Low–Density Lipoprotein Apheresis Versus Lipid Lowering Drugs in the Treatment of Severe Hypercholesterolemia: Four Years' Experience

Abstract: Elevated lipoprotein concentrations seem to be linked strongly in a dose dependent manner to an increased incidence of atherosclerosis. A total of 47 patients suffering from severe hyperlipidemia were matched to treatment with LDL apheresis (Baxter, Kaneka, Li–popak; 24 patients, aged 50.2 ±11.5 years), diet, and/or lipid–lowering drugs or with diet and lipid–lowering drugs only (23 patients, aged 48.8 ±11.8 years). After treatment periods of 49.8 ±13.4 months (apheresis group, 2,396 treatment sessions) and 38.6 ± 15.1 months (drug group), the ensuing results revealed significant differences (p <0.0001): –47.3% versus –12.1% for total cholesterol, –46.9% versus –21.8% for LDL, +8.4% versus +0.9% for HDL, –52.0% versus – 13.1% for the LDL/HDL ratio, –36.4% versus –16.2% for triglycerides, and –25.9% versus + 1.5% for lipoprotein (a). In the apheresis group, one patient died of myocardial infarction; in the drug group, there was one nonfatal myocardial infarction and the manifestation of coronary heart disease in 3 cases. There were no severe side effects in either group. All patients in the apheresis group responded to therapy. The present trial suggests that a continuing reduction in serum lipid concentrations may lower, in a dose dependent manner, the risk for development and progression of coronary heart disease. Regarding clinical and laboratory results, LDL apheresis seems to be safe, effective therapy for treatment of severe hyperlipidemia.     

Fibrinogen promotes monocyte adhesion via a protein kinase C dependent mechanism

The accumulation of blood monocytes at sites of predilection of the vessel wall is an early cellular event of atherogenesis. Proteins of the vessel wall may facilitate monocyte adhesion and thus promote their recruitment. It has been shown that the relative content of extracellular fibrinogen increases during lesion development, and this study investigated the contribution of immobilized fibrinogen to monocyte adhesion and the underlying mechanism. Freshly isolated human blood monocytes were cultivated in serum-free RPMI 1640 in tissue culture wells precoated with albumin, fibrinogen, or fibrin. After 16 h the plates were washed and adherent cells enumcrated. Immobilized fibrinogen enhanced monocyte adhesion more than 1.9-fold compared to immobilized albumin or fibrin (P<0.05). Concomitant addition of the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors staurosporine or H7 suppressed monocyte adherence to immobilized fibrinogen but exerted no significant effect upon adhesion to any other surface tested. Stimulation of monocytes using phorbol myristate acetate resulted in increased binding of monocytes on fibrinogen but not on bovine serum albumin. When PKC activity was reduced through prolonged incubation with PMA for 16h, a significant reduction of monocyte adhesion on fibrinogen was observed. Peptides containing RGD sequences, which have been demonstrated to be ligands for certain integrins, did not inhibit monocyte adhesion. The data suggest that fibrinogen promotes monocyte adhesion in vitro by a PKC-dependent mechanism. PKC appears to be important not only for the initial cell adhesion but also for sustained binding of monocytes to fibrinogen.Abbreviations BSA Bovine serum albumin - ECM Extracellular matrix - PKC Protein kinase C - PMA Phorbol myristate acetate     

单核细胞流变特性异常在动脉粥样硬化进程中的作用

目的：了解单核细胞流变特性异常在动脉粥样硬化进程的作用。方法：大耳白兔６０只随机分为实验组（ＡＧ）４０只及对照组（ＣＧ）２０只，ＡＧ给予胆固醇ｌｇ．ｄ＾－１只＾－１在喟养的第２，４，８和１２周分别抽血检测单核细胞变形性，膜脂流动性及单核细胞（Ｃａ＾２＋０ｉ。结果：在兔ＡＳ阶段性进程中，单核细胞变形性，膜脂流动性下降趋势，细胞内（Ｃａ＾２＋）ｉ呈上升趋势，膜流动性与细胞内（Ｃａ＾２＋）ｉ呈负相关，变     

纳米颗粒和外泌体靶向载药系统诊治动脉粥样硬化的机遇与挑战

动脉粥样硬化是一种慢性炎症性疾病,粥样斑块慢性聚集并沉积于大中型动脉内膜,导致严重的狭窄和血运障碍,引发组织器官缺血缺氧。纳米药物相对于传统药物在动脉粥样硬化治疗中因其具有独特的优势而广泛受到关注。本文重点综述几种纳米靶向颗粒（系统）和外泌体靶向载药系统在抗动脉粥样硬化研究中的应用,简述代表性纳米材料的合成过程,对其靶向性进行分析,并概述纳米药物的益处和内在挑战。尽管面临着一些需要解决和完善的挑战,但是纳米颗粒和外泌体靶向载药治疗的前景广阔,并有望将其推广应用于临床实践中。     

Arterial response to excimer and argon laser irradiation in the atherosclerotic swine

Injury associated with laser-induced tissue ablation may be reduced by using pulsed energy delivery at low repetition rates, as opposed to using continuous wave energy delivery. This study was designed to examine the similarities and differences between these two systems as regards the healing process, and to examine whether one is superior to the other. In order to test this postulate, the healing response of normal and atherosclerotic aorta were examined after exposure in vivo to argon and excimer (XeCl 308 nm) laser radiation in hypercholesterolemic swine. Swine were fed hyperlipidemic diets for eight months following balloon denudation of the descending aorta. Following general anaesthetic, the descending aorta was isolated and laser burns were made on both normal and atherosclerotic intima using a continuous wave argon laser delivered through a 50 diameter quartz fibre, and a XeCl excimer laser carried through a 1 mm diameter fibre. Energy levels of 3 to 5 J were applied with the argon laser. The pulse duration for the excimer laser was 30 ns and craters were produced using 10 to 60 pulses at a repetition rate of 20 Hz and an energy density of 2 J cm^–2.Forty-eight hours after laser application, craters created by both lasers were filled with thrombus material. Argon burns were surrounded by thermal and acoustic injury which was not seen with excimer burns. Three weeks after laser application all crater surfaces were reconstituted. Unlike the excimer burns, argon craters demonstrated necrosis well beyond the crater margins and were characterized by multinucleate giant-cell reaction surrounding char debris. By nine weeks both excimer and argon laser burns were covered by fibrous tissue but could be distinguished by the fact that char debris and subjacent tissue injury arose with the argon burns.The results suggest that both lasers can be used to remove focal atherosclerotic plaque from arteries without inducing excessive thrombogenicity. Rapid healing is observed with both; however, damage to surrounding tissue is significantly greater with a continuous energy delivery laser as opposed to pulsed energy delivery.Work supported in part by: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Grant-in-Aid No. 5-17     

Intermediate filament expression in human vascular smooth muscle and in arteriosclerotic plaques

Summary Different regions of human aorta and of other human arteries obtained at autopsy were analyzed with regard to their topography and to the different stages of arteriosclerosis. Material was studied by immunocytochemical techniques with antibodies specific for either desmin (D) or for vimentin (V), the two types of intermediate filament proteins present in vascular smooth muscle cells. In normal arteries endothelial cells as well as the adjacent intimal cells were D–V+. In the media D+V+ as well as D–V+ cells were present, with the relative numbers of each cell type dependent on the particular blood vessel. When cells in arteriosclerotic plaques at different stages of development were examined an occasional plaque showed cells of the D+V+ type. In the majority of plaques however the cells were V– D+. In plaques where severe ulceration and necrotic material was present D–V+ cells were found at the border of the lesion: foam cells when they could be identified appeared to be D–V+.     

巨细胞病毒感染对动脉粥样硬化的影响

目的：研究巨细胞病毒(CMV)感染和动脉粥样硬化的关系，并探讨其可能机制。方法：通过一个大样本从血清流行病学(ELISA检测患者血清中抗CMV的IgG抗体)和分子生物学(PCR检测动脉粥样硬化病变中CMV特异性基因)方面探讨巨细胞病毒感染和动脉粥样硬化的关系，并检测CMV感染对内皮细胞趋化因子表达的影响。结果：动脉粥样硬化组血清中CMV的阳性率显著高于非动脉粥样硬化组(分别为82．2％和61．0％，P=0．02)；而且动脉粥样硬化斑块中HCMV基因出现率显著高于正常血管组织(13／15和2／7，P=0．01)；CMV感染还可上调内皮细胞：ECV-304表达MCP-1。结论：CMV感染参与动脉粥样硬化的形成和发生，这可能与CMV上调内皮细胞趋化因子表达有关。     

采用高脂饲料加空气干燥术建立颈动脉粥样硬化动物模型

目的:利用高脂饮食加空气干燥术建立一种稳定、重复性好、有较典型动脉粥样硬化病理改变的动物模型。方法:32只日本大耳白兔随机分为模型组(n=24)、对照组(n=8)。模型组给予高脂饲料喂养加空气干燥术,术中结扎左侧颈动脉分支血管,对照组正常饲料喂养,分别于术后第2、4、8、12周处死动物。取颈动脉组织切片HE染色,光镜下观察。结果:(1)75%兔颈总动脉存在细小血管分支,暂时结扎侧支血管后干燥效果更好。(2)对双侧颈动脉实施手术,结扎左侧分支,成模率更高。部分斑块显示出不稳定性。结论:采用改进后高脂饮食加空气干燥术可成功建立兔颈动脉粥样硬化模型,其病理特点适合于目前临床研究。     

17βE2对切除卵巢兔动脉粥样硬化与血液流变学的作用

目的: 探讨17βE₂对卵巢切除(OVX)兔的AS斑块、血脂代谢及血液流变学的影响。方法: 34只成熟未孕雌兔分为4组:A为NC;B为Sham+CHO;C为OVX+CHO;D为OVX+CHO+17βE₂。喂养12周,喂养前与12周后测定血脂TC、TG、HDL-C、LDL-C、ApoA1、ApoB;测定全血粘度、血浆粘度、AIRC及纤维蛋白原。喂养12周后处死,测定AS斑块面积与主动脉总面积百分比。结果: ①AS斑块面积与主动脉总面积之比,A、B、C、D组分别为0.02±0.00、0.42±0.15、0.67±0.23、0.12±0.11,B组小于C组(P＜0.05)、D组明显小于C组(P＜0.01)。②血脂TC、TG、LDL-C、ApoB,B、D组明显小于C组(P＜0.01)。③血液流变学:全血粘度、血浆粘度AIRC与纤维蛋白原D组明显低于C组(P＜0.01)。结论: 17βE₂能抑制脂质斑块沉积,改善血脂代谢,减轻高脂血症,改善血液流变学。这可能是雌激素抑制AS形成的部份机理。     

中华眼镜蛇毒组分H对实验性动脉粥样硬化的影响

本实验在新西兰兔食饵性动脉粥样硬化模型上,观察了中华眼镜蛇毒组分H预防性给药和治疗性给药对血清胆固醇、过氧化脂质及一氧化氮的影响。发现组分H(2mg·D-1)与2%胆固醇同时喂服或喂胆固醇4周后以组分H(4mg·D-1)治疗数周,均能有效抑制高脂所致的一氧化氮降低和过氧化脂质升高,并能保护超氧化物歧化酶活性和降低血清总胆固醇及甘油三酯的水平。