动脉三级淋巴组织与动脉粥样硬化关系的研究进展

学者们对动脉血管的研究常聚焦在血管内膜动脉粥样硬化(As)斑块的形成,而很少关注血管外膜的免疫反应及其对疾病病程的影响。前期研究发现,老龄的ApoE－/－小鼠动脉外膜出现免疫细胞的有序集聚,形成类似淋巴结的异位淋巴组织,称之为动脉三级淋巴组织(ATLO),其形成对内膜As具有明显的调控作用。ATLO的发现及研究为As的研究指明了新的方向,并为其他疾病状况下三级淋巴组织(TLO)的研究提供了很好的范例。因此,阐明TLO的特点及形成机制对As的防治具有重要的意义,并为其在其他疾病中的临床运用提供坚实的基础。     

The hidden aspect of carotid lesions in traffic accidents: A little-known phenomenon

Vascular injuries that occur during traffic accidents are a commonly neglected aspect that can add more detail to the framework of a case. In this study, we analysed a case series of 150 traffic accidents, 39 of which were marked by microscopically identifiable vascular lesions. The purpose was to identify the presence of carotid injuries in individuals who died due to traffic accidents and had nonpenetrating trauma of the neck. We focused on the discrepancies regarding the macroscopical aspect and the histology and demonstrated how histological analysis of the carotids in cases of trauma can reveal injuries that are attributable to the trauma itself. We conducted a histological analysis of the lesions to describe their distribution and type and investigate potential correlations. The study offers insight on how to examine road accidents that involve traumatic injury of the carotid arteries. Indeed the main task of the forensic pathologist in the case of death is to establish the existence of a causal relationship between the micro- or macroscopic alterations observed in the autopsy and the traumatic event that led to the death of the subject. Thus, further morphological elements were provided to the forensic practitioners that may reveal injuries attributable to the trauma itself and should be evaluated in cases of trauma in traffic accidents.     

How accurate is atherosclerosis imaging by coronary computed tomography angiography?

Invasive coronary plaque imaging such as intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography has been widely used to observe culprit or non-culprit coronary atherosclerosis, as well as optimize stent sizing, apposition and deployment. Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is non-invasively available to assess coronary artery disease (CAD) and has become an appropriate strategy to evaluate patients with suspected CAD. Given recent technologies, semi-automated plaque software is available to identify coronary plaque stenosis, volume and characteristics and potentially allows to be used for the assessment of more details of plaque information, progression and future risk as a surrogate tool of the invasive imaging modalities. This review article aims to focus on various evidence in coronary plaque imaging by coronary CTA and describes how accurate coronary CTA can classify coronary atherosclerosis.     

Lysophosphatidylcholine‐induced cytotoxicity and protection by heparin in mouse brain bEND.3 endothelial cells

A pathological feature in atherosclerosis is the dysfunction and death of vascular endothelial cells (EC). Oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), known to accumulate in the atherosclerotic arterial walls, impairs endothelium‐dependent relaxation and causes EC apoptosis. A major bioactive ingredient of the oxidized LDL is lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), which at higher concentrations causes apoptosis and necrosis in various EC. There is hitherto no report on LPC‐induced cytotoxicity in brain EC. In this work, we found that LPC caused cytosolic Ca²⁺ overload, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, p38 activation, caspase 3 activation and eventually apoptotic death in mouse cerebral bEND.3 EC. In contrast to reported reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by LPC in other EC, LPC did not trigger ROS formation in bEND.3 cells. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 alleviated LPC‐inflicted cell death. We examined whether heparin could be cytoprotective: although it could not suppress LPC‐triggered Ca²⁺ signal, p38 activation and mitochondrial membrane potential drop, it did suppress LPC‐induced caspase 3 activation and alleviate LPC‐inflicted cytotoxicity. Our data suggest LPC apoptotic death mechanisms in bEND.3 might involve mitochondrial membrane potential decrease and p38 activation. Heparin is protective against LPC cytotoxicity and might intervene steps between mitochondrial membrane potential drop/p38 activation and caspase 3 activation.     

鞘磷脂类信号通路与动脉粥样硬化的研究进展

动脉粥样硬化是临床常见的冠心病和脑梗死等缺血性心脑血管疾病的主要病理基础,其病因复杂,发病机制尚未完全阐明。近年来,越来越多的研究显示鞘磷脂类信号通路可通过调节脂代谢、炎症和血管内皮功能等影响动脉粥样硬化的发生发展。文章综述了鞘磷脂类信号通路关键分子鞘磷脂、神经酰胺和1-磷酸鞘氨醇与动脉粥样硬化的关系,旨在为防治疾病提供新思路。     

冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病与缺血性脑卒中相关性研究进展

冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(冠心病)和缺血性脑卒中是动脉粥样硬化性疾病中最主要的2种疾病,二者可以单独或合并发生,是引起死亡和功能缺陷的重要病因。2种疾病存在一些共同的危险因素,在疾病发生上有一定的联系。明确二者之间的相关性有助于动脉粥样硬化性疾病的预防及治疗,减轻疾病不良预后引起的负担,提高国民生存质量。目前有诸多研究致力于探究二者在发病机制、疾病进展、预后以及影像学表现上的关联,其中某些研究结果之间存在差异。现将相关最新研究结果综述如下。     

非阻塞性冠状动脉粥样硬化患者血管内皮功能与左室舒张功能的关系

目的 探讨非阻塞性冠状动脉粥样硬化患者血管内皮功能与左室舒张功能的关系。方法 选取2013.6～2015.6宣武医院心脏内科收治的因胸痛疑诊冠心病、经冠脉造影检查证实为非阻塞性冠状动脉粥样硬化症（冠状动脉狭窄＜50%）患者119例，其中男性55例，女性64例，年龄31～85岁，平均年龄60岁。专业培训人员采用标准化问卷调查记录患者临床资料，行超声心动图和肱动脉血流介导内皮依赖性血管舒张功能（FMD）检测，分为FMD正常组（FMD＞10%）和减低组（FMD≤10%）。结果 两组人群基本临床资料无显著性差异（P值均＞0.05）。左室结构指标室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、左室舒张末内径、左室质量指数两组间比较无显著性差异（P值均＞0.05）。左室收缩功能指标每搏输出量、心输出量、左室短轴缩短率及射血分数组间比较也无显著性差异（P值均＞0.05）。FMD降低组较FMD正常组E/A比值显著减低（P＜0.001）、E/e’比值显著升高（P=0.006），控制年龄等影响因素，偏相关分析显示FMD与E/A比值存在显著正相关（r=0.261，P=0.005），FMD与E/e’呈显著负相关（r=-0.203，P=0.033）。结论 在非阻塞性冠状动脉粥样硬化人群中，内皮功能与左室舒张功能密切相关，内皮功能不全患者左室舒张功能明显减退。     

血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减联合西药治疗高血压颈动脉硬化的临床观察

目的:观察血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减联合西药治疗高血压颈动脉硬化的效果。方法:选取2017年6月至2018年6月聊城市中医院收治的高血压颈动脉硬化患者92例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组与观察组,每组46例。对照组患者给予左旋氨氯地平+阿托伐他汀口服,观察组在对照组基础上加用血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减口服。观察患者血压、血脂控制情况,测定颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)、斑块面积、血管皮内皮功能、血清蛋白酶分子水平。结果:与对照组比较,观察组治疗后的血压SBP、DBP及血脂TG、TC、LDL-C等指标更低(P<0.05);颈动脉粥样硬化斑块IMT厚度、斑块面积明显缩小(P<0.05),血管内皮功能指标ET-1、AngⅡ、TXB2水平明显降低,NO水平明显升高(P<0.05);血清CatK、MMP-9水平明显降低(P<0.05);观察组不良反应发生率8.70%明显低于对照组不良反应发生率21.74%(P<0.05)。结论:血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减联合西药更利于控制高血压颈动脉硬化患者的血压,调节脂质代谢,改善血管内皮功能,降低血清蛋白酶分子的含量,用药安全。