The metabolic syndrome (MS) is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.The pathogenesis of MS is not fully understood.In addition to insulin resistance and central obesity,some other factors such as resting heart rate are also thought to play certain roles.The primary strategy of the intervention is still relying on lifestyle modification including healthy dietary habits.

Diabetic retinopathy is a highly specific vascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.NF-?B can be triggered by oxidative stress and controls several programs of gene expression,the majority of which participate in the host inflammation and immune response.Evidence has accumulated that NF-?B is involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy.NF-?B activation induced by diabetes is associated with the apoptosis found in the pericyte,leukocyte-endothelial interaction,capillary basement membrane thickening,neovascularization and formation of epiretinal membranes.Inhibition of(NF-?B) activation has been suggested as a treatment strategy in diabetic retinopathy.

Objective:To study the express levels of transcription factor nuclear factor-?B in diabetic rat retina. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control groups of 1, 3 and 6 months, diabetic groupsof 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively. Diabetic model of rat was induced by injecting streptozotocin (STZ). The retinal morphology was observed in paraffin slide by microscope. The expression of NF-?B was detected by immunohistochemistry and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results: Histopathological changes were detected at 3 and 6 months. The changes were severer at 3 months than at 6 months. Activation of retinal NF-?B was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and immunohistochemistry at 1 month, and the NF-?B remained activated at 3 and 6 months in diabetic rats. Conclusion: NF-?B is activated in retina in diabetes before histopathological changes can be seen, and remains activated for the duration when the retinopathy is developing.

Objective:Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-?B) has been suggested to participate in chronic disorders, such as diabetes and its complications. In contrast to the short activation of NF-?B , we observed a long-lasting activation of NF-?B and iNOS in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Methods:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group and diabetic group. The pathological changes in the kidneys of diabetic rats were observed at 1, 3 and 6 months respectively. The activity of NF-?B and iNOS was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results:The change of histopathology was severer at 6 months than at 3 months and 1 month in the kidneys of diabetic rats. A comparable increase in NF-?B p65 antigen was observed in the kidney cells especialy in vascular endothelial cells of diabetic rats, and the expression of iNOS in renal tissues of diabetic rats was higher than that of normal control. Conclusion:NF-?B and iNOS may play an important role in the pathoge-neis of diabetic rats, and the expression of them may be considered as a predictor of progressive renal in- jury in diabetic rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of Clopidogrel on the plasma endothelin(ET)and calcitonin gene related peptide(CGRP)in patients with unstable angina pectoris(UAP).Methods Patients with UAP were divided into two groups,the regular treated group(n =50)was treated with Isoket and the Dansben group(n =50)was treated with combined Isoket and Clopidogrel.The plasma ET and CGRP were measured before and after treatment by radioimmunoreactive assay.Data were compared between the two groups and also compared with those measured in 20healthy subjects for control.Results ET level was significantly higher and CGRP level was lower in UAP patients than that in healthy subjects(P ＜ 0.05).After Clopidogrel treatment,ET was significantly decreased(P ＜ 0.01)and CGRP increased(P ＜0.05)in combined treatment group compared with patients received lsoket only.Conclusion Clopidogrel was an effective drug for UAP treatment,which could efficiently regulate the ET and CGRP metabolism.

AIM:To investigate the expression of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B),inducable nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)in diabetic myocardium.METHODS:Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into control and experimental groups.Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ.The weight,blood glucose level and heart weight index(HWI)were measured 24 weeks after injection.The myocardial NF-?B,iNOS and COX-2 were stained at the same time.Furthermore,NF-?B activation in myocardium was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA).RESULTS:(1)Compared to the normal rats,the NF-?B-positive cells in the myocardium in diabetic rats significantly increased.(2)NF-?B activation in myocardium by EMSA was significantly higher in the diabetic rats than that in the normal rats.(3)The iNOS was not expressed in normal rat myocardium and was significantly expressed in the diabetic rat myocardium.(4)The COX-2 was rarely expressed in normal rat myocardium and was significantly expressed in the diabetic rat myocardium.CONCLUSION:The expressions of NF-?B,iNOS and COX-2 are significantly enhanced in the diabetic myocardium.

Objective To elucidate the role of the Wnt/-catenin signaling pathway in regulating the phenotypic transformation of aortic valvular myofibroblasts to osteoblast-like cells.Methods Cultured primary valvular myofibroblastes isolated from porcine aortic valve leaflets were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for different lengths of time:24 h,48 h and 72 h.The Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor Dickkopf-1 (DDK-1) was co-incubated with ox-LDL for 72 h.After cells harvest,the expression of myofibroblastic or osteoblast-like phenotype related markers,a-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA),bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2),alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and corebinding factora-1 (Cbfα 1),was detected by Western blotting.The expression and sub cellular localization of β3-catenin was assessed by immunocytochemistry.Changes of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the transformation of aortic valvular myofibroblast to osteoblast-like cells were monitored.Results BMP2,ALP and Cbfa 1 protein expression was not or barely detectable in the control group.However,after ox-LDL treatment,the expression of α SMA,BMP2,ALP and Cbfa 1 increased significantly (each P＜0.01) in a time-dependent manner (each P＜0.05).Besides,ox-LDL was also able to up-regulate the protein expression of β-catenin in a time-dependent manner (P＜0.05) and promoted its nuclear translocation.After DKK-1 treatment,the protein expression of β3 catenin and osteogenesis related markers was down regulated (P＜0.05).Conclusions The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may play a crucial role in regulating the transformation of aortic valvular myofibroblasts to an osteoblast like phenotype.

Objective: To establish a prediction model for high-risk cardiovascular disease (CVD) among residents aged 35 to 75 years, so as to provide the basis for improving CVD prevention and control measures. Methods: Permanent residents aged 35 to 75 years were selected from Dongcheng District, Beijing Municipality using the stratified random sampling method from 2018 to 2023. Demographic information, lifestyle, waist circumference and blood biochemical indicators were collected through questionnaire surveys, physical examinations and laboratory tests. Influencing factors for high-risk CVD among residents aged 35 to 75 years were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model, and a prediction model for high-risk CVD was established. The predictive effect was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: A total of 6 968 individuals were surveyed, including 2 821 males (40.49%) and 4 147 females (59.51%), and had a mean age of (59.92±9.33) years. There were 1 155 high-risk CVD population, with a detection rate of 16.58%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that gender, age, smoking, central obesity, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were influencing factors for high-risk CVD among residents aged 35 to 75 years (all P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of the established prediction model was 0.849 (95%CI: 0.834-0.863), with a sensitivity of 0.693 and a specificity of 0.863, indicating good discrimination. Conclusion The model constructed by eight factors including demographic characteristics, lifestyle and blood biochemical indicators has good predictive value for high-risk CVD among residents aged 35 to 75 years.

Objective To explore the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis of retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF).Methods Totally 12 RPF patients underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT scanning,and the characteristics of metabolic activity,distribution of retroperitoneal lesions and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among 12 patients,7 were initial evaluation patients,5 were post-treatment patients.Of 7 initial evaluation patients,there were 4 patients with secondary RPF,including prostate carcinoma,breast cancer and IgG4-related disease.Retroperitoneal mass isodense with muscle surrounding the abdominal aorta or the iliac arteries were found in 12 patients,and ureteral involvement were found in 11 paients (11/12,91.67％).SUVmax in initial evaluation patients (4.21±1.76) was higher than that in patients after treatment (1.46±0.25,P＜0.05).According to PET/CT,3 idiopathic RPF patients as initial evaluation with high metabolic activity lesions received immunosuppressive therapy including corticosteroids and tamoxifen,and 4 secondary RPF patients with high metabolic activity lesions received treatment based on causes.Among 5 post-treatment patients,3 continued to accept current corticosteroids maintenance dose,while 2 did not receive any other treatment.Conclusion PET/CT may be used to evaluate the activity and extension of lesions in patients with RPF.

To analyze the correlation between lipid profile and disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).A total of 307 Crohn′s disease (CD) patients, 232 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and 165 healthy subjects from the same geographic region were included. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)] were retrieved from their medical records. Crohn disease activity index (CDAI) and Mayo scores were calculated as measurement of disease severity for CD and UC separately. Patients with CD and UC had lower TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C levels than those in control group ( P<0.05). Additionally, CDAI was negatively associated with TC, HDL-C and LDL-C levels ( r=-0.218, -0.210, -0.176, P<0.05), while TG level was not associated with CDAI. Mayo scores was not significantly associated with TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and TG. Patients with CD had higher Lp(a) levels than those in UC and control group ( P<0.05). Furthermore, patients with active CD had higher Lp (a) levels than those with inactive disease ( P<0.05).The Lp(a) levels in CD patients were positively associated with CDAI ( r=0.151, P<0.05), while Lp(a) level in UC group was nor assocriated with Mayo score. Patients with IBD have dyslipidemia and lipid profile is associated with disease activity in CD patients.