ABSTRACT
Cell gap junction is a special protein channel.Gap junction-mediated exchange of information between cells is crucial for cell growth,differentiation and tissue homeostasis.Connexin 43 (Cx43) is one of the members of the gap junction protein family.In recent years,researches show that abnormal Cx43 gene expression leads to the cell gap junctional communication dysfunction,which is closely related to the occurrence,metastasis and prognosis of a variety of tumors.Cx43 is expected to become a new target for clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors.
ABSTRACT
This investigation was aimed to detect the carotid elasticity in normal adults by use of echo-tracking (ET) technique. The stiffness parameter (beta), pressure-strain elasticity modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC), argumentation index (AI) and one-point pulse wave velocity (PWV beta) of carotid in 145 normal adults with the average age of 47.0 were calculated. The population were divided into five groups according to age: 20-29 y, 30-39 y,40-49 y, 50-59 y and > or = 60 y. The elasticity parameters between left and right side, between male female and between different age groups were compared using SAS 6.12 statistic software. There was no difference in carotid elasticity regarding the side and gender. The carotid beta, Ep, AI and PWV beta were noted to increase with age while AC was noted to decrease with age. The carotid elasticity was found to correlate with age significantly, but not with side and gender. This change can be detected by ET technique.