Objective To evaluate the relationship between echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue thickness(EAT) and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease(CAD). Methods One hundredand forty-seven patients (101 patients with CAD and 46 patients with normal coronary arteries by diagnostic coronary angiography) were enrolled. EAT thickness was measured using 2-D echocardiographic parasternal long-and short-axis views. EAT thickness measurements were compared with angiographic findings. Results EAT was significantly higher in CAD group comparison to control group [(7.41 ± 1.63)mm vs (4.41±1.60) mm, P ＜0.01 ]. Furthermore, EAT increased with the severity of CAD [(8.53 ± 1.00)mm vs (6.36 ±1.73)mm, P ＜0.01]. Gensini's score significantly correlated with EAT (r = 0.71, P ＜0.01 ). EAT thickness ≥5.35 mm had 87.13% sensitivity and 80.42% specificity (ROC area 0. 89, P = 0.01,95% CI [0.84 - 0.9;]) for predicting CAD. Conclusions EAT thickness, which is easily and non-invasively evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography, can be an adjunctive marker to classical risk factors for the prediction of CAD, it was significantly correlated with the severity of coronary artery disease.

Objective To investigate the correlation between epicardial fat thickness and non dipper hypertension.Methods A total of 150 subjects was included in the study,of which 50 were in the non dipper hypertension group,the same in the non dipper hypertension group and the healthy control group.History collection and routine laboratory tests,ultrasonic measurement of epicardial fat thickness,and 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were carried on all subjects.Epicardial fat thickness between groups was compared to primarily analyze the correlation of epicardial fat thickness and non dipper type hypertension.The optimal screening positive value in epicardial fat thickness of non dipper type primary hypertension was obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and maximum Youden index.Results When non dipper hypertension group and non-dipper hypertension group were compared,epicardial fat thickness was significantly increased [(6.30 ± 0.94) mm vs (5.92 ± 0.75) mm,P ＜ 0.05],as compared dipper hypertension group to healthy group,the epicardial fat thickness was significantly increased [(5.92 ±0.75)mm vs (5.50 ±0.13)mm,P ＜0.05].Epicardial fat thickness and non dipper type primary hypertension were linearly related (r =0.43,P ＜ 0.05),and epicardial fat thickness in diagnosis of non dippers primary hypertension optimal screening positive value was 6.01 mm.Conclusions There is a close relationship of epicardial fat thickness and non dipper hypertension.

Objective To analyze the effectiveness evaluation of cardiovascular drugs which have been developed on the CYP2C9 target protein by multi-layer fuzzy evaluation technology .Methods The multi-layer fuzzy evaluation method was used to evaluate the effectiveness of cardiovascular drugs interacting with the CYP 2C9 protein and to construct the index system that affects drug efficacy .Results and Conclusion The index system was used to study such cardiovascular drugs as valsartan and to score the drug effectiveness of individual samples .The results were consistent with actual drug treatment and were well confirmed .The results contribute to evaluation of personalized medication .

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of super-selective renal artery embolization in treatment of iatrogenie renal pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula.Methods Twenty-nine patients with iatrogenic renal pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula underwent renal angiography after ineffective conservative treatment.After identifying the location and characteristic of lesions by DSA,super-selective renal artery embolization was performed.Symptoms and signs,renal function changes before and after embolization and complications were recorded to evaluate the therapeutic effect.Results The technical success rate of super-selective renal artery embolization was 100％ (29/29),and clinical success rate was 96.55 ％ (28/29).The serum creatinine level before and after embolotherapy was (93.26 ± 28.79) mmol/L and (91.51 ± 27.68) mmol/L respectively,and there were no significant differences (t=1.28,P=0.22).No serious complications such as nephrapostasis or renal failure occurred in the study.Conclusion Super-selective renal artery embolization has technically and clinically high success rate with limited effect on renal function.It is a safe and effective therapy method in patients with iatrogenic renal pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula.

The curcumin prodrugs, which could be selectively activated in tumor cells, were prepared to establish a basis for the targeted chemotherapy for cancer. On the basis of the molecular structure of curcumin, the N-maleoyl-L-valine-curcumin (NVC), N-maleoyl- glycine-curcumin (NGC) were chemically synthesized and identified by IR and NMR spectroscopy. After treatment with these two prodrugs for 6 - 24 h, the rates of growth inhibition on human bladder cancer EJ cells and renal tubular epithelial (HKC) cells were detected by MTT colorimetry. Our results showed that after the treatment with 20 micromol/L - 40 micromol/L NVC and NGC for 6 - 24 h, the growth inhibitory effects on EJ cells were 6.71% - 65.13% (P < 0.05), 10.96% - 73.01% (P < 0.05), respectively, in both dose- and time-dependent manners. When compared with the curcumin of same concentrations, the growth inhibitory effects of these two prodrugs on HKC cells were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). It is concluded that activation of curcumin prodrugs via hydrolysis functions of cellular esterase could inhibit the growth activities of tumor cells, and reduce the side effects on normal diploid cells. This provided a novel strategy for further exploration of tumor-targeted chemotherapeutic drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/*pharmacology ; Curcumin/*pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Prodrugs/*chemical synthesis ; Prodrugs/*pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/*pathology

Objective To evaluate the effect of robot-assisted gait training on the walking ability of hemiplegic patients.Methods Sixty hemiplegic patients were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group,each of 30.Both groups were given traditional rehabilitation and drug therapy.The control group was additionally provided with the traditional gait training,while the treatment group additionally received robot-assisted gait training.The gait training lasted 30 minutes a day,5 days per week.Before and after 8 weeks of training,the time parameters,phase parameters,the joint angles of the lower limbs,and the peak ground reaction forces of both groups were evaluated using a three-dimensional gait analysis system.Results After the intervention,the walking velocity,stride frequency and stride length had increased in the treatment group,while stride width had decreased.Significant improvement was observed in the treatment group in terms of the percentage of swing phase on the paretic side,the percentage of stance phase on the paretic side,the single support time ratio,the percentage of double support phase,the range of motion of the hip and knee joints,and the peak vertical and forward ground reaction force as a percentage of body weight.The improvements were significantly greater than those observed in the control group.Conclusions Compared with traditional walking training,robot-assisted gait training can be more effective in improving the walking ability of hemiplegic patients.

The curcumin prodrugs, which could be selectively activated in tumor cells, were prepared to establish a basis for the targeted chemotherapy for cancer. On the basis of the molecular structure of curcumin, the N-maleoyl-L-valine-curcumin (NVC), N-maleoyl- glycine-curcumin (NGC) were chemically synthesized and identified by IR and NMR spectroscopy. After treatment with these two prodrugs for 6-24 h, the rates of growth inhibition on human bladder cancer EJ cells and renal tubular epithelial (HKC) cells were detected by MTT colorimetry. Our results showed that after the treatment with 20 μmol/L- 40 μmol/L NVC and NGC for 6 - 24 h, the growth inhibitory effects on EJ cells were 6.71% -65.13 % (P＜0.05), 10.96 % -73.01% (P ＜0.05), respectively, in both dose- and time-dependent manners. When compared with the curcumin of same concentrations, the growth inhibitory effects of these two prodrugs on HKC cells were significantly decreased (P＜0.01). It is concluded that activation of curcumin prodrugs via hydrolysis functions of cellular esterase could inhibit the growth activities of tumor cells, and reduce the side effects on normal diploid cells. This provided a novel strategy for further exploration of tumortargeted chemotherapeutic drugs.

Objective To observe among stroke survivors the timing of muscle activation at the stance phase during walking using the surface electromyography ( sEMG) combined with 3D gait analysis. Methods Twenty stroke survivors assessed as at Brunnstrom stages Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ were assigned to groups designated Ⅲ, Ⅳ and V. sEMG and 3D gait analysis were used to assess the activation timing of the bilateral rectus femoris ( RF) and biceps femoris ( BF) , the tibialis anterior ( TA) and the gastrocnemius medialis ( GM) . The activation timing and the dura-tion of activation of the muscles were compared among the 3 groups, as well as with those of healthy muscles. Results The onset time of the RF on the affected side was significantly later than on the healthy side, while that of the GM was significant earlier. The durations of BF and GM activation on the affected side were significantly shorter than on the unaffected side in group III. The onset times of the TA and GM on the affected side were significantly ear-lier than on the healthy side in group IV, as was the onset time of the TA of the affected side in group V. The average RF and BF onset times on the affected side in group Ⅳ were significantly earlier than in group Ⅲ. The onset time of the TA on the unaffected side and the average BF onset time on the affected side in group Ⅴ were significantly later than in group IV. The onset time of the RF and TA on the unaffected side in group Ⅳ and the onset time of the GM on the affected side were significantly later than in group III, while the onset time of the BF and TA on the affected side was significantly earlier. The average duration of BF activation on the unaffected side in group Ⅳ was significant-ly shorter than that of group Ⅲ. The average duration of TA activation on the unaffected side in group Ⅴ was signifi-cantly shorter than that of group IV. The duration of RF activation on the affected side in group Ⅴ was significantly shorter than that in group Ⅲ, and the same was true of the RF, BF, TA and GM activation times on the healthy side. Conclusions There are significant differences in the onset and duration of muscle activation when stroke survivors at different stages of recovery walk. Some muscles are activated too early and others are over-activated. These abnormali-ties gradually disappear with the recovery of motor function.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of using a walking support band on the gait of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors were randomly divided into a walking support band group ( n=20), an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) group ( n=20) and a conventional rehabilitation group ( n=20). All three groups received conventional rehabilitation therapy, while the AFO group members were additionally provided with an ankle-foot orthosis and the walking support band group members received training wearing a walking support band. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, all three groups were evaluated using three-dimensional gait analysis. Results:A total of 57 patients finished the study. After the interventions, the average step speed, frequency and step length of the three groups had all increased significantly, while the average stride width, the percentage of double stance phase, unaffected and affected side stance phase, and the ratio between unaffected and affected side stance phase had all decreased significantly. After the intervention, the average step speed, frequency and length of the AFO and walking support band groups had increased significantly compared with the conventional rehabilitation group, while the average stride width of the AFO group, and the stride width, the percentage of double stance phase and unaffected side stance phase of the walking support band group had decreased significantly. After the treatment, the average percentages of double stance phase and unaffected side stance phase of the walking support band group had decreased significantly more than in the AFO group.Conclusions:A walking support band can significantly improve the abnormal gait of stroke survivors and is superior to an ankle-foot orthosis when combined with conventional rehabilitation therapy.

Objective:To observe the impact of core stability training in the sling exercise therapy pattern on the balance of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors were randomly divided into a control group ( n=30) and an experimental group ( n=30). In addition to routine rehabilitation training, the control group received traditional core stability training, while the experimental group underwent core stability training applying the sling exercise therapy pattern. Before and after 4 weeks of training, the standing balance of both groups was evaluated using the Prokin balance trainer, with the length and area of motion recorded when performing the balance test with the eyes open and closed. Surface electromyography was used to record the average EMG (AEMG) values of the bilateral erector spinae and multifidus muscles during the balance testing. Results:After the 4 weeks of training the length and the area of progression of the center of the pressure were both significantly smaller for both groups than before the training with the eyes both open and closed. The average length and area in the experimental group were significantly less than among the controls. The AEMG values recorded during the balance tests were significantly higher than those before the intervention for both groups, with the multifidus muscle averages on the affected side significantly greater in the experimental group than among the controls when performing the balance test with the eyes closed.Conclusion:Core stability training in the sling exercise therapy pattern is superior to conventional core stability training because it can better improve the balance of stroke survivors.