Endothelial to mesenchymal transition(EndMT) plays a major role during organism development, and also contributes to several adult cardiovascular diseases.EndMT-derived fibroblast-like cells are common in atherosclerotic lesions.Pro-atherosclerosis factors, such as oxidative stress, hypoxia, inflammatory cytokines and oscillatory fluid shear stress can promote EndMT.EndMT is closely associated with plaque calcification, and unstable and ruptured plaque phenotype that may prone to cause clinical events.EndMT may be another key step in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.Here, we reviewed the role played by endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EndMT) and its key regulators in atherosclerosis.

To evaluate the value of two histological quantitative methods of hepatic fibrosis: semiquantative scoring system (SSS) and image analysis by computer. The prophylactic and therapeutic effect of Ganzhifu on hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 were studied on a total 73 of specimens from liver tissue of rats. All specimen were analyzed quantatively by two methods of SSS marks and image analysis respectively. Difference between groups was compared and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content of each liver tissue was examined. Correlation analysis was done between SSS marks, image analysis and Hyp content. Both prophylactic and therapeutic study showed the same information. Results of SSS marks, image analysis and Hyp content were coincidence. It suggest that both SSS marks and image analysis were interrelated well with Hyp content (P < 0.01). The result suggests that both SSS marks of hepatic fibrosis and image analysis by computer can be taken as reliable histological quantitative method of hepatic fibrosis.
Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hydroxyproline ; analysis ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Liver ; chemistry ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To investigate the polymorphisms of human cytomegalovirus ( HCMV ) UL146 gene in asymptomatic children. Methods Urine samples were collected from 47 asymptomatic chil-dren who were positive for HCMV DNA. PCR was performed to amplify the open reading frame ( ORF) of UL146 gene. Positive bands were sequenced and variations in UL146 gene were analyzed by using bioinfor-matics software. Results Seventeen samples were successfully amplified and sequenced. Variations spread all over the sequence of UL146 gene and the variability in nucleotide and amino acid sequences ranged from 0％ to 42. 5％ and 0％ to 67. 7％ respectively. Compared with the Towne strain, there was diversity in sig-nal sequence and C-terminal region. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that UL146 in the 17 asymptomatic chil-dren belonged to four genotypes, which were G1, G8, G9 and G11. Forms of post-translational modification varied greatly among the four genotypes, while the important functional region of ELRCXC chemokine was highly conservative. Secondary structure prediction showed that random-coli conformation was the predomi-nant structure of active proteins. Isoelectric point ( PI) and molecular weight ( MW) were dissimilar among the four genotypes. Conclusion HCMV UL146 gene in asymptomatic children was hypervariable in both nucleotide sequence and amino acid structure. However, the important functional region was highly con-served. The predominant genotypes of UL146 in these children were G1, G8, G9 and G11, and the geno-type distribution in them showed no significant difference with previous findings in children with symptomatic HCMV infection.

Objective To study the relationship between sdLDL-C level and CHD.Methods Two hundred and thirty-one CHD patients were divided into carotid stenosis group (n=119) and carotid stenosis-free group (n=112).The relationship between serum sdLDL-C level and risk factors for CHD were analyzed by logistic stepwise regression analysis.Results The serum sdLDL-C level was significantly higher in carotid stenosis group than in carotid stenosis-free group (P＜0.05).The elevated rate of serum sdLDL-C level was significantly higher in carotid stenosis group than in carotid stenosis-free group when 1.39 mmol/L was set as its upper limit reference cutoff value (36.3％ vs 17.0％,P＜0.05).The serum levels of TC,LDL-C,apoB,D-dimer and Fib were significantly higher while those of HDL-C were significantly lower in carotid stenosis group than in carotid stenosis-free grou (P＜0.05).The serum levels of sdLDL-C were positively related with those of TC,LDL-C,apoB,D-dimer,Fib and negatively related with those of HDL-C (P＜0.01).Logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that TC,LDL-C,apoB,D-dimer,Fib and sdLDL-C were the independent risk factors for CHD (P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum sdLDL-C level is significantly higher in CHD patients and is thus an important risk factor for CHD.

Objective:The diagnostic values of urine free and fractionated catecholamine metabolites (including metanephrine MN and normetanephrine NMN, usually known as MNs) were established and their clinical value was evaluated.Methods:Using high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS), urine free MNs (f-MN, f-NMN) and fractionated MNs(t-MN, t-NMN) from 180 cases of non-pheochromocytoma and 54 cases of pheochromocytoma (PCC)patients were detected respectively.Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to establish clinical reference cut-off value for different forms of MNs, and diagnostic efficacy of free, fractionated and total MNs was evaluated.Results:(1) The cut-off values of f-MN, f-NMN, t-MN and t-NMN were 47.8 μg/24 h, 52.3 μg/24 h, 224.9 μg/24 h and 664 μg/24 h, respectively. The cut-off values of total f-MNs and total t-MNs were 126 μg/24 h and 1 070 μg/24 h, respectively. (2) The correlation between f-MN and t-MN ( r=0.976, P<0.001), f-NMN and t-NMN ( r=0.940, P<0.001) was good. The area under ROC curve(AUC)of f-MN was lower than that of t-MN(0.579 vs 0.730, P<0.001), the sensitivity was slightly lower than that of t-MN((37.01% vs 51.85%, P=0.036), and the specificity was similar (99.44% vs 96.67%, P>0.05). There was no significant difference in sensitivity (90.74% vs 92.59%, P>0.05), specificity (99.44% vs 96.67%, P>0.05) and AUC (0.944 vs 0.959, P>0.05) between f-NMN and t-NMN. The combined diagnostic value of MN and NMN (total MNs) was higher than MN (free type:0.932>0.579, fractionation type: 0.960>0.730), which was similar to NMN. Conclusions:The diagnostic performance of urine free NMN or total MNs for PCC is similar to that of fractionated typewhich can meet the clinical needs.With few influencing factors, free type MNs may be used as an alternative indicator for PCC screening in the future.