Inhibition of circ_0000231 suppresses oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis, autophagy and inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by regulating miR-590-5p/PDCD4 axis.

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are the emerging informative RNAs, involved in cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis (AS). Endothelial injury is the initial qualitative change of AS. Thus, the objective of this study was to confirm the dysregulation and mechanism of circ_0000231 in cell model of AS at early stage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).

The Association of Syntax Score with Levels of Lipoprotein(a) and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease and Different Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels.

Introduction: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is associated with the severity of coronary lesions evaluated using Syntax score in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the effect of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels on the association of Lp(a) levels with Syntax score remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 646 patients with stable CAD were enrolled in the present study.

Sex-specific association of monocyte count to high-density lipoprotein ratio with SYNTAX score in patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease.

Recently, the monocyte count to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) was found to be associated with the SYNTAX score in patients with both stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The MHR was significantly higher in male patients. However, the sex-specific association of MHR with SYNTAX score in stable CAD was not well explored.

A replication study and a meta-analysis of the association between the CDKN2A rs1333049 polymorphism and coronary heart disease.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess whether rs1333049 was associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Han Chinese.

Methods: This case-control study was involved with 599 CHD patients and 591 non-CHD controls. Meanwhile, a comprehensive meta-analysis was also conducted to establish the contribution of rs1333049 to CHD.

Effects of Ca2+-activated potassium and inward rectifier potassium channel on the differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells from human peripheral blood.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are bone marrow-derived cells that have the propensity to differentiate into mature endothelial cells (ECs). The transplantation of EPCs has been shown to enhance in vivo postnatal neo-vasculogenesis, as well as repair infarcted myocardium. Via the whole-cell patch clamp technique, numerous types of ion channels have been detected in EPCs, including the inward rectifier potassium channel (IKir), Ca2+-activated potassium channel (IKCa), and volume-sensitive chloride channel, but their influence on the differentiation of EPCs has yet to be characterized.