Effects of Xuesetong Soft Capsules(血塞通软胶囊) on angiogenesis and VEGF mRNA expression in ischemic myocardium in rats with myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Xuesetong Soft Capsules(血塞通软胶囊,Notoginseng total saponin) on angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) mRNA expression in ischemic myocardium of rats with myocardial infarction.METHODS:The left coronary artery of rats was ligated to establish the animal model of acute myocardial infarction.Rats were randomly divided into Xuesetong Soft Capsule,Shexiangbaoxin Pill(positive control),model(negative control) and sham operation groups.After 6 weeks,microvessel count(MVC),microvessel density(MVD) and VEGF mRNA expressioninischemicmyoc ardium were evaluated.RESULTS:MVC and MVD in the myocardial infarct border area in model,Shexiangbaoxin Pill and Xuesetong Soft Capsule groups significantly increased compared with those of the sham operation group(P<0.05).MVC and MVD in the myocardial infarct border area in Xuesetong Soft Capsule and Shexiangbaoxin Pill groups significantly increased compared with those of the model group(P<0.05).No significant differences between Xuesetong Soft Capsule and Shexiangbaoxin Pill groups were observed(P>0.05).The model group showed signifi-cantly higher VEGF mRNA expression than that in the sham operation group(P<0.05).Xuesetong Soft Capsule and Shexiangbaoxin Pill groups showed significantly higher VEGF mRNA expression than that of the model group(P<0.05).No significant difference between Xuesetong Soft Capsule and the Shexiangbaoxin Pill groups was observed(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Xuesetong Soft Capsules promote angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium after myocardial infarction and the mechanism may be associated withVEGF mRNA expression.     

注射用丹参多酚酸盐联合参附汤对心肺复苏患者的临床疗效评价

目的:观察注射用丹参多酚酸盐联合参附汤对心肺复苏后患者的疗效,为临床合理用药提供依据。方法:40例心肺复苏成功的患者按照随机数表法分为治疗组和对照组。对照组给予常规治疗,治疗组在对照组治疗基础上给予注射用丹参多酚酸盐联合参附汤,两组均治疗72 h。比较两组患者治疗后一般指标、脑代谢指标、神经元特异性烯醇化酶(neuron specific enolase, NSE)及心肌酶谱。结果:治疗后,两组患者循环稳定情况、平均动脉压及格拉斯哥昏迷评分比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗后,两组患者颈静脉血氧饱和度(jugular venous oxygen saturation, SjvO₂)高于复苏成功即刻,脑氧摄取量(oxygen extraction ratio, ERO₂)与动脉-颈内静脉血氧含量差(oxygen content in arterio-carotid venous, Ca-jvO₂)低于复苏成功即刻,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗组SjvO₂明显低于对照...     

Myocardial involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a multi-center cross-sectional study in the CRDC-MYO Registry

Clinical Rheumatology - This study aimed to investigate the associated factors of myocardial involvements (MIs) in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). In this multi-center...     

Subclinical and clinical atherosclerosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with the presence of hypertension

Background and aimsNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, it is unclear whether NAFLD contributes independently to the development of CV disease. Our study aimed at assessing the differences in several indices of atherosclerosis, arterial stiffness and cardiac morphology among patients with isolated NAFLD, isolated hypertension (HT) or a combination of the two conditions.Methods and resultsA total of 169 participants (mean age = 50.4 ± 10.2 yrs; males = 73.6%) were divided according to the presence of NAFLD and HT into three groups: only NAFLD (55 patients), only HT (49 patients), and NAFLD + HT (65 patients). Exclusion criteria were a BMI≥35 kg/m² and a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Carotid ultrasonography was performed to measure markers of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness. Cardiac remodeling was analyzed using echocardiography. The prevalence of subclinical and overt atherosclerosis was significantly higher in the NAFLD + HT patients as compared to the other two groups (atherosclerotic plaques: 43.1%, 10.9%, and 22.4% (p < 0.001) in NAFLD + HT, NAFLD, and HT groups, respectively). No differences were found among indices of arterial stiffening and cardiac remodeling across the three groups. In multivariate regression analysis, the coexistence of NAFLD and HT was an independent risk factor for overt atherosclerosis (OR = 4.88, CI 95% 1.14–20.93), while no association was found when either NAFLD or HT was considered alone.ConclusionOvert atherosclerosis was significantly present only in NAFLD + HT patients, but not in patients with isolated NAFLD. This implies that the impact of NAFLD on vascular structure and function could depend on the coexistence of other major CV risk factors, such as HT.     

Relation of genetic polymorphisms in microRNAs with diastolic and systolic function in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background and aimsType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has high risk of developing cardiac dysfunction, increasing of either cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure. MicroRNAs (miRNA) affect cardiac function of T2DM. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between five miRNA single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and diastolic and systolic function of T2DM.Methods and resultsThree hundred untreated T2DM subjects were included. Each subject underwent SNP genotyping, conventional echocardiography, tissue doppler imaging, and speckle tracking imaging. The effects of miRNA SNPs on diastolic and systolic function were evaluated. The diastolic function of T2DM subjects with miR-133a-1-rs8089787 wild genotype or let-7f-rs10877887 variant genotype was lower than those with miR-133a-1-rs8089787 variant genotype or let-7f-rs10877887 wild genotype, manifesting as higher left atrial volume index, lower mean E′, and higher E/E’ (P < 0.05). There were no significant effects of miR-133a-2-rs13040413, let-7a-1-rs13293512 and miR-27a-rs895819 on the diastolic function of T2DM subjects (P > 0.05). These five miRNA SNPs had no effect on the systolic function of T2DM subjects (P > 0.05).ConclusionsMiRNA-133a-1-rs8089787 and let-7f-rs10877887 were associated with impaired cardiac diastolic function in T2DM. The findings may be a promising therapeutic targets for preventing diastolic dysfunction in T2DM.     

The organochlorine p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane induces colorectal cancer growth through Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), an organochlorine pollutant, is associated with several types of cancer. However, the relationship between DDT and colorectal cancer is uncertain. In this study, the impact of p,p′-DDT on colorectal cancer growth was evaluated using both in vitro and in vivo models. Our results indicated that the proliferation of human colorectal adenocarcinoma DLD1 cells was significantly promoted after exposed to low concentrations of p,p′-DDT ranging from 10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁷ M for 96 h. Exposure to p,p′-DDT from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁸ M led to upregulation of phospho-GSK3β (Ser9), β-catenin, c-Myc and cyclin D1 in DLD1 cells. RNA interference of β-catenin inhibited the proliferation of DLD1 cells stimulated by p,p′-DDT. Inhibiting of estrogen receptors (ERs) had no significant effect on the action of p,p′-DDT. Treatment with p,p′-DDT induced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibited superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in DLD1 cells. Treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a ROS inhibitor, suppressed the induction of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and DLD1 cell proliferation by p,p′-DDT. Moreover, in a mouse xenograft model, 5 nmol/kg p,p′-DDT resulted in increased tumor size, oxidative stress and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. These results indicated that low concentrations of p,p′-DDT promoted colorectal cancer growth through Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which was mediated by oxidative stress. The finding suggests an association between low concentrations of p,p′-DDT exposure and colorectal cancer progression.     

Laboratorial characteristics of patients with diarrhoea suffering from egg white allergy

BackgroundEgg allergy is associated with diarrhoeal symptoms. However, the mechanism underlying allergic diarrhoea remains unclear.ObjectiveTo determine whether egg white-specific IgE antibodies coexist with egg white-specific IgG antibodies in patients with egg allergy featuring diarrhoeal symptoms, and whether there is any relationship between these two antibody types.MethodsA total of 89 patients with egg allergy featuring diarrhoeal symptoms (average age, 23.2 years; range, 1–78 years), all of whom tested positive for egg white-specific IgG, were enrolled in this study. The concentration of total IgE, egg white-specific IgE and number of eosinophils in the serum were determined.ResultsAmong the 89 egg white allergic patients tested, 49 (55.1%) patients showed high reactivity to egg white-specific IgG, 48 (53.9%) patients had elevated serum total IgE levels, and 25 (28.1%) patients had elevated absolute eosinophil numbers. Out of the 89 egg white allergic patients, 25 showed elevated egg white-specific IgE antibody levels. Of the 25 patients who were positive for egg white-specific IgE antibody, 21 presented high sensitive reaction to egg white-specific IgG, three presented moderate sensitive reaction to egg white-specific IgG, and one presented mild sensitive reaction to egg white-specific IgG. A moderate correlation between egg white-specific IgG and egg white-specific IgE, egg white-specific IgG and absolute eosinophil number was found in the egg white allergic patients (r = 0.438, P = 0.000; r = 0.322, P = 0.002). Egg white-specific IgE levels varied in different age groups; the egg white-specific IgE concentration of younger patients (age ≤ 18 years, mean rank 54.29) was significantly higher than that of the adult patients (age > 18 years, mean rank 34.61) (Z = −3.629, P = 0.000).ConclusionEgg white-specific IgE antibody could coexist with egg white-specific IgG antibody in patients suffering from egg white allergy. Aberrant changes in the concentration of egg white-specific IgE antibody were associated with the presence of egg white-specific IgG antibody.