Protective effects of sodium ferulate in vascular endothelial function during cardiopulmonary bypass

Objective Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and its related ischemia reperfusion injury may cause endothelial cell injury. To study the protective effects of sodium ferulate in vascular endothelial function during CPB by testing the changes of vascular endothelial cell(CEC) ,nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in children with congenital heart disease. Methods Sixty patients

Effect of Carvedilol on the Coronary Vascular Endothelial Function after Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

Objectives To understand the effect of carvedilol on the coronary vascular endothelial function of the patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods 51cases, having one or more than two branches narrow ( ≥ 70% ) , were diagnosed by coronary angiography. These patients were divided randomly into carvedilol group (n = 28) and control group ( n = 23) who did not take carvedilol. Endothelin (ET) and nitro dioxide (NO) levels of peripheral blood were measured before and after PTCA, before and after two weeks by taking earvedilol. Results Compared with the ET and NO levels before PTCA, ET were markedly increased and NO were decreased after PTCA (p <0. 05) ; compared with the ET and NO levels before taking carvedilol, ET were decreased and NO were increased after two week (p <0.05 ) , but the ET and NO levels of the control group did not change in the period of two weeks observation (p > 0.05). Conclusions Carvedilol may improve the coronary vascular endothelial function after PTCA.

Differences in vascular endothelial function and serum proteome between obese people with phlegm-dampness constitution and balanced constitution

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the extent of vascular endothelial dysfunction and preliminary identify serum protein biomarkers associated with obese individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease(CVD).METHODS:Fifteen obese volunteers with the phlegmdampness constitution or balanced constitution were recruited for this study respectively.The clinical baseline data was collected,and the vascular endothelial function was evaluated using the EndoPAT?.Blood samples were collected for the serum proteome analysis.The differences in the serum protein expression levels between the two groups were detected and the protein interaction network analysis,correlation analysis,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis,and random forest model investigation were conducted.RESULTS:There were no statistical differences found in the baseline data.For vascular endothelial function,the reactive hyperemia index(RHI)of the phlegm-dampness constitution obese group was significantly lower than that of the balanced constitution obese group(1.46±0.30 vs 2.82±0.78,P<0.0001),indicating vascular endothelial dysfunction.There are 66 differentially expressed serum proteins between the two groups.apolipoprotein A2(Apo A2),angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE-2),interleukin-33(IL-33),and forkhead box P3(FoxP3)showed significant differences and area under curve values of their ROC curves were greater than 0.7 and correlated significantly with RHI.CONCLUSION:Vascular endothelial dysfunction was present in the phlegm-dampness constitution obese group.Thus,alterations in the expression levels of key serum proteins,including Apo A2,ACE-2,IL-33,and Fox P3 could serve as potential biomarkers in the obese population at risk of CVD.

Vascular Endothelial Glycocalyx as a Mechanism of Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis occurs as a result of organized processes that include vascular endothelial dysfunction, lipid accumulation, abnormal inflammatory reaction, excessive reactive oxygen species production, and vascular cell proliferation and migration. In patients with atherosclerosis, vascular endothelial dysfunction is commonly observed with the damage of vascular endothelial glycocalyx, which is an extracellular matrix bound to and encapsulating the endothelial cells that line the blood vessel wall. Unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking and physical inactivity also induce glycocalyx degradation. Additionally, vascular endothelial glycocalyx can be damaged by various pathological conditions including dehydration, acute infectious disease, trauma, sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, Kawasaki disease, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, dementia, microvascular angina, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure. Vascular endothelial glycocalyx has been shown to be important as a physical cytoprotective barrier for vascular endothelial cells and as a regulatory mechanism for intracellular cell signaling. Therefore, vascular endothelial glycocalyx has immense potential in the exploration of novel strategies for the evaluation of beneficial conditions of healthy vasculature.

Effect of Shengmai Injection (生脉注射液) on Vascular Endothelial and Heart Functions in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Complicated with Diabetes Mellitus

Objective： To study the effect of Shengmai injection （生脉注射液, SMI） on vascular endothelial and heart functions in coronary heart disease patients complicated with diabetes mellitus （CHD-DM）. Methods： One hundred and twenty patients with CHD-DM, their diagnosis confirmed by coronary arteriography, were equally randomized into a control group treated with conventional treatment and a treated group treated with conventional treatment plus SMI. The changes in blood levels of nitric oxide （NO）, endothelin-1 （ET-1） and angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ）, as well as endothelium-dependent vascular dilating function and heart function in the patients were observed before treatment and after the 3-week treatment. Results： After being treated with SMI for 3 weeks, in the treated group, blood level of NO was raised significantly from 69.8±33.1 μmol/L to 120.1±50.8μmol/L, and ET-1 was lowered from 70.1±32.1 ng/L to 46.2±21.3 ng/L, respectively （P〈0.01）; that of Ang Ⅱ was lowered from 81.3±24.3 ng/L to 50.2±27.3 ng/L （P〈0.01）; brachial arterial post-congestion blood flow increasing rate was raised from 389.4±26.3% to 459.3±27.8% （P〈0.01）; and the improvement in heart function as seen through the ejection fraction （EF） was increased from 44±5% to 68±6% （P〈0.01）, all the changes being more significant than those in the control group （all P〈0.01）. Conclusion： SMI can improve not only the endothelial function in CHD-DM patients, but also heart contraction significantly.

Comfortable Lifestyle-induced Imbalance of Neuro-endocrine-immunity Network:A Possible Mechanism of Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction

Objective： To observe the changes of vascular endothelial functions and general neuroendocrine-immunity （NEI） network under the state of qi-deficiency syndrome induced by excessive idleness and to approach their internal relevance and illuminate initially the pathophysiological mechanism of vascular lesion induced by excessive idleness. Methods： A total of 100 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group and the qi-deficiency syndrome model group, 50 rats in each group. The qi-deficiency syndrome model was established by feeding the animals with hyper-alimentation diet in combination with restricting movement for 10 weeks. Changes of common chemical signal molecules related to NEI and vascular endothelial functions were measured by the end of the experiment. Furthermore, their internal relevance was analyzed by the method of canonical correlation analysis. Results： The vascular endothelial structure and function were obviously injured in the model group. Compared with the control group, the chemical signal molecules, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）, corticosterone （CORT）, triiodothyronine （T3）, tetraiodothyronine （T4）, angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ）, interleukin-1 （IL-1）, and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in peripheral blood of the model group （n=43） were changed significantly （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Canonical correlation analysis showed that vascular endothelial dysfunction was correlated to the changes of these signal molecules in the NEI network. Conclusions： Comfortbased lifestyle induced not only vascular endothelial dysfunction but also an imbalance of the NEI network. Vascular endothelial dysfunction and the imbalanced NEI network interacted with each other, and an imbalance of the NEI network may be the pathophysiologic basis for the genesis and development of vascular endothelial dysfunction, even diseases of the blood vessel.

Crocodile blood supplementation protect svascular function in diabetic mice

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in diabetic patients due to the heightened oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory state in vascular tissues.Effective approaches targeting cardiovascular health for diabetic patients are urgently needed.Crocodile blood,an emerging dietary supplement,was suggested to have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro,which have yet to be proven in animal models.This study thereby aimed to evaluate whether crocodile blood can protect vascular function in diabetic mice against oxidation and inflammation.Diabetic db/db mice and their counterparts db/m+mice were treated daily with crocodile blood soluble fraction(CBSF)or vehicle via oral gavage for 4 weeks before their aortae were harvested for endothelium-dependent relaxation(EDR)quantification using wire myograph,which is a well-established functional study for vascular function indication.Organ culture experiments culturing mouse aortae from C57BL/6 J mice with or without IL-1βand CBSF were done to evaluate the direct effect of CBSF on endothelial function.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in mouse aortae were assessed by dihydroethidium(DHE)staining with inflammatory markers in endothelial cells quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR).CBSF significantly improved deteriorated EDR in db/db diabetic mice through both diet supplementation and direct culture,with suppression of ROS level in mouse aortae.CBSF also maintained EDR and reduced ROS levels in mouse aortae against the presence of pro-inflammatory IL-1β.Under the pro-inflammatory state induced by IL-1β,gene expressions of inflammatory cytokines were downregulated,while the protective transcripts UCP2 and SIRT6 were upregulated in endothelial cells.Our study suggests a novel beneficial effect of crocodile blood on vascular function in diabetic mice and that supplementation of diet with crocodile blood may act as a complementary approach to protect against vascular diseases through anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation in diabetic patients.

Protocol to study the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on patients with coronary heart disease showing phlegm-heat-stasis symptom pattern

OBJECTIVE:To describe a protocol to assess the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)on patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)showing symptoms of phlegm-heat-stasis symptom pattern.METHODS:This is a single-blind randomized controlled trial that will be conducted in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM and 60 patients with CHD showing phlegm-heat-stasis symptom pattern will be included.Patients will be randomly divided into either a treatment group(Qingre Huatan formulae+Western Medicine)or to acontrol group(conventional Western Medicine only)for 7-14 d.Primary patient outcomes will be vascular endothelial function and quality of life.Measurement data will be expressed as mean±standard deviation using t-test analysis or repeated-measure variance analysis.Enumeration data will be expressed by cases and percentages,usingχ^(2) analysis,and rank sum test will be used for ranked data.RESULTS:This study further verified the effectiveness and safety of Qingre Huatan formulae for the phlegm-heat-stasis syndrome pattern of CHD on the basis of previous studies on the characteristics of syndromes and medication rules.DISCUSSION:Phlegm-heat-stasis symptom pattern has become a common manifestation in CHD.Standardized Western medications together with TCM have been extensively used in China and have developed into a comprehensive treatment model.Our trial will help formulate recommendations for symptom maintenance and provide clinical evidence for the application of TCM for patients with CHD showing phlegm-heat-stasis symptom pattern.