BACKGROUND: Statins can block many intracellular signal transductive pathways and suppress the proliferation of various cells by affecting the synthesis of mevalonic acid and the translation following modification of some membrane-connecting proteins.OBJETCIVE: To investigate the influence of simvastatin on the proliferation of lung fibroblasts, the synthesis of collagen and the secretion of matrix metalproteinase-2 (MMP-2).DESIGN:Completely randomized controlled study.SETTING: At Organ Transplanting Research Institute of Fuwai Cardiovasular Diseases Hospital, Peking Union Medical College.MATERIALS: This study was carried out at the Laboratory of Cardiology of Beijing Union Medical College hospital, Peking Union Medical College from June 2004 to October 2004. Lung fibroblasts derived from neonatal SD rats were co-cultured in vitro with different dosage of simvastatin of 0, 1, 5, 10,50 μmol/L, and 50 μmol/L simvastatin + 200 μmol/L mevalonic acid.METHODS: Lung fibroblasts deriving from neonatal SD rat were co-cultured with different dosage of simvastatine in vitro. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium colorinetry was used to detect the cell proliferation, and cell immunohistochemical assay was used to determine the collagen synthesis and meanwhile,MMP-2 content in supernatant was examined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The proliferation of fibroblasts, the synthesis of collagen and the secretion of MMP-2 due to different dosage of simvastatin intervention and simvastatin combined with mevalonic acid.presenting the expression of type Ⅰ, Ⅲ of collagen in lung fibroblasts and the level of MMP-2 in 5, 10, 50 μmol/L simvastatin group were obviously lower than those of 0 μmol/L simvastatin group (0. 520 ± 0.010, 0. 334 ± 0.011,0.260±0.012, 0.111±0.011; 0.508±0.011, 0.324±0.014, 0.232±0.015, 0. 083 ±0. 015; 0.445 ±0. 017, 0. 305 ±0. 015, 0.216 ±0. 015,0.068±0.012; 0.561±0.013, 0.361 ±0.012, 0.289±0.012, 0.140value, the mean absorbency( A value) in lung fibroblasts and the level of MMP-2 in 50 μmol/L simvastatin + 200 μmol/L mevalonic acid group were obviously higher than that of the 50 μmol/L simvastatin group(0. 567±0.015, 0.354±0.014, 0.283±0.012, 0.138±0.011, t=4.715-10.950, P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Simvastatin could suppress the fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, attenuate the secretion of MMP-2 and suppress consequently the adhesion and migration of lung fibroblasts; moreover, it has the capability of anti-cell proliferation by affecting the mevalonic acid pathway.

Objective To study the effect of methadone maintenance treatment(MMT) on reducing HIV infection among injecting drug users(IDUs) in Yueyang city of Hunan province.Methods Local IDUs were provided with MMT along with peer education and behavior interventions,and they were tested for HIV antibody to evaluate the effect of MMT after one year treatment.Results Of the 113 IDUs who were negative at the entry,none turned to be positive after one year treatment and the negative partners of 22 IDUs with positive HIV antibody remained negative one year later,and the negative rate of urine test maintained at 76.10%.Conclusion MMT combined with peer education and behavior interventions will decrease the use of heroin,prevent HIV infection among IDUs and reduce their partners' susceptibility to HIV.

Objective In this study, we try to understand the effects of microenvironment on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by coculturing MSCs with mature cardiomyocytes or culturing MSCs in cardiomyocyte-lysate, in this study. Methods MSCs isolated from mature rats were either cocultured with cardiomyocytes isolated from new born rats with the ratio of 1 to 4, or cultured in the medium containing 4-fold cardiomyocyte-lysate obtained by repeated freezing and defrosting of rat myocardial cells. The morphology of MSCs under light microscopy were observed daily for 7 days and immunostaining against cTnT and CD31 was performed on the 7~ th day. MSCs cultured in ordinary medium were observed as the control. Results Both MSCs cocultured with cardiomyocytes and cultured in cardiomyocyte-lysate were differentiated into myogenic cells and expressed cTnT and CD31 at the 7th day of cultivation. The MSCs in the control group did not change in morphology and express cTnT or CD31. Conclusion Both myocardial cell coculturing system and cardiomyocyte-lysate system can be used to induce bone marrow MSCs to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells and endotheliocyte-like cells.

Objective To determine the relationships between maternal serum copper,amniotic copper,lysyl oxidase (LOX) and collagen Ⅲ in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and without PROM.Methods One hundred women with PROM were enrolled in this study,and divided into 37-42 weeks,34-36~ +6 weeks and 28-33~ +6 weeks according to gestational age. One hundred non-PROM pregnancies matching the same gestational ages were recruited as control group. Copper of maternal serum and amnion in two groups were compared by FAAS method. Amniotic LOX was analyzed by fluorometry. Amniotic collagen Ⅲ was detected by immunohistochemical method and computer image analysis system(absorbance,A). Linear correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between maternal serum copper,amniotic copper,LOX and collagen Ⅲ. Results (1)For 37-42 weeks pregnant women,serum copper was correlated positively with amniotic copper in two groups, r= 0.82(P0.05),but amniotic LOX and collagen Ⅲ decreased significantly compared with controls, being [(0.53?0.10)?g/g vs (0.75?0.10)?g/g,P

Objective To study the potential of bFGF to promote human bone marrow derived MSCs to differentiate into cardiomyogenic cells, and its effect on proliferation of MSCs. Methods MSCs isolated from adult human bone marrow were cultured in four different systems. Group A: medium with 5-aza. Group B: medium with bFGF. Group C: medium with 5-aza+bFGF. Control group: medium alone. The morphological changes of MSCs were observed. Then immunocytochemistry staining against ?-actin,cTnT,and Connixin43 was performed. The expression of Nkx2.5, GATA-4 and cTnT was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The proliferation of MSCs in different groups was measured by MTT. Results The MSCs in both group A and C partially differentiated into myogenic cells and expressed proteins of ?-actin,cTnT,and connixin43. In group A and group C, the mRNA level of Nkx2.5,GATA-4 and cTnT was higher than that of control group. In group B, mRNA level of Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 was higher than that of control group. As compared with the control group, cell proliferation was faster in group B than in group A and C. And the proliferation was faster in group C than in group A. Conclusion bFGF can promote the proliferation of MSCs significantly. When combining with 5-aza, bFGF can promote MSCs to differentiate into cardiomyogenic cells more effectively.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical manifestations of coronary artery ectasia and its angiographic characteristics. Methods Twenty-five patients who underwent coronary angiography were diagnosed as coronary artery ectasia from January 2005 to December 2007. 25 cases of coronary artery atheresclerosis were also included and 25 cases with normal coronary arteriography in the same period were taken as control. Results Most of the patients were male (72%). Only three patients had diabetes and thirteen patients had hypertension. All the patients with coronary artery ectasia were admitted for chest pain. Nine of them showed abnormal ST changes and four elevated ST in ECG. Coronary artery ectasia was associated with slow coronary flow in 9 patients and coronary stenosis in 4 patients. The frequency of arterial involvement, in descending order, was right coronary artery in 76%, left anterior descending artery in 60%, left circumflex artery in 48% and left main artery in 8%. Ectasia affected only one major vessel was found in 44%, and all three vessels in 36%. As compared with the patients with coronary artery atherosclerosis and patients with normal coronary artery, patients with CAE had a lower prevalence of diabetes (12%), and there were no other significant statistics in clinical demography and other risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia. Conclusions Coronary artery ectasia was prevalent in males and diabetes was less frequent. The RCA was the most commonly affected vessel and most of the patients had single vessel involvement.

Objective To explain the effects of C-reactive protein(CRP) on lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1 expression on THP-1 derived macrophages and the related signal transduction pathways.MethodsTHP-1 cells were differentiated into macrophages with the stimulation of PMA.THP-1 derived macrophages were incubated with CRP and co-incubated with inhibitors of NF-?B、AP-1 and MARK signal transduction pathways.The expression of LOX-1 antigen and mRNA was analyzed by ELISA and RT-PCR.Results CRP stimulated the expression of LOX-1 antigen and mRNA on macrophages in a dose-dependent manner.NF-?B inhibitor BAY11-7085 suppressed the inducible effects of CRP on LOX-1 expression.Conclusion CRP increased LOX-1 expression on THP-1 derived macrophages at transcription and post-transcription levels.The NF-?B signal transduction pathway may be involved in such process.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between plasma level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and coronary artery ectasia in relevant patients. Methods: A total of 72 patients received coronary angiography (CAG) in our hospital were studied and the patients were divided into 3 groups: Coronary ectasia group, Coronary stenosis group and Normal coronary group.n=24 in each group. Plasma levels of ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and L-arginine (Arg) were measured by HPLC-MS/MS methods. The relationship between ADMA and CAD was examined by Logistic regression analysis. Results: Plasma level of ADMA in Coronary ectasia group (0.437 ± 0.098) μmol/L and Coronary stenosis group (0.456 ± 0.088) μmol/L were higher than that in Normal coronary group (0.381 ± 0.057) μmol/L,P<0.05. The ratio of Arg/ADMA in Coronary ectasia group (208.54 ± 61.52) and Coronary stenosis group (220.00 ± 104.82) were lower than that in Normal coronary group (254.26 ± 76.22),P<0.05. Logistic regression analysis presented that with adjusted age, gender, smoking, family history of CAD and LDL-C level, and plasma ADMA was still related with CAD (Partial regression coefifcient 9.469, P=0.011). Conclusion: Plasma levels of ADMA were higher in patients with coronary artery ectasia/stenosis than those with normal coronary artery; while ADMA levels were similar between the patients with coronary ectasia and stenosis. Plasma ADMA level was the independent risk factor of CAD.

Objective To identify potential linkage of cholesterol efflux with the expressions of ATP-binding cas-sette receptor A1 (ABCA1), ABCG1 and scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1) in monocytes derived macrophages of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods and Results Blood was collected from subjects with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Peripheral blood monocytes were differentiated for 72 hours into macrophages, and cholesterol efflux assays, Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot were performed. Macrophages from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus showed a reduction in cholesterol efllux. The mRNA and protein expressions of ABCG1 in macrophages from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were significantly reduced. In contrast, the expression of ABCA1 and SR-B1 was not significantly different in both control subjects and diabetic patients. In addition, cellular cholesterol efflux from macrophages to autologous serum and pool serum was significantly correlated with the expression of ABCG1. Conclusion ABCG1 expression and cholesterol efflux are reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This impaired cholesterol efflux significantly correlates with decreased expression of ABCG1.

Objective To investigate the potential change of cellular cholesterol efflux and the functional changes of ABCA1 on macrophages from diabetes animals. Methods High energy diet was given to golden hamster to make animal model of hyperlipidemia. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (30 mg/kg). Macrophages were isolated and incubated with apoA-I or 8-br-cAMP in vitro. Cellular cholesterol content was measureal before and after treatment by HPLC. Results Intracellular cholesterol content of diabetic animals was higher than that in high energy diet and normal controls. Expression of ABCA1 mRNA was upregulated in diabetic group after incubation with apoA-I and cAMP. When macrophages were incubated with apoA-I, cholesterol efflux increased with the prolongation of incubation time.The amount of intracellular cholesterol efflux in 3 groups of animals showed the following relationship: diabetic animals exceed high energy diet fed animals, and the latter exceeds normal animals. Conclusion Intracellular lipid efflux depends mainly on the presence of extracellular apoA1 as well as membrane ABCA1 protein. The deposition of cholesterol in the macrophage of diabetic and insulin resistant animals may be related to the characteristic changes of quantity and function of apoA1 in these animals.