Objective To evaluate the left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF)by two dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2D-STI).Methods 37 CHF patients were enrolled in this study.According to left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),the patienst were classified into two subgroups:group A,LVEF≤ 35 ％;group B,35 ％＜LVEF＜50 ％.35 healthy volunteers constituted the control group(group C).Standard 2D images were acquired in the 2-,3-and 4-apical views as well as the parasternal short-axis views at the level of the mitral valve and papillary muscles.The time to peak-systolic strain and strain rate were measured for each segment in the level of the mitral valve and papillary muscles in Qlab software.Dyssychrony parameters were defined as the standard deviation and the maximal time delay of the time to peak-systolic strain and strain rate for 12 segments.Parameters were compared among the three groups respectively.The correlation between dyssynchrony parameters and LVEF were analysed in CHF patients.The cut-off value of each parameter were derived from group C based on statistical principles.Dyssychrony rate of each parameter were calculated in group A and B,and compared within each group respectively.Results Compared with group C,all the dyssychrony parameters in group A were significant higher(P＜0.05),and part of the parameters(Tsl-12SD,Tsl-12Dif,Tslr-12SD,Tslr-12Dif and Tsr-12SD)in group B were remarkable higher(P＜0.05).Dyssychrony parameters in CHF patients correlated closely with LVEF(P＜0.05).Significant differences among dyssychrony rates were noted in both group A and B(P＜0.05),and Ts1-12SD showed the highest value in both subgroups.Conclusions 2D-STI is useful in quantifying left ventricular systolic dyssychrony in CHF patients,and the longitudinal parameters are more efficient to detect mechanical dyssychrony than the radial parameters and circumferential parameters.

Objective To evaluate the diastolic function in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by conventional echocardiography or Doppler tissue imaging (TDI).Methods 31 patients with CHF were divided into responders to CRT (group R) and nonresponders to CRT (group N) according the standard of a decline in left ventricular(LV) end-systolic volume ≥10％.All the patients received echocardiography examination 1-3 days before CRT and 6 month after CRT.Color M-mode echocardiography indices included Vp,E/Vp.TDI indices included the peak velocity in early diastole (e) at 4 sites of mitral annulus,E/e,time to peak velocity in systole (Ts),Ts-SD and maximum difference of Ts (Ts-Dif) among 12 segments.Results Compared with before CRT,Ts-SD and Ts-Dif significantly shortened in group R;Vp increased significantly,E/e at each 4 site and mean value at 4 sites of mitral annulus,E/Vp decreased significantly; but there were no significant difference in group N.There were significant positive correlation between mean value at 4 sites of E/e,E/Vp and Ts-SD in group R.Conclusions The diastolic function in responders to CRT improved after CRT,which was associated with the decreased LV filling pressure and improved LV relaxation.

Objective To evaluate the right ventricular function in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by 2-dimensional speckle imaging (2D-STI).Methods 46 patients with CHF were divided into responders to CRT and non-responders to CRT according the standard of a decline in LV end-systolic volume ≥ 10％.All the patients received echocardiography examination 1-3 days before CRT and 6 month after CRT.Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) indices included SD of time to peak velocity in systole (Ts-SD) among 12 segments.Right ventricular diameters included RV basal transverse diameter (D1),RV middle transverse diameter (D2) and RV longitudinal diameter (D3) in apical four views.2D-STI indices included systolic strain (S) and stain rate (SR) of basal or middle segment of RV free wall.Results Compared with before CRT,LVEDd,LVEDV,LVESV and Ts-SD significantly decreased,LVEF significantly increased in responders 6 months after CRT.Before CRT,compared with nonresponders,there was no significant difference of D1,D2 and D3 in responders,while S and SR in basal or middle segment of RV free wall were higher than non-responders.Compared with before CRT,D1,D2 and D3 in responders decreased significantly,S and SR in basal or middle segment of RV free wall increased significantly,while there was no difference in non-responders.There were significant negative correlation between S and SR in basal or middle segment of RV free wall and Ts-SD in responders.Conclusions The remodeling and systolic function of RV are improved after CRT.It may help for improving the efficacy of CRT when takes RV function data into account before CRT.

The enzyme-inhibitor model and the sugar tolerance mouse model were used to evaluate the relationship between the inhibition rate of enzyme activity and concentration of Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. chinensis Rousi polysaccharide (HRP). The inhibitory patterns of enzyme and dose-dependent effects of HRP's effect on blood glucose using acarbose tablets as control were also examined. The mechanism underlying hypoglycemic effects of HRP was discussed. The results showed: in the enzyme-inhibitor model, the inhibitory activity of different concentrations of HRP (9.80, 19.60, 39.20, 78.40, 156.80 and 312.50 mg x L(-1)) on alpha-glucosaminidase (AG) inhibitory activity were 6.62%, 18.02%, 33.26%, 48.23%, 62.11%, 76.31%, 90.12%, IC50 was 31.59 mg x L(-1). The inhibitory rate of 25.00 x 10(3) mg x L(-1) acarbose tablets was only 64.87%, and IC50 was 10.75 x 10(3) mg x L(-1). In the sugar tolerance mouse model, different doses of HRP (240, 480, 960 mg x kg(-1)) tended to decrease levels of blood glucose compared with control group (acarbose tablets 375 mg x kg(-1)) at 15, 30, 60 and 120 min. It's further confirmed that HRP is a kind of competitive inhibitor of AG activity. Its inhibition rate increases with the increase of concentration in normal mice, and it subsequently improves the sugar tolerance showing the effect of reducing blood sugar.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Xanthium sibiricum Patrin ex Widder water extracts (CEW) on α-glucosidase activity (AG) and blood sugar in mice.

METHODSThe inhibition of AG by CEW was studied with enzyme-inhibitor screening external model with acarbose as control drug. The normal mice were administrated by gavage with 40.0g*kg(-1), or 10.0 g*kg(-1) of CEW, 0.375 g*kg(-1) of acarbose, and 0.3ml of normal saline, respectively in successive 5 days; then the animals were loaded with 2.0 g*kg(-1) of glucose, 4.0 g*kg(-1) of sucrose, and 2.0 g*kg(-1) of starch and blood sugar levels were measured within 15, 30, 60, and 120min. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in mice, then 40.0 g*kg(-1), or 10.0 g*kg(-1) of CEW was given to diabetic mice in successive 2 weeks and 4 weeks, then the blood sugar levels were measured.

RESULTSIn the enzyme inhibition test, when the concentration of CEW was between 0.3125 g*L(-1)-10.00 g*L(-1), the inhibition rate was 55.42%-92.73% when the concentration of acarbose was 1.5625 g*L(-1)-25.00 g*L(-1), the inhibition rate was 9.28%-64.87%. In the sugar tolerance test, the blood sugar value in starch-loaded mice decreased sharply (P<0.01), followed by sucrose-loaded group (P<0.05), and there was no change in glucose-loaded group (P>0.05). In diabetic mice CEW-40 and CEW-10 groups showed significant blood sugar lowering effect (P<0.01 or P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCEW has stronger effect in inhibition of AG activity than acarbose. CEW can increase the sugar tolerance in normal mice and decrease the blood sugar level in diabetic mice..

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Xanthium ; chemistry ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the left ventricular synchronicity in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE).Methods Twenty-eight DCM patients and twenty-nine healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study,and clear full volume pictures were aquired using RT-3DE.The time to minimal systolic volume (Tmsv) of each segment was measured,and a mean value of Tmsv for the same segment in each group(Tmsv') was caculated.The standard deviation (Tmsv-SD) and the maximal difference (Tmsv-Dif) of Tmsv were calculated for basal level,mid level,apical lever,12 segments and 16 segments (Tmsv1-6-SD,Tmsv7-12-SD,Tmsv13-16-SD,Tmsv12-SD,Tmsv16-SD,Tmsv1-6-Dif,Tmsv7-12-Dif,Tmsv13-16-Dif,Tmsv12-Dif,Tmsv16-Dif).Results There were no significant differences among 1-17 Tmsv' within each group.No significant differences were found between two groups for Tmsv' derived from the same segment.All asynchrony indexs of DCM patients were remarkably higher than those of the healthy volunteers (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05),and correlated closely with LVEF determined by RT-3DE (r=-0.576～-0.768,P＜0.01 or P＜0.05) except for those of the mid level(r=-0.402～-0.449,P＞0.05).Conclusions Dyssynchrony exist in globle and each level of DCM patients' left ventricle.RT-3DE is an available technique for left ventricular synchronicity quantification.

It is kno wn that 8-Br-cAMP is one of selective bi nding site analogues for cAMP RIIα to af fect cell growth through regulation of g ene expression.The p16,p21wafl,p53 a nd Rb are antioncogenes which affect cel l growth through control of cell cycle.T he aim of this study is to investigate t he 8-Br-cAMP effect on the expression of antioncogenes in human HXO-Rb44 cells. Methods Cultured HXO-Rb44 cells in RPMI -1 640 medium were divided into two aliquot s.8-Br-cAMP (2×10-5mol/L) was added i nto one aliquot for 24h as the experime ntal group(EG),the another aliquot witho ut 8-Br-cAMP as the control group(CG).Af ter 24h,the cell suspension was dropped onto the nitrocellulose membrane.The mR NA of p16,p21wafl,wild type(w)p53,mut ant type(m) p53 and Rb were used respec tively with biotin-labeled cDNA probes b y intact cell RNA dot blot.The immunorea ctivity(IR) of P16,P21wafl,PRb,PCN A,cdk2 and cdk4 were detected respecti vely with specific monoclonal antibodies on dot blot.ResultsThe mRNA dot blot s ignals of mp53 and protein dot blot of cdk2-IR,cdk4-IR and PCNA-IR in EG were weaker than those in CG(P＜0.05～0.01). W hile,the mRNA signals of p16,p21wafl,wp53 and Rb in EG were stronger than tho se in CG(P＜0.05～0.01).The intensity of ea ch protein dot blot was consistent with that of their RNA dot blot (except for w P53-IR and mP53-IR not to be done).Conc lusions(1)8-Br-cAMP could up-regul ate expression of antioncogenes includin g p16,p21wafl,wp53,Rb,and protein exp ression of P16,P21wafl and PRb.(2) 8-Br-cAMP could down-regulate mp53 gene expression and protein expression of cd k2,cdk4 and PCNA.The results suggest t hat 8-Br-cAMP could inhibit human HXO-Rb 44 cell growth through interfering rela ted gene expression of cell cycle.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and clinicopathological features and prognosis of serous ovarian cancer retrospectively. Methods A total of 73 patients with serous ovarian cancer treated in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 2000 to December 2015 were included in this study. The relationship between serum FSH, LH, PRL and clinicopathological features was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U method. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) method was used to analyze survival rates of patients with different clinical features. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to analyze prognostic factors of serous ovarian cancer patients. Results The mean concentrations of serum FSH and LH were significantly higher in the>50 year-old group than those in the<50 year-old group (P<0.05). The mean concentrations of FSH and LH were significantly higher in menopause group than those in non-menopause group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in serum levels of FSH and LH in patients with other different clinicopathological features (P>0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum PRL concentration and clinicopathological features (P>0.05). Analysis results showed that poor prognosis of patients was related with high serum levels of FSH (>40.13 IU/L), PRL (>14.96 μg/L) and FIGO stage (Ⅲ+Ⅳ) (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum LH concentration and prognosis (P>0.05). COX regression analysis showed that the serum PRL>14.96 μg/L was risk factor for prognosis of serous ovarian cancer [HR(95%CI): 3.530(1.180-10.557),P=0.024]. Conclusion The serum levels of FSH and LH are significantly increased in postmenopausal women than those in menopause women. The serum level of PRL is correlated with the prognosis of serous ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVEVarious treatments were used in packaging and storing dry and fresh Radix Astragali in order to explore an economically practical storage method.

METHODThe experiment was designed in single-factor completely random as compared with the traditional stacking without package in which the character, quality, polysaccharide and extract contents were measured.

RESULTIf stored for long-term use, the Radix Astragali should be packaged with vacuum-exhausted bags after cleaning by water and dried, which resulted in less weight loss, higher extract and polysaccharide. However, if stored for fresh use, the fresh Radix Astragali should be packaged in vacuum-exhausted bags after cleaning by sorghum alcohol and stored under low temperatures if possible, which resulted in less loss and longer fresh time. Considering polysaccharide and extract content, it is better to use dried the Radix Astragali in storage.

CONCLUSIONBefore packaged in vacuum-exhausted bags, the dry Radix Astragali should be cleaned by water for long-term use and cleaned by sorghum alcohol for fresh use under low temperatures if possible.

Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Drug Packaging ; Drug Stability ; Drug Storage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Objective To characterize the effects of TPP1 knockdown on Pot1a and Pot1b localization at telomeres and on the telomere end protection.Methods Knockdown of endogenous TPP1 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts(MEFs) with the retrovirus vector encoding shRNA targeting TPP1,IF/PNA-FISH was performed to determine the localization of Pot1a and Pot1b at telomeres,and TdT-FITC was applied to characterize the effects on the function of telomere end protection,cellular senescence was analyzed by SA-beta gal staining,and phosphorylated p53ser18 and p21 were examined by Western blotting.Results Pot1a and Pot1b were unable to localize at telomeres in about 65% of MEFs with TPP1 knockdown,while that was found in less than 5% of MEFs without TPP1 knockdown(t=10.96,P