Objective:To explore the effect of endothelin-1 on atrial ifbrosis in patients with atrial ifbrillation (AF).
Methods: A total of 72 patients with thoracotomy were studied, the patients were divided into 2 groups:AF group, n=39 and Sinus rhythm (SR) group, n=33. The mRNA and protein expressions of endothelin-1 (ET-1), platelet derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) and collagen I (COL1) in right atrial appendage (RAA) tissue were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis;meanwhile, the impact of ET-1 stimulation and non-selective ET-1 receptor antagonist (sulfafurazole SIZ) on PDGF-B mRNA and protein expressions in H9c2 cells were measured.
Results: ①The RAA tissue mRNA and protein expressions in AF group were higher than those in SR group, as for ET-1 (2.830 ± 2.276) vs (1.220 ± 0.887) and (0.835 ± 0.241) vs (0.286 ± 0.083), both P<0.01;for PDGF-B (2.568 ± 2.348) vs (1.567 ± 0.831) and (0.807±0.241) vs (0.381 ± 0.105), both P<0.05;for COL1α1 (3.376 ± 1.598) vs (1.629 ± 0.833) and (0.652 ± 0.210) vs (0.312 ± 0.12), both P<0.05.②The protein expressions of ET-1 and COL1 had positive correlation (r=0.580, P<0.01).③ET-1 promoted PDGF-B secretion in H9c2 cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner;SIZ could reduce such promotion.
Conclusion: ET-1 plays an important role in AF occurrence which might be related to PDGF-B regulation.

Objective To discuss the influence of comprehensive rehabilitative nursing by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)the neural function impairment, activity of daily living(ADL)and accompanying complications of patients in acute phase of cerebral apoplexy. Methods 238 patients from 3 cooperative hospitals from September in 2004 to September in 2006 were randomly chosen and divided into the test group(117 cases)and the control group(121 cases).The medication treatment in the two groups were basically the same. The comprehensive rehabilitative nursing with traditional Chinese medicine was adopted in the test group and the control group received routine nursing intervention. The clinical nerve function limitation score(CNS)and the ADL were evaluated within the first week and the 4th week after intervention. The incidence rate of complications was also determined. Results The CNS and ADL results in the observation group were better than those in the control group(P＜0.01).The incidence rate was lower than that in the observation group. Conclusion The comprehensive rehabilitative nursing by TCM could facilitate the functional recovery of limbs and improve activity of daily living.This intervention could be applied in clinic, family and community because of its characteristics such as simplicity, feasibility and little adverse effect.

ObjectiveTo evaluate left ventricular systolic synchrony in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) by speckle tracking imaging (STI) and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and investigate the correlation with ECG-gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (GMPS).MethodsA total of thirteen patients with CAD diagnosed by coronary angiography underwent STI and RT-3DE examinations.The data was analysed off-line using Qlab 8.0 software.STI systolic synchrony indexes included the standard deviation of times to peak strain in radial and circumferial direction in 12 left ventricular segments (Trs12-SD and Tcs12-SD),the standard deviation of times to peak longitudinal strain in 16 left ventricular segments (Tls16-SD).RT-3DE systolic synchrony indexes included the standard deviation of times to the minimum systolic volume in 16 and 12 left ventricular segments (Tmsv16-SD and Tmsv12-SD).GMPS was performed within one week before or after echocardiography.Phase analysis was performed offline using Emory Cardiac Toolbox software.Peak phase,phase SD,bandwidth,skewness and kurtosis were calculated.Results Trs12-SD derived from STI had a positive correlation with phase SD and bandwidth ( r =0.800,P ＜0.05 ; r =0.607,P ＜0.05).Tmsv16-SD derived from RT-3DE had a better positive correlation with phase SD and bandwidth ( r =0.847,P =0.001 ; r =0.890,P ＜0.001).ConclusionsTmsv16-SD derived from RT-3DE had a better correlation with GMPS parameters than STI parameters.RT-3DE assessment of left ventricular systolic parameters is expected to become the ideal synchronization indicator.

AIM: To explore the relationship between methylation status of promoter region 5′CpG island and the biological phenotype in human colorectal cancer RKO cell lines. METHODS: RKO cells were treated with selective DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs) inhibitor, 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR), for 72 h. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP), T-A clone and DNA sequence analysis were used to detect 5′CpG island methylation status of p16/CDKN2 tumor suppresor gene. Cell growth, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were analyzed by MTT, flow cytometry (FCM), fluorescent dye staining and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: DNMTs inhibitor (5-Aza-CdR) effectively reversed the hypermethylation status of 5′CpG island. The effects of 5-Aza-CdR on cell growth inhibition (P

Objective To study the effects of semiconductor laser irradiation and high voltage static electric fields on small vessel damage in diabetic rats.Methods Fifty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups:8 rats in a normal group and 42 in a diabetic model group.The diabetic models were created by intrape- ritoneal injection of streptozocin.The diabetic model rats were randomly divided into four subgroups:a diabetes group,a semiconductor laser treatment group,a high voltage static electric field treatment group and a comprehensive treatment group receiving combined semiconductor laser and high voltage static electric field exposure.The rats in each treatment group were subjected to the corresponding intervention.After 20 days of treatment,the venous blood, kidney tissue and myocardium tissue of the rats were collected,and the concentrations of blood glucose,insulin,en- dothelin and tissue were detected.Results Compared with the normal group,a significant increase in blood glu- cose and endothelin was observed in the diabetic model group,along with significantly decreased blood insulin and significant small vessel endothelium proliferation in the kidney tissue.Compared with the diabetes group,endothelin levels were significantly lower in all 3 treatment groups,and blood insulin was also higher in the comprehensive treat- ment group.Conclusion There were severe abnormalities in blood glucose,insulin and endothelin as well as mild impairment of small vessel endothelium proliferation in the diabetic rats.Semiconductor laser and high voltage static electric field exposure have a role in treating and preventing these conditions in diabetic rats.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; enzymology ; Glutathione ; blood ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

Female ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; Lymphomatoid Papulosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Mechlorethamine ; administration & dosage ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Solutions

Objective To explore the risk factors affecting prognosis of children with Tourette syndrome(TS).Methods The follow-up visits were conducted on the clinical data of 98 cases with TS(85 male,13 female;aged 4-16 years old)from 1997 to 2005 in Wuhan children's hospital.All cases were consistent with the diagnostic criteria of TS in the 4th edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-Ⅳ).The investigations were performed by the investigators who received special training using the unified questionnaire with the methods of direct inquiry or by telephone.The factors included sex,age,severity of TS,the primary symptoms,family history,coexisting diseases,basic diseases,perinatal abnormity and family-social relations.The prognosis of TS and these factors were analyzed by linear regression and stepwise regression with SPSS 12.0 software.Results About 16 cases lost follow-up and the other 82 cases with follow-up(72 male and 10 female)received retrospective review.They were 14 to 25 years old with complete data,and 50 cases healed,32 cases not healed.Results from non-conditional simple variant Logistic regression showed that such cases were associated with the following factors:age,family history of TS,severity of TS,coexisting diseases,basic diseases and perinatal abnormity(Pa0.05).Out of 6 suspicious factors,there were coexisting diseases(OR=84.088,95%CI 10.850-651.682),severity of TS(OR=13.956,95% CI 2.412-80.762),and family history of TS(OR=27.127,95% CI 1.047-702.831)of risk factors.Conclusion The long-term prognosis of children with TS may be related with coexisting disease,severity of TS and family history respectively.

Aim To observe the variation of T-cell subsets in spleen in different courses of disease and tis-sue histopathological changes in rats with adjuvant ar-thritis (AA).Methods The model of rat AA was in-duced by complete Freund’s adjuvant into the right hind metatarsal footpad of 20 male Lewis rats.Arthritis was evaluated by total score,arthritis index and paw swelling number. The percentage of total (CD3 +CD4 +), memory (CD4 + CD44 +), no-sensitizated (CD4 + CD62L +) and Th1 7 (CD4 + IL-1 7 +) on CD4 +T cells in spleen were detected by flow cytometry on days 1 4 and 22 after immuniozation.The his-topathological evaluation of heart,liver,spleen,lung, kidney,ankle joints and mesenteric lymph nodes were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE)stain.Re-sults The onset of secondary arthritis appeared on a-bout day 1 0 after immunization,with a peak onset on day 1 9.Systematic arthritis symptoms included front and hind paw swelling and redness (swelling was more apparent in the front rather than hind paws),nodule formation and redness on the ears,connective tissue swelling and redness of the nose and evident nodules and redness on the tail.Total score,arthritis index and the paw swelling numbers were enhanced in AA rats. Pathohistology of ankles joints showed hyperplasia, pannus formation,and inflammatory cells infiltration in AA rats.And pathohistology of heart,liver,spleen, kidney and mesenteric lymph nodes showed inflamma-tory changes.Compared with normal group,there was no change in the percentage of total,memory and no-sensitizated CD4 +T cell in the early stage inflammation but they were significantly enhanced in the peak of in-flammation.Th1 7 cell subsets were significantly en-hanced in both of the early and peak of inflammation. Conclusion These findings suggest that abnormal T cell responses and tissue histopathological changes are important features of AA rats.

Objective Through studying the effect of Tangnaikang (TNK) on the expression of Smad 2, 3, 7 mRNA of human renal tubular epithelial cells HK-2 induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), to explore the mechanism of TNK on prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis. Methods The HK-2 cells were cultured by DMEM/F12 (1∶1) with 10% fetal bovine serum and divided into control group, TGF-β1 group (TGF-β1 10 ng/mL), blank serum control group (TGF-β1 10 ng/mL + 10% animal serum), TNK drug-containing serum therapy groups (TGF-β1 10 ng/mL + 5% TNK or + 10% TNK or + 20% TNK). After 24 h, the expression of Smad 2, 3, 7 mRNA were tested by fluorescence quantitatiye PCR assay. Results After the HK-2 cells were induced by TGF-β1, the expression of Smad 2, 3 mRNA were increased and the expression of Smad 7 mRNA was decreased compared with the control group (P<0.05). The expression of Smad 2, 3 mRNA were decreased and the expression of Smad 7 mRNA was increased in TNK drug-containing serum therapy groups compared with TGF-β1 group (P<0.05), but blank serum control group had no such effect. Conclution TNK could prevent the development of renal fibrosis to some extent through regulating the expression of Smads signaling pathway.