Objective To explore the factors that could affect plasma level of D-dimmer test in acute aortic syn-drome. Methods Blood samples (2 mL) from acute aortic syndrome patients (n=76) obtained immediately after admission to detect D-dimmer using ELISA. Blood routine test and biochemical indicators tests including creatinine were also performed. White blood cell (WBC), serum value of creatinine, aortic contrast-enhanced CT, incidence of Shock and death were all re-corded. The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) was established to assess the potency of D-dimmer to predict hospital mortality. Results According to ROC analysis, the optimal cut-off value of D-dimmer to predict hospital mortality was >2 988.6 μg/L (FEU), with 86.7% sensitivity and 70.5% specificity. The patients were divided into group A (D-dim-mer<2 988.6μg/L FEU, n=45) and group B (D-dimmer≥2 988.6μg/L FEU,n=31). Onset timing was longer in group A than that in group B(P<0.01). Involvement of ascending aorta was less common in group A than in group B(P<0.05). Aortic intramural hematoma was less common in group A than in group B(P<0.05). Logistic analysis demonstrated that short time of onset, involvement of ascending aorta, non-aortic intramural hematoma were all independent factors of higher D-dimmer (≥2 988.6μg/L FEU). Conclusion Patients with long time of onset, without involvement of ascending aorta, with intramural hematoma are liable to have lower values of plasma D-dimmer.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A ( HYSA) on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the related mechanism.

METHODSVSMCs derived from SD rats were treated with DMEC culture medium (Control), 10 ng/ml PDGF (PDGF group), pretreatment with HYSA at different doses (1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 µmol/L) for 24 h then cotreatment with PDGF. After 24 h, MTT assay, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were performed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of HYSA on VSMCs proliferation.

RESULTSHYSA inhibited PDGF induced VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, dowregulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and blocked PDGF activated PDGFR-MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONSHYSA inhibits VSMCs proliferation possibly via downregulating the expression of PCNA and blocking MEK-ERK1/2 signal transduction in VSMCs.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chalcone ; analogs & derivatives ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Quinones ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the expression of tissue factor and explore its clinical significances in pulmonary artery after acute pulmonary thromboembolism.Methods Thirty-four Japanese white rabbits (Level Ⅱ animals) were randomly (random number) assigned into four groups:group A (specimen of pulmonary artery was taken 3 hours after pulmonary embolism,n =8),group B (specimen of pulmonary artery was taken 8 hours after pulmonary embolism,n =8),group C (specimen of pulmonary artery was taken 24 hours after pulmonary embolism,n =8) and control group (pseudo-operations were carried out without injecting autologous blood clots,n =10).The animal model of pulmonary thromboembolism was established by injecting autologous blood clots into jugular vein through a 5F catheter and confirmed by digital subtraction angiography.The mRNA expression of TF in different parts of pulmonary artery was assayed by RT-PCR.The q test was utilized if there was a significant difference in a given continuous variable among three groups analyzed by ANOVA.Results The TF expression in the specimen adjacentto emboli was stable at 3 h,8 h or 24 hours after embolism.The mRNA expression of TF at 3 h and 8 h after embolism was lower in specimen taken from distal-end of morbid pulmonary artery than those adjacent to emboli.While at 24 hours after embolism,there were similar mRNA expressions in specimen either adjacent or distal to emboli.Conclusions The high expression of tissue factor in pulmonary artery tissue adjacent to emboli could lead to locally increased coagulation activity,indicating the necessity of initiating anti-coagulation treatment as soon as possible after acute pulmonary embolism.

Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of resveratrol in a rat model of complex region-al pain syndrome type Ⅰ(CRPS1). Methods 50 male SD rats were divided into control group(group A),sham operation group(group B),model group 1(group C),model group 2(group D),and model group 3(group E). Groups A,B and C received 5%DMSO;group D received ISO-1 of 1 mg/(kg·d);and group E received resveratrol of 20 mg/(kg · d)for 14 days. Pain behaviors were assessed on days 0,7,and 14. Serum levels of MIF and TNF-αwere detected by ELISA. MIF ,total ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 in sciatic nerve were detected by Western blot. Re-sults On days 7 and 14 after treatment,resveratrol injection,similar to ISO-1,significantly improved the pain threshold;serum levels of MIF and TNF-α were significantly decreased;expressions of MIF ,total ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 in sciatic nerve were also decreased significantly in group E,which were significantly lower than group C (P < 0.05). Conclusions Resveratrol can significantly improve pain threshold ,decrease expressions of MIF and p-ERK1/2 in a rat model of CRPS1,which might be involved in the inhibition of ERK signaling pathway.

Objective To better understand the age related changes of cardiac structure and function and their relationship with gender, body weight and blood pressure. Methods M mode, 2 dimensional, and Doppler echocardiographic studies were performed on 306 healthy intellectuals, including 165 males and 141 females, ranging in age from 30 to 85 years. Results Parameters in both male and female including the ratio of peak E wave to peak A wave velocity(E/A), the ratio of the right ventricular peak E wave to peak A wave velocity(E/Ar), the amplitude of aortic wall (Aao) and the angle between septum and the root of aorta (?) were all decreased with the aging significantly( P

Objective To evaluate the value and the expression of Axl receptor tyrosine kinase (AxlTK) in renal pathology of lupus nephritis (LN) patients. Methods The expression of AxlTK were detected in 29 LN and 10 primary nephritic syndrome (NS) patients using immunohistochemistry in renal tissue. The correlations between the levels of AxlTK on glomeruli and clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, disease activity, and renal pathology in LN patients were investigated. T test and single factor analysis of variance were used tp compare between groups, and Pearson or Spearman test was used for correlation analysis. Results AxlTK was extensively expressed on surface of mesangial cells, endothelial cells in glomeruli. There was more expression of AxlTK on mesangial cells in LN patients [(7.0 ±2.2)×10-2] than that in primary NS patients [(3.1 ±1.2) ×10-2] (t=5.382, P<0.01). The expression of AxlTK in the glomeruli of LN patients with oral ulcers is higher than that in patients without of ulcers (t=2.259, P=0.032), and it was positively correlated with the anti-nucleosome antibody (AnuA) level in patients (r=0.488, P=0.017). The expression of AxlTK on glomeruli were higher in class Ⅳ and classⅢ of LN patients than that of class Ⅴ, but there was no statistically significant difference between them (P>0.05). Conclusion The expression of Axl TK in glomerular is significantly increased in glomeruli in LN patients. The expression level of AxlTK on glomeruli is correlated with the occurrence of oral ulcers and AnuA. The level of AxlTK expression is related to pathological categories of kidney in LN patients. The results of this study suggest that AxlTK might participate in the pathogenesis of LN.

Objective To investigate the effects of Matrine (Mat) on the proliferation and cell cycle of the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Furthermore,its mechanism of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is explored by comparing with methotrexate (MTX).Methods MTr method was used to measure the light-absorption value of the cells treated with different doses of Mat and MTX at different time,and the inhibition rate(IR% ) was calculated.Flow cytometry was used to measure cell cycle of the cells treated with different doses of Mat and MTX for 48 h.Results ① Both MTX and Mat could inhibit the proliferation of PBL in patients with RA and the effect was dose-dependent.The IR%was increased (P＜0.05).IR% at 48 h was higher than IR% at 24 h (P＜0.01).The two medications had no significant difference (P＞0.05).② Both MTX and Mat could change the cell cycle and acted on G1/S point.They both increased the number of cells in G0/G1 phase and decreased cells in S and G2/M phase (P＜0.05).The two medications had no significant difference (P＞0.05).Conclusion Mat inhibits the proliferation and proliferation-dependent processes of PBL in patients with RA.Its effect is comparable to MTX.Mat may have the potential in the trea-tment of RA.

ABSTRACT:Recently ,prion‐like transmission has been found in various amyloidosis .AApoAII amyloid fibrils in mouse senile amyloidosis have exhibited transmissibility .AApoAII amyloid fibrils ,which were excreted from mice and contained in fe‐ces or milk ,cause mouse senile amyloidosis .However ,transmissibility of AApoAII amyloid fibrils through other pathways has not yet been established .In this study ,we injected AApoAII amyloid fibrils into R1 .P1‐A poa2c mice to induce AApoAII sys‐temic amyloidosis .Two months later ,AApoAII amyloid fibrils ,which deposited in the skeletal muscles of amyloid‐affected mice ,were used to induce AApoAII systemic amyloidosis .Mouse senile amyloidosis which deposited in skeletal muscles could induce secondary transmission of AApoAII amyloidosis .The evidence of transmission through skeletal muscles in non‐prion systemic amyloidosis is found in our study .This pathway of transmission provides new insight into the potential for food‐borne pathogenesis and etiology of systemic amyloidosis .

Objective To explore the status of glucocorticoid application in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in China.Methods Epidemiological survey was used.The SLE patients who met the 1997 classification criteria of American College of Rheumatology were enrolled.The usage of glucocorticoid and related adverse reactions were recorded and analyzed.Results A total of 400 SLE patients were enrolled,including 35 men and 365 women.The average age was (37.4 ± 14.0) years old,and the average duration of disease was (6.7 ± 5.8) years.There were 310 patients using glucocorticoid as maintenance.Sixty-one percent (n =244) patients started using medium dose (prednisone 30-＜ 60 mg/d) as the initial treatment of glucocorticoid,which lasted for (37 ± 11) days.The time of drug duration in patients with low dose prednisone (7.5-＜30 mg/d)and high dose (60-100 mg/d) was(92 ± 20)and (17 ± 3) days respectively (P ＜ 0.05 between 3 groups).However,patients receiving different initial dosage were of no discrepancy in the maintenance therapy.During maintenance,even though 51.0％ (n =158) patients were on prednisone 2.5-5 mg/d,the duration of drug use in ＞ 5-10 mg/d groupwas longer [(29.9 ± 3.3) months].Patients with involvement of internal organs had a higher tendency to use 60-100 mg/d prednisone or pulse-dose therapy in the initial treatment,nevertheless these two groups had no difference of maintenance dosage.Among all 400 patients,62 patients withdrew glucocorticoid,including 17 patients with disease remission (4.3％),44 by self-withdrawal and one with adverse reaction.Conclusion In China,the medium dosage of glucocorticoid is the most common initial treatment in patients with SLE.Prednisone 2.5-5 mg/d was the most common choicefor maintenance therapy.Currently,the proportion of glucocorticoid withdrawal remains low in SLE patients achieving remission.

Abstrac:Aim To study the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A ( HYSA ) on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMCs) and the related molecu-lar mechanism. Methods The inhibitory effects of hydroxysafflor yellow A on VSMC proliferation was de-tected using cell culture, MTT assay, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. Results The results showed that HYSA inhibited cell proliferation induced by PDGF in a dose-dependent (5,10,20,40 μmol· L-1 ) manner, reduced proliferating cell nuclear anti-gen ( PCNA ) expression and blocked PDGFR-MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway activated by PDGF in VSMCs. Conclusion HYSA inhibits VSMCs prolifer-ation via reducing the expression of PCNA and blocking signal transduction of MEK-ERK1/2 in VSMCs.