Objective To examine the serum von Willebrand factor (vWF) and soluble Pselectin levels in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), and to observe the influence of beta-blocker treatment on endothelial function and platelet activation in NVAF patients. Methods The 25 subjects, 17 males and 8 females, with persistent NVAF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)≥50%, were enrolled in NVAF group. Those with myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy or hyperthyroidism were excluded. Another 35 subjects with sinus rhythm were as control (age,gender and LVEF matched with NVAF group, and with similar cardiovascular diseases). Serum vWF and soluble P-selectin levels were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The serum vWF level was significantly higher in NVAF group than in control group [(1945.2±111.3) g/L vs. (1862.3±101.6) g/L, P＜0.05]. However, there was no significant difference in serum soluble P-selectin level between NVAF group and control group [(24.32±9.21) g/L vs. (24.68±11.70) g/L, P＞0. 05]. After administration of beta-blocker, a down-regulation was found in serum vWF level [(1758. 3±152. 4) g/L, P＜0. 01], but not in soluble P-selectin level [(21.05±8. 94) g/L, P＞0. 05]. There was no relationship between serum level of vWF and soluble P-selectin (r=-0.008,P＞0. 05). Conclusions High serum level of vWF is found in patients with persistent NVAF as compared with control, indicating endothelial damage/dysfunction in those patients. After administration of beta-blocker, serum level of vWF drops dramatically in NVAF patients, indicating possible endothelial function protection of beta-blocker.

Objective To evaluate the mutagenicity of hydrolysate of Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus soft tissue, so as to provide experimental basis for its exploitation.Methods Three mutagenicity tests were used to evaluate the mutagenic effects, including Ames test, CHL chromosome aberration assay and bone marrow micronucleus assay in mice.Results In Ames test, the revertant colonies numbers in each group were twice less than the numbers of spontaneous revertant colo-nies, five bacterial strains showed negative results with or without S9 activation, and the result of Ames test was negative. The CHL chromosome aberration assay and bone marrow micronucleus assay showed that the chromosome aberration rate and micronucleus rate of each dose group showed no significant difference compared with the negative control group, respec-tively ( P>0.05) .Conclusions Under this condition, the results show that all of the Ames test, chromosome aberration assay and bone marrow micronucleus assay are negative, and no mutagenicity is observed in the hydrolysate of Meretrix mer-etrix Linnaeus soft tissue.

BACKGROUND:Single fracture or colapse of the posterolateral tibial plateau fractures is relatively rare in the clinical work. Rational choice of surgical approach and internal fixation for posterolateral plateau fracture is significant to restore the lower limb force line, maintain the joint stability and obtain good biocompatibility.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the stability and biocompatibility of Carlson posterolateral and posterior midline approaches for the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures with “T” shaped locking plate.
METHODS:From July 2011 to July 2014, 43 patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fractures, who were treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed. Al patients were assigned to two groups according to approaches. In the Carlson posterolateral approach group, 22 cases received “T”-shaped plate insertion by Carlson posterolateral approach. In the posterior midline approach group, 21 cases received “T”-shaped plate insertion by posterior midline approach. After repair, perioperative data, fixation effects and knee function score were compared and analyzed between both groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) 43 cases (43 knees) of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures were folowed up strictly. (2) No significant difference in operation time, fracture healing time, total load time, Hospital for Special Surgery score at 12 months postoperatively, tibial plateau angle and posterior slope angle immediately and 12 months postoperatively was detected between both groups (P > 0.05). (3) Significant differences in fracture exposure, blood loss, and excelent and good rate of Rasmussen at 12 months postoperatively were identified in both groups. Moreover, above indexes were better in the Carlson posterolateral approach group than in the posterior midline approach group (P< 0.05). (4) These findings confirmed that for a single fracture or colapse of the posterolateral tibial plateau fractures, two kinds of surgical approaches can achieve ful and direct exposure. Carlson posterolateral approach has good repair effect, fixation effect and biocompatibility.

The Conus venom is secreted by the duct and theca of venom. Most of conotoxins are composed of 10-40 amino acid residues with several disulfide bridges. They can specifically target neurotransmitter receptors including nAChRs, calcium ion channels, sodium ion channels and potassium ion channels, etc. Some conotoxins, such as that target N-Ca2+ channels, nAChR alpha9alpha10 subtype, TTX-R Na+ channels or NMDA receptors, have potent antinociceptive activities, omega-MVIIA, an Ca2+ channels blocker was approved by FDA in December, 2004 for marketing. Because of lower molecular weight and high specificity, conotoxins are the powerful pharmacology tools and potent analgesics without addiction. This review briefly summarizes the research progress of antinociceptive conotoxins and addresses on their targets and structure-activity relationships.
Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; Conotoxins ; pharmacology ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects ; Structure-Activity Relationship

AIM:To investigate the effect of rhein on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and the expression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling molecules in rats.METHODS:A single dose of bleomycin was intratracheal injected into the SD rats to induce pulmonary fibrosis .After injection of bleo-mycin, the rats were randomly divided into low-, medium-and high-dose rhein treatment groups and model group .The rats that were instilled with normal saline intratracheally served as control group .After the treatment for 28 d, the pulmonary pathologic changes were observed under microscope with hematoxylin-eosin staining .The lung coefficient and hydroxypro-line content were also measured .The expression of miR-21 and the mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and Smad7 in the lung tissues were detected by real-time PCR.The protein levels of TGF-β1 and Smad7 were determined by Western blot .RESULTS:Rhein significantly attenuated the experimental alveolitis , pulmonary fibrosis , lung coefficient and hydroxyproline contents in the rats.Rhein obviously decreased the expression of miR-21,and the mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β1, but signifi-cantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of Smad 7 in the lung tissues .CONCLUSION: Rhein effectively prevents bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of miR-21 and promoting the expression of Smad 7, thus regulating the TGF/Smad signaling pathway to decrease extracellular matrix deposition .

BACKGROUND:Theex-vivo expanded autologous adipose-derived stem cels have the capability of multipotential differentiation and have a broad application prospect in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. OBJECTIVE:To observe the nasal mucosal structural repair and functional reconstruction usingex-vivo expanded autologous adipose-derived stem cels. METHODS:Ten patients with mucosal damage due to the physical or chemical factors were enroled, including six cases of mucosal scar and four cases of mucosal ulceration. Autologous adipose tissue was extracted forin vitro isolation, culture and expansion of adipose-derived stem cels. Before transplantation, quality safety testing was done. Al the patients were injected adipose-derived stem cels (1×107/cm2 0.1 cm mucosal tissue sample at 30 days before and after transplantation for hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson ) at an interval of 15 days, totaly for three times. Nasal volume, minimum cross-sectional area, and mucociliary clearance function were determined at 30, 90, 150 days after the final injection. Three of 10 patients were selected to take a 0.1 cm× trichrome staining, and AB-PAS staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Clinical symptoms were aleviated in al patients undergoing transplantation of adipose-derived stem cels. Compared with the baseline data, the nasal volume and minimum cross-sectional area were both decreased at 30, 90, 150 days after transplantation (P < 0.05), and the mucociliary clearance function was improved but not significantly (P > 0.05). Compared with the baseline data, the inflammation of the nasal mucosa was significantly reduced, colagen fibers arranged neatly, the deposition was decreased, and mucin secreted from goblet cels was increased in the selected three patients at 30 days after cel transplantation. These findings indicate thatex-vivo expanded autologous adipose-derived stem cels can be used to reconstruct the nasal mucosal structure and its function.

Objective To investigate the expression of FBXW7 during the development of Notch1induced murine leukemia.Methods Notch1 over-expressing murine model of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was used to study the expression of FBXW7 by real-time PCR methods.Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) were isolated on different days after transplantation and CD45.2+ GFP+ leukemia cells were sorted by flow cytometry at late stage.The expression changes of FBXW7 were tested by real-time PCR.Results The mouse bone marrow cells both from leukemia and control groups expressed FBXW7.Different expression patterns of FBXW7 were observed during the development of leukemia. The expression of FBXW7 was gradually increased in control group, whereas the expression level of FBXW7 in leukemia group was decreased steadily and reached one-sixth of that in control group on 12th day.Furthermore,lower expression level of FBXW7 was observed in CD45+.2 GFP+ leukemia cells.Conclusion Decreased expression of FBXW7 is observed in Notch1-induced mouse leukemia model,suggesting that the abnormal ubiquitin degradation pathway mediated by FBXW7 might contribute to the leukemogenesis in Notch1-induced murine leukemia model.

Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for eligible end-stage renal disease patients. However, the supply of donated kidneys has been consistently insufficient to meet the transplantation requirements of the population. In this paper, I discuss the feasibility of several policy options that engage potential donors or key individuals in a Singapore context, including financial and non-financial incentives for deceased/living organ donors and their families, improving actualisation rates of both donation after brain death, donation after cardiac death through quality improvement programmes and remuneration schemes, and a media platform for directed organ donation. I conclude by highlighting the most feasible policies to be considered.
Altruism ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Kidney ; surgery ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; surgery ; Kidney Transplantation ; methods ; Living Donors ; Nephrectomy ; Quality Improvement ; Singapore ; Tissue Donors ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting ; Tissue and Organ Procurement

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Arsenicals ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxides ; administration & dosage