Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the contemporary society. Cardiac gene therapy has already been investigated in clinical studies profoundly. Adenovirus vector could transfer the gene efficiently, but low organ specificity and immuno- genie properties limited its application, With adenovims vector improved in the last few years, the third adenovims vector is probably the most potential vector systems for cardiovascular disease. This review will give a broad overview of the molecular basis of the adenovims vectors, their advantages, the development of increasingly efficient gene transfer approach, and experimental and clinical studies targeting the heart, application barriers and modified strategies.

Objective To study the influence of perdipine on the proliferation and proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK_ 2 ) expression in cultured adult rat cardiac fibroblast stimulated by angiotensin Ⅱ, and to explore the mechanism of perdipine on cardiac fibrosis. Methods Adult rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were treated with angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) to establish fibrosis model. The effects of perdipine on proliferation of CFs were analysed by MTT colorimetric assay, and fibronectin was tested by immunohistochemistry method. PYK_ 2 mRNA and protein level were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis respectively. Results Perdipine inhibited CFs proliferation and fibronectin synthesis stimulated by angiotensin Ⅱ in a dose dependent, and the levels of PYK_2 mRNA and protein were decreased significantly. Conclusion Perdipine can inhibit cardiac fibrosis stimulated by angiotensin Ⅱ by suppressing CFs proliferation and fibronectin synthesis. PYK_2 is involved in the effect of perdipine.

Objective To design and construct the vector of protein-rich tyrosine kinase 2 small RNA interference and investigate the effect of the recombinant plasmid on the proliferation of adult rat cardiac fibroblasts. Methods The pAVU6+27-PYK_2 siRNA expression vector was constructed by gene recombination, then transfected into the cultured adult rat cardiac fibroblasts by DOTAP method. PYK_2 mRNA and protein in cardiac fibroblasts were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. Cell proliferation was tested by MTT and ~3H-TdR incorporation. Results The pAVU6+27-PYK_2 siRNA expression vector was successfully constructed. The recombinant plasmid can inhibit the proliferation of adult rat cardiac fibroblasts, as compared with control. Conclusion pAVU6+27-PYK_2 siRNA expression vector is efficient to suppress DNA synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts, which will be beneficial to further study of myocardial fibrosis.

Adenoma ; Adult ; Ear Neoplasms ; Ear, Middle ; pathology ; Humans ; Male

Objective To approach the expressions and the roles of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinases (MT1-MMP) in valve disease with pressure overload which induces extracellular matrix remodeling of left ventricle. MethodsOf 32 patients, 16 cases were pressure overload group (PO), who had the multiple valve disease with predominately aortic valve stenosis, having a ring diameter of aorta valve less than 1.3 cm, cross valve pressure gradient equal or more than 40 mmHg, and valvular regurgitation less than 4.0 cm2; The other 16 cases, as mitral stenosis group (MS), were simple mitral stenosis patients with single valve replacement. Meanwhile, 5 normal individuals served as control, who died from accident. Echocardiography was used to analyze the left ventricular function and detect the hypertrophic level of the left ventricle. Left ventricle muscle samples were obtained during operation. Histological features were studied by Masson staining, and collagenous contents were quantitated with a computer-assisted imaging analysis system. The mRNA expressions of CTGF and MT1-MMP were detected with RT-PCR. ResultsConcentric hypertrophy was observed significant in PO group, but myocardial hypertrophy was not found in MS group. Compare to the MS group and control, PO group had significantly more collagenous contents in left ventricle, thickened vessel wall, and narrow lumen of blood vessel (P0.05), but CTGF mRNA expression was increased in MS group compare to control (P

Objective To study the role of survivin in the incidence of pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease (CHD) of left-to-right shunt. Methods Forty-nine cases were divided into 4 groups according to mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), that is, non-hypertension group, mild hypertension group, medium hypertension group, and severe hypertension group. Their lung tissue samples were collected during heart surgery. TUNEL technique and immunohistochemical analysis were respectively used to detect nuclear DNA fragment of apoptotic cells and the expression of survivin, bcl-2 and bax. Western blotting also was conducted to detect survivin expression. Results The pulmonary wall of CHD patients with medium or severe pulmonary hypertension became significant incrassate. The apoptotic index and expression level of bax were significantly decreased but surviving and bcl-2 expressions were significantly increased in CHD with medium or severe pulmonary hypertension. Survivin expression was significant correlation with percentage media wall thickness and apoptotic index. Conclusion Apoptosis associated with survivin plays an important role in pulmonary artery remodeling after pulmonary hypertension of CHD.

OBJECTIVETo explore action mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Fenglong" (ST 40) for treatment of hyperlipidemia.

METHODSForty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group (group A), a model group (group B), a model diet-control group (group C), a model + EA group (group D) and model diet-control + EA group (group E), 8 cases in each one. The rats in group A were fed with normal diet continuously while those in the rest 4 groups were fed with high-fat diet to establish hyperlipidemia model. Afterwards, the rats in group C and group E were fed with normal diet, while EA at "Fenglong" (ST 40) was applied in group D and group E, 30 min per time, once a day. After 28 days of treatment, macrophage was collected in each group. Oil red O-staining was applied to detect the formation of foam cells, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISE) was adopted to measure the contents of total cholesterol (TC) in macrophage and analyze the rate of cholesterol efflux.

RESULTSThe counts of positive cells of oil red O-staining and the contents of TC in the group B, group C and group D were significantly increased compared with those in the group A (all P < 0.01). The counts of positive cells and contents of TC in the group C, group D and group E were significantly clecreased compared with those in the group B (all P < 0.01), and the decline in group D was more obvious than that in the group C (all P < 0.01). Compared with group C and group D, the counts of positive cells and contents of TC in the group E was obviously decreased (all P < 0.01), which was not statistically different from group A (P > 0.05). In the meantime, compared with group C, the rate of cholesterol efflux in group D and group E was significantly increased (both P < 0.01), and the rise in group E was more obvious than that in the group D.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture at "Fenglong" (ST 40) could significantly prohibit the transformation of macrophage into foam cell and increase rate of cholesterol efflux in macrophage, which could prevent and reverse the formation of foam cell and play an essential role in treating hyperlipidemia and stopping it from developing into a further level.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Foam Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; therapy ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

In order to evaluate the characteristic of porous starch (PS) as the solid dispersions carrier of the total Epimedium flavonoids (TEF), the PS was used. The dissolution of icariin was selected as an indicator to analyze the differences of dissolution between TEF and its solid dispersion. TEF was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Solid dispersion was irregular block and no powder characteristics of TEF and PS could be seen in SEM, DSC and XRD analysis suggested that TEF may be present in solid dispersion as amorphous substance. The dissolution rate of icariin has been improved significantly when the proportion of TEF and PS was 1:2. PS as a traditional solid dispersion carrier is worthy of further study.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Porosity ; Solubility ; Starch ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

Biofilms are microbial communities which are enclosed within a matrix of exopolysaccharides produced by the bacteria,fungi and protozoa growing intimately on a living or inert surfaces.Further researches on bcterial biofilms formation and molecular machines,pathogenic mechanisms (especially drug resistance),detection and treatment maybe provide novel pathways to refractory infections caused by bcterial biofilms.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) and tumor burden. Methods: 100 cases of healthy volunteers,high risk of malignancy (family history of malignant tumors),without site lesions in patients with malignant tumor after operation,patients with stable disease after treatment,newly diagnosed malignancies were enrolled respectively,and recorded as control group,high-risk group,operation group,stable group and newly diagnosed group. The serum VEGF levels in the groups were quantitatively detected respectively,and the peripheral blood CD4+and CD8+were measured,then the CD4+/CD8+was calculated. The increasing rates and grading of VEGF, the serum VEGF levels and the CD4+/CD8+values were compared. Results: There was a significant difference in serum VEGF classification among the groups (P＜0. 05). The increasing rates of serum VEGF and the serum VEGF levels in the high-risk group,the operation group,the stable group and the newly diagnosed group were much higher than those in the control group (P＜0. 05),of which the CD4+and CD4+/CD8+values were much lower than those in the control group ( P＜0. 05) . The increasing rates of serum VEGF and the levels of serum VEGF in the operation group,the stable group and the newly diagnosed group were much higher than those in the high-risk group (P＜0. 05),of which the CD4+and CD4+/CD8+values were much lower than those in the high-risk group (P＜0. 05). The increasing rates of serum VEGF and the levels of serum VEGF in the stable group and the newly diagnosed group were much higher than those in the operation group (P＜0. 05),of which the CD4+and CD4+/CD8+values were much lower than those in the operation group (P＜0. 05). The increasing rates of serum VEGF and the level of serum VEGF in the newly diagnosed group were much higher than those in the stable group (P＜0. 05),of which the CD4+and CD4+/CD8+value were much lower than those in the stable group (P＜0. 05). The CD4+levels in the stable group and the newly diagnosed group were much lower than those in the control group,high-risk group,operation group (P＜0. 05). In the newly diagnosed group,serum VEGF level was negatively correlated with CD4+/CD8+(r=-0. 578,P＜0. 05). Conclusion: The level of serum VEGF in patients with malignant tumor increase in varying degrees,which also has certain relationships with cellular immune function,and it has reference value to determine the effect of the control of the tumor.