Objective To investigate the relationship of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels with the severity of heart dysfunction in elderly patients with heart failure. Methods BNP levels were measured by immunofluorescence in 106 hospitalized patients with heart failure, while NT-proBNP levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in 48 patients. The severity of heart dysfunction was determined by NYHA classification. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by Color Doppler Ultrasound was used to show the left ventricular systolic function. Results In patients with BNP≤400 ng/L versus BNP>400 ng/L, the rates of LVEF≤45% were 16.4% versus 46.8% (χ~2= 13. 93, P=0. 001), the rates of E/A<1 were 62.3% versus 40. 4% (χ~2 =22. 19,P = 0.024) and the rates of Cr>107 μmol/L were 13.1% versus 38.3% (χ~2 = 11. 31, P = 0. 002) . In patients with NT-proBNP≤400 ng/L versus NT-proBNP>400 ng/L, the rates of LVEF≤45% were 25. 0% versus 58. 3% (χ~2 = 10. 00,P = 0. 019) and the rates of Cr>107 μmol/L were 20. 8% versus 50.0% (χ~2=8. 50,P = 0. 035). Conclusions BNP or NT-proBNP levels increase significantly along the deterioration of the heart failure severity, and it may be important to use BNP or NT-proBNP to predict left ventricular function.

Objective To provide a basis for further exploration of Dunaliella Salina by determining the main active components in the extract of Dunaliella salina. Methods The carotenoids and vitamins were determined by HPLC or colorimetric method, amino acids were analyzed by amino acid analyze. Unsaturated fatty acid was determined by GC. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to detect K, Na ,Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, P, Fe, Mn and SPF was used to detect Se. Results There were affluent carotenoids, vitamins, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acid and trace elements in the extract of Dunaliella salina. Conclusion The extract of Dunaliella salina could be used as natural raw material to develop the supplement food.

AIM and METHODS: To determine the role of different K +-channels in attenuation of vasoreactivity of intrapulminary artery rings induced by chronic hypoxia. RESULTS: ①Acute hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction(HPV) could be significantly attenuated by chronic hypobaric hypoxia for 15 days and for 30 days. ②HPV could be significantly potentiated by ATP-sensitive K +-channel (K ATP ) blocker or Ca 2+ -activated K +-channel (K Ca )blocker, and the potentiated scope in chronic hypoxic group was much higher than that observed in control group. ③ Delayed rectifier K +-channel (K DR )blocker showed no effect on HPV in both control group and chronic hypoxic group.CONCLUSIONS: Both K ATP and K Ca play an important modulating role in HPV and it's potentiation may be a critical mechanism for the attenuated vasoreactivity to acute hypoxia; following chronic hypobaric hypoxia.

AIM: To explore the effects of 5-HT and electrolytes on the airway remodeling in guinea pigs with bronchial asthma.METHODS: 70 guinea pigs were divided into 7 groups: control group,model group,continued model group,5-HT group,anti-5-HT group,high Mg~(2+) group,low Mg~(2+) group.Remodeling model was established with ovalbumin.RESULTS: ① In model group,5-HT of serum and thickness of airway walls were significantly increased compared with control group(P

Objective To investigate the value of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(RT-3DTEE) in mitral valve repair. Methods RT-3DTEE was performed in six patients[5 male,1 female,mean age (45.7±12.6)years] with mitral valve prolapse by using Philips IE33 with X7-2t probe.Preoperative RT-3DTEE studies were compared with surgical findings in patients undergoing surgical repair. Results RT-3DTEE could display dynamic morphology of mitral valve,the location of prolapse,and spatial relation tO the surrounding tissues.It could provide surgical views of the valves and the valvular apparatus.RT-3DTEE results were consistant with surgical findings.Conclusions RT-3DTEE is a unique new modality for rapid and accurate evaluation of mitral prolapse and mittal repair.

Background and objective Pre-operative assessment of mitral valve(MV)anatomy is essential to surgical design in patientsundergoing MV repair.Although 2-dimensional(2D)echocardiography provides precise information regarding MV anatomy,RT-3DTEE could increase the understanding of MV apparatus and individual scallop identification.We aimed to investigate the value of RT-3DTEE in MV repair. Methods RT-3DTEE was performed in six patients with mitral valve prolapse(MVP) by using Philips IE33with X7-2t probe.Preoperative RT-3DTEE studies were compared with surgical findings in patients undergoing surgical mitral valverepair,and quantitative evaluation was performed by QLab 6.0 software before and after surgicalmitralvalve repair.Results RT-3DTEE could display dynamic morphology of MV,the location of prolapse,and spatial relation to the surrounding tissue.It couldprovide surgical views of the valves and the valvular apparatus.These resuIts were consistent with surgical findings.The quantitativeevahuation before and after surgical MV repair indicated that anterolateral to posteromedial diameter of annalus.anterior to posteriordiameter of annulus,perimeter of annullus.,and area of annalus in projectionplane were significantlv smaller after operation comparedwith those before operation(P＜0.05).The length of posterior leaflet,,the area of anterior and posterior leaflet,the maximal prolapseheight,the volume of leaflet prolapse and the length of coaptation in projection planewere significantly reduced after operation(P＜0.05).Conclusion RT-3DTEE is a unique new medality for rapid and accurate evaluation of mitral valve prolapse and miwal valverepair.

Objective: This experiment was designed to study the change of nitric oxide (NO) content in different parts of brain in rats suffering from iodine deficiency(ID) and hypothyroidism since their fetal period. Methods: Iodine deficiency animal model was made and NO content in hippocampus(HPC), cerebellum (CE) and cortex(CO) were measured by using NO test kit. Results: Urinary iodine and serum T 3?T 4 concentrations significantly decreased and learning-memory capacity was impaired in ID rats. NO content was significantly lower in HPC and CE in ID rats than in control rats.(HPC:11.61?2.31/2.3?1 18 ?mol/g Prot;CE:10.77?5.16/4.70?1.95 ?mol/g Prot).No difference was found in cortex. Conclusion: Iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism since fetal period could affect NO level in rat brain. Different parts of brain have different sensitivity to ID and hypothyroidism.The changes of NO content in hippocampus may contribute to the learning-memory impairment in ID rats.

AIM and METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from 6th rat subcultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells(PASMC) exposed to continual chronic hypoxia or normoxia and the effects of chronic hypoxia on the changes of Kv1.3,Kv2.1,Kv3.1 mRNA in cultured PASMC induced by acute hypoxia were studied by semiquantitative RT-PCR in vitro. RESULTS:①Kv1.3,Kv2.1,Kv3.1 genes were found to be expressed in PASMC of rats exposed either to hypoxia or normxia.②The expression of Kv2.1 and Kv3.1 in 6th subcultured of PASMC in normaxia group could be upregulated by exposure to acute hypoxia,the levels of Kv2.1 and Kv3.1 mRNA were significantly increased from 0.646?0.092, 0.782?0.104 to 1.059?0.134, 0.985?0.116,respectively (P

the normal control group (Pthe continued asthma model group (P

[Objective]This study was designed to identify the risk factors related with reproductive endocrinology disorder in Chinese women of child-bearing age with epilepsy.[Methods]The clinical data of 102 women with epilepsy were collected.The patient were grouped according to seven aspects(seizure onset age,seizure type,seizure frequency,duration of epilepsy,AED type,age of start AED therapy and duration of therapy)and the contribution of these factors in development of PCOS and its components were analyzed.[Results]The incidence of hyperandrogenemia in the patients with an early onset age(≤14 years old)was higher than the ones with an onset age＞14 years old.Onset age≤14 was the risk factor of hyperandrogenemia in logistic regression analysis.The incidence of a/oligomenorrhea,polycystic ovaries,hyperandrogenemia and PCOS in the valproate-treated women were 40.63%,50.00%,15.65%,and 34.38%,respectively,which were higher than the no-therapy group and nonvalproate treated group.Valproate therapy was the risk factor of PCOS and its components.[Conclusion]Valproate therapy was the risk factor of PCOS and its components in Chinese women of child-bearing age with epilepsy.Onset age≤14 was the risk factor of hyperandrogenemia.