Objective To assess the relationship between coronary plaques and risk factor of coronary heart disease in a asymptomatic population.Methods A total of 604 in-patients who received coronary computerized tomography angiography (CCTA) during January 1 th,2010 and April 1 th,2011 were enrolled in this study and assigned to the non-lesion group (0),mild lesion group (0 ＜ score ≤ 5) andmoderate-severe lesion group (＞ 5) according to the third quartile of CCTA score.Clinical data including physical examination,laboratory test,ultrasound sonogram and discharge diagnoses were collected and compared between the groups.Multivariable linear regression and bivariate logistic regression were performed to find out the main risk factors of coronary heart disease.ROC curve was drawn to estimate the diagnostic value of coronary lesions.Results There were 240 individuals in the non-lesion group,271 in the mild lesion group,93 in the moderate-severe lesion group.Multivariable linear regression indicated Y =-6.56 +3.22 × mean carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) + 1.106 × male + 0.597 × low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) + 0.116 × age-1.596 × high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).Bivariate logistic regression and ROC curve showed that mean cIMT was the main risk factor of coronary heart disease (odds ratio (OR) =7.19,ROC =0.730,P=0.00,95％ confidence interval (CI):0.68 to 0.78).Furthermore,major coronary lesions were located in the LAD (20.8％) and was soft plaque (42.5％).Conclusion In this investigation,60.2％ of the asymptomatic patients showed plaques in CCTA.Age,cIMT,LDL-C and HDL-C may be predictive to moderate to severe coronary artery lesions.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of integrating cancer gene therapy with therapeutic effect evaluation using siRNA-loaded nano-scale microbubbles (siRNA-NBs).

METHODSsiRNA-NBs were prepared by hetero-assembly of polymeric siRNA micelles and liposomal microbubbles, and the particle sizes and surface potentials were examined with dynamic light scattering. The distributions of cy3-labled siRNA in the tumor tissues were evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy. A siRNA targeting the anti-apoptosis gene SIRT2 was designed and its gene silencing effects was tested in vivo using siRNA-NBs with ultrasound exposure. The therapeutic effect of the loaded siRNA-NBs was evaluated by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography.

RESULTSThe siRNA-NBs had a mean diameter of 400.7 ± 30.5 nm with a weak positive charge of +8.8 ± 0.8 mV. With ultrasound exposure, siRNA-NBs effectively delivered cy3-siRNA into the cytoplasm of cancer cells and caused SIRT2 suppression and cell apoptosis in tumor tissues, resulting in significantly suppressed tumor growth. In addition, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of siRNA-NBs provided good imaging quality to allow real-time observation of blood supply during gene therapy.

CONCLUSIONSAs a novel ultrasound contrast agent, siRNA-NBs make possible the integration of tumor gene therapy and therapeutic effect evaluation for cancer.

Apoptosis ; Contrast Media ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Liposomes ; Micelles ; Microbubbles ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Particle Size ; Polymers ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Sirtuin 2 ; genetics ; Ultrasonics