A study on the relationship between smoking and blood inflammatory cytokines as well as atherosclerosis / 预防医学

Objective To explore the influence of long -term smoking on the level of blood inflammatory cytokines and the degree of atherosclerosis in healthy middle -aged men.Methods A total of 84 middle -aged men who accepted the health examination were divided into smoking group and non -smoking group.The risk factors of atherosclerosis,such as age,body mass index (BMI),systolic blood pressure (SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP),fasting blood glucose (GLU),total cholesterol (TC),low density lipoprotein (LDL),high density lipoprotein (HDL)and triglyceride (TG) were recorded.The white blood cell (WBC)level and neutrophil cell (NC)level were also recorded.The interleukin -6 (IL -6)concentration was assayed by using enzyme -linked immunosorbent double antibody method and the high -sensitivity C reactive protein (Hs -CRP)concentration was assayed by using immune turbidimetry method.The carotid artery intima -media thickness (IMT)and plaques were measured by B -mode ultrasonography.Results There were no significant differences in the risk factors of atherosclerosis between the two groups.But there were statistically significant differences between smoking group and non -smoking group in IL -6 (1 .46 ±0.27 vs.1 .21 ±0.24),Hs -CRP (6.57 ±2.47 vs.3.1 4 ±2.07),WBC (5.78 ±0.79 vs.5.25 ±0.64)and NC (3.40 ±0.45 vs.2.87 ±0.42)(P <0.05). The carotid artery IMT in smoking group was significantly thicker than that of the non -smoking group (1 .0 ±0.1 8 vs. 0.82 ±0.1 6,P <0.01 ).The detection rate of plaque and carotid stenosis in smoking group was significantly higher than that of the non -smoking group (P <0.01 ).Conclusion Long -term smoking not only leads to increased inflammatory cytokines,but also aggravates the degree of atherosclerosis in healthy middle -aged men.Long -term smoking healthy middle -aged men are potential in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Influence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction and leukopenia after revascularization / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) seems to improve cardiac function and perfusion when used systemically through mobilization of stem cells into peripheral blood, but results of previous clinical trials remain controversial. This study was designed to investigate safety and efficacy of subcutaneous injection of G-CSF on left ventricular function in patients with impaired left ventricular function after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-three patients (22 men; age, (68.5 +/- 6.1) years) with STEMI and with comorbidity of leukopenia were included after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention within 12 hours after symptom onset. Patients were randomized into G-CSF group who received G-CSF (10 microg/kg of body weight, daily) for continuous 7 days and control group. Results of blood analyses, echocardiography and angiography were documented as well as possibly occurred adverse events.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No severe adverse events occurred in both groups. Mean segmental wall thickening in infract segments increased significantly at 6-month follow up compared with baseline in both groups, but the longitudinal variation between two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05). The same change could also be found in longitudinal variation of wall motion score index of infarct segments (P > 0.05). At 6-month follow-up, left ventricular end-diastolic volume of both groups increased to a greater extent, but there were no significant differences between the two groups when comparing the longitudinal variations (P > 0.05). In both groups, left ventricular ejection fraction measured by echocardiography ameliorated significantly at 6-month follow-up (P < 0.05), but difference of the longitudinal variation between two groups was not significant (P > 0.05). When pay attention to left ventricular ejection fraction measured by angiocardiography, difference of the longitudinal variation between groups was significant (P = 0.046). Early diastolic mitral flow velocity deceleration time changed significantly at 6- month follow-up in both groups (P = 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Mobilization of stem cells by G-CSF after reperfusion of infarct myocardium is safe and seems to offer a pragmatic strategy for recovery of myocardial global function.</p>

Mitochondrial calcium uniporter participates in remote preconditioning induced cardioprotection in rat hearts subjected to ischemia and reperfusion / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate whether mitochondrial calcium uniporter participates in the cardioprotection of remote preconditioning in rat hearts subjected to ischemia and reperfusion in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat hearts were subjected to 30 min regional ischemia (occlusion of left anterior descending artery) and 120 min reperfusion in vivo. Remote preconditioning was induced by three cycles of 5 min of right femoral artery occlusion followed by 5 min of reperfusion. The mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, infarct size, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in plasma during reperfusion were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Remote preconditioning reduced both the infarct size and LDH release during reperfusion. Ruthenium red, an inhibitor of mitochondrial calcium uniporter, also decreased both the infarct size and LDH release. Administration of spermine, an activator of mitochondrial calcium uniporter, canceled the reduction of infarct size and LDH release induced by remote preconditioning.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results indicate that remote preconditioning protects myocardium against ischemia and reperfusion injury, that effect may be related to inhibiting mitochondrial calcium uniporter opening.</p>

C-reactive protein induced human endothelium cells apoptosis is associated with Bcl-2/Bax gene expression changes / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In the present study, we examined the expression changes of Bcl-2/Bax in C-reactive protein (CRP) treated human endothelium cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured by digest method for 2 - 3 posterities and incubated with human CRP (0, 1, 5, 25 mg/L for 24 hours) and analyzed by flow cytometer for apoptosis ratio. The effects of CRP in various concentrations on Bcl-2/Bax mRNA and protein expression were examined by RT-PCR and Western Blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Apoptosis ratio increased, downregulated Bcl-2 (gene promoting cell survival) and upregulated Bax (gene promoting apoptosis) at mRNA and protein levels in proportion to increased CRP concentrations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results demonstrate that Bcl-2/Bax could be regulated by CRP in human HUVECs and might play a causal role in CRP-induced apoptosis.</p>

Relationship between hs-CRP, proMMP-1, TIMP-1 and coronary plaque morphology: intravascular ultrasound study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Rupture of unstable plaque with subsequent thrombus formation is the common pathophysiological substrate of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It is of potential significance to explore the blood indexes predicting plaque characteristics. Little studies have focused on this field. Therefore we investigated the relationship between hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), pro-matrix metalloproteinase-1 (proMMP-1), tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and coronary plaque morphology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examination was done in 152 patients with confirmed coronary heart disease before percutaneous coronary intervention from February 2003 to July 2005. Plasma samples of arterial blood were collected prior to the procedure. The level of hs-CRP, proMMP-1 and TIMP-1 were respectively measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Unstable and ruptured plaque were found more frequently in patients with acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina. External elastic membrane cross-sectional area (EEM CSA), plaque area, lipid pool area and plaque burden were significantly larger in ruptured and unstable plaque group. Positive remolding, thinner fabric-cap, smaller minimal lumen cross-sectional area (MLA), dissection and thrombus were significantly more frequent in ruptured and unstable plaque group. The levels of plasma hs-CRP, proMMP-1 and TIMP-1 were higher in ruptured plaque group. hs-CRP > 8.94 mg/L was used to predict ruptured plaque with a ROC curve area of 0.76 [95% confidence interval (CI), 67.0% - 85.8%], sensitivity of 71.8%, specificity of 77.0% and accuracy of 69.2% (P < 0.01), similarly for proMMP-1 > 0.12 ng/ml with a ROC curve area of 0.69 [95% CI, 58.2% - 80.2%], sensitivity of 69.2%, specificity of 75.2% and accuracy of 66.2% (P < 0.01), and TIMP-1 > 83.45 ng/ml with a ROC curve area of 0.67 [95% CI, 56.2% - 78.3%], sensitivity of 66.7%, specificity of 61.9% and accuracy of 66.2% (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The plaque characteristics correlate with the clinical presentation. The elevation of hs-CRP, proMMP-1 and TIMP-1 are related to the plaque instability and rupture.</p>

Puerarin suppresses the proliferation of vscular smooth muscule cells and c-fos and bcl-2 protein expression / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the role of puerarin on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC) induced by thrombin (T) and the effect of puerarin on the c-fos and bcl-2 protein expression.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Cell number and cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry were adopted as two different indicators of effects on proliferation of VSMC. Western blot was used to indicate the changes of c-fos and bcl-2 protein after 24 h of treatment of T and puerarin.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>1.5 x 10(-5) - 1.5 x 10(-3) mol x L(-1) puerarin could significantly suppress this stimulation of VSMC proliferation and DNA synthesis induced by T. Western blot demonstrated that after 24 hour of treatment with T and puerarin, T could significantly increase c-fos and bcl-2 protein and 1.5 x 10(-5) - 1.5 x 10(-3) mol x L(-1) puerain could significantly suppress this increase.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>puerarin can suppress the proliferation and DNA synthesis of VSMC promoted by T. This inhibitory effects of puerarin are closely related with the suppression of c-fos and bcl-2 protein.</p>

The evaluation on stent implantation efficacy of myocardial bridge and severe atherosclerosis lesions in the segments proximal to the myocardial bridge / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess long term stent implantation efficacy of myocardial bridge and severe atherosclerosis lesions in the segments proximal to the myocardial bridge.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study population consisted of 3 groups (103 patients). Group A included 28 patients with severe atherosclerosis lesion of luminal narrowing of > or = 70% in the segments proximal to the myocardial bridge. Group B included 16 patients with symptomatic myocardial bridge lesion of systolic luminal narrowing of > or = 95%. Group C included 59 patients with severe atherosclerotic lesion of luminal narrowing of > or = 70%. All lesions were successfully treated with stent by standard interventional techniques. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed before and immediately after stent deployment. Follow-up Quantitative coronary angiography was performed at six months or later. Clinical evaluation was done at 20 months after PCI.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in luminal diameter and stent diameter among 3 groups immediately after stent implantation (P > 0.05). At six months, restenosis occurred in 4 patients in Group A (14.3%), in 7 patients in Group B (43.7%), and in 8 patients in Group C (14.8%), respectively. The rate of restenosis was significantly lower in group A and C than in group B (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between group A and C. Additional balloon dilating of stent were performed in all restenosis patients. Clinical evaluation at 20 months showed that all patients remained free of angina and cardiac events.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The efficacy of intracoronary stent implantation in treating severe atherosclerosis lesion in the segments proximal to the myocardial bridge is not affected by abnormal haemodynamic changes of myocardial bridges. The rate of restenosis in intracoronary stent implantation of myocardial bridges is higher than that of atherosclerotic lesions in the segments proximal to myocardial bridge.</p>

Effects of intravenous metoprolol by two injection methods on atrial fibrillation and rapid ventricular rates complicated with heart failure / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective To explore the effectiveness and safety of intravenous metoprolol by two injection methods in treatment for patients of atrial fibrillation anti rapid ventricular rates complicated with heart failure.Methods Patients of atrial fibrillation and rapid ventricular rates complicated with heart failure were administrated regular drug therapy for their heart failure,and then they were observed for half an hour.If their ventricular rates were above 100 beats/min and blood pressure equal to or above 100/60 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa),they were randomly divided into three groups,the first one administrated with metoprolol 10 mg by minipump in an hour,the second one administrated with metoprolol 5 mg in 10 minutes by direct injection,and repeated by 5 mg 10 minutes later if their heart beats were still above 100 beats/min and blood pressure equal to or above 100/60 mm Hg,and the third one administrated with normal saline as control group.As either ventricular rates were equal to or lower than 60 beats/min or blood pressure lower than 90/60 mm Hg,drug administration would be terminated.Symptoms,physical signs, heart rate,blood pressure,rale on auscultation of the chest,parameters of haemodynamics,serum levels of brain natrium peptide (BNP) and atrial natrium peptide (ANP) were observed at 0 h and 1 h after drug injection.Results Clinical symptoms and physical signs of heart failure were improved significantly,heart rates and serum levels of BNP (F=15.929,14.534,all P