Objective To evaluate the relationships between serum C-reactive protein(CRP) level and the risk factors of coronary heart disease ( CHD) as well as the severity of coronary lesions. Methods In 50 patients with primary diagnoses as unstable angina that were undergone coronary angiography, the serum CRP levels were measured by using particle enhanced immunonephelometry. The relationships between the serum CRP level and the risk factors of CHD as well as the severity of coronary lesions were assessed. Results Serum CRP level was higher in patients with hypertension (4.87?3.82)mg/ml vs. (1.81 ? 2.17)mg/ml, P = 0.0038

Objective To study the possible pathogenesis of TNBS (2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a mouse model by analyzing histological changes in colon and the expression of cytokines and transcription factor RORγt related to T cell subsets in mesenteric lymph nodes.Methods Female BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly grouped into two groups: IBD model and normal control groups.The mouse model of IBD was established by treating mice with 200 μl of 5％ TNBS/50％ ethanol solution (1∶1) through intestinal instillation, while the mice in the normal control group were instilled with PBS.Pathological changes in colon samples of mice were observed.Real-time PCR was performed to detect the dynamic expression of Th1 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-12p40), Th2 cytokine (IL-4), Treg-related cytokine (IL-10), Th17 cell-related cytokines (IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23) and transcription factor RORγt in mesenteric lymph nodes.Results The mice in the model group begun to show abnormal vital signs such as diarrhea, loss of weight and reduced activity, and mild hyperemia of intestinal mucosa and edema from the third day after modeling.Slight lesions were observed in histological slices of colon tissues stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE).The expression of IL-21, IL-23 and IL-17 at mRNA level were significantly increased, while the expression of other cytokines showed no significant change.On the sixth day after modeling, many pathological symptoms and intestinal mucosal lesions were aggravated, and marked infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in histological slices of colon tissues, which indicated that the IBD model was successfully induced by TNBS.Compared with the control group, the IBD model group showed significantly enhanced expression of IL-2, IL-12p40 and IL-10 in mesenteric lymph nodes at mRNA level on the sixth day after modeling.Although the expression of IL-21, IL-23, IL-17 and RORγt at mRNA level on the sixth day were down-regulated to different extent as compared with those on the third day, they were still significantly higher than those of the control group.Conclusion Th17 cell-related cytokines play an important role in the early stage of TNBS-induced IBD.With the progression of the disease, both Th1 and Th17 cells are involved in the immunopathological injury of colon tissues.

Objective To prepare a targeted antitumor drug delivery system using large-inner-diameter multi-walled carbon nanotubes (LID-MWCNTs) for sustained release and to study its performance. Methods LID-MWCNTs were puri?fied and oxidized,then use nanocarriers and USTs as homologous blockers. Folic acid and fluorescent labels were conjugat?ed onto the external surfaces of nanocarriers. CDDP (cisplatin) was encapsulated and ultrashort tubes (USTs) were employed to block the drug entry/exit paths. The microstructure of resulted drug delivery system (DDS) was observed, while drug load?ing efficiency and drug release profile in vitro were determined. The tumor-targeting property and cytotoxicity of DDS were also assessed. Results LID-MWCNT based sustained release targeted drug delivery system was established. Drug loading efficiency of CDDP@UST-FA-LID-MWCNTs was as high as 70.97%. A typical biphasic sustained release pattern was dem?onstrated, and the accumulating release time was 18 h. DDS exhibited a certain kind of tumor-targeting property, and inhibit?ed proliferation of tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion CDDP@UST-FA-LID-MWCNT drug delivery system exhibited an improved drug loading efficiency and a sustained drug release profile. It could specifically target the tu?mor cells and had a significant antitumor effect.

Objective To investigate the expressions of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptors in keloid. Methods Serum and skin tissue specimens were collected from 20 patients with keloid, 20 patients with hyperplastic scar and 20 normal human controls. Fluorospectrophotometer was used to measure the serum level of AGEs, and immunohistochemistry and Western blotting to detect the expressions of AGEs and AGER in skin tissue specimens. Results The serum level of AGEs was (0.713 ± 0.098) AU/ml and (0.699 ± 0.077) AU/ml respectively in patients with keloid and those with hypertrophic scar, significantly higher than that in normal controls (0.179 ± 0.056 AU/ml, F = 283.82, P < 0.01 ). A positive expression of AGEs and AGER was observed in tissue specimens of keloid and hyperplastic scar, but not in the control specimens. As Western blotting showed, the expressions of AGEs and AGER were higher in tissue specimens of keloid and hyperplastic scar than in the control specimens (F = 18.04, 42.80, both P < 0.05), while no significant difference between keloid and hyperplastic scar tissue specimens was observed (P> 0.05). Conclusion There is a high expression of AGEs and AGER in keloid, which may contribute to the development of keloid.

Objective · To explore the change of metabolomic profiling after erlotinib (anepithelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor)resistance of lung adenocarcinoma cells (PC9-ER), and find the differential metabolome associated witherlotinib resistance. Methods · Metabolic profiling of PC9-ER cells and homologous parent PC9 cells was acquired by the ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS). The data were analyzed by multi-dimensional statistical methods, such as partial least squares projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), to select and identify differential metabolites associated with erlotinib resistance. Results · A total of 14 differential metabolites were identified in PC9-ER cells. Seven up-regulated metabolites included N-acetylspermidine, phosphatidylethanolamine, AMP, pantothenic acid,proline, glutamate, and histidine, while seven down-regulated metabolites included citrulline, phosphorylcholine, glutathione, cysteinylglycine, glutathione oxidized, NAD, and S-adenosylmethionine, mainly participating in glutathione metabolism, glutamate metabolism, ammonia recycling, and protein biosynthesis. Conclusion · Metabolic profiling of erlotinib-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cells was changed. The information of differential metabolites associated with erlotinib resistance could provide clues for new resistance mechanisms and potential metabolism-related drug targets.

Objective To explore the prevalence and clinical and echocardiography features of the basal septal hypertrophy(BSH).Methods Clinical and echocardiography data of 1 056 elderly population in an urban community of Beijing were analyzed.BSH was defined as the thickness of basal interventricular septum ≥1.4 cm and basal septal/mid septal ≥1.3.Data were compared between BSH and non-BSH,and the risk factors of BSH were evaluated.Results The prevalence of BSH in this population was 7.39%(95%CI:5.8%-9.0%).BSH was not associated with current cardiovascular diseases (P >0.05).Its correlates in logistic analysis included male,diabetes mellitus,small end diastolic left ventricular dimension and abnormal left ventricular diastolic function (P <0.05),with OR 0.49(0.29,0.83),1.99(1.18,3.37),2.24 (1.35,3.72),0.39(0.26,0.59),and 1.96(1.01,3.81),respectively.Conclusions BSH is common in elderly community population and not associated with cardiovascular diseases.Its risk factors included male, obesity,diabetes mellitus,small end diastolic left ventricular dimension and abnormal left ventricular diastolic function.

Objective To construct the prokaryotic recombinant expression vector of PTD4-Cu,Zn-SOD.Methods By using the techniques of gene recombination,the primers of Cu,Zn-SOD and the oligonucleotide sequences of PTD4 were designed,PCR amplification was performed for Cu,Zn-SOD genes,the PCR products were identified,reclaimed and purified,and pET16b served as carrier.The prokaryotic recombinant expression vector of pET16b-Cu,Zn-SOD was constructed using double digestion with Xho Ⅰ and BamH Ⅰ,ligated reaction and plasmid transformation.Then PTD4 gene and pET16b-Cu,Zn-SOD carrier were double digested with Nde Ⅰ and Xho Ⅰ and ligated,and the plasmid was transformed,and the prokaryotic recombinant expression vector of pET16b-PTD4-Cu,Zn-SOD was constructed.The reconstructed vector was analyzed by restriction mapping and was verified by gene sequencing.Results The prokaryotic recombinant expression vector of pET16b-PTD4-Cu,Zn-SOD with a length of 6 207 bp was constructed successfully.The carrier fragment about 5.7 kp and PTD4-Cu,Zn-SOD gene fragment about 510 bp were obtained by double digestion with Nde Ⅰ and BamH Ⅰ,which was consistent with the expected results.The results of gene sequencing showed that the base sequences of pET16b-PTD4-Cu,Zn-SOD were correct when compared with the expected gene sequences.Conclusion The prokaryotic recombinant expression vector of pET16b-PTD4-Cu,Zn-SOD is constructed successfully.

Objective To assess the effect of combined hypertension (HT) and aging on left atrial (LA) size and phasic function.Methods This evaluation was based on the data from a cross-sectional study including 738 subjects with high risk for cardiovascular disease from an urban community in Beijing.Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to age (41-59,60-69 and ≥70 years) and further into HT and non-HT sub-groups.LA volume index were calculated and LA global longitudinal strain in late diastole (Sa),early diastole (Se),and total strain (Stot =Sa + Se),and strain rate in late diastole (SRa),systole (SRs),and early diastole (SRe) were measured using off-line speckle-tracking echocardiography.Results LA volume index increased significantly in HT groups with aging,whereas no changes could be viewed in non-HT subjects among all age groups.LA conduit index (Se and SRe) decreased with aging in both HT and non-HT subjects with more sever in HT subjects than in non-HT subjects in all age groups.The LA conduit index in 41-59 year-HT,and in 60-69 year-HT subjects were comparable with that in 60-69 year-non-HT subjects [Se (11.0 ±4.4)％ vs (11.6 ±4.7)％,SRe (1.0 ±0.4) s-1 vs (1.0 ±-0.3) s-1],and in ≥70 year-non-HT subjects [Se(10.1 ±4.0)％ vs (9.5 ±5.4)％,SRe (0.9 ±0.3)s-1 vs (0.8 ± 0.4) s-1],respectively.LA reservoir (Stot and SRs) and contraction (Sa and SRa) index also decreased with aging in HT but not in non-HT subjects.Conclusions Aging along does not lead to LA enlargement in subjctes,but it does when combined HT.There is synergistic effect of HT and aging on LA volume and phasic function.

AIM:To investigate the autophagy induced by sepsis and acute kidney injury , and the regulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway in this process.METHODS: The rats were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture ( CLP) or sham operation .Histopathologic changes of the renal tissues were examined by HE staining .Blood urea nitrogen ( BUN) and serum creatinine ( SCr) were measured by chemical colorime-try.The protein expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 I/II (LC3 I/II), beclin-1 and p-Akt at different time points after CLP was detected by Western blotting .In vitro, human proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 were treated with LPS to induce autophagy .The protein expression of LC 3 I/II and p-Akt in the HK-2 cells after LPS treatment at different time points and different concentrations was detected by Western blotting .These molecules in HK-2 cells and apoptosis of HK-2 cells treated with LPS plus PI3K inhibitor or Akt inhibitor were also detected .RESULTS: Compared with sham group , the severe changes of renal histopathological injuries in CLP groups were observed , the levels of BUN and SCr in CLP groups were significantly increased .LC3 I/II, beclin-1 and phosphorylation of Akt gradually increased after CLP.After treatment with LPS, the expression of p-Akt (308) in the HK-2 cells gradually increased in a dose-and time-dependent fashion.The expression of beclin-1 and p-Akt (472) reached a peak at 8 h or 10 mg/L LPS treatment.Treat-ment with PI3K or Akt inhibitor down-regulated the expression of LC3 and promoted the apoptosis of HK-2 cells.CON-CLUSION:Autophagy in the kidney is induced by sepsis and acute kidney injury .PI3/Akt signaling pathway may be in-volved in this process .

Objective:To investigate the correlation between anthropometric indices and arteriosclerosis detection indicators in the middle-aged and the elderly .Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was made of 1 626 individuals ( diabetics patients 23.37%, hypertensive subjects 39.48% and healthy individuals 37.15%), aged 45 to 90 years [mean age:(61.60 ±10.22) years)] in Shijingshan Dis-trict, Beijing.Their measurements:body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist to height ratio ( WHtR ) .Arterial stiffness was assessed according to brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), intima-media thickness (IMT), augmentation index (AI) and ankle-brachial index (ABI), which were measured by noninvasive detectors and equipment .The correlations between the various indi-cators were analyzed .Results:The percentages of the hypertensive and diabetic groups of central obesity ( male WC>85 cm, female WC >80 cm or WHtR>0.5 ) and of general obesity ( BMI>28 kg/m2 ) were significantly higher than those of the healthy group ( P<0 .01 ) .The difference between the two disease groups was not significant ( P>0 .05 ) .There was a moderate positive correlation between the measures of abdominal obesity (WHtR and WC) and the general obesity indicators (BMI) (r=0.710 and 0.716) .In the healthy group , WC and WHtR showed positive correlation with baPWV , IMT and ABI, and negative correlation with AI 75 .BMI showed positive correlation with IMT and negative correla-tion with AI75 , and no correlation with baPWV and ABI .There was negative correlation between BMI and baPWV in the diabetic group .In the hypertension group , we found negative correlation between BMI and baPWV, maximum IMT, AI75 , and also between WC and AI 75 .The simple regression straight line of baPWV versus the anthropometric parameters showed that the regression equations were y =0 .949 +1.379 x (baPWV vs.WHtR, R2 =0.046, P<0.001) and y=1.133+0.006x (baPWV vs.WC, R2 =0.027, P<0.001), respectively.baPWV and BMI did not have a linear relationship (P =0.62). Conclusion:WHtR and WC are superior to BMI indices in predicting arteriosclerosis .Anthropometric measurements for central obesity are good predictors of cardiovascular risk .