Objective To evaluate the feasibility and value of quantitatively assessing left ventricular systolic function in rats with myocardial infarction (MI) by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) based on mathematical morphology algorithm.Methods SD rats model of MI were mede,then MCE were performed before MI and at 1,3 weeks after MI.In vitro study:based on the principle of binary morphology,segmentation of endocardium was acquired using dilation,erosion,closed operations and connected domain object tag-based.The automatic segmentation of endocardial contour was compared with the manual segmentation boundary.In vivo study:the left ventricular area was calculated using the software,and the area variation fraction (AVF),a new index of left ventricular systolic function,were acquired.The correlation between AVF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was analyzed.The value of AVF for diagnosis for left ventricular dysfunction was evaluated by ROC curve.Results ① The cross-correlation coefficient (CCC) and percent error (PE) between automatic contours and manual boundary were more than 0.90 and less than 9％,respectively.② AVF correlated positively with LVEF (r =0.934,P ＜ 0.001).③ ROC analyses showed the area under curves for AVF diagnosing left ventricular dysfunction was 0.834.The best cutoff value was 27.5 ％ for diagnosing left ventricular dysfunction with the sensitivity of 85 ％ and specificity of 60 ％.Conclusions Left ventricular endocardium can be identificated automatically and rapidly by MCE based on mathematical morphology algorithm.AVF can assessed quantitatively left ventricular systolic function in rats with myocardial infarction.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect and the mechanisms of Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang (BZYQ) on Spleen-Qi deficiency rat's model using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis methods. The rat Spleen-Qi deficiency model was established as follows: oral administration of Radix Rhei extract, loaded swimming and starvation for 24 h. The body weight and motor behavior of the rats were measured and recorded once a week. BZYQ could significantly improve body weight and behavioral of Spleen-Qi deficiency model rats compared with the model group (P < 0.05, 0.01). After drug administration, the changes in the levels of endogenous metabolites in the spleen including decreasing lactate, taurine and hypoxanthine, increasing glutamate and scyllo-inositol compared with the model group. The metabolomics approach is an effective tool for the investigation of the pharmacologic mechanism of BZYQ and it is helpful to further research.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolomics ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Qi ; Rats ; Spleen

OBJECTIVETo investigate the action targets of ginseng (GS) and Panax notoginseng (PN), Chinese herbs for benefiting qi and activating blood circulation, on angiogenesis signaling pathway (VEGFR-2-Ras-MAPK) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

METHODSTo block the signal pathway by turns, at the first, added the IC50 of VEGFR-2 inhibitor, SU5416, and detected its downstream signaling protein Ras, MAPK expression using Western Blot. Secondly, added the IC50 of the Ras inhibitor, FPP, and detected its downstream signaling protein MAPK expression.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, adding SU5416 made the Ras, MAPK expression significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); and adding FPP made the expression of MAPK significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the group treated by SU5416 alone, the expression of downstream signaling protein Ras, MAPK were significantly higher in the group treated by SU5416 plus GS and PN (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); same state also found in comparison MAPK expression between groups treated with FPP alone and FPP plus GS and PN (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe angiogenesis mechanism of GS and PN on HUVEC may be realized by increasing the protein expression of three key signals, VEGFR-2, Ras and MAPK, respectively.

Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Panax ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism ; ras Proteins ; metabolism

Aim To observe the intervention effects of sodium aescinate on acute lung injury model of rats induced by oleate. Methods Fifty four male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, sodium aescinate control group (without oleate) , oleate model control group,medrol interventional group and sodium aescinate interventional group. Acute lung injury models of rats were made by injecting oleate (OA, 0. 1 ml · kg~(-1) ) through caudal veins, and then rats were observed and killed to detect correlated in-dice. The observation indice were the histomorphology of lung, the wet and dry weights of lung ( W/D), score of injury of lung under light microscope (IQA ) , partial pressure of oxygen in artery ( PaO_2) , the levels of SOD and MDA in blood plasma and lung tissue. Results ① Histomorphology of lung: Lung surface hyperemia relieved obviously and pink secretion from trachea of rats in sodium aescinate interventional group and medrol interventioal group decreased significantly compared with oleate model control group. Under light microscope , compared with oleate model control group, effusion of inflammatory cells in alveolar space of rats in sodium aescinate interventional group and medrol interventional group decreased. ② The wet and dry weights of lung ( W/D ) ; W/D of rats in oleate control model group increased obviously compared with those in normal control group, W/D of rats in sodium aescinate interventional group and medrol interventional group decreased obviously compared with those in oleate model control group. ③ Score of injury of lungs under light microscope (IQA) ; IQA of rats in oleate model control group advanced obviously compared with that in normal control group. IQA of rats in sodium aescinate interventional group and medrol interventional group lowered significantly compared with that in oleate model control group.④ Partial pressure of oxygen in artery (PaO_2) : PaO_2 of rats in oleate model control group lowered significantly compared with that in normal control group. PaO_2 of rats in sodium aescinate interventional group and medrol interventional group improved significantly compared with that in oleate model control group. ⑤ The levels of SOD and MDA in blood plasma and lung tissue:The levels of SOD in plasma and lung tissue of rats in oleate model control group lowered significantly compared with those in normal control group. SOD in plasma and lung tissue of rats in sodium aescinate in-terventional group and medrol interventional group increased significantly compared with that in oleate model control group. The levels of MDA in plasma and lung tissue of rats in oleate model control group lowered significantly compared with those in normal control group. MDA in plasma and lung tissue of rats in sodium aescinate interventional group and medrol interventional group increased significantly compared with that in oleate model control group. Conclusion Sodium aescinate can improve W/D, IQA and PaO_2 by adjusting oxidization of the acute lung injury model of rats, which may provide a possible path for treating acute lung injury in clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of biapenem versus imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of acute bacterial infections.Methods A multicenter,randomized,controlled clinical trial was carried out.In the study,135 proper patients were enrolled in biapenem (trial group),while 137 proper patients were enrolled in imipenem/cilastatin(control group).The daily dose of biapenem and imipenem/cilastatin are 600 mg and 1500 mg respectively.The treatment duration for both groups was from 7 to 14 days.Results The cure rate for trial and control was separately 62.79%and 55.64%.The effective rate for trial and control was separately 93.8%and 88.72%.The bacterial eradication rate for trial and control was separately 90.41%and 88.33%.The incidence of drug adverse reaction was 10.37%and 11.03%,respectively.Conclusion Biapenem is both effective and safe drug for acute bacterial infection.

Objective To investigate and compare the efficacy and safe-ty of intravenous iron sucrose with oral polysaccharide iron complex in erythropoietin treated in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Methods A randomized and controlled clinical study was used. Forty-two mainte-nance hemodialysis patients were derided into two groups, iv group and oral group, and were treated with the intravenous iron sucrose and oral polysaccharide iron complex separately. Results Hemoglobin (Hb) , hemotocrit (Hot), serum ferritin (SF) and transferrin saturation (TSAT) were significantly increased in both groups. However, the increment of these laboratory parameters was significantly higher in iv group than in oral group (P < 0. 05). There were less adverse effects in iv group than in oral group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Intravenous iron sucrose is effective and safety in treating anemic maintenance he-modialysis patients. It may induce Hb level to rise faster with less ad-verse effect.

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibition effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) on myofibroblast differentiation of MRC-5 human fetal lung fibroblasts induced by angiotensin (Ang) II.

METHODSThe study was divided into 2 step: (1) MRC-5 human fetal lung fibroblasts was induced for 48 h at different dose of Ang II and at different time point by 100 nmol/L Ang II. Then the expression of collagen type I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were mesaured by western blot. (2) MRC-5 human fetal lung fibroblasts were divided into 4 group: (1) control, (2) Ang II, (3) Ang II+Ac-SDKP, (4) Ang II+8-Me-cAMP (a specific activator of Epac). The α-SMA expression was observed by immnocytochemical stain. The protein expression of collagen type I, α-SMA, serum response factor (SRF), myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF)-A, exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) 1, 2 were measured by Westen blot.

RESULTSMyofibroblast differentiation could be induced by Ang II from MRC-5 cells with a dose- and time-dependent manner. The up-regulation of SRF and MRTF-A were observed in MRC-5 cells induced by Ang II and accompanied with collagen I and α-SMA increased. Pre-treatment with 8-Me-cAMP or Ac-SDKP could attenuated all this changes induced by Ang II, and promoted the expression of Epac1.

CONCLUSIONAc-SDKP can inhibit the myofibroblast differentiation of MRC-5 cells induced by Ang II via Epac1 activating.

Actins ; Angiotensin II ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Cyclic AMP ; analogs & derivatives ; Fetus ; cytology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; Myofibroblasts ; drug effects ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Serum Response Factor ; Trans-Activators

OBJECTIVETo study the safety, biodistribution, and dosimetry of myocardial perfusion imaging agent 99Tc(m)N-NOET in 10 healthy volunteers.

METHODS744-792 MBq of 99Tc(m)N-NOET was injected to each volunteer. Safety parameters and adverse event was measured in 24 hours of injection. Biodistribution was studied by whole-body imaging 1, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after the injection of 99Tc(m)N-NOET. The estimation of dosimetry was based on the standard medical internal radiation dose method using MIRDOSE 3.0 analysis program. Myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging was performed at 1 and 4 hours after injection.

RESULTSNo undesirable effects were reported by the subject during 24 hours after injection of 99Tc(m)N-NOET. No clinically significant changes were found in vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram). No biochemical aspects and serology changes were measured. The myocardial SPECT imaging was clear. Cardiac uptake of 99Tc(m)N-NOET was as high as 2.68% at 2 hours after injection. The heart to lung ratio was more than 1 from 30 minutes after injection, reaching a maximum of 1.91 +/- 0.53 at 2 hours after injection. Radiation dosimetry calculations indicated an effective absorbed dose of 1.28 x 10(-5) Sv/MBq. The dosimetry in each main organ is lower then 50 mGy given 740 MBq of 99Tc(m)N-NOET in once imaging.

CONCLUSIONS99Tc(m)N-NOET exhibits high cardiac uptake and low estimated effective absorbed dose. It's a safe myocardial perfusion imaging agent.

Heart ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; Thiocarbamates ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; Tissue Distribution ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentially expressed genes in rat in the process of regression of vascular calcification by using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH).

METHODS24 SD male rats which aged 6 weeks and specific pathogen free grade were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8): control group, calcification group and regression group respectively. Vascular calcification model (vitamin D3 plus nicotine, VDN) were made from rats in calcification group and regression group, and rats in control group were intragastric administered with normal saline and lavaged with peanut oil. Rats were bred for 8 weeks in calcification group and control group, while rats in regression group were fed for 16 weeks. All rats were killed to measure concentration of calcium in the arterial tissue and examine the pathological lesion changes. Subtractive hybridization among vascular cDNA sequences from calcification group and regression group were established. The cDNA fragments which expressed higher or lower in regression group than those in calcification group were isolated. Differentially expressed genes with cDNA fragment were inserted into PMD18-T plasmid vector and transformed competent DH-5alpha, cDNA libraries of differentially expressed gene between calcification group and regression group were then constructed. Recombinant vectors were analyzed by colony PCR, positive genes were randomly selected for sequencing and analyzed by BLAST. 4 genes were randomly selected for RT-PCR certification combined with semi-quantitative analysis of DNA bands.

RESULTSVDN model of rats were successfully constructed. Concentration of tissue calcium in calcification group (15.34 mg/g +/- 2.51 mg/g) was significantly increased compared to that in control group (5.20 mg/g +/- 0.75 mg/g, P < 0.001), while in comparison with calcification group (15.34 mg/g +/- 2.51 mg/g), calcium in regression group was relatively lower (12.73 mg/g +/- 1.89 mg/g, P < 0.05). 28 up-regulated genes and 22 down-regulated genes were gained through sequencing and BLAST analysis among positive clones. RT-PCR validation indicated that 4 genes such as prdx3 and Ank2 had increasedly expressed in regression group than those in calcification group, the average fold change was 1.7.

CONCLUSIONRat vascular calcification tissue had characteristic of active regression. Genes in relation to pyrophosphoric acid synthesis, glutamate signal peptides, anti-oxidant and ant-apoptosis were up-regulated, at the same time many genes related to ossification and oxidation activity were down-regulated in the process of calcification regression. Increased expression of calcification suppressor genes accompanying decreased expression of calcification promoting genes might be the intrinsic mechanisms which initiated the active regression of calcified tissues.

Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Calcification ; genetics ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the influence of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on blood pressure and heart rate in adult patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and its related factors. Methods From May 2015 to October 2017, 101 cases of adult cervical spinal cord injury in our department were select-ed as observation group, who were divided into four subgroups (AIS A~D) respectively, according to the ASIA score. Other 101 cases of sudden hearing loss without spinal cord injury were selected as control group, who were divided into four subgroups with gender and age matched with four subgroups of the observation group, re-spectively. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before the compression, at the end of the compression, 30 minutes after oxygen taken in, before the decompression and at the end of the decompression; and were com-pared between groups. The fluctuations of blood pressure and heart rate were correlated and regression analyzed with age, course and AISA score respectively. Results In ASI A~C, the blood pressure fluctuated obviously during the course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the ob-servation group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in blood pressure between ASI D of the observa-tion group and their controls (P>0.05). Lower extremity motor score of ASIA was correlated with the fluctuation of blood pressure (P<0.05). Conclusion The blood pressure fluctuates in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (AIS A~C) during hyperbaric oxy-gen, which should be paid attention to. Lower extremity motor score of ASIA is an independent factor affecting blood pressure. The higher the lower extremity motor score, the smaller the blood pressure fluctuation.