The effects and mechanisms of high glucose on the phenotype transformation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects and mechanisms of high glucose on the phenotype transformation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>VSMCs ere isolated from rat thoracic aorta and the 3rd-5th VSMCs were incubated with normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L), high glucose (25 mmol/L), or high glucose (25 mmol/L) + P38 inhibitor (25 mmol/L +SB203580) for another 24 hours. Then the gene expression of osteopontin (OPN), alpha smooth-actin (alpha-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) were assayed by real time RT-PCR, the protein expression of P38 were assayed by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) High glucose promoted the phenotype transformation of VSMCs and up-regulated the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. (2) High glucose promoted the phosphorylation of P38. (3) SB203580, the inhibitor of P38/MAPK signal pathway, inhibited the effects of high glucose on phenotype transformation and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High glucose may promote phenotype transformation of VSMCs via the signal pathway of P38/MAPK.</p>

Effects of endothelial progenitor cell-conditioned medium on the proliferation, adhesion and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of endothelia progenitor cells conditioned medium (EPC-CM) on the migration, adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mononuclear cells were isolated from rat bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation,plated on dishes precoated with 5% fibronectin, and then cultured with complete M199 medium (including 15% fetal calf serum, 10 microg/L VEGF and 5 microg/L bFGF). EPC-CM was collected and used to incubate VSMCs isolated from rat arteriae aorta. After 24 h, VSMCs proliferation, adhesion and migration were assayed with CCK-8, adhesion test and modified Boyden chamber assay, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The proliferation, adhesion and migration of VSMCs were obviously decreased when the cells were cultured with EPC-CM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EPC-CM could inhibit VSMC functions, which would be one of the mechanisms against atherosclerosis by EPCs.</p>

Stratified analysis on correlation between abnormal blood lipid in senile people and coronary atherosclerotic cardiopathy / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipemia is one of the important risk factors of coronary atherosclerotic cardiopathy. Great attention has been paid on how to explain the correlation between blood lipid and coronary heart disease and the correlation of characteristics and level of blood lipid with coronary heart disease.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the correlation among the characteristics, the level of blood lipid and coronary heart disease in senile people.DESIGN: Case-control observation and stratified analysis.SETTING: Second Cadre Ward of General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 105 inpatients were selected in coronary heart disease group, diagnosed as coronary heart disease, tallied with WHO Diagnostic Standard on Coronary Heart Diseases, in Second Cadre Ward of General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from January 2001 to January 2002. Totally 99 inpatients, by checked, without coronary heart disease and cerebral vascular disorder were selected in the control in the same period.METHODS: 2 mL venous blood was collected in fasting in the morning and the serum was collected after centrifuged at 3 000 r/minute, for 5 minutes. Auto-biochemical analyzer and enzyme kit were used to determine cholesterol, triglycerin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Compared with the data in the control, the ranges of cholesterol, triglycerin and low density lipoprotein were calculated successively and divided by 10; at the class intervals of 0.53, 0. 39 and 0.29 mmonl/L, the frequency table was worked out. According to the frequency table, P25 (the 25th percentile), P50 (the 50th percentile), P75 (the 75th percentile) and P90 (the 90th percentile) of cholesterol, triglycerin and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were calculated successively. The stratified groups were divided based on P ＜ 25, P25 to PS0, PS0 to P75, P75 to P90 and ＞ P90, by which, the cases belonging to 5 groups were determined in coronary heart disease group and the control respectively. The exposure factor was determined by ＞ P90, compared with other 4 groups, Menta-Haensecel method was used to calculate x2. If the exposure factor was related with coronary heart disease, the relevant coefficient and 95% confidence interval should be calculated. In accordance with the standards (Proposal on Prevention of Abnormal Blood Lipid and Targets of Abnormal Blood lipid on 2-grade Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease), the cases beyond the targets and morbidity were determined in two groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Determination of blood lipid, abnormal cases and morbidity in two groups; cases beyond targets of blood lipid and morbidity; stratified comparisons of percentiles in two groups.RESULTS: According to intention measurement, 204 cases entered result and the control, there was no significant difference in cholesterol, triglycerin cases presented hypercholesterolemia, 34.3% cases hypertriglycerlipidemia and 11. 4% cases low density lipoprotein-hypercholesterolemia. It was indicated that the blood lipid was in the normal range among 64. 8% to 88.6% comparison between the cases with cholesterol ≥5.47 mmonl/L and the cases with cholesterol varied from 3.85 to 4.63 mmol/L, the morbidity of coronary heart disease in the former was 2.98 times as high as the latter (x2 = 6.29, 95% confidence interval was 1.27 -6.98) . In the comparison between the cases with cholesterol ≥ 5.47 mmol/L and the cases with cholesterol varied from 4.64 to 5.05 mmol/L, the correlation with coronary Lipid for 2nd Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease, among the patients with coronary heart disease, cholesterol ≥ 4.68 mmonl/L in 54. 2% cases,triglycerin ≥ 1.70 mmol/L in 34. 3% cases and low density lipoprotein ≥ 2.6 mmol/L in 52. 3% cases.CONCLUSION: For senile patients with coronary heart disease, the satisfactory level of cholesterol is 3.85- 4.63 mmol/L. For those with cholesterol ≥ 5.47 mmol/L, compared with those varied from 3.85 to 4.63 mmol/L, the morbidity of coronary heart disease in the former is possibly 2.98 times as same as the latter(x2 = 6.29, 95% confidence interval was 1.27 - 6.98).

Comparison of plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen between the elderly patients with cardiocerebral vascular disease and the elderly or younger healthy persons / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Some studies have revealed that plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen are closely related to blood coagulation status before any occurrence of cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference in plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen, two markers of prethrombosis, between elderly patients with cardiovascular or cerebral vascular disease and elderly and younger healthy persons.DESIGN: Case analysis based on patients.SETTING: Cadre ward of a military general hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: From October 2000 to March 2002, 153 patients with cardiovascular disease and 116 patients with cerebral vascular disease, aging over 60 years, hospitalized in the Second Cadre Ward of the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA were selected into this study. Meanwhile, healthy persons with normal results of physical examination conducted in this hospital were selected as controls. Of all the control persons,68 with an age less than 60 years were allocated into the younger control group and the other 98 persons were allocated into the elderly control group.METHODS: On the second day after hospitalization, a venous blood sample was taken from each patient. For those receiving medications of aspirin, their venous blood samples were taken on the 4th day after withdrawal. The plasmas of the samples were measured by using STA Compact, a fully automatic coagulation analyzer(Diagnostica Stago) and the auxiliary kit. The level of D-dimer was detected by employing the immunoturbidimetry assay(ITA) And the concentration of fibrinogen was measured by using the magnetic bead technologies.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen were detected in each group.RESULTS: All the 435 participants entered the statistical analysis procedure. The plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen of elderly control group [(0.91 ±0.51) mg/L and (3.69±1.25) g/L] were significantly higher than those of the younger control group[0.48 ± 0. 15) mg/L and(3.12±0.76) g/L] (t=2.39-2.66, P ＜ 0.05) .The plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen of the elderly cardiovascular group [ (1.35 ± 0. 72) mg/L and(4. 16 ± 1.30) mg/L] and the elderly cerebral vascular group [(1.16±0.98) mg/L and(4.05±1.98) g/L]were significantly higher, as compared with the elder control group and the younger control group( t = 4.23-5.41, P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Compared to the younger control group, the plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen of elderly population increase significantly, especially in those with cardiovascular disease or cerebral vascular disease.

Study on the diagnostic test with C-reactive protein in elderly patients with infections / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) to diagnostic test in elderly patients with infections.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>C-reactive protein were investigated in 142 elderly patients with infections and 216 elderly patients without. CRP 7 - 20, 21 - 40 and 41 - 60 mg/L were stratified, the index of diagnostic test counted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Concentrations of CRP in patients with different diseases were upper respiratory tract infection 36.9 mg/L +/- 28.9 mg/L, acute bronchitis 30.1 mg/L +/- 28.1 mg/L, pneumonia 55.9 mg/L +/- 32.9 mg/L, urinary infection 49.0 mg/L +/- 27.6 mg/L and enteritis 39.3 mg/L +/- 35.6 mg/L. They were all higher than those in control group (5.2 mg/L +/- 2.9 mg/L, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis disclosed that the specificity of CRP was 83.3% - 99.0% for diagnostic infection disease. The positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 7 - 20, 21 - 40 and 41 - 60 mg/L were 3.6, 27.0 and 128.0, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>C-reactive protein was an important marker to diagnose elderly patients with infections.</p>