Abstract:Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has the characteristics of high incidence, high disability and high fatality rate around the world, and vascular calcification (VC) is the main common pathological change which leading to the occurrence of CVD risk events, indicating VC is a potential target for prevention and treatment of CVD, but in view of the complex pathogenesis of VC, there is currently no effective means of treating VC. Iron is an essential trace element for human body, studies have found that iron homeostasis (IH) abnormality caused by iron overload or iron deficiency is involved in the occurrence and development of VC in different types of CVD and different stages of disease. Therefore, clarifying the abnormal mechanism of IH in VC will contribute to pointing out new directions for basic research and clinical therapy of VC.

Abstract:Aortic aneurysm (AA) is a pathological dilatation disease of the aorta that is affected by multiple factors and has a potential risk of rupture. AA can be divided into thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) based on the location of aneurysm. The occurrence of TAA is highly relevant to genetic factors, and shows no age and gender differences. In contrast, the occurrence of AAA is related to age, gender, and atherosclerosis, but is not related with genetic factors. Most AA patients are asymptomatic, and generally have the characteristics of insidious onset and rupture to death. Therefore, AA is a serious life-threatening chronic disease, but its pathogenesis is not fully understood. The animal model of AA is of great significance to investigate the underlying pathophysiological mechanism, to develop and evaluate therapeutic drugs. Currently, there are many well-established animal models of AAA, but less of TAA. In fact, many established methods to induce AAA can also induce TAA. This review describes the AA animal models classified into non-dissected AA animal model and dissected AA animal model, and discusses the development methods and phenotypes of them, which may help us to find more efficient and reliable solutions against human aortic aneurysm.

Abstract:Thrombosis and its complications are a clinical condition that endangers health. Neutrophil extracellular trap networks (NET) are extracellular fibrous networks formed by neutrophil-released, depolymerized chromatin that influence disease regression by activating platelets, accelerating clotting and thus promoting thrombosis. Histidine decarboxylase (HDC), a key enzyme catalyzing histamine production, is highly expressed in neutrophils, particular in the bone marrow-derived immature myeloid cells. Histamine signaling is involved in allergic reactions, gastric acid secretion, inflammation, immune responses, and tumorigenesis in relation to a variety of physiological and pathophysiological events. Targeting HDC-expressing neutrophils and the regulation of histamine related downstream signal on neutrophil differentiation, NET formation and thrombogenesis development might become a new antithrombotic strategy. This article mainly reviews the role of HDC-expression neutrophils inthrombosis.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effect of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) on the expression of Ca²＋-dependent transcriptional regulator and the proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cell (RVSMC). Methods RVSMCs were cultured in vitro, and TRPV1-specific agonist capsaicin (CAP) or inhibitor capsazepine (CPZ) was used to promote or inhibit the expression of TRPV1. TRPV1 expression was detected by immunocytochemical staining technique. Cell proliferation activity was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein expression was detected by Western blot. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect the protein expression and mRNA level of Ca²＋-dependent transcriptional regulator such as nuclear factor of activated T cell c1 (NFATc1), calsenilin (CSEN) and myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C). Results Immunocytochemical staining showed that TRPV1 was mainly expressed in the membrane and cytoplasm of RVSMC, and CAP or CPZ could activate or inhibit the expression of TRPV1. Compared with the control group, CAP could significantly stimulate the proliferation activity of RVSMCs and up-regulate the expression of PCNA protein (P＜0.01). Meanwhile, the protein and mRNA levels of NFATc1 and MEF2C were significantly up-regulated (P＜0.01); The protein expression of CSEN was significantly increased (P＜0.01), and there was no significant change in CSEN mRNA level (P＞0.05). After CPZ treatment, compared with the control group, the proliferation activity of RVSMC and the expression of PCNA protein were decreased (P＜0.01), the protein and mRNA levels of NFATc1 and MEF2C were significantly down-regulated (P＜0.01); The protein expression of CSEN was significantly decreased (P＜0.01), and there was no significant change in CSEN mRNA level (P＞0.05). Conclusion TRPV1 may be involved in promoting RVSMC proliferation by up-regulating the expression of Ca²＋-dependent transcriptional regulator.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and acute ischemic stroke in young people in Xinjiang. Methods A total of 186 young patients with acute ischemic stroke who were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2019 to December 2020 were selected as the observation group. A total of 180 patients with non-cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases who were hospitalized during the same period were randomly selected as the control group. The patients in the observation group were divided into mild neurological impairment group, moderate neurological impairment group and severe neurological impairment group according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission. According to the carotid intima-media thickness, they were divided into normal intima group, intimal thickening group, plaque formation group and carotid artery stenosis group. According to the modified Rankin scale score at 14 days, the patients were divided into a short-term good prognosis group and a short-term poor prognosis group. The clinical data and laboratory results of each group were compared. Risk factors for ischemic stroke, carotid atherosclerosis, and short-term poor prognosis were explored in young adults. Results The blood homocysteine level was significantly higher in young patients with acute ischemic stroke than that in the control group (P＜0.05). The risk of acute ischemic stroke in young people increased with the level of homocysteine, and the two groups of patients with moderate and severe neurological impairment had higher blood homocysteine levels than those with mild neurological impairment patients (P＜0.05). Homocysteine was a risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis (OR=34.4,5%CI:8.184～142.876) and short-term poor prognosis (OR=388.7,5%CI:50.271～3 003.108) in young patients with acute ischemic stroke. The area under the curve of homocysteine for predicting the short-term poor prognosis of acute ischemic stroke in young people was 0.712 (95%CI:0.616～0.807), and the area under the curve when it was combined with leukocytes was 0.831 (95%CI:0.745～0.916). Conclusions High plasma homocysteine level is a risk factor for acute ischemic stroke, carotid atherosclerosis and short-term poor prognosis in young people in Xinjiang. It has a certain predictive value for the short-term poor prognosis of young patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Abstract:Aim To explore the predictive value of plasma soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) level for early neurological deterioration after recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods A total of 183 patients with ischemic stroke who met the inclusion criteria were collected as the research objects. According to the degree of neurological deficit 24 hours after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis, the patients were divided into neurological deterioration group with 31 cases and non-neurological deterioration group with 152 cases. The general clinical data were collected, such as patient age and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), the plasma sTM level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the correlation between plasma sTM and general data of ischemic stroke patients with early neurological deterioration after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis was analyzed by Pearson's method and Spearman's method; the predictive value of plasma sTM for early neurological deterioration after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve); the factors affecting early neurological deterioration after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression. Results The plasma sTM ((50.64±12.17) μg/L vs. (33.76±8.67) μg/L), age ((67.34±10.87) years vs. (60.22±11.05) years), hs-CRP ((12.59±3.23) mg/L vs. (4.92±1.13) mg/L), fasting blood glucose ((7.31±1.96) mmol/L vs. (5.86±1.92) mmol/L), and proportion of diabetes (32.26% vs. 16.45%) were higher in the neurological deterioration group than those of the non-neurological deterioration group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Plasma sTM of ischemic stroke patients with early neurological deterioration after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis was positively correlated with age, hs-CRP, fasting blood glucose, and diabetes (P＜0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of plasma sTM predicting early neurological deterioration after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke was 0.852, the specificity was 81.6%, and the sensitivity was 80.6%. sTM and fasting blood glucose were independent factors influencing early neurological deterioration after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke (P＜0.05). Conclusion Plasma sTM has important predictive value for early neurological deterioration after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke.

Abstract:Aim To analyze the risk factors profile, clinical data, characteristics of coronary angiograph, laboratory characteristics and prognosis features in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients under 45 years old. Methods A cohort of 1 551 STEMI patients were divided into≤45-year old group (n＝120) and ＞45-year old group (n＝1 431). The baseline data, coronary angiography results, laboratory results, and in-hospital prognosis were compared between two groups. Results The percentages of males, smoking cigarettes, alcohol consumption were higher in ≤45-year old group than those in ＞45-year old group (P＜0.01), while the percentages of complications of diabetes, hypertension and stroke were lower in ≤45-year old group than those in ＞45-year old group (P≤0.01). The percentages of percutaneous coronary intervention was higher in ≤45-year old group than that in ＞45-year old group (P＜0.05), while the percentages of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was lower in ≤45-year old group than that in ＞45-year old group (P＜0.05). Gensini scores were lower in ≤45-year old group than those in ＞45-year old group (P＜0.05). The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), high density liptein cholesterol (HDLC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), high sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), C-reactive protein toalbumin ratio (NLR) were lower in ≤45-year old group than those in ＞45-year old group (P＜0.05), while the levels of triglyceride (TG), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), calcium(Ca), natrium(Na), white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte (LYM), eosinophil (EO), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (PLT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were higher in ≤45-year old group than those in ＞45-year old group (P＜0.05). The days, the incidences of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE) and all-cause death during hospital were lower in ≤45-year old group than those in ＞45-year old group (P＜0.05). In multivariate analysis, hypertension, smoking cigarettes, alcohol consumption and high NLR were independently associated with MACE during hospital in ≤45-year old group. Conclusion The risk factors profile such as males, smoking cigarettes, alcohol consumption were more obvious, and the percentages of hypertension is second only to smoking in ≤45-year old group. They also have relatively simple coronary artery disease, light inflammation response, the favorable prognosis.Our analysis suggests that hypertension, smoking cigarettes, alcohol consumption and high NLR are independently associated with MACE during hospital in ≤45-year old group.

Abstract:Aim To investigate the effect of early application of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor on inflammation level and microcirculation function after PCI in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Methods From December 2019 to December 1,0 patients with NSTE-ACS who underwent PCI in the People's Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine were selected and randomly divided into control group (55 cases) and PCSK9 inhibitor group (55 cases) according to the random number table method. Patients in control group was treated with atorvastatin calcium tablets, and patients in PCSK9 inhibitor group was treated with evolumab on the basis of the control group. After 6 months of treatment, the blood lipids, inflammation levels, coronary microcirculation resistance index and differences in coronary TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) were compared. Results Compared with control group, the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and lipoprotein(a) in PCSK9 inhibitor group were significantly decreased after treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly decreased after treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). After treatment, the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) of PCSK9 inhibitor group was lower than that of control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Six months after surgery, TMPG level 3 in PCSK9 inhibitor group was higher than that in control group, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusion Early application of PCSK9 inhibitor on the basis of statins can improve inflammation level and microcirculation function after PCI in patients with NSTE-ACS, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Abstract:Aim To study the construction of carotid vulnerable plaque risk model and its relationship with cognitive impairment and prognosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods 180 patients with carotid vulnerable plaques in Lianyungang First People's Hospital from July 2018 to July 2020 were selected as observation group, and another 180 patients with unstable plaques who underwent physical examination were selected as control group. The unstable plaque integral ratio, the maximum length of plaques, the maximum thickness of plaques, ulcer plaques, area stenosis, peak flow velocity at stenosis and resistance index were compared to study the construction of carotid vulnerable plaque risk model and its relationship with cognitive impairment and prognosis in patients with ACI. Results There were significant differences between the two groups in unstable plaque integral ratio, maximum plaque length, maximum plaque thickness, ulcer plaque, area stenosis, peak flow velocity at stenosis and resistance index (P＜0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that high unstable plaque integral ratio, maximum plaque length, maximum plaque thickness, ulcer plaque, peak flow velocity at area stenosis and resistance index were the risk factors for carotid vulnerable plaque. The incidence of cognitive impairment (χ²＝11.432, P＝0.001) and poor prognosis (χ²＝14.362, P＝0.000) in the observation group was significantly higher than those in the control group. Correlation analysis showed that carotid vulnerable plaques in ACI patients were significantly correlated with cognitive impairment and prognosis. Conclusions Carotid vulnerable plaque is significantly correlated with cognitive impairment and prognosis in patients with ACI. High unstable plaque integral ratio, maximum plaque length, maximum plaque thickness, ulcer plaque, area stenosis, peak flow velocity at stenosis and resistance index are all risk factors for carotid vulnerable plaque, it is suggested that clinical intervention should be carried out in time for such patients.

Abstract:Aim To study the correlation between galectin-3 (Gal-3) and the severity of coronary artery disease by Meta-analysis. Methods Through searching the related study on Gal-3 and coronary artery lesions in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP internet databases, two researchers screened the literature and extracted data respectively. WPS software was used to transform the correlation coefficient, Fisher's Z transformation and inverse transformation. Revman 5.3 software was used to perform Meta analysis, heterogeneity test and sensitivity analysis. Stata 14.0 software was used to perform publication bias analysis. Results 14 studies involving 1 560 patients with coronary heart disease were included in this study. According to the Meta-analysis results of the correlation between Gal-3 and genisi score, the summary Fisher'Z was 0.79, I² was 12% (P＜0.01), and the summary r was 0.66. Conclusion The concentration of Gal-3 in blood is closely related to the degree of coronary artery stenosis. With the increase of Gal-3 concentration in blood, it may indicate the aggravation of coronary artery stenosis.

Abstract:Circular RNA (circRNA), one of the crucial regulatory non-coding RNA, are rich in content, stable in nature, and widespread. They can play vital roles in the occurrence and development of vascular diseases by regulating gene expression through various mechanisms. This review summarizes the current research status of circRNA in varieties of vascular diseases to provide references for researchers in related fields.

Abstract:Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the most serious cardiovascular diseases endangering human health. For a long time, plaque rupture (PR), the release of plaque contents accompanying and the formation of mural thrombus are considered as the major mechanism for the formation of ACS. With the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT), it is realized that, in addition to PR, plaque erosion (PE) is another important and common pathological mechanism of ACS. In recent years, the research on PE has made good progress. This paper will summarize the research progress on the diagnosis and treatment of PE.

Abstract:Antiplatelet medications play an important role in the therapeutic strategies of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. Tirofiban, a kind of thrombocyte glycoprotein Ⅱb/Ⅲa inhibitor, is extensively used in acute coronary syndrome and percutaneous coronary intervention to inhibit thrombocyte activation, prevent thrombosis and reduce the ischemic complications. Thrombocytopenia is well-known as common complication of glycoprotein Ⅱb/Ⅲa inhibitor. Most of time, tirofiban-induced thrombocytopenia is harmless to the patients’life, but sometimes it occurs to severe complications such as diffused alveolar hemorrhage. This article presents a tirofiban-induced thrombocytopenia case which is developed after percutaneous coronary intervention, and then reviews the diagnosis and treatment of tirofiban-induced thrombocytopenia and summarizes the differential diagnosis from other medications.

Abstract:The residual risk of remnant cholesterol (RC) has been highly valued by Europe and the United States recently. Compared with the traditional four blood lipids (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), remnant cholesterol has a very important predictive value in various cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerotic heart disease, in-stent restenosis, and aortic stenosis, and this predictive value is independent of the traditional four blood lipids. Attaching importance to and regulating remnant cholesterol levels is very necessary to improve the prognosis of cardiovascular disease.