Objective To investigate the application of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT-3D TEE) in quantification of the aortic anuulus diameter in patients with severe aortic stenosis.Methods RT-3D TEE image of aortic root was get perioperatively in 65 patients with sever aortic valve stenosis during the surgery procedure.The aortic annulus was reconstructed in the quantitative analysis software to generate the parameters of 3-dimensional area based aortic anuulus diameter(3D-AAAD) and 3-dimensional circumference based aortic anuulus diameter(3D-C-AAD).The parameters was compared with intraoperative aortic anuulus diameter(IO-AAD),which was get by the standard cylindrical valve sizer.Results The three dimensional form of the aortic annulus was related to the number of the valves.The value of 3D-C AAD and 3D-A-AAD were (22.4 ± 2.1) mm,(23.4 ± 1.9) mm,no significant difference could be detected between them and the IO-AAD (P ＜ 0.05).The 3D-C-AAD had a better agreements with IO-AAD than 3D-A-AAD.Conclusions RT-3D TEE can reconstruct the three dimensional sharp of aortic anuulus,and can be used as quantitative tools to calculate its diameter.

Objective To study the the feasibility of real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (RT-3D TEE) to measure the distance between the coronary ostial and the junction of left ventricle and artery.Methods The RT-3D TEE image of the aortic root was collected intraoperative in 65 cases who were refered to our center for valve replacement.The reconstruction of the aortic annulus was done in the QLAB quantitative analysis software and the height parameter of the annulus could be generated.Meanwhile the coronary artery position was observed and the distance between the coronary ostial and the junction of left ventricle and artery was measured respectively.Results In the 65 cases,49 cases clearly showed bilateral coronary ostial,three cases only showed the left coronary ostial,six cases only showed the right coronary ostial,seven cases of both sides of the coronary ostial were unclear.The shows rate of right coronary ostial was 84.61％ (55/65),with the left coronary ostial 81.54％ (52/65).The measured value of the L-AA in systole and diastole were (15.5 ± 1.9)mm,(12.8 ± 1.5)mm,the R-AA systole and diastole measured values were (13.7 ± 1.8)mm,(12.4 ± 1.7)mm,respectively,there was significant difference between systole and diastole respectively.The aortic annulus height (H) got by 3D reconstruction of the aortic annulus was lower than ventricular-arterial junction to the coronary artery distance in both systole and diastole.Conclusions Not only can RT-3D TEE reconstruct the annulus,but also can show and measure the distance between the coronary ostial and the junction of left ventricle and artery respectively.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT-3D TEE) in the perventricular device occlusion of the ventricular septal defect (VSD).Methods Sixty patients underwent perventricular device occlusion of VSD were divided into two groups.Group A:30 patients,3D images of VSD were obtained intraoperatively by RT-3D TEE.3D images were analyzed and the maximal and minimum area and maximal diameter of VSD were measured in the cardiac cycle.The size of selected VSD occluder was the diameter calculated from the maximal area based on the formula πD2/4 and plus 1～2 mm.Simultaneously,two dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D TEE) images of VSD were obtained and measured on standard views.Group B:other 30 patients,intraoperative 2D TEE was performed to measure the diameter of VSD on standard views.The selection VSD occluder was based on the maximal diameter plus 1～2 mm.Results The VSDs shape showed oval,class round and irregular by RT-3D TEE imaging.There was a significant difference between the maximal area and smallest area of VSD appeared in the cardiac cycle obtained by RT-3D TEE (P<0.01).There was a significant difference between the maximal diameter by measurement of RT-3D TEE and 2D TEE (P<0.01).Of all 30 patients with evaluation of VSD size based on the RT-3D TEE,1.1 times attempts of device occlusion were performed on one patient (33/30).Of the other 30 cases with evaluation of VSD size by 2D TEE,2 cases were failed with device occlusion because of instant residual shunt.Of the remaining 28 cases,1.43 attempts of device occlusion were performed on one patient (40/28).Conclusions RT-3D TEE can accurately reveal the size of VSD,and aid in the selection of VSD occluder in the device occluding procedure of VSD.

Objective: To verify the effect of Jinmaitong composita (JMTC) on red blood cell aldose reductase activity (RBC-AR), red blood cell sorbitol (RBC-S) and nerve conductive velocity in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DN) patients. Methods: Sixty-six patients with DN were randomly divided into two groups, 33 patients in the treated group treated with JMTC and 33 patients in the control group treated with Jingui Shenqi capsule (JGSQ). RBC-AR, RBC-S and nerve transmission speed were observed before and after three months treatment.Results: Level of RBC-AR, RBC-S apparently decreased and nerve conductive velocity increased (P<0.05, P<0.01) after JMTC treatment.Conclusion: JMTC can improve the nerve conductive velocity significantly with a lowering of RBC-AR and RBC-S and has a good result in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; pathology ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and related mechanism of retinoid X receptor (RXR) activation on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induced differentiation of macrophage into dendritic cell.

METHODSRAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line was cultured with ox-LDL for 48 h in the absence and presence of RXR activator 9-cisRA or SR11237. Cell morphology was observed by phase contrast microscope and cell surface markers involved in dendritic cell immune maturation and activation was analyzed by FACS. Cellular reactive oxygen species production was detected by CM-H2DCFDA fluorescent probe.

RESULTSox-LDL-treated RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line differentiated into dendritic like cells after 48 h and cell surface markers CD40, CD86, CD83, MHC Class II and CD1d were upregulated. These changes could be attenuated by cotreatment with 9-cisRA or SR11237. Upregulated cell surface markers CD40, CD86, CD83, MHC Class II and CD1d by ox-LDL were decreased about 47%, 43%, 48%, 32% and 17% respectively by 9-cisRA and 38%, 38%, 46%, 36% and 32% respectively by SR11237. The effect of 9-cisRA and SR11237 was dose dependent. Cellular reactive oxygen species were significantly increased in ox-LDL-treated RAW264.7 cells (MFI 38.24 +/- 4.20 vs. 4.46 +/- 0.39, P < 0.05) and which was significantly reduced by 9-cisRA (10(-7) mol/L) and SR11237 (10(-6) mol/L) to 12.60 +/- 1.52 and 17.89 +/- 1.91 respectively (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRXR activation partly inhibits the differentiation of ox-LDL induced macrophage into dendritic cell by reducing oxidative stress injury.

Animals ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; Mice ; Retinoid X Receptors ; metabolism ; Retinoids ; pharmacology ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

AIM:To study the effect of Aurora protein kinase inhibitor VX-680 on homogeneous adhesion and migration ability in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG 2.METHODS:The HepG2 cell were divided into ex-perimental group and control group, respectively.VX-680 was used in experimental groups at 3 concentrations(3.125 μmol/L group,6.25 μmol/L group and 12.5 μmol/L group).DMSO was used in the control group.The effects of VX-680 at different concentrations on the adhesion ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG 2 cells were observed by cell slow aggregation test and separation experiment.The effects of VX-680 at different concentrations on the migration ability of HepG2 cells was detected by wound healing assay.The expression of E-cadherin in HepG2 cells was detected by Western blot.RESULTS:The results of the slow aggregation test showed that compared with the control group,the number of cell clumps formed in experimental groups was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The results of separation experiment showed that the ratio of NTC/NTEgradually decreased with the increased concentration of VX-680.The results of wound healing as-say showed that as the concentration of VX-680 increased, the cell scratch healing ability gradually weakened compared with control group.The results of Western blot showed that the protein expression of E-cadherin in the HepG2 cells in-creased with the increased concentration of VX-680(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:VX-680 increases the homogeneous ad-hesion and inhibits the migration of HepG 2 cells.

BACKGROUNDAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive degenerative disease characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brainstem, and cerebral cortex, which results in muscle weakness, atrophy. Sporadic ALS (SALS) accounts for about 90% of ALS cases, but the etiology is largely unknown. Most of the researchers consider it to be a complex disease. There have been several genome-wide association (GWA) studies reporting several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which are susceptible to ALS, but no data of Asians (including Chinese) yet. We investigate whether the polymorphism of rs10260404 in DPP6 gene is associated with SALS in Chinese Han origin to compare the ethnic differences between Chinese Han origin and other populations.

METHODSThe genomic DNA was extracted from the leukocytes of whole blood samples in 58 Chinese Han patients with SALS and 52 healthy controls. The asymmetric PCR was processed in the presence of an unlabeled probe that contained the rs10260404 locus. The product was genotyped on a light scanner using high resolution melting method and some were confirmed with sequencing.

RESULTSThe rs10260404 polymorphism was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in patients and controls. The CC genotype and the C allele were similar in patients compared with healthy subjects and not associated with an increased risk of Chinese SALS patients (chi(2) = 0.29, OR = 1.26, 95% CI 0.55 - 2.87, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe rs10260404 is not associated with ALS susceptibility in Chinese people with Han origin which may be due to ethnic differences. More study with large number of cases in Chinese population is really necessary.

Adult ; Alleles ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Potassium Channels ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDPyroptosis is the term for caspase-1-dependent cell death associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. The role of alveolar macrophage (AM) pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of the acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) remains unclear.

METHODSC57BL/6 wild-type mice were assigned to sham, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + vehicle, LPS + acetyl-tyrosyl-valyl- alanyl-aspartyl-chloromethylketone (Ac-YVAD-CMK) and LPS + Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone groups. Mice were given intraperitoneal (IP) injections of LPS. Drugs were IP injected 1 h before LPS administration. Mice were sacrificed 16 h after LPS administration, and AMs were isolated. Western blot analysis for active caspase-1 and cleaved caspase-3, evaluation of lung injury and a cytokine release analysis were performed. AMs were treated with LPS and adenosine triphosphate (ATP); caspase-1-dependent cell death was evaluated using flow cytometry; the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) pyroptosomes were examined by immunofluorescence.

RESULTSThe expression of activated caspase-1 in AMs was enhanced following LPS challenge compared with the sham group. In the ex vivo study, the caspase-1/propidium iodide-positive cells, caspase-1 specks and ASC pyroptosomes were up-regulated in AMs following LPS/ATP stimulation. The specific caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK inhibited the activation of caspase-1 and pyroptotic cell death. Ac-YVAD-CMK also reduced the lung injury, pulmonary edema and total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, Ac-YVAD-CMK significantly inhibited interleukin-α2 (IL-1α2) release both in serum and BALF and reduced the levels of IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-α± (TNF-α±), High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) in BALF during LPS-induced ALI/ARDS.

CONCLUSIONSThis study reported AM pyroptosis during LPS-induced ALI/ARDS in mice and has demonstrated that Ac-YVAD-CMK can prevent AM-induced pyroptosis and lung injury. These preliminary findings may form the basis for further studies to evaluate this pathway as a target for prevention or reduction of ALI/ARDS.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Pyroptosis ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDPatients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) seem to have a disparity in therapeutic response. The identification of CRT sensitivity-related clinicopathological factors would be helpful for selecting patients most likely to benefit from CRT. Cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) have been reported as useful tumor markers for esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the predictive value of CYFRA21-1 in comparison with CEA and other clinicopathological factors in patients with ESCC treated with definitive CRT.

METHODSPretreatment serum CYFRA21-1 and CEA levels were measured by immunoradiometric assays. The relationships between pretreatment clinicopathological factors and the efficacy of CRT were analyzed. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTSThe results from a univariate analysis indicated that the efficacy of CRT was significantly associated with the serum levels of CYFRA21-1 and CEA before treatment (P = 0.001 and P = 0.023, respectively). It also indicated that the efficacy of CRT was significantly associated with the pretreatment tumor location (P = 0.041). By Logistic regression analysis, the independent predictive factor associated with efficacy of CRT was CYFRA21-1 (P = 0.002). The OS of the patients with high CYFRA 21-1 levels was worse than that of those with low CYFRA21-1 levels (P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a low level of CYFRA21-1 was the most significant independent predictor of good OS (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONSCEA and tumor location may be useful in predicting the sensitivity of ESCC to CRT. CYFRA21-1 may be an independent predictor for definitive CRT sensitivity in ESCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging