Intravenous injection of l-stepholildine (SPD) 2.5, 10 and 40 mg/kg decreased blood pressure(BP ) by 30, 40 and 55% respectively in anesthetized dogs. SPD also decreased BP in anesthetized rats (0.5mg/kg iv, by 29% and 2-50 mg/kg injected into duodenum, by 17-36%) and rabbits (2.5 mg/kg iv, by 24%). It could inhibit the pressor reflexes induced by occluding carotid, stimulating vagus Or sciatic nerve. Furthermore, SPD 2.5 mg/kg injected into fourth cerebroventricle of dog decreased BP by 20%, and in pithed rats SPD 10-40 mg/kg iv depreased BP by 7-40%. These results indicate that both central and peripheral mechanisms are involved in the hypotens-ive action of SPD and the peripheral seems to be more important. As showed in previous papers the effect of SPD on ?-adrenoceptors may be one of the chief mechanisms of the hypotensive action induced by SPD.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and complications of the covered stents in the treatment of malignant upper gastrointestinal tract stricture.Methods 53 cases with malignant upper gastrointestinal tract obstruction underwent treatment with covered stents.The therapeutic efficiency and the complications were observed.Results The procedures were successful in 50 cases in one time,the successful rate was 94.3%.The complications included chest pain and foreign body sensation,diarrhea,restenosis,stent migration,esophagus reflux,bleeding.Conclusion The treatment with covered stents was a safe,simple and effective management for the patients with malignant upper gastrointestinal tract obstruction who had lost the chance of surgical resection or refused to undergo operation.

Objective To evaluate the value of quantized diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)in diagnosis of focal liver lesions. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in 120 patients with focal liver lesions and in 12 healthy controls who underwent DWI and routine non-enhanced MRI at 3.0T.In 120 patients,there were 1 79 focal liver lesions including 53 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC),61 metastatic tumors,32 hemangiomas and 33 cysts.The DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)maps and ADC val-ues of the lesions and the normal liver were analyzed and measured with a b value of 800 s/mm2 ,and the statistical differences be-tween two groups were compared.Results DWI showed 33 hepatic cysts with low signal,and 5 1 hepatocellular carcinomas,61 he-patic metastases and 32 hepatic hemangiomas with high signal,thus the signal difference between hepatic cyst and other lesions was significant (P <0.05).The ADC images of HCC and metastatic tumors were cold colour,and those of hepatic cysts and hemangio-mas were hot colour.The ADC value between HCC,liver metastatic tumors,hepatic hemangioma and cysts were significant different (P <0.05).However,there were no significant differences in ADC value between HCC and metastatic tumors (P >0.05).In addit-on,the ratios of the ADC values of lesion to background liver between hepatocellular carcinoma and metastases were significantly dif-ferent (P <0.05).Conclusion DWI and ADC maps,and ADC value can provide importantly additional information for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of focal liver lesions.

Objective To investigate the risk factors, clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of aortic dissection. Methods Forty-four patients with aortic dissection were analyzed from 2005 to 2008 in our hospital retrospectively. Results Hypertension was a common cause of aortic dissection. Aortic dissection showed diverse clinical manifestations. Chest pain was a common initial symptom, whereas some patients' initial symptoms were atypical(e. g. complications). CT and MRI examination could diagnose aortic dissection at a high accurate rate compared with echocardiography. However,ultrasound examination was cheap and convenient,thus could be used as routine examination when someone has suspected diagnosis. As to the treatment of aortic dissection, there were medical conservative, surgical and endovascular stent treatment Conclusions Hypertension is a major risk factor of aorticdissection. Aortic dissection showed diverse clinical manifestations, thus misdiagnosis may occur frequently. Medical treatment should combine a variety of antihypertensive drugs. Surgery or interventional therapy according to the clinical type and condition can reduce the fatality and improve the prognosis of patients.

Objective To explore the clinical value of wave intensity (WI) in evaluating early changes of cardiovascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods Thirty T2DM patients without atherosclerosis by conventional ultrasonography were enrolled as case group,while thirty healthy volunteers were enrolled as control group.Two groups were well-matched in age and sex.Both of the case and control groups were taken WI test of carotid artery.The parameters of WI examinations in two groups were measured and compared.Results Compared to the control group,values of arterial stiffness index (β),elasticity modulus (Ep),pulse wave transit velocity (PWVβ),and decelerating wave intensity (W2) were significantly higher in T2DM group (P ＜0.05).Arterial compliance (AC) value was significantly reduced in T2DM group (P ＜0.05).Accelerating wave intensity (W1) value was higher in T2DM group without significant statistical differences (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions WI technique which can early assess the changes of left ventricular function and vascular elasticity in T2DM patients has important clinical value.

Objective　To investigate clinical features of neonatal ventilator associated pneumonia.Methods　Retrospective analysis of clinical features was performed in twenty-two newborns with ventilator associated pneumonia.Results　Ventilator associated pneumonia were found in 22 ou t of 36 neonates with mechanical ventilation.Conclusion　The incidence of VAP is significantly increased if the time of mechanical ventilation in longer than 96 hours.

Objective To observe the effect of early non-invasive positive pressure ventilation(NIPPV)on the treatment of serious hypoxemia induced by acute left heart failure. Methods Forty patients with acute left heart failure( Grade Ⅳ heart function)were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in both groups accepted supportive treatment included cardiotonics, diuretics, vasodilators, in additional to these high concentrations of oxygen were given in conventional group, and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation were given in NIPPV group by biphasic positive airway pressure(BiPAP). Systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood-gas analysis( pH, PaO2, PaCO2, SaO2 )and clinical signs were observed at 2 hours after treatments. Results Compared to control,RR( [ 19.55 ± 1.88] vs [21.85 ±3.51 ] ) BPM] ,HR ( [96.40 ±2.80] vs[ 103.20 ±6.78 ] BPM), SBP ( [ 116.30 ± 8.95 ] mm Hg vs [ 122.50 ± 6.13 ] mm Hg), pH (7.404 ± 0.027 vs 7.358 ±0.05) ,SaO2 ( [93.57 ± 1.18]% vs [91.97 ± 1.85]% ) ,PaO2 ( [75.58 ±4.61 ]mm Hg vs [68.38 ±7.95]mm Hg), PaCO2 ( [ 38.69 ± 3.06 ] mm Hg vs [ 43.61 ± 2.65 ] mmHg) were significantly different in NIPPV group( t = 2.582,4.146,2.558,3.534,3.256,3.505,5.428, Ps ＜ 0.05 ). We found no significant differences in the comparisons before treatments. Hypoxia improved in NIPPV group,and the total effective rate was 95% in NIPPV group and 70% in control group,which showed significant difference( x2 =4.329 ,P ＜0.05 ) Conclusion BiPAP non-invasive positive pressure ventilation combined with routine treatment in treating heart failure, could promptly correct hypoxia, improve heart function and shortening disease course.

Objective To investigate the distribution of T follicular helper(Tfh)cell subsets in hepa-titis B patients at different immune stages and to clarify the relationships between the level of CXCL13 and the distribution of Tfh cell subsets. Methods Flow cytometry analysis was performed to detect the distribution of Tfh cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was performed to measure the levels of CXCL13 in ser-um samples collected from hepatitis B patients. RT-PCR and Western blot assay were used to analyze the expres-sion of CXCL13 in HepG2 and HepG2. 2. 1. 5 cells. Results The percentages of Tfh1 cells were significantly up-regulated at the immune activation(IA)stage,while those of Tfh2 cells were significantly raised at the im-mune tolerance(IT)stage. The percentages of Tfh17 cells in patients at the stage of IT were similar to those in patients at the stage of IA,but were higher than those in responders with HBsAg seroconversion(RP)or healthy controls(HC). The expression of CXCL13 was positively correlated with the percentage of Tfh2 cells. More over,hepatitis B virus(HBV)enhanced the expression of CXCL13 at both transcriptional and translational lev-els. Conclusion HBV might up-regulate the percentage of Tfh2 cells through promoting the expression of CXCL13,which resulted in the induction of immune tolerance. Elucidating the functions of Tfh1,Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells and understanding the type conversion mechanism among the three subsets are important for further researches on HBV-induced immunosuppression.

Objective To enhance the understanding of clinical characteristics and genetic testing of chromosome 4q21/q22 deletion syndrome. Methods Chromosomal microarray analysis was used to detect genetic change in a child with special facial appearance and development delay. Results A 15.26-Mb deletion containing 76 geinges in chromosome 4q21.21q22.2 was identiifed. Thus, this girl was diagnosed as chromosome 4q21/q22 deletion syndrome. Conclusions Chromosome 4q21/q22 deletion syndrome has varied clinical manifestations including typical characteristics (such as absolute or relative macrocephaly, megalencephaly with a characteristic head shape and facial appearance, profound hypotonia, small hands and feet, short limbs, feeding difficulties), mental retardation/severe developmental delay, and other system abnormalities ( such as congenital heart disease, seizure, kidney cysts, etc). The diagnosis of chromosome 4q21/q22 deletion syndrome relies on chromosomal microarray analysis.

Objective To investigate the effect of Curcumin on rats with severe acute pancreatitis associated renal injury and explore the possible mechanisms.Methods A total of 72 rats were randomLy divided into sham-operated group(S group, n =24), severe acute panceratitis with renal injury group(M group, n =24) ,Curcumin-treated group(Cur group,n=24).The S and M groups were given 1.5 ml saline through intragastric administration 3 hours before operation,while the Cur group was fed with same amount of Curcumin diluent(200 mg/kg).The pancreas and pancreatic tail-segment was dissociated and the head of pancreas was occlused in rats to form the model,blood vessel forceps was loosed after 3 hours.All the rats were sacrificed at 12 h,24 h, 36 h and 48 h after modeling.The level of ascites, serum amylase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen were detected and the pathological chang of pancreas was observed under light microscope.Take the right kidney for Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) determination and the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1αmRNA in the right kidney was detected with realtime polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results Compared with Cur group, the level of ascites, serum amylase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen in M group were significantly increased, but the activity of SOD, the express of hypoxia inducible factor-1αmRNA had a significant decline (P＜0.05).The tissue damage of pancreas and the kidneys became more serious.But a better performance was to be found in the function of the Cur group's kidney and pancreas, and the the difference was statistical significance (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Curcumin has a good protective effect on severe acute pancreatitis associated renal injury.It may be through up-regulation expression of HIF-1α mRNA and increase the activity of superoxidase dismutase, then reduce the cell apoptosis and necrosis of the kidney, improve the ability of the kidney to tolerate hypoxia.