods were followed by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet induction, arterial ligation, or combined with aortic endothelial balloon strain, chemical triggering, immune induction, etc. The modeling cycle ranged from 8 weeks to 1 year, with 12 to 18 weeks being the most. The evaluation methods were mostly pathological staining, combined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, flow cytometry and other methods; color Doppler ultrasound, cardiac perfusion imaging and in vivo live cell tracking technology were used for VP live detection. Conclusion High-fat and high-cholesterol diet feeding, or combined with surgical injury to establish VP model has good reproducibility. If a cost-effective in vivo detection method can be developed, the research efficiency of atherosclerotic diseases will be greatly improved.

Abstract:Aim To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum complement C1q level in coronary heart disease. Methods Case-control studies on the diagnostic value of serum complement C1q level in coronary heart disease were collected by computer retrieval from CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase and other databases until September 2021. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata16.0 software. Results A total of 10 literatures met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 2 011 subjects. Meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference in serum complement C1q level between the coronary heart disease group and the control group(SMD=－0.9,5%CI:－0.85～0.48,P=0.58). Conclusion Serum complement C1q level may not be a diagnostic indicator of coronary heart disease.

Abstract:Transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) is a Ca²＋-activated monovalent selective cation channel that also plays a key role in cardiovascular pathophysiology. TRPM4 is widely distributed in the cardiovascular system, and this channel is associated with cardiac structure and action potentials. This paper summarizes the existed studies on the physiological regulatory mechanisms of TRPM4 channel and the relationship between this channel and cardiovascular diseases, with the aim of contributing to the subsequent studies on this channel.

Abstract:Aim High density lipoprotein (HDL) has the functions of mediating reverse cholesterol transport and anti-oxidation, thereby inhibiting atherosclerosis. In the case of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, smoking, etc., HDL undergoes oxidative modification, and the activity of HDL-related enzymes decreases, resulting in weakened functions. Antioxidants such as vitamin E can reduce the oxidative modification of HDL and enhance the activity of HDL-related enzymes such as paraoxonase 1, but their long-term safety remains to be verified. Hydrogen molecule, as a novel antioxidant, plays a good role in a variety of oxidative inflammatory diseases. Our research group has been devoted to the research of hydrogen molecule and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and found that hydrogen molecule can increase the plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol level in animals and humans with metabolic syndrome and hypercholesterolemia, and enhance the activity of HDL-related enzymes and its mediated cholesterol efflux function. This article reviews the animal experiments and clinical trials of the biological effects of hydrogen molecule on HDL.

Abstract:Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has developed continuously in China, and many clinical procedures have evolved. Referring to the literature reports and many experts' experiences in recent years, this paper comprehensively summarizes the latest clinical procedures of CABG in China. This paper classifies and summarizes CABG from three aspects:application of cardiopulmonary bypass, surgical approach and bridging vessel materials, discusses the development status of clinical procedures, compares the differences among different procedures, discusses the choice tendency of clinicians for different procedures, and predicts the development and breakthrough direction of CABG in clinical procedures in the future.

Abstract:Cardiovascular disease seriously threatens human health and is still the main cause of human death. The exosomes released by mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) act on the heart and blood vessels, which can exert anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrosis, and accelerate the generation of endothelial cell and angiogenesis. The role is the key mechanism of MSC transplantation therapy. This article summarizes relevant domestic and foreign researches in the past five years, reviews the mechanism of MSC-derived exosomes in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and discusses exosomes as a new approach for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the future.