Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology

Chronic Disease ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Myocardial Contraction

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Shenqiwuweizikeli for treating chronic insomnia.Methods One hundred and ninety-six cases of subjects were randomly divided into Shenqiwuweizikeli group (n =98) and Estazolam tablets group (n =98).The pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI) was adopted to evaluate the clinical effects and records of adverse reactions during the study period.Also the lab routine inspection(blood routine,urine routine,liver and kidney function, electrocardiogram were conducted to evaluate safety.Results The Shenqiwuweizikeli and Estazolam tablets all had significant effects for chronic insomnia.The total effective rate of Shenqiwuweizikeli group was 92.86％ (91/98), of Estazolam tablets group was 93.88％(92/98) ,and there was no significant difference (P＞0.05).There were no abnormalities in terms of each routine inspection index.After stopping take the medicine, The adverse reactions including bounce sex insomnia(60 cases), daytime sleepiness/drowsiness (55 cases), dizziness with lacking of power and light headedness(23 cases) in Estazolam tablets group were all more than Shenqiwuweizikeli group with significant difference(P＜0.01).Conclusion The Shenqiwuweizikeli has definite efficacy and safety for treated with chronic insomnia without withdrawal of recoil and dependence.

OBJECTIVETo study the lipid regulatory effect of Xuezhikang (XZK) and its effects on serum oxidized low density lipoprotein (OX-LDL), C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen (FIB) in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP).

METHODSUAP patients with hyperlipidemia were treated with XZK 0.6 g, orally taken, twice a day for 2 successive months followed by half dosage for 2 months. To UAP patients with normal blood lipids, Vit E was given orally for 4 months. Levels of blood lipids, OX-LDL, CRP, FIB at the time of entry, 1st and 2nd month of the therapeutic course were observed and end-point events in the two groups was compared.

RESULTSXZK can reduce the serum level of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein after being administered for 1 month, and the effect further elevated after 2 months. Its effect in lowering triglycerides and increasing high density lipoprotein initiated after 2 months administration. Compared with effect of Vit E, XZK can significantly lower the serum OX-LDL, CRP and FIB after 2 months administration, and reduce the end-point events in 4 months.

CONCLUSIONXZK has good regulatory effect on blood lipids, it also can inhibit the development of inflammation in coronary plaque, therefore, is beneficial to the prognosis of UAP patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oryza ; Phytotherapy

In the previous study, we had found that the action potential duration (APD) of midmyocardial (M) cells was gradually prolonged and M cells were easier to produce early after-depolarization (EAD) in the rabbit left ventricle during the early stage of chronic pressure-overload. The present study was performed to investigate the dynamic changes and significance of ionic current remodeling in M cells of rabbit left ventricle during the early stage of chronic pressure-overload. Sixty-four New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into constriction groups and sham groups. The rabbit models with chronic pressure-overload were prepared by partial constriction of suprarenal abdominal aorta at the site proximal 5-10 mm away from the left renal artery. At 2 and 8 weeks after operation, the single cardiomyocytes were isolated by enzymatic digestion method. The midmyocardium from the anterolateral free wall of left ventricle was obtained by removing the epicardial and endocardial surfaces. Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record the slowly activating delayed rectifier potassium current (I(Ks)), transient outward potassium current (I(to)), L-type calcium current (I(Ca-L)) of M cells. At 2 weeks after the constriction operation, compared with the sham group, I(Ks) tail current (I(Ks,tail)) and I(to) densities of M cells from constriction group significantly decreased by 33.3% and 51.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in I(Ca-L) density between the two groups. At 8 weeks after operation, compared with the sham group, I(Ks,tail) and I(to) densities of M cells from constriction group significantly decreased by 37.0% and 49.2%, respectively. There was still no significant difference in I(Ca-L) density between the two groups. These results suggest that during the early phase of chronic pressure-overload, the electrical remodeling of M cells in rabbit left ventricle has developed, representing as the down regulations of I(Ks) and I(to) that can lead to the prolongation of APD, which might be a risk factor for the occurrence of malignant arrhythmia.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; physiopathology ; Atrial Remodeling ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; metabolism ; Delayed Rectifier Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether intrapericardial urokinase irrigation along with pericardiocentesis could prevent pericardial constriction in patients with infectious exudative pericarditis.

METHODSA total of 94 patients diagnosed as infectious exudative pericarditis (34 patients with purulent pericarditis and 60 with tuberculous pericarditis, the disease courses of all patients were less than 1 month), 44 males and 50 females, aged from 9 to 66 years (mean 45.4 +/- 14.7 years), were consecutively recruited from 1993 to 2002. All individuals were randomly given either intrapericardial urokinase along with conventional treatment in study group, or conventional treatment alone (including pericardiocentesis and drainage) in control group. The dosage of urokinase ranged from 200000 to 600000 U (mean 320000 +/- 70000 U). The immediate effects were detected by pericardiography with sterilized air and diatrizoate meglumine as contrast media. The long-term investigation depended on the telephonic survey and echocardiographic examination. The duration of following-up ranged from 8 to 120 months (mean 56.8 +/- 29.0 months).

RESULTSPercutaneous intrapericardial urokinase irrigation promoted complete drainage of pericardial effusion, significantly reduced the thickness of pericardium (from 3.1 +/- 1.6 mm to 1.6 +/- 1.0 mm in study group, P < 0.001; from 3.4 +/- 1.6 mm to 3.2 +/- 1.8 mm in control group, P > 0.05, respectively), and alleviated the adhesion. Intrapericardial bleeding related to fibrinolysis was found in 6 of 47 patients with non-blood pericardial effusion and no systemic bleeding and severe puncture-related complication was observed. In follow-up, there was no cardiac death, and pericardial constriction events were observed in 9 (19.1%) of study group and 27 (57.4%) of control group. Cox analysis illustrated that urokinase could significantly reduce the occurrence of pericardial constriction (relative hazard coefficient = 0.185, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONThe early employment of intrapericardial fibrinolysis with urokinase and pericardiocentesis appears to be safe and effective in preventing the development of pericardial constriction in patients with infectious exudative pericarditis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericarditis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; prevention & control ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-HERG transfection on angiotensin II (Ang II) induced myocyte hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rabbit ventricular myocytes.

METHODSNeonatal rabbit ventricular myocytes and eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-HERG transfected ventricular myocytes were cultured in Dulbecco's-modified Eagle medium (DMEM), containing 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 6 h, then stimulated with Ang II (10(-7) mol/L) for 48 h. Control ventricular myocytes were cultured in Dulbecco's-modified Eagle medium (DMEM), containing 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 54 h. At 6 and 54 h, myocyte hypertrophic parameters including myocyte volume, total protein content and membrane capacitance, action potential duration (APD) and Calcineurin (CaN) activity were measured.

RESULTSCompared to control myocytes, APD at 90% repolarization (APD(90)) was prolonged by 19.8% (P < 0.01), without signs of myocyte hypertrophy at 6 h post Ang II stimulation, APD(90) was prolonged by 22.1% (P < 0.01), myocyte volume, total protein content and membrane capacitance and CaN activity were significantly increased by 40.4%, 40.4%, 38.2% and 114.7% respectively (all P < 0.01) at 48 h after Ang II stimulation. HERG gene transfection upregulated I(HERG) tail current (3.6-fold higher than I(Kr)-rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium current, P < 0.01). HERG gene transfection also accelerated and repolarization and a shortened APD(90) and inhibited myocyte hypertrophy and CaN activation induced by Ang II.

CONCLUSIONSAng II induced prolongation of APD(90) is directly associated with myocyte hypertrophy by increasing the Ca(2+) influx and resulting in the increment of intracellular Ca(2+) and activation of CaN reaction pathway.

Angiotensin II ; physiology ; Animals ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; ERG1 Potassium Channel ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels ; genetics ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Plasmids ; Rabbits ; Transfection

OBJECTIVEThree long QT syndrome(LQTS) pedigrees were brought together for genetic diagnosis by using short tandem repeat(STR) markers.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from blood samples. STR markers (D7S1824, D7S2439, D7S483, D3S1298, D3S1767, D3S3521) in or spanning the HERG and SCN5A gene were amplified; the haplotype analysis for LQTS was performed.

RESULTSClinical diagnosis showed that 15 are LQTS patients (3 died) and 11 are probable patients. Linkage analysis showed that LQTS patients are linked with the SCN5A gene in family 1, HERG is linked with the disease in family 2 and 3. Fourteen gene carriers were identified, 2 patients and 7 probable patients were excluded.

CONCLUSIONLinkage analysis using STR markers can serve as useful tool for presymptomatic diagnosis.

ERG1 Potassium Channel ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome ; genetics ; Male ; NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel ; Pedigree ; Potassium Channels ; genetics ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; Sodium Channels ; genetics ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors and their relations to clinical phenotype associated with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSThe subjects were recruited from five independent cardiovascular centers. Coronary angiography was employed to define the CAD with stenosis in each major vessel > or = 70% and control with stenosis < 10% in every lesion. The classic risk factors including family history, body mass index, smoking habits, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and serum lipid levels were surveyed according to established criteria. Associations between risk levels and clinical phenotypes were assessed by case control and correlation analysis.

RESULTSA total of 762 individuals were collected, including 481 men and 281 women, aged from 17 to 81 (mean 60 +/- 10) years. The patients with CAD accounted for 55.5% of all participants, and controls 44.5%, respectively. Compared with the pattern in published data, our study showed that mean serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was significantly lower (P < 0.001) and triglycerides was significantly higher (P < 0.001), while total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were comparative (both P > 0.05). The prevalence of low HDL-C (< 40 g/L) and hypertriglyceridemia (> 150 g/L) were 27.2% and 41.4%, respectively. Mean serum levels of HDL-C and apolipoprotein A1 were significantly higher in female subjects than in male (P < 0.001). Lower HDL-C functioned as an independent risk factor for CAD only in men (RR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.5-4. 2, P < 0.001), yet increased non-HDL cholesterol combined with diabetes mellitus and obesity seemed to play a key role in the development of CAD in women. Similarity in risk association with CAD was found for hypertension and TC/HDL ratio in male and female subjects, while family history had no relationship with the presence of CAD.

CONCLUSIONIt is remarkable that emphasis of intervention in future should be given on the prevalent low serum HDL-C and its strong risk correlation with the presence of CAD in male subjects of Chinese Han population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; epidemiology ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes associated with the high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism in Chinese population.

METHODSTwo hundred and nine normal Han ethnic subjects, aged 59+/-10 years, were recruited from 5 medical centers in western part of China. DNA was extracted by proteinase K digestion, phenol and chloroform extraction as well as isopropanol precipitation. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in conjunction with sequencing were employed to test the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCA1), cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) genes.

RESULTSThe allelic frequencies of A and G of ABCA1 gene are 53.4% and 46.6%; of B2 and B1 allele of CETP, 41.0% and 59.0%; of HindIII (-) and (+) allele of LPL, 18.9% and 81.1%; and of PvuII(+) and (-) allele of LPL, 66.0% and 34.0%, respectively. All genotype frequencies fit well with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; the significant linkage disequilibrium exists between LPL HindIII(+)and PvuII(+) polymorphisms. All of the RFLP in these genes result from the single nucleic substitution in fragment recognized by corresponding restriction enzymes.

CONCLUSIONThe genetic polymorphisms of ABCA1, LPL-HindIII and LPL-PvuII in Chinese Han ethnic population are significantly different from Caucasians residing in USA or Europe.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; genetics ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA