AIM: To investigate the effects of Shuguan Capsule on myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial oxygen consumption (MOC) in anesthetized dogs. METHODS: Coronary blood flow (CBF) of twenty-five thoracotomized dogs was detected by electromagnetic flow meter and the MBF was calculated. While the oxygen content in the artery (AO2 ) and in the coronary venous sinus (VO2) was determined with blood oxygen analysis.Moreover, the other cardiac hemodynamic parameters, such as heart rate (HR), femoral arterial blood pressure (BP), were observed by physiological polygraph. RESULTS: It was found that Shuguan Capsule (48.5 mg/kg and 194 mg/kg) could significantly increase the MBF, and then decease the coronary artery resistance. Furthermore, Shuguan Capsule could also lower the AO2, but increase the VO2, which led to the decreased MOC. CONCLUSION: Shuguan Capsule exhibits the effects to keep the balance between blood supply and oxygen consumption in the heart by modulating the coronary resistance and by reducing MOC in dogs.

Objective: To study the value of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) for assessing left ventricular remodeling (LVR) in patients of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with late percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 127 STEMI patients with elective PCI were enrolled. Echocardiography was conducted within 48 hours of admission and the patients were followed-up for 6-9 (median 7.8) months after discharge. LVR was deifned by left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) elevation >15% than the ifrst echocardiography. The patients were divided into 2 groups: LVR group,n=41 and Non-LVR group,n=84. Results: There were significant differences between 2 groups in left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), longitudinal Ts-SD, radial strain (RS) and longitudinal postsystolic index. Further Logistic regression analysis indicated that GLS (OR=0.39, 95% CI 0.26-0.57,P<0.01) and RS (OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13,P=0.01) were the independent predictors for LVR occurrence; ROC presented that the optimal cut-off value for GLS was -10.85% (sensitivity 89.7%, specificity 91.7%) and for RS was 28.46% (sensitivity 82.1%, speciifcity 66.7%). Conclusion: STE measured GLS and RS were the independent predictors for LVR occurrence in STEMI patients with late PCI.

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasound in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid lesions with rimlike peripheral calcification.Methods Seventy-three patients of thyroid nodules with rimlike peripheral calcification were analyzed retrospectively.All cases were confirmed by surgery and pathology.The efficacy of sonographic features on diagnosis of thyroid nodules was analyzed.Results Among 73 patients,58 (58/73,79.45％) were benign and 15 (15/73,20.55％) were malignant.Among the sonographic features mentioned,the mean size,margin,internal echo and presence of halo showed no significant differences between malignant and benign nodules (all P＞0.05).Proportion of thyroid nodules coexisting with nodular goiter,irregular thickness and interruption of rimlike peripheral calcification had significant differences between malignant and benign nodules (all P＜0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of coexisting with nodular goiter for diagnosing benign nodules were 77.59％ (45/58),60.00％ (9/15),88.24 ％ (45/51),40.91％ (9/22),respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of irregular thickness for diagnosing malignant nodules were 53.33 ％ (8/15),87.93％ (51/58),53.33％ (8/15),87.93％ (51/58),respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of interruption of rimlike peripheral calcification for diagnosing malignant nodules were 73.33％ (11/15),68.97％ (40/58),37.93％ (11/29),90.91％ (40/44),respectively.Conclusion Ultrasonography is helpful to diagnosis of thyroid nodules with rimlike peripheral calcification.Irregular thickness and interruption of calcification are associated with malignancy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Zige lyophilized powder for injection in improving the acute cerebral microcirculation disturbance in rats.

METHODWindow craniotomy was performed for rats after the drug administration for 14 days. The experimental microcirculation disturbance model was duplicated with high molecule dextran. After the drug administration, the micro-vein diameters of cerebral pla mater of various groups were observed and recorded under the biological microscope. The blood flow volume was monitored by laser Doppler flow-meter. HCT was measured by the electric resistance method. The hemorheological indexes were detected by the auto-hemorheological instrument.

RESULTZige lyophilized powder for injection (16.40, 32.70, 65.40 mg x kg(-1)) could significantly expand the micro-vein diameter of cerebral pla mater, improve the downward trend of the blood flow volume, and reduce the various hemorheological indexes.

CONCLUSIONZige lyophilized powder for injection shows the effect in improving the cerebral microcirculation.

Animals ; Brain ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Powders ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective: To evaluate left atrial (LA) function and synchrony in lone atrial fibrillation (LAF) patients by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) and to explore the predictive value of 2D-STE parameters for AF recurrence after ablation procedure. Methods: Our research included in 2 groups: LAF group,n=50 patients diagnosed in our hospital from 2013-06 to 2015-05; it was further divided into 2 subgroups as Non-LA enlargement subgroup,n=34 and LA enlargement subgroup,n=16 and Control group,n=35 healthy subjects. With sinus rhythm, 2D-STE was conducted to obtain LA peak ventricular systolic longitudinal strain (PALS), strain rate (SRs) and atrial contraction longitudinal strain (ACLS), strain rate (SRa). Standard deviation for the time to peak (TPSD) of regional strain was calculated. TPSD during ventricular systole was named as SDs and TPSD during ventriculardiastole was named asSDa. Results: Compared with Control group, LAF group had reduced PALS (28.34±8.57) vs (38.73±6.13), SRs (1.17±0.31) vs (1.57±0.25), ACLS (14.11±4.91) vs (18.86±3.57 ) and SRa (-1.41±0.58) vs (-1.90±0.30), allP<0.05; while elevated SDs (8.11±3.00) % vs (4.67±1.48) % and SDa (5.57±2.26) % vs (3.11±1.13) %, bothP<0.05. Furthermore, Compared with Control group, Non-LA enlargement subgroup had decreased PALS, SRs, ACLS and SRa, allP<0.05; while increased SDs and SDa, bothP<0.05. Logistic regression analysis indicated that compared with traditional parameters, SDs and SDa could more effectively distinguish LAF patients from normal subjects (SDs with the sensitivity 83%, speciifcity 72% and SDa with the sensitivity 81%, speciifcity 76%). Elevated SDa and SDs were the best predictors for post-operative AF recurrence (SDs with the sensitivity 80%, speciifcity 71% and SDa with the sensitivity 86%, speciifcity 79%). Conclusion: 2D-STE may detect LA dysfunction and dyssynchrony in LAF patients, abnormal parameters could be found in LAF patients without LA enlargement. SDs and SDa were the best predictors for post-operative AF recurrence.

Objective To investigate the potential mechanism of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-chitosan carrier to induce neural stem cells to differentiate into neurons. Methods After purification, the neural stem cells were cocultured with chitosan, soluble bFGF and bFGF-chitosan carrier. Three hours, twenty-four hours, three days and seven days after induction, immunofluorescence staining of Nestin, beta tubulin III, microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2), and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) were used to observe the expres-sion of FGFR1;real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect RNA and protein level changes after induction. Results Three hours after induction, there was no significant difference in the expression of FGFR1 among three groups. Twenty-four hours after induction, the expression level of FGFR1 was significantly higher in the bFGF-chitosan carrier group than in the chitosan group and the soluble bFGF group (P<0.001);three days and seven days after induction, the expression of FGFR1 decreased significantly in the chitosan group and soluble bFGF group (P<0.001), however, it was still higher in the bFGF-chitosan carrier group;moreover, the expression of genes associated with the pathway of extracellular regulated protein kinases/mitogen activated protein ki-nase (Erk/MAPK) was significantly higher in the bFGF-chitosan carrier group than in the chitosan group and soluble bFGF group (P<0.001). Conclusion bFGF-chitosan carrier might upregulate the expression of FGFR1, then activate Erk/MAPK signal pathways, and finally promote the differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of circulating miR-125b-5p in coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.Methods With case-control study,80 cases of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease were recruited in Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from February 2014 to august 2015.According to coronary angiography result they were divided into two groups: there are coronary artery stenosis group(n=49)and control group(n=31).All patients were also divided into non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction group(n=35),unstable angina group group(n=25),stable angina group(n=20).The level of miR-125b-5p before coronary angiograph was detected.By independent sample t test and variance analysis,the levels of miR-125b-5p were compared between the groups of coronary artery stenosis and the group with no stenosis of the coronary artery,the coronary artery lesions in each group,and between the various types of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease respectively.Results MiR-125b-5p expression level of Coronary artery stenosis group(0.35±0.10)was lower than that in group coronary artery with no stenosis(0.95±0.12),the difference was statistically significant(t=24.179,P<0.000 1).With the increase in the number of diseased coronary arteries,miR-125b-5p expression level decreased gradually.There is also statistical significance(t=8.399,P<0.000 1; t=13.067,P<0.000 1)in miR-125b-5p expression among NSTEMI+STEMI,UA and SAP groups.miR-125b-5p expression level was negatively correlated with Gensini score(R2=0.822,P<0.05).The area under the ROC curve(AUC)of miR-125b-5p was 0.86(95％CI 0.67-0.90),and 0.66 was the optimal cut-off value with sensitivity of 81.22％and specificity of 78.62％.Conclusions With the increase of the number of stenosis,plasma miR-125b-5p expression level decreased gradually.The expression level of miR-125b-5p was negatively correlated with the Gensini score of coronary artery,which indicated that the expression level of miR-125b-5p may be a potential biomarker that can reflect the lesion degree of coronary artery.

Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection may result in serious impairment of the immune system in HIV-posi-tive patients. Both HIV productions and highly active antiretrovi-ral therapy (HAART) drugs can cause neuropathy, including the HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and the peripheral neuropathy. Several animal models have been devel-oped in an attempt to study the mechanisms of HIV relative neu-ropathies. This review focuses on researching HIV-1 associated neuropathies by application of HIV-1 animal models.

OBJECTIVE: To determine deformity correction by postural correction and subsequent balloon inflation in acute vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and to examine the effect of bone mineral density on deformity correction. METHODS: A totol of 50 acute OVCFs received balloon kyphoplasty. Lateral radiographs were taken and analyzed at five different time points : 1) preoperative, 2) after placing the patient in prone hyperextended position, 3) after balloon inflation, 4) after deposition of the cement, and 5) postoperative. All fractures were analyzed for height restoration of anterior (Ha), middle (Hm) and posterior (Hp) vertebra as well as Cobb angle and Kyphotic angle. The bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. According to the T-score, the patients were divided into two groups which were osteoporosis group and osteopenia group. RESULTS: Postoperative measurements of Ha, Hm and the Cobb angle demonstrated significant reduction of 4.62 mm, 3.66 mm and 5.34degrees compared with the preoperative measurements, respectively (each p<0.05). Postural correction significantly increased Ha by 5.51 mm, Hm by 4.35 mm and improved the Cobb angle by 8.32degrees (each p<0.05). Balloon inflation did not demonstrate a significant improvement of Ha, Hm or the Cobb angle compared with baseline prone hyperextended. Postural correction led to greater improvements of Ha, Hm and Cobb angle in osteoporosis group than osteopenia group (each p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In acute OVCFs, the height restoration was mainly attributed to postural correction rather than deformity correction by balloon inflation. BMD affected deformity correction in the process of postural correction.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic* ; Kyphoplasty ; Osteoporosis ; Spine