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A high-glucose environment is involved in the progression of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aims to explore the regulatory effects of quercetin (QUE) on autophagy and apoptosis after myocardial injury in rats with DM. The type 2 DM rat models were constructed using low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) treatment combined with a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet in vivo. Compared with the control group, the body weight was decreased, whereas blood pressure, blood glucose, and the LVW/BW ratio were increased in the diabetic group. The results showed that the myocardial fibers were disordered in the diabetic group. Moreover, we found that the myocardial collagen fibers, PAS-positive cells, and apoptosis were increased, whereas the mitochondrial structure was destroyed and autophagic vacuoles were significantly reduced in the diabetic group compared with the control group. The expression levels of autophagy-related proteins LC3 and Beclin1 were decreased, whereas the expression levels of P62, Caspae-3, and Bax/Bcl-2 were increased in the diabetic group in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, QUE treatment alleviated the cellular oxidative stress reaction under high-glucose environments. The results of immunoprecipitation (IP) showed that the autophagy protein Beclin1 was bound to Bcl-2, and the binding capacity increased in the HG group, whereas it decreased after QUE treatment, suggesting that QUE inhibited the binding capacity between Beclin1 and Bcl-2, thus leading to the preservation of Beclin1-induced autophagy. In addition, the blood pressure, blood glucose, and cardiac function of rats were improved following QUE treatment. In conclusion, QUE suppressed diabetic myocardial injury and ameliorated cardiac function by regulating myocardial autophagy and inhibition of apoptosis in diabetes through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To detect the levels of interleukin-33 (IL-33) and soluble ST2 (sST2) in peripheral blood of patients with essential hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy, and to discusstheir correlation with patients with essential hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy was further discussed. Methods: A total of 220 patients with essential hypertension treated in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College were enrolled as the experimental group. According to left ventricular mass index LVMI), patients with essential hypertension were divided into the non-left ventricular hypertrophy group (NLVH, n=108 cases) and the left ventricular hypertrophy group (LVH, n=112 cases). We used ELISA to detect the serum levels of IL-33 and sST2, the expression levels of IL-33 in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the NLVH group and the LVH group (60 cases each) were detected by Western blot, and the relationship between IL-33 and LVMI, a marker of left ventricular hypertrophic condition, was analyzed by Pearson. The relationship between IL-33, sST2 and left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension was studied. Results: Compared with the NLVH group, the expression levels of IL-33 and sST2 in the LVH group were significantly increased. The results of Western blot showed that the expression level of IL-33 in the LVH group (1.07±0.08) was higher than that in the NLVH group (0.63±0.05) (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that IL-33 was positively correlated with LVMI, sST2 was positively correlated with LVMI. Conclusion: The levels of IL-33 and sST2 in serum and the expression levels of IL-33 protein in peripheral blood lymphocytes are significantly increased in patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy, and the occurrence and development of essential hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy may be related to IL-33 and sST2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA (miR)-138 serves an important role in the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs), indicating the involvement of miR-138 in the development and progression of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). Potassium channel subfamily K member 3 (TASK-1), a two-pore domain K+ channel, is expressed in HPASMCs and is associated with hypoxic PAH. However, whether miR-138 mediates PAH through targeting TASK-1 is not known. In the present study, HPASMCs were transfected with miR-138 mimic to establish a PAH model in vitro, and the effects of a miR-138 inhibitor and a TASK-1 inhibitor (A293) were examined. Cell proliferation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to examine the expression of miR-138, TASK-1, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). A dual-luciferase reporter assay was also used to analyse the expression level of TASK-1 in HPASMCs. The results of the present study demonstrated that the miR-138 mimic promoted proliferation and MMP level, which was similar to the effect of A293 treatment on HPASMCs. However, the miR-138 inhibitor inhibited the effects induced by miR-138 mimic or A293 treatment, as demonstrated by a decrease in proliferation and MMP level in HPASMCs, accompanied by a decrease of Bcl-2 and an increase of caspase-3 expression levels, as well as ERK1/2 activation. The dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that TASK-1 expression was negatively regulated by miR-138. The results of the present study suggested that miR-138 promoted proliferation and suppressed mitochondrial depolarization of HPASMCs by targeting TASK-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:Type I collagen is one of the most abundant components of extracellular matrix. We previously illustrated that murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells grew well on type I collagen gel and escaped from TNFα-induced cell death. In this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the protective effect of collagen gel.Material and methods:We used western blot, confocal microscopy, MTT assay and flow cytometry by introducing fluorescence staining to determine the expression levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), inhibitory ratio and autophagy.Results:L929 cells on collagen gel showed higher expression of NF-κB in the nucleus. Inhibition of NF-κB with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate hydrochloride (PDTC) or knockdown by NF-κB-siRNA canceled the protective effect of collagen gel on L929 cells from TNFα-induced death, suggesting for the role of NF-κB in the protection from cell death. We found a new aspect of the effect of PDTC on L929 cells cultured on collagen gel. PDTC alone without TNFα induced apoptosis in the L929 cells cultured on collagen gel but not the cells on plastic dish. The apoptosis induction of the L929 cells cultured on collagen gel with PDTC was repressed by inhibiting autophagy with chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, suggesting that autophagy contributes to the death induced by the treatment with PDTC. Possible underlying mechanism of this finding is discussed.Conclusion:NF-κB played an important role in protecting the L929 cells cultured on collagen gel from TNFα-induced death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo fibers reinforced polypropylene composites were prepared by means of moulding pressing technology. The effects of structure and alkali treatment of bamboo fibers on the hygrothermal properties of the composites were discussed respectively. The results reveal that the moisture absorption behavior of bamboo/PP is conform to Fick law. After structure optimization and alkali treatment, the interfacial property and hygrothermal property of bamboo/PP get some improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of irbesartan on myocardial injury in diabetic rats, and to analyze the changes of Notch1 signaling pathway in it., Methods: Thirty rats were randomly divided into four groups:normal control group (CON, n =6), high calorie group (HC, n =6) and diabetes mellitus group (DM, n =9), irbesartan + diabetes group (Ir + DM, n =9). After modeling 8 weeks later, the body weight ratio and left ventricular weight index were measured and the serum levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. The changes of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in myocardium of rats were determined by the kit and the expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 assaciated X protein (Bax) protein in myocardium were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expressions of Notch1, Hes-1 and jagged-1 in myocardium of rats were detected by Western blot., Results: Compared with CON group, the levels of heart weight/body weight (H/B), left ventricular weight index(LVWI) and fasting blood glucose(FBG) in HC group were not significantly changed, while the levels of blood lipids, MDA and Bax were increased significantly, and the expressions of SOD, Bcl-2 and Notch1, Hes-1 and Jagged-1 were decreased. Compared with HC group, the levels of H/B, LVWI, FBG, MDA and Bax in DM group were increased significantly, and the levels of SOD, Bcl-2 and Notch1, Hes-1 and Jagged-1 were decreased. The expression of H/B, LVWI, Notch1, Hes-1 and Jagged-1 in Ir+DM group were increased, but there was no significant difference between the other indexes. The H/B and LVWI in Ir + DM group were significantly lower than those in DM group, the levels of blood lipid and blood glucose did not change significantly, but the incidence of oxidative stress and apoptosis was reduced. While Notch1, Hes-1, Jagged -1 protein expressions were increased., Conclusions: Diabetes can induce myocardial injury, and irbesartan has myocardial protective effects through activation of Notch1.

Objective: To explore the effects of simvastatin on vascular endothelial cell apoptosis and Bcl-2 protein expression in the aorta in a rat model of atherosclerosis., Methods: Thirty-six rats were randomized into control group (n=10), atherosclerosis model group (n=13) and simvastatin intervention group (n=13). In the latter two groups, rat models of atherosclerosis were established by intraperitoneal injection of vitamin D3 combined with high-fat feeding for 6 weeks, and the control rats were fed with regular diet. In the intervention group, the rats were further fed with high-fat diet with daily simvastatin treatment for 4 weeks. After the treatments, the pathological changes and plaque in the thoracic aorta were observed, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein was detected with immunohistochemistry. TUNEL assay was used to determine the apoptosis index (AI) of the vascular endothelial cells., Results: Compared with that in the control group, Bcl-2 protein expression in the aorta of atherosclerotic rats was significantly decreased (P<0.05); simvastatin treatment obviously increased the expression of Bcl-2 protein in atherosclerotic rats (P<0.05) to a level similar to that in the control group. The AI was the highest in the model group (P<0.05) and comparable between the control and simvastatin treatment group., Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of simvastatin against atherosclerosis is probably mediated by up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein, which inhibits vascular endothelial cell apoptosis in rats with aortic atherosclerosis.

The study of PAHs sorption and bioavailability to different crop roots could help to reveal the environmental behavior of PAHs in the ecosystem and evaluate the ecological risk of PAHs. However, there is little information about the differences in PAHs sorption to different roots and the bioavailability of the sorbed PAHs. In this paper, the experiments were conducted on the sorption/desorption of phenanthrene to soybean and wheat roots under different sorption times and different phenanthrene concentrations. The results showed that the trend of phenanthrene sorption in vivo was first increased and then decreased and finally reached a balance, which was related to the transport delay in vivo; the trend in dead and dried roots was first increased and then reached a balance. The greater specific surface area and the higher fat content, the faster the balance was. Freundlich isotherm was fitted better than Henry isotherm for dead and dried roots, Langmuir isotherm was best fitted in wheat roots. All of the fitted isotherms indicated that the distribution and the surface adsorption could control the phenanthrene sorption. Because of the special binding between living roots and phenanthrene, the fit effect was poor. The phenanthrene sorption capacity of soybean roots was higher than that of wheat, which was related to the high water content, fat content and membrane permeability. The phenanthrene sorbed on the roots was hard to desorb, and the desorption trends were wheat roots> soybean roots; living roots> dried roots> dead roots. The bioavailability of root-sorbed phenanthrene was consistent with the desorption results. Our results could provide data for the assessment of environmental risks of PAHs sorbed onto crop roots.

Objective: To observe the effects of low-concentrations of alcohol consumption on the expression of mitofusin-2 (mfn2) in myocardial injury of diabetic rats., Methods: Diabetic rat model was simulated by intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) and divided into control group, diabetes mellitus(DM) and diabetes+ethanol (DM+EtOH) groups ( n =6). When diabetic model was suc-ceed, daily consumption of 2.5% ethanol was used in ethanol+diabetic group after one week, then changed to 5% ethanol continued until 8 weeks. Eight weeks after the modeling, heart perfusion ex vivo. The ventricular hemodynamic parameters were recorded, the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined by automatic biochemistry analyzer, the mfn2 protein ex-pression of left anterior myocardium was evaluated by Western blot and immunohistochemistry., Results: Compared with control group, the left ventricular development pressure (LVDP), heart rate (HR) and rate pressure product (RPP) were decreased, however, left ventricular and diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and LDH, AST release were increased, the expression of mfn2 protein was decreased in DM group. Compared with DM group, LVDP, HR and RPP and the expression of mfn2 protein were increased, LVEDP and LDH, AST were decreased in DM+E-tOH group., Conclusions: The expression of mfn2 protein was decreased in myocardial injury of diabetic rats, low-concentrations of alcohol consumption increased the expression of mfn2. It suggests that mfn2 may be participated in the cardiac protective role of low-concentrations al-cohol intervene in diabetic rat.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between plasma cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) 894C>T gene polymorphism and the risk of recurrence of adverse cardiac events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS)., Methods: A total of 275 patients with ACS received standard dual antiplatelet therapy and PCI. Platelet aggregation rate (PAR) was detected in each patient before and 7 days after administration of the anti-platelet drugs. Single nucleotide polymorphism of CYP3A4 gene 894C>T was detected with PCR and microarray technique. The number of coronary artery lesions was determined by PCI and the Gensini score was calculated. The patients were followed up for 3-12 months after discharge., Results: No significant difference was found in CYP3A4 gene polymorphism between patients with clopidogrel resistance (CR group) and those without CR (NCR group) (P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CYP3A4 gene 894C>T polymorphism was not correlated with CR in patients with ACS (OR 1.359, P>0.05). During the follow-up, the incidence of cardiovascular events was significantly higher in CR group than in NCR group (P<0.05), but this difference was not related to the mutation type of 894C>T locus of CYP3A4 gene., Conclusion: The CYP3A4 gene 894C>T polymorphism is not associated with the effect of anti-platelet therapy and the risk of cardiovascular event in patients with ACS following PCI.

Objective: To investigate the effect of hypoxia on the human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells two pore domain potassium channels TASK-1 and the regulation of non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src in this process., Methods: The cultured human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMCs) were divided into: normal group, hypoxia 30 minute group, hypoxia 6 hours group and hypoxia 48 hour group, and hypoxia 48 hour + PP2 group, hypoxia 48 hour + PP3 group, hypoxia 48 hour + bpV group. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle, RT-PCR and Western blot technique were carried out to detect the expression changes of TASK-1 mRNA and protein in different groups., Results: (1) Cell Cycle Show: Compared with normal control group, with prolonged hypoxia, the percentages of hPASMCs in S phases of cell cycle were increased. While compared with hypoxia 48 hour group, the percentages of hypoxia 48 hour + PP2 group hPASMCs in S phases of cell cycle were decreased. The expression of TASK-1 mRNA on hPASMCs in acute hypoxia 6 hour group was increased, while the expression of TASK-1 protein on hPASMCs in the acute and chronic hypoxia group was decreased, and the expression of TASK-1 mRNA on hPASMCs in the chronic hypoxia group was decreased; After pre-incubation of a potent and selective inhibitor of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases PP2, the expression of TASK-1 mRNA and protein in hypoxia 48 hour group was increased, however after pre-incubation of the inhibitor of the Src family of protein tyrosine phosphatase bpV, the expression of TASK-1 protein in hypoxia 48 hour group was decreased., Conclusion: Hypoxia promotes human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, and non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src may participate in the expression of two pore domain potassium channels TASK-1 regulated by hypoxia. Therefore, we hypothesized that TASK-1 channels and c-Src participatein the acute and chronic hypoxic human pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Objective: To investigate Anopheline species in Chayu County of Linzhi Prefecture, Tibet., Methods: Four natural villages in Chayu County were selected in this study in 2010. The methods of overnight/semi-overnight trapping indoor and outdoor human-bait, and overnight trapping with light traps were used, and all the Anopheline mosquitoes were confirmed by morphological characteristics., Results: Totally 2 991 Anopheline mosquitoes were captured, with 76.36% (2 284/2 291) of An. peditaeniatus, 22.30% (667/2 291) of An. maculates group. The average densities of An. peditaeniatus by semi-overnight trapping were 56.2/per person indoor and 4/per person outdoor respectively, and the average densities of An. maculatus group by semi-overnight trapping were 17.8/per person indoor and 17.9/per person outdoor respectively. The man-biting rates of An. peditaeniatus by overnight trapping were 28.1/per person indoor and 2/per person outdoor respectively, and were both 8.9/per person to An. maculatus group., Conclusion: An. peditaeniatus and An. maculatus group are the possible transmission vectors of malaria in Chayu County.

Objective: To observe the role of activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/ R) injury in diabetic rats., Methods: Diabetic rat model was simulated by intraperitoneal injection 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) and divided into diabetes and ethanol + diabetes groups (n = 8). After 8 weeks, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model was mimicked in vitro. The ventricular dynamical parameters and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in coronary flow were determined. The fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level were determined by automatic biochemistry analyzer. The ALDH2 mRNA and protein expressions of left anterior myocardium were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot., Results: In contrast to I/R in normal rat, in diabetic rat, left ventricular development pressure (LVDP), maximal rise/fall rate of left ventricular pressure (+/- dp/dtmax) and left ventricular work (RPP) were decreased, left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and LDH release were increased, and ALDH2 mRNA and protein expressions were decreased; compared with I/R in diabetic rat, ALDH2 agonist ethanol significantly promoted the recovery of LVDP, +/- dp/dtmax, RPP, reduced HbA1c level, LVEDP and LDH released, ALDH2 mRNA and protein expressions were increased., Conclusion: In diabetic rat, the expression of ALDH2 was decreased when heart was subjected to I/R. Enhanced mitochondrial ALDH2 expression in diabetic rat could play cardiac protective role.

Objective: To evaluate the anti-apoptotic effect of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic rats., Methods: Normal male SD rats were divided into normal, diabetes and ethanol (the agonist of ALDH2) + diabetes groups. In the latter two groups, diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/kg STZ. Four weeks after the modeling, myocardial I/R was mimicked ex vivo, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in the coronary flow was determined. The activities of caspase-3 and ALDH2 were evaluated, and the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA in the left anterior myocardium were detected using RT-PCR., Results: In diabetic group, LDH release and caspase-3 activity were increased, while ALDH2 activity and Bcl-2/Bax mRNA expression were decreased as compared to those in normal control group. Compared with the diabetic group, ALDH2 agonist ethanol significantly reduced LDH release and caspase-3 activity, increased ALDH2 activity and Bcl-2/Bax mRNA expression., Conclusion: In diabetic rats, enhanced ALDH2 expression can offer mycardial protection possibly in relation to suppress cell apoptosis.

Objective: To make an epidemiological investigation on malaria in Motuo County, Linzhi Prefecture of Tibet., Methods: In July of the year 2006, the following activities were conducted in 2 selected villages from each of the three townships, i.e., Motuo, Dexing and Beibeng: malaria history survey among inhabitants in recent 2 years; collection of blood samples of inhabitants for examining malaria parasites, IFAT and detecting G6PD, respectively; mosquito collection in human dwellings and cattle shelters at night and various resting sites at day-time; mosquito collection by outdoor human baiting capture; classification and composition calculation of mosquito species and man biting rates; ELISA for detecting sporozoite infection of Anopheles., Results: The mean rate of two-year malaria history was 8.98% (118/1314) and the parasite rate was 3.13% (38/1216, all P. vivax) in the inhabitants. The parasite positive rate among the feverish patients was 7.14% (3/42). IFAT revealed a malaria antibody rate of 40.24% (472/1173). The G6PD deficiency rate was 1.74% (21/1208). Five hundred and thirteen anopheline mosquitoes were caught. They were An. maculatus (474) which occupied 92.4% (474/513), An. peditaeniatus (35), An. kochi (3) and An. sinensis (1). The mean indoor density of An. maculatus was 4.75/night in human houses, and 69.5/night in cattle shelters. The outdoor human biting rate was 22.75/half-night/person, and the sporozoite rate of An. maculatus in anopheline saliva glands was 0 by ELISA., Conclusion: Motuo County is an endemic area of vivax malaria with An. maculatus as the potential vector.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Tongxinluo (TXL) Capsule on function of vascular endothelium in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP)., Methods: Forty-six UAP patients were randomly divided into two group, the 28 patients in the treated group treated by conventional therapy plus TXL and the 18 patients in the control group treated by conventional therapy alone. Changes of blood levels of endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO), Von Willebrand factor (vWF), soluble vascular cell adhesive molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble intracellular adhesive molecule-1 (sICAM-1) from before treatment to after two months of treatment were observed, and the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in brachial artery was detected at the same time using ultrasonography., Results: After treatment, the blood level of vWF and ET obviously decreased (P < 0.01), levels of NO and FMD increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in both groups. Levels of sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 significantly decreased in the treated group (P < 0.01), while in the control group, no marked change was found in sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, the levels of vWF, ET, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 in the treated group were lower (P < 0.01), and levels of NO and FMD were higher (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: TXL might protect vascular endothelium, improve clinical therapeutic effect by path of decreasing blood levels of ET, vWF and partial cellular adhesive factor, and increasing the level of NO.

Objective: To investigate the association between insulin and hypertension., Methods: Twenty spontaneously hypertension rats(SHR) and twenty Wistar-Kyoto rats(WKY) were randomly divided into two groups control group and insulin injection group. Systolic blood pressure(SBP),pulse rate(P), fasting blood sugar(FBS), fasting serum insulin(FINS) and insulin sensitivity index(ISI) were observed or calculated before and at the 60th day of the experiment., Results: (SBP 165.5+/-5.8 compared with 108.2+/-4.7mmHg,P<0.01), P(405.8+/-19.6 compared with 336.6+/-9.6 /min P<0.01), FINS (6.89+/-0.99 compared with 5.78+/-0.91mU/L,P<0.05)of SHR were higher than those of WKY before experiment, but there was a lower ISI of SHR -3.397+/-0.191 compared with -3.085+/-0.132,P<0.01 . There were increases of SBP(210.0+/-8.5 compared with 184.3+/-8.0 mmHg,P<0.01),P(452.2+/-13.9 compared with 406.0+/-22.7/min P<0.01) and FINS (28.37+/-3.86 compared with 7.32+/-0.87 mU/L,P<0.01) in insulin injection group of SHR than those in controls,but ISI -4.119+/-0.260 compared with -3.604+/-0.174 P<0.01 decreased in insulin injection group; The same changes were observed in WKY rats after insulin injection (131.6+/-6.7 compared with 110.4+/-5.1 mmHg, 378.2+/-13.2 compared with 347.1+/-14.9/min 22.64+/-2.13 compared with 5.55+/-0.77 mU/L,-3.474+/-0.214 compared with 3.094+/-0.191 P<0.01 respectively)., Conclusion: Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia exist in SHR,chronic hyperinsulinemia may increase SBP and P,decrease ISI of WKY and SHR.