The roles of androgens on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology are controversial as both beneficial and detrimental effects have been reported. Although the reasons for this discrepancy are unclear, multiple ...The roles of androgens on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology are controversial as both beneficial and detrimental effects have been reported. Although the reasons for this discrepancy are unclear, multiple factors such as genetic and epigenetic variation, sex-specificity, hormone interactions, drug preparation and route of administration may contribute. Recently, growing evidence suggests that androgens exhibit beneficial effects on cardiovascular function though the mechanism remains to be elucidated. Endothelial cells （ECs） which line the interior surface of blood vessels are distributed throughout the circulatory system, and play a crucial role in cardiovascular function. Endothelial progenitor cells （EPCs） are considered an indispensable element for the reconstitution and maintenance of an intact endothelial layer. Endothelial dysfunction is regarded as an initiating step in development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The modulation of endothelial functions by androgens through either genornic or nongenomic signal pathways is one possible mechanism by which androgens act on the cardiovascular system. Obtaining insight into the mechanisms by which androgens affect EC and EPC functions will allow us to determine whether androgens possess beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. This in turn may be critical in the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular diseases. This article seeks to review recent progress in androgen regulation of endothelial function, the sex-specificity of androgen actions, and its clinical applications in the cardiovascular system.展开更多
The present study reports a case of a young patient who presented for 3 months dyspnea, edema of lower limbs, fever and important weight loss. She evolved with acute fever, hematemesis and focal seizures. An echocardi...The present study reports a case of a young patient who presented for 3 months dyspnea, edema of lower limbs, fever and important weight loss. She evolved with acute fever, hematemesis and focal seizures. An echocardiogram was performed demonstrating file presence of interventricular, interatrial, and extensive echogenic imaging and of poorly defined borders throughout the septal cusp of the tricuspid valve, suggestive of vegetation, chest tomography that observed several foci of pulmonary abscess and blood culture evidencing the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. She was treated with Vancomycin, Meropenem and Amphotericin, along with clinical support. She underwent surgery to exchange the tricuspid valve for a biological prosthesis, evolving with clinical improvement and receiving discharge from hospital.展开更多
Hypertension is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world and,prevalence of hypertension is increasing with aging.Hypertension in the elderly is associated with increased occurrence rates of sodium s...Hypertension is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world and,prevalence of hypertension is increasing with aging.Hypertension in the elderly is associated with increased occurrence rates of sodium sensitivity,isolated systolic hypertension,and ＇white coat effect＇.Arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction also increase with age.These factors should be considered in selecting antihypertensive therapy.The prime objective of this therapy is to prevent stroke.The fmdings of controlled trials show that there should be no cut-off age for treatment.A holistic program for controlling cardiovascular risks should be fully discussed with the patient,including evaluation to exclude underlying causes of secondary hypertension,and implementation of lifestyle measures.The choice of antihypertensive drug therapy is influenced by concomitant disease and previous medication history,but will typically include a thiazide diuretic as the first-line agent;to this will be added an angiotensin inhibitor and/or a calcium channel blocker.Beta blockers are not generally recommended,in part because they do not combat the effects of increased arterial stiffness.The hypertension-hypoten-sion syndrome requires case-specific management.Drug-resistant hypertension is important to differentiate from faulty compliance with medication.Patients resistant to the third-line drug therapy may benefit from treatment with extended-release isosorbide mononitrate.A trial of spironolactone may also be worthwhile.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Liandouqingmai Recipe on life quality and vascular endothelial injury in patients with coronary heart disease.METHODS:Capitalized 101 patients with coronary heart disease were rando...OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Liandouqingmai Recipe on life quality and vascular endothelial injury in patients with coronary heart disease.METHODS:Capitalized 101 patients with coronary heart disease were randomly divided into a treatment group(n=45) treated with Liandouqingmai Recipe and a standard treatment group(control group,n=56).A normal group of 16 healthy persons was additionally set up.Changes in ET-1 and NO levels were measured and Seatle Angina Questionnaire(SAQ) was adopted in studying life quality before and after treatment for two weeks.The data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 statistic software.RESULTS:The average level of ET-1 in the normal group was lower and NO higher than that of patients with coronary heart disease.There was no significant difference in the average level of ET-1 and NO and in the scores of SAQ [physical limitation(PL),pngina stability(AS),apngina frequency(AF),treatment satisfaction(TS) and disease perception(DP)] between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05).But after treatment,the scores of SAQ(PL,AS,AF,TS,DP) and NO level were higher than those in the control group,and ET-1 average level in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group.The negative relations between PL and ET-1 and between AF and ET-1 were found in this study.CONCLUSION:Liandouqingmai Recipe can raise scores of SAQ and NO level and decline ET level in patients with coronary heart disease on the basis of convertional standard treatment,thus improving vascular endothelial function and life quality.Life quality is related to vascular endothelial function.展开更多
Recent studies have declared that members of the ss DNA virus family Microviridae play an important role in multiple environments, as they have been found taking a dominant position in the human gut. The aim of this s...Recent studies have declared that members of the ss DNA virus family Microviridae play an important role in multiple environments, as they have been found taking a dominant position in the human gut. The aim of this study was to analyze the overall composition of the gut virome in coronary heart disease(CHD) patients, and try to discover the potential link between the human gut virome and CHD. Viral metagenomics methods were performed to detect the viral sequences in fecal samples collected from CHD inpatients and healthy persons as controls. We present the analysis of the virome composition in these CHD patients and controls. Our data shows that the virome composition may be linked to daily living habits and the medical therapy of CHD.Virgaviridae and Microviridae were the two dominant types of viruses found in the enteric virome of CHD patients. Fourteen divergent viruses belonging to the family Microviridae were found, twelve of which were grouped into the subfamily Gokushovirinae, while the remaining two strains might represent two new subfamilies within Microviridae, according to the phylogenetic analysis. In addition, the genomic organization of these viruses has been characterized.展开更多
基金The researches described in this article were partially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 81570271 and 81400357） and NIH （UL1 RR024996）. We are very grateful to John R Lee （Assistant Professor of Medicine, Weill Comell Medical College, New York）, and Jeff J Zhu （Research Manager, Weill Comell Medical College, New York） for critical review of the article. The authors have nothing to disclosure.
文摘The roles of androgens on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology are controversial as both beneficial and detrimental effects have been reported. Although the reasons for this discrepancy are unclear, multiple factors such as genetic and epigenetic variation, sex-specificity, hormone interactions, drug preparation and route of administration may contribute. Recently, growing evidence suggests that androgens exhibit beneficial effects on cardiovascular function though the mechanism remains to be elucidated. Endothelial cells （ECs） which line the interior surface of blood vessels are distributed throughout the circulatory system, and play a crucial role in cardiovascular function. Endothelial progenitor cells （EPCs） are considered an indispensable element for the reconstitution and maintenance of an intact endothelial layer. Endothelial dysfunction is regarded as an initiating step in development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The modulation of endothelial functions by androgens through either genornic or nongenomic signal pathways is one possible mechanism by which androgens act on the cardiovascular system. Obtaining insight into the mechanisms by which androgens affect EC and EPC functions will allow us to determine whether androgens possess beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. This in turn may be critical in the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular diseases. This article seeks to review recent progress in androgen regulation of endothelial function, the sex-specificity of androgen actions, and its clinical applications in the cardiovascular system.
文摘The present study reports a case of a young patient who presented for 3 months dyspnea, edema of lower limbs, fever and important weight loss. She evolved with acute fever, hematemesis and focal seizures. An echocardiogram was performed demonstrating file presence of interventricular, interatrial, and extensive echogenic imaging and of poorly defined borders throughout the septal cusp of the tricuspid valve, suggestive of vegetation, chest tomography that observed several foci of pulmonary abscess and blood culture evidencing the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. She was treated with Vancomycin, Meropenem and Amphotericin, along with clinical support. She underwent surgery to exchange the tricuspid valve for a biological prosthesis, evolving with clinical improvement and receiving discharge from hospital.
文摘Hypertension is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world and,prevalence of hypertension is increasing with aging.Hypertension in the elderly is associated with increased occurrence rates of sodium sensitivity,isolated systolic hypertension,and ＇white coat effect＇.Arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction also increase with age.These factors should be considered in selecting antihypertensive therapy.The prime objective of this therapy is to prevent stroke.The fmdings of controlled trials show that there should be no cut-off age for treatment.A holistic program for controlling cardiovascular risks should be fully discussed with the patient,including evaluation to exclude underlying causes of secondary hypertension,and implementation of lifestyle measures.The choice of antihypertensive drug therapy is influenced by concomitant disease and previous medication history,but will typically include a thiazide diuretic as the first-line agent;to this will be added an angiotensin inhibitor and/or a calcium channel blocker.Beta blockers are not generally recommended,in part because they do not combat the effects of increased arterial stiffness.The hypertension-hypoten-sion syndrome requires case-specific management.Drug-resistant hypertension is important to differentiate from faulty compliance with medication.Patients resistant to the third-line drug therapy may benefit from treatment with extended-release isosorbide mononitrate.A trial of spironolactone may also be worthwhile.
基金supported by Bureau of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Jiangsu Province(No.HZ07097)
文摘OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Liandouqingmai Recipe on life quality and vascular endothelial injury in patients with coronary heart disease.METHODS:Capitalized 101 patients with coronary heart disease were randomly divided into a treatment group(n=45) treated with Liandouqingmai Recipe and a standard treatment group(control group,n=56).A normal group of 16 healthy persons was additionally set up.Changes in ET-1 and NO levels were measured and Seatle Angina Questionnaire(SAQ) was adopted in studying life quality before and after treatment for two weeks.The data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 statistic software.RESULTS:The average level of ET-1 in the normal group was lower and NO higher than that of patients with coronary heart disease.There was no significant difference in the average level of ET-1 and NO and in the scores of SAQ [physical limitation(PL),pngina stability(AS),apngina frequency(AF),treatment satisfaction(TS) and disease perception(DP)] between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05).But after treatment,the scores of SAQ(PL,AS,AF,TS,DP) and NO level were higher than those in the control group,and ET-1 average level in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group.The negative relations between PL and ET-1 and between AF and ET-1 were found in this study.CONCLUSION:Liandouqingmai Recipe can raise scores of SAQ and NO level and decline ET level in patients with coronary heart disease on the basis of convertional standard treatment,thus improving vascular endothelial function and life quality.Life quality is related to vascular endothelial function.
基金financially supported by the "2014 AgriX" Project Found of Shanghai Jiao Tong University(No. AF1500028/001)
文摘Recent studies have declared that members of the ss DNA virus family Microviridae play an important role in multiple environments, as they have been found taking a dominant position in the human gut. The aim of this study was to analyze the overall composition of the gut virome in coronary heart disease(CHD) patients, and try to discover the potential link between the human gut virome and CHD. Viral metagenomics methods were performed to detect the viral sequences in fecal samples collected from CHD inpatients and healthy persons as controls. We present the analysis of the virome composition in these CHD patients and controls. Our data shows that the virome composition may be linked to daily living habits and the medical therapy of CHD.Virgaviridae and Microviridae were the two dominant types of viruses found in the enteric virome of CHD patients. Fourteen divergent viruses belonging to the family Microviridae were found, twelve of which were grouped into the subfamily Gokushovirinae, while the remaining two strains might represent two new subfamilies within Microviridae, according to the phylogenetic analysis. In addition, the genomic organization of these viruses has been characterized.
