Objective To analyze the relationship between the concentration of plasma insulin during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and stent restenosis in non-diabetic patients, and determine whether hyperinsulinemia during OGTT is a predictor of the development of stent restenosis. Methods 49 non-diabetic patients with coronary artery disease underwent stent implantation were enrolled in this study. All patients were subjected to 75g OGTT before or after stent implantation, and coronary angiography was performed to observe the stent restenosis about 6 months of post-operation. Results The concentrations of plasma insulin at 0 5, 1, 2 and 3 hours after glucose loading were significantly higher in patients with stent restenosis than those in patients without stent restenosis(P≤0 05). Insulin area(IA) and insulin area/glucose area(IA/GA) were also significantly higher in patients with stent restenosis than those in patients without stent restenosis(P≤0 05). Conclusion Non-diabetic patients with hyperinsulinemia during OGTT had a higher risk for stent restenosis after stent implantation, and OGTT before stent implantation may be useful to predict stent restenosis.

Objective To explore the regularity of dynamic morphologic changes of the sinoatrial node (SAN) cells of rabbits after the constitution was damaged by formaldehyde wet dressing. Methods Sixty rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10 in each group): the control group and 5 experimental groups observed at 2 h, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks respectively after the operation. The SAN constitution of rabbits was damaged by 20% formaldehyde wet dressing. The constitutions of SAN were cut quickly at 2 h after wet dressing in the control group and at the corresponding time points in other experimental groups respectively. The specimens were made for light microscopical and electron microscopical observations. The apoptosis of SAN cells was detected by TUNEL method. Results Compared with those in the control group, SAN cells in all experimental groups were damaged at various degrees observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Distinct cell tumefaction, soak of grain cells, cytoclasis, hyperplasia of collagen fibers, and other pathological changes were detected. Electron microscopical observation showed distinct pathological changes of the super-micro construction of cells. Apoptosis was not detected in the control group, but various degrees of apoptosis in all experiment groups. The apoptotic rates in all experimental groups were significant as compared with that in the control group (P

Objective Interferon regulatory factors 3 (IRF-3) is a key transcription factor to regulate gene expression of interferon after virus infection. This study aims to look for new spliced isoforms of IRF-3 and to investigate their structures and functions. Methods RNA extracts from human embryonic kidney 293 cells were amplified by RACE and RT-PCR. New sequences were compared with published sequences of IRF-3 and murine EST database using bioinformatics method. A new sequence, IRF-3c, was subcloned into pcDNA3.1-flag. The IRF-3c/pcDNA3.1-flag plasmid was transfected in HEK 293 cells. Whole cell extract was analysed by Western blot and then probed with monoclonal Flag antibody. Luciferase assay was carried out by co-transfection with reporter plasmid, pGL2B with interferon ? promoter, and IRF-3c cDNA expression plasmid. At 16 hours posttransfection, cells were infected with Sendai virus for 8 hours. Cells were collected and assayed for luciferase activity. Results A novel spliced isoform of IRF-3, named IRF-3c was discovered. The new isoform is almost the same as IRF-3, except for the utilization of the 180 bp bases in intron 6 adjacent to exon 6. The first 2,3 and 4 bases are a stop codon, which may produce a protein with a truncated C-terminal stoped at amino acids 327. Western blot analysis confirmed an expected 44 kDa strong band. The new inserted bases can be found in murine EST database, suggesting a conservative function in evolution. The functional luciferase assay showed that IRF-3c inhibited the IFN? promoter activity to (around) 40%～50% as that of control after Sendai virus infection. Conclusions The discovery of a new isoform of IRF-3 provides a new insight into the functional regulation of IRF-3 family. It is a dominant-negative inhibitor for interferon ? promoter activity in the virus infection pathway, provides a mechanism for the fine-tuning of the virus-induced activation of the interferon response, and prevents interferon ? from its overexpression and its toxic effects. It is worthwhile to explore the role of IRF-3c in the pathogenesis of human diseases using IRF-3c’s specific sequence.

Objective The aim of this study was to examine plasma levels of CD40 ligands (CD40L) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in patients with angiography type Ⅱ lesions (representing plaque rupture with or without thrombosis), and to evaluate the role of PAPP-A in the development of plaque disruption. Methods The morphology of the plaques in 68 patients was studied and analyed by means of coronary angiography. According to the morphology of the plaques, the patients were divided into type Ⅰ group (smooth borders, n=19), type Ⅱ group (irregular lesions, n=33), and type Ⅲ group (long lesions, n=16). The plasma level of CD40L, PAPP-A, creatine kinase (CK), and MB isoenzyme of CK (CK-MB) was measured in all the patients. Results Mean plasma CD40L [(3.21?2.08)mg/L] in type Ⅱ group was significantly higher than that in the type Ⅰ group [(1.03?0.98)mg/L, P

Objective To study the effect of G-CSF and SCF on ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction in rats. Methods Left anterior descending coronary artery ligation was performed on 78 rats and after 6 hours there were 60 rats survived. The 60 rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: 30 rats received the treatment of G-CSF and SCF while the other 30 rats served as the control. The treatment group was injected subcutaneously with G-CSF and SCF and the control group was given saline. The treatment and control groups were randomly divided into 3 subsections and were killed in the 1~(st), 2~(nd) and 4~(th) week respectively. Comparison between the two groups was made in terms of ratio of ventricular weight to body weight, percentage of the infarction area to the total surface area of the LV as well as HE and immunohistological staining of the myocardium. Results (1) In the 4~(th) week, the ratio of ventricular weight to body weight in the treatment group was smaller (P

Objective To investigate the protection of metformin on kidney in non-diabetic hypertension elderly.Methods The patients was divided into two groups;one given nifedipine ,another given nifedipine plus metformin. Three months Later,the changes of body mass index (BMI), plasma insulin, urine protein, blood urea nitrogen(BUN), blood and urine ? 2-microglobulin(? 2-MG) were examined. Results Above-markers were reduced more remarkably in nifedipine plus metformin group than that in only nifedipine group(P

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the serum of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI),and also to explore the relationship between VEGF and creatine kinase (CK) levels in AMI.Methods 25 patients with AMI and 12 controls were used for this study. Serum was isolated from peripheral blood on day 1, 5, 10 and15 after the onset of AMI. VEGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA).Results Serum VEGF levels elevated gradually after the onset of AMI and reached a peak on day 10, which was significantly higher than that of control group (178 9?48 9)pg/ml vs(64 9?16 7)pg/ml,P

Objective To observe the dynamic change of the intimal proliferation in balloon-injured rabbit carotid arteries to explore the mechanism of restenosis. Methods 40 healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into experiment groupsⅠ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ and control group, each group containing 10 rabbits. Right carotid artery was injured with PTCA balloon in the experiment groups. 10 rabbits in each experiment group were killed on 1, 2 and 4 weeks after injury. Morphological change of injured intimae was examined by light microscope and analyzed using a computerized imaging analysis system. Results In experiment group, neointimal areas were significantly more than those in control group(P

Objective To investigate IL-18 expression of monocyte cells and the inhibition effect of fluvastation on its expression in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS). Methods Isolated monocyte cells from peripheral blood of patients with ACS were incubated with different concentrations of fluvastatin, and IL-18 mRNA level of the monocyte cells was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results The monocyte cells of peripheral blood in patients with ACS expressed IL-18 mRNA. IL-18 mRNA decreased from 54 1?9 9 to 50 1?12 6(P

Objective To observe the effect of anxiety and depression on cell adhesion molecules and fibrolytic activity in cardiac-pacing patients. Methods The levels of plasma P-selectin, E-selectin, sICAM-1, vWF and PAI-1 were measured in 39 cardiac-pacing patients with anxiety or depression as rersearch group, 32 cases cardiac-pacing patients without any psychological problems as observation control group and 20 healthy subjects as normal control group. Result The levels of plasma P-selectin, E-selectin, sICAM-1, vWF and PAI-1 in cardiac-pacing patients were significantly higher than those in normal control group, and their plasma levels in the patients with anxiety or depression were significantly higher than those in the patients without psychological problems. Conclusion There were significantly elevated cell adhesion molecules level and decreased fibrolytic activity in cardiac-pacing patients. The anxety and depression status could aggregate this condition.