Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease characterized by alterations in microvascular structure and function. In these patients, numerous studies have demonstrated a relationship between capillary morphology and peripheral blood perfusion. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy reveals the peripheral microvascular morphology and thus allows classification and scoring of capillary abnormalities with respect to different microangiopathy patterns (early, active, and late). Laser Doppler flowmetry and laser speckle contrast analysis can be used to estimate cutaneous blood flow through microvessels and to assess and quantify blood perfusion at peripheral sites. These two methods are also used to identify changes in digital blood perfusion after the infusion of vasodilators.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Humans ; *Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; *Microcirculation ; Microscopic Angioscopy/*methods ; Microvessels/*pathology/*physiopathology ; Nails ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Regional Blood Flow ; Scleroderma, Systemic/*diagnosis/pathology/physiopathology ; Skin/*blood supply ; Vasodilator Agents/diagnostic use ; *Video Recording

BACKGROUNDBoth benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and primary hypertension are common in the elderly men. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effect of primary hypertension on the hematuria in patients with BPH.

METHODSAll patients who underwent transurethral resection of prostate or opening operation had confirmed diagnoses of BPH histologically. comparative analysis of packet was used to analyze the incidence of hematuria in 423 BPH patients with or without hypertension. Immunostaining of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was carried out in tissues of 50 cases of simple BPH and 50 cases of BPH accompanied with hypertension.

RESULTSThe incidence of hematuria in the BPH with hypertension was significantly higher than that in the simple BPH (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the incidence of hematuria in patients who had hypertension for more than 10 years was clearly higher than that in the patients who had hypertension for less than 10 years (P < 0.01). Both microvessel density (MVD) based on CD34 immunostaining and VEGF expression were significantly higher in the BPH tissues of patients with hypertension than that in the simple BPH (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLong-term hypertension may significantly increase the incidence of hematuria in patients with both BPH and hypertension. Increased MVD level and VEGF expression may account for the higher incidence of hematuria in these patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Hematuria ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of treatment with Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills (, QSYQ) on myocardial injury and myocardial microvascular function in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSEighty patients undergoing elective PCI were randomly assigned to QSYQ and control groups. The QSYQ group received QSYQ at a dosage of 0.5 g 3 times daily (3-7 days before PCI and then daily for 1 month) and regular medication, which comprised of aspirin, clopidogrel, statin, β-blocker, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker in the absence of contradiction. The control group received only the regular medication. The index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) was measured at maximal hyperemia after PCI. The fractional flow reserve was measured before and after the procedure. Troponin I levels were obtained at baseline and 20-24 h after the procedure.

RESULTSPre-PCI troponin I levels between the two groups were similar (0.028±0.05 vs. 0.022±0.04 ng/mL, P=0.55). However, post- PCI troponin I levels in the QSYQ group were significantly lower than that in the control group (0.11±0.02 vs. 0.16±0.09 ng/mL, P<0.01). IMR values were significantly lower in the QSYQ group as compared to the control group (16.5±6.1 vs. 31.2±16.0, P<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified QSYQ treatment as the only independent protective factor against IMR >32 (odds ratio=0.29, 95% confidence interval: 0.11-0.74, P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe present study demonstrated the benefit of QSYQ in reducing myocardial injury and preserving microvascular function during elective PCI.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Circulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Pilot Projects ; Troponin I ; blood

OBJECTIVESTo explore the effects and significance of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid (, HSR), a formula with supplementing qi, nourishing blood and activating blood on restructuring glomerular microvasculature and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in subtotal nephrectomized (SNX) rats.

METHODSA total of 76 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: 16 in the sham-operated group and fed with tap water 10 mL/kg per day; 20 in the model group were operated with 5/6 SNX and fed with tap water 10 mL/ kg per day; 20 SNX rats in the HSR group were treated with HSR 10 mL/kg per day; 20 SNX rats in the losartan group were treated with losartan 40 mg/kg per day. Serum creatinine (SCr) and urinary protein excretion (Upro) were examined at the 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks of the treatment, and the remnant kidneys were harvested. Changes in histological microstructure were evaluated using light microscopy, and the expression of VEGF was detected by using ELISA.

RESULTSUpro, microvasculature injury and glomerulosclerosis were found to be alleviated in HSR and Losartan groups, respectively. The change of VEGF expression showed positive correlation with glomerular capillary area and peritubular capillary number (r=0.448, r=0.422, P<0.01), but negative correlation with that of SCr and Upro (r=-0.592, r=-0.481, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHSR could regulate the VEGF expression, reduce the loss of microvasculature, which demonstrated similar renal protective effects to losartan in SNX rats. Examination of Chinese herbal medicine influence on VEGF signaling and restructuring renal microvasculature may elucidate the molecular mechanism of renal protection to a certain degree.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Capillaries ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Creatinine ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Matrix ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Kidney Glomerulus ; blood supply ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Microvessels ; drug effects ; Nephrectomy ; Proteinuria ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Time Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the microRNAs (miRNAs) expression profile of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rats and the regulating effects of Huoxue Anxin Recipe (, HAR) on angiogenesis-related miRNAs and genes.

METHODSForty-five Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups according to a random number table: sham, AMI, and AMI+HAR groups (15 in each group). AMI rats were established by ligation of the left descending coronary artery. HAR was intragastrically administered to rats of the AMI+HAR group for successive 21 days since modeling, meanwhile the same volume of 0.9% normal saline was administered to rats of the sham and AMI groups. Doppler echocardiography was used for noninvasive cardiac function test. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological change. miRNAs expression profile was detected by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The mRNA and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and a target gene of miR-210 was further detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The microvessels density of myocardium was evaluated by CD31 immunostaining.

RESULTSCompared with the sham group, ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) values were decreased significantly in the AMI group (P<0.01), while the infarction area and the interstitial collagen deposition were increased obviously. As for the AMI+HAR group, EF and FS values were increased significantly (P<0.05 vs. AMI group), and the infarction area was reduced and the interstitial collagen deposition were alleviated significantly. Total of 23 miRNAs in the AMI group expressed differently by at least 1.5 folds compared with those in the sham group; 5 miRNAs in the AMI+HAR group expressed differently by at least 1.5 folds compared with those in the AMI group. Among them, miR-210 was low in the AMI group and high in the AMI+HAR group. The relative mRNA and protein expressions of VEGF were decreased significantly in the AMI group (P<0.05 vs. sham group), and increased significantly in the AMI+HAR group (P<0.01 vs. AMI group). CD31 expression area and optical intensity were decreased significantly in the AMI group (P<0.05 vs. sham group), and increased significantly in the AMI+HAR group (P<0.01 vs. AMI group).

CONCLUSIONSHAR could reduce the infarction area, alleviate the interstitial fibrosis and improve the cardiac function of AMI rats. Those effects could be related to promoting myocardium angiogenesis of HAR by up-regulating miR-210 and VEGF.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Function Tests ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is important for the proliferation and survival of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Bone marrow (BM) microvessel density (MVD) is a useful marker of angiogenesis and is determined by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD34 antibody. This study investigated the prognostic impact of MVD and demonstrated the relationship between MVD and previously mentioned prognostic factors in patients with MM. METHODS: The study included 107 patients with MM. MVD was assessed at initial diagnosis in a blinded manner by two hematopathologists who examined three CD34-positive hot spots per patient and counted the number of vessels in BM samples. Patients were divided into three groups according to MVD tertiles. Cumulative progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) curves, calculated by using Kaplan-Meier method, were compared among the three groups. Prognostic impact of MVD was assessed by calculating Cox proportional hazard ratio (HR). RESULTS: Median MVDs in the three groups were 16.8, 33.9, and 54.7. MVDs were correlated with other prognostic factors, including beta2-microglobulin concentration, plasma cell percentage in the BM, and cancer stage according to the International Staging System. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high MVD was an independent predictor of PFS (HR=2.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-5.42; P=0.013). PFS was significantly lower in the high MVD group than in the low MVD group (P=0.025). However, no difference was observed in the OS (P=0.428). CONCLUSIONS: Increased BM MVD is a marker of poor prognosis in patients newly diagnosed with MM. BM MVD should be assessed at the initial diagnosis of MM.
Aged ; Antigens, CD34/metabolism ; Bone Marrow/metabolism/*pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Microvessels/*physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma/*diagnosis/mortality ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Plasma Cells/cytology ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors

Although a few studies have shown that vascularity is increased from normal mucosa to dysplasia to carcinoma suggesting that disease progression in the oral mucosa is accompanied by angiogenesis. The role in lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is equivocal. Role of angiogenesis in OSCC development and metastasis is evaluated in this study. This retrospective study of 50 samples consisted of 9 normal buccal mucosa, 22 leukoplakias, and 19 OSCC. Polyclonal antibodies to von-Willebrand factor were used to highlight the microvessels. Images were captured and morphometric image analysis was done for microvessel density (MVD), area, and perimeter. Highest, as well as mean values of these three parameters were compared. MVD and perimeter, but not area, are significantly different between normal mucosa and OSCC, and leukoplakia and OSCC. There were no differences between normal mucosa and leukoplakia. MVD, area, and perimeter were not significantly different between the OSCC with and without lymph node metastasis. The highest and mean values of MVD are significantly correlated. In the development of OSCC, angiogenic phenotypic change occurs in carcinomas rather than in the pre-cancerous stage, and quantification of angiogenesis in OSCC does not predict the risk of lymph node metastasis.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood supply ; Case-Control Studies ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Leukoplakia, Oral ; blood supply ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microvessels ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; blood supply ; Mouth Neoplasms ; blood supply ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult