Objective To investigate the effects of terazosin on expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) in a rat model of atherosclerosis and to explore the mecha-nism for reducing atherosclerosis by terazosin. Methods Normal rats were fed with high lipid feedstuff to set up a rat model of atherosclerosis. Blood lipid indexes were measured and the expressions of MMP-9 and MCP-1 in aorta were detected and further quantified by immunohistochemistry after 12-week high lipid feedstuff. Results The plasma concentration of TG, TC, LDL in the terazosin group were significantly lower than those in the high cholesterol-diet group (P<0.01). The expressions of MMP-9 and MCP-1 in the high cholesterol-diet group and in the terazosin group were significantly higher than those in the normal-diet group (P < 0.01), but expressions of MMP-9 and MCP-1 in the terazosin group were significantly lower than those in the high cholesterol-diet group (P<0.01). Conclusion Terazosin can lower the concentration of TC, LDL but increase the HDL concentration. The anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of terazosin is associated with the decrease of the expressions of MMP-9 and MCP-1 and plasma lipoprotein.

Objective To observe the anisotropy of myocardial fiber orientation and conduction cells in canine pulmonary vein , and to investigate the expression of funny current (If ) channel subunit HCN1 ,HCN2 ,HCN4 mRNA in cadiocytes of pulmonary veins and left atrial in acute atrial fibrillation (AF) modle of caine .Methods Fourteen adult mongrel canines were randomly divided into atrial fibrillation group(n=7) and control group(n=7) .A model of acute AF has been developed in rapid atrial pacing (RAP) . The cardiocytes in control group were detect using hematoxylin hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) stain in the pulmonary vein .The mRNA expressions of HCN1 ,HCN2 ,HCN4 in two group were quantified by semiquantitative reverse transcription transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) .Results There were complex myocardial fiber orientation in pul-monary veins especially in PV-LA junction .PAS-positive cells could be seen in the endomembrane of pulmonary veins muscle sleeve .There were mRNA expression of HCN2 and HCN4 in pulmonary veins and left arial in two group ,but there was no mRNA expression of HCN1 .The mRNA levels of HCN4 from high to low were:pulmonary veins of atrial fibrillation group ,left atrial of atrial fibrillation group ,pulmonary veins of control group ,left atrial of control group(P<0 .05) .HCN2 mRNA levels from high to low were:pulmonary veins of atrial fibrillation group ,left atrial of atrial fibrillation group ,control group(P<0 .05) .There were no difference in the HCN2 mRNA level in pulmonary veins and left atrial in control group (P>0 .05) .Conclusion There are anisotro-py ,conduction cells in pulmonary veins .Up-regulation of pulmonary veins and left atrial HCN 2 ,HCN4 mRNA in atrial fibrillation caine ,may be correlated with the atrial fibrillation and maintenance .

Objective To observe the effects of prazosin on matrix metalloproteinase‐1(MMP‐1) and tissue inhibitor of met‐alloproteinase 1 (TIMP‐1) expression in atherosclerosis plaque of ApoE knock‐out(ApoE-/- ) mice model and to explore its anti‐atherosclerotic effect and mechanism .Methods Twenty‐four 8‐week‐old ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into the normal diet group ,high‐fat diet group and prazosin group ,8 cases in each group .The normal diet group was fed by common fodder ,while the high fat group and prazosin group were fed by high fat diet ;on the basis of the high fat diet ,the prazosin group was started to con‐duct gavage of prazosin hydrochloride 1 mg/kg every day ,while the normal diet group and the high fat diet group were daily ga‐vaged by the same volume of normal saline .The abdominal aortic venous blood after 12 weeks in each group was collected for detec‐ting the blood lipid levels .The aorta arterial blood sample was collected for detecting MMP‐1 and TIMP‐1 expression levels by im‐munohistochemistry .Results Compared with the high fat diet group ,the levels of serum TG ,TC and LDL‐C in the prazosin group were significantly decreased ,and the HDL‐C level was increased ,the differences were statistically significant (P< 0 .01 or P<0 .05);the area of aorta arterial atherosclerotic plaque and intima thickness were significantly increased ,while prazosin could signif‐icantly inhibit the plaque formation and intima hyperplasia ;compared with the normal diet group ,the expression level of MMP‐1 protein in the high fat diet group and prazosin group was significantly increased ,while the TIMP‐1 protein expression level was de‐creased ,moreover the MMP‐1 protein expression level in the prazosin group was lower than that in the high fat diet group ,while the TIMP‐1 protein expression level was higher than that in the high fat diet group ,the differences were statistically significant (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Prazosin can decrease the level of TC and LDL‐C ,increase the HDL‐C level and has certain anti‐atherosclerotic effect ,its mechanism may be related with the decrease of the MMP‐1 level and the increase of the TIMP‐1 level in plaque .

Objective To investigate the role of PKCδin free fatty acid-induced endothelial cell apoptosis.Methods In addi-tion,we looked for evidence of apoptosis-related PKCδsignal pathway.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with va-rious concentrations of free fatty acids and transiently transfected with PKCδsiRNA to inhibit PKCδ expression.Cell proliferation was determined through colorimetric assays,and apoptosis was quantified using flow cytometry.Protein expression was determined from cell lysates use Western blots with antibodies against p-PKCδ Tyr512,PKCδ.Statistical analyses were performed.Results Free fatty acids had multiple effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells,including concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation,induction of apoptosis,increased Fas expression,and increased PKCδ expression and phosphorylation.Inhibition of PKCδmRNA expression by PKCδsiRNA led to a reduction in free fatty acid-induced apoptosis.Conclusion The free fatty acids-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells are possibly mediated by PKCδ.

To explore th e role of nitric oxide(NO), nitric oxide synthetase (NOS)and prolactin (PRL) in the pathogenesis,progress and prognosis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemia encephalop athy (HIE),plasma NO, NOS and serum PRL were determined by radioimmunoassay(RIA) and colorimetry in 68 newbom infants with HIE and 30 normal control neonates, r espectively. The results showed that the levels of NO, NOS and PRL were signific antly higher in all neonates with HIE than that in the control group (P＜0.05).There were in particular more higher levels of NO,NOS an d PRL in infants with either moderate or severe HIE(P＜0 .01). It was noticed that the level of PRL was much higher in HIE infants with seizures than that in HIE infants without seizures. There was a positive relati onship between the levels of PRL and the duration of seizure attack( P＜0.01). It is suggested that the levels of NO, NOS and PRL is ass ociated with HIE.The determination of these parameters will be valuable clinical ly for the diagnosis, judgement of prognosis and estimation of seizure attack in newborn infants with HIE.

Objective To analyze the predicting value of Cornell-QRS standard and Sokolow-Lyon voltage to left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients.Methods One hundred and seventy-four patients with primary hypertension were enrolled, who were divided into left ventricular hypertrophy group (LVH group,n=50)and non-LVH group(n=124).The blood pressure, Cornell-QRS standard and Sokolow-Lyon voltage were collected and compared in the following-up period.Results Compared with non-LVH group,in LVH group the history of hypertrophy was longer(P <0.05),percent of grade 3 hypertrophy was higher(P <0.05),and 24 h SBP was higher(P <0.05).During the following-up of 6 months,1 year,2 year,the SBP (systolic blood pressure), DBP (diastolic blood pressure),Cornell-QRS standard and Sokolow-Lyon voltage in LVH patients were all significantly decreased (P <0.01).Compared with non-LVH group,the incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke was higher in LVH group[ 3(6.0%)vs .1(0.8%),P <0.05;6 (12.0%)vs .2 (1.6%),P <0.01 ].By Cox analysis,Cornell-QRS standard and Sokolow-Lyon voltage were respectively independent predictors to non-fatal myocardial infarction and also stroke.Conclusion Cornell-QRS stand-ard and Sokolow-Lyon voltage may be independent predictors to main cardiovascular accident in hypertensive patients.

Objective To analyze the cause and clinical characteristics of maternal cardiac arrest.Methods The data of all cases of maternal cardiac arrest from January 2005 to December 2009 in Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College was retrospectively studied.Results ( 1 ) A total of 41 maternal cardiac arrests (6 in prenatal period,2 in the first stage of labor,7 in the third stage of labor,26 in postpartum period ) were included.All patients regained spontaneous circulation after basic life support.Twelve (29％) mothers survived.Twelve cardiac arrests occurred in the hospital,and the totaldelivery number from January 2005 to December 2009 was 17101,with occurrence rate of 1:1425.(2) Thecauses of arrest were hemorrhagic shock (12,29％),amniotic fluid embolism (7,17％),severepreeclampsia/eclampsia (7,17％),septic shock (6,15％),cardiac disease (2,5％),unidentified cause (2,5％ ) and other occasional causes.(3) Thirty-seven (90％) in-hospital maternal cardiac arrest occurred in operation room (16,39％ ),ICU (7,17％ ),maternity wards (6,15％ ),delivery room (5,12％ ) and the emergency room (3,7％ ).Three (7％) arrest occurred out of hospital and one in the ambulance.Matemal survival rate was 2/3 in the emergency room,8/16 in the operation room,1/5 in the maternity wards,and 1/6 in the delivery room.No mother survived in ICU,ambulance or out of hospital.(4) Five of the 12 survived women showed ischemic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest and one of them developed cerebral infarction in the right corona radiate.(5) In 4 of the 8 cases of cardiac arrest in pregnancy,perimortem caesarean section (PMCS) was performed.In the four PMCS,2 mothers and 2 children survived.In the 4 cases that PMCS was not carried out,no infant survived.Conclusions Hemorrhagic shock,severe preeclampsia and eclampsia,amniotic fluid embolism are the major obstetric causes of maternal cardiac arrest.Septic shock and cardiac diseases are the major non-obstetric causes.Cardiac arrests occurred in emergency room and operation room has a higher maternal survival rate than those occurred in the delivery room and maternity wards.Timely PMCS may ensure the optimal outcome for mothers and fetuses.

Objective:To evaluate the application of analyzing neutrophil cell surface marker CD64 in diagnosis of premature infants infection.Methods:109 infants inpatient in neonatal department(including NICU)were enrolled in the study.CD64 was measured by FCM,which was compared with C-reactive protein(CRP)and IL-6.Results:There was a statistically significant difference in quantitation of CD64 on neutrophil cells(P

Objective To explore the clinical value of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound(TV-CDS)in the detection of blood flow changes within the ovarian stromal artery in patients with ovarian endometriosis.Methods Blood flow indices within the ovarian stromal artery were measured by TV-CDS in 60 patients and60 normal controls.Results In ovarian endometriosis group,TV-CDS examination showed the color signal pattern was dot-like with high-resistance ovarian stromal arterial flow which manifested significant higher resistance index(RI),pulsatility index(PI)and systolic/diastolic(S/D)ratio than those in normal group(P<0.01).Analysis on clinicopathologic data showed that cystic history and diameter were risk factors affecting the absence of ovarian stromal blood signal,while cystic history,diameter and category were associated with the significant difference of blood flow display area(P<0.05).Conclusions TV-CDS can be used as a non-invasive,convenient and sensitive method for assessing blood flow changes within the ovarian stromal artery,indicating ovarian interstitial damage as well as pathological conditions of ovarian endometriosis that contributes to clinical diagnosis and treatment.

AIM:To observe the effect of atorvastatin(ATV) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). METHODS: The rabbits were randomly divided into control group, ATV group, ATV+S-Methylisothiourea sulfate (SMT) group, SMT group. All rabbits were subjected to 40 min ischemia and 240 min reperfusion. The hemodynamic variables, CK-MB, LDH-1 and nitric oxide synthase were detected after reperfusion. RESULTS: LVDP and +dp/dtmax decreased by 24.6% and 35.3% respectively following ischemia-reperfusion. Pre-treated by ATV (10 mg?kg-1?d-1) for three days, LVDP and +dp/dtmax decreased by 21.7% and 41.3%, CK-MB and LDH-1 by 31.4% and 19.1% and iNOS increased to 102.6%. The reduction of LVDP and +dp/dtmax, CK-MB, LDH-1 and iNOS in ATV+SMT group was no statistically significant with those in control group. CONCLUSION: ATV pretreatment protected myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by upregulating iNOS.