Objective To compare the changes in fibrinogen (Fib), C-reactive protein (CRP) and left atrial (LA) size between patients with atrial flatter (AFL) and those with atrial fibrillation (AF) to explore the relations among them. Methods We selected 53 AF patients (including 16 cases of paroxymal AF, 13 of persistent AF and 24 of permanent AF) and 18 patients with AFL; the control group consisted of 32 cases of sinus rhythm (SR). In all the patients, ECG or Horter and UCG were conducted; Fib and CRP were measured. The levels of the above indexes in AF group, AFL group and subgroups were compared with each other, and with those in the control group. Correlation analysis between CRP and LA size was made. Results Fib, CRP and LA size in AF group were significantly different from those in AFL and SR groups, but did not differ between the latter two groups. So did other parameters among the three groups. CRP in persistent AF and permanent AF differed significantly from that in AFL, SR and paraxymal AF. LA size in the groups of persistent AF differed from that in SR group, but there was no difference between those in persistent AF and AFL groups. LA size in permanent AF was significantly different from that in AF, AFL and SR. Positive significant linear correlations were found between CRP and LA size in AF (r=0.33). Conclusion Hypercoagulable state exists in AF; the AF. Positive correlation exists between LA size and inflammatory reaction; there is no hypercoagulable state in AFL.

Objective: To explore the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of papillary musclehypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Methods: Our research contained 2 groups: Papillary muscle hypertrophic cardiomyopathy group,n=21 patients treated in our hospital from 2013-01 to 2015-12 including 18 male and 3 female; Control group,n=50 subjects without cardiovascular disease those were conifrmed by our hospital at the same period of time. Clinical and MRI examinations were conducted in all patients, the ifndings were compared between 2 groups. Results: Compared with control subjects, papillary musclehypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients had the main symptoms of shortness of breath, chest tightness and pain; associated with systolic murmur; ECG could be normal or with T wave inversion; cardiac MRI showed that 1/2 papillary muscle diameter>1.1cm. Blood levels of triglyceride, left atrial diameter, inter-ventricular septum thickness, the values of E/A and EDT were statistically different between 2 groups, allP<0.05. Conclusion: Clinical features of papillary muscle hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were lack of speciifcity, the morbidity and clinical signiifcance should be further investigated.

Objective To investigate the influence of high-fat diet on blood pressure and metabolism in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats and its mechanism.Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups which were fed with a diet containing 53% calorie as fat(HF) or a normal diet(ND) for 5 or 10 weeks.Systolic blood pressure(SBP),body weight,abdominal adipose tissue,blood lipids,fasting insulin(FINS),and fasting plasma glucose(FPG) were measured after 5 and 10 weeks respectively.Results SBP of HF groups were higher than that of ND groups [HF5 vs.ND5,(105.506?4.634)mmHg vs.(100.060?4.773)mmHg,P

6 score group using Wagner's QRS scoring system. CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of certain inflammatory markers have some diagnostic value for ACS. The high levels of serum SAA, IL-6 and sCRP are not mainly caused by myocardial death, but by the inflammation in the multifocal unstable plague. [

AIM: To investigate the time window of bone marrow stem cell homing to the inchemia myocardium. METHODS: 110 SD male rats were randomly divided into four groups: GM-CSF-treated group (n=40) and sham-treated group (n=15) were given GM-CSF (50 ?g/kg/d) for 5days. The control group (n=40) and its sham-treated group (n=15) was injected equal volume of saline, acute myocardiar infarction were induced by LAD ligation in each group. At 1, 3, 5, 10 days in each group, the homed bone marrow stem cells were detected by expression of c-kit with immunohistochemical methods. Cardiac performance and pathological changes were examined at 28 days. RESULTS: At 28 days, both systolic function and diastolic function in GM-CSF-treated group were significantly higher than those in control group (P

Objective To understand morphological characteristics of sinoatrial node cells(SNCs) by taking purified isolation and culture of neonatal rat's SNCs in vitro and to understand the expression characteristics of surface antigens hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide gated cation channel 4(HCN4) and connexin 45(Cx45) on SNCs.Methods The SNCs were isolated from sinus node tissues removed from neonatal rats by trypsin and purified cultured with differential attachment and 5'-bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU) treatment.Results Three different types of cells were observed among the purified cultured SNCs: spindle,triangular and irregular cells.The spindle cells took up the greatest proportion,had the fastest beats,and had less developed organelle and scarce muscular fibrils.Immunofluorescence staining was positive against HCN4 and Cx45 on the spindle cells.Small amounts of HCN4 was observed on triangular cells.Conclusion ① Isolation by trypsin combined with differential attachment and BrdU treatment is a reliable approach to culturing sinoatrial node cells.② The spindle cells with the fastest beats and positive expressions of HCN4 and Cx45 may be the sinus node pacemaker cells.

Objective:To investigate the effect of pioglitazone on blood pressure,blood glucose and beta cell function and the mecha- nism of oxidative stress in hypertensive patients with impaired glucose tolerance(IGT). Methods:One hundred and sixty patients were divided into two groups:pioglitazone group and control group.The levels of fasting plasma glucose(FPC),2 hours postprandial glucose(2hPG),blood pressure,Homa I3,Homa IR,blood malondiahtehyde (MDA)and superoxide dismutase before and after pioglitazone treatment were compared. Results:After pioglitazone treatment for 8 weeks,FPG,2hPG,FInS,2hPInS,GHbAlc,mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure,Homa IR and blood MDA were significantly decreased(P

Objective To determine the optimal condition for labeling rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) with green fluorescent protein(GFP)infection by lentiviral vector so as to establish a subgroup of MSCs which have a high level of GFP expression.Methods MSCs were infected with GFP by lentiviral vector for 12h or 24h at different MOI(25,50,100,200 and 400).The infection efficiency and fluorescence intensity were analyzed by inverted fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry.The effect of infection at different MOI on proliferation of MSCs was evaluated by MTT.Based on those mentioned above,we could determine the optimal condition for infection.Then single cell clones of MSCs labeled with GFP under optimal condition were selected by using cloning rings.Results The efficiency of infection for 24h at MOI 100,200 and 400 was 88.94%,99.65% and 99.42%,respectively.The infection had no significant effect on the proliferation of MSCs infected at MOI 100 or 200,compared with MSCs without infection.However,those MSCs infected at MOI 400 proliferated slowly.The rate of GFP expression on single-cell clone of MSCs infected for 24h at MOI 200 was 99.95%,and their fluorescence intensity was strong and uniform.Conclusion Infection for 24h at MOI 200 is optimal for labeling rat bone marrow MSCs with GFP by a lentiviral vector.A subgroup of MSCs which have a stably high level of GFP expression can be obtained by single cell cloning technique.

AIM: To examine the effects of monocyte-endothelium interaction on the expression of CD36 in monocytes and observe the functions of cytokines in this process. METHODS: The monocytes and endothelial cells were cultured alone or cocultured together to form different cell culture conditions. The level of M-CSF in culture medium was determined by enzyme linked immune sandwich assay(ELISA) technique, and the expression of CD36 in monocytes was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The expression of CD36 in monocytes was low in monocytes cultured alone but increased significantly when monocytes and endothelial cells were cocultured(P

BACKGROUND: It is conceivable that bone marrow stem cells can differentiate into smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and contribute to neointimal formation in atherogenesis. However, the mechanism remains unknown. The "milieu-induced-differentiation" hypothesis focuses on the key role of cell-to-cell contact and cytokine on the differentiation of stem cells. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to differentiate into SMCs.OBJECTIVE: To induce MSCs into SMCs in vitro, and investigate the influence of the differentiated SMCs or cell factors on MSCs differentiation.DESIGN: Controlled experiment in vitro with repeated observation and measurement based on cells.SETTING: Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University.MATERIALS: The experiment was accomplished in the Laboratory of Cardiology, First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between May 2003 and May 2004. SD rats of either gender were provided by the Animal Center of Xi'an Jiao Tong University, 60-80 g, 90-110 g. The following antibodies were used: Mouse anti human SM-α-actin (NeoMarkers),Mouse anti human Calponin (NeoMarkers), TRITC-coupled goat anti mouse IgG antibody (SBA). Mouse anti rat CD34 conjugated FITC (Santa Cruz), Mouse anti rat CD71 conjugated FITC (Oxford Biotechnology), Mouse anti rat anti-CD90 conjugated PE (Oxford Biotechnology). Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen). PEGFP-N3 (the laboratory).METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were obtained from rat bone marrow by using percoll density gradient centrifugation. SMCs were isolated by using tissue explantation method. Flow cytometer was used to detect the immunofluorescence stain. Then MSCs and SMCs were identified. MSCs were transfected with pEGFP-N3 by Lipofectamine 2000, while untransfected MSCs were taken as controls. Conditioned culture of MSCs and SMCs: ①MSCs at passage 3 were seeded on chamber slides in a 12-well culture plate. The medium was DMEM containing 0%, 5%,7.5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and SMCs conditioned medium containing 0%, 5%, 7.5% FBS, respectively. The cells were cultured for 10-14 days and immunofluorescence analysis was performed by using monoclonal antibodies against SM-α-actin, calponin.②Indirect co-culture of MSCs with SMCs were established using a semi-permeable membrane cell culture insert. The inserts were plated into culture well. SMCs were cultured on the inside of inserts while MSCs were added to the outside of inserts, respectively. MSCs were culture alone in medium containing 3%, 7.5% FBS and immunofluorescence analysis was performed by using monoclonal antibodies against SM-α-actin, calponin.③MSCs were transfected with pEGFP-N3. After 24 hours, the MSCs were cocultivated with SMCs at an equal density for 7-14 days.As a control, MSCs were cultured alone. MSCs co-cultured were stained with antibodies against calponin, SM-α-actin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Identification of MSCs by floe cytometer.②cytoplasmic antigen expression of SMCs. RESULTS: ①Immunofluorescence analysis showed that MSCs expressed SM-α-actin, but did not express calponin. As a control, SMCs expressed both SM-α-actin and calponin.②Flow cytometry showed that MSCs expressed CD71 of low level, CD90 of high level and no expression of CD34. ③The MSCs transfected with green fluorescence protein continued to express for 2-3 weeks. ④MSCs grew well in SMCs conditioned medium or different concentrations of FBS. Cell growth was FBS concentration dependent in indirect co-culture system of MSCs and SMCs. Several double-positive cells in direct co-culture system were detected enhanced green fluorescence protein and antibodies against calponin, SM-α-actin. CONCLUSION: ①SMCs conditioned medium and cell factor only promote MSCs growth and cytoplasmic granules increase. But these do not induce MSCs differentiate into SMCs. ②The cell-to-cell contact is essential for MSCs differentiation to SMCs.