OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone and arteriosclerosis in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

METHODSForty premenopausal and 40 postmenopausal women were examined for serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone and intima-media thickness of the carotid artery, and the serum concentrations of lipids, estrogen, endothelin, and E-selectin were also measured.

RESULTSCompared with premenopausal women, the mean intima-media thickness was increased but dehydroepiandrosterone and estrogen levels were decreased in postmenopausal women. A significant inverse correlation was detected between the intima-media thicknesses and dehydroepiandrosterone level. The postmenopausal women had decreased antioxidation and elevated low-density lipoprotein level.

CONCLUSIONArteriosclerosis is more likely to occur in women with low dehydroepiandrosterone level which causes decreased antioxidation and elevation of blood lipid levels.

Adult ; Arteriosclerosis ; blood ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; blood ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause ; blood ; Premenopause ; blood

Objective To observe the changes of multi-noninvasive indexes including endothelial function, arterial flexibility, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and serum inflammatory cytokines in patients with mild coronary stenosis. Methods One hundred and five patients were divided into three groups according to the result of coronary angiography: coronary heart disease (stenosis ≥ 50% in at least one coronary segment), mild coronary stenosis (stenosis < 50% in at least one coronary segment) and control group (normal coronary). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI), reflecting arterial flexibility and the lower extremity vascular disease respectively, were measured by a Colin system, carotid artery IMT was detected echocardiographically. Serum levels of NO, vWF, hs-CRP were measured before coronary angiography in all patients. Results baPWV [(1482±155) cm/s vs. (1249±158)cm/s] and carotid IMT [(0.88±0.18)mm vs. (0.72±0.20) mm] were significantly higher while serum levels of NO [(64±17) μmol/L vs. (83±17) μmol/L] was significantly lower in mild coronary stenosis group than those in control group (all P<0.05). vWF, ABI and hs-CRP were similar between the two groups (all P> 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that NO, baPWV, smoking are independent predicting factors for mild coronary stenosis (all P < 0.05) . Conclusions Endothelial dysfunction, reduction of the arterial flexibility as well as increased serum inflammation were associated with mild coronary stenosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling(SOCS)-3 and caspase-3 and their correlative significance in endometriosis.

METHODSImmunohistochemical EnVision method was used to detect the SOCS-3 and caspase-3 protein expression in ectopic and eutopic endometrium (n = 32) of patients with endometriosis, as well as normal endometrium (n = 30) of women without endometriosis.

RESULTSSOCS-3 and caspase-3 proteins were expressed in all three groups and not affected by the menstrual cycles. The expression of SOCS-3 in ectopic endometrium (5.54 ± 2.12) was significantly lower than that in eutopic (7.39 ± 1.09, P = 0.001) and control group (7.48 ± 1.26, P < 0.01), but without difference between the eutopic and control group (P = 0.756). SOCS-3 expression in ectopic and eutopic endometrium was significantly lower in III/IV stages than that in I/II stages of endometriosis (P < 0.05). Significantly lower expression of caspase-3 protein was found in ectopic (3.20 ± 1.24) and eutopic endometrium (3.88 ± 1.93) as compared with the control group (6.49 ± 1.85, P < 0.01), however ectopic and eutopic endometrium showed no significant difference (t = 1.66, P = 0.10). There was no significant difference of the expression of caspase-3 in ectopic and eutopic endometrium at different disease stages (P > 0.05). Positive correlation was found between the expression of SOCS-3 and caspase-3 proteins in ectopic endometrium (r = 0.655, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSOCS-3 may be involved in the development of endometriosis through inhibition of apoptosis of ectopic endometrial cells.

Adult ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endometrium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Menstrual Cycle ; Middle Aged ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; metabolism ; Uterine Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of sexual dysfunction with psychological abnormalities by analyzing the sexual function and mental state of the patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis.

METHODSThis study included 216 randomly selected patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis and 85 normal male controls. We conducted investigations among the subjects using a questionnaire on the general data of the patients, Chinese Index of Sexual Function for Premature Ejaculation (CIPE), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90). Then we assessed the status of premature ejaculation (PE) and erectile dysfunction (ED), calculated the incidence of psychological abnormalities, such as depression and anxiety, and analyzed the correlation of PE and ED with the mental state of the patients.

RESULTSThe PE and ED patients scored significantly higher than normal controls on SCL-90, somatization, compulsion, depression, anxiety and other factors (P < 0.05). CIPE scores were correlated with the scores on SCL-90, somatization, compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety and other factors, while ED-related scores showed no correlation with the scores on SCL-90 and other factors.

CONCLUSIONPatients with redundant prepuce or phimosis have poor mental health, and there is an interaction between PE and the mental state of the patient.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phimosis ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ; physiopathology ; psychology

Objective To investigate the prevalence of transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) co-infection in cervical smears of patients with cervical lesions in littoral of Zhejiang province and analysis of transmitted route.Methods Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was established.TTV DNA were tested by nPCR in cervical smears of 95 patients with cervical lesions and 55 healthy women,paired serum samples were available from 55 and 42 women,and their viral titer.The genotypes of 95 specimens of cervical cytology were detected with HybriMax.The phylogenetic group of TTV was determined by means of nPCR with N22 primers.Results The prevalence of TTV DNA in cervical smears of patients with cervical lesions and healthy women was 52.7% (29/55) and was comparable with that in paired serum sample (50%).Symptomatic women had significantly higher prevalence of TTV DNA in cervical smears (74.7%)than healthy controls (P=0.005).The TTV DNA prevalence in patient serum samples was 51%.The phyiogenetic groups of TTV serum isolates were concordant with those of TTV from cervical smears of the same subjects,and genotype was G1b.The TTV viral titer in cervical smears were 10 to 1000 times as high as in serum.The total infection rate of HPV was 98.9% in patients,and was 27.3% in healthy women.The frequently detected genotype was HPV16,18,33 of HSIL,and HPV6 of LSIL.The HPV positive study subjects had significantly higher TTV DNA prevalence than HPV negatives (P=0.02).Conclusion High prevalence of TTV in cervical smears suggests that sexual transmission is another mode of expansion of TTV infection among the population.The higher viral titer in cervical smears than in the respective serum samples might indicate active TTV replication in the female genital tract.Nevertheless,cooperation between TTV and HPV needs to be further investigated.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction combined with western medicine on elderly patients with refractory hypertension.Methods A total of 120 elderly patients with refractory hypertension were randomly divided into treatment group (n =60) and control group (n =60).Control group was given propranolol 5-10 mg orally,tid or qid;captopril 12.5 mg orally bid or tid;indapamide 2.5 mg orally qd.Treatment group was given Xuefu Zhuyu decoction 100 mL · d-1,bid on the basis of control group.All patients were treated for 90 d.The clinical symptoms and blood pressure were compared before and after treatment.Results The clinical efficacy was 95.00％ (57/60 cases) and 78.33％ (47/60 cases,P ＜0.05).After treatment,the systolic blood pressure (SBP) were (130.09 ±9.95),(113.08 ±15.24) mmHg in control group and treatment group,and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were (84.40 ±9.05),(81.02 ±6.56) mmHg (P ＜0.05).There was 1 case of dizziness in control group,and no adverse drag reaction occurred in treatment group,with no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Xuefu Zhuyu decoction combined with western medicine maybe an effective treatment on elderly patients with refractory hypertension.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of coronary artery spasm patients with or without myocardial bridge and explore the roles of endothelial dysfunction in these patients.Methods One hundred eighteen patients undergone acetylcholine provoking test were divided into myocardial bridge(MB)group(n=26)and non-myocardial bridge(NMB) group(n=92).The results of acetylcholine test,treadmill exercise electrocardiography,stress myocardial peffusion scintigraphy,plasma level of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide were compared between MB group and NMB group.Results Coronary artery spasm was induced in 21 patients in MB group(81%)and 52 patients in NMB group(57%,P＜0.05).Positive treadmill electrocardiography was obtained in 19 patients in MB group(73%)and 7 patients in NMB group (8%,P＜0.001).Ischemic perfusion defect in 20(77%)and 9 patients(10%,P＜0.001)and reverse redistribution in 23(88%)and 68 patients(74%,P＞0.05).Patients showed different clinical features in MB group and NMB group(more short-duration exertional angina and could not be readily released by nitroglycerine in MB group while more patients experienced long-lasting variant angina and symptoms could be readily released by nitroglycerine).Plasma endothelin-1 level was significantly higher[(132.1±6.5)ns/L vs.(108.5±8.2)ng/L,P＜0.01]while nitric oxide was significant lower[(84.7±17.5)ns/L vs.(99.8±18.2)ng/L,P＜0.05]in MB group compared to NMB group.Conclusion MB patients were prone to coronary artery spasm partly due to endothelial dysfunction.Patients with MB and coronary artery spasm also showed classic clinical symptoms and positive stress tests for ischemia.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of a new synthetic tripeptide [Arg(NO(3))- Lys(OCH(3))- Arg(NO(3))] on L-arginine/NO pathway in the macrophage cell strain RAW246.7.

METHODSThe cultured macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 microg/L) treatment were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=6) and treated with distilled water, 1x10(-4) mol/L tripeptide and 1x10(-4) mol/L L-arginine, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) for 24 h, respectively. The macrophages were incubated for 24 h with LPS (1 microg/L) and in the presence of different concentrations of L-arginine (0 to 2 mmol/L), or in normal culture medium (containing 0.5 mmol/L L-arginine) for 24 h with LPS (1 microg/L) and in the presence of tripeptide of 0 to 10x10(-4) mol/L. The changes of [(3)H]-L-arginine transport and NO production from the macrophages were measured.

RESULTNO release from macrophages incubated in the LPS-containing culture medium was 50 folds, and [(3)H]-L-arginine uptake 2.7 folds that in cells in normal culture medium. Tripeptide (1x10(-4) mol/L) inhibited [(3)H]-L-arginine transport and NO production by 67% and 71% respectively. The effect of tripeptide was stronger than L-NMMA (P<0.05). Extracellular L-arginine caused a concentration-dependent increase in nitrite production, which reached the maximum at concentrations above 0.5 mmol/L Km for nitrite production of 0.162+/-0.015 mmol/L and Vmax of 91.2+/-2.3 micromol/(24h.10(6) cells). L-arginine transport and NO production were inhibited by tripeptide, but their dose-dependent pattern of changes was different with EC50 of 0.21x10(-4) mol/L and 1.27x10(-4) mol/L, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSActivation of macrophages with LPS induces nitrite accumulation in the culture medium, which is dependent on the presence of extracellular L-arginine. The tripeptide induces dysfunction of L-arginine/NO pathway in macrophages, potently inhibits L-arginine transport and competitively combine the active sites of nitric oxide synthase.

Arginine ; metabolism ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of aqueous extract of several kinds of herbs on human platelet aggregation and expression of P-selectin in vitro.

METHODSBlood was collected from volunteers. Effects of the prepared water extracts of herbs on platelet aggregation were monitored on a Packs-4 aggregometer. The fluorescence intensity of water extracts of Caulis Spatholobi, Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae on the expression of P-selectin in human platelets of healthy persons was measured with flow cytometry.

RESULTSOut of several herbs investigated, Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae potently inhibited platelet aggregation after incubation with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for 15 min. Caulis Spatholobi Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae inhibited adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP) or platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced platelet aggregation in PRP in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae, Caulis Spatholobi could not inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Despite its inability to inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in PRP, Caulis Spatholobi had a greater anti-aggregating activity in PRP induced by ADP or PAF. Caulis Spatholobi and Flos Carthami showed significant inhibitory effects on the expression of P-selectin.

CONCLUSIONSCaulis Spatholobi, Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae have potent anti-platelet properties, and their inhibitory actions are mediated via different mechanisms. Caulis Spatholobi inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation but not by thrombin, indicating that its mechanism of action might be independent of the thromboxane pathway. The effect of Caulis Spatholobi and Flos Carthami were associated with suppressing the expression of P-selectin.

Adult ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Humans ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Function Tests ; Water ; chemistry ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tachycardia ; surgery