Objective To study the value of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in interventional treatment of congenital heart diseases. Methods TTE was used to identify patients with atrial septal defect (ASD, n=26), ventricular septal defect (VSD, n=23) or ductus arteriosus (PDA, n=16). They received interventional treatment with domestic made nitinol occluder. The TTE was then used to monitor the entire process of the surgery and to assess the effect of the surgery. Results The treatment with indigenous nitinol occluder failed in five patients, including two with ASD, two with VSD, and one with PDA. The other sixty-one patients were freated successfully with the occluder. Once the procedure was completed, those patients were found to have neither abnormal valvular regurgination as shown by TTE, nor any shunt flow around the occluder as shown by both TTE and angiocardiography. One month later, TTE demonstrated that the position of all the occluclers remained stable, and no residual leakage or shunt was detected by TTE in all of the sixty-one patients, and the same results were obtained after three months. However, two days after the surgery, ECG showed that three of the patients with VSD suffered from different degrees of atrioventricular block on the second postoperative day, but they eventually recovered after treatment. The successful rate of the procedure was 93.8% (61/65). Conclusions Transthoracic echocardiography may play an important role at three stages (pre-, during- and after), i.e. to select the most suitable patients before the procedure, accurately identify the location, and release of the occluder at the end of the operation; and finally, it serves as a promising method to evaluate the treatment result in patients during their follow-up period.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of curcumin(Cur)on trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid(TNBS)induced colitis and to investigate cytokines change in colon mucosa,spleen and sera.Methods Colitis was induced in SD rats by intrarectal injection of TNBS(100 mg/kg).Experi- mental animals were divided into negative control group,TNBS group and Cur therapeutic group(Cur, 30 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),intraperitoneal injection).Expression of cytokines mRNA in colon mucosa was observed by RT-PCR,intracellular cytokines of interferon(IFN)-?and interleukin(IL)-4 in splenocytes were detected by flow cytometry(FCM),concentrations of IFN-?and IL-4 in sera were determined by enzyme-link immunosorbent analysis(ELISA).Results After treatment with Cur,macroscopic scores (3.9?1.0 vs.2.2?0.7),myeloperoxidase(MPO)activity(15.0?2.6 vs.7.3?1.4),mRNA of IFN-?(1.02?0.07 vs.0.06?0.02,mRNAof IL-12(0.29?0.05 vs.0.11?0.01)and the ratio of IFN-?/IL-4(11.44?0.97 vs.0.38?0.10)in colon mucosa,proportion of IFN-?CD4~+(31.7?7.5 vs. 21.1?3.7)and the ratio of IFN-?/IL-4 CD4~+(19.9?5.1 vs.6.1?1.8)in splenocytes,concentra tions of IFN-?[(1528?159)pg/ml vs.(513?14)pg/ml] and the ratio of IFN-?/IL-4(19.5?4.1 vs. 4.2?0.6)in sera were all decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Meanwhile,mRNA of IL-4(0.09?0.01 vs.0.15?0.04)and IL-10(0.28?0.08 vs.0.63?0.12)in colon mucosa,proportion of IL-4 CD4~+ (1.6?0.5 vs.3.4?1.1)in splenocytes and concentrations of IL-4 in sera[(81?15)pg/ml vs.(124?20) pg/ml] were all increased after the treatment of Cur(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusions Cur showed ther- apeutic effects on TNBS-induced colitis,and the mechanism might be through regulating the balance of Th1/ Th2 in colon locally and systematically.

Objective To study the correlation between isokinetic parameters and modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) in ankle spasticity as-sessment. Methods 18 stroke patients (spasticity group) and 16 healthy subjects (control group) in our hospitals from August 2014 to March 2015 were included. MAS was used to assess the ankle muscular tension. The ankle passive movement of both groups was measured with BIODEX isokinetic motor assessment system under 10 °/s, 60 °/s, 120 °/s, 180 °/s, 240 °/s. The peak torque (PT), peak torque/body weight (PT/BW), average torque (AT), and slopes of the linear regression curve of torque-velocity (SLOPE) were recorded. The correlation of the isokinetic paramenters and the MAS were tested with Spearman correlation analysis. Results The PT, PT/BW and AT were higher in the spasticity group than in the control group (P<0.05). And they increased as the angular velocity increased, and slowed after 120 °/s. The corre-lation coefficient of MAS and PT, PT/BW, AT, SLOPE were from 0.3043 to 0.7632 (P<0.01). Conclusion The isokinetic parameters were speed-dependent and closely related to MAS. 120 °/s was of the highest sensitivity, and the SLOPE under this anglular velocity was highly correlated with MAS.

BACKGROUNDMesenteric artery thrombosis is prone to occur at specific arterial regions with different fluid flow patterns, yet mechanistic links between blood flow and vascular function remain unclear. This study aimd to investigate the role of blood flow in regulation of vascular function and gene expression in rats.

METHODSIsometric tension was recorded in wire myograph to examine vascular function of specific regions (trunk parts and proximal parts from the origin) with different blood flow in superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Endothelial nitric oxide syntheses (eNOS), phosphorylated-eNOS (p-eNOS), serine-threonine kinase Akt and phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) protein expressions in SMA were examined by Western blotting. Significance was analyzed using a Student's t test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a Dunnett's multiple-comparison post hoc test.

RESULTSCompared with trunks, proximal parts exhibited severely impaired relaxant responses to acetylcholine (Ach) (1 nmol/L to 10 micromol/L) (P < 0.01). p-eNOS and p-Akt protein levels were significantly reduced in proximal parts of SMA (0.37 +/- 0.03, 0.42 +/- 0.03 respectively) versus trunk parts (0.82 +/- 0.03, 0.72 +/- 0.03 respectively, both P < 0.05) while total eNOS and Akt expressions remain comparable in both regions by Western blotting analysis (0.70 +/- 0.03 vs 0.82 +/- 0.03; 0.70 +/- 0.03 vs 0.77 +/- 0.03 respectively, both P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCritical components that drive the vascular function and influence the localization of mesenteric artery thrombosis are flow-responsive elements within the vascular endothelium.

Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shear Strength ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

Objective To find the plantar pressure readings which best indicate foot inversion during the stance phase of walking among hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods Twenty-two hemiplegic stroke survivors who were able to walk without extra aid were recruited as the experimental group, while 17 healthy elderly men of similar age and body weight were selected as the control group.Those in both groups were asked to walk at their preferred speed over a Footscan device which measured medio-lateral pressure ratios, maximum plantar pressures and the contact areas of both feet.The Clinical Spasticity Index (CSI) was used to evaluate the affected feet.Results The average medial forefoot pressure of the affected side in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group, but their average mesopodium and heel pressure was significantly higher.The average pressure applied by the great toe on the uninjured side in the experimental group was significantly smaller than that of the control group, but the average mesopodium and heel pressure of both feet among the hemiplegics were significantly higher than those of the control group.Among the experimental group, the average medial forefoot pressure of the affected foot was significantly greater than that of the healthy foot.The average contact area of the great toe on the affected side was significantly bigger than was observed in the control group.That of the medial forefoot was, however, significantly smaller than in the control group.There was no significant difference in the contact area between the healthy and affected feet in the experimental group, though the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of their full feet and forefeet on the affected side were significantly lower than those in the healthy group.No significant differences in the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of the heel were observed between the two groups, nor of the full feet, forefeet and heels of the affected and unaffected sides in the experimental group.The patients demonstrated consistently reduced joint mobility on both sides during the stance phase, coinciding with increased inversion.A significant negative correlation was found between the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of the full foot and the maximum pressure of the lateral part of forefoot in the experimental group, but there was no significant correlation with contact area or CSI.Conclusions Plantar pressure data can be used to describe the amount of foot inversion in the stance phase of walking with hemiplegic patients after stroke.The maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios can effectively reflect their foot inversion.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Embolism, Fat ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the histological changes of gastric mucosa in patients with active gastric ulcer before and after treatment by Qifang Weitong Powder combined with omeprazole (QWP-Op).

METHODSSixty patients were equally randomized into the treated group and the control group. They were all treated in the 1st week by the Helicobacter pylori eradication triad regimen. From the 2nd to 6th week, the study group re-ceived QWP-Op therapy, and the control group was given Omeprazole alone.Biopsy specimens were obtained around ulcer area before and after treatment for histological observation on changes of gastric mucosa membrane.

RESULTSThe improvement of mucosal thickness and glandular morphology was better in the treated group than that in the control group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONQWP-Op therapy can improve the histological quality of ulcer healing and restore the morphological structure of gastric mucosa in patients with active gastric ulcer.

Adult ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biopsy, Needle ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Omeprazole ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Powders ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the immunopathogenesis of individual cancer is not clear and is a challenge for anti-tumor immunotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of interleukin (IL)-18 and -12 on cytotoxic functions of TILs.

METHODSTILs from postoperative gastric cancer patients were costimulated with IL-18 and IL-12. SGC-7901 tumor cells were pre-incubated with TILs and subcutaneously injected into BALB/C SCID mice. The function of TILs was evaluated by measuring tumor sizes in tumor-bearing mice, T helper (Th)1 (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ) and Th2 cytokine levels (IL-10 and IL-4) in serum and cytotoxicity of mouse natural killer (NK) and CD8(+) T cells.

RESULTSIL-18 and IL-12 synergistically inhibited the growth of SGC-7901 cells in vivo and significantly extended the survival rate of SGC-7901-bearing mice (66.7% vs. 13.7%, P < 0.01). Moreover, TILs could promote the secretion of TNF-α and IFN-γ ((130.34 ± 7.65) vs. (210.63 ± 12.31) pg/ml, P < 0.01; (14.23 ± 1.97) vs. (30.52 ± 2.12) pg/ml, P < 0.01), and downregulate IL-10 and IL-4 secretion ((103.72 ± 11.21) vs. (61.36 ± 5.41) pg/ml, P = 0.021; (49.36 ± 4.67) vs. (28.48 ± 3.86) pg/ml, P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONIL-18 and IL-12 can synergistically enhance cytotoxic functions of TILs from human gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-18 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common refractory disease in orthopedics, and the rate of disability is very high, and its pathogenesis is unknown. TCM has unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of ONFH, and it has gradually received attention. This article reviewed the clinical application status of TCM for prevention and treatment of ONFH in recent years from ONFH's TCM name, etiology, pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation, and clinical treatment, with a purpose to provide a reference for the clinical treatment of ONFH.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, precision medicine has become a hot topic in the medical field. The application of precision medicine to osteonecrosis of the femoral head is wider than before. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the current status and progress of precision medicine to osteonecrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: A computer-based search of PubMed and CNKI databases was performed for literatures about application and prospect of precision medicine for osteonecrosis of the femoral head in and outside China published within the past 10 years using the keywords of "precision medicine, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, three dimensional (3D) printing, computer assisted navigation, minimal invasive, gene" in English and Chinese. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In the study on the prevention and treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, 3D printing technology, computer assisted navigation technology, precision minimally invasive orthopedic technology, research and treatment of gene are four effective ways to achieve precise and personalized healthcare. (2) The appearance of precision medicine, a novel medicinal model, enriches the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head and enhances the curative efficacy of the disease. It brings the new dawn to the patient and provides some new clues for medical workers and researchers engaged in the clinical and basic researches of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.