Objective To construct vectors expressing small interfering RNA targeting the Toll like receptor-4 (TLR4) gene and obtain TLR4 knock downed vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). Methods Three small hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the TLR4 gene were designed, synthesized and cloned into the pSilence 2.1-U6 neo vector. Positive clones were verified with double enzyme digestion and sequencing. Then the recombinants were transfected to SMC by the cationic lipid method respectively.SMC were stably transfected with an expression plasmid and screened by G418. TLR4 mRNA and protein expression were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot methods. Results The pSilence2.1-siTLR4 ex-pression vectors were successfully constructed and a TLR4 knock-downed SMC cell line was established. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed that the expression of TLR4 was significantly down-regulated in the infected SMC cell line, and pSilence2.1-siTLR4-1was the most efficacious recombinant vector.Conclusion Recombinant vectors carrying shRNA targeting the TLR4 gene were successfully constructed and the TLR4 expression in vascular SMCs was inhibited.

Objective To investigate the clinical value and safety of cedilanid, esmolol in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Methods From August 2014 to August 2016 our Hospital from 117 patients with atrial fibrillation clinical data, according to the random number distribution principle, the patients were divided into observation group 59 cases and control group of 58 cases, all patients were given the treatment of primary disease, the clinical symptoms, the patients in the observation group were given oxygen, has given furosemide, cedilanid, after micro injection pump intravenous nitroglycerin, 5-20 g/min. Start after the injection of nitroglycerin, establish another vein channel, every 30 min to 0.2 mg patients, the treatment group were treated with intravenous injection of small dose esmolol. The clinical efficacy, ventricular rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and adverse reactions were observed in two groups. Results The early and late effective rates of the two groups were not significantly different. The observation showed that after treatment, the ventricular rate, systolic pressure and diastolic pressure in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the incidence of adverse reactions in the two groups was significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusion High dose cedilanid combined with small dose esmolol in treatment of atrial fibrillation, obvious curative effect, high safety, can choose the appropriate application.

Objective To explore the influence of smoking on clopidogrel resistance in patients with coro-nary artery disease. Methods A total of 216 patients with coronary artery disease who accept selective percutane-ous coronary intervention in our hospital from May 2015 to December 2015 were selected as study subjects;their average age was 63 years old ,146 were male and 70 were female. All the patients were divided into clopidogrel resistance group (CR group) and normal clopidogrel response group (NCR group) according to the results of platelet aggregation test. History of smoking ,alcohol drinking and diabetes mellitus ,baseline medication uses , level of platelet counts,platelet distribution width,mean platelet volume,HbA1c,and results of echocardiogram and coronary angiography were compared between the two groups. Results The rate of smoking was significantly higher in CR group than in NCR group (P < 0.05). The changed value of PDW before and after treatment with clopidogrel was smaller in CR group than in NCR group ,the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions Smoking may be a protective factor for clopidogrel resistance. The changed value of PDW before and after treatment with clopidogrel can reflect the level of clopidogrel resistance.

Objective To investigate the effects of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) on apoptosis and phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in endothelial outgrowth cells (EOCs). Methods The mononuclear cells were harvested from umbilical cord blood by ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and induced into EOCs and then expanded in vitro. The identified EOCs were treated with different concentrations of ADMA (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 μmol/L) for 48 h. The adherent cells were treated with 10 μmol/L ADMA,then different concentrations of JNK specific inhibitor SP600125 (0, 5,10,20 and 40 μmol/L) were added and incubated for 48 hours. Caspase-3 activity was measured by microplate reader. Apoptotic incidences of EOCs were quantitatively determined by flow cytometry. The expression of Caspase- 3 and phosphorylase-JNK (p-JNK) were detected by Western blot assay. Results The treatment of ADMA (1-20 μmol/L) significantly induced apoptosis in EOCs by enhancing Caspase-3 express and also induced phosphorylation of JNK (P<0.05). Meantime, the JNK specific inhibitor SP600125 could attenuate the apoptosis induced by ADMA during this process (F=6.733,P<0.05) and inhibit the expression of Caspase-3 and p-JNK. Conclusion ADMA can induce apoptosis in EOC, which may be achieved by activating JNK signal transduction pathway.

BACKGROUNDFirst generation drug-eluting stents (DES) were associated with a high incidence of late stent thrombosis (ST), mainly due to delayed healing and re-endothelization by the durable polymer coating. This study sought to assess the safety and efficacy of the Nano polymer-free sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) in the treatment of patients with de novo coronary artery lesions.

METHODSThe Nano trial is the first randomized trial designed to compare the safety and efficacy of the Nano polymer-free SES and Partner durable-polymer SES (Lepu Medical Technology, Beijing, China) in the treatment of patients with de novo native coronary lesions. The primary endpoint was in-stent late lumen loss (LLL) at 9-month follow-up. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization.

RESULTSA total of 291 patients (Nano group: n = 143, Partner group: n = 148) were enrolled in this trial from 19 Chinese centers. The Nano polymer-free SES was non-inferior to the Partner durable-polymer DES at the primary endpoint of 9 months (P < 0.001). The 9-month in-segment LLL of the polymer-free Nano SES was comparable to the Partner SES (0.34 ± 0.42) mm vs. (0.30 ± 0.48) mm, P = 0.21). The incidence of MACE in the Nano group were 7.6% compared to the Partner group of 5.9% (P = 0.75) at 2 years follow-up. The frequency of cardiac death and stent thrombosis was low for both Nano and Partner SES (0.8% vs. 0.7%, 0.8% vs. 1.5%, both P = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONSIn this multicenter randomized Nano trial, the Nano polymer-free SES showed similar safety and efficacy compared with the Partner SES in the treatment of patients with de novo coronary artery lesions. Trials in patients with complex lesions and longer term follow-up are necessary to confirm the clinical performance of this novel Nano polymer-free SES.

Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use