OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of valsartan on expression of angiotensin II receptors in different regions of heart after myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODSCanines were divided into sham-operated control group (n=7), infarction group (n=7) and Valsartan group (10 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) for 4 weeks after MI operation, n=7). Four weeks after operation, Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) was used to evaluate regional ventricular function in the noninfarcted myocardium (apical and basal near to the infarction region). The mRNA and protein expressions of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) and angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2-R) on the corresponding regions were detected by competitive reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique and immunohistochemical technique respectively. Results The protein and mRNA expressions of AT1-R were significantly increased in both apical and basal regions near to the infarction in dogs with MI compared with those in control group (P < 0.05) which could be downregulated by valsartan (P < 0.05). AT2-R expressions were significantly upregulated in infarction group in both apical and basal regions compared with those in control group and valsartan further increased AT2-R expressions in both areas (P < 0.05). Myocardial peak systolic velocity (Sm), myocardial peak early diastolic velocity (Em) and myocardial peak late diastolic velocity (Am) at both apical and basal regions near to the infarction regions were significantly lower in MI group than those in the control group which could be significantly improved by valsartan.

CONCLUSIONBoth mRNA and protein expressions of AT1-R and AT2-R are upregulated in noninfarcted regions near MI, valsartan improved myocardial function via inhibiting AT1-R upregulation and enhancing AT2-R upregulation.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Dogs ; Female ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; metabolism ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVEThis study attempted to explore the value of combining serum hepatic fibrosis-related markers and ultrasound parameters together on diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSSix serum markers and 8 ultrasound parameters were measured from 100 patients with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis. The results of the serum hepatic fibrosis-related markers and ultrasound in disease group were analyzed and compared with the findings of hepatic pathology.

RESULTSBy filtrating,the group of platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) plus hyaluronic acid (HA) plus echo characteristics of liver parenchyma (LPEC) plus length of spleen (SL) had the highest Se and Spe, which were 90.7% and 85.4% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe advantageous combination of serum markers and ultrasound parameters can significantly improve Se and Spe, which is superior to any single serum index or ultrasound parameter. And it was a better non-invasive method for diagnosing hepatic fibrosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of valsartan on expression of angiotensin Ⅱ receptors in different regions of heart after myocardial infarction(MI).Metbods Canines were divided into sham-operated control group(n=7),infarction group(n=7)and Valsartan group(10 mg·kg-1·day-1 for 4 weeks after MI operation,n=7).Four weeks after operation,Dopplor tissue imaging(DTI)was used to evaluate reglonal ventricular function in the noninfarcted myocardium(apical and basal near to the infarction region).The mRNA and protein expressions of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor(AT1-R)and angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor(AT2-R)on the corresponding regions were detected by competitive reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique and immunohistochemical technique respectively.Results The protein and mRNA expressions of AT1-R were significantly increased in both apical and basal regions near to the infarction in dogs with MI compared with those in control group(P<0.05)which could be down-regulated by valsartan(P<0.05).AT2-R expressions were significantly upregulated in infarction group in both apical and basal regions compared with those in control group and valsartan further increased AT2-R expressions in both areas(P<0.05). Myocardial peak systolic velocity(Sm),myocardial peak early diastolic velocity(Em)and myocardial peak late diastolic velocity(Am)at both apical and basal regions near to the infarction regions were significantly lower in MI group than those in the control group which could be significantly improved by valsartan.Conclusion Both mRNA and protein expressions of AT1-R and AT2-R are upregulated in noninfarcted regions near MI,valsartan improved myocardial function via inhibiting AT1-R upregulation and enhancing AT2-R upregulation.

Objective To investigate the antiproliferative effect of simvastatin on tumor cells and its mechanism. Methods Tumor cells U87, Hela, HCT-116 (p53+/+), HCT-116 (p53-/-) were incubated with simvastatin at different concentrations, and with 100 μmol/L simvastatin for 24 h ,48 h ,72 h and 96 h. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT. U87, HCT-116(p53 +/+ ), HCT-116(p53 -/- ) cells were incubated with simvastatin for 48 hours, and the cell cycle distributions were analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of total p21 protein synthesis and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38, JNK and Akt were determined by Western blot. Results The cell growth of all the four types of tumor cells U87, Hela, HCT- 116(p53+/+) and HCT-116(p53 -/- ) was suppressed in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P< 0.05). In addition, incubation with simvastatin arrested cells at G1 phase of the cell cycle accompanied by up-regulation of cell cycle inhibitor p21. Western blot analysis showed that simvastatin markedly increased the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK in the cells, but activities of protein kinases ERK1/2 and Akt in the intracellular signal transduction pathway remained unchanged. Conclusion Those observations suggest that statins can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells beyond their cholesterol-lowing effect and p21, p38 and JNK may play an important role in simvastatin-induced proliferation inhibition.

Objective To investigate the antiproliferative effect of simvastatin on tumor cells and its mechanism. Methods Tumor cells U87, Hela, HCT-116 (p53+/+), HCT-116 (p53-/-) were incubated with simvastatin at different concentrations, and with 100 μmol/L simvastatin for 24 h ,48 h ,72 h and 96 h. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT. U87, HCT-116(p53 +/+ ), HCT-116(p53 -/- ) cells were incubated with simvastatin for 48 hours, and the cell cycle distributions were analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of total p21 protein synthesis and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38, JNK and Akt were determined by Western blot. Results The cell growth of all the four types of tumor cells U87, Hela, HCT- 116(p53+/+) and HCT-116(p53 -/- ) was suppressed in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P< 0.05). In addition, incubation with simvastatin arrested cells at G1 phase of the cell cycle accompanied by up-regulation of cell cycle inhibitor p21. Western blot analysis showed that simvastatin markedly increased the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK in the cells, but activities of protein kinases ERK1/2 and Akt in the intracellular signal transduction pathway remained unchanged. Conclusion Those observations suggest that statins can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells beyond their cholesterol-lowing effect and p21, p38 and JNK may play an important role in simvastatin-induced proliferation inhibition.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of intradermal needling for pain and tear film stability in patients after pterygium excision. METHODS: A total of 76 patients (98 affected eyes) with primary pterygium were randomly divided into an observation group (38 cases, 53 affected eyes) and a control group (38 cases, 45 affected eyes).In the control group, only pterygium resection was performed, in the observation group, intradermal needling after pterygium resection was applied at Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Sibai (ST 2), Hegu (LI 4), removed after 24 h and changed three times a week. The pain level of 3 days after surgery, dry eye symptoms, the basic tear secretion test (Schirmer-Ⅰ), and the tear-break time (BUT) changes before surgery, 2 weeks after surgery and 4 weeks after surgery were compared between the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: The pain level of 3 days after surgery in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (<0.05). The dry eye symptom scores at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery in the two groups were significantly lower than those before surgery (all <0.05), and the dry eye symptom scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (both <0.05). The Schirmer-Ⅰ test at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery was significantly prolonged than that before surgery(all <0.05), and the Schirmer-Ⅰ test in the observation group was significantly longer than that in the control group (both <0.05). The BUT at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery in the two groups was significantly longer than that before surgery (all <0.05), and the BUT in the observation group was significantly longer than that in the control group (both <0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 89.5% (34/38), which was higher than 71.1% (27/38) in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Intradermal needling can effectively reduce the pain level of patients after pterygium resection, improve dry eye symptoms, promote the secretion of tears and improve the tear film stability.
Acupuncture Points ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Humans ; Pain ; Pterygium ; Tears

Although the development of the 2009 SpA classification criteria by Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) represents an important step towards a better definition of the early disease stage particularly in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), the specificity of the criteria has been criticized these days. As the commonest zoonotic infection worldwide, human brucellosis can mimic a large number of diseases, including SpA. This study was performed to determine the frequency of rheumatologic manifestations in patients with brucellosis and the chance of misdiagnosing them as having axSpA in central China. The results showed that clinical manifestations of axSpA could be observed in brucellosis. Over half of patients had back pain, and one fifth of the patients with back pain were less than 45 years old at onset and had the symptom for more than 3 months. Two young males were falsely classified as suffering from axSpA according to the ASAS criteria, and one with MRI proved sacroiliitis was once given Etanercept for treatment. Therefore, differential diagnosis including human brucellosis should always be kept in mind when applying the ASAS criteria, even in traditionally non-endemic areas.
Adult ; Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Back Pain ; physiopathology ; Brucellosis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; China ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Etanercept ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Inappropriate Prescribing ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Rheumatologists ; ethics ; Sacroiliitis ; physiopathology ; Spondylarthritis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics of brucellosis patients from two tertiary hospitals in epidemic and non-epidemic areas. MethodsThe clinical data of 67 brucellosis patients hospitalized in The Affiliated Kashi Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University （Kashi， 53） and The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University （Guangzhou， 14） from January 2019 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed， including demographic data， medical history， symptoms， signs， laboratory tests and treatment， and the differences between the two groups were compared. ResultsThere were 23 patients in Kashi and 11 patients in Guangzhou with definite epidemiological history， respectively （P = 0.019）. Fever， fatigue and arthralgia were the most common symptoms of brucellosis. In addition to anorexia， the onset symptoms of patients in the two hospitals were roughly the same. The incidence of fever， muscle pain and fever peak was similar， but the symptoms of hyperhidrosis， fatigue， arthralgia and rash in Kashi were more common in Guangzhou. There were cases of hepatosplenomegaly in both hospitals， but there was no obvious superficial lymphedema. Complications occurred in 39（73.6%） and 11（78.6%） patients in Kashi and Guangzhou， respectively， with no statistical difference （P =0.971）， and hepatitis and bone damage were the most common. The incidence of spondylitis （P =0.042） and neurodegenerative brucellosis （P =0.041） in Guangzhou was higher than that in Kashi， and there was no significant difference in other complications. Of the patients in Kashi， 7.5 % were treated with single antibiotics， and 59.7 % were with dual therapy， which were higher than those in Guangzhou （0， 50.0 %）. The proportion of the triple scheme in Guangzhou was higher than that of Kashi （50.0 % vs. 11.3 %）. ConclusionsThe clinical characteristics of brucellosis in different regions are generally similar， but there are some differences in epidemiological history， symptoms， complications and treatment options. The characteristics of local cases should be concerned in clinical practice to reduce misdiagnosis of brucellosis.

Objective: The relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and glycemic indices, including plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postload glucose (2h-PG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), remains inconclusive. We aimed to explore the associations between glycemic indices and SUA levels in the general Chinese population. Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional analysis using the first follow-up survey data from The China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort Study. A total of 105,922 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 40 years underwent the oral glucose tolerance test and uric acid assessment. The nonlinear relationships between glycemic indices and SUA levels were explored using generalized additive models. Results: A total of 30,941 men and 62,361 women were eligible for the current analysis. Generalized additive models verified the inverted U-shaped association between glycemic indices and SUA levels, but with different inflection points in men and women. The thresholds for FPG, 2h-PG, and HbA1c for men and women were 6.5/8.0 mmol/L, 11.0/14.0 mmol/L, and 6.1/6.5, respectively (SUA levels increased with increasing glycemic indices before the inflection points and then eventually decreased with further increases in the glycemic indices). Conclusion An inverted U-shaped association was observed between major glycemic indices and uric acid levels in both sexes, while the inflection points were reached earlier in men than in women.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Glucose/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus/blood* ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glycated Hemoglobin A/analysis* ; Glycemic Index ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid/blood*