Objective To investigate relationship between atrial septal thickness and atrial function by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE). Methods TEE and automatic bound detection (ABD) were performed in 83 consecutive sinus rhythm subjects including four groups: control group, nonrheumatic heart disease group, rheumatic mild mitral stenosis group and rheumatic severe mitral stenosis group. Results Atrial septal thickness(AST)and atrial septal thickness fraction (ASTF) were different in various heart diseases. There was high correlation respectively between left atrial diameter(LAD) and AST(r= -0.601 8 ,P

Objective To investigate the expression of tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) and intracellular adhesion molecular-1(ICAM-1) in brain tissue after experimental intracerebral hemorrhage in rats.Methods Experimental intracerebral hemorrhage model was maded by injection autologous blood using stereotactic method. The expression of TNF-? and ICAM-1 in cerebral tissues at different time were detected by using immunohistochemitry techniques.Results TNF-? expression raised obviously at 6 h and peaked at 48 h.ICAM-1 expression raised obviously at 12 h and peaked at 72 h.There was obvious difference between each intracerebral hemorrhage group and controls(all P

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of gamma knife on patients with intracranial cavernous angioma (CA). Methods: The medical records of 122 patients (134 lesions) who underwent radiosurgery were reviewed retrospectively. Results: hT e average follow-up period was 43 months. No patient died. One patient underwent CA resection. In patients with epilepsy, 83% patients showed alleviation of seizures. About 44% of the lesions shrank in size after treatment with gamma knife radiosurgery (59/134). Seven cases had hemorrhage again after radiosurgery, and the overall annual hemorrhage rate was 1.6%. Edema was found in 11.5% patients (14/122) and all patients showed improvement atf er treatment. Conclusion: Gamma knife is a safe treatment for CA, which could obviously improve the symptoms of epilepsy. Gamma knife radiosurgery is the if rst option for the treatment of cavernous sinus angiomas.

Objective To explore the relationship of plasma level of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) with cardiovascular risk,the severity of coronary heart disease(CHD),and the short-term prognosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods 154 patients with type 2 diabetes,of them 95 cases complicated with CHD and 65 with hyper-tension were selected in this study. The CHD patients were diveded into 3 groups: AMI(n=32), UAP(n=33) and SAP(n=30). The relationship of the plasma BNP levels with cardiovascular risks, with each coronary heart disea-ses,were observed. The patients were followed up for 6 months to study the predicting role of BNP on the death in pa-tients accompanied with CHD. Results The plasma BNP level was (397.34±217.79) ng/L, which was correlated with age, CRP, hypertension and CHD (r=0.631,0.672, 0.762,0.857, P<0.05 for each);the plasma BNP levels increased with age(r=0.896,P<0.01):(57.6±12.3) ng/L in patients <50 years old,(146.2±53.4)ng/L in patients 50≤and < 59 years old, (388.4±67.5) ng/in patients 60≤and < 69 years old, and (423.8±132.6) ng/L in patients≥70 years old (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The plasma BNP levels, was higher in patients with hyper-tension than that in patients without hypertension [(314.7±125.3) ng/L vs (136.8±98.7) ng/L, P<0.01];Higher in patients with CHD than that in patients without CHD [(425.03±200.80)ng/L vs (37.64±21.57) ng/L,P<0.01)]. The short-term prognosis of patients with CHD was correlated with the levels of BNP, and BNP levels≥485 ng/L may be an independent predicting factor for cardiac death within one month. Conclusions Plas-ma levels of BNP were associated with some cardiovascular risks,which may be one of biomarkers for cardiovascular risks in patient complicated with CHD.

To study the therapeutic effect of the combination of orthodontics and fixed denture renovation preliminary in treating consecutive teeth loss. Before the fixing denture renovation,12 cases of consecutive teeth loss were treated to become interval teeth loss by using the orthodontic treatment. All patients received simultaneous functional and cosmetic restoration. The abutment teeth were healthy and the renovational teeth were stable. The combination of orthodontics and fixed denture renovation showed good effect in treating the consecutive teeth loss. It is a good clinical renovation. It is worthy to apply in clinic.

Objective To investigate the possible formation mechanism and imaging features of the hyperintense vessel sign (HVS) on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).Methods The baseline data of the patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemic stroke or TIA with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showing the lesions of MCA M1 segment in clinical practice were retrospectively retrieved from Nanjing Stroke Registry Program from January 2010 to July 2011.FLAIR was used to observe HVS,and DSA was used to evaluate the degree of vascular stenosis and cerebral collateral circulation.Results A total of 101 patients were enrolled,76 (75.2％) were males,and their mean age was 53.94 ± 13.47 years; 90 patients (89.1％) with ischemic stroke and 11 patients (10.9％) with TIA; 55 patients (54.5％) were HVS negative and 46 (45.5％) were HVS positive.Among the patients whose MCA stenosis ＜50％,50％-70％,70％-90％ and ≥90％,the positive rates were 0％ (0/8),25.0％ (3/12),17.6％ (3/17),and 62.5％ (40/64),respectively.There were significant differences (Z=-4.479,P＜ 0.001).The leptomeningeal collateral circulation of the HVS positive group was significantly more than that of the HVS negative group (Z =-6.196,P ＜ 0.001).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the degree of MCA stenosis was an independent risk factor for influencing the formation of HVS (odds ratio 3.943,95％ confidence interval 2.03-7.659; P ＜0.001).Conclusions The formed intracranial leptomeningeal colhteral circulation after severe intracranial vascular stenosis or occlusion is a major pathophysiological basis of HVS formation on FLAIR sequences in patients with ischemic stroke or TIA.

Objective To evaluate the expression of epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (Egfl7) in atherosclerotic plaques and effects of its small interference RNA (siRNA) on angiogenesis gene expression in human endothelial cell line (HUVEC). MethodsEgfl7 expression in atheroscleroticplaquesweredetectedinhumaniliacarteryandmousearteriaeusing immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence stainings.The siRNA targeting Egfl7 was transfected into HUVEC by lipofectamine with non-transfected cells and unconcerned siRNA as controls.At 0 h,12 h,24 h and 48 h after intervention,the levels of mRNA and protein of Egf17,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),platelet derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A),platelet derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B),vascular cell adhesion molecule(VCAM) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively. ResultsThe expressions of Egfl7 in human iliac artery and mouse arteriae were increased.The expressions of Egfl7 in HUVEC at the levels of mRNA were[(0.14±0.02),(0.09±0.01),(0.02±0.01)]and the levels of protein[(0.71±0.11),(0.39±0.09),(0.07±0.01)]at 12 h,24 h and 48 h after siRNA intervention,respectively,which were decreased as compared with 0 h intervention [(0.31 ±0.05) and (0.93±0.08) ].Other genes such as VEGF,PDGF-A and PDGF-B were reduced or silenced at the levels of protein and mRNA in HUVEC with siRNA longer interventions(all P＜0.05).ConclusionsThe expression of Egfl7 in atherosclerotic plaques is increased.The siRNA inhibiting Egfl7 gene expression results in silence of other factors involved in angiogenesis.

Objective To study the molecular mechanism of atherosclerosis induced by intravascular pressure.Methods Technic aortic coarctation (TAC) was performed in ApoE-/-mice (n＝8) and control littermate (n＝8) mice.HE staining was performed in the vessels upstream and downstream of the mice models.In vitro,hypoxia inducible factor-1a (HIF-1α),heme oxygenase,reactive oxygen species and phosphorylated AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) were analyzed in different intravascular pressure with a myograph system that allowed independent variation of flow and pressure.Results After one month of TAC,ApoE/ mice in a normal chow diet developed occlusive plaque and accelerated atherosclerotic lesions exclusively in upstream high-pressure vessel segments.In vitro,HIF-1α was increased,heme oxygenase was higher over(2.7 ±0.6) fold,reactive oxygen species and phosphorylated AMPK were also enhanced in high intravascular pressure perfused vessel segments as compared with low intravascular pressure perfused vessel segments (all P＜0.05).Conclusions Intravascular pressure elevation can activate hypoxia and metabolism-associated pathways in the arterial wall,and predispose atherosclerosis accelerated.

Objective To observe the changes of serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in the elder patients with clopidogrel resistance (CLR) after coronary stenting. Methods A total of 93 patients with unstable angina pectoris received coronary stenting were enrolled, and peripheral blood samples were taken before and 24 hours, 1 week and 1 month after surgery. The platelet aggregation (PAG) induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were detected, and all patients were divided into CLR group (n=33) and normal response group (n=60) according to PAG response. At the same time, the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble fragment of CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and P-selectin were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The incidences of CLR were 35. 5% (33/93), 26. 9%(25/93) and 20. 4%(19/93) respectively 24 hours, 1 week and 1 month after surgery. The levels of CRP C(8. 8 ± 2. 5) mg/L at 24 hours, (5. 3 ± 2. 5) mg/L at 1 week], P-selectin [(73. 8±34)×10~(-3) ng/L at 24 hours, (70. 5±31. 6)×10~(-3) ng/L at 1 week, (66. 4±22. 3) ×10~(-3) ng/L at 1 month] and sCD40L C(7. 7 ±2. 3)×10~(-3) ng/L at 24 hours] after surgery in CLR group showed significant differences comparing with pre-surgery and normal response group (all P< 0.05). The CLR at 30 days after coronary stenting was significantly correlated with the level of P-selectin (r=1.334) and smoking (r= 1.053). Conclusions The levels of CRP, P-selectin and sCD40L in some elder patients after coronary stenting are increased and may be correlated with CLR. The levels of P-selectin and smoking are the predictors for CLR.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expressions of angiotensin converting enzyme 2(ACE2)/ACE mRNA in myocardium-nephors and the blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).Method A total of 18 male of 12 weeks old SHRs and 18 male of 12 weeks old Wistar Kyoto(WKY)rats were got for the experimental study.Nine SHRs and 9 WKY rats were randomly taken out as controls and sacrificed for detecting the mRNA expressions and protein of ACE2 and ACE.Other halves of rats of both groups were fed for 12 weeks and then sacrificed for detecting of the same biomarkers as in controls.The mRNA expressions of ACE2 and ACE were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.The protein level of ACE2 and ACE were determined by immunohistochemistry.Results Systolic blood pressure(SBP)in SHRs of 12 and 24 weeks old increased compared with that in WKY(all P＜0.01).SBP in SHRs of 24 weeks old increased compared with that in SHRs of 12 weeks old(P＜0.01).The cardiac and renal expressions of ACE2 mRNA in SHRs of 12 and 24 weeks old were all significantly lower than those in WKY rats(P＜0.01).The expressions of ACE mRNA in SHRs of 12 and 24 weeks old were all significantly higher than those in WKY rats(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The cardiac and renal expression of ACE2 mRNA in SHRs of 24 weeks old was significantly lower than that in SHRs of 12 weeks(P＜0.01).The myocardial and renal expression of ACE mRNA in SHRs of 24 weeks old was significantly higher than that in 12 SHRs of weeks old(P＜0.01).The positive reactions of ACE2 protein found in kidney displayed in brown colur.The ACE2 proetin appeared in uniform distribution of brown granules in WKY rats and comparatively scanty distribution of brown granule in SHRs.Conclusions There are correaltions between the expressions of ACE2/ACE mKNA as well as protein and blood pressure.