Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors provide a protective effect on hypoxia-induced injury in human coronary artery endothelial cells via Nrf2 signaling and PLVAP.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) were reported to protect from hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in coronary endothelial cells (CECs) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Nrf2 shows a protective effect in hypoxia-induced CECs after AMI. Plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP) plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis after AMI. AIM: To explore the protective effect of ACEIs and the involved mechanisms under hypoxia challenge. METHODS: Human coronary endothelial cells (HCAECs) were used to establish hypoxia-induced oxidative stress injury in vitro. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the protective effect of ACEI on hypoxia conditions.ET-1, NO, ROS, and VEGF were detected by ELISA. HO-1, Nrf2, and Keap-1, the pivotal member in the Nrf2 signaling pathway, eNOS and PLVAP were detected in HEAECs treated with ACEI by immunofluorescence, qPCR, and western blotting. RESULTS: The hypoxia ACEI or Nrf2 agonist groups showed higher cell viability compared with the hypoxia control group at 24 (61.75±1.16 or 61.23±0.59 vs. 44.24±0.58, both P < 0.05) and 48 h (41.85±1.19 or 59.64±1.13 vs. 22.98±0.25, both P < 0.05). ACEI decreased the levels of ET-1 and ROS under hypoxia challenge at 24 and 48 h (all P < 0.05); ACEI increased the VEGF and NO levels (all P < 0.05). ACEI promoted the expression level of eNOS, HO-1, Nrf2 and PLVAP but inhibited Keap-1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels (all P < 0.05). Blockade of the Nrf2 signaling pathway significantly decreased the expression level of PLVAP. CONCLUSION: ACEI protects hypoxia-treated HEAECs by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and upregulating the expression of PLVAP.

An Investigation of the Properties of Expanded Polystyrene Concrete with Fibers Based on an Orthogonal Experimental Design.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) concrete is commonly used as the core material of commercial sandwich panels (CSPs). It is environmentally friendly and lightweight but has poor strength. Adding fibers can improve the microstructure of EPS concrete and reduce the weakening effect of EPS beads on the mechanical properties of concrete. An orthogonal experimental design (OED) was used in this paper to analyze the influence of length and content of polypropylene fiber (PF), glass fiber (GF), and carbon fiber (CF) on the physical and mechanical properties and micromorphology of EPS concrete. Among them, CFs have the most apparent impact on concrete and produce the most significant improvements in all properties. According to the requirements of the flexural performance of CSPs, the splitting tensile strength was taken as the optimization index, and the predicted optimal combination (OC) of EPS concrete with fibers was selected. The variations in the material properties, mechanical properties, and microstructure with age were analyzed. The results show that with increasing age, the dry density, compressive strength, and splitting tensile strength of concrete are markedly improved relative to those of the CSP core material and the control case (CC), and even the degree of hydration is improved.

A systematic analysis of the association between Notch1 expression and the patients with digestive tract cancers.

AIM: Notch1 expression remains controversial on digestive tract cancers. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the clinicopathological significance of Notch1 expression in individuals with digestive tract cancers, mainly involving esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), gastric cancer (GC), pancreatic cancer (PC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Available articles were searched from the online databases, and the meta-analysis was done using Review Manager software 5.3. RESULTS: 35 studies were included in this analysis (6187 samples). Notch1 is downregulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (p < 0.00001), Notch1 expression at high levels was detected in GC (p = 0.02) and CRC (p < 0.001), and no significant difference exists between PC and normal tissue (p = 0.76). CONCLUSION: Notch1 overexpression in GC and CRC suggested aggressive biological behaviors, and Notch1 may be a biomarker in digestive tract cancers.

Ethnic disparities in the clustering of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among the Kazakh, Uygur, Mongolian and Han populations of Xinjiang: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Chinese Uygur, Kazakh, Mongolian and Han populations represent >90% of the total population of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and their genetic backgrounds, customs, culture, and food consumption are different. The effect of ethnic differences on cardiovascular disease risk factors (CRFs; hypertension, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking) can be striking but is rarely studied. We report here the findings of the relationship among these ethnic groups and their CRFs across the four largest ethnic groups of Xinjiang. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of representative samples was conducted 2002-2008 in Chinese Uygur, Kazakh, Mongolian and Han populations (age >30 years; 4,421 Kazakh, 3884 Han, 3,218 Uygur, and 892 Mongolian individuals) in Xinjiang. RESULTS: A total of 90.4% of Kazakh, 91.9% of Uygur, 90.4% of Mongolian, 85.1% of Han individuals had at least one CRF. Clustering of ≥2 or ≥3 of these risk factors was noted in 65.2% or 32.1% of Kazakh, 64.8% or 33.0% of Uygur, 66.9% or 36.5% of Mongolian as well as 62.0% or 28.3% of Han subjects, respectively. Compared with the Han population, the adjusted odds ratios of ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3 CRFs for Kazakh, Uygur and Mongolian populations were higher (all P<0.001). The age-standardized prevalence of the clustering of ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3 CRFs in Kazakh, Uygur, Mongolian, and Han populations was lower than their counterparts in the NHANES Ш study (USA) but higher than in the InterASIA Study (China). CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic groups living in Xinjiang had striking differences in CRFs. Ethnic-specific strategies should be developed to prevent cardiovascular disease in different ethnic groups.

[Association between genetic polymorphism of the six-transmembrane protein of prostate 2 and obesity in Uygur].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between genetic variations of the six transmembrane protein of prostate 2 (STAMP2) and obesity in Xinjiang Uygur population. METHODS: A total of 2332 Uygur subjects (1455 obesity and 877 non-obesity control subjects) were included in this case-control study based on epidemiological survey. Genetic variations of STAMP2 gene functional region were sequenced. The representative variations selected were genotyped by TaqMan-PCR method. RESULTS: Twenty genetic variations, including 14 novel variations, were identified. The genotype distributions of the control group and obesity group were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (both P > 0.05). The frequency of AA of rs1981529 (67.6% vs. 62.8%, P < 0.05) and the frequency of G-A-G haplotype (62.4% vs. 58.9%, P < 0.05) in obesity group were significantly higher than that in controls while the frequency of A-G-G haplotype was significantly lower in the obesity patients than that in the control group (17% vs. 20%, P < 0.05). After adjusting age, sex, smoking and drinking, logistic regression analysis showed that the AA genotype of rs1981529 (OR: 1.276, 95%CI: 1.049 - 1.552; P < 0.05) and the G-A-G haplotype (OR: 1.356, 95%CI: 1.007 - 1.862, P < 0.05) were the independent risk factors for obesity in this cohort. CONCLUSION: The AA genotype of rs1981529 and G-A-G haplotype are associated with obesity in Uygur population of Xinjiang.

[Genetic variations of bone morphogenetic protein 7 gene are associated with hypertriglyceridemia of Uygur Chinese in Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the genetic variations of functional region in bone morphogenetic protein (BMP7) gene and dyslipidemia in Chinese Uygur individuals. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted in 1514 Uygur Chinese based on epidemiological investigation. The all exons, segmental introns and the promoter regions of BMP7 gene were sequenced in 48 out of 1514 Uygur Chinese. Representative variations were then selected according to the minor allele frequency (MAF) and linkage disequilibrium, and genotyped using the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method in 1514 Uygur Chinese, a relatively isolated general population in a relatively homogeneous environment, to observe the association between genetic variations of BMP7 gene and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: Five novel and eight known variations in the BMP7 gene were identified. All genotype distributions were tested for deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There were significant differences of genotype distribution of rs6025422 between hypertriglyceridemia group and control group (P = 0.001). The levels of triglyceride (TG) showed a decreasing tendency in individuals with AA, AG and GG genotypes of rs6025422. Odd ratio (OR) value adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, smoking and alcohol drinking habits was 0.562 by logistic regression analysis (95%CI: 0.393 - 0.802, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The present study shows rs6025422 polymorphism in the BMP7 gene is linked with hypertriglyceridemia phenotype in Uygur Chinese population.

The prevalence of hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia in individuals of over 30 years of age belonging to minorities from the pasture area of Xinjiang.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of population-wide hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia has not been well studied in the pasture area of Xinjiang. The present epidemiological study was performed to determine the prevalence of hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia in minority populations from the pasture area of Xinjiang and to discuss the potential risk factors for hypertension. METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional study in the Xinjiang pasture area was performed which included 2251 participants aged over 30 years (90.33% participation rate) of whom 71.26% were Kazaks. Several risk factors were considered: hypertension (defined as systolic or diastolic blood pressure or both of at least 140/90 mmHg measured on one occasion or treatment for hypertension) overweight/obesity (body mass index > or = 25 kg/m2) alcohol intake, smoking/tobacco use and dyslipidemia. Outcomes were prevalence of hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia and the associated risk factors of hypertension detected by multivariate logistic regression analysis taking into account various metabolic and lifestyle characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension, overweight/obesity and dyslipidemia in all participants from the pasture area of Xinjiang was 51.9%, 47.9% and 49.2% respectively. Independently, the prevalence and awareness of hypertension was 52.6% and 15.3% among Kazaks (n = 1604), 54.6% and 14.1% among Uygurs (n = 418), 39.5% and 16.1% among Mongolians (n = 81) and 43.9% and 18.2% among non-Xinjiang-born Han immigrants (n = 148). The prevalence of overweight/obesity in Kazaks, Uygurs, Mongolians and Han immigrants was 46.7%, 48.9%, 62.5% and 50.3%, respectively. The prevalence of dyslipidemia in the four ethnic groups mentioned was 53.5%, 34.8%, 49.3% and 47.3%, respectively. The mean blood pressure in all participants was 136/86 mmHg (pre-hypertensive), the mean BMI was 24.7 kg/m2. Based on multiple logistic regression analysis, the significant risk factors for hypertension were age [1.07(1.06-1.09), P < 0.0001], overweight/obesity [overweight: 1.61(1.22-2.13), p = 0.0007; obesity: 1.95 (1.33-2.87), p = 0.0007], hypercholesterolemia [1.30(1.15-1.47), p < 0.0001] and an alcohol intake of over 30 g/day [2.22(1.43-3.45), p = 0.0004]. CONCLUSIONS: The considerably high prevalence of hypertension, overweight/obesity and dyslipidemia among the minority population aged over 30 from the pasture area of Xinjiang calls for effective preventive measures. Age, increased body mass index, hypercholesterolemia and > or =30 g/d alcohol intake can be counted as risk factors for hypertension, but further genetic or environmental clarification would be desirable to explain the unusually high prevalence of the conditions mentioned above.