Background The impact of statins on inflammation are independent of cholesterol-lowering effect.Recent studies showed that Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),a mediator of innate immune responses,is involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis.Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on LPS-induced TLR4 expression and downstream signals and to explore the molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammation by statins.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)were pretreated with atorvastatin(1 or 10 ?mol/L)or NF-?B inhibitor CAPE for 30 min,then incubated by purified LPS for 24 hours.TLR4,ICAM-1 and E-selectin mRNA were measured by RT-PCR;the percentage of TLR4 positive cells were detected by flow cytometry.The activation of NF-?B(p65)were detected by Western blot.Results Atorvastatin(1-10 ?mol/L)prevented LPS-induced increases in TLR4,ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression [TLR4 mRNA(1.24?0.21)vs LPS(1.82?0.27),P

Background Coronary slow flow(CSF)phenomenon is characterized by delayed opacification of coronary vessels in normal coronary angiogram.Although clinical and pathological features have been previously described,its pathogenesis remains unclear.Objective To explore the risk factors related to coronary slow flow.Methods Thirty three patients with documented coronary slow flow which were defined according to TIMI frame count method(TFC)and 33 patients with normal coronary flow were enrolled.Clinical data and biochemical parameters were determined.Results Baseline data analysis showed that CSF group had higher baseline level of platelets count [(149.2?41.5)?109 vs(128.1?38.7)?109,P=0.037] and serum uric acid [(328.1?85.2)vs(282.8?82.4)?mol/L,P=0.032],while other variables were similar between the two groups.After adjustment for BMI,total cholesterol,urea,logistic regression showed that blood platelets count(?2=8.350,?=0.026,P=0.004),2-hour postprandial blood glucose(?2=4.920,?=0.289,P=0.026)and serum uric acid level(?2=5.305,?=0.009,P=0.021)were independent predictors for CSF.Conclusion These data suggest that elevated blood platelets count,2-hour postprandial blood glucose and serum uric acid level may predisposed to coronary slow flow.

Background Retinol binding protein 4(RBP4) is a novel adipokine which has been related with insulin resistance.Objective To test the hypothesis that telmisartan improves glucose and lipid metabolism may be associated with inhibiting serum RBP4 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity in liver.Methods Thirty wistar male rats were received high fat diet to establish metabolic syndrome model and randomly to receive telmisartan [5 mg/(kg?d),n=8] or pioglitazone [20 mg/(kg?d),n=8] for 8 weeks or high-fat diet placebo(n=10).Plasma triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),fasting plasma glucose(FPG),fasting plasma insulin,serum RBP4,and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase specific enzyme activity in liver(PEPCK) were determined.Results Telmisartan improved insulin resistance and the disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism in diet-induced insulin resistance rats [HOMA-IR,telmisartan group(3.4?1.2) vs high-fat diet group:(8.3?1.1),P

Objective To investigate ?-cell early insulin secretion function and insulin resistance in different durations and grades patients with hypertension.Methods One hundred and six middle and old age(58.4?8.5) years hypertension patients were enrolled.According to hypertension durations,patients were categorized as ≤1 year group(n=35),1.1-4.9 years group(n=34),≥5 years group(n=37);while based on grades of hypertension,patients were divided as 1st grade(140-159/90-99 mmHg,n=53),2nd grade(160-179/100-109 mmHg,n=30),3rd grade(≥180/≥110 mmHg,n=23).Plasm glucose,HOMA-IR,?I30/?G30 were determined and compared among groups.Results Patients with longer duration(≥5 years) had most seriously impairment of ?-cell early secretion(?I30/?G30)[≥5 years(2.1?4.5) vs 1.1-4.9 years(10.9?4.2),vs ≤1 year(10.3?4.2),all P

0.05).The cerebral infarcted area in SHR were significantly greater than that in SD rats [(42.6?5.6)% vs(29.5?6.7)%,P

Backgroud Various antihypertensive drugs decreased peripheral arterial pressure similarly,while their effects on central arterial pressure may be at variance.The studies of the effect on central arterial pressure of antihypertensive drugs,especially the effect ? adrenoreceptor blockers was paucity.Objective To investigate the effect of ? adrenoreceptor blocker metoprolol tartrate on central and peripheral arterial pressure in patients with hypertension.Methods Fifty patients with primary hypertension who underwent percutaneous coronary angiography were recruited.Radial arterial and ascending aortal pressure as peripheral and central blood pressure were determined.Patients were chewing 25-50 mg metoprolol tartrate or 10 mg nifedipine during the catheterization.Results After administering metoprolol tartrate,the magnitude of decreases in peripheral arterial pressure were significantly(P0.025).Both peripheral and central arterial pressure decreased significantly after administering nifedipine(P0.025).Conclusion Despite similar decrease of peripheral arterial pressure,the decrease magnitude of central arterial pressure by metoprolol tartrate was significantly smaller than that by nifedipine.

Background Integrin linked kinase is a new component of the cardiac mechanical stretch sensor,modulating myocardiac contractility.Objective To test the hypothesis that enhanced level of ILK expression might protect cardiac function in rats with experiment myocardial infarction.Methods Acute myocardial infarction model was established by left anterior decending coronary artery ligation and were treated with local injection of adenoviral vector expressing ILK(n=8) or placebo(n=8) around the area with myocardial infarction.ILK expression was determined by Western blot.Four weeks after surgery,myocardial function was analyzed by catheterization.Myocardial histology was analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry staining.Results Local injection of ILK resulted in increases in expression of ILK reaching a peak level around 2 weeks,and decrease 4 weeks later.Compared with control rats,the rats with ILK transfection had higher +dp/dtmax[(4930.1?1074.8) mmHg/s vs(3325.2? 775.9) mmHg/s,P

Objective To evaluate the long term effect of comprehensive antihypertension treatment. Methods A cohort of 818 staff in an institute was enrolled. Regular health checkup, education and aggressively treatment and prevention of hypertension and its complications were administered and followed up for 6 years. Results In the past six years, the incidence rate of hypertension has been decreased year by year(from 23.7% to 19.0%). The rates of awareness(49.5% to 94.4%), treatment(37.1% to 83.7%), and achievement of target BP goal(19.6% to 82.4%) were increased. Cardiovascular risk factors as well as morbidity and mortality were decreased significantly(P

Objective To examine plasma levels of MDA-LDL and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in patients with angiography type lesions Ⅱ(representing plaque rupture with or without thrombosis), and to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on plasma MDA-LDL and PAPP-A. Methods One hundred and ten patients were enrolled and underwent coronary angiography with 85 patients diagnosed as coronary heart disease (CHD) and twenty-five as controls. According to the morphologic types of plaque, the patients with CHD were straitified as type Ⅰ(smooth borders) (n=31) and type Ⅱ(irregular lesions) (n=35) and type Ⅲ (long lesions with irregular surface) group (n=19). The patients in type Ⅱ group received simvastatin (40 mg/d ) for four weeks. The plasma MDA-LDL, PAPP-A, LDL, HDL levels before and after simvastatin treatment were determined. Results Plasma levels of MDA-LDL, PAPP-A in type Ⅱ group was significantly higer than that in the controls group, type Ⅰ group, type Ⅲ group (P

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the distribution histogram of arm circumference (AC) in adult hypertensives in Beijing area, and to establish which size of cuffs is most appropriate in clinical practice. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a cohort of 424 (male 61.6%) consecutive hypertensives patients. Arm circumference was measured at the mid-point of the right upper arm. Subjects were stratified in three groups: group 1 with AC between 22-26 cm (small size), group 2 AC between 27-34 cm(medium size), and group 3 AC great than 34 cm (large size). Using AC of 32 cm as cutoff point, patients were subdivided as group A (AC