In order to explore the mechanism of cardiac damage by PTH, the release of PGI2 from heart cells was measured. The results showed that bPTH ( 1-34) increased the release of 6-keto-PGFla from heart cells in a dose dependent manner. Calcium inophone A23187 also increased the 6-keto-PGF1? release, while EDTA and verapamil reduced it. These suggest that the PGI2 synthesis in heart cells was affected by intra and extracellular calcium. The significance of bPTH( 1-34) induced increase of PGI2 synthesis might be associated with interference of energy metabolism, and then, cell damage.

Objective To provide theoretical reference for clinical therapy of pulmonary adenocarcinoma by evaluating the effects of polysaccharides and pioglitazone on mouse model of pulmonary adenocarcinoma and to explore the relationship between inflammation and pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Methods One hundred mice were averagely divided into five groups, including control group, model group, polysaccharides group, pioglitazone group, polysaccharides and pioglitazone group (unite group). Polysaccharides solution (500 mg/kg) was given to polysaccharides group, pioglitazone solution (15 mg/kg) was given to pioglitazone group, polysaccharides solution (500 mg/kg) and pioglitazone solution (15 mg/kg) were given to unite group;and the equal volume of saline (10 mL/kg) was given to control and model group (1 t/d, 5 d/w, continuously 20 w ). The pulmonary adenocarcinoma induced by urethane was evaluated in each group at different time points. The levels of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were measured in each group at the 12th week and the 20th week respectively. Results The body weights were increased in the control group, which were decreased in other groups during urethane-injection, but increased continuously after the injection. At the 20th week, nodules were found in lung surfaces in all mice except mice of control group. The lung index was higher in all mice except mice of control group. The levels of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 were significantly higher at 12th week and 20th in model group, polysaccharides group, pioglitazone group, polysaccha?rides and pioglitazone group than those of control group. The levels of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 were significantly lower in polysaccharides group, pioglitazone group, polysaccharides and pioglitazone group than those of model group. Con?clusion Sustained inflammatory response is one of the risk factors for the development of lung adenocarcinoma. Polysaccha?rides and pioglitazone can reduce the level of inflammation in mouse lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting that both of them can be used as potential adjuvant in the clinical treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of child-onset relapsing polychondritis (CORP). Methods The clinical manifestations of 11 CORP cases were analyzed retrospectively. Results Eleven cases of CORP were collected with Male to Female ratio of 5 ∶6; the mean age of disease onset was (11±4)(3-15) years; and the mean age of final diagnosis was(16±5)(6-22) years-old. The mean time of delay of diagnosis was(55±46)(2-144) month. Nine cases were simple CORP and 2 cases were concurred with SLE and pSS respectively. Laryngotracheal symptoms as initial presentation was seen in 7/11(64%) of cases, followed by rhinitis, eye involvement and arthritis. Laryngotracheal involvement occurred in 10/11 (91%) cases and 6/11(55%) underwent trachectomy when the diagnosis was made, followed by eye and nose involvement (saddle nose)(46% each), involvement of auricular cartilage,vestibule disorder and arthritis (36% each). Elevation of ESR or CRP(36%) were observed and positive autoantibody(18%) were detected in serology study; 9/11 (82%) were treated with steroid combined immunosuppressant. All cases were improvedor stable except 2 cases with exacerbation after upper respiratory infection during the follow-up of mean(27±15)(4-48) month. Conclusion Laryngopharyngeal involvement is the most common phenomenon in CORP and is associated with poor prognosis due to diagnosis delay. Imaging investigation may provide useful evidence for early diagnosis. Aggressive treatment is helpful in improving outcome.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features of ocular involvement and the application of Rose criteria in patients with relapsing polychondritis (RP).Methods:The data from RP patients with ocular involvement were collected and analyzed. Patients included must have at least one major criteria of Michet criteria and the application Rose criteria was also investigated. Demographic data of these patients was presented as percentages. The difference between types of disease onset was tested by Mann-Whitney U and comparison among groups was tested by False Discovery Rate. Results:A total of 192 patients were enrolled 98 males and 94 females. The mean age of disease onset was (42±14) (0.5-79) years old, the median disease duration (DD) was 13(0.5, 600) months. The median RP disease activity index (RPDAI) was 39(9-74) and the median RP organ damage index (RPODI) was 2.5(0.1, 108). The median RP damage index (RPDAM) was 3(1-6). The statistical significant difference was identified in median DD between groups of nose and pinna ( Z=10.775, P<0.01), nose and OEH ( Z=9.277, P<0.01), in RPODI between groups of nose and pinna ( Z=7.999, P=0.031), nose and and extra-cranial organs ( Z=8.115, P=0.030) and eye and airway involvement of RPDAM could be seen between groups ( Z=7.683, P=0.037) respectively. Ocular involvement(50.0%), auricular chondritis(21.4%) and airway chondritis(13.5%) were the top three most common symptoms at disease onset. The ocular involvement(100%), airway chondritis (75.0%) and inner ear involvement(69.3%) were the top three most frequent affected organs. All parts of eye could be involved in RP ocular damage. Single-organ involvement was 59.9%; and multi-organ involvement could be seen in 40.1% patients. Diagnostic strength was enhanced by application of Rose criteria in 171 cases fulfilled Michet criteria and 21(10.9%) cases partially fulfilled Michet criteria fulfilled Rose criteria. Active screening for organ (especially inner ear and airway) involvement would improve the rate of early diagnosis. The pinna and airway involvement suggested nose and middle-ear might be involved. Conclusion:Ocular involvement in RP can involve all parts of the eye ball. Examining the inner ear and airway may help to confirm the diagnosis. It is worthy to apply this to clinical practice.

To study the effect of endotoxin on liver apoptosis, L02 liver cells were cultured and passaged in vitro, and then stimulated by endotoxin at 10 mg/mL for 4, 8, 16 and 24 h respectively. Liver apoptosis was flow cytometrically and fluorescently detected. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the delivery of smac and caspase9. The delivery of liver cell smac and the activity of caspase3 were measured by caspase3 assay kit. The hepatic failure models of rats were established by using D-galactosamine. The blood serum and liver tissues were collected for the detection of the liver function, the level of endotoxin and the activity of caspase3 by using chromogenic substrate limulus amebocyte lysate method (LAL) and caspase3 active assay kit. The expression of smac and caspase9 in liver cells was detected by Western blotting. With in vitro study, the L02 cells stimulated by LPS condensed into conglobation and formed apoptotic bodies. After those cells were stained by hoechst, the apoptotic cells displayed blue color under the fluorescent microscope. The apoptosis rate was increased over time and the apoptosis was mainly of advanced stage. Meanwhile, the rate of smac delivery and activity of caspase9 and caspase3 were increased on L02 cell membrane. In vivo, hepatic failure and obvious endotoxemia were induced by injection of more than 200 mg/kg D-GalN. Hepatic mitochondria smac was reduced with dosage of D-GalN and, on the contrary, the activity of caspase3 was increased. D-GalN at 200 mg/kg increased Caspase9 while D-GalN at 300 mg/kg decreased caspase9. Mitochondria signal channel plays an important role in the endotoxin-induced apoptosis of hepatic cells by promoting the release of smac from mitochondria to cytoplasm and activating caspase9 and caspase3 in its low-level channel.
Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Carrier Proteins/*metabolism ; Caspase 3/metabolism ; Caspase 9/metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cells, Cultured ; Endotoxins/*pharmacology ; Liver/cytology ; Liver/*metabolism ; Liver/pathology ; Liver Failure/chemically induced ; Liver Failure/pathology ; Mitochondrial Proteins/*metabolism ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To study the feasibility and accuracy of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT 3D-TEE) in measuring the aortic annulus dimension(AAD),and compared with CT measurements.Methods The AAD was measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE),transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) and RT 3D-TEE in 26 cases who were refered to our center for transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI).Cross-sectional RT 3D-TEE can offer the AAD derived from the aortic annulus area,the maximal AAD,the minimal AAD and the eccentric index(the maximal AAD/the minimal AAD).The echo dimensions were compared with the CT measurements.Results No statistically significant differences were found between RT 3D-TEE and CT,and they have the best correlation(r =0.92,P ＜ 0.05).Meanwhile,There was no statistically significant difference in the eccentric index of the AAD between RT 3D-TEE and CT(1.25± 0.12 vs 1.28± 0.13,P ＞0.05).Conclusions RT-3D TEE imaging not only measure the AAD accurately,but also provide the maximal AAD,minimal AAD and the eccentric index for TAVI.

Objective To explore the feasibility of biplane-transesophageal echocardiography (Bip-TEE) in measuring the aortic annulus dimension (AAD).Methods Totally 24 patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) were collected,and their AAD was measured by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D-TTE),two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D-TEE),Bip-TEE and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) respectively.These four methods were compared with each other.The correlation between 3D-TEE measures and other three methods were analyzed.Results The AAD measured by 2D-TTE,2DTEE,Bip-TEE and 3D-TEE were (22.02±2.21)mm,(23.34±2.34)mm,(23.89±2.37)mm,(24.21±2.78)mm,respectively.The differences among 4 groups was significant (F=3.88,P=0.01).No statistically significant differences were found between Bip-TEE and 3D-TEE,2D-TEE and 3DTEE,Bip TEE and 2D-TEE (all P＞0.05).There were significant differences between 2D-TTE and 2D-TEE,2D-TTE and Bip-TEE,2D-TTE and 3D-TEE (all P＜0.05).The AAD measured by 3D-TEE were positively correlated with that of 2D-TTE,2D-TEE,Bip-TE (r=0.79,0.88,0.94,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Bip-TEE is a feasible method to measure the AAD rapidly and can provide reliable measurements for the prosthetic valve size in TAVI.

Objective To discuss the preliminary experience of transcatheter aortic valve implatantion in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. Methods The baseline characteristics, hemodynamic changes and clinical outcomes of the patients received TAVI in our institution were analyzed. Results A total of 36 patients underwent TAVI between April 2012 and March 2014. The mean age was (73.4±8.7) years and 24 (66.7%) of them were men. The mean logistic EuroSCORE was (20.6±9.9)%. 25(70%) patients had bicuspid aortic valves. TAVI was successful in 35 patients (97.2%) and valve-in-valve implantation was required in 4 (11.1%) of them. After the procedure, the mean aortic-valve gradient reduced to (10.5±5.7) mmHg. In 2 patients (5.6%), there was marginal moderate periprosthetic leak. At 30 days, the survival rate was 97.2%. Two patients (5.6%) developed who later showed fuel recovery, without significant sequela. Permanent pacemakers were implanted in 10 patients (27.8%) due to the onset of third-degree atrioventricular block after TAVI. To date, the median follow-up duration has exceeded 323 days. 2 patients died of cancer on 374 days and 680 days after TAVI, respectively. Conclusions TAVI is feasible, safe and effective in treating severe stenosis of bicuspid as well as tricuspid aortic valve in selected Chinese patients unsuitable for surgery.

Objective To explore the expression level and clinical significance of multifunctional CD8 T cells in patients with tuberculosis (TB). Methods The expression levels of MTB antigen specific and non-specific multifunctional CD8 T cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and pleural fluid mononuclear cells (PFMCs) in TB patients, latent tuberculosis infection patients (LTBI) and healthy controls (HC) were measured by flow cytometry. Results The expression level of multifunctional CD8 T cells (IL-2+IFN-γ+TNF-α+CD8 T cells) among PBMCs stimulated by non-specific MTB antigen in TB patients was (5.72 ± 4.32)%, which was significantly lower than those in HC and LTBI [(22.3 ± 15.7)%, q=7.455, P<0.001;(14.2 ± 7.72)%, q=3.110, P<0.05]. Under the stimulation by specific MTB antigen, the expression level of multifunctional CD8 T cells among PBMCs in TB patients was (0.33 ± 0.83)%, which was significantly higher than those in HC and LTBI [(0.017 ± 0.03)%, q=3.97, P<0.05;(0.019 ± 0.035)%, q=3.39, P<0.05]. In patients with tuberculous pleurisy, the expression level of multifunctional CD8 T cells among PFMCs was (0.623 ± 1.033)%, which was significantly higher than that among PBMCs [(0.034 ± 0.066)%, P<0.001]. The expression level of multifunctional CD8 T cells in TB patients was negatively correlated with HRCT score (r=-0.265 8, P=0.015 8). Conclusion The expression level of multifunctional CD8 T cells was contributed to discriminate TB patients from latent tuberculosis infection patients , and was closely related to the degree of damage in lung.

Objective: To investigate the impact of thyroid hormone on atrial ifbrillation (AF) prevalence in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
Methods: A total of 322 non-valvular heart disease CHF patients treated in our hospital from 2011-0-01 to 2012-10-01 were retrospectively studied. Based on previous history and the ECG at admission, the patients were divided into 2 groups: AF group,n=187 and Sinus rhythm group,n=135. The proifle of serum levels of free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), hyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and LDL-C were examined within 24 hours of admission; 12 lead ECG and echocardiography were conducted to analyze the related factor for AF occurrence.
Results: Compared with Sinus rhythm group, AF group had increased FT4 level as 14.52 (12.74, 15.85) pmol/L vs 13.11 (11.68, 14.85) pmol/L,P<0.001, while FT3 level was similar between 2 groups as 4.06 (3.76, 4.44) pmol/L vs 4.1(3.80, 4.52) pmol/L,P=0.250. Spearman related analysis indicated that FT4 level was positively related to left atrial dimension (LAD) (r=0.134,P=0.016), FT3 level was positively related to LDL-C (r=0.235,P<0.001) and negatively related to age (r=-0.268, P<0.001). Taking FT4 as the continuous variable, Logistic regression analysis indicated that FT4 level [OR=1.227, 95% CI (1.112-1.354),P<0.001], LAD [OR=1.154, 95% CI (1.105-1.205),P<0.001], age [OR=1.038, 95% CI (1.012-1.064),P=0.003], CHF duration [OR=1.111, 95% CI (1.021-1.209),P=0.015], LDL-C level [OR=0.689, 95% CI (0.493-0.963),P=0.029] were related to AF prevalence in CHF patients.
Conclusion: High serum level of FT4 may increase the risk AF occurrence in CHF patients.