Objective To assess left ventricular(LV) regional and global systolic function of patients with coronary artery disease using strain parameter of velocity vector imaging(VVI) technique in quiescent condition. Methods Thirty patients with coronary artery disease and 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. The two-dimensional gray scale images were obtained in apical 4-chamber view,apical 2-chamber view and long axis view of left ventricle, and three levels of the short axis views(mitral valve, papillary muscle and cardiac apex). The LV wall was divided according to 18 segment model and the longitudinal,radial and circumferential systolic strain (SL, SR, SC) of each segment were analyzed. The difference between the epicardial and endocardial strain measurement were defined as strain gradient and the average of each strain component as global systolic strain. The correlation between global systolic strain of each strain component and the LV ejection fraction(LVEF) were analysed. Results Group A (coronary stenostic degree≤70%) included 176 segments, compared with control group, LS and LS gradient (LSG) decreased significantly from control group( P ＜0.05), while there was no significant difference in CS, RS and CS gradient (CSG) ( P ＞ 0.05). Group B ( coronary stenostic degree＞ 70% ) included 132 segments, compared with control group, LS, CS and RS decreased significantly in group B ( P ＜ 0.05), while there was no significantly difference in LSG and CSG( P ＞0.05). There were also significant difference in LS, RS,CS and LSG between group A and B( P ＜0.05). Global systolic strain of each strain component shown significant correlation with LVEF (P ＜ 0.0001 ). And the global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) correlated with LVEF most tightly. Conclusions Strain parameter of VVI technique could not only accurately analyze the LV systolic dysfunction but also reflect the stenostic degree of coronary artery. GLS could be a new index for LV systolic function assessment in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective To assess the coronary flow reserve in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)by transthroracic echocardiography(TTE).Methods Coronary sinus blood flow of 24 SLE patients and 18 matched healthy controls were assessed by TTE.The coronary flow reserve was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to baseline blood flow.Hyperemia was induced by intravenous administration of dipyridamole.Results Adequate recordings of blood flow in the coronary sinus under both conditions were obtained by TTE in all study subjects.Patients with SLE were found to have significantly decreased coronary flow reserve comparing with normal SUbiects(1.55±0.21 versus 2.51±0.33.P＜0.01).Conclusions Coronary flow reserve can be measured by TTE in SLE patients,Coronary flow reserve is impaired suggesting that SLE patients may have subclinical coronary artery disease.

Objective Evaluation of left ventricular ( LV) function has great clinical significance in patients with early chro-nic kidney disease (CKD).The study was to evaluate whether two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) technique can offer additional information of cardiac dysfunction in early CKD patients . Methods Conventional echocardiography and 2D-STI echocar-diography were performed in CKD group of 20 patients at stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ and control group of 20 healthy volunteers .LV structure and function were evaluated by conventional echocardiography .Multidirectional strain , strain rate and LV twist parameters were analyzed by 2D-STI technique. Results There was no statistical difference in conventional echocardiographic parameters such as left atrial diam -eter, end-diastolic LV diameter and ejection fraction between CKD group and control group .By applying 2D-STI technique, CKD group had significantly decreased value of global longitudinal strain (-19.8 ±2.4)%and strain rate(-1.1 ±0.3)S-1 in comparison to control group(-22.6 ±2.1)%、( -1.8 ±0.2)S-1, along with significant increase in the values of maximum LV rotation (11.6 ± 4.4)°and LV twist(19.6 ±3.8)°in comparison to control group(8.2 ±3.7)°、(13.5 ±3.6)°(P<0.05).There was no differences in both global circumferential and radial deformation parameters as well as maximum rotation value of LV assist device between two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion 2D-STI can detect subclinical LV dysfunction sensitively in early CKD patients .

To evaluate changes in quality- of- life of adults with concomitant exotropia before and after surgery.
●METHODS:A retrospective cohort method was used in this research. Sixty - five patients with concomitant exotropia ( ranged from 18 - 30 years) were enrolled. Quality of life was studied with 2 different questionnaires [the Adult Strabismus - 20 ( AS - 20) and the MOS 36 -item Short - Form health survey ( SF - 36 )], which patients completed preoperatively and at 3mo postoperatively.
●RESULTS: With the AS - 20, 3mo after surgery, the mean psychosocial and visual function scores of AS- 20 improved significantly (P<0. 01). Similarly, with the SF-36, the mean score in 7 of 8 areas improved significantly ( P < 0. 01 ), including physiological function, role limitations due to physiological health, general health, vitality, social function, role limitations due to emotional problems, mental health and the overall mean score. However, with respect to bodily pain, no significant improvement was found after surgery(P>0. 05).
● CONCLUSlON: Surgical treatment of concomitant exotropia in adults gives a highly significant improvement in quality - of - life scores. We should pay more attention to the impact of strabismus on quality of life clinically to improve the outcome of the surgery.

To explore the relationship between inactivation of TGF-beta signaling pathway and acute leukemia, the expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaRII and c-myc in the bone marrow mononuclear cells were detected by S-P immunocytochemical staining. The results showed that no significant difference of TGF-beta1 exepression was found between the patients and the control (P > 0.05), the expression of TbetaRII was significantly lower in patients than in control (P < 0.05) and the expression of c-myc was significantly higher in patients than in control (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of TGF-beta1, TbetaRII and c-myc exepression between acute nonlymphoid leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia (P > 0.05). Expressions of TbetaRII and c-myc were negatively correlated (r = -0.474, P < 0.01). In conclusion, the leukemic cells escape from the growth inhibitory effect because of the inactivation of TGF-beta signaling pathway; downregulation of TGF-beta receptor II cause c-myc overexepression and leukemogenesis.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; biosynthesis ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; biosynthesis

In order to evaluate the characteristics of the spray drying of total flavonoids of Epimedium extracts assisted with soybean polysaccharide, a certain percentage of soybean polysaccharide or polyvidone were added to the total flavonoids of Epimedium extract to conduct the spray drying. The effect of soybean polysaccharides against the wall sticking effect of the spray drying was detected, as well as the powder property of total flavonoids of Epimedium spray drying powder and the dissolution in vitro behavior of the effective component. Compared with the total flavonoids of Epimedium spray drying powder, soybean polysaccharide revealed a significant anti-wall sticking effect. The spray drying power which had no notable change in the grain size made a increase in the fluidity, improvement in the moisture absorption and remarkable rise in the dissolution in vitro behavior. It was worth further studying the application of soybean polysaccharide in spray drying power of traditional Chinese medicine.
Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Powders ; Soybeans ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the effects of bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP-2)gene modified tissue engineering bone combined with vascular bundle implantation in repairing segmental bone defect.Methods The isolated rabbit hone marrow stromal cells(MSCs),after being transfected by adenovirus carrying BMP-2 gene(Ad-BMP-2),were seeded on bovine cancellous bone scaffolds(BCB) to construct gone modified tissue engineering hone.The rabbit models with radial defects(2.0 cm long) were made and repaired with four methods including gene modified tissue engineering bone with vascular bundle implantation(Group A),gene modified tissue engineering bone(Group B),nongene modified tissue engineering bone with vascular bundle implantation(Group C),and only BCB scaffolds(Group D).After 4,8,and 12 weeks of operation,X-ray,histological examination,biomechanics analysis and capillary vessel ink infusion were conducted to observe angiopoiesis and osteogenesis.Results Group A gained better effect in the volume and activity of new bones than other groups,with vascular bundle sending out new branches into the transplanted bones and productive regeneration of capillary vessel.The defect in Group A was repaired satisfactorily.Group B showed better effect in speed and quality of bone formation than Group C under induction of BMP-2 gent.Mainly fibrous tissues but not new bones were observed in Group D.Conclusion BMP-2 gene therapy with vascular bundle implantation has very strong osteoinduction ability and quite good vascularization effect and is of great value to the treatment of bone nonunion and bone defects.

Objective To investigate the effects of antioxidant response element (ARE) activator- 5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[ C ]-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (CPDT) on organotypic spinal cord cultures and to study whether this activation can protect motor neurons from oxidative stress.Methods Organotypic spinal cord cultures were prepared using lumbar spinal cord slices from 8-day-old rat.Threo-hydroxyaspartate (THA) was continuously added into the culture medium for 3 weeks,which caused selective motor neuron death. Thus,the in vitro model of amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS) was established.15,30 ?mol/L of CPDT were added into the culture medium respectively.Ventral motor neurons survival was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody SMI-32,a nonphosphorylated neurofilament marker. Ultrastructure was observed with electronic microscope.Results The pretreatment of organotypic spinal cord cultures with different concentrations of CPDT significantly increase the total number of ventral motor neurons (15?mol/L:(15.81?6.97) perexplant;30?mol/L:(16.25?6.74) perexplant respectively) compared with THA group ((5.31?5.76) perexplant) and the former had plentiful neurite extensions (n= 15,P

Objective To observe the influence of fluoride and aluminum on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13(MMP-13) in rat articular chondrocytes. Methods Original generation chondrocytes of rats was cultured and divided into fluoride group, aluminum group, fluoride plus aluminum group and control group. NaF and A1C13 at concentrations of 1 mmol/L and 2 mmol/L were administered to intoxicate the cells for 24, 48, 72 h respectively. Cells were extracted to undergo reverse transcription the polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) at different times to observe mRNA expression of MMP-13, and protein expression was detected by Western-blot. Results In 24 h, the content of MMP-13 mRNA in fluoride group(0.830±0.043), aluminum group(1.279±0.060) and fluoride plus aluminum group(0.983±0.028) was higher than that in the control group(0.707±0.026, P<0.05), and relative expression of MMP-13 mRNA in aluminum group was the highest. In 48 h, the content of MMP-13 mRNA in fluoride group (0.964±0.180), aluminum group (1.333±0.105) and fluoride plus aluminum group (0.915±0.137) was higher than that in the control group(0.660±0.055, P<0.05), and the relative expression in aluminum group was the highest. In 72 h, the content of MMP-13 mRNA in fluoride group(0.866±0.115), aluminum group(0.846±0.089) and fluoride plus aluminum group(0.967±0.196) had no statistical significance(P>0.05) compared with the control group(0.809±0.179). In 24 h, the content of MMP-13 protein in fluoride group(1.050±0.084), aluminum group(1.010±0.113) and fluoride plus aluminum group(0.977±0.202) had no statistical significance(P>0.05) compared with the control group(0.860±0.038). In 48 h, the content of MMP-13 protein in fluoride group(0.671±0.020), aluminum group(1.134±0.094) and fluoride plus aluminum group (0.923±0.087) was higher than that in the control group (0.647±0.025, P<0.05), but no significant difference being observed between groups (P>0.05). In 72 h, the content of MMP-13 protein in fluoride group(0.672±0.022), aluminum group(1.088±0.072) and fluoride plus aluminum group(0.772±0.030) was higher than that in the control group(0.577±0.026, P<0.05). It was the highest in the aluminum group, the intra-group difference had statistical significance(P<0.05). Conclusions Fluoride and aluminum damage chondrocytes to some extent, toxicity of aluminum itself is greater than fluoride and fluoride plus aluminum. Abnormal expression of MMP-13 can be observed in the chondrocyte damage process induced by fluoride and aluminum.

Objective To investigate the source of the blood flow through ventricular septum in normal subject caused by slice-thickness artifact in echocardiography. Methods Echocardiography was performed in 50 normal subjects without ventricular septum defect by two models of echocardiography unit equipped with two models of transducer, observing the conditions and sections in which the blood flow through ventricular septum could be detected. Results The blood flow through ventricular septum was detected in 8 normal subjects using the certain model of echocardiography unit,especially in parasternal four chambers section and parasternal irregular sections, while the blood flow through ventricular septum wasn't detected in the other 42 subjects by any echocardiography unit. The blood flow through ventricular septum was caused by coronary vessel in atrioventrieular groove proved by combining dynamic observation with anatomy analysis. Conclusions The blood flow through ventricular septum in normal subjects, a kind of slice-thickness artifact in echocardiography,is caused by coronary vessel in atrioventricular groove mapped into intact ventricular septum.