Objective To evaluate left ventricular(LV) systolic function by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2D-STI) in severe aortic stenosis(AS) patients.Methods Standard echocardiography and 2D-STI examinations were performed in a total of 54 subjects including 26 consecutive patients with severe AS with LV ejection fraction(LVEF) ≥50％ and 28 controls.2D-STI including systolic longitudinal strain (LS) and strain rate(LSr) were assessed from the apical 4-chamber,3-chamber and 2-chamber views,the circumferential strain(CS) and strain rate(CSr),radial strain(RS) and strain rate(RSr) were measured from the standard short axis views (averaging 6 segments per view).The above parameters of AS groups were compared with those of normals.The repeatability of LVEF,LS and RS was evaluated in 6 AS patients and 6 normal volunteers selected at random from the investigation.Results ① There was no significant difference between AS group and control group in LVEF,LV end-diastolic dimension(LVEDD),LV endsystolic dimension (LVESD) and midwall fractional shortening (mwFS) (P ＞ 0.05).② Significant differences were detected between the two groups.LS,RS,CS,LSr,RSr,and CSr were obviously decreased in AS group(P ＜0.05).③The repeatability of LVEF,LS and RS was good by consecutive measurement of identical and independent observers.Conclusions Despite the presence of normal LVEF,the LV systolic function is impaired in severe AS patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study investigated the protection provided by gabexate mesylate thermo-sensitive in-situ gel (GMTI) against grade III pancreatic trauma in rats. METHODS: A grade III pancreatic trauma model with main pancreatic duct dividing was established, and the pancreas anatomical diagram, ascites, and serum biochemical indices, including amylase, lipase, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were examined. The pancreas was sliced and stained with hematoxylin eosin and subjected to terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. RESULTS: Ascites, serum amylase, lipase, CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly increased in the pancreas trauma (PT) groups with prolonged trauma time and were significantly decreased after GMTI treatment. The morphological structure of the pancreas was loose, the acinus was significantly damaged, the nuclei were irregular and hyperchromatic, and there was inflammatory cell invasion in the PT group compared to the control. After GMTI treatment, the morphological structure of the pancreas was restored, and the damaged acinus and inflammatory cell invasion were decreased compared to the PT group. Moreover, the cell apoptosis index was significantly increased in the PT group and restored to the same levels as the control group after GMTI treatment. CONCLUSIONS: GMTI, a novel formulation and drug delivery method, exhibited specific effective protection against PT with acute pancreatitis therapy and has potential value as a minimally invasive adjuvant therapy for PT with acute pancreatitis.
Amylases ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Ascites ; C-Reactive Protein ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Gabexate* ; Hematoxylin ; Interleukin-6 ; Lipase ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Rats*

OBJECTIVETo construct a recombinant lentiviral vector that co-express green fluorescent protein (GFP) and FoxM1 shRNA and establish a prostate cancer cell line with stable FoxM1 down-regulation.

METHODSThree interfering sequences targeting FoxM1 were designed and inserted into the lentiviral vector pHBLV-U6-ZsGreen-Puro. After identification by DNA sequencing, the lentiviral vectors carrying Foxm1 shRNA were packaged in 293 cells. The lentiviral particles were collected to infect human prostate cancer DU-145 cells, and the transfection efficiency was observed under fluorescence microscope; the interference efficiency was assessed using real-time PCR. DU-145 cells with stable FoxM1 down-regulation were screened with puromycin, and the expression level of FoxM1 was detected by Western blotting and the cell growth was observed using MTT assay. The stably transfected cells were examined for cell apoptosis and cell clone formation capacity with flow cytometry and colony formation assay.

RESULTSDNA sequencing demonstrated successful construction of the 3 FoxM1 shRNA lentivirus vectors. Real-time PCR showed a high interference efficiency of FoxM1 shRNA1 vector, which resulted in obvious down-regulation of FoxM1 in DU-145 cells. Western blotting showed that the expression of FoxM1 protein was decreased in FoxM1 shRNA1 lentivirus-transfected cells, which displayed a suppressed cell proliferation, increased apoptosis rate, and attenuated clonogenic ability.

CONCLUSIONWe have successfully established a prostate cancer cell model with stable FoxM1 down-regulation, which shows lowered proliferative and clonogenic activities with increased cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Forkhead Box Protein M1 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ultra-hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer.Methods A total of 26 patients with prostate cancer treated with Cyber-Knife from May 2010 to May 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.The median age of the patients was 69 years old (range,57 to 87).Ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy was delivered in five fractions of 7.0-7.5 Gy for a total dose of 35.0-37.5 Gy.Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was administered in combination with the Cyber-Knife.The primary endpoints were radiation toxicity,PSA-response,local control and symptom alleviation,while the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival and overall survival.Results No graded ≥ 3 acute and late radiation toxicities occurred during follow-up.The acute toxicity of Grades 1 and 2 was 38.4％ and 19.2％,while the late toxicity of Grades 1 and 2 was 30.8％ and 3.8％,respectively.At a median follow-up of 22.44 months,for patients with localized stage,PSA level was decreased significantly after radiotherapy (Z =2.900,2.794,2.510,2.090,P＜0.05).However,there was no statistically significant difference for the metastatic group (P＞ 0.05).Conclusions Ultra-hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for patients with prostate cancer.

Objective To study clinical characteristics of type 2 diabetic(T2D)patients with metabolic syndrome(MS)and its components in Beijing urban communities.Methods Totally,3295 T2D patients involved in a combined prospective diabetic management study from 15 urban communities in Beijing were classified as four groups, according to 2004 Chinese Diabetes Society's definition of MS, i. e, isolated T2D, T2D with one component of MS, T2D with two components of MS and T2D with three components of MS. Their clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results ( 1 ) Among 3295 T2D patients, 155 (4. 7% )were isolated T2D, 107 (32.6%) T2D with one component of MS, 1386 (42.1%) T2D with two components of MS and 679 (20.6%) T2D with three components of MS, with an overall 62.7% (2065/3295) of T2D patients complicated with MS. (2) In these T2D patients, the more components of MS they had, the higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist to hip circumference ratio (WHR),systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting serum levels of insulin and triglyceride (TG) and the lower level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) were presented (P <0. 01 ). (3) Percentage of isolated T2D in women increased from 49. 0% (76/155) to 61.9% (420/679)of those with three components of MS ( P < 0 01 ), with increasing of components of MS. (4) Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that BMI, history of hypertension, decreased HDL, increased TG,increased blood pressure, all were risk factors for T2D patients complicated with MS. Conclusions Among T2D patients in urban communities of Beijing, 95.3% (3140/3295) of them complicated with one or more components of MS, and 61.9% (420/679) of them complicated with MS. So, community diabetic management must be implemented in an all-round way, including control of blood pressure, blood lipids,body weight and so on, in addition to control of blood sugar.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of dyslipidemia in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Beijing urban communities.Methods Total 3316 subjects with type 2 diabetes (age 20-80 years) were recruited from 15 urban community health centers in Beijing using a multi-stage random sampling approach.Dyslipidemia was diagnosed according to Chinese Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults:2007 version.Results Among 3316 diabetic subjects (1329 malesand 1987 females),75.6％ (2506/3316) had dyslipidemia,the prevalence was 72.5％ (964/1329)in men and 77.6％ (1542/1987) in women.The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia was 41.9％ (1388/3316) and 48.1％ (1595/3316),respectively.31.5％ (1043/3316) subjects had high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and 21.2％ (703/3316) had low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).Among all subjects with dyslipidemia only 22.9％ (575/2506) took hypolipid agents.The overall blood lipid control rates of triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC),LDL-C and HDL-C in 1393 subjects with dyslipidemia history were 48.0％ (669/1393),17.4％ (242/1393),30.9％ (430/1393) and 75.8％ (1056/1393),respectively.Diabetics with dyslipidemia had higher body mass index,waist circumference,blood pressure,plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1c.The prevalence of dyslipidemia in the overweight and uncontrolled-glucose group were 79.0％ (1678/2125),78.9％ (1756/2227),respectively.Logistic regression analysis showed that gender,age,body mass index and hemoglobin A1c were associated with dyslipidemia.Conclusions The prevalence of dyslipidemia in diabetic subjects in Beijing urban communities is high and less than one quarter patients take hypolipid agents.Age,body mass index and hemoglobin A1c are the risk factors of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective To investigate current status of use of oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in urban community of Beijing.Methods In total,3297 T2DM patients aged more than 20 years from 15 urban communities of Beijing were studied.Their body weight,height,fasting plasma glucose level and glycosylated hemoglobin Alc (HbAlc) were measured.A door-to-door questionnaire survey on use of oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin was conducted for them.All the T2DM patients surveyed were divided into four groups based on their received intervention.Results ①Of 3279 T2DM patients,454 (13.8％) received lifestyle intervention,971 (29.5％) used only one oral hypoglycemic drug,1179 (35.7％) with combined oral hypoglycemic drugs,and 693(21.0％) with insulin.②There was significant difference in average HbAlc among the four groups of T2DM patients with lifestyle intervention,only one oral hypoglycemic drug,combined oral hypoglycemic drugs,and insulin,with HbAI c of (7.0 ± 1.9) ％,(7.1 ± 1.5) ％,(7.4 ± 1.5 ) ％,and (7.5 ± 1.5 ) ％for them,respectively ( F =15.1,P ＜ 0.01 ).Proportions of the T2DM patients with HbAlc equal to or higher than 7.0％ were 32.2％,39.4％,52.1％ and 59.5％ for the four groups,respectively ( x2 =117.7,P ＜ 0.01 ).③In the T2DM patients with lifestyle intervention,32.2％ (146/454) of them with HbA1 c equal to or higher than 7.0％ were untreated with any oral hypoglycemic drug.In those with only one oral hypoglycemic drug,39.4％ (383/971) of them with HbAlc equal to or higher than 7.0％ were not treated with combined oral hypoglycemic drugs and/or insulin.In those with combined oral hypoglycemic drugs,52.1％ (614/1079) of them with HbAlc equal to or higher than 7.0％ were not received combined insulin treatment.④ Fasting plasma glucose level,treatment strategies,postprandial 2-h blood glucose level and length of the illness were independent risk factors for HbAlc level equal to or higher than 7.0％,with odds ratio (OR) of 1.757,1.256,1.175 and 1.031,respectively.⑤ In 2843 T2DM patients with oral hypoglycemie drugs and/or insulin treatment,1494 (52.6％ ) received biguanides and 693 received (24.4％ )insulin,respectively.Conclusions More than half of adult patients with T2DM do not meet the target of glycemic control of HbAlc less than 7.0％ in urban communities of Beijing,due to not active use of oral hypoglycemic drugs,and not timely adoption of combined use of oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin therapy.