AIM: To study the influence of minimal modified low density lipoprotein (mmLDL) on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity, gene expression and regulation in human vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: The PAI-1 activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) culture medium was measured by chromogenic assay. The PAI-1 mRNA expression were determined by Northern blot. Using gene recombination techniques, four luciferase reporter gene plasmids containing different length of human PAI-1 gene promoter were constructed. Through the transient transfection analysis, the roles of AP-1 element(from -823 bp to -553 bp) in PAI-1 promoter have been determined. In order to further verify the role of AP-1 element, the three site-directed mutants were received using PCR and sequencing assay. RESULTS: The PAI-1 activity and mRNA level were increased when HUVECs were exposed to 50 mg/L mmLDL. At the same time, the AP-1 protein level was increased in nuclear. The induction by mmLDL were decreased markedly when the three AP-1 elements in PAI-1 promoter had been mutated, respectively. CONCLUSION: (1) mmLDL increased PAI-1 activity and mRNA expression in HUVEC. (2) Increase in PAI-1 activity induced by mmLDL was related to its mRNA expression. (3) Three AP-1 element in PAI-1 promoter may have an important role in PAI-1 gene transcription in endothelial cells induced by mmLDL.

AIM: To explore the role of adrenomedullin (AM) in tissue factor (TF) and TFPI expression in HUVECs stimulated with oxLDL and to investigate its possible signal transduction pathway. METHODS: Using chromogenic assay and RT-PCR technique, TF and TFPI protein activity and mRNA level in cultured HUVECs were observed. The signal transduction pathway of AM action was further analyzed by applying Rp-cAMP (cAMP antagonist), PD098059 (MAPK inhibitor) and H7 (PKC inhibitor). RESULTS: AM inhibited TF protein activity and mRNA expression in HUVECs treated with oxLDL in a concentration-dependent fashion; AM alone increased TFPI protein activity and mRNA expression in concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. Moreover, AM reversed the decrease in TFPI protein activity and mRNA level caused by oxLDL; AM-induced TFPI expression was inhibited by cAMP and MAPK inhibitors. CONCLUSION: AM can reverse the effects of oxLDL on TF and TFPI expression in HUVECs, which can help improve the state of blood coagulation in atherosclerosis and delay development of atherosclerosis.

In order to standardize the management of fixed assets in basic medical research, and to solve the problem ofone equipment with more than one code , we discussed the fixed assets coding of instrument and equipment in this paper.The existing equipment classification of the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was analyzed.Depending on application of the experiment and the principle of equipment, the novel fixed assets encoding dictionary of instrument and equipment is generated, which fits in the application and development of basic medical research.The managers may find the corresponding code quickly with the standardized equipment name.The new encoding dictionary may facilitate the classification of basic medical experimental instruments, prevent multiple coding situations of equipment and improve the management.

BACKGROUND:High pulse pressure is the signal of arteriosclerosis or cardiovascular diseases for both hypertension and normal blood pressure population.OBJECTIVE:The pulse pressure and related factors of healthy adults in Sichuan province were analyzed to explore the method for preventing excessive pulse pressure and improving the quailty of life.METHODS:Hierarchical,cluster sampling were performed in 1989 healthy adults.The physical examination,blood glucose,renal function and blood fat were detected,and the relation of pulse pressure and its related factors were analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Pulse pressure increased following the age.especially showed a linear increasing in those who more than 50-year-old The increased pulse pressure leaded to larger fasting plasma glucose,uric acid,blood urea nitrogen,total cholesterol,triacylglycerol,systolic pressure and diastolic pressure,in addition,the age,body mass index,waist-to-hip ratio,triacylglycerol and pulse pressure showed a linear relationship.But physical exercise was negative correlated to pulse pressure.With pulse pressure increasing,the renal function and regulating capacity of blood glucose was decreased The results suggested that mid-aged population should take reasonable diet and more physical exercise to prevent central obesity and excessive pulse pressure,reduce the risk of renal dysfunction and the incidence of cardiovascular disease.