Seed dormancy release of Halenia elliptica in response to stratification temperature, duration and soil moisture content.

Background: Although the effect of cold stratification on seed dormancy release has been extensively studied for many species, knowledge of the role of stratifying temperature, soil moisture content and duration of stratification on seed dormancy release at the population level is limited. Here, we aimed to determine the response of seed dormancy release to these factors in six populations of Halenia elliptica.

Results: Seed dormancy release was more responsive to low than high temperatures, and no dormancy break occurred at 8 °C.

Protective Effects of Salvianolate on Myocardial Injury or Myocardial Infarction after Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in NSTE-ACS Patients: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the protective effects of salvianolate on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) related myocardial injury or myocardial infarction after elective PCI in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients.

Methods: A total of 149 patients with NSTE-ACS who underwent elective PCI were enrolled. The patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the salvianolate group (74 cases) or the control group (75 cases).

SOX9 drives the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small-cell lung cancer through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Background: The distant metastasis of cancer cells is a risk factor for tumor lethality and poor prognosis in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Increased SOX9 expression has been associated with clinical stage and poor prognosis in NSCLC, but the molecular mechanisms by which SOX9 promotes metastasis in NSCLC are still unknown.

Methods: The relationship between SOX9 expression and T, N, M classification was assessed using the χ test and Spearman's analysis in 142 immunohistochemically diagnosed specimens of NSCLC.

Polymorphisms in Four Genes (KCNQ1 rs151290, KLF14 rs972283, GCKR rs780094 and MTNR1B rs10830963) and Their Correlation with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Han Chinese in Henan Province, China.

Genetic variants at KCNQ1 rs151290, KLF14 rs972283, GCKR rs780094 and MTNR1B rs10830963 have been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the results are contradictory in Chinese populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of these four SNPs with T2DM in a large population of Han Chinese at Henan province, China. Seven-hundred-thirty-six patients with T2DM (cases) and Seven-hundred-sixty-eight healthy glucose-tolerant controls were genotyped for KCNQ1 rs151290, KLF14 rs972283, GCKR rs780094 and MTNR1B rs10830963.

Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor-2 Gene Polymorphisms Associate With Coronary Atherosclerosis in Chinese Population.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) may play critical roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between TFPI-2 gene polymorphisms and coronary atherosclerosis.Four hundred and seven patients with coronary atherosclerosis and 306 individuals with normal coronary artery were enrolled in the present study.

Association between Low-density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein 5 Polymorphisms and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Han Chinese: a Case-control Study.

Objective: To investigate the association between low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) variants (rs12363572 and rs4930588) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Han Chinese.

Methods: A total of 1842 T2DM cases (507 newly diagnosed cases and 1335 previously diagnosed cases) and 7777 controls were included in this case-control study. PCR-RFLP was conducted to detect the genotype of the two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

[Cloning and expression of triosephosphate isomerase gene of Boophilus microplus].

Total RNA was extracted from adult Boophilus microplus. RT-PCR was used to amplify the gene and the fragment was subcloned into the expression vector pET-28a. The cloned gene was expressed in E.

[Relationship between post-stenting coronary thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow and plasma von Willebrand factor and ADAMTS-13 levels in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between post-stenting coronary thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow and plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) and its cleaving protease (ADAMTS-13) levels in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: STEMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and stenting between September, 2007 and December, 2009 were enrolled. According to the post-stenting TIMI flow, patients were divided to TIMI ≤ 2 group (n = 43) and TIMI 3 group (n = 43).

A meta-analysis of HLA-DR polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) has been hypothesized as a multifactorial disorder initiated by an environment trigger in individuals with predisposing human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. Published data on the association between HLA-DR polymorphism and IDC risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed.

[Cloning and expression of a fragment of Corylus heterophylla 1 and identifying its immunologic competence].

Aim: To clone, express, and identify a fragment of Cor h 1 from Corylus heterophylla.

Methods: Through bioinformatics predication, the antigenic epitope of Cor h 1 was selected. A fragment gene of Cor h 1 was amplified by PCR and cloned into pMD18-T vector for sequencing.

Recombinant TFPI-2 enhances macrophage apoptosis through upregulation of Fas/FasL.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) is a Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor with inhibitory activity toward activated factor XI, plasma kallikrein, plasmin, certain matrix metalloproteinases, and the tissue factor-activated factor VII complex. In addition, TFPI-2 has other functions such as promoting cell migration and inducing apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated if TFPI-2 induced apoptosis in cultured U937-derived macrophages and the possible signal pathways that involved in the apoptotic process.

The effects of simvastatin on angiogenesis: studied by an original model of atherosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction in rabbit.

Statins have shown pleiotropic effects, many of them independent of their impact on lipids. Angiogenesis can be beneficial in the acute myocardial infarction to improve circulation. However, it also can be harmful due to worsening of atherosclerosis.

[Evaluation on clinical effect of long-term shexiang baoxin pill administration for treatment of coronary heart disease].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of long-term Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SXBXP) administration on cardiovascular events in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP).

Methods: A prospective randomized non-blind parallel controlled study was conducted in the early stage (the first 6 months) of the trial, then a cohort study was succeeded in the later stage. Two hundred patients with SAP, who visited the hospital between May 2005 and June 2006, were selected and randomly assigned to the trial group and the control group, 100 patients in each group.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for high-altitude pulmonary hypertension: a meta-analysis.

Background: High-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) is a public health problem in mountainous areas of the world. Treatment options for this condition are unsatisfactory. Recent interest in use of selective phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors for pulmonary hypertension has suggested a possible role for these agents in the treatment of HAPH.

Oral L-arginine supplementation in acute myocardial infarction therapy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: The objective was to analyze completed trials assessing the effect of oral L-arginine supplementation on clinical outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Background: Prior trials suggest that oral L-arginine administration improves endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). However, it is still unclear whether oral supplementation of L-arginine has any effect on clinical outcomes in patients with unstable CAD, such as AMI.

Cardiac matrix remodeling following intracoronary cell transplantation in dilated cardiomyopathic rabbits.

Cellular cardiomyoplasty has been proposed as a promising therapeutic strategy for chronic heart failure. Previous studies focused on structural changes in cardiomyocytes to explain the potential benefits for contractile function. However, limited information is available about the cardiac matrix remodeling following cell transplantation in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

[Evaluation on tolerability and safety of long-term administration with shexiang baoxin pill in patients with coronary heart disease of stable angina pectoris].

Objective: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of long-term (6 months) administration with Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) of stable angina pectoris.

Methods: Adopting randomized non-blinded and parallel controlled trial, 200 patients with CHD were randomly and equally assigned to the SBP group and the control group. Both received basic therapy for CHD, including anti-platelet, lipid regulating and anti-ischemia with additional SBP 2 pills, taken orally three times per day in the SBP group.