Objective To observe the protective effect of progesterone(PROG) on rat retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) in chronic ocular hypertention models.Methods The chronic ocular hypertention rat model was made by cauterizating three episcleral veins.Rats were divided into control group,high level PROG group,middle level PROG group,low level PROG group according to different concentrations of PROG injected intraperitoneally.The left eye was model eye and the right eye was control eye.Three months later,the animals were executed and the eyeballs were enucleated.The RGCs were detected by HE staining and Thy-1.1 immunohistological staining.The apoptosis of RGCs was detected by TdT-dUDP terminal nick end-labeling(TUNEL) technique.Results The number of RGCs of model eyes in high level PROG injection group was more than those in control group,low level and middle level groups(P

Objective To retrospectively analyze the complications and management of complications during percutaneous implementation of biliary stents in 17 patients. Methods Percutaneous biliary drainage and implementation of biliary stents for malignant biliary obstruction under fluoroscopic guidance was performed in 64 patients. 17 cases developed complications. Bradycardia and hypotension was seen in 5 cases, slipping of the stent into the duodenum in 1, bile duct perforation in 2, the fine guidewire broken in the hepatic parenchyma in 2, malposition of the stent in 3, hepato renal failure leading to hemorrhage in 2, exchanging guidewire broken in the duodenum in 1, and balloon broken leading to stent dislocation in 1, respectively. Results Bradycardia and hypotension in the 5 cases was treated medically and the procedure was interrupted. Slipping of the stent into the duodenum was passed off spontaneously. Broken of the fine guidewire in the liver did not present any complaints until the death of the patients. Perforation of bile duct was treated conservatively with a clinical successful outcome. Malposition of the stent was treated by reimplementation of shorter stents. The broken exchanging guidewire in the duodenum during implementation was removed with the gastroscope. The hepato renal failure leading to hemorrhage had poor prognosis. The broken balloon caused stent dislocation was treated by reimplementation of stent. Conclusion Percutaneous implementation of stent is effective and safe for elderly patients with proximal stenosis of the biliary tract. However, one must be very careful to avoid the complications.

Aim To evaluate the short-term biocompatibility of a newkind of prosthetic nucleus-Evergel, which is made from the modifiedpolyvinyl alcohol hydrogel. Methods According to China national standardGB/T16886 documents, the toxicity of Evergel prosthetic nucleus materialwas investigated by the cytotoxicity test, sensitization test, haemolysis test,Ames test, mice marrow micronucleus test and chromosome aberration test ofmammalian cell in vitro. Results This material had no cytoxicity, no sen-sitivity, no obvious haemolysis, and no mutagencity in Ames test, micemarrow micronucleus test and chromosome aberration test of mammalian cellin vitro. Conclusion The Evergel prosthetic nucleus has a good biocom-patibility and can be used clinically.

Objective To detect the mRNA expression levels of PI3KCB and AKT1 genes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of acute and chronic schizophrenia patients in different stages,and to explore the relationship between them and the clinic symptoms.Methods Twenty-four cases of schizophrenia patients without medication for at least 1 month,19 chronic schizophrenia patients with long-term clozapine medication,and 20 normal controls were involved in the study.The mRNA expression of PI3KCB and AKT1 genes of all the subjects were measured by real-time qRT-PCR,and the positive and negative symptom scales (PANSS) of schizophrenia patients were also evaluated.Spearman's correlation was used to analyze the relationship between PI3KCB,AKT1 and PANSS score.Results The gene expression of PI3KCB in acute schizophrenia patients,chronic schizophrenia patients with clozapine medication and normal control were (0.79±0.04),(0.83±0.08) and (0.87±0.09) respectively,and the difference was significant among the three groups (F=8.77,P=0.001).The AKT1 gene expression levels were (0.80±0.03),(0.27±0.13)and (0.29±0.12) respectively,and the difference was also significant among the three groups (F=302.31,P＜0.01).The PI3KCB mRNA levels of acute schizophrenia patients were significantly lower than the levels in healthy controls (MD =0.09,P=0.002),and the AKT1 mRNA levels of acute schizophrenia patients were significantly higher than the levels in chronic schizophrenia patients (MD=0.53,P＜0.01) and healthy controls (MD =0.51,P＜ 0.01).In schizophrenia patients,no significant relationship was found between PI3KCB,AKT1 expression levels and PANSS scores.Conclusion The gene expression status of PI3K-AKT pathway is significantly different in different stages of acute and chronic schizophrenia and that is no significant relationship with clinic symptoms,and clozapine treatment may affect its gene expression levels.

Objective: To explore the relationship between fragmented QRS complex(fQRS) and coronary collateral circulation(CCC) in patients with chronic total occlusion(CTO)lesion without prior myocardial infarction. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 238 consecutive patients with CTO lesion in one of the major coronary arteries from May 2014 to October 2015 in our department. Patients were divided into poor CCC group (grade 0 and 1, 58 cases) and good CCC group(grade 2 and 3, 180 cases) based on Rentrop′s classification of CCC. The fQRS was defined as the presence of an additional R wave or notching of R or S wave or the presence of fragmentation in two contiguous electrocardiogram leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between CCC and fQRS on electrocardiogram. Results: Compared with good CCC group, patients in poor CCC group had older age((65.2±8.9)years old vs. (60.3±10.1) years old, P=0.03), higher plasma glucose ((7.22±3.00) mmol/L vs.(6.31±1.83)mmol/L, P=0.04), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction ((45.2±11.4)% vs. (51.2±13.5)%, P=0.02). None of patients had Rentrop grade 0, the presence of fQRS on ECG in patients with Rentrop grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 CCC was 69.0% (40/58), 48.6% (35/72) , and 19.4% (21/108), respectively (P<0.01). The presence of fQRS were higher in poor CCC group than in good CCC group (69.0%(40/58)vs. 31.1%(56/180), P<0.01), and number of leads with fQRS were higher in poor CCC group than in good CCC group (3(0, 4)vs.0(0, 3), P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that poor CCC growth in patients with CTO lesion without prior myocardial infarction was independently related to the presence of fQRS (OR=3.659, 95%CI 1.619-8.217, P<0.01). Conclusion Poor CCC in patients with CTO lesion without prior myocardial infarction is independently related to the presence of fQRS on electrocardiogram.

Objective: To explore the relationship between coronary tortuosity and coronary microvascular disease (CMVD). Methods: Patients with typical angina symptoms and without serious coronary artery stenosis by coronary angiography were enrolled from June 2014 to December 2016, and CMVD was diagnosed by single photon emission tomography (SPECT). According to the SPECT results, patients were divided to the CMVD group and non-CMVD group. The baseline clinical characteristics, results of coronary angiography were compared between the two groups. The logistic analysis was used to analyze the relationship between coronary tortuosity and CMVD. Result: A total of 117 cases were enrolled, with 69 cases in the CMVD group and 48 cases in the non-CMVD group. No differences were found in gender distribution, age, hypertension, lipid abnormality, hyperuricemia and uses of statins between the two groups (all P>0.05). Incidence of diabetes (78.26%(54/69) vs. 35.42% (17/48) , P<0.05), hs-CRP ((4.29±2.15)mmol/L vs. (2.63±1.20)mmol/L, P<0.001), LDL-C ((2.98±0.96)mmol/L vs. (2.52±0.83)mmol/L, P=0.008) and homocysteine ((13.7±5.61)mmol/L vs. (11.5±4.38)mmol/L, P=0.025) levels were higher in the CMVD group than in the non-CMVD group. The data derived from echocardiographic examination were similar between the two groups. The Corrected TIMI frame counts were higher in the CMVD group than in non-CMVD group (LAD: 31.56±4.92 vs. 27.31±3.75, LCX: 29.47±4.18 vs. 26.62±3.19, RCA: 29.09±5.05 vs. 26.24±3.28, all P<0.001). The incidences of coronary atherosclerosis (76.81% (53/69) vs. 27.08% (13/48) , P<0.001) and coronary tortuosity ( (60.87% (42/69) vs. 33.33% (16/48) , P=0.035) were also higher in the CMVD group than in non-CMVD group. Logistic analysis found that coronary tortuosity (OR=6.111, 95%CI 2.707-13.794, P<0.001), diabetes (OR=6.565, 95%CI 2.883-14.948, P<0.001) and coronary atherosclerosis (OR=8.918, 95%CI 3.822-20.808, P<0.001) were independent risk factors of CMVD. Conclusion Coronary tortuosity, diabetes and coronary atherosclerosis are related to CMVD in this patient cohort.

This assay was aimed to evaluate the influence of different contact ways and extracting conditions on the hemolytic effect of biomaterials. Using direct contact method and extract contact method, we assessed the hemolytic effect of PDLLA and PVC. The extracting conditions included: 37 degrees C 24 h, 37 degrees C 72 h, 37 degrees C 120 h, 50 degrees C 72 h, and 70 degrees C 24 h. After the material or extract had been in contact with the diluted blood of rabbit for certain times, the hemolysis rate was calculated. The results for PDLLA showed there were some differences between direct contact and extract contact at 37 degrees C for different extraction time (P < 0.05), but the hemolysis rates, lower than 5%, were in accord with the requirements of medical devices. However, under the condition of 50 degrees C and 70 degrees C, there were significant differences when extract contact method was compared with direct method (P < 0.01). For PVC, there was no statistically significant difference under all conditions (P > 0.05). Our conclusions: (1) Under the extracting condition of 37 degrees C from 24 h to 120 h, the soluble part of PDLLA and PVC that might influence erythrocyte did not dissolve considerably. (2) Under the extracting condition of 50 degrees C and 70 degrees C, the hemolysis rate may remarkably vary with the chemical characteristics of tested materials; (3) As to an unknown material, it is advisable to adopt two methods at the same time, one for direct contact and the other for extracontact. Thus the hemolytic effect of biomaterials can be evaluated from physical and chemical angles. (4) In case that the chemical property of the sample can endure the test, the extracting condition at 50 degrees C and 70 degrees C may be of benefit to assessing the hemolytic effect of biomaterials. (5) The extract contact method as a supplemental test of direct contact method is of realistic significance.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; toxicity ; Hydrolysis ; drug effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Materials Testing ; methods ; Rabbits ; Temperature ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVESTo investigate whether the administration of recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) before primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could further limit the infract size, improve left ventricular function, and alleviate cardiac dilation in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI).

METHODSA total of 93 consecutive patients presenting chest pain within 12 hours from the onset, suspicious of first STEMI located at anterior wall undergoing primary PCI, were eligible for enrollment and randomly assigned to either rhBNP group (rhBNP administration starting at 5 min before PCI, 1.5 µg/kg bolus intravenous injection followed by 0.007 5-0.03 µg·kg(-1)·min(-1) for up to 120 hours, n=48) or nitroglycerin (NIT) group (NIT treatment starting at 5 min before PCI, 10-100 µg/min intravenous infusion for 120 hours, n=45). Primary PCI was performed in both groups using post-conditioning (PC) technique. TIMI flow grade, corrected TIMI frame count, and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade were compared between the two groups at the time of infarct related artery (IRA) re-patency. The levels of serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and troponin I (TnI) were measured. Echocardiography was performed at baseline 7 days and 6 months later.

RESULTSBaseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. The percentage of TIMI grade 3 and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade 3 after PCI both tended to be higher in rhBNP group than those in NIT group (95.8%(46/48) vs. 86.7%(39/45), P=0.162) and (72.9%(35/48) vs. 62.2%(28/45), P=0.500). The corrected TIMI frame count was significantly decreased in rhBNP group (21.0±8.7 vs. 28.2±14.8, P=0.005). The myocardial infarct size expressed as the AUC of CK-MB ((3 249±1 101) U/L vs. (4 474±1 661)U/L, P=0.010) or AUC of TnI ((3 670±942) µg/L vs. (4 541±1 098) µg/L, P=0.021) was significantly decreased in rhBNP group compared with those in NIT group. At 7 days after primary PCI, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) tended to be higher (P>0.05), while the E/e' index and wall motion score index (WMSI) ((11.95±3.31 vs. 14.60±4.09, P=0.030) and (1.74±0.17 vs. 2.40±0.55, P<0.001)) were significantly improved in rhBNP group compared with those in NIT group. BNP level was also significantly lower in rhBNP group compared that in NIT group ((68.3±37.8) ng/L vs. (129.4±64.4) ng/L, P<0.001). During 6-month follow-up, LVEF and WMSI were significantly improved in rhBNP group compared those in NIT group(51.7%±12.7% vs. 46.9%±9.6%, P=0.024 and 1.69±0.35 vs. 1.92±0.47, P=0.020).

CONCLUSIONAdministration of rhBNP before PCI with post-conditioning procedure can further improve myocardial perfusion, limit myocardial infarct size, ameliorate cardiac dysfunction and postpone left ventricular early-stage and long-term remodeling in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Acute Disease ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Troponin I ; Ventricular Function, Left