C-reactive Protein -717A>G and -286C>T>A Gene Polymorphism and Ischemic Stroke / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the formation and progression of ischemic stroke. Recently, more and more epidemiological studies have focused on the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) -717A > G and -286C > T > A genetic polymorphisms and ischemic stroke. However, the findings of these researches are not conclusive.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether these two polymorphisms are associated with the risk of ischemic stroke. Eligible studies were identified from the database of PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Weipu, and Wanfang. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of the association.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four articles were included in our study, including 1926 cases and 2678 controls for -717A > G polymorphism, 652 cases and 1103 controls for -286C > T > A polymorphism. The results of meta-analysis showed that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) -717A > G was not significantly associated with the risk of ischemic stroke (GG vs. AA, OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.83-1.50, P = 0.207; GG + GA vs. AA, OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.93-1.17, P = 0.533; GG vs. GA + AA, OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.82-1.47, P = 0.220). Meta-analysis of SNP - 286C > T > A also demonstrated no statistical evidence of a significant association with the risk of ischemic stroke (AA vs. CC, OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.59-1.25, P = 0.348; AA vs. CC, OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.80-1.06, P = 0.609; AA vs. CC, OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.62-1.30, P = 0.374).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This meta-analysis demonstrated little evidence to support a role of CRP gene -717A > G, -286C > T > A polymorphisms in ischemic stroke predisposition. However, to draw comprehensive and more reliable conclusions, further larger studies are needed to validate the association between CRP gene polymorphisms and ischemic stroke in various ethnic groups.</p>

Effects of Enshi green tea tea polysaccharide on serum glucose in experimental diabetic rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Enshi green tea tea polysaccharide on serum glucose in experimental diabetic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetic rats model were established by alloxan, Enshi green tea tea polysaccharide was poured into rats' stomach for four weeks, then the changes of the level about fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucokinase (GK), insulin (INS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), spleen index and thymus index were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Enshi green tea tea polysaccharide could reduce the level of FBG in diabetic rats, and increase the activity of KG, SOD and GSH-Px, moreover, it could reduce the level of MDA and increase the spleen index and thymus index.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Enshi green tea tea polysaccharide has remarkable effect on playing down the blood sugar, and can increase the antioxygenic activity and immunity.</p>

The protective effects of Shenfu injection on the global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury of rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the the protective effects and mechanism of Shenfu injection on the global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Divided 40 SD male rats into 4 groups randomly (n = 10): sham operation group, model control group, nimodipine group( 30 mg/kg) and Shenfu injection group (10 mg/kg). Made global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model (CI/R) by adopting Pulsinelli's Four Arterial Acclusion method,and then practised administration three times, respectively one day before the surgery, one hour before the surgery and 30 minutes before reperfusion. Finally, measured the contents of brain tissue glutamate (Glu), aspartic acid (Asp) and Glycine (Gly) by means of High Performance Liquid Chromatography, the content of Ca2+ by means of Atomic absorption spectrophotometry, the brain water content by means of wet and dry weight, the activity of brain tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) by means of chemical colorimetry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the sham operation group, the contents of Glu, Ca2+, MDA and water in the brains of CI/R model group rats increased remarkably (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the activity of SOD decreased apparently (P < 0.05); Shenfu injection could significantly decrease the contents of Glu, Ca2+ and water (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in brain tissue and remarkably increased the activity if SOD and the ration of SOD/MDA (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mechanism of Shenfu injection preventing cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury is relevant to excitatory amino acid toxicity reduction, Ca2+ overload blockage and antioxidant capacity improvement.</p>

The protective of Shenfu injections on hemodynamics and myocardial enzyme after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect of Shenfu (Chinese traditional medicine) injections on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty rabbits were divided into three groups (n = 10) randomly: control group, myocardial ischemia/ reperfusion group (MI/RI) and Shenfu injections extract group, three groups of rabbits were fed respectively with standard diet. After giving medicine 10 minutes, the myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury animal model was established by ligaturing rabbits left ventricutar branch of coronary artery, and observing the changes of enzyme/hemodynamics during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In model group myocardial function of shrink went down, the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathine peroxidease (GSH-Px), Na(+) -K(+) -ATP and Ca(2+) -ATP were lower, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase(CK) were released compared with those in model group. Shenfu injections could recover left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and +/- dp/dt(max), decrease left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP), inhibit the increasing of MDA, LDH and CK, and increase the activaty of SOD, GSH-PX, Na(+) -K(+) -ATP and Ca(2+) -ATP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Shenfu injections can obviously protect myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.</p>

Comparison of clinical and MRI features between dilated cardiomyopathy and left ventricular noncompaction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To characterize the clinical and cardiac MRI features of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Compared the clinical and MRI features between 25 patients with LVNC and 21 patients with DCM. The MRI derived diastolic left ventricular wall thickness and the number and degree of noncompaction (NC) were evaluated using the 17-segment model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chest distress, shortness of breath and abnormal ECG were presented in all DCM patients, abnormal ECG was evidenced in 22 LVNC patients and 21 out of 25 LVNC patients presented similar clinical symptoms as DCM patients while the rest 4 LVNC patients were asymptomatic. Left atrial and ventricular dimensions were significantly smaller in LVNC patients compared to DCM patients. The degree of left ventricular (LV) spherical remodeling was significantly greater in patients with DCM (sphericity index, SI = 0.81 +/- 0.06) than in patients with LVNC (SI = 0.74 +/- 0.11, P < 0.05). The LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly higher in patients with LVNC (32.7% +/- 14.2%) than that in patients with DCM (15.0% +/- 5.1%). The number of NC segments in LVNC patients (9 +/- 1) was significantly higher than the number of hypertrabeculation segment in DCM patients (5 +/- 2). The left ventricular apex (the 17th segment) was unexceptionally involved in all LVNC patients, while hypertrabeculation was absent in the 17th segment of DCM patients. The NC was more common in the apical and mid segments (16th, 12th and 11th segments) than in basal and mid septal segments (2nd, 3rd, 8th and 9th segments) in both LVNC and DCM patients. The thickness of compacted myocardium of the segments associated with noncompaction appeared thin in two groups. The wall thickness of noncompaction myocardium segments was thicker in LVNC patients than in DCM patients. The end-diastolic NC/C ratio was, on average, higher in patients with LVNC (3.3 +/- 0.6) than in patients with DCM (1.9 +/- 0.3).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The clinical manifestation is similar while there are significant differences in the morphology and function of left atria and left ventricle between the LVNC and DCM patients. The different distribution and degree of NC were helpful to differentiate LVNC from DCM.</p>