Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinical arrhythmia.Atrial electrical remodeling and structural remodeling are the important mechanisms for AF.The intracellular Ca2+ handling abnormalities play an important role in the induction of triggered ectopic activity and in the activation of Ca2+-related cell signaling which mediates fibrillatory remodeling.In addition,the importance of microRNAs,which are a new class of small noncoding sequences that regulate gene expression,has been found in both electrical and structural remodeling.The new discovery of AF mechanisms are helpful to exploring the effective treatment for AF,showing good prospects for the use of translational perspectives.

Objective To prospectively and directly compare the capability of whole-body DWI,MRI and/or CT (MRI-CT),and whole-body DWI with MRI-CT for assessment of lymphatic metastases in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.Methods The institutional review board approved this study; informed consent was obtained from patients.A total of 56 NSCLC patients underwent whole-body DWI and thoracic CT scan prospectively.Conventional MRI was performed in suspicious lymphatic metastases parts within one week after inspection.Final diagnosis of the lymphatic metastases in each patient was determined on the basis of results of all radiologic and follow-up examinations.Two chest radiologists independently assessed all examination results and used a five-point visual scoring system to evaluate the probability of metastases.Final diagnosis based on each of the methods was made by consensus of two readers.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to compare the capability for lymphatic metastases assessment among whole-body DWI,MRI-CT and whole-body DWI with MRI-CT.The detection abilities of lymph nodes with different size were compared with x2 test.Value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lymph nodes was compared with the variance analysis.Results (1) Lymph nodes metastases were divided into 3 groups according to the length diameter (＜ 2,2-3,＞ 3 cm).A statistically significant difference (x2 =13.819,P ＜ 0.01) was found in detection of lymph nodes (＜ 2 cm) among whole-body DWI,MRI-CT and whole-body DWI with MRI-CT(within the 123 lymph nodes,109,98 and 117 were detected respectively),whole-body DWI with MRI-CT was superior to conventional MRI-CT(x2 =13.324,P＜0.01).There were no statistically significant difference between the other 2 groups (in the length diameter 2-3 cm group,43,40 and 45 of all 46 lymph nodes were detected respectively by whole-body DWI,MRI-CT and whole-body DWI with MRI-CT,x2 =3.816,P ＞ 0.05,while in the length diameter ＞ 3 cm group,all of the 27 lymph nodes were detected by each of them.(2) Conventional MRI-CT was superior to whole-body DWI in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in NSCLC.The area under ROC curve value of whole-body DWI with MRI-CT(Az =0.978),the sensitivity,specificity,accuracy (97.4％ 、88.9％ 、86.3％ respectively) were significantly higher than conventional MRI-CT or whole-body DWI.(3)The ADC value of malignant lymph nodes were significantly lower than those of benign [(0.79 ± 0.15) × 10-3 mm2/s vs (1.59--0.15) × 10-3 mm2/s,F =332.813,P ＜ 0.01].The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy were 100％ with the cut-off value of 1.06 × 10-3mm2/s.Conclusions Whole-body DWI is the beneficial supplements of MRI-CT and can be used as a earlier clinical technique in patients with suspected NSCLC lymph node metastasis.Combined with ADC value,it can be used for assessment and differential diagnosis of lymphatic metastases in NSCLC patients.

Objective To investigate the application of whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging (WB-DWI),and to detect bone metastasis in malignant tumor patients.Methods A total of 118 malignant tumor patients prospectively underwent WB-DWI,standard MRI/CT in suspicious bone metastases parts within one week after inspection.Final diagnosis of the bone metastases in each patient was determined on the basis of results of all radiologic and follow-up examinations.The differential diagnosis value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in benign and malignant bone metastases was compared with the variance analysis.Results Area under ROC curve value of WB-DWI with standard MRI/CT (0.999) was larger than that of WB-DWI (0.944) and standard MRI/CT (0.983),and the specificity,accuracy and positive predictive value were also the highest(100.0 ％,97.4 ％,100.0 ％).The ADC values of malignant bone metastases were significantly lower than those of benign lesions[(0.71±0.15)×10-3 mmTs vs (1.50±0.23)×10-3 mm2/s] with a statistically significant difference(F =261.587,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion WB-DWI is the beneficial supplements of standard MRI/CT.Which can be used for assessment and differential diagnosis of bone metastases in malignant tumor patients combined with ADC value.

Serum Ca, P, AKP, plasma iPTH, cAMP, urinary Hyp and BMC were measured in 31 cases of Graves' disease. The results showed that about 66.67% of the patients (including 21 controlled and 10 uncontrolled cases) had a decreased BMC, while serum Ca, P, plasma iPTH, cAMP were within the normal range. The data also showed that about 54.6% of the patients had increased serum AKP, but it would not exceed 25 U if no hepatic disease existed. There were positive correlations between serum T, and urinary Hyp, and between urinary Hyp and serum AKP, but a negative correlation between urinary Hyp and BMC. It was suggested that serum AKP and urinary Hyp could be considered as the indices of negative balance of bone metabolism in Graves' disease, and probably it was induced by excessive thyroid hormone directly.

Objective To observe the effects of Changrui Enemas on IL-1β and NF-κB in the rat model of radiation-induced proctitis, and to explore the mechanism of its repairing mucous membrane and diminishing inflammation. Methods Radiation was given on the pelvis of rats through linear accelerator to establish the model of proctitis. 70 rats were divided into seven groups randomly. Small dose (0.4 g/ml), middle dose(0.8 g/ml) and large dose(1.6 g/ml) of Changrui Enemas by retention enema were given for 7 days, with the admixture liquids of Gentamyein and Dexamethasone, Xilei Powder was used as controls. Changes of IL-1β and NF-κB expression were investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and IHC respectively. Results The expression of IL-1β and NF-κB were determined in the groups accepted radiation, but there had been a dramatic decline in the treatment groups(P<0.05). The high dose treatment group was superior to the low dose one on the whole. Conclusion Changrui Enemas can down-regulate the expression of inflammatory factor IL-1β and NF-κB on radiation induced proctitis rats, and reduce the inflammatory reaction, protect the rectal mucosa, accelerate healing up of the ulcer and relief the symptoms.

AIM: To study the effects of vitamins on vascular activity elements in rabbits with atherosclerosis risk factors to determine whether vitamins have a role in preventing atherosclerosis. METHODS: 26 male Chinese rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. The first group was fed with normal feed as control group (n=6) .The other two groups were fed with normal feed plus cholesterol, lard and methionine as model group (n=10) and vitamin treatment group (n=10) respectively. In addition, the vitamin group was given multi-vitamin daily by gastrogavage. The experiment lasted for 8 wk. The vascular activity elements of the three groups were detected by radioimmunoassay and nitrate reductase respectively ,and the aorta pathological sample was prepared. RESULTS: In model group, the levels of plasma endothelin and thromboxane B 2/6-keto-prostaglandin F l? were significantly increased compared with control group, but serum nitric oxide showed no obvious changes between both groups. In vitamin group, the levels of plasma endothelin and thromboxane B 2 were significantly decreased, and the levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1? and nitric oxide were significantly increased compared with model group. In model group, there were significant pathological lesions, but the lesion was decreased by vitamin treatment. CONCLUTION: The vitamins supplement can alleviate or block the impairment of vascular endothelia caused by atherosclerosis risk factors, and help adjust the equilibrium of vascular activity elements. Therefore vitamins may play a positive role in preventing atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the significance of T-bet and GATA-3 in the pathogenesis of pityriasis rosea.Methods SYBR Green Ⅰ real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expressions of T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 17 patients with pityriasis rosea and 20 normal human controls.Results The average delta Ct value of T-bet mRNA and GATA-3 mRNA was 3.33 ± 0.94 and 5.22 ± 0.69 respectively in the patients,4.31 ± 1.11 and 4.36 ± 1.02respectively in the controls.There was a higher expression of T-bet mRNA but a lower expression of GATA-3 mRNA in the patients compared with the controls (both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Patients with pityriasis rosea show an increased ratio of T-bet to GATA3 expression and predominant expression of Th1-type cytokines.Abnormal cellular immunity may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pityriasis rosea.

Objective To investigate the auditory features in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea hy-popnea syndrome(OSAHS) and the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on auditory functions . Methods Pure tone audiometry thresholds ,auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE) were performed in three groups with 12 observed objects in each group ,which were the OS-AHS group(before and after treatment of CPAP) ,the simple snoring group and the normal control group .Results In the OSAHS group ,the high frequency auditory thresholds(at 8000 Hz) were greatly higher and the amplitudes of DPOAE reduced ;the detection rates of DPOAE were obviously declined .The peak latencies of Ⅰ ,Ⅲ and Ⅴ , and interpeak latencies of Ⅲ - Ⅴ andⅠ - Ⅴ were longer than those of in the other two groups .The differences were statistically significant(P<0 .05) .The differences of the interpeak latencies of Ⅰ - Ⅲ ,common pure tone au-ditory thresholds (125～4000 Hz) and the thresholds of Ⅴ -wave reaction in the OSAHS group did not change sig-nificantly compared with the other two groups(P>0 .05) .The amplitudes and the detection rates of DPOAEs (0 .5～8 kHz) increased after treatment with CPAP .The differences were statistically significant except the amplitudes of 500 ,750 and 1500 Hz (P<0 .05) .Pure tone audiometry and ABRs did not changed significantly after treatment with CPAP (P> 0 .05) .Conclusion The auditory functions of patients diagnosed with severe OSAHS were im-paired .Treatments with CPAP can partly improve the patients' auditory functions .

Objective To establish and evaluate chemotherapeutic phlebitis model rats induced by vinorelbine via the dorsalis pedis vein.Methods Rats were divided randomly into control and 4 different concentration of vinorelbine-induced model groups.Control rats were injected with 0.1 mL normal saline via the dorsalis pedis vein of the hind limb,while other rats were injected with different concentrations of vinorelbine(2,3,4,5 mg/mL),as above.General observations were performed and the hind limb volume was measured daily for 7 consecutive days to calculate the swelling rate.The rats were then killed and histological changes in the dorsalis pedis vein were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Microstructural changes on the surface of the vascular endometrium were observed by scanning electron microscopy.Results Injection of 2,3,4,5 mg/mL vinorelbine via the dorsalis pedis vein significantly induced hind limb swelling in a concentration-dependent manner,peaking on day 3 in each group.The phlebitis rates on day 7 were 50%in the 2 mg/mL group and 83.3%in the 3 mg/mL group.Phlebitis was also induced in the 4 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL groups,including grade Ⅲ in 66.6%and grade Ⅳ in 83.3%.Histopathology showed inflammatory cell infiltration,wall thickening,lumen stenosis,and thrombosis in the tissues surrounding the veins.Scanning electron microscopy showed destruction of tight junctions of venous endothelial cells,and a rough surface of the vascular lining,resultsing in blood cell adhesion.Conclusions Injection of 0.1 mL of 3～5 mg/mL vinorelbine via the dorsalis pedis vein could induce red,swollen,and cord-like veins,as well as infiltration of inflammatory cells around the vein,thickened vein walls,lumen stenosis,and thrombosis.In addition,the surface of the venous intima was rough and adhered to numerous blood cells.All these features are consistent with those of clinical chemotherapeutic phlebitis in terms of the symptoms and pathological structure.

Objective:To explore the correlation of c-MET and CXCR4 proteins and microvessel density (MVD) with liver metastasis in colorectal cancer tissues.Methods:A total of 40 colorectal cancer tissue samples and 10 paracancerous (5 cm from the edge of the tumor) normal colorectal tissue samples were collected from March 2015 to December 2020 in Shanxi Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital. Among 40 patients with colorectal cancer, 15 patients had liver metastasis. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect c-MET protein, CXCR4 protein and CD34-labeled MVD in various tissues, and the relationships between them and liver metastasis and between the three were analyzed.Results:The positive rates of c-MET protein [72.5% (29/40) vs. 30.0% (3/10)], CXCR4 protein [47.5% (19/40) vs. 10.0% (1/10)] and MVD (20.1±5.2 vs. 11.5±4.3) in colorectal cancer tissues were higher than those in paracancerous tissues, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The positive rates of c-MET protein [86.7% (13/15) vs. 64.0% (16/25)] and CXCR4 protein [66.7% (10/15) vs. 36.0% (9/25)] in colorectal cancer liver metastasis group were significantly higher than those in non-liver metastasis group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). MVD in colorectal cancer liver metastasis group was significantly higher than that in non-liver metastasis group (21.5±5.3 vs. 12.4±5.7), and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). In colorectal cancer tissues, c-MET protein expression was positively correlated with CXCR4 protein expression ( r = 0.568, P < 0.05), and MVD in c-MET-positive patients or CXCR4-positive patients was higher than that in negative ones (both P < 0.05). Conclusions:The c-MET protein, CXCR4 protein and MVD may play important roles in the liver metastasis of colorectal cancer. The three indicators can provide a certain reference for the early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of liver metastasis of colorectal cancer.