Objective To assess endothelial function before and after pharmacological cardioversion for acute onset of atrial fibrillation(AF)in the patients with hypertension.Methods 37 consecutive hypertensive patients with acute AF were investigated,in whom sinus rhythm was restored by pharmacological cardioversion within 48 hours of arrhythmia onset without anticoagulant treatment.Of these 37 patients,17 cases treated with ACEI/ARB drugs were assigned to acute AF group 1,20 cases without using ACEI/ARB drugs were assigned to acute AF group 2.20 hypertensive patients with sinus rhythm were included as control group.Plasma markers of endothelial damage/dysfunction [von Willebrand factor(vWF),endothelin(ET)and nitric oxide(NO)] and E-selectin(E-sel,an index of endothelial activation)were measured in acute AF at baseline(pre-cardioversion)and on days 1,7,14,and 30 after cardioversion.The detected results were compared with the levels of controls.Results Plasma concentrations of ET,vWF and E-sel in acute AF group were significantly higher than those of control group;plasma level of NO in acute AF group was significantly lower compared to that of control group.After cardioversion,the plasma levels of ET decreased gradually to the levels of controls by the 7th day of sustaining sinus rhythm in acute AF group 1 and 30th day in acute AF group 2,and the plasma levels of vWF decreased to approach that of controls by the 14th day post-cardioversion in acute AF group 1 and 30th day in acute AF group 2.The NO level gradually increased to that of controls by the 14th day of sustaining sinus rhythm in acute AF group 1 and 30th day in acute AF group 2.Plasma level of E-sel returned to normal by the 7th day in the both groups of acute AF.Conclusion There were evidences of endothelial damage or dysfunction at acute onset of AF among the patients with hypertension,which persisted up to 30 days after cardioversion,and the use of ACEI/ARB might improve the normalization of endothelial function after cardioversion.

0.05～0.2?l of HRP (Sigma Ⅵ) were introduced into the periaqueduetal gray (PAG) of 45 rats at the superior collicular level, each brain was sectioned and processed with DAB, BDHC, O-D and TMB reactions. 29 were chosen for analysis and according to the locations of the injection center and the extent of reaction, were divided into 3 groups:1. The injection center was found in the lateral part of PAG; the reaction only involved a small area within PAG (11 rats), labeled cells were seen in PAG, tectum, reticular formation (RF) and dorsal raphe nucleus.2. The injection center was in the dorsolateral part of PAG; the reaction area extended out of PAG to the nearby RF and tectum (9 rats); labeled cells were seen in the structures mentioned in group 1 as well as in habenular nucleus (hn), parafascicular nucleus (PFN), hypothalamic nuclei (anterior, posterior, ventromedial, dorsomedial, lateral), thalamic nuclei (lateral, reticular, medial part of ventral nucleus), paraventricular gray (PVG), nucleus of the optic tract, nucleus of posterior commissure (NPC), parabigeminal nucleus (PBN), locus ceruleus, ventral nucleus of lateral geniculate body, entopeduncular nucleus.3. The injection center was in the lateral or ventrolateral part of PAG, the reaction area extended to the nearby RF, tegmentum and part of tectum (9 rats), labeled cells were seen in the structures mentioned in group 1 as well as in substantia nigra, H_1, H_2, zona inserta, HN, PFN, PVG, NPC, PBN, locus ceruleus, pretectral area and nuclei of hypothalamus. In this group 3 rats were processed with TMB reaction. Labeled cells were seen not only in the above-mentioned structures but also in the deep layers of anterior cingulate cortex (areas 23 and 24), nucleus raphe magnus, nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis, periventricular gray of 4th ventricle, dentate nucleus of cerebellum, lamina Ⅴ～Ⅶ of cervical spinal cord (the other segments were left out), preoptic and supraoptic nuclei, suprachiasmatic nucleus, anterior nucleus of mammillary body, medial nucleus of amygdaloid nucleus, spinal nucleus of nerve Ⅴ. The labelled cells were seen chiefly in the ipsilateral side. Neuronal connections also were analysed according to the disparity in labelled structures.

Objective: To investigate the childrens congenital and acquired nutritional status and the physical development among the different nationalities in Guizhou province; to find out the factors that greatly influence the childrens physical development. Methods: Investigations were carried out on the diet, height and the weight of the mothers during the early and late stage of their pregnancy and after the delivery of the babies. Results: The living conditions in the groups of Miao and Buyi were very poor. For the pregnant women among Han, Miao and Buyi groups, during their middle and late stage of the pregnancy, the intakes of protein, calcium and VB 2 did not reach 80% RDA. For the 2-4 years old children, the intake of protein was below 80% RDA. For those in Miao and Buyi groups, the chief source of protein was from cereals. There was a great insufficient intake of calcium and VB 2 in different age groups of the children mentioned above. With the increase of age, the infants of Buyi and Miao groups were gradually diverting from the standard criterion from 3rd or 4th month. The greatest difference was in Miao group, i.e. at the age of 6, the difference in height was 9.8 cm(male), 8.3 cm(female); the difference in weight was 1.64 kg(male), 1.92 kg(female). Conclusion: The physical development of the infants in Buyi and Miao groups is inferior to those in Han group. Besides the environmental influence, the quality and quantity of the protein in diet play an important role in physical development.

Objective To investigate the effect of continuous care provided by midwife group personnel to pregnant women.Methods 100 cases of pregnant women were screened out and divided into the study group and the control group with 50 patients in each group randomly.The study group received continuous care provided by midwife group personnel,the control group received traditional nursing.Effect of different nursing measures on mothers and neonates were compared.Results Antenatal cognition and rate of natural delivery of the study group were higher than the control group.The rate of neonatal asphyxia and postpartum depression occurred in the study group were lower than the control group,Maternal and family sarisfaction and rates of breasffeeding of the study group were higher than the control group.Conclusions Continuoas care provided by midwife group personnel can increase antenatal cognition and rate of natural delivery,maternal and family satisfaction.breast feeding rates and the overall quality of nursing staff,reduce rate of neonatal asphyxia with few postpartum depression,then improve the quality of perinatal care.

Objective To investigate the changes of serum apolipoprotein A-I and its clinical significance to acute respiratory infection.Method Totally 44 patients with acute respiratory infection were divided into three groups according to various concentration of Serum apolipoprotein A-I.They were procaleitonin(PCT)＜0.5 ng/ml group,0.5 ng/ml≤PCT＜2 ng/ml group and PCT≥2 ng/ml group.We measured apolipoprotein A-I,C-reactive protein,procalcitonin and albumin within 24 hours after admission.Results With the increase of serumPCT,the production of ApoA-I and albumin were down-regulated,while CRP up-regulated.Conclusions Apolipoprotein A-I has a sound relationship with the acute respiratory infection.It can be used as one of the diagnostic criteria in severe infection patients who have disorders of lipometabolism.

ObjectiveTo review the clinical characteristics of patients with gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma and to investigate the effects of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication therapy in these patients.MethodsClinical data of ninety-five patients with gastic MALT lymphoma were reviewed with respect to their clinical manifestations,endoscopic features,histopathological features and Hp infection.The follow-up data of patients treated by Hp eradication therapy were analyzed.The survival curve was calculated with Kaplan-Meier,while the predictive factors for resistance to Hp eradiation were then analyzed by using Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsThe clinical manifestations and endoscopic features of 85 patients with gastric MALT lymphoma were non-specific.Hp positive was found in 97.9％ (93/95) patients at presentation,and 36 patients were treated by Hp eradication with a median follow-up duration of ( 58.1 ± 29.9) months.Total remission was achieved in 94.4％ ( 34/36),including 24 complete remission 10 partial remission.Therapy failure occurred in 2 patients.3-year survival rate of patients treated by Hp eradication were 86.2％ (25/29). Cox multivariate analysis showed that age ( ≥60 years),multiple lesions and non-superficial lesions were independent predictors of resistance to Hp eradication therapy.ConclusionGastric MALT lymphoma is associated with Hp infection.Eradication of Hp can effectively induce remission in these patients.

Objective To study the expression of interleukin-1β in aortic dissections and aneurysms. Methods Aortic specimens were obtained from patients with type Ⅰ thoracic aortic dissection (11 cases),ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (10 cases),and healthy organ donors (7 cases).Expression of interleukin-1β,matrix metalloproteinase-9,and signal transduction factors phospho-p38 and phospho-JNK were detected by real time RT-PCR,Western blot,and immunohistochemistry,respectively.TUNEL staining was performed to detect apoptosis of media cells. Results Apoptosis in the media of thoracic aortic dissection and ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms was dramatically higher than control group.Expression of interleukin-1β gradually increased in an order of control group,thoracic aortic dissection to ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms ( P ＜ 0.01,respectively).Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9significantly increased in the media of thoracic aortic dissection and ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms compared with control group (P ＜ 0.01,respectively).There were positive correlations between interleukin1 β and matrix metalloproteinase-9,interleukin-1β and phospho-p38 in thoracic aortic dissection ( P ＜ 0.01,respectively),interleukin-1β and apoptosis in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Interleukin-1β and interferon-γ might effect the formation of thoracic aortic dissection and ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms possibly through the up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and apoptosis of media cells in humans.

Objective The aim of this prospective observational study was to analyze the prevalence and the predictive factors of hemorrhagic events after abdominal paracentesis in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).Methods ACLF patients who received at least one episode of abdominal paracentesis were prospectively enrolled between January 2010 to December 2013. Prevalences of intraperitoneal and abdomen hemorrhage complications were examined. t test was performed for continuous variables and chi-square test was performed for categorical variables.Binary Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of hemorrhage.Results A total of 525 abdominal paracenteses were carried out on 185 ACLF patients within a 4-year period,with 289 (55 .0%)for diagnostic purpose and 236 (45 .0%)for therapeutic purpose.A total of 16 (3.0%)hemorrhagic complications were identified, with 4 cases of abdominal wall hematomas and 12 cases of intraperitoneal hemorrhage.Patients were divided into hemorrhage group and non-hemorrhage group according to this complication.Age,gender, Child-Pugh score,volume of ascitic fluid removed,underlying cirrhosis,platelet count and thrombin time were not significantly different between two groups (all P > 0.05 ).Patients with bleeding events had lower fibrinogen levels and higher prothrombin time,international normalized ratio,activated partial thromboplastin time and model for end-stage liver disease score (all P <0.05).After adjustment of other factors,multivariate regression analysis indicated that low fibrinogen level was the only independent predictor of hemorrhagic complication (OR=0.105,95%CI :0.018-0.608,P =0.012).Conclusion Low fibrinogen level is the independent predictor of severe hemorrhagic complications following paracenteses in patients with ACLF.

Objective To investigate the endoscopic and pathological characteristics of Barrett's esophagus (BE).Methods Data of 152 patients who were diagnosed as having BE with endoscopy and pathology were retrospectively analyzed.Results BE was most commonly seen in patients of 40-60 years old.The clinical manifestations overlapped in different patients,including regurgitation and heartburn in 78 (51.32%),dysphagia in 9 (5.92%),retrosternal pain in 12 (7.89%),upper abdominal pain or discomfort in 67 (44.08%),and asymptomatic in 8 (5.26%).Long segment BE (LSBE) was determined in 7 patients (4.61%),and short segment BE (SSBE) in 145 (95.39%).The metaplasia pattern under endoscopy included island like in 98 (64.47%),tongue like in 39 (25.66%) and circumferential in 15 (9.87%).Stratified squamous epithelia in the lower part of the esophagus were replaced by columnar epithelia in all cases,and intestinal metaplasia occurred in 68 cases (44.74 %).Conclusion BE is most frequently seen in the middle-aged and can be diagnosed by endoscopy and pathology without special clinical manifestations.Island pattern occurs in most cases and is with lowest rate of intestinal metaplasia,which is associated with age.Patients with specialized intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia should be followed up for surveillance of cancer.