Atorvastatin suppresses vascular hypersensitivity and remodeling induced by transient adventitial administration of lipopolysaccharide in rats.

Background: The phenotypic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from a contractile to a proliferative state markedly affects the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. The adventitial inflammation can promote neointimal formation and vascular remodeling. We used direct administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the periphery of the carotid artery to investigate the influence of transient adventitial inflammation on vascular remodeling and its potential mechanism.

LTBP2 knockdown by siRNA reverses myocardial oxidative stress injury, fibrosis and remodelling during dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aim: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterised by left ventricular dilation and associated with systolic dysfunction. Recent evidence has reported the high expression of latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 2 (LTBP2) in heart diseases, which may play a role in regulating multiple biological functions of myocardial cells. Thus, this study set out to investigate the molecular mechanism and effects of LTBP2 in myocardial oxidative stress injury, fibrosis and remodelling in a rat model of DCM, with the involvement of NF-κB signalling pathway.

[Effect of valsartan on vasoconstriction induced by the chronic injury of the adventitia in the rat collared carotid artery].

Objective: Vasoconstriction and vascular hypersensitivity to serotonin were previously shown in animal models of adventitia injury. We investigated the contribution of angiotensin II (AngII)/AngII receptors and oxidative stress to vascular contractility and reactivity in this model.

Methods: Wistar Kyoto rats were divided into 3 groups: normal (n = 6, no any intervention, only for measuring the serum AngII concentration), vehicle (n = 12, collared), and valsartan (n = 12, collared + valsartan 30 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)).

Inflammation inhibitory effects of sirolimus and paclitaxel-eluting stents on interleukin-1β-induced coronary artery in-stent restenosis in pigs.

Background: Coronary artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) and late stent thrombosis remain as important complications of stenting. The inflammation reactions to sirolimus and paclitaxel-eluting stents were investigated in a swine stenosis model induced by interleukin (IL)-1β.

Methods: Mini pigs (n = 12; 2-3 months old and weighing 25-30 kg) were subjected to thoracotomy.

Thorombolytic therapy with rescue percutaneous coronary intervention versus primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Background: Although thrombolytic therapy with rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common treatment strategy for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), scant data are available on its efficacy relative to primary PCI, and comparison was therefore the aim of this study.

Methods: This multicenter, open-label, randomized, parallel trial was conducted in 12 hospitals on patients (age < or = 70 years) with STEMI who presented within 12 hours of symptom onset (mean interval > 3 hours). Patients were randomized to three groups: primary PCI group (n = 101); recombinant staphylokinase (r-Sak) group (n = 104); and recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) group (n = 106).

Effect of tongxinluo on vasoconstriction induced by the chronic injury of the adventitia in the rat carotid artery.

Objective: Tongxinluo (TXL) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is developed on the meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine, with the function of alleviating the angina. The present study was undertaken to explore the molecular mechanism of TXL in treating the pectoris angina through observing the effectiveness of TXL superfine powder on the vasoconstriction and the activation of RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway induced by the injury of the adventitia.

Methods: 36 male Wistar Kyoto rats were assigned to 3 treatments (n=12): vehicle, TXL (400 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) and fasudil (15 mg kg(-1) day(-1)).

[Inhibitory effect and acting mechanism of Tongxinluo on IL-1beta-mediated coronary intimal hyperplasia and 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced coronary vasospasm in small swine].

Objective: To observe the inhibitory effect of Tongxinluo (TXL) on coronary vaso spasm in small swine in vivo, and to investigate its possible acting mechanism.

Methods: The model of coronary atherosclerosis in 16 male small swines was established by left thoracotomy after anesthesia, isolated the sections of left anterio-descending branch and proximal end of rotator branch with similar outer diameter, and encapsulated them with paper-towel holding 2.5 microg interleukin-1beta.

Chemical hypoxia-induced glucose transporter-4 translocation in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

Background: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation plays an essential role in glucose metabolism of the heart. This study aimed at investigating whether AMPK was involved in glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) translocation induced by azide-induced chemical hypoxia in primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

Methods: With or without adenine 9-beta-D-arabinofuranoside (ara A, AMPK inhibitor) preincubation, primary cultured rat cardiomyocytes were randomized to several groups as incubated with azide (the respiratory chain inhibitor), insulin, or 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxyamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR, an AMPK activator).

[Effects of rapamycin on Rho-kinase and p27 mRNA expressions in a porcine coronary intimal proliferation model induced by interleukin-1beta].

Objective: To observe the effects of rapamycin on the expressions of Rho-kinase and p27 mRNA during vascular intimal proliferation in a porcine model of coronary stenosis induced by interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta).

Methods: The proximal segments of LAD and LCX were wrapped with cotton mesh that had absorbed sepharose bead solution with or without IL-1beta. Selective coronary angiography was performed two weeks later and the animals were killed for collecting the samples for histopathology and RT-PCR analyzing of Rho-kinase and p27 mRNA.

[The pro-angiogenesis effect of Pitavastatin in the Klotho gene-knockout mice].

Aim: To discuss the effect of Pitavastatin on angiogenesis in vivo and its mechanism in Klotho heterozygous deficient mice.

Methods: The heterozygous deficient Klotho mice (kl +/-) and wild mice (kl +/+) from the same litter were used to establish the animal model of hind-limb ischemia and grouped into control and Pitavastatin group, respectively. Hind-limb blood flow was evaluated using Laser Doppler perfusion imager (LDPI) before treatment and after operation of hind-limbs.

[Pitavastatin enhances angiogenesis and perfusion in a murine mode of limb ischemia].

Objective: We investigated the effects of pitavastatin on angiogenesis and perfusion in C3H/He mice with unilateral hind limb ischemia.

Methods: C3H/He mice treated with saline (n = 15) or pitavastatin (1 mg.kg(-1).

[Upregulated Rho-kinase and increased phosphorylation of myosin-binding subunit of myosin phosphates are key players in a porcine coronary artery spasm model with interleukin-1beta].

Objective: Phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) is one of the most important steps for vascular smooth muscle contraction and Rho-kinase is involved in this process. We investigated the role of Rho-kinase in a porcine coronary artery spasm model with interleukin-1beta.

Methods: Segments of left coronary artery adventitia were surrounded by normal saline (n = 8) or IL-1beta agarose microne (n = 8) for 2 weeks.

[The expression of Rho/Rho kinase of cardiac muscle in heart failure rats caused by pressure overload and the intervention of fasudil].

Objective: To study the expression of Rho/Rho kinase of cardiac muscle in heart failure rats caused by pressure overload and the effects of fasudil on heart failure.

Methods: The heart failure models were successfully induced by coarctation of ascending aorta after 20 weeks in this study. Thirty female Wistar operated rats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 10) for 4 week treatment.

[Expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase in vascular tissues after coronary artery balloon injury in rat].

Objective: To observe the changes in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and gene expression after coronary artery balloon injury in rat.

Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (without coronary artery balloon injury), and 3, 7 and 14 days after coronary artery balloon injury groups (n=10, respectively). The activity of MAPK was measured by biochemical method and the gene expression was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).