Objective To investigate the changes in serum matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and their relationship with serum B-type brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)in patients with chronic heart failure.Methods MMP-2,MMP-9 and serum BNP levels were measured in 184 patients with chronic heart failure and 61 healthy controls.The relationship between changes in MMP-2 and-9 and serum BNP was analyzed.Results Chronic heart failure was categorized into grade Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ according to NYHA.In grade Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ and the control group,the levels of MMP-2 were(309.1±60.1)nmol/L,(422.6±89.6)nmol/L,(694.8±126.2)nmol/L and(217.2±26.3)nmol/L respectively,and the levels of MMP-9 were (321.2±63.2)nmol/L,(454.4±96.3)nmol/L,(634.1±51.2)nmol/L and(210.8±23.6)nmol/L respectively.The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in chronic heart failure subgroups than in the control group(F=3.65,12.52;P=0.000,0.000).According to the pairwise comparison among the chronic heart failure subgroups,the levels of serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in NYHA Ⅳ grade than in NYHA Ⅲ grade,and higher in NYHA Ⅲ grade than in NYHA Ⅱ grade(all P<0.05).In patients with chronic heart failure groups,MMP-2 was positively correlated with serum BNP(r=0.866,P=0.000),and with MMP-9(r=0.516,P=0.001).Conclusions MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels might be closely correlated with chronic heart failure and show an upward trend with the progression of chronic heart failure.The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 are associated with BNP,which indicates that clinical monitoring of the serum level changes can provide a certain reference for diagnosis,treatment and prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND:Although vitamin C has an anti-oxidation role and can promote cell proliferation, there is a lack of research about the promoting effect of vitamin C on the proliferation of adipose-derived stem cells under high glucose conditions and the related molecular mechanisms.OBJECTIVE:To explore the promoting effect of vitamin C on the proliferation adipose-derived stem cells treated by the high glucose and the related molecular mechanisms.METHODS:Passage 3 human adipose-derived stem cells were cultured under high glucose conditions and then treated with different concentrations of vitamin C (0, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 μmol/L). Cells cultured under low glucose conditions acted as controls. The expression levels of p-ERK and p-AKT proteins were detected by western blot. MTT method was used to choose the optimal concentration and time of vitamin C for all the subsequent tests. Human adipose-derived stem cells cultured under high glucose conditions were divided into four groups, and cells in blank control group had no treatment. Cells in the other three groups were treated with the optimal concentration of vitamin C (vitamin C group), LY294002+the optimal concentration of vitamin C (LY294002 group), or U0126+the optimal concentration of vitamin C (U0126 group) for 48 hours.EdU staining assay was used to detect the cell proliferation of human adipose-derived stem cells.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Cell counting kit detection:We found that high glucose reduced the proliferation of human adipose-derived stem cells, and vitamin C promoted the proliferation of these cells. The best concentration of vitamin C was 200 μmol/L and the optimal effect time was 48 hours. (2) Western blot detection:Compared with the 0 μmol/L vitamin C group, the level of p-ERK in the 200 μmol/L vitamin C group was upregulated significantly (P < 0.01),while no significant expression change in p-AKT protein was found in control, 0 and 200 μmol/L vitamin C groups.(3) EdU test:the number of EdU positive cells was significantly higher in the vitamin C, LY294002, and control groups compared with the blank control group (P < 0.01). Moreover, compared with the vitamin C group, the EdU positive cells in the U0126 group were decreased significantly in number (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway is involved in the promotion effect of vitamin C on the proliferation of human adipose-derived stem cells under high glucose conditions.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the systolic/diastolic orthostatic hypotension(OH S/OH-D) and myocardial infarction (MI) in the elderly.Methods 200 subjects without myocardial infarction (MI) aged 60 years and over in our urban district were selected.The orthostatic and supine blood pressure and heart rate were measured in supine position after resting for more than 5 minutes and at 0 and 2 minutes after standing.All eases were divided into systolic orthostatic hypotension(OH-S)or diastolic orthostatic hypotension(OH-D)groups based on the results of orthostatic hypotension,and followed up by telephone with mean period of 325 days.The primary endpoint was MI occurrence for analyzing the correlation between OH-S/OH-D and MI incidence.Results The prevalence rate of OH in this cohort was 38％,with OH-S 20％ and OH-D 18％.In the very elderly group(≥80 years)versus the elderly group,the occurrences of 0H and OH-S were(27％ vs.21 ％,P =0.036;22 ％ vs.15 ％,P =0.020),respectively,while no significant difference was found in OH-D between the two groups.After 325 day follow up,the prevalence of MI was significantly(P＜ 0.05)higher in the OH positive subjects than in the 0H negative subjects,which result was the same as the prevalence of MI in OH-S or and OH-D group.After adjusting for age,supine blood pressure,creatinine and cerebrovascular history,logistic regression analysis showed that MI was correlated with OH(HR 15.72,95％CI 3.29～74.23,P=0.002),OH-S(HR 8.552,95％CI 2.51～30.21,P=0.004)and OH-D(HR 3.80,95 ％CI 1.14～13.80,P=0.042).Compared with OH-D,OH-S had more significant correlation with MI.Conclusions Orthostatic hypotension,particularly systolic orthostatic hypotension,is common in elderly patients.The OH-S and OH-D have a significant correlation with MI.

Objective: To explore the clinical response on cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients of chronic heart failure (CHF) with different QRS wave morphology. Methods: A total of 52 CHF patients received CRT in our hospital and the Seventh People's Hospital of Zhengzhou City from 2010-03 to 2013-07 were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into 3 groups: True-complete left bundle branch block (t-CLBBB) group,n=20, Classic LBBB (CLBBB) group,n=15 and IVCD group,n=17. The general clinical condition, the indexes of echocardiography at 6 months of follow-up study including left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), NYHA classiifcation and 6-MWT were examined and compared among different groups. Results: In general clinical condition, the ratio of non-ischemic heart disease patients in t-CLBBB group was higher than those in CLBBB group and IVCD group, allP<0.05. By 6 months follow-up study, LVEDD in t-CLBBB group (62.6 ± 8.9) mm was lower than those in CLBBB group (70.0 ± 8.9) mm and IVCD group (72.8 ± 8.0) mm, LVEF was higher in t-CLBBB group (38.5 ± 6.2) % than those in CLBBB group (31.7 ± 6.7) % and IVCD group (30.1 ± 6.7) %. NYHA classiifcation in t-CLBBB group (2.00 ± 0.45) grade was lower than those in CLBBB group (2.73 ± 0.80) grade and IVCD group (3.12 ± 0.78) grade . 6-MWT in t-CLBBB group (302.0 ± 57.9) m was longer than those in CLBBB group (257.3 ± 59.0) m and IVCD group (220.2 ± 57.9) m, allP<0.05. Conclusion: CRT is an effective method for treating CHD patients, different QRS morphology may have different response, the patients with t-CLBBB would make better response.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term effect of thrombus aspiration catheters combining tiroifban medication for myocardial tissue reperfusion recovery in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Methods: A total of 105 STEMI patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our hospital from 2011-05 to 2013-05 were studied, there were 73 male and 32 female with the mean age of (58.39 ± 10.37) years. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, Group A, the patients received thrombus aspiration catheters with intravenous tiroifban, n=53 and Group B, the patients received tiroifban and PCI, n=52. The basic clinical features, myocardial tissue perfusion level, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at post operative and in-hospital period were recorded, the cardiac function was examined by echocardiography at 6 months after PCI in both groups.
Results: The basic clinical features were similar between 2 groups. The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction trial (TIMI) 3 lfow rate was higher in Group A than that in Group B (92.45% vs 55.77%), P=0.000. TIMI 2 and TIMI 0~1 lfow rates were lower in Group A than that in Group B (7.55%vs 26.92%), P=0.008 and (0%vs 17.31%), P=0.002. The adjusted TIMI frame was lower in Group A (27.26±5.50) vs (38.98±5.42), P<0.001. The echocardiography at 6 months after PCI indicated that Group A had higher LVEF than that in Group B (0.55±0.06) vs (0.47±0.06), P<0.001;lower left ventricular end diastolic diameter (50.77±5.45) vs (54.76±5.34), P<0.001;less angina and target vessel revascularization (16.98%vs 40.38%), P=0.008 and (9.43%vs 17.31%), P=0.008. The incidence of MI, acute heart failure, cardiac death and non-target vessel revascularization were similar between 2 groups, P>0.05.
Conclusion:Thrombus aspiration catheters combining tiroifban medication may obviously improve the myocardial tissue reperfusion and the short-term cardiac function in STEMI patients after PCI, it could reduce the incidence of no-relfow without increasing MACE.

Objective: High mobility group box 3 (HMGB3) plays an important role in the development of various cancer. This study aims to explore whether HMGB3 regulates cervical cancer (CC) progression and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Methods: HMGB3 expression in clinical patients' tumor samples were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. HMGB3 overexpression/knockdown were used to investigate its function. Cell apoptosis and cycle were detected by Annexin V/PI staining and flow cytometry. In vivo tumor model was made by subcutaneous injection of HeLa cells transfected with shRNAs targeting HMGB3 (shHMGB31) into the flank area of nude mice. Western blot was used to detect the levels of β-catenin, c-Myc, and matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in Hela and CaSki cells transfected with sh-HMGB3 or shRNAs targeting β-catenin. Results: Both messenger RNA and protein levels of HMGB3 were upregulated in CC tissues from patients. High expression level of HMGB3 had positive correlation with serosal invasion, lymph metastasis, and tumor sizes in CC patient. Functional experiments showed that HMGB3 could promote CC cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. The expression levels of c-Myc and MMP-7 were increased, resulting in regulating cell apoptosis, cell cycle, and activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Conclusions Our data indicated that HMGB3 may serve as an oncoprotein. It could be used as a potential prognostic marker and represent a promising therapeutic strategy for CC treatment.

Objective:To observe the motor capacity of patients early after cardiac surgery using a cardiopulmonary exercise test.Methods:Patients who had performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test within 3 months after cardiac surgery were included in this retrospective study. Patients who took the test within 30 days of the operation formed a discharge group ( n=20), those within 30 to 60 days and 60 to 90 days formed the one month and two month groups ( n=10 for both). The discharge group was further divided into an aortic surgery group ( n=9), a bypass surgery group ( n=6) and a valve surgery group ( n=5) according to their procedure. The exercise capacity of each person was measured in terms of the changes in heart rate and systolic pressure from the resting to the anaerobic threshold stage. Anaerobic threshold, peak oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide ventilation equivalent were also recorded. Results:All of the patients completed the cardiopulmonary exercise test above the anaerobic threshold, and no adverse events such as exercise accidents occurred. At the anaerobic threshold the average heart rate of the discharge group was (8.8±7.1)bpm, significantly lower than the averages of the one month and two months groups: (17.0±5.9) and (18.3±10.5)bpm respectively. The average anaerobic thresholds and peak oxygen uptakes of the 1 month and 2 months groups were not significantly different, but they were all significantly higher than the discharge group′s averages. There were, however, no significant differences among the groups in the average changes in their systolic pressure and carbon dioxide ventilation equivalent. Moreover, the average anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen uptake of the aortic surgery group and the bypass surgery group were significantly lower than the valve surgery group′s averages.Conclusions:Postoperative motor ability after cardiac surgery improves significantly for at least 30 days. Patients who have received aortic or bypass surgery have significantly lower exercise capacity than those after valve surgery.