Publications (2)2.66 Total impact
-
Article: Effect of ramipril on the regulation of the expression of connexins 40 and 43 in a rabbit model of arterial balloon injury.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Gap junctions (GJs) between the cells play a pivotal role in the transformation and proliferation processes of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, the expression of the component proteins of GJs, connexins 40 and 43 (Cx40 and Cx43), are inconsistent in numerous cases. The aim of this study was to determine whether Cx40 and Cx43 play different roles in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) involved in the remodeling of GJs in VSMCs under pathological conditions. A total of 28 male New Zealand white rabbits were divided medially into four groups: control, sham injury, injury and injury plus ramipril (0.5 mg/kg/day in the diet for two weeks). The animals were used to set up the rabbit model of arterial balloon injury. Transmission electron microscopy, western blotting, immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed on four samples of ballooned iliac arteries. Larger and more abundant GJs appeared in neointimal VSMCs and there were smaller and fewer GJs following ramipril treatment. mRNA and protein expression levels and level of immunostaining of Cx40 and Cx43 were consistently increased following injury. Although ramipril reduced the change in the levels of Cx43, no significant changes in Cx40 immunostaining, protein or mRNA levels were observed in the ramipril treatments. Ramipril may inhibit neointimal formation and downregulate the expression of Cx43 protein and mRNA, but the drug had no significant effect on the Cx40 protein and mRNA levels, suggesting that it was not Cx40 but Cx43 in GJs that contributes to the process of angiotensin II (Ang II)-converting enzyme inhibitors inhibiting the prolife-ration of VSMCs in balloon injury.Molecular Medicine Reports 06/2012; 6(3):565-9. · 0.42 Impact Factor -
Article: Donepezil combined with natural hirudin improves the clinical symptoms of patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease: a 20-week open-label pilot study.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of donepezil plus natural hirudin in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's Disease. In the 20-week, randomized, open-label and controlled study, 84 patients received either donepezil (5 mg/day for the first 4 weeks and 10 mg/day thereafter) or donepezil plus natural hirudin (3 g/day) treatment. Efficacy was reflected by the change of the total scores of Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), Activities of Daily Life (ADL) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). The patients with the donepezil plus natural hirudin treatment showed more significant improvement in the daily activities and the decline of the cognition than those with donepezil treatment. Significant difference was present in the groups since the 8th week. No group difference was found in the NPI change. However, within the hirudin treatment group, more powerful efficacy including NPI assessment was found in the patients with vascular risk factors (VRF) as comparing to with those without VRF. The combination of donepezil and natural hirudin was well tolerated. The dropout rate was greater in the donepezil and natural hirudin (50%) treatment group than in the donepezil (39%) treatment group. Similar result was found in the incidence of adverse events (23.8% vs 19.0%), but there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Adverse events were the most common reason for the dropout. Although hemorrhage and hypersensitiveness were more common in donepezil plus Maixuekang treatment (11.9% and 7.1%) group than in donepezil treatment (2.4% and 2.4%) group, no significant difference was present between the two groups. Economic problem was another important reason for the patients' withdrawal. Compared with the donepezil treatment in the patients with mild-to-moderate AD, our results suggest that donepezil combined with natural hirudin may improve the treatment effects in the ADL, BPSD and cognition of the patients. Furthermore, this joint treatment is safe.International journal of medical sciences 01/2012; 9(3):248-55. · 2.24 Impact Factor
