ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism and the protective effect of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) on rat cardiomyocytes when ischemic preconditioning performed.MethodsCultured rat cardiomyocytes were divided into four groups: control group, ischemic group,ischemic preconditioning group and cyclohexamide group. Cell viabilities were analyzed by MTT. The apoptosis was evaluated with DNA ladder and flow cytometry Annexin V Flous staining. Western Blot was used to determine the expression of HSP27 and caspase-3 in cardiomyocytes.ResultsIschemic preconditioning could improve cell viability. The apoptosis ratio in ischemic preconditioning group was significantly less than that in ischemic group. These were accompanied by an increase in the expression of HSP27 and a decrease in caspase-3. The expression of the increased HSP27 and the protective effect induced by ischemic preconditioning were completely abolished by the presence of cycloheximide, a translation inhibitor.ConclusionThe expression of HSP27 induced by ischemic preconditioning plays an important role in protecting cardiomyocytes, and the mechanism is possibly related to the inhibition of cell apoptosis.

There is no specific treatment for post-polio syndrome. The common applied therapies include mediciation, exercise, cogni-tive behavioural therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, assistive technology, psychological and social factors adjustment, interdisciplinary comprehensive rehabilitation, and so on.

Objective To investigate whether IL-17 could stimulate the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production on HaCaT cells alone. We also investigated whether shikonin could inhibited the proinflamation effects of interleukin-17(IL-17) acting on HaCaT cells. MethodsWe examined the expression of VEGF by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) and realtime polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) in HaCaT cells and the cell supernatant. The viability of HaCaT cells in the drug group was detected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). ResultsThe expression of VEGF in different time IL-17-stimulated groups on HaCaT cells and the cell supernatant were higher than the control group( P＜0.001 ). The expression of VEGF in different drug treatment groups on HaCaT cells and the cell supematant were lower than the stimulated group by IL-17 ( P＜0. 001 ). The cell viability of different drug treatment groups have no significant difference( P＞0.05 ). ConclusionWe show that IL-17 specifically and time-dependently augmented and induced VEGF expression on HaCaT cells and the cell supernatantThen shikonin markedly inhibited the increase tengency of IL-17 effection on HaCaT cells and the cell supematant level.

Based on the idea that the pathogenic-etiologic mechanism is the " blockadeof liver channels, blood stasis and Qi stagnation resulting in malnutrition of liver due to iack of blood supply", the treating principle of " e-liminating stasis and supporting body resistance" was established with the combined use of extracts from peach -kernel plus cordicep hypha. 6 cases were thus treated. All of them received laparoscopy , and liver biopsy before and after the treatment. The gross appearance, histology and ultra. - microscopic structure and irnmuno - histo - chemistry were examined. Results showed that most of the activatedfat - storage cells after treatment were silent the I, III types of collagen depo - sited among the spaces of peri - sinusoid and liver cells and FN, LM weredecreased in part of the patient, resulting in less intrahepatic fibrosis, degradation of collagen fibres deposited in inter hepatic cellular spaces, inhibition and reversion of capillariza-tion oi liver sinusoid, hence, improvement of degener-ation of liver cells in most cases. The texture of the liver were turning normal with amelioration of portal hypertension and decrease of varicose mesenteric ves-seis. The liver turned red, swelling of falciform lig(?)-ment disappeared, and ascitis subsided.

Objective To observe efifcacy and safety of catheter ablation for atrial ifbrillation (AF) occurring after surgical valve replacement in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Methods A total of 23 RHD patients with atrial ifbrillation after surgical valve replacement were enrolled in this study from 2008 to 2013. The clinical characteristics, ablation strategies and successful rate were investigated. Results All the cases included 8 males and 15 females (age, 51.0 ± 9.2 years). Valves replaced were isolated mitral valves (13/23, 56.5%) and multiple valves (10/23, 43.5%). Postoperative AF after cardiac surgery was paroxysmal in 14 patients (60.9%) and nonparoxysmal in 9 cases. Nine patients (39.1%) was in sinus rhythm before cardiac surgery, 4 in paroxysmal AF and 10 in non-paroxysmal AF. The mean interval between the catheter ablation AF and the surgical intervention was (6.9±5.8) years. The postoperative AF duration was (3.1±3.2) years, left and right atrial diameters were (44.1±5.9) mm and (48.1±9.0) mm respectively, left ventricular ejection fraction was 64.0%±8.3%, the mean ablation procedure duration was (156.8±46.6) min, and lfuoroscopy exposure averaged (27.3±11.2) min. Standard pulmonary vein isolation was performed in all cases by using ipsilateral circumferential ablation technique. Additional ablation, including complex fractionated atrial electrograms, mitral and tricuspid isthmus, and left atrial roof, was applied in most of the cases. After a mean follow-up of (29.7±21.2) months (median, 24 months), 60.9%of the patients remained free of AF, 1 died, and 2 lost to follow-up. Conclusions Catheter ablation for AF is effective and safe in patients with RHD after surgical valve replacement. Stepwise ablation strategy may be better for these patients.

Objective To evaluate the additional efficacy of local anesthetic injection (LAI) as a part of multimodal anal?gesia in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with respect to pain, narcotic use, knee function and complications. Methods A multicenter randomized, controlled, double blind study was performed. A total of 101 patients undergoing unilateral TKA in two centers were randomly divided into injection group and control group. Injection group (50 cases) received local anes?thetic injection of ropivacaine (200 mg), fentanyl (1μg) and epinephrine (1∶1 000, 0.25 mg) in operation and control group (51 cas?es) did not. All patients received standardized general anesthesia and postoperative intravenous patient controlled analgesia (PCA). Preoperative baseline data, surgery?related conditions, postoperative pain (on a 0 to 10 scale), knee function, time of open?ing PCA, narcotic dosage in PCA and complications were compared respectively. Results The time of opening PCA in injection group (4-10 h, M=8 h) was longer than that in control group (2-5 h, M=4 h) (P<0.05). The 12 h, 24 h and total narcotic use of PCA in injection group (8.62±3.601 ml, 21.22±9.220 ml, 38.52±7.764 ml) was less than that in control group (18.43±9.671 ml, 35.30± 11.414 ml, 55.52±12.405 ml) (P<0.05). At post anesthesia care unit the mean VAS in injection group (2.40±1.927) was lower than that in control group (3.06 ± 2.073) (P<0.05). There was no difference in mean VAS at other time points, knee function, length of stay between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion LIA in TKA can relieve pain early after TKA, prolong the time of opening PCA and reduce narcotic use compared with patients without it. It is simple and safe to use.

Objective To investigate the changes of sex hormone and androgen receptor levels and evaluate the relationship of the sex hormones and androgen receptor with coronary heart disease (CHD) in elderly men. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in 539 elderly men, including 400 healthy people aged 62-92 years and 139 CHD patients aged 60-88 years. The plasma concentrations of total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured. The androgen receptor (AR) level was tested by flow cytometry. Results The fluorescence intensity of DHEAS, TT, SHBG, FT and AR were significantly lower in CHD group than in healthy group (P<0.01);however, FSH and E2 in CHD group were higher(P(0.01). Age was negatively correlated with TT(r=-0.28,P<0.01) and FT (r=-0.17,P<0.05), and positively correlated with SHBG(r=0.14,P<0.05) and E2 (r=0.33, P<0.01). AR fluorescence intensity was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=-0.12,P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis indicated that TT (OR=1.065,9% CI: 1.012～1.121,P<0.05), SHBG(OR=0.994,95% CI:0.990～0.998,P<0.01) and AR (OR=0.971,95%CI:0.956～0.986, P<0.01)were significantly associated with CHD in elderly male patients. Conclusions The levels of DHEAS, TT, SHBG, FT and AR are lower in elderly men with CHD than in elderly healthy men;however, the FSH and E2 concentrations are higher. Low levels of TT, SHBG and AR may be the independent risk factors for CHD in elderly men.

The minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery developed rapidly in last decades. In order to promote the development of minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery in China, the Chinese Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery Committee (CMICS) has gradually standardized the collection and report of the data of Chinese minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery since its establishment. The total operation volume of minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery in China has achieved substantial growth with a remarkable popularization of concepts of minimally invasive medicine in 2019. The data of Chinese minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery in 2019 was reported as a paper for the first time, which may provide reference to cardiovascular surgeons and related professionals.

Objective    To evaluate the efficacy of hybrid ablation through compared with thoracoscopic epicardial ablation. Methods    In this study, 108 patients with all long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) received thoracoscopic epicardial ablation (TEA) after enrollment. There were 82 males and 26 females at age of 56.5±9.4 years. After blanking-period, patients off antiarrhythmic therapy with sinus rhythm were divided into a hybrid ablation (HA) group (50 patients) and a TEA group (58 patients). Only patients in the HA group received catheter ablation after randomization subsequently. In at least two-year observation period, cardiovascular risk factors were observed in all groups’ patients. Results    The mean follow-up duration was 17.3-41.8 (26.9±6.1) months and there was no significant difference between two groups [8.2-40.6 (27.5±5.7) months in the HA group and 17.3-41.8 (26.4±6.7) months in the TEA group]. The off antiarrhythmic agents (AADs) sinus rhythm rate was significantly higher in the HA group than that in the TEA group at the time of postoperative 6, 12, 24 and 36 months ［96.0%, 90.0%, 83.7%, 83.7% versus 79.3%, 75.9%, 67.3%, 63.1%, HR=0.415 (95%CI 0.206-0.923)]. Conclusion    We can conclude that the efficacy of two-staged hybrid ablation for LSPAF is superior to thoracoscopic epicardial ablation alone. Patients can obtain benefit from a supplemental radiofrequency catheter ablation after blanking-period of surgical ablation, instead of those without a supplemental ablation.