China ; Heart Failure ; epidemiology ; Humans

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture combined with integrated Chinese-Western neuromuscular facilitation technique on persistent vegetative state (PVS).Methods41 PVS cases were randomly divided into the observation group (n=21) and control group (n=20). The observation group was treated with acupuncture, neuromuscular facilitation technique combined with reasonable obligatory exercise, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, manipulation treatment and Chinese medicine. The control group was treated with the Western and Chinese medicines, and hyperbaric oxygen.ResultsAfter 1～3 months treatment, 7 cases cured,8 cases were markedly effective, 5 cases were effective, 1 cases were ineffective in the observation group with a total markedly effective rate (71.4%) and effective rate (95.2%). While, in the control group, 3 cases cured, 5 cases were markedly effective, 6 cases were effective, 6 cases were ineffective and total markedly effective rate was 40%, effective rate was 70%. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the total markedly effective rate and the effective rate ( P<0.05). The average PVS score increased by 7.46±1.22 in the observation group and 4.59±1.21 in the control group. Also there was a significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.001).ConclusionThe therapy of acupuncture combined with integrated Chinese-Western neuromuscular facilitation technique can markedly promote PVS patients coming round and improve patients' prognosis.

Objective To assess the effect of ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue on the dimensions and systolic function of left and right ventricle in pigs. Methods Sixteen pigs were randomly assigned to two groups. Intravenous injection of 1 ml of SonoVue were given in study group, and repeated 20 min later. The control group was given the same doses of saline. Before and after the administration of contrast agent, the end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD, RVEDD). end-systolic dimension ( LVESD, RVESD) and fractional shortening(LVFS,RVFS) of left and right ventricle were measured. The time to reach the extreme value of these parameters and the time to return to the baseline were recorded. Results There was no significant difference regarding the parameters at baseline between the two groups. After injection of SonoVue,RVEDD significantly increased from (25. 88 ± 1. 38) mm at baseline to its maximum of (33. 26 ± 0. 99)mm( P < 0. 05). Accordingly,RVFS significantly increased from (26. 90 ± 1. 92) % to (33. 92 ± 2. 53) % ( P <0. 05). Meanwhile,LVEDD remarkably decreased from (38.10 ± 1. 39)mm at baseline to its minimum of (26.25 ± 0. 65)mm( P <0. 05) and LVFS remarkably decreased from (36. 24 ± 1. 93) % to (29.13 ± 3.00) % ( P < 0. 05). There was no change in the control group after administration of the saline. When SonoVue was given repeatedly, the maximum RVEDD and RVFS was (29. 98 ± 1. 23) mm and (31. 09 + 1.90) % , respectively, which had less increase compared to the first time. Minimum LVEDD and LVFS was (31. 91 ± 1, 64)mm and (32. 17 ± 2. 31)%,respectively,with less decrease compared with which at first injection. It took (10. 15±0. 59) min for the right and left ventricle to reach the extreme value and (9.00± 0. 56) min to return to the baseline at the first injection. The time used for the right and left ventricle to reach its peak change and back to baseline after second injection of SonoVue were shorter [(8.73± 0.55) min and (6.89± 0.43) min, respectively,both P <0.05]. Conclusions Administration of SonoVue was associated with acute, transient dilation of right ventricle and compression of left ventricle. The influence of SonoVue on the right and left ventricle became less at it second injection.

Objective To investigate the in vivo radioprotective effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on radiation damage induced by high dose γ-ray ionizing radiation(IR) in mice.Methods Specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into IR group and IR+ATP group by body weight,with 10 mice in each group.All the mice were treated with a 8 Gy one-time and high-dose whole body γ-ray irradiation.Within 6 h after irradiation,mice were injected intramuscular injection of 150 pl sodium chloride solution (9 g/L) for IR group,and 150 μl ATP solution (6 mg/kg) for IR+ATP group,respectively.The drug was administered once a day until the death of the animal.The mean survival days,survival rate,body weight and major organ coefficients in both groups were measured.Results The average survival days of mice in IR group and IR +ATP group were 6.5 d and 9.6 d,respectively.The survival rate of the mice in IR+ATP group was higher than that in IR group (P＜0.01).The body weight values of the mice in IR+ATP group was higher than that in IR group on the after the 4th day post-irradiation,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).Except for heart and stomach,the organ coefficients of liver,spleen,lung,and kidney in IR +ATP mice were higher than those in IR group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).Conclusion ATP has certain radiation protection effect,and it can reduce the radiation damage of mice induced by high-dose (8 Gy) γ-ray IR so as to increase the survival rate.

In this paper, we prepared a dual functional system based on dextrin-coated silver nanoparticles which were further attached with iron oxide nanoparticles and cell penetrating peptide (Tat), producing Tat-modified Ag-FeO nanocomposites (Tat-FeAgNPs). To load drugs, an -SH containing linker, 3-mercaptopropanohydrazide, was designed and synthesized. It enabled the silver carriers to load and release doxorubicin (Dox) in a pH-sensitive pattern. The delivery efficiency of this system was assessed using MCF-7 cells, and using null BalB/c mice bearing MCF-7 xenograft tumors. Our results demonstrated that both Tat and externally applied magnetic field could promote cellular uptake and consequently the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles, with the IC of Tat-FeAgNP-Dox to be 0.63 µmol/L. The delivery efficiency of Tat-FeAgNP carrying Cy5 to the mouse tumor was analyzed using the optical imaging tests, in which Tat-FeAgNP-Cy5 yielded the most efficient accumulation in the tumor (6.7±2.4% ID of Tat-FeAgNPs). Anti-tumor assessment also demonstrated that Tat-FeAgNP-Dox displayed the most significant tumor-inhibiting effects and reduced the specific growth rate of tumor by 29.6% ( = 0.009), which could be attributed to its superior performance in tumor drug delivery in comparison with the control nanovehicles.