Background Nicorandil （NIC） is a vasodilatory drug used to treat angina. However, its efficacy of cardioprotection in coronary mi- croembolization （CME） is largely unknown. This study was undertaken to determine w...Background Nicorandil （NIC） is a vasodilatory drug used to treat angina. However, its efficacy of cardioprotection in coronary mi- croembolization （CME） is largely unknown. This study was undertaken to determine whether nicorandil pretreatment could attenuate myo- cardial apoptosis and improve cardiac function after CME in rats. Methods Forty-five rats were randomly divided into a Sham group, a CME group and a CME ＋ NIC （NIC） group （n = 15 per group）. CME was established by injecting plastic microspheres （42 pm in diameter） into the left ventricle of the rats in all of the groups except the Sham group. The NIC group received nicorandil at 3 mg/kg per day for seven days before the operation. Cardiac fimction was assessed by echocardiography, the expression levels of cleaved caspase-9/8/3 were detected by Western blot, microinfarction area was measured by haematoxylin-basic fuchsin picric acid staining, and myocardial apoptosis was de- tected by TUNEL staining. Results Compared to that in the Sham group, cardiac fimction in the CME group was significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05）. However, compared to the CME group, the NIC group showed improved cardiac function （P 〈 0.05）. The expression levels of cleaved caspase-9/8/3 protein and myocardial apoptosis were dramatically increased in the CME group compared to those in the Sham group （P 〈 0.05）, while the NIC pretreatment group had significantly decreased expression levels of cleaved caspase-9/8/3 protein as well as a de- creased apoptotic rate （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusions NIC pretreatment inhibited CME-induced myocardial apoptosis and improved cardiac func- tion through blockade of the mitochondrial and death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathways.展开更多
To investigate the association of carotid arterial intima- media thickness (IMT) with principal cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly. Methods. Carotid arterial IMT was measured by high resolution B mode ultrasou...To investigate the association of carotid arterial intima- media thickness (IMT) with principal cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly. Methods. Carotid arterial IMT was measured by high resolution B mode ultrasound in 94 elderly subjects (old- aged group), and compared with subjects aged Results. In comparison with the middle- aged group, the prevalence of coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus was significantly higher, and serum cholesterol and systolic blood pressure were also significantly higher in old- aged group. Although there was no obvious difference in IMT between the two groups, carotid plaque and carotid wall thickening were more frequently found in old- aged group. Age, systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol were shown as the independent determinants for carotid IMT in the total participants, whereas no such independent relation was found in old- aged group. Conclusion. Age is the major risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly. In other words, the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis is the result of advancing age combined with the effect of multiple cardiovascular risk factors.展开更多
基金This work received the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No. 81600283） and the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation （Grant No. 2016 GXNSFBA380022）.
文摘Background Nicorandil （NIC） is a vasodilatory drug used to treat angina. However, its efficacy of cardioprotection in coronary mi- croembolization （CME） is largely unknown. This study was undertaken to determine whether nicorandil pretreatment could attenuate myo- cardial apoptosis and improve cardiac function after CME in rats. Methods Forty-five rats were randomly divided into a Sham group, a CME group and a CME ＋ NIC （NIC） group （n = 15 per group）. CME was established by injecting plastic microspheres （42 pm in diameter） into the left ventricle of the rats in all of the groups except the Sham group. The NIC group received nicorandil at 3 mg/kg per day for seven days before the operation. Cardiac fimction was assessed by echocardiography, the expression levels of cleaved caspase-9/8/3 were detected by Western blot, microinfarction area was measured by haematoxylin-basic fuchsin picric acid staining, and myocardial apoptosis was de- tected by TUNEL staining. Results Compared to that in the Sham group, cardiac fimction in the CME group was significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05）. However, compared to the CME group, the NIC group showed improved cardiac function （P 〈 0.05）. The expression levels of cleaved caspase-9/8/3 protein and myocardial apoptosis were dramatically increased in the CME group compared to those in the Sham group （P 〈 0.05）, while the NIC pretreatment group had significantly decreased expression levels of cleaved caspase-9/8/3 protein as well as a de- creased apoptotic rate （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusions NIC pretreatment inhibited CME-induced myocardial apoptosis and improved cardiac func- tion through blockade of the mitochondrial and death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathways.
文摘To investigate the association of carotid arterial intima- media thickness (IMT) with principal cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly. Methods. Carotid arterial IMT was measured by high resolution B mode ultrasound in 94 elderly subjects (old- aged group), and compared with subjects aged Results. In comparison with the middle- aged group, the prevalence of coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus was significantly higher, and serum cholesterol and systolic blood pressure were also significantly higher in old- aged group. Although there was no obvious difference in IMT between the two groups, carotid plaque and carotid wall thickening were more frequently found in old- aged group. Age, systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol were shown as the independent determinants for carotid IMT in the total participants, whereas no such independent relation was found in old- aged group. Conclusion. Age is the major risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly. In other words, the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis is the result of advancing age combined with the effect of multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
