[Ti-AI intermetallic compound membrane refining Chinese medicinal materials extract].

Objective: To preliminarily evaluate the refining effect on Chinese medicinal materials extract using the microfiltration membrane of Ti-A1 intermetallic compound.

Methods: Conduct a series of microfiltration experiments on the extract of several commonly used Chinese medicinal materials (Nelumubinis Plumula and Eucommiae Folium)and compound preparation of Baihuasandi. Then, analyze the changes of traits, total solid and index components before and after filtring.

[Cardiac metallothionein overexpression improves cardiac contractile function and attenuates oxidative stress in lipopolysaccharide-treated mice].

Objective: This study was designed to examine the impact of the antioxidant metallothionein (MT) on cardiac contractile, intracellular Ca(2+) function and oxidative stress in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice.

Methods: Weight and age matched adult male FVB and cardiac-specific MT-overexpressing transgenic mice were injected intraperitoneally with 4 mg/kg Escherichia Coli LPS dissolved in sterile saline or an equivalent volume of pathogen-free saline (control groups). Six hours following LPS or saline injection, cardiac geometry and function were evaluated in anesthetized mice using the 2-D guided M-mode echocardiography.

Relation of corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count and ST-segment resolution to myocardial tissue perfusion after acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: To evaluate myocardial tissue perfusion by corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) and ST-segment resolution after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Background: Early and sustained potency of infarct-related artery (IRA) has become the main goal of reperfusion therapy in patients with AMI. However, myocardial tissue perfusion may remain impaired even after the achievement of TIMI grade 3 flow of the epicardial artery without residual stenosis.

[Atorvastatin inhibits scavenger receptor A and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expressions in foam cell].

Objective: To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on expressions of scavenger receptor A and secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in foam cells.

Methods: THP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages by PMA and treated with 0.1% BSA (control), ox-LDL (100 mg/L) or ox-LDL plus atorvastatin (5, 10, 20 micromol/L) for 24 hours.

[Association of angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 gene polymorphism with essential hypertension in Chinese].

Objective: To identify the genetic variants of angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene in a Chinese population and to determine whether the ACE2 gene polymorphisms are associated with essential hypertension (EH).

Methods: Seven hundred and forty-five patients with EH and 362 normal blood pressure controls were included in the study to assess the contribution of polymorphism of ACE2 gene. Direct DNA sequencing was performed to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 20 subjects who were randomly selected from the EH patients.

[Change of peripheral blood monocytes derived macrophage scavenger receptors activity in patients with coronary heart disease, and the intervention effect of ginkgo biloba extract].

Objective: To observe the activity of peripheral blood monocytes (PBMs) derived macrophage scavenger receptors (MSR) and changes of serum inflammatory factor in peripheral blood in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), and to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on the MSR activity, to explore the relationship between inflammatory factor and scavenger receptors activity as well as the possible mechanism of GBE in stabilizing the atheromatous plaque.

Methods: Ninety-seven CHD patients with normal blood lipids were classified into the stable angina group, the unstable angina group and the acute myocardial infarction group, and 29 healthy persons were taken as control. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in all subjects were determined.

[Effect of combined therapy of shenmai and compound danshen injection on myocardial reperfusion injury after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

Objective: To explore the effect of combined therapy of shenmai and compound danshen injection (SM-DS) on myocardial reperfusion injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Thirty-eight AMI patients who received PCI were randomly divided into two groups, the 19 patients in the treated group were treated with SM-DS before and after PCI. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients' venous blood were measured at different time-points, and the integrated left ventricular ejection isometric index (Tei) was determined by echocardiogram.

[Effect of different angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on coronary collateral circulation].

Objective: To observe the effects of different angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) on coronary collateral circulation.

Methods: Twenty-four healthy dogs underwent measurement of distolic aortic pressure (DAP) and ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The distolic coronary pressure (DCP) and retrograde blood flow (Qret) were measured.