Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Correlates with Reduced Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction in Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is considered an important determinant of cardiovascular events. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between Lp-PLA2 and LVEF in HD patients.

Gastrodin Attenuates Neuronal Apoptosis and Neurological Deficits after Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Objective: Gastrodin, a glucoside of gastrodigenin, inhibits cerebral oxidant stress and apoptosis in multiple central nervous system injury, but its effect in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of gastrodin on neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits in rat ICH model.

Methods: In vitro experiments were performed using hematoma lysate-induced cell damage model in primary cortical neurons.

Serum levels of endocan and endoglin are associated with large-artery atherosclerotic stroke.

Background: Accumulating evidence has suggested that endocan and endoglin may play important roles in cardiovascular disease. However, no previous study has focused on these circulating levels in patients with large-artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke.

Methods: Serum levels of endocan and endoglin in 114 patients with LAA stroke and 114 age- and sex-matched controls were measured by ELISA.

Serum levels of galectin-1, galectin-3, and galectin-9 are associated with large artery atherosclerotic stroke.

The aim of this study was to assess the expression patterns of serum galectin-1 (Gal-1), galectin-3 (Gal-3), galectin-9 (Gal-9), and galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) and their associations with stroke outcome in large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke. The serum levels of Gal-1, Gal-3, Gal-9, and Gal-3BP were measured by ELISA in 130 patients with LAA stroke and 130 age- and sex-matched controls. Serum samples were collected from the patients on day 1, day 6, and in the 4th week after ischaemic stroke (IS).

Anti-atherosclerotic potential of baicalin mediated by promoting cholesterol efflux from macrophages via the PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1/ABCG1 pathway.

Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) is associated with severe cardiovascular disease. The anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, and lipid regulating properties of baicalin suggest potential as an anti-atherosclerotic agent. We therefore investigated whether baicalin can protect against the development of atherosclerosis in an AS rabbit model and explored the underling mechanisms in THP-1 macrophages.

High serum levels of sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 are associated with acute ischaemic stroke.

Background And Aims: Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) are potent antagonists of Wnt signalling and might therefore play important roles in cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether serum sclerostin and Dkk-1 levels are associated with acute ischaemic stroke and specific stroke subtypes.

Methods: Serum levels of sclerostin and Dkk-1 were measured by ELISA on day 1 and on day 6 after stroke in 62 patients with large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke, on day 1 after stroke in 62 age- and gender-matched patients with small-artery occlusion (SAO) stroke and on admission in 62 healthy controls.

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 serum levels and gene polymorphisms are associated with large artery atherosclerotic stroke.

Background: Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a central player in lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis and may thus be involved in ischaemic stroke. However, no study in humans has investigated the association of ANGPTL4 gene polymorphisms or serum levels with ischaemic stroke.

Methods: We investigated the influence of the tagged single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) rs4076317 (c.

Celastrol may have an anti-atherosclerosis effect in a rabbit experimental carotid atherosclerosis model.

Background: Celastrol may have an anti-atherosclerosis effect. This study aimed to investigate if celastrol had an anti-AS effect using a rabbit experimental carotid atherosclerosis model.

Methods: Forty male Japanese white rabbits were divided into the sham group (normal diet), the model group (high fat diet), the group treated with celastrol (high fat diet) and the group treated with atorvastatin (high fat diet) randomly.

Positive association of MMP 14 gene polymorphism with vulnerable carotid plaque formation in a Han Chinese population.

Background: MMP 14 is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and potentially plays an important role in the development of vulnerable carotid plaques. MMP 14 gene polymorphisms can influence the bioactivity or expression of MMP 14.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MMP 14 position + 7096 T > C (NM_004995.

[Association between matrix metalloproteinase-10 gene polymorphisms and instability of carotid plaque].

Objective: To assess the association between 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in exonic regions of matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) gene and instability of carotid plaques in a Han Chinese population.

Methods: Five hundred and eighty-five patients were divided into carotid vulnerable plaque group (n=206) and stable plaque group (n=379) based on results of carotid B-mode ultrasonography. The SNPs were genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction using an ABI 7300 TaqMan platform.

Matrix metalloproteinase 10 gene polymorphism and atherothrombotic cerebral infarction risk in a Han Chinese population.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase 10 (MMP10) plays an important role in ischemic stroke and has a close relationship with some stroke risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the exon regions of the MMP10 gene and atherothrombotic cerebral infarction risk.

Methods: Five hundred and thirty-seven hospital-based patients who had suffered first atherothrombotic cerebral infarction and 580 unrelated healthy controls were enrolled.

[Spatial distribution and risk factors of tuberculosis in Songjiang district, Shanghai during 2006 and 2009].

Objective: To identify spatial distribution and risk factors among tuberculosis (TB) cases in Songjiang district, Shanghai, 2006 - 2009.

Methods: All active TB cases and all bacteriologically confirmed TB cases diagnosed during the period from 2006 to 2009 were recruited into the study. Spatial scan statistics were used to identify spatial clusters.

[Association between matrix metalloproteinase-8 -799C/T polymorphism and instability of carotid plaque].

Objective: To investigate the association between a -799C/T polymorphism in the promotor region of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) gene and instability of carotid plaque in Chinese Han population.

Methods: A total of 451 acute infarction patients from the Department of Neurology of Taizhou Hospital were divided into carotid vulnerable plaque group and carotid stable plaque group according to the results of carotid B-mode ultrasonography. Serum MMP -8 level was measured by the means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Association of a functional polymorphism in the MMP7 gene promoter with susceptibility to vulnerable carotid plaque in a Han Chinese population.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) may play an important role in the development of vulnerable carotid plaque. An A-to-G transition (-181A/G) in the promoter region of MMP7 is functional in vitro by altering the transcriptional activity of the gene. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the MMP7 -181A/G polymorphism and vulnerable carotid plaque formation.

Genotype association of C(-735)T polymorphism of the MMP-2 gene with the risk of carotid atherosclerosis-vulnerable plaque in the Han Chinese population.

The aim of the current study was to explore the possible association of the polymorphism of C(-735)T in MMP-2 with the vulnerable plaque risk in ultrasound-confirmed carotid atherosclerosis cases. Serum MMP-2 levels were measured to investigate the relationship between the MMP-2 level and the genetic variability. The MMP-2 polymorphism was detected by PCR-RFLP in the 243 cases with stable plaque and 221 cases with vulnerable plaque.

Epimeric monosaccharide-quinone hybrids on gold electrodes toward the electrochemical probing of specific carbohydrate-protein recognitions.

Carbohydrates represent one of the most significant natural building blocks, which govern numerous critical biological and pathological processes through specific carbohydrate-receptor interactions on the cell surface. We present here a new class of electrochemical probes based on gold surface-coated epimeric monosaccharide-quinone hybrids toward the ingenious detection of specific epimeric carbohydrate-protein interactions. Glucose and galactose, which represent a pair of natural monosaccharide C4 epimers, were used to closely and solidly conjugate with the 1,4-dimethoxybenzene moiety via a single C-C glycosidic bond, followed by the introduction of a sulfhydryl anchor.

[Association of the ALOX5AP gene SG13S114 A/T polymorphism with atherosclerosis].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of SG13S114 A/T in the 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP) gene and the stability of carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: Polymorphism of SG13S114 A/T in the ALOX5AP gene was analyzed in 152 cases of acute infarction with stable plaque, and 132 cases of acute infarction with vulnerable plaques, by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Carotid artery plaque was analyzed by carotid artery color ultrasound.

[Relationship of polymorphism of SG13S114A/T in ALOX5AP gene with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction].

Objective: To investigate the relationship of the polymorphism of SG13S114A/T in ALOX5AP gene with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI).

Methods: By polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, polymorphism of SG13S114A/T in ALOX5AP gene in 412 cases with ACI and 368 non-ACI controls were analyzed.

Result: There were no statistically significant differences in the ALOX5AP gene SG13S114 AA genotype and A allele frequencies between ACI group and control group (P>0.

A subwavelength coupler-type MIM optical filter.

A novel subwavelength surface plasmon polaritons optical filter based on an incompletely directional coupler is proposed and numerically simulated by using the finite difference time domain method with perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary condition. An analytical solution for the resonant condition of the structure is derived by means of the cavity theory. Both analytical and simulative results reveal that the resonant wavelengths are proportional to the length of the slit segment, inversely proportional to the antinode number of a standing wave in the segment, and are related to the slit width and the gap between the two slits.

[Study on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in brain tissue adjacent to hemorrhage after brain hemorrhage in human].

Objective: To investigate the expression and significance of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in peri-hematoma brain tissues after acute brain hemorrhage in human.

Methods: Forty-two patients with acute brain hemorrhage received surgery, the brain tissues adjacent to hemorrhagic site were obtained during surgery, and positive expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were determined with immunohistochemical staining. Brain tissues from 30 patients with cerebral trauma were obtained to serve as controls.

A mRNA molecule encoding truncated excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) protein (EAAC2) is transcribed from an independent promoter but not an alternative splicing event.

Glutamate transporter EAAC1 removes excitatory neurotransmitter in central nervous system, and also absorbs glutamate in epithelia of intestine, kidney, liver and heart for normal cell growth. When a mouse cDNA was screened using EAAC1 cDNA fragment as probe in our lab, a transcript (GenBank U75214) encoding an EAAC1 protein with 148 residues truncated at N-terminal was cloned and named as EAAC2. Sequence analysis shows that EAAC2 has it's own start code and unique 5'UTR that is different from that of EAAC1.