AIM: To observe the effects of valsartan on the cardiac hypertrophy and the expression of PTEN in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: Twenty 12-week-old male SHR were randomly divided into 2 groups:SHR positive control group and valsartan treating group ( 30 mg?kg -1?d -1). 10 homogenous Wistar-kyoto (WKY) rats were served as normal control group. Blood pressure and the ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight(LVW/BW)of rats were monitored periodically during the 8-weeks studies. Expression of PTEN in cardiac myocytes was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Blood pressure and LVW/BW increased in the valsartan group more than those in the SHR control group, and the expression of PTEN in cardiac myocytes in valsartan group increased more than that in the SHR control group, but the indexes were lower than those in the WKY group. CONCLUSION: Valsartan can not only inhibit the progression of cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats, but also increase the expression of PTEN. PTEN may play a role in cardiac hypertrophy.

[ Objective ] To supply a technological evidence for the rapid reproduction of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (APN). [Methods] Different explants from sterile seedling of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees were cultured in vitro to induce the production of fascicular buds. [ Results ] Cotyledon with nodes and half cotyledon with nodes were the most suitable explants for culture, and the budding rate was 100% and over 90% respectively. 6-Benzylaminopurine (BA) in the concentrations of 0.5 ~ 1.0mg/L were beneficial for the reproduction and growth of buds. The age of explants had no correlation with budding. The optimal rooting medium was MT (Murashige and Tucher) medium added with Img/L NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) or IBA (indolebutyric acid). A highest rooting rate as much as 61.9% was achieved after 10 days of culture. [Conclusion] An effective plant regeneration system has been established for explants of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees.

Objective: To assess the clinical characteristics and identify the risk factors in the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients complicating with ventricular septal rupture (VSR). Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 96 AMI patients complicating with VSR, who were hospitalized in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Provincial Peoples′ Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, the Second Affiliated hospital of University of south China, Xiangtan Central Hospital from December 2007 to May 2017. There were 46 females and the age was (66.2±10.7) years (from 43 to 90 years). Patients were divided into in-hospital survival group (n=64) and in-hospital death group (n=32). The 96 patients were also divided into the early death group (survived ≤2 weeks after admission, n=50) and non-early death group (survived>2 weeks after admission, n=46). Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of the early death. Results: Location of VSR was available in 71 patients, VSR was located at the apical or anterior septum near the apical region in 64.0% (32/50) patients with the anterior AMI, VSR was located at the posterior wall and basal inferior segment in 57.1% (12/21) patients with non-anterior AMI. Compared to the in-hospital survival group, patients in the in-hospital death group were older ((69.6±11.3) years vs. (64.6±10.1) years, P=0.031), incidence of non-ventricular aneurysm (71.9% (23/32) vs. 37.5% (24/64), P=0.001) and anterior AMI (84.4%(27/32) vs. 62.5%(40/64), P=0.028) was significantly higher in the in-hospital death group than in the in-hospital survival group. The comparison between the early death group and non-early death group showed that older age, female, no history of angina or myocardial infarction, Killip grade>Ⅲ, and non-ventricular aneurysm were related to increased risk of the early mortality in this patient cohort. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female (OR=5.109,95%CI 1.19-22.00, P=0.012), no history of angina or myocardial infarction (OR=23.34, 95%CI 3.44-158.37, P=0.001), Killip grade>Ⅲ(OR=5.35, 95%CI 1.26-22.66, P=0.019) and non-ventricular aneurysm (OR=6.30,95%CI 1.67-23.73, P=0.005) were independent risk factors for early death in this patient cohort. Conclusion The risk factors of in-hospital death include older age, non-ventricular aneurysm and anterior AMI. Female, no history of angina or myocardial infarction, Killip grade>Ⅲ and non-ventricular aneurysm are independent risk factors for the early death of AMI patients complicating VSR.

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D)is a clinically common functional gastrointestinal disease,the"SCFAs-intestinal barrier"pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of IBS-D.Traditional Chinese medicine monomers/compounds or Chinese medicine compound can treat IBS-D by regulating the"SCFAs-intestinal barrier"through multiple pathways and multiple targets.This article takes the relationship between SCFAs and the four major intestinal barriers,as well as the mediating effect of IBS-D,as the starting point to systematically review and sort out the relevant literature on the targeted regulation of"SCFAs-intestinal barrier"in the treatment of IBS-D by Traditional Chinese medicine monomers/compounds and Chinese medicine compound;explores the theoretical basis of IBS-D caused by"SCFAs-intestinal barrier"from the perspective of"Large intes-tine dominating fluid",in order to provid ideas for Traditional Chinese medicine to establish a precision treatment system with Chinese medicine characteristics.

OBJECTIVE To establish and validate a rat liver micronucleus test(LMNT)method based on fixation of liver tissue with 4%neutral formaldehyde(HCHO fixation)for preparation of hepa-tocytes(HEPs).METHODS ①The LMNT based on neutral HCHO fixation(HCHO fixation-LMNT)was established using the liver micronucleus positive compound N-nitrosodiethylamine(DEN).SD rats were divided into female and male groups,and each group was randomly subdivided into the vehicle control group and DEN 12.5 mg·kg-1 group,with five rats in each.The rats were ig administered with normal saline and DEN once a day for 14 consecutive days,after which liver tissues were collected.Some of the tissue was digested with collagenase to prepare HEP suspension,and the remaining tissue was used to prepare HEP suspension with HCHO fixation.After staining with SYBR Gold,the number of micronucleated hepatocytes(MN-HEP)and the number of HEPs in the mitotic phase were counted under a microscope.The micronucleus rate of HEP(MN-HEP rate)and the mitotic index were calculated,and an MN-HEP rate>0.07%was considered positive.②Male SD rats were divided into the quinoline(30,60,120 mg·kg-1)group,N-nitrosoopyrrolidine(NPYR,25,50,100 mg·kg-1)group,vehicle control group(deionized water for NPYR,and corn oil for quinoline),and positive control DEN(12.5 mg·kg-1)group,with 5-6 rats per group,and were ig administrated for 15 consecutive days.Body mass was recorded daily,and at the end of the experiment,the liver was removed to record the total liver weight,and calculate the liver coefficient.Liver function-related serum biochemical indicators including glutamic-pyruvic transaminase(GPT),glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT)activities,and levels of total bili-rubin(T-BIL)were measured and direct bilirubin(D-BIL)using an automatic biochemical analyzer.The MN-HEP rate was determined using the collagenase digestion and HCHO fixation methods,and the peripheral blood MN assay and hepatocellular carcinoma comet assay were conducted to evaluate the genotoxicity of quinoline and NPYR.RESULTS ① Compared with the corresponding vehicle control groups(0.069%and 0.030%),the MN-HEP rate of male rats treated with DEN by formalin-LMNT was 1.10%,and the MN-HEP rate of female ones was 0.82%,both significantly increased(P<0.05).Com-pared with corresponding vehicle control groups(0.060%and 0.030%),the MN-HEP rate of male rats treated with DEN by collagenase digestion-LMNT was 1.45%,and that of female rats was 0.46%,both significantly increased(P<0.05),which were considered positive.The MN-HEP rate of male rats was significantly higher than that of females with both methods(P<0.05).There was no significant differ-ence in mitotic indexes between the DEN groups by collagenase digestion-LMNT and HCHO fixation-LMNT in male and female rats compared to corresponding vehicle control groups.② Compared to the vehicle control group,the body mass of rats in the NPYR 50 and 100 mg·kg-1 groups was significantly reduced 7 to 14 days into the ig administration(P<0.01),and the DEN group showed a significant reduction at days 8 to 14(P<0.01).The body mass of rats in the quinoline 120 mg·kg-1 group was signifi-cantly reduced 4 to 14 days into the ig administration(P<0.01),and the DEN group showed a signifi-cant reduction at days 10 to 14(P<0.05).Compared to the vehicle control group,both the liver weight and liver coefficient were significantly reduced in the NPYR 100 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.01)and the DEN group(P<0.05).The liver weight(P<0.01)and liver coefficient(P<0.05)were significantly increased in the quinoline 60 and 120 mg·kg-1 groups.Compared to the vehicle control group,the serum T-BIL level was significantly increased in the DEN group(P<0.01),and the activities of GPT and GOT,as well as the levels of D-BIL and T-BIL,were significantly increased in the NPYR 100 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.01).There were no significant changes in the NPYR 25,50 mg·kg-1 groups or any of the dose groups of quinoline.The MN-HEP rate by HCHO fixation-LMNT for NPYR was slightly higher than that by collage-nase digestion-LMNT,both considered positive.Compared with corresponding control group,the MN-HEP rate by formalin-LMNT for NPYR and the MN-HEP rate by collagenase digestion for NPYR were both significantly increased(P<0.05).The MN-HEP rate by HCHO fixation-LMNT for quinoline was comparable to that by collagenase digestion-LMNT,both considered positive.Compared with corresponding vehicle control group,the MN-HEP rate by HCHO fixation-LMNT for quinoline and the MN-HEP rate by collagenase digestion-LMNT for quinoline were both significantly increased(P<0.05).The correlation between the MN-HEP rates based on HCHO fixation and collagenase digestion for NPYR and quinoline was good(R2=0.8614 and 0.9279,respectively).In the NPYR groups,the periph-eral blood micronucleus assay were negative,while the comet assay results were positive.In the quino-line group,both the peripheral blood micronucleus assay and the comet assay results were negative.CON-CLUSION The HCHO fixation-LMNT has been established and validated,and the sensitivity of the LMNT method based on HCHO fixation-LMNT for detection of hepatocarcinogens is higher than that of collagenase digestion-LMNT.

Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of the CHESS endoscpic ruler (CHESS ruler), and the consistency between the measured values and the interpretation values by endoscopic physician experience.Methods:From January 2021 to January 2022, a total of 105 liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension were prospectively enrolled from General Hospital, Xixia Branch Hospital, Ningnan Hospital of People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (29 cases), and the First People′s Hospital of Yinchuan (25 cases), General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (18 cases), Wuzhong People′s Hospital (10 cases), the Fifth People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (10 cases), Shizuishan Second People′s Hospital (6 cases), Yinchuan Second People′s Hospital (5 cases), and Zhongwei People′s Hospital (2 cases) 8 hospitals. The clinical characteristics of all the patients, including gender, age, nationality, etiolog of liver cirrhosis, and Child-Pugh classification of liver function were recorded. A big gastroesophageal varices was defined as diameter of varices ≥5 mm. Endoscopist (associated chief physician) performed gastroscopy according to the routine gastroscopy procedures, and the diameter of the biggest esophageal varices was measured by experience and images were collected, and then objective measurement was with the CHESS ruler and images were collected. The diameter of esophageal varices of 10 randomly selected patients (random number table method) was determined by 6 endoscopists (attending physician or associated chief physician) with experience or measured by CHESS ruler. Kappa test was used to test the consistency in the diameter of esophageal varices between measured values by CHESS ruler and the interpretation values by endoscopic physician experience.Results:Among 105 liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension, male 65 cases and female 40 cases, aged (54.8±12.2) years old, Han nationality 82 cases, Hui nationality 21 cases and Mongolian nationality 2 cases. The etiology of liver cirrhosis included chronic hepatitis B (79 cases), alcoholic liver disease (7 cases), autoimmune hepatitis (7 cases), chronic hepatitis C (2 cases), and other etiology (10 cases). Liver function of 32 cases was Child-Pugh A, Child-Pugh B 57 cases, and Child-Pugh C 16 cases. All 105 liver cirrhosis patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension were successfully measured the diameter of gastroesophageal varices by CHESS ruler, and the success rate of application of CHESS ruler was 100.0% (105/105). The procedure time from the CHESS ruler into the body to the exit of the body after measurement was (3.50±2.55) min. No complications happened in all the patients during measurement. Among 105 liver cirrhosis patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension, 96 cases (91.4%) were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopists. Totally 93 cases (88.6%) were considered as big gastroesophageal varices by CHESS ruler. Eight cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopist, however not by the CHESS ruler; 5 cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the CHESS ruler, but not by the endoscopists; 4 cases were not recognized as big gastroesophageal varices both by the endoscopists and CHESS ruler; 88 cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices both by the endoscopists and CHESS ruler. The missed diagnostic rate of big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopists experience was 5.4% (5/93), and the Kappa value of consistency coefficient between the measurement by the CHESS ruler and the interpretation by endoscopists experience was 0.31 (95% confidence interval 0.03 to 0.60). The overall Kappa value of consistency coefficient by 6 endoscopists measured by CHESS ruler in big gastroesophageal varices diagnosis was 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.61 to 0.93).Conclusion:As an objective measurement tool, CHESS ruler can make up for the deficiency of subjective judgment by endoscopists, accurately measure the diameter of gastroesophageal varices, and is highly feasible and safe.

Objective:To quantitatively evaluate myocardial microcirculation perfusion changes after percutaneous intracardiac septal radiofrequency ablation (PIMSRA, Liwen procedure) in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) using myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) and to further establish the effect of the procedure and predict the long-term prognosis of patients.Methods:A total of 45 patients with HOCM treated by the Liwen procedure in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University (Xijing Hospital) from July 2019 to June 2020 were included. MCE was performed before and 6 months after surgery, respectively. Time-intensity perfusion curve analysis was performed using QLab 10.8 offline software to obtain quantitative parameters of myocardial microcirculation perfusion including myocardial blood volume (A value), myocardial blood flow velocity (β value), and myocardial blood flow (A×β value), then the changes in parameters before and after the procedure were compared.Results:After the Liwen procedure, the mean septal thickness and mean left ventricular free wall thickness were significantly reduced, accompanied by a significant reduction in the left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (LVOT-PG) and mitral regurgitation length, and a significant improvement in mitral systolic antegrade motion (SAM) (all P<0.001). In addition, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) did not deteriorate significantly ( P=0.560) and the E/e′ ratio decreased after the procedure ( P=0.015). Besides, the A values of both the ventricular septum and the left ventricular free wall were not significantly changed compared to those before procedure ( P>0.05), whereas the β values and A×β values were obviously increased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Myocardial blood velocity and myocardial blood flow in the septum and left ventricular free wall were significantly increased in patients with HOCM after the Liwen procedure, suggesting a significant improvement in myocardial microcirculation perfusion. MCE provides a non-invasive quantitative evaluation parameters of myocardial microcirculation perfusion for the Liwen procedure for the treatment of HOCM.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence of anemia during pregnancy and the influential factors in changsha city, and to provide scientific evidence for prevention and intervention of anemia during pregnancy. 
 METHODS: A cluster sampling of 713 mothers, who delivered baby between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 in the three streets of kaifu district of Changsha, was selected to establish a retrospective cohort. The maternal health information during pregnancy was collected within 15 days after the delivery. The influential factors of anemia during pregnancy were analyzed by the method of retrospective nested case-control study and conditional logistic regression.
 RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia during pregnancy in Changsha was 9.96%. The multiple conditional logistic regression results show that high family income (OR=0.632, P=0.020), high education level (OR=0.276, P=0.033), folic acid supplement (OR =0.248, P=0.050), iron supplement (OR=0.272, P<0.001) and eating blood products (OR=0.588, P=0.044) were the beneficial factors for anemia during pregnancy, while multipara (OR=2.917, P=0.003), long duration of menstrual period before pregnancy (OR=1.335, P=0.041), living in new decoration housing (OR=3.690, P=0.045) and tea-drinking (OR=1.365, P=0.094) were the risk factors for anemia during pregnancy. 
 CONCLUSION The prevalence of anemia during pregnancy in Changsha is below the average levels. The occurrence of anemia during pregnancy is closely related to the women's economic level and nutritional status. Women should strengthen maternal nutrition during pregnancy and bedroom environment monitor, drink little strong tea and improve the nutritional status of iron during pregnancy.
Anemia ; Case-Control Studies ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors