Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness, Carotid Plaque and Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in Chinese

Background: Our aim was to prospectively investigate the association between carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) as well as carotid plaque and incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in Chinese, among whom data are limited. Methods and Findings: We conducted a community-based cohort study composed of 2190 participants free of cardiovascular disease at baseline in one community. During a median 10.5-year follow up, we documented 68 new cases of coronary heart disease and 94 cases of stroke. The multivariate relative risks (RRs) associated with a change of 1 standard deviation of maximal common carotid IMT were 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.70) for CHD and 1.47 (95% CI, 1.28–1.69) for stroke. The corresponding RRs with internal carotid IMT were 1.47 (95% CI, 1.21–1.79) for CHD and 1.52 (95% CI, 1.31–1.76) for stroke. Carotid plaque measured by the degree of diameter stenosis was also significantly associated with increased risk of CHD (p for trend<0.0001) and stroke (p for trend<0.0001). However, these associations were largely attenuated when adjusting for IMT measurements. Conclusions: This prospective study indicates a significant association between carotid IMT and incidence of CHD and stroke in Chinese adults. These measurements may be useful for cardiovascular risk assessment and stratification in Chinese

Induction of apoptosis by hexamethylene bisacetamide is p53-dependent associated with telomerase activity but not with terminal differentiation.

The present study investigated the relationships amongst apoptosis, terminal differentiation and telomerase activity in human colon carcinoma cells. We found that hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) induced apoptosis in human colon carcinoma LoVo cells harbouring wild-type p53 but not in SW1116 cells harbouring mutant p53. HMBA reduced telomerase activity in both colon carcinoma cells but it did not induce differentiation in the colon carcinoma cells. Taken together, our results suggest that HMBA can induce apoptosis via a p53-dependent pathway, but apoptosis and terminal differentiation may be separately regulated in LoVo cells. Inhibition of telomerase activity may activate apoptosis through a p53-dependent mechanism.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The Macrophage Galactose-Type Lectin Can Function as an Attachment and Entry Receptor for Influenza Virus

Fulltext embargoed for: 6 months post date of publicationSpecific protein receptors that mediate internalization and entry of influenza A virus (IAV) have not been identified for any cell type. Sialic acid (SIA), the primary attachment factor for IAV hemagglutinin, is expressed by numerous cell surface glycoproteins and glycolipids, confounding efforts to identify specific receptors involved in virus infection. Lec1 Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) epithelial cells express cell surface SIA and bind IAV yet are largely resistant to infection. Here, we demonstrate that expression of the murine macrophage galactose-type lectin 1 (MGL1) by Lec1 cells enhanced Ca(2+)-dependent IAV binding and restored permissivity to infection. Lec1 cells expressing MGL1 were infected in the presence or absence of cell surface SIA, indicating that MGL1 can act as a primary receptor or as a coreceptor with SIA. Lec1 cells expressing endocytosis-deficient MGL1 mediated Ca(2+)-dependent IAV binding but were less sensitive to IAV infection, indicating that direct internalization via MGL1 can result in cellular infection. Together, these studies identify MGL1 as a cell surface glycoprotein that can act as an authentic receptor for both attachment and infectious entry of IAV

Temporal investigation of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in human cervicovaginal fluid in late pregnancy and labor

Temporal expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, -3, -7, -8, -9, -12, and -13, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs)-1 and -2 in human cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) in term pregnancy and labor was investigated. Term parous women provided CVF samples that were grouped into labor, 1 to 3, 6 to 8, and 12 to 16 days before labor onset. Both MMPs and TIMPs (n = 60) were quantified using multiplex solution array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Further analysis of TIMP-1 (n = 180) was undertaken. All MMPs and TIMPs except MMP-12 and -13 were detected in the CVF. Matrix metalloproteinase 7, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were significantly increased in labor. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1 was significantly increased up to 7 days before spontaneous labor onset. The data suggest a role of MMP-7 in the remodeling and rupture of fetal membranes and may reflect the homeostatic regulation of extracellular matrix remodeling of MMP-7 by TIMP-1 and TIMP-2