Objective To evaluate the value of galectin-3 (Gal-3) in the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure.Methods Sixty-eight patients with heart failure (heart failure group) and 68 healthy person (control group) were selected.The level of Gal-3 and the incidence of cardiovascular event after 6 months follow-up was compared between two groups and among different cardiac functional grading.Results The level of Gal-3 was (44.57 ± 10.42) ng/L in heart failure group,(33.76 ± 8.18) ng/L in control group,and there was significant difference between two groups (P ＜ 0.01).The level of Gal-3 and the incidence of cardiovascular event after 6 months follow-up in cardiac functional grading Ⅳ (15 cases) was higher than that in cardiac functional grading H (32 cases),Ⅲ (21 cases)[(46.45 ± 12.21) ng/L vs.(38.47 ±9.38),(42.31 ± 10.23) ng/L,8/15 vs.9.4％(3/32),28.6％(6/21)],and there was significant difference (P ＜0.01).Conclusion As the marker of heart failure,the Gal-3 has significantly clinical value on diagnosis and prognosis to segment heart failure.

Objective To compare the different effects of different titanic parameters on the expression of long-term potentiation (LTP) and to determine the optimal patterns of tetanizing stimulation in hippocampal CA1 area in adult male rats. Methods Four tetanic parameters of 100Hz were used in the experiment. Tetanus 1 was a short burst of stimulus composed of 60 pulses, which were divided into 5 sets, each set including 4-pulses-bursts. The inter-burst intervals are lengthened gradually, 1s, 5s, 30s, 10min in sequence. Tetanus 2 was a long burst of stimulus composed of 300 pulses in all, each burst including 20 pulses. The inter-burst interval is 2s, and tetanus 3 is also a short burst of stimulus composed of 15 bursts, each burst including 4 pulses. The inter-burst interval is 2s and tetanus 4 is a single train of burst composed of 60 pulses. The field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in hippocampal CA1 area were evoked by stimulating the Schaffer collateral fibers in the stratum radiatum and the expressions of LTP induced by the four parameters were evaluated. Results The amplitude and incidence of LTP induced by tetanus 1 were higher than those induced by the other three parameters. There was no statistical significance between the responses induced by the other three parameters. Both tetanus 1 and tetanus 3 could lead to long-lasting-LTP (LL-LTP, over 3h). Conclusion A high frequency stimulus with 200ms-inter-burst interval (theta frequency) is better in the induction of LTP in hippocampal CA1 area. A short burst of stimulus with 100Hz can evoke the expression of LL-LTP in hippocampal CA1 area.

Objective To study the changes of field potentials (FPs) during development and after long-term potentiation (LTP) induction in rat visual cortical slices. Methods Field potentials recorded from layer Ⅱ/Ⅲ induced by layer Ⅳ in the rat visual cortical slices were examined. The developing changes of FPs from postnatal days 8-13,15-21 and 29-35 were observed. Amplitudes, peak latencies and slopes of FPs before and after LTP induction were compared. Results Field potentials changed with the development, and the stimulating threshold at p15-21 was lower than that of the other two groups. The increase of FP amplitude was positively correlated with increase of its slope. The shortening of FP latency was positively correlated with the difference between changes of slope and amplitude. Conclusion Developing changes of field potentials reflect the development of visual cortex. The changes of FP slope follow the changes of its amplitude and latency, and thereby the slope is a proper parameter used as an index to evaluate LTP in visual cortex.

Objective To study the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in developing rat visual cortical slices. Methods Field potentials recorded from layer Ⅱ/Ⅲ induced by layer Ⅳ stimulation in rat visual cortical slices were examined. LTP was induced by tetanus in the slices on the postnatal 2, 3 and 5-week rats. The LTP incidences and the effects of GABA on them in different developmental stages were compared. Results LTP incidence at postnatal week 5 was significantly lower than that in other two groups. GABA A receptor antagonist picrotoxin could reverse this tendency, but had no effects on the LTP induction at the early postnatal age. Conclusion In visual cortex, GABA has inhibitory effects on the LTP induction only after the end of critical period and has no any facilitatory effects on the LTP induction before the developmental critical period.

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of 1 470 nm diode laser vaporization of the prostate with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods From July 2014 to July 2015,82 patients diagnosed as BPH were randomly divided into two groups.Forty cases of them underwent 1 470 nm diode laser vaporization and 42 cases for TURP.The operation time,hemoglobin decrease,serum sodium decrease,bladder irrigation time,duration of bladder catheterization and postoperative complications were recorded.The international prostate symptom score (IPSS),maximum flow rate (Qmax) and post-voiding residual volume (PVR) before and after operation were compared.Results No differences were found between the two groups in basic preoperative characteristics,such as:age,prostate volume,IPSS,PVR and Qmax(P＞0.05).The mean operative time in the diode laser group was (64.8±14.6) min,slightly longer than tin he TURP group ((59.3 ± 14.5) min,P＞0.05).The hemoglobin decrease,the serum sodium decrease,the time of bladder irrigating and the time of catheterization of 1470 nm diode laser group were all less than that in TURP group,the differences were significant between the two groups((2.06±1.43) g/L vs.(6.07±1.68) g/L,(1.16±0.67) mmol/L vs.(4.09±3.78) mmol/L,(5.08±2.80) h vs.(25.8±12.7) h,(3.38±1.17) d vs.(4.88± 1.42) d,respectively;t =-11.615,-4.845,-10.337,-5.232;P＜0.001).The complications in 1470nm diode laser group were less than that in TURP group,but the differences were not significant between the two groups(P＞0.05).All patients were followed up for 3-12 months,the IPSS,PVR and Qmax of 3 months after surgery in 1 470 nm diode laser group and TURP group were all improved significantly compared with that of preoperative in both groups,but no statistical differences could be found between the two groups(IPSS:F inner grouP=527.65,P＜0.001;F between groups=0.099,P=0.753;F across groups=0.040,P=0.843,PVR:F inner grouP =509.57,P＜ 0.001;F between groups =2.817,P =0.097;F across groups =1.02,P=0.315;Qmax:inner grouP=60.06,P＜0.001;F between groups =0.30,P=0.585;F across groups =0.394,P=0.532).Conclusion 1 470 nm diode laser vaporization of the prostate can significantly improve the patient's lower urinary tract obstruction symptoms,which show similar short-term effects with TURP.It also has advantages of less bleeding,shorter catheter indwelling time and rapid postoperative recovery compared with TURP,suggesting that it is a safe and effective operation for BPH treatment.

Objective:To explore the influence of hypercholesterolemia on the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the middle-aged and elderly population and the gender differences.Methods:The data came from the "Epidemiological Survey of Chronic Kidney Disease among Adults in Urban Communities in Henan Province". The subjects came from 20 communities in Henan Province, aged ≥45 years old. Groups were based on the quartile of total blood cholesterol level and gender. Multivariate logistic regression and Cochran-Armitage trend test were used to analyze the effect of hypercholesterolemia on the risk of CKD and its gender differences.Results:A total of 4 779 subjects were enrolled into the study, with 1 934 males (40.5%) and 2 845 females (59.5%). The age was (61.3±7.7) years old and the blood cholesterol was (5.0±1.0) mmol/L. The prevalence rates of hypercholesterolemia, albuminuria, and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were 10.7%(305/2 845), 6.4%(182/2 845) and 2.8%(79/2 845) in females and 12.7%(245/1 934), 6.9%(133/1 934) and 2.3%(45/1 934) in males respectively. Compared with Q1 group, the prevalence of reduced eGFR in females were higher in Q2 and Q4 groups (both P<0.05). Among males, the prevalence of albuminuria and reduced eGFR increased with increasing blood cholesterol quartile (Cochran-Armitage trend test Z=12.231, 8.862, both P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypercholesterolemia was an independent influencing factor for albuminuria and reduced eGFR ( OR=1.49, 95% CI 1.08-2.07, P=0.016 and OR=1.65, 95% CI 1.03-2.65, P=0.037, respectively). In subgroup analysis of different genders, female hypercholesterolemia was an independent influencing factor for albuminuria and reduced eGFR, while male hypercholesterolemia was not an independent influencing factor ( OR=1.54, 95% CI 0.96~2.46, P=0.075; OR=1.89, 95% CI 0.93-3.89, P=0.082, respectively). Further subgroup analysis based on the interquartile range of serum cholesterol levels found that female hypercholesterolemia was an independent influencing factor for reduced eGFR in the Q2 and Q4 groups ( OR=2.35, 95% CI 1.29-7.61, P=0.003; OR=2.51, 95% CI 1.38-8.39, P=0.001). In males, hypercholesterolemia was an independent influencing factor for albuminuria in the Q2, Q3 and Q4 groups ( OR=1.80, 95% CI 1.01-3.41, P=0.047; OR=1.85, 95% CI 1.02-3.35, P=0.044; OR=2.33, 95% CI 1.33-4.33, P=0.002). Conclusions:Hypercholesterolemia is an independent risk factor for CKD in middle-aged and elderly population, and there are gender differences, which provides a new idea for clinical prevention and control of CKD.

Objective:To evaluate the teaching effect of moral education materials implied in scientific research cases in the teaching of "Experimental Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)".Methods:The moral education materials implied in scientific research cases of "Experimental TCM" were extracted and skillfully integrated into the teaching of professional knowledge. A questionnaire survey was conducted with questions as "whether it is good to demonstrate the potential humanistic spirit by case teaching, whether this helps improve your interest in science and whether this teaching form affects your study, life and work attitude in the future" "Ten specific items from scientists' moving deeds that touch students and their recognitions" to assess the teaching effect.Results:95.8 percent of students affirmed this teaching form and thought it helped improve their interest in scientific exploration. 87.5 percent of students considered the humanistic spirit would affect their study, life and work in the future. 77.1-89.6 percent of students held a positive attitude to the ten items derived from the scientists' moving stories. Among these items, the percentages of the two items, "the spirit of being able to endure loneliness, work hard to make contributions selflessly without seeking for rewards or reputations" and "having respect forpeople and their scientific research achievements with courage to challenge the authorities of scientific research" are the lowest and highest, respectively.Conclusion:It is good to apply the moral education materials implied in the scientific research cases in the teaching of "Experimental TCM", which basically achieves the teaching goal, but there is still room for improvement.

Experimental Traditional Chinese Medicine is an emerging discipline that plays an important role in cultivating innovative talents of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In recent years, with the rapid development of TCM and the new requirements of positioning, and also combined with the college students' cognitive characteristics, we have revised and republished the "Experimental TCM" (Third Edition) textbook, which focuses on introducing knowledge by adopting relevant scientific research cases. This test book was used in the teaching of undergraduates of batch 2013 in the eight-year program in Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After-class questionnaires showed that this teaching mode, guided by scientific research case, is not only helpful for students to develop their quality and ability of adopting modern experimental methods initially in the study and development of TCM, but also able to spread the great achievements of TCM researches. The teaching mode is also conducive to enhancing students' sense of responsibility for the modernization of TCM. Therefore, it is suggested that the course of Experimental TCM should be promoted in the colleges and universities of TCM.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of clinically diagnosed acute kidney injury (AKI) patients progressing to acute kidney disease (AKD). Methods: The clinical data of AKI patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the outcome of the patients, AKI patients were divided into non-acute kidney disease (NAKD) group and AKD group. Clinical characteristics and laboratory data of two groups were compared. The risk factors of AKD in patients with AKI were analyzed by logistic regression, and then the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of these risk factors. Results: A total of 254 patients with AKI were enrolled, and 186 patients developed AKD with an incidence of 73.2%. The incidences of AKD in stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3 of AKI were 20.0%, 46.7% and 83.5% respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed increased peak serum creatinine (within 7 days after AKI diagnosis) (OR=2.561, 95% CI 1.584-4.140, P<0.001), proteinuria (OR=2.952, 95% CI 1.162-7.500, P=0.023) and increased intact parathyroid hormone (OR=1.757, 95%CI 1.104-2.797, P=0.017) were independent risk factors for progression to AKD in patients with AKI. The ROC showed that increased peak serum creatinine (within 7 days after AKI diagnosis) was an important predictor of AKD in patients with AKI (AUC=0.798, P<0.001). Conclusion Increased peak serum creatinine (within 7 days after AKI diagnosis), proteinuria and increased intact parathyroid hormone are independent risk factors for progression to AKD in patients with AKI, providing new evidences and ideas for clinical preventions and treatments of AKD.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) and diabetic nephropathy (DN).Methods:The differential expression profiles of piRNAs in renal tissues of patients with DN (experimental group) and renal tissues adjacent to tumors of patients with renal tumors (control group) were detected by high-throughput sequencing. The biological function of differentially expressed piRNAs was described by gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the serum expression level of target piRNAs in patients with DN. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum target piRNAs and clinical indexes of patients with DN.Results:The results of high throughput sequencing showed that there were 127 differentially expressed piRNAs between DN group and control group, with screening condition of |log 2(fold changes)|≥2 and P<0.05. Among them, there were 99 up-regulated piRNAs and 28 down-regulated piRNAs. The top 5 up-regulated piRNAs were piRNA-hsa-161686, piRNA-hsa-349255, piRNA-hsa-355720, piRNA-hsa-151229 and piRNA-hsa-154959, respectively. The top 5 down-regulated piRNAs were piRNA-hsa-1929960, piRNA-hsa-174194, piRNA-hsa- 148658, piRNA-hsa-172594 and piRNA-hsa-172421, respectively. The PCR verification results of 3 up-regulated genes and 3 down-regulated genes with low P values and high expression levels showed that serum expression level of piRNA-hsa-77976 was significantly down-regulated in patients with DN ( P=0.028), which was consistent with that of sequencing, while the expression levels of other genes were inconsistent with the sequencing results or had no statistical significance. Bioinformatics analysis results predicted that significantly differentially expressed piRNAs might participate in the regulation of DN through Rap1, Ras, PI3K-Akt and axon guiding pathways. The results of correlation analysis showed that the expression level of piRNA-hsa-77976 was negatively correlated with blood urea nitrogen ( r=-0.584, P=0.028), serum creatinine ( r=-0.637, P=0.014), cystatin C ( r=-0.738, P=0.003) and β2 microglobulin ( r=-0.822, P<0.001), and positively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( r=0.661, P=0.010). Conclusion:The differential expression of piRNA is closely related to DN, and may be used as a new biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of DN.