Increased plasma osteoprotegerin levels are associated with the presence and severity of acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between increased plasma osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels and acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Plasma OPG levels from 85 subjects undergoing coronary artery angiography in three different groups, including ACS (n=45), stable angia pectoris (SAP) (n=20) and normal coronary artery (NCA) (n=20), were detected by ELISA. Twenty-two ascending aorta specimens were surgically taken from 8 ACS, 7 SAP and 7 NCA patients, and OPG mRNA expression in the specimens was detected by RT-PCR.

[Study of mifepristone on reversing multidrug resistance of leukemic cell line K562/A02].

Objective: To study whether progestogen antagonist mifepristone could reverse multidrug resistance of K562/A02 cells and its mechanisms.

Methods: MTT was used to study the proliferation of K562/A02 cells and sensitivity of K562/A02 cells to ADM after 72 hours treatment with mifepristone. Flow cytometry was used to assay the expression of P-glycoprotein and the mean fluorescent intensity of intracellular daunorubicin.

Influence of blood glucose on the expression of glucose trans-porter proteins 1 and 3 in the brain of diabetic rats.

Background: The delivery of glucose from the blood to the brain involves its passage across the endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is mediated by the facilitative glucose transporter protein 1 (GLUT(1)), and then across the neural cell membranes, which is mediated by GLUT(3). This study aimed to evaluate the dynamic influence of hyperglycemia on the expression of these GLUTs by measuring their expression in the brain at different blood glucose levels in a rat model of diabetes. This might help to determine the proper blood glucose threshold level in the treatment of diabetic apoplexy.

[Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 gene transfection on repair of bone defect: experiment with rabbits].

Objective: To investigate the influence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 165 gene transfection on the repair of bone defect.

Methods: 38 New Zealand rabbits underwent resection of a segment 1 cm in length in bilateral radii filled with absorbable gelatin sponge. Dilated solution of the plasmid pcDNA3.

Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 gene transfection on bone defects and its mRNA expression in rabbits.

Background: Gene therapy has been a hot spot in repair of bone defects in recent years. This study aimed to construct a recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-VEGF(165), and to observe the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF(165)) gene therapy on bone defects in rabbits.

A high association of aortic valve sclerosis detected by transthoracic echocardiography with coronary arteriosclerosis.

Objective: To examine whether aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) detected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has a high association with coronary arteriosclerosis.

Methods: Clinical and angiographic features and TTE findings were retrospectively analyzed in a blinded fashion for 138 consecutive patients, of whom 58 had AVS and 80 had non-AVS diseases. Both histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed on frozen aortic valve sections obtained at autopsy from 7 AVS and 3 non-AVS patients.

[Effect of baicalin on HSP70 expression of hippocampal neurons in focal brain ischemia-reperfusion injury rats].

Aim: To investigate the effect of baicalin on the hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and the expression of HSP70 in rats with focal brain ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods: One hundred and twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups:sham operated group, ischemia-reperfusion group, nimodipine group and three baicalin groups,to which baicalin was administered at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg x kg(-1), separately. The models of focal brain ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were used in this study.