Background and aims:Studies indicate that the gut microbiota and its metabolites are involved in the progression of cardiovascular diseases,and enterohepatic circulation plays an important role in this progression.This study aims to identify potential probiotics for the treatment of unstable angina(UA)and elucidate their mechanisms of action.Methods:Initially,the gut microbiota from patients with UA and control was analyzed.To directly assess the effects of Bifidobacterium supplementation,10 patients with UA were enrolled and administered Bifidobacterium(630 mg per intake twice a day for 1 month).The fecal metagenome,serum trimethyl-amine N-oxide(TMAO)levels,and other laboratory parameters were evaluated before and after Bifido-bacterium supplementation.Results:After supplementing with Bifidobacterium for 1 month,there were statistically significant dif-ferences(P＜0.05)in TMAO,aspartate aminotransferase,total cholesterol,and low-density lipoprotein compared to before.Additionally,the abundance of Bifidobacterium longum increased significantly,although the overall abundance of Bifidobacterium did not reach statistical significance.The gut micro-biota,metabolites,and gut-liver axis are involved in the progression of UA,and potential mechanisms should be further studied.Conclusions:Metagenomic analysis demonstrated a reduced abundance of Bifidobacterium in patients with UA.Supplementation with Bifidobacterium restored gut dysbiosis and decreased circulating TMAO levels in patients with UA.This study provides evidence that Bifidobacterium may exert cardiovascular-protective effects through the gut-liver-heart axis.

Progesterone has nongenomic effects on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is mediated by mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. This effect is supposed to have some potential association with asymptomatic gonococcal infections in women by immunological depression. In this study, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) challenged by gonococci were used to study the nongenomic effects of progesterone. The activation of iNOS was assessed by measuring [(3)H] L-arginine converses to [(3)H] L-citrulline, and the activity of MAPK was detected by Western blot. It was found that the activity of iNOS and the yields of NO were enhanced significantly in gonococci-challenged PMNs compared with the controls (P<0.01). Progesterone could repress the activation of iNOS through P38MAPK pathway within PMNs (P<0.05), which could be blocked by SB203580 (P<0.01), but not by actinomycin D (P>0.05). It was also found subsequently that in the serum specimens collected from gonococci-infected but asymptomatic women, the progesterone level was higher than that in women with severe symptoms (P<0.01). Moreover, the yield of NO had an inverse correlation with progesterone. With these results it suggested that the rapid nongenomic effects of progesterone may inhibit iNOS activation and NO yields mediated by P38MAPK pathways, which were supposed to be concerned with asymptomatic women infected with gonococci.

Progesterone has nongenomic effects on inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),which is mediated by mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK)pathways.This effect is supposed to have some potential association with asymptomatic gonococcal infections in women by immunological depression.In this study,polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMNs)challenged by gonococci were used to study the nongenomic effects of progesterone.The activation of iNOS was assessed by measuring[3H]L-arginine converses to[3H]L-citruiline,and the activity of MAPK was detected by Western blot.It was found that the activity of iNOS and the yields of NO were enhanced significantly in gonococci-challenged PMNs compared with the controls(P<0.01).Progesterone could repress the activation of iNOS through P38MAPK pathway within PMNs(P<0.05),which could be blocked by SB203580(P<0.01),but not by actinomycin D(P>0.05).It was also found subsequently that in the serum specimens collected from gonococci-infected but asymptomatic women,the progesterone level was higher than that in women with severe symptoms(P<0.01).Moreover,the yield of NO had an inverse correlation with progester-one.With these results it suggested that the rapid nongenomic effects of progesterone may inhibit iNOS activation and NO yields mediated by P38MAPK pathways,which were supposed to be concerned with asymptomatic women infected with gonococci.

0. 05]. After sublingual glycerytrinitrate administration,the diameter of the brachial artery dilated significantly [(4.26?0.54) mm vs (4.73?0.43) mm, P 0.05]. Sublingual glycerytrinitrate administration dilated the brachial artery significantly [(4. 37? 0.77) mm vs (4. 82?0. 60) mm, P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate applicability of power Doppler sonography (PDS) in differential diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) and adenomatous hyperplastic nodule (AHN).

METHODSTwenty-two cases of SHCC and 15 cases of AHN were investigated by PDS and the findings were compared with those of digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

RESULTSThe rates of arterial and portal flow in an afferent tumor vessel were 86.4% and 40.9% in SHCCs, respectively. The rate of portal flow in an afferent tumor vessel was 60.0% in AHNs, while no arterial flow was detected (P < 0.01). In addition, PDS revealed a constant flow in an efferent tumor vessel (50.0%) continuing to a portal branch in 10 (45.5%) of the 22 SHCCs cases to a hepatic vein in 1 (4.5%) of the 22 SHCCs, but to nothing else in the AHNs (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPower Doppler sonography is of value in distinguishing SHCC from AHN, and arterial afferent tumor vessels from constant flow efferent tumor vessels at PDS.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precancerous Conditions ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler