OBJECTIVETo study the molecular mechanisms of Fuyuan capsule serum containing, icariin and arasaponin R1 in the treatment of osteoarthritis from the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system.

METHODChondrocytes were isolated, cultured and identified using type II collagens immunostaining. After stimulating with TNF-alpha 10 microg x L(-1), 1 h, then the chondrocytes were treatment with glucosamine hydrochloride 25 g x L(-1), 20% Fuyuan capsule serum containing, icariin 12.5 mg x L(-1), arasaponin R1 125 mg x L(-1), icariin 12.5 mg x L(-1) + arasaponin R1 125 mg x L(-1). After 2 h, expression of uPA and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB P65) mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the activities of NF-kappaB(P65) combine DNA were determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), 1kappaBalpha were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTFuyuan capsule, icariin and arasaponin R1 could significantly reduce NF-kappaB (P65) activities and uPA mRNA expression, and increase expression of IkappaBalpha (P < 0.01), but no significant difference between all treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONFuyuan capsule and its two main active ingredients, icariin and arasaponin R1, could protect chondrocytes from damage through reducing the NF-kappaB (P65) activities, increasing the express of IkappaBalpha and then reducing uPA of chondrocytes.

Animals ; Capsules ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Osteoarthritis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between peripheral blood dendritic cells subtype distribution and plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) concentration in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSSixty consecutive CHD patients admitted in our department during the period from November, 2010 to December, 2011 were enrolled, including 10 with stable angina pectoris (SAP), 25 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), and 25 with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with 28 healthy volunteers as normal controls. All the subjects underwent routine tests and coronary angiography. The percentages of peripheral blood myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasma cell-like dendritic cells (pDCs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by flow cytometry, and plasma MCP-1 levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe percentage and absolute quantity of mDCs and pDCs were significantly lower in AMI and UAP groups than in the normal control and SAP groups (P<0.001). In the CHD patients, the plasma MCP-1 level was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.001) with an inverse correlation with the percentage of peripheral mDCs.

CONCLUSIONMCP-1 may promote the migration of mDCs into atherosclerotic plaques and mediate the local immune and inflammatory responses to aggravate plaque instability in CHD patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To report our first clinical experience with a novel modified culotte technique for the treatment of true coronary bifurcation lesions. Methods The novel modified culotte technique (the mono-ring culotte) stenting was done in which the side branch (SB) stent was deployed firstly followed by ex vivo wiring of a most proximal cell of SB stent with the hard end of main branch (MB) wire. Secondly, the MB stent was deployed through the most proximal cell of SB stent. The procedure was ended with kissing balloon dilation. From June 2014 to March 2015, 15 patients with true coronary bifurcation lesion were treated with mono-ring culotte stenting in our center. Results The procedures were successful in all cases without procedural complication and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events. The procedural time was (34. 3 ± 9. 6) min, fluoroscopic time was (18. 1 ± 3. 8) min, and contrast volume was (112. 0 ± 24. 5) ml, respectively. Post-procedurally, the residual stenosis of the main and the side branch were (10. 0 ± 2. 5)% and (10. 2 ± 5. 3)% , respectively. Conclusions The mono-ring culotte stenting is safe and feasible for treatment of true coronary bifurcation lesions, and may be superior to the conventional culotte stenting.