Objective To assess the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP in hypertension patients by observing the effect of decreased GFR on N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration in patients with different cardiac function.Methods Eighty-nine hypertension patients were divided into two groups based on the results of UCG.Forty-three patients had normal left ventricular function and 46 patients had dysfunction.GFR,NT-proBNP and other biochemical markers of cardiac and renal function were measured.The factors affecting the NT-proBNP concentration under normal left ventricular function were analyzed,and the diagnostic value of NT-proBNP affected by normal or decreased GFR(＞ 80 ml/min or ≤80 ml/min) under different left ventricular functions were further assessed.The two-sample t test,rank sum test and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze their statistical difference and relationship.Results In patients with normal left ventricular function,GFR (β =-0.361,P ＜ 0.05) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD,β =0.385,P ＜ 0.05) were significant factors to NT-proBNP level.They were both meaningful compared with LVEF (β =0.189,P ＞0.05) and septal thickness (β =0.003,P ＞ 0.05).The median concentration of NT-proBNP was 13.18 and 24.14 μg/L in patients with normal left ventricular function and dysfunction,respectively (Z =-3.19,P ＜ 0.01).While in patients with decreased GFR,6 cases with normal left ventricular function and 19 cases with dysfunction had a median concentration of NT-proBNP of 38.45 and 44.20 μg/L,respectively (Z =-0.45,P ＞ 0.05).In patients with normal GFR,37 cases with normal left ventricular function and 27 cases with dysfunction had a median concentration of NT-proBNP of 12.51 and 20.31 μg/L,which was lower than that of patients with decreased GFR (Z =-2.76,both P ＜ 0.05).The NT-proBNP concentration had no significant difference between patients of normal left ventricular function with decreased GFR and patients of dysfunction with normal GFR (38.45 and20.31 μg/L,Z=-2.18,P＞0.05).Conclusion In hypertension patients,the effect of decreased GFR on assessing the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP for left ventricular dysfunction should be considered.

Myocardial hypertrophy is the complication of many cardiovascular diseases that induce cardiac remodeling.The molecular mechanism of cardiac remodeling involves abnormal changes in various transmembrane ionic currents in the heart.Recent studies suggest the potential involvement of volume-regulated Cl-current(ICl.Vol)in cardiac hypertrophy.Although the molecular basis of ICl.Vol remains to be elucidated,recent progress is reviewed in the potential role of ICl.Vol in cardiac remodeling.

GDF-15,a distant member of the TGF-superfamily,is identified as an apoptotic accelerat- ing,anti-tumorigenesis and nerve2nutritional factor in varied injures and tumors and has cardioprotective ac- tivity.The characteristics and roles of GDF-15 gene/protein and antibodies are expounded besides the rela- tionship between GDF-15 serum level/genetypes and CRC.It is also discussed here that some antitumorigenic substances inducing GDF-15 in CRC tissues and CRC cells.

Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the improvement of cardiac function of mice with myocarditis.Methods A total of 146 Balb/c mice were divided into four groups randomly(random number).The viral myocarditis(VMC)model was made by Coxsakie virus B3(CVB)injected intra-abdominally.Four groups were normal group(n =18),VMC group(n =60),Control group (n=18)and VMCtreatment group(n =50).The mice of control group were treated with atorvastatin without VMC,and the mice of VMC treatment group were with VMC and were given atorvastatin for 2 weeks.Echocardiograms were used 3,7,10,14,21,and 30 days after virus inoculation.Blood samples were collected for cardiac troponin-Ⅰ detection at the same time.Myocardial inflammation was examined by using histochemistry staining.The changes of myocardial collagen fiber,myocardial cells and various organelles were examined by electron microscope.Results Compared with VMC group,the cumulative survival rate of VMC group treatment group was higher(87.0％ vs 59.2％)after treatment with atorvastatin for 30 days (P =0.008),and the improvement of pathological features after treatment with atorvastatin was found 10,14,21 and 30 days after the inoculation.Compared with control group,the cardiac function was decreased in the CVB infected mice 7 days after virus challenge[(69.82 ±5.12)vs(89.23 ±2.01),P ＜0.01]and compared with VMC group,the EF values of VMC treatment group were significantly higher 7,14,21and 30 days after virus inoculation.The differences in cTnI values between VMC group and CVB treatment group were statistically significant 7,10,14 and 21 days after virus challenge.Conclusions These results demonstrate that atorvastatin improves survival rates and the histological features in CVB3m-induced myocarditis.It can improve the heart function of CVB infected mice.Atorvastatin could be a treatment of choice for VMC.

Objective To investigate the expression of nuclear factor-kappa Bp65 (NF-κBp65)and Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)protein in the brain tissues of 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats with cerebral hypoxia-ischemia encephalopathy (HIE) and to explore the role of TLR4 and NF-κBp65 in the pathogenesis of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.Methods Seven-day SD rats were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group.Brain pathological changes were observed in light microscopy at 6 h、12 h、24 h、72 h、7 d after HIE.The expression of TLR4 and NF-κBp65 in brain tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry method.Results NF-κBp65 and TLR4 were expressed in the neuron and microglia of control group and experimental group.The expression were most significant at cerebral cortex and hippocamp.However,the expression of NF-κBp65and TLR4 began to increase at HIE 6h:NF-κBp65 (0.219 3 ± 0.024 7,0.215 7 ±0.030 4)and TLR4(0.327 1 ±0.033 3,0.303 9 ±0.037 9),and achieved the hightest at HIE 24h:NF-κBp65 (0.3564±0.0235,0.3365 ±0.023 2)and TLR4(0.434 2 ±0.0428,0.4193 ±0.041 3),then decreased at HIE 72 h:NF-κBp65 (0.289 2 ± 0.032 0,0.260 9 ± 0.021 2) and TLR4 (0.300 5 ± 0.020 9,0.282 0 ± 0.022 6),and HIE 7 d:NF-κBp65(0.247 9 ±0.0340,0.242 1 ±0.025 4) and TLR4(0.274 4 ±0.0288,0.257 1 ±0.027 5).Conclusion There is a positive correlation between NF-κBp65 and TLR4 in rats with HIE.It suggested that they may have the same pathophysiology development in HIE.

Objective To objectively evaluate the endpoint ot transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using two dimensional color-coded digital subtraction angiography (2D-ccDSA).Methods Retrospective analysis of twenty-four patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),treated by TACE and evaluated by post-processed 2D-ccDSA.All patients were examined by DSA before and after TACE procedure,all these DSA series were converted into color-code images,the time density curve (TDC) was derived from the 2D-ccDSA imaging.Time-to-peak (TTP) was measured for the ostia of the catheter,the origin of the tumor feeding artery (TFA) and the embolized site of the TFA; maximal TDC enhancement was measured for selected spots of the tumor parenchyma.The tumor blood supply time (TBST) for pre and post-TACE was calculated accordingly.Data were interpreted with paired t test using SPSS.Results The TTP of the ostia of the catheter and the origin of the tumor feeding artery (TFA) before TACE were (3.47 ± 0.96) and (4.09 ± 1.09) s,after the TACE were (3.49 ± 1.02) and (3.78 ± 1.05) s,respectively.There was no statistical difference between the pre-and post-procedural TTP of the two landmarks (t values were 0.10 and 1.15,P values were 0.92 and 0.26).TTP at the embolized site of the main TFA were [(4.62± 1.16) and (5.59± 1.57)s]for pre and post-TACE,the tumor blood supply time (TBST) was greatly delayed compared with that after the TACE procedure [(1.82± 1.10)s and (0.52±0.41)s].The mean maximal TDC enhancements of the tumor parenchyma areas were (3.03±0.88)units before TACE and (1.10±0.67)units after TACE.The differences were all statistically significant (t values were 3.32,6.04 and 8.93,respectively,P＜0.01) Conclusion It is feasible to use 2D-ccDSA to objectively assess the endpoint of TACE procedures.

Objective The anti-UV-B radiation mechanism of UV-B tolerance strain KFS-9 was studied from the profile of metabolites.Methods The compounds were separated by column chromatography and their structures were elucidated based on GC-MS,LC-TOF-MS,EI-MS and NMR analyses.Results Three unsaturated fatty acids(identified as 9-hexadecenoic acid,9,12-octadecadienoic acid and 11-octadecenoic acid) and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid able to absorb ultraviolet were isolated from the petroleum ether extract of the fermentation liquid of Pantoea agglomerans KFS-9.Fraction(Ⅱ) was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract and was composed of 2,3-butanediol and a series of high unsaturated aroma compounds.Fraction(Ⅱ) had a wide absorption peak,and it could protect E.coli from UV-B damage in some sense.Conclusion Strain KFS-9 produced metabolites that were able to absorb UV to build a natural barrier and so improved the tolerance to UV radiation.The UV-B radiation protection test to the E.coli also showed fraction(Ⅱ) was not the only protector,and there definitely existedother materials and mechanism to protect the strain.

Objective To evaluate the occurrence and prevention of pinch-off syndrome in post-operative complications of totally implantable central venous port.Methods From October 2003 to September 2016,628 cases underwent implantable central venous port via the subclavian vein using the landmark venipuncture technique.From February 2014 to September 2016,106 cases underwent implantable central venous port gaining subclavian venous access.Retrospective analysis of two groups of pinch-off syndrome after totally implantable central venous port.Results pinch-off syndromne were not found in the uhrasound-guided group,pinch-off syndrome occurred in 9 patients of 628 cases underwent implantable central venous port via the subclavian vein using the landmark venipuncture technique during follow-up period.Conclusions Subclavian venous access cannulation on the lateral side of mid-clavicular line by ultrasound guidance was found to be associated with absence of pinch-off syndrome.This method appears to reduce or prevent pinch-off syndrome occurrence after implantable central venous port,therefore improving the safety of the long-term management of implantable central venous port.

Objective To investigate the effect of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) inhibitor celecoxib on bladder cancer xenografts in nude mice and apoptosis of tumor cells in the xenografts. Methods Models of bladder cancer xenograft in nude mice was used to observe the effect of celecoxib on the animals and the xenografts.TUNEL was used to assess apoptotic index of tumor cells in the xenografts. Results Celecoxib could effectively inhibit the growth of xenografts(P0.05). Conclusions Celecoxib maybe inhibit the growth of bladder cancer via inducing apoptosis of tumor cells and perhaps will become a choice of chemoprevention and adjuvant therapy of bladder cancer.

Observed index is a very important element in a research design, because it is a specific reflection of the effects of research factors on the research subjects and is indispensable in any research. Generally, there are two types of observed indexes: the indexes that reflect natural attributes, habits or states of the research subjects and the indexes that reflect the effects of different drugs or treatments on research subjects. This article mainly introduces the definition, characteristics, selection and observation of research indexes and the major and minor indexes.