Objective: To study if there is an aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) expression in patients of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH) and to explore if the amount of AHR expression related to pulmonary vascular remodeling.
Methods:A total of 32 CHD-PAH patients diagnosed by echocardiography and right heart catheterization for surgical repair were enrolled, and the lung tissue biopsy was performed during the operation. The pulmonaryAHR was detected by immunolfuorescence assay, the ratios of vessel wall area/total area (WA/TA) and vessel wall thickness/vessel external diameter (WD/TD) of small pulmonary arteries were calculated with the imaging software, the mRNA expression of AHR, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), aryl-hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were examined by RT-PCR. In addition, blood level of AHR was measured by ELISA.
Results: There was AHR expression in pulmonary tissue in all 32 patients. And AHR mRNA expressions were positively related to mPAP (r=0.809,P<0.001), WA/TA (r=0.723,P<0.001), WD/TD (r=0.746,P<0.001); and positively related to mRNA expressions of HIF-1α (r=0.889,P<0.001), ARNT (r=0.738,P<0.001), VEGF (r=0.822,P<0.001). Pulmonary tissue VEGF mRNA expressions were positively related to mPAP (r=0.739,P<0.001), WD/TD (r=0.702,P<0.001) and WA/TA (r=0.657,P<0.001). Blood levels of AHR were positively related to mPAP (r=0.754,P<0.001), WD/TD (r=0.754, P<0.001) and WA/TA (r=0.739,P<0.001).
Conclusion: AHR might be involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling in CHD-PAHpatients.

Objective: To study the effects and safety of Shixinyatong buccal tablets in the treatment of gastropyretic toothache (perico-ronitis). Methods: Randemized, double-blinded, double-imitated, parallel-controlled and multi-center clinical study was employed. 120 cases of gastropyretic toothache (pericoronitis) was enrolled in the experimental group( SBT group) and another 120 in control group(CBD group). Pericoronal pocket rinsing was performed for each case at the first visit, then the patients in SBT group were treated by Shixin buccal tablets(SBT) , 0. 6 g×2, 4/d and oral adiministration of the vehicle of cow-bezoare detoxicating tablets,0.3 g×3, 3/ d. The patients in CBD group were treated by oral adiministration of cow-bezoare detoxicating tablets ( SBD), 0. 3 g×3, 3/d and the vehicle of SBT, 0.6 g ×2, 4/d respectively. Pain, gingiva contagious tumefaction, pyorrhea of periocoronal pocket and limitation of mouth opening were scored by 0, 2, 4 and 6 as the major physical signs and symptoms(MAS); periocoronal flap and pocket, facial swelling, hot and foul breath, costipation, lymphadenectasis, thirsty and desire of cold drinks, fever by 0, 1,2 and 3 as the minor (MIS). Treatment was continued for 5 days and data were statistically analysed with SAS6. 12 software. Significant effectiveness was i-dentified by the decrease of total score of all the physical signs and symptoms(TS) ≥70% .effectiveness 30%～69% and ineffectiveness ≤29%. Routine examinations of blood, urine and stool, function of liver and kidney and electrocardiogram were conducted before and after treatment. Adverse events(AE) were observed. Results: 3 cases divorced from SBT group and 2 from CBD group. The demographic data and all the scores before treatment were not statistically different between groups (P>0.05). 3 and 5 days after treatment theTS, TSMA and TSMI were decreased(P= 0.000) in both groups, in SBT group decreased more than in CBD(P<0.001). Significant effectiveness ratio of SBT group was higher than that of CBD (P=0. 000). 5 days after treatment TS of MASs and the scores of each MAS in SBT group decreased more than in CBD( P<0.05). Vital signs were in normal range and not statisticaly different between groups(P>0.05). The clinical lab examinations showed no abnormal changes. Drug-related AE were observed in 3 cases, 1 with moderate AE in SBT group recovered after drug withdrawal, 2 with mild AE in CBD group recovered without aditional treatment. Conclusion; Shixinyatong buccal tablet is more effective in the treatment of gastropyretic toothache (pericoronitis) than cow-bezoare detoxicating tablets and with similar safety.