[Effects of the Chinese patent medicine, Honghua Injection, on platelet glycoprotein IIb/III a receptors in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial].

BACKGROUND: Glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa is an important index for assessing the function of platelets. To investigate the effects of Honghua Injection, a Chinese patent medicine made from extracts of Carthamus tinctorius L, on GP IIb/IIIa is a key study in evaluating the inhibition properties of Honghua Injection on platelet aggregation. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Honghua Injection on platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors and explore the mechanisms of Honghua Injection in inhibiting platelet aggregation in patients with acute coronary syndrome. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: A total of 64 patients from Yueyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly divided into Honghua Injection group (n=32, routine Western medicine plus Honghua Injection) and control group (n=32, routine Western medicine) according to the random number table. The patients were treated for 14 d. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The expressions of GPIIb/IIIa (CD41), P-selection (CD62p), and lysosome-associated membrane GP (CD63) were measured by flow cytometry before and after treatment. Meanwhile the therapeutic effects of Huonghua Injection on angina and short-term prognosis were observed. RESULTS: The observational period was 14 d and four patients in the control group were omitted due to early discharge. The expression of CD41 in both the Honghua Injection group and the control group was inhibited after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). The inhibition of the Honghua Injection group was stronger than that of the control group (P<0.05). There was no case of death, myocardial infarction and cerebral apoplexy during 14 d of treatment. The improvement of angina symptoms and electrocardiographic manifestation in the Honghua Injection group was greater than that of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Honghua Injection can inhibit the expression of GP IIb/IIIa receptors by preventing aggregation of platelets and may be considered as an effective traditional Chinese medicine for acute coronary syndrome.

[Association of 1233A/G polymorphism of angiopoietin-2 gene with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS: Genotype and allele frequency of Ang-2 were detected by amplification refractory mutation system-PCR(ARMS-PCR) in 221 cases with T2DM and 104 normal controls. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) was measured by ELISA. DN patients were divided into three groups according to urinary albumin excretion rates (UAER), i.e. DN0: UAER < 30 mg/24 h, DN1: UAER 30-300 mg/24 h and DN2: UAER > 300 mg/24 h. RESULTS: Statistics showed: (1) Genotype frequencies and allele frequencies in Ang-2 1233A/G had significant difference but not Ang-2 759T/G and 1078A/G; (2) Comparing with those with genotype AA, the relative risk of genotype (AG+ GG) suffered from T2DM and DN were 2.265 fold (OR= 2.265, 95% CI: 1.223-1.402, P= 0.031), 1.789 fold (OR= 1.789, 95% CI: 0.889-1.021, P= 0.012), respectively; (3) The onset of DN was related to Ang-2 1233A/G allele G (r= 1.321, OR= 1.427, 95% CI: 2.324-4.177, P= 0.034). CONCLUSION: Ang-2 1233A/G polymorphism may be associated with T2DM and involved in onset and development of DN.

Exploration of the relationship between phlegm-dampness constitution and polymorphism of low density lipoprotein receptor genes Pvu II and Ava II.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the polymorphism of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) genes Pvu II and Ava II in a population with phlegm-dampness constitution (PDC). METHODS: Polymorphism of LDL-R genes at Pvu II and Ava II of 48 persons with gentle constitution (GC) and 61 with PDC were analyzed with PCR-RELP technique, and their serum contents of lipids and glucose were determined and compared as well. RESULTS: The A+ allelic and P-allelic frequency were higher and the P+ allelic frequency was lower in subjects with PDC than those in subjects with GC, which were 0.3083 vs 0.1771, 0.9098 vs 0.7708 and 0.0902 vs 0.2292, respectively, all showing significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Comparison of the two groups in serum levels of triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, and 2 h postprandial insulin showed that all the parameters were higher in subjects with PDC than in subjects with GC respectively, showing significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PDC is related with the P- and A+ allelic frequency of higher LDL-R genes at Pvu II and Ava II, therefore, the polymorphism of LDL-R genes could be taken as one of the genetic markers for PDC, and humans with PDC are more liable to suffer from blood lipids and glucose disorder than those with GC.