AIM: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of atorvastatin on myocardial fibrosis induced by aldosterone in SD rats. METHODS: Forty male uninephrectomized SD rats were limited to drink 1% NaCl water for 4 weeks and assigned to the follow groups: vehicle control rats (CON group);aldosterone treated rats (ALD group);spironolactone + aldosterone treated rats(SPI+ALD group);atorvastatin + aldosterone treated rats (ATO+ALD group). Blood pressure was measured by catheterization. Expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-A, PDGF-B), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β) and ectodermal dysplasia-1 (ED-1) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Collagen volume fraction (CVF) and perivascular collagen area (PVCA) were analyzed by Sirius-Red staining. Myocardium osteopontin protein was detected by Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Mean arterial blood pressure in ALD group, SPI+ALD group and ATO+ALD group was elevated, and significant difference was observed between the three groups and vehicle control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Myocardial fibrosis was observed in ALD group. Compared to other three groups, the index of CVF and PVCA was increased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05). No significant difference of the index of CVF and PVCA between ATO+ALD group and SPI+ALD group was observed (P>0.05). Compared to other groups, the levels of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGFR-α, ED-1 and OPN in ALD group were significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The levels of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGFR-α and OPN were no significant difference between ATO+ALD group and SPI+ALD group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). However, the level of ED-1 in ATO+ALD group was significantly decreased compared to SPI+ALD group (P<0.05). No significant difference of PDGFR-β level among four groups was found (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that atorvastatin may attenuate myocardial fibrosis induced by aldosterone. The mechanisms concern with reduction of macrophage infiltration, expression of inflammatory cytokines OPN, partially inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor and its receptor expression.

Incidence of knee periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthropoasty is increased,and is a challenging clinical problem. Treatment options include conservative and operative methods. Only the doctor have sufficient and systematic understanding of periprosthetic fractures and consider both advantages and dis-advantages before deciding the appropriate treatment, the satisfying treatment outcome will be got. we re-viewde the type, treatment methods and outcomes of periprosthetie fractures of total knee arthroplasty repor-ted in recent years.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in the treatment of immune throm-bocytopenia(ITP) .Methods 230 cases of ITP were collected in this hospital from December 2011 to December 2012 and randomly divided into two groups with 115 cases in each group .Among them ,the control group was treated by the conventional treatment of open splenectomy(OS) ,while the observation group was treated by LS .The differences of the operative time ,hospitalization dura-tion ,intraoperative blood loss and platelet count ,clinical effects and the occurrence situation of adverse reactions were compared be-tween the two kinds of operation method .Results The operative time and the length of hospital stay in the observation group were significantly shortened compared with the control group (t=14 .706 ,t=13 .625 ,P<0 .05);intraoperative blood loss was significant-ly decreased(t=18 .238 ,P<0 .05) and the platelet count was significantly increased (t=17 .248 ,P<0 .05);the total effective rate of the observation group was 96 .52% ,which was significantly higher than 86 .09% of the control group ,(χ2 =9 .35 ,P<0 .05);the adverse reaction rate and the recurrence rate in the observation group were 6 .09% and 6 .96% respectively ,which were significantly lower than 10 .43% and 19 .13% in the control group(χ2 =8 .35 ,χ2 =8 .75 ,P<0 .05) .Conclusion LS for treating immune throm-bocytopenia has definite efficacy with high effective rate ,low adverse reactions and low recurrence rate .

Objective To investigate effect of alendronate on OPG and RANKL in periprosthetic osdeolysis induced by polyethylene particles.Methods Twelve rabbits which had been implanted a titanium plug in femur by intercondylar notch were divided into two groups randomly,polyethylene particles were injected into the left knee joint,one received alendronate,and the other placebo as control.After 12 weeks,all rabbits were sacrificed.Periprosthetic tissues were observed by ELISA.Results The concentration of OPG in the experimental group was not higher than that of the control (P ＞0.05 ).But the concentration of RANKL in the experimental group was lower(P ＜0.01 ).And specific value of OPG/RANKL was higher in the experimental group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion The therapy of alendronate can change the concentration of RANKL and specific value of OPG/RANKL in periprosthetic osdeolysis induced by polyethylene particles,inhibit aseptic loosening of prosthesis in rabbits.

Objective To describe the self-management behaviors and self-efficacy in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and to explore the relationship between them. Methods The Chronic Disease Self-Management Study Measures and the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale were used to investigate a total of 113 patients with chronic low back pain. Results The average score of self-management behavior of CLBP patients was 21.42 ± 8.11. The average time for exercise was (168.72 ± 148.97) min/week;the average level of cognitive symptoms management practice and communication with physicians were 1.70 ± 0.74 and 2.10 ± 1.05 respectively. The self-efficacy was achieved the average level of 7.10 ± 1.88. There was a positive and significant correlation between the self-management behaviors and self-efficacy (P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusions The self-management behaviors among patients with chronic low back pain was poor and was related with self-efficacy. Individualized health education was needed for improving self-efficacy, which would be benefit for self-management behaviors.

Objective To assess these in a consecutive series of patients with ICC treated surgically. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 189 ICC patients undergoing surgery.Surgical results and survival were evaluated and compared among different subgroups of patients.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors.Results R0,R1,R2 resection and exploratory laparotomy were obtained in 63,84,31 and 11 patients,respectively.The overall 5 -year survival rates for the entire cohort were 16.8%,with corresponding rates of 26.3% for patients with R0 resection;14.3% for patients with R1 resection;6.8% for patients with R2 resection;and 0.0% for patients with an exploratory laparotomy.Independent factors for poor survival included positive resection margin,multiple tumors,beta - catenin nuclear expression and lymph node metastasis. Conclusion R0 resection offers the best possibility of long -term survival,but the chance of a R0 resection is low when surgery is performed for potential resectable ICC.Patients with characteristics of beta -catenin nuclear expres-sion,multiple tumors and lymph node metastasis are indicated to surgery which is needed to be further studied.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combined inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the enhancement of chemosensitivity of the model of human laryngeal squamous cacinoma in nude mice. METHOD: Model nude mice were divided into six groups randomly: control group(A) , cisplatin group(B) , cisplatin and AG490 group(C) , cisplatin and HIF-1α⁻/⁻ group (D), cisplatin combined AG490 and HIF-1α⁻/⁻ group (E), HIF-1α⁻/⁻ group (F) (only in calculating tumor inhibition rate). 3mg/kg cisplatin was administered by peritoneal injection for 3 days. Then cisplatin and 10 mg/kg AG490 were administered every other day for 12 days. The expression of Ki67 and HIF-1α was detected by immunocytochemical method. Western blot was used to detect the expression of p-STAT3. RESULT: The expression of HIF-1α in group C and group D were lower than that in group B, and there were significant difference respectively (t₁ = 2.782, t₂ = 3.873, P < 0.05); The expression of HIF-1α in group E was lower than that in group C and group D respectively, and there were significant difference respectively (t₁ = 6.140, t₂ = 3.667, P < 0.01). The expression level of p-STAT3 in group C was markedly lower compared with that in group B, and there were significant difference between them (t = 17.840, P < 0.01); There were no difference between the expression level of p-STAT3 in group D and that in group B (t = 0.038, P > 0.05); The expression level of p-STAT3 in group E was significantly lower compared with that in group C and group D respectively (P < 0.01). Tumor inhibition rate of group E was higher than that in group B, group C , as well as group D respectively and there were significant difference respectively (t₁ = 5.509, P < 0.01; t₂ = 3.422, P < 0.05; t₃ = 2.718, P < 0.05 ). Ki67 index of group E was lower than that in group B, group C as well as group D respectively and there were significant difference respectively(t₁ = 8.307, P < 0.01; t₂ = 3.736, P < 0.05; t₃ = 4.524, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Combined inhibition of STAT3 and HIF-1α could enhance chemo-sensitivity in the model of human laryngeal squamous cacinoma in nude mice.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tyrphostins ; pharmacology

Objective To develop a non-invasive means that monitoring surface electromyography (sEMG) of abdominal muscles for bladder function. Methods SEMG of abdominal muscles from 10 healthy subjects were collected, and the parameters were analyzed in time domain and frequency domain quantificationally based on MATLAB. Results and Conclusion The sEMG of abdominal muscles are related with the process of storing and expelling urine.

Objective To analyze the influence of hyponatremia on hospitalization days and hospital mortality of hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure. Methods All data were collected from 2465 patients with chronic heart failure in our hospital between January 1980 and August 2007. According to the admission serum sodium, all the patients were divided into two groups: low serum sodium group (Na+<135 mmol/L) and normal serum sodium group (Na+≥135retool/L). Clinical characteristics, therapeutic conditions and the influence of hyponatremia on prognosis were analyzed between the two groups. Results There were 618 patients in low serum sodium group among 2465 cases. Patients with hyponatremia were more likely to have lower systolic blood pressure and lower left ventricular ejection fraction. Lower admission serum sodium was related with higher concentration of serum angiotensin, aldosterone and higher activity of serum renin. Patients in low serum sodium group had significantly longer hospitalization days (Z=-4.026, P<0.01) and higher rate of hospital mortality (χ2=76.935, P<0.01) than patients in normal serum sodium group. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that lower admission serum sodium was an independent risk factor for hospitalization days (b= 0.928, P<0.01) and hospital mortality (OR=0.928, P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between admission serum sodium and hospitalization days (r=-0.132, P<0.01), and the rate of hospital mortality increased by 24.7for each 3 mmol/L decrease in admission serum sodium level. Conclusions Hyponatremia in hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure is relatively common and is associated with poorer heart function, higher activity of neural hormone and more severe prognosis. It is important to prevent hyponatremia for shortening hospitalization days and improving the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure.

Objective To review the diagnosis and treatment of basal cell carcinoma of the scrorum. Methods Clinical data of 7 patients with basal cell carcinoma of the scrotum were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age of the patients was 66 years. The most common presenting symptom was a plaque or nodular lesion with pruritis on the scrotum. The lesions ranged from 1.5 cm to 4.5 cm in diameter. Five of the 7 patients had a history of misdiagnosis. The diagnosis was established by biopsy of the lesion in all the patients. All of the 7 patients had no distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis and were treated by wide surgical resection.Results Histopathologic examination of the specimens confirmed the negative surgical margins in all cases.The most common histological feature was lobules, columns, bands and cords of basaloid cells associated with a surrounding loose fibromucinous stroma.One patient developed left inguinal lymph node metastasis at 21 months postoperatively,and was treated by bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection.The patient was free of cancer for 36 months after that. Another patient developed lung metastasis 48 months after the first operation.He was treated by systemic chemotherapy with cyclophosph amide, epirubicin and cisplatin for 6 cycles and obtained complete remission.This patient was free of cancer for 13 months after the chemotherapy.The remaining 5 patients were all free of cancer after the operation. Conclusions Basal cell carcinoma of the scrotum is rare.Wide surgical resection alone is usually considered to be curative. Because of its potential of metastasis, long-term followup is indicated for this disease.