Objective To investigate the significance of Ang-Ⅱ in diagnosis of chronic heart failure.Methods Eighty patients with chronic heart failure were divided into 3 groups:A phase with 30 cases,as C phase with 29 cases and D phase with 21 cases.30 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.Serum Ang-Ⅱ was detected by ELISA.NT-proBNP was detected with Roche Co-bas6000 automatic electrochemiluminescence immunoassay system.Results Using Oneway Anova,the Ang-Ⅱconcentration of pa-tients with chronic heart failure was significantly higher than that of the healthy subjects (F =38.35,P <0.01).Further using Post Hoc Tests-Multiple Comparisons,the Ang-Ⅱ concentration of each group with chronic heart failure was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group.Results of ROC curves showed the aera under the curve of Ang-Ⅱwas 0.92.The best cutoff value was 552.25 (ng/mL).The sensitivity was 90.00%,and the specificity was93.30%.The correlation analysis showed that Ang-Ⅱwere correlated with NT-proBNP(r=0.23,P <0.05).The sensitivity and the specificity of combined detection of Ang-Ⅱand NT-proBNP were 98.80% and 100%,respectively.Conclusion The Ang-Ⅱlevels in chronic heart failure groups are significantly high-er than that in the control group,which indicates that combined detection may be helpful to the early diagnosis of chronic heart fail-ure.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of cyclophilin A(CyPA)for chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods Eighty pateints,made a definite diagnosis as CHF,were classified 30 cases as A phase,29 cases as C phase,21 cases as D phase of them.30 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.Serum CyP A was detcted by ELISA.NT-proBNP was detec-ted with Roche Cobas 6 000 automatic electrochemilu-minescence immunoassay system.Results The amounts of serum CyP A(x-±s,ng/ml)in healthy subjects and each group with CHF were 110.10±49.73,327.85±82.67,331.70±69.34 and 342.46±92.55.Using Oneway Anova,CyP A concentration of CHF was significantly higher than healthy controls (F=58.45,P<0.01).Further using Post Hoc Tests-Multiple Comparisons,the CyP A concentration of each group with CHF was significantly higher than the healthy control group (Mean differences were 217.75~232.36,P<0.01),but showed no significant difference between the groups with CHFs (Mean differences were 3.37~14.61,P>0.05).Results of ROC curves showed the AUC (CyP A)was 0.97.The best cutoff value was 198.39 (ng/ml).The sensitivity was 91.30%,the specificity was 93.30%.The correlation analysis showed that CyP A and NT-proBNP were correlated (r=0.30,P<0.01). CyP A and NT-proBNP combined detections showed the sensitivity was 93.80% and the specificity was 100%.Conclusion The Cyp A levels in CHF group are significantly higher than the control group,suggesting that Cyp A may be a factor for CHF appearance.These results indicate that combined detections may helpful to early diagnosis of CHF.

Objective To study the isolation,culture, adipogenic and osteogenic induction Tupaia bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BM-MSCs).Method The BM-MSCs from tupaia were isolated and expended by combination of gradient centrifugation and adherence culture , then subcultured and observed for morphology under inverted phase contrast microscope.BM-MSCs were induced to adipocytes .and osteoblasts in vitro Result Cells were spindle or triangle-shaped, and clone proliferation .Cells were successfully induced into adipocytes .and osteoblasts Conclusions The method of isolation BM-MSCs from tupaia by combination of gradient centrifugation and adherence culture is simple and feasible , BM-MSCs have differentiation potential into adipocytes and osteoblasts .

Objective To understand the histological characteristics of the major endocrine organs of tree shrew , and provide a normal histological atlas of endocrine organs of tree shrew .Methods Ten artificially fed healthy tree shrews were killed and dissected after anesthesia .The thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands were observed by gross inspection and samples were taken for routine histological examination with HE staining .Results ( 1 ) The thyroid gland was pale yellow, located on both sides of the 2-4 tracheal rings.The thyroid gland was plate-shaped, its surface was covered with a thin fibrous capsule . The thyroid parenchyma was divided into several lobules by stretched capsule membrane .Follicular and parafollicular cells were distributed in the lobules , and red colloid was present in follicular cavity.(2) Each side had one parathyroid , located on the cranial or the outer surface of the middle part of the thyroid gland, and was slightly covered by thyroid .The gland was round or oval , and its parenchyma was made up of the principal cells and eosinophil cells , and acinar structure appeared in the parenchyma .( 3 ) The adrenal glands were oval , yellow color, located in the renal hili , and linked to the kidneys .They were surrounded by a thin capsule .The parenchyma was divided into cortex and medulla .The cortex was divided into zona glomerulosa , zona fasciculata and zona reticularis from outside to inside.The zona glomerulosa was the thickest layer and the zona fasciculata was the thinnest .The medulla cells formed clumps or mesh, with central vein in the central part .(4) The pituitary gland was located in the sella turcica , with no recessus hypophysis .The pituitary gland was composed of the adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis .Its surface was covered with a connective tissue capsule .The pituitary gland was divided into distal part , middle part and pars tuberalis . neurohypophysis was made up of neural and pars infundibularis .Conclusions The histological atlas of endocrine organs in the tree shrew is established , which is close to that of the primate animals in the morphology , and provide histological evidence for the study of tree shrew endocrine organs and disorders , as well as the animal model of human diseases .

Objective To explore the effects of oscillating blood glucose on apoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells of diabetic rats and the role of oxidative stress.Methods Renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were cultured in vitro with stable high glucose or oscillating high glucose,and MTF assay was applied to the neasurement of cell proliferation.Streptozotocin induced diabetic model was established with SD rats and the oscillating high blood glucose animal model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of insulin and glucose at different time points every.day.12 weeks later 24 h urine protein (24hUP),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),serum creatinine (Scr),superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA)were determined. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL),and immunohisto-chemistry was used to detect apoptosis associated gene Bax,Bcl-2,and NOX-4 expression in kidney.Changes in ultrastructure were observed.Results Oscillating high glucose may inhibit renal cells proliferation obviously when comparing with stable high glucose.In the rats with oscillating blood glucose rather than those with stable high blood glucose,there was a significant increase of BUN,Scr,24hUP,and MDA and a decrease of SOD[ (21.50 ± 1.72 vs 12.50 ± 1.85 )mmol/L,(97.51 ± 7.84 vs 82.12 ± 11.48 ) μmol/L,( 1.57 ± 0.09 vs 1.04 ± 0.12 ) mg/24 h,( 23.50 ± 1.87 vs 14.82 ± 2.96) nmol/ml,( 17.22 ± 1.12 vs 21.11 ± 1.80) U/ml,all P＜0.05 ] ; cell apoptosis was intensified with the up-regulation of Bax and NOX-4 protein expression and down-regulation of Bcl-2 in glomerular endothelial cells; and more severe pathological damages were observed.ConclusionComparing with stable high blood glucose,oscillating high blood glucose induces more apoptosis and less proliferation of renal tubular epithelial cells and the mechanism may be related to the increased oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the antitumor activity of the procaspase-3 activator SM-1 in BGC-823 cells in vivo and in vitro and the mechanisms.Methods The inhibitory effects of SM-1 on proliferation of BGC-823 cells were evaluated using MTT method, the cell apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of caspase-3 protein and procaspase-3 mRNA was detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively.SM-1 Antitumor activity was evaluated using the xenograft of BGC-823 cells in nude mice.Results SM-1 effectively inhibited the proliferation in vitro and in-duced apoptosis of BGC-823 cells in a dose-dependent manner.After treatment with SM-1 for 48 h, the protein expression levels of caspase-3 and mRNA expression levels of procaspase-3 were increased.SM-1 significantly inhibited growth of BGC-823 xenograft tumor at the 300 mg/kg dose and the inhibition rate was 56.3%(P<0.05).Conclusion SM-1 can significantly inhibit the tumor growth of BGC-823 cells in vivo and in vitro.The mechanism is possibly related to the activation of procaspase-3 and induced apoptosis of tumor cells.

Tree shrews get more and more concerns due to many of its physiological , biochemical and anatomical characteristics similar to those of human beings .Therefore, tree shrews models of human diseases such as viral diseases , neurological diseases and tumors attract more and more attention of researchers .In this article we will review the recent ad-vances in application of tree shrew models in research on human viral diseases .

Aim To investigate the effect of TP on the expression of macrophages inflammatory protein ( MIP-1α) . Methods Total RNA of mouse Ana-1 cells and tumor associated macrophages were extracted, and MIP-1α mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Mouse S180-xenografts were established by injecting S180 cells subcutaneously into the double abdominal flanks of the mice. The postoperative residual tumor models were generated in the right abdominal tumors when tumors grew into 250 mm3 . Animals were treated with TP or CTX, and tumor tissues were separated and MIP-1α was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results There was no significant difference of the expression of MIP-1α between Ana-1 cells and TAMs. TP couldn’ t affect MIP-1αexpression in Ana-1 cells while it signifi-cantly decrease MIP-1α expression in TAMs in a dose-dependent manner. TP significantly decreased MIP-1αexpression of tumor tissue compared with control group. Conclusions MIP-1α will be a new target of TP anti-cancer. Simple cell line tests in vitro couldn’ t reveal the real state in vivo.

Objective To establish a simple and useful kidney or bladder orthotopic tumor model used in preclinical pharmacodynamic evaluation.Methods Mouse model of orthotopic renal cancer were established by subrenal capsule implantation.After aspirating urine and irrigating bladder with PBS,the bladder urothelium was slightly impaired to establish the orthotopic bladder tumor model.Then, B-Ultrasound and H&E staining were used to confirm the availability.Results Tumors could be seen 2 weeks after surgery, accompanied by body mass loss of the mice.H&E staining showed that the tumor cells acted as infiltrative growth.The growth of tumor was inhibited by NTX in vivo, the tumor mass inhibitory rate of the KCC-853 orthotopic tumor model was 57.5% of 60 mg/kg NTX treatment and 48.8% in the T24 orthotopic tumor model of 30 mg/kg NTX treatment.Conclusion Our methods for establishing the orthotopic kidney or bladder tumor model are simple and practical.The results indicate that nitroxoline has potential antitumor activity.

Objective To compare the image quality of chest low dose CT (LDCT) using automatic exposure control (AEC) and constant current control (CCC) and explore a more reasonable scanning protocol. Methods Two hundred and eighty participants were examined with 64 CT scanner at 7 centers in China. All were divided into 4 groups. Two groups underwent LDCT using AEC with standard deviation set at 25 (A1) and 30 (A2) respectively and the tube current ranged from 10 mA to 80 mA. The other two groups underwent LDCT using CCC with tube current set at 40 mA (C1) and 50 mA (C2) respectively. The axial and MPR images were evaluated by two radiologists who were blinded to the scanning protocols.The radiation dose, noise and the image quality of the 4 groups were compared and analyzed statistically.Differences of radiation dose and noise among groups were determined with variance analysis and t test,image quality with Mann-Whitney test and the consistency of diagnosis with Kappa test. Results There was a significant lower DLP in AEC group than in CCC group [(82.62±40.31)vs ( 110.81±18.21) mGy·cm (F =56. 88 ,P ＜ 0. 01 )], whereas no significant difference was observed between group A2 and group A1 0. 05]. The noisy of AEC group was higher than that of CCC group both on lung window(41.50±9.58 vs 40.86±7.03) and mediastinum window (41.19±7.83 vs 40.92±9.89), but there was no significant difference( Flung =0.835, P=0.476, Fmediastinum =1.910, P=0.128).The quality score of axial image in AEC group was higher than that in CCC group (superior margin of the brachiocephalic vein level: 4.49±0.56 vs4.38±0.64,superior margin of the aortic arch: 4.86±0.23 vs 4.81±0.32,the right superior lobar bronchus Level:4.87±0.27 vs 4. 84 ± 0. 22, the right middle lobar bronchus Level: 4.90±0.25 vs 4.88±0.21) except on the right inferior pulmonary vein level(4. 92 ±0. 25 vs 4. 93 ±0. 17) and superior margin of the left diaphragmatic dome level (4. 91±0.27 vs 4.93±0.22) on lung window, but no significant differences (F=0.076-1.748, P＞0.05) were observed. A significant higher score in AEC group was observed on mediastinum window compared with CCC group on superior margin of brachiocephalic vein level (2.57±0.77 vs 2. 46 ± 0. 59, F = 8. 459, P ＜ 0. 05 ), however, the score of AEC group was lower than that of CCC group on other levels without significant differences (superior margin of the aortic arch:3.36 ±0. 63 vs 3.45 ±0. 60,the right superior lobar bronchus level: 3.94 ±0. 56 vs 3. 95 ±0. 51 ,the right middle lobar bronchus Level: 3.80 ±0. 58 vs 3. 87 ±0. 50,the right inferior pulmonary vein level: 3.72 ±0. 56 vs 3.78 ±0. 53, superior margin of the left diaphragmatic dome level: 3.58 ± 0.63 vs 3.68±0.56,F=0.083-3.380,P ＞ 0.05 ). The MPR image quality of AEC group was better than that of CCC group both on lung window and mediastinum window (Zlung =-2.258, Zmedlastinum=-1.330, P＞0.05). For all participants including the underweighted group, the normal group and the overweighted group, the image quality of A1 group was better than that of A2 group without significant differences (the underweighted group: Zlung=0.000, P=1.000, Zmedastinum= 0.000, P=1.000;the normal group: Zlung =-0.062, P=0.950, Zmediastinum =-0.746, P = 0.456; the overweighted group: Zlung = - 1.177, P = 0.239,Zmediastinum =-1.715, P=0.144) both on lung and mediastinum windows, and for the higher BMI participants, a better image quality was obtained in A1 group than in A2 group on the mediastinum window (Z = -1. 715, P = 0. 144). Conclusions The total radiation exposure dose of AEC group is significantly lower than that of CCC group, but no statistical significant differences are observed between both groups in image quality and noise level. The AEC technique is highly recommended in thoracic LDCT scan for screening program, and the SD25 ( SD value = 25) scan protocol is suggested for higher BMI population while the SD30 (SD value = 30) scan protocol for lower BMI population.