BACKGROUND: As a multifunctional cell growth factor, vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) plays various biological roles under some physiologic and pathologic conditions. OBJECTIVE: To summarize molecular structure and biological effects of VEGF. RETRIEVAL STRATEGY: A computer-based online search of PubMed database was undertaken to identify related English articles dated from January 1989 to December 2007 with keywords"VEGF, molecular structure, biological effect, diabetes, diabetic macroangiopathy". 934 articles were firstly collected, including 38 about molecular structure and biological effects of VEGF, and 896 about diabetes and diabetic macroangiopathy. After the first trial, only articles about ①molecular structure and biological characteristics of VEGF, and ②diabetes and diabetes complicated by coronary heart disease or limb vascular disease were selected. 897 repetitive, outdated and unrelated articles were excluded. Finally, 35 articles were included. LITERATURE EVALUATION: Of 35 articles, there were 17 ones about animal trials, and in vivo, in vitro and cytological studies, 8 of review articles and comments, and 10 clinical studies. All articles were individual evaluation. DATA SYNTHESIS: Human VEGF genes consist of 8 exons and 7 introns, and are located in 6p21.3 region. VEGF encodes several isoforms with different biological characteristics. Two VEGF receptors display different biological effects. VEGF and its receptors are regulated by various factors. The receptors interact with ligand and play biological effect. In diabetic patients complicated by coronary heart disease, myocardial VEGF mRNA and protein expressions are increased but the expressions of two kinds of receptors are decreased compared with non-diabetic patients. Compared to patients with non-severe lower limb ischemia, VEGF production is more in diabetic patients complicated by severe lower limb ischemia. It is demonstrated that VEGF can restore injured neovascularization. However, VEGF therapy for diabetes still needs further study. CONCLUSION: VEGF can restore impaired neovascularization. VEGF expression shows diversity under diabetic macroangiopathy. Further study should be made focusing on the prevention value of VEGF to diabetic macroangiopathy.

The regulations related to some metals and their compounds often found in personal care products were introduced in this paper. The general symptoms, skin absorption and reactivity ,allergic and toxic potential induced by some metals and their compounds in cosmetics were reviewed. An important task was put forward for enhancing the research of toxicological safety evaluation of cosmetics in China.

The same paraffin-embedded specimen of skin biopsy from each of 29 patients with cutaneous malignant lymphomas (CML) and 7 patients with cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates (CLI) was estimated simultaneously and retrospectively by karyomorphometry and proliferating rate assay. The results showed that the differences in nuclear volumes (NVs), count of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions(AgNORs) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA-PC10) indices (PC10Is) between CML and CLI were statistically very significant. The NVs and PC10Is were correlated to the death rate of patients. NVs were also correlated to AgNORs.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of Holter monitor(DCG) in the diagnosis and treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).Methods According to NT-proBNP ＞ 2 000pg/mL,left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40％,New York Heart Association (NYHA) rated Ⅲ-Ⅳ,67 patients with DCM were divided into the high risk group and nonhigh risk group.All kinds of arrhythmia patients proportion was compared between the two groups,in order to understand the risk factors of DCM and arrhythmias.Results In high risk group,18 cases had ventricular tachycardia,the incidence rate was 66.7％,which was significantly higher than that of non high risk group (2 cases,5.0％) (x2 =29.271,P ＜ 0.01).While other arrhythmia,atrial premature beats,single premature ventricular contraction,atrial fibrillation and so on,had no statistical difference (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The DCM patients with various types of arrhythmia,ventricular tachycardia in patients directly influence the severity and prognosis,Holter monitor has an irreplaceable role.

To study the antiarrhythmic effect of the newly developed alpha/beta-blocker TJ0711, a variety of animal models of arrhythmia were induced by CaCl2, ouabain and ischemia/reperfusion. Glass microelectrode technique was used to observe action potentials of right ventricular papillary muscle of guinea pig. The onset time of arrhythmia induced by CaCl2 was significantly prolonged by TJ0711 at 0.75, 1.5 and 3 mg x kg(-1) doses. TJ0711 (1.5 and 3 mg x kg(-1)) can significantly shorten the ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) duration, the incidence of VF and mortality were significantly reduced. On ischemia-reperfusion-induced arrhythmic model, TJ0711 (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg x kg(-1)) can significantly reduce the ventricular premature contraction (PVC), VT, VF incidence, mortality, arrhythmia score with a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, rats serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activities decreased significantly by TJ0711 (1 and 2 mg x kg(-1)). Ouabain could cause arrhythmia in guinea pigs, when TJ0711 (0.375, 0.75, 1.5 and 3 mg x kg(-1)) was given, the doses of ouabain inducing a variety of arrhythmia PVC, VT, VF, cardiac arrest (CA) were significantly increased with a dose-dependent manner. In the TJ0711 0.1-30 micromol x L(-1) concentration range, guinea pig right ventricular papillary muscle action potential RP (rest potential), APA (action potential amplitude) and V(max) (maximum velocity of depolarization) were not significantly affected. APD20, APD50 and APD90 had a shortening trend but no statistical difference with the increase of TJ0711 concentration. TJ0711 has antiarrhythmic effect on the sympathetic nerve excitement and myocardial cell high calcium animal arrhythmia model. Myocardial action potential zero phase conduction velocity and resting membrane potential were not inhibited by TJ0711. APD20, APD50 and APD90 were shortened by TJ0711 at high concentration. Its antiarrhythmic action mechanism may be besides the action of blocking beta1 receptor, may also have a strong selective blocking action on alpha1 receptor and reducing intracellular calcium concentration.

To study the antiarrhythmic effect of the newly developed alpha/beta-blocker TJ0711, a variety of animal models of arrhythmia were induced by CaCl2, ouabain and ischemia/reperfusion. Glass microelectrode technique was used to observe action potentials of right ventricular papillary muscle of guinea pig. The onset time of arrhythmia induced by CaCl2 was significantly prolonged by TJ0711 at 0.75, 1.5 and 3 mg x kg(-1) doses. TJ0711 (1.5 and 3 mg x kg(-1)) can significantly shorten the ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) duration, the incidence of VF and mortality were significantly reduced. On ischemia-reperfusion-induced arrhythmic model, TJ0711 (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg x kg(-1)) can significantly reduce the ventricular premature contraction (PVC), VT, VF incidence, mortality, arrhythmia score with a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, rats serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activities decreased significantly by TJ0711 (1 and 2 mg x kg(-1)). Ouabain could cause arrhythmia in guinea pigs, when TJ0711 (0.375, 0.75, 1.5 and 3 mg x kg(-1)) was given, the doses of ouabain inducing a variety of arrhythmia PVC, VT, VF, cardiac arrest (CA) were significantly increased with a dose-dependent manner. In the TJ0711 0.1-30 micromol x L(-1) concentration range, guinea pig right ventricular papillary muscle action potential RP (rest potential), APA (action potential amplitude) and V(max) (maximum velocity of depolarization) were not significantly affected. APD20, APD50 and APD90 had a shortening trend but no statistical difference with the increase of TJ0711 concentration. TJ0711 has antiarrhythmic effect on the sympathetic nerve excitement and myocardial cell high calcium animal arrhythmia model. Myocardial action potential zero phase conduction velocity and resting membrane potential were not inhibited by TJ0711. APD20, APD50 and APD90 were shortened by TJ0711 at high concentration. Its antiarrhythmic action mechanism may be besides the action of blocking beta1 receptor, may also have a strong selective blocking action on alpha1 receptor and reducing intracellular calcium concentration.
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; blood ; chemically induced ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Calcium Chloride ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; blood ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Ouabain ; Papillary Muscles ; cytology ; Phenoxypropanolamines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the early predictive indexes of curative effect of acute respiratory failure(AFR) treated with noninvasive bilevel positive airway pressure(BiPAP) ventilation.Methods Sixty-eight patients with AFR were treated with BiPAP ventilation.According to the therapeutic outcome,patients were divided into success group and failure group,and the distributions of ages,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation(APACHEⅡ) score,consciousness level as well as arterial blood gas(ABG) measurement before and after the treatment with BiPAP ventilation were compared between the two groups.Results There was statistical difference in the ABG levels of pH and PaCO_2 after 1 hour's treatment with BiPAP ventilation(P0.05).Conclusion The levels of pH and PaCO_2 after 1 hour's treatment with BiPAP ventilation are valuable markers for curative effects in early stadge.If the levels of pH and PaCO_2 fail to improve,the treatment with intubation may be necessary.

Objective To study the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in early stage diabetic retinopathy and their mechanisms,so as to guide the clinical work theoretically.Methods Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into four groups.Nine rats were used as normal controls(M Group).Streptozocin were injected intraperitoneally to induce diabetes for 1 month(M1 Group),2 months(M2 Group),and 3 months(M3 group).At the experimental ends of each group,the rats were over anesthetized and their eyeballs were extracted to make digest preparation.Immunofluorescence were used to investigate the expression of VEGF on retinal blood vessels.Transmission electromicroscopy was used to observe the histology of the retinal vessels.Results VEGF immunofluorescence showed an expression rate of 56% in M2 group and 89% in M3 group.Transmission electromicroscopy showed no change in M Group.However,it showed swelling of endothelial cells,finger like process into the capillary cavity,uneven distribution of heterochromatin in pericytes in M1 Group.Obvious fragmental thickening and splitting of basement membrane,swelling and deformation,finger like process to the capillary cavity,and concentration and margination of heterochromatin in endothelial cells,and swelling and deformation of rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrion in pericytes were observed in M2 and M3 groups,especially in the latter.Conclusion The expression of VEGF proteins in the retinas of diabetic rats increases with the progression of diabetes.It proves that VEGF plays an important role in the occurrence and development of early diabetic retinopathy.

As a distinct T cell subset with acknowledged specific function and marker, CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells are thought to dampen T-cell immunity and to be the main obstacle tempering antitumor immunotherapy. Accumulating evidence has confirmed an increased pool of regulatory T cells both in the peripheral blood and the tumor microenvironment of cancer patients, which are indicative of disease progression, response to therapy, invasive phenotype and prognosis. Therefore, manipulation of regulatory T cells—including depletion, blocking trafficking into tumors, or reducing their differentiation and suppressive mechanisms—and concomitant stimulation of effector T cells, systemically or locally in tumors, represent new strategies for cancer treatment.

1.5 mm were included for the analysis. The results were compared with catheter coronary artery angiography. Results In all patients, 16-slice CT were performed without complications. 1?267 segments were considered as stenosis by 16-slice CT. With the results of conventional coronary angiography as the golden standard, the sensitivity of 16-slice CT was 75.43% and its specificity was 95.88%. Its positive predicted value was 74.58% while its negative predicted value was 96.01% and its accuracy was 93.05% for stenosis of greater than 50%. Conclusion 16-slice CT provides a good visualization of the coronary tree in most patients, allowing accurate non-invasive detection of significant coronary stenosis.