Objective To study the effect of cardiac troponin T(cTnT)on the prognosis of chronic heart failure in the elderly patients.Methods Serum level of cTnT,and serum activities of creatine kinase (CK)and creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB)were measured in 60 elderly patients of chronic heart failure with varied classes of cardiac function.Cardiac events,including malignant cardiac arrhythemia,repeated or aggravated heart failure or cardiac death,in patients with increased cTnT during hospitalization were compared to those without it.Results Serum level averaged(89.1?13.6)mmol/L for CK and(7.9? 1.4)mmol/L for CK-MB in 20 patients with Class Ⅱ cardiac function by New York Heart Association (NYHA)classification and without increased cTnT,(88.2?13.4)mmol/L for CK and(7.5?1.8) mmol/L for CK-MB in 19 patients with Class Ⅲ cardiac function and four of them with increased cTnT,and (93.3?14.2)mmol/L for CK and(8.1?1.6)mmol/L for CK-MB in 21 patients with Class Ⅳ cardiac function and 14 of them with increased cTnT.Malignant cardiac arrhythemia occurred in six,repeated heart failure in eight,and death in three of 18 patients with increased cTnT,and one,two and one in 22 patients without increased cTnT,respectively.Incidence of cardiac events was higher in patients with increased cTnT than those without it(P

Objective:To study the effect of rotational errors on the positioning accuracy (PA) and to assess whether correcting rotation in patients with head-neck tumors in radiotherapy or not.Methods:The image information of 34 patients with head-neck tumors treated at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between August 2019 and January 2020 was collected. Mega-voltage computed tomography (MVCT) images of each patient were taken before radiotherapy, and were registered with planned kilo-voltage computed tomography (KVCT) images by two registration methods. All information was divided into control group (translation only) and intervention group (translation and rotation) according to different registration methods, there were 144 fractioned registered images for each group, respectively. The position errors of the two registration methods were recorded and compared. Data were carried out with Wilcoxon signed rank test and Spearman rank correlation.Results:Translational errors of the control group and the intervention group were 0.10 (5.35) mm and 0.00 (5.78) mm in right-left direction, and there was a statistically significant difference ( Z=-2.675, P=0.007); 0.75 (2.78) mm and 0.60 (2.68) mm in superior-inferior direction, and there was a statistically significant difference ( Z=-2.819, P=0.005); 0.10 (0.90) mm and 0.20 (1.28) mm in anterio-posterior direction, and there was a statistically significant difference ( Z=-3.984, P<0.001). Rotational errors of the intervention group were -0.20 (0.60)°, 0.35 (2.00)°, 0.00 (0.98)° in pitch, roll, yaw, respectively. The distribute of 3D vector corrected frequency for two groups was positively skewed. The corrected cumulative frequency (CCF) varied with 3D vector, 3D vector was 8.0 mm, and 19 F and 16 F fractioned treatments of the control group and the intervention group were not corrected, respectively; 3D vector was between 8.0-13.5 mm, the corrected tendency of the intervention group was slower and fractioned treatment was completed later. The analytical results of Spearman rank correlation showed that rotational errors in pitch were negatively correlated with translational errors of the control group in superior-inferior direction ( r=-0.182, P=0.029) and the intervention group in anterio-osterior direction ( r=-0.484, P<0.001); rotational errors in roll were negatively correlated with translational errors of the intervention group in right-left direction ( r=-0.334, P<0.001); rotational errors in yaw which were positively correlated with translational errors of the intervention group in right-left direction ( r=0.370, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with translational errors of the control group in superior-inferior direction ( r=-0.171, P=0.040) and the same was true for the intervention group ( r=-0.203, P=0.015); total angles were positively correlated and negatively correlated with translational errors of the control group in superior-inferior direction ( r=0.246, P=0.003) and anterio-posterior direction ( r=-0.188, P=0.024), and positively correlated with 3D vector of the control group ( r=0.198, P=0.017), total angles were positively correlated with translational errors of the intervention group in superior-inferior direction ( r=0.170, P=0.041) and with 3D vector of the intervention group ( r=0.239, P=0.004); there were no correlations between rotational errors and the other translational errors (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Although the corrected rotation increases translational errors in anterio-posterior direction and 3D vector, it improves PA for head-neck tumors in radiotherapy. When rotational errors are not corrected, rotational offsets are present with corrected translation to decrease its effect on PA.

Objective To study dynamic expression of Oct-4 during development of colorectal cancer (CRC) and investigate the association between Oct-4 expression and prognosis of patients with CRC.Methods CRC tissues, matched non-tumor tissues and colonic polyp tissues were collected and Oct-4 expressions were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), flow cytometry analysis (FCM) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).Medical records of patients with CRC were reviewed.Clinicopathological analysis was performed to assess the association between Oct-4 expression and certain chnicopathological parameters.Kaplane-Meier survival curve was conducted to evaluate association between Oct-4 expression and survival time of patients with CRC.Results The results of qRT-PCR showed that the relative expressions of Oct-4 mRNA in matched non-tumor, colonic polyp and CRC tissues were (0.23 ±0.16) × 10-5, (1.19 ± 0.76) × 10-5 and (3.79 ± 1.94) × 10-5 respectively, with a significant difference (F =8.633, P =0.001).IHC analysis displayed that the positive expression ratios of Oct-4 in matched non-tumor tissues, colonic polyp tissues and CRC tissues were 4.43％, 12.68％ and 40.51％ respectively, and a significant difference was discovered among them (x2 =66.311, P ＜ 0.001).Oct-4 expre-ssion in CRC was significantly correlated with pathological stage (x2 =7.248, P =0.007), lymph node metastasis (x2 =4.888, P =0.027), distant metastasis (x2 =5.732, P=0.017) and TNM stage (x2 =4.174, P=0.041).Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis demonstrated that Oct-4 positive cases had a shorter median survival time (37.0 months) compared with Oct-4 negative cases (76.0 months), with a significant difference (x2 =14.050, P =0.001).Conclusion The expression of Oct-4 is step-wise increased during development of CRC.The abnormal expression of Oct-4 may play certain roles in the development of CRC.Oct-4 may be an important biomarker for the clinical diagnosis, assessment of disease and prognosis in CRC.

Objectives To assess outcomes of endovascular treatment for critical limb ischemia in patients with TASC C and D femoropopliteal lesions.Methods Between January 2009 and January 2012,patients with critical limb ischemia for TASC Ⅱ C or D lesions underwent endovascular treatment.Patients demographic,pre-and post- procedure ABI,primary patency rate,limb salvage at 1,3,6,12,24 months were reviewed.Results There were 58 males,38 females, mean age was (76 ± 10 ) years,with Rutherford Ⅳ in 68 limbs,Ⅴ in 23 limbs,Ⅵ in 5 limbs.Successful rate of procedure for target lesions was 94.80％,angioplasty alone was performed in 13 limbs,stent in 80 patients,thromblysis assisted angioplasty and stent in 8 limbs.Stents of popliteal artery were implanted in 47 limbs.Major complication rate was 19.80％,two patients died within 30 days.Mean ABIs were 0.25 ±0.17 and 0.76 ±0.23 before and after procedure.Mean time of follow up was (12 ± 6) months.Primary patency rates and limbs salvage rate were 94.79％ and 95.83％,93.73％ and 95.83％,88.01％ and 93.42％,78.34％ and 93.42％,68.38％ and 83.04％ on 1,3,6,12,24 months respectively.Conclusions Patients with critical limb ischemia caused by TASC C/D lesions often suffer from significant comorbid medical conditions.Endovascular procedure has a high risk of morbidity and restenosis,but short term limb salvage rate is satisfactory.

BACKGROUND:At present, there are several limb-preserving methods,such as xenogenic bone joint replacement, artificial metal prothesis replacement and inactivation and replantation of tumor bone segment, etc.Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. In addition, mismatch of xenogenic and autogeneic joints and articular cartilage necrosis in the late stage, which affects joint function, are two important problems for large frozen bone-joint allograft at ultra-low temperature in repair of bone defect following bone tumor resections in extremities.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate a method to obtain outline information on the cartilage surface through spiral CT scanning data, so as to lay foundation for study on individualized artifical semi-knee joint based on rapid prototyping (RP) technique.DESIGN: Open experiment.SETTING: First Department of Trauma, Urumqi General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at Institute of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, and Institute of Advanced Manufacturing, Xi'an Jiaotong University from September 2001 to May 2003. CT scanning subject was a 25-year-old healthy male volunteer.METHODS:Distal femur was performed 1 mm in thickness scanning with Picker 6 000 spiral CT. Three-dimensional volume reconstruction was conducted at the Voxel Q Image workstation on Picker 6000 CT, then, two-dimensional tomography image of reconstruction data were downloaded with spacing of 0.1 mm. Data format converter software was self-developed. The downloaded image was treated through smoothing, de-noise and so on.Vector data of two-dimensional borderline outline of tomography image was calculated and input into Surfacer 9.0 software (American Imageware company) for vectorial three-dimensional reconstruction. According to recognition of articular cartilage outline and request of prothesis design, the threedimensional images of interested articular cartilage surface outline were extracted and used in the computer-aided design for individualized artificial semi-knee joint.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Vector converting of CT image and vector image of three-dimensional reconstruction of femoral condyle.RESULTS:Vector converting of CT image dafa had been come true using self-developed medical image vector converter software. Three-dimensional solid model of individualized femoral condyle was constructed with Surfacer9.0 three-dimensional processing software and edited according to design request. Three-dimensional model of articular cartilage requested by artifical semi-knee joint prothesis was extracted for computer-aided design. The constructed articular surface outline could be treated further to complete computer-aided design of artificial semi-knee joint prothesis; The file format was .stl, which could be recognized by RP software and used in engineering.CONCLUSION:Vector reconstruction of articular cartilage outline is performed based on spiral CT data that can obtain precise three-dimensional solid model of articular cartilage outline. The three-dimensional model can be edited, which lays foundation for computer-aided design and RP manufacturing of artificial semi-knee joint prothesis compounded with large segment xenogenic bone; It is easy and practicable in vector converting of medical image information with this method, and it also has good application prospect in biomanufacturing field in orthopaedic and oral maxillofacial surgery.

OBJECTIVETo investigate if the interaction between TGF-beta1/Smad pathway and ERK pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells exists.

METHODSThe rat arota was removed. The primary VSMC were isolated and cultured in vitro, then the VSMC were divided into four groups: (1) control group, (2) (TGF-beta1 group, (3) ERK blocking agent group, (4) TGF-beta1 + ERK blocking agent group. The expression of Smad2/3, ERK1/2 proteins, the content of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and Smad2/3 proteins were detected by Western blot, and the expression of Smad2/3 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) .

RESULTS(1) In contrast to control group, the content of phosphorylated Smad2/3 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 proteins in TGF-beta1 group was increased (P < 0.05), that in ERK blocking agent group was decreased (P < 0.05). There was no difference between control group and TGF-beta1 + ERK blocking agent group. Compared with TGF-beta1 group, the contents of phosphorylated Smad2/3 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 proteins in TGF-beta1 + ERK blocking agent group was decreased (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the expression of Smad2/3 and ERK1/2 proteins among different groups. (2) There were no differences in expression of Smad2 and Smad3 mRNA among different groups.

CONCLUSION(1) TGF-beta1 can induce Smad2/3 proteins to be phosphorylated dependent on the activated ERK pathway. (2) ERK pathway does not effect the expression of Smad2/3 at the level of protein and mRNA.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Smad Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; physiology

The present study aims to explore the possible mechanisms that trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylases inhibitor (HDACi), affects the inflammatory signaling pathways of lipopolysaccharide/toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB (LPS/TLR4/NF-κB). Murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cells were employed. MTT assay was used to assess cell viability. The contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in culture supernatant were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TLR4 expression and NF-κB/p65 (Lys310) acetylation were examined by Western blotting. DNA binding activity of NF-κB/p65 was detected by using TransAM(TM) NF-κB/p65 activity assay kit. The results showed that, compared with control group, which was treated by DMSO, the cells treated with TSA (20, 40, 80 ng/mL) showed decreased percentages of cell survival (P < 0.05). The contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in culture supernatant were all increased by LPS (100 ng/mL), whereas reduced by 40 ng/mL TSA pretreatment (P < 0.05). TSA pretreatment inhibited LPS-induced up-regulation of TLR4 protein expression. Acetylation of NF-κB/p65(Lys310), which was already increased by LPS, was further enhanced by TSA (P < 0.05). On the contrary, LPS-increased DNA binding activity of NF-κB/p65 was decreased by pretreatment with TSA (P < 0.05). The results suggest that TSA-induced anti-inflammation may be attributed to decreases in the expression of TLR4 and DNA binding activity of NF-κB/p65.
Acetylation ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Hydroxamic Acids ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the accuracy of probing depth measurements of undergraduate students in department of periodontology and analyze the cause of measurement errors.

METHODSThirty-eight dental students from Peking Universty School and Hospital of Stomatology who began their periodontal clinical practice for the first time were recruited. According to principle of clinical teaching, after the students recorded the probing depth of 1-2 periodontitis patients using Williams periodontol probe, an experienced teacher checked the probing depth. The measurements of interproximal sites of Ramfjord index teeth (6 14 41 6) were used as the data of this study. According to the probing depth discrepancies between teacher and the students, all the probing sites were divided in three levels: absolutely consistent sites (probing depth measured by teacher and by student was completely consistent), almost consistent sites (the depth discrepancy between teacher and student was 1 mm), inconsistent sites (the depth discrepancies between teacher and student ≥ 2 mm).

RESULTSThe accuracy of probing depth measurements of students decreased with the deepening of probing depth, and the accuracy of probing depth measurements in molar teeth was significantly lower than incisor teeth [58.8% (261/444) vs.73.1% (339/464), P < 0.01]. The main factor associated with the accuracy of probing depth measurements in interproximal sites was the probe's inability to get into gingival col, which accounted for 70.7% (87/123) of the total inconsistent sites.

CONCLUSIONSThe correct angle of insertion of the probe in interproximal sites should be reinforced during the course of pre-clinical education of periodontal probing. More attention should be paid to check the probing depth of deep pockets and molar teeth during the clinical practice of undergraduate students.

Bicuspid ; pathology ; Chronic Periodontitis ; pathology ; Clinical Competence ; Dental Instruments ; Humans ; Incisor ; pathology ; Molar ; pathology ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontal Pocket ; pathology ; Students, Dental

Objective To evaluate the effect of long-term microwave radiation on the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR),brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and related molecules in signal pathways in the hippocampus of rats.Methods Fifty male Wistar rats were exposed to microwave radiation at an average power density of 0,5,10,20 and 30 mW/cm2for 6 min/time,3 times/week,and for 6 weeks,which were sacrificed and the hippocampus was quickly removed at 14 d and 28 d after exposure.The changes in NMDAR (NR1,NR2A,NR2B),postsynaptic density protein(PSD)-95,cortactin,BDNF and tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) in hippocampal neurons of each group were detected by Western blotting and image analysis techniques.Results Compared with the control group,the expressions of related proteins did not change significantly after microwave irradiation of 5 mW/cm2 at each time point.After 20 mW/cm2 microwave radiation,the expression of NR1 was increased at 14 and 28 d (P ＜0.05),the expression of NR2A was increased at 28 d (P ＜ 0.05),but the expression of NR2B was decreased at 14 and 28 d (P ＜ 0.05).At a average power density of 30 mW/cm2,the expressions of NR1,NR2A and PSD-95 and the expression of NR2B were decreased at 14 and 28 d(P ＜0.05),and cortactin,BDNF and TrkB were increased at 14 d after irradiation (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The effect of different dosages of long-term microwave radiation on the proteins of NMDAR and its signal pathway related molecules is different.Microwave radiation may affect the NMDAR of postsynaptic information transmission through the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathways,which might play an important role in the impediment of learning and memory function caused by microwave radiation.

Objective:To explore therapeutic effect of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)combined tirofiban hydrochloride on aged patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction(ASTEMI)and its influence on cardiac function and myocardial microcirculation.Methods:A total of 90 aged ASTEMI patients undergoing PCI in our hospital from Jul 2013 to Mar 2016 were selected.According to hospitalization order,they were randomly and e-qually divided into pure PCI group and combined treatment group(received tirofiban based on pure PCI group), both groups were treated for one month.ST segment regression degree,corrected TIMI frame count(CTFC)and TIMI flow grade after PCI,contrast agent acoustic peak intensity in myocardial microcirculation(PI)and serum CK-MB peak concentration before and after PCI,LVEF,LVEDd and LVEDV before and six months after PCI, and incidence rate of adverse events were measured and compared between two groups.Results:Compared with pure PCI group after PCI,there were significant rise in ST segment regression degree[(43.8 ± 7.1)% vs.(66.2 ± 8.2)%],TIMI flow grade[(2.1 ± 0.5)grade vs.(2.9 ± 0.6)grade]and PI[(7.1 ± 1.1)vs.(8.6 ± 1.2)],and sig-nificant reductions in CTFC[(27.3 ± 8.0)frame vs.(18.9 ± 6.6)frame],and serum CK-MB peak level[(296.5 ± 58.1)U/L vs.(199.3 ± 32.4)U/L]in combined treatment group,P= 0.001 all.Compared with pure PCI group on six months after PCI,there was significant rise in LVEF[(54.2 ± 8.3)% vs.(61.1 ± 8.0)%],and signifi-cant reductions in LVEDd[(48.1 ± 7.7)mm vs.(41.3 ± 8.1)mm]and LVEDV[(85.4 ± 10.6)mm3vs.(80.2 ± 10.4)mm3]in combined treatment group,P<0.05 or <0.01.Total incidence rate of adverse events of com-bined treatment group was significantly lower than that of pure PCI group(8.89% vs.26.67%),P=0.001.Con-clusion:PCI combined tirofiban hydrochloride can significantly improve myocardial microcirculation and cardiac function with low incidence rate of cardiovascular adverse events.The mechanism may be related to improving effect of tirofiban hydrochloride on myocardial microcirculation.