Is the atherosclerotic phenotype of preeclamptic placentas due to altered lipoprotein concentrations and placental lipoprotein receptors? Role of a small-for-gestational-age phenotype

Atherosis of spiral arteries in uteroplacental beds from preeclamptic women resemble those of atherosclerosis, characterized by increased plasma lipids and lipoproteins. We hypothesized that: 1) lipoprotein receptors/transporters in the placenta would be upregulated in preeclampsia, associated with increased maternal and fetal lipoprotein concentrations; and 2) expression of these would be reduced in preeclamptic placentae from women delivering small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. Placental biopsies and maternal and umbilical serum samples were taken from 27 normotensive and 24 preeclamptic women. Maternal/umbilical cord serum LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured. Placental mRNA expression of lipoprotein receptors/transporters were quantified using quantitative RT-PCR. Protein localization/expression of LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1) in the preeclamptic placentae with/without SGA was measured by immunohistochemistry. Placental mRNA expression of all genes except paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP), and protein disulfide isomerase family A member 2 (PDIA2) were observed. No differences for any lipoprotein receptors/transporters were found between groups; however, in the preeclamptic group placental LRP-1 expression was lower in SGA delivering mothers (n = 7; P = 0.036). LRP-1 protein was localized around fetal vessels and Hofbauer cells. This is the first detailed study of maternal/fetal lipoprotein concentrations and placental lipoprotein receptor mRNA expression in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies. These findings do not support a role of altered lipid metabolism in preeclampsia, but may be involved in fetal growth.     

Cardioprotective role of G-Protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 (GPER1)

Abstract

G-Protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 (GPER1), also known as G-Protein Coupled Receptor 30 (GPR30) and initially considered an orphan receptor, has become one of the most important pharmacological targets in cardiovascular research. Since the gene encoding this putative receptor was cloned nearly 20 years ago, researchers have addressed its role in various aspects of physiology, including cardioprotection. Although extensive research has been carried out to understand the role of GPER1 as a pharmacological target to treat cardiovascular diseases, there are few current reviews addressing the overall cardioprotective benefits of this receptor and the signaling intermediates involved. This review considers the origins of GPER1, its cell biology, its physiological and pharmacological roles as a therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease, and what future research on GPER1 might entail. More specifically, the review focuses on GPER1 regulation of Angiotensin Type I Receptor (AT1R) and the role of estrogen receptors, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in bringing about the cardioprotective effects of GPER1. Areas where improved knowledge of GPER1 biology is still needed to better understand the receptor’s cardioprotective effects are also discussed.     

Antihypertensive Effect of Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides from a Sesame Protein Hydrolysate in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Sesame peptide powder (SPP) exhibited angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, and significantly and temporarily decreased the systolic blood pressure (SBP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) by a single administration (1 and 10 mg/kg). Six peptide ACE inhibitors were isolated and identified from SPP. The representative peptides, Leu-Val-Tyr, Leu-Gln-Pro and Leu-Lys-Tyr, could competitively inhibit ACE activity at respective Ki values of 0.92 μM, 0.50 μM, and 0.48 μM. A reconstituted sesame peptide mixture of Leu-Ser-Ala, Leu-Gln-Pro, Leu-Lys-Tyr, Ile-Val-Tyr, Val-Ile-Tyr, Leu-Val-Tyr, and Met-Leu-Pro-Ala-Tyr according to their content ratio in SPP showed a strong antihypertensive effect on SHR at doses of 3.63 and 36.3 μg/kg, which accounted for more than 70% of the corresponding dosage for the SPP-induced hypotensive effect. Repeated oral administration of SPP also lowered both SBP and the aortic ACE activity in SHR. These results demonstrate that SPP would be a beneficial ingredient for preventing and providing therapy against hypertension and its related diseases.     

子痫前期患者尿液中足细胞裂孔膜蛋白和标记蛋白的检测及意义

目的：检测子痫前期患者尿液中足细胞裂孔膜蛋白和足细胞标记蛋白的浓度并探讨其临床意义。方法：本实验以62例妊娠期妇女为研究对象,分为三组,其中正常妊娠期妇女25例为正常对照组,慢性高血压的妊娠期妇女17例为高血压组,子痫前期患者20例为子痫前期组。ELISA检测各组妊娠期妇女的尿液中足细胞裂孔膜蛋白和足细胞标记蛋白的表达;Bradford法检测各组妊娠期妇女的尿蛋白。结果：足细胞裂孔膜蛋白和足细胞标记蛋白在正常对照组尿液中含量极少,在高血压组中分泌增加,而子痫前期组患者中明显升高（P〈0．01）,且在子痫前期组尿液中足细胞裂孔膜蛋白和标记蛋白的分泌含量均成正相关（r2=0．79,P〈0．05）。子痫前期组患者中足细胞裂孔膜蛋白和足细胞标记蛋白与尿蛋白浓度成正相关（r2=0．58,P〈0．05;r2=0．79,P〈0．05）。结论：足细胞蛋白脱落主要发生于子痫前期患者,且足细胞蛋白脱落量与尿蛋白成正相关,能直接反映妊娠期患者的肾损伤程度,可作为预测罹患妊娠期高血压的指标。     

A meta‐analysis of cardio‐metabolic abnormalities in drug naïve,first‐episode and multi‐episode patients with schizophrenia versus general population controls

A meta‐analysis was conducted to explore the risk for cardio‐metabolic abnormalities in drug naïve, first‐episode and multi‐episode patients with schizophrenia and age‐ and gender‐ or cohort‐matched general population controls. Our literature search generated 203 relevant studies, of which 136 were included. The final dataset comprised 185,606 unique patients with schizophrenia, and 28 studies provided data for age‐ and gender‐matched or cohort‐matched general population controls (n=3,898,739). We found that multi‐episode patients with schizophrenia were at increased risk for abdominal obesity (OR=4.43; CI=2.52‐7.82; p<0.001), hypertension (OR=1.36; CI=1.21‐1.53; p<0.001), low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR=2.35; CI=1.78‐3.10; p<0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (OR=2.73; CI=1.95‐3.83; p<0.001), metabolic syndrome (OR=2.35; CI=1.68‐3.29; p<0.001), and diabetes (OR=1.99; CI=1.55‐2.54; p<0.001), compared to controls. Multi‐episode patients with schizophrenia were also at increased risk, compared to first‐episode (p<0.001) and drug‐naïve (p<0.001) patients, for the above abnormalities, with the exception of hypertension and diabetes. Our data provide further evidence supporting WPA recommendations on screening, follow‐up, health education and lifestyle changes in people with schizophrenia.     

NT-pro BNP与LAVI对原发性高血压患者左心室舒张功能的评价

目的:应用左房容积指数(LAVI)与血清N末端脑钠肽原(NT-pro BNP)水平的变化情况评价原发性高血压(EH)患者左心室舒张功能。方法:选择2013年5月-2015年5月在我院接受治疗的原发性高血压患者100例。根据左房舒张功能将患者分为A组(E/A1,且Em/Am1)、B组(E/A1,且Em/Am1)、C组(E/A1,且Em/Am1)及D组(E/A2,且Em/Am1),。另选取同期在我院接受体检的健康志愿者100例作为对照组。观察并比较各组LAVI及NT-pro BNP水平,分析LAVI与及NT-pro BNP与原发性高血压患者左心室舒张功能的相关性关系。结果:原发性高血压患者E/A、LAVI及NT-pro BNP水平均显著高于对照组,而Em/Am则低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);原发性高血压患者中,LAVI及NT-pro BNP水平随E/A升高而递增,随Em/Am升高而递减,其中D组LAVI及NT-pro BNP水平显著高于其他三组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。根据Pearson相关性分析可知结果显示,原发性高血压患者LAVI与NT-pro BNP呈正相关关系(P0.05),但与E/A及Em/Am无明显相关关系(P0.05)。LAVI的截断值为29.040,NT-pro BNP为2.065时评价左室舒张功能存在异常的敏感度及特异度均较高(P0.05)。结论:LAVI及NT-pro BNP可较好地评价EH患者左室舒张功能情况,且:LAVI及NT-pro BNP二者之间联系紧密与原发性高血压存在一定的相关性,两者均能较为准确的评价原发性高血压患者的左心室舒张功能,值得在临床给予推广应用。     

硝苯地平联合硫酸镁对高龄孕妇妊娠高血压的临床疗效及机制研究

目的:探讨硝苯地平联合硫酸镁对高龄孕妇妊娠高血压的临床疗效及可能机制。方法:收集我院高龄孕妇妊娠高血压患者54例,随机分为A组和B组,各27例。A组给予100 m L 5%葡萄糖注射液加入20 m L 25%的硫酸镁注射液静脉滴注,30 min内滴完;再给予500 m L 5%葡萄糖注射液加入40 m L 25%硫酸镁注射液1~2 g/h,静脉滴注;B组在A组用药的基础上给予给予硝苯地平控释片30 mg/次口服,1次/日,2组患者均治疗7 d。治疗结束后,比较两组患者血压、C反应蛋白(CRP)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)及蛋白尿水平。结果:与治疗前相比,两组患者治疗后收缩压、舒张压、CRP、IL-6、TNF-α及蛋白尿水平均显著降低(P0.05);与A组比较,B组患者收缩压、舒张压、CRP、IL-6、TNF-α及蛋白尿水平较低(P0.05)。结论:硝苯地平联合硫酸镁对高龄孕妇妊娠高血压有较好的临床疗效,推测其机制与降低CRP、IL-6及TNF-α水平有关。     

PTVE 与TIPS治疗肝硬化门静脉高压合并食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血 的疗效比较

目的:研究经皮胃底曲张静脉栓塞术(PTVE)和经颈静脉肝内门体分流术(TIPS)治疗肝硬化门静脉高压合并食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血的临床疗效,为临床治疗提供依据。方法:选取2001年4月到2015年4月我院肝硬化门静脉高压合并食管胃底静脉曲张破裂患者169例,根据手术方式分为PTVE组(行PTVE治疗)141例和TIPS组(行TIPS治疗)28例,比较两组术前、术后门静脉压力,术前、术后3个月、6个月以及1年两组Child-Pugh评分、白蛋白以及直接胆红素,并比较两组再出血和肝性脑病发生率。结果:TIPS组术后门静脉压力较术前显著降低,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),术后PTVE组及TIPS组组间比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组术前和术后各时间直接胆红素无统计学意义(P0.05);PTVE组术后1年白蛋白水平显著升高,与术前和TIPS组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),TIPS组术后白蛋白有所升高,但各时间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),PTVE组术后各时间Child-Pugh评分较术前明显改善,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),TIPS组术后3个月和术后6个月Child-Pugh评分较术前明显改善,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组术后再出血发生率比较无统计学意义(P0.05),PTVE组肝性脑病发生率显著低于TIPS组,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:PTVE和TIPS治疗肝硬化门静脉高压合并食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血效果相当,TIPS能显著降低门静脉压,PTVE能降低肝性脑病的发生率,改善患者Child-Pugh评分。     

血清PCT、IL-17与CRP在AECOPD合并肺动脉高压患者中的表达及诊断价值

目的:探讨降钙素原(PCT),白介素17(IL-17)与C反应蛋白(CRP)在慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期(AECOPD)合并肺动脉高压患者外周血中的表达水平,探究联合检测的诊断价值。方法:收集2015年8月至2017年2月我院收治的AECOPD患者120例,纳入研究患者根据是否合并肺动脉高压分为分为单纯AECOPD组60例及AECOPD合并肺动脉高压(AECOPD+PH)组60例,另选取20例健康志愿者作为对照组。采用化学发光法检测PCT水平,双抗夹心酶联免疫吸附试验法(ELISA)检测IL-17水平及生化分析仪检测CRP水平,采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)评估PCT,IL-17与CRP对AECOPD合并肺动脉高压的诊断价值。结果:AECOPD+PH组及AECOPD组的PCT,IL-17,CRP水平较健康对照组均明显升高,而AECOPD+PH组的各指标水平也均高于单纯AECOPD组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。通过Pearson相关性分析发现,AECOPD合并肺动脉高压的PCT与IL-17之间存在表达正相关性(r=0.733,P0.05),PCT与CRP表达存在正相关性(r=0.817,P0.05)。此外,针对AECOPD合并肺动脉高压的诊断中PCT的ROC曲线下面积为0.83,IL-17为0.71,CRP为0.77,联合三者的ROC曲线下面积为0.94。结论:PCT、IL-17和CRP可能与AECOPD患者肺动脉高压的形成有关,各指标存在一定的相关性,联合以上三项生物学指标对诊断AECOPD合并肺动脉高压患者具有一定的临床参考价值。     

Acetyltransferase p300 inhibitor reverses hypertension‐induced cardiac fibrosis

Epigenetic dysregulation plays a crucial role in cardiovascular diseases. Previously, we reported that acetyltransferase p300 (ATp300) inhibitor L002 prevents hypertension‐induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in a murine model. In this short communication, we show that treatment of hypertensive mice with ATp300‐specific small molecule inhibitor L002 or C646 reverses hypertension‐induced left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction, without reducing elevated blood pressures. Biochemically, treatment with L002 and C646 also reverse hypertension‐induced histone acetylation and myofibroblast differentiation in murine ventricles. Our results confirm and extend the role of ATp300, a major epigenetic regulator, in the pathobiology of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Most importantly, we identify the efficacies of ATp300 inhibitors C646 and L002 in reversing hypertension‐induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and discover new anti‐hypertrophic and anti‐fibrotic candidates.