Low bone mineral density is associated with global coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden in stable angina patients.

Background: Accelerated atherosclerosis is considered to be the linking factor between low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased cardiovascular events and mortality, while some coronary angiographic studies do not support this point. In this study, we attempt to provide a distinct comprehensive view of the relationship between BMD and the angiographically determined coronary atherosclerotic burden.

Methods: A total of 459 consecutive patients with stable chest pain suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent both dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and selective coronary angiography.

[Effects of policosanol combined with simvastatin on serum lipids and sex hormones in male patients with hyperlipidemia].

Objective: To evaluate the effects and safety of policosanol combined with simvastatin on serum lipids and sex hormones in male patients with hyperlipidemia.

Methods: This randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled study included 120 male patients with hyperlipidemia. Patients were divided randomly into treatment group(n = 60) and control group(n = 60).

[Effect of hydrogen sulfide on H₂O₂-stimulated primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes].

Objective: To investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on H2O2-stimulated primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and related mechanism.

Methods: Primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with various concentrations of H2O2 (10, 100, 1000 µmol/L) for 24 h to establish the oxidative stress-induced cell injury model after 3 days' conventional culture. In addition, different concentrations of NaHS (1, 10, 100 µmol/L) were added to cardiomyocytes in the absence and presence of 100 µmol/L H2O2 for 24 h.

Physiological testosterone retards cardiomyocyte aging in Tfm mice via androgen receptor-independent pathway.

Objective: To determine whether testosterone modulates markers of cardiomyocytes aging via its classic androgen receptor (AR)-dependent pathway or conversion to estradiol.

Methods: Male littermates and testicular feminized (Tfm) mice were randomly separated into 4 experimental groups littermate controls (n=8), Tfm mice (n=7), testosterone-treated Tfm mice (n=8), and Tfm mice treated with testosterone in combination with the aromatase inhibitor anastrazole (n=7). Cardiomyocytes were isolated from mouse left ventricles, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using colorimetry method, and expression of p16(INK4α) and retinoblastoma (Rb) proteins were detected by Western blotting.

[Effect of physiological doses of testosterone on mitochondrial DNA deletion in castrated mice].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of physiological doses of testosterone on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion in the aortic vascular wall of castrated C57BL/6J mice.

Method: Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into normal control group (n=8), castrated+placebo group (castrated group, n=8), and castrated+physiological doses (1 mg/kg every 3 days) of testosterone group (n=8). The mice were fed normally for 3 months along with 8 mice with natural aging (18 months old), after which blood samples were obtained from all the groups for measurement of testosterone concentrations.

[Effects of simvastatin on plasma SOD, MDA and 8-iso-PGF2α in patients with stable angina].

To observe the effects of simvastatin on plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) as well as uric acid (UA) and serum lipids in patients with stable angina. METHODS Eighty-five patients with stable angina were divided into 4 groups, including hyperlipemia treatment group (HLT), hyperlipemia control group (HLC), normolipemia treatment group (NLT), and normolipemia control group (NLC). All the patients received routine treatment according to the guideline of CHD treatment, and those in the treatment groups were given Simvastatin (40 mg) every night, whereas those in the control group received placebo for 3 months.

[Protective effects of estrogen on mitochondria in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of estrogen on the mitochondria in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Methods: HUVECs were exposed to H2O2 at 250 micromol/L for 4 h with or without pretreatment with 17-estradiol (E2) and ICI182780. Complex IV activity of the cells was measured with chromometry, and 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) was used to determine intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).

[Ultrasound enhances microbubble-mediated gene transfection without affecting the cytoskeletons of endothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of therapeutic ultrasound on enhancing albumin microbubble-mediated gene delivery and evaluate the cytoskeletal damages in endothelial cells (ECs).

Methods: The ECs cultured in 6-well plates were transfected with the plasmid eGFP in the presence or absence of the microbubbles at different concentrations, followed by ultrasound exposure for 30 to 180 s at 2 MHz, with the mechanical index (MI) of 0.5-1.

[Relationship between dehydroepiandrosterone and arteriosclerosis in premenopausal and postmenopausal women].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone and arteriosclerosis in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Methods: Forty premenopausal and 40 postmenopausal women were examined for serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone and intima-media thickness of the carotid artery, and the serum concentrations of lipids, estrogen, endothelin, and E-selectin were also measured.

Results: Compared with premenopausal women, the mean intima-media thickness was increased but dehydroepiandrosterone and estrogen levels were decreased in postmenopausal women.

[Effect of a new arginine analog on isoproterenal-induced Ca2+ transients in cultured rat cardiac myocytes].

Objective: To investigate the effects of a novel tripeptide analog of arginine on isoproterenol (ISO), a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, induced the change in concentration transient cytosolic free calcium in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes (CMs).

Methods: The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was induced in cultured neonatal rat CMs by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) for 24 h, and quantitatively measured using Western blotting. The CMs were incubated in the presence of the new arginine analog for 6 h and the changes of fluorescence signal of free calcium in response to isoproterenol (ISO) treatment were measured under laser scanning confocal microscope.

[Levels of C-reactive protein and antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein in patients with different types of coronary heart disease].

Objective: To investigate the relation of the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (anti-oxLDL) to with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: The levels of CRP, anti-oxLDL and anti-LDL were measured and compared in 96 subjects including 26 with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 29 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 20 with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 21 control subjects to evaluate the relationship between CRP and anti-oxLDL.

Results: Both CRP and anti-oxLDL levels in patients with ACS, including AMI and UAP, were significantly higher than those in SAP patients and the control subjects (P<0.

[Highly selective inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase in vitro by a tripeptide as a new arginine analog].

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of a tripeptide, a new arginine analog, on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

Methods: Macrophages challenged with lipopolysaccharide were cultured to test the inhibitory effect of the arginine analog of different concentrations on iNOS. Primarily cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with insulin were used to test the effect of the analog on endothelial NOS (eNOS).

[Association of peripheral blood estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels with irritable bowel syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the relation of peripheral blood estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods: Forty-eight patients with IBS identified according to Rome II diagnostic criteria and 30 healthy subjects as controls were analyzed for peripheral blood sex hormone levels by radioimmunoassay and corresponding software.

Results: In male patients with IBS, blood testosterone level was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.

[A new synthetic tripeptide inhibits L-arginine transport in macrophages].

Objective: To observe the effect of a new synthetic tripeptide [Arg(NO(3))- Lys(OCH(3))- Arg(NO(3))] on L-arginine/NO pathway in the macrophage cell strain RAW246.7.

Methods: The cultured macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 microg/L) treatment were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=6) and treated with distilled water, 1x10(-4) mol/L tripeptide and 1x10(-4) mol/L L-arginine, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) for 24 h, respectively.

[Regulation of androgen receptor mRNA expression by testosterone in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of testosterone exposure on androgen receptor (AR) mRNA expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods: VSMCs were cultured from the thoracic aorta of male SD rats using explant method. The total RNA was extracted by one-step guanidine isothiocyanate method and subjected to Northern blotting analysis for determining AR mRNA level.

[Effect of testosterone on expression of androgen receptor in human monocytic cell line THP-1].

Objective: To investigate the effect of testosterone on the expression of androgen receptor (AR) in human monocytic cell line THP-1.

Methods: Cultured THP-1 cells were stimulated by testosterone with different concentrations and the AR protein was examined by Western blotting.

Results: AR expression was observed in unstimulated THP-1 cells and the quantity of AR expression was reduced by testosterone treatment in a dose-dependent manner.

[Comparative study of T cell proliferative response in different types of coronary heart diseases].

Objective: To investigate the association between proliferative response of T cells and plaque stability in coronary heart disease.

Methods: A total of 66 subjects were recruited in the study, including 13 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 22 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 15 with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 16 control subjects without coronary heart disease. The proliferative response of T cells to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was examined by MTS/PMS colorimetric assay.

[Testosterone regulation of androgen receptor protein expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of testosterone exposure on androgen receptor (AR) protein expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and the possible mechanisms mediating the effects.

Methods: VSMC were cultured from thoracic aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats by using the explant method. Cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts were prepared by means of cell lysis and high salt extraction respectively, and subjected to western blotting analysis for determination of AR protein level.