Bioinformatics analysis of ceRNA regulatory network of baicalin in alleviating pathological joint alterations in CIA rats.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of synovium, leading to cartilage damage, bone erosion, even joint destruction and deformity. The conventional treatment modalities in RA are associated with side effects, emphasizing the need for alternative therapeutic remedies. Baicalin possesses multiple pharmacological effects and the advantage of low toxicity. This study aimed to reveal the potential gene regulatory mechanisms underlying the alleviating effects of baicalin in joint pathological alterations in Collagen-Induced Arthritis (CIA) rat models. At 28 days after the primary immunization, 60 mg/kg/d of baicalin was administered via intraperitoneal injection once daily for 40 days, and the pathological alterations of hind paw joints were examined with X-ray imaging. Subsequently, the synovial tissue of knee joints was isolated, from which total RNA was extracted, and mRNA and miRNA sequencing libraries were established. Finally, High-throughput transcriptome sequencing(RNA-seq) technology was performed, and the lncRNAs/miRNAs/mRNAs competing endogenous RNA(ceRNA) regulatory network was analyzed. The CIA model was successfully established, and baicalin treatment significantly alleviated the destruction of distal joints of CIA rat models (p < 0.01). We found that 3 potential ceRNA regulatory networks of baicalin were established, including lncRNA ENSRNOT00000076420/miR-144-3p/Fosb, lncRNA MSTRG.1448.13/miR-144-3p/Atp2b2 and lncRNA MSTRG.1448.13/miR-144-3p/Shanks. The validation results from synovial tissue of CIA rats were consistent with the RNA-Seq results. Overall, this study revealed potentially important genes and ceRNA regulatory network that mediate the alleviating effects of baicalin on joint pathological alterations in CIA rats.

Comparison of coronary plaque composition among patients with acute coronary syndrome and stable coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The identification of vulnerable plaques before rupture is an important clinical goal. The purpose of the present study was to assess the difference in plaque composition among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) by intravascular ultrasound virtual histologic analysis. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-nine patients were divided into ACS group and SCAD group according to clinical presentation. A total of 229 de novo lesions with >50% stenosis in native coronary arteries with diameters >2.5 mm were studied with intravascular ultrasonography. Geometric and compositional data were obtained using intravascular ultrasound virtual histology software. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in overall lesions for fibrous ((52.0+/-11.9)% vs (54.3+/-8.5)%, P>0.05), fibrolipidic ((12.3+/-10.1)% vs (13.8+/-9.5)%, P > 0.05), calcium ((14.0+/-9.1)% vs (19.3+/-13.1)%, P>0.05), or necrotic core ((22.0+/-11.1)% vs (19.7 +/- 5.4)%, P > 0.05) percentages in ACS and SCAD patients, respectively. There were also no significant differences in culprit lesions for fibrous ((46.4+/-12.0)% vs (53.6+/-8.8)%, P>0.05), fibrolipidic ((9.1+/-9.0)% vs (12.9+/-9.7)%, P>0.05), calcium ((16.6+/-9.7)% vs (21.8+/-26.3)%, P>0.05), or necrotic core ((28.0+/-12.6)% vs (20.6+/-5.2)%, P>0.05) percentages in ACS and SCAD patients, respectively. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels >1.04 mmol/L were associated with more fibrolipidic ((14.5+/-10.4)% vs (7.1+/-6.5)%, P<0.05) and less necrotic core ((20.6+/-9.7)% vs (27.9+/-12.6)%, P<0.05) percentages in the cohort with ACS. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, coronary plaque composition assessed by intravascular ultrasound virtual histologic analysis was not significantly different between ACS and SCAD patients. The anatomic relationship of the specific plaque components to the lumen of the vessel was more important than the quantitative information of plaque composition for plaque stability.

[Comparison of coronary plaque composition between patients with acute coronary syndrome and stable coronary artery disease].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to compare the plaque composition between patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) by intravascular ultrasound virtual histological analysis. METHODS: Two hundred and ten patients were divided into ACS group (n = 131, 188 diseased vessels) and SCAD group (n = 79, 158 diseased vessels). A total of 346 de novo lesions with > 50% stenosis in native coronary arteries with diameters > 2.5 mm were studied with intravascular ultrasonography. Geometric and compositional data were obtained using intravascular ultrasound virtual histology software. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in overall lesions for fibrous (51.2% +/- 12.5% vs. 52.6% +/- 9.6%), fibrolipidic (11.3% +/- 10.6% vs. 12.9% +/- 9.4%), calcium (15.1% +/- 8.9% vs. 20.5% +/- 12.5%) or necrotic core (23.1% +/- 9.8% vs. 20.4% +/- 6.8%, all P > 0.05) components between ACS and SCAD patients. Culprit lesions for fibrous (49.1% +/- 11.2% vs. 50.3% +/- 9.7%), fibrolipidic (10.2% +/- 9.5% vs. 12.7% +/- 9.5%), calcium (15.4% +/- 8.9% vs. 17.4% +/- 24.8%), or necrotic core (24.0% +/- 11.5% vs. 19.7% +/- 5.3%, all P > 0.05) components were also similar between ACS and SCAD patients. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) levels > 1.04 mmol/L was associated with more fibrolipidic (15.6% +/- 9.6% vs. 7.4% +/- 5.9%) and less necrotic core (19.4% +/- 8.6% vs. 28.6% +/- 11.2%, all P < 0.05 vs. patients with HDL < or = 1.04 mmol/L) components in ACS patients. CONCLUSION: Coronary plaque composition was similar between ACS and SCAD patients.

[The application of a 0.75 mg/kg intra-arterial dose of enoxaparin in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention].

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to examine the efficacy and safety of a dose of 0.75 mg/kg intra-arterial enoxaparin in elective percutaneous coronary intervention in Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 160 consecutive patients undergoing elective PCI were randomized to either enoxaparin or UFH (80 cases for each) group for procedural anticoagulation. The patients in enoxaparin group were given a bolus of enoxaparin (0.75 mg/kg) intra-arterially before PCI, and a superaddition (0.3 mg/kg) would be administered if the procedural time > 90 minutes. Serial plasma anti-X a factor activities were measured before and after the bolus of enoxaparin. The patients in UFH group were given a bolus of UFH (100 U/kg) intra-arterially before PCI and ACT was controlled between 250 and 300 seconds. Then coronary angiography and PCI was performed immediately. Bleeding complications were classified according to thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) criteria. All patients were monitored for thrombosis during PCI and adverse events (i.e. death, myocardial infarction demanding revascularization) 30 days after PCI. RESULTS: 159 patients completed the procedure. Plasma anti-X a factor activities in patients of the enoxaparin group were above 0.5 IU/ml 5 minutes to 2 hours after enoxaparin (0.75 mg/kg) injection and the measurements in 61% of the patients were above 0.5 IU/ml 3 hours after injection. If a supplement of 0.3 mg/kg of enoxaparin was given after 90 minutes, plasma anti-X a factor activities of all the patients were above 0.5 IU/ml within 4 hours after the procedure. As compared with UFH, enoxaparin increased the likelihood of thrombosis significantly in sheath catheter during PCI (26.6% vs 10.0%, P < 0.001). There was no obvious difference in adverse events (2.5% vs. 2.6%, P > 0.05) and bleeding events (2.5% vs 3.8%, P > 0.05) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A 0.75 mg/kg intra-arterial dose of enoxaparin for anticoagulation in patients undergoing elective PCI is safe and effective. Anticoagulation effect can be maintained for at least 2 hours. An additional bolus is proposed when procedure time exceeds 2 hours.

[Comparison of stenting with sirolimus eluting stent and spot stenting with small vessel stent in treatment of small vessels with long lesions].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short and long-term outcomes between stenting with sirolimus eluting stent (SES) and spot stenting with small vessel stent (SVS) for treatment of small vessels with long lesions. METHODS: 306 coronary heart disease patients in need of stenting in small vessel (diameter < 3.0 mm) with long lesions (> 20 mm) were divided into 2 groups: SES group (n = 93, receiving 157 CYPHER stents) and SVS group (n = 113, receiving spot stenting tactics). The clinical characteristics, success rate of procedure, rate of in-stent restenosis, target lesion revasculation (TLR), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded after 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: The baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were similar between these two groups. Two CYPHER stents failed to pass the tortuous and calcified lesions in the SES group; DRIVER stents were used instead and succeeded in the passing. The rates of in-stent restenosis, TLR, and MACE of the SES group were 4.0%, 2.2%, and 3.2% respectively, all significantly, lower than those of the SVS group (26.5%, 10.6%, and 13.3% respectively, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In treatment of small vessel with long lesions, the rates of in-stent restenosis, TLR, and MACE are all much lower in the SES group than in the SVS group. Spot stenting with SVS may be feasible for small vessels with long and tortuous lesions, especially for those in which SES fails to pass through.

E670G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene of patients with coronary heart disease among Han population in Hainan and three provinces in the northeast of China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between E670G polymorphism of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) gene and coronary heart disease (CHD), and contrastively study the regional differences of E670G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene between patients with CHD among the Han population in Hainan and three provinces in the northeast of China (TPNC), providing scientific basis for prevention and treatment of patients with CHD in different regions. METHODS: A total of 233 cases of patients with CHD were selected from the Han population in Hainan and TPNC as the experimental group (118 cases from Hainan, 115 cases from TPNC), and 239 cases with non-CHD were selected among the Han population also in the two regions as control group (125 cases from Hainan, 114 cases from TPNC). The triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of plasma were tested and PCR-RFLP method was used to test the E670G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene. The statistical software package SPSS 21.0 was used for the statistical analysis and P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The levels of systolic pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, TC, TG, and LDL-C of patients in CHD group were significantly higher than those in non-CHD group, while the high density lipoprotein cholesterol level was lower than that in non-CHD group (P < 0.05). In CHD group, the frequencies of AG, GG genotypes of PCSK9 gene and G allele were higher than those in non-CHD group (P < 0.05), and in CHD group, the frequencies of AG, GG genotypes and G allele of patients both in Hainan and TPNC were higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). Among the patients with CHD, the frequencies of GG genotype and G allele of patients in Hainan were lower than those in TPNC (P < 0.05), and in CHD group, the levels of TG, TC and LDL-C of GG genotype were higher than those of AA genotype (P < 0.05). While in non-CHD group, there were no significant differences between the frequencies of GG genotype and G allele of patients in Hainan and TPNC (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was a close correlation between the E670G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene and CHD with serum lipid level. Among Han population in Hainan and TPNC, the E670G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene of patients with CHD exhibited regional differences.

Effects of rhBNP after PCI on non-invasive hemodynamic in acute myocardial infarction patients with left heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of exogenous recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on non-invasive hemodynamic in acute myocardial infarction patients with left ventricular failure. METHODS: A number of 96 acute myocardial infarction patients accompanied with heart failure after PCI hospitalized in the People's Hospital of Sanya during February 2012 to October 2015 were selected. They were randomly divided into the therapy group (n = 50) and control group (n = 46). On the basis of routine treatment, patients in the therapy group were treated with intravenous rhBNP (1.5 µg/kg was intravenous injection with uniform speed of 3 min, followed by continuous infusion 0.0075 µg/kg·min for 72 h), while the control group received conventional treatment. BioZ-2011 non-invasive hemodynamic real-time monitoring system was used to monitor the hemodynamic parameters changes and the leaves of plasma pro-BNP, serum creatinine, serum potassium, serum sodium and urine volume of each group before and after treating for 30 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h. RESULTS: Patients in the therapy group showed no effect on heart rate, while after 30 min of intravenous injection of rhBNP, CO, CI, SV, and SI increased significantly and LVET and TFC reduced at the same time, which had certain effect on blood pressure (SBP/DBP). Compared with the control group, the therapy group showed a faster and more effective improvement on hemodynamics. CONCLUSIONS: Acute myocardial infarction patients complicated with left heart failure after primary PCI can significantly improve hemodynamics by treating with rhBNP.

Correlation between the Xba I polymorphism of apoB gene and serum lipid profiles in Li ethnic group.

OBJECTIVE: To study correlation between the Xba I polymorphism of apoB gene and plasma lipid profiles in Li ethnic group. METHODS: Total 151 cases of healthy Li people were recruited randomly by cluster sampling and 200 Han people were recruited as control; blood was drawn to analyze Xba I polymorphism distribution of apoB gene and serum lipid levels. RESULTS: There were lower serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in serum of Li people; while, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), X-/X+ genotype and X+ allele frequencies exhibited higher levels than Han people. Interestingly, HDL-C level was reduced, while LDL-C level was enhanced in subjects carrying heterozygous (X-/X+) genotype compared to homozygous (X-/X-) genotype. Additionally, there were no difference in serum level of triglyceride, TC, apoprotein A (apo A) and apoprotein B (apo B) between Li and Han people, the same results were showed between X-/X+ and X-/X- genotype carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Xba I polymorphism of apoB gene is correlated to the profiles of serum lipid level, X-/X+ genotype carriers are phenotyped with higher LDL-C level and lower level of HDL-C in Li ethnic group.