Background. The association between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and stroke risk is inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether elevated Lp-PLA2 is a risk factor for stroke. Methods. Studies were included if they reported Lp-PLA2 mass and/or activity levels and adjusted risk estimates of stroke. The primary outcome was overall stroke incidence. The combined results were shown as relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for per 1 standard deviation (SD) higher value of Lp-PLA2 and the highest versus lowest Lp-PLA2 category. Results. Twenty-two studies involving 157,693 participants were included for analysis. After adjusting for conventional risk factors, the RRs for overall stroke with 1 SD higher Lp-PLA2 activity and mass were 1.07 (95% CI 1.02–1.13) and 1.11 (95% CI 1.04–1.19), respectively. The RRs of ischemic stroke with 1 SD higher Lp-PLA2 activity and mass were 1.08 (95% CI 1.01–1.15) and 1.11 (95% CI 1.02–1.22), respectively. When comparing the highest and lowest levels of Lp-PLA2, the RRs of stroke for Lp-PLA2 activity and mass were 1.26 (95% CI 1.03–1.54) and 1.56 (95% CI 1.21–2.00), respectively. Finally, when comparing the highest and lowest levels of Lp-PLA2, the pooled RRs of ischemic stroke for Lp-PLA2 activity and mass were 1.29 (95% CI 1.07–1.56) and 1.68 (95% CI 1.12–2.53), respectively. Conclusions. Elevated baseline Lp-PLA2 levels, detected either by activity or mass, are associated with increased stroke risk.

This work presents a simple membrane-based microfluidic chip for the investigation of proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) under mechanical stimuli. The cyclic tensile stress was generated by the deformation of elastic PDMS membrane sandwiched between the two layer microfluidic chip via actuated negative pressure, and the cultured MSCs on membrane were subjected to different orders of tensile stress. The results suggest that mechanical stimuli are attributed to the different phenomena of MSCs in cell proliferation and differentiation. The higher tensile stress (>3.5) promoted obvious proliferation, osteogenesis and reduced adipogenesis in MSCs, indicating the possible regulative role of tensile stress in modifying the osteogenesis/adipogenesis balance in the development of tissue organ.

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Objective The aim of this study was to test whether ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in patients with atrial fibrillation is reliable as in patients with sinus rhythm. Method This study included 92 persistent atrial fibrillation patients (50% females; mean age 70.49 ± 11.56 years) and 92 matched sinus rhythm patients (46% females; mean age 69.23 ± 12.63 years). The participants were examined simultaneously with 24-hour ABPM and 24-hour Holter electrocardiography. The mean 24-hour (24-hour-), daytime (day-) and nighttime (night-) BP, types of BP curve, morning systolic BP (SBP) surge (MBPS), the SD of BP readings and the coefficient of variability (the SD/mean BP × 100%) were compared between atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm patients. Results No differences of 24-hour-, day- and night-SBP levels were observed between two groups. Meanwhile, the 24-hour-SD, day-SD and night-SD, as well as the coefficient of variability for SBP were also similar between two groups. There was no significant difference in the number of MBPS between the two groups. On diastolic BP (DBP), the similar 24 hour and day levels, the 24-hour-SD, day-SD and night-SD as well as the coefficient of variability were also similar between two groups. But the nighttime DBP levels and the night-SD were higher in atrial fibrillation than in sinus rhythm. Conclusion ABPM provides data with similar SBP variability in patients with atrial fibrillation as in subject with normal cardiac rhythm. The ABPM on oscillometric method may be suitable for the atrial fibrillation patients, especially for the SBP evaluation.