Associations of sugar-sweetened beverages intake frequency with physical growth and glucolipid metabolism among children and adolescents / 环境与职业医学

Background Children and adolescents drink sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) frequently. Research has confirmed that SSBs associate with weight gain and overweight or obesity. However, it is unclear whether high SSBs intake associates with abnormal changes in physical growth and glucolipid metabolism before causing adverse health outcomes such as overweight and obesity. Early identification of associated health risks of overconsumption of SSBs have important public health implications. Objective To investigate the differences in physical growth and glucolipid metabolism between different SSBs intake frequency groups in normal weight children and adolescents aged 6-17 years, and to evaluate the early effects of SSBs intake on physical growth and glycolipid metabolism before causing overweight and obesity, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of childhood overweight and obesity and related chronic diseases, and for the formulation of policies on the control of SSBs consumption. Methods Data were from the Shanghai Diet and Health Survey (SDHS) among primary and secondary school students. The participants were normal weight children and adolescents aged 6-17 years. Propensity scores were calculated according to energy intake and physical activity factors, after stratifying by age and gender. Participants were 1:1 matched with the closest propensity scores in the high-frequency (≥1 time·d−1) and the low-frequency (≤1 time·week−1) SSBs intake groups. The outcome indicators were physical measurements such as height, weight, percent of body fat, and waist circumference, and metabolic indicators such as fasting blood glucose, total triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Food frequency questionnaire was used to collect SSBs consumption in the past three months through face-to-face interview. A paired t-test was used to compare the differences in physical and glycolipid metabolic indicators between the high-frequency intake group and the low-frequency intake group of SSBs. Results A total of 431 pairs were obtained. For children and adolescents in grades 6-9, overall height (difference=2.92 cm, P=0.002), weight (difference=2.53 kg, P=0.003), and waist circumference (difference=1.34 cm, P=0.035) were higher in those who consumed SSBs ≥1 time·d−1 than in those who consumed ≤1 time·week−1. For children and adolescents in grades 10-12, overall weight (difference=2.27 kg, P=0.041) was higher in those who consumed SSBs ≥1 time·d−1 than in those who consumed ≤1 time·week−1. Over 95% of the study subjects reported blood glucose and lipid test results within the normal range; but girls in grades 1-5 who consumed SSBs ≥1 time·d−1 had a higher total cholesterol (difference=0.20 mmol·L−1, P=0.027) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (difference=0.19 mmol·L−1, P=0.010) than those who consumed ≤1 time·week−1; boys in grades 6-9 who consumed SSBs ≥1 time·d−1 had a lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (difference=-0.10 mmol·L−1, P=0.039) than those who consumed ≤1 time·week−1. Conclusion High-frequency intake of SSBs may be associated with higher total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in normal weight children and adolescents in grades 1-5, and higher weight in normal weight children and adolescents in grades 6-12. There is an urgent need to educate children and adolescents about nutritional health, enhance their ability to make healthy food and beverage choices, and take early interventions to control the intake of SSBs in children.

Nutrient content of 122 kinds of retail handcrafted milk tea products in Shanghai / 环境与职业医学

Background The retail milk tea industry is in a period of rapid development, but there is little research on its nutrient content, which restricts the nutritional guidance of milk tea. Objective To determine the levels of nutrients in best-selling handcrafted milk tea in Shanghai and analyze the nutritional characteristics. Methods In 2018 and 2021, a total of 13 handcrafted milk tea brands with ≥3 branch stores in Shanghai were selected by searching for milk tea on Meituan and Ele.me food delivery platforms, and a total of 122 types of handcrafted milk tea products were collected from the top three sales [milk tea (including all sweetness levels available), milk cover tea, and fruit tea]. National standard methods were used to detect energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, sugar, trans fatty acid, calcium, caffeine, and tea polyphenol. Results The median energy of the milk tea samples was 310 kJ (per 100 g sample). The main sources of energy were carbohydrate and fat. The levels of energy, protein, and fat in milk cover tea and milk tea were significantly higher than those in fruit tea (P＜0.05), and there was no significant difference in carbohydrate among them. The total sugar, fructose, and glucose levels in milk tea were significantly lower than those in milk cover tea and fruit tea, and the lactose level in fruit tea was significantly lower than those in milk tea and milk cover tea (P＜0.05). Themedian trans fat acid level in milk cover tea was higher than that in milk tea (P＜0.05). The median levels of caffeine and tea polyphenol were higher in milk tea than in milk cover tea (P＜0.05). The levels of energy, carbohydrate, sucrose, total sugar, and calcium in milk tea were positively correlated with the number of ingredients added (0-3) (r=0.386, 0.371, 0.238, 0.698, 0.466, respectively, P < 0.05). The levels of energy, carbohydrate, and total sugar tended to increase with increasing sweetness (P<0.05), and total sugar was mainly sucrose, followed by fructose and glucose. The total sugar levels of the samples labeled sugar free, light sugar, half sugar, less sugar, and regular sugar were 3.40 (2.20, 4.9), 4.97 (4.25, 5.97), 5.80 (4.31, 6.88), 6.59 (5.17, 8.53), and 7.96 (6.82, 9.20) g, respectively; the proportions of the samples containing more than 0.5 g of total sugar were 93.3% for sugar free milk tea, 47.4% for light sugar milk tea, and 94.0% for regular sugar milk tea; the proportion of the regular sugar samples with sugar content greater than 10 g was 18.0% (all samples with nominal sugar content were measured per 100 g). Conclusion The retail handcrafted milk tea in Shanghai is characterized by high energy, high added sugar, high fat, and low protein. It is necessary to standardize the added sugar content and sweetness labeling, strengthen the nutrition education of milk tea, and guide residents to limit its intake.

Raising awareness of health risks of added sugar and limiting its excessive intake / 环境与职业医学

Recently, limiting the excessive intake of added sugar has gradually become an important topic in the field of nutrition. Sugar, sweetened dairy products, and sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) are the three most important contributions of added sugar in China. For children, adolescents, and young adults, the issue of excessive intake of SSBs is not optimistic for now. Although the daily per capita intake of SSBs in China is currently at a low level on a global scale, the overall trend of SSBs production and consumption are rapidly increasing. Excessive intake of added sugar adversely affects glycolipid metabolism and multiple metabolic diseases, which is widely concerned and discussed. For the purpose of limiting added sugar, the gradually popularized use of sugar substitutes poses entirely new challenges. Multiple sugar-restriction strategies have been implemented and validated abroad. Given the rapid growth of consumption of added sugar and increasing evidence of related health hazards in China, there is a great need to improve the awareness of eating less added sugar for Chinese residents by multilevel strategies, and finally reduce the consumption of SSBs. In this article, the definition, history, and development of added sugar, main dietary sources, recommended limits, and both domestic and international consumption trends of added sugar were narrated. Then, the main health risks of added sugar and the global sugar-restriction strategies were briefly described. The article calls for raising awareness among Chinese residents of the health hazards of added sugar and limiting its excessive intake.

Impact of the established healthy canteens and restaurants in Shanghai on usage of oil， salt， and sugar， and on nutritional knowledge and behavior of diners / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes of the usage of oil， salt， sugar and nutritional knowledge and behavior intervention among diners before and after the establishment of healthy canteens and restaurants in Shanghai. MethodsA comprehensive intervention was conducted through the establishment of healthy canteens and restaurants， encompassing interventions such as oil， salt， and sugar management， improvement of nutritional environment， staffing and training activities， and nutrition labeling guidance. A pre-post self-controlled study design was used to compare changes in oil， salt and sugar usage， as well as diners’ knowledge and behaviors related to nutrition and nutrition labeling， before and after the intervention. ResultsAfter intervention， the total usage of oil， salt， and sugar per meal in the canteens and restaurants decreased by 18.33%， 14.83%， and 13.66%， respectively，and all had statistically significance differences（P<0.001）. The awareness rate of "cooking oil intake"， "salt intake"， and "added sugar intake" among diners increased from 24.07% to 38.04%， 58.52% to 71.28%， and 26.85% to 45.01%， respectively. The awareness rate of "daily food types" and "weekly food types" increased from 43.07% to 56.53% and 49.52% to 64.32%， with significant differences （P<0.001）. The rate of understanding the content of nutrition labels increased from 66.91% to 76.90%， the awareness rate of nutrition labels increased from 53.59% to 69.06%， the rate of active reading of nutrition labels among diners increased from 73.38% to 81.23%， and the rate of selecting and purchasing food based on the information of nutrition labels increased from 69.27% to 77.79%， all of which were statistically significant （P<0.001）. ConclusionThe comprehensive interventions carried out through the creation of healthy canteens and restaurants have significantly impact on usage of oil， salt， and sugar， as well as on the nutritional knowledge and behaviors of diners.

Analysis of animal models of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on clinical features of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine / 中国中药杂志

This study analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of existing animal models in China and abroad and their goodness of fit based on the clinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and western medicine, followed by the collation and summarization of model evaluation methodologies. The results showed that the existing animal models of stable COPD were mainly modeled via smoke exposure or the combination of multiple methods like smoke exposure plus lipopolysaccharide or protease or bacterial infection. These animal models generally failed to simulate the clinical characteristics of TCM, and their goodness of fit in western medicine was higher than that in TCM. There is a lack of research on the animal models of stable COPD and the disease-syndrome combination models. Although the modeling is guided by the pathogenesis or mechanism of diseased humans, the established models were still not identical with the actual clinical situations. In-depth research is needed to develop quantitative standards for stable COPD models.

Hawthorn Extract Alleviates Atherosclerosis through Regulating Inflammation and Apoptosis Related Factors: An Experimental Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the effects of hawthorn extract on serum lipid levels, pathological changes in aortic atherosclerosis plaque, inflammatory factors, and apoptosis-related protein and mRNA expression in apolipoprotein E gene knockout (ApoE) mice.@*METHODS@#Thirty-six ApoE mice were fed with a high-fat diet starting at the age of 8 weeks. Mice were randomly divided into 3 groups by a random number table including model group, hawthorn extract group, and simvastatin group, 12 mice in each group. Twelve 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed a basic diet and served as control. The mice in the control and model groups were administered 0.2 mL saline daily, the mice in the hawthorn extract and simvastatin groups were administered with 50 mg/kg hawthorn extract or 5 mg/kg simvastatin daily for 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, plasma lipids including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined by an enzymatic assay. Aortic atherosclerotic lesions were observed by light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), adiponectin (APN), and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Protein and mRNA expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 in the aorta were assessed by Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively.@*RESULTS@#Compared to the control group, the plasma levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly increased and HDL-C were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared to the model group, treatment with hawthorn extract significantly decreased the plasma levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C and increased the plasma level of HDL-C in ApoE mice (P<0.01). The levels of MCP-1, IL-1ß, and hs-CRP in the model group were significantly increased and APN was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P<0.01). Compared to the model group, treatment with hawthorn extract decreased the levels of MCP-1, IL-1ß, and hs-CRP and increased the APN level (P<0.01). Compared to the control group, the protein and mRNA expression of Bax in the model group were significantly increased and the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Hawthorn extract also reduced the protein and mRNA expression of Bax and increased the Bcl-2 expression in the aorta (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Hawthorn extract has anti-atherosclerosis and stabilizing unstable plaque effects. The mechanism may be related to the inflflammation and apoptosis signaling pathways.

Comparison of clinical manifestations according to HLA-B27 genotype in ankylosing spondylitis patients: real-world evidence from smart management system for spondyloarthritis / 中华内科杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to set up a large,longitudinal and prospective database to compare the clinical manifestations in human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 positive and negative patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS) based on real-world evidence in Chinese population.Methods A total of 897 outpatients with confirmed AS were recruited consecutively by smart management system for spondyloarthritis (SMSP) from April 13,2016 to June 6,2017 in Chinese PLA General Hospital from 30 provinces and autonomous regions.801 patients with HLA-B27 data were included in the analysis.Demographic and clinical parameters including Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI),Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI),ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS),arthritis,enthesitis,Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrology index (BASMI),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared between HLA-B27 positive and negative groups.Results A total of 801 patients were included in the analysis with an average age of (30.7± 8.8) years.There were 659 males and 142 females and HLA-B27 was present in 88.0％(705/801).Males were significantly more in HLA-B27 positive patients [83.3％ (587/705) vs.75.0％ (72/96);P=0.047].The average age at disease onset was (22.3 ±7.6)years in HLA-B27 positive patients and (24.4 + 8.7) years in HLA-B27 negative ones (P=0.028).There was significant difference in diagnose delay between two groups [14.3(2.5,43.6)months in HLA-B27 positive patients vs.20.3(5.0,67.4) months in HLA-B27 negative ones,P=0.041].Anterior uveitis was found to be significantly more common in HLA-B24 positive patients [18.9％ (133/705) vs.7.3％ (7/96),P=0.005],and knee involvement less common in HLA-B27 positive patients [4.0％ (27/682) vs.10.0％(9/90),P=0.010],conversely.CRP[6.5(3.0,16.4)mg/L vs.3.5(1.6,12.3)mg/L] and ESR[11.0(4.0,24.0)mrn/1h vs.7.0(3.0,16.0)mm/1h] were significantly higher in HLA-B27 positive patients(P=0.005,0.013,respectively).But no differences in BASDAI,ASDAS,BASFI and BASMI were obtained between two groups.Conclusions HLA-B27 positive patients had a higher proportion of males,a younger age of onset and a greater risk for occurrence of anterior uveitis,suggesting a poorer prognosis.

An investigation of work disability and related factors in ankylosing spondylitis patients / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To study the characteristics of work disability and its influencing factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods The demographic data, work conditons and disease related characteristics of 277 patients with AS were recorded, and randomly selected from the Department of Rheumatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital from November 2014 to January 2016. Work and productivity activity impair-ment questionnaire (WPAI) was used to survey the work disability and productivity loss, then explore its in-fluencing factors and the relationships between patient-reported outcomes and WPAI scores. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associated factors of work disability. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the predictive factors of lose of work productivity. Results The prevalence of work disability was 30.3%. Twenty patients were unemployed because of working disability. Two hudreds patients were employed, with average 36.5 (24.0, 50.0) hours workingtime in the past week. Average AS related absenteeism was 4.4 (0, 10) hour. Average workproductivity loss was 26.4%(2.5%, 40.0%). Logistic multiple regression analysis showed that Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) scores might be the important influencing factors among those clinical measures ( OR=1.270, 0.959). Presenteeism and overall work impairment were moderately correlated with patients' global assessment of disease activity (VAS), BASDAI, bath AS functional index (BASFI), SF-36 physical Functioning (PF), SF-36 body pain (BP) and SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) (|r|=0.539-0.648). Linear multivariate analyses indicated that work presente-eismand absenteeismwere significantly associated with BASDAI (P<0.01). Conclusion High prevalence of work disability in patients with AS is noted, which is closely related with disease activity and body function;High attention should be paid to AS patients with work disability.

Perioperative stroke effectively treated by an acute stroke team including anesthesia department: a case report / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Perioperative stroke is cerebral infarction occurring in the perioperative period.The incidence of perioperative stroke in non-cardiac,and non-neurologic surgery is about 0.7％,but the mortality can be as high as 26％ to 40％.The outcome of the patients with perioperative stroke can be disastrous.Here we report a case of perioperative ischemic stroke that occurred after surgery of lumbar decompression and pedical screw fixation.A 76-year-old female admitted to our hospital because of lumbar spinal stenosis.Her medical history included hypertension and diabetes for ten years.Her personal history included a smoking history of 60 years by 2 cigarettes per day,not quitting.Her carotid artery ultrasound showed multiple low echo plaques on the right side and multiple high echo plaques on the left side of the carotid artery,but without distinct stenosis.Other examinations and tests showed no distinct abnormality.She went on a lumbar decompression and pedical screw fixation uneventfully.The blood loss was 400 mL and autologous blood transfusion 150 mL.The arterial blood pressure (ABP) maintained during 100-130 mmHg/60-80 mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa).Sixty minutes after she recovered from general anesthesia,the patient developed symptoms of slurred speech and right limbs weakness.The anesthesiologist evaluated the patient immediately with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).The NIHSS score was 11 and a stroke was highly suspected.The acute stroke team was therefore initiated and fast responded.Within 4 h,digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was proceeded,which showed the M1 segment of the left middle cerebral artery was occluded and the local stenosis of her right middle cerebral artery was up to 80％.After the successful embolectomy by Solitaire stent,the left middle cerebral artery reflowed and the forward blood flow was thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade 3.The patient was discharged after 33 days after the surgery with a NIHSS of 9.Our case provides an example that an acute stroke team that included the department of anesthesiology can be beneficial to the patients' perioperative strokes.During the perioperative period,anesthesiologists should be included into the acute stroke team,because anesthesiologists and anesthesia nurses might be first observers of those early onset strokes.Our case also put forward this thought that a standard peri-operative stroke evaluation tool,like NIHSS,should be discussed and applied to facilitate and accelerate the initiation of perioperative acute stroke team.

Inflammation inhibitory effects of sirolimus and paclitaxel-eluting stents on interleukin-1β-induced coronary artery in-stent restenosis in pigs / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Coronary artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) and late stent thrombosis remain as important complications of stenting. The inflammation reactions to sirolimus and paclitaxel-eluting stents were investigated in a swine stenosis model induced by interleukin (IL)-1β.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mini pigs (n = 12; 2-3 months old and weighing 25-30 kg) were subjected to thoracotomy. Segments (10 mm) of the mid left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery were exposed and aseptically wrapped with a cotton mesh soaked with IL-1β (5 µg). After 2 weeks, the animals were anesthetized and quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA) was performed. The stenosis sites were randomized into three groups for stent insertion: a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) group (Firebird(TM), n = 7), a paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) group (TAXUS(TM), n = 9), and a bare-metal stent (BMS) group (YINYITM, Dalian Yinyi Biomaterials Development Co., Ltd, China, n = 8). The three different stents were randomly implanted into stenosis segments. Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), P-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was determined by reverse transcription-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>QCA showed severe stenosis in IL-1β treated segments. The SES and PES groups showed lower 1-month angiographic late lumen loss (LLL) within the stent and the lesion compared with BMS (P < 0.05) by follow-up QCA. The SES showed lower LLL than that of PES in reducing 1-month inflammation lesions in pigs by follow-up QCA ((0.15 ± 0.06) mm vs. (0.33 ± 0.01) mm, P < 0.0001). The neointimal hyperplasia areas in SES and PES showed lower than those of BMS (SES (11.6 ± 1.7) mm(2), PES (27.2 ± 1.6) mm(2) vs. BMS (76.2 ± 1.3) mm(2), P < 0.0001). The mRNA expression of MCP-1 by RT-PCR in SES and PES showed lower than that of BMS at 30 days after stenting (SES 0.20 ± 0.03, PES 0.48 ± 0.49 vs. BMS 0.58 ± 0.07, P < 0.05). Levels of VCAM-1 in SES were significantly lower than those of PES and BMS (SES 0.35 ± 0.08 vs. PES 0.65 ± 0.13, BMS 0.70 ± 0.06, P < 0.05). Histochemical immunostaining of vessel walls showed lower inflammatory chemokine MCP-1 expression in the SES and PES groups compared with BMS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SESs were superior in reducing 1-month angiographic LLL in inflammation lesions in pigs, strongly suggesting that SESs can suppress inflammatory reactions in ISR at multiple points.</p>

Thyroid nodular diseases in the population indergoing medical examination and the analysis of its relative factors in Dalian City,Liaoning Province / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To investigate the characteristics about the prevalence of thyroid nodules detected on color Doppler uhrasonography(US) in people residing in Dalian City who undergo regular physical examinations, as well as its relative factors. Methods All thyroid sonographic and questionair procedures were performed in the 6020 people above 18-year-old living in the four districts of Dalian City for at least 5 years, who were examined at the department of health medical center of Dalian Municipal Central Hospital from May 2006 to March 2007. Urinary iodine concentration was measured in 2039 healthy adults selected by age layers in our study population. Moreover, urinary iodine concentrations were determined in 220 children aged 8-10 years old who were randomly chosen from four communities (55 children per elementary school from each community). The analysis of logistic regression was conducted for the risk factors linked to thyroid nodules. Results The prevalence of thyroid nodules in the 6020 adults was 38.5%(2319/6020), in which nodules sized between 0.3 and up to 0.5 cm were found in 17.1% (1030/6020), and those above 0.5 cm in 21.4% (1289/6020). Ultrsonography revealed solitary nodules in 17.2% (1036/6020), multinodular goiter in 21.3% (1283/6020). Fifty-four point nine percent (1272/2319) thyroid nodules showed solid internal echographic structures, 30.2%(701/2319) mixed and 14.9%(346/2319). The thyroid nodule detected rate in female individuals was 46.1% (1102/2393), among whom multinodular goiter [59.1% (651/1102)] was more than solitary nodules[40.9(451/1102)] in female; while only 33.6%(1217/3627) of male were detected to have thyroid nodule, there was a difference between the genders (χ2=95,079,P<0.01). The mediam urinary iodine concentration(MUI) was 184.32 μg/L in children and 216.75 μg/L in the health adults, moreover, it was 216.55 μg/L and 217.00 μg/L in the people with thyroid nodules and those without nodules without a significant difference (P>0.05). The rate of thyroid nodules gradually increased with age(χ2=344.998, P<0.01). The occurance of thyroid nodules was significant associated with gender and age(P<0.01). Conclusions The nutritional iodine intake in the four communities of Dalian City are adequate. The prevalence of thyroid incidentalomas is relatively high in this group of people receiving medical examination.

Inhibitory effect and acting mechanism of Tongxinluo on IL-1beta-mediated coronary intimal hyperplasia and 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced coronary vasospasm in small swine / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the inhibitory effect of Tongxinluo (TXL) on coronary vaso spasm in small swine in vivo, and to investigate its possible acting mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The model of coronary atherosclerosis in 16 male small swines was established by left thoracotomy after anesthesia, isolated the sections of left anterio-descending branch and proximal end of rotator branch with similar outer diameter, and encapsulated them with paper-towel holding 2.5 microg interleukin-1beta. Two weeks later, the condition of coronary vasospasm induced by catheter intra-coronary injection of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, 10 microg/kg) was observed through coronary artery contrast examination. The 12 swines with successfully formed coronary vaso spasm were randomly divided into 2 groups, the TXL group and the control group. They were fed with special diet, but TXL 1 g/(kg d) was administered additionally to the TXL group for 4 weeks. The observation on coronary vasospasm was repeated 1 week after discontinuation of TXL treatment, then the animals were sacrificed, their vascular sections enclosed with IL-1beta was taken to conduct the pathologic examination and to detect the expressions of Rho kinase mRNA and its substrate myosin- binding subunit phosphorylation (MBS-P) by RT-PCR and Western blot method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Coronary artery contrast showed that local coronary stenosis occurred in the 12 model swines to different extents (20% - 30%, and vascular spasm on them could be induced by 5-HT. At the time of repeating examination, 11 vascular sections in the control group still maintain their positive spasm reaction to 5-HT, but only 2 in the TXL group did so, the reaction turned to negative in 1 and 10 in the two groups respectively. Pathological examination showed that different degrees of macrophage aggregation could be found in both groups. The degree of lumen stricture and endometrial hyperplasia in the TXL group was obviously attenuated than those in the control group. The expressions of Rho kinase mRNA and MBS-P in the control group were up-regulated obviously. As compared with those in the control group, they were inhibited significantly in the TXL group, as (71.5 +/- 2.4) vs (98.2 +/- 7.7)% and 16,633 +/- 1,390 vs 25,818 +/- 4,745, respectively (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TXL could obviously inhibit the coronary intimal hyperplasia mediated by IL-1beta and coronary vasospasm induced by 5-HT, one of its mechanisms is possibly the inhibition on the intracellular Rho kinase mRNA expression in the IL-1beta enclosed vascular section to decrease the level of MBS-P.</p>

Effects of rapamycin on Rho-kinase and p27 mRNA expressions in a porcine coronary intimal proliferation model induced by interleukin-1beta / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of rapamycin on the expressions of Rho-kinase and p27 mRNA during vascular intimal proliferation in a porcine model of coronary stenosis induced by interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The proximal segments of LAD and LCX were wrapped with cotton mesh that had absorbed sepharose bead solution with or without IL-1beta. Selective coronary angiography was performed two weeks later and the animals were killed for collecting the samples for histopathology and RT-PCR analyzing of Rho-kinase and p27 mRNA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of Rho-kinase and p27 mRNA could be visualized in normal coronary wall. The expression of Rho-kinase mRNA was significantly enhanced and the expression of p27 mRNA was significantly decreased during the process of intimal proliferation induced by IL-1beta. Rapamycin significantly inhibited the intimal proliferation, reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells, reduced the expression of Rho-kinase mRNA and increased the expression of p27 mRNA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The expression of Rho-kinase mRNA is upregulated and p27 mRNA downregulated in coronary artery stenosis induced by IL-1beta and these effects could be abolished by cotreatment with rapamycin.</p>

Upregulated Rho-kinase and increased phosphorylation of myosin-binding subunit of myosin phosphates are key players in a porcine coronary artery spasm model with interleukin-1beta / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) is one of the most important steps for vascular smooth muscle contraction and Rho-kinase is involved in this process. We investigated the role of Rho-kinase in a porcine coronary artery spasm model with interleukin-1beta.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Segments of left coronary artery adventitia were surrounded by normal saline (n = 8) or IL-1beta agarose microne (n = 8) for 2 weeks. Vasospastic responses to intracoronary serotonin or histamine then studied at the saline or IL-1beta-treated site. The Rho-kinase mRNA expression in the treated site was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR). The extent of phosphorylation of myosin-binding subunit of myosin phosphates (MBS, one of the major substrates of Rho-kinase) were quantified by Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intracoronary serotonin or histamine repeatedly induced coronary artery spasm and coronary arterial stenosis was evidenced at IL-1beta-treated site. Expression of Rho-kinase mRNA in IL-1beta-treated site was significantly increased compared to saline treated site (98.20% +/- 7.66% vs. 63.70% +/- 4.26%, P < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that during the serotonin-induced contractions the extent of phosphorylation of MBS was also significantly increased in the spastic site (25,485 +/- 4745 vs. 6510 +/- 779, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rho-kinase upregulation at the spastic site and increased phosphorylation of myosin-binding subunit of myosin phosphates are key players in inducing vascular smooth muscle hypercontraction in this porcine model.</p>

Palmitic acid induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line, HepG2 cells / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of palmitic acid (PA) on human hepatocytes and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We administered a mimic hyperlipidemia condition of 0.2-0.4 mmol/L PA to human hepatoma cell line, HepG2 cells. Cell viability was determined by Trypan blue staining. Cell cycle and early apoptosis were determined by propidium iodide and/or Annexin V staining, and the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were analyzed by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>An inhibition of cell growth was observed at a dose- and time-dependent manner in HepG2 cells after the treatment of PA. An apoptosis with appearance of sub-G1 fraction determined by cell cycle analysis significantly increased after the treatment of PA for 4 days. Bcl-2 level slightly decreased; in contrast, Bax level elevated markedly, which resulted in a significant decrease of Bcl-2/Bax ratio.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PA may induce cell death on hepatocytes via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by reducing the level of Bcl-2/Bax.</p>