OBJECTIVE:To observe the efficacy of telmisartan combined with metoprolol in the treatment of chronic heart failure.METHODS:102 patients with chronic heart failure admitted in hospital from Jan.2008 to Feb.2010 were given therapy of cardiotonic,diuresis,vasodilator,anti-infection,blood sugar control.Then patients were additionally treated with telmisartan and metoprolol.The parameters before treatment and after 2 weeks of treatment were determined such as heart function,24 h dynamic electrocardiogram,Bultrasound of heart,blood pressure,heart rate,6 min walking distance,liver and kidney function,electrolytes,blood sugar,urine routine,myocardial enzyme.RESULTS:After treatment,cardiac function,heart rate and 6 min walking distance,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),the number of premature beats were significantly reduced(P

Pancreatic cancer is a rapidly progressive and highly malignancy of the digestive system. In recent years, the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer has been in a slow stage of development, and the 5-year survival rate of patients remains very low. The main objective of translational medicine is to remove the barriers between basic medical research and clinical medical applications, to achieve practical integration between laboratory and clinic, and to accelerate the translation of the results obtained from basic research into clinical diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of diseases, thus promoting the development of life sciences. With the rapid development of the concept and technology of translational medicine, its application in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can bring new hope for effectively improving the overall prognosis of patients. The authors comprehensively analyzed the latest research progress of translational medicine in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in order to improve the early diagnosis and long-term survival of pancreatic cancer patient.

This paper aims to establish a method for the determination of sulfur dioxide in sulfur fumigation Chinese herbs. Sample powder and hydrochloric acid solution were isolated by paraffin layer in order to avoid early reactions, with the generation of sulfur dioxide, headspace with airtight needle was used to transfer sulfur dioxide into gas chromatograph, and detected with thermal conductivity detector. The analytical performance was demonstrated by the analysis of 12 herbs, spiked at four concentration levels. In general, the recoveries ranging from 70% to 110%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) within 15%, were obtained. The limit of detection (LOD) was below 10 mg x kg(-1). Standard addition can be used for low recovery samples. The method is simple, less time-consuming, specific and sensitive. Methods comparison revealed that gas chromatography is better than traditional titration in terms of method operability, accuracy and specificity, showing good application value.
Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Fumigation ; Limit of Detection ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sulfur ; chemistry ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis

To study the preventive effect of Grifola frondosa on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The rat model of NASH was established by feeding high-fat diets for 12 weeks and intervened with 0.5 g · kg(-1) · d(-1) and 1.0 g · kg(-1) · d(-1) of C. frondosa powder suspensions. The degrees of hepatocyte fatty degeneration and inflammation were observed under the optical microscope with routine HE staining. The NAFLD activity scores (NAS) were calculated. Serum ALT, AST and hepatic TG and CHOL were tested by the biochemical method. The hepatic MDA was examined by thiobarbituric acid method. The hepatic SOD was tested by the xanthine oxidase test. The hepatic GSH-PX activity was determined by the dithio-nitrobenzoic acid method. Hepatic TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The NASH model group induced by high-fat diets showed higher hepatic NAS, ser- um ALT, AST, CHOL and hepatic TG, CHOL, MDA, TNF-α, IL-6 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) and lower serum TG and hepatic SOD, GSH-PX (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) than the normal control group. After being intervened with different doses of G. frondosa, the NASH group revealed significantly lower hepatic NAS, serum ALT and hepatic TG, CHOL, MDA, TNF-α and IL-6 (P < 0.05) and higher hepatic SOD, GSH-PX (P < 0.05) than the model group. G. frondosa may prevent the further development of NASH by improving the disorder of lipid metabolism in rats with NASH induced by high-fat diets, relieving the level of oxidative stress and reducing the generation of inflammatory cytokines.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Grifola ; chemistry ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of pure total flavonoids from Citrus (PTFC) on the hepatic fatty degeneration, inflammation, oxidative stress and SIRT1/PGC-1alpha expressions in mice with non-alcohol steatohepatitis (NASH), and discuss the action mechanism of PTFC on NASH.

METHODMice were given high-fat diet for 16 weeks to induce the NASH model. Since the seventh week after the model establishment, the mice were intervened with 100, 50 and 25 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) PTFC for 10 weeks. The pathologic changes in hepatic tissues were observed with HE staining. The contents of TG, CHOL in hepatic tissue, as well as the levels of AST, ALT in serum were detected by using the biochemical process. The expression of SIRT1, PGC-1alpha and MnSOD mRNA in hepatic tissues were detected with Real-time PCR assay. SIRT1, PGC-1alpha protein and 8-OHdG expressions were determined with the immunohistochemical method. The SOD level in hepatic tissues was tested by the xanthine oxidase method. The MDA content in hepatic tissues was examined by the thiobarbituric acid method.

RESULTThe contents of TG, CHOL, NAFLD activity scores and ALT level in serum in hepatic tissues of mice in the model induced by fat-rich diet were obviously higher than that of the normal group (P < 0.010. The SIRT1, PGC-1alpha, MnSOD mRNA and protein expression in hepatic tissues were significantly lower than that of the normal group (P < 0.01). The expression of 8-OHdG and the content of MDA in hepatic tissues were obviously higher than that of the normal group (P < 0.01). After the intervention with different doses of PTFC, the NAFLD activity scores, the content of TG and the level of AST in serum were notably lower than that of the normal group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); whereas the SIRT1, PGC-1alpha, MnSOD mRNA and protein expression were obviously higher than that of the normal group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), with the significant decrease in the expression of 8-OHdG and the content of MDA (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOxidative stress/lipid peroxidation enhancement in in NASH mice induced by high-fat diet may be related to the changes in SIRT1/PGC-1alpha signal transduction pathway. PTFC could enhance the anti-oxidant capacity in liver, relieve the damage of reactive oxygen during the fatty acid metabolic process, and prevent NASH from the occurrence and development by regulating the SIRT1/PGC-1alpha signal pathway.

Animals ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; genetics ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe the association between adiponectin gene polymorphism, serum adiponectin lev-els with the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Methods A total of 414 patients with EH (234 cases with CAD and 180 cases without CAD) and 185 control subjects were recruited in this study. Serum adiponectin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-say (ELISA). Adiponectin single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs266729,rs7649121,rs1501299 and rs3774262 were geno-typed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results Serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in EH with CAD group than those in control group and EH without CAD group. Adiponectin SNP rs7649121 AT genotype reduced the risk of CAD compared with AA genotype (adjusted OR=0.566,95%CI 0.346-0.925,P=0.023). Logistic regression analysis showed that age and LDL-C were risk factors of CAD, and adiponectin was the protective factor for CAD in EH patients. The severity of coronary artery stenosis was negatively related to the level of adipo-nectin. Adiponectin levels were not affected by the adiponectin gene polymorphism. Conclusion The decreased serum adi-ponectin level was the independent risk factor for CAD in EH patients, which was negatively related to the severity of coro-nary artery stenosis. Adiponectin SNP rs7649121 may contribute to the risk factors of CAD in EH patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic characteristics of measles viruses circulating in Zhejiang province in 2005.

METHODS4 groups of measles viruses isolated in outbreaks and the H and N gene were amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PCR products were purified, sequenced and data was analyzed.

RESULTSAll of the 4 measles isolates belonged to genotype H1 which had been a main genotype containing all of the isolates in China. The isolates shared 99.2% -99.7% identity of amino acid sequence on H and 99.8% identity of amino acid sequence on N gene. When comparing to the China vaccine strain (Shanghai 191), there were 95.2%-95.5% homogeneties and 95.5% homogeneties on H and N gene respectively.

CONCLUSIONData from phylogenic trees of H and N gene revealed that the wide-type measles viruses circulating in Zhejiang province in 2005 all belonged to genotype H1. There were obvious differences on genetic characteristics between the isolates and the genotype A (Shanghai 191).

Amino Acid Sequence ; China ; epidemiology ; Genes, Viral ; Genotype ; Measles ; epidemiology ; Measles virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between influenza epidemic and genetic characteristic on HA and NA regions of influenza virus subtype A3 isolates of Zhejiang province in the recent years.

METHODSRNA of 25 influenza virus subtype A3 isolates, circulated in Zhejiang province during 1998 to 2005, was extracted. HA1 and NA regions were amplified and sequenced. All the sequence data were analyzed using BioEdit.

RESULTSHA1 and NA regions of all the isolates belonged to 987nt and 1362nt, encoding protein of 329 and 454 amino acids respectively. Isolates shared amino acid homology of 90.9%-99.3% and 95.2%-99.5% on HA1 and NA regions, while divergence on HA1 was greater than that on NA region. During a period of 8 years, 30 amino acids on HA1 region were substituted and 14 of which refer to 4 antigenic determinant sites. Meanwhile,21 amino acids on NA region were substituted and 5 of which referred to 3 antigenic determinant sites. Significant divergences, both in HA1 and NA, were observed among isolates in 1998 and 2002, showing that they belonged to absolutely different branches. Additionally, influenza virus subtype A3 isolates identified in recent years, with 11 N-linked glyeosylation sites in HA1 region, had 5 sites more than early A/Aichi/2/68 strain. Since 1998,3 sites had been inserted in epidemic strains, indicating the accelerated trend of glyeosylation sites were increasing.

CONCLUSIONThere is a correlation between antigenic drift of influenza virus subtype A3 and the two epidemics in Zhejiang province in 1998 and 2002.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; China ; Epitopes ; genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Drift ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neuraminidase ; genetics ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Objective To determine the usefulness of real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(RT-3D TEE) in the preoperative assessment of mitral valve (MV) pathology by comparing images with surgical findings and to evaluate the function of MV postoperatively. Methods Nineteen consecutive adult patients with established diagnosis of mitral regurgitation(MR) scheduled for surgical correction were enrolled. Intraoperative 2D and 3D transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) were performed. All the 3D images were compared with findings obtained from direct surgical inspection. Postoperative RT-3D TEE was performed immediately to evaluate outcomes of mitral annuloplasty. Results Superb 3D-TEE en face views of the MV were obtained in all patients. Correct diagnoses of MV pathology in agreement with the surgical findings were made in 16 of 19 patients (84. 2%), however in the remaining 3 patients, the diagnoses were incorrect despite good image quality. In one, RT-3D TEE diagnosed prolapse of A2 segment and P2 scallop,which was not confirmed at surgery, but MV degeneration and annular dilatation were observed. In another one, RT-3D TEE revealed prolapse of P3 scallop, while at surgery prolapse involved P2 and P3 with ruptured chordae. In the rest one,surgically detected prolapse of P2 was missed by RT-3D TEE. On the other hand with 2D TEE,the diagnoses correlated poorly with surgical findings,only 10 patients were accurately diagnosed (52.6%). In some patients,2D TEE was able to identify the MVP, but it had difficulty in defining the exact location of the prolapsed segment or scallop. The severity of MR decreased significantly after surgery. MV repair was successful in all patients except one(5.1%), in whom moderate to severe MR was still present and MV replacement was conducted subsequently as an alternative.Conclusions RT-3D TEE provides excellent imaging of MV components, including the anterior and posterior leaflets, as well as annulus and subvalvular structures, which can be especially helpful in planning the most appropriate surgery strategy. RT-3D TEE offers exact anatomic characteristics of mitral annuloplasty rings and bands, providing additional information for the evaluation of surgical outcomes.

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), or oncogenic osteomalacia (OOM), is a rare acquired paraneoplastic disease characterized by renal phosphate wasting and hypophosphatemia. Recent evidence shows that tumor-overexpressed fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is responsible for the hypophosphatemia and osteomalacia. The tumors associated with TIO are usually phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor mixed connective tissue variants (PMTMCT). Surgical removal of the responsible tumors is clinically essential for the treatment of TIO. However, identifying the responsible tumors is often difficult. Here, we report a case of a TIO patient with elevated serum FGF23 levels suffering from bone pain and hypophosphatemia for more than three years. A tumor was finally located in first metacarpal bone by octreotide scintigraphy and she was cured by surgery. After complete excision of the tumor, serum FGF23 levels rapidly decreased, dropping to 54.7% of the preoperative level one hour after surgery and eventually to a little below normal. The patient's serum phosphate level rapidly improved and returned to normal level in four days. Accordingly, her clinical symptoms were greatly improved within one month after surgery. There was no sign of tumor recurrence during an 18-month period of follow-up. According to pathology, the tumor was originally diagnosed as "lomangioma" based upon a biopsy sample, "proliferative giant cell tumor of tendon sheath" based upon sections of tumor, and finally diagnosed as PMTMCT by consultation one year after surgery. In conclusion, although an extremely rare disease, clinicians and pathologists should be aware of the existence of TIO and PMTMCT, respectively.
Bone Neoplasms ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; blood ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypophosphatemia ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Mesenchymoma ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Metacarpal Bones ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Connective Tissue ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Osteomalacia ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Phosphates ; blood ; Radiography