[Simvastatin suppress lipopolysaccharides induced upregulation of lipoprotein associated phospholipase A(2) expression in macrophages via inactivation of p38MAPK pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of simvastatin on lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced upregulation of Lp-PLA(2) in human peripheral blood monocytes-macrophages and the related mechanisms. METHODS: Peripheral blood monocytes of healthy volunteer were isolated and incubated for 2-3 days. Monocytes were incubated with various concentrations of LPS for 6 h or with 1 µg/ml of LPS for different times in LPS group. In simvastatin group and MAPK inhibitors groups, cells were pre-treated with simvastatin (10(-2) - 10(-7) mmol/L) or various MAPK inhibitors (10 µmol/L SB203580, 20 µmol/L U0126, and 20 µmol/L SP600125) before LPS co-incubation. Lp-PLA(2) activity was measured by chronometry, Lp-PLA(2) mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR. Protein expressions of Lp-PLA(2) and p38MAPK and phosphorylated p38MAPK were examined by Western blot. RESULTS: (1) LPS significantly upregulated Lp-PLA(2) mRNA and protein expression, as well as the enzyme activity in a time and concentration dependent manner, which could be significantly attenuated by simvastatin in a time and concentration dependent manner. (2) Simvastatin significantly reduced LPS-induced p38MAPK phosphorylation. The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580, but not MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 and JNK inhibitor SP600125, completely prevented LPS-mediated up-regulation of Lp-PLA(2) at protein level. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that LPS significantly upregulated Lp-PLA(2) mRNA and protein expression, as well as the enzyme activity in a time and concentration dependent manner via Rho-p38MAPK pathway, which could be significantly suppressed by simvastatin.

The Effects of Social Perception on Moral Judgment.

When people express a moral judgment, others make inferences about their personality, such as whether they are warm or competent. People may use this interpersonal process to present themselves in a way that is socially acceptable in the current circumstances. Across four studies, we investigated this hypothesis in Chinese culture and showed that college student participants tended to associate others' deontological moral judgments with warmth and utilitarian moral judgments with competence (Study 1, M age = 21.1, SD = 2.45; Study 2, M age = 20.53, SD = 1.87). In addition, participants made more deontological judgments after preparing to be interviewed for a job requiring them to be in a warm social role, and more utilitarian judgments after preparing for a job requiring them to be in a competent social role (Study 3, M age = 19.5, SD = 1.63). This effect held true in moral dilemmas involving different degrees of hypothetical personal involvement, and appeared to be mediated by the perception of others' expectations (Study 4, M age = 19.92, SD = 1.97). The results suggest an important role for social cognition as an influence on moral judgments in Chinese culture.

[Identification of rhizoma atractylodes based on FTIR spectra and radial basis function network].

In order to recognize the atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (rhizoma atractylodes) and its confusable varieties, three kinds of models of radial basis function network(RBF), nonlinear-linear, linear-linear, and nonlinear-nonlinear model, were used combined with their Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). Rhizoma atractylodes models were collected by Fourier transform infrared spectra, 36 samples were gathered as a training target, and 27 samples as a test set, then their supervision training was performed using three models each. When the summation of error square of the training target was selected as 0. 01, the correct rate for recognition of Fourier transform infrared spectra using each RBF was 100% for the training set, but was different for the test set, which depended on the number of mode in hidden layer, S1. It was found that with the increase of S1, the correct rate would decrease oppositely. This may be caused by the high degree of the nonlinearity of the networks, so that the models of networks were not fit for the training of this kind of sample set. When using linear-linear model of RBF, the correct rate varied with S1 to some extent, but was generally about 85%. Recognizing ability obtained using nonlinear-linear model of RBF was the best. Its correct rate of recognition was >97%. When S1 =3, and so this method can be used to recognize atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (rhizoma atractylodes) and its confusable varieties simply, rapidlly and accurately.

Decreased Diagnostic Accuracy of Multislice Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography in Women with Atypical Angina Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) coronary angiography (CAG) is a noninvasive technique with a reported high diagnostic accuracy for coronary artery disease (CAD). Women, more frequently than men, are known to develop atypical angina symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the diagnostic accuracy of MSCT in women with atypical presentation differs from that in men. METHODS: We enrolled 396 in-hospital patients (141 women and 255 men) with suspected or proven CAD who successively underwent both MSCT and invasive CAG. CAD was defined as any coronary stenosis of ≥50% on conventional invasive CAG, which was used as the reference standard. The patients were divided into typical and atypical groups based on their symptoms of angina pectoris. The diagnostic accuracy of MSCT, including its sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value (PPV), was calculated to determine the usefulness of MSCT in assessing stenoses. The diagnostic performance of MSCT was also assessed by constructing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The PPV (91% vs. 97%, χ2 = 5.705, P < 0.05) and diagnostic accuracy (87% vs. 93%, χ2 = 5.093,P< 0.05) of MSCT in detecting CAD were lower in women than in men. Atypical presentation was an independent influencing factor on the diagnostic accuracy of MSCT in women (odds ratio = 4.94, 95% confidence intervals: 1.16-20.92, Walds = 4.69, P < 0.05). Compared with those in the atypical group, women with typical angina pectoris had higher PPV (98% vs. 74%, χ2 = 17.283. P < 0.001), diagnostic accuracy (93% vs. 72%, χ2 = 9.571, P < 0.001), and area under the ROC curve (0.91 vs. 0.64, Z = 2.690, P < 0.01) in MSCT diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although MSCT is a reliable diagnostic modality for the exclusion of significant coronary artery stenoses in all patients, gender and atypical symptoms might have some influence on its diagnostic accuracy.

[Effect of benidipine on plasma level of calcitonin gene-related peptide in essential hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of benidipine, a calcium channel blocker on the plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: 58 outpatients with essential hypertension were treated with benidipine 4-8 mg/day for 8 weeks. 38 matched healthy people were taken as controls. The plasma levels of CGRP were measured in all patients before and after treatment and in controls. RESULTS: The plasma levels of CGRP in hypertensive patients were significantly lower than those in controls (minimal value: 1.28 vs 39.95 ng/L; maximal value: 43.72 vs 155.59 ng/L; P <0.001). In hypertensive patients, treatment with benidipine for 2 weeks markedly decreased systolic pressure and diastolic pressure and its depressor effect was maintained during the study (P <0.05). At 8 week after treatment, the plasma levels of CGRP in hypertensive patients were significantly increased compared with those before treatment (minimal value: 2.84 vs 1.28 ng/L; maximal value: 123.99 vs 43.72 ng/L; P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Benidipine, a calcium channel blocker significantly decreases blood pressure concomitantly with an increase in the plasma levels of CGRP in the patients with essential hypertension.