OBJECTIVETo observe the activity of peripheral blood monocytes (PBMs) derived macrophage scavenger receptors (MSR) and changes of serum inflammatory factor in peripheral blood in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), and to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on the MSR activity, to explore the relationship between inflammatory factor and scavenger receptors activity as well as the possible mechanism of GBE in stabilizing the atheromatous plaque.

METHODSNinety-seven CHD patients with normal blood lipids were classified into the stable angina group, the unstable angina group and the acute myocardial infarction group, and 29 healthy persons were taken as control. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in all subjects were determined. And their PBMs were isolated, cultured in vitro, and transferred into macrophage to observe the effect of GBE on the expression of scavenger receptors.

RESULTSThe levels of MSR activity, CRP, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in patients with acute myocardial infarction > unstable angina > stable angina > control.

CONCLUSIONGBE could down-regulate the MSR activity in CHD patients, which was positively correlated with levels of CRP, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. MSR activity could be taken as a monitoring criteria for active degree of vulnerable atherosclerosis plaque. GBE has the effect of suppressing MSR activity.

Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Receptors, Immunologic ; blood ; Receptors, Scavenger ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the differences in the clinical therapeutic effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA) between the modified acupuncture and the routine acupuncture at unilateral/bilateral Renying (ST 9) as well as the impacts on the concentrations of plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and urotensinⅡ(UⅡ) in the patients.

METHODSA total of 160 patients were divided into a modified bilateral acupuncture group, a modified unilateral acupuncture group, a routine bilateral acupuncture group and a routine unilateral acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one according to the random number table. In the modified bilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the modified unilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine bilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine unilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). The treatment was given once every day, continuously for 6 days as one course. Two courses of treatment were required at the interval of 1 day. In each group, before and after treatment, we observed the peak systolic blood flow velocity (Vs) of the vertebral artery (VA) and the basilar artery (BA), cervical vertigo symptoms and functional assessment scales (ESCV) and the concentration of plasma NPY and UⅡ. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among the groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the clinical therapeutic effect in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was 90.0% (36/40), which was better than 80.0% (32/40) in the modified unilateral acupuncture group, 77.5% (35/40) in the routine bilateral acupuncture group and 65.0% (26/40) in the routine unilateral acupuncture group (all <0.05). After treatment, Vs of VA and BA was improved remarkably in every group (all <0.01), and the result in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was higher than those in the other groups (all <0.01). After treatment, ESCV scores were all increased remarkably in every group (all <0.01). ESCV score and improvement index in the modified bilateral acupuncture group were all higher than those in the other groups (<0.05, <0.01). After treatment, the concentrations of plasma NPY and UⅡ were all reduced remarkably in every group (all <0.01) and the differences were significant among the groups (all <0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe modified bilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) effectively regulates the blood supply of the vertebral basilar artery and improves the cerebral circulation. The effects are superior to those of the unilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Neuropeptide Y ; blood ; Spondylosis ; blood ; therapy ; Urotensins ; blood ; Vertebral Artery