[Effect of Compound Qidan Liquid on early ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction in Chinese mini-pigs].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of Compound Qidan Liquid (CQD) for intervening ventricular remodeling (VR) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Chinese mini-pigs from hemodynamic and collagen metabolic views. METHODS: AMI model of Chinese mini-pigs was established by left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation. The model pigs were then randomly divided into the sham-operative group, the model group, the captopril group, the high and low dose of CQD (hCQD and lCQD) groups, the former two were treated with normal saline and the latter three treated with corresponding drugs by gastrogavage for 4 weeks after modeling. Blood pressure (BP), left ventricular pressure (LVP), maximum ascending velocity of left ventricular pressure (dp/dtmax), myocardial renin (MCR), angiotensin (Ang II), total collagen (TC), procollagen type III (PC III), collagen type IV (CIV), laminin (LM), serum hyaluronic acid (HyA) as well as pathologic changes in myocardium were observed. RESULTS: As compared with in the model group, levels of BP, LVP and dp/dtmax were significantly higher, LM and Ang II were lower in the hCQD group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); LVP was higher in the lCQD group (P <0.05); LVP and dp/dtmax were higher, Ang II was lower in the captopril group (P <0.05). Besides, levels of HyA and TC were lower in all the three medicated groups (P <0.01), while the differences of PC III and CIV among groups were insignificant. CONCLUSION: CQD has a beneficial effect in Chinese mini-pigs after AMI for increasing LVP and dp/dtmax, improving myocardial contractility and hemodynamic condition, decreasing myocardial Ang II contents, decreasing deposition of collagen so as to alleviate the pathological process of VR after AMI.

[Effect of xiongshao capsule on lipid metabolism and platelet aggregation in experimental atherosclerosis rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and possible mechanism of xiongshao capsule (XSC) on lipid metabolism and platelet aggregation in experimental atherosclerotic (AS) rabbits. METHODS: Fractional AS rabbits model was established by denuding endothelium of abdominal aorta with 4F x Fogarty catheter, followed by high cholesterol feeding. Seventy model rabbits were equally randomized into 7 groups, namely, the 3 model groups (Group A, B and C) of different observation time (3 days, 2 weeks and 6 weeks respectively after operation); the single endothelium injury group (Group D, adopted denuding but fed with common diet); the 3 treatment groups treated respectively with probucol (Group E), low-dose and high-dose XSC (Group F and G) for 6 weeks. Besides, a control group (Group N) consisting of 10 rabbits underwent sham operation with normal feeding was set up. Animals were killed at different corresponding time points, heart blood was collected before killing for measurements of blood lipid indexes, including total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The 5 min maximum platelet aggregation rate (mPAGR) was measured with heart blood on the 3rd day after operation and at the terminal of experiment. RESULTS: (1) Indexes of blood lipids were unchanged in Group D and N (P > 0.05); TC and LDL-C in model rabbits began to rise significantly after being fed with high fat forage for 3 days; lipid indexes in Group A, B and C were significantly different to those in Group N, respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); at the end of experiment TC and LDL-C were lower in Group G and E when compared with Group C; the ratio of LDL-C/HDT-C decreased in Group G, E and F, especially in Group G (P < 0.01); a bettering trend of HDL-C presented in Group G, but not in Group E; and reduction of atherosclerosis index (AI, calculated by TC/HDL-C) was found in Group G (P < 0.01), significant difference was shown as compared with that in Group C and E (P < 0.05). (2) The 3rd day mPAGR raised in Group A, B, C and D, showing significant difference as compared with that in Group N (P < 0.01), whereas the index in Group E, F and especially in G was lower significantly than that in Group C (P < 0.05). mPAGR in the 3 treatment groups at the terminal of experiment was lower than that in Group C (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the most effective lowering was shown in Group G. CONCLUSION: XSC could reduce the levels of TC, LDL-C and AI in AS model rabbits, also inhibit platelet aggregation at early stage and 6 weeks after endothelium injury, which might be one of the possible acting mechanisms of XSC in preventing AS.

[Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in treatment of lower limb peripheral arterial disease in diabetes patients: analysis of 150 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the technical success rate and short-term clinical results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in treatment of lower limb peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. METHODS: 150 consecutive DM patients PAD (176 limbs) with Fontaine degree I - IV were treated with PTA and followed up for 5 months (1 - 16 months). The result with the residual stenosis < 30% was regarded as success. RESULTS: Totally 187 PTA procedures were performed in 150 patients (176 limbs) with a technical success rate of 91.4% (161/176)). No serious complication occurred. The clinical symptoms of all patients improved after successful PTA. The median ankle-brachial index (ABI) marginally increased from the baseline value of 0.34 +/- 0.27 to 0.96 +/- 0.24 after intervention. The ABI levels 1 month and 6 months after PTA were 0.88 +/- 0.34 and 0.71 +/- 0.26 respectively. The cumulative restenosis rate was 13.7%, and the reintervention rate was 7.2%. CONCLUSION: With high success rate, low complication rate, and sure curative effect, PTA can be performed as the first choice in treatment of the lower limb PAD in DM patients.

[Effects of Refined Xuefu Capsule on vascular patency rate after femoral-popliteal bypass].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of refined Xuefu Capsule (RXC) in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) after femoral-popliteal bypass (FPB). METHODS: Thirty-eight ASO patients with 41 limbs underwent FPB were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group (18 cases with 20 operated limbs) and the RXC group (20 cases with 21 operated limbs). All patients received long-term anticoagulant treatment with Warfarin, and RXC was given to the RXC group additionally for 3 months. Changes of clinical symptoms, blood coagulating function, as well as the condition of vascular patency and ankle arm index (AAI) were assessed 6 and 12 months after operation. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms were improved in all the patients after operation. One year after operation, incidence of intermittent claudication and amputation rate in the RXC group was 20% and 5 %, being lower than the respective rate (56% and 17%) in the control group (P < 0.05); the patency rate was 86% in the RXC group, being higher than that in the control group (65%, P<0.05). Six and 12 months after operation, AAI was 0.73 +/- 0.24 and 0.69 +/- 0.19 respectively in the RXC group, being significantly higher than that in the control group (0.45 +/- 0.17 and 0.41 +/- 0.23, P < 0.05) at the corresponding time points. CONCLUSION: RXC could obviously increase the patency rate 12 months after FPB, improve the clinical symptoms and alleviate the symptom of limb ischemia in ASO patients.