microRNAs are one kind of endogenous no-encoding RNA with about 22 nucleotides in length, and inhibited the translation of mRNAs by partially complementary binding to the 3' UTR of target mRNAs in the post-transcriptional level. Recent research shows that miRNAs function in the physiological and pathological processes of heart, especially involved in the occurrence and progress of arrhythmias. Abnormal miRNAs alters the protein expression of ion channels, causes the cardiac dysfunction, and triggers heart arrhythmias. The article summarized recent advances about roles of miRNA in arrhythmias and related cardiomyopathy, and discussed the therapeutic potential of miRNAs for heart diseases.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cardiomyopathies ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism

Aim To investigate the effects of dihydromyricetin on the apoptosis in AGZY-83-a tumor cells and its relevant mechanisms.Methods The survival rate of AGZY-83-a cells was assayed by MTT dye reduction.The cellular apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL method and caspase-3 activity.The intracellular free calcium i was detected to explore the apoptotic mechanism of dihydromyricetin.Results In the MTT assay,dihydromyricetin 50?mol?L-1 significantly inhibited survival ratios of AGZY-83-a cells at dose-and time-dependent manner.It was demonstrated in TUNEL assay that dihydromyricetin could induce the apoptosis of AGZY-83-a cells in a concentration-dependent manner.The examination of Caspase-3 activity indicated that the dihydromyricetin could induce the apoptosis of AGZY-83-a cells,which was dose-dependent activation of Caspase-3 in AGZY-83-a cells.The detection of the intracellular i showed that the average FI of the i could be markedly increased to 20-fold as the basic condition.Conclusions Dihydromyricetin can induce the apoptosis in AGZY-83-a cells,which is associated with the overload of the intracellular i.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the surgical treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma(HCCA) of Bismuth-Corlette type IV.

METHODSThe clinical data of 73 HCCA patients admitted in Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University from January 2002 to December 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 41 males and 32 females, aged from 30 to 84 years old (averaged, 56.8 years old). All patients were diagnosed as hilar mass with hilar biliary obstruction by B-ultrasound, CT, magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, and confirmed by pathological examination in intra-operation and post-operation. Diagnosis of all patients were according to Bismuth-Corlette type IV.

RESULTSFifteen cases underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage, stents were implanted in 8 patients. Simple internal drainage was performed on 25 of the 73 patients and 4 with palliative resection. Radical resection was performed on 19 patients. The radical resection rate of HCCA were 26.0%. The 1, 3 years of survival rates were 36.8%, 10.5% respectively. The 1 year survival rate was 6.3% in drainage group.

CONCLUSIONRadical resection is the potentially curative treatment for HCCA, a sufficient, reasonable use of internal and external drainage would improve the patient's quality of life.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Drainage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESince the proposal of the tumor stem cell hypothesis, considerable interest has been devoted to the isolation and purification of tumor stem cells. Tumor stem cell enrichment from primary tumor derived cell spheres has been demonstrated in specific, serum-free media. This goal of this study is to establish a method of cultivating floating tumor spheres from neuroblastoma cells and to confirm that neuroblastoma spheres are rich in tumor stem cells.

METHODSBone marrow aspirates were obtained from pediatric patients diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. Primary tumor cells were isolated and cultivated in serum-free, stem cell-selective medium. Single sphere-forming cells were cultivated under serum-free conditions; their cloning efficiency and monoclonal tumor sphere formation rates were calculated. The expression of stem cell marker genes Oct-4 and Bmi-1 was detected by RT-PCR in sphere-forming cells and parental neurolastoma cells. Sphere-forming cells were injected into the armpit of nude mice with subsequent assessment for tumor growth. Sphere-forming cells were cultivated in differentiation medium containing 5 μmol/L 13-cis retinoic acid; changes in cell morphology were observed.

RESULTSNeuroblastoma cells formed non-adherent neurospheres under serum-free, stem cell-selective conditions after a period of 4 to 6 days. A single cell dissociated from a neurosphere could reform a monoclonal sphere; cloning efficiency and monoclonal sphere formation rates were 55.3% and 26.3%, respectively. RT-PCR results revealed heightened tumor sphere expression of Oct-4 and Bmi-1 as compared with parental tumor cells. Fourteen days after injection of 10(4) sphere-forming cells into nude mice, a neuroblastoma xenograft formed. Treatment of sphere-forming cells with 13-cis retinoic acid induced a gradual differentiation to neuronal cell morphology.

CONCLUSIONSNeuroblastoma derived tumor spheres enrich tumor stem cells and the cultivation of primary neuroblastoma cells in serum-free, stem cell-selective medium is an effective method to dissociate and purify tumor stem cells in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Child ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Humans ; Isotretinoin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; metabolism ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Spheroids, Cellular ; pathology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective Previously we have reported the early and midterm benifit of autologous pulmonary patch in repairing aortic coarctation of hypoplastic aortic arch.This study aimed to assess its reliability and midterm and longterm outcomes.Methods We retrospectivly analyzed 42 pediatric patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) with hypoplastic aortic arch undergoing surgical repair with autologous pulmonary patch from May 2009 to May 2017 in General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command of PLA.All the patients were allocated into either senior group (＞ 1 years) or junior group (≤1 years) according to the age of operation.The trans-coarctation gradient,pulmonary pressure and aortic Z value change were compared between two groups before and after the repair.Results There were 8 cases had early postoperative complications.However,no death had been reported during the postoperative time and the followed up period ranged from 4 months to 106 months (40.0± 15.5) months).The average pressure gradient of coarctation segment for all the patients was (11.9±6.4) mmHg,including 5 cases more than 25 mmHg.The pressure gradient and mean pulmonary arterial pressure after operation were significantly lower than those before operation (P＜0.05),The postoperative aortic arch Z value was greater than the preoperative value (P＜0.05).Compared with the preoperative period,the Z value of proximal transverse arch increased significantly(-0.64±0.44) vs (1.27±0.66),P＜0.05.Compared with junior group,the senior group had higher preoperative and postoperative pulmonary artery pressure (P＜0.05),and longer CPB time,aortic block time,ventilation time,ICU time and hospital stay time (P＜0.05).However,patients in the junior group had a higher pressure gradient through the aorta arch(P＜0.05) and a smaller Z value transverse arch aortic proximal and isthmus(P＜0.05) during the long-term period.The time of selective cerebral perfusion had no statistical difference between the two groups (P＞ 0.05).Conclusion Early surgery for coarctation of aorta with hypoplastic aortic arch,autologous pulmonary patch aortoplasty is a relatively ideal option with better midterm and longterm outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the crush syndrome in the earthquake.

METHODSThirty-five patients with crush syndrome caused by earthquake were involved the retrospective study. The role of nutritional support, active wound treatment and hemodialysis on the patients' recovery was observed.

RESULTSThe function of the heart and kidneys were gradually improved by the planned removal of the necrotic tissue, which laid a foundation for the further repair of the wound.

CONCLUSIONThe removal of necrotic tissue, which can decrease the toxic absorption, will improve the success rate for treatment of the crush syndrome patients when being assisted with the hemodialysis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; Crush Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Disasters ; statistics & numerical data ; Earthquakes ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies

Congenital coarctation of the aorta is a complex and common congenital heart disease, which can be combined with other heart defects. The clinical symptoms vary from the severity of the disease. In 1944, Crafoord successfully performed surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta, along with the progress of surgical Methods and the advent of interventional techniques, the treatment effect is improved, But no matter what kind of treatment it is, restenosis, aortic aneurysm, hypertension and other complications cannot be avoided. From long-term analysis of the followup Results , the overall effect of surgical treatment is still better than interventional treatment. This article reviews the surgical treatment of coarctation of the aorta.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the combination of Naoxintong Capsule with standard care could further reduce the recurrence of ischemic stroke without increasing the risk of severe bleeding. METHODS: A total of 23 Chinese medical centers participated in this trial. Adult patients with a history of ischemic stroke were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio using a block design to receive either Naoxintong Capsule (1.2 g orally, twice a day) or placebo in addition to standard care. The primary endpoint was recurrence of ischemic stroke within 2 years. Secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, death due to recurrent ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality. The safety of drugs was monitored. Results were analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: A total of 2,200 patients were enrolled from March 2015 to March 2016, of whom 143 and 158 in the Naoxintong and placebo groups were lost to follow-up, respectively. Compared with the placebo group, the recurrence rate of ischemic stroke within 2 years was significantly lower in the Naoxintong group [6.5% vs. 9.5%, hazard ratio (HR): 0.665, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.492-0.899, P=0.008]. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary outcomes and safety, including rates of severe hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of Naoxintong Capsule with standard care reduced the 2-year stroke recurrence rate in patients with ischemic stroke without increasing the risk of severe hemorrhage in high-risk patients. (Trial registration No. NCT02334969).
Adult ; Humans ; Secondary Prevention/methods* ; Ischemic Stroke ; Stroke/prevention & control* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage/complications* ; Double-Blind Method ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors