Objective To investigate the value and limitations of ultrasound determination-evaluated brachial artery endothelial function in elderly diabetic patients. Methods High-resolution two-dimensional ultrasound was used to determine brachial artery(BA) flow-mediated vasodilation(FMD) during reactive hyperemia. Endothelial function was evaluated by FMD in 67 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Results In diabetes versus normal control group,the BA diameter and flow velocity showed no significant difference (P＞0.05) at basal state,but showed significant decreases (P＜0.05) after reactive hyperemia. Single-factor correlation analysis showed that FMD was in negative correlation with disease course, TG, ISI and age (r=-0.2357,-0.2215 and -0.3256, -0.2415,(all P＜0.05～0.01),and showed no correlation of FMD with BMI, TC, FBG, HbA1c, FIns. Conclusions FMD has a value in evaluating the flow-mediated endothelial dysfunction in older T2DM patients, while our analysis of the results should consider the patient's age, gender, race, disease course, blood lipids and other factors.

Objective To investigate the levels of serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4 )and related factors in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods Eighty type 2 diabetic and patients 30 non-diabetic subjects were recruited into obese-diabetic group [body mass index (BMI) 1525 kg/m~2],normal-weighted diabetic group(BMI < 25 kg/m~2)and control group(BMI < 25 kg/m~2). Serum adiponectin(APN), RBP4 and hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c)triacylglycerol (TG),total cholesterol (TC).high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)and were measured on fasting samples. BMI, waist/hips girth ratio (WHR) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were calculated. The correlation between RBP4 and other factors was analyzed. Results The concentration of RBP4 was significantly increased in obese-diabetic group and normal-weighted diabetic group compared with that in control group [ (30.02 ± 5.32), (20.10 ± 5.45), (12.02 ± 3.45) mg/L] (P < 0.01). The concentration of RBP4 was higher in obese-diabetic group than that in normalweighted diabetic group (P < 0.01). Univariate analysis showed serum RBP4 was positively associated with TG,BMI,FBG, WHR,FINS,HOMA-IR and negatively associated with APN (r = 0.225, 0.697, 0.323,0.557, 0.272, 0.461, -0.398). Conclusions The concentration of RBP4 is significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients compared with that in normal subjects. RBP4 possibly plays an important role in the insulin resistance and the occurrence and development of type 2 diabetes.

Objective To summarize the nursing experience on nosocomial infection in elderly patients with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) after coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods The clinical data of elderly patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with application of IABP from April 2006 to February 2009 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results 29 patients suffered nosocomial infection in all 111 cases. The hospital mortality was much higher among patients with nosocomial infection than in patients without nosocomial infection (19 cases vs 11 cases). 87 positive strains were separated from 29 patients with nosocomial infection, which included 47 strains of gram-negative bacterial, 23 strains of gram-positive bacterial and 17 strains of fungi. Conclusions The nosocomial infection was one of the risk factors for hospital mortality in elderly patients with intra-aortic balloon pump after coronary artery bypass grafting. It is important to take effective nursing strategies to prevent the postoperative nosocomial infection in this population.

Objective To investigate the levels of serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients with macrovascular complications. Methods All of 115 subjects were divided into 3 groups: normal control group (35subjects), T2DM patients with macrovascular complications group (40 subjects) and simple T2DM patients group (40 subjects). Serum RBP4 and hs-CRP was detected and fasting blood glucose(FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipopretein cholesferel (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesferol(LDL-C) and fasting insulin(FINS) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and HOMA-IR was calculated. The correlation of RBP4 and other factors were analyzed.Results The concentrations of RBP4 and hs-CRP were significantly increased in T2DM patients with macrovascular complications group and simple T2DM patients group compared with those in normal control group [hs-CRP:(9.12±4.21),(2.01±1.96), (0.98±0.36)mg/L; RBP4:(30.70 ± 5.45), (20.02±5.32),(12.02±3.45)mg/L] (P<0.01). Also,the concentrations of RBP4 and hs-CRP were significantly increased in T2DM patients with macrovascular complications group compared with those in simple T2DM patients group (P<0.01). Univariate analysis showed that serum RBP4 was positively associated with LDL-C,BMI,FBG,hs-CRP,FINS,HOMA-IR (r=0.325, 0.597, 0.323, 0.571, 0.275, 0.463,P<0.05 or <0.01).Conclusions The concentrations of RBP4 and hs-CRP are significantly higher in T2DM patients. The changes of RBP4 and hs-CRP are closely related to the occurrence and development of diabetic macrovascular complications.

Objectives To develop a measurement for obesity assessment which could be used as a simple tool of risk screening. Methods The data of National Nutrition and Health Survey ( 2002 ) were used to analyze the relationship between body mass index ( BMI ), waist circumference (WC) and chronic diseases, based on which chronic disease index ( CRI ) was established. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to determine the cut-off of CRI and to compare the predictive effectiveness of CRI,BMI and WC on chronic diseases. The kappa test was chosen to estimate the consistency of different cut-off of CRI with BMI and WC. The odds ratios of chronic diseases in different cut-offs of CRI were calculated by multiple Logistic regression analysis. Results CRI was calculated as CRI = BMI + 3.5 WC. In ROC curve,the cut-off of CRI was 300. The predictive effectiveness of CRI was higher than that of BMI and WC. CRI at 300 showed the best consistency with 24 kg/m2 BMI and 85 cm WC (P <0. 05 ). In comparison with CRI <300,the risk of chronic diseases was significantly increased with an increase of 20 U CRI. Conclusion CRI shows good predietive effectiveness and could be used to identify those with higher risk of chronic diseases.

Objective To study the postoperative recovery in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)with a history of cerebral infarction.Methods From January 2007 to December 2007,112 patients undergoing elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(OPCABG)with a history of cerebral infarction were studied retrospectively.Each of the 112 patients was matched with 1 control patient who had no cerebral infarction history and were undergoing an elective OPCABG either immediately before or immediately after the study patient,in most cases by the same surgeons.Preoperative characteristics,anesthesia time,awakening time,extubation time,ICU stay,hospital stay,reintubation,hospital mortality,postoperative confusion and stroke were compared in the two groups.Results There were no significant differences between the study and control Patients in the most preoperative characteristics,only the incidence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were higher than those in control group,P<0.05(78 of 112,69.6% versus 61 of 112,54.5%;52 of 112,46.4% versus 26 of 112,23.2%).The study group took longer to awaken,extubate and stay in ICU and hospital than the control group,P<0.01[(6.4±4.0)h versus(4.6±2.7)h,(19.6±9.7)h versus(16.8±5.5)h,(27.3±16.8)h versus(22.1±10.6)h,(23.4±10.0)d versus(19.5±5.6)]d.The incidence of confusion,stroke and reintubation after operation among the study group was higher than those in control group,P<0.05(17 of 112,15.2% versus 4 of 112,6.3%;8 of 112,7.1% versus 1 of 112,0.9%;8 of 112,7.1% versus 1 of 112,0.9%),RR and 95% CI were 4.83(1.57～14.86)、8.54(1.05～69.45)and 8.54(1.05～69.45).There were no significant differences between the study and control patients in the anesthesia time and hospital mortality.Stroke after the operations was found in 8 of 112 study patients and included cerebral infarction in 6 and transient ischemic attack(TIA)in 2.The 8 patients included new stroke in 7 and worsening of old stroke in 1 without new abnomalities on head computed tomography.1 of 8 patients had early stroke(≤24 hours after operation)and others had late stroke(>24 hours).Conclusion The patients with previous cerebral infarction undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting took longer to awaken,extubate,stay in ICU and hospital.These patients were more likely to have reintubation,confusion and stroke after operation than those patients with no cerebral infarction history.

Objective To observe left ventricular transmural peak radial strain and strain time-to-peak of peri-infarct different layers myocardium using tissue Doppler strain imaging, to assess its mechanical pattern during acute myocardial ischemia.Methods Left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were ligated in experimental open-chest Beagle dog models (n = 9),the two-dimensional apical short-axis views of left ventricle in three complete cardiac cycles were acquired and stored in TDI-Q workstation at baseline(the control group of peri-infarc myocardium) and during acute myocardial ischemia respectively.Sampling volume was uesd to measure the peak radial strain and the strain time-to-peak consesquently on the derived M -mode tissue Doppler velocity images at peri-infarct myocardium before and after ischemic segments and different layers(subendocardium, medium, subepicardium).Statistical analies was performed using student's t- test or Pearson's correlations.Results Peak radial strain decreased at peri-infarct subendoeardium (P<0.05) with no significant difference between those at baseline and at peri-infarct medium (P >0.05), the peak radial strain increasd at peri-infarct subepieardium (P < 0.05) ,and the strain time-to-peak at different layers of peri-infarct myoeardium was significantly postponed (P< 0.05).There was a good correlationship of peak radial strain between subendocardium and segment as well as between the medium and segment (r = 0.617, P<0.01 ; r = 0.556, P<0.01).This correlationship disappeared at peri-infarct myocardial segment (r = 0.287, P > 0.05, r = 0.243, P > 0.05).Conclusions The left ventricular transmural mechanical remodeling at peri-infarct myocardium is the integrant of result of mechanical interactions between ischemic and nonischemic myocardium,which might be one of the trigger the structural and fundational remodeling processes involving in the pathophysiological foundation of ischemie cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Serious scalding leads to dysfunction of each aspect in immune system, and activated macrophage can secret many bioactive transmitters. The relationship between macrophage dysfunction and signal conduction after scalding is unclear at present.OBJECTIVE: To observe the alternation of tumor necrosis factor- alpha(TNF-α) at different time points after scalding and the activity of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) and alternation of protein kinase C (PKC) after the application of specific modulator H-7 to explore whether PKC participates in the modulation of TNF-α in macrophage on signal conduction level for the clarification of some mechanisms of macrophage dysfunction.DESIGN: A randomized controlled experimental study by employing experimental animals as subjectsSETTING: An institute of burn research of a military medical university MATERIALS: The study was conducted in the Laboratory (state) of the Institute of Burn Research, Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA between January and December 1999. Experimental animals were 32 healthy clean inbreeding Kunming white mice.METHODS: 15% Ⅲ scalding was created in mice for the establishment of routine scalding model. Mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to different time points before or after scalding, I.e. 0(normal control group), 2, 6, 12, 24, or 48 hours group. Celiac macrophages were collected for the detection of TNF-α content by radioimmunoassay, NF-κB activity by electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA), and membrane or plasma PKC activity by isotope analysis.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① TNF-α content; ② NF-κB activity; ③Membrane or plasma PKC activity RESULTS: After scalding, macrophage excessively secreted TNF-α and reached its peak of (1 085.65 ± 122.99) ng/L at 12 hours, which was significantly higher than that of control group( t = 14.92, P ＜ 0.01 ).Compared with control group, membrane PKC activity increased after scalding, which significantly heightened to(231.80 ± 31.66) nmol/min · g at 2hours( t = 7. 930, P ＜ 0.01 ), slightly decreased to close to normal level of (174.29±16.80) nmol/min· gat 6hours(t=2.531, P ＜0.05), and rapidly elevated at 12 hours [512. 10 ±33.42) nmol/min · g] and 24 hours [ (454.70 ± 21.06) nmol/min · g] to reach its peak of(530.49 ± 28.54)nmol/min. G at 48 hours( t = 29.42, 28.03, 30. 19, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Correlation analysis of the alternation between TNF-α and membrane PKC indicated a significant positive correlation( r = 0. 796 4, P ＜ 0. 05) . As indicated by EMSA image, NF-κB activity significantly elevated after scalding. Twelve hours after scalding was set as modulation point, NF-κB activity was significantly inhibited by the application of H-7.CONCLUSION: The secretion of TNF-α and the activities of PKC and NF-κB are significantly activated in celiac macrophage after scalding, and PKC-NF-κB signal pathway participates in the modulation of TNF-α expression, which provide experimental data for the modulation of immune function and rehabilitative intervention during scalding.serious scalding.

BACKGROUND: Severe scald injury leads to a variety of disorders in the immune system. Activated macrophages are known to secrete many kinds of biologically active transmitter, but the relation between the functional disorder of the macrophages and signal transduction after burn injury has not been fully understood.OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes in nuclear factor(NF) -κκB activity and expressions of IκκB-α and tumor necrosis factor(TNF) -α in peritoneal macrophage of mice at different time points after severe scald injury and after the application of specific NF-κκB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), thereby to explore the mechanism of macrophage dysfunction in light of signal transduction.DESIGN: A randomized controlled experimental research.SETTING: State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the State Key Laboratory of Institute of Burn Research, Third Military Medical University during the period from January to June, 1999, using 30 healthy clean-grade Kunming mice of inbred strain.INTERVENTIONS: Common scald injury models(with third degree burn of 15% total body surface area) were established in the mice, which were randomized into 6 groups according to different time points after the injury for observation, namely 0 hour(normal control group) and postburn 2, 6, 12,24 and 48 hours. Peritoneal macrophages were collected at these time points for examining TNF-α content using radio-immunoassay and NF-κκB activity by means of electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA). The expressions of IκκB-α and TNF-α mRNA were determined by immunoblotting method and reverse transcription-PCR, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Examinations of ① the content of TNF-α, ② NF-κκB activity,③ expression of IκB-α, and ④ expression of TNF-α mRNA.RESULTS: Macrophage secretion of TNF-α was enhanced postburn, reaching the peak level at 12 hours[(1085.65 ± 122.99) ng/L], which was significantly higher than that in the normal control group( t = 14.92, P ＜ 0.01) .Postburn NF-κκB activity significantly increased after the injury, peaking at 2 hours[ (56. 8 ± 7.3)RDU], which occurred much earlier than the peak of TNF-α secretion( t=13. 31, P ＜ 0.01 ). Compared with that in the normal control group, IκB-α expression decreased significantly 2 hours postburn ( t =4. 23, P ＜ 0. 01) to 0. 632 ±0. 086, followed by gradual increase to the peak level to 1. 161 ± 0. 097 24 hours after the burn injury( t = 7.06, P＜ 0. 01) and then by slight decrease to 1. 149 ±0. 167 till 48 hours(t = 4. 82, P ＜ 0.01) . Twelve hours after injury was the time point for intervention with PDTC application, when NF-κκB activity and TNF-α mRNA expression both decreased significantly( P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: NF-κB activity and TNF-αmRNA expression decrease significantly after severe scald. At high levels, IκB-α and NF-κκB maintain an interaction for their restriction. After burn injury, NF-κκB signal transduction pathway is involved in the modulation of TNF-α expression in mouse peritoneal macrophage.

Objective To observe the correlation between the changes of neural cell apoptosis arid caspase-3 gene expression in brain tissues following acute severe traumatic injury to brain(TIB).Method A total of 120 adult Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into a control group(n=8)，TIB group(n=56)and TIB with administration of caspase-3 inhibitor group(n=56).TIB models of rats were made with Feeney's method.The z-DEVDfmk(5 μg)，caspase-3 inhibitor，was administered by intracerebral infusion，and the rats were sacrificed 1，6，24，48 hours and 3，7，14 days postinjury(n=8 for each interval).The specimens of the injured cerebral cortex，suhcerticai white matter，hippocampus，dentate gyrus and contrahteral corresponding brain tissues were taken for detecting apoptesis of neural cells by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated DUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)methods and flow cytomeay.Caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression were detected by using RT-PCR，immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis.The caspase-3 activity was detected by using caspase-3 fluorescent assay kit.Student t-test and Spearman correlation analysis were used to analyze the data with SPSS version 10.1 software package.Results Apoptesis indexes(AI)and the apoptesis percentage(AP)of neural cells in the injured brain regions increased quickly after injury，and reached its peak 24 to 48 hours later，then decreased slowly,but it remained at higher level above that of normal till 14 days later(P＜0.01).The levels of caspase-3 mRNA,eastme-3 protein and caspase-3 activity were increased significantly post injury，and reached its peak at 24 to 48 hours，then it gradually decreased.Compared with control group，the levels ofoptical density of caspase-3 proteins in the injured hippocampus and subcortical white matter at 24 and 48 hours post injury increased 1484% and 1690%，caspase-3 mRNA expressiom increased 1043%and 1180%，and the degreas of caspase-3 activity increased 148% and 183%，respectively.The expression of caspase-3 proenzyme and its P17 subarrit increased.After trealment with caspase-3 inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk，the levels of caspase-3 mRNA，protein expression and caspase-3 activity were significantly decreased.and AI and AP were significantly decreased as well.The correlation between caspase-3 mRNA and level of neural apoptesis was positive(r=0.821，P＜0.01)，and it was likewise between caspase-3 protein and level of neural apoptosis(r=0.638.P＜0.01).Interestingly enough，a positive correlation was found between caspase-3 mRNA and easpase-3 proteins(r=0.945，P＜0.01).Conclusions The activation of caspase-3 leads to apoptosis of neural cells after acute TIB.The expression of caspase-3 are consistent with apoptosis of neural cells following TIB.The regulation of caspase-3 induced by TIB occurs at a ceriain critical link before transduction.Caspase-3 inhibitor can efficiently inhibit apoptosis of neural cells following TIB.