Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is characterized pathologically by the atheromatous plaque which may induce stenosis or obstruction of the coronary arterial lumen leading to myocardial ischemia, experienced by the patients as chest pain. Plaque rupture provides a focus for platelet deposition and thrombosis, and results in unstable angina or myocardial infarction. Stable angina pectoris is treated conventionally by using beta blockers, nitrates and calcium channel blockers (CCB), all of which act by either increasing the supply or decreasing the demand of oxygen in myocardium. In recent years a group of drugs known as metabolic modulators have been particularly shown to be beneficial in protecting the myocardium. Trimetazidine has been a special target in this group. It has been found that in ischemic myocardium there is high rate of fatty acid (FA) oxidation and subsequent inhibition of glucose oxidation. This drug is thought to have direct cytoprotective action in ischemic myocardium through inhibition of the oxidation of FA. Numerous studies are still being carried out to further clarify its roles in various other conditions related directly or indirectly with IHD. The purpose of the review was to assimilate the results of various trials done all over the world in the recent years to find out the role in IHD and the exact mechanism of action, in order to know its true worth in myocardial protection.

Background Clinical researches showed that antimicrobial-resistance of bacterium is gradually serious.It is very important to master pathogen distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility after eye surgery.Objective This study was to investigate the distribution and drug sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria from ocular operative infection in 3-year duration to provide a reference for reasonable selection of antibiotics.Methods Sixtyfive positive specimens were obtained from 65 patients due to postoperative infection in Department of Ophthalmology of Shenzhou Hospital and Shengjing Hospital from 2009 January through 2011 December.The pathogenic bacteria were isolated and then the drug sensitivity test of conventional antibiotics was performed.Results Among the 65 ophthalmic specimens,35 strains of Gram-positive bacteria were isolated with the constituent ratio 53.8％,and 15 strains of Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 23.1％.Fungus was found in 15 cases with the constituent ratio 23.1％.Staphylococcus epidermidis accounted for 42.9％ in Gram-positive bacteria,and Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounted for 33.3％ in Gram-negative bacteria.Aspergillus was the main component of fungus,which accounted for 60.0％ of the proportion 3 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 8 strains of Staphylococcus aureus,but no vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus (VRS) were seen.The in vitro drug sensitivity test showed that the main Gram-positive bacteria,Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus,were sensitive to linezolid,vancomycin,levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin with the sensitive rates ＞50.0％,and these bacteria were lowly sensitive to penicillin and erythromycin with the sensitive rates ≤30.0％.Pseudomonas aeruginosa appeared to be the main Gram-negative bacteria,showing a sensitive rate ≥ 80.0％ to tobramycin,amikacin,ceftazidime,cefepime,cefoperazone/sulbactam,piperacillin/tazobactam,imipenem and meropenem.Conclusions Staphylococcus epidermidis,Staphylococcus aureus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus are primary pathogens in ocular infection after operation.Antibiotics such as penicillin,erythromycin,levofloxacin,cefotaxime seem to be relatively high resistant to eye infection.To choose sensitive antibiotics timely and reasonably is a key to the prevention and control of ocular infection after operation.

Autopsy has played a unique role in the progression of clinical medicine, medical education, epidemiology, and public health. However, the autopsy rate has been decreasing during the past several decades worldwide, and its necessity is frequently argued. Autopsy-based research in China, a country with the world's largest population, is very important for studying the spectrum and epidemiology of diseases as well as for discovering new diseases. This article summarizes the brief history of autopsy in China and analyzes the cause of its decline in recent decades by reviewing previously published papers, review articles, self-collected materials, and private correspondence. Since the first officially permitted autopsy in 1913, China witnessed the highest autopsy rate between 1950 and 1970, and since then the autopsy rate began to decline as it in other parts of the world. The main reasons for the reduction in autopsy rates in China include negligence by hospital administrators and relevant government authorities, unmotivated clinicians, helpless pathologists, unenforceable regulations and laws, and local cultures and customs.
Autopsy ; history ; statistics & numerical data ; Biomedical Research ; history ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Medieval ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of puerarin, a natural flavonoid found in Chinese Pueraria Lobata (Wild.) Ohwi, on promotion of new bone formation.

METHODSOsteoblasts isolated from calvarial of newborn rats were cultured in vitro in the presence of puerarin at various concentrations. The viability of osteoblasts and alkaline phosphotase activity and mineral node formation were determined. In addition, osteoblasts seeded in the β-tricaclium phosphate scalfolds as bone substitute were implanted in rat dorsal muscles. Half -of the recipient rats received intramuscular injection of puerarin at 10 mg/(kg·d) for 7 days. Osteogenesis was analyzed by examining the histology after 4 weeks of implantation.

RESULTSThe viability of osteoblasts treated with puerarin at either 40 or 80 μmol/L was significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Alkaline phosphatase and mineral modules were significantly increased in osteoblasts cultured with puerarin at 40 or 80 mol/L when compared with that of the untreated cells. The puerarin-treated rats had a higher rate of bone formation in the osteoblast implants than the control rats (6.35% vs. 1.32%, respectively, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPuerarin was able to affect osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, and promote the new bone formation in osteoblast implants.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Calcification, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Implants, Experimental ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVETo observe amplitude changes of low frequency fluctuation in brain spontaneous nervous activities induced by needling at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel, and to preliminarily explore the possible brain function network of Hand Taiyin Lung Channel.

METHODSBy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 16 healthy volunteers underwent resting-state scanning (R1) and scanning with retained acupuncture at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel (acupuncture, AP). Data of fMRI collected were statistically calculated using amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF).

RESULTSUnder R1 significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, left inferior parietal lobule, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus. Under AP significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, cerebellum, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, and so on. Compared with R1, needing at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly enhance ALFF in right gyrus subcallosum and right inferior frontal gyrus. Significant decreased ALFF appeared in right postcentral gyrus, left precuneus, left superior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and so on.

CONCLUSIONNeeding at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly change fixed activities of cerebral cortex, especially in right subcallosal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and so on.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background/Aims: The discrepancies between the diagnosis of preoperative endoscopic forceps biopsy (EFB) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in patients with early gastric neoplasm (EGN) exist objectively. Among them, pathological upgrading directly influences the accuracy and appropriateness of clinical decisions. The aims of this study were to investigate the risk factors for the discrepancies, with a particular focus on pathological upgrading and to establish a prediction model for estimating the risk of pathological upgrading after EFB. Methods: We retrospectively collected the records of 978 patients who underwent ESD from December 1, 2017 to July 31, 2021 and who had a final histopathology determination of EGN. A nomogram to predict the risk of pathological upgrading was constructed after analyzing subgroup differences among the 901 lesions enrolled. Results: The ratio of pathological upgrading was 510 of 953 (53.5%). Clinical, laboratorial and endoscopic characteristics were analyzed using univariable and binary multivariable logistic regression analyses. A nomogram was constructed by including age, history of chronic atrophic gastritis, symptoms of digestive system, blood high density lipoprotein concentration, macroscopic type, pathological diagnosis of EFB, uneven surface, remarkable redness, and lesion size. The C-statistics were 0.804 (95% confidence interval, 0.774 to 0.834) and 0.748 (95% confidence interval, 0.664 to 0.832) in the training and validation set, respectively. We also built an online webserver based on the proposed nomogram for convenient clinical use. Conclusions The clinical value of identifying the preoperative diagnosis of EGN lesions is limited when using EFB separately. We have developed a nomogram that can predict the probability of pathological upgrading with good calibration and discrimination value.

OBJECTIVETo explore the underlying mechanism of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transfer induced cardiac function improvement in failing hearts.

METHODSCongestive heart failure (CHF) was induced in rats by cauterization of the heart wall. MSCs were cultured from autologous bone marrow and injected into the border zone and the remote myocardium 5 days after cauterization.

RESULTSTen weeks later, cardiomyocyte nucleus mitotic index, capillary density and expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were significantly increased in the border zone and significantly reduced in the remote myocardium in CHF rats (all P<0.05 vs. sham). Besides cardiac function improvement and left ventricular remodeling attenuation evidenced by hemodynamic and echocardiographic examinations, expressions of IGF-1, HGF and VEGF in the remote myocardium and in the border zone were also significantly upregulated (P<0.05 or P<0.01 vs. CHF), and cardiomyocyte nucleus mitotic index as well as capillary density were significantly increased in CHF rats with MSCs (P<0.05 or P<0.01 vs. CHF). Moreover, collagen area was significantly reduced and myocardial area was significantly increased in the border zone in these rats too.

CONCLUSIONAutologous MSC implantation upregulated expressions of growth factors enhanced cardioangiogenesis which might be the underlying mechanisms for improved cardiac function and attenuated left ventricular remodeling induced by MSCs transplantation in failing rat myocardium.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; therapy ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Ventricular Remodeling

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) on hepatoma cell growth through p14(ARF)-dependent and p14(ARF)-independent pathways.

METHODSHBx and p14(ARF) were transfected either separately or in combination into HepG2 cells containing wt-p53 but not expressing p14(ARF). The cells were divided into 4 groups, namely pcDNA3 (control), pcDNA3HBx, pcDNA3p14(ARF), and pcDNA3HBx + pcDNA3p14(ARF) groups. Flow cytometry was used to examine the apoptosis rates and cell cycle progression of HepG2 cells in different groups. The expression of p14(ARF), MDM2, p53, and p21(WAF1) proteins were investigated by detecting the activity of p21(WAF1) promoter-luciferase and using Western blotting.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rates of HepG2 cells in pcDNA3HBx and pcDNA3p14(ARF) groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (14.11%, 13.72% vs 10.66%). Compared with the control group, pcDNA3HBx and pcDNA3p14(ARF) groups also showed significantly higher cell percentages arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase (63.62%, 61.75% vs 57.42%), luciferase activity of p21 promoter (1.25-/+0.05, 1.09-/+0.06 vs 0.77-/+0.03) and expressions of p53 and p21(WAF1). The cell apoptosis rate, percentage of cells in G(0)/G(1) phase and expression level of p14(ARF) were even higher in pcDNA3HBx+pcDNA3p14(ARF) group (18.61%, 66.74%, and 3.53-/+0.43, respectively) than in either p14(ARF) or HBx group.

CONCLUSIONHBx induces p53 expression through p14(ARF)-dependent and independent pathways to activate p21(WAF1) promoter, leading to G(0)/G(1) arrest and apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the course and distribution of buccal and marginal mandibular branches of facial nerve, and its relevance to the treatment of facial paralysis and the protection of facial nerve during surgery.

METHODS12 cadaver heads were dissected (24 specimens). The course of the buccal and marginal mandibular branch and the interconnections between them were observed. The relationship of buccal branch to parotid duct, marginal mandibular branch to the inferior border of mandible were studied. With modified Sihler's staining technique, the distribution of facial nerve branches in innervated mimetic muscles was displayed. These anatomic relationships mentioned above were further confirmed during the operation of 40 patients with facial paralysis.

RESULTSParotid duct had a constant surface landmark. Buccal branch mainly consisted of 2-3 ramifications in 87.5% of the specimens, while marginal mandibular branch was double or single in 95.9% of the specimens. The buccal branch coursed within the distance between 10.7 mm above and 9.3 mm below the parotid duct, and innervated mimetic muscles of midface. The marginal mandibular branch coursed within the distance between 13.4 mm above and 4.8 mm below the lower border of mandible, crossed superiorly the facial artery and innervated mimetic muscles of lower lip.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a close relationship of buccal branch to parotid duct and marginal mandibular branch to facial artery and lower border of mandible. With modified Sihler's staining technique, the original 3-dimensional picture of the intramuscular nerve distribution in human mimetic muscles.

Adult ; Facial Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; Facial Paralysis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Mandible ; anatomy & histology ; innervation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of microtubule depolymerization of myocardial cells on distribution and activity of mitochondria, and energy metabolism of cells in adult rats.

METHODSMyocardial cells of SD adult rats and SD suckling rats were isolated and cultured. They were divided into adult and suckling rats control groups (AC and SC, normally cultured without any stimulating factor), adult and suckling rats microtubule depolymerization agent groups (AMDA and SMDA, cultured with 8 micromol/L colchicine containing nutrient solution for 30 minutes) according to the random number table. (1) The expression of polymerized beta tubulin in myocardial cells of adult and suckling rats was detected with Western blot. (2) Myocardial cells of rats in AC and AMDA groups were collected. The expression of cytochrome c was detected with Western blot. Distribution of voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC) and polymerized beta tubulin in myocardial cells were observed with immunofluorescent staining. Mitochondrial inner membrane potential was determined with immunocytochemical method. Activity of myocardial cells was detected with MTT method. Contents of ATP, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and energy charge of cells were determined with high performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS(1) The expression of polymerized beta tubulin:in AMDA group it was 0.52 + or - 0.07, which was obviously lower than that (1.25 + or - 0.12) in AC group (F = 31.002, P = 0.000); in SMDA group it was 0.76 + or - 0.12, which was significantly lower than that (1.11 + or - 0.24) in SC group (F = 31.002, P = 0.000), but was obviously higher than that in AMDA group (F = 31.002, P = 0.009). (2) The expression of cytochrome c in AC group was 0.26 + or - 0.03, which was obviously lower than that (1.55 + or - 0.13) in AMDA group (t = -24.056, P = 0.000). (3) Immunofluorescent staining result: in AC group, microtubules of myocardial cells were in linear tubiform, distributed in parallel with myocardial fiber; VDAC staining result showed that mitochondria were in granular form, distributed in the same direction as microtubules. In AMDA group, the normal distribution regularity of microtubules was destroyed, with weakened immune fluorescence intensity, microtubules structure indistinct, continuity lost, rough in appearance, and the distribution of mitochondria became disrupted. (4) Mitochondrial inner membrane potential in AC group fluorescent intensity was 1288 + or - 84, which was obviously higher than that (331 + or - 27) in AMDA group (t = 26.508, P = 0.000). (5) Cellular activity: in AC group absorbance value was 1.75 + or - 0.11, which was obviously lower than that (0.81 + or - 0.07) in AMDA group (t = 17.348, P = 0.000). (6) Energy metabolism: compared with those in AC group, content of ATP decreased, contents of ADP and AMP increased, and ATP/ADP value and energy charge decreased in AMDA group.

CONCLUSIONSMicrotubules and mitochondria distribute in the same direction in normal myocardial cells in adult rats. After microtubule depolymerization, mitochondria are arranged in disorder fashion; cytochrome c leaks from mitochondria; mitochondrial membrane potential, energy supply, and cellular activity decrease in the myocardial cells.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Energy Metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Microtubules ; metabolism ; Mitochondria, Heart ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tubulin ; metabolism