Objective To explore the early diagnosis of Alport′s syndrome(AS).Methods Renal and skin biopsy was carried out in 5 patients who manifested with isolated hematuria and nephritic syndrome(NS).By using indirect immunofluorescence method,the expression of type Ⅳ collagen ? chains was detected on epidermal basement membrane(EBM) and glomerular basement membrane(GBM).Results ?_1 chains on EBM and GBM were expression in all patients,but ?_5 chains on EBM and ?_3,?_5 chains on GBM form 2 female patients were segmental expression.Thus the goal for early diagnosis was achieved.Conclusions ? chains for EBM type Ⅳ collagen and GBM type Ⅳ collegan should be investigated if condition permits for those patients with isolated hematuria,NS(steroid-resistant) and thinned GBM in electron microscopy.It can be useful for diagnosis and differenial diagnosis of AS.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that ischemic preconditioning protects the heart against infarction or arrhythmias from a subsequent ischemic injury. Two phases of the effect of preconditioning has been explored, early protection and second window of protection at 24 hours. The late protection was seen in some animal model, but the precise mechanism is controversal. This study was designed to evaluate the late cardioprotective effect and role of HSP70 in ischemic preconditioning of cat heart. METHODS: Two groups of cats were studied. Control animals were subjected to an episode of 40-min coronary artery occlusion followed by 30-min reperfusion. Experimental animals were subjected to ischemic preconditioning before the 40-min ishcemia/reperfusion. The preconditioning protocol was comprised of three 5-min episodes of ischemia interspersed by 10-min episodes of reperfusion. After sustained ischemia and reperfusion, left ventricular risk area and infart area were measured by injection of Evans blue bye and triphenyltetrazolium staining, and myocardial HSP70 mRNA was examined in risk(left ventricular anterior wall) and nonrisk(left ventricular posterior wall) area using northern blot hybridization. HSP70 mRNA expression was quantified as a percent of GAPDH. The late cardioprotective effects of ischemic preconditioning were determined by infarct size (% area at risk). RESULTS: Infarct size was markedly limited by ischemic preconditioning when compared with the control group (18.5+/-6.9% vs 38.5+/-11.1%; p<0.001). HSP70 mRNA expression in risk area was much higher in preconditioning group than control group(78+/-12% vs 41+/-11%; p<0.01). But, there was no significant difference of HSP70 mRNA expression in the posterior wall between control and ischemic preconditioning group. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that ischemic preconditioning have delayed myocardial protective effect from ischemia. The increase in myocardial HSP70 mRNA may be one of the contributing factors to the delayed cardioprotective effects of ischemic preconditioning in cats.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blotting, Northern ; Cats* ; Coronary Vessels ; Evans Blue ; Heart* ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Models, Animal ; Reperfusion ; RNA, Messenger

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngitis ; therapy ; Young Adult

0.05),higher rate of maternal mortality and perinatal mortality(P

BACKGROUND: There are many evidences that inflammation is an important determinant of the development of atherosclerosis and one of the systemic markers of inflammation, C-reactive protein(CRP), is associated with extent of coronary artery disease and risk of coronary events. We assessed the time response of CRP response after coronary angioplasty and it's influence on the clinical restenosis in angina patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients included 36 angina patients undergoing single vessel angioplasty. Levels of CRP were measured before and 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after angioplasty. Clinical restenosis was assessed at 6 months after procedure. RESULTS: Baseline CRP level was 0.30+/-0.01 mg/dL in stable and 0.46+/-0.28 mg/dL in unstable angina patients(p<0.05). After angioplasty, CRP level was increased with peak at 24 hour and persisted to 72 hours after angioplasty. At 24 hour after angioplasty, the magnitude of CRP change was 0.32+/-0.31 mg/dL in stable and 0.79+/-0.73 mg/dL in unstable angina patient(p<0.05). The change of CRP level was not associated with troponin-T after angioplasty. In unstable angina patients, clinical restenosis was developed in 8% of patients with low baseline CRP levels and in 50% of those with high baseline CRP levels more than 0.6 mg/dL(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In unstable angina patients, inflammatory response is more increased than stable angina patients, and increased inflammatory response effects on the restenosis after coronary angioplasty.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty* ; Atherosclerosis ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Troponin T

Objective To study the relationship of clinical manifestation and pathological changes and prognosis in Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN)in children.Methods Clinical and pathological characteristics of 42 children with HSPN were analysed.Among them,40 children were detected of angiotensin-convertion enzyme(ACE)gene and had been followed up.Results Among them,there were 9 cases of level Ⅰof pathological types,21 cases of level Ⅱ,12 cases of level Ⅲ,but no cases of level Ⅳ.Ⅰand Ⅱ level were found in those cases of clinical manifestation with solitary hematuria and albuminuria.Pathological grades were Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ levels in the cases of hematuria and albuminuria.Pathological types of nephrotic syndrome(NS)were Ⅱ and Ⅲ level,which were of more gross hematuria than those of other grades.ACE gene DD had serious pathological damnification.Conclusions Change of pathology cannot only be anticipated by clinical manifestation of HSPN.But if pathological damnification gets more serious,the albuminuria gets more serious.Gross hematuria and albuminuria can serve as indicators of biopsy.NS of ACE DD type have serious pathological damnification.Children with HSPN has favourable prognosis in the future.

Echocardiography is one of the most frequently used techniques for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. Over the last twenty years, technological advances have enabled the application of high-quality imaging. Important recent developments have occurred in echocardiography that are already being used clinically. Equipment and hardware is now available to produce real time three-dimensional and contrast enhanced imaging.. Tissue Doppler and stress echocardiography have provided potential benefit to analyze hemodynamic information of heart. This review discusses each of these new developments and their potential impact on the practice of echocardiography and cardiology in general.
Cardiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Nuclear Medicine*

BACKGROUND: An acceleration or deceleration of the heart rate (HR), which reflects autonomic effects, is observed before the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The purpose of this study was to assess the discrepancy in the autonomic interactions before the onset of PAF for different patterns of change in the HR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 105 Holter tapes with the PAF recorded, 55 episodes (42 patients, 34 men, 58+/-12 years) of PAF (>5 min), preceded by a sinus rhythm for more than 1 hour, were selected and submitted to time-domain and frequency-domain HR variability analyses. Fifty-five episodes were divided into 2 groups: group A PAF (n=30) with acceleration of the HR during the last 2 minutes before the PAF and group B (n=25) with deceleration of the HR. RESULTS: A significant linear decrease in the mean R-R interval was observed in group A (924+/-30 to 835+/-28 ms, P=0.001) and an increase from 831+/-32 to 866+/-31 ms in group B PAF episodes (P=0.046). In the frequency-domain analyses, the LF/HF ratio exhibited a progressive linear increase before the PAF in group A (P=0.005). The HF normalized units (HFnu) and natural logarithm-transformed HF (lnHF) values decreased from 30.8+/-4.0 to 16.1+/-1.8 (P=0.003) and 4.49+/-0.25 to 4.07+/-0.22 (P=0.001), respectively. Contrary to the results in group A, a significant increase in the HF components (HFnu and lnHF) (from 22.6+/-3.2 to 30.2+/-4.0, P=0.005, and 4.27+/-0.27 to 4.75 0.33, P=0.001, respectively) and a resultant decrease in the LF/HF ratio were observed in group B PAF episodes. No significant changes were observed in the LF components in either PAF group. CONCLUSION: Autonomic stimuli leading to an acceleration or deceleration of the HR before the onset of AF are due to parasympathetic modulation. Parasympathetic modulation plays a key role in the initiation of PAF
Acceleration ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Autonomic Agents ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Deceleration ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUND: P wave dispersion(PWD) is defined as the difference between the maximum and minimal P wave duration in any of the 12 leads of the surface ECG. The prolongation of atrial conduction time and the inhomogeneous propagation of sinus impulse are known electrophysiologic features in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(PAF). The purpose of this study was to determine the role of P wave dispersion for the prediction of PAF and to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic antiarrhythmic therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 20 patients with a history of idiopathic PAF and 20 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. We measured the maximum P wave duration(P maximum) and P wave dispersion from 12 lead ECG. RESULTS: P maximum and P dispersion in idiopathic PAF were significantly higher than normal control group(97.2+/-12, 48.5+/-9msec vs, 76.5+/-11, 21+/-8msec, respectively p<0.001, <0.001). After 12-month follow up period P maximum and P dispersion were significantly reduced than those of initial state(77.2+/-13, 26.4+/-9msec vs. 97.2+/-12, 48.5+/-9msec, respectively p<0.001,<0.001). CONCLUSION: P dispersion and P maximum were significantly different between patients with idiopathic PAF and healthy control group. Those are easily accessible, non-invasive simple electrocadiographic markers that could be used for the prediction and prognostic factors of idiopathic PAF.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease (CAD). A small number of recent studies reported anti-inflammatory therapy achieved a reduction of CAD progression. The aim of the present study was to explore the roles of inflammatory markers and the conventional risk factors for CAD progression. METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients (58+/-10 years, 112 men) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and follow-up angiography (mean duration, 7.5+/-2.0 months) were enrolled in this study. On comparison of the coronary angiographic findings, the patients were divided into the progression and non-progression groups. The serologic inflammatory markers were angiography measured at the time of follow up. The clinical characteristic and inflammatory markers were compared between the two groups and the independent predictors of CAD progression were analyzed. CAD progression was defined as more than 30% diameter reduction of a pre-existing luminal stenosis. RESULTS: CAD progression occurred in 32 patients (21.3%). The frequency of diabetes mellitus (37.5% versus 19.5%, respectively, p=0.033) and the number of the disease vessels (p=0.003) were higher in the CAD progression group. In terms of the inflammatory markers, the progression patients had higher hsCRP (p=0.023), MCP-1 (p=0.036), sVCAM-1 (p=0.000), sP-selectin (p=0.000) and sCD40L (p=0.001) levels. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the variables showed that the logCRP (relative risk (RR) 5.016, CI=1.384-18.177, p=0.014) logVCAM-1 (RR 11.854, CI=1.883-74.614, p=0.008) and triple vessel disease of the coronary arteries (RR 5.037, CI=1.550-16.350, p=0.007) were independent predictors of CAD progression. CONCLUSION: In the present study, the extent of coronary artery disease and inflammatory markers like hsCRP and VCAM-1 were independent predictors for the progression of atherosclerotic lesions.
Angiography ; Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Logistic Models ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1