Early Assessment of Cardiac Function by Echocardiography in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: To offer a baseline for clinical diagnosis, echocardiography was performed to evaluate the disparities in heart function comparing pregnant women with diabetes mellitus (GDM) and ordinary pregnant women.

Methods: A prospective case-control study is being conducted on pregnant women with or without gestational diabetes. The sample size for both the intervention and control groups is the same: no diabetes diagnosis or previous forms, a single pregnancy, and no issues (such as preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction).

Correlation between high density lipoprotein and monocyte subpopulations among stable coronary atherosclerotic heart disease patients.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) is a structurally and functionally heterogeneous molecular particle whose function is unclear in atherosclerosis at present. Studies show that small HDL functional imbalance may exist in Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease (CAD) patients. Monocyte is considered to play an important role in atherosclerosis, in accordance with the expression of superficial CD14 and CD16, it can be divided into three subpopulations.

Impact of nicotine on the interplay between human periodontal ligament cells and CD4+ T cells.

Periodontitis is a common infectious disease associated with destruction of periodontal ligaments and alveolar bones. CD4(+) T cell-mediated immune response is involved in the progression of periodontitis. Tobacco consumption increases the risk of periodontal disease.

Blood lipid profiles and factors associated with dyslipidemia assessed by a point-of-care testing device in an outpatient setting: A large-scale cross-sectional study in Southern China.

Objective: To promote the concept of POCT and to investigate dyslipidemia in Guangzhou, China, we performed a study examining blood lipids assessed by POCT and reported factors associated with dyslipidemia.

Design And Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study enrolled outpatients from 9 Guangzhou hospitals from May through September 2013. After informed consent was obtained, the following information was collected: age; gender; the presence of diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension as well as current use of cigarettes or alcohol.

Ameloblasts serum-free conditioned medium: bone morphogenic protein 4-induced odontogenic differentiation of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells possess the ability of self-renewal and can differentiate into cells of the three germ layers, both in vitro and in vivo. Here we report a new method to efficiently induce differentiation of mouse iPS cells into the odontogenic lineage. Using ameloblasts serum-free conditioned medium (ASF-CM), we successfully generated ameloblast-like cells from mouse iPS cells.

Long-term efficacy of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect in combination with percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ventricular septal defect complicating acute myocardial infarction: a multicentre study.

Aims: To assess the immediate and long-term outcomes of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) in combination with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with VSD complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: Data were prospectively collected from 35 AMI patients who underwent attempted transcatheter VSD closure and PCI therapy in five high-volume heart centres. All the patients who survived the procedures were followed up by chest x-ray, electrocardiogram and echocardiography.

Nicotine favors osteoclastogenesis in human periodontal ligament cells co-cultured with CD4(+) T cells by upregulating IL-1β.

Periodontitis, which is the main cause of tooth loss, is one of the most common chronic oral diseases in adults. Tooth loss is mainly a result of alveolar bone resorption, which reflects an increased osteoclast formation and activation. Osteoclast formation in periodontal tissue is a multistep process driven by osteoclastogenesis supporting cells such as human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and CD4(+) T cells.

AP-1 and NF-κB transcriptionally regulate interleukin-8 in EA.Hy926 cells under shear stress.

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the world. AS (atherosclerosis) is not only an inflammatory disease in which chemokines play the main role but also a disorder that is related to blood SS (shear stress). We have investigated the action of IL-8 (interleukin-8) mRNA expression in human endothelial cells line-EA.

Targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to treat smoking-related periodontitis.

Tobacco smoking is considered to be one of the major risk factors for periodontitis. Nicotine, the major component in tobacco smoke, has been considered playing an important role in tobacco-related morbidity by acting through the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expressed by non-neuronal cells. Recently studies found that nAChRs could be expressed on oral gingival and periodontal tissues.

Functional expression of alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts and rat periodontal tissues.

Tobacco smoking is the main risk factor associated with chronic periodontitis, but the mechanisms that underlie this relationship are largely unknown. Recent reports proposed that nicotine plays an important role in tobacco-related morbidity by acting through the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expressed by non-neuronal cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether alpha 7 nAChR was expressed in periodontal tissues and whether it functions by regulating IL-1 beta in the process of periodontitis.

[Effects of nicotine on alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis in rat: a micro-computed tomographic analysis].

Objective: To establish the three-dimensional images of rat's alveolar bone and to evaluate the effects of nicotine on alveolar bone loss during the process of ligature-induced periodontitis with micro-computed tomography (micro-CT).

Methods: Thirty-six adult male SD rats received silk ligatures around the cervix of the right second maxillary molars. Then the animals were randomly assigned to three groups and received daily intraperitoneal injections as follows: group A (control), saline solution; group B, nicotine, 0.

[Effects of high-density lipoprotein on the cholesterol efflux from endothelial cells].

Objective: To study the effects of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and oxidized high-density lipoprotein (ox-HDL) on the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCAl) and cholesterol efflux in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Methods: In vitro cultured HUVECs were incubated in the presence of 100 microg/ml HDL or 100 microg/ml ox-HDL for 24 h, using PBS as the negative control. ABCA1 mRNA level and cholesterol efflux rate were determined using RT-PCR and a liquid scintillator, respectively.

[Evaluation of a rabbit model of abdominal aorta atherosclerosis].

Objective: To explore the methods for non-invasive evaluation of a rabbit model of aorta atherosclerosis model.

Methods: Sixteen male New Zealand rabbits (n=16) were randomized into the experimental group and control group and fed with high-cholesterol diet and normal diet after balloon injury in the abdominal aorta, respectively. Eight weeks later, pathological examination, angiography and surface ultrasonography were carried out to evaluate the plaques in the aorta.

[Classification and functional study of peripheral blood dendritic cells in patients with coronary artery disease with different atherosclerotic plaques].

Objective: To study the quantitative and functional changes of peripheral blood dendritic cells (DCs) and their subsets in the leukocyte population in patients with coronary artery disease (CHD) with different coronary artery plaques and explore the relation between DCs and coronary plaque development.

Methods: Thirty CHD patients were divided into SAP (10 cases), UAP (10 cases) and ACS (10 cases) groups, with another 10 patients having negative result in coronary angiography as the control group. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed to identify the nature of the plaques.

[Effect of Astragalus polysaccharides on the phenotype and functions of human dendritic cells in vitro].

Objective: To assess the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) in inducing phenotypic and functional changes of human dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro.

Methods: Human dendritic cells were induced from the peripheral blood monocytes in vitro by the application of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and GM-CSF, and cultured in the presence of APS at different concentrations (50, 100, and 200 mg/L). The morphological changes of the DCs were identified by optical microscope or scanning electron microscope.

[Effects of high-density lipoprotein 1 on the formation of foam cells from human monocyte-derived macrophages].

Objective: To investigate effects of serum HDL(1) on the formation of foam cells from human peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages.

Methods: Sectie density polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (sd-PAGE) was applied for isolation and preparation of HDL(1) simultaneously. Monocytes were isolated from human peripheral blood by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation and plastic adsorptive process.

[Oxidized low-density lipoprotein enhances the expressions of SREBP-2 and HMGCR mRNA in macrophages derived from the monocytes of patients with acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the effect of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on the expressions of sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) and hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) in the macrophages derived from monocytes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: LDL was oxidized by Cu2+ to prepare ox-LDL, and peripheral monocytes were isolated by density gradient centrifugation from patients with ACS diagnosed by coronary arteriography. Macrophages derived from the monocytes after phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation were treated with ox-LDL at the concentrations of 0, 20, 40, and 100 ng/ml, and the changes in the expressions of SREBP-2 and HMGCR were detected by real-time RT-PCR.

[Peripheral dendritic cell subpopulation changes in patients with coronary artery disease].

Objective: To compare the peripheral dendritic cell subpopulation changes in patients with or without coronary artery disease.

Methods: A total of 60 patients with angiographic documented coronary artery disease (CAD) were recruited in this study, including 20 cases with acute myocardial infarction (AMI group), 20 cases with unstable angina(UA group) and 20 patients with stable angina (SA group). Eleven patients with chest pain and without coronary stenosis served as chest pain control (CPS group).

[Effect of rosiglitazone on tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced nuclear factor-kappaB and coupling factor 6 expressions in human umbilical vein endothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of rosiglitazone on the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and coupling factor 6 (CF6) induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Methods: Cultured HUVEC of passage 3-5 were stimulated with TNF-alpha and then cultured in the presence of rosiglitazone. The expression of CF6 and NF-kappaB subunit p65 were evaluated by immunocytochemistical method.

[Association of dendritic cell distribution with intima hyperplasia in rats with diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To investigate the association of dendritic cell distribution in the peripheral blood, spleen and arterial wall with intimal hyperplasia in rats with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and high-fat feeding for 8 weeks. Peripheral blood, arterial wall and the spleen were collected from the rats to prepare cell suspensions, in which the proportions of dendritic cells and T cells were determined by flow cytometry.

[Changes of CD4+CD28- T cell and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell subsets in patients with coronary heart disease].

Objective: To investigate the changes of CD4(+)CD28(-) T cell and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cell (Treg) subsets in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with angiographically established CAD were recruited in this study, including 16 with unstable angina (UA group) and 12 with stable angina (SA group). Eleven patients with chest pain syndrome served as the control group.

[Effects of simvastatin on DNA synthesis in rat cardiac fibroblasts].

Objective: To investigate the effects of simvastatin (Sim) and the interference by mevalonate (MVA) against its effect on DNA synthesis in rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs).

Methods: CFs were isolated from neonatal SD rats by trypsin digestion and growth-arrested CFs were stimulated with Sim and/or MVA at varied concentrations for different time lengths, and the DNA synthesis in the cells was measured by (3)H-thymidine ((3)H-TdR) incorporation assay.

Results: Sim decreased (3)H-TdR incorporation in the CFs in a concentration-dependent manner, and (3)H-TdR incorporation was significantly lower in cells treated with 1 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-5) mol/L Sim (1,175+/-202.

[Observation of short- and mid-term clinical outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction with heart failure or cardiogenic shock].

Objective: To observe the short- and mid-term effects of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by heart failure and/or cardiogenic shock .

Methods: Altogether 90 patients with AMI were recruited, of whom 58 were treated by PCI, 20 by thrombolytic therapy, and the other received general treatment without reperfusion therapy. The length of hospital stay, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared between PCI and thrombolysis groups.

[Effect of percutaneous intervention on adrenomedullin and tumor necrosis factor in the coronary circulation].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of percutaneous intervention (PCI) on coronary circulation levels of adrenomedullin (ADM) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: Thirty-three CHD patients underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stenting (altogether 48 stents were implanted). Blood samples were collected from the coronary sinus and femoral artery at the time points of immediately before and after angioplasty, immediately after PTCA or stenting, 10 min after procedures, respectively.