Rutin alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), an independent coronary heart disease that develops in diabetic individuals, is characterized by changes in the myocardial structure and function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of rutin on DCM in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Rutin was orally administrated at a dose of 8 mg/kg body weight.

A novel PITX2c loss‑of‑function mutation underlies lone atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of sustained cardiac arrhythmia responsible for substantial morbidity and significantly increased mortality rates. A growing body of evidence documents the important role of genetic defects in the pathogenesis of AF. However, AF is a heterogeneous disease and the genetic determinants for AF in an overwhelming majority of patients remain unknown.

Elevated lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 is associated with progression of nonculprit lesions after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes oxidized phospholipids to generate bioactive proatherogenic products. Nonculprit lesions have been assumed to contribute to the pathogenesis of recurrent acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The role of LP-PLA2 in the progression of nonculprit coronary lesions after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear.

Epigallocatechin gallate attenuated the activation of rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by angiotensin II via regulating β-arrestin1.

Background/aims: Angiotensin II (AngII) activated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) predominantly through AngII subtype 1a receptor (AT1aR). This study was carried out to explore the potential inhibitory effects and mechanisms of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on AngII induced rat CFs.

Methods: Viability, proliferation and collagen production of CFs were measured by MTT assay, [3H]-thymidine and [3H]-proline incorporation respectively.

[Clinical results of ultrasound biometry in silicone oil-filled eye].

Objective: To evaluate a method of ultrasound biometry in silicone oil-filled eye and its clinical results.

Methods: This was a series case study. According to the principle of measuring a distance with ultrasound, we compared the measured distance between a space filed with balanced salt solution and silicone oil at same height, to calculate a conversion factor (0.

Efficacy and safety of atorvastatin during early hospitalization in elderly patients with unstable angina.

1. Previous studies have demonstrated that early statin therapy after acute coronary syndrome decreases inflammation and mortality rates. The dose-response relationship for atorvastatin in elderly patients with unstable angina (UA) during early hospitalization in terms of lowering inflammatory factors, improving vascular endothelium function and safety is unclear.

Relationship between tissue type plasminogen activator and coronary vulnerable plaque in patients with acute coronary syndrome: virtual histological study.

Background: The association between vulnerability of plaque assessed with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and plasma levels of fibrinolytic biomarkers was determined in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few data are available on the relationship between the levels of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and virtual histological intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) signs of plaque instability.

Methods: Eighty-nine patients with ACS were enrolled in the study.

[Relationship between serum vasoactive factors and plaque morphology in patients with acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between vasoactive factors and plaque morphology in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed and 7 serum vasoactive factors (sPE, tPA, MCP-1, IL-8, IL-6, sVCAM-1 and sCD40L) were measured through cytometric bead array, serum hs-CRP, HCY, glucose and lipid level were also determined in consecutively enrolled 56 patients with ACS. The changes of bio-factors were compared between vulnerable plaque and non-vulnerable plaque groups, AMI and UA patients, and patients with or without plaque rupture.

The involvement of transforming growth factor-beta1 secretion in urotensin II-induced collagen synthesis in neonatal cardiac fibroblasts.

As the most potent vasoconstrictor in mammals, urotensin II (U II) has recently been demonstrated to play an important role in adverse cardiac remodeling and fibrosis. However, the mechanisms of U II-induced myocardial fibrosis remain to be clarified. We postulated that U II alters transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression, and thereby modulates cardiac fibroblast collagen metabolism.