超临界机组锅炉高温受热面管内氧化皮防治措施探讨

本文通过分析超临界机组锅炉高温受热面管,因氧化皮堵塞管道引起超温爆管的原因,制定有效防范措施,并结合实际情况提出了不同的治理方法建议,以探讨氧化皮防治措施和办法,减少投入的同时降低氧化皮带来的风险。

管内壁氧化皮测厚技术在预防锅炉高温过热器爆管中的应用

介绍了管内壁氧化皮测厚技术在安庆石化热电厂 630t/h锅炉高温过热器上的应用。通过实施该技术 ,根据测量结果采取有针对性的换管 ,可有效防止高温过热器管子因过热引起的爆管 ,提高了炉管的整体安全性 ,亦避免了盲目换管或选用高一级材质造成的浪费。

超临界和超超临界锅炉运行中的几个问题

论述了超临界和超超临界锅炉过热器和再热器高温管屏运行中防止超温爆管的几个关键问题,如管内产生氧化皮、突发性扰动、燃烧调整、屏宽方向吸热偏差和同屏热偏差、炉膛出口两侧的烟温偏差、过热器末级喷水量、炉外壁温测点的保温等。建议采用炉内壁温在线监测装置,以降低热偏差屏的炉内壁温水平,减少管内氧化皮的生成,保证锅炉的安全经济运行。

Association of Glu298Asp Polymorphism of the En-dothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene with Essential Hypertension in Elderly People

Objective: To investigate the association of Glu298Asp polymorphism of theeNOS gene with essential hypertension in elderly people. Methods: Ninety-five cases of essentialhypertension were randomly chosen from outpatients and inpatients as the study group, and an equalnumber of sexes, age-matched healthy people as the control group. Their height, weight and bloodpressure were recorded and their fasting plasma lipid concentrations were measured. Glu298Asppolymorphism of the eNOS gene was measured using the methods of PCR and RFLP. Results: Theconstituent ratio of Genotype Glu/Asp in the study group (26.3%) was higher than that in the controlgroup (12.6%, x^2 = 5. 67, P<0.05), the allelic frequency of 298Asp in the study group (13.2%) wassignificantly higher than that in the control group (6.3%, x^2 = 5.06, P<0.05). Conclusion: Glu298Asp variant of the eNOS gene may be an independent predictor in essential hypertension.

Effect of arsenic trioxide on vascular endothelial cell proliferation and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors Flt-1 and KDR in gastric cancer in nude mice

AIM： To investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide （As2O3） on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 （VEGFR-1, Flt-1） and VEGFR-2 （KDR） in human gastric tumor cells and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells.METHODS： The solid tumor model was formed in nude mice with the gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. The animals were treated with As2O3. Microvessel density （MVD） and expression of Flt-1 and KDR were detected by immunofluorescence laser confocal microscopy. SGC-7901 cells were treated respectively by exogenous recombinant human VEGF165 or VEGF165 ＋ As2O3. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cell viability of ECV304 cells was measured by MTT assay, and cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry.RESULTS： The tumor growth inhibition was 30.33% and 50.85%, respectively, in mice treated with As2O3 2.5 and 5 mg/kg. MVD was significantly lower in arsenic-treated mice than in the control group. The fluorescence intensity levels of Flt-1 and KDR were significantly less in the arsenic-treated mice than in the control group. VEGF165 may accelerate growth of SGC7901 cells, but As2O3 may disturb the stimulating effect of VEGF165. ECV304 cell growth was suppressed by 76.51%, 71.09% and 61.49% after 48 h treatment with As2O3 at 0.5, 2.5 and 5 μmol/L, respectively. Early apoptosis in the As2O3- treated mice was 2.88-5.1 times higher than that in the controls, and late apoptosis was 1.17-1.67 times higher than that in the controls.CONCLUSION： Our results showed that As2O3 delays tumor growth, inhibits MVD, down-regulates Flt-1 and KDR expression, and disturbs the stimulating effect of VEGF165 on the growth of SGC7901 cells. These results suggest that As2O3 might delay growth of gastric tumors through inhibiting the paracrine and autocrine pathways of VEGF/VEGFRs.

Inhibitory effect of arsenic trioxide on angiogenesis and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of As2O3 on angiogenesis of tumor and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: The solid tumor model was formed in nude mice with the gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. The animals were randomly divided into three groups. As2O3 was injected into the arsenic-treated groups (2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg) and the same volume of saline solution was injected into the control group. Microvessel density (MVD) and expression of VEGF were detected with immunofluorescence laser confocal technology. Further expression of VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA was measured with Western bloting and fluorescence quantitative RT- PCR in SGC-7901 cells treated with As2O3. RESULTS: In nude mice, after treatment with 5 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg As2O3 respectively, about 50% and 30% tumor growth inhibition were observed correspondingly (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Decrease in MVD appeared in As2O3-treated tumors compared with control group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). MVD in tumors was significantly lower in 5 mg/kg group than in 2.5 mg/kg group (P < 0.01). The fluorescence intensity levels of VEGF in tumor cells were significantly lowered in the arsenic-treated groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.01). The fluorescence intensity level of VEGF in 5 mg/kg group was lower than that in 2.5 mg/ kg group (P < 0.01). In vitro, the expression of VEGF protein decreased in dose- and time-dependent manner after the treatment with As2O3, but in VEGF mRNA no significant difference was found between the control group and the treated groups. CONCLUSION: As2O3 can inhibit solid tumor growth by inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels. One of the mechanisms is that As2O3 can inhibit VEGF protein expression.

C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,interleukin-6,vascular endothelial growth factor and oxidative metabolites in diagnosis of infection and staging in patients with gastric cancer

AIM:The current study was to determine the serum/pLasma levels of VEGF,IL-6,malondialdehyde (MDA),nitric oxide (NO),PCT and CRP in gastric carcinoma and correlation with the stages of the disease and accompanying infection. METHODS:We examined the levels of serum VEGF,IL-6, PCT,CRP and plasma MDA,NO in 42 preoperative gastric cancer patients and 23 healthy subjects.There were infection anamneses that had no definite origin in 19 cancer patients. RESULTS:The VEGF levels (mean±SD; pg/mL) were 478.05±178.29 and 473.85±131.24 in gastric cancer patients with and without infection,respectively,and these values were not significantly different (P>0.05).The levels of VEGF, CRP,PCT,It-6,MDA and NO in cancer patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and the levels of CRP,PCT,It-6,MDA and NO were statistically increased in infection group when compared with non- infection group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION:Although serum VEGF concentrations were increased in gastric cancer,this increase might not be related to infection.CRP,PCT,IL-6,MDA and NO have obvious drawbacks in the diagnosis of infections in cancer patients. These markers may not help to identify infections in the primary evaluation of cancer patients and hence to avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatments as well as hospitalization. According to the results of this study,IL-6,MDA,NO and especially VEGF can be used as useful parameters to diagnose and grade gastric cancer.

Adrenomedullin in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension

AIM:Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a potent vasodilator peptide. ADM and nitric oxide (NO) are produced in vascular endothelial cells.Increased ADM level has been linked to hyperdynamic circulation and arterial vasodilatation in cirrhotic portal hypertension (CPH).The role of ADM in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) is unknown,plasma ADM levels were studied in patients with NCPH,compensated and decompensated cirrhosis in order to determine its contribution to portal hypertension (PH) in these groups. METHODS:There were 4 groups of subjects.Group 1 consisted of 27 patients (F/M:12/15) with NCPH due to portal and/or splenic vein thrombosis (mean age:41±12 years),group 2 consisted of 14 patients (F/M:6/8) with compensated (Child-Pugh A) cirrhosis (mean age:46±4), group 3 consisted of 16 patients (F/M:6/10) with decompensated (Child-Pugh C) cirrhosis (mean age:47±12). Fourteen healthy subjects (F/M:6/8) (mean age:44±8) were used as controls in Group 4.ADM level was measured by ELISA.NO was determined as nitrite/nitrate level by chemoluminescence. RESULTS:ADM level in Group 1 (236±61.4 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in group 2 (108.4±28.3 pg/mL) and group 4 (84.1±31.5 pg/mL) (both P<0.0001) but was lower than that in Group3 (324±93.7 pg/mL) (P=0.002).NO level in group 1 (27±1.4 μmol/L) was significantly higher than that in group 2 (19.8±2.8 μmol/L) and group 4 (16.9±1.6 μmol/L) but was lower than that in Group 3 (39±3.6 μmol/L) (for all three P<0.0001).A strong correlation was observed between ADM and NO levels (r=0.827,P<0.0001). CONCLUSION:Adrenomedullin and NO levels were high in both non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic portal hypertension and were closely correlated,Adrenomedullin and NO levels increased proportionally with the severity of cirrhosis,and were significantly higher than those in patients with NCPH. Portal hypertension plays an important role in the increase of ADM and NO.Parenchymal damage in cirrhosis may contribute to the increase in these parameters.

Changes of nitric oxide and endothelin, thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation

AIM： To investigate the perioperative changes of nitric oxide （NO） and endothelin （ET）, thromboxane A2 （TXA2） and prostaglandin （PGI2） during liver transplantation in end-stage liver disease patients. METHODS： Twenty-seven patients with end-stage cirrhosis undergoing liver transplantation were enrolled in this prospective study. Blood samples were obtained from superior vena at five different surgical stages. Plasma concentrations of nitrate and nitrite were determined to reflect plasma NO levels. Plasma levels of ET-1, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane B2 （TXB2）, the latter two being stable metabolites of PGI2 and TXA2 respectively, were measured.RESULTS： The NO level decreased significantly after vascular cross-clamping and increased significantly at 30 rain after reperfusion. While the ET levels at 30 rain after clamping and after reperfusion were significantly elevated. The ratio of NO/ET decreased significantly at 30 rain after vascular cross-clamping and at the end of surgery. The PGI2 level and the TXA2 during liver transplantation were significantly higher than the baseline level, but the ratio of TXA2/PGI2 decreased significantly at 30 rain after clamping. CONCLUSION： NO/ET and TXA2/PGI2 change during liver transplantation. Although the precise mechanism remains unknown, they may play a role in the pathobiology of a variety of liver transplant-relevant processes.

Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial growth factor in association with neovascularization in human primary astrocytoma

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis in primary astrocytoma. Methods: Thirty-seven primary astrocytomas and 4 astrocytic hyperplasia samples were collected and divided into three groups according to histological grade. The expression of eNOS, VEGF and factorⅧ related antigen (FⅧRAg) were assayed by immunohistochemistry. Microvascular density was assessed by FⅧRAg immunoreactivity. The intensity of immunoreactivity was graded according to the percentage of positive tumor cells. Results: No eNOS and VEGF were expressed in the astrocytes and vascular endothelium in astrocytic hyperplasia. The expression of eNOS or VEGF was light in low-grade astrocytoma and strong in glioblastoma. eNOS expression in astrocytoma was very positively correlated with VEGF. eNOS and VEGF expression in anaplastic astrocytoma was median in contrast to the low grade astrocytoma and glioblastoma. Lower microvascular density was found in low grade astrocytoma than that in higher grade malignant ones. The expressions of eNOS and VEGF were correlated with microvascular density and tumor malignancy. Conclusion: This finding suggests that eNOS and VEGF may have cooperative effect in tumor angiogenesis and play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary astrocytoma.

Response of blood endothelin-1 and nitric oxide activity in duodenal ulcer patients undergoing Helicobacter pylori eradication

AIM: To investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in duodenal ulcer (DU) patients. METHODS: Sixty-six Hpylori-infected active DU patients were consecutively enrolled to receive one-week triple therapy (rabeprazole, amoxicillin and metronidazole) and then one-month rabeprazole therapy. They were asked back to determine ulcer and Hpylori status using endoscopy one month later. Thirty-seven healthy controls (H pylori +/-:17/20) were enrolled for comparison. Blood samples were collected in each visit to measure plasma ET-1 and nitrate/nitrite levels using an enzyme immunoassay kit. RESULTS: Sixty DU patients finished trial per protocol. The ulcer healing and Hpylori-eradication rates were 86.7% and 83.3%, respectively. Plasma ET-1 level in DU patients was higher than that of Hpylori-negative and positive controls (3.59±0.96 vs0.89±0.54 vs0.3±0.2 pg/mL,P<0.01), while nitrate/nitrite levels among them were also significantly different (8.55±0.71 vs5.27±0.68 vs 6.39±0.92 μmol/L, P<0.05). H pylori eradication diminished ET-1 levels (3.64±0.55 vs2.64±0.55 pg/mL, P<0.01) but elevated nitrate/ nitrite level (8.16±0.84 vs11.41±1.42 umol/L,P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both plasma ET-1 and nitrate/nitrite levels increase in active DU patients. After an effective H pylori eradication, DU healing is associated with diminished blood ET-1 level and elevated nitrate/nitrite level.

Protection of Salvianolic Acid B for Human Endothelial Cells Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Damage

Salvianolic acid B(Sal B) is an active component of traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza and is used to treat vascular diseases. To better understand its mechanism, the antioxidant capacities of Sal B was evaluated with human endothelial cells under oxidative stress. Human endothelial cells were pretreated with Sal B for 12 h followed by hydrogen peroxide for another 12 h. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and concentration of glu-tathione were measured. Protective effect of Sal B on the endothelial cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced damage was observed, and ROS production in the cells was found significantly inhibited. Sal B remarkably enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GPX. Furthermore, Sal B up-regulated the intracellular glu-tathione concentration. The results indicate that Sal B protected endothelial cells from oxidative stress by improving the redox status of the cells through enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activities and increasing the reductive glu-tathione concentration after the oxidative challenge.

NITRIC OXIDE AND VEGF EXPRESSION IN ISCHEMIC-HYPOXIC RETINOPATHY

Objective To evaluate nitric oxide(NO)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in vitreous humor and blood samples in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)and in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO).Methods NO concentrations were determined by using the Greiss reaction in plasma and vitreous humor samples.VEGF levels were assayed by ELISA.The patients in the studies were divided into four groups:16 patients with PDR,5 patients with BRVO,11 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RRD),and 10 patients with idiopathic macular hole(IMH).Results The vitreous fluid levels of NO were significantly higher in patients with PDR(15.2μmol/L,4.6-50.9μmol/L)than those in the other three groups(F=5.13,P=0.005).The concentrations of VEGF were significantly higher in patients with PDR and BRVO(1507.2 μg/mL,50.71-3722.0μg/ml;838.8μg/mL,159.6-3328.0μg/mL)than those in the other two groups(F=6.84,P=0.0008),but highest in PDR(T=3.92,P=0.001).There was no significant difference between NO and VEGF in serum in four groups.There was no correlation between concentrations of NO and VEGF in four groups whatever in vitreous or plasma(all P>0.05).Conclusion The results suggest that higher levels of NO and VEGF may be related to the angiogenesis in DR.

THE LONG TERM EFFECT OF CAPTOPRIL TREATMENT ON ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

The aim of this study is to elucidate the long term effect Of captopril treatment on the endothelial func-tion to release nitric Oxide (NO) in spontaneOusly hypertensive rats (SHR). The properties of endotheliumwere determined with a model of hindquarter perfusion in response to al adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine,at the age of 40 weeks of SHR which was administrated with captopril (100 mg/kg/day) from lntrauterineand withdrawn at 16 weeks of age. Furthermore, in the presence of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(LNAME), or L-arginine, the responses to phenylephrine were studied. From the curve of perfusion pres-sure, the minimal, maximal perfusiOn pressure (PPmin,PPmax) and the maximal slOpe (slope),as well asthe 5O% of effective concentratiOn (EC,,) were obtained. The data show that in captopril treated SHR,PPmin, PPmax and slope were markedly lower, but EC50 higher than those of untreated SHR. The curveinduced by phenylephrine was significantly right shift compared with that of untreated SHR. Like WKY,the intensive reactivity to phenylephrine in the presence of LNAME was much lower than that of untreatedSHR. ln the presence of L-arginine, however, the right shift of curves was seen only in captopril treatedSHR and WKY rats, but not in control SHR. In conclusipn, endothelium does involve in the respnse ofresistant vessel to phenylephrine. The mechanism of enhanced reactivity In untreated SHR may be, at leastin part, due to the diminished capacity of producing No frpm endpthelium, and the effect pf sustained hy-potension of early captopril treatment might be relevant to the improved ability of endOthelium.

Effect of acupuncture on antioxidant capacities and protection of vascular endothelium in hyperlipidemia mice

Objective To observe the effect and explore the mechanism of acupuncture on hyperlipemia in mice. Methods One hundred and twenty male Kunming mice of clean grade were randomly divided into a normal group （40 mice）, a model group （40 mice）, an acupuncture group （20 mice）, and a drug group （20 mice）. The hyperlipidemia model was prepared in the latter 3 groups by feeding with high fat diet. After the successful modeling, bilateral ＂Fenglong＂ （丰隆 ST 40）, ＂Quchi＂ （曲池 LI 11）, and ＂Sanyinjiao＂ （三阴交 SP 6） were selected in the acupuncture group and Han＇s Acupuncture Stimulator was connected to intervent for 10 rain, once daily, for 10 successive days. Mice in the drug group were orally given Simvastatin, once daily, for 10 successive days. No intervention was given to the normal group and the model group. Serum contents of total cholesterol （TC）, triglyeeride （TG）, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）, malondialdehyde （MDA）, nitric oxide （NO）, endothelin （ET）, and the activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD） were detected. Results The serum contents of TG, TC and LDL-C in the model group detected on the 15th day were all higher than those of the normal group [（1.31±0.32） mmol/L vs （0.70±0.21） retool/L, （5.72±0.85） mmol/L vs （3.08±0.74） retool/L, （2.68±0.55） mmol/L vs （1.83±0.36） retool/L, respectively]. The serum content of HDL-C in the model group was lower than that in the normal group [（0.60±0.26） mmol/L vs （0.94±0.30） mmol/L], showing successful modeling. On the lOth day of successful modeling, the serum contents of MDA and ET in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the model group [（21.58±3.54） p, mol/mL vs （29.94±2.79） p, mol/mL, （44.51±5.23） pg/mL vs （67.07±11.98） pg/mL]. The serum SOD activities and NO content in the acupuncture group were higher than those in the model gropu [（264.57±14.46） U/mL vs （222.66±25.48） U/mL, （85.02±10.06） μmol/L vs （63.83±9.19） μmol/L]. Conclusion Acupuncture could lower serum contents of MDA and ET, improve SOD activities and NO content, showing acupuncture could fight against lipid peroxidation, clear free radicals, regulate as well as ameliorate the metabolic balance of free radicals, and protect the vascular endothelium in hyperlipidemia mice.

Effects of acupuncture on blood-lipids, anti-oxidizing ability and vascular endothelial protective function in hyperlipemia mice

Objective To observe therapeutic effects of acupuncture on the mouse of hyperlipemia and to explore the mechanisms. Methods One hundred and twenty Kunming mice, male, sanitary degree, were randomly divided into normal group （n=40）, a model group （n=40）, an acupuncture group （n=20） and a medicine group （n=20）. Except the normal group, the mice were fed with high fat forage to prepare mouse hyperlipemia model. On the 15th day of modeling, serum total cholesterol （TC）, triglyceride （TG）, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol （LDL-C）, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol （HDL-C） levels were detected in 20 normal mice and 20 model mice; electroacupuncture was given at bilateral ＂Fēnglóng＂ （丰隆 ST 40）, ＂Qūchí＂ （曲池 LI 11）, ＂Sānyīnjiāo＂ （三阴交 SP 6） in the acupuncture group, once a day, for 10 consecutive days; in the medicine group, the mice were intragastrically administrated with Simvastatin, once daily , for 10 consecutive days. After the end of treatment, serum TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, malondialdehyde （MDA）, nitric oxide （NO） and endothelin （ET） contents and superoxide dismutase （SOD） activities were detected in the groups. Results On the 15th day of modeling, in the model group serum TG, TC, LDL-C contents were significantly higher （all P〈0.05） and HDL-C content was significantly lower （P〈0.01） than those in the normal group. After treatment for 10 days, in the acupuncture group and the medicine group serum TG, TC, LDL-C, MDA and ET contents were significantly lower and serum HDL-C and NO contents and SOD activities were significantly higher than those in the model group （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）, and the improving action in the acupuncture group was better than that in the medicine group （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. Conclusion Acupuncture can regulate fat metabolism, resist lipid peroxidation and protect vascular endothelial function in the mouse of hyperlipemia.

Methoxyl methyl ether isoamylene quercetin, a quercetin derivative, protects rat aorta endothelial cells against oxidation and apoptosis

Methoxyl methyl ether isoamylene quercetin （MIAQ） is one of the newly synthesized quercetin derivatives. The present study investigated the effect of MIAQ on rat aorta endothelial cells （RAECs） injured by hydrogen peroxide （H2O2）, as well as the potential mechanisms. We observed that MIAQ at 2.5-10μmol/L significantly enhanced the viability of injured RAECs, and the effect was more potent than quercetin and ct-tocopherol. However, M1AQ at the same concentration failed to show anti-oxidant activity in a cell-free system. In H2O2-injured endothelial cells treated with MIAQ （5-10μmol/L）, the level of nitric oxide （NO） and malondialdehyde was decreased, and the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase was enhanced. In addition, RAECs treated with MIAQ （2.5-10 μmol/L） exhibited significant inhibiting apoptosis. In conclusion, MIAQ had protective effect on RAECs, possibly through increasing NO production and antioxidases activities, as well as inhibiting apoptosis. These findings suggest that MIAQ is possibly beneficial in the prevention of atherosclerosis and other diseases related to endothelial injury.

Influence of moxibustion temperatures on blood lipids, endothelin-1, and nitric oxide in hyperlipidemia patients

OBJECTIVE： To observe the influence of moxibustion temperature on blood lipids, endothelin-1（ET-1）, nitric oxide（NO）, and ET-1/NO in hyperlipidemia patients. METHODS： Forty-two primary hyperlipidemia patients were randomly divided into two groups of 21 and treated with moxibustion at different temperatures. Moxibustion was performed with the moxa roll 2.5-3.0 cm from the skin in the treatment group and 4 cm in the control group, 10 min per point, once every other day. Skin temperature was precisely measured with a thermometer during moxibustion. After a 12-week treatment, seven measurements of blood lipids, ET-1, and NO were recorded. RESULTS： Total cholesterol and triglyceride, were lower in the treatment group than in the control group（P0.05）. Serum ET-1 and ET-1/NO was obvi-ously lowered in the treatment group（P0.001）. Moxibustion regulated NO and ET-1/NO in the treatment group much better than in the control group. CONCLUSION： Moxibustion can regulate blood lipids and clear blood vessels. Moxibustion at 45℃has a better effect than moxibustion at 38℃ on regulating blood lipids and protecting vascular endothelial function, indicating that suitable temperature influences the curative effect of moxibustion.

Inhibitory activity of gold and silica nanospheres to vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）-mediated angiogenesis is determined by their sizes

Nanoparticles can be involved in biological activities such as apoptosis, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress by themselves. In particular, inorganic nanoparticles such as gold and silica nanoparticles are known to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）-mediated pathological angiogenesis. In this study, we show that anti-angiogenic effect of inorganic nanospheres is determined by their sizes. We demonstrate that 20 nm size gold and silica nanospheres suppress VEGF-induced activation of VEGF receptor-2, in vitro angiogenesis, and in vivo pathological angiogenesis more efficiently than their 100 nm size counterparts. Our results suggest that modulation of the size of gold and silica nanospheres determines their inhibitory activity to VEGF-mediated angiogenesis.