Clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease in female SLE patients: Interplay between body mass index and bone mineral density

Background and aims

Since accelerated atherosclerosis has been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), predictive biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are needed. Among non-traditional risk factors, bone mineral density (BMD) has been related to CVD. However, its role in SLE remains controversial. This study aims to analyze the associations of subclinical atherosclerosis with traditional and non-traditional CV risk factors.

Vitamin D,Cardiovascular System,and Longevity of Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract: The risk of cardiovascular death is high in hemodialysis (HD) patients, and thickening, stiffening and calcification of the arterial wall have been shown as its predictive factors. Activated vitamin D preparations are used for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in HD patients, but as they increase serum phosphate and calcium concentrations, there is a concern that they promote vascular calcification and, consequently, exacerbate the outcomes. In this article, the effects of vitamin D therapy on survival, cardiac function, arteriosclerosis, immunity, and inflammation are evaluated by reviewing the literature. In HD patients, the risk of death (particularly cardiovascular death) is significantly lower in those treated than in those not treated with vitamin D. Moreover, activated vitamin D improves cardiac function and alleviates cardiac hypertrophy in HD patients. Experimental data in cultured macrophages, vascular smooth muscle cells, and vascular endothelial cells suggest that it has antiatherosclerotic effects. In vivo, the administration of vitamin D improves immune functions and normalizes inflammatory reactions. In HD patients, vascular calcification is related to the dose of calcium carbonate, but its relationship with the administration of vitamin D is not significant. These observations suggest that, contrary to the general concerns, activated vitamin D exerts favorable effects on the cardiovascular system in HD patients as long as it is used in appropriate clinical doses.     

前循环缺血性卒中老年患者颈动脉斑块及其稳定性与血流壁切应力的关系

目的通过探讨前循环缺血性卒中老年患者颈总动脉分叉处血流壁切应力的水平分析其在颈动脉斑块形成过程中的影响。方法本研究选择前循环缺血性卒中老年患者,应用经皮血管彩超测量颈动脉斑块及其稳定性以及对研究对象测量患侧颈动脉血流速度、血管内径和血液粘滞度,通过公式计算血流壁切应力。结果无斑块组和有斑块组之间、高回声和低回声斑块组之间血流壁切应力均有显著性差异(P<0．01)。结论血流壁低切应力促进颈动脉斑块、尤其是不稳定斑块的形成。     

动脉粥样硬化与局部血流动力学相关性研究

目的:应用超声多普勒探讨动脉粥样硬化(AS)与局部血流动力学的相关性。方法:对420例发生AS患者升主动脉、颈总动脉、颈内动脉、髂总动脉、股动脉的斑块分布情况进行统计、分析、对照。结果:420例AS患者各部斑块发生率分别为颈动脉窦部85.12%,动脉分叉前(腹主动脉、股动脉下端)45%,动脉分叉后(颈内、髂总、股深动脉起始)内、外侧壁分别为51.98%、53.45%,动脉平直区(颈总、股动脉干)34.58%,升主动脉为1.4%(6/420);升主动脉内径增宽和运动幅度减低发生率为90.71%(381/420)。各观察区与动脉平直区比较AS发生率有显著差异(P<0.001)。结论:AS斑块分布有明显的倾向性,认为局部血流动力学异常是导致AS发生的重要因素。     

三磷酸腺苷结合盒运转体A1与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的关系

目的 探讨三磷酸腺苷结合盒运转体A1(ATP binding cassette transporter A1,ABCA1)在人颈动脉粥样硬化斑块中的表达变化及作用机制.方法 收集24例人颈动脉粥样硬化斑块标本和10例肠系膜动脉标本(对照组),采用RT-PCR测定ABCA1 mRNA和视黄酸X受体α(RXRα)mRNA表达水平,并采用Western Blot检测ABCA1及RXRα的蛋白表达水平.24例人颈动脉粥样硬化斑块标本按病理分级,比较病理组织为Ⅲ级和Ⅰ级动脉粥样硬化组织间ABCA1 mRNA、RXRαmRNA表达水平及蛋白表达水平.结果 颈动脉粥样硬化斑块组的ABCA1 mRNA(0.79±0.04)和RXRα mRNA(0.73±0.04)表达与对照组相比上调,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);ABCA1 mRNA与RXRα mRNA增加水平相关(P＜0.05);颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的ABCA1蛋白表达(0.22±0.03)下调水平与对照组(0.53±0.03)相比差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);Ⅲ级和Ⅰ级动脉硬化斑块ABCA1mRNA、RXRα mRNA及蛋白表达水平差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 ABCA1及RXRα蛋白表达水平下调可能是进展性动脉粥样硬化损害的关键因素.     

膳食黑米皮抑制高脂诱导的家兔动脉粥样硬化形成及其机制的初步探讨

目的 探讨膳食黑米皮对高脂诱导的家兔动脉粥样硬化形成的影响及其作用机制。方法 24只雄性新西兰大耳白家兔,按体重随机分为3组,分别饲以正常基础饲料、高脂饲料(含96％基础饲料、0.5％胆固醇、3.5％猪油)、黑米皮饲料(含 91％基础饲料、0.5％胆固醇、3.5％猪油、5％黑米皮),实验期为 60d。用图像分析法测定各组家兔主动脉脂质斑块面积,并分析家兔氧化与抗氧化状态。结果 黑米皮实验家兔的主动脉壁斑块面积较高脂组低66%(P<0.001);黑米皮组实验家兔的主动脉壁8-ohdG含量和血清及主动脉壁中MDA水平也低于高脂组(P<0.05 );而红细胞及主动脉壁中SOD水平和血清α-生育酚含量在两个处理组之间差异无显著性。结论 膳食黑米皮可以抑制高脂诱导的家兔动脉粥样硬化形成,其机制可能与之降低机体氧化应激水平及过氧化脂质生成有关。