Objective To explore the mechanism and effect of miR-146a on alveolar macrophages and to observe the changes of miR-146a expression in the LPS-induced alveolar macrophages. Method NR8383 alveolar macrophages were divided into LPS-stimulated group and control group, and the cells of former group were treated with LPS ( 1 μg/mL) and then incubated for 3 h, 6 h and 12 h, respectively. The level of TNF-α in the supernatant of cells was assayed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expression of miR-146a of cells was detected by using Real-Time PCR (TaqMan probe).Statistical analysis carried out by using SPSS 13.0 software package in which One-way ANOVA and Student's t-test were used. Results Compared with control group, the levels of TNF-α in the supernatant of cells were significantly increased 3 h, 6 h and 12 h after LPS challenge (P ＜ 0.01 ). The expression of miR-146a increased 6 h and 12 h after LPS stimulation in NR8383 cells( P ＜0.01 ), and it had an upward tendency.Conclusions The expression of miR-146a in alveolar macrophages increases after LPS-stimulation. It hints miR-146a may be involved in the regulation of the inflammatory responses produced by alveolar macrophages.

Objective To evaluate the effect of pitavastatin on blood glucose in patients with hypercholesterolemia,and to investigate the efficacy of pitavastatin in diabetic patients combined with hypercholesterolemia.Method This study was a 12-week,multi-center,open-label,without parallel-group comparison,phase Ⅳ clinical trail.Results Contrasting to baseline,the prevalences at week 4 and 12 post-treatment of abnormal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin Alc (HbA1c)( FPG:14.2％ vs 14.1％ and 11.0％ ; HbA1c:14.3％ vs 15.1％ and 16.1％ ) in the safety set subjects without diabetes mellitus (DM),as well as in those with DM but not taking glucose-lowering drugs (FPG:7/7 vs 4/7 and 5/7; HbAlc:5/5 vs 4/4 and 5/5) had no significant changes (all P vaules ＞0.05).Contrasting to baseline,the levels of TC [ (6.51±0.94) mmol/L vs (5.12 ±0.93) mmol/L and (4.54 ±1.00) mmol/L],LDL-C [(4.11 ±0.79)mmol/L vs (3.02 ±0.81) mmol/L and (2.51 ±0.70)mmol/L] and TG [2.10(1.53,2.54) mmol/L vs 1.62(1.26,2.00) mmol/L and 1.35(1.10,1.86)mmol/L]at week 4 and 12 post-treatment in the per protocol set 55 subjects with DM were significantly reduced (all P values ＜ 0.05 ) ; 33.3％ of subjects at high risk and 10.0％ of subjects at very high risk had achieved a TC target value; 55.6％ of subjects at high risk and 40.0％ of subjects at very high risk had achieved a LDL-C target value.Conclusion Pitavastatin has a safe effect on blood glucose and it could be used to treat diabetic patients combined with hypercholesterolemia in China.

In this study, we observed the levels of adrenomedullin (ADM) and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) in myocardium and aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) in comparison with Wistar-kyoto (WKY) rats. Contents of ADM and PAMP were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in plasma, myocardium and aorta. The amount of Pro-ADM mRNA of myocardium and aorta was determined by competitive quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In SHRs the amounts of Pro-ADM mRNA of myocardium and aorta were 66.7% (P<0.01) and 73% (P<0.01) higher than those in WKY rat, respectively. In SHRs, the levels of ADM in plasma, myocardium and aorta were 29%, 76.7% and 79% (all P<0.01) higher than those in WKY rats, respectively. The level of PAMP in SHRs was increased by 42.5% in plasma (P<0.01), 47.2% in myocardium (P<0.0.1) and 27.3% in aorta (P<0.05) compared to WKY rats, respectively. In addition, the ratio of ADM content to PAMP content in SHRs group was increased compared with that in WKY group (2.0+/-0.25 vs 1.64+/-0.3 and 2.2+/-0.18 vs 1.56+/-0.28, in myocardium and aorta, respectively, P<0.01). These results suggest that ProADM gene expression is up-regulated and the increase in ADM and PAMP is different in SHRs. The significance of inconsistency of increase in ADM and PAMP in SHRs needs to be further investigated.
Adrenomedullin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Up-Regulation

Objective To determine kinetics of TNF-α and miR-146a (microRNA-146a)expressions in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NR8383 alveolar macrophages (AM) at different intervals and their relationships in order to explore regulatory effect and mechanism of miR-146a on alveolar macrophages inflammatory responses.Methods NR8383 alveolar macrophages were seeded in a 6-well plate,and stimulated with 1 μg/ml of LPS for 0 h,3 h,6 h and 12 h separately after 90 min.Cells were harvested and supernatant were collected 0 h,3 h,6 h and 12 h after incubation.The expressions of miR146a and TNF-α mRNA in cells were detected by real-time qPCR and the levels of TNF-α protein in the supematant of cells were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ).Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between miR-146a and TNF-α mRNA.Results ①The level of TNF-α protein in the supernatant of cell was significantly increased 3 h after LPS challenge ( 359.80 ±57.54) pg/ml (P ＜0.01 ),and peaked 12 h later (729.22 ±50.40) pg/ml (P＜0.01 ) ; ②the expression of TNF-α mRNA peaked 3 h after LPS challenge (67.48 ±24.52) fold,P ＜0.01 ),and then decreased gradually; ③the expression of miR-146a mRNA increased continuously until 6 h or 12 h after LPS challenge 6 h:(5.33 ±0.81) fold,12 h:(8.21 ±1.19) fold,(P＜0.01),and it showed an upward tendency;④ the expression of miR-146a mRNA was negatively correlated with TNF-α mRNA ( r =-0.895,P ＜0.01).Conclusions The miR-146a mRNA showed a negative correlation with TNF-α mRNA present in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated alveolar macrophages,suggesting miR-146a mRNA involved in regulating the inflammatory response of alveolar macrophages.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Magnolia grandiflora L..METHODS The ethyl acetate fracion of 70％ acetone extract from M.grandiflora leaves was isolated and purified by silica,Sephadex LH-20 and MCI column,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by spectral data.RESULTS Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as 10α-methoxyalloaromadendra-4β-ol (1),spathulenol (2),aromadendra-4β,10β-diol (3),aromadendra-4β,10α-diol (4),9-oxonerolidol (5),9-hydroxynerolidol (6),3,7-dimethylocta-1,5E-diene-3,7-diol (7),phytol (8),α-tocopherol (9),elemicin (10),syringaresinol (11),yangambin (12).CONCLUSION Compounds 1,3-6,8 are isolated from genus Magnolia for the first time,compounds 7,9,10,12 are first isolated from this plant.

The alterations of taurine transport and the expression of taurine transporter (TAUT) mRNA in myocardium and aortic wall were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. It was demonstrated that plasma taurine concentration and taurine release from myocardium and aortic wall in SHR were higher than those in WKY rats, whereas taurine content, taurine uptake and TAUT mRNA in myocardium and aortic wall of SHR were lower than those of WKY rats. In SHR, the maximal velocity (V(max)) of taurine transportation in myocardium and aortic wall was lower by 24% (P<0.05) and 35% (P<0.05) than that in WKY, their michaelis constants (Km) values were higher by 16% (P<0.05) and 39% (P<0.05), respectively. The results suggest that there is dysfunction of taurine transport in myocardium and aortic wall in SHR, which may be partly resulted from the decrease of TAUT activity and affinity, and down-regulation of TAUT gene expression.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Heart ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Taurine ; metabolism

To explore the changes in adrenomedullin (ADM) and receptor activity-modifying protein 2 (RAMP2) mRNA in myocardium and vessels in hypertension, a hypertensive rat model was prepared by administering L-NNA. Contents of ADM in plasma, myocardium and vessels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The levels of pro-ADM mRNA of myocardium and vessels were determined by competitive quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that L-NNA induced hypertension and cardiomegaly. The ratio of heart to body weight increased by 35.5% (P<0.01). In hypertensive rats the ir-ADM in plasma, myocardium and vessels was increased by 80%, 72% and 57% (P<0.01), respectively compared with the control. The amounts of ADM mRNA in myocardium and vessels were increased by 50% and 109.2% (P<0.05), respectively, and the amounts of RAMP2 mRNA was increased by 132% and 87% (P<0.01), respectively, compared with control. The levels of ADM in myocardium and vessels were positively correlated with RAMP2 mRNA, the correlation coefficients were 0.741 and 0.885 (P<0.01), respectively. The results obtained indicate that in hypertensive rats, ADM is elevated in plasma, myocardium and ves-myocardium and vessel, and ADM and RAMP2 mRNA are up-regulated in myocardium and vessel. The ADM/RAMP2 system may play an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension.
Adrenomedullin ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Nitroarginine ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo observe the alterations of taurine transport, taurine transporter (TAUT) and cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD) mRNA in the calcification of myocardial cells in vitro.

METHODS3H-taurine measured the amount of taurine uptake. TAUT and CSD mRNA consents were measured using competitive quantitative RT-PCR in cultured and calcified myocardial cells.

RESULTSIn calcification of myocardial cells, taurine concentration was decreased by 27% (P < 0.05), taurine uptake was markedly reduced, Vmax reduced by 39% (P < 0.01), there were no statistical significance of Km values between the two groups. TAUT mRNA decreased by 45% (P < 0.01), but CSD mRNA increased by 25% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe data suggest that there were impediment of taurine transport in calcification of myocardial cells, as TAUT mRNA level was decreased, but CSD mRNA concentration was improved.

Animals ; Biological Transport ; Calcinosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Carboxy-Lyases ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Taurine ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the relationship between marital status and prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) among Beijing residents.Methods From May to August 2007,10 054 residents were interviewed to collect demographic and biochemistry information.Generalized linear mixed model was used to determine the relationship between marital status and prevalence of PAD in terms of OR and corresponding 95％ confidence intervals.Results After adjusting the traditional risk factors including age,area,lipid,serum glucose,blood pressure,central obesity,smoking,drinking and physical activities for PAD,relationship between marital status and prevalence of PAD was found both at the female and male groups of those with 45 years or older.Compared with married men,OR and 95％ confidence interval of PAD for unmarried men were 1.56 (0.39 - 6.35 ) and 1.61 (0.77 - 3.35 ) for those with 45 years younger and older respectively,while compared with married women,OR and 95％ confidence interval of PAD for unmarried women were 0.75 ( 0.22 - 2.57 ) and 1.78 ( 1.23 - 2.58 ) for those with 45 years younger and older respectively.Significant differences ( all P ＜ 0.01 ) were found between married and unmarried women of 45 years or older in terms of age,waist circumstances,systolic blood pressure,fasting glucose,total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein and smoking.Conclusions Peripheral arterial disease was related to marital status for women of 45 years or older among Beijing residents.Estrogen level and the distribution of other PAD risk factors might contribute to the observed finding.

Objective To explore the relationship and interaction of elevated fasting glucose and hypertension on cardiocerebral vascular disease.Methods 10 054 males and females were recruited for our cross-sectional study during May 2007 to August 2007.Unconditional logistic regression was used to analysis the relationship between fasting glucose and hypertension on cardiocerebral vascular disease.A product of fasting glucose and hypertension was added to the logistic regression model to evaluate the multiplicative interaction and relative excess risk of interaction(RERI),attributable proportion(AP)of interaction and synergy index(S)was applied to evaluate the additive interaction of the two factors.Bootstrap was used to calculate 95％ confidence intervals(CI)of RERI,AP and S.Results After adjusting age,gender,smoking,drinking,body mass index(BMI)and region,the product of fasting glucose and hypertension was not statistically significant,which means there was no multiplicative interaction between the two.But the additive indexes RERI,AP and S with 95％ CI of diabetes and hypertension were 0.64(0.03,1.25),0.27(0.01,O.47)and 1.83(1.02,5.13)respectively,which means significant additive interaction was shown between the two on cardiovascular disease but not no stroke.And there were no additive interaction bmtween impaired fasting glucose on cardiovascular disease or stroke.Conclusions Hypertension was independently related to cardiovascular disease and stroke in Beijing citizens,and diabetes were independently related to stroke.There was additive interaction between diabetes and hypertension on cardiovascular disease.