The potential role of preventing atherosclerosis by induction of neonatal tolerance to VLDL.

Induction of immune tolerance to ox-LDL could reduce atherosclerosis by modulation immune response. We suppose that very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) may have a similar role to ox-LDL in autoimmune response of atherosclerosis. In this study, neonatal rats were injected with ox-LDL, VLDL, or equal-volume saline, respectively. Vaccination with ox-LDL reduced the level of specific antibody, T cells proliferation response, and the level of endothelins. The method also had a tendency of reducing blood lipids. Vaccination with VLDL obviously reduced the level of specific antibody and T cells proliferation. Though there was also a tendency of reducing blood lipids and endothelins, the effect was less prominent than that with ox-LDL. We conclude that, although the effect was less obvious, vaccination with VLDL to induce neonatal tolerance had an effect on modulating immune response, protecting endothelial cells, and reducing blood lipids.

Electron-microscopic observation of mouse spleen tissue infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi isolated from Shandong, China.

Low-virulent Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) were successfully isolated from scrub typhus patients in Shandong, China, and the isolates were similar to the Kawasaki type identified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To identify the morphological characterization of the low-virulent Ot, and elucidate the pathological changes on host cells, mouse spleen tissue infected with the Ot isolated from Shandong was used for the ultrastructural study. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the Ot parasitized in the spleen were different in size, shape and electron density and many significant changes occurred in cytoplasmic organelles of the inoculated mouse spleen cells. Swollen perinuclear cisterna was observed in the nuclear membranes of mononuclear cells and a multivesicular body was found in the intracytoplasm of the macrophage. In the phagosome of the macrophage, many Ot enveloped with an additional membrane were found to push the phagosomal membrane outward from inside. The results indicated that the low-virulent Ot and the spleen cells suffered various damages.

Relation between plasma oxLDL antibodies and oxLDL in the circulation.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possible relationship between circulating oxLDL and oxLDL Ab concentrations in order to better understand the role of oxLDL Ab in atherosclerosis. DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study of 86 patients undergoing ultrasonographic scanning of the carotid artery, concentration of circulating oxLDL and oxLDL Ab were determined by ELISA. For multivariate analysis, we also measured many conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Spearman's rank correlation test and chi-square test were used to evaluate the correlation between circulating oxLDL and oxLDL Ab. A stepwise multiple regression analysis and Logistic regression analysis were used to study the influencing factors. RESULTS: There was no linear correlation between circulating oxLDL and oxLDL Ab. Circulating oxLDL was influenced by HDL, systolic blood pressure and body mass index, while only TC was independent factor associating with oxLDL Ab. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that oxLDL was present at a low concentration in the circulation, and that plasma oxLDL had no linear correlation with oxLDL antibodies. However, the issue still needs further study.

[Genotype identification and sequence analysis of Orientia tsutsugamushi isolated from Shandong area].

OBJECTIVE: To determine genotype, nucleotide sequence homology and phylogenesis of Orientia tsutsugamushi isolated from Shandong, China. METHODS: Orientia tsutsugamushi isolated from patients, Apodemus agrarius and Leptotrombidium scutellare in Shandong area were identified by nested-PCR. On the basis of the nucleotide sequence of the gene that encoding the Ot M, 56 x 10(3) antigen, the primers were frequently used in Japan and Korea. Nucleotide sequences of three isolates were determined. The DNA sequences were compared with nucleotide sequences of Orientia tsutsugamushi registered in GenBank for sequence homology analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of the isolates and'some published sequences was carried out with Neighbor-joining method by MEGA 3.1 software. RESULTS: 481- 507 bp DNA fragments encoding Orientia tsutsugamushi M, 56 x 10(3) protein were amplified successfully in the samples of Gilliam, Karp, Kato and Shandong isolates by group-specific primers. The corresponding target fragments of the three international reference strains of Gilliam, Karp, and Kato were amplified successfully with each of their own type specific primers. 523 bp DNA fragments were amplified successfully from Shandong isolates by the nPCR with Kawasaki-specific primer, and no DNA fragment was amplified by the nPCR with Gilliam, Karp, Kato, Kuroki and Saitama-specific primer. Comparing with the sequences of Orientia tsutsugamushi registered in GenBank, all the Shandong isolates shared higher than 95% nucleotide sequence homology with Kawasaki strain founded in Japan. Data from phylogenetic analysis showed that Shandong isolates belonged to the same branch with Kawasaki strain. CONCLUSION: To facilitate international comparison and communication, the primers should be employed in the Orientia tsutsugamushi research in China. Orientia tsutsugamushi isolated in China were similar to Kawasaki strain

[Study on the risk factors and its interaction on Parkinson disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk factors of Parkinson disease (PD), interaction between family history of PD and other risk factors, as well as the relative strength of genetic factors over the vulnerability of PD. METHODS: One 1:1 matched case-control study including 157 pairs of cases and controls was conducted in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University. RESULTS: Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that family history of PD, mental labor, insecticide, alcohol drinking and history of depression all had positive relationship, while smoking had a negative relationship with PD. The AP (AB)s of family history of PD and insecticide, alcohol drinking, history of depression were 55.2%, 34.0%, 41.4% and the RERIs were 8.96, 3.31, 7.85 respectively. The heritability of PD patients' first degree relatives was 36.86% +/- 5.76%, and second degree relatives was 20.66% +/- 6.81%. CONCLUSION: Family history of PD had an additive model synergism on PD, coexisting with other risk factors. Genetic factors had a smaller action on PD than environmental factors.

[Relationship between mutation of exon G894 T of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and overweight to essential hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the 7th exon G894T mutation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and overweight in patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: Totally, 116 patients with essential hypertension taking no medications and 136 normotensives were selected from a steel workers as study subjects. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were performed to detect mutation of the 7th exon G894T. Additive model was used to analyze interaction between G894T mutation and overweight on hypertension. Population attributable risk percent (PAR%) for them, etiologic fraction, was applied to their contribution to hypertension. RESULTS: There was a positive interaction between G894T mutation and overweight on essential hypertension, with an index of interaction of 1.99 and attributable interaction percent of 30.76%. Their pure attributable interaction percent was 36.38%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that there still was positive interaction between G894T mutation and overweight on essential hypertension, adjusted for age, sex, smoking and alcohol drinking. Index of their attributable interaction was 2.85, with attributable interaction percent of 39.97%, also adjusted for the above-mentioned factors. Their pure attributable interaction percent was 46.49% and PAR% was estimated as about 15% under certain condition. CONCLUSIONS: Interaction between mutation of the 7th exon G894T of eNOS gene and overweight played an important role in essential hypertension of the studied population. Control of body weight in the population with both G894T mutation and overweight could markedly decrease their risk of hypertension.

[Effects of G894T mutation in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene on blood pressure].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between G894T (Glu298Asp) mutation at exon 7 in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and essential hypertension. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen essential hypertensives without taking hypertensive medication and 136 normotensives screened from health workers in a steel factory were selected as subjects in this study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Ban II restriction enzyme digestion were performed to detect the G894T mutation. RESULTS: G894T mutation was significantly associated with essential hypertension. The T allele frequency in essential hypertensive group was significantly higher than that in normotensive group (16.0% versus 8.8%, P = 0.019, OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.14 - 3.37). The levels of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the G894T mutant genotypes were all significantly elevated in hypertensive, normotensive, and the total subjects (P < 0.05). After adjusting factors as age, sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index, triglyceride, serum total cholesterol, serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol by analysis of multiple covariance, significant positive effect of the G894T mutant genotypes on blood pressure in the total subjects (P < 0.01) was noticed. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that the G894T mutation in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene might serve as a major risk factor of essential hypertension in this study population.