Heart failure is the leading cause of death worldwide. Compound Danshen Dripping Pill (CDDP) or CDDP combined with simvastatin has been widely used to treat patients with myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases in China. However, the effect of CDDP on hypercholesterolemia/atherosclerosis-induced heart failure is unknown. We constructed a new model of heart failure induced by hypercholesterolemia/atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and LDL receptor (LDLR) dual deficient (ApoE^-/-LDLR^-/-) mice and investigated the effect of CDDP or CDDP plus a low dose of simvastatin on the heart failure. CDDP or CDDP plus a low dose of simvastatin inhibited heart injury by multiple actions including anti-myocardial dysfunction and anti-fibrosis. Mechanistically, both Wnt and lysine-specific demethylase 4A (KDM4A) pathways were significantly activated in mice with heart injury. Conversely, CDDP or CDDP plus a low dose of simvastatin inhibited Wnt pathway by markedly up-regulating expression of Wnt inhibitors. While the anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress by CDDP were achieved by inhibiting KDM4A expression and activity. In addition, CDDP attenuated simvastatin-induced myolysis in skeletal muscle. Taken together, our study suggests that CDDP or CDDP plus a low dose of simvastatin can be an effective therapy to reduce hypercholesterolemia/atherosclerosis-induced heart failure.

Adaptation, Physiological ; Adenosine Monophosphate ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Administration, Intranasal ; Alanine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Betacoronavirus ; genetics ; physiology ; Chlorocebus aethiops ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; virology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Host Specificity ; genetics ; Lung ; pathology ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mutation, Missense ; Nasal Mucosa ; virology ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; virology ; RNA, Viral ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; Turbinates ; virology ; Vero Cells ; Viral Load ; Virus Replication

This paper aimed at evaluating the therapeutic effects of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of heart-spleen deficiency and observing the improvement effect for insomnia patients′ sleep quality. A total of 70 cases of heart-spleen deficiency were selected as the research data, to the all cases were divided into acupuncture group and controlgroup. Acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture and moxibustion in many acupoints, the control group weretreated with estazolampo. After 3 courses of treatment, the PSQI and TESS of the two groups were observed. The totaleffective rate of the acupuncture group was 94.3％, the total effective rate of the control group was 77.1％ (P ＜ 0.05), andthe acupuncture group was more ideal than the control group (P ＜ 0.05) . After treatment the PSQI score and TESS scorein acupuncture group were decreased compared with control group (P ＜ 0.05) . Acupuncture and moxibustion in thetreatment of heart-spleen deficiency insomnia curative effect is ideal and reliable, can effectively decrease the PSQI andTESS score, and has lower auxiliary work compared with taken estazolam.

Objective To illustrate that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-αt) / nuclear factor of activated T cells pathway is the main function way that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) inhibit proliferation of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells during treating pulmonary hypertension (PH).Methods MSC from human umbilical cord was used to treat PH rat models induced by monocrotaline.Rats were divided into the control group,the PH model group and the MSC group.The general conditions of the rats were observed.Haemodynamics was detected.Pathological sections and immunohistochemistry method were used to detect the lung structure and tissue changes.Changing conditions of TNF-αt/NFAT were detected.Results Compared with rats in the PH model group,the general conditions of the MSC group tended to be normal evidently:the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) dropped [(30.37 ±3.13) mmHg vs.(47.90 ± 3.45) mmHg,1 mmHg =0.133 kPa],the aortic pressure (MAoP) increased [(115.03 ± 16.01) mmHg vs.(92.78 ± 16.28 mmHg)],the thickening condition of arterial intima-media was evidently relieved [(17.22 ±1.21)％ vs.(31.68 ±2.26)％],the plasma TNF-α level decreased obviously [(842 ±76) ng/L vs.(245 ±24)ng/L],and the lung tissue TNF-o level decreased (0.172 ±0.024 vs.0.248 ± 0.051),and all the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).The activation of pulmonary artery NFATc2 in the MSC treatment group was apparently inhibited.Conclusions MSC therapy may perform the treating effect in PH by inhibiting the over-proliferation of inflammation related pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells via TNF-oα/NFAT pathway.

The patients with mechanical prosthetic valve replacement need anticoagulant therapy for all their life. The incidence of thromboembolism and anticoagulation-related bleeding events still account for major postoperative complications after mechanical heart valve replacement. Most of the complications happen in the first half year after operation. Therefore, early anticoagulation therapy is very important. Of course, so far most guidelines focus stating their opinions on long-term anticoagulant therapy. However, there is no consensus about anticoagulant therapy in the early period of postoperation. In this review, we summarize early anticoagulant therapy of the patients with mechanical heart valve replacement through consulting domestic and abroad relevant research in recent years and give an overview of the present situations of early anticoagulant therapy.

Objective Lamins are the major components of nuclear lamina underneath the inner nuclear membrane (INM).Lamins express in most cells and are involved in the whole process of growth, also play a major role in cell stability and embryonic development.Mutant in human LMNA gene may lead to a series of disorders, which are similar to progeria or other aging-associate syndrome.In this study, we report a new lmna knockdown animal model generated in our laboratory in order to provide a useful tool for studying laminopathies.Methods Two plasmids tagged to zebrafish lmna gene were designed based on morpholino oligonucleotides technology.Co-microinjected the plasmids into zebrafish embryos to knockdown lmna gene.Imagining and western blot detection were used to identify the mutants.Results Two different proteins, Lamin A/C, were expressed in the zebrafish embryos.Two plasmids lmna-MO and lmna-EGFP-pCS 2 + were generated and co-microinjected into embryos.The results of imagining and western blot showed that the expression of lmna gene was downregulated in the zebrafish embryos.Conclusions Lamin A/C are expressed in zebrafish.lmna gene can be knocked down by the injection of lmna-MO and lmna-EGFP-pCS 2 +.This new animal model may be a powerful tool for study on laminopathies.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture therapy to support yang and consolidate the constitution for cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA). Methods:A total of 72 patients with CSA were randomly divided upon the random digital table into an acupuncture- moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 36 cases in each group. The acupuncture-moxibustion group was treated by electroacupuncture (EA) at bilateral Fengchi (GB 20) and C4-6 Jiaji (EX-B 2), in combination of moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Mingmen (GV 4) to support yang and consolidate constitution. The acupuncture group was given by routine EA at bilateral Fengchi (GB 20), cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2), Tianzhu (BL 10), Jianjing (GB 21), Houxi (SI 3), Hegu (LI 4) and Waiguan (TE 5). The treatment was given once every day and continuous six sessions made one course. After 2-course treatment, the improved situation of clinical symptoms and clinical effect were observed in the two groups. Results:The total effective rate was 91.7% in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and 61.1% in the acupuncture group. The difference of the total effective rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of the clinical symptoms in the two groups were obviously decreased than those of the same group before treatment (P<0.01). The differences in the scores between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture-moxibustion treatment to support yang and consolidate constitution is better than the routine acupuncture therapy in the therapeutic effect for CSA.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE)gene insertion/deletion(I/D)polymorphism and cerebrovascular diseases in Naxi population in Lijiang,Yunnan province.Methods Fifty-eight Naxi patients with cerebral infarction,32 Naxi patients with intracerebral hemorrhage,and 50 sex- and age-matched Naxi healthy controls were recruited.Polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragments length polymorphism was used to detect the ACE gene polymorphism and perform bidirectional sequencing Results The DD genotype and the D allele frequency in the cerebral infarction group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group(32.8% vs.16.0%,P = 0.045 and 54.3% vs.39.0%,P =0.025);while there were no significant differences in the DD genotype and the D allele frequency between the intracerebral hemorrhage group and the control group.The different types of cerebral infarction carried different allele frequencies,they were in order of cerebral embolism ＜ cerebral thrombosis ＜ lacunar infarction.The DD genotype in patients with lacunar infarction(40.0% vs.30.0%,P = 0.481 )and the D allele frequencies(63.3% vs.51.2%,P =0.257)were all higher than those in patients with cerebral thrombosis,but there were no significant differences.Conclusions The ACE DD genotype carriers were susceptible to cerebral infarction in Naxi poulation in Yunan province.

AIM:To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin on nitric oxide(NO),endothelin-1(ET-1)and myocardial no-reflow in a rabbit model of acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion(AMI/R). METHODS:Twenty-four rabbits were randomized into 3 groups:8 in AMI/R group,8 in atorvastatin-treated group(5 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1))and 8 in sham-operated group. Animals in the former two groups were subjected to 60 min of coronary occlusion followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Data on haemodynamics were collected. NO in blood sample,and in normal,and in infarcted reflow and no-reflow myocardium were evaluated respectively by nitrate reductase method. The levels of ET-1 in blood sample,and in normal,infarcted reflow and no-reflow myocardium were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS:(1)Compared to the baselines,the heart rate(HR),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP),maximal rate of increase and decline in left ventricular pressure(±dp/dt_(max))and cardiac output(CO)in AMI/R and atorvastatin-treated groups were significantly declined,whereas left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP)was increased after 60 min of coronary occlusion and 120 min of reperfusion(P<0.05 or P<0.01). However,in atorvastatin-treated group,LVSP,LVEDP,±dp/dt_(max) and CO at the time point of 120 min of reperfusion recovered more significantly than those at the time point of 60 min of coronary occlusion(P<0.01),which was more significant than those in AMI/R group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to AMI/R group,the SBP and DBP were significantly heigher in atorvastatin-treated group(P<0.01).(2)In atorvastatin-treated group,the levels of ET-1 in blood sample were significantly lower than those in AMI/R group(P<0.01),and the levels of NO were significantly higher(P<0.01). Moreover,the levels of NO or ET-1 in infarcted reflow myocardium were significantly lower than that in AMI/R group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).(3)Atorvastatin could ameliorate myocardial function. CONCLUSION:Atorvastatin is effective in increasing NO and reducing ET-1 in blood plasma and local myocardium,and in protection of endothelial cells. Atorvastatin also has a beneficial effect on improving left ventricular function during acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion in rabbits.

To investigate the curative effect of individualized treatment on peripheral facial paralysis. Methods:A treatment group of 121 patients was treated with acupuncture under an individualized plan based on the condition of disease. For a control study,118 patients were treated with conventional acupuncture. The courses of treatment and the curative effects were compared. Results:The cure and marked efficacy rate was 90.9% in the treatment group and 69.5% in the control group. There was a significant difference (P＜0.01).There was also a significant difference in the cure and marked efficacy rate in each courses of treatment between the two groups (P＜0.01). Conclusion:Individualized acupuncture treatment is better in the effect and shorter in the courses than conventional acupuncture treatment for peripheral facial paralysis.