Research Progress of Angiogenesis in Atherosclerotic Plaque in Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine.

Angiogenesis in atherosclerotic plaque plays a critical role in the mechanism of atherosclerotic physiopathology. Present consensus shows that angiogenesis in atherosclerotic plaque is mainly resulted in hypoxia, inflammation and some pro-angiogenic factors. The homeostasis in plaque, which is hypoxic and infiltrated by inflammatory cells, may lead to angiogenesis, increase the plaque instability and the incidence rate of vascular events.

Recurrence of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema and sustained hypotension shock in cystic pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor which derives from chromaffin cells of the adrenal gland or relevant to sympathetic nerves and ganglia. The clinical features of pheochromocytoma are various. Paroxysmal episodes of serious hypertension, headache, palpitation, and diaphoresis are the typical manifestations (Bravo, 2004).

[Danlou Tablet Fought against Inflammatory Reaction in Atherosclerosis Rats with Intermingled Phlegm and Blood Stasis Syndrome and Its Mechanism Study].

Objective: To observe the effects of Danlou Tablet (DT) on inflammatory reaction, and expressions of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LP-PLA2), secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), and to analyze potential mechanisms.

Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into five groups, i.e.

Use of evidence-based pharmacotherapy for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: a Chinese medicine hospital versus a general hospital.

Objective: To determine differences in adherence to secondary prevention guidelines (pharmacological interventions) among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients between a Chinese medicine (CM) hospital and a general hospital in a Chinese city.

Methods: Medical records of 200 patients consecutively discharged from the CM hospital and the general hospital for CHD were reviewed to determine the proportions of eligible patients who received antiplatelet agents, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and statins at discharge. The effects of patient characteristics and hospital type on the use of these medicines were estimated using logistic regression models.

Effect of atorvastatin on non-ischemic heart failure and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 9 in rats.

Aim: To examine the role of atorvastatin on volume-overload-induced heart failure and to test the hypothesis that atorvastatin inhibits MMP-2 and 9 expression in heart failure with non-ischemic etiology.

Methods: Arteriovenous (AV) fistula-treated rats were administered with atorvastatin (3 mg/kg/d) or vehicle for 17 weeks. Ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure were assessed by echocardiography, B-type natriuretic peptide BNP mRNA level and morphological measurement.

[Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment with high-volume hemofiltration in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome].

Objective: To evaluate whether extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) improves hypoxemia and renal function in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

Methods: The study was executed in 8 MODS patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute renal failure (ARF). They were randomly assigned to either 8 hours of HVHF combined with ECMO or HVHF alone in random order.