Inhibitory effect of high-dose Xuezhikang on inflammatory response induced by percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with unstable angina

AIM: To study the inhibitory effect of high-dose Xuezhikang,administered before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on inflammatory response induced by PCI in patients with unstable angina (UA).METHODS: All patients with UA in class Ⅲ and ⅡB according to Braunwald classification were considered for inclusion in the present study.Finally,196 patients received Xuezhikang treatment 72 h before coronary angiography and successfully performed PCI with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level (>3 mg/L) were randomised to 2 groups: 1.2 g/d of Xuezhikang as group A,or 2.4 g/d of Xuezhikang as group B.The levels of CRP were measured at baseline,after 3 days of therapy (before procedure) and 48 hours after PCI.The patients were followed-up for 6 months for major adverse coronary events and left ventricular ejection fraction.RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean CRP level among the two randomized groups (P>0.05),however,after three days of pharmacological treatment,there was significantly reduced CRP content in group A ［(5.44±1.57） mg/L vs （4.04±1.54） mg/L,P<0.05］ and in group B ［(5.42±1.36） mg/L vs （3.60±1.14） mg/L,P<0.05］ compared with admission.Measurements performed 48 hours after the procedure revealed a marked CRP level increase in group A (up to 9.22 mg/L±5.03 mg/L) and an obvious increase in groups B (up to 4.97 mg/L±1.75 mg/L,P<0.05) compared with pre-procedure.The serum level of CRP in B group was distinctly lower than that in A group before (P<0.05) and after the procedure (P<0.05),respectively.Major adverse coronary events during the 6-month clinical follow-up occurred less in group A than that in group B ［21/104 (20.2%) vs 9/92 (9.8%); patients,P<0.05］.Follow-up echocardiography revealed lower left ventricular ejection fraction in group A than that in group B (55.41%±10.93% vs 59.30%±9.99%,P<0.05).CONCLUSION: High-dose Xuezhikang therapy,administered before PCI,has better inhibition effect than low-dose on inflammatory response induced by PCI in patients with UA.Attenuation of inflammatory response may be crucial for the reduction of coronary events following invasive coronary interventions.     

Functional changes of perivascular adipose tissue in hypertensive rats and the effects of statins therapy

AIM:To study the functional changes of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in SHR and the effects of statins therapy.METHODS:Adult SHR at 10 weeks of age were treated with atorvastatin (50 mg·kg-1·d-1) or Xuezhikang (2 400 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 16 weeks.Age-matched untreated SHR and WKY were used as controls.Tail-cuff systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured at the beginning and the end of experiment.Thoracic aorta was divided into two segments: vessel without PVAT ［Fat (-)］ and vessel with PVAT ［Fat (+)］.The differences in contractile force induced by phenylephrine in these vessels from the four groups of rats were compared.RESULTS:SBP in SHR was significantly higher than that in WKY at the beginning of the experiment.SBP of SHR treated with statins and WKY control did not show statistical difference during the treatment period.Contractile force of Fat(+) vessels in WKY and SHR groups treated with statins was lower than that in Fat(-) vessels.There was no difference in the contractile force between Fat(+) and Fat(-) vessels in SHR control.Bathing solution transferred from Fat(+) vessels in WKY,SHR-A,and SHR-X caused a relaxation response in Fat (-) vessels,but not in control SHR.CONCLUSIONS:PVAT in WKY released a transferable relaxation factor which attenuated the responsiveness of the vessels to phenylephrine.The release or the action of this relaxation factor was reduced in the SHR.Treatment with statins restored the release or the action of this relaxation factor in the SHR.